Arkansas State University’s debate team celebrated its centennial anniversary April 11.

The debate team began in 1924 when two women, Alta Moyer and Mildred Cox, traveled to Memphis to debate on behalf of Aggie School to West Tennessee Normal School (currently known as the University of Memphis). 

The chosen topic, “Resolved, That Immigration should be further restricted,” secured Moyer and Cox’s victory against Normal. 

100 years later, what started with only two Aggie women debating continues its women-led legacy with Christina Smith and Jasmine Turnage as the current debate team captains. 

“It is such a statement that the debate team started with two women a hundred years ago and it definitely attests to the perseverance and dedication that it takes to be a woman in a historically male-dominated activity,” Turnage, a senior English education major from Cabot, Arkansas, said. “I am proud to be one of the two current female captains this year and think it’s amazing that one hundred years after its foundation, two women are leading the team yet again.

Turnage said it’s phenomenal to see an organization built by students and their passions, seeing the adaptation and evolution over a century-long course. 

“The team and all of its members have accomplished so much; it definitely takes grit and adaptability to maintain a successful, cohesive team, and it’s an amazing feeling to know that I’ve gotten to be a part of that,” Turnage said. 

Alex Orvis, a senior communication studies major from Beebe, Arkansas, said reaching 100 years is a monumental achievement, as many other organizations within this school cannot share the same feat, so being a part of something monumental is special to him and his peers. 

Orvis said the connection and the culture cultivated through being on the debate team added to his experience as a member 

“There is definitely a culture in the debate room, and I think that is evidence of its longevity,” Orvis said. “The fact that we get to go on trips together creates a culture of togetherness, and we create a friendship. We are not just colleagues or fellow students. We actually become friends, and that culture has carried throughout time.”

Rocco Hicks, a sophomore political science major from Prattsville, Arkansas said the team’s celebration of achieving a century was a testament to the people who came before him and the people who will soon come after.

“I’m just here for the ride, there’s going to be students after me that celebrate 150 years, hopefully. There are students before me that have celebrated 50 years, ten years; my main part is to make sure that we are able to celebrate. I’m only part of the chain,” Hicks said.

In celebration of their anniversary, the debate team went to Mississippi State University for the 2024 International Public Debate Association National Championship Tournament and Convention, April 12-15. 

Smith won four rounds and lost four. Hicks won three and lost five. Orvis won three and lost five. Page won three and lost five. 

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