Help Send Carleton's Worlds Team to Thailand!

Who We Are

  Since 1998, Carleton University Debate and Speech Society has been a student-led organization dedicated to fostering students’ public speaking abilities and depthening their knowledge on a breadth of topics, while fostering a positive and competitive environment that encourages the personal development of its members. The society has also been proud to be the most financially accessible debate club in Canada, allowing students of all financial backgrounds the opportunity to travel across North America to compete without worrying about transport and accommodation costs. This is particularly important in an activity that is often financially inaccessible to low-income students and is dominated by elite colleges. CUDS, throughout its history, has consistently broken barriers on the international stage by beating the likes of Harvard, Stanford and Yale, winning the 2017 North American Universities Debating Championship (NAUDC) and breaking to the 2018 Partial Semi Double Octos at the World Universities Debating Championships in Mexico City.

  CUDS is also proud to have a successful alumni network comprised of individuals that excel in a variety of fields and attribute it to their time in debate. Matthew Gallagher (Assistant to the Minister of IRCC), , Cameron Climie (Economist) and Meghan Ackland (Game Development for Escape Manor) have all debated for Carleton and represented the school at World Universities Debate Championships throughout the years.

  CUDS owes this legacy of competitiveness and accessibility to the generous funding it receives through its student levy. However, recent changes to student funding regimes by the Ontario Government are projected to reduce CUDS’ funding by over half, leaving an unprecedented burden on both the club and the 2019-2020 Worlds Team. As such, we are seeking fundraising and sponsorship opportunities to cover costs. Our projection for WUDC is as follows; $4,500 in flights and $1,500 for registration for a total of $6,000. The club has continually held value in the community as we volunteer our time towards high school students and contribute to campus life by aiding other clubs with their events. Contributions towards this tournament will allow the university to continue their legacy as the most competitive club in Canada and provide a forum to compete against ivy level institutions including the Oxford Union.

The 2019-2020 Worlds Team

  Charmaine Strong and Mehdi Bouchentouf will form the Worlds debate contingent for Carleton University. Both have debated for CUDS throughout their undergraduate degrees and have served on the club’s executive. Mehdi has served as VP French, VP Communications and VP External over the past three years. Charmaine has served as VP Communications, VP External and is the current VP Training. They have both served on the Tournament Selection Committee (TSC). Throughout the upcoming academic year, they will be attending various tournaments across Canada and the United States to prepare themselves for WUDC.

  Charmaine Strong is a third year Public Affairs and Policy Management Student specializing in International Security and Intelligence Policy. Her accomplishments include being the champion of the 2018 Guindon Cup hosted by the University of Ottawa, a finalist at the 2019 McGill Winter Carnival Tournament and a quarter-finalist at the 2019 Colgate Open in New York in her novice year of debating. She is from Calgary, Alberta and currently works as a Proceedings and Verification Officer at the House of Commons. For Charmaine, debate has been a fundamental part of her life since she joined debate in her freshman year of high school.

   “As someone who grew up incredibly insecure and socially anxious, debate became a space where I could develop not only my personal skills, but develop my self-confidence. In high school, I fought to keep my school’s debate club alive, spending long hours coaching other students, registering our teams for competitions and finding external funding for teams to ensure all individuals were able to access an activity that had such a transformative impact on my life. That was why when I came to Carleton University and heard about CUDS, I was so enthusiastic to join a club that had the same goals of ensuring accessibility for all while remaining competitive against elite schools. Throughout my years with CUDS, it’s been incredible to compete across North America and represent an organization that has become a second family to me.  I never thought that after five years of debate I would receive the honor of attending such a prestigious competition as WUDC and representing a club that embodies the inclusivity and community-centric values that first drew me to debate.”



  Mehdi Bouchentouf is a fourth year Political Science student with a minor in Law and currently works as a Court Services Officer with the Superior Court of Ontario. He was a finalist at the French Nationals tournament held by Polytechnique, a quarterfinalist at the Canadian Nationals at Western University and a quarterfinalist at the Leger Cup held by the University of Toronto. From Ottawa, Ontario, debate has also impacted Mehdi in a meaningful way:

   “A single-parent household in an Ottawa Community Housing (OCH) area riddled with crime was not a particularly positive space for youth development. Many of my neighbourhood friends are now imprisoned or have passed away as a result of violence. After my father passed away, I decided that I could not follow the path I was on and removed myself from those circles. During high school, I had slightly below average marks, I was being disciplined on a regular basis and I did not participate in extracurriculars due to the financial burden that they imposed. My first year at Carleton, I became more involved and I began looking for a financially inclusive campus club. A classmate suggested that I join CUDS and since then, I have been one of our most active members. Initially, I was insecure as my debating skills were not as refined as other novices but with the help of the CUDS community, I began improving. Since then, I have served on the exec with three different positions, I was a member of the TSC and competed in various tournaments. I am ready to commit myself to improving and putting in the effort necessary to represent this wonderful club at the most prestigious tournament in the world.”



About the World Universities Debate Championship

  The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the largest debate competition in the world. First held in Glasgow in 1981, the WUDC has grown to include over 400 teams from 250 universities and tertiary institutions representing over 90 countries. This year, it is being held by Assumption University in Bangkok, Thailand.

  The WUDC follows the four-team British Parliamentary (BP) format, with two teams representing the proposition and two teams representing the opposition. Teams are given a motion which is announced fifteen minutes before the debate and must come up with convincing argument for or against the motion drawing on their knowledge of art and culture, current affairs, economics, education, ethics, history, international relations, politics, religion, science and technology, social policy, sports and many other diverse and impactful topics. The sides teams are expected to represent are assigned randomly, and speakers don’t always argue in line with their own opinions.

   In 2018, Carleton students Matthew Gallagher and Connor Ahluwalia finished in 33rd place at the world championships and were the top Canadian team. Charmaine and Mehdi hope to build upon their success and represent the talents of the Carleton debate team on the world’s stage