On Tuesday, September 23, the Penn State Speech & Debate Society traveled to James Madison University for International Week. They debated the topic, “Resolved: Local communities, on balance, have benefited from globalization.” A pair of JMU debaters provided the opening speeches for both sides. Penn State then joined Emory University on the negative to square off against George Washington University and Davis & Elkins College on the affirmative. After an audience discussion moderated by Dr. John W. Hulsey, a professor in political science at JMU, the audience vote came in and the negative team, led by Penn State, won by a razor thin five ballots.

The Penn State debaters, Ayad Muhammad and Melinda Formola, delivered the closing speeches for the negative and focused on the argument that globalization harmed the environment and local economies of small communities around the globe. Melinda, a senior majoring in marketing, found the debate enjoying. She recalled, “All of the debaters made quality arguments while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere.” The discussion after the debate exhibited that friendly decorum even when pressing sensitive issues, such as cultural appropriation of local communities.