Our Mission

EDUCATION

Debate is an educational space. Knowledge of debate events, structures, arguments, skills, and techniques are vital to succeed. Education is central to accessing the space, and remains without it, debaters are more likely to leave the field. At the hotline, we seek to help expand this access to those who are struggling to enter the event. We work to provide content, coaching, lectures, and more that can aid those who want to join debate. Additionally, education is key for minorities who fight for change. By spreading discourse and knowledge of progressive argumentation, the hotline provides a platform that amplifies voices that were previously silenced.

RESOURCES

Debate is an expensive event. Tournament fees, judging fees, flights, hotels, meals, and more add up to the thousands. These high costs are inaccessible for many debaters, pushing many out of the space and limiting their potential. Furthermore, top tier debaters have coached or prep groups that helps them grow as competitors. Unfortunately, these additional aids completely lock out lower income debaters. At the Hotline we seek to remedy these inequalities with coaching, fundraising, and scholarships. By closing this gap, we hope to allow a more diverse array of debaters emerge onto the national circuit and combat structures that hold students back.

EQUALITY

Debate is unfair, subjective judging, misogynistic debate-bro culture, exclusionary prep-groups, racism, sexism, homophobia, and more work to exclude minorities and empower an unequal institution of debate. A toxic structure has engulfed our events, uplifting a space that works against equality and consistently pushes out already underrepresented debaters. This issue has been at the forefront of debate for years, yet change has stalled at the institutional and structural levels, allowing destructive debaters to continue to dominate. At the hotline, we seek to approach the problem with a direct and unified front. We are working with organizations throughout debate to bring them together against the problematic aspects of the event. With a greater and more united group of debaters, we want to directly challenge institutions with petitions, protests, and callouts by taking a consolidated and powerful approach, we hope to eliminate exclusionary debate.

MEET THE BOARD

Ethan Zhao - President

Hey, I'm Ethan! I am a senior at Strake Jesuit and I compete in PF and BQ. I broke at Nats, took 3rd at State and 5th at TOC. Fun fact, I love Beyonce!

Aahana Gupta - Content Director

My name is Aahana and I’m a current junior at Iowa City West. I compete in Public Forum, earning three bids to the TOC last year and co-championing my state tournament. A fun fact about me is that I am an only child!

Michael Meng - Resources Director

hi, i'm michael, a senior at strake jesuit and the director of the resources branch. i've been doing ld for the last three years, and this year will be my fourth. i mainly read policy arguments, but i also really like theory. in the last three years, i've made it to the quarters of a few octas bids and the finals of one while qualifying for the toc and nationals twice each. outside of debate, i've been learning how to code, and i like listening to music.

Elizabeth Chung - Resources Deputy

Hi! I’m Elizabeth, and I’m a Sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School in Maryland. I’ve been debating for 2 years now, I’ve amassed 8 bids to the TOC and I’ve reached quarters in UKSO, Octafinals in Harvard and Sunvite, and reached elim rounds in tournaments such as Durham and Columbia. Other than debate, I love Malcolm Todd, eating Buldak, and opening Pokémon cards!

Aashna Bhakkad - Podcast Director

hi! my name is aashna and i’m a junior at plano west! i’ve been competing in pf for the past few years and can’t wait for the rest of the season. outside of debate i love to cook and watch new shows or movies!!

Sherry Lin - Initiatives Director

Hi! I'm Sherry, a senior at Richard Montgomery in Maryland and the director of the lovely Initiatives branch! I compete in national circuit PF and have accumulated 10 bids over the past two years, second-speaking the Harvard RR last year. Outside of debate, I like to play Stardew Valley, make matcha, and read on my Kindle!

Roger Li - Initiatives Deputy

hey twins, my name is Roger Li and I'm a senior at Strake Jesuit! I do PF and this year, I've semied UKSO and the Harvard SO with my better half: Peter Hablinski. I am an avid cat lover and I've already started counting down the days until Christmas . I also like to listen to Laufey, Beyonce, and Wasia Project.

Sofia Vargas - Outreach Director

Hi guys! I’m Sofia, a senior at Innovation HS in Florida. I’ve been doing congressional debate for three years, and have competed on the local, state, and national circuits. I’m so excited to see what we achieve this year and I can’t wait to work with everyone!

Fun fact: I really really like chipotle.

Valentina Rojas - Outreach Deputy

My name is Valentina and I am a current junior at Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas and have competed in Policy debate on the local, and national circuits for the past three years. This is my second year with the hotline and a fun fact about me is I love to learn languages!

MEET THE TEAM

Ayat Jaffar - Podcast, Outreach

Hi! My name is Ayat and I am a junior at Hawken in Cleveland, Ohio. I primarily compete in LD but I have done PF in the past. I usually run traditional arguments but have dabbled in the K and policy formats. I am excited to be apart of the hotline to combat inequality in debate and hopefully make a change!

Erin Jia - Initiatives, Resources

Hi I'm Erin! I'm a junior at Memorial High School where I have experience in LD and CX debate. So far, I've gotten 5 bids to the TOC and have been invited to compete at the Greenhill, King, and Harvard Round Robins! In my free time, I like to listen to music, bake, and hang out with friends. I'm so excited to be part of The Debate Hotline this year!

Alice Luo - Initiatives, Outreach

Hi! I'm Alice and I'm a rising junior at Harker, where I've done PF for all of high school. I broke at the TOC last year and made finals of both the University of Kentucky Season Opener In-Person and Mid America Cup. Outside of debate I also like to crochet and do track!

Kaitlin Amaev - Podcast, Outreach

Hi my name is Kaitlin I am a senior at William Tennent high school in Pennsylvania. I do dramatic interpretation, breaking at UPenn and Princeton also nationals and being a finalist at my state tournament. One fun fact about me is that I am Tri lingual!

Flynn Williams - Resources

Hi! I’m Flynn and I’m a Junior at Harrison High School in New York. I compete on the national circuit in LD debate, and I qualified to the TOC last year while having one bid this year. Fun fact: I have a twin brother who looks nothing like me!

Marleigh Massoud - Content Creation

Hi everyone! I’m Marleigh and i’m a sophomore at Greenhill School in Texas, competing for both them and the USA national development team. I’ve been involved in debate for four years now and competing in the world schools division for two. Outside of debate i’m a huge classics fan for music and movies!

Anahita Tomar - Podcast

Hi! I’m a junior at Plano West and I competed primarily in Congressional Debate. I’ve done debate for about 5 years and I’m so excited to be working as a part of the Hotline this year and to get to meet and work with so many new people!

Aiden Buchanan - Content, Resources

Hey, I'm aiden buchanan! I'm a world schools debater for Northland Christian School, where I've competed for four years around the nation; more recently, my team championed the Grapevine Classic in the Worlds Division. A fun fact about me is that I love doing super niche research on random topics!

Samuel Wawi - Resources, Initiatives

Hello! My name is Samuel, but most people just call me by my last name, Wawi. I do LD debate at Strake Jesuit and am excited to apply my knowledge and passion to the Debate Hotline. In my free time, I like to lift weights, read, and paint.

Addison Choate - Content, Outreach

I am a senior. I live in Conway, Arkansas. I am a part of the Speech and Debate Team, Mock Trial, Beta Club, Esports, Young Republicans, and Young Democrats. I put most of my time into Speech and Debate, and I have won a few awards for my efforts. My usual format is LD and in Speech I do Informative Speaking. A fun fact about me is that I am unnecessarily afraid of owls, but apart from that adore all other birds.

Zaviyar Mujeeb - Content Creation

Hi! My name is Zaviyar and I am a senior at Westlake HS! I am captain for my school’s speech and debate team, and I am excited to be apart of the team! I focus a lot on diversity because I feel it is a cornerstone of an equitable team. Let me know if you have any questions!

Natalyia Kopack - Outreach

hi! my name is natalyia, and i’m a senior at cheyenne east in wyoming. i’ve done almost every debate, but currently compete in ld. i also have a profound love for xdb, and im beyond excited to work with the debate hotline.

Lillian Makeeff-Stetson - Content, Outreach

Hi! My name is Lilly Makeeff, and I’m from Bismarck High School in North Dakota. I’m the captain of two school speech teams, a participant in both local and national Student Congress, and I compete in Division I Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Fun fact: I’m currently running for North Dakota State Student Council Representative!

Samyata Sharma - Podcast

Hi, I’m Samyata!! I’m a debater from Portland, usually competing in public forum, impromptu, original oratory, and Big Questions. I’m passionate about health equity and social justice, and I love using speech and debate to share stories, amplify voices, and build community.

Arhaan Iyer - Content Creation

Hi! I'm Arhaan, I am a sophomore at Greenhill School in Dallas, Texas! I compete in World Schools and have attended TFA and NSDA with my team for it. Outside of debate, I love to cook, explore coffee shops, and do theater.

Micheal Qin - Resources

Hi! I’m Michael. I’m a sophomore at Mission San Jose and have been competing in PF as second speaker for three years now. When I’m not cutting cards or writing blocks, I like hooping and playing volleyball.

Cruz Castillo - Content, Outreach

hi im cruz, I’m a senior @ strake in houston. I’ve been debating for 3 years now, and compete on the national circuit. I broke @ the toc last year, and reached mid-late elims at harvard and fbk. I spend most of my time going for the K, but am totally down to work on anything tech-related!! I loved working with the hotline last year, and am gonna love doing it again this year!!

Kalyani Gifford - Resources, Podcast

Hey! I’m Kalyani, a junior at Bellaire High School. I do LD and this is my second year of high school debate. So far I’ve qualified to state, nats (in BQ), and have broken at UH. I enjoy robotics and one fun fact about me is that ice cream is my favorite dessert!

Peter Hablinski - Website

Hey y’all, I'm Peter! I am a senior at Strake Jesuit and I compete in PF. I took 11th at State / 3rd at UKSO and top spoke Lexington. Outside of debate, I love watching the Rockets and playing table tennis.

Anusha Chowdhary - Website

hi! i'm anusha, a junior at the hockaday school. i do worlds on the tfa circuit, and i like to code, eat and listen to music. i'm so excited for another seasosn with the hotline!

Ivy Gu - Media

Hi! Im a senior at Bellaire High School. I’ve done Public Forum Debate for all four years of high school. I’m an All American Award Recipient and have qualified to state for two years. I also love drinking matcha!!

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