The University Arabic Debate Team argued its way to fourth place among non-native speaking teams at the fifth U.S. Universities Arabic Debating Championship at New York University the weekend of Sept. 28.

The three-day event capitalized on months of preparation for the four-person team while giving them lasting memories on and off the debate stage. 

“We put a lot of time into this practicing,” said Majd Alahmed, senior in Engineering. “Since the beginning of the semester, we’ve been meeting twice a week at least.”

New York was the group’s first time at nationals for all but one team member. Despite this, the team’s work ethic created high expectations for how hours of practice would translate against the best teams in the country.

“I think we all expected the same thing, being in the finals and winning,” said Omar Abdallah, junior in Business. “No, we didn’t get there, but that’s what to expect. You got to come in with that spirit.”

With such confidence, Hedaya Hassanein, junior in LAS, felt obligated to bring the group closer to earth as the team’s most seasoned member.

“I went to the national (championship) last year, and so I tried to humble them a little bit,” Hassanein said. “I tried to tell them ‘Oh, there’s a lot of schools and they’re very, very good.’ So I had hopes that we would do well, I’m not sure if they were as high as his (Abdallah’s).”

Though the final results did not match Abdallah’s ambitious spirit, the team boasted a fourth-place finish out of 10 non-native teams. This placed them 28th out of 38 overall, which scored them higher than several native-speaking teams including Texas Tech University and the University of Utah — who hosted nationals last year.  

Like any championship, the debate was fueled by competition. When discussing the event’s competitive environment, everyone’s heads turned to Alahmed in unison.

“The thing is, I am very competitive by nature,” Alahmed said. “Even the other competitions that I’ve been part of, like in some of the clubs and RSOs here at school, it doesn’t give the same … on-the-spot stress or pressure.”

As the team’s only native speaker, Alahmed’s competitive edge and proficiency in the language garnered her third place individually out of 125 speakers. 

“I did not really have expectations either way,” Alahmed said. “Like, yes, of course, I wanted to win, but I did not have anything else in mind. I just wanted to debate and do good and leave.”

After hearing from his teammates, Abdallah revised his statement on behalf of the team, speaking about the experience as a whole.

“The two expectations, and I think we all agree on this, were having fun and learning,” Abdallah said. “It isn’t (our last debate), so we wanted — we needed — to learn from it. And we also needed to have fun. You’re not always in New York.”

Nareen Aydogan, junior in Engineering, said team activities and bonding were a highlight of the trip. 

The teams collectively explored New York, from going out to eat to dancing around Times Square — not as rival teams, but as a collective. With a mix of native and non-native teams, debaters came from a range of backgrounds, but cultural differences weren’t enough to stop a good time.

“Even if it’s not the same culture, somehow it becomes as if it’s the same culture,” Alahmed said. “Everyone’s just enjoying it.”

All the competitors, no matter their history, home or experience, had something in common.

“We bonded over the language,” Hassanein said, as Alahmed and Aydogan agreed in unison. 

With every member of the team set to graduate either this year or next, the four are starting an Arabic debate club at the University next semester to keep the Arabic language community strong after they’re gone.

“Anyone can join,” Abdallah said. “It’s not really just going to be based on who we find for a tournament, and they’ll be able to practice their Arabic alongside learning about different topics and different words that you wouldn’t learn in class, you wouldn’t learn at home (and) you wouldn’t learn talking to your friends.” 

The team hopes to build on the connections they made in New York through the new club, practicing with those like nearby Indiana University — the winning team at the championship.

Between their successes on the stage and the position they have put themselves in for the future, the team has a lot to build from and even more to be proud of. 

“In my heart, we won first place,” Aydogan said with a laugh.

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