BEYOND the BOOKS
CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP LEFT David Sorbaro ’18,
Tim Carter ’18, Diego Jasson ’18 and Jack Ocken ’18
side included fellow classmates
one-minute summary — and a
Jack Ocken, Caleb Osemobor,
10-minute Q&A followed.
and Wesley Peisch. Seniors Diego
New ’Wick Student Union Promotes Respectful Debate
T
“What is important to realize
Jasson and Christian LeSueur
is that each participant has been
served as moderators.
assigned his role,” Headmaster
“Today’s debate is meant to show that, in spite of disagreements on
Thomas W. Philip said. “Their statements do not necessarily
certain hot-button issues, there is
reflect their own personal views
still a way to have civil discourse
or opinions.”
without berating the opposing side
Philip expressed the hope that
for its position,” LeSueur explained
future debates by the Brunswick
THEY AGREED TO DISAGREE —
the mass shooting at Marjory
to the audience of Upper School
Student Union will be presented
and to do so with mutual respect.
Stoneman Douglas High School in
students and faculty.
annually. “You’ve listened and can
Brunswick held its first meeting
of the Student Union at the Upper
Parkland, Fla., on February 14, in
“The goal is to allow students
now decide for yourself where you
the opportunity to witness what
lie on the issue at hand,” moder-
The school shooting sparked
respectful discourse looks like,
ator Diego Jasson concluded.
the student-led March for Our
even when there may be philo-
“But most important, whether
and civil discourse on campus while
Lives in Washington, D.C., and
sophical differences present.”
inside or outside of the classroom,
debating the issue of gun control.
800 similar marches across the
Both sides presented three
School on Thursday, March 29, as students promoted free speech
More specifically, students
which 17 were murdered.
never be afraid to express your
globe the previous week — making
arguments supporting their case,
voice, to be confident in your
debated whether or not the
Brunswick’s first meeting of
each of which was followed by
convictions, and to express opin-
production, distribution, and resale
its Student Union all the more
the opposing side’s response. The
ions true to your values.
of the AR-15 should be banned — a
poignant and relevant.
side making the initial argument
“We hope that you can take
then had one final opportunity to
this experience and what you’ve
respond.
learned here today beyond
topic remaining at the forefront
The anti-ban side included
of American political and societal
seniors Tim Carter, Gordon Kamer,
discussion in the weeks after
and David Sorbaro; the pro-ban
Each side concluded with a
Brunswick.”
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