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>>UH Manoa debate team member: We stand against any tuition increase, which is going to threaten
student access to the university.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: This motion, although it appeals to your initial sense
of saving money, if you really think about, does not work.
>>Narrator Alexadra Roth, UH Manoa student: The University of Hawaii at Manoa debate team,
arguing for and against a proposal to freeze tuition rates.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: This plan to freezing tuition is like saying lowering taxes
on the wealthiest one percent is going to increase services to the poor. It just doesn't
add up.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: We can continue to be a great school, but we can do it without
increasing the burden on the students.
>>Narrator: Reestablished in 2008 after decades inactivity, the UH Manoa debate team has quickly
developed into a nationally ranked collegiate program. And because funds are extremely tight,
UH only participates in the most prestigious competitions in the world.
>>Robert Boller, UH Manoa Assistant professor and debate coach: We've competed in Botswana,
we've competed in Istanbul, we've competed in Vermont, Oregon, Denver, Washington, California.
>>Justin Bongco, UH Mānoa debate team member: What we get to show is that the University
of Hawaii does have talent and we get to pit that talent against Stanford, Yale, Harvard
and whoever else wants to come toe-to-toe and I think that we do intellectually stand
up.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: Students wishing to partake, in the privilege of higher education,
and reap the rewards, must be willing to pay their share.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: We think when students have to work two or three jobs to
get through school that divides their attention.
>>Narrator: Supported by UH Manoa's Debate and Forensic Society and the Department of
Communicology, the debate team is example of the amazing array of opportunities UH offers
its students.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: I'll take you point.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: You said education is the best interest, but isn't true that
I would pay less interest on a car loan than I would for an education, why would you throw
students ...
>>UH Manoa debate team member: Thank you, thank you, thank you
>>Sterling Higa, UH Manoa debate team member: The ability to engage in these debates and
kind of fight against like dogma and really expand our ability to argue effectively is
one I think that's been beneficial to me. I think that everybody in the organization
benefits a lot from what we do.
>>Boller: I see them develop at such a rapid rate, intellectually, academically, professionally,
you know, in their communication skills.
>>Narrator: The team, which any UH Manoa student can tryout for, is also committed to hosting
a local intercollegiate league and assisting at speech and debate events for local elementary,
middle and high school students.
>>Boller: When they leave the university, I think they are the types of students we
want to represent UH Manoa.
>>Narrator: As for the debate on the tuition freeze
>>UH Manoa debate team member: If a state does not have the money, it will not be able
to give it.
>>Narrator: The team in favor of the freeze won, but the real winners were those who attended
and witnessed a civil, articulate and highly educated discussion on an issue critical to
the university.
>>UH Manoa debate team member: In this time of need, we need more, and not less conversation.
We're very pleased that you have come here to be part of the conversation todam