Scholars Spar Over Separation of Church and State in First Debate of the Year
AAMU Honors Program Launches Debate Season with Dynamic Fall Showcase
The art of argument took center stage at Alabama A&M University as the Honors Speech & Debate League hosted its first debate of the academic year on Monday, September 15, in Buchanan Hall Auditorium.
The Fall 2025 Honors Program Debate Showcase brought together top scholars to examine one of the most enduring questions in American democracy: “The principle of separation of church and state is essential to the preservation of democracy in the United States.”
Before the formal competition began, Debate Captain Miracle Olatunji, a junior psychology major from Lagos, Nigeria, captivated the audience with an original spoken-word performance that challenged listeners with a thought-provoking question, “Do you have free will?” Her words set the tone for an evening defined by conviction, passion, and intellectual rigor.
The showcase featured a one-on-one debate format, with affirmative and negative teams presenting their positions through opening statements, rebuttals, and closing remarks. Out of the sixteen members of the Honors Speech & Debate League, eight standout scholars were selected to compete:
- Rae Bell, junior, computer science, Mobile, Alabama
- Jerryll Collins – sophomore, English, Birmingham, Alabama
- Ucheena Justin – junior, computer science, Abuja, Nigeria
- Quavion Sims – junior, criminal justice, Americus, Georgia
- Shyla Wade – sophomore, communications media, Nashville, Tennessee
- Mya Reeves – junior, biology, Olive Branch, Mississippi
- Shanel White – junior, mechanical engineering, Raleigh, North Carolina
- Chance Williams – junior, computer science, Washington, D.C.
The Honors Speech & Debate League was founded and is coached by Mrs. Carla Draper Holloway, Assistant Director of the Honors Program, whose leadership has guided the team in honing their research, critical thinking, and public speaking skills.
Judges for the event included Dr. Charlotte Teague, chairperson and associate professor of English & modern language, Dr. Kim White-Glenn, assistant professor of reading and Dr. Andrew Pham, honors faculty and assistant professor of mathematics.
After a spirited exchange of ideas, the Negative Team, which argued against the separation of church and state, swept the competition, earning both the Judge’s Champion title and the People’s Choice Award.
The Fall Debate Showcase not only marked the beginning of the league’s season but also highlighted AAMU’s tradition of preparing scholars to engage thoughtfully with complex societal issues.
(Photo L-R) Shanel White, Chance Williams, Mya Reeves, Shyla Wade, Jerryll Collins, Ucheena Justin, Quavion Sims, Rae Bell