Event Organizers: Daniel Throop (NPDL), Brittany LaMarr (NPDL), Dr. Lee Perlman (MIT), Dr. Ryan Thornell (Maine DOC), Professor John Katsulas(BC, NPDL), & Adam Lee (BC, NPDL)

Resolved: “The United States should adopt a constitutional amendment to require term limits for justices of the Supreme Court”.

MIT argued in the affirmative on this topic and Maine DOC in the negative.

The Judging Panel consisted of:

1.Chief Judge: Jarrrod Atchison. Director of Debate at Wake Forest University, Director of Graduate Studies, and President of the American Forensic Association.
2. Dale Herbeck: Professor of Communication at Northeastern University, former Director of Debate at Boston College, and former editor of Argumentation and Advocacy.
3. Mikaela Malsin: Director of Debate at Emory University and Coach of the Top Speaker at the 2022 National Debate Tournament
4. Ed Lee III: Senior Director of Alben W. Barkley Forum for Debate Deliberation and Dialogue, and 3-time recipient of the James Unger Award given to the Coach of the best debate team in the
country.
5. Sherry Hall: Administrative Director of Harvard University’s Debate Council and National Debate Tournament Board of Trustees member & Treasurer

MIT Debate Team:

1. Jessica Wang: 3rd year student studying mechanical engineering. Originally from Austin,TX.
2. Luka Braculj: 3rd year student studying political science & mathematics. From Split, Croatia.
3. Matilda Swanson: 2nd year student studying bioengineering/mechanical engineering. Participates in animation and student government. From Snowmass, CO.
4. Carl Cao: 1st year graduate student studying finance. Also attended Vassar College in NY.
5. Santi Cantu: 3rd year student studying economics. Originally from Houston, TX.

Maine DOC Debate Team:

1.Victoria Scott (Co-Captain): From Knox County, Maine. A pre-law concentrated Justice Studies student with a paralegal certificate, minoring in Psychology, and a member of the University of Maine at Augusta Prison Education Partnership Advisory Board. Victoria’s academic aspirations are to blend diverse fields of study such as law, psychology, health, and public policy/administration into a comprehensive interdisciplinary base of knowledge that contributes to the creation of symbiotic social systems with egalitarian values.

2. Chandler Dugal (Co-Captain): Originally from Sidney, Maine. Works within Maine Correctional Center (MCC) as a counsel substitute (a pseudo advocate who advises residents during in-house disciplinary hearings) an assistant service-dog trainer, and as a peer tutor in the educational department. Chandler graduated from James Madison University in 2018 with a B.A. in History and is currently a dual-enrolled student in Paralegal Studies from the University of Maine at Augusta and a MPA student through Penn State with plans to attend law school upon release.

3. Shaun Libby: Originally from Standish, Maine, Shaun has been incarcerated at Maine State Prison for the past 24 years where he has earned a bachelor’s degree in the Science of Mental Health & Human Services from the University of Maine at Augusta and is now working on obtaining a graduate degree in Youth Development from Michigan State University.

4. Daniel Porter: Enrolled at the University of Maine at Orono in the Interdisciplinary Studies: Peace and Reconciliation Master’s Program. Also works as a fine furniture maker, education coordinator/instructor, and service dog trainer for Little Angels Service Dogs.

5. Tatyana Tomlison: Originally from Brooklyn, NY. Studying Business Management and Entrepreneurship with plans of starting her own clothing business.

6. Anita Volpe: Originally from Midcoast, Maine. Holds a B.A. and J.D. as a retired attorney and team researcher and alternate.

All of these amazing human beings with diverse backgrounds and life experiences came together and personified the power of uncaged minds and unrestrained humanity. It was awesome to witness and the NPDL thanks all of these incredible participants for creating such a transcendent collaborative experience.