Rutgers University–Newark Debate Team Excels at Morehouse Year-End Championship and LSU’s Mardi Gras Classic

The Rutgers University–Newark Debate Team wrapped up a strong February with two back-to-back national tournaments, competing at the Morehouse College Social Justice Debates Year-End Championship (Feb. 7–9) and the Mardi Gras Classic at Louisiana State University–Baton Rouge (Feb. 13–17).

At Morehouse College, Alya Nassrallah represented Rutgers–Newark at the Social Justice Debates Year-End Championship, where debaters engaged in critical discussions on the topic:

• "To achieve housing justice, the United States should focus on the root causes of homelessness rather than focusing on providing immediate permanent housing and supportive services."

This championship served as the culmination of the season, bringing together top competitors to debate pressing social issues. While in Atlanta, the team also explored the city’s rich civil rights history, including dining at the legendary Paschal’s Restaurant, a historic meeting place for leaders of the Civil Rights Movement.

The following weekend, at LSU’s Mardi Gras Classic, Rutgers-Newark continued its success. Alya Nassrallah placed as the 5th Best Speaker in International Public Debate (IPDA) and advanced to the semifinals, finishing as one of the top three competitors after a close 2-1 decision loss to the tournament champion. Siya Srivastava would compete in her first ever IPDA event learning much about the format and getting some hard fought wins. Meanwhile, Moujan Moghimi delivered a standout performance in Poetry Performance, securing second place overall on both Saturday (in-person) and Sunday (video submission).

The Mardi Gras Classic, returning for the first time since 2020, was a significant moment for collegiate debate, and Rutgers-Newark’s success in its long-awaited return made the achievement even more remarkable. Beyond competition, the team explored the history and culture of Louisiana, including a French Quarter tour in New Orleans led by RUN Debate alum Hannah Stafford.

These tournaments demonstrated Rutgers-Newark’s continued excellence in debate and performance, reaffirming that its students can compete – and win – on the national stage.