Sketchy as it still is, the Student Council's plan for a political debate council--roughly like those at Princeton, Oxford, and Cambridge--sounds like a fine idea. There is at present no inter-denominational political debate at Harvard, or indeed, political debate of any sort. And debates in the proposed union will be divided along "Ideological, rather than political lines," a goal that at least increases the chances that substantive and interesting things will get said, and little politicking done.
One of the risks such a union runs is the danger of becoming too formalized; while formal debate has an intrinsic appeal for some people, it is simply boring to those who feel that winning discussions is usually beside the point. Therefore it would be best if the union combined programs of outside speakers and student discussions in as informal a manner as possible.
Since beginnings are important, the Student Council would do well to start with a series of debate-discussions on a topical issue like, say, the Congo, drawing out as many and contradictory opinions from African students here as it can get. But however it begins, the Council has hit upon an idea with real merit.
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Soc Rel 148-149
