HWS News
20 March 2025 2025 HWS Round Robin
This April, HWS welcomes top-tier debaters from around the world for HWS Round Robin.
The HWS Debate Team will once again turn campus into a global stage, welcoming top-tier debaters from across five continents for the 2025 HWS Round Robin on April 5 and 6. Known as one of the most prestigious debate tournaments in the world, the event draws elite competitors from powerhouse institutions like Cambridge, Harvard, Stanford and the University of Sydney.
As hosts, HWS Debate team members serve in critical roles to make the tournament happen, including adjudication and tabbing, led by Director of HWS Debate Daniel Schonning '16.
All rounds are open to the public. The final round will be held on Sunday, April 6 at 4:30 p.m. in Froelich Hall. Find more times and locations on the HWS Round Robin Facebook Page here.
HWS community members are also invited to join the keynote presentation by Andrew Seligsohn, president of Public Agenda. His talk, titled "Acting for Democracy in Anti-Democratic Times,” will be held on Saturday at 4-5:30 p.m. in Froelich Hall.
As a tournament of champions, every team competing at Round Robin must have previously ranked in national or international tournaments.
The tournament has a unique format. Unlike single-elimination tournaments, the Round Robin guarantees that every team faces off against multiple opponents, creating a high-energy and intellectually charged atmosphere. The 2025 tournament will feature 16 elite teams.
This year’s roster includes debaters from the following institutions. A few universities are sending multiple teams:
- Cambridge University (England)
- Harvard University
- Manchester University (England)
- McGill University (Canada)
- Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)
- National University of Singapore
- Oxford University (England)
- Princeton University
- Stanford University
- The Open University of Israel
- Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)
- University of Chicago
- University Philosophical Society (Ireland)
- University of Sydney Union (Australia)
HWS Round Robin uses the British Parliamentary (BP) style, where four teams, two in favor of a motion and two against, battle for argumentative supremacy. With only 15 minutes to prepare before each round, competitors must rely on sharp reasoning, quick thinking and deep knowledge to craft compelling cases on the spot.
