More than 200 students gathered at the University of Richmond’s Tyler Haynes Commons for an exchange of open conversation and respectful discussion — everyone striving to model what a debate can look like when it’s focused on policy and ideas, and not people or personalities.

Brought together by the University of Richmond Speech and Debate Team, the College Democrats and College Republicans debated five issues: immigration, public safety, abortion, gun violence, and the role of free speech in higher education.

Working with both organizations, the Speech and Debate Team established ground rules and fostered a structured environment. Each side presented a three-minute opening argument, followed by four minutes of crosstalk, during which they directly engaged with each other on the ideas.

“Throughout the planning process, we worked with both student groups to set a format for debate that would promote healthy disagreement and even find some commonality,” said senior Kate Chasin, a Speech and Debate team member who moderated the event. “At the end, both the College Democrats and College Republicans were struck by the fact that they agreed on a lot more issues than either side anticipated.”

Throughout the evening, both groups used data to support their arguments, posed thoughtful questions, affirmed each other’s perspectives, and actively responded to one another’s points. 

The final topic on the role of free speech on college campuses enabled student debaters to demonstrate respect, engage in thoughtful exchanges, and listen to the substance of what was being said.

“UR has created the kind of environment where students can have healthy political disagreement with each other,” Chasin said. “By being at a university that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas and having the full support of the university staff to help us shape the debate with intention, we were able to host an entirely student-led civil, political debate. We're incredibly proud that we were able to do so.”

Earlier this fall, the campus community had the opportunity to witness another debate when the University of Richmond School of Law, in partnership with the Virginia State Bar Association, hosted the 2025 Virginia Attorney General Debate.

Candidates Jason Miyares and Jay Jones presented their platforms, addressed key issues, and answered questions central to Virginia voters.

The debate, held in the Modlin Center for the Art’s Camp Concert Hall, drew a capacity crowd of nearly 400 people, including faculty, staff, students, and members of the greater community. Thousands more watched the debate via the live stream. 

“This event offered our students and the broader Richmond community a front-row seat to the democratic process,” said Wendy Perdue, dean of the University of Richmond School of Law. “Debates like this remind us that public discourse can be passionate yet civil, and that engaging directly with differing ideas is at the heart of both democracy and education.”