VIDEO BY THE UCM BACKPACK JOURNALISM TEAM
(DUNDEE, SCOTLAND) – The Talking Mules Speech and Debate Team had their first Montgomery Cup debate against Edinburgh University on March 4, and their second debate in Dundee, Scotland on March 7, according to a release from the UCM backpack journalism team covering their travels.
UCM battled with Edinburgh University in their opening dual on the motion that the house regrets the “avocado generation.”

Through the debate, the team of second opposition, Tyler Slinkard and Alex Amos, representing UCM, offered the strongest argumentation. Their analysis resulted in the duo receiving the ranking of 1. The team representing second Proposition, Mark Wilson and Magnus Riley, from the University of Edinburg received the ranking of 2.
Also representing the University of Edinburgh, as the first opposition team were Sandhya Narayanan and Violet Tinnion who took the ranking of 3. The team of first proposition Gavin DePaul and Brenton Mitchell representing UCM received the ranking of 4. The teams’ debate resulted in a split decision thus the score stands Scotland 3 and UCM 3.
The Talking Mules traveled to Dundee, Scotland for their second debate of the Montgomery Cup whcih focused on social media. During the debate, the team of second proposition, Tyler Slinkard and Alex Amos, representing UCM, offered the strongest argumentation. Their analysis resulted in the duo receiving the ranking of 1.
The team representing second opposition, Daniel Thompson and Christopher Flemming, from the University of Dundee received the ranking of 2. Also representing the University of Dundee, as the first proposition team were James Ford and Rachel Cairns who took the ranking of 3. The team of first opposition Gavin DePaul and Brenton Mitchell representing UCM received the ranking of 4. The teams’ debate resulted in a split decision. Currently, the score stands Scotland 6 and UCM 6.
“We prepared to specifically talk about the main issues of social media in politics and providing links to those points rather than drifting off topic,” Gavin DePaul said.
The side proposition made a counter case about people’s behaviors with social media.
“People aren’t really making conscious decisions anymore but are becoming slaves to social media,” said James Ford, a debater from Dundee University in a closing statement of the match.
Connect to the UCM backpack journalism website and social media for articles about their upcoming debates and the cities at the 2018 Montgomery Cup.