Veterans give debate team advice on draft

Amy Paterson / photo editor Sophomore John Magnotti and senior Piero Mannino answer questions voiced by the Sunnyside Veterans group in preparation for an upcoming debate.

The JMU debate team visited with Sunnyside’s Veterans Association on Thursday to prepare for their competition and receive feedback on their arguments. Teams at the 2005 James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizen Forum will debate whether or not the United States should reinstate a draft for compulsory military service.

In addition to practicing their arguments, the debaters had the unique opportunity to hear advice from those who experienced the draft.

"The veterans had a lot to say because they have lived through a draft," said senior Piero Mannino, who is in his fourth year on the debate team.

The veterans discussed how America’s youth should feel inclined to serve the country as a patriotic duty, Mannino said.

"Their feedback made me rethink my [opinion] on the issue," Mannino said. "I can understand their perspective."

Most of the veterans were in favor of a draft and military service because of their own experiences, Jenkins said.

"It is valuable to get other perspectives," Jenkins said. "It really got people interested [in the issue]."

The two members of the debate team who will compete in the forum presented both sides of the issue to the Veterans Association. They won’t know which side they will be debating until the competition.

"The feedback was really positive," said Eric Jenkins, professor in the school of communication studies and assistant director of the debate team. "We [received] a lot of comments."

Pete Bsumek, assistant professor in the school of communication studies and director of the debate team said, "[The advice] helped make the students’ positions stronger,"

The James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizen Forum will be held on March 16 in the Wilson Hall Auditorium. The debate is part of the James Madison Day celebration.

Teams from universities around the country will attend the forum and compete for the Madison Cup.

"We [received] a lot of comments."

Pete Bsumek, assistant professor in the school of communication studies and director of the debate team said, "[The advice] helped make the students’ positions stronger."

The James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizen Forum will be held on March 16 in the Wilson Hall Auditorium. The debate is part of the James Madison Day celebration.

Teams from universities around the country will attend the forum and compete for the Madison Cup.