Great debaters: JCSU first HBCU to win NC Ethics Bowl

NORTH CAROLINA INDEPENDENT COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ETHICS BOWL

Johnson C. Smith University’s team of Jaslynn Vorachith, Holiness Mhlanga, Christian Smith, Marvin Brown and Alastair Park won the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Ethics Bowl.

Johnson C. Smith University’s debate team set a milestone in argument.

JCSU is the first historically Black college or university to win the North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities Ethics Bowl in its 15-year history. Teams from 18 schools competed at the state legislative complex for two days of debate centered on the theme “Ethics in Leadership.” JCSU, the first HBCU to reach the final round, topped Catawba College in the semifinal and North Carolina Wesleyan University in the finale.

“I looked at this historic win as a moment of progress for all students at JCSU,” said Marvin Brown, one of five team members along with captain Holiness Mhlanga, Alastair Park, Christian Smith and Jaslynn Vorachith. “It reminds us that excellence lives here at 100 Beatties Ford Road. Hard work is being done here.”

Debate teams typically consist of groups of students who compete in structured arguments for or against a topic, usually with of two to three speakers per side. Teams research, prepare, and deliver speeches to persuade judges. The debaters analyze topics, research evidence, and make arguments within a time limit in debate styles that include Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Parliamentary debate.

The competition for the first time used a digital scoring system in which judges leveraged tablets for real-time submission and faster tabulation of results.

“I am still in shock from the win,” Mhlanga said. “I believe this year worked not because of effort but because of passion. Each of us connected on a more personal level. We didn’t see each other as teammates we saw each other as people.  Because we saw each other as people, we appreciated the differences we all brought to the team.  Through channeling all these differences is what made us a unique team.”

The tournament kicked off with a keynote address by North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green, who shared personal experiences on the challenges to ethical leadership.

“The Ethics Bowl is a showcase of the NCICU experience, and Johnson C. Smith’s outstanding team presentations during our 15th anniversary year were remarkable,” NCICU President A. Hope Williams said. “This event highlights the intellectual rigor and leadership potential across our 36 campuses. We are incredibly proud of all our participants for their ability to navigate difficult ethical landscapes with integrity, collaboration, and profound critical thinking.”

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