McGill student Joe McGrade was named top public speaker at the annual World Universities Debating Championship held in Manila, Philippines this year. In addition to that honour, he and his debating partner Emma O’Rourke-Friel ranked as the top Canadian team out of roughly 390 teams from over 40 nations. 

McGrade, U2 economics, is part of a long history of competitive success in the McGill Debating Union, which has been in existence since 1927. Many members have gone on to become champions of prestigious tournaments, including both the Canadian National and the North American debating championships. The group has also featured prominent figures such as Leonard Cohen. 

“I was really surprised by how well I did,” McGrade said of his performance. 

The public speaking section of the competition allows debaters to take a respite from the intense debating. Participants are required to make a five minute speech that entertains, endears, or inspires an audience of debaters. This performance is then judged by a panel based on a set of criteria, which vary from tournament to tournament.  

To become the top speaker from among 60 other competitors, McGrade humorously distinguished between “First-World Problems” and “Third-World Problems” and joked about some observations he made while walking around the impoverished neighbourhoods of Manila and inside the hotel where the debaters stayed. He was surprised at the poverty-stricken situation in the city, and put into perspective the relatively insignificant complaints that were made by some debaters.  

“Basically, the conclusion is that we’re all brats,” McGrade said as he recounted his story. 

The selection process for debating in “Worlds,” as the tournament is affectionately called by debaters, is determined by the competition organizers. Once McGill received slots for three teams, a committee of McGill debaters chose who to send after several debate rounds and an examinationof past performance. McGrade and O’Rourke-Friel initially did not make the team representing McGill and were able to go because one of the chosen teams dropped out.  

Although he has debated since the seventh grade, switching between British Parliamentary style and Model United Nations style, the “Worlds” style demands an extremely high level of debating skills that often thwart success for even the most skilful debaters. What made it even more outstanding is that McGrade has only had two years of experience in collegial debating.  

In British Parliamentary debating, debaters are assigned one of four speaking positions and are given a topic. They are expected to defend their side, fulfil their roles, engage with opponents’ arguments, all with 15 minutes of preparation. Superb note-taking skill and eloquence are also very important, especially at the top level. 

What seems to have edged McGrade toward success in this tournament was his confidence and his chemistry with his partner, O’Rourke-Friel, U3 history. As an economics major, his analysis of many economic topics in debating are often profound, but the more political subjects tend to elude him. Fortunately, in this partnership, O’Rourke-Friel was often able to complement McGrade and elaborate on points that he raised, a factor which he feels contributed greatly to their success. 

“You really have to believe in what you’re saying,” McGrade said. “But there are things that I am weaker at, [and] I’m very happy that Emma is always there to fill in these gaps.”