July 15, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

SMC Debate Team Faces-Off With the British National Debate Team:

“Is Gender Equity Possible?” will be the topic of a debate at Santa Monica College between the English-Speaking Union’s 2015 British National Debate Team and the SMC Debate Team.

The free and public debate will be held Tuesday, Sept. 29 at 11:15 am in the Main Stage at the SMC Theatre Arts Complex (1900 Pico Blvd.).

British National Debate Team members Chessy Whalen and Matthew Willmore will argue against SMC Debate Team members Filipp Krasovsky and Stephen Sands in the parliamentary-style debate, which pits opponents two against two. Each speaker has a specific amount of time to speak, but can be interrupted by the opposing team. Audience members will be able to indicate their preferences throughout the debate – as well as vote for a team – using PollEverywhere.com on a variety of their own electronic devices.

Whalen, who just completed her three-year BA in History at Balliol College Oxford, convened the Oxford Inter-Varsity and Oxford Women’s debating competitions, was an active member of the Oxford Union Debating Society, and was a quarter finalist at the 2015 European Championships in Vienna. She recently returned from a university-sponsored research trip in Mexico, and will start work next spring at a strategy consultancy in London.

Willmore earned his LLM in Human Rights at the University of Edinburgh and works extensively as a debating coach and judge for the ESU. He won the 2014 European Championships and reached the out-rounds of numerous earlier competitions, including the semifinals of the 2013 John Smith Memorial Mace. He has also been Chief Adjudicator at numerous competitions, and taught at universities in the UK, France, and the United States.

Krasovsky is in his second year at Santa Monica College. The son of Russian immigrants who escaped Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, he placed 11th in California for congressional debate, and has won 35 other awards in public speaking – including parliamentary debate, duo oral interpretation, impromptu, extemporaneous, and Lincoln Douglas debate. He intends to transfer to UC Berkeley as an economics major, then attend law school.

Sands is also in his second year at SMC, majoring in business administration. He competed in speech and debate tournaments for 4 years while attending Granada Hills High School, received first place as best speaker in a competition at James Monroe High School in North Hills, and advanced to the finals at Duke University’s Duke Moot Court International Debate Competition, one of the largest high school moot court tournaments in the United States.

The debate topic – “Is Gender Equity Possible?” – was selected to reflect the 2015-16 SMC Global Citizenship Theme “Gender Equity: Is Equity Enough?”

The British National Debate Tour – started in 1922 by the English-Speaking Union – sends a two-person team of British students to the United States each year to debate at colleges and universities across the nation. The team is sponsored by the Committee for International Discussion and Debate (CIDD) and the National Communication Association (NCA).

The debate at Santa Monica College is sponsored by the SMC Associates Associated Students of Santa Monica College, and SMC Communication and Media Studies Department.

For more information, visit www.smc.edu/associates or call 310.434.8781.

in News
<>Related Posts

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...

Venice Beach to Host First Medal at 2028 Olympics

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Venice Beach, known for its vibrant boardwalk, will kick off the 844 ticketed events, hosting the triathlon along its coastline...

Santa Monica Man Arrested for Allegedly Exporting Electronics to Iran

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Ostovari, identified as the CEO of a Tehran-based engineering firm, allegedly orchestrated the scheme since 2018  A 66-year-old Santa Monica...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

Veterans Tech Group to Launch Los Angeles Chapter with Networking Event

July 14, 2025

July 14, 2025

Founded in San Francisco, VetsInTech operates 20 chapters nationwide and claims more than 60,000 veterans VetsInTech, a national nonprofit that...

Film Review: Jurassic World: Rebirth

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

“The story is simplistic and predictive, and that’s all it needs to be, because the age-old battle to survive the...

Santa Monica Assault Suspect Faces Multiple Charges, Authorities Seek Additional Victims

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

Marbra allegedly assaulted a 52-year-old woman on the Strand in Santa Monica, facing a felony count of assault with intent...

SM.a.r.t.Column: Does the Rand Corporation have a future in Santa Monica?

July 13, 2025

July 13, 2025

“Although no one said it outright, it is clear to all that RAND is feeling—and will continue to feel—the impact...

County Health Leaders Decry Federal Policy Barring Undocumented from Programs

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The officials argued the policy jeopardizes care for all residents, noting it could deter people—regardless of status—from seeking treatment  Leaders...

County Supervisors Move to Preserve Measure J Amid Charter Error

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

Measure J mandates that at least 10% of the county’s locally generated, unrestricted funds be allocated to community investments like...

LA Medical Center Seeks Help Identifying Unconscious Patient

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

He has been unconscious since admission, and staff have been unable to determine his identity Los Angeles General Medical Center,...

Mayor Bass Issues Directive to Protect Immigrant Communities

July 12, 2025

July 12, 2025

The order expands access to city resources for affected families and requests records from ICE, including details on arrests Mayor...

Downtown Santa Monica CEO Andrew Thomas to Step Down

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Thomas, who rejoined DTSM, Inc. in 2022, oversaw the introduction of a private security program, expanded homeless outreach, and boosted...

Conservancy to Tour Historic Miles Playhouse at State of the City Event

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

Built in 1929, the Miles Playhouse serves as the centerpiece of Lincoln Park The Santa Monica Conservancy will offer 15-minute...

Sen. Ben Allen Highlights Challenges, Economic Gains for LA28 Olympics

July 11, 2025

July 11, 2025

The remarks came during the first informational hearing of the Senate’s Special Committee on International Sporting Events State Sen. Ben...