By Morgan Hennessey – Columns Editor

It is no dispute that Debate Club is becoming a popular club among students at Jonathan Law.

Debate Club is an opportunity for opinionated students, students who are interested in current events, and really anyone who is interested in learning about what is going on in today’s society.

“The number one goal for this club is to include everybody and teach them how to play devil’s advocate,” senior and club president Josh Weizel said. “It’s good to get everybody together to accept each other’s beliefs.”

Weizel helped in getting the club started, and has been the Debate Club president since last year when he was a junior.

Mr. Evanko, one of the club’s advisors and a history teacher at Law, admits that sometimes he gives students sides in the debate that they do not necessarily agree with. He stresses the importance of understanding something that might not fit in with your beliefs.

The club’s members have varying opinions on all the issues they cover, which range from education spending to cybersecurity to ISIS. Regardless of whether the students are well educated on the topic or not, they must take time to research both sides of the debate.

“I feel like it teaches them a lot of empathy,” said Evanko, who advises the club along with Miss Mannion. “It also strengthens their critical thinking skills.”

Weizel encourages students to join the Debate Club for other reasons as well.

“You learn a lot about yourself as well as the other students,” Weizel said. “It’s also important to know about issues are currently going on that don’t affect us now, but will affect us later on in life.”

Weizel said that some future debate topics are skyrocketing taxes and the overwhelming amount of national debt in the United States.

Both Weizel and Evanko were hoping to expand the club this year, but they already doubled the size of members since last year. Now they are looking to branch out and compete in debates with other high schools in the area.

Debate Club meets after school every Monday at 2:15 p.m. and they are always looking for members who are interested in well-researched, spirited debate between friends. They urge all students looking for a fun, beneficial pastime sit in on a meeting.

“It’s a place to discuss and try to understand the world around you in a much deeper way,” Evanko said.

(Photo courtesy bp.blogspot.com)