By Sarah Hammad and Mihika Dabhade – Staff Reporters 

Jonathan Law students are introducing a new Debate Club led by sophomore Presidents Anwita Puttam and Ella Hopkins-Gianotti. 

The club aims to help students improve public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership skills while competing against other schools in Connecticut. Club Advisor Mrs. Goldbeck said the idea for the club came from the student leaders themselves. 

“I want to start by saying the students, Ella Hopkins-Gianotti and Anwita Puttam, were the reason why the Debate Club started,” Goldbeck said. “Their passion to get the students of Law to compete is palpable.” 

The club is currently preparing for the 2026-2027 school year and hopes to build at least two teams of 10 students. Members will also practice over the summer before the competition. 

Goldbeck said that funding the competitions will be a major goal for the club. 

“In order for students to enter the competition, the club members will need to secure sponsors for each month’s competition,” Goldbeck said. 

Hopkins-Gianotti said that one of her goals for this year is to grow membership and create a positive environment for students. 

“My goals for Debate Club as a whole are increasing our membership next year and making sure that everyone who joins has a good experience,” Hopkins-Gianotti said. 

She also hopes to keep meetings interesting with engaging mock debates.

“My goal as President is to find the most interesting topics to do our mock debates on to keep our members captivated,” Hopkins-Gianotti said. 

Puttam said she hopes the club continues even when the current members graduate. 

“Our goal for Debate Club is to make it an up-and-running club that will continue after we graduate,” Puttam said. 

Freshman member Shloka Vanga said that she is excited and hopes the club will help her strengthen her confidence and speaking skills. 

“I hope to improve my debate, public speaking, and research skills to progress in leadership positions with confidence,” Vanga said. “I am most excited to return to debating after two years and go to competitions.”

Sophomore member Arisha Ahmed said she hopes the club will help students get different perspectives on important issues. 

“By joining this club I hope to gain a learning experience from the real world that we look into and debate about,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed said a personal goal she has this year is to be more confident during debates and discussions. 

“A personal goal for being a member of debate club is to be able to better understand different people’s insights while also standing my ground during a debate or discussion,” Ahmed said. 

Students will spend the year researching topics, practicing arguments, and preparing for monthly competitions. The club plans to compete in the Connecticut Debate Association competitions beginning in October. 

“If we win, we will continue to go through the bracket system as far as we can,” Hopkins-Gianotti said. 

Both leaders believe that the club will help students build communication and leadership skills while creating a stronger community at Law.