3 Pitt students competed at the Gorlok Gala debate tournament

Three first-year students — Natalie Rose, Rosalind Dong and Wenhao “Dannie” Lyu — competed at the 26th annual Gorlok Gala. More than 30 colleges and universities participated in the competition, which is one of the most competitive tournaments of the regular debate season.

Rose brought home nearly perfect scores in the preliminary rounds of the impromptu and persuasive speaking categories. She won a semifinalist award and qualified for the national tournament in the impromptu category.

Dong and Lyu both won several preliminary rounds as they debated whether the U.S. federal government should substantially reduce its nuclear weapons.

The University’s William Pitt Debating Union is one of the oldest of its kind in the nation, having formed in 1912. The co-curricular program now serves as a hub for a wide range of speech and debate activities, including intercollegiate competitive speech and debate, public debate and debate outreach. Here’s how to join.