Positions

This position holds that Catalonia should become independent from Spain. It argues Catalans have a right to self-government denied by Madrid, that the region is culturally and linguistically distinct, and that — as a major net contributor to Spain — it could thrive on its own.

This position holds that cell phones increase the risk of cancer. It argues that there is enough evidence to link the two — that cancer incidence correlates with phone use, that phone radiation can raise the chance of brain tumours, and that phone companies push reassuring bad science.

This position holds that Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME) is a real illness. It argues that the condition affects millions worldwide, is recognised by bodies such as the WHO, is increasingly supported by biological evidence including post-exertional malaise, and causes severe, documented suffering.

This position holds that you should confess to cheating after a one-night stand, because cheating is wrong and a breach of trust. It argues that honesty and accountability matter — and that concealing a betrayal can violate a partner's trust even more deeply than the act itself.

This position holds that chess is a sport. It argues that competitive chess is trained for much as athletics is — years of coached study, daily preparation, opponent analysis — and that elite players even condition their bodies, since fitness shapes performance over a gruelling game.

This position holds that childhood experiences determine adult behaviour. It argues that early life encodes how a person behaves later — that a broken family breeds unhealthy relationships, that childhood lessons form one's worldview, and that early trauma leaves lasting interpersonal difficulties.

For better or worse, every adult lived through some sort of trauma their childhood. More often than not, the quality of one's childhood impacts one's adult life in terms of relationships, mental health, and how one sees the world.

This position holds that children should be homeschooled. It argues that home education can deliver higher-quality, more individual teaching, shields children from the negative environment of conventional schools, and strengthens the bond between parent and child.

This position holds that China will become the next superpower. It argues that China's exponential growth will overtake the stagnating powers of the 20th century, that it will replicate Western infrastructure, and that it will reshape the global order, challenging democracy as it rises.

This position holds that China's rise as a superpower will be peaceful. It argues China has too much to lose from conflict with the West, that its economy is deeply interconnected globally, that it already leads in many fields, and that it benefits from the rules-based order.

This position holds that churches should pay taxes. It argues that their tax-exempt status actually threatens religious freedom and breeds injustice, that taxing them would reflect modern values, and that any church not genuinely serving the common good has no claim to exemption.

Cinema is an art form just like any other. It takes creativity and an artistic mind to craft a film; from lighting to camera angles to special effects, costumes, and more, cinematography is by its very definition the art of making film. Without any of these artistic processes, there can be no film.

This position holds that climate change is real and driven by human carbon emissions. It argues that the science is clear and the evidence overwhelming — that climate models have proven accurate, that only human emissions explain the warming, and that even oil companies long knew it was real.

This position holds that college education is worth it. It argues a degree opens career doors and higher-paid work, makes financial sense over a lifetime, teaches interpersonal skills and how to learn, and brings intangible benefits that improve quality of life.

Legacy admissions preferences should be ended immediately. They perpetuate harm towards minority students, students of lower-income, and lesser means. They give more privilege to those already privileged and reduce college admissions into unethical financial transactions.

This position holds that comic books should be political. It argues that, though fictional, comics are grounded in reality, and that politics is an unavoidable part of life — that engaging with it, as the X-Men long have, makes comics more relatable and meaningful, not less.

Comma usage is a unifying standard for language, and inconsistencies detract from the meaning of a sentence. Commas used at a whim are misplaced in academia and formal writing, but they also lead to immense miscommunication in everyday life.

This position holds that communism could be viable in the United States. It argues that American capitalism allows an unjust distribution of wealth that damages society, and that a communist system — by protecting people against job insecurity — could offer a fairer alternative.

Passports cannot be handed out indiscriminately, but those with a blood or ancestral connection to a country should not have their right to citizenship obstructed. Jus Sanguinis, or citizenship of descent, is commonplace is many countries, but rarely goes far enough- it should be extended to the capability of nations such as Ireland or Italy.

This position holds that Confederate monuments should be removed. It argues that the statues represent and celebrate slavery and a painful history of abuse, and that the South does not need them to honour its culture — better, less divisive symbols of Southern pride are available.

This position holds that coronavirus is aggravating Islamophobia in India. It argues that the outbreak has inflamed tensions raised by the Delhi riots, that government policies set the scene for prejudice to grow, and that a Muslim gathering has been scapegoated for spreading the virus.

This position holds that corporal punishment is good. It argues that, administered correctly, it is a powerful and easily applied deterrent against crime and misbehaviour — and that some people respond to nothing else, making physical punishment uniquely effective in those cases.

Corporations are conversible agents. Their message can be different from that of the individuals that make up the corporation. They also erode individuality. Therefore, corporations must have defined morals to fill the ethical space left by the individual.

Immigrants fill niches in the labor market, work hard to build a better life for themselves, and ultimately boost the host country's economy. Immigrants benefit the high-tech and biotech industries too. They also contribute to education and philanthropy. There are purely philosophical cases for immigration as well, such as the egalitarian case and the libertarian case.

This position holds that Covid-19 set back women's equality. Its argument is that the pandemic hit women hardest on both sides of the labour market — disproportionately costing them jobs in shut-down sectors like hospitality, while exposing them disproportionately on the essential-worker front line.

This position holds that creationism should be taught in schools in some capacity. It argues schools cannot simply ignore it, that it fits within philosophy or religion courses, that it need not conflict with evolution, and that it belongs alongside other theories.

Cursive is an art form and a skill, and there is value in making sure children have a basic knowledge of certain skills. In addition, cursive has connections to many forms of learning.

Just like privacy is a human right, personal data should be considered private and only given out at the user's discretion. No one would expect it to be okay to steal someone's social security number, for example, so why is personal data any different? Data rights are human rights because we have a right to keep our personal lives and information private.

Recent events, including the 2020 Presidential Election and how the Covid-19 pandemic has been handled, prove that democracy in America is on the decline. Trump and others have attacked democracy's very core, and have managed to manipulate it to serve their own ends. When democracy fails to keep our government in check, then it is time to admit that it is no longer working. The American people need to stop being complacent and fight to eliminate all threats to democracy, or come up with something new.

This position holds that the West still values human rights, even though Western and non-Western countries understand them differently. It argues that human rights express particular Western norms, and that different countries set different goals — so divergence is not the same as abandonment.

This position holds that human destruction of nature caused the coronavirus pandemic. It argues that environmental devastation and practices such as eating wild meat push humans and animals together, and that without this damage the COVID-19 outbreak would not have occurred.

Dickens' focus in his novels and journalism was often on issues affecting the growing Victorian working classes, such as poor working conditions and an unjust legal system. Through this campaigning, he was able to attract significant public attention and helped improve living conditions for Londoners living in slums.

This position holds that direct democracy is superior to representative democracy. It argues that letting citizens vote directly best reflects the people's will — encouraging open participation, fostering civic responsibility, and giving people more control over their own lives.

Disney movies are racist because they fail to represent other cultures from the cultures' own perspective. They white-wash characters, take creative liberties with cultural stories and themes, and appropriate culture to serve their own ends.

This position holds that Donald Trump has been a good president. Its arguments point to his record over four years: standing up for American interests abroad, keeping his campaign promises, and what supporters regard as his successful management of the economy.