Frederick Douglass Institute Debate Society Earns Top Honors at PASSHE Arts Conference

frederick douglass debate

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on April 17, 2025, No Comments

The Frederick Douglass Institute (FDI) Debate Society at East Stroudsburg University took home the top prize at the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education’s (PASSHE) FDI Research and Creative Arts Conference on April 3-4 at PennWest Clarion University.

Debating the topic, “The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education should mandate the use of artificial intelligence in higher education,” the duo of Isaiah Sampson and Arianna Gonzalez bested 10 other teams from competing PASSHE institutions to receive first place in the 11th annual Douglass Debates.

Additional teams of ESU FDI Debate Society members who competed were Dynasia Speaks and Tai Goodwin-Okaome, and Peterson De Oliveira and Adam Alaoui. Amaya Cox served as an alternate.

Associate Professor of English Laura Kieselbach, Ph.D., the team’s advisor, and Assistant Professor of Communication Kristopher R. Weeks, Ph.D., worked with the group to prepare in the weeks leading up to the debate.

East Stroudsburg University’s Frederick Douglass Institute is part of a PASSHE collaborative established to promote multiculturalism, foster inclusive communities, and build transformative connections.