AAMU Scholars to Debate Government Regulation of Social Media and Free Speech
Honors Program to Host Black History Month Debate Showcase
In celebration of Black History Month, 51AV A&M University Honors Program will present its highly anticipated Honors Debate Showcase on Monday, February 24, at 6:00 p.m. in Buchanan Hall. Featuring the Honors Speech & Debate Society, this annual event will bring together top student debaters to tackle a pressing national issue: “Should the U.S. government regulate social media platforms to combat misinformation, even at the risk of restricting free speech?”
The showcase will feature an engaging one-on-one debate format, with selected Honors Scholars presenting affirmative and negative arguments across three structured rounds: opening statements, rebuttals, and closing remarks.
Eighteen scholars participate in the Honors Speech & Debate Society, a prestigious program that hones research, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. For this showcase, eight standout debaters will compete. Debate Captain Miracle Olatunji, a sophomore Psychology major from Ota Ogun, Nigeria, will lead the affirmative team. Chance Williams, a junior Computer Science major from Washington, D.C., will anchor the opposing team, arguing against government regulation.
The full Honors Speech & Debate Society team includes:
- Rae Bell – Sophomore, Computer Science, Mobile, AL
- GeKhiya Brown – Freshman, Communications Media, Pensacola
- Jerryll Collins – Freshman, English, Birmingham, AL
- Kelvin Edwards – Freshman, Political Science, Mobile, AL
- Karizma Harris – Sophomore, Elementary Education, Chicago
- Waldon Jarah – Sophomore, Business Administration, Fort Worth
- Tatenda Joseph – Sophomore, Electrical Engineering, Gweru, Zimbabwe
- Lydia Kennemer – Sophomore, Biology, Huntsville, AL
- Nancy Mbomson – Sophomore, Biology, Lagos, Nigeria
- Alivia Morris – Freshman, Political Science, Clarksville, TN
- Kennedi Pugh – Junior, English, Stockbridge, GA
- Quavion Sims – Sophomore, Criminal Justice, Americus, GA
- Shyla Wade – Freshman, Communications Media, Nashville, TN
- Shanel White – Sophomore, Mechanical Engineering, Raleigh, NC
- Katelyn Whitley – Freshman, Sports Management, Chicago
- Monica Williams – Freshman, English, Tuscaloosa, AL
A panel of faculty judges will evaluate the debates, with winners announced and a
trophy presentation honoring both judges' choice and the people’s choice winners.
(Photo L-R) Katelyn Whitley, Lydia Kennemer, Jarah Waldon, Alivia Morris, Karizma
Harris, Shyla Wade, Miracle Olatunji, Quavion Sims, GeKhiya Brown, Rae Bell, Monica
Williams, Shanel White, Kelvin Edwards