Society of B. J. F. Organizes Discussions on Wealthy Individuals and Advanced Technology
The Benedict Fenwick Debate Society, a venerable institution established in 1846, recently returned from a 20-year hiatus and has been making waves in the campus community with a series of engaging debates. The society's first debate of the semester, held on February 3, 2025, in the Levis Browsing Room of Dinand Library, focused on the topic "Resolved: Billionaires have a Greater Moral Duty."
Sam Fortier '27, Ian Sykes '28, and John Zimmermann '26 represented the affirmative, arguing that billionaires, due to their disproportionate economic power and resources, bear a greater moral responsibility to address social inequality, environmental sustainability, and humanitarian causes. Their counterparts, Daniel Capobianco '25, Muataz Abtan '27, and Ella Murray '27, argued that moral duties are equal for all individuals, regardless of wealth.
Capobianco, in his closing statement, declared, "Ladies and gentlemen, you have all been fooled, deceived, hoodwinked, and tricked." However, no verdict was reached in the debate, as the judges found no clear winner on technical grounds.
The society's second debate, held on March 10, 2025, tackled the topic "Resolved: the Growth of AI is Harming Society." In this debate, Liam Murphy '25, Nora Kelly '27, and Nicholas Gobo '28 represented the affirmative, arguing that AI has enabled unethical practices and has been promulgated by a few ambitious corporations. Julia Wheeler, William Ulterino, and Maggie Baughman represented the negative, countering that AI has opened new frontiers of innovation, including those crucial to advancements in healthcare, and that governments can issue regulations to counteract malicious usage of it. Judge Stueber found technical grounds for the negative in this debate.
The third debate of the year, held on November 2, 2025, was on the topic "Resolved: Greek life on campus should be abolished." The results of this debate were not specified as having a verdict.
The debates hosted by the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society have been a lively addition to campus life, providing students with opportunities to engage in thoughtful discussions on various topics, including the 2024 presidential election, which was also debated but without a specified verdict. The debates are hosted by Jacob Wu '27, Staff Writer and Web Editor.
The society's debates are open to the public, and their next session is eagerly anticipated by the campus community. For those interested in the specific arguments presented in these debates, the society encourages consulting the debate event's official recordings, transcripts, or contacting the society directly.
- The Benedict Fenwick Debate Society, a historical institution tackling contemporary issues like the growth of AI and Greek life on campus, has become a significant part of education-and-self-development opportunities for students.
- The society's debates, such as the one focusing on the 2024 presidential election, offer learning experiences that are crucial for lifelong-learning and general-news knowledge.
- The re-emergence of the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society has brought innovative thought processes to the campus community regarding policy-and-legislation and politics, particularly on the topic of billionaires' moral duties.
- Online-education platforms, though prevalent, may lack the interactive and engaging features that the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society provides to students, fostering a sense of community and critical thinking.
- The society's debates, open to the public, invite participants to share their opinions and participate in debate events, which creates an environment conducive to events and news worth following.
- In the digital age, where access to information is abundant but authentic discussion remains scarce, the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society stands out as an essential platform for constructive conversations and thoughtful learning.
