The Hellenic American University Debate Team returns to Athens with a victory over their Rollins College counterparts in the Great Debate competition that took place November 13th at Bush Center in Rollins College, Orlando Winter Park, Florida.
The University’s team was represented in Rollins by Maro Samara (BAELL ’28), Angelos Varotsis (BSPSY ’28), Adriana Gounalaki (BSPSY ’24) and Androniki Fili (BAELL ’25) and the team’s co-coach University provost Dr. Themis Kaniklidou.
Maro and Angelos took on the opposition case for the topic “This House Believes that Presidents and Prime Ministers should be immune from criminal prosecution after they leave office”, drawing on the support and guidance of their two other teammates, who debated last year in the same competition.
The team travelled to Florida on the invitation of Rollins College and its debate coach Dr. Eric Smaw, Professor of Philosophy and Special Assistant to the Provost at Rollins College, who has been a supporter of the University’s team since its founding in 2023. Smaw’s team is a high-ranking debating powerhouse, with over 15 years of debating experience and top place finishes in national and regional championships.
Lead judge Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, presented the decision of the 7-member panel of judges following a closed-doors deliberation. She praised the Hellenic American University team for their excellent argumentation, accurate rebuttal and inspiring delivery.
The HAU debate team is co-coached by provost Dr. Themis Kaniklidou and adjunct faculty member Stephen Bacigal, and currently consists of the following members:
- Maro Samara (BAELL ’28)
- Angelos Varotsis (BSPSY’28)
- Adriana Gounalaki (BSPSY ’24)
- Androniki Fili (BAELL ’25)
- Patseli Ioanna (BAELL ’25)
- Alexandros Anastasiadis Moutinho (BAELL ’25)
- Fani-Konstantina Papanastasiou (BAELL ’27)
In a congratulatory message sent to the University community Dr. Kaniklidou commended the team for their fierce debating skills and exceptional teamwork. “We’re immensely proud of the team’s accomplishment,” she said.
Image: Pictured (from left to right): Adriana Gounalaki (BSPSY ’24), Androniki Fili (BAELL ’25), Dr. Themis Kaniklidou - Provost, Hellenic American University, Dr. Eric Smaw - Professor of Philosophy, Rollins College, Maro Samara (BAELL ’28), Angelos Varotsis (BSPSY ’28).
