Society of BJF organizes discussions on presidential age limit, firearm legislation, and legacy acceptance practices at Holy Cross
The Benedict Joseph Fenwick Debating Society, established in 1846, has made a triumphant return to Holy Cross campus after a 20-year hiatus. The society, which became defunct around 2003, was rejuvenated in 2023, and since then, it has been actively hosting debates on a variety of topics.
On February 10, the society held its first practice session of the semester, where debates revolved around the controversial issue of gun policy, specifically whether civilian AR-15 ownership should be illegal. The session was participated in by Shanil Perez Lantigua '24, Aidan Traverse '26, Ashwin Prabaharan '26, and Habiba Mohamed '27.
The debates hosted by the B.J.F. Society encompassed a wide range of topics, including an age cap for the U.S. presidency, gun policy, and legacy admissions preferences at Holy Cross. One of the debates focused on the clash between Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Biden over immigration, while another discussed standardized testing in college admissions. The society also delved into the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in college admissions.
Attorney Neil Cawley '91 and History professor Cynthia V. Hooper served as guest judges for the debates, while co-chair Owen Whaley '24 moderated the event. After each performance, Cawley and Hooper offered extensive feedback to the debaters.
The society's return to campus was reported by Kate Santini '27, Katie Sullivan '27, and Owen Whaley '24. On February 24, the B.J.F. Society hosted debates in the Levis Browsing Room of Dinand Library. The final debate questioned whether Holy Cross should eliminate legacy preferences in admissions and was participated in by Lucas Giarrusso '25 and Emmeline Lignowski '24.
The winner of each debate was determined via an anonymous audience poll. The Supreme Court's decision to overturn race-based affirmative action in college admissions in June 2022 prompted renewed calls for the end of legacy admissions, making the final debate particularly relevant.
During the debate on an age cap for the U.S. presidency, Peter LaBorin '26 argued that an age cap would be useless, akin to "placing a band-aid on a car crash."
The B.J.F. Society's activities are not limited to topics related to affirmative action or legacy admissions. Interested individuals can find information about future debates by following the B.J.F. Society on Instagram (@thebjfsociety) or by contacting [email protected]. The society's debates are covered in the "News" section of the Holy Cross publication.
Co-chair Owen Whaley expressed pride in the debaters and the event's outcome, and looked forward to future sessions. The Benedict Joseph Fenwick Debating Society is once again a vibrant part of the Holy Cross community, providing a platform for students to engage in thoughtful discussions on a wide range of topics.
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