Recently, the final round of NEU’s 2025 Campus Debate Competition took place in the multifunctional hall of the Student Activity Center on the Nanhu Campus, drawing an audience of over 300 students.
The debate centered on the topic: “Should life follow a defined path, or should it be an open wilderness?” Arguing for the topic, the team from the Foreign Studies College supported the idea that “life should follow a defined path,” while the team from the School of Metallurgy opposed,advocating that “life should be an open wilderness.” The debate delved into core issues such as individual agency versus societal expectations, and the balance between freedom and responsibility. The judging panel featured NEU alumnus and former debate team captain Liu Huashuo, Associate Professor and doctoral advisor Wang Guang from the School of Humanities and Law, and debate association advisor Yan Sidi. After the competition, the judges offered in-depth feedback on both the topic and the debaters’ performances.
The 2025 Campus Debate Competition drew participation from 19 debate teams representing different schools across NEU. Over the course of 59 matches—including group rounds, eliminations, semifinals, and the final—the team from the School of Metallurgy emerged as the champion thanks to their outstanding performance. The runner-up title went to the Foreign Studies College, while the College of Information Science and Engineering and the School of Architecture shared third place honors. Liu Yishan from the School of Metallurgy and Lin Shuchang from the Foreign Studies College won the “Best Debaters of the Final,” with LiuYishan also earning the title of “Best Debater of the Tournament.”
As a key initiative to enhance students’ communicationand critical thinking skills, the campus debate competition seeks to foster a culture of truth-seeking and the fearless
exchange of ideas—encouraging NEU students to grow intothoughtful, eloquent, and courageous voices of the new generation.
