BBC News

Harvard debate team loses to inmates

A group of New York inmates have out debated Harvard University’s team – the top-ranked club in the world.

Last month, inmates at the Eastern New York Correctional Facility challenged the Harvard team to a debate at the maximum-security lockup.

The prison offers courses taught by faculty from nearby Bard College and the inmates have formed a popular debate club.

The friendly competition ended in a win for the prison’s team.

This is not the first win for the Eastern New York Correctional team.

In the two years since starting the club they have challenged and beaten teams from the University of Vermont and the US Military Academy at West Point, with whom they have established an annual match and a budding rivalry.

  • By providing your email or phone number, you are agreeing to receive news and updates from BPI via email or text message. You may change your preferences at any time using the link found at the bottom of every email or by replying 'HELP' for help or 'STOP' to cancel text messages.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.