StateofVermont
HouseofRepresentatives
Montpelier,Vermont
ConcurrentHouseResolution
H.C.R.97
OfferedbyCommitteeonCorrectionsandInstitutions
HouseconcurrentresolutioncongratulatingtheSouthernStateCorrectionalFacility’sdebateteamon
itsNationalPrisonDebateLeaguevictoryoverWakeForestUniversity
Whereas,inaninnovativeprojectthatCommissionerofCorrectionsNicholasDemldescribedas
“show[ing]thetransformativepowerofeducation,”theSouthernStateCorrectionalFacility(SSCF),in
associationwiththeNationalPrisonDebateLeague(NPDL),conductedasemester-long,three-college-
creditcourseinstructingtheenrolleesontheartofcollegiatedebate, and
Whereas,theNPDL“connectsincarceratedindividualswithcollegiatedebateprograms,sharpening
criticalthinking[,]…spurringcreativity[,]reduc[ing]recidivism[,]and,ultimately,reshap[ing]
lives,” and
Whereas,astheexcitingcoursehighlight,sixoftheSSCFstudentsengagedinavirtuallytransmitted
debateagainstastudentteamfromWakeForestUniversityinWinston-Salem,NorthCarolina, and
Whereas,thetopicofthedebatewastheNorwegianModelofCorrections,“whichemphasizes
rehabilitationandpersonalagency,”andeachteamconsultedexpertsinpreparationforthedebate, and
Whereas,uponthedebate’scompletion,apanelofindependentjudgesscoredallaspectsofeach
team’sperformanceanddeclaredtheSSCFteamthewinner,anoutstandingaccoladeforthis
correctionalfacilityteam, and
Whereas,thiswell-deservedvictoryisattributedbothtotheSSCFdebaters’dedicationand
studiousnessandtotheNPDL’sintensivefour-monthcurriculum“focusedoncivicengagement,
empowerment,conflictresolution,researchskills,andpeerleadership,” and
Whereas,thecourse’ssuccessreflectsNPDLExecutiveDirectorDanielThroop’sobservationthat
“therearenoinferiorminds,onlyunequalopportunities,”nowthereforebeit
ResolvedbytheSenateandHouseofRepresentatives:
ThattheGeneralAssemblycongratulatestheSouthernStateCorrectionalFacility’sdebateteamon
itsNationalPrisonDebateLeaguevictoryoverWakeForestUniversity,andbeitfurther
Resolved:ThattheSecretaryofStatebedirectedtosendacopyofthisresolutiontothe
CommissionerofCorrections,theSuperintendentoftheSouthernStateCorrectionalFacility,andeach
memberofthewinningteam.