Society B. J. F. organizes discussions focusing on the influence of billionaires and artificial intelligence.
Holy Cross Debate Society Revives Tradition with Controversial Topics
The Benedict Fenwick Debate Society at the College of the Holy Cross has recently revived its tradition of fostering debate on contemporary ethical, political, and social issues, with a focus on the moral duty of billionaires and the potential harms of artificial intelligence.
The society, which was established in 1846 and is the oldest campus organization, kicked off its first debate of the year on November 2nd, 2022, in the Levis Browsing Room of Dinand Library. The revived B.J.F. Society debate focused on Clarence Thomas and the state of capitalism.
The first debate of the semester was held on February 3rd, 2025, also in the Levis Browsing Room of Dinand Library. The topic was "Resolved: Billionaires have a Greater Moral Duty." Daniel Capobianco '25, Muataz Abtan '27, and Ella Murray '27 represented the negative, while Julia Wheeler, William Ulterino, and Maggie Baughman represented the negative in the second debate, which was held on February 17th, 2025, in Hogan Campus Center (Hogan 320) near the Hogan Ballroom. The second debate topic was "Resolved: the Growth of AI is Harming Society."
Common debate themes include discussions on whether billionaires have an ethical obligation to use their wealth for social good, fund charitable causes, or address systemic inequalities. Arguments weigh individual property rights against social responsibility. Debates typically focus on risks such as job displacement, loss of privacy, autonomous weaponry, and existential threats from advanced AI, versus the benefits of innovation and progress.
Nora Kelly '27 delivered a closing statement in the debate about Clarence Thomas and the state of capitalism. Liam Murphy '25, Nora Kelly '27, and Nicholas Gobo '28 represented the affirmative in the second debate, while Sam Fortier '27, Ian Sykes '28, and John Zimmermann '26 represented the affirmative.
Jacob Wu '27 served as both Staff Writer and Web Editor for the news articles about the B.J.F. Society debates. The society hosted its first public session in 20 years on Dec. 2nd, 2022.
For accurate, detailed information about the Benedict Fenwick Debate Society, its history, prominent debates, or ongoing positions, it would be best to consult Holy Cross’s official student organization pages or contact the society directly.
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