For months now, the debate team has been competing at the college level, but not under the name of Har-Ber High School. As a result of an Arkansas Activities Association violation preventing high school students from competing against college students, the team has been debating under the name Northwest Arkansas Forensics debate team since the start of the 2012-13 school year.

“I think that since we are competing academically that we should be allowed to compete at the college level,” said senior Blake Tucker. “It also makes us better to compete at a higher level because we destroy anybody we compete against at the high school level.”

Change could be coming soon for debate students as a result of Senate Bill 881. The bill would authorize a school district’s board of directors to allow students involved in extracurricular academic activities to participate in an academic competition with college students.

“Competing at a college level challenges us and most of time we compete well at the higher level,” said junior Abby Rice. “If the bill were to be passed, it would help us tremendously and allow us to compete under the name of our high school.”

Introduced and read on March 8, 2013, the bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Education waiting further action.

“Any bill that allows students to perform at a level that meets their standard of excellence and enhances that quality of education is inherently good,” said senior Nathan Hernandez.

There is no estimate of when the final ruling on the bill will be and only time will tell the future of the debate team.

“They bill needs to be passed because student growth is being hindered, and that should be changed,” said Hernandez.