The University of Iowa Old Capitol Museum will host a debate with the Little Hawk Speech and Debate team from City High School of Iowa City on Saturday, April 13, at 2 p.m. The free public event is offered in conjunction with the current exhibit on display, “Gone to See the Elephant: The Civil War through the Eyes of Iowa Soldiers.”

The Little Hawk team will debate two resolutions; "Rehabilitation ought to be valued above retribution in the United States criminal justice system," and "The United States is justified in intervening in the internal political processes of other countries to attempt to stop human rights abuses." The debate team is led by Jennifer Brinkmeyer, head coach and director of speech at City High.

Nicholas Harper will open the afternoon program with a brief history about the Lincoln-Douglas debate style, which takes its name from the pre-Civil War era debates between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Harper is a third-year student in the UI College of Law and a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minn., where he participated in collegiate speech and policy debate competitions. He occasionally judges debates in local high school competitions today.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to all University of Iowa-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the Old Capitol Museum in advance at 319-335-0548. For more information about the Old Capitol Museum please visit www.uiowa.edu/oldcap .