Our People

President

Jacob Hornstein is a writer and debater with interests in economics, philosophy, politics, and history. His journey began with three intensive years of Lincoln-Douglas Debate in high school, where he rose to captain his squad. Shaped by a desire to engage complex ideas from multiple angles, he has been published in National Review, the Wall Street Journal's Future View Column, Tablet Magazine, and the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. His essay on the national debt received the second place award from the Gatestone Institute.

Vice President 

Constantin Whitmire is an American entrepreneur and debater with a background in natural sciences, Latin and classical Greek from Bavaria's flagship humanities academy. Constantin is passionate about public policy and fiercely champions open discourse, creative problem solving, and steadfast western ideals. Beyond campus, Constantin has had diverse roles at several tech startups and currently leads a defence-tech venture.

Parlamentarian

Corban Fikes is a somewhat classically educated logophile and theater kid from Boerne, Texas. Corban knows the virtue of a Parliamentarian is not just pedantry and bureaucracy. Shared rules allow us to play games, especially the game of debate and mutual conversation.

Treasurer

Alistair is from southeast Connecticut and is passionate about economics, politics, and parodying songs. He serves as president of the Economics and Finance Club at UATX. He hopes that UATX exemplifies institutional neutrality and the pursuit of truth. In high school, Alistair started the debate club and is happy to continue with debate in college. He looks forward to different perspectives and learning from intellectuals across disciplines and fields. By prioritizing open dialogue over ideological agendas, Alistair believes the Austin Union can inspire a broader culture of intellectual integrity and a commitment to the clear-eyed pursuit of truth.

Secretary

Yale Abernathy is a photographer, writer, and composer currently studying Ethics and Politics at the University of Austin. Prior to UATX, Yale has worked as a lab technician at Atom Mines, a nuclear medicine developer; a photographer for Crux Defense, a US military contractor; and as a producer and session musician in Austin. As Secretary of the Austin Union, he hopes to participate in recording the institution's development and progress, both through the unique power of images, and the gravity of the written word.

Governor

David Poirier comes from a four-year background of high school debate experience. He qualified for the National Speech and Debate Tournament twice and the Pennsylvania State Debate Tournament three times while serving as the Vice President and later President of his high school debate team. David firmly believes in the Austin Union’s mission of truth through debate. David is fascinated with American monetary policy and likes to run in his free time.

Procurator

McKenna Conlin is a lifelong debate enthusiast from Seattle, Washington. Through mock trial at both the high school and collegiate level, she has argued with the best fake lawyers in the world. In her role as procurator, she oversees internal debates in the union and hopes to help members see their journey to becoming great speakers as both work and play. She is honored to be a part of UATX’s inaugural class and the first council of the Union.