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Jewell debaters make impressive showing
Contact: Rob Eisele, 816-415-7574
October 15, 2008
The newest members of the William Jewell Debate Squad have not wasted any time collecting their first collegiate debate awards. At both the University of Wyoming tournament, held October 4-5, and Jewell’s Georgia B. Bowman Debate Tournament, held September 19-21, Jewell’s junior varsity teams excelled in their division. “Of our five first-year students, four of them have already debated in late out-rounds, and two of them have won speaker awards,” said Director of Debate Dr. Gina Lane. First-years David Dingess (Denver, CO) and Mike LaCombe (South Sioux City, NE), finished second to Colorado College at the University of Wyoming tournament, after completing the preliminary rounds with a second seed 6-1 record. Third place finishers Nichole Latimer (Yankton, SD) and Abby Thomas (Lee’s Summit, MO) also won individual speaker awards, with Latimer receiving top speaker in the Junior Varsity division and Thomas receiving 4th. It was Thomas’ second speaker award in as many tournaments. At the Georgia B. Bowman tournament, Thomas received top speaker in the JV division. She and her partner, sophomore Samantha Stultz, finished third.
Also competing at the Wyoming tournament were Open Division debaters sophomore Tim Brooks (Springfield, MO) and senior Jake Williams. Brooks and Williams were 3-4 in preliminary rounds, one win away from qualifying for the elimination round bracket. “This is the second tournament where they have missed the elimination rounds by one decision. We feel confident that they will have their breakout tournament soon,” said Lane.
Jewell debaters participate in Parliamentary debate, a form of debate that stresses knowledge of a wide range of current event issues and argumentation theory. At the University of Wyoming tournament, the topics ranged from implementing carbon taxes, admitting Georgia as a member of NATO, and direct negotiations with Iran. “Intercollegiate debate asks students to apply both their abilities as advocates and arguers within a framework that demands in-depth knowledge about the world. Debate pushes students to be better thinkers, and that is exactly the kind of training I want to see in our nation’s future leaders,” Lane said.
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