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With top debater and
third-place team in the nation, Jewell’s
parliamentary debate squad makes a name for itself
Story by Anthony F. Shop
“It
is better to debate a question without settling
it than to settle a question without debating
it.”
Though it was nearly two centuries ago that
French moralist Joseph Joubert wrote these words,
the debate squad at William Jewell College lives
them to this day. The tremendous success of the
squad, and particularly one of its six two-person
teams, has garnered national attention in recent
months.
 Lilia Toson, a sophomore political science
and philosophy major, was recognized as the top
speaker in the nation at the prestigious National
Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence at Century
College in St. Paul, Minn., in April, where the
country’s top 48 teams are invited to compete
for the championship. The first African American
ever to win the award, she also was the recipient
of the Century Award, which is bestowed upon
the top first- or second-year student debater
at the tournament. The star-studded sophomore
team rose to prominence throughout the year,
beating Washington University for the Missouri
State Tournament championship title and rising
to the nation’s top ten list of parliamentary
debate teams. Toson and her partner Kevin Garner,
a sophomore communication and political science
major, received third place in the tournament,
the highest national honor Jewell’s
parliamentary debate squad has received to date.
 But just last year neither of these students
expected to partner with the other. As debaters
and as individuals, they were “very ifferent
people,” as the politically
liberal Toson put it. A recent graduate of Winnetonka
High School, Lilia’s
policy debate style was influenced by her experience
in performance-based events like original oratory.
Kevin, a transfer student from the University
of Kansas and solid conservative, had developed
a technique shaped by his success in extemporaneous
speaking, an event that focuses on research
and attention to detail. Despite their differences,
the two were “a
natural pairing” according to Dr. Gina
Lane, professor of communication and director
of debate: “Kevin is very
measured and analytical, whereas Lilia is more
passionate and can focus the round down to its
essence. Their debate styles are very complementary.” The
ability to think of arguments on their feet is
one that debaters must have to compete well,
said Lane. She has been impressed with how successful
the Jewell squad has been at doing this over
the past three years since the college began
its parliamentary debate program, crediting the
team’s
success in part to the liberal arts model of
teaching.
“Our students are forced to look at arguments
from different perspectives beginning in the
first semester,” she
said. “Consequently, our teams can develop
strong arguments and responses ranging from theory
to policy.” The
squad’s success is evidenced by many
recent accolades. Of the more than 800 debate
teams from nearly 700 colleges and universities
in the nation, just 48 received NPTE bids. Three
of those teams were Jewell’s.
The squad was also ranked 20th in the National
Parliamentary Debate Association national sweepstakes.
The award is based on aggregate points achieved
by all teams competing from an institution, and
Jewell is one of the very smallest colleges to
be recognized.
Team members say that among the most influential
factors in their success is debate coach Lane’s
constant presence and steady hand. In recognition
of her leadership and dedication, Lane received
the Student Senate Excellence in Service award
last fall.
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