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The Forensics Society beat last year’s national speech and debate champion en route to a first-place finish at St. Anselm College’s Jack Lynch Tournament last Saturday.
Within a very competitive field of 11 teams, including 2004 national speech and debate champion Western Kentucky University, the team had nine individual finishes of fouth or better in events.
Marquis Scholar Kim Moore ’05 (Longwood, Fl.), a psychology major, took first place in informative speech and competed in Lincoln-Douglas debate. Bill O’Brien ’07 (Elmont, N.Y.) placed first in persuasion, second in rhetorical criticism, third in informative speech, and competed in prose reading.
“We were competing against some of the best schools in the country,” says Moore. “This was one of those competitions where every team member made a difference and everyone was instrumental in the outcome.”
Trustee Scholar Erik Heins ’05 (Center Moriches, N.Y.), a double major in philosophy and government & law, finished second in Lincoln-Douglas debate and sixth in impromptu speech. Marquis Scholar Christian Dato ’07 (Poway, Ca.), a history and government & law major, took fourth place in debate and impromptu speech.
“Every person who went should be very proud of contributing to a first-place team finish for Lafayette,” says Dato. “This is yet another example of Lafayette Forensics showing that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
Lincoln-Douglas debate is a persuasive policy debate on traditional stock issues. Competitors are evaluated on their analysis, use of evidence, and ability to effectively and persuasively organize, deliver, and refute arguments. This season’s debate resolution states, “Resolved: That the United States federal government should significantly reform the criminal justice system.”
“This was a good overall tournament for us,” says Jon Honiball, debate coach and St. Anselm College alumnus. “We won first place overall, which is always nice. Second, it shows that when competing against the best we stand up well. Even our younger debaters did well. Third, the tournament identified key areas where we need to improve as we continue our ascent to the top. Finally, I like going back to my roots, where I was taught debate and winning. The students on the team are nothing short of amazing.”
Other contributors included Marquis Scholar Mark Kokoska ’08 (Bloomsburg, Pa.), who finished second in informative speech and competed in debate; government & law major Paul Kritzler ’05 (Monkton, Md.), who took fourth place in informative speech and sixth place in debate; and Doug Weltman ’08 (Little Silver, N.J.), who competed in impromptu speech and debate.
“The unity and community of this activity never cease to amaze me, and I think the more Lafayette gets to know other schools, the better we will become as a team. As always, everyone did an amazing job in the competition,” O’Brien says. He also was awarded second place in Trithon, which recognizes the top speaker among those competing in three events.
Director of Forensics Scott Placke accompanied Honiball and the students to the tournament.
The team’s next competition will take place Sunday, Nov. 21, at New York University.
Forensics Society members are active in other campus groups as well.
Dato is vice president of College Democrats, a member of the Social Gaming Network, and a member of Haven, a student group stressing an alcohol- and drug-free lifestyle.
Heins is president of the Forensics Society, vice president of Haven, and a member of the Social Gaming Network.
Kritzler is vice president of the Forensics Society, a member of Haven and the Social Gaming Network, and participates in intramural sports.
Moore is secretary for College Democrats, serves as a math tutor, and is a member of the orchestra, the Psychology Club, the Biology Club, and the Dry Surfers, a technology-oriented and substance-free living group.
O’Brien is a member of College Republicans and the Dry Surfers, a campus tour guide, a writer for The Lafayette, and a participant in the Marquis Players, a student group that produces an annual musical to raise funds for charities.
Prior tournaments
Last season’s national tournament and links to all 2003-04 articles