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Forensics Society will go head-to-head with schools from around the country during tournaments at Truman State and Bloomsburg Universities this weekend.
The team of 18 will split for the weekend, half bound for Truman State in Kirksville, Mo., and half for Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pa.
Returning Society members will compete against teams from Central Michigan, Western Kentucky, Northwestern, and Bradley at the Truman State Tournament. The Bloomsburg Novice Tournament will pit first-year members of the team against schools such as Cornell, George Mason, St. Joseph's, West Chester, and West Point.
Over the course of the semester, Forensics Society will participate in at least four other competitions, including West Chester Rose Bowl Tournament, Oct. 12-13; Ball University Age of Aquarius Tournament, Oct. 18-19; Bloomsburg Mad Hatter Tournament, Nov. 8-9; Ohio State “Holiday Frolic” Tournament, Dec. 6-7. It also is tentatively scheduled to compete in New York University Skyline Tournament, Nov-16-17.
''The team is a great educational experience,'' says Scott Placke, team adviser. “Public speaking is a really important skill in today's society. This organization helps students become comfortable speaking in front of an audience, learn argumentation, and work more productively in a group. All of these skills are not specifically covered in a classroom.
''Everyone has a lot of fun. You get to meet a group of people and really get to know them. Members enjoy success as individuals in their respective events and come together at the end of the day and win team awards.''
The Society scored its highest finish ever at the Pennsylvania State Individual Events Association Championships Feb. 16-17 last year and continued its remarkable ascent with a second-place finish at the Collegiate Forensics Association Tournament March 2-3 in Ocean City, Md. Nine students competed in 17 speech events and eight debate events at the National Forensics Association Championship Tournament April 18-22 at Berry College in Mount Berry, Ga.
Forensics Society also won an historic victory last season, defeating 10 other teams Nov. 3 to win the St. Anselm College Jack Lynch Tournament in Manchester, N.H.