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For the second consecutive week, Lafayette has placed first among schools in Pi Kappa Delta, the national forensics honor society, at a regional competition.
The Forensics Society’s latest victory took place Oct. 18-19 at the Towson University Wellness Tournament in Baltimore, Md. The team also dominated the tournament field in Lincoln-Douglas debate for the second straight week, taking all four top places. And once again, each student who entered debate advanced beyond the preliminary round.
All Lafayette competitors who entered the tournament placed in at least one of their respective events. Forensics Society finished third in the overall tournament, which involved 11 schools, including University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins University, and New York University.
Marquis Scholar Jeremy Bennett ’05 (Riverside, Pa.), a neuroscience major and secretary of Forensics Society, led the team by winning the Lincoln-Douglas debate title and received the distinction of being named third-place speaker. Lincoln-Douglas placement is based on rounds won, while speaker awards are based on total points earned in preliminary rounds.
Lincoln-Douglas 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. The debate topic focuses on whether the federal government should place regulations on industrial pollution.
Jennifer Rusak ’04 (Ashley, Pa.), a double major in psychology and philosophy, finished second in debate and also competed in persuasive speech.
Lafayette’s other debate quarterfinalists made their mark in different events as well. In addition to being named second-place speaker in debate, Trustee Scholarship recipient Erik Heins ’05 (Center Moriches, N.Y.), a double major in philosophy and government & law, took fifth place in impromptu speech, basing his final-round presentation on a quote by George Burns, “I’d rather be a failure at something I enjoy than a success at something I hate.” He also competed in extemporaneous speech. Kim Moore ’06 (Longwood, Fla.), who was named sixth-place debate speaker, won fifth place in extemporaneous speech, in which she addressed the question “Does the 25th anniversary of the Pope’s reign signal a change in the Roman Catholic church leadership?” She also competed in persuasive speech.
Paul Kritzler ’05 (Monkton, Md.), a government and law major, finished as first-place debate speaker and a debate semifinalist.
The three other Forensics Society students at the tournament also excelled. Bill O’Brien ’07 (Elmont, N.Y.) earned third place in novice prose reading, using the essay “The Other Father” by Roy Sorrels, and competed in persuasive speech. In her first college debate competition, Christian Dato ’07 (Poway, Calif.) advanced to the semifinals, and also took second place in novice impromptu speech, basing his monologue on a Barbara Walters quote: “A road is shorter when traveled a second time.” Government and law major Joe Borland ’06 (Wilkes Barre, Pa.) finished sixth in extemporaneous speech, answering the question “Is a strong defense necessary for the survival of the European Union?” and also competed in impromptu speech.
In extemporaneous speech, contestants select one of three topics on current national and international events and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech of five to seven minutes on it. Impromptu speech contestants receive short excerpts dealing with items of general interest, political, economic, and social issues. They have seven minutes to divide between preparation and speaking, but must speak for at least three minutes. All speak on the same topic. In persuasive speech, each competitor delivers a monologue from memory of up to ten minutes on a significant issue, seeking to convince, move to action, or inspire.
The previous weekend (Oct. 10-11), Forensics Society finished first among Pi Kappa Delta schools at the West Chester Rose Bowl Tournament.
The comparison between Lafayette’s previous trip to Towson two years ago and last weekend’s triumph reveals the team’s progress, notes Heins.
“I remember being impressed [then] by all the amazing competitors from other teams,” he says. “This time I noticed my teammates among the amazing competitors.In two years we have grown so much, and this tourney reminded me to be proud of that.”
Bennett considers the victories over the past two weeks as first steps toward greater achievements.
“I won’t be satisfied until we see the same results at larger tournaments that include the cream of the national crop of debaters,” he says, “and I intend to do my best to make certain that we do. We made a serious impact last year, and this year we’re prepared to hit even harder.”
Moore also believes Forensics Society’s early success bodes well for the rest of the season.
“The level of teamwork that is involved helps us to do well as a team, which is the most important thing,” she says. “Individual awards are great, but taking home team trophies shows what a great level of commitment everyone has.”
The students were accompanied by Scott Placke, director of forensics; Jon Honiball, debate coach; and Nina LaTassa, speech coach.
“I could go on for hours about how proud I am of each individual team member at the tournament,” says Honiball. “But as a team, all I can think to say is ‘Wow!’ I thought what we did last week at West Chester was pretty amazing, and to follow it up with an even more impressive performance sets a very high standard.”
“The students closed out the competition in semifinals,” he adds. “This is the best that the team has ever performed. This success is really driving the team to work harder and that will only breed more success.”
O’Brien is pleased to have performed so well at his first non-novice tournament.
“Without the work of my coaches, I could not have placed so high in prose,” he says. “I look forward to future tournaments and fine-tuning my prose as well as other categories. I am also proud of my teammates for doing such a phenomenal job this week.”
Forensics Society will compete next at the Bloomsburg University Mad Hatter Tournament Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Despite devoting significant time to Forensics Society and their studies, the students are active in other campus activities as well.
Bennett is quartermaster for the fencing team and a member of the McKelvy House Scholars program, Lafayette Communications Union, Lafayette Society for Neuroscience, and Haven, a student group stressing an alcohol- and drug-free lifestyle.
Rusak is president of Alternative Spring Break Club and the student chapter of Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society, as well as a member of Lafayette Intercultural Networking Council and Lafayette Communications Union.
O’Brien is co-president of Residence Hall Council and a member of the choir, the school newspaper staff, the Arts Society, and Marquis Players, a student group that produces an annual musical to benefit charities.
Moore is president of the Dry Surfers, a special-interest living group whose members share interests in technology and a substance-free lifestyle, and a member of College Democrats and the orchestra.
Dato is a member of Residence Hall Council, College Democrats, Lafayette Christian Fellowship, and Haven.
Heins is a member of the fencing team and Haven.
Kritzler is president of Haven and competes in intramural sports.