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The Forensics Society continued its run of top performances over the January interim session, earning first- and second-place honors in team categories at three tournaments.
At separate tournaments hosted by West Chester University, Lafayette took first place among schools in Pi Kappa Delta, the national forensics honor society, and first in the Small Schools category, on Jan. 17, and second among Small Schools on Jan. 18. (Small Schools refers to the size of the team, not of the institution.)
Fourteen teams, including University of Pennsylvania, James Madison University, and New York University, participated in both tournaments, which together are called the Hugs and Kisses Swing. With most students studying abroad, serving an internship or externship, working, or taking a break at home, Lafayette fielded just two competitors, yet finished sixth for the combined totals of both tournaments.
On Saturday, Trustee Scholarship recipient Erik Heins ’05 (Center Moriches, N.Y.), a double major in philosophy and government & law, earned first place in impromptu sales, third place in extemporaneous speech, and sixth place in impromptu speech. Government and law major Paul Kritzler ’05 (Monkton, Md.) took sixth place in informative speech.
On Sunday, Heins won both Lincoln-Douglas debate and extemporaneous speech and finished third in impromptu speech, while Kritzler took second place in debate and fifth in informative speech.
The performances marked the first time that a Lafayette team has placed in every event entered over a tournament weekend.
“The Lafayette team did amazingly well,” says Scott Placke, director of forensics, who accompanied the team along with debate coach Jonathan Honiball. “We were the smallest team at the tournament; most teams fielded at least six competitors. For us to place in sweepstakes (team) awards blows my mind. These students continually impress me.Their performance this weekend is just one more demonstration of how the Lafayette student is a cut above all others.”
“For fielding such a small team, we had a great deal of success,” says Heins. “Swings are tiring, and by the end of the second day, we were all ready to go home and relax. I am very proud, because I think we earned that right.”
Adds Kritzler: “I’m improving every time I go to a tournament and that always feels good.Whenever we can get to a tournament even with a few people and do this well, it shows how good we’ve become.”
Heins’ final round extemporaneous question on Sunday asked “Should John Edwards throw in the towel?” In extemporaneous speech, contestants select one of three topics on current national and international issues or events and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech of five to seven minutes on it.
Heins’ final round impromptu quotation on Sunday was by H.L. Mencken: “Americans don’t recognize an idea unless it has white wings or a forked tail.” Impromptu speech contestants receive short excerpts dealing with general interest topics or political, economic, or social issues. They have seven minutes to divide between preparation and speaking, but must speak for at least three minutes.
Kritzler’s informative speech concerned recently discovered microorganisms called Geobacters, which have been found to have many uses, including cleaning up toxins.
The 2003-04 debate topic focuses on whether the federal government should place regulations on industrial pollution. 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.
Lafayette finished second in debate at a 14-team tournament hosted by Indiana University in Bloomington Jan. 23-24. Benjamin Berlow ’06 (Palmerton, Pa.), a quarterfinalist in debate, was joined by Heins; Kritzler; Christian Dato ’07 (Poway, Calif.), and Marquis Scholar Jeremy Bennett ’05 (Riverside, Pa.), a neuroscience major. Placke accompanied the students.
“This tournament reinforced the sense of teamwork and support I always feel whenever I travel with the team,” says Berlow. “During our free time, we not only helped each other with practice debates, but also with researching fellow team members’ cases. I think that Lafayette’s pursuit to have a speech ‘team’ puts us heads and shoulders above others.”
“The trip out to Indiana was long, but these guys made it fun. I think everyone had a great time,” says Placke.
In addition to devoting significant time to Forensics Society and their studies, the students are active in other campus activities.
Berlow is editorial assistant for the Israeli Studies Forum, president of Hillel Society, treasurer of both College Democrats and QuEST (Questioning Established Sexual Taboos), and secretary of Marquis Players. He also is an America Reads tutor, a Jewish song leader, and a member of Association for Lafayette Women.
Dato is a member of Residence Hall Council, College Democrats, Lafayette Christian Fellowship, and Haven, a student group stressing an alcohol- and drug-free lifestyle.
Heins is a member of the fencing team and Haven.
Kritzler is president of Haven and competes in intramural sports.
Past forensics competitions:
Dec. 6-7, University of Rhode Island
Nov. 15-16, New York University
Nov. 8, St. Anselm College
Nov. 1-2, Bloomsburg University
Oct. 18-19, Towson University
Oct. 10-11, West Chester University
Sept. 19-20, Purdue University and Sept. 27, Bloomsburg Novice Tournament
2002-03 National Tournament