Forensics Society Will Give Public Demonstration at Kirby Hall of Civil Rights Today

A few days before it travels to the annual season-ending national tournament in Illinois, the Forensics Society will give a public demonstration of its public speaking and debating skills 6 p.m. today in the Kirby Hall of Civil Rights auditorium.

Nine Lafayette students will compete in the National Forensic Association’s annual tournament April 15-19 at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Several thousand students representing well over 100 schools will be in attendance.

The Forensics Society members and their events:

• Benji Berlow ’06 — Lincoln-Douglas debate;
• Colby Block ’06 — impromptu speech, debate, poetry reading;
• Joe Borland ’06 – extemporaneous speech, impromptu speech;
• Christian Dato ’07 – dramatic duo (with Erik Heins ’05), impromptu speech, debate, prose reading;
• Erik Heins ’05 – dramatic duo (with Dato), extemporaneous speech, impromptu speech, informative speech, debate;
• Paul Kritzler ’05 – informative speech, debate;
• Kim Moore ’06 – extemporaneous speech, informative speech, debate, persuasion;
• Bill O’Brien ’07 – after-dinner speaking, persuasion, poetry reading, prose reading;
• Jennifer Rusak ’04 – informative speech, debate, persuasion, rhetorical criticism.

Scott Placke, director of forensics, and Jon Honiball, debate coach, will accompany the students.

“This group of students works very hard,” says Honiball. “They have had a successful year, in large part because of their work. I expect to see similar success at nationals because of their work.”

“Nationals is always a tough tournament,” says Placke. “I feel, however, that the team as a whole is more ready now than it has ever been. I think we have several events for which we could walk home with awards.”

2003-04 forensics competitions:
March 6, Novice National Tournament
Feb. 28, Nassau Community College
Feb. 20-21, Ursinus College
Feb. 14-15, Suffolk University
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, Cornell University
January interim session tournaments
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