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For the third consecutive time, Lafayette has finished first among schools in Pi Kappa Delta, the national forensics honor society, at a regional tournament.
The Forensics Society also finished second overall, falling just seven points short of first, among the 17 schools at the Mad Hatter Tournament hosted Nov. 1-2 by Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pa.
Lafayette’s overall performances at the tournament have mirrored its forensics program’s continued ascent. The team took fourth place at its first trip to Bloomsburg two years ago and was third last year.
Its previous triumphs this season took place at Towson University Oct. 18-19 and West Chester University Oct. 10-11.
Government and law major Joe Borland ’06 (Wilkes Barre, Pa.) led the Forensics Society last weekend by taking the championships of both extemporaneous and impromptu speech, prevailing among a group of 58 competitors in the latter. His final-round impromptu quotation was from Mark Twain: “It usually takes me 3 weeks to write a good impromptu speech.” In the final round of extemporaneous speech, he answered the question, “Is the state of Iowa spending too much money for security in the state capitol?”
“I am very proud of Joe Borland,” says Scott Placke, director of forensics.“Last year he proved his skill when he was named the Novice National Champion in extemporaneous speaking.This year he is doing just as well against seasoned varsity competitors.He is an excellent speaker and a great guy. I am really glad that he is a competitor for Lafayette.”
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. 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.
Trustee Scholarship recipient Erik Heins ’05 (Center Moriches, N.Y.), a double major in philosophy and government & law, earned second place in extemporaneous speech and sixth place in dramatic duo along with partner Christian Dato ’07 (Poway, Calif.). He also placed in the Lincoln-Douglas debate quarterfinals and the semifinals of impromptu speech, and competed in informative speech.
In dramatic duo, two individuals read lines from a play involving two or more characters. 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. Informative speech contestants give a factual talk from memory for up to ten minutes; visual aids are permitted.
In addition to his sixth-place finish in dramatic duo, Dato was a quarterfinalist in his second college debate competition and took fourth place in impromptu speech.
“We’ve been in existence for only four years now, and we’re already redefining what it means to be a team,” he says. “This isn’t a group of individuals under a single banner, nor even people all taught by the same coach.Our debaters research, discuss, and think as a unit; our teammates are just as willing to listen to a speech as our coaches are. This team wins as one, loses as one, and exists as one.No one else on the circuit can make that claim.”
Jennifer Rusak ’04 (Ashley, Pa.), a double major in psychology and philosophy, earned second place in debate and persuasion and competed in informative speech. In her persuasive speech, she argued that the U.S. military should re-evaluate its policy of using tanks and weapons coated with uranium, a toxic substance that increases destructive capability but has lingering detrimental effects similar to those of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War.
“This tournament was yet another testament to the strong dynamic that has developed and strengthened among the members and coaches of our team,” she says. “Each one of us gave our all and contributed uniquely to the success of the individuals and the team as a whole.”
In persuasion, each competitor delivers a monologue from memory of up to ten minutes on a significant issue, seeking to convince, move to action, or inspire.
Marquis Scholar Colby Block ’06 (Boca Raton, Fla.), a government and law major, took second place in poetry reading, was a semifinalist in impromptu speech, and competed in original poetry and persuasion.
“In my first competition of the season, I was thrilled to have done so well. However, regardless of my personal achievement, I have never worked with such an inspiring group of people,” she says. “My teammates are intelligent, talented, diverse individuals. Moreover, they are a supportive, dependable, and genuine group, of which I am proud to be a part. Kudos to our three coaches; our success would be impossible without their hard work and dedication.”
Kim Moore ’06 (Longwood, Fla.) was a debate quarterfinalist, earned sixth place in extemporaneous speech, and competed in informative speech and persuasion. In her final round of extemporaneous speech, she addressed the question, “Is the United States justified in taking the entire Greenpeace organization to court?”
Government and law major Paul Kritzler ’05 (Monkton, Md.) was a debate semifinalist and competed in informative speech.
Bill O’Brien ’07 (Elmont, N.Y.) took sixth place in persuasion and competed in both poetry and prose reading. His persuasive speech argued that police chases cause unnecessary death and violence because of a lack of regulation. It proposed that government action and personal support can help alleviate the problem.
“I am extremely happy with how this weekend went,” he says. “I am so proud to be a member of the Lafayette team. My persuasion truly exceeded my wildest expectations. As a freshman in only my second tournament doing persuasion, it was truly humbling to have done as well as I did against varsity competition.”
Benjamin Berlow ’06 (Palmerton, Pa.) competed in debate and prose reading. “What impresses me most about our team is how we able to place in so many events,” he says. “With breaks (advances) in debate, limited preparation, interpretation, and platform events, it’s a sign that we not only have a diverse group of competitors, but that we also help each other out, and above all, have amazing coaches who guide us all in the right direction.”
The students were accompanied by Placke and Nina LaTassa, speech coach. Jonathan Honiball helped prepare competitors prior to the tournament as debate coach.
The Forensics Society’s next event will be the Nov. 8 Jack Lynch Tournament at St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.
In addition to devoting significant time to Forensics Society and their studies, the students are active in other campus activities.
Block is working with Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli to create a Youth Court Program. She is forensics secretary, a supervisor for Recreational Services, and Student Life representative for Student Government, for which she formerly served as public relations chair. She is adviser for and a former member of Freshman Class Council. Block is in her second year as a member of the Lafayette Dance Team and is choreographer for the spring production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, by the Marquis Players, a student group that produces an annual musical for charity. She played the role of Johnny in last year’s College Theatre production of The Club. She also belongs to Delta Delta Delta sorority.
Berlow is editorial assistant for the Israeli Studies Forum, social action chair for 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.
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.
Moore is president of the Dry Surfers, a special-interest living group whose members share interests in technology and a substance-free lifestyle, participates in College Democrats, and plays violin in the orchestra.
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.
More quotes from Lafayette students following the Bloomsburg tournament:
Kritzler: “I feel we showed what our team can really do when we all show up together. I saw a real team chemistry this weekendPersonally, I expanded where I was going and what I could do for the team and I am very happy about that.”
Borland: “It is a good feeling when the team enters the award ceremony knowing that we are in the running for the first place sweepstakes trophy.”
Moore: “I enjoy doing extemporaneous because it teaches me about a variety of subjects. I get to learn what is going on in the world, and I get to explain it to other people.”