VSU Debaters Keep Winning

VALDOSTA -- After a winning fall semester, Valdosta State University’s Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team came in second overall at the Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association’s 2012 state championship tournament.

Hosted by VSU Feb. 17-18 in Nevins Hall, the two-day tournament featured 54 debaters from Gainesville State College, Gainesville; Mercer University, Macon; Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta; Piedmont College, with campuses in Athens and Demorest; Morehouse College, Atlanta; and VSU.

“We had seven debaters who participated in the event,” said Dr. Michael Eaves, VSU director of forensics and president of the Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association. “Three VSU debate teams at the tournament cleared into the elimination rounds (on Saturday), with the team of senior Melody Brooks and junior Mercy Dahn finishing in the semifinals.”

Brooks went on to earn sixth place speaker. Dahn was awarded 10th place speaker.

“This was the largest field of teams at the state championship since the tournament’s inception,” Eaves said.

This was the first time VSU hosted the Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association’s state championship tournament, Eaves said. Topics ranged from ObamaCare and alternative energy to how candidates are elected to office and the United States federal government protecting its borders.

VSU debaters recently competed in the Gorlock Gala tournament held Jan. 27-29 at Webster University in St. Louis, Mo. The varsity team of Yannick Gill and J.B. Desselle made it into the octo-final round.

The VSU Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team is open to all majors on campus and does not require previous experience, Eaves noted. The team competes in regional and national level competitions and participates in parliamentary debate as well as individual events, including impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, informative speaking, persuasion, dramatic interpretation, dramatic duo, poetry interpretation, and more.

For more information, please contact Dr. Michael Eaves, director of forensics at VSU, at (229) 259-5116 or meaves@valdosta.edu.