Debate team gets wins

By Jaclyn Youngblood     10/30/08 7:00pm

The George R. Brown Forensics Society, Rice's Speech and Debate Team, has made a strong showing in three competitions so far this season. The team has defeated 55 teams in debate and has accrued 72 awards overall, including debate plus individual events and sweepstakes events. Team captain Aparna Bhaduri, a Jones College junior, has won more than 15 awards this season.After missing the first scheduled tournament in Liberty, Mo. due to Hurricane Ike, the team won the debate event and several individual events at a local competition in Kingwood, Texas.

At home, the team hosted a debate with Trinity University Oct. 15.

In front of a full crowd of their peers, the students showcased their aptitude in a variety of events.

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"It was a nice, cordial debate . [with] a good topic," Bhaduri said.

The event was well attended by Rice students; it was standing room only, Bhaduri said.

Prior to the on-campus debate, the team split up to divide and conquer. Bhaduri, her partner and two other members of the team went to Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore. to debate in a national competition. "[It was our] first appearance on the national stage [this year]," Director of Forensics David Worth said. "It's like in football, if you're a top 10 program, having your first opportunity to present your strength for the year."

There, Bhaduri and her partner advanced to quarterfinals. In addition to that, members of the team won numerous individual events, which was a great accomplishment, Worth said.

"That sends a message that we [Rice] were a top five program last year, and we're going to be a top five program this year," Worth said.

The other members of the team, including freshmen and new team members, went to North Newton, Kan. to debate the University of Oklahoma and Bethel College.

"They had a really good experience," Bhaduri said. "The younger people got to experience what a tournament was like." In Kansas, the team had members qualify for out-rounds and semifinals in the novice category.

Last weekend, Oct. 24-26, four team members traveled to Nebraska to compete against 20 universities in 50 debate events with 512 total participants. The team defeated eight teams in debate and won 12 individual awards.

The team's next scheduled debate is the "Pacific Meets Delta Swing" held in Stockton, Calif., Nov. 7-9.

In order to excel in these tournaments, the team members honed their skills individually and with the help of Worth and Assistant Director of Forensics Glenn Prince. There is a three-hour squad practice every Tuesday in addition to individually scheduled practices between a team member and one of the coaches. The students research topics individually, stay involved with current events, write and memorize speeches, in addition to the scheduled practices, Worth said.

This year's team is 75 percent freshmen, making it a rebuilding year ripe with opportunities and potential, Worth said. Worth said two freshmen chose Rice specifically for the Speech and Debate team, a compliment to the quality of their program.

Other freshmen have shown great promise, advancing to finals in JV debate, and competing at the national level, Worth said.

The team has competitive goals for the rest of the season. They would like to finish in the top five nationally in debate and top 15 nationally in individual events, Worth said. He said the team is generally looking to develop its pool of freshmen talent into a nationally-ranked power.

The team has two more tournaments left in its season.

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