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Debate Team Wins Tournament

Brenden Hayes & Patrick Milott

Brenden Hayes & Patrick Milott

The ISU debate team recently won the well-established Emporia State University debate invitational. Debaters Brenden Hayes (freshman, politics & government major) and Patrick Milott (junior, philosophy major) won the finals in their division. For the first time, they secured a first-place victory for the Redbirds at this tournament. The ISU debate team secured impressive victories from schools such as Kansas State University, University of Northern Iowa, University of Central Oklahoma, University of North Texas, and Concordia College. "The team has worked incredibly hard to improve and represent ISU," said Dr. Joseph Zompetti, Director of Forensics. "Since ISU did not have a debate team for many years, we have had to overcome a reputation for a school that doesn't take debate seriously. With our students' success, that image is beginning to change." Zompetti added, "Any ISU student can join the debate team. Debate is open to anyone interested in research and developing coherent arguments about a single topic."

Debate is a team activity where individual debaters are paired with a partner to advocate positions of a resolution, only to switch sides in alternating rounds. This year’s topic concerns overruling key Supreme Court precedents. Also traveling to the tournament were Kate Wolf (junior, history education major), Peter Lawson (junior, politics & government major), Alex Berger (junior, philosophy major) and Robert Kosic (junior, politics & government/Spanish major). Berger and Kosic advanced to quarter-finals in their division. "Debate has definitely re-emerged at ISU as a national power to be contended with," said Larry Long, Executive Director of the School of Communication. "Dr. Joe Zompetti, our Director of Forensics, is the architect of this resurgence and is to be commended for his efforts. Plus, we have some really great debaters representing several departments. Their significant hard work has paid off much earlier than expected. This will build a solid foundation for our future and, at the same time, adds to our efforts in highlighting the political engagement phase of the American Democracy Project."
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