University Forensics working to remain one of nation’s best By Andrew Lamar Of th* FjuriM Well-dressed men and women wielding formidable at* tache cases Invaded the EMU last weekend to compete in this year's first major Northwest Forensics Conference tournament. The University team debated its way to place first overall out of the 55 schools that competed in the tournament. Three NFC designated competitions remain for this year. The conference, which is one of nine such tour naments in the country, will cover Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Oregon. The performance of this year's team is nothing new for the University, however, which has a well-known reputation for its forensics program. In fact, the first intercollegiate debate in the United States was bet ween the University and Willamette University, located in Salem, in David Frank Since then forensics has flourished . at .the. University, which has been recognized na . tionally for its program In 1909 the University's forensic - team had the distinction of being the number one overall ranked team in the. nation.. . , . ■' In a recent*rating.of forensic programs published last spring, the University ranked 32nd out of more than BOO schools. "I think we’re better than that,” says David Frank, direc tor of the University forensics program, “it's very hard to compare peaches and oranges.” he says. The forensic team has more than 40 members and is one of the largest programs in the na tion, One of the main reasons so many peo» 'e are Involved in the program is because of its reputa tion, says David Long, a member of the debate team who finished fourth at the national debate tournament held last spring in Reno. Nov. “I'd say first of all. its because of the quality of the program that it is successful Ixmg says "Second of all, I think it is because the program has a reputation for what I call openness, a sort of ‘anyone can come and we'll all have a good learning experience together' attitude long says other programs can bo very elitist and can take an attitude of “either win or get out,” He says this is not the case at the University. °“Many directors of forensics and others from outside the pro gram have said that David Frank has managed to strike the perfect balance between the dif ferent events and the em* p basis," says Rick Peaeor. Long’s debate partner. • ' Frank even encourages com-., plate novices of forensic com petition to get involved aiid.be a part of the University's team. Peaeor says. •' • Novices begin at the inex perienced level and may then move up to the intermediate, or championship levels of l legiate competition In forensics there are two separate types of competition: individual Events and Oregon Cross-Examination debating. The Individual Events encom pass 10 different categories of competition ranging from im promptu to persuasive speaking. Oregon Cross-Examination debating is a style of debate developed at the University more than too years ago and us ed nationwide for debate com petition. This type of debating involves four people, two on each team. One team is assigned the affir mative side of an issue and the other team is assigned the negative side of the issue. Each speaker then delivers an eight minute speech, which is follow ed by an opponent’s cross examination and a four minute rebuttal. The issue debated is chosen Rick Peacor by the Cross-Examination' Debate Association; the govern ing body for debate in the na tion' The same, issue -is used-na tionwide for all debate.' • Thisfall the issue is whether or not the government should place restrictions on U;S. triedi'a coverage of terrorist activities. A ruiw debate topic will hr: assigned in January, which will lie used for w inter arid spri tig. Any forensic competition at the collegiate level requires dedication, but cross examination debating requires almost a fanatical commitment. After CERA announced this fall's debate topic, members of the debate team could be found in the library practically any hour of the day. researching the topic. Mike Sistrom. a member of the debate team, says most debaters spent about six hours a day researching the topic before their first tournament, which was held the first weekend of Continued on Page 16 rJ VINO'S SPAGHETTI HOUSE 1, I PIZZA /U <