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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 2002)
4 News WedNEsdAy, J anuary 2?, 2002 ThE ClAckAMAS P rint Speech and debate takes on the world, places 204th (Right) (From left to right) Samantha Griffin, Brian Everest, assistant director of forensics, Kelly Brennan, director of forensics, and Kelly Baker-Hughes visited Toronto, Canada, Dec. 27-Jan.4, for Clackamas' first shot at the World Speech and Debate Tournament. (Below) The speech and debate team as a whole. The remainder of the team stayed behind and supported their teammates while they were away. PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF KELLY BRENNAN SALENA DE LA CRUZ Opinion Editor During Christmas vacation, two members of Clackamas’ speech and debate team were combating harsh weather conditions and even harsher debaters while visiting Toronto, Canada, for the World Debate Tour nament held Dec. 27-Jan. 4. Kerri Baker-Hughes and Samantha Griffin were the members of the team cho sen to represent Clackamas. While they were in Toronto, tem peratures plummeted to a mere nega tive seven degrees. “It was quite amusing. We had everything we could possibly have on, like scarves and hats,” said Kerri Baker-Hughes, debater. Clackamas had never attended the World Debate Competition before. “This is the first year we attended the Worlds. We’ve been invited to attend before, but for one reason or another, whether it was economics or schedules, we weren’t able to go,” said Kelly Brennan, director of forensics. Due to the support of various per sons and departments they were able to raise enough funds to send debat ers to represent Clackamas this year. Jane Rickenbaugh, Kay Slusarenko, nament. In a tournament with over 2,000 teams, Clackamas placed 204111. “We’re happy to say Sam and Kerri were 204th throughout the world,” and Dr. Earl P. “Joe” Johnson were sources of large support, and they wish to thank them. “This year, however, through (their) support, we were able to go,” said Brennan. Clackamas competed against the 87 countries that were in attendance, in cluding Israel, Australia and the Neth erlands. According to Brennan, there are 2,742 parliamentary debate teams in the world and 6,000parliamentary debat ers. Based on how the team did through out the year and the results of the World Debate Tournament, teams re ceive a world ranking. Clackamas re ceived a positive ranking at the tour tournament. Among their mem bers Were professionals ranging from professors to attorneys. Baker-Hughes and Griffin were up against people who had a more experience in debating. “Now, what you have to bear in mind about the world competi tion is it’s unlike any competition in the United States, where you have to be an undergraduate and you only get four years of eligibility. At the World Competition, we have at torneys, teachers and lawyers,” said Brennan. Brennan continued explaining this situation in comparison with the Olympics and professional sports. “Going to the World Competition like said Brennan. New York University Law School ranked number one at the Sam and Kerri was like going against professional sports athletes in the Olympics,” said Brennan. "It's a high level of commitment on their part," Kelly Brennan Director Of Forensics Clackamas was also competing against people with different ethnic backgrounds. “It’s amazing, the level they compete at there. They repre sent their nation and country and they take that very honorably,” said Baker- Hughes. Clackamas was the only two-year college represented at the World Com petition. Being the only one may have been to their advantage. “That did so much for us just in itself because they looked at usdifferently. I think they expected us to do worse or be at a different level than them,” said Baker-Hughes. The nine-day-long tournament meant that everyone involved had to give up time with families and friends during the holidays to be at this tour nament “It’s a high level of commitment on their part. You can’t really explain it” said Brennan. “Nor could you duplicate it,” added Brian Everest assistant director of fo rensics. Clackamas’ speech and debate team is continuing on its road to suc cess of the last seven years, and the World Competition was no different. It received a new sense of respect and achievement for being the first speech and debate team at Clackamas to take on the world. COUM/i CAfl A New Dining Experience Hrs: Mon.-Thurs.-7a.m.-6:30p.m.; Fri.- 7a.m.-2p.m; Sat-8:30a.m.-10:30p.m. Wednesday-Budget: Roasted vegetables w/ golden Orzo .. — Special: Chicken cacciatore over pasta fasta Grill: Monte Cristo sandwich mamara Thursday- Budget: Submarine sandwich by the inch with garlic Special: Beef stew bread Grill: BBQ pork sandwich w/cole slaw $4.00 Friday- Budget: Macaroni & cheese w/broccoli 3:306:30pm Special: Jambalaya w/chicken & shrimp served in a bread bowl X2411 Grill: Santa Fe grilled cheese sandwich w/ Chipotle Puree and Avocado w/ a cup of soup
