DePauw News Archive

Debaters are champions in one category, sixth overall in national tournament

March 18, 1999

A team of six DePauw University student debaters won a national championship in one category and placed sixth overall among 35 predominantly large universities in a national tournament held at Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., from March 12-15..

First place overall in the Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha tournament was won by Western Kentucky University, which fielded 45 student debaters. University of Alabama placed second, George Mason University third, Ohio University fourth and University of Colorado fifth - followed by DePauw.

Competition was in 15 categories, and a DePauw team of our students captured first place in the student legislative assembly category. Members of the team were senior Christopher J. Brown of Logansport, Ind.; sophomore Brian E. Dixon of Evansville, Ind.; senior Craig A. Erickson of Cincinnati; and senior Wayne M. Lashua of Kingsford Heights, Ind.

Completing the DePauw entry were sophomores Tracy A. Charlton of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Justin M. Gash of Newburgh, Ind.

Faculty adviser for the DePauw debate team is Susan Balter, assistant professor and director of forensics.

Other institutions competing in the national tournament included: American University, California State University-Fresno, Cornell University, Clemson, Emory University, University of Florida, James Madison University, Louisiana State University, Murray State, University of Rhode Island, University of South Carolina, Vanderbilt University, West Point, University of Wisconsin-River Falls and others.