DePauw Debaters Finish Strong, Banerjea Named Top Speaker

Press Release: February 17, 2007 (Greencastle, IN):

The DePauw Debate Team had a strong showing at the Harper College “Litrenta Triangle” tournament this past weekend, its final regular season tournament.  Projesh Banerjea was honored as the top speaker of the entire tournament.  In addition, Banerjea and his partner, Kevin Milne, advanced to the quarterfinal round of the tournament.  The other DePauw team of Keelin Kelly and Michael Lutz compiled a 5-1 record in preliminary rounds, and advanced to semifinals before dropping a 2-1 decision to North Central College.  For the second consecutive tournament, DePauw received a debate sweepstakes award, this time placing third.  Overall, there were 23 schools competing at the tournament. 

 

DePauw Debaters Beat Wabash in Finals, Win Butler Tournament

Press Release: January 19, 2008 (Greencastle, IN):

The DePauw Debate Team continued their winning ways this past weekend, winning the Butler Bulldog Battle Tournament.  Michael Lutz and Kevin Milne compiled an undefeated record en route to a final round showdown with rival Wabash College.  DePauw handily won that round on a 3-0 decision.  DePauw debaters Brittney Belcher and Jessica Hawkins placed third at the tournament.  The strong showing of these two teams ensured that DePauw also won the Tournament Sweepstakes in debate for the first time in five years.  In addition, Michael Lutz was named the top speaker of the tournament, while Jessica Hawkins tied for second.  Overall, there were 17 schools competing at the tournament.  This marks the second consecutive tournament victory for the Tigers who have one regular season tournament left before competing in the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in March.

DePauw Debaters Win Loyola Tournament

Press Release: December 3, 2007 (Greencastle, IN):

First year debaters Avery Archer and Christine Walker won the “Loyola Rambler” debate tournament held Dec. 1-2, 2007, at Loyola University in Chicago.  Archer and Walker were the top seed going into elimination rounds.  They defeated a team from Hillsdale College in the final round on a 3-0 decision by governing on the motion: The United States Federal Government should change its foreign policy towards Russia.  En route to the final round, Archer and Walker had to debate and defeat another DePauw team in semi-finals because of their seeding.  That debate pitted Archer and Walker against first year debaters Brittney Belcher and Yijie Wang who compiled a 4-2 record in advancing to the semi-final round.  The semi-final debate was adjudicated by DePauw alum Tyler Kennedy (’07) who said it was a very close debate and a tough decision.  Keelin Kelly and Michael Lutz received similar recognition with a 4-2 record as they advanced to the open quarterfinal round.  Overall, DePauw defeated teams from Hillsdale, Marquette, Wheaton, Loyola, Wisconsin-Osh Kosh, Carthage, and Northern Illinois.

In addition to winning the tournament, DePauw debaters received several top speaker awards from a pool of over 70 debaters.  Kevin Milne took 9th, Micahel Lutz was 7th, Brittney Belcher received 6th, Avery Archer placed 4th, and Chistine Walker captured 3rd.  It was the strongest performance by the team this season. 

 

Kevin Milne receives top speaker at Purdue Tournament

Press Release: September 20, 2007 (Greencastle, IN):

First year debater Kevin Milne overcame adversity to claim the top speaker award at the Purdue University "Boilermaker Special" debate tournament. Milne's partner had to drop out at the last minute because of an R.O.T.C. training exercise, so he was paired with a debater from Cumberland College. He adjusted nicely by still claiming the top speaker award of the tournament. Director of Forensics Geoff Klinger was impressed: "This was Kevin's first college tournament. He has made quite a positive early impression. He was an outstanding debater in high school, and this shows that he has what it takes to succeed on the college circuit."

 

Banerjea and Kennedy capture speaker awards at the Wheaton College Tournament

Press Release: February 22, 2007 (Greencastle, IN):

Projesh Banerja received the Tenth Place Speaker Award, and Tyler Kennedy received the Ninth Place Speaker Award at the Larson-Hollatz debate tournament hosted at Wheaton College. DePauw debaters defeated teams from Century, Cedarville, Wheaton, Malone, Temple, and Notre Dame en route to another strong showing.

 

DePauw Debaters are National Champions!

Press Release: March 15, 2006 (Greencastle, IN):

DePauw University achieved the highest distinction in the debate community, closing out the final round at the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament held March 10-13 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Pi Kappa Delta (www.pikappadelta.com) is the National Forensics Honorary that has recognized achievement and excellence in speech and debate for 100 years.  DePauw University sent two teams to compete in a pool representing 48 schools, and both teams won 6 debates en route to the final round.  In true championship form, the debaters agreed not to hold the debate and to share the national title for the 2005-06 academic year.  The two teams were J.J. Burns and Jenny Starcevich, and Tyler Kennedy and Michael Lutz.  Burns and Starcevich received further distinction by being recognized as the 5th and 2nd place top speakers of the tournament, respectively.  Despite having only two teams entered, DePauw University was also recognized as the 3rd place school in the overall debate sweepstakes award because of the outstanding performance of these two teams.

 

DePauw Debaters are Tournament Champions at Northern Illinois University

Press Release: October 10, 2006 (Greencastle, IN):

The DePauw debate team received top honors in early October at the M. Jack Parker Inviational Tournament hosted by Northern Illinois University. First year debaters Aaron Dicker and Nikki Miyasato were tournament champions in the novice division. The team of Tyler Kennedy and Micahel Lutz were quarterfinalists in the open division.

 

Tiger Debaters Receive Top Awards at Webster University

Press Release: December 7, 2005 (Greencastle, IN):

It was another successful weekend for the DePauw debate team in early December at the Webster University Study Break Tournament in St. Louis.  Projesh Banerjea and Michael Lutz were the fifth place team overall, and Jacob Krouse and Tom Walz captured ninth place.  In addition, these DePauw debaters further distinguished themselves by receiving top speaker awards.  Jacob Krouse placed 19th, Tom Walz took 12th, Projesh Banerjea captured 5th, and Micahel Lutz was named top speaker of the tournament.  This was the last tournament of the semester for DePauw.  In the spring, DePauw will compete in the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and the NPDA National Tournament held this year at Oregon State University in March.

 

DePauw Debaters Defeat British National Team, Earn Top Seed at Washburn University Tournament

Press Release: November 15, 2005 (Greencastle, IN):

Coming off a defeat of the British National Team representing Oxford University and the University of Glasgow in a Halloween debate on campus, DePauw’s top team continued their winning ways at the Washburn University Tournament held in Topeka, Kansas this past weekend.  Senior J.J. Burns and Junior Jenny Starcevich comprised the only undefeated team from a pool of 38 at the tournament.  Burns and Starcevich defeated teams from Concordia, Drury, William Jewell, Creighton, and Nebraska to earn the top seed of the tournament going into elimination rounds.  DePauw dropped a close semi-final round to the eventual tournament champion from William Jewell to earn a third place finish overall.  This is the strongest showing by the DePauw debate team this season which bauds well for the national tournament this spring at Oregon State University.

 

DePauw Debaters Capture Top Speaker Awards at Northern Illinois University

Press Release: October 10, 2005 (Greencastle, IN):

The DePauw Forensics Union enjoyed tremendous success this past weekend at the M. Jack Parker Invitational tournament hosted by Northern Illinois University.  DePauw took four of the top ten speaker awards for the tournament.  Jenny Starcevich set the pace with the 2nd place award.  Tyler Kennedy captured 3rd, J.J. Burns took 4th, and Michael Lutz finished 7th.  Geoff Klinger (’88), DePauw’s Director of Forensics commented on DePauw’s outstanding accomplishment: “This is the first time in my 12 years of coaching debate that every debater from one school has received an award of distinction.  It is very unusual for this to happen.  This shows that our students are among the most intelligent and articulate in the nation.”  After winning five rounds of preliminary debates with teams representing 15 different schools, DePauw’s top team advanced to elimination rounds, narrowly dropping to the top seeded team from Notre Dame on a 2-1 decision.

 

DePauw Debaters Tournament Champions

Press Release: November 15, 2004 (Greencastle, IN):

The DePauw debate team captured top honors at the Ruth A. Wilcox Debate Tournament, which was hosted by Marietta College in Ohio on November 8-9.  Tyler Kennedy and Alex Spiridonov went undefeated en route to the championship.  Projesh Banjerea and Jenny Starcevich placed second.  This is DePauw’s first tournament championship in years.  In addition, DePauw debaters captured three of the top four speaker honors.  Alex Spiridonov was recognized as the top speaker of the tournament, Jenny Starcevich took second place, and Tyler Kennedy placed fourth.  This is the last tournament of the Fall for the DePauw debate team as they get ready for three Spring tournaments, including the NPDA national tournament at Texas Tech University in March.

 

DePauw Debaters Host British National Team, Wabash College

Press Release: November 4, 2004 (Greencastle, IN):

Coming off a third place finish at the annual “You Don’t Say” Tournament at Ball State University, the DePauw Debate Society has the pleasure of hosting two public debates on campus.

First, the British National Debate team will take on DePauw in a public debate in the Watson Forum at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, November 8.  The debate topic will be: “Resolved: The War In Iraq Has Done More Harm Than Good.”  DePauw will affirm the resolution, and the British team will oppose the resolution.  The British team is composed of Aneurin Brewer of Bristol University who is a native of Barbados.  He was crowned European Champion in 2003, and reached the semi-finals of the World Championships held in Singapore in 2004.  Rob Marrs of The University of Glasgow is from Cambridge and reached the Scottish Mace Final in 2004.  Seniors Pravir Singh and Alex Spiridonov will represent DePauw.

 

DePauw Debaters Top Seed at Notre Dame, Third in Nation

Press Release: February 15, 2004 (Greencastle IN):

DePauw’s top debate team ended the regular season on a strong note, taking the Top Seed of the tournament at the Notre Dame Invitational.  It was a significant accomplishment for senior Erich Taylor, who notes that this marks the first time DePauw has gone undefeated in preliminary rounds in his four years.  The team of Taylor and sophomore J.J. Burns was one of two undefeated teams at the tournament, but outranked the other team from host school Notre Dame based on better speaker points.  J.J. Burns also received recognition as the third place speaker of the tournament, out of a field of nearly 100.

Burns and Taylor followed that up by placing third at the Delta Sigma Rho, Tau Kappa Alpha National Tournament held this last weekend at the University of Alabama.  This was especially significant because DePauw was a founding member of this forensic and academic honorary (www.dsr-tka.org).  J.J. Burns, who was inducted into DSR/TKA this past weekend based on his outstanding forensic and academic achievements, once again received recognition as the third place speaker of the tournament.

This leaves DePauw well positioned for a satisfying experience at the final tournament of the year, the open NPDA National Tournament held in early April in Los Angeles.  That tournament involves 312 teams representing 96 different schools.  DePauw debate coach Geoff Klinger is pleased: “We have enjoyed tremendous success this year, both in and out of our region, now it is time for the big dance.  We are taking our top three teams, and know that we can hang with the best of them.  This is tribute to DePauw students, and the type of education that flourishes here.”   To get involved with DePauw’s forensics program, which is open to all regardless of previous experience, contact Geoff Klinger, Director of Forensics (klinger@depauw.edu).

 

DePauw Debaters Continue Winning Ways at Drury University Tournament

Press Release: December 12, 2003 (Greencastle, IN):

For the third time in four tournaments, DePauw’s top debate team advanced to the final round at the “Ozarks Big 8” tournament hosted by Drury University in Springfield, Missouri.  After accumulating four wins in preliminary rounds, DePauw defeated teams from Purdue University and Arkansas State University in Quarterfinal and Semifinal rounds, respectively, before dropping an extremely close final round to Truman State University on a 3-2 decision.

The showing finds the team of senior Erich Taylor and sophomore J.J. Burns ranked 13th in the nation out of 774 teams (http://npte.debateaddict.com/unleashed/rank.php?npteyear=2004) going into the semester break.  This positions DePauw to make a run at the national title next semester, especially given their consistently strong showing at each tournament they attend.  Next semester, DePauw will attend important tournaments at Notre Dame, Cedarville, and Truman State in preparation

 

DePauw Debaters in National Elite

Press Release: October 20, 2003 (Greencastle, IN): 

The DePauw debate team has demonstrated that they are among the nation’s finest.  Building off their recent accomplishments at the season opening tournament at Purdue University, DePauw enjoyed broad-based success at their second tournament of the season at Ball State University last weekend.  DePauw’s top team again advanced to the final round of the tournament, dropping a close and highly contested round to the top team in the nation from the University of South Carolina.  The performance by senior Erich Taylor and sophomore J.J. Burns marks the second time they have been in the final round this season.  Their success was infectious as all three teams from DePauw advanced into the elimination octafinal round.  The team of Stefanie Duncan and Jenny Starcevich, and the team of Alex Spiridonov and Kalie Zamierowski, enjoyed their best showing of the season.  But the weekend belonged to Taylor and Burns, who now rank in the nation’s top ten.  DePauw’s Director of Forensics, Geoff Klinger, is delighted: “This is simply the best showing by DePauw debaters in over 20 years, and it is our best showing ever in parliamentary debate.”  Highlighting the significance of the accomplishment, Klinger notes, “We are currently the top team in Indiana, outdistancing teams from Notre Dame, Indiana, Purdue, Ball State, and Wabash, and we are currently one of the top three private liberal arts colleges in the nation in parliamentary debate.”  Indeed, DePauw defeated teams from much larger schools this past weekend, including Notre Dame, Purdue, Arkansas State, and South Carolina.  “This demonstrates that DePauw’s students are among the most intelligent and articulate in the nation,” Klinger observed.  DePauw’s next test will come against Wabash College in the historic Monon Bell Debate that will be held in Greencastle this year.  About this debate, Professor Klinger notes, “Wabash always has a good showing at these debates with almost 100 students making the trip; it is critically important that DePauw supports its team at this debate, especially given our recent success.”  To get involved with DePauw’s forensic teams, which are open to all, interested students should contact Geoff Klinger at klinger@depauw.edu, or ext. 5942.

 

DePauw Debaters Are Finalists at Purdue

Press Release: September 24, 2003 (Greencastle, IN):

DePauw University sent three teams to the season opening forensics tournament this past weekend.  One of two season opening national tournaments this weekend, DePauw made a strong early statement to competitors from other schools.  With 28 schools competing from as far away as Texas and Arkansas, and 48 teams in the varsity division of parliamentary debate, DePauw’s top team advanced all the way to the final round, dropping a close debate and 3-2 decision to perennial powerhouse Western Kentucky University.  Senior Erich Taylor and sophomore J.J. Burns compiled a 5-1 record in preliminary rounds, making them the second seed of the tournament.  Taylor and Burns then advanced through three elimination rounds, placing them in the final round against an outstanding Western Kentucky team, a team that they had defeated in earlier rounds.  Debating on the resolution: “The ‘invisible hand’ has led us astray,” DePauw represented the government in the debate, the team which supports the resolution, making compelling arguments about U.S. cultural imperialism and hegemony.  Although the team dropped a close 3-2 decision, it was a fulfilling experience for all of the DePauw debaters, who have never advanced this far at a tournament in recent years.  DePauw’s Director of Forensics and Assistant Professor of Communication, Geoff Klinger, was delighted with the team’s early performance: “The results from this tournament demonstrate that DePauw students are among the most intelligent and articulate in the nation.  We have shown schools of all sizes and makes that DePauw is nationally competitive, and we believe that this year holds great promise.”  Taylor and Burns also received individual recognition, with Erich Taylor receiving the 8th place speaker award at the tournament and partner J.J. Burns receiving the 11th place speaker award.  Additionally, Junior Alex Spiridonov was recognized as a semi-finalist in Impromptu Speaking, placing him 7th from a field of 54.  DePauw’s next tournament is at Ball State University the weekend of October 10th.  To get involved with the DePauw forensic teams or DePauw’s Debate Society, organizations open to all students, contact Geoff Klinger at klinger@depauw.edu,, or at 658-5942.

 

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.