The Chart Online

Southern debate team prepares for national finals in Indiana
Jacob West

Staff Writer

Getting into a good argument is something a successful debater does, and members of the Missouri Southern debate team demonstrate this well.

Several tournaments this year have shown the team s ability to use logic and reasoning.

Kelly Larson, assistant professor of communications and director of forensics, considers his team of debaters hardworking and a family.

We are good at what we do, Larson said.

Larson, an avid debater in high school, began teaching in 1979, and this is his 10th year teaching at the collegiate level. Other colleges where Larson has taught include Northwest State University and the University of Missouri-Colombia.

The Southern debate team has received past awards and was the 2001 national champion for the National Forensics Association. In 2003, the team will face three other colleges in its division. These include Western Kentucky, Central Michigan and Ohio State.

The NFA competition was held in Atlanta, Ga., in 2002, and will be April 17-21, 2003, at Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

Stephanie Bullard, senior speech communications major, has received awards for her individual and team effort and enjoys being on the Southern debate team.

Bullard said a goal for the team is to build toward nationals.

You have to make it to a certain elimination round in order to be qualified for nationals, she said. We hope to get the rest of the team qualified.

There are necessary things required for a good debater, and Bullard said magic and reasoning are what win the rounds.

Several tournaments this year have allowed Bullard and other members on the team to work together and finish successfully.

You can t complain about winning at any rate, she said. Winning is always good.

Bullard said her interest in debate began in high school, and Larson was her Oral Communications instructor.

Once you re a debater, you re always a debater, she said. You just have that competitive drive and that willingness to get up there and argue.

Time management is something Bullard has had to constantly consider when practicing for debate. She spends an average of five to 10 hours a week researching topics.

Bullard said preparations for nationals are keeping everyone on the team busy, and other schools have some competition from Southern.

On the debate circuit, Missouri Southern is a big name to be feared, she said.

The topic that has been set for this year is Poverty in America.

Southern's debate team participated in the Creighton Swing Speech and Debate Tournament on Oct. 10-13 in Omaha, Neb. Jason Edgar, junior speech communications major, qualified for nationals.

At the Age of Aquarius Speech and Debate Tournament on Oct. 17-20 in Muncie, Ind., the following students from Southern received recognition: Jeremy Hollingshead, Wes Carrillo, Bullard, Caleb Gallemore and Jeff Dugdale. In varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, Hollingshead received first and Bullard received fourth. In novice Lincoln-Douglas, Dugdale received second and Gallemore was fourth.

So far, five members have qualified for nationals.

It s a really rewarding experience to work this hard at something and to have all of our work pay off, both in team trophies and individual trophies, Bullard said.

Larson is ready to look forward to nationals.

We re a small school in a very big fish bowl, he said. We have to fight for anything we get.