News

Debate team travels abroad for tournament

by Jennifer Phillips
Staff Writer
and
Heather Morales
Arts & Entertainment Editor

For the first time since the University of La Verne’s debate team changed its debating style and main focus to parliamentary debate three years ago, the team is ranked fifth in the nation and 40th in the world.

The team’s success has allowed it the opportunity to compete in the World Championships at the University of County Cork in Ireland during the holiday break. They will leave on Dec. 26 and will return on Jan. 22.

“I think this is an amazing experience,” said junior team member Scott Mac Kay. “I love to travel. My whole family is jealous.”

Along with the tournament in Ireland, the team will also compete at the University of Edinburgh over the three-and-a-half week period. Later it will compete in the nationals at Rice University in Texas.

“Pretty much, the students have to sacrifice a lot of their time,” said debate coach, Jason Sandford.

According to the Shuumen Ranking, a weekly ranking out of Canada, the ULV debate team was at one time ranked as high as 31st in the world.

The team has competed and won against teams from Dartmouth, Yale and Fordham Universities, which has allowed it to be ranked with the likes of Stanford, Oxford, Edinburgh and Columbia Universities.

“The debaters compete four weekends out of the month and at least 10 hours of work is put in throughout the week,” said Sandford.

“We spend six or seven hours a week practicing,” said sophomore Bonnie Chuen.

Due to the complexity of parliamentary debate, the members read international publications such as The European, International Herald Tribune and the South China Morning Post.

“There are four teams in a round and it’s a forum in which students confront international issues. Topics change every round and you have 15 minutes to prepare,” said Sandford.

At both the World and National Championships, La Verne will be represented by two teams. The top team will consist of Mac Kay and senior Joshua Heydorff, while the second team will consist of junior Christina Hernandez and Chuen.

“We want to have the opportunity to compete against Oxford and Cam­bridge. To compete and beat—that’s a very viable goal,” said Sandford.

Competition at the championships will be intense. Teams must rank in the top 32 of the 250 teams competing.

“It’s a harsh cut and it takes a lot of energy and effort to be ranked in the top 32,” said Sandford. “We want to make it to the playoffs. It’s a playoffs of the playoffs. That will solidify our ranking on an international level of consistency and viability.”

“I’m extremely excited to have the opportunity to compete with the world’s best debaters,” said Chuen.

The University, along with the Associated Students Federation (ASF) Forum, the Admissions Office and parental contributions is funding the travel to the tournaments.

“It’s an interculture dynamics. You’re able to compete against students from North America, Asia and South Africa. It’s a wonderful opportunity,” said Sandford.

Jennifer Phillips
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Heather Morales
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