by Alexis Lahr
Staff Writer
The University of La Verne debate team increased its experience and success during Winter break at the World Universities Debating Championship, held at the University of Toronto, Canada.
Four debate teams from ULV, which consisted of two debaters each, went to the competition. Three judges from ULV, known as adjudicators, also went to Canada. Team La Verne A, consisting of Team Captain Andrew Kim and debater Beverly Samano, finished 50th out of 228 teams. Teams La Verne B, C and D finished between 148 and 180.
Senior Sean Krispinsky was selected as a semifinal adjudicator.
Krispinsky said he was “honored as well as proud of La Verne’s program.” The debate team now ranks 49th in the world.
The competition began with three debates per day for three days. After the ninth round of debating, the top thirty-two teams were ranked and those teams went on to the first round of finals. ULV missed the cut by only one point.
Although in past years the debate team has made it as far as the semifinals and the finals, its current success at the World Championship is still significant, given that most of the debaters had never been to an international debate.
“We have been sheltered from the international community. When we mingled with them, we held our ground,” Andrew Kim said.
Director of Forensics Ian Lising was pleased with La Verne’s performance. “All of the teams did exceptionally well,” Lising said. “The most gratifying thing is to see future generations take the mantle and continue a tradition of excellence.”
The debaters were not the only ones from La Verne to earn honors. Lising was named Chair of the World Debating Council.
“This is a great honor. I’m glad to be doing this for the University of La Verne,” he said. Lising also said he had no expectation of receiving this honor and his priority is still to serve the University.
After achieving such success at what was the first World Championship for most of the team, the future looks bright for ULV debate. Their performance in Toronto “shows that our program will definitely have much more success in the future,” Krispinsky said. “La Verne is a force to be reckoned with in international debate.”
The debate team’s next competition will be an international intervarsity tournament hosted at ULV in early October.
Lising said the team is currently the largest it has ever been and he encourages everyone to experience debate at least once in life.
The debate team holds practices on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Practices are open to anyone who wants to participate and no experience is necessary.
For more information, contact Lising at ext. 4296.
