Yelena Ovcharenko
Assistant Editor
The University of La Verne debate squad confidently stepped up to the lectern to oppose and support issues including recreational drug use, U.S.exemption from international agreements and political assassination during the U.S. Universities National Championship Tournament.
Debate teams from all over the United States and Canada gathered Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Claremont McKenna College to challenge one another other with strategic arguments during the competition.
“It’s been a great competition,” said Rida Fatima, ULV sophomore political science major and debate team member.
It was an aggressive battle for all.
There were a total of seven rounds that lead to the eliminations.
La Verne teams A and F made it to the semi finals and ULV B reached the quarterfinals.
Josh Martin ranked No. 1 as the best speaker in the competition and his partner, Rob Ruiz, the ULV debate squad captain, walked away with second place.
John Patrick, from ULV F was ranked as the seventh best speaker in the motion, making him third best at the University.
“We’re just taking it one round at a time,” Fatima said.
Debaters and adjudicators said that their secret to success lies in their coach, Ian Lising.
“We’re coached by the best,” said Sara Randazzo, ULV junior speech communications major. “It’s his dedication that makes the team strive to be as dedicated as he is.”
Other teams did not fail to see the University’s success as well.
ULV’s debaters entered each round with a clear outline on the topic and applied Lising’s training in their debates.
“The debaters are obviously well trained,” said Tom Lassen, one of the top debaters from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
“The important thing is that it’s not just a few teams, but all of them are really good,” Lassen said, referring to the ULV debate teams.
During the debate ULV had fierce competition. The Alaska teams did not fail to show its round of challenges and faced ULV during the semifinals as well.
For some it was the testing of new waters, while for others it was a walk in the park.
All in all the University did better than projected. Additionally, the University showed others its determination and capability of success.
“Personally, La Verne is the best in the world,” Randazzo said.
Yelena Ovcharenko can be reached at yovcharenko@ulv.edu.
