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Debaters complete winning moves in tourney

Sophomore Sean Krispinsky and junior Justin Jones regularly team up to compete in debate with universities from around the world. In January, Krispinsky earned a fourth place title in the simple speaker category at the University World Debate Championships in the Philippines. About 300 individuals from 30 different countries competed in the tournament as well. / photo by Matt Wright
Sophomore Sean Krispinsky and junior Justin Jones regularly team up to compete in debate with universities from around the world. In January, Krispinsky earned a fourth place title in the simple speaker category at the University World Debate Championships in the Philippines. About 300 individuals from 30 different countries competed in the tournament as well. / photo by Matt Wright

by Angelica Martinez
Features Editor

Sean Krispinsky, a sophomore international studies major, won the fourth place title in the public speaking category at the 19th World University Debate Championships in the Philippines in January.

The win, a nice Christmas present for the debate and forensics team of La Verne, was achieved during the Winter break.

According to Krispinsky, the difference in this category as compared to debate is simple.

“There is no argumentation. The competition is just with the individual.”

The category gave the finalist one minute to prepare a five-minute presentation on an impromptu subject.

Following several different rounds of such debates, winners were selected.

Krispinsky, who admitted to being nervous during the final round of the championships, explained the fear was due to “the world’s best speakers [being] there, and the biggest crowd,” to which he has ever spoken.

The final round was comprised of three Americans – including Krispinsky – one British speaker, one Irish speaker and one Filipino speaker.

Justin Jones, junior political major, also took part in the championships with Krispinsky.

Completing a week of debates, with two or three debates a day, the team comprised of Krispinsky and Jones was the only team sent by the University of La Verne.

Other universities representing thirty different countries were allowed to send two teams to the Philippines, totaling 300 debaters in the entire championships competition.

Chris Medina, director of speech and debate, said Krispinsky and Jones “are two of the most talented people I know. They are a credit to the team and the university.”

ULV, because of its size and financial restrictions, was only able to send its “A” team, otherwise known as its top debaters.

“We have ‘A,’ ‘B,’ ‘C,’ teams, but that is all subjective,” said Jones about the team as a whole.

Because of their focus in the area of forensics, debaters such as Krispinsky and Jones were given the opportunity to compete at the international level above other team members.

“Debaters get priority because it is their arena,” said Medina. “In this case, it was purely financial that we could only send two.”

Factors taken into account for selection of those who were to compete in the Philippines included considering which team members worked the hardest throughout the debate season, as well as who was most successful in his or her competitions, according to Medina.

Both Krispinsky and Jones portrayed these qualities, and were therefore chosen.

In the championships, the duet debaters of Krispinsky and Jones were entitled to only New Year’s Day off. The team continued in competition the following day-New Year’s Day-to take part in the final rounds of the championships.

With a minimum of 9 hours of regular practice a week, the team increases its practice time to about 15 hours a day when preparing for competitive tournaments. The duration of tournaments is usually three days.

“We have to be invited,” said Medina of the numerous tournaments in which the debate team participates. “We have a lot of tournaments coming up in the near future.”

This year, ULV’s team will participate in the National Speech Tournament for the first time.

“The University never qualified. Right now, five students qualify,”said Medina.

The speech and debate department has “branched out into more speech oriented debates,” said Medina. The change allows for categories such as the public speaking category to expand.

“Being able to expand horizons is very important to me,” he said.

The championship tournament in the Philippines featured the country’s president, Joseph Estrada, as well as other guest speakers.

“It was incredible and quite an honor,” said Jones of the experience.

“It was amazing, exhilarating. The whole event was a great cultural exchange,” said Krispinsky. “They were beautiful people and we were surrounded by the international community. It was a priceless experience.”

Angelica Martinez, Arts Editor
Angelica Martinez
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