#speechdebate

Forensic Team completes impressive climb

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics Team drew extra attention this year for good reason. Coming off a very successful fall season that featured back-to-back tournament wins, the team picked up where it left off for the spring semester.

“We've been so successful this year, because our leadership started to take a content-based approach at meetings,” said Katie Rose, a dual political science and mass communications major. “We make effective use of our meeting times (twice a week for at least an hour each but usually longer), and most everyone on the team is willing to step in and help other members improve their events.”

The team came back for the spring semester just as strong as they left, placing second at the annual CFA/Harold Cox Wilkes University Speech and Debate Tournament. Every single BU student competing received at least one award.

And then just before spring break, the team won the Collegiate Forensic Association's (CFA) 2019-20 Welch-Strine Cup Championship Sweepstakes Award at the CFA Beach Tournament in Ocean City Md. The award recognizes the Collegiate Forensic Association's most accomplished speech and debate team for the 2019-20 academic year. This is the first time BU has won the prestigious award since its inception in 2005.

In addition to winning the overall CFA Team Championship, six BU students won both "Year-Long" and "Runner-Up Year-Long" Awards for being the best speaker in their particular event for the 2019-20 year. It's the most BU students ever recognized by CFA for year-long awards.

Additionally, BU won the second place Sweepstakes Award out of eight schools at the CFA Beach Tournament. Ten out of 15 BU students won a total of 24 speech/debate awards. Notably, Bloomsburg won the first through fifth place in After-Dinner Speaking and won the first, third and fourth place awards in Parliamentary Debate out of a total of 17 Teams at the tournament. 

“I’ve always wanted to give public speaking a try, but I never quite found the right opportunity,” said Lindsey Garnel, a communication studies major, who was initially attracted to testing her public speaking skills after hearing about an annual Speakers Forum in her interpersonal communication class. “I decided to go for it, try out, and write a speech on mental health. I was selected to speak at the forum, and I really enjoyed the experience!”

Garnel, who has earned 10 awards so far this season to include three third-place finishes in After-Dinner Speaking, has seen her confidence in public speaking continue to grow. In fact, she says the team has had a greater impact on her too.  

“I’ve become more confident,” Garnel said. “My experience at Bloomsburg has changed in a good way. I feel the team is like a family to me. Forensics has helped me find my way and my home here at Bloomsburg.”

Rose — who has earned 17 awards this season to include four third-place finishes, as well as a second-place finish in Communication Analysis at the Randolph-Macon tournament — has also seen personal growth because of the Forensic Team, particularly regarding her academic interests.

“I have two majors, and speech and debate ties into both,” Rose said. “Learning how to properly debate has helped me make better contributions to class discussions in political science courses, and overall made me more aware of the world around me. I’m now a more confident public speaker and communicator. Through competing, I continually hone writing and broadcasting skills needed for my future career in mass comm.”

This past fall, the Forensic Team garnered a level of success its hadn’t seen in 15 years, according to Neil Strine, director of BU forensics and executive director of the PA High School Speech League. The key highlight — victories in consecutive speech and debate tournaments.

BU won the Randolph-Macon College CFA Tournament with 15 of 16 students competing winning at least one award. In total, the team brought home 38 awards to include five first-place awards. Three weeks later BU won the Collegiate Forensic Association’s annual Holiday Tournament with 12 of 13 students competing earning an award. In total, the team left with 27 awards.

“I was nervous about joining the team to compete with my speeches,” Garnel said. “I felt new to speaking and was worried about how I would do on the team. Everyone has been helpful in helping me become a better public speaker. I’m proud that I placed fifth in my informative speech and first in my after-dinner speech, especially at my very first tournament. I can’t wait to further improve my public speaking as the season continues!”

Looking back at this season and her overall experience with the team, Rose says she owes a lot to forensics, including broadening her worldview and being open to alternative perspectives.

“I wanted to join speech and debate in high school, but for whatever reason I never did,” Rose said. “Right before my sophomore year of college, I met with Dr. (Neil) Strine since I was a transfer student and didn't know how to add classes to my schedule. He mentioned the forensics team, and I was instantly sold.” 

Strine sometimes jokes Rose was easiest person to convince to join forensics, she says. 

“I'm so glad I joined!,” Rose said. “I like traveling with the team the best. We travel to other parts of the state, Virginia, and Ocean City, Md., each year. I've had many ‘firsts’ in terms of travel with the team — my first international trip when we went to Canada, and my first flight when we competed in Florida.” 

She adds, “Without my involvement in forensics, I wouldn’t have been afforded those opportunities to travel and see the world.”

Forensics Team building off winning fall season 

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team won the 2nd Place Team Sweepstakes award (out of 5 schools) at the Collegiate Forensic Association’s Annual Fall Tournament at Bloomsburg University. 

Ten out of 14 BU students won individual speech and debate awards. As a team, BU finished ahead of Liberty University, Shepherd University, and Wilkes University in the team sweepstakes competition. Randolph-Macon College won first place at the tournament, edging out BU by only 20 sweepstakes points. 

The following students won individual/team speech and debate awards:

Noah Roux: 3rd Extemporaneous Speaking; 1st Communication Analysis; 1st Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 6th Pentathlon

Lindsey Garnel: 1st After Dinner Speaking, 5th Informative Speaking

Isaac Osborn: 2nd After Dinner Speaking, 3rd Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Joseph Touey: 3rd After Dinner Speaking, 4th Impromptu Speaking; 3rd Place Parliamentary Debate with Taylor Baker

Taylor Baker: 2nd Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 4th After Dinner Speaking; 3rd Place Parliamentary Debate with Joseph Touey.

Jacob Beitz: 3rd Impromptu Speaking

Emme Reiser: 5th Dramatic Duo with Katarina Chiogna-Solovey

Katarina Chiogna-Solovey: 5th Poetry; 5th Place Dramatic Duo with Emme Reiser

Jonathan Roe: 3rd Single Dramatic Interpretation, 4th Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Tarah Kelley: 2nd Place Best Speaker in Parliamentary Debate

The other students on the BU Forensics Team contributing to the team’s performance included Nick Sorkine, Shawn Edwards, Kyle Bower, and Jared Garrison. Neil Strine, director of forensics, judged for BU at the tournament. Erin Brummett, of communication studies, along with Michael Martin, of English, and Mark Usry, of accounting, assisted with coaching the team and judged at the tournament. Approximately 20 BU faculty, staff, and graduate students served as community judges at the tournament.

Randolph-Macon College/CFA Invitational Tournament

BU’s Forensics Team won the 1st Place Team Sweepstakes Trophy out of five schools at the Randolph-Macon College/CFA Invitational Tournament in Ashland, Va, this fall. BU finished ahead of Randolph-Macon College, Lord Fairfax Community College, the University of Richmond, and the University of Lynchburg.  

Fifteen of 16 BU students competing won at least one speech and debate award. In total, BU students brought home 38 awards, including five individual first place event awards. BU was represented by at least one student in every final round at the tournament. 

The following students won speech/debate awards:

Taylor Baker: 2nd Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 3rd Single Dramatic Interpretation; 5th Place Best Parliamentary Debate Speaker

Jacob Beitz: 6th Impromptu Speaking

Kyle Bower: 2nd Impromptu Speaking; 5th Place Parliamentary Debate (with Isaac Osborn)

Katarina Chiogna-Solovey: 1st Persuasive Speaking; 3rd Informative; 5th Dramatic Duo (with Emme Reiser); 6th Prose

Shawn Edwards: 1st Extemporaneous Speaking; 3rd Impromptu Speaking; 3rd Parliamentary Debate (with Noah Roux)

Lindsey Garnel: 3rd After Dinner Speaking; 5th Informative; 6th Prose

Jared Garrison: 4th Persuasive Speaking

Tasha Hill: 5th Communication Analysis

Isaac Osborn: 1st Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 2nd After-Dinner Speaking; 5th Parliamentary Debate (with Kyle Bower); 6th Pentathlon

Emme Reiser: 1st Communication Analysis; 5th Dramatic Duo (with Katarina Chiogna-Solovey)

Jonathan Roe: 3rd Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 4th Single Dramatic Interpretation

Katie Rose: 2nd Communication Analysis; 4th Poetry; 5th After Dinner Speaking; 5th Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 5th Pentathlon

Noah Roux: 3rd Parliamentary Debate (with Shawn Edwards); 4th Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 5th Extemporaneous Speaking; 6thCommunication Analysis; 6th Place Parliamentary Debate Speaker

Nicholas Sorkine: 2nd Declamation; 5th Single Dramatic Interpretation; 4th Prose

Joseph Touey: 1st After-Dinner Speaking; 4th Impromptu

Andrew Kline also contributed to the BU victory at the tournament. Neil Strine, director of forensics and associate professor of political science, served as a speech and debate judge at the tournament. Erin Brummett, of communication studies, and Michael Martin, of English, assisted with coaching the team.  

Forensics Team finishes second at winter tournament

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics Team recently have won the 2nd Place Team Sweepstakes Award out of eight schools at the Collegiate Forensics Association’s Annual Winter Tournament held at the College of Charleston.

Eleven out of the sixteen BU students won speech and debates awards and three won four first place awards. BU student Katie Rose recently placed 4thin the Place of Communication Analysis, and 6th in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

“I'm proud that I placed in Lincoln-Douglas debate at the Charleston tournament; it was the very first time that I've ever won an award for debate and I was not expecting it” says Katie Rose, junior, BU Forensic Team).  

“As for the team, I'm proud that we only took eight people to Wilkes and we still managed to place third overall, and that would not have been possible if certain people didn't step up and do events they normally don't compete in.  Everyone gave it their all and the hard work paid off well”

Not only does Every member on the Forensic Team works extremely hard for each competition, “Bloomsburg always wins loudest and best-dressed team” says Katie Rose

Katie added, “I usually practice delivering my speeches in front of my friends and/or teammates.  It helps to rehearse in front of someone supportive who can offer comments and constructive criticism.  For Lincoln-Douglas debate, I try to find new sources that support my arguments”

The Forensics Team is the only co-curricular academic activity on the BU campus that will allow students to earn academic credit per semester for participation at the tournament.

“For the BU Forensic Team, tournaments are super fun!  We have opportunities to travel to places such as Virginia, South Carolina, Florida, and even Canada for little to no cost, thanks to our funding from CGA.  I have seen a lot of new places that I would have never gotten to visit had it not been for my membership on the team.  It's a great way to meet new people, too” – Rose

Katie says her favorite part of being on the Forensics team is having the chance to share my voice on important topics in entertaining ways, and also learning about so many new subjects just by listening to others' speeches.

Awards at the College of Charleston Tournament

Amy Bitar:1stPlace Pentathlon, 1stInformative Speaking, 3rdProse Interpretation, 3rdSingle Dramatic Interpretation, 2ndDramatic Duo with Tarah Kelley, 2ndDeclamation, 2ndBest Speaker Parliamentary Debate, 4thParliamentary Team debate with Tarah Kelley.

Tarah Kelley:4thPlace Poetry, 2ndDramatic Duo with Amy Bitar, 4thBest Speaker Parliamentary Debate, 4thParliamentary Team debate with Amy Bitar, 6thPentathlon

Allison Robbins: 2ndPlace After Dinner Speaking, 5thPersuasive Speaking

Thomas Weber: 3rdPlace Impromptu Speaking, 5thCommunication Analysis, 5thLincoln-Douglas Debate

Shawn Edwards: 3rdPlace Informative Speaking, 5thBest Speaker Parliamentary Debate

Katie Rose: 4thPlace Communication Analysis, 6thLincoln-Douglas Debate

Joseph Touey: 1stPlace After-Dinner Speaking

Jonathan Roe: 5thPlace Impromptu Speaking

Tasha Hill: 5thPlace Parliamentary Team Debate (with student from the University of Richmond)

Katarina Solovey:1stPlace Poetry

Isaac Osborn: 6thPlace Prose

The other BU students participating in the tournament and contributing to the team’s success included Emme Reiser, Andrew Kline,  Kyle Bower, Noah Roux, and Taylor Baker. Neil Strine, Director of Forensics, and Mark Usry, associate professor of accounting, and  served as speech and debate judges for Bloomsburg at the tournament.

Forensics Team having memorable fall season

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics team has had a great semester thus far. The team has already attended two competitions this semester, and have won various awards at each event, individually and as a team.

The first event of the semester was held in October at Shepherd University in West Virginia. The team won third place overall out of nine schools. Ten of the 19 participants from BU won awards for speech, debate, and interpretation events.

BU students Thomas Weber and Noah Roux won first place in Parliamentary Debate at the first event.

“It’s hard to say exactly how we won,” said Roux. “The debate topics are often far ranging and you have to have a good base of knowledge on world and national news to do well…we also rely heavily on being good public speakers.”

However, not everyone on the Forensics team begins as a great public speaker. Being on the team can make students do things outside their comfort zone, but prepares them to be better public speakers over time.

“The forensics team has made me a much better public speaker,” said Roux. “It has also made me more analytical and thoughtful on current events and it has become easier for me to understand the other side’s arguments.”

The second event was held in November at Shippensburg University, where the team won third overall, and 11 students won individual awards.

Weber and Roux also placed in Parliamentary Debate at Shippensburg, this time earning fourth place out of more than 20 teams.

The Forensics team travels for each event, and usually events are within Pennsylvania and Virginia. However, some competitions require longer travel times.

“We go as far as Florida, South Carolina, West Virginia, and even Ottawa, Canada,” said Weber. “I drive personally between three and five hours for tournaments.”

Both Weber and Roux credit their adviser, Dr. Harry Neil Strine, with much of their success, along with other professors from the Political Science and Communications Studies departments.

“Without his wit, humor, and exceptional advice we would not be where we are today,” said Weber.

  — Dallas Kriebel, mass communications major 

Bloomsburg University Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team won the 2ndPlace Sweepstakes Award out of 9 schools at the Collegiate Forensic Association’s annual Holiday Tournament held at Shippensburg University this past weekend, November2-3, 2018.  Ten out of nineteen BU students won speech and/or debate awards. This was one of the largest teams to ever have competed for BU in the past 14 years.  I have attached a picture of the BU Forensics team to this email. Here are the individual student award winners:

Amy Bitar: 5th  Place Dramatic Duo with Tarah Kelley; 2nd Place Declamation; 5th Place Persuasive Speaking; 4th Place Pentathlon

Lissy Dombeck: 1st Place Communication Analysis; 3rd Place Declamation

Alli Robbins: 5th Place After Dinner Speaking

Noah Roux: 3rd Place, Extemporaneous Speaking; 4th Place Parliamentary Debate with Thomas Weber (out of 23 teams)

Joseph Touey: 6th Place, Extemporaneous Speaking

Tarah Kelley: 5th Place Dramatic Duo with Amy Bitar

Katie Rose: 4th Place Communication Analysis

Thomas Weber: 4th Place Parliamentary Debate with Noah Roux (out of 23 teams)

Shawn Edwards: 3rd Place, Informative Speaking

Eric Musgrove: 6th Place, Informative Speaking

The other students competing for Bloomsburg University and contributing to our success included Taylor Baker, Emily Bernosky, Tasha Hill, Andrew Kline, Isaac Osborn, Adam Phillips Emme Reiser, Jonathan Roe, and Katarina Solovey,

Dr. Neil Strine, Director of Forensics,  Dr. James Vines, Department of Academic Enrichment, Mr. Charles Humphrys, BU Class of 2008, and Mr. Robert F. Harris, Jr., retired Director of Veterans’ Affairs for Franklin County, PA., served as speech and debate judges for Bloomsburg at the tournament.  Dr. Erin Brummett, Communication Studies, assists with coaching students on the team. The BU Forensics Team is generously supported by the BU Community Government Association and is open to all BU students.  No previous experience is necessary.  The team meets every Monday and Wednesday in Bakeless, Room #306.  The BU Forensics Team will travel to Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia November 30 – December 1, 2018 for our next tournament. Students may earn credit for forensics through enrolling in the Forensics Practicum – Intstudy 108.

Forensics Team places third at CFA fall tournament

Bloomsburg University’s forensics team captured the third place Sweepstakes Award at the Collegiate Forensic Association’s annual fall tournament held at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.V. on Oct. 19-20, 2018.

Eleven out of the 18 BU students won awards, including first and second place in parliamentary debate in a field of 21 teams.

Amy Bitar took second in the dramatic duo with Tarah Kelley; was third in place declamation; fourth in persuasive speaking; and fifth in pentathlon.

Alli Robbins was second in persuasive speaking, second in after-dinner speaking; and sixth in parliamentary debate with Adam Phillips.

Adam Phillips was sixth in parliamentary debate with Alli Robbins.

Noah Roux took first place parliamentary debate with Thomas Weber; first in best speaker parliamentary debate (out of 42 speakers); and was fourth in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Tarah Kelley was second in dramatic duo with Amy Bitar; third in persuasive speaking; sixth in Poetry; and sixth in Pentathlon

Katarina Solovey was fifth in poetry

Katie Rose took fourth place communication analysis

Thomas Weber took first in parliamentary debate with Noah Roux (Out of 21 teams); was fifth in best speaker parliamentary debate (out of 42 speakers); and sixth in communication analysis.

Shawn Edwards was second in parliamentary debate with Eric Musgrove.

Eric Musgrove was second in parliamentary debate with Shawn Edwards.

Andrew Kline was fifth in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Also competing for Bloomsburg University were Emme Reiser, Julia Pittre, Alyssah Dombek, Bradley Bohm, Isaac Osborn, Jonathan Roe, and Taylor Baker.

Neil Strine, director of forensics, and Michael Martin, associate professor of English, served as speech and debate judges for BU’s team at the tournament. Erin Brummett, assistant professor of communication studies, assisted with coaching students on the team.

Forensics Team places third at Randolph-Macon invitational

Bloomsburg University Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team won the 3rd Place Sweepstakes Award out of 7 schools at the Randolph-Macon College Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament this past weekend, November 30-December1, 2018 in Ashland, Virginia.  Bloomsburg competed against Randolph-Macon College, University of Richmond, Lord Fairfax Community College, Florida College, Shepherd University, and the University of Lynchburg,  Nine out of sixteen BU students won speech and/or debate awards. Please see the attached picture of the BU Forensics team following the awards ceremony at this tournament.

Here are the individual student award winners:

Taylor Baker: 4th Place Parliamentary Debate Speaker (Tie)

Amy Bitar: 2nd Place Prose; 3rd Place Declamation

Alyssah Dombek: 5th Place Communication Analysis

Alli Robbins: 3rd Place Persuasive Speaking; 4th Place After Dinner Speaking

Noah Roux: 6th Place, Extemporaneous Speaking; 5th Place Parliamentary Debate with Thomas Weber

Joseph Touey: 2nd Place After Dinner Speaking; 4th Place Parliamentary Debate Speaker (Tie)

Katie Rose: 6th Place Communication Analysis; 6th Place After Dinner Speaking

Katarina Solovey: 5th Place Poetry; 6th Place Persuasive Speaking

Thomas Weber: 5th Place Parliamentary Debate with Noah Roux; 4th Place Lincoln-Douglas Debate; 5th Place Impromptu Speaking

The other students competing for Bloomsburg University and contributing to our success included Tasha Hill, Andrew Kline, Isaac Osborn, Adam Phillips, Emme Reiser, Shawn Edwards, and Jonathan Roe.

Neil Strine, director of forensics and James Vines, of the Department of Academic Enrichment served as speech and debate judges for BU’s team at the tournament. Vines and Erin Brummett, communication studies, assist with coaching students on the team. The Forensics Team is supported by the Community Government Association and is open to all students. No previous experience is necessary. 

Forensics Team connects with Lancaster middle-schoolers

No matter the career path, skills in speech and debate are practically essential for success. To learn and practice speech and debate at an early age, can potentially set students ahead of their peers.

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics Team had the opportunity to present the importance of speech and debate to sixth through eighth graders at Swift Middle School in Southern Lancaster County this spring.

For the second year in a row, Ali McPherson, the Swift Middle School reading specialist, invited Anna Scott, Amy Bitar, and Deanna Campion from the Forensics Team to lead a discussion on the different speaking events and prepare the students for a live demonstration of parliamentary debate and impromptu speaking.

Many students actively participated and volunteered to partake in the demonstrations. The students had fun bouncing their ideas and opinions off one another on topics as serious as politics and as relaxed as the school dress code.

“Middle school is usually a time when kids are very concerned about what their friends and classmates think and to see some kids volunteer to speak and practice events like that in from of their peers is very impressive to us,” Scott said.

The Forensics Team also taught how fun it can be to come up with impromptu speeches and how learning to organize their interior monologue can benefit their writing skills as well as their communication skills.

“These kids were so full of knowledge and opinions and showing them debate helped them express what they were thinking in a professional way,” Bitar said.

Forensics Team kicks off spring season

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics Team kicked off its spring season with a fourth place finish out of seven teams at the Annual Collegiate Forensic Association’s Speech and Debate Tournament in Clearwater Beach, Fla.

Five of the 13 forensics competitors won speech and debate awards. Among them was Jayleen Alvarado, a senior political science major, who is also studying pre-law.

“I enjoy having a platform where I can speak professionally about issues that plague this country,” said Alvarado, adding the forensics team great fit for students who enjoy traveling, meaningful conversations, and good friends. “I enjoy hearing perspectives that I am not familiar with and may not align with my own. I do not believe ignorance is bliss, if there is an opinion that is based on reason that supersedes my own, it is worth listening to; it is worth discussing.”

Alvarado was proud of the team’s performance in Florida. According to her, the team has provided her with the professional development skills necessary to compete in highly competitive work fields upon graduation. Public speaking was never a fear — but her oral, written, and research skills have heightened substantially regardless.

Annual Collegiate Forensic Association’s Speech and Debate Tournament

Abbey Porambo: 1st Poetry; 1st Informative Speaking; 1st Dramatic Duo with Jayleen Alvarado; 2nd After Dinner Speaking; 2nd Best Parliamentary Debate Speaker; 5th Single Dramatic Interpretation; 3rd Pentathlon

Lucelis Ortega: 6th Poetry; 6th Declamation

Anna Scott: 2nd Persuasive Speaking

Jayleen Alvarado: 1st Dramatic Duo with Abbey Porambo; 5th Parliamentary debate with Tobias Sonnenberg; 6th Communication Analysis

Tobias Sonnenberg: 5th Parliamentary Debate with Jayleen Alvarado

Katarina Solovey, Amy Bitar, Alisa Evans, DeMoss Jones, Cameron Ostrowski, Deanna Campion, Theresa Clark, and Tarah Kelley also competed for the Bloomsburg Forensics Team. 

Harry C. “Neil” Strine IV, director of forensics and chair of the Department of Political Science, served as a speech and debate. Erin Brummet, assistant professor of communication studies, and Timothy Oleksiak, assistant professor of English, assist with coaching students on the BU Forensics Team

Wilkes University Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics Team continued its strong start to the spring season with a fifth place finish out of nine schools at the Wilkes University Invitational Speech and Debate Tournament, along with each member taking home an individual award.  

BU competed against Wilkes University, Susquehanna University, James Madison University, George Mason University, Shepherd University, St. Joseph’s University, Misericordia University, and Luzerne County Community College. 

Deanna Campion: 5th Parliamentary Debate with Cameron Ostrowski; 6th Prose

Cameron Ostrowski: 5th Parliamentary Debate with Deanna Campion; 6th Best Speaker Award in Parliamentary Debate

Katarina Solovey: 5th Declamation; 6th Informative

Amy Bitar: 2nd Parliamentary Debate with Jayleen Alvarado; 3rd Declamation; 5th Best Speaker in Parliamentary Debate

Jayleen Alvarado: 2nd Parliamentary Debate; 3rd Best Speaker in Parliamentary Debate

Harry C. “Neil” Strine IV, director of forensics and chair of the Department of Political Science, served as a speech and debate. Erin Brummet, assistant professor of communication studies, and Timothy Oleksiak, assistant professor of English, assist with coaching students on the BU Forensics Team. 

Students of any major are welcome to join any time with no prior experience. The team meets every Monday at 9 p.m. in Bakeless Center 207. 

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics (Speech and Debate) Team recently won the fifth place Team Sweepstakes award at the Collegiate Forensic Association’s Annual Holiday Tournament held at Randolph Macon College in Ashland, Virginia.  

BU competed against Brooklyn College, Davis and Elkins College, Florida College, Lord Fairfax Community College, Lynchburg College, Randolph-Macon College, Shepherd University, University of North Carolina – Charlotte, and the University of Richmond.

A group of 12 students competed at the Holiday Tournament, including seven of whom won individual awards:

Abbey Porambo: second in Poetry; fifth in After Dinner Speaking; fifth in Dramatic Duo with Jayleen Alvarado

Jayleen Alvarado: second in Lincoln-Douglas Debate; third in Communication Analysis; fifth in Dramatic Duo with Abbey Porambo; sixth in Pentathlon

Anna Scott: third in Informative; fifth Declamation

Tarah Kelley: second in After Dinner Speaking; sixth in Declamation

Alisa Evans: first in Best Parliamentary Debate Speaker

Cameron Ostrowski: fifth in Single Dramatic Interpretation

Deanna Campion: sixth in Extemporaneous Speaking

Theresa Clark, Tobias Sonnenberg, Stijn Gillaerts, Amy Bitar, and Thomas Weber also competed at the CFA Holiday Tournament. 

Harry C. “Neil” Strine IV, director of forensics and chair of the Department of Political Science, served as a speech and debate judge at the competition.  Four BU alumni — Delaney Hellman, Dan Pagana, Jackson Staples, and Charles Humphrys — also judged events at the tournament.

Erin Brummett, assistant professor of communication studies, and Timothy Oleksiak, assistant professor of English, assist Strine with coaching students on the BU team.  

The speech and debate team is supported by funding from the Community Government Association and is open to all students. No prior experience is necessary to join the team.  

Bloomsburg University’s Forensics Speech and Debate Team recently competed in two tournaments as part of its fall semester schedule. 

The team placed fourth at the Collegiate Forensic Association Tournament and second at the CFA-Morgan State University Tournament in Baltimore.

Students participate in both parliamentary debates and spoken word throughout the course of these tournaments. The team itself, however, is about way more than just arguing or public speaking.  

“The debate team has made me realize how important it is to speak your mind and be passionate about current issues,” says Abbey Porambo, who won first place for her poetry during the CFA-Morgan State Tournament. “I believe that it is so important to use your words with purpose, which is something I never would have said four years ago before I joined the team.”

Porambo is the current president of the Speech and Debate Team and has been involved in the club since her freshman year. She is avid on helping her team better their public speaking skills. 

“The team took second place overall, which hasn't been done since 2013,” Porambo shares, highlighting the growth of their work. 

“This team has provided me not only with many important academic skills but also with an amazing group of peers and advisors that have made my BU experience so much better,” shares Alisa Evans, who placed first in a parliamentary debate alongside Anna Scott. “This team is a family and we support and help each other in and outside of forensics.”

Evans remembers what it was like when she first joined the team. 

“I started off joining this team as a shy junior with very little experience public speaking,” she shares. But now, she loves the “fun struggle” that comes with debating. “The thrill that comes with the back and forth battle of debate is enough to keep you going during those draining hours of intellectual strain.”

Evans and Porambo agree that along with camaraderie, the Speech and Debate Team has helped them gain personal and career skills they didn’t have before.

“[Debate Team] has helped me develop many skills like critical thinking and effective speaking that will be vital for my success as a lawyer,” says Evans, who will be attending Law School in 2017. “I can honestly say that I would not be nearly as confident, experienced, and prepared for my future if it were not for the Forensics team.”

“My experience on debate team definitely has helped me with my verbal and written communication skills, which is an essential trait in the job market,” says Porambo, who will be graduating this spring with a digital forensics degree.

From gaining essential skills for any career to finding life-long friends, the Speech and Debate Team members gain so much more than just awards for their work.

“The debate team has truly changed me and has given me more confidence as a person, both inside and outside the classroom.” Porambo shares. “Now, I will never be silent on a topic that I feel strongly about.”

CFA Fall Tournament at Shepherd University

Tobias Sonnenberg: sixth in Extemporaneous Speaking; second in Best Speaker in Parliamentary Debate

Alisa Evans: fifth in After-Dinner Speaking

Anna Scott: third in Informative Speaking

Jayleen Alvarado: fourth in Communication Analysis; fifth in Parliamentary Debate with Tarah Kelley

Tarah Kelley: fifth in Parliamentary Debate with Jayleen Alvarado

Abbey Porambo: second in Single Dramatic Interpretation

Tobias Sonnenberg and Stijn Gillaerts won sixth in Parliamentary Debate at Shepherd University.

Amy Bitar, Cameron Ostrowski, Theresa Clark, and Stijn Gillaerts also competed. BU alumni Sally Hardner and Jackson Staples served as speech and debate judges for the Shepherd tournament.

Morgan State University Tournament

Abbey Porambo: first in Poetry; second in Informative; fourth in Dramatic Duo with Jayleen Alvarado, fifth in Single Dramatic Interpretation; sixth in After-Dinner Speaking; Top non-advancing Parliamentary Debate team with Thomas Weber (3-1 record)

Tarah Kelley: send in Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Cameron Ostrowski: sixth in Single Dramatic Interpretation

Alisa Evans: first in Parliamentary Debate with Anna Scott; fourth in After-Dinner Speaking

Anna Scott: first in Parliamentary Debate with Alisa Evans; third in Informative; fourth in Extemporaneous Speaking; fourth in Pentathlon

Jayleen Alvarado: fourth in Dramatic Duo with Abbey Porambo; fourth in Informative; sixth in Extemporaneous Speaking; sixth in Communication Analysis; fifth in Pentathlon

Thomas Weber: Top Non-Advancing Parliamentary Debate Team with Abbey Porambo (3-1 Record)

Amy Bitar and Deanna Campion also competed at the Morgan State University Tournament. Neil Strine, director of the BU Forensics, served as a speech and debate judge.

Erin Brummett, assistant professor of communication studies and Timothy Oleksiak, assistant professor of English, assist with coaching students on the BU Forensics Team. The BU Forensics Team is supported by funding by the Community Government Association.  

The BU Forensics Team meets every Monday at 9 p.m. in Bakeless Center 207. All students are welcome to join the team. No prior experience is necessary.  

All students interested in joining the team should see Strine, chair, associate professor of political science, in Bakeless Center 215B or  at [email protected].