Bryan College Triangle

Jesse Murray
Senior Reporter

Bryan College’s Debate Team left late last week for the Debate Nationals Tournament at Carson Newman (Jefferson City, Tenn.) which lasted all weekend. They were joined by debate clubs from approximately 25 other schools including: Wheaton, Biola, Azusa Pacific, North Dakota University and University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

According to debate club adviser Michael Palmer, there were two categories of competition, individual events and parliamentary debate. Individual events include poetry recitation, informative speaking and after-dinner speeches.

“There were many top-flight teams there,” said Palmer. “Also, there were so many rounds. We won a good number, and lost a good number. We did well in terms of competition.”

Though Bryan didn’t make it to the finals round, sophomore Erica Thomson broke into the Individual Events final round and brought home honors. According to Palmer, the entire team performed impressively and has bonded well over the debate season.

“One of the biggest things was the relational aspect of the tournament,” said Palmer. “We were able to spend a lot of time together in the evenings, whether playing games or just in conversation. It was just a good time.”

This was the final tournament of the year for Bryan’s debate club.

Clari Stewart & Dan Jackson
Reporter & Asst. Online Editor

The trophies belonging to Alexander/McGowen rest in the dorm of Vincent Smith. The team placed second in their most recent tournament beating out state universities. / Photo Credit Dan Jackson

This past weekend, six students from the Bryan College Debate Team competed against 17 colleges and universities in the Chicken and Egg Tournament held at Gainesville State College in Gainesville, GA.  The Bryan students walked away with several awards including 1st varsity speaker to sophomore Ashton Alexander, 2nd varsity debate team to Alexander and his teammate freshman Eli McGowan, and 14th varsity speaker to McGowan.

Bryan Students senior Vincent Smith, freshmen Erica Thompson, Daniel Ermatinger and Amy Buchmeyer competed along with Alexander and McGowan against 17 schools including Carson Newman, Florida State University, Georgia Tech, University of Tennessee-Knoxville and University of Florida.

The debate team Alexander/McGowan had a difficult start to the tournament. With one win, two losses and one bye (in an tournament with an odd amount of teams, one team has to sit out each round. They are automatically awarded a win). They barely advanced to out-rounds. In out-rounds, teams are power-matched, similar to what they do in basketball tournaments, said McGowen.

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Freshman Ashton Alexander prepares for Nationals./Triangle photo by Daniel Jackson

by Daniel Jackson
Staff Writer

Never before has someone argued so passionately, so eloquently about the topic: “Resolved: that this house should just do it.” Three students sit silently as the fourth speaks. He has been talking for several minutes now, all the while the other team develops its counterargument,

Welcome to the world of intercollegiate, parliamentary debate.

This spring break, five members of Bryan’s Debate Club will travel to Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) to participate in the national tournament of the NCCFA, the National Christian College Forensic Association.

There they will debate students from all over the nation in a form of debate called parliamentary debate. Instead of debating values, the future policies of the United States, parliamentary debaters can face a wide range of topics from healthcare legislation to the value of truth to even why “this house should just do it”—all with no prior preparation before the tournament starts.

“This spontaneity is thrilling and this spontaneity is like no other,” said freshman Ashton Alexander.

The debaters receive their debate topics 15 minutes before starting their round. From there, they draw from logic, common knowledge, stories and examples to craft an argument to persuade a single judge.

Debate, for these students, teaches them to think on their feet and to present arguments quickly and clearly. This skill helps them in their school and real life by accustoming them to analyze arguments and finding responses, all while it is happening.

“In Parli, every speech is an on your feet speech,” said freshman Grace Hasley.

Many of these students, if they debated in high school, were accustomed to policy debate. This was a debate style which the students researched heavily and prepared before a debate round about an area of current events.

However, in college, homework eats up their time so that they cannot research effectively. Hence the switch to the more impromptu parliamentary debate style.

“Mainly, parliamentary focuses on extemporaneous style and oratorical abilities,” said Alexander.

According to junior Vincent Smith, Debate Club coach, Bryan’s teams win at a regional level through their speaking ability—they are more articulate and more personable than the other team, and therefore they do well at a regional level. At the national tournament, the debaters that win will be the ones who focus on organization of the arguments as well as clear, engaging speaking.