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.

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.

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Shawn Edwards was second in parliamentary debate with Eric Musgrove.

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ric 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.

The Forensics Team will compete next at the CFA Winter Tournament held at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina on Jan. 25 to 26, 2019.