There's Lots of Debate for These
Professors by Susan Katsaros
from Dateline ( January 30, 2003)
Q:
How do students get involved
in debate and individual events?
A:
Bruschke.
In various ways. Some students accidentally come to our class
instead of math; they stay and end up liking it. One of our
award- winning debaters joined because there was someone he
liked in the class. The friend dropped it and the debater
stayed. Others have joined due to a computer glitch and stayed
on.
Q:
What are this year's
debate topics?
A:
Bruschke.
This year the focus is mental health and international treaties.
Q:
What is an individual event
competition?
A:
Congalton.
Individual event competition is broken into three categories:
prose/interpretative, impromptu and persuasive/ informative.
Q:
Could you give me some examples
of various individual event topics?
A:
Congalton.
In the persuasive category one of our students spoke on the
importance of lowering the headrest in one's automobile
in an effort to lower the rate of neck injuries. Other impromptu
subjects include
“Any woman who understands the problems of running a home
will be nearer to understanding the problems of running a country.”–Margaret
Thatcher
“You can't build a reputation on what you intend
to do.” –Liz Smith
“The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any
problem, it is generally employed only by small children and
large nations.” –David Friedman
“The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something
we do not understand.” –Frank Herbert.