Tag Archives: Debate

TSU Debaters Rank Among The Top In The Country At National Tournament

April 7, 2015 Emmanuel Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee State University Forensics Team argued its way to success at the International Public Debate Association’s 2015 National Tournament hosted at Boise State University March 27-29.

ForensicsF — Kavon Coleman, left, Barbara Dudley, Ricky Madden, and Kevon Graves will travel next to Portland, Oregon to compete in the American Forensic Association National Tournament, and Athens, Ohio, in the National Forensic Association National Tournament.

Sophomores Ricky Madden, from Kansas City, Missouri, and Barbra Dudley, from Indianapolis, both advanced to elimination rounds. Madden, competing in the Novice Division, advanced to triple-octafinals before being eliminated by the eventual national champion, Middle Tennessee State University student, Leigh Stanfield. Dudley advanced to Quarterfinals in the Professional division, finishing in a tie for fifth place in the tournament with season-long national champion Allison Pulliam of Union University.

“This is only the second year that TSU has had a debate team and they continue to perform exceptionally well,” said Adam Key, assistant director of Forensics and debate coach. “Last year, we had students ranked in the top 32 competitors in the Novice Division. This year, we had a student ranked in the top five of the organization’s toughest division.”

In addition to being ranked among the top competitors in the division, Dudley was the only competitor to defeat the tournament national champion, Chris Brown of the University of Arkansas at Monticello, at any point during the national tournament. Brown, who earned his fourth national title at the tournament, was complimentary of Dudley.

“She did great in our round,” Brown said. “I was really impressed.”

Also participating in competition were Kevon Graves, a freshman from Kansas City, Missouri, who competed in the Professional Division, and Kavon Coleman, a sophomore from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who was the team judge.

According to Key, both students were instrumental in the team’s success.

“We prepare cases as a team,” Key said. “Whether the student left with a trophy or not, every member of our team is responsible for our success.”

The IPDA National Tournament was the last outing for the TSU debate team for the year. The team will travel next to Portland, Oregon to compete in the American Forensic Association National Tournament, and Athens, Ohio, for the National Forensic Association National Tournament.

TSU Debate Team Thrives at State Championship

March 2, 2015 Emmanuel Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – It’s been a busy few months for the Forensics team at Tennessee State University and they have the proof of their endeavors. They won more than 50 awards in February alone and now boast one of the “Best Speakers” in the state.

The Forensics team continues their winning ways bringing home 50 awards during February and the "Best Speaker" in the state. Members of the team include: Top row (L-R): Aaron Walker, John Nix, Kavon Coleman, and Tyler Kinloch Bottom Row (L-R): Ricky Madden, Shaylyn Rice, Ashley Doxy, Tyra Laster, Tristan Halfacre, Kevon Graves (courtesy photo) — The Forensics team continues their winning ways bringing home 50 awards during February and the “Best Speaker” in the state. Members of the team include: Top row (L-R): Aaron Walker, John Nix, Kavon Coleman, and Tyler Kinloch Bottom Row (L-R): Ricky Madden, Shaylyn Rice, Ashley Doxy, Tyra Laster, Tristan Halfacre, Kevon Graves (courtesy photo)

This semester the 11-member team of undergraduate students have netted impressive results, bringing home awards wherever they compete. Nowhere was this more prevalent than at the recent Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics State Championship when they placed third in the state and brought home 28 more awards. The team also placed third in combined debate and Individual Events School Sweepstakes.

More than 100 students gathered at TSU Feb. 14-15 to see who would be crowned the “best of the best” in the state. John Nix, a junior Political Science major from Franklin, Tennessee, took home the coveted first place Pentathlon speaker, qualifying him for the “Best Speaker in the State.” Nix also won numerous awards including third place Persuasive Speaking, Top Novice Persuasive Speaking, first place Poetry Interpretation, Top Novice Poetry Interpretation, first place Prose Interpretation, Top Novice Prose Interpretation, third place Impromptu Speaking, Top Novice Impromptu Speaking, NPDA Novice Semi-Finalist, and fifth place Novice NPDA speaker.

Other team winners included:

Kevon Graves, freshman Urban Studies major, Kansas City, Missouri – NPDA Novice Semi-Finalist, fourth place Novice NPDA Speaker
Kavon Coleman, junior Civil Engineering major, Grand Rapids, Michigan – third place International Public Debate Association Varsity Speaker
Shaylyn Rice, junior Mass Communications major, Birmingham, Alabama – second place Poetry Interpretation, second place Dramatic Interpretation, Top Novice Dramatic Interpretation, fifth place Programmed Oral Interpretation, first place Radio Broadcasting, Top Novice Radio Broadcasting
Aaron Walker, junior English major, Memphis, Tennessee – third place Poetry Interpretation
Tyler Kinloch, senior Aeronautical Engineering major, Canton, Michigan – fourth place Prose Interpretation, first place Dramatic Interpretation
Tyra Laster, junior Mass Communications major, Marietta, Georgia – second place Radio Broadcasting
Tyra Laster and Ashley Doxy, sophomore Biology and Chemistry major, Chicago – fourth place Duo Interpretation
Shaylyn Rice and Aaron Walker – first place Duo Interpretation, Top Novice Duo Interpretation

This was the second competition during February for the team, having earned 22 awards at the Jackson-Purchase Swing at Murray State University Feb. 6-8.

Award winners included:

Friday, Feb. 6 – National Parliamentary Debate Association tournament (NPDA)

Fifth place team sweepstakes in NPDA
Tyler Kinloch and Barbra Dudley – semifinalists in Novice NPDA
John Nix and Kevon Graves – quarterfinalists in Novice NPDA
Tyler Kinloch – fifth place novice NPDA speaker
Barbra Dudley, sophomore economics major from Indianapolis – eighth place Novice NPDA speaker

Saturday, Feb. 7 – MSU Swing

Third place Small School Sweepstakes
John Nix – fourth place Extemporaneous Speaking, first place Poetry Interpretation, sixth place Pentathlon Speaker
Shaylyn Rice – sixth place Poetry Interpretation
Kevon Graves – fourth place novice Extemporaneous Speaking

Sunday, Feb. 8 – Alumni swing

Second place Small School Sweepstakes
John Nix – fourth place Persuasive Speaking, first place Poetry Interpretation, sixth place Pentathlon Speaker
Tyler Kinloch – sixth place Dramatic Interpretation
Shaylyn Rice – first place Radio Broadcasting
Kevon Graves – third place Novice Impromptu Speaking, first place Novice Extemporaneous Speaking
Shaylyn Rice and Aaron Walker – fifth place Duo Interpretation

The TSU Forensics Team closed out the month attending the Rock & Roll Swing at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, Feb. 27-March 1.

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3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

NEWS

Tennessee State University Forensics Team Continues Winning Ways

November 13, 2014 Emmanuel Freeman

Team captures 10 awards at Red River Swing

The TSU Forensics team traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana, Nov. 7-9 to take part in the 40th annual Red River Classic Swing Tournament. The seven-member team brought home 10 awards, bringing the year’s total to 22. Team members participating included (L-R) Kavon Coleman, Tyler Kinloch, Shaylyn Rice, Barbra Dudley, John Nix, Tyra Laster, and Ashley Doxy. (courtesy photo)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee State University Forensics team was back in competition over the weekend when they took part in the 40th annual Red River Classic Swing Tournament in Shreveport, Louisiana.

The tournament, held at LSU-Shreveport Nov. 7-9, pulled in more than 30 programs from universities and colleges from around the country, and is one of the largest regional regular-season tournaments of the year.

The seven-member team from TSU competed side-by-side with other teams in two separate tournaments involving 11 speaking and interpretive events, and one tournament involving three different debate formats.

Even though they fielded a small team, they were still able to come home with 10 awards, bringing the total to 22 awards for the year.

“This is our first big win of the season,” said assistant director of Forensics, JD Smith. “It shows that even though most of our students are new to the team, they are extremely talented.” The team won the 5th place sweepstakes in the LSUS Swing portion.

The competition was divided into two events; one at LSUS and the other just minutes from the university at Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Individual awards included:

LSUS half of the swing

Tyler Kinloch – senior, Aeronautical & Industrial Technology major from Canton, Michigan – 5th place Prose Interpretation
Ashley Doxy, sophomore, Biology and Chemistry major from Chicago, Illinois, and Tyra Laster, junior, Mass Communications major from Marietta, Georgia, – 6th place DUO Interpretation, Top Novice DUO Interpretation
John Nix, junior, Political Science major from Franklin, Tennessee – 3rd place Prose Interpretation, 4th place Poetry Interpretation
Shaylyn Rice, junior, Mass Communications major from Birmingham, Alabama – 5th place Programmed Oral Interpretation

Awards for the BPCC half of the swing:

Tyler Kinloch- 3rd Place, Prose Interpretation
Ashley Doxy & Tyra Laster –5th place DUO Interpretation
Shaylyn Rice – 5th place Programmed Oral Interpretation

The team will compete next at the Belmont University Tennessee Porch Swing tournament Nov. 15.

Department of Media Relations

Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

NEWS

TSU debaters argue their way to success in first tournament

October 9, 2014 Emmanuel Freeman

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Tennessee State University Forensics team began the 2014-2015 season with success in debate at the University of Arkansas at Monticello “Weevil Wars” debate tournament in Monticello, Arkansas on October 3-5.

TSU forensics debaters, Ricky Madden (L) and Barbara Dudley , advanced to elimination rounds in the Novice division of the Weevil Wars debate tournament held at the University of Arkansas. It was the debate team's first tournament of the year where they competed against more than 100 students from 15 different universities. (courtesy photo) — TSU forensics debaters, Ricky Madden (L) and Barbara Dudley , advanced to elimination rounds in the Novice division of the Weevil Wars debate tournament held at the University of Arkansas. It was the debate team’s first tournament of the year where they competed against more than 100 students from 15 different universities. (courtesy photo)

Competing against more than 100 students from 15 universities including Jackson State University, Union University and Louisiana State University at Shreveport, Barbra Dudley, a sophomore Economics major from Indianapolis, and Ricky Madden, a Kansas City freshman majoring in Criminal justice , advanced to the elimination rounds in the Novice division of the tournament.

Madden, who won five of six preliminary rounds, was eliminated in double-octafinals. Dudley was successful in two elimination rounds and finished ranked among the top eight competitors in the tournament as a quarterfinalist.

“I’m very happy to see this much progress from our students,” debate coach Adam Key said. “If we can continue on this track, I have no doubt we’ll see success on a national level sooner than later.”

The team will next compete this weekend at the University of Alabama “Crimson Classic” individual events tournament in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, before returning to host its annual “Music City Swing” tournament featuring both debate and individual events on October 17-19 on the Tennessee State University campus.

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 42 undergraduate, 24 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.

EVENTS, FACULTY, NEWS

TSU Forensics Team Wins Third Place in State Competition

April 7, 2014 Emmanuel Freeman

Members of the TSU Forensics team recently captured third place in the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association’s State Championship. Members include (Left to right, top to bottom) Delvakio Brown, Janet Jordan, Barbra Dudley, Tyler Kinloch, and Michael Thomas.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – The Forensics team at Tennessee State University made the short trip to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to claim the latest in the growing list of top-three finishes when they captured 3rd place recently in the Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association’s State Championship.

Held March 31 on the Middle Tennessee State University campus, the five-member team was not only able to take third overall, but also eight individual awards at the state championship.

“We were only able to bring five members of our team to this tournament,” said Shaunté Caraballo, director of Forensics, “and all five members won awards. This shows tremendous growth for our team this year. Every member contributed to our third-place ranking.”

The team captured the following awards:

Michael Thomas, senior Accounting major, won 2rd place in Programmed Oral Interpretation as well as Top Novice in the same event. Thomas also won 3rd place in Persuasive Speaking.
Tyler Kinloch, junior Aeronautical & Industrial Technology major, won 4th place in Prose Interpretation and 4th place in Programmed Oral Interpretation.
Delvakio Brown, sophomore Mass Communications major, won 7th place in Prose Interpretation.
Janet Jordan, freshman Accounting major, won 4th place in Poetry.
Barbra Dudley, freshman, Economics major, won 7th place in Programmed Oral Interpretation.

Currently, some of the members of the TSU Forensics team are in Tempe, Ariz., at the American Forensics Association’s National Individual Events tournament. The event, taking place at Arizona State University, is an intercollegiate, individual event that has significantly more stringent qualification procedures and a smaller, but more exclusive field of competition.

Approximately 1,000 students and coaches will participate in the event. Competition areas include Impromptu speaking, Informative speaking, Prose interpretation, Dramatic Duo, Extemporaneous speaking, Persuasive speaking, Program oral interpretation, After Dinner speaking, Communication analysis, Drama interpretation, and Poetry interpretation.

Senior Michael Thomas will compete in the Persuasive Speaking category, along with sophomore Delvakio Brown, who will compete in the Impromptu Speaking category. Caraballo will also attend as the coach and director of the program.

Department of Media Relations
Tennessee State University
3500 John Merritt Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
615.963.5331

About Tennessee State University

With nearly 9,000 students, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a comprehensive, urban, co-educational, land-grant university offering 38 undergraduate, 22 graduate and seven doctoral programs. TSU has earned a top 20 ranking for Historically Black Colleges and Universities according to U.S. News and World Report, and rated as one of the top universities in the country by Washington Monthly for social mobility, research and community service. Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University celebrated 100 years in Nashville during 2012. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.