MSU Speech and Debate Council earns high placement in intercollegiate competition
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擶ith strong individual and team performances in a recent intercollegiate competition, the Mississippi 大象APP Speech and Debate Council鈥檚 2016-17 academic year is off to a great start.
The Hub City Swing tournament held earlier this week in Hattiesburg pitted the university鈥檚 seven-member team against more than 150 competitors from 30 institutions of higher learning from around the country.
In addition to earning a second-place finish among speech and debate teams, the MSU team finished fourth among debate teams.
Held on the campus of the University of Southern Mississippi, the 2016 Hub City Swing is among numerous events sanctioned annually by the Council of Forensic Organizations鈥 International Public Debate Association. For more, visit . 聽
The MSU winners include:
鈥擣reshman Joshua T. 鈥淛osh鈥 McCoy of Hattiesburg, a chemical engineering major who was named first place speaker in the Junior Varsity debate division.
聽鈥擠ouglas G. 鈥淒oug鈥 Bedsaul of Starkville, who was named first place speaker in Professional debate. An MSU political science bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 graduate, he serves as coordinator for the university鈥檚 National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision.
鈥擩unior Mackenzie N. Ellis, a business administration major from Clinton, who was named fourth place speaker in the Junior Varsity debate division.
鈥擩unior Athena E. Kavanagh, a business economics major from Huntsville, Alabama, who was named fourth place speaker in the IPDA Novice division. She is serving as the organization鈥檚 2016-17 president.
鈥擨n the Team IPDA Debate challenge, McCoy and teammate Parker F. Krag of Hattiesburg finished eighth out of 18 teams. A senior English and history double-major and the organization鈥檚 vice president of debate, Krag also was named fifth place speaker in the Team IPDA competition.
Other 2016-17 officers include William A. Bonduris, a sophomore political science major from Greenville, South Carolina, secretary; Julia Rachel Kuehnle, a sophomore business administration major from Natchez, treasurer; and Colleen E. Mcinnis, a junior art major from Valrico, Florida, vice president of speech.
Cheryl R. Chambers, a communication department instructor, serves as the council鈥檚 adviser and speech coach. A 2006 summa cum laude MSU communication graduate, she also holds a master鈥檚 degree in communication studies from the University of Alabama.
Attorney Brett Harvey is the council鈥檚 debate coach. The university鈥檚 director of Title IX and equal employment opportunity programs, he is a Harvard University Law School graduate.
Support for the Speech and Debate Council is provided by the Office of the President, Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, Department of Communication, African American Studies Program, and Department of Philosophy and Religion.
Membership is open to all MSU students, regardless of academic major or classification. Fees or prior experience are not required, and members may elect to compete in individual events, larger debate settings or both.
聽鈥淲e have various majors in our group and always encourage others to come see what we do,鈥 Chambers said.
For more information about MSU鈥檚 Speech and Debate Team, contact Chambers at CChambers@comm.msstate.edu or Harvey at brett.harvey@msstate.edu.
Follow the group on Facebook and Twitter @msuspeechdebate, as well as Instagram @msu_speechanddebate.
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .