MCC-Longview’s debate and forensics team hosted the Central States Invitational Forensics Swing Tournament Oct. 26 – 28. Several universities, such as Kansas Weslyan, Southwest Baptist, Central Missouri, and Cameron University, performed alongside other colleges in the swing, displaying their hard work in the competition.
“What’s important to me is running a smooth tournament, representing a beautiful and poised MCC campus with schools from all across the country,” said Longview debate instructor John Mikolajcick.
As his first year with the campus has reached its mid-point, the tournament allowed for Mikolajcick, speech and debate coordinator Bill Cue, and assistant Natalie Reeves to help ensure a smoothly run tournament is what the 12 colleges that visited would see.
On Friday teams participated in parliamentary debate. On Saturday were out-rounds for debate and the beginning of individual events, including Impromptu speaking, after dinner speaking, and communication analysis, among others.
“I like both watching debate and seeing some amazing interp pieces, while getting to also see my friends in the debate and forensics community,” said Reeves. At the tournament, Reeves helped with anything that needed to be done from running the judges table to assisting to make the tournament run smoothly. Reeves, a Rockhurst student, debated when she attended Longview and said she still enjoys the activity overall, especially the feeling of togetherness that the team gives to participants.
Other Longview debate and forensics alumni came to help out at the tournament by judging. Chris Clark was a student at MCC-Longview as a member of the debate team for three years and has judged debate tournaments for four years at different levels.
“My favorite part is seeing exchanges of intelligent conversation. It’s something you don’t get in common society,” said Clark.
Besides former students, former MCC-Longview debate coach Sarah Collins also visited the college to participate in the tournament with her team from Cameron University. Collins was welcomed by the Longview debate team and led her team throughout the weekend.
“It’s great seeing former students and colleagues and also getting to watch my team excel,” said Collins. The debate and forensics community creates a sense of friendship between teams and students alike, creating life-long friendships throughout the season. The friendships are created alongside learning new things about the world and political issues in debate rounds and individual events.
“It’s the education aspect and being able to apply knowledge while in a highly competitive situation,” said Cameron Brewer, a member of Cameron University’s debate and forensics team.
November 3, 2012
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