The John R. Park Debate Society recently completed a blockbuster month in which students competed in three tournaments, presented original research at an academic conference, and hosted a virtual public event. The weekend of January 28-30, 2022, two JRP students attended the virtual Scheller Forensics Invitational, hosted by Pacific University. The undergraduate duo won five awards, including an individual events championship. San Diego State University hosted the virtual Gaske Memorial Tournament from February 4-6, 2022. Meredith Jenkins was the sole speech entrant from the University of Utah. She won the Debate Society a 2^nd place award for overall Individual Events performance among all four-year schools, by herself. Another pair of Utah undergraduates attended the virtual McGaffey Invitational hosted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln on February 19-20, 2022. The University of Utah was one of only two schools to advance multiple debaters to elimination rounds.

In addition to competitive excellence, the John R. Park Debate Society promotes academic excellence and public engagement. The Debate Society partnered with the University of Utah's Communication Institute to host an event titled “Reporting objectively in a post-truth era?” This free, virtual public event—held on February 16, 2022—featured four Debate Society students exploring the resolution “resistance journalism ought to be accepted as a journalistic norm.” The debate was followed by a panel consisting of experts discussing journalistic ethics, national security, and public deliberation. Finally, John R. Park Debate Society members traveled to Portland, Oregon for the 2022 Western States Communication Association Conference, held from February 17-21, 2022. Graduate coach Averie Vockel presented alongside Director of Forensics, Dr. Jason Jordan, on a panel titled “Critical Communication Pedagogy Informed Approaches to Debate Pedagogy.” Undergraduate competitor Vivian Lee had an individual research paper, “Silence in Funny Love Stories,” accepted to the full conference and presented her work alongside graduate students and professors. Vivian and fellow competitor Grace Osusky also each performed one of their individual events for the “President’s Panel; Forensics Spotlight.”

The Debate Society will move on to the national and international championships portion of the competitive schedule after spring break (online), at the 2022 International Forensics Association Championship Tournament.

COMPLETE RESULTS

Scheller Forensics Invitational

Individual Speech Awards:

1^st Place – After Dinner Speaking – Ryan Knippel

2^nd Place –Extemporaneous Speaking – Ryan Knippel

6^th Place – Prose Interpretation – Lorna Gage

 

Debate Awards:

Finalists – British Parliamentary Debate – Lorna Gage & Ryan Knippel

10^th Place Speaker – British Parliamentary Debate – Ryan Knippel

 

Gaske Memorial Tournament

Overall Awards:

2^nd Place – Individual Events Sweepstakes, University Division – University of Utah

 

Individual Speech Awards:

1^st Place – Persuasive Speaking – Meredith Jenkins

Finalist – Extemporaneous Speaking – Meredith Jenkins

 

McGaffey Invitational

Debate Awards:

Semifinalist – NFA LD Debate – Alyssa Lee

Quarterfinalist – NFA LD Debate – Thane Zeeh

 

3^rd Place Speaker – NFA LD Debate – Alyssa Lee