The British Are Coming!
September 15, 2004
General Overview
On September 24 and 25 Northwest University will host
the British National Debate Team for four public debates. You are invited
to be informed, entertained and amazed by these top students and future
leaders.
The two British debaters competed for the honor and won a month long
tour of American colleges and universities. The team is sponsored by
the English Speaking Union
in the UK and the National Communication Association in the US.
About the British
Robert Marrs, 22, from the University of Glasgow, won top debate honors
in the UK by reaching the Scottish Mace Finals. Aneurin "Nye"
Brewer, 22, is from Bristol University. He was crowned European Champion
in 2003 and then reached the semi-finals of the World Championships
in Singapore in 2004.
About the Canadians
Teddy Harrison, 19, is an International Relations major at the University
of British Columbia and serves as President of the UBC Debating Society.
After winning the BC championship three years running, he captained
the Canadian National Team that won the 2002 Pan-American Debates in
New York, then was a member of the quarter-finalist Canadian National
Team at Worlds in Peru in 2003.
His partner is Spencer Keys 22, a senior Political Science major. Spencer
has represented UBC twice at the World University Debating Championships
(and will be attending again this winter), is chronically second place
in western Canadian public speaking competitions, coaches debate extensively
at the high school level.
Schedule of Events
Date/Time: Friday, September 24, 12:30 p.m.
Location: Hurst Library, Room 110
Teams: Northwest Debate Team versus British National
Debate Team
Topic: "The world would be better off with four
more years of President Bush."
Representing Northwest will be Jordon Goddard, a high school debate
state champion, and Johanna Burch, a promising new member of the team.
The Americans will affirm and the Britons will oppose. Students are
assigned their positions as an academic exercise and speaking game
that involves role playing.
Date/Time: Friday, September 24, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Millard Hall
Teams: Northwest Debate Team versus British National
Debate Team
Topic: "The war in Iraq was justified."
Representing Northwest will be Team Captain Sara Boyd and Evan Muxen,
two year most award winning team member.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 25, 3:00 p.m.
Location: Millard Hall
Teams: Northwest Alumni versus University of British
Columbia,
Northwest Debate Team versus British National Debate Team
Topic: "The Olympic games should be significantly
changed."
Two debates on the Olympics at the same time. The Americans will
affirm the proposition in each debate. Location to be announced from
Millard Hall.
One debate will be between Northwest alumni debaters and the UBC.
Representing the alumni will be former Team Captain Dustin McClure,
brother of gold medal winning gymnast Brett McClure. His partner will
be Nathan Novak, who reached final rounds at the national championship
tournament in 2002.
At the same time debating the same topic we will host another round
between Northwest debaters and the British National Debate Team. Representing
Northwest will be Casey Digenaro, a two time finalist at the national
championship tournament and his partner Kortney Thoma, an experienced
international debater who competed at the International Forensics
Association tournament in Madrid, Spain in March.
Date/Time: Saturday, September 25, 7:30 p.m.
Location: Millard Hall
Teams: University of British Columbia versus British
National Debate Team
Topic: "Canada should erase the Queen from the
loony."
The Canadian dollar (loony) has an image of Queen Elizabeth. This
topic asks debaters to re-evaluate Canada's relationship with the
British monarchy. The University of British Columbia will affirm and
the British will oppose. Representing the UBC Debating Society will
be Teddy Harrison and Spencer Keys -- political science majors and
two of the best debaters in Canada.
Admission is free! For directions, click here.
These events are sponsored by the Redmond Marriott Town Center, and
was also made possible by a grant from the International Debate Education
Association.
