Towson University Speech and Debate

Infobox college debate societies
name = Towson University Speech and Debate
logo =
logo_width = 200px
established = 1960s
university = Towson University
city = Towson
state = Maryland
stateabb = MD
ADA District = 7
director = Darren Goins
asst director = Elizabeth Skinner
coach = Chris Baron
Andy Ellis
Shawntia Diggs
Brian Bittner
pageurl = http://wwwnew.towson.edu/speechanddebate/ wwwnew.towson.edu/speechanddebate
pagename =

Towson University Speech and Debate is the forensics team at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, United States. The team participates in several speech events and policy debate.

History

The team has been a part of Towson for at least over forty years, and was started as the "Forensics team" in the mass communication department. Earliest affiliations were with the American Forensic Association, National Individual Events Tournament and National Debate Tournament. They are also the first chapter of Pi Kappa Delta, the nation's oldest speech and debate honor society in the state of Maryland.

Debate

The debate team participates in policy debate tournaments sanctioned by the Cross Examination Debate Association and District 7 of the American Debate Association. The team is often touted as one of the most culturally diverse in the nation, due to its scholarship programs for inner city students, as well and international students.

peech

The speech team competes in several areas at speech tournaments around the country. According to the team's website, the events they compete in are:

*Limited Preparation
**Impromptu Speaking
**Extemporaneous Speaking

*Platform Address Speaking
**Persuasive Speaking
**Informative Speaking
**After Dinner Speaking
**Communication Analysis

*Oral Interpretation of Literature
**Prose Interpretation
**Poetry Interpretation
**Dramatic Interpretation
**Dramatic Duo Interpretation
**Program Oral Interpretation

Accomplishments

*In March 2008, Towson debaters Deven Cooper and Dayvon Love won the Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship, beating the University of Kansas in the final round.

*One of the team's most competitively successful members, Shawntia Diggs, received the "Julia Burke Award" from the Julia Burke Foundation in 2005. The award is given to people who "exercise passion in policy debate". She received a trophy and was able to donate $1,000 to the Baltimore Urban Debate League and the Bread for the World Institute.

*In March 2007, debate team members Adam Jackson and Deverick Murray were the first in Towson history to qualify for elimination rounds at the Cross Examination Debate Association's National Tournament held in Norman, Oklahoma at the University of Oklahoma. [http://media.www.thetowerlight.com/media/storage/paper957/news/2007/04/02/News/Speech.And.Debate.Team.Wins.At.National.Competitions-2815883.shtml]

Community outreach

One of the staples of the team has been helping the inner city school children in Baltimore in their urban debate league. They often help judge tournaments, manage data for the league, and even hosts a tournament at least once a year on the campus.

The team also offers an "Urban Debate Scholar" award to one graduating senior per year to go to the university. It offers four years of tuition and fees, plus a $500 book award.

External links

* [http://wwwnew.towson.edu/speechanddebate/welcome.html Towson Speech and Debate Team website]