CSUSB Debate Team Triumphs

By Chris Johnson |Staff Writer|

CSUSB’s debate team brought home an array of awards from their final tournament of the school year, one of which is the Ozark National Rookie Championship held in Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

According to Department of Communication Studies Interim Chair, Treadwell Ruml, communication studies undergraduates, David Allison, Ronald Dawson, Kevin Gema and Gus Shalabi all participated in the tournament.

Together they took first and second place in parliamentary debate, while also taking first, second and third place speaker.

They also took the first place team award and the second place team award in parliamentary debate.

Total points earned from each team where added together with prizes awarded to teams with the largest amount of points.

This allowed for CSUSB to place third in the entire tournament despite only having four members.

Each member contributed enough individual points to the group total which allowed for them to overcome the scores of teams with over 20 members.

Other members who weren’t present at the tournament, but contributed to the team’s success by medaling in past tournaments are, Manuel Cruz and Emanuel Rivas.

All of this was accomplished during a rebuilding year under the leadership of the school’s new forensics coach, Shawnee Biggerstaff, according to Ruml.

If anyone is interested in viewing the plaque it will be in the Communication Studies Office which is located at University Hall, room 018.