By Brendon Stanton, Debate Member
Pacific Lutheran University debaters took home the most world’s style debate awards at one tournament in the program’s history at Linfield College this weekend.
Senior division debate duo Angie Tinker, senior, and Brendan Stanton, junior, earned first place in the preliminary rounds and received a finalist award in a field of 32 teams.
Junior division team Hannah Bates, first-year, and Matt Aust, sophomore, and junior division team Caila Fautenberry, senior, and Austin Ballard, junior, received awards for debating in the semi-finals in a field of 28 teams.
“Seeing PLU get so far in both divisions was exhilarating,” Tinker said. “I’ve never seen that much excitement on the team.”
Tinker was also recognized as the third best speaker in the senior division.
Ten teams represented PLU at the tournament and consistently defeated top schools in the region including Linfield, Willamette, Gonzaga and Seattle University.
Teams debated on issues including immigration policy, death with dignity laws, criminalizing street harassment, quarantining people exposed to Ebola and U.S. foreign diplomacy in the Middle East.
“I think our showing at Linfield proves that PLU’s debate program is one to watch out for,” Bates said.
The team is open to all students with or without debate experience and meets 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Ingram Hall.
They will host a high school speech and debate tournament on campus Dec. 5 and Dec. 6. All students are welcome to judge at the tournament.
For more information, e-mail T.O.H. Karl Forensics Team director Justin Eckstein at ecksteja@plu.edu.
