3-7-08

Media Release

OSU Forensics Team Attends National Tournaments

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University forensics team is preparing to cap off another winning season with appearances at two national tournaments.

The OSU team will compete at the National Parliamentary Debate Association annual tournament at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., on March 27-31 and the National Individual Events Tournament (NIET) at the University of Texas-Austin, on April 4-7.

“I am impressed with our team this year,” said Mark Porrovecchio, director of forensics. “We had a core traveling squad of four competitors, and an increasing amount of students are also taking part in team meetings.”

Senior team members Geoff Robinson, a history major from Kirkland, Wash., and Dan Torres, a speech communication major from Reno, Nevada, will represent the squad at both tournaments. Robinson and Torres finished 68th in the nation in parliamentary debate, winning numerous speaking awards while competing against some of the best schools in the country.

Among their accomplishments: Robinson took first place in open impromptu speaking and was named the second best speaker at the Lower Columbia Smelt Classic in Longview, Wash. In November; both Torres and Robinson were named quarterfinalists in the open parliamentary debate at the Inaugural Tournament at Washington State University in December; and both were finalists in the Sunset Cliffs Classic in San Diego, which was held Feb. 2-4.

The OSU Forensic team competes at a variety of regional, national, and international tournaments. One of the oldest student organizations on campus, it is open to all OSU students regardless of experience. Students interested in joining the team, which competes throughout the fall and winter quarters and hosts several events in the spring, are asked to contact Porrovecchio at 541-737-8230.