10-18-07

Media Release

OSU Forensics Team, British National Debate Team to Host Debate

CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State University Forensics Team and the British National Debate Team will host a public debate from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, in Withycombe Hall’s Laboratory Theatre on the OSU campus.

The topic for the debate is, “Resolved: This house believes that religion is not responsible for present day terrorism.”

The event is a parliamentary debate, which is modeled on the British style of debating. There is a government/proposition team composed of a prime minister and a member of government; and there is an opposition team composed of the leader and member of the opposition. In this case, the OSU team will be the opposition team, arguing against the resolution.

“This is an excellent opportunity for the public to see what collegiate debate is all about,” said Mark Porrovecchio, director of the OSU Forensics Team. “It is also an honor to host an internationally recognized debate team.”

Founded in 1868, the OSU Forensics Team is a speech and debate team that competes regionally, nationally, and internationally in individual events and parliamentary debate. In 2006, the team hosted the National Parliamentary Debate Association’s national tournament. OSU has finished as high as 16th in the nation and 33rd in the world in parliamentary debate.

Daniel Torres, a senior majoring in speech communication, and Geoff Robinson, a senior majoring in English and history, will debate for OSU. Torres is from Reno, Nevada, and Robinson is from Kirkland, Wash.

Alex Just, a senior at the University of Oxford, and Alistair Cormack, a recent graduate of the University of Durham, will represent the British National Debate Team at the event.

The event is free and open to the public.

The debate is co-sponsored by the Department of Speech Communication and the Theatre Arts Program.