The collegiate speech season has begun. The St. Cloud State University Speech & Debate Team competed in two tournaments this October to start off the season. and the Minnesota State University-Mankato Larry Schnoor Invitational.
The debate duo of junior Myles Kinney and junior El Julius participated virtually in their first, public forum debate tournament when they competed in the CPFL Collegiate Public Forum Season Opener Saturday, Oct. 9 competing against teams from Vanderbilt University, University of Texas, and University of Kentucky. The public forum debate resolution this fall is the following: When in conflict, the United States’ obligation to protect public health outweighs the preservation of individual freedom.
Saturday Oct. 16 three teams competed at the first in-person, parliamentary debate tournament of the season at the Minnesota State University-Mankato Larry Schnoor Invitational as teams Cassy Stierns and Brian Welsh; Betsy Lomnicki and El Julius; and Myles Kinney and Anna Lomnicki. Teams Lomnicki/Julius and Kinney/Lomnicki advanced to semi-final rounds. The duo of Myles Kinney and junior Anna Lomnicki advanced to the final round and took second place in the tournament.
Parliamentary debate features a different resolution/topic every round.
Myles Kinney also placed third in debate speaker points and senior Betsy Lomnicki finished second in debate speaker points. St. Cloud State took home the 2021 Team Quality Award.
The last two weeks for the team have also been filled with peer-coaching, squad meetings, practice rounds, and a homecoming office decoration contest.
Participation in Forensics teaches students important public speaking, research, organizational, leadership, group work, and critical thinking skills. The activity is open to any student in good standing. The St. Cloud State Speech & Debate program is coached by Scott Wells.
St. Cloud State Forensics is one of nearly 250 student organizations at St. Cloud State that provide students with leadership, management, and volunteer service/learning opportunities and which foster an active campus community.
