By Kelsi Peace, Features Editor
The ACU forensics team practices about 15 hours per week preparing for its upcoming tournament, the Nebraska Double-Up at Creighton University and the team’s second tournament of the year. The team will compete at Creighton University Oct. 20 and 21.
Steven Gaines, assistant director of forensics and professor of communication, said the team’s success at the first tournament was impressive.
Team members traveled to University of Houston for the Fourth Annual Pussycat Swing Tournament Sept. 15 and 16, where they claimed 12 awards and closed out the debate rounds for the first time in the tournament’s history.
This year’s team is composed of many students new to college debate. Of the 15 members, eight are new to the team and seven are freshmen.
Team captain Kevin Gillespie, senior biology education major from Highland, said he thinks the team will have a successful season.
“We have a bigger squad. We have a lot of freshman who came in who are good, as opposed to years past where they all kind of bleed away after the first semester,” Gillespie said. “I think a lot of them are gonna stick around this year.”
Gillespie is beginning his fourth year with the team and said this year he hopes to win the open division Lincoln-Douglas debate at the National Christian Colleges Forensics Invitational in California. Gillespie has already won at the novice level.
Gillespie said everyone will attend at least seven tournaments; members will attend more if they qualify.
Second-year team member Seth Copeland, junior political science major from Van, said he would like to attend the NFA tournament this year.
“I think breaking is a very lofty goal,” he said, “but I would like to go.”
Copeland said his experience on the team will prepare him to be a lawyer.
Abby Barnes, freshman political science major from Odessa and first-year member, said she shares Copeland’s goal.
“I love debating; it’s my passion in life,” Barnes said. “I want to be a lawyer later on.”
Not all members are aspiring to careers in the public eye, however.
Gaines said the variety of majors helps the team when it comes to debate because different interests offer a wider base of knowledge.
“You never know what kind of debate topic you’re going to get,” he said.
Gaines also said he was impressed with the “synergy” the team possesses.
Kristina Anderson, a graduate assistant who works with the forensics team, also said she’s impressed with the teamwork shown.
“I’d say the most important thing we have is a lot of great leadership from the veterans on the team,” Anderson said.
This year is also the first time since 1991 the team has two faculty members working with it. Dr. Sally Gary, director of forensics and assistant professor of communication, oversees the team.
Organized practice is from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays, but team members put in extra hours polishing speeches, researching arguments and tweaking performances, Gaines said.
