2008 Woodie Awards
Debate team scores big at Vanderbilt
Lydia Hignite
Issue date: 11/7/07 Section: News
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The Samford University debate team is ranked 26th in the nation, according to the most recent rankings from the Cross Examination Debate Association.
This is due to several recent accomplishments, including a junior varsity victory for freshman political science major Jayme Cloninger and junior communications major Josh Smith at the Vanderbilt University tournament.
The team defeated competition from Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Florida State, Appalachian State and James Madison.
They finished with a 3-0 decision in the final round. Smith was recognized as the seventh place junior varsity speaker.
The varsity team includes junior political science major Erin Ramsey and freshman political science major Logan Gramzinski.
The other team included sophomore political science major Nick Agnello and junior business major Chad Macumber advanced to the Sweet 16 at Vanderbilt.
Gramzinski was recognized as the fifth place varsity speaker.
Because of Cloninger and Smith success at Vanderbilt, the team has been promoted to the varsity division.
"We're not moving up because of an individual team accomplishment," Cloninger said.
The debate squad opened its season this semester at the Georgia State National Debate Tournament, in September.
Cloninger and Smith finished third in the junior varsity division at Georgia State, which was Cloninger's first collegiate tournament.
Samford's debate squad engages in policy debate, meaning that each summer a topic is given that will be the topic for each tournament for both fall and spring semesters.
This year's topic discusses constructive engagement in Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority and Syria.
Those arguing for the affirmative must explain why the U.S. federal government should instructively engage these countries by a security guarantee or foreign assistance.
Those opposing must argue that assistance is a bad idea or describe a better way to handle the situation.
This is due to several recent accomplishments, including a junior varsity victory for freshman political science major Jayme Cloninger and junior communications major Josh Smith at the Vanderbilt University tournament.
The team defeated competition from Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Florida State, Appalachian State and James Madison.
They finished with a 3-0 decision in the final round. Smith was recognized as the seventh place junior varsity speaker.
The varsity team includes junior political science major Erin Ramsey and freshman political science major Logan Gramzinski.
The other team included sophomore political science major Nick Agnello and junior business major Chad Macumber advanced to the Sweet 16 at Vanderbilt.
Gramzinski was recognized as the fifth place varsity speaker.
Because of Cloninger and Smith success at Vanderbilt, the team has been promoted to the varsity division.
"We're not moving up because of an individual team accomplishment," Cloninger said.
The debate squad opened its season this semester at the Georgia State National Debate Tournament, in September.
Cloninger and Smith finished third in the junior varsity division at Georgia State, which was Cloninger's first collegiate tournament.
Samford's debate squad engages in policy debate, meaning that each summer a topic is given that will be the topic for each tournament for both fall and spring semesters.
This year's topic discusses constructive engagement in Afghanistan, Iran, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority and Syria.
Those arguing for the affirmative must explain why the U.S. federal government should instructively engage these countries by a security guarantee or foreign assistance.
Those opposing must argue that assistance is a bad idea or describe a better way to handle the situation.