MSU DEBATERS TAKE THIRD PLACE AT DARTMOUTH TOURNAMENT

2/6/2003

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University debate team recently returned from a round robin tournament held at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., with a third place finish.

The tournament, held Jan. 24-25, brought together the nation's top nine two-person debate teams. Teams competed against each other in a series of eight debates.

First place honors went to Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash., and Emory University in Atlanta, Ga., took second place.

Representing MSU were Greta Stahl, a James Madison College junior from Shelby Township, and Dave Strauss, a James Madison College junior from East Lansing. Stahl and Strauss won five of their eight debates and took home third place honors, just one win shy of winning the tournament. In addition, Stahl was named fourth place speaker overall.

"Given the quality of the teams in attendance and the intensity of the round robin format, I am particularly proud of Stahl and Strauss," said Michael Eber, interim director of debate. "They have earned a reputation as one of the smartest, hard working, and most strategic and persuasive debate teams in the country."

MSU's competitors included the University of California at Berkeley, the University of Michigan, Whitman College, Northwestern University, Wake Forest University, Emory University, the University of Georgia and Dartmouth College.

"Even though only two MSU debaters attended this tournament, other members of the squad contributed to their success, devoting dozens of hours to the team's research and preparation before and during the tournament," Eber said.

The general topic for the debates this year is whether the U.S. government should ratify and implement one or more of several major international treaties, including banning the death penalty, prohibiting nuclear testing, enacting a bilateral arms control agreement with Russia or involving the International Criminal Court in establishing policies to counteract global warming.

Next up for the MSU debate team is a tournament that the entire team will attend at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. The debate team is coached by William Repko, head coach, and Michael Eber, interim director of debate.