MSU DEBATE TEAM TAKES TOP HONORS IN D.C. TOURNAMENT

10/25/2001

EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State University Debate Team is setting the standard for success in the debate circuit this year by winning their second major tournament.

The sophomore duo of Greta Stahl and David Strauss won nine two-hour debates to capture the Capital City Debate Tournament hosted by Catholic University in Washington, D.C. On the road to victory, Stahl and Strauss defeated teams from Emory University, Harvard University and Wake Forest University.

At MSU, Stahl and Strauss both study international relations in James Madison College and are members of the Honors College.

"It is unprecedented on our team for two sophomores to have accomplished this achievement at the Capital City debates," said Jason Trice, MSU's director of debate.

This is the second consecutive tournament where the duo has surpassed MSU's highest finish at that particular tournament.

Another MSU team that returned impressive results in Washington was Lansing Community College sophomore Geoff Lundeen and MSU freshman Amber Watkins, who finished in the top 20 of the tournament. Lundeen was additionally recognized as the top individual speaker at the tournament, becoming the second MSU debater this year to receive such an honor.

To date, MSU has the only debate program in the nation that has either won two tournaments or the top speaker award. At the previous Kentucky Round Robin Tournament the team of senior Austin Carson and junior Calum Matheson also earned a first-place finish, with Matheson taking home the top speaker award as well.

While it is still early in the season, the fact that MSU has three teams capable of succeeding at the very highest levels of intercollegiate debate shows the increasing promise of a bid to the National Championships.

"We knew that this years team would be the strongest and deepest we have had at MSU and we are really happy with their success," Trice said.

The team departs Oct. 26 for Boston to compete at another major tournament at Harvard University.

This year's debate topic focuses on the desirability of federal control over Native American lands.