Debate Tourney Lauds Virtues of Listening

More than 100 enthusiastic Westmont students, faculty, staff and community members, including President Gayle D. Beebe and acting Provost Rick Pointer, attended the finals of the 15th annual Speech and Debate Tournament March 3 in Page Hall. The tournament, which was funded by the Westmont College Provost’s Office and Montecito resident Jean Svoboda, was emceed by Allen Hopkins, Westmont trustee and ESPN sportscaster. The tournament awards several cash prizes and gifts to winners and participants.

This year, more than 70 students participated in the month-long competition, which features two events, one focused on the delivery of great speeches and the other on debate. Students were judged by a panel that included: Paul Bradford, principal vice president of Pacific Southwest Realty, Deborah Dunn, Westmont professor of communication studies, Brad Frohling, senior vice president with Radius Group, Ramon Gupta, partner with the Mullen & Henzel law firm, Father Rob Kemp, chaplain of Anglican students at Stanford, Lesa Stern, Westmont professor of communication studies, and Jane Wilson, Westmont professor of education.

First-year student Sara Reinis won the Great Speeches, earning $500, for her delivery of Mary Fisher’s “A Whisper of AIDS.” Senior Jacob Miller won the debate contest and $500 for successfully arguing that “Secular ethics ought to be prioritized over religious ethics in the legislative process.”

Omedi Ochieng, Westmont professor of communication studies, has organized the event for the past five years. “This tournament has never been more important as it demonstrates that students can speak and argue truthfully, with conviction and passion, while modeling the virtues of listening, respect for those we disagree with, and thoughtful deliberation,” he says. “I’m convinced that it is living proof of the importance of the liberal arts in fostering a democratic culture.”