Jupiter, FL (February 14, 2011) – The Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University is host to a number of student-founded organizations that influence not only the students on the John D. MacArthur Campus but also students from across the university, state, and nation. The FAU Debate Team is one such organization. President Alan Gray formed the team in the fall of 2007 and since then, it has established itself as one of the top programs in Florida. The FAU Debate Team has won the Division I Small School Award at three consecutive State Championship tournaments, earned six state championship titles, and sent representatives to the Interstate Oratory Contest and the American Collegiate Moot Court Association’s for the past two National Championship tournaments.

           The current academic year has continued the team’s unbroken record of success. The FAU Debate Team has competed in five tournaments from October 2010 to January 2011 resulting in numerous wins for its members and the team as a whole. From their past record, these recent wins should come as no surprise but it is also interesting to note that the debate team works hard to build on earlier successes by practicing at least twice weekly. These practices are sometimes full-length practice debates and, at other times, the team members practice their individual events and speeches.

           The FAU Debate Team’s most recent tournament was the Marks Invitational hosted by the University of West Florida in Pensacola from January 28 to January 29.  At the tournament, there were more than eighty students from fourteen other colleges and universities, and participants competed in twelve event categories. The FAU team demonstrated how effective this year’s practice sessions have been. President Alan Gray closed out the limited preparation events, winning Extemporaneous Speaking, Editorial Impromptu, and Impromptu Speaking. He and President-elect Philip Olsen also won Parliamentary Debate for the second straight tournament, President Gray was named the top speaker in Parliamentary Debate, and President-elect Olsen won Sixth Place in Novice Impromptu. Vice President Robert Bruton, Deputy Vice President and Team Secretary-elect David Yombalakian, Vice President-elect Alexa Robinson, Hannah Gladyszewski, Georgianne Hallam, and Rachel Tunick also attended.

           Jeffrey L. Buller, dean of the Wilkes Honors College, said, “I think the single greatest reason why the FAU Debate Team has consistently been strong is the small class size that the Honors College provides.  The result is that, in addition to their two practice sessions a week, the students are really practicing in every one of their courses.  The intense nature of honors immersion course work, coupled with the expectation that all students defend their positions in our seminar-style courses, really develops oral communication skills, critical thinking, and creative problem solving.  Those are the very skills that also make for a successful debate team.”

           For more information on the FAU Debate Team, please contact President Gray at agray20@fau.edu or visit www.faudebate.com.

byline: WHC Student Intern Megan Geiger