Chris Miles and Mike Smith listen to a judge’s decision following a debate round at UC-Berkeley.

A pair of debaters from Missouri Western State University’s Speech and Debate program advanced to the quarterfinals of the nationally competitive Golden Gate Invitational Parliamentary Debate tournament at the University of California-Berkeley in Berkeley, California on October 3-4.

In the preliminary rounds, Mike Smith and Chris Miles, two juniors from Independence, Missouri, finished eighth overall and advanced to the elimination rounds. Smith and Miles debated all the way to the quarterfinal round where they bowed to a team from William Jewell on a 2-1 decision.

“Chris and Mike were beyond spectacular this weekend,” said Jason Edgar, Missouri Western’s director of speech and debate. “Placing at UC-Berkeley is a great accomplishment, and dropping to a team from William Jewell really shows the talent in Missouri.” In one round, Smith and Miles successfully argued that the United States should move all military operations and personnel to the Arctic.

Also competing in the event were Matthew Glover, a junior from Independence, and Casey Huffman, a freshman from Savannah, Missouri. Missouri Western placed fifth overall in Team Sweepstakes. Some of the notable competition Missouri Western faced included Washburn University, California State University at Long Beach, and Southern Illinois University.

Missouri Western Speech and Debate is an academic activity in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Missouri Western State University. Their next competition is Oct. 16 at the University of Central Missouri. For more information, please contact Jason Edgar at jedgar@missouriwestern.edu.

Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.