The Missouri Western State University Speech and Debate program competed in a Parliamentary Debate tournament at the University of Missouri in Columbia Nov. 14-15. Some of the more notable competition Missouri Western faced included Washburn University, University of Texas, and the University of Central Missouri.
In preliminary rounds, Mike Smith and Chris Miles, two juniors from Independence, Missouri, finished third overall and advanced to elimination rounds. Smith and Miles debated all the way to the quarterfinal round where they lost to a nationally ranked team from Washburn University on a 2-1 decision.
“Chris and Mike have solidified their dominance on the national circuit,” said Jason Edgar, Missouri Western’s director of speech and debate. “They have advanced to elimination rounds in four straight national circuit tournaments, with losses only to national top-ranked teams.” In the elimination round of 16, Smith and Miles convinced a panel of three judges that the US Senate should ratify the Comprehensive Nuke-Test-Ban Treaty.
Also competing in the event were Matthew Glover, a junior from Independence, and Casey Huffman, a freshman from Savannah.
Missouri Western Speech and Debate is an academic activity in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Missouri Western State University. The team is now off until Dec. 4-5 when they compete at Webster University in St. Louis, MO. 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.