TDS News Archive 2004-2005
02.28.05 - Trojans qualify for the National Debate Tournament. This weekend at Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo the Trojans qualified two teams to the National Debate Tournament (NDT). The NDT is the most prestigious and longest running intercollegiate debate championship. The Trojans earned two of the six qualifying spots from District 1 (California) to attend the tournament March 25-27 at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. The young Trojans were led by Alex Iftimie ('07) who earned his second straight bid to nationals. Joining Alex in representing USC at the NDT are Nick Fiori ('07), Michael Smith ('06) and Chris Jones ('06).
USC's performance extends the school's records for most years qualifying for the NDT and most teams attending the tournament. USC has now qualified for the NDT in 53 years and every year since 1963. In that time 85 two-person Trojan teams have attended the NDT.
USC is a significant presence in the past, present, and future of the National Debate Tournament. USC began its attendance at the NDT with a 2nd place finish in the inaugural tournament in 1947, hosted by the West Point Military Academy. USC is one of the few universities to regularly earn slots to nationals throughout the tournament's nearly six-decade existence. Trojans are are a regular force at the NDT, including four 2nd place finishes and 22 entries in the tournament's elite eight remaining teams (the quarterfinals).
Outside of the contest rounds, USC continues to be a leader in the NDT community. Annenberg Associate Dean Tom Hollihan serves as the Chair of the NDT Board of Trustees, Professor Tom Goodnight is a member of the Board of Trustees and Director of Debate Gordon Stables is the chair of the NDT's First District.
The Trojans look forward to continuing their tradition of success this year in Spokane.
02.27.05 - The Trojans lose one of our own. Marty Cronin, a class of '84 graduate, died on February 18, 2005 from complications related to a brain tumor. The TDS extends its deepest condolences to the Cronin family. The Reno Gazette-Journal offers testimony to his amazing life. Click here to read about Marty's memorial service and to learn how to make a contribution in Marty's honor.
12.31.04 - The last debates of the year again took place at USC. The 'Alan Nichols' Debate Tournament continued the tradition of the outstanding competition to close out the calendar year. A great collection of teams competed between December 29-31 and when it was over Harvard University emerged as the 2004 champion. The Harvard Team of Elliott Tarloff & Michael Klinger defeated the Cal-Berkeley team of Gaurav Reddy & Reid Shannon in the final round. Scottie Phillips from Emory University was recognized as the top speaker. Full results are available.
11.10.04 - Highland High School wins the 42nd Annual Trojan Championship's Open Division of Policy Debate. Check out the complete results of all divisions.
10.18.04 - The Trojans enjoyed the rare chance for a local event at the Ray Buchanan Debate Tournament hosted by Pepperdine University. Trojan highlights included Alex Iftimie ('07) being recognized as the 6th (of 112) individual speaker. Iftimie and his partner, Matt Nadell ('08), advanced to the quarterfinals with a win over a very talented Whitman College team in the Octofinals.
At the Pepperdine tournament, Jim Hanson, Director of Forensics at Whitman College and USC doctoral alum, was presented with an award honoring his tremendous contributions to the intercollegiate debate and forensics.
10.11.04 - The TDS and the GLBTA cosponsored OUTspoken - a contest to promote communicative performance, argumentation in literature, and the GLBT experience. Five students competed in the performance competition, and TDS member Julianne Gale was the overwhelming favorite of both the judges and the audience vote. After intermission (while the votes were being tabulated), Ragan Fox performed poetry from his newest book which will be released later this month, to rave audience reviews. The TDS would like to thank Ragan and Larry Gross, the Director of Annenberg School, who served as judges for the event.
10.04.04 - Members of the Trojan Debate Squad took home 3 first places at a tournament on Cal Baptist's campus on Sunday, October 3rd. Grady Miller ('07) won first place in both Prose Interpretation and After Dinner Speaking, while Alissa Sevrioukova ('06) placed first in Informative speaking.
Two other members of the squad also received awards. Brian Hong ('07) placed second in After Dinner Speaking, and Megan Baaske ('08) placed 3rd in Informative.
09.22.04 - Members of the TDS engaged in a spirited public debate with a traveling team from Great Britain at USC Annenberg. Kamil Chaudhary ('07) and Alex Iftimie ('07) debated about the productivity of media stereotypes. The Daily Trojan coverage of the event is available online.
09.21.04 - The 125th TDS season began with a strong start in Spokane, Washington. The policy debate squad will begin and end their season in Spokane, Washington at Gonzaga University. Gonzaga hosted the 2004 Jesuit Debate Tournament and will also be hosting the National Debate Tournament in March 2005.
At the Jesuit, four Trojan teams qualified for elimination rounds. Jeremy Keim ('05), TJ Hadley ('06), Nick Fiori ('07), Justin Parco ('06) all participated in the double-octofinals. Two Trojan teams comprised of squad captain Melinda McVay ('05), Michael Smith ('08), Alex Iftimie ('07), and Matt Nadell ('08) won elimination rounds and participated in the Octofinals. Iftimie was also recognized as the 15th overall speaker.
09.20.04 - Alissa Sevrioukova ('07) won the top speaker award at a Cal State Fresno debate tournament on Sunday, September 19th. In the first tournament of the season, Sevrioukova beat 26 other students from over 30 other schools in the junior division of Parliamentary Debate. Other schools in attendance included Arizona State, Pepperdine, and Berkeley, among others.
Megan Baaske ('08) placed fourth in the same division of debate and second in Informative (Expository) Speaking, beating her teammate Sevrioukova who received third place in the same event.
For more information, contact Gordon Stables, the Director of Debate at stables@usc.edu or 213-740-2759.
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