Mercedes Bermedez
Staff Writer

Seven teams from the University of La Verne battled against 48 teams from schools throughout the nation, including Harvard and Yale, in early April at the U.S. Universities Debating Championships, held at Claremont McKenna College.

The event offered an excellent opportunity to participate in a national caliber competition using the British Parliamentary debate format, which is practiced in more than 40 countries.

The event featured seven preliminary rounds and three elimination rounds. Topics used were of an international nature and covered everything from economics to politics. The topics for each round were kept secret until that round began, at which time the teams were given 15 minutes to prepare their speeches.

“The University should take pride at the highest level knowing that we compete against the best,” said Ian Lising, chair of the World Debate Council.

“It was a good competition, better than last year,” Martin said. “We did really well last year and we hoped to repeat it.”

And repeat it they did. Two teams from ULV advanced to the semi-finals; La Verne A, comprised Josh Martin and Rob Ruiz, and La Verne B, featuring Brenna Lampson and Rida Fatima. In the semi- finals rounds, Team A was taken out by Yale and the University of Alaska, and Team B fell against Harvard and Athabasca.

“The students, faculty and administration should feel proud about our performance,” Lising said.

Brenna Lampson, the team captain, was also delighted with the team’s efforts at the competition.

“I feel proud and happy,” Lampson said. “I think my partner did really good against the teams that we faced against such as Yale and Harvard. In this competition, anyone could have moved on.”

Lampson was ULV’s top ranked individual, ranking seventh out of 96 speakers. Martin ranked ninth, Fatima ranked 14th and Ruiz ranked 17th.

“I was happy with ranking 9th,” a sarcastic Martin said. “Last year I was ranked first and I knew the only way to go was down.”

The debate team, which has hit its peak membership with 72 students, fails to meet the geek stereotype that pervades the activity; it is a very diverse group of students.

“It’s been growing every year,” said Martin, who has been on the team for four years. “We have students from both fraternities and all three sororities and we also have students from at least every sport and and every major.”

“When Ian first started the debate team, he only had six students,” Lampson said. “We’re very excited that there are a lot more students involved.”

The ULV debate team has an intense future ahead.

Next year it will take on the Canadian Universities Society for Intercollegiate Debate Championship in Toronto, Ontario; Yale’s British Parliamentary style tournament; Oxford’s Finals; and the World Universities Debate Championships in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Mercedes Bermudez can be reached at mbermudez@ ulv.edu.