LV debates way into semi-finals

by Gloria Diaz
Arts & Entertainment Editor

The University of La Verne debate team continued its tradition of excellence as it vied for the top spot at the Oxford International Intervarsity Debate Competition on Nov. 8 and 9 in England.

Captain Andrew Kim, senior, and sophomore Travis Raymond were among the six team members who traveled to compete in this international tournament against teams from Ireland, Holland, Minnesota, Texas, Russia, Israel and Yugoslavia. In total, 92 teams were present at the invitational.

Teammates Nathan Baca and Robert Ruiz made up the La Verne B team. Jacob Leveton and Eileen Dominguez made up the La Verne C team, to complete the ULV competing teams in the tournament.

In the competition, there were five preliminary rounds with four teams per round as a British parlimentary format. In each round, the team is ranked and based on those ranks.Points are given and the top eight teams qualify to go on to the finals.

The La Verne A team finished seventh.

"It is an amazing accomplishment of their own; they have built their own reputation," said Ian Lising, director of forensics and debate team coach.

This is a huge leap from last year's tournament, where the La Verne A team placed 29th.

"Personally it felt like we had to prove something to ourselves," Kim said. "I have never debated in front of so many people before, but I felt honored to be there."

Kim has been on the team since his sophomore year and has been captain for two years.

The La Verne A team debated in five rounds with topics ranging from censoring hate speech to beauty pageants.

Raymond recalls that when he and Kim saw that the La Verne A team was going to the semi-finals, they both had to get ready for the next round.

"It all went too fast; you had no time to be nervous," he said.

Last month ULV hosted the Worlds style International Intervarsity Debating Tournament, which Kim said helped the team's confidence and performance at the Oxford tournament.

The La Verne B team placed 29th while team C placed 66th. Individually Kim and Raymond placed 13th and 18th respectively out of 187 competitors.

The world competition will be held from Dec. 27 to Jan. 5 in South Africa.

"I really think La Verne can turn more than a few heads this year," Lising said. "I think we can take it."