Debate Team Wins in Gatlinburg
The Fairmont State Intercollegiate Debate Team recently participated in the Pi Kappa
Delta National Comprehensive Tournament held in Gatlinburg, Tenn.
Pi Kappa Delta is the oldest national collegiate forensic honorary and is approaching
its 100th year anniversary. Forty-eight schools from 20 states participated in the
tournament.
Dusty Van Pelt, a freshman and North Marion High School graduate, compiled a record
of 3-3 with wins over Central Michigan University, Otterbein and Bowling Green State
University. Van Pelt also scored a total of 156 out of 180 speaker points. Only four
other debaters scored higher.
Also compiling a record of 3-3 was Stephen Sundahl, a freshman from Fairmont. He
recorded victories over Otterbein, Kansas Wesleyan and Bowling Green. Janelle Piercy,
a junior from Weston, W.Va., also went 3-3 with wins over McKendree, Central Michigan
and Abilene Christian. Heather Musgrove, Seanna Keefe and Terry Meeks also participated
in the tournament.
The team debated the National Forensic Association resolution: "Resolved that the
United States Federal government should adopt a policy to increase the protection
of human rights in one of more of the following nations: Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan,
Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines and/or Pakistan."
The team is coached by Kimberly Korcsmaros. For more information, e-mail her at kkorcsmaros@fairmontstate.edu.
