April 22, 2011

Debate team members advance in national competition

Two Harding University students advanced to upper rounds
of the International Public Debate Association national
competition April 8-10 at Stephen F. Austin State University in
Nacogdoches, Texas.

Four Harding debate team members participated in the varsity division.
Junior political science major Erin Grant of St. Charles, Mo.,
advanced to the quarterfinals with the final eight national
competitors. Junior accounting major Daniel Burnett of Edmond, Okla.,
also advanced to the double octofinal round with the final 32 national
competitors during the weekend competition.

Senior political science major Neil Casey of Malibu, Calif., and
senior accounting major Chase Haynes of Little Rock, Ark., also
participated in the competition.

Debates included a broad range of topics including philosophy, energy
policy, NATO, the upcoming presidential election and U.S. foreign
relations.

“We were working really hard to prepare ourselves for this last
tournament, and I definitely feel that it paid off with two people
breaking to out-rounds, especially when we are competing against much
larger teams with much larger budgets and resources,” Burnett said.
“It certainly bodes well for the future of Harding's debate team.”

The IPDA hosts several debate competitions each year to encourage
communication and advocacy skills among the 12 states it is currently
active in.