The Arkansas Tech University debate and forensics team won five awards at the 2016 Red River Swing tournament hosted by Louisiana State University at Shreveport during the weekend of Nov. 12.
Arkansas Tech won second place in the debate sweepstakes competition. Michael O’Brien earned three awards. He tied for fifth place in team International Public Debate Association (IPDA) debate, finished fourth in the junior varsity division of individual IPDA and was an octafinalist in the out-rounds of junior varsity individual IPDA. George Wewer III was also a junior varsity individual IPDA octafinalist.
Also representing Arkansas Tech as debaters in Shreveport were Matthew “Stone” Stevens, Moses Farid, Tyler Johnson, Kyle Russell and Faith Brown. Tech student Daniel Aleman made the trip as a volunteer judge.
The Red River Swing marked the final debate tournament of the fall 2016 semester for the Arkansas Tech debate and forensics team. The group will return to competition during the spring 2017 semester with a tournament at John Brown University. The upcoming semester will be highlighted by the opportunity for Arkansas Tech to host the IPDA National Tournament and Convention March 23-27.
For more information about debate and forensics at Arkansas Tech, contact Dr. Gabriel Adkins, associate professor of communication and director of debate and forensics, at gadkins@atu.edu.
