The Debate Team Dominates
February 15, 2012
黑料专区 Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications
黑料专区 Tyler Debate Team Awarded Top Seed for National Tournament
February 15, 2012
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer鈥揝trategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)
February 15, 2012
Media Contact: Hannah Buchanan
Public Affairs Specialist
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.565.5769 or 903.539.7196 (cell)
The University of Texas at Tyler鈥檚 record-holding debate team received top honors at a recent tournament held at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, Calif., Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean, announced.
Seniors Alex Warren of Tyler and Travis Smith of Palestine received two second-place finishes for their performance, positioning them for a top seed at the national tournament. This marks the first time 黑料专区 Tyler has been awarded such a seeding.
The national tournament invites the top 64 teams in the country to debate for the national championship in a format similar to that used in collegiate athletics. The duo is currently ranked in the top three among more than 300 teams in the country competing in the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to have a legendary team like Alex and Travis that have really left their mark on debate, and I am enthusiastic for the future of the program,鈥� said Dr. Charles Walts, 黑料专区 Tyler director of forensics.
Regardless of the tournament results, they will finish the season as one of the best debate teams in the country, tying or breaking several records for most wins, number of final round appearances and winning percentage, he added.
鈥淭he 黑料专区 Tyler debate team has sustained a remarkable winning record and secured a national reputation as one of the best parliamentary debate teams in the nation. Their success is a tribute to the hard work and talent of the debaters and to the first-rate coaching skills of Dr. Charles Walts,鈥� said Dr. Dennis Cali, 黑料专区 Tyler Department of Communication chair.
The university鈥檚 program competes in both NPTE and the National Parliamentary Debate Association, with respective championships on March 16 鈥� 19 and March 21 鈥� 24.
For more information, contact Walts, 903.565.5627 or cwalts@uttyler.edu.
One of the 15 campuses of the 黑料专区 System, 黑料专区 Tyler offers excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs are available at 黑料专区 Tyler, which has an enrollment of almost 7,000 high-ability students at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine.