LETTER: New club serves USU
Editor,
After a hiatus of over two decades the Speech & Debate Club at Utah State has returned. This past weekend the club competed at the Spokane Falls Tournament. This was only the second tournament attended by the club this year, and for many Aggies, it was their first.
The other schools we competed against had already attended 10 to 15 competitive tournaments this year. Utah State’s parliamentary debate teams finished with an overall record of 33-15 (.688), all finishing with a winning record. Utah State had more teams in the elimination rounds of novice division parliamentary debate than any other of the 28 schools. Overall, USU finished third in our division.
USU Speech & Debate serves the university in several ways. First, it fosters analytical and communicative skills in students. This is a critical skill set for any career. Anyone willing to make the commitment to debate can become competitive.
Next, the club brings honor and prestige to USU. Already, in a single season USU has built a reputation as one of the most competitive schools in the West.
Finally, USU Speech & Debate has proven its ability to responsibly sponsor public forums on campus. These forums are agenda neutral, non-inflammatory and intent on facilitating dialogue.
This success did not happen by accident. Tom Worthen has made tremendous personal sacrifices. He has taken a group of students with little or no experience in collegiate debate and helped them become winners.
Simply put, Worthen is to forensics what Stew Morrill is to basketball. Next, the members of the club have demonstrated a high level of commitment to the program. It took many long late evenings to become competitive. Finally, none of this could have happened without the support of the university.
As a member of the Speech & Debate Club, I am extremely grateful to Worthen and my teammates for their commitment to the program, for the funding from the university that made this season possible. I hope the commitment demonstrated by the club will be reciprocated by continued support from the university.
Thomas R. Grover