WMU News

Forensics team sponsors statewide tournament March 17-18

March 8, 2000

KALAMAZOO -- Forensics teams from around the state will be on the Western Michigan University campus March 17 and 18 to participate in a qualifying tournament for the 2000 national competition.

WMU's Forensics Team of Competitive Speech, Theatre and Debate is sponsoring the event and will be among the participants. Individual team members who place in the top six of their event will qualify to take part in the National Forensics Association tournament slated for April 13-17 at Ohio University.

"We're really looking forward to the tournament," says WMU team president Dave Nadolski, a senior from Midland, Mich., who is majoring in theatre education and communication. "It will be the first time in the University's history that we'll be hosting a statewide competition."

Nadolski formed WMU's team four years ago with a shoestring budget and a handful of members. It is one of only three student-run teams in the country, and the only one that has acted as a host to tournaments.

WMU's forensics club comes under the auspices of the Department of Theatre, which is unusual in higher education. Most clubs are aligned with their communication department and have little or no contact with theatre.

"Our club's affiliation with theatre has given us learning opportunities that other forensics teams just don't get, " Nadolski says. "In some ways, " he adds, "we're ahead of the game because more accrediting bodies are requiring both theatre and communication departments to provide speech training."

For more information about the tournament, persons should call (616) 387-4995.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 616 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu


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