WVU Debate Team continues to excel

Morgantown, WV, November 8, 2006:  The WVU Debate Team has enjoyed continued success during the fall debate season.

Led by Dr. Neil Berch, associate professor of Political Science in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, the team has traveled to tournaments nearly every weekend this semester.

The team hosted a preseason tournament, “The Almost Heaven Preseason Debate.” Debaters have also competed in tournaments at King’s College, Georgia State University, Towson University, West Point, Cornell University, and in Kansas City and Rochester.

The team is employing a new approach this season that emphasizes debater-produced evidence and excludes the use of mass-produced camp evidence and coach-generated evidence. The strategy has proved to be highly successful so far, with numerous coaches and judges commenting on the originality and quality of WVU debate arguments.

Team members also compete in divisions above their eligibility to give themselves the opportunity to take on more difficult competition. “This may not result in immediate success, but our focus is on the end-of-season championship tournaments,” Berch said.

Returning debaters include Karen Snyder, a sophomore journalism major from New Martinsville; Michael Stark, a sophomore political science and economics student from Charleston; Samantha Godbey, a junior from Walton, W.Va., whose major is international studies; Kayden Skinner, a junior political science major from New Martinsville; Tim Oeschger, a senior political science and economics student from Chester Springs, Pa.; Emily Renzelli, a junior political science student from Bridgeport; and Lee Zaniewski, a sophomore from Westerville, Ohio who studies engineering.

New additions to the team include Daniel Funk, a senior political science and philosophy major from Martinsburg; Nima Mohebbi, a senior economics and political science student from Teays Valley; Katie Santmyer, a sophomore from Moundsville who is studying criminology and political science; William “Steve” Przbysz, a sophomore physics major from Wheeling; John Pino, a sophomore international studies and foreign language student from Oak Hill; Mallory Duley, a sophomore studying public relations, political science and leadership; and Erica Rogers, a sophomore political science student from Weirton.

This year’s resolution, or topic, of debate has to do with whether the U.S. Supreme Court should overturn previous decisions in the areas of abortion, school desegregation, violence against women, and military tribunals.

Berch hopes that the team will continue to improve in the coming weeks as the team travels to tournaments around the country. “Each time, our goal is to improve,” he said. “Debaters are working hard, and I’m very proud of their efforts. I look for big things in upcoming tournaments.”

For more information, contact Berch at 304-293-3811, ext. 5290, or by email at berchnorto@msn.com.

W-V-U