Just two weekends ago, Sinclair students, in conjunction with students from the University of Dayton, competed in the National Educational Debate Association (NEDA)’s National Championship. The team of students traveled to Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania to compete.
The team had three students finish in the top ten of several different categories, including the Novice Rapidfire competition, in which participants have a limited time to prepare. The students’ performances earned them “fourth in the country in the tournament’s Sweepstakes awards,” according to debate team coach Jeffrey Geers.
The Clarion spoke to Geers about the debate team’s achievement and what it took to get there.
Geers said that Sinclair got an “unofficial start” in debating, having students represent the college beginning around 2013. He also stated that NEDA is “smaller scale” compared to other debating organizations and competitions in the country. Most tournaments have open registration and have been done online in the past, with some even being hosted at Sinclair. The National Championship was the team’s final one of the semester.
The team is made up of students from a wide variety of backgrounds. Geers said that, because Sinclair/UD’s debate program is rather small and less formal than others, he likes to make sure that participants know they are “students first.” He also argues that the debate team is a great way for students to build their resumes and prepare themselves for both higher education and careers. Regardless of their major, they can acquire skills that others may not necessarily have. He said that the joint debate team is an “extra step into integrating” community college students into university life.
Geers reports that the biggest challenge as of now is promoting the team and getting students to join, especially when some members are only on the team for a year or two before graduating.
The team’s goal is to continue “building on the success” of the National Championship. The Sinclair/UD debate team competes against other teams in the region and state, including Miami University, Cedarville University, and Otterbein University.
Interested individuals can contact Jeffrey Geers via email at Jeffrey.geers@sinclair.edu. UD also has more information on their communication department’s website.
Carly Webster
Reporter