2008 Woodie Awards
ISU Debate Team concludes a year of spectacular achievement
Steven Glenn
Issue date: 4/18/07 Section: News
According to Odekirk, only 16 teams from the entire nation get a bid, making ISU a part of the "upper crust".
"That hasn't happened in this region for the last 17 years, and never at ISU," said Odekirk. "This year we have bested the top debaters from Harvard, Michigan State, Dartmouth, UC, Texas, Georgia (multiple times)…we crushed them and we are proud of that."
He went on to say that ISU's second-string teams have also beaten the best that these other schools have to offer.
While many may think ISU could not match up to Ivy League schools, Odekirk says that ISU's Debate team is one of the most innovative in the country.
"We experiment with new, creative argument styles so we can stay ahead of our competitors," said Odekirk, adding that their creative style often confuses and frustrates opposing teams.
Partlow-Lefevre said that most of the other schools, especially the Ivy League ones, often give their debaters lists of exactly how to argue and what to say.
"If you can guess what is on that list, you have a huge advantage, even if you are from ISU," said Partlow-Lefevre.
Odekirk says that a lot of the credit goes to Partlow-Lefevre for helping the student debaters realize that they are just as smart as or smarter than the competition from Harvard.
Nichelle Klosterboer, a sophomore at ISU, told of her favorite win against Dartmouth, where they creatively utilized puppets to give the team its only loss of the year.
Paul Montreuil, also a sophomore at ISU, partnered with Senior Jessica Yeates, and was part of the 16 teams that received a top bid to nationals. "It was pretty exhilarating and pretty intense (in the competition)," said Montreuil.
Yeates had originally not wanted to come to ISU, but her family wouldn't pay for her to go to the private school she wanted - a decision she is now grateful for.
"I am really glad I did come," said Yeates, "If I had gone somewhere else, I would have been doing research for some professor instead of getting a chance to travel and debate."
"That hasn't happened in this region for the last 17 years, and never at ISU," said Odekirk. "This year we have bested the top debaters from Harvard, Michigan State, Dartmouth, UC, Texas, Georgia (multiple times)…we crushed them and we are proud of that."
He went on to say that ISU's second-string teams have also beaten the best that these other schools have to offer.
While many may think ISU could not match up to Ivy League schools, Odekirk says that ISU's Debate team is one of the most innovative in the country.
"We experiment with new, creative argument styles so we can stay ahead of our competitors," said Odekirk, adding that their creative style often confuses and frustrates opposing teams.
Partlow-Lefevre said that most of the other schools, especially the Ivy League ones, often give their debaters lists of exactly how to argue and what to say.
"If you can guess what is on that list, you have a huge advantage, even if you are from ISU," said Partlow-Lefevre.
Odekirk says that a lot of the credit goes to Partlow-Lefevre for helping the student debaters realize that they are just as smart as or smarter than the competition from Harvard.
Nichelle Klosterboer, a sophomore at ISU, told of her favorite win against Dartmouth, where they creatively utilized puppets to give the team its only loss of the year.
Paul Montreuil, also a sophomore at ISU, partnered with Senior Jessica Yeates, and was part of the 16 teams that received a top bid to nationals. "It was pretty exhilarating and pretty intense (in the competition)," said Montreuil.
Yeates had originally not wanted to come to ISU, but her family wouldn't pay for her to go to the private school she wanted - a decision she is now grateful for.
"I am really glad I did come," said Yeates, "If I had gone somewhere else, I would have been doing research for some professor instead of getting a chance to travel and debate."
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