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	Vol.7, No 33, October 26, 1999
	Debate team grabs top spot in contest By Rebecca Brown Daily Forty-Niner The Cal State Long Beach Forensics team finished in first place at the Four-Year College and University Sweepstakes at the Aztec Invitational from Oct. 15 to 17 at San Diego State. More than 30 colleges and universities from California, Arizona and Nevada competed in the tournament, and all 19 of the CSULB Forensics team members played a role in the team's victory, said Matthew Taylor, the team's director. "Our team is one of the strongest, if not the strongest team in our region," Taylor said. President Robert Maxson's office last week was presented the first-place trophy, which the team hopes will be on display soon. "We get immense support from the president, A.S.I., the communications department and the College of Liberal Arts," Taylor said. "We wanted to give the president the trophy to show our gratitude for all of his support." Taylor admits the team was not always the award-winning force it is today. "When I started here in 1992, the team had only two members," he said. "Now, we have 125 active members." Taylor compares his forensic team to a track team because one team member can win an event and the team as a group can win the contest. The 13 special events are broken down into 3 categories, one of which is the policy-debate section. It focuses on one specific topic, which is debated all year, Taylor said. "It is very research-oriented," Taylor said. The students do extensive research on the subject, so they become experts on both the pros and the cons of the issue, Taylor said. The parliamentary debate section gives students the opportunity to argue impromptu, Taylor said. "The judge announces the particular topic, and the students are given 15 minutes to prepare to speak," he said. Sophomore computer science major Brian Norcross considers parliamentary debate to be his specialty. "It gives me the opportunity to articulate," Norcross said. "I have learned to say what I want to say in just the right way." As a team member, Norcross said he has learned to be committed to education and learning. "I've learned about having a good work ethic," Norcross said.   "It's not easy to be a part of the team.  It's a lot of work, but incredibly rewarding when you do well." Many students in the program have their pick of law and graduate schools to attend because they are apart of such a successful debate team, Taylor said. "The skills and training that students get on this team open so many doors," he said.		Loved ones say goodbye to student Flower festival celebrates culture   Students meet to repeal textbook tax   A.S.I. consolidates various commissions   Freshman application deadline set   Muslim students regain access to prayer room   CSULB stars combat racism in local schools Call box for the deaf   A.S.I. president leads reform   Help in the lab Jambalaya poetry reading offers expression   Reviewer suggests 'The Shining,' 'Nightshift'   Coroner has light mood   Debate team grabs top spot in contest LBSU hockey team wins   Soccer team can't sweep   Team triumphs despite injuries Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.