Randolph-Macon College’s Franklin Debating Society placed first overall in the Collegiate Forensic Association’s Fall Tournament October 11-12, 2019 at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. 

“We are exceedingly proud of the team,” says Communication Studies and English Professor Ted Sheckels, who co-coaches the Franklin Debating Society. “This was an exceptional effort—one that reflects the hard work and dedication of each team member.”

Of note is the fact that every student on the trip won an individual award—and Bridget Maas ’20, an economics and Spanish major, took home an astonishing seven awards. 

“This was a really special event because it was my most successful tournament in four years,” says Maas, who serves as president of the Franklin Debating Society. Maas says that participating in the Society has made her more confidant both in and out of the classroom. “The critical thinking and quick analysis skills that we build have made me a better student, and I know they will continue to serve me well when I attend law school next year.”

The following students won awards at the CFA Fall Tournament: 
In Parliamentary Debate, Bridget Mass ’20 and Emma Reilly ’22 won first place, and Casey Dossat ’20 and Jonas Hummel (a one-semester exchange student from Germany) won fifth place. Maas was the first-place individually ranked speaker and Reilly placed sixth.

In Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Johanna Schetelig ’23 won sixth place.

In Extemporaneous Speaking, Matthew DeLancey ’21 won first place, Dewvaul Tracy ’23 won fourth place and Reilly won fifth place. 

In Impromptu Speaking, DeLancey won first place, Tracy won fifth place and Reilly won sixth place; and on Informative Speaking, Maas won first place and Reilly won fourth place.
In Persuasive Speaking, Maas won second place, Dossat won third place and Hummel won fourth place.

In After Dinner (or Humorous) Speaking, Dossat won fifth place; and in Communication Analysis, Dossat won fifth place.
In Poetry Interpretation, Josh Raugh ’23 won sixth place; in Prose Interpretation, Maas won fifth place; and in Drama Interpretation, Raugh won fourth place. 

In Declamation (interpretation of a famous speech), RMC had a clean sweep: Maas won first place, Quinn Wilson ’22 won second place, Dossat won third place, Brianna Tsitsera ’22 won fourth place, Hummel won fifth place, and Reilly won sixth place. 
In Pentathlon competition (excellence in five events), Maas won first place, Reilly won fourth place and Dossat won fifth place.

Communication Studies Professor Ruth Beerman, who co-coaches the Society, says the win at the CFA Tournament is a historic season opening.

“It’s rare that every student earns an individual award at the first tournament; these results demonstrate their hard work,” she says. “I look forward to seeing our students continue to improve.”

Upcoming Events
The Society’s next tournament will be November 1-2, 2019 at Randolph-Macon, during which the 2019 touring British debaters will be the Society’s guests. The British team will exhibit their skills in a debate against the top parliamentary team at the tournament on November 2, 2019 from 1:30-2:30 pm. 

On November 4, 2019, the British team will debate the RMC team of Bridget Mass and Emma Reilly at 7:30 p.m. in the Washington-Franklin Room in Washington-Franklin Hall, with the topic Be it Resolved that the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution should be updated for the 21st century. The exhibition debates are free and open to the public; a reception will follow the November 4 debate. 

Debate Tour Exchanges
Beerman says, “We have been hosting the touring British parliamentary team for 20 years. Having our students engage with people from other countries and cultures offers an additional learning experience.” The tour is sponsored in part by the Committee for International Discussion and Debate (CIDD) and the English-Speaking Union. 

In her role as the chair of CIDD, Beerman works to advance dialogue, discussion, and debate between international groups. 

“As part of that mission, this summer I went to Japan on a three-week debating tour, serving as the U.S. debate ambassador,” she says. “I lectured on the value of debate, provided workshops about how to engage in debate strategy and speaking skills, offered constructive feedback on debates, and coached the two selected U.S. students. I was very impressed with the state of debate in Japan and learned so much from everyone I met. The British and Japanese debate exchange programs offer opportunities for all participants to engage and learn.”

The Franklin Debating Society
The Franklin Debating Society competes in the Collegiate Forensics Association circuit. Students compete in a variety of events, including debate and forensics. Debate includes both parliamentary debate and Lincoln-Douglas. Forensics events include informative speaking, persuasive speaking, after dinner (humorous) speaking, impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, communication analysis, declamation, poetry interpretation, prose interpretation, single dramatic interpretation, and duo dramatic interpretation.