Index of University Press Releases

Dec. 5, 2006

DWU debaters have success at Macalester College tourney

MITCHELL, S.D. – For the first time since George McGovern was coaching debate at Dakota Wesleyan University, the school sent a team to a policy debate tournament and had significant success.

Jeremy Christensen, assistant professor of English and the team’s coach, took three debaters to the W. Scott Nobles Tournament at Macalaster College in St. Paul, Minn. last weekend. Annie Martinez, South Pasadena, Calif., and her partner, Courtney Rupp from the University of Iowa in Iowa City, took first place against teams from the University of Minnesota, Macalaster College, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa and Michigan State University.

Two other Wesleyan students, Jereme Burch and Danna McCloud, both of Mitchell, took fourth place in a competition among 20 teams, and McCloud won fourth speaker.

“This is a great moment for the future of debate at Dakota Wesleyan University and for the status of collegiate debate in the state of South Dakota,” said Christensen. “These students worked extraordinarily hard to follow in the steps of great university alumni like Senators George McGovern and Francis Case.”

The teams debated the National Debate Tournament 2006-2007 topic related to issues of social justice.

The students will compete later in the season at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, and at the Heart of America Tournament hosted by Kansas University if funding is available.