Brownson Speech and Debate Team Continues Success in New Season  

The Brownson Speech and Debate Team, from left, Meg Gawron, Safa Shaikh, Dan O'Connor, Rin Jones, and Bryce Leatham championed the tournament at Lafayette College.

Continuing the record-breaking success of the 2021-2022 academic season, Brownson Speech and Debate Team members won 24 individual awards in their first in-person regional tournament of the new season. The Oct. 1-2 double-header intercollegiate competition in Fairfax, Virginia was hosted by George Mason University and attracted 12 schools. The small, but mighty Seton Hall team with a limited entry of four students earned Second School Sweepstakes on day one and fourth place on the second day.

In addition, on day one, Meg Gawron, a senior in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, achieved second place in the individual overall speaker category. On day two, Daniel O’Connor, a senior in the College of Communication and the Arts, was crowned as the first-place individual overall speaker at the tournament.

Gawron earned first place in Prose Interpretation; O’Connor earned first place in Communication Analysis and Persuasive Speaking; and Safa Shaikh, a senior in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, received first place in Impromptu Speaking. Gawron also earned second place in Persuasion and Extemporaneous Speaking and Shaikh in Communication Analysis.

Associate Dean Ryan Hudes, Ph.D. said, "The administrators and faculty in the College of Communication and the Arts continue to be inspired and impressed by our Brownson Speech and Debate team, including outstanding contributions and achievements by students, as well as steadfast and inspiring leadership from our coaches."

In their second regional competition at Lafayette College, the following weekend, they championed the tournament and won seven individual events, including Gawron as first place overall speaker.

"This exciting milestone of in-person, regional competition was invigorating and successful for our Pirate speakers, who successfully spread our messages of advocacy, diversity, equity and inclusion with grace and dignity," shared Communication and the Arts Chair, Director of Forensics and Associate Professor Catherine Zizik.

She thanked Provost Katia Passerini, Ph.D., College of Communication and the Arts Interim Dean Renee Robinson, Ph.D. and their staffs for their continued support.

"We are so proud of our students for their continued success on the Brownson Speech and Debate Team and especially for their ability to apply what they learn in the classroom to real-world problems," Provost Passerini said. "I thank our dedicated faculty for their work guiding this team and for all the countless impactful experiential learning projects they lead, because these endeavors teach students how to connect their academic learning and success to our mission, how to be responsible and active citizens making a more just, equitable, and healthy world."

"The resilience of this squad continues to amaze me. Their messages are so timely and mission driven. When the students speak, the heart, mind, and spirit of their audience members are moved. I am so happy that our students are in this activity for the right reasons — to make real change in meaningful topics that often go unvoiced," added Zizik.

Also mentoring the students are Brian Sumereau, assistant coach and alumnus, who traveled with the team to Fairfax, and Head Coach Sam Ohrenberger-Hopkins, who has been elevated to assistant director of forensics.

The Brownson Speech and Debate Team is known for its tradition of rhetorical excellence for more than 75 years. This forensics team competed in a wide variety of speaking events through the United States. While forensics typically refers to investigation, the term uniquely applies to the team's ability to dissect language and craft messages to perform on stage.

Students compete under four main categories: Limited Preparation, Public Address, Oral Interpretation of Literature and International Public Debate. Students who compete in Limited Preparation perform Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Students who compete in Public Address perform After Dinner Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Informative Speaking and Communication Analysis. Students interested in Oral Interpretation compete in Prose, Poetry, Program Oral Interpretation, Dramatic Dup and Single Interpretation of Drama. Students interested in International Public Debate argue either in favor of or opposed to a position and resolution.

For more information on Brownson Speech and Debate team, visit here.

Categories: Education