February 2003

UM debate team performs
well at Utah competition
The UM debate team earned several awards at the University of Utah's Great Salt Lake Invitational Jan. 25-26. Six UM students placed in competition against students from more than 30 colleges and universities nationwide.

Freshmen Rob Killian of Bozeman and Stephen Sandford of Missoula won first place in the novice division of parliamentary debate, defeating Western Washington University in the final round with their argument upholding the statement "Human nature tends toward goodness."

In the open division of debate, senior Jen Kirby of Stevensville and Blake Zollar, a sophomore from Missoula, advanced to the final round with a 7-2 record. They placed second overall behind Pacific Lutheran University of Tacoma, Wash., in a debate that focused on affirmative action policies in higher education.

Kirby also earned third place with an oral interpretation of literature based on Mark Twain's "The War Prayer." Zollar took fifth place in extemporaneous speaking on current news topics.
In addition, Lacy Chaffin, a junior from Corvallis, and Ryan Stavnes, a junior from Helena, placed third in novice debate, and Chaffin was honored as the third-best debater in the division.

"The Utah event was a breakthrough for our young program," said coach Jay Lininger, a UM graduate student. "We are competing with and beating many of the brightest young women and men in the country."

The UM speech and debate program, originally founded in the late 19th century, is in its third year of existence after nearly 20 years of inactivity.
The team will compete at the National Parliamentary Debate Association Championships at Portland State University in Oregon March 28-30.

University Relations | Cary Shimek, Editor
The University of Montana-Missoula
32 Campus Drive | Missoula, MT 59812
phone (406) 243-2522 | fax (406) 243-4520
© 2004 The University of Montana