This year the Saint Anselm College debate team started their season coming in second place in the Lincoln Douglas Debate Sweepstakes. The tournament took place on the weekend of October 5 at Lafayette College. There they competed against Lafayette College, Hillsdale College, Ithaca College, Ohio State University, Marshall University, and Emerson College.

Leading the team in the first debate was senior and captain Chris Tinsley. The team debated on federal assistance to organic and/or sustainable agriculture. Tinsley reached the final round of the Varsity division, and came in first place.

The team was given the top of federal assistance to organic and/or sustainable agriculture on July 1, and the members will start the research immediately. This is the topic used for all of the debates that the Saint Anselm College debate team will partake in during their season, which lasts from July, when the topic comes out, until the National Tournament in April.

Also this semester, the debate team participated in the Suffolk University Tournament on October 20, and hosted the Jack Lynch Invitational Tournament on November 3. Captain Chris Tinsley placed first speaker, and reached the semi-final round for the Varsity division at the Suffolk University Tournament.

Also in that tournament, Freshman Rebecca Pelletier placed first overall in the Novice Division, and won the Final Round of Novice against Ithaca College. Sophomore Kevin Lacourse placed sixth in the Varsity division going 3-1. Sophomores Katie Muzzy and Kevin Graham also attended the Suffolk University Tournament.

There is one more event for the SAC debate team this semester, and they will travel to Otterbein College in Ohio. The four core members of the team will be attending: Chris Tinsley, Katie Muzzy, Kevin Lacourse, and Rebecca Pelletier. The team, however, is hoping to recruit a few more members to complete the team.

Next semester the team plans to travel to two invitational tournaments, three championship events, one national tournament, and one national championship. The same topic that Saint Anselm’s team has been debating upon this semester will be debated in these tournaments.

The Saint Anselm’s debate team will be partaking in the 100th Anniversary of the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament held in St. Louis. This is a special tournament for Saint Anselm College. Two years ago Saint Anselm student Tim Vaughan, member of the class of 2011, won the tournament.

This is the 64th year that Saint Anselm College has had a debate team. The current coach, David Trumble, has been the coach since 1979, and has seen members of the debate team move on to successful careers in a wide variety of fields.

“The skills and experience learned in debate are transferable and useful in just about any career,” says Trumble.

If interested in helping to round out the debate teams or learn the skills needed for debate should contact Coach Trumble.