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Students Win Debate
updated: Mar 06, 2013, 4:15 PM
Source: Westmont College
Westmont sophomore Riley Svikhart narrowly beat first-year student Michael
Deiana in the final debate of the 17th Annual Tournament of Expressions Feb. 28.
Svikhart successfully argued that physician assisted suicide should not be made
legal in California. Both finalists, who made it through several rounds of the
contest that started in January, found out about the debate topic only minutes
before the final competition. "The contest emphasizes mental agility as well as
critical thinking and public speaking skills," says Deborah Dunn, Westmont
professor of communication studies.
At the event, sophomore Rebecca Shasberger won first place in the Great Speeches
portion of the tournament for her delivery of Ronald Reagan's 1985 Remarks at
the Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp. Junior Seth Gruber took second place for
his presentation of Charles Spurgeon's 1864 sermon, "Do You Know Him?" The
speeches are chosen by students as exemplars of great speeches - speeches that
turned the course of history, transformed a public conversation or changed the
course of civilization.
The Westmont tournament originated with a gift from Montecito residents, Bob and
Jean Svoboda. The Svobodas, working with the Westmont Communication Studies
Department, wanted to inspire and reward active civic involvement among college
students. "The theme of the tournament is Passion and Civility, since the
Svobodas and the faculty wanted students to be passionate about their ideas
while also modeling civility in public discourse," Dunn says.
Judges for the finals were Michael Graves, visiting professor of communication
studies, Peter Buehler, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Santa
Barbara, Chandra Mallampali, associate professor of history, Lesa Stern,
associate professor of communication and Deborah Dunn, professor of
communication. Greg Spencer, professor of communication studies, emceed the
event.
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