Weevil Wars Set New Record for Tournament Size

Managing Editor

Photo by Linna Jones

Questioning- UAM Alumna Lauren Raynor, for the negative, questions Nicole Hudgens, for the affirmative, from Louisiana State University in Shreveport about her arguments on "The answer is in the Middle East" Oct. 10. Hudgens defined the question as nation building in the Middle East and made her first point on history.

 
   The University of Arkansas-Monticello Speech and Debate set a new record for Weevils Wars with 127 students and professionals debating Oct. 9-11.

   Weevil Wars set another record in 2005 with 92 debaters.

   Jim Evans, assistant director of Speech and Debate, served as the director of the tournaments.

“We run the debate tournament as a service to the debate community and to out students who are interested in debate or public speaking classes,” Evans said.

   Thirteen high schools and private and pubic colleges from five states debated in this year’s event including; Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee. The high schools and colleges competed together.

   Overall 150 students attended the tournament with only 127 students actually competing and 30-40 people judged or worked as support staff. Three UAM students debated to fill out needed positions.

   The 127 debaters presented arguments from questions developed by the students in the Argumentation and Debate class. The questions varied from very heavy government policies, foreign affairs, sports and social questions.

   Students debated with three areas according to their level of skill such as novice, varsity and professional (post-graduate).

   Heritage High School student Kaila Buck attended Weevils Wars as her first debate tournament. She talked about first experiences debating on Friday, Oct. 9.

   “The first round was nerve racking and then it was a lot of fun,” Buck said.

   Students and some advisors judged the debate rounds. The International Public Debate Association uses lay judges or people who are not experienced in debate. Lay Judges are people who use common sense and know about world events.

   Student in the Speech and debate classes helped to judge the debate rounds. Scott Kuttenkuler, new director of Alumni Affairs talked about how judging allows students to judge and experience what they are studying and the act of judging is persuasion in action.

Photo by Linna Jones

Registration- Sophomores Anna Blace Barren and Tiffany Reed process paper work at the Weevil Wars' registration table. Weevil Wars set a new record with 127 students debating.

   UAM Speech and Debate selects the date for Weevils Wars six months in advance and prepares for the event three weeks before the scheduled date.

  “I’m really proud of our students and it’s their effort that makes it happen,” Evans said. “They are the ones that put it together and makes it run right. They go above and beyond, they put in a lot of extra effort and a lot of extra hours.”

   They used several buildings around campus within walking distance of the John F. Gibson University Center Green Room such as MCB, Willard, Wells Hall, Babin Business Center and the Caucus Room and Capital Rooms in the University Center.

   Evans talked about how more than the Speech and Debate students helped to make Weevil Wars operate successfully. The whole campus form maintenance, the IT Department, Aramark, Public Safety and Administration helped.

   “They all pitched in to make Weevils Wars one of the best debate tournaments of the year,” Evans said.

  Weevils Wars experience technical difficulties in 2008, when they couldn’t access the Internet to do their research the Friday of the debate. This year they did not experience this same problem.

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