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SOC News
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Forensics and Debate Convention
Converges on Webster
Cancun … Panama City … Webster University?
In conjuring up a list of spring break hot spots, the home of the Gorloks may not be the first that pops into mind. Not so for the more than 600 college students from around the country that converged on Webster’s main campus March 16–20.
Representatives from 70 colleges and universities spent their spring break at the 45th Pi Kappa Delta Biennial National Convention and Tournament, a five-day forensics and debate program associated with the nation’s oldest forensics honor society.
“Pi Kapp, to me, helped me to learn something about myself; it is possible to do things you are afraid to do,” said Melissa Joy Benton, a Speech Communication Studies major and member of Webster’s team. “And the nice thing is that you get rewarded for it.”
Webster students pulled in a fourth-place finish in the team sweepstakes competition, an outcome that thrilled the professional staff.
“I was very proud of our team members for adding new events and stretching themselves in order to be more competitive,” said Tom Serfass, assistant coach. “We feel like this was a big contributor to our finishing fourth. Their efforts reinforced our belief in teamwork.“
The convention and tournament was an event nearly three years in the planning.
“I really feel like the 2005 event was as good as any Pi Kappa Delta tournament I have attended,” Director Scott Jensen said. “Receptions were exciting. On-campus hospitality was exceptional. Everything came together better than any of us could ever have imagined.”
Scott and Gina Jensen, the program directors and Speech Communication Studies professors, in 2002 first submitted a bid for Webster’s Pi Kappa Delta chapter, Missouri Omega, to host the event. Planning began immediately, from securing extra competition rooms to finding morning doughnuts and coffee.
And when spring break finally arrived, Webster was ready.
“I can’t begin to count the number of people who played a part in the planning of this event,” said Gina Jensen, who served as local host. “We had an event planning class, several alumni, our own students and too many offices and areas on campus to mention involved with making sure we were ready when the tournament finally happened.”
Said Scott Jensen: “In my 20 years of coaching, I have never been involved with a more elaborate event—and that includes hosting and directing other national tournaments.“
“This event would never have happened had it not been for the tireless work and professionalism personified in Gina and her assistant, Leigh Cummings, as well as from our own students and alumni.”
Some of the greatest support came from Debra Carpenter, dean of the School of Communications.
“Debby’s support was the most essential ingredient in our moving forward with this project,” Gina Jensen said. “She was 100 percent supportive from the very start, which allowed us to plan with confidence.”
Nine alumni of the Forensics and Debate program assisted in pulling the national event together: Anne Hardwick, of Arizona; Christopher Michaels, of Washington; Ryan Louis, of New York; and, Robin Harris, Andy Hobin, Amie Medley, Jason Roach, Colleen Carter and Rebecca Kropschot, of St. Louis.
One of the greatest benefits of the event, according to Gina Jensen, was the return of the alumni. It served to reinforce the program’s goal of strengthening connections between forensics and personal development.
“I owe my political consciousness, my graduate and post-graduate professional opportunities and over 20 states checked off my ‘visited states map’ to my experiences with forensics in Pi Kappa Delta,” said Andy Hobin, a Media Communications major and alumnus. “It has formed who I am today in ways that faith shapes a holy man.”
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