Debate Team Launches 2010-2011 Season

Road trips to Arkansas, Louisiana and Tennessee are highlights of the 2010-2011 season for the Mississippi College Debate Team.

“I’m hoping we will continue the positive trend of the last two years,” says communication professor Merle Ziegler, the team’s coach.

Six members of last year’s squad are returning, and Ziegler plans to sign up new students by early this fall. An organizational meeting is set for 3 p.m. August 31 at 112 Aven Hall.

The season opens when MC travels to the University of Arkansas-Monticello Oct. 8-10, followed by Nov. 5-7 competition in Louisiana against LSU-Shreveport.

When MC travels to Union University in Jackson, Tenn., they will face a debate team coached by former MC professor Webb Drake. Ziegler succeeded Drake as the MC debate coach.

The competition on the Union campus Nov. 19-21 should get the Christian university prepared to host the Deep South Tournament on the Clinton campus Dec. 3-4. Collegiate teams from Louisiana, Arkansas and Tennessee are coming here. MC’s spring debate season begins with a road trip to Bossier Parish Community College in Louisiana Feb. 18-20. There are road trips booked for Henderson State University Feb. 26-27 and the University of Central Arkansas March 25-27.

Returning members of the MC debate team include: Student Government Association President Randall Miller of Roseland, La. and SGA Chief Justice Thujee Lhendup, a native of Butan. Amanda Fortenberry of Union, Harris Swayze of Benton, Jasmine Hammond of Greenwood and Jenna Correll of Meridian round out the squad.

Topics this year could touch on health care issues and America’s troubled economy. “The topics usually are current social issues,” says Ziegler, the former debate coach at Liberty University in Virginia.

For more information, contact Merle Ziegler at 601.925.3456 or mziegler@mc.edu.