Debate Team Opens New Season at Mississippi College

Mississippi College's 2015-16 debate team includes: MC students James Tulp, Chris Fisher and coach Merle Ziegler (back row). Emily Greer and Elli Wilkinson in the front row. The team is pictured outside Aven Hall.

Mississippi College’s debate team will soon face competition in Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas as a new season begins.

Upcoming road tournaments include: the University of Arkansas-Monticello set for October 2-4, and Union University of Jackson, Tennessee on October 16-17. A trip to East Texas Baptist University for competition November 13-14 comes next.

Debate coach Merle Ziegler guides a team with two returning debaters: communication major Andrew Rock of Birmingham, Alabama, and biochemistry major Christopher Fisher of Germany.

New members of the Choctaws squad include: Elli Wilkerson of Brandon, a McLaurin High graduate, Will Earnhart of Madison and graduate student James Tulp, a Franklin Lakes, New Jersey native.

MC student debaters tackled a wide range of topics during their September 18-20 tournament at Lee College in Baytown, Texas. The event attracted a dozen colleges.

Topics focused on such issues as the value of America’s political parties and the use of social media by children. The pros and cons of standardized testing was another subject debated.

Two MC students left the Texas tournament last weekend with a couple of individual awards.

Earnhart was selected the Octo-Finalist winner. Rock received a third place speaker award. In addition, he finished as the Quarter-Finalist winner in the junior varsity division.

A communication professor, Ziegler welcomes more students to join the team this fall. “No prior debating experience is required – just a desire to test their skills in public speaking.”

For more information, contact Merle Ziegler at 601-925-3456 or mziegler@mc.edu