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MC Debate Team Hosts Deep South Classic Dec. 4-5


Debate teams from Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana will talk it up in the Deep South Classic when they take on Mississippi College.

The event is set for Dec. 4-5 on the Clinton campus. Teams from colleges in the region are invited to join the competition with rules set by the International Public Debate Association. Invitations are also open to high schools.

Teams making the trip include those from Union University in Tennessee, Stephen F. Austin University and Sam Houston State, both from Texas, Louisiana State University-Shreveport and the University of Arkansas-Monticello.

At last year's tournament at MC a total of more than 70 debaters were signed up from eight universities, says debate team coach Merle Ziegler, an MC communication professor.

Parents and other visitors at the Deep South Classic will notice the format for the event at MC is similar to that used in the famous Lincoln-Douglas presidential debate.

The MC team recently competed in the inaugural debate tournament at Union University in Jackson, Tenn. Five universities with a total of 60 debaters competed in the two day tournament.

Mississippi College debaters taking part included Randall Miller of Roseland, La., Harris Swayze of Benton, Miss., and Bren Smith of Jayess, Miss. Jasmine Hammond of Greenwood participated as a debate judge.

Miller and Smith qualified for the elimination rounds of the tournament as first and second seed. Swayze was awarded 2nd place speaker award for the tournament in the novice division.

The MC team also took two varsity and novice debaters to the Oak Tree Swing Tournament in Alexandria, La. Hannah Loden of Germantown, Tenn. and Josh McCormick of Etta, Miss. competed for the varsity and Miller and Ashley "Montana" Moak of Bogue Chitto represented MC as novice debaters.

"We're not quite the dominant force we were last year, although we have done well," Ziegler said.

The Deep South Classic will wrap up the MC team schedule for the fall semester, but there's more action ahead in 2010. For more information on the MC team, contact Merle Ziegler at mziegler@mc.edu or 601.925.3456.