U. debaters surpass team expectations

Despite a lack of experienced veterans, the University parliamentary debate team has surpassed their expectations so far this season. "We had a lot of expectations that this would be a rebuilding year," said Parlimentary Debate Team Vice-President Brad Rosenberg, a College junior, adding that several experienced members graduated in May. "That's not the case." At the 30-college, 136-team tournament at Columbia University last weekend, two of the nine University teams competing placed inside the top ten, said Jonathan Cohn, also a vice-president of the squad. The Wharton junior added that one debater won recognition as the fifth-best speaker in the debates. He said that past University teams have had individual pairs that, in general, have done better than most of the present debaters. But Cohn added that he cannot remember a team with more depth. "We have three sophomores that are incredible," Cohn said. He added that since there is only one senior on the team, they will only graduate one experienced member. Further helping their efforts, Cohn said that they will be aided by the return of a debater from abroad, who, with his partner, "may be the favorites to win the Nationals next year." The parliamentary debate team competes with other schools in 40-minute "impromptu" debates in tournaments at different universities across the country. Rosenberg said that in addition to the recent showing at Columbia, the team placed well at other tournaments. "We've placed teams in fourth, fifth, and seventh place in a tournament at Johns Hopkins. We also had two team members win speaker awards," said Cohn. "In a 60-team competition, that's a really good showing." He added that although most debaters put a great deal of time into preparation, they have been helped by superb coaching. Cohn said the team owes much of its success to the guidance of Randy Cohen -- an area Harvard University graduate -- and Robin Marshall, a University law student and former parlimentary debate world champion.

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