HOUSTON– The award winning, internationally acclaimed, Texas Southern University Debate Team began the new semester, as they ended the last semester, taking first place. At the end of the semester, in December 2012, the team won first place Sweepstakes at the Central States Tournament held in Lee Summit, Mo. At the beginning of the semester, the team won first place Sweepstakes at the Fiesta Swing, held in January 2013, in Cheyenne Wy. On the to winning first place Sweepstakes, the team picked up thirty-four additional trophies, including eight first places. In one event, Dramatic Interpretation, the team was awarded the first, second third and fourth place trophies.

Throphies were received by the team, in seven of the eleven events sponsored at the tournament, including Poetry, Programmed Oral Intrerpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Impromptu Speaking and Rhetorical Criticism.  The following students constituted the participating team: Nathaniel Harris, Jordon Williams, Reese Selman, Maurice Robertson, Tameik Washington, Jakale Williams, Letecia Cortez, Marcus Esther, Nicholas Tenson, Oneyeka Oneykwelu, and Adrienna Boyd-Lewis. The team was accompanied by assistant coaches: Dr. Gloria Batiste-Roberts, Wendell King, Branden Griffin and Monique Bryant.

The next activity, in which the team will be involved, will be the Pre-International Round Up Tournament, to be held on the Texas Southern campus, on Wednesday, February 27th-Friday March 1st, from 6-9pm. All events are open to the public. The TSU Debate Team is open to any undergraduate student enrolled in the University and my be joined at anytime during the course of the semester. Interested students are encouraged to visit the Coach at the center for Forensic Excellence, Suite 112, Rod Paige Education Building.