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Issue date: 4/22/08 Section: Campus News

Students await results from one of the rounds during the National Forensic Association Championship on Sunday.(Mario Stuart)

More than 1,300 people from 87 schools across the country came to TSU for the 38th National Forensic Association Championship Tournament shutting majority of the campus down for four days. Opening registration on April 17, competing for three days and closing the events with a concert and an after party, TSU made sure to show hospitality to its visitors.

"(TSU) was very welcoming and friendly and had the best biscuits," said Nick Garcia, a debate coach from Ohio State University.

According to Kimberley LaMarque, director of TSU's forensics team, TSU was chosen because the NFA has seen, "the quality of our regional competitions and felt we would be a responsible host. And (TSU's) central in the country."

TSU is the first Historically Black College or University and the first university in the state of Tennessee to host this event.
First hosted by Ohio Northern University in 1971, the competition has evolved into, "16 preliminary rounds, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals in nine events," according to the NFA's history.

"The tournament is also host to the Lincoln-Douglas debate competition, which consists of six preliminary rounds followed by double-octofinals, octofinals, quarterfinals, semifinals and finals," the history stated.

President of TSU's forensics team Lavita Tuff, a senior English major from Decatur, Ga., said she is happy to host the event.

"So far, everything has been running smoothly, starting on time (and) the campus has been very inviting," Tuff said.

TSU students had mixed feelings about the campus being shut down and classes being redirected for the event.

"I think that its great that TSU is holding an event like the National Forensics Championship; holding an even like this will give TSU the recognition that it needs to hold other big events," said Simone Sweat, a senior interdisciplinary studies major from Nashville.

While Sweat agreed with some professors' decisions to cancel classes, Monica Kirkpatrick, a senior health science major from Nashville, said she did not think the cancellations or redirections were a good idea this close to the end of the semester.

Continued...

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