On the cover: It’s undebatable— (bottom right) Scott Forsberg and Chad Marcussen are overloaded with only part of the trophies WSC debaters have won this year. In this issue: College Assn. Edith G. Hester Coaching UT 84408. COMMENT is mailed to alumni, faculty, staff, the business community and friends of the college at no charge. POSTMASTER: Send form 3579 to Alumni Relations-1011 WSC, Ogden, UT 84408 (USPS 791-360) week," the entire squad COO ll researches the topic, then gets together to formalize the findings, and catergorize the information into briefing form. "They follow guidelines of ethics in their analysis, investigation and creation,” said Randolph OMe — nr ~~ ~s ea research le make assignments.” With what team member Chad Marcussen calls “every spare minute for about a wa Ogden, meets and we “The presence you establish in the round is as important as what you say," Dave Allen believes. ; Scott, forensics director. “And once they figure out their positions they start figuring out what is positive and what is negative.” At every meet the debaters are required to argue in favor of an issue moe Department of College Relations, 316 Administration Building, Weber State College, team “And there is no single argument out there that will totally destroy the opposition or win a debate either," Allen interjected. “Anything that is totally clear-cut will not be a topic.” to cover every right to privacy from sealed adoption papers to freedom of © speech. I was convinced. Then the opposition stands and tries to intimidate her personally as much — as prove her arguments wrong. But Shauna doesn't flinch in her con viction. YF Oy COMMENT is published four times each year, October, January, April and June by the Each October and January the National Cross Examination Debate Assn. selects a topic to be debated for the ‘semester. As soon as the announcement is made the wheels begin to roll and debaters are off and running as if the Indianapolis 500 flag had just been dropped. “I go to the library and bury myself for a day,” said debate coach Dr. David Berube. "Then the entire continued. step proceeds through her written notes . Carol O. Hinckley Art by Lana Hubbard Preparation Berube “Individual rights of privacy are more important than any other Constitutional right," she says with conviction. Then step by "They'll shoot you down with that one,” torts Dr. David Berube in a coaching session with David Allen. “I just know what wins and what doesn't," Berube grins. we COMMENT arguments,” In eight minutes she introduces the topic in the affirmative. lee Robb S. Alexander, Jr. Scott Applonie Margaret Conolly C. Lee Crittenden Frances F. Hadlock Michael Hunsaker Read R. Hellewell Don K. Hilton Ann P. Judd G. Val Lofgreen Roger F. Rawson Michael Sivulich, Jr. Darcel D. Stucki Sharon C. Young Dick Hunsaker The judges assemble score sheets at the back of the room and when the clock on the wall marks the given hour one of the judges says “ready?” Shauna stands. es an Board of Directors “David Allen is probably the most productive researcher we have," the coaches say of their champion senior debater. “You just learn what to look for. I used to take out paragraphs, now I take out sentences," was Allen's reply. : An intergral part of the process is Coaching, and Dave Berube knows his way around in debate circles. Not only was he a championship high school and college debater, but he coached at New York's Seaton Hall before coming to WSC last year. “We try to have practice rounds before each tournament, but our schedules are so busy," he confided. "I tell them where their arguments should fit into a round and which arguments to use and which won't win." ‘It's more of a strategy in the round than just cut and dried ~~ photo by Carol Hinckley Coordinator, Sharon Martin Editor: fans--David Allen and Shauna Wood Officer, Don E. Spainhower President, Margaret B. Favero Vice President, Thomas K. Welch Records Coordinator, Ginger Hauser Chapter Without pep bands, cheerleaders nor grandstands full of enthusiastic _ are as physically and mentally prepared as any athlete for the com petition. } Executive Director, Development then... pup Alumni And smiled. — State doesn't," Berube — Ho the past two years, WSC debaters have ranked among the top ten colleges in the nation in CEDA debate, among such schools as BYU and UCLA. Come along with us on a debate tour to see how they do it. “So we're truthful but tricky," Berube grinned knowingly. Allen said that when Berube first started coaching the team he and his partner Shauna Wood disagreed with their coach about how to approach an argument or a round. “But we soon learned to trust him," Allen admitted. “I just know what wins and what at Weber and then turn-table and debate against the same issue. "We figure positions that don't contradict —that blend nicely together,” Berube said. “And you have to trust each others’ research,” championship and senior debater David Allen said. “It is almost impossible to do all the research you need yourself." The preparation has been likened to a lawyer getting ready for a big case. But not only do debaters have to build up cases for and against, they have to be prepared to combat the findings of literally hundreds of debaters across the country. photo by Dave Memmott Feature - Debate ..........2 WSC History........... ws Campus Clips 22.55.05. 525. 5 OES ea ek ee his th Msberinticarkt.) anneennncs 10 PAUSE WE oe 11 Lost “A-Lambs”........... 13