Texas Southern Does It Again!!!


C-LeB28

Moderator
The Texas Southern University Debate Team participated in the eleventh annual International Forensic Association Tournament, held in Prague Czechoslovakia, March 10-16. At the end of the competition, between twenty five schools with Forensic Programs under supervision of the International Association, the team captured two top awards, one in Debate and the other in Independent of Literature. The team captured the International Debate Championship by taking first place in Parliamentary Debate, a format patterned after the debate structure used in the British Parliament, today. The team also took second place in the interpretation of the literature written by the current President of the Republic, Vachlov Havel, who, at the time of the writing, was imprisoned by the communist party, along with other dissidents.

Pictured: Deonte Richard, Thomas F. Freeman, Gloria Batiste Roberts, Athena Williams, Joie Raspberry, Jennifer Jermany, Eric Hodges, Trendi Adams, Maria Starling, Nicholas Bowers, Reshon Gilmore, Paulette Cohen, Michael Keller, Charles Shaw, Tamay Dowell Sam, Charlotta Smith, Willie Capers, Tairon Gray, Lawrence Ayers, Robert Gilmore, Nicklaus Sam, Alex Chaney, Eric Zuniger and Wilbert Howard.

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Following the workshops, and the competition, the students were given the opportunity to tour in the big city, and in small surrounding cities as well, visiting the many historic sites, including museums, churches, bridges, castles etc. The outstanding cultural event was experienced the night before departure for the states, when the Prague National Symphony Orchestra presented a special concert for the members of the Association, at the historic Castle, which is now the residence of the President. It was conducted by Dr. Paul Freeman, the youngest brother of the Debate Coach. In addition to his duties as principal conductor of the Prague Symphony Orchestra, a post he has held for the last four years, Dr. Freeman is the principal conductor of the Chicago Symphonetta, and is in great demand as a guest conductor all over the world. One of the numbers included in the evening?s program was, The Lincoln Portrait, by Aaron Copeland. Coach Freeman performed along with his brother, delivering the narrative portion, as Maestro Freeman, waved the baton. Both received a thunderous applause as well as a standing ovation, for what was described by several listeners as, "superb performance. The members of the Debate team stood in aw as they watched this first class performance and said, "We felt so proud to be a part of TSU, and to be so close to greatness in music and oratory. It made us feel so good, to see two Black brothers on the international stage, taking the lead in providing such a moving intercultural experience." The two words they constantly used, were "wow! incredible!"

After departing from Prague, en route to Houston, the team stopped in New York City, where they experienced another aspect of American culture, as they visited many of the spectacular sites in the Big city, concluding with the enjoyment of a Broadway Hit.

The following students comprised the participating team: Eric Hodges, Trendi Adams, Joie Raspberry, Athena Williams, Roshon Gilmore, Nicholas Bowers, Lawrence Ayers, Robert Gilmore, Alex Chaney, Tamaya Dowell Sam, Deonte Richard, Maria Starling, Charles Shaw, Eric Zuniger and Charlotta Smith.

The team was accompanied by the University Photographer, Earlie Hudnall, the assistant coaches, and the head coach for the past 52 years, Thomas F. Freeman.

Before departure, it was announced that the Twelfth Annual Forensic Association Tournament will be held in Florence, Italy, March 2002. The team anticipates receiving the necessary support, that will make another unique international experience available to students on the Debate Team.
 
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