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August 28, 2012

Nationally renowned debate duo to trade barbs at ULM Sept. 4

Travis Smith and Alex Warren, nationally recognized debaters, will participate in the fall 2012 Bill and Linda Rambin Public Debate on Tuesday, Sept. 4., from 6-8 p.m. in Stubbs Hall, Room 100, located on the ULM campus.

The Bill and Linda Rambin Public Debate presented by the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Department of Communication Speech and Debate Forum.

The event is free and open to the public.

Smith and Warren will debate the resolution: “When in conflict, education should be valued above economic gain.”

Smith, a nationally recognized debater from the University of Texas at Tyler, earned a double major in political science and communication in May 2012.

Smith is currently pursuing a master’s degree in political science, and serving as the assistant coach for the debate team at UT-Tyler.

Warren, also a nationally recognized debater from UT-Tyler, graduated in May 2012 with a degree in economics. Warren is currently pursuing his MBA at UT-Tyler.

Dr. Charles Walts, assistant professor of communication, and debate coach at UT-Tyler, will provide an argumentation workshop for students in the Argumentation and Debate class of ULM Associate Professor of communication, Dr. Lesli Pace.

“We are lucky to have Mr. Smith, Mr. Warren, and Dr. Walts here to model critical thinking and the effective exchange of ideas central to debate,” said Pace.

“Their experience and success demonstrate what hard work and commitment to intellectual endeavors can help us achieve, provide a night of entertainment, and demonstrate why debate is a truly valuable activity for students, not only while they complete their degrees, but also as they move into their professional lives.”

Walts is a national championship winning debate coach who specializes in argumentation, political rhetoric, and cultural studies. He earned his Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.

Smith and Warren are the winningest team in the history of parliamentary debate, and were the top seed in elimination debates at the 2012 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence. 

For more information please contact Dr. Lesli Pace at pace@ulm.edu or 318-342-1165.

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