KU debate teams advances to Sweet 16 at the National Debate Tournament

LAWRENCE - A University of Kansas debate team concluded its successful 2004-2005 season by advancing to the Sweet 16 at the National Debate Tournament (NDT) held March 24-28 at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Wash., where the top 78 intercollegiate teams competed for the national championship.

The KU team of Matt Cormack, Lincoln, Neb., junior in political science and economics, and Lindy Simonsen, Omaha, Neb., junior in women's studies preparing to major in education, won five of their eight preliminary rounds of competition to advance to the elimination rounds. Cormack, the son of Craig and Linda Cormack, is a graduate of Southeast High School. Simonsen is the daughter of Roger and Barbara Simonsen and a graduate of Millard South High School.

In their first elimination debate, Cormack and Simonsen defeated a team from Dartmouth University, Hanover, N.H., to advance to the Sweet 16 where they lost to a team from the University of Texas-Austin. The Texas team lost in a semifinal round to University of California-Berkeley. Debaters from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., won the tournament by defeating the Berkeley team.

Another KU team that qualified for nationals, Jordan Tinsley, Little Rock, Ark., senior in English, and Todd Jordan, Lenexa senior in history, went 4-4 in preliminary rounds. In order to advance to elimination rounds, debaters must have a 5-3 record. Tinsley is the son of Ed and Paula Tinsley and a graduate of Little Rock Central High School. Jordan, the son of Terry and Marilyn Jordan, is a graduate of Shawnee Mission West High School.

KU has qualified for the national tournament 38 consecutive times, the second-longest active streak in the country. KU debaters have won the coveted national title four times. KU has sent more teams to the National Debate Tournament than any other college or university, and KU recently began a tradition of competition in the Cross-Examination Debate Association.

Scott Harris, assistant specialist in communication studies, has coached the team the past 14 years. KU communication studies graduate students assisting Harris this year are doctoral students Jan Hovden, Lawrence, and Thomas O'Toole, Glencoe, Mo., and master's degree students Phillip Samuels, Emporia, and Sarah Topp, Pelican Rapids, Minn.