” Every other forensic team, out of respect, gave a standing ovation to the University of Akron Forensics team at the 2009 National Forensics Associatiation Nationals tournament. The team wants this same kind of respect at its own home institution. A Forensics team is essentially a speech and debate team.”
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Every other forensic team, out of respect, gave a standing ovation to the University of Akron Forensics team at the 2009 National Forensics Associatiation Nationals tournament. The team wants this same kind of respect at its own home institution.

A Forensics team is essentially a speech and debate team. They compete in state and nationwide tournaments, some based on invitation.

The Bradley University Norton National Invitational is arguably the most prestigious tournament we attend, besides nationals, and are invited to it every year, Andrew Golden, an officer of the UA Forensics team, said.

At the 2009 Bradley University L.E. Norton National Invitational Memorial Tournament the UA Forensics team had one finalist in poetry interpretation and three semifinalists in prose and poetry.

In addition, the team has many other awards and recognitions. In 2009 it took 3rd place as a team at the Ohio Forensic Association State Championships behind Ohio University and Miami University.

At the National Forensic Association National Speech and Debate Tournament 2009 it had two national quarter finalists in Impromptu speaking and Prose Interpretation.

At least since 2008, the budget and the available faculty for the Forensics team has been considerably less than those of other schools.

Miami of Ohio had $72,000 of funding, two full time faculty and a Graduate Assistant and Ohio University’s resources were similar.

Akron’s team’s funding was only $14,000 without paid faculty advisor or graduate assistants.

As of now, Akron’s funding for next year has not yet been determined.

In tournaments it is usually customary to only give the first place team or a team you are affiliated with a standing ovation.

When the UA Forensics team received a standing ovation at the NFA Nationals in 2009, they were not the first place team at the event. They were 9th in the event and yet they still received a standing a ovation out of respect for the team.

The team has been fighting for respect and legitimacy in the eyes of the administration for some time.

University representatives could not be reached to comment on this story as of press time.

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