The Online Reflector

University of Indianapolis will host the Novice National speech and debate tournament March 11-13.

Schools from across the nation will compete in the event. UIndy is serving as the host for the competition for the first time.

Instructor of Communication and Director of Forensics Audrey Cunningham said she volunteered two years ago.

Last year, 30 schools competed in Kansas City, Mo. For this year’s competition, there will be 200 competitors from 30 different schools in several different states.

The first day of the competition will consist of parliamentary debate.

The last two days are individual events in public address such as informative, persuasive, and after-dinner speaking plus rhetorical criticism.

Speeches in impromptu speaking (also known as limited preparation) and extemporaneous speaking (in which the competitors have 30 minutes to prepare for a seven-minute speech) also will be presented.

Interpretive events such as duo interpretation of a play, poetry or prose and dramatic interpretation also will take place.
There will also be Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Reader’s Theater events.

“For the participants, it’s an academic exercise,” Cunningham said. “It tests critical thinking skills and confidence. It’s a great confidence builder. It also develops some literary skills and interpretation of materials. It’s helpful in creating team atmosphere as well.”

According to Cunningham, Novice Nationals is a unique opportunity for the competitors because it eliminates more experienced opponents from competition.

Dolne will compete alongside fellow freshman team member DyNishia Miller.

“It speaks well of UIndy that we can speak well and present ourselves well,” Dolne said.

Cunningham said if the team does well at Novice Nationals, it prepares them for the other national tournaments ahead.

Dolne will compete in informative speaking, persuasive speaking and also in the interpretation events prose and poetry.

Dolne says she prefers interpretation because it is similar to acting. For Dolne, the most interesting part is that she gets to use her emotions to reach her audience.

“I just like seeing all the different types of interpretations of everything and just being able to feel experience right there in the moment,” she said. “It’s not about winning. You just get to see all the different emotions that come out, and other people’s viewpoints are interesting.”

Dolne said whenever UIndy goes to meets, team members are always friendly with their competitors.

“They’re [UIndy] always introducing me to people,” Dolne said. “It seems like in the speech circuit, we know so many people that are so close, so they hang out outside of speech meets.”

Cunningham said the schools that don’t have speech programs currently will be able to come, and this will be a good recruitment tool for UIndy.

“It’s one of those things where you know as soon as you come into the speech team, we’re going to welcome you in,” Dolne said.