The Speech and Debate Society at the IAA is ready for a spring semester of rhetorical rumbles! After a month of holiday rest and relaxation, the team is looking forward to taking the stage to compete in the annual campus WCTU oratory competition, a contest won last year on the national level by president Rahul Srinivas. Students Nishka Batra, Michael Younkin, and Zach Brown are several orators who are crafting speeches for the event and are hopeful that Maryland will again take the national title, this time in Indianapolis, Indiana, in August.
“Being on the team is really fun and prepares you well for speaking in public,” said Batra, an economics major. “I can’t wait to see how everything turns out.”
In addition, the team will have the chance to witness excellent competition at the Interstate Oratory Association national championships, which will take place on April 25th at James Madison University. Srinivas, who will be one of two students representing Maryland, will be competing in the category of Persuasion. Though Rahul will face an oratorical fight against over 100 competitors, the demure junior isn’t daunted.
“I’m going to do my best and see what the competition is all about,” he said. “I’m lucky to have the support of my team behind me. I’m glad that they’ll be coming out to JMU to cheer me on!”
