by Taylor Bryant
The University of West Georgia debate team wrapped up the first half of their season compiling an 8-0 record during the preliminary rounds at the 2013 Franklin R. Shirley Classic, hosted by Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
With more than 150 teams competing at the largest tournament of the semester, the UWG varsity team of Chicago natives, sophomore Hakeem Muhammad and junior Marquis Ard, remained undefeated for eight rounds, beating the top two teams in the nation, Northwest University and Georgetown University. Other teams defeated by UWG include Bard College, University of Minnesota, University of Iowa and University of Oklahoma. The team reached the final four with Rutgers University, Harvard University and Northwestern University.
“UWG is doing its part to fulfill the Board of Regent's charge for us to be a world-class institution,” says Dr. Michael Hester, dean of UWG’s Honors College and Trans-Disciplinary Programs and director of debate. “We are very pleased with our performance at Wake Forest. I am very proud of Hakeem and Marquis' efforts. Their achievements are further evidence that UWG students can successfully compete against the keenest minds from the most elite universities in the nation.”
This season’s resolution is “The United States Federal Government should substantially increase statutory and/or judicial restrictions on the war powers authority of the President of the United States in one or more of the following areas: targeted killing; indefinite detention; offensive cyber operations; or introducing United States Armed Forces into hostilities.”
Hakeem and Marquis will return spring semester to compete during the winter break in California at University of Southern California and California State University, Fullerton.
West Georgia’s debate team has consistently qualified for the National Debate Tournament 40 of the last 41 years and is the only school to reach the finals of the Cross-Examination Debate Associations national championship three consecutive years, winning consecutive championships in 2000 and 2001.
For more information, contact Dr. Michael Hester at 678-839-6636.
