Date: May 14, 2007

Hofstra's Speech and Debate Team Earns Top Honors At Competition

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University’s Speech and Debate Team placed third overall in the Great Eastern Seaboard Forensics Tournament on April 27-28, 2007. In addition to their third place overall finish, senior Sid Nathan placed fourth overall, junior Allison Bishop placed third in Prose Interpretation and senior Megan Kirkpatrick placed first in Persuasive Speaking.

The team competed in four of the events at the tournament. After Dinner Speaking consists of an original, humorous speech designed to exhibit sound speech composition, thematic coherence, direct communicative public speaking skills, and good taste. Sid Nathan took second place in this event. Impromptu Speaking is serious in nature and topic selections varied by round and section by section. Speakers had seven minutes to prepare and speak. Sid Nathan placed first in this event. Another event, Persuasive Speaking, is an original speech designed to inspire, reinforce, or change the beliefs, attitude, values, or actions of the audience. Megan Kirkpatrick placed first in this event and Sid Nathan placed third.  The final event of competition was Prose Interpretation which consists of a selection or selections of prose material of literary merit which maybe drawn from more than one source. Allison Bishop placed third in this event.

The Speech and Debate Forensic Team is coached by Dr. Charles Fleischman.  Dr. Fleischman is an Associate Professor in the department of Speech Communication, Rhetoric & Performance Studies and has directed forensics for over 20 years and is proud of his team's recent achievements, which include a New York State Championship, a top 10 divisional ranking at a national (N.F.A.) tournament, and a national champion in persuasive speaking.

“These three intrepid students, Sid, Allison and Megan responded to my challenge to extend what they were doing in the classroom by entering an intercollegiate forensic tournament, and the results speak for themselves,” said Dr. Fleischman. “I am very proud of these three students and I expect big things from them next year.”

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students find their edge to succeed in more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.