Idaho State University debaters win second place at Portland tournament
October 26, 2018
PORTLAND, OREGON – Idaho State University’s Rupp Debate Society continued its season’s success of capturing top honors recently at the Hunt Classic Invitational Debate Tournament in Portland.
Bengal debaters delivered second place in Open British Parliamentary Debate, and posted fifth in the quarter finals of Novice International Parliamentary Debate.
Sophomore Conner Coutts, of Pocatello, and his teammate freshman Jordan Reynolds, of Blackfoot, delivered second place in the final round of the British Parliamentary competition. The speakers argued against a proposition recommending use of human-technological implantation to extend lifespan and employ artificial intelligence as the next step of human evolution. More than 35 teams were entered in this debate style at the competition. Coutts is studying secondary education; Reynolds majors in professional writing.
Novice Rianne Quigley of Blackfoot was undefeated in the tournament in preliminary rounds. Quigley tied for fifth place in a field of 60 entries. In the quarterfinal round, Quigley argued the negative against the resolution that the federal government should develop a military space force. Quigley is a sophomore performing arts and theatre student.
More than 95 teams from 30 universities nationwide attended the competition.
The Bengal’s next competition will be an online tournament set for Nov. 3.