Pio Seniors Ready for 2009-10 Forensics Season

As the 2009-2010 season begins, the Lewis & Clark College Forensics Team prepares for competition. For the five senior Pioneers—Neil Hilton, Dorothy Mix, Ramya Ramesh, Hannah Tierney, and Ben Tyson—this preparation will be particularly memorable.  A talented and diverse group, this year’s senior class looks to leave its mark on Lewis & Clark forensics.  Let’s meet the Forensics Team’s class of 2010:

Neil Hilton, from Kalispell, Montana, is an “aspiring” senior. An International Affairs major, Neil is hoping credits from his semester in Lebanon will allow him to graduate early. At L&C, Neil has competed in parliamentary debate, extemporaneous speaking, and impromptu. This year, Neil looks to rediscover his love of individual events and attend nationals in both IEs and debate. Reflecting back on his L&C career, Neil says that he will always remember the “crazy stories that go along with tournaments.”  Co-Director of Forensics, Dr. Bjørn Stillion Southard, is pushing Neil to expand his forensics repertoire by competing in interpretive or platform events.  Neil is thinking about law school, focusing on public international law or human rights.

Dorothy Mix is from Camino, California and is an Art History major and Religious Studies minor. Dorothy competes in a wide array of individual events, but loves the creativity afforded by interpretation of literature events. This year, Dorothy will continue to compete in interp events, but looks to broaden her skills by writing a few platform speeches and competing in impromptu speaking (if Dr. Stillion Southard proves persuasive). Dorothy also hopes to infuse her interest in intellectual property law and art into her prepared speeches and, in the future, perhaps a career in the law. When asked about the best part of her forensics experience at L&C, Dorothy replied simply, “Being given a voice.”

Ramya Ramesh is a History major hailing from San Jose, California. Ramya’s interest in radicalism extends into the world of forensics, as she is known for her love of critical arguments (referred to as Kritiks or Ks). Ramya competes in parliamentary debate and extemporaneous speaking. She received a bid to the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, a tournament with limited space and strict qualification standards. She hopes to qualify for the NPTE again this year and continue to do well in junior extemp. Dr. Stillion Southard, says that Ramya’s time in junior division “will be short lived. It’s time for Ramya to go open!” Ramya hopes to go to graduate school in history, an endeavor she facetiously described as “ensuring a constant, steady, and financially satisfying employment.”

Hannah Tierney is a Philosophy major from Wooster, Ohio.  Hannah has qualified for the NPTE twice, in addition to competing at the NPDA national tournament. She hopes to do the same this year, but has other important goals for forensics, namely, team warm-ups. Hannah thinks the team should coordinate in “something snazzy, like the basketball team.” On a more serious note, Hannah reflects back on her time on Palatine Hill and notes, “The friendships I’ve developed through debate are priceless.” Next year, Hannah hopes to be thinking deeply about philosophy in a Ph.D program.

Ben Tyson, from Boulder, Colorado, is a Political Science and Economics double major. Ben competed at the NPDA National Tournament and hopes to qualify for the NPTE this year. Ben also hopes to add to his vast knowledge of buffets on the Interstate 5 corridor (a knowledge that he owes to Co-Director of Forensics, Dr. Steven B. Hunt). “The best part of L&C Forensics,” Ben states, “is that it serves as a most excellent combination of creative intellectualism with passionate competition.” After graduation, Ben hopes to “sell my soul to the machine of electoral politics and/or Wall Street financial markets.”