Team History

Contrary to what the name might lead you to think, UNI Forensics has nothing to do with the type of forensics activity on popular television shows such as "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." The forensics team at UNI participates in intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments across the nation. Although we begin our work in the summer months, we usually begin traveling to tournaments in September and conclude our season with several national tournaments in March and April. Speech (also called individual events) and debate teams are often collectively termed forensics. This term comes from Aristotle's "The Rhetoric" in which he divided all forms of rhetoric intro three general categories: epideictic (ceremonial), deliberative (policy), and forensic (legal). Historically, public address and debate skills were first honored, and therefore became necessary, in the court systems of Ancient Greece. Contemporary speech and debate grew out of this tradition of learning how to advocate for and defend oneself.

UNI Forensics is one of the oldest student reported activities on campus. The University of Northern Iowa was originally founded as the Iowa State Normal School in 1876. The Normal School is reported to have had many forensic exercises offered through the English department, such as elocution, oratory, and debate. Particular oratory contests that attracted great attention were the debates between the "pedagogy" of Cedar Falls and the "farms" of Iowa State College. These debates were so entertaining and popular that they became a regular feature in the campus newspaper. In 1909 the name of the university was changed to the Iowa State Teachers College. Research indicates that from 1911 to 1917, the Iowa State Teachers College won first place in the Interstate Normal Oratory League Contest. Debate was considered to be an activity for men only until 1915 when debate leagues were created for women competitors. In 1961 the name was changed again to the State College of Iowa until 1967 when it was changed one final time to the University of Northern Iowa. Although the university has undergone several name changes, UNI Forensics has maintained a strong presence on campus since it first opened in 1876.

Below is some of our more recent team history:

 

Directors of Forensics

2008-present Kate Lavelle

2006-2008 Cate Palczewski (interim)

2004-2006 Jacob Thompson

2003-2004 Cate Palczewski (interim)

1998-2003 Leah White

1997-1998 Arnie Madsen

1978-1997 Bill Henderson

Pre-1978 Forrest Conklin

Directors of Individual Events

2008-present Rebecca Buel

2005-2008 Voiza Greene

2004-2005 Jennifer Struve (Graduate student)

Spring 2004 Jennifer Struve and Nicole Tremel (Graduate students)

2002-2003 Will Major

2000-2002 Margaret Kaszonyi, Bruce Wickelgren, Celeste Matheson, Bruce Wickelgren and Celeste Devore

1989-1991 Penny Geurink and Bruce Wickelgren

1988-1989 Rich West and Penny Geurink

1980-1988 Mary Ann Renz and Rich West

1976-1980 Phyllis Carlin   Directors of Debate   2008-present Richard Tews 1994-2008 Catherine Palczewski 1989-1992 Walter Ulrich

 

 

Individual Events Champions

 

National Champions

Todd Prins: 1992 NFA National Champion, Persuasion

Shelly Schnathorst: 1988 AFA National Champion, Persuasion

Deanna Gunderson: 1988 AFA National Champion, Communication Analysis

 

American Forensics Association-National Individual Events Tournament

 

2011 - University of Nebraska-Kearney, April 1-4, 2011
13th in Team Sweepstakes
11th in Individual Sweepstakes - Yaw Kyeremateng
Finalists:
2nd - Yaw Kyeremateng - Poetry Interpretation
3rd - Harrison Postler - After Dinner Speaking
Semifinalists:
Yaw Kyeremateng - Program Oral Interpretation
Harrison Postler & Yaw Kyeremateng - Duo Interpretation
Quarterfinalist:
Chris Outzen - After Dinner Speaking
2010 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, April 1-4, 2010
Semifinalists:
Yaw Kyeremateng - Program Oral Interpretation (7th)
Quarterfinalists:
Ashlee Lopez - Program Oral Interpretation
Michael Taylor – Persuasion   2009 - University of Akron Semifinalists: Ali Horsted & Anna McDermott - Duo Interpretation   2007 - Minnesota State University-Mankato Quarterfinals - Jessica Sauer (After Dinner Speaking) Semifinalists - Ali Horsted (Dramatic Interpretation)   2006 University of Florida Quarterfinals - Coltrane Carlson (Program Oral Interpretation)   2005 - Kansas State University Quarterfinalist - Jessy Ohl (Persuasion)   2004 - California State University - Long Beach Quarterfinalist - Danielle Dick (Prose)   2003 - University of Mississippi at Oxford 5th - Sara Gronstal (After Dinner Speaking   1997 - Quarterfinalist - Alli Nuckels (After Dinner Speaking) Anastasia Lee (Poetry & Drama)

Debate Tournament Champions

 

National Debate Tournament

2011 - University of Texas-Dallas- March 25-28, 2011

Qualifiers: Al Hiland & Zach Simonson

 

2007 - University of Texas-Dallas - March 28-April 2, 2007

Qualifiers: Michael Pham & Ian Beier

 

2003 - Emory University (GA) - March 28-31, 2003

Qualifiers: Melanie Johnson & Mark Langgin

 

1999 - Wayne State University (MI) March 25-27, 1999

Qualifiers: Jennifer Rawe & Adam Briddell

 

1997 - Liberty University (VA) March 21-24, 1997

Qualifiers: Jeffrey Grant & Jennifer Rawe

 

1990 - West Georgia College

First Round At-Large

Aaron Hawbaker & Ken Schuler (2nd overall)

4th Speaker - Aaron Hawbaker

6th Speaker - Ken Schuler

Octafinalists:  Schuler & Hawbaker