Sophomore communication studies majors Emma Moreau and MaryCunningham represented Minnesota and Gustavus Adolphus College at the 134^thInterstate Oratorical Association National Contest held in Madison, Wisconsin.Moreau became the first Gustavus student since 1974 to advance to the finalround, placing 4^th overall with an oration advocating for sodiumregulation. Cunningham advanced to the semifinal round, making Gustavus theonly school to advance two students to the semifinal round.

The Interstate Oratorical Association National Contest isthe oldest annual collegiate speaking contest, dating back to 1874. Each stateis allowed two participants. Twenty-four states were represented, and Gustavuswas one of seven states to have two students representing their respectivestate. Gustavus has represented Minnesota four consecutive years.

The semifinal rounds were held in the Grand Army of theRepublic Memorial Hearing Room located in the Wisconsin State Capitol. The GARwas originally used by Civil War veterans to hold ceremonies and to honor thoselost in war. The room is now used for public hearings and as the caucus roomfor the Assembly majority party.

The final round was held in The Assembly Chamber located inthe Wisconsin State Capitol. The Assembly meets in the room to debate and voteon bills. 

The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics Team participated in the 31^st American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET) April 5-7 on the University of Texas at Austin campus, earning a top 20 national ranking for the second consecutive year. This accomplishment is especially impressive considering 15 of the top 20 schools are Division I schools. 89 colleges and universities competed in the three-day competition. Viewed by many as the most competitive national forensics tournament in the country, the AFA-NIET awards team sweepstakes trophies to only the top 20 schools.

Senior Brittney Lovdahl became the third Gustavus student in six years to be named to the AFA-NIET All-American Team. Past recipients include Andrea Carlile, 2007 and Becky Kuehl, 2005.

Sophomore Emma Moreau became the first Gustavus student to qualify for the semifinal round in Persuasion, placing her in the top 12 out of 135 competitors in the nation.

Sophomore Mary Cunningham qualified for the quarterfinal round in Persuasion, placing her in the top 24 in the nation. 

Top 20 Schools:

1. Western Kentucky University

2. Bradley University

3. University of Texas at Austin

4. Kansas State University

5. George Mason University

6. University of Alabama

7. Arizona State University

8. California State, Long Beach

9. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

10. Illinois State University

11. West Texas A&M University

12. Hastings College

13. University of Nebraska-Omaha

14. University of Texas El Paso

15. Seton Hall University

16. Saint Josephs’s University

17. Doane College

18. James Madison University

19. Rice University

20. Gustavus Adolphus College

The following students competed:

1. Brittney Lovdahl (SR): Program Oral Interpretation, Poetry, Dramatic Duo, Communication Analysis, Informative Speaking

2. Maria Siegle (JR): Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Persuasion

3. Tasha Carlson (JR): Dramatic Duo, Drama, Prose, Program Oral Interpretation

4. Kavan Rogness (JR): Informative Speaking, Prose, Poetry, Drama, Dramatic Duo

5. Brittani Seagren (JR): Impromptu Speaking

6. Emma Moreau (SO): Persuasion, Impromptu Speaking, Prose, Drama, After Dinner Speaking, Program Oral Interpretation

7. Mary Cunningham (SO): Persuasion, Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking, Poetry

8. Christopher Hunt (SO): Program Oral Interpretation, Prose, Poetry, After Dinner Speaking

9. Paula Wiggam (SO): Drama, Program Oral Interpretation

10. Sean Maertens (SO): Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking

11. Alex Brakke (SO): Prose, Dramatic Duo

12. Phil Helt (FR): Persuasion, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, After Dinner Speaking, Communication Analysis, Prose

13. Austin Lafferty (FR): Extemporaneous Speaking, Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking

14. Claire Sagstuen (FR): Persuasive Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking

15. Marie Bushnell (FR): Program Oral Interpretation

    Kansas in Nebraska Swing

January 26-27, 2008

The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics team placed THIRD out of 12 schools at the half hosted by Kansas State and SECOND out of 12 schools at the half host by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Team Sweepstakes Day One:

First: Illinois State University

Second: Doane College

Third: Gustavus Adolphus College

Extemporaneous Speaking:

Claire Sagstuen: 1^st place

Brittani Seagren: 3^rd place

Mary Cunningham: 6^th place

Persuasive Speaking:

Emma Moreau: 2^nd place

Poetry:

Kavan Rogness: 4^th place

Mary Cunningham: 5^th place

Program Oral Interpretation:

CJ Hunt: 4^th place

Kavan Rogness: 5^th place

Informative Speaking:

Mary Cunningham: 3^rd place

Kavan Rogness: 4^th place

Claire Sagstuen: 5^th place

Austin Lafferty: 6^th place

Dramatic Interpretation:

Kavan Rogness: 3^rd place

Team Sweepstakes Day Two:

First: Illinois State University

Second: Gustavus Adolphus College

Third: Hastings College

Extemporaneous Speaking:

Mary Cunningham: 1^st place

Phil Helt: 3^rd place

Persuasive Speaking:

Emma Moreau: 3^rd place

Poetry:

CJ Hunt: 5^th place

Program Oral Interpretation:

CJ Hunt: 3^rd place

Kavan Rogness: 4^th place

After Dinner Speaking:

CJ Hunt: 6^th place

Impromptu Speaking:

Claire Sagstuen: 3^rd place

Informative Speaking:

Mary Cunningham: 2^nd place

Kavan Rogness: 3^rd place

Communication Analysis:

Phil Helt: 4^th place

Dramatic Interpretation:

Kavan Rogness: 3^rd place

Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Championships

February 16-17, 2008

Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State ChampionshipsFebruary 16-17, 2008The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics team placed FIRST out of nine schools at the Minnesota Collegiate Forensics Association State Championships. The Gusties placed FIRST in eight of the twelve events, placing second in two others. The Gustavus Forensics team also was awarded the Greg Lapanta Quality Award. This award is based on the number of points earned divided by the number of slots entered. Gustauvs averaged 10.18 points per event entered. Mary Cunningham and Emma Moreau will represent Minnesota at the 2008 Interstate Oratorical Association National Contest, the oldest annual speaking competition. This marks the fourth consecutive year Gustavus will have a representative at the IOA National Contest. Gustavus has qualified both IOA National Contest slots for the second consecutive year.

Overall Team Sweepstakes

First:                 Gustavus Adolphus College = 499 points

Second:             Minnesota State-Mankato = 397 points

Third:                Concordia College = 144 points

Individual Sweepstakes

First:                 Emma Moreau

Second:             Mary Cunningham

Fifth:                 Christopher Hunt

Sixth:                 Kavan Rogness

Seventh:            Maria Siegle

Tenth:                Tasha Carlson

Final results:

ADS:

Christopher Hunt- 1^st place

Phil Helt- 5^th place

Communication Analysis:

Brittney Lovdahl-1^st place

Phil Helt- 5^th place

Duo:

Brittney Lovdahl/Tasha Carlson- 1^st place

Kavan Rogness/ Alex Brakke- 2^nd place

Paula Wiggam/Phil Helt- 6^th place

Drama:

Emma Moreau- 2^nd place

Kavan Rogness- 3^rd place

Tasha Carlson- 4^th place

Extemporaneous Speaking:

Austin Lafferty- 2^nd place

Mary Cunningham- 3^rd place

Maria Siegle- 6^th place

Impromptu:

Emma Moreau- 1^st place

Mary Cunningham- 2^nd place

Maria Siegle- 5^th place

Claire Sagstuen- 6^th place

Informative:

Maria Siegle- 1^st place

Mary Cunningham- 2^nd place

Brittney Lovdahl- 4^th place

Kavan Rogness- 5^th place

Oratory:

Mary Cunningham- 1^st place

Emma Moreau- 2^nd place

Phil Helt-3^rd place

Maria Siegle- 5^th place

Poetry:

Christopher Hunt- 2^nd place

Kavan Rogness- 3^rd place

POI:

Emma Moreau- 1^st place 

Christopher Hunt- 2^nd place

Prose:

Tasha Carlson- 1^st place

Kavan Rogness- 4^th place

Emma Moreau- 6^th place

Parliamentary Debate: Mary Cunningham & Claire Sagstuen

January 12-13

 The Gustavus Adolphus College Forensics team competed in the Hell Froze Over Swing hosted by the University of Texas-Austin and Bradley University on the UT-Austin campus. Both tournaments attracted most of the top 20 programs in the country, totaling 47 schools. With more than 80 plus competitors per event, the Gusties broke six entries to the Semi-Final Round. Dramatic Interp: (96 entries)Emma Moreau: Semi-Finalist Impromptu Speaking: (114 entries)Emma Moreau: Semi-Finalist Persuasive Speaking: (89 entries)Emma Moreau: Semi-FinalistMary Cunningham: Semi-Finalist Informative Speaking: (111 Entries)Mary Cunningham: Semi-Finalist 

Withgreat pleasure, we greet you in the midst of another successful season and onthe heels of placing 20^th in the nation at the 2007 AmericanForensics Association National Individual Events Tournament. Being nationallyranked is especially impressive when considering 14 of the top 20 schools areDivision I schools. This accomplishment reflects the commitment to EXCELLENCEthat permeates our tradition-laden program.

A little over a century since itsinception, the Gustavus forensic tradition continues with multiple statechampions in both debate and individual events, two all Americans, and anationally ranked program. As the present growth and competitiveness was builtupon the strong tradition of the past, our present success will provide thefoundation for the next century of Gustavus forensics. To do so fully, we mustsolidify opportunities for more students, more championships, and more nationalrecognition.

Director of Forensics  

With great pleasure, we greet you in the midst of another successful season and on the heels of placing 20^th in the nation at the 2007 American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament. Being nationally ranked is especially impressive when considering 14 of the top 20 schools are Division I schools. This accomplishment reflects the commitment to EXCELLENCE that permeates our tradition-laden program.

A little over a century since its inception, the Gustavus forensic tradition continues with multiple state champions in both debate and individual events, two all Americans, and a nationally ranked program. As the present growth and competitiveness was built upon the strong tradition of the past, our present success will provide the foundation for the next century of Gustavus forensics. To do so fully, we must solidify opportunities for more students, more championships, and more national recognition.

Director of Forensics  Director of Forensics  Director of Forensics  Director of Forensics 

1990-2008                   1971-1973                   1957-1969

Team sweepstakes: 1st overall

ADS
Emma Moreau-2nd place

Communication Analysis
Brittney Lovdahl-1st place

Duo
Paula Wiggam/Phil Helt-5th place

Drama
CJ Hunt-1st place

Extemp. Speaking
Austin Lafferty- 2nd place

Impromptu
Claire Sagstune-1st plce
Austin Lafferty-5th place

Informative
Brittney Lovdahl-2nd place

POI
Paula Wiggam-2nd place
Emma Moreau- 3rd place

Prose
CJ Hunt- 1st place
Phil Helt- 2nd place

Team Sweepstakes: Gustavus Took 1st place overall

ADS:
Emma Moreau-5th place

Communication Analysis:
Brittney Lovdahl-1st place

Duo:
Paula Wiggam/Phil Helt-5th place

Extemporaneous Speaking:
Maria Siegle–2nd place
Mary Cunningham-3rd place
Austin Lafferty-6th place

Informative:
Kavan Rogness-1st place
Mary Cunningham-3rd place
Maria Siegle-4th place

Poetry:
Brittney Lovdahl-3rd place
Kavan Rogness-5th place

POI:
Tasha Carlson-3rd place
Emma Moreau-6th place

Prose:
Kavan Rogness-3rd place
Phil Helt-4th place

The Gustavus Forensics team continued its winning tradition by winning its fifth tournament of the year! We have qualified 21 slots for the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament to be held in April.

Extemp. Speaking
Austin Lafferty- 1st place
Sean Maertins- 2nd place

Impromptu
Emma Moreau- 1st place
Phil Helt- 2nd place
Maria Siegle- 3rd place
Sean Maertens- 6th place

Informative Speaking
Brittney Lovdahl-1st place

Poetry
Brittney Lovdahl- 1st place

Program Oral Interpretation
CJ Hunt- 1st place
Emma Moreau- 2nd place

Prose
CJ Hunt- 1st place
Alex Brakke- 5th place