Oxford University
challenges
Northwest University
Top British debaters face local students for two debates
open to the public free on

Thursday, January 4, 2007

First Debate
Redmond City Hall
2:30 PM

Concerns about global warming are over-blown.

Second debate
Kirkland City Hall  

7:30 PM
The US would be better off if it looked more like the UK.

           Sponsored by the Redmond Town Center Marriott Hotel

On January 4 in Redmond and Kirkland, Northwest University students will debate Oxford University students Alex Goodman -- Debate Chair for the Oxford Union -- and his partner Alex Just --  President-elect of the Oxford Union Society. 

 

Northwest University debater Mark Kreiner and alumnus Nathan Novak will face the Oxford team in the new Redmond City Hall at 2:30 PM on Thursday, January 4. The Redmond debate will be streamed live and recorded for later broadcast on RCTV Chanel 21. Contact Kim van Ekstrom, Manager of Community Affairs, 425-556-2419.

 

Then, that same evening, N.U. debater Kortney Thoma and Team Captain Jed Nelsen will face the Oxford team at the Kirkland City Hall conference room at 7:30 PM on Thursday, January 4. Everyone welcome to attend. City of Kirkland contact information: Janice Perry, Communications Manager, 425-587-3204.
 

The debate will be televised on KGOV for streaming on the web.

Kirkland Topic: The United States would be better off if it looked more like Great Britain.  Oxford will affirm.

About the British:

Andrew Goodman, 20, is studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford.  He grew up in Newcastle, Leeds and London. He was elected Chair of the Debates Selection Committee of the Oxford Union Society.

His university debating achievements include:

 

• Grand Finalist, ranking as one of the top 15 speakers in the world at the World Schools' Debating Championships 2005, Calgary, Alberta.
• Top awards won at tournaments in Helsinki, Birmingham and University College London.
• Academic Achievements include: UK Young Business Writer of the Year, Exhibitioner of Magdalen College,

 

For future plans, Andrew is interested in a career in academia after he graduates. His personal Interests include basketball, travel and Chinese.
 

Alex Just, 21, is majoring in History and Political Science and was recently elected President of the Oxford Union Society. His home town is Edinburgh, Scotland.
Debating Achievements:
 

• Finalist at the 2004 World University Debating Championships.
• Finalist at the 2001 World Schools Debating Championships in Malaysia.
• He served as Debate and Public Speaking Coach for Scotland (2006), Mauritius (2005), and Kuwait (2003). 

Alex Interned in the office of Senator Kent Conrad, North Dakota, during the Summer of 2006.

He is interested in the fields of law and politics as potential careers. He is undecided if this will be behind the scenes or out campaigning as a candidate. Personal interests include soccer, cricket, technology, film and American literature.
 

Contact Andrew and Alex in the UK +447737647117or from December 27 to January 3 in Vancouver, BC at the Sheraton Wall Center Hotel (604) 331-1000.

 

About the Americans:

Cassandra Crawford, 21 is a Political Science and History major from Bellevue, Washington. She recently won second place at the Lower Columbia College tournament. Cassi is Vice President of the N.U Debating Society. She will preside as Speaker of the House.

 

Nathan Novak,  2nd Lieutenant, is a Commissioned Officer of the United States Army and Washington Army National Guard. He is currently serving as a Tactical Intelligence Officer for the Headquarters Company of the 81st Heavy Brigade Combat Team in Seattle, WA.  He is a Northwest University debate alumnus who for the last three years has served as an assistant coach. His debate awards include fourth Place at the University of British Columbia's Pacific Cup in Vancouver, B.C. and Octo-Finalist (top 16) at the national debate championships in Denver, Colorado. In February, Nathan will travel to Fort Sill, OK for the Army's Basic Officer Leader Course, then to Fort Huachuca, AZ for Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course in preparation for a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan.

 
Mark Kreiner, 19, a freshman from Meridian, Idaho and is studying Communication and Business Marketing. He recently competed at tournaments hosted by Oxford and Cambridge Universities and served as a judge at the World Universities Debating Championships in Vancouver, BC. Mark is an entrepreneur who take pride in his winning high school debate experience.  

Jed Nelsen is Eagle Debate Team Captain at Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington. Jed, 21, is a Religion and Philosophy Major from Kamiah, Idaho. He winner of a finalist plague for World debating at Oregon State University in 2006 and has debated in Madrid, Spain; Prague, Czech Republic; Honolulu, Hawaii and Vancouver, Canada.

Kortney Thoma, 22, is an English major from Ephrata, Washington. Kortney won second place at the Lower Columbia College tournament 2006. In addition to debate, Kortney serves as editor of the Talon Student Newspaper.

 

Nathan Chambers, 21, is a senior Philosophy major from Freeland, Whidbey Island, Washington who has won a finalist plaque at the Willamette University World debate tournament in 2006 and the Portland State University World's Warm Up tournament in November.
 

Kevin Botterbusch, 19, is an Intercultural Studies major from Phoenix, Arizona. Kevin won first place in debate at the Linfield College tournament in 2005 and a semi finalist award at the Portland State University World's Warm Up tournament in November.

 

About the World Universities Debating Championships
From December 27 to January 4 nearly 800 debate students from five continents will meet at the University of British Columbia to determine the top debaters in the world. We have invited Alex and Andrew down after the tournament.

 

About Parliamentary Debate -- format used for our debates

 

Academic debate goes back to the first university founded by Plato. College students have engaged in debate as a learning tool for thousands of years.
 

The English refined and carried on the democratic tradition of using debate to make decisions in parliament. American debate finds its roots in British culture.

 

Parliamentary debate is a speaking game in which students role play elected officials in an imaginary house of parliament. The Government team affirms the resolution and the Opposition team rejects it. Debaters are usually assigned topic and sides.

 

A speaker of the House officiates the debate and usually votes on who they think did the better job of debating.

 

Speaker times and order:

 

Prime Minister                        7 Minutes

Leader of the Opposition          8 Minutes

Member of Government            8 Minutes

Member of the Opposition        8 Minutes

Opposition Rebuttal                 4 Minutes

Government Rebuttal               5 Minutes

Sponsored by the Redmond Town Center Marriott Hotel