Westmont Magazine Competing with Civility

In a society that celebrates uncivil speech Westmont emphasizes a different approach: communicating with passionate civility. Each year since 1996 students have competed in a debate tournament that encourages this attitude. In recent years, the event has also included a speech contest. Bob and Jean Svoboda have generously funded the event over the years and attended the 2007 finals March 1 on campus.

Neil Bezdek ’07 won the debate tourna-ment, defeating Sara Truppo ’08. The topic was, “Limiting constitutional freedoms is a just response to terrorism in the United States.”

Trinity Hokama ’10 presented selections from Job and prevailed over Ian Redford ’09 who recited a passage from John in Scripture Alive: Oral Interpretation of the Bible.

In the Persuasive Speech contest, the judges chose Austin Ward ’10, who spoke on, “We Have Lost Christ in the Midst of our Christianity,” over Avery Drost ’07, who discussed “Confutatio: Why Are We Beating Ourselves?”

Diana Hall ’10 gave a monologue from the movie “Good Will Hunting,” and won the Great Speeches contest. The other finalist, Ross Loofbourrow ’09, interpreted a talk by basketball coach Jim Valvano.