Westmont Magazine Speaking with a Civil Tongue

Allison Trowbridge walked away the big winner of the college’s debate contest, part of the annual Tournament of Expressions. The first round started with 128 students in early February and came to an end Feb. 28 with the sophomore from Soquel, Calif., earning $500 as this year’s champion.

The runner-up was senior Jonathan Saur of Mission Viejo, Calif., who won $400. Trowbridge and Saur debated the government’s use of torture to extract information from an alleged terrorist.

The Tournament of Expressions also includes competitions in three categories of speeches. Philip York, a senior from Aurora, Colo., won the Great Speeches category by reciting “Patrick Henry’s Address to the House of 1775.” The victor in the Persuasive Speeches category was Brian Holland, a junior from Portland, Ore., who wrote and delivered “The Clear Picture on Clear Channel.” Greg Wright, a junior from Encinitas, Calif., memorized and presented James 3-5 to prevail in the Scripture Alive category.

The tournament began in 1996 thanks to the generosity of Robert and Jean Svoboda. The goal is to further the study of critical thinking and civility in oral communication. Students received more than $9,000 in prize money.