Normal, Ill. – It’s the start of fall semester and the Redbirds are back on campus! The Illinois State Forensics Union is gearing up for their first series of in-person, fall competitions since 2019, welcoming a new crop of students and electing the 2022-23 Executive Board.
After two seasons entirely online, only the seniors remember a non-virtual competition circuit.
“Now, you have to…get used to that vocal feedback of laughter, snaps, etc. instead of… an online tournament (where) you’re just hoping people are enjoying it and laughing…while their mics and cameras are off.”
Michelle Ryan (Sophomore, Chicago Heights)
“I am so excited! I haven’t had the opportunity to frequently travel for competitions since my freshman year and I remember getting so close with my teammates during those long drives and weekends where we competed with and supported each other,” said senior Raechel Zoellick (Elk Grove Village).
“Now, you have to start doing your speech in front of large audiences and get used to that vocal feedback of laughter, snaps, etc. instead of… an online tournament (where) you’re just hoping people are enjoying it and laughing or snapping etc while their mics and cameras are off. It is a whole different ballpark and I am so excited for it!” said sophomore Michelle Ryan (Chicago Heights).
This fall, the Redbirds will take flight with trips planned for the Midwest and West Coast, and will host the Back to the Nest speech and Redbird debate tournaments in October and November respectively.
“I am most looking forward to the Lewis & Clark Tournament (Oregon) in October because it would mark the second time at the collegiate level that I attend an in-person debate tournament and the first-time I travel out of state for a tournament,” said sophomore Brayden Bobowski (Des Plaines).
Online tournaments will remain part of the Redbirds’ competition season. Speech will debut with an online Mid-America Forensics League competition before competing at University of Northern Iowa on September 24. Debate will kick off their season with online competitions hosted by Washburn University and Western Kentucky University before their first in-person competition at Lewis and Clark on October 8.
In addition to preparing for tournaments, the team has ushered in a new era of leadership by electing a new Executive Board and event chairs:
- President: Sarah Keller
- Vice President: Sarah Sanders
- Secretary: Alyssa Conde
- Treasurers: Terrence Mayfield and Jedge Slothower
- Historians: Faith Hincapie and Henry Davenport
- Social Chairs: Michelle Ryan and Raechel Zoellick
- Public Relations: Emmalynne Shumard
- Alumni Outreach: Doniven Hill-Bush
- Lincoln Douglas Chair: Brayden Bobowski
- After Dinner Speaking Chair: Jedge Slothower
- Dramatic Interpretation Chair: Sarah Keller
- Communication Analysis Chair: Michelle Ryan
- Poetry Chair: Terrence Mayfield and Michelle Ryan
- Extemporaneous Chair: Sarah Sanders and Henry Davenport
- Impromptu Chair: Doniven Hill-Bush and Jedge Slothower
- Program Oral Interpretation Chair: Raechel Zoellick
- Informative Chair: Sarah Keller
- Prose Chair: Raechel Zoellick and Faith Hincapie
- Persuasion Chair: Sarah Sanders and Emmalynne Shumard
The team is also enjoying the community atmosphere and working together to prepare for the long season ahead.
“It’s been amazing to find such a welcoming and fun group here on campus,” said junior debater Conner Rada (Lakemoor).
“I love this team so genuinely. We all get along so well and I wouldn’t want to go into my senior year with a different group of students and coaches,” said senior Sarah Keller (Geneva).
The ISU Forensics Union, the oldest and most successful registered student organization on campus, boasts over 80 individual national champions and 10 team national championships. The team competes at tournaments in Lincoln-Douglas debate, public speaking, and oral interpretation events.
For more information about the Forensics Union, please contact forensics@ilstu.edu.