While many Towson University students worked or spent time with their family and friends over the break, Towson University junior Sergejs Saksonovs defeated opponents from the United States, Canada, Croatia, Germany, the Ukraine, Central Asia and France to win the Minsk Open Debate tournament in Belarus. Saksonovs also distinguished himself and the strength of the Towson University Speech and Debate Program by placing 4th at the Vilnius Open in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Saksonovs is a Towson University International Debate Scholar from Latvia with a 3.98 Grade Point Average. He is a double major in Computer Science and Economics. Saksonovs ?I was incredibly proud to represent Towson University at a contest in my own country,? Saksonovs said.
?Sergejs is an outstanding member of our squad and a prime example of the talented debaters at Towson University,? Darren C. Goins, the Director of the Speech and Debate Program commented. Saksonovs and his partner Sabina Cudic regularly represent Towson in elimination rounds of tournaments in the U.S.. ?The coaching staff and I are extremely proud to see Sergejs take top honors against an international field,? Goins continued.
The Minsk Open and the Vilnius Open are tournaments sponsored by the International Debate Education Association and the National Parliamentary Debate Association. Both organizations join together to create an educational opportunity for students to compete in parliamentary style debate. The students receive the topic for the debate fifteen minutes before the round and prepare arguments that must appear to have been prepared all year long. The contest values strong skills in argumentation, refutation, and cross examination.
Towson University Speech and Debate Team Debate Coach Chris Baron is a newly elected officer in the International Debate Education Association. Baron articulated the significance of Saksonovs? accomplishment. ?Sergejs was able to participate based on a grant he received from the International Debate Education Association. His accomplishments distinguish him as student who wins an automatic all expenses paid bid to the National Parliamentary Debate Assocation national tournament in California later this semester. I am extremely proud of his work at the tournaments.?
Contact Information:
Darren C. Goins
Director of Speech & Debate Program
Mass Communication & Communication Studies
(410) 704-2888
(410) 704-5793 fax
{dgoins@towson.edu}
