Forensic Flowering

Dartmouth debaters, who over the years have maintained a national reputation for excellence, are enjoying one of the best years ever, maybe the best year in the history of tournament debate. Last month, with the season more than half over and the national intercollegiate debate tournament coming up in late March, the Dartmouth Forensic Union had competed in six major tournaments and had won five and finished second in the other.

Up to that point, Dartmouth's top three teams had been in the elimination rounds at every major competition they entered. In a tournament with the nation's top teams, at West Georgia College, Dartmouth swept the first three places, which is believed to be an unprecedented achievement at a major tournament. On the strength of what they have done thus far, Dartmouth's debaters are given a good chance of winning the national title at the Colorado College tournament, March 13 to April 2. If two Dartmouth teams, the maximum, are invited to the nationals, Robin Jacobsohn '83 of Lexington. Mass., and Tom Lyon '83 of Lincoln, Neb., will form one, and Lenny Gail '85 of Morton Grove, III., and Erik Jaffe '86 of New York City will probably form the other. Were a third team permitted, it would consist of Steve Pincus '84 of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Mark Koulogeorge '85 of Northbrook, III.

These team members were a potent group of debaters before they got to Dartmouth. Jacobsohn was twice Massachusetts high school champion, and Lyon won the Nebraska high school title as a senior. Jaffe was the New York state champion last year. Gail twice won the Illinois high school championship, and in senior year finished second in the nation, just behind her Dartmouth classmate Koulogeorge.

A national championship for Dartmouth would be the first since 1967. Two other title years were 1960 and 1963. Dartmouth has qualified for the national tournament 29 out of the 35 times it has been held. It has come close to winning the national title in recent years, finishing third and fifth in 1980, second and ninth in 1981, and third and 17th last year.

Dartmouth's debate success is a tribute to the coaching of Kenneth M. Strange III, co-director of debate and forensics, who was named 1982 Coach of the Year at the Emory College tournament. His charges work as hard as anyone on campus, spending 20 to 30 hours a week on research for upcoming debates. They read everything they can find on their topic, and in some specific areas, according to Coach Strange, they know as much as their professors. About 90 percent of Dartmouth's debaters go on to law school.