By Whitman McGee
As the Louisiana Tech Debate Team hits the halfway mark of their 2023-24 season, head debate coach and communication instructor Megan Smith reflected on a journey marked by camaraderie, individual successes and a continuous pursuit of excellence.
Smith shared her insights into the team’s dynamics and the unique qualities that make debate a transformative and unparalleled experience. These qualities are represented by a team chock-full of eager competitors, aiming to improve and represent their school with every passing tournament.
“At the beginning of the season what stuck out to me was that I had a team that primarily consisted of men, which is very rare for me,” Smith said.
The demographic has been a bit of a running joke for the debate team, as they entered the season with a roster of all men, which is quite unusual in most debate circles.
“It worked to our advantage in certain ways because of the team comradery that was building between these young men in a competitive nature,” said Smith. “It’s been very interesting to see that dynamic.”
Throughout recent years, various budgetary cuts and limitations have stunted the team’s ability to advertise and travel to certain tournaments. Despite the adversity that the team has faced, debate continues to enthrall the hearts of many on Louisiana Tech’s campus. One of those students is senior biology major Joseph Miller who’s now in his second year with the team. Miller recently took home first place in the entire Novice division at Louisiana Tech’s annual “Hot and Spicy” Tournament.
“I first started debate as an excuse to learn how to argue,” Miller said. “It’s a lot of fun, I love debating people.”
An often-overlooked aspect of debate is how addictive the atmosphere and overall allure of each respective competition can be. This adage can be proven true when accounting for how many graduates and debate alumni often find themselves returning in some fashion.
“The great thing about this type of debate and my team is that I have people who are wanting to and willing to come back,” Smith said. “Even though people graduate I never really lose them.”
There is a competitive aura that is directly attached to the overall essence of debate. It’s hard to understand unless one has attended a tournament, felt the atmosphere and witnessed the processes that make it so extraordinary. Schools from across the nation gather on a near monthly basis with the common goal of bringing recognition to their universities and gaining invaluable experience.
Recent Louisiana Tech graduate, four-year debate veteran and former team captain Nate Goldstein explained his roots and ever-growing love for debate.
“Ater doing my first debate, it was love at first sight, using my brain with other people and working through argumentation, all while trying to be more persuasive than the person beside you. I’ve enjoyed debate for four years and even after graduation, I’m still attending debate tournaments,” said Goldstein.
Debate encompasses working together to learn about and argue on a myriad of potential topics. However, as clique as it may sound, a team is a mirroring reflection of the effort that its coach pours in. With over two decades of experience, Smith possesses the knowledge and tools to properly equip her debaters for success.
“She is one of the most persuasive people I know, and that persuasion rubbed off on me as well,” said Goldstein. “That fire and passion that she has for debate, along with her story of becoming a debater, really built a love for me wanting to be persuasive like her.”
As the team gears up for the back-half of the season and aims to prepare for this year’s national tournament at Mississippi State University, Smith invites those interested in the team to come and “find your voice” by reaching out to her via email, megan@latech.edu.
