There is no cost to attend, and the FREE tickets for this event can be reserved in advance (see http://enthompson.unl.edu/ticket.shtml for more information). In most cases, free tickets are also available at the door on the evening of the event, but reserving tickets in advance ensures you a seat.
“Are Social Media a Threat to Human Creativity?”
British National Debate Team vs. UNL Speech & Debate Team
November 17, 2014 - 7 p.m.
SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES AND THE CENTER FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
PRE-TALK: 6:30 P.M., STEINHART ROOM, LIED CENTER BY CARLY WOODS, UNL PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION STUDIES
Since 1922, the National Communication Association has sponsored international student exchange tours for the purpose of promoting debate, discussion, and intercultural communication. Renowned for their wit, humor, and eloquence, members of the United Kingdom’s English-Speaking Union tour the United States each year, debating the best and the brightest at our institutions of higher learning. The list of tour alumni include a British Prime Minister, a Leader of the Opposition, an Archbishop of Canterbury, and many senior politicians, journalists, and businesspeople. It promises to be educational and entertaining for those interested in communication, civic engagement, international relations, and global politics. The event will be moderated by Aaron Duncan, UNL Director of Speech & Debate.
British Debaters
Kate Brooks is a postgraduate student reading for the DPhil in International Relations at the University of Oxford. In her work she examines the historical evolution of conceptions of territory in international theory and practice. She also works as a Consultant Researcher for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Kate is head of competitive debating at the Oxford Union and a successful competitive debater having won of the Oxford Women's Open 2013 and the Moscow Open 2012, and having been in the finals of Glasgow Ancients 2014, Glasgow Women's 2014, KCL IV 2013 and the Aber Open 2014. She will be representing Oxford at the European Universities Debating Championships 2014 in Zagreb.
Alice Coombes Huntley recently graduated from the University of Bristol with a first-class degree in English Literature. She is hoping to continue her education and study for a Master’s degree in Victorian literature in 2015. Alice has been involved with the English-Speaking Union since she was a teenager, first as a member of the England World Schools Team and now as a mentor and England Team Committee member. As a debater she has won 3 national competitions, reached the finals of countless others and has ‘broken’ at the World Schools, World Universities and European Universities Championships; her team was ranked 4th best in Europe in 2013.
UNL Debaters
Adam Blood is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he is also a coach for the UNL debate team. A native of Joplin, Missouri, he was previously a debate coach and public speaking instructor at the University of Central Missouri, where he received a B.A. in Accounting and a M.A. in Mass Communication. In addition to his debating and coaching experience, Adam was the commencement speaker for UCM’s 2014 spring graduation ceremony.
Jonathan Carter is a doctoral student in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he also serves as an assistant coach for the UNL speech team. Originally from Denver, he earned a bachelor of science in Communication and History at Northwestern University and M.S. in Communication at Illinois State University. Currently in his 10th year coaching speech and debate, Jon has coached multiple national championship teams and individuals.