UPDATE: TRUMAN FORENSIC UNION SENDS REPESENTATIVES TO BEIJING, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Pictured above (l-r): XiXi Li (formerly of the University of Alaska-Anchorage, and a friend of Truman), Dr. Kevin Minch, Director of Forensics, Christopher Girouard, Mark Buchheit, Prof. Kristopher Stroup, and Dr. Elizabeth Clark, Communication Department Chair, on stage after the conclusion of the 12th FLTRP Cup Final.

Students and faculty from the Truman Forensic Union and the Department of Communication recently returned from Beijing, China, and the 12th Annual FLTRP Cup English Language Debating Competition--China's equivalent of a national debate championship. Students and staff assisted with the tournament while visiting a variety of sites in China.

Dr. Kevin Minch was in his second year serving as a trainer for the Cup, in cooperation with the International Debate Education Association (IDEA). Senior Christopher Girouard (Chesterfield, MO), junior Mark Buchheit (Carthage, MO), Professor and Interim Assistant Director of Forensics, Kristopher Stroup, and Department Chair and former Forensics Director, Dr. Elizabeth Clark, served as Indepdent Adjudicators for the Tournament.

The event took place in the aftermath of the tragic Wenshan earthquake in China's Sichuan Province. Among the over 120 Chinese teams present at the event were several teams who struggled to reach the tournament through earthquake devastated territory.

Truman's involvement in the Cup is a first step toward the development of a broader initiative to involve Truman forensics students in regular international forensics opportunities, including tournaments, conferences, and outreach activites. At least three possible exchange initiatives are under discussion as a result of the event.

For more information on this amazing opportunity, visit the special China section of this website.