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TCU 360

TCU 360

All TCU. All the time.

TCU 360

Students discuss religious topics in a small group. (Photo courtesy of tcuwesley.org)
Wednesday nights at TCU’s Methodist campus ministry provide religious exploration and fellowship
By Boots Giblin, Staff Writer
Published Mar 27, 2024
Students at the Wesley said they found community on Wednesday nights.

    An exciting season ahead for TCU Forensics

    An+exciting+season+ahead+for+TCU+Forensics+

    The TCU forensics team is preparing to win more debates than ever before this season.

    By making valid points, using poignant hand gestures and their knowledge of current events, members of the forensics team state their case by debating.

    The organization is called “TCU Forensics” because the team does more than just debate. Team members compete in multiple debate formats such as public address, oral interpretation, limited preparation and parliamentary debate.

    TCU forensics is a competitive speech and debate team. The team attends several tournaments throughout the year and hosts debates on campus. The organization is sponsored by the Bob Shieffer College of Communication.

    “Forensics adds not just that public discourse but that critical thinking. Debate, unlike any other activity, takes knowledge from all other areas of study. It takes those multidisciplinary approaches and teaches people to apply knowledge from other subjects to one topic,” Dr. Amorette Hinderaker said, a professor in the communication studies department.

    The 2014-2015 academic year marks the team’s third year in existence at TCU under the direction of Hinderaker. She said the team has grown tremendously since the first year.

    “We have grown both in size and we have grown competitively,” Hinderaker said. “Their knowledge has grown just exponentially. I am looking forward to a great competitive season. That growth and knowledge, I hope, will translate to competitive success.”

    The team is comprised of 19 members. Auditions take place every semester and all TCU students are eligible to audition. The audition process consists of preparing and presenting a short speech in front of the director.

    Kelsey Fahler, a senior strategic communication major and president of the organization, has been on the team for three years and said she is looking forward to a great season.

    “To me, this team is my home on campus. I think the one thing this team has taught me is the importance of paying attention to the world around us,” Fahler said.

    TCU is set to host two tournaments that will be open to the public. The tournaments will be held on campus, Oct. 31- Nov. 2 and Jan. 16-18.

    “People can come together and listen to people debate in that back and forth discourse. That exemplifies what we add to the college. That we give this kind of public view where we get people who can come out and watch intelligent and research and active discourse in exchange of ideas in this open forum,” Hinderaker said.