Welcome to the Official Blog of the Ohio University Forensics Speech and Debate Team!!!

Pictures from Nationals 2008!

Friday, October 31, 2008

Brooke Betit

If you had never met Brooke Betit before, you might wonder why she would be talking to a wall. For the freshman broadcast major from Ashland, OH, this is a normal rehearsal activity when she is preparing for a speech.

Brooke joined OU’s Speech and Debate team this year, has participated in numerous tournaments and has already won an award for Top Novice in Persuasion and Communication Analysis at the Berea University Tournament.
Her favorite type of speech is persuasion because, “you learn about a problem and what is causing it and then you learn how you can fix it. So I feel like I am accomplishing something by bringing awareness to a problem.”

Her favorite part about college is experiencing new things every day and having the option to explore something more in depth if it is something that interests her. In her spare time, Brooke enjoys hanging out at Perk’s and her favorite food is gyros.

Grace Brikmanis

Grace Brikmanis arrived at OU this past fall and wasted no time getting involved. The freshman from Oak Harbor, OH listened to Coach Dan West talk to her and other journalism majors about the forensics team and she knew it was for her. She has already competed in two tournaments this year, her favorite being the Wiki tournament.

When asked what her favorite part about public speaking is, Grace says,”I just like to learn. It allows me to research whatever and tell other people about it. I love when a judge seems really into your topic.” Although this is Grace’s first year involved in speech and debate, she says she only gets a little nervous before a speech. “I’ll just run the first few lines in my head before I'm up,” she says. And Grace won’t be found giving a speech without her Latvian necklace, which she says reminds her of her family and how proud they are of her that she is involved in an academic group.

Along with the Forensics team, Grace is involved at the Aquatic Center, where she teaches kids’ swim lessons. “I love kids and it just gives me a bit of my week where I just get to play around,” she says. Grace’s nickname is Gracelynn and her favorite food is veggie burgers.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Ronnie Talbott

In many ways, Ronnie Talbott’s life has come together through his speaking abilities. Not only has he met his wife, Michelle, through forensics, but he has also had a memorable career thanks to his communication abilities and acting skills.

Involved with forensics since 1994, Ronnie has returned to the sport as a competitor once again. As an education major, returning to Ohio University has allowed him another opportunity to showcase his speaking skills.

“My favorite thing about Ohio University is the chance to compete in forensics again,” he admits.

In addition to being a competition participant, Ronnie is also a coach. He is assistant coach to Michelle’s Advanced Communication/Forensics classes at Parkersburg South High School.

The West Virginia native boasts a colorful career in theater as a professional actor. Ronnie worked on the films Burning Annie, Maneater, and Spiderman 3 in addition to starring in a CMT music video for Carolyn Richards. He has been selected for the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca, N. Y., and is a member of The Parkersburg Actor’s Guild.
-Krista Bradley

Friday, October 17, 2008

Bailey Tarleton


Whether in her debates or her involvement with organizations, Bailey Tarleton is making a name for herself around the Athens campus.

After learning her acceptance to Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism last year, it was a natural step for the public relations major to pursue her interest in the university’s debate team. Describing her initial meeting with Coach Dan West, her acceptance onto the team was “a done deal.”

Besides the team, Bailey is also involved with journalism organizations like Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), where she writes for PRsuccess, and Impressions, where she works on the Backdrop magazine account.

Getting involved has been especially exciting for Bailey because she is from New Martinsville, West Virginia, a small town in the Ohio River Valley. Loving her new surroundings, Bailey has been taking advantage of all that Athens has to offer.
“It’s so easy to get involved with journalism clubs here and just to get involved in general, especially as a freshman,” she said.

“My favorite thing about Ohio University is the close bond I feel here with my faculty and friends. I think it’s so cool how Ohio University has 20,000 students, but there are class sizes with as few as 20 people.”

When this busy debater has free time, she enjoys dancing, reading, listening to music and attending concerts. In the future, she looks forward to traveling with PRSSA or attending a journalism conference.
-Krista Bradley