2 Debaters Take Top Ratings at Competition

The UT Dallas intercollegiate debate team earned multiple honors at the regional championship tournament in Kansas City last weekend.

Brian Rubaie, junior majoring in criminology, was named the top individual speaker in at the District III qualification tournament. Andrew Baker, a sophomore political science major and Collegium V honors student, was named second speaker in the region.

Rubaie and Baker also received 16 of 17 votes from the coaches of the region for the top seed at the regional championship tournament.  After three intense days of stiff competition, the duo finished the tournament in second place with seven wins, one loss and 18 of 24 possible ballots.  

The performance was the best-ever showing by UT Dallas in district match, despite a weekend that featured not only stiff competition but bitter winter weather as well.

“Brian and Andrew never let the conditions affect their performance. The temperature remained freezing, and it snowed several inches during the tournament,” said Chris Burk, director of debate at UT Dallas.  “The cold and slick conditions caused a few other teams to experience health problems, from laryngitis to back strains. But both Brian and Andrew are natives of Kansas City. They were excited to do well on their ‘home turf’ and really did not mind the cold.”

Baker and Rubaie qualified for the National Debate Tournament with their showing at the regional championship.  It will be the sixth consecutive appearance for the university in the national tournament, the most prestigious collegiate debate tournament in the country.  The tournament is March 27-30 at UT Austin.

The second UT Dallas partnership of Brittany Leach and Collin Roark, both freshmen, finished with two wins, six losses and nine ballots.