Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
    Date: 10/25/99
      Contact:                           Amber Danos 41

SLU DEBATE TEAM RANKS 10TH IN THE NATION
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University's debate team was ranked 10th in the
nation in October by the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) and first in the South
Central Region, which includes all universities in Texas and Louisiana.
     The Southeastern debate team's national ranking placed it above teams at universities
such as Berkley (14th), Northwestern(30th) and Georgetown (32nd).
     According to Scott Elliot, Southeastern's debate team coach, the team's success in its last
three tournaments led to the high national ranking. 
     "The administration's support for the program is really showing results," said  Elliot.
     In recent South Central Region CEDA action, Southeastern's team took he first place
overall debate team trophy at the Louisiana State University Mixon Lycean debate tournament.
     Carl Gauthier of Greenwell Springs and Nathan Foster of Galien, Mich., defeated
Southern Illinois University's team and took first place in the novice (first year debater) team
division. Gauthier also was the first place individual novice speaker and Foster was third in the
same division.
     In the varsity team division, Angel Monistere and Zach Hyden, both of Hammond, took
second place, and Celeste Syetz of Mandeville and Ashley Smith of Hammond took third place.
Moreover, Monistere was the third place individual varsity speaker.
     At a tournament earlier this month at Valdosta State University, Southeastern's debate
Gauthier and Smith placed third in the varsity division while defeating teams from Florida State
University, the University of Tennessee, the University of Florida and Morehouse College.            
Smith also took second place speaker in the varsity division while, Shannon O'Neal of Picayune,
Miss., was the second place speaker in the novice debate.
     At the Sam Houston State University Debate Tournament in Huntsville, Texas,
Southeastern was represented by two teams that advanced to elimination rounds in varsity debate. 
                            (MORE) 
DEBATE TEAM SUCCESS   Add One
     Gauthier and Smith advanced to semifinals by defeating teams from UT-Dallas, Abilene
Christian University, Louisiana State University, UT-San Antonio and Southwest Texas
University.  In addition, Smith took fourth place in the varsity division.
     In a tournament at Huntsville, Ala., the team of  Monistere and Hyden advanced to
quarter finals by defeating teams from the University of Texas, UT-Dallas, Abilene Christian
University and Cameron University.       
                             -SLU-
     This press release is available on the World Wide Web:
       www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsf99.htm