CSUSB Forensics Team Receives Top Honors

SAN BERNARDINO>> The California State University, San Bernardino Forensics Team brought home top honors from the recent 2017 Western States Communication Association Forensics Tournament in Utah, marking the university's return to this competition in more than 20 years. Students Tejwant Brar and Gabriel Robles earned second place in the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NDPA) Junior Parliamentary competition, which took place at the University of Utah in February. Amy Wassing, director of the Forensics Team and an instructor in communication studies, explained that the Junior Parliamentary category is for novice competitors — undergraduate students who are in their first or second year of participating in intercollegiate competitive debate. Brar and Robles also competed in the impromptu speaking category. Also competing at the WSCA tournament were: Sean Maulding and Oscar Lobos, NPDA Parliamentary (Lobos also competed in the Dramatic Interpretive category); Natalie Gayoso and Josefina Valdivia, NPDA Parliamentary; Joshua Martinez, Impromptu Speaking; Aline Jimenez, Informative Speaking; Karen Moreno, Informative Speaking; Jesy Amaro, Persuasive Speaking; and Ricardo Mendez, Impromptu Speaking. “I am extremely proud of the entire team’s performance this year,” said Wassing. “They are very supportive of each other and work hard to represent CSUSB in a positive light at these competitions. This was the first time in over 20 years that our team has had a presence at WSCA, and I am honored to be the director of such a fantastic and dedicated group of students. I am looking forward to the team’s continued success.” CSUSB students competed against teams from California State University, Long Beach; Casper College (Casper, Wyo.); College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls, Idaho); Colorado State University-Pueblo (Pueblo, Colo.); Northwest College (Powell, Wyo.); San Diego State University; San Jose State University; University of Nevada, Reno; University of Texas at El Paso; University of Utah; University of Wyoming (Laramie, Wyo.); and Western Wyoming Community College (Rock Springs, Wyo.)