2008 Woodie Awards
Forensics Juggernaut rolls on
Helen Cunningham
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On stage, Michael Ledezma is sneering and barking. As Push the bully, Ledezma explains his philosophy for beating up little kids. It isn't pretty, but his audience is rapt.
On Saturday, March 3 Ledezma and the 8 other members of Las Positas' Forensics Team moshed, giggled, and sniffed their way toward Buenos Aires. The team will compete in the International Forensics Association Competition in Argentina later this month, and aside from donations and Saturday' proceeds, every member will pay his own way---about $2,000.
Because of the cost, the honor of participating in the prestigious international competition is a little dubious. "It's like winning a car. Great, but you have to pay $4,000 in taxes to drive it home," said Tim Heisler, one of the team's coaches.
Forensics is the art of public speech. The forensics team, which has been a part of Las Positas since its inception in 1963, travels around the state (and recently, the world, last year they competed in Prague) debating and interpreting. On March 3, 9 students performed 8 dramatic narratives ranging from Push's diatribe to a conversation between a man in a coma and his would-be girlfriend.
The Forensics Team's upcoming trip is part of a trend among Las Positas' performing groups. Though the college has tried to keep up with the funding a traveling group demands, students and their families have been left with most of the cost. When the choir went to Italy all forty students ponied up $3,000 to get themselves there.
"We support these groups, but not as much as we should," said Phillip Manwell, Dean of Arts and Communications.
The Forensics team has had some support. The LPC Foundation donated $3,000 toward to cause, but split among 7 students and 3 coaches, it's a drop in the bucket.
Though "Take Argentina" will primarily help the team get to Buenos Aires, it proved the participants' acting ability. Dressed in black, with no props or costumes, the team had to convey grief, giddiness, flirtation, and disdain using only their voices and body language. It worked.
Jason Irwin had the entire audience laughing as he described his character's sex life. A second later, when the audience learned the character has a son and late child support payments, the change in atmosphere was immediate. Everyone went silent.
"The narratives teach emotive skills and stage presence," said Heisler. Members of the team can use these skills in law, public relations and education. Mostly, the act of speaking and competing in Forensics teaches courage, which the team might need in March. At the competition, they'll stand up in front of the world.
On Saturday, March 3 Ledezma and the 8 other members of Las Positas' Forensics Team moshed, giggled, and sniffed their way toward Buenos Aires. The team will compete in the International Forensics Association Competition in Argentina later this month, and aside from donations and Saturday' proceeds, every member will pay his own way---about $2,000.
Because of the cost, the honor of participating in the prestigious international competition is a little dubious. "It's like winning a car. Great, but you have to pay $4,000 in taxes to drive it home," said Tim Heisler, one of the team's coaches.
Forensics is the art of public speech. The forensics team, which has been a part of Las Positas since its inception in 1963, travels around the state (and recently, the world, last year they competed in Prague) debating and interpreting. On March 3, 9 students performed 8 dramatic narratives ranging from Push's diatribe to a conversation between a man in a coma and his would-be girlfriend.
The Forensics Team's upcoming trip is part of a trend among Las Positas' performing groups. Though the college has tried to keep up with the funding a traveling group demands, students and their families have been left with most of the cost. When the choir went to Italy all forty students ponied up $3,000 to get themselves there.
"We support these groups, but not as much as we should," said Phillip Manwell, Dean of Arts and Communications.
The Forensics team has had some support. The LPC Foundation donated $3,000 toward to cause, but split among 7 students and 3 coaches, it's a drop in the bucket.
Though "Take Argentina" will primarily help the team get to Buenos Aires, it proved the participants' acting ability. Dressed in black, with no props or costumes, the team had to convey grief, giddiness, flirtation, and disdain using only their voices and body language. It worked.
Jason Irwin had the entire audience laughing as he described his character's sex life. A second later, when the audience learned the character has a son and late child support payments, the change in atmosphere was immediate. Everyone went silent.
"The narratives teach emotive skills and stage presence," said Heisler. Members of the team can use these skills in law, public relations and education. Mostly, the act of speaking and competing in Forensics teaches courage, which the team might need in March. At the competition, they'll stand up in front of the world.
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