Strong arguments that “continued United States covert involvement in Central America would be undesirable” brought victory to NIU’s debate team during a recent weekend of competition.

The thrust of the competition, hosted by the University of Wisconsin at OshKosh, focused on contras issues, Varsity Speaker Mark Byrd said.

Byrd said other arguments were posed on how the covert operations are not democratic, how the Soviets are spreading communism throughout the world and how the United States must take action, which would be necessary for national security.

More than 65 teams from schools such as Marist in New York, Southeast Missouri State University, Wheaton College, the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse, the University of Illinois and the University of Minnesota competed, Byrd said.

Team members Caroline Kennedy and Chris Taylor captured first place in the junior varsity division, while Ken Hanson and Lisa Kleinberg finished in the novice division octa-finals, Byrd said.

The octa-finals are comprised of the best teams in the tournament which “boil down” to the champions, Byrd said. He said 32 of the 65 teams broke down into the novice, and Hanson and Kleinberg came out of the finals with a 5-1 record.

Other individual awards went to Byrd (for a second place in varsity speaking), Taylor (third place in JV speaking and another award went to Kennedy (fourth place in JV speaking).

“This tournament was indicative of the teams’ successes this semester,” said NIU Director of Debate Jack Parker.

NIU’s awards from this semester’s five competitions include a victory over the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, a second place varsity team finish for Kennedy and Taylor, and a third place varsity team finish for Cindy Bugden and Mark Elkins. The team also triumphed over Loyola University, where Byrd and Moore took first place for a varsity team, Byrd said.