When NIU Forensics found out the Illinois Congressional Debate Association didn’t have a place to hold its state championship forensics tournament this weekend, the group seized the opportunity to host the event for high school students.

Nicole Carreno, president of NIU Forensics, said hosting the event is a way to expand the organization.

“We always try to have an outstanding connection with the community and other universities as well as the high school circuit,” Carreno said. “The tournament consists of hundreds of students who care about events that are occurring rather than choosing to stay apathetic.”

John Butler, director of NIU Forensics, said it is important to host a tournament like this because he thinks strong high school forensics programs strengthen the activity at the college level.

“We are also aware that many of these Illinois high school students plan to attend college and are looking for a university that has a strong forensics program,” Butler said. “Northern has a very strong program”

The tournament, which begins today, will be held in almost all the rooms of the Holmes Student Center through Saturday.

Carreno said she encourages the community to watch the debates.

“The debates are a wonderful resource for current events, and we feel that having the support of the community is extremely important to the success of the students,” Carreno said. “While the tournament is a wonderful place for recruitment, we do not feel that recruitment is our [top] priority. Our goal is to provide a comfortable and professional environment for the students. After all, the students at this tournament are some of the brightest individuals in the nation.”

Although NIU will not be debating, some NIU Forensics members will judge the debates.

“NIU Forensics is a co-curricular, interdisciplinary organization that trains students in the arts of advocacy and oral expression,” Butler said. “The activity prepares students to research, write and present material, as well as to defend arguments that are challenged.”

To prepare for the event, Butler said the forensics team has raised money, gathered resource materials from university units and set up accommodations for the high school students.

Although this is not a typical activity for NIU Forensics, Butler said the organization is doing this as an added effort to support the high school organization.