NIU students and those from neighboring colleges will take part in a tournament this weekend debating important issues in U.S. foreign policy.

Any student from NIU can join the forensics team and have the opportunity to debate in the tournament, said John Butler, director of forensics and head coach of the forensics program.

“Since we are funded by the Student Association, only students can participate, but it depends on each school’s rules as to who can participate from other colleges,” he said.

The tournament will host students from Wayne State, Wheaton College, Judson College, Western Illinois University, Loyola University, Marquette University, the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh, Augustana University and the University of Michigan at Dearborn.

“The topic to be debated is chosen from seven different topics, all that can be simplified to a debate between U.S. unilateral foreign policy versus multilateral foreign policy,” Butler said. “Since there are equal rounds on opposite sides, a lot of people are forced to argue things that they don’t agree with.”

Student debaters are looking forward to the tournament as a learning experience.

“I think there will be more to learn from this resolution than in past years because there are seven topics instead of five,” said Amy Lehuta, a sophomore community health major and second-year debater.

Other debaters agree the addition of topics will add more variety.

“It will be interesting because you never know what you’re going to get coming into a round,” said sophomore history major Kat Oefelein, who is a second-year debater.

The tournament will run through Sunday.