Four NIU students stood composed and confident, speaking eloquently for 10 minutes before a crowded room at DuSable Hall Wednesday night.

The students will compete in the American Forensics Association national tournament at the University of Mississippi this weekend.

Organized by the NIU Forensics, the Annual Nationals Showcase gave the speakers a chance to perfect the speeches they will give this weekend.

“This is to prep them so they can feel more confident,” said Tracey Kelley, secretary of Forensics.

Nicole Correno, a junior English education major, spoke first in the prose interpretation category.

While reading from the short story “Ashes to Alvin” by Anne Lemont, Correno added a little bit of acting and brought the piece to life.

The second speaker was Dipal Trivedi, a junior communication major.

Trivedi’s category was communication analysis. She used William Benoit’s theory of “acclaiming, attacking and defending” to analyze the telecom wars between SBC and its competitors.

Trivedi described the advertising campaign of SBC and its rivals AT&T and MCI, using a display board and an easel.

She demonstrated how advertising campaigns have shifted from building a positive image of the company to slaughtering the competition, and questioned the effectiveness of negative advertising.

Impromptu speaking was the third category.

Heather Short, a junior speech language pathology major, used media examples used media examples such as “Saved By the Bell,” “Scarlet Pimpernel” and “Life as a House,” to make her point that we should lead a full life because we are surrounded by new opportunities.

The final speaker, Jim Yeager, president of NIU Forensics, has been Illinois State Champion for persuasive speaking.

Yeager discussed the Patriot Act signed by President Bush in October 2001, following the Sept. 11 attacks.

He raised the issue of compromising our freedom for temporary safety and questioned the effectiveness of the act.