The Journal

Issue date: 3/29/07 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Audrey Burke The Forensics and Debate Team hosts a trivia night March 24 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge.

Not many people over the age of eight would know the directions to Never-Never Land. In addition, not many people could figure out the minimum age to be president (35), multiplied by the number of years in a U.S. Senate term (6), divided by the number of constitutionally recognized branches of government (3), plus the street address of the White House (1600) equals 1670.

However, 63 people tested their knowledge on the questions posed above and categories such as movies, superheroes, mascots and history at a March 24 trivia night in the University Center Sunnen Lounge. The event, sponsored by the Forensics and Debate Team, had 10 rounds with 10 questions per round - including a round of soda taste testing. About 10 students attended the event.


Scott Jensen, a Forensics and Debate Team coach, began to explain the game rules in the midst of several discussions taking place at the 10 tables throughout the room. He noted jokingly the Forensics and Debate Team has nothing to do with dead bodies. The team applies forensics in the format of speech and debate.


As Scott Jensen read questions, teams at each table wrote their answers on carbon paper. After the round ended participants at each table guessed the number of answers they got correct (in case of a end-game tiebreaker) and submitted the top portion of their sheets for grading. Each table was allowed to purchase three mulligans or free guesses. Tables referenced the carbon copy of their responses and as Scott Jensen read off the answers participants cheered, threw their fists in the air and gave each other high fives.


Let the games begin

Nancy Higgins, a special events coordinator for the university, judged a tournament the Forensics and Debate Team competed in and came to the event to support the team.


"We're gonna see how smart we are in the first round," Higgins said.


Higgins' table of friends, table seven, didn't buy any mulligans until round two.


Table eight was filled to capacity with eight players who challenged the judges on several questions throughout the night. The team repeatedly went to the scoring table to ask for clarifications or to tell the judges something was incorrect.

Continued...

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