2A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NEWS
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 7. 2005
Andrew Jennings and Matt Cormack
Andrew Seimhack and Matt Seimhack Andrew Jennings, Silver Lake sophomore, and Matt Cormack, Lincoln, Neb., senior, are partners on the University of Kansas debate squad.
What is your past debate experience?
Jennings: I debated in high school at Silver Lake, and this is my second year debating at KU.
Cormack: I debated three years in high school at Lincoln Southeast.
What made you decide to continue debating in college?
Jennings. The coaches and debaters at KU. They were a big influence, and I enjoy debate in general, so it was a fairly easy decision.
Cormack: A major reason I continued to debate in college was meeting Scott Harris, KU debate coach, while attending a debate camp at the University of Michigan before my senior year of high school. Working with him was an exciting experience that got me very interested in debate and working with him in particular.
What is it like to be a part of the No. 1-ranked
squad in the nation?
Jennings: It's tight. Everyone on the team does a lot of work, so winning rounds becomes easier. Also, a lot of the debaters are and have been some of my closest friends for a while, so it's fun to be around them so much.
Cormack: It is a great honor to be on the No. 1-ranked squad in the nation. It is representative of the hard work that the entire squad has put in during the year. I am particularly proud of the KU team because none of the debaters attended prestigious high schools that competed on the national high school debate circuit. The success of this year's team really highlights the amount of hard work and talent of the debaters and the great coaches we have.
What are some of your favorite things about debate?
League school in an intellectual game. It shows that an ACT score isn't the be-all-end-all of being smart.
Jennings: Winning in a competitive atmosphere. It's really pretty cool when you beat someone at an Ivy
Cormack: My favorite part about debate is the strategizing that takes place before and during tournaments. KU is successful because many times we are able to outsmart other schools, even schools like Dartmouth or Harvard. I also enjoy the sense of teamwork and pride created as a member of the KU debate team. We have hosted several alumni reunions, and meeting old debaters and sharing stories has been a great experience.
Jennings: We've been to the University of Northern Iowa, Georgia State, Kentucky, Harvard and Wake Forest.
Where are some interesting places you've been while debating at KU?
Cormack: Harvard University, Boston; Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Catholic University, Washington, D.C.; University of Southern California, Los Angeles; San Francisco State University, San
Francisco; Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
Jennings: Become a lobbyist or go to law school.
Cormack: Debate skills are already helpful in classes by giving valuable research and logic skills. Regardless of my future plans, debate is a very important learning experience. I plan on working at a law firm in Washington, D.C., next year, which will no doubt require many of the skills I have learned.
What do you plan to do with the skills that you have acquired from debate in the future?
What is your favorite KU tradition?
Jennings: Winning. Hopefully we can get back to the Final Four this year, both in basketball and debate.
Cormack: The interaction of alumni and current students is a great tradition that highlights the importance of KU debate.
New chorus a hit with young, old
ARTS
Edited by Becca Evanhoe
BY LOUIS MORA
lmora@kansan.com
IKANSAN STAFF WRITER
The piano begins to play a slow melody and 28 voices can be heard coming from the Murphy Hall practice room on Thursday evenings.
The voices are not from college students, but from children grades fourth to seventh who make up the new KU Youth Chorus. The group, organized by the music education and music therapy department, allows students to gain experience working with children and the children the opportunity to expand their musical skills.
"It lets us learn different songs better," said 12-year-old Yami Simpson-Banda, who's in the group. "I think it's fun."
Courtney Williams, Lawrence senior, is a student conductor. She said up until this semester she didn't have an experience working with children. Now, she starts the rehearsals by leading warm-ups and explaining different musical concepts to the children.
She said as she prepared to graduate next semester, the opportunity to work with children would better prepare her for teaching children after graduation.
"We actually never get to get in there in the trenches and work with the kids," she said. "This is really putting me a step forward from where I would be."
Debra Hedden, associate professor of music education and
music therapy and director of the KU Youth Chorus, created the program to help graduate and undergraduate students gain rehearsal experience with children.
The group meets on Thursday nights and has rehearsals until its final performance in early May, she said.
She said two students helped her now but next semester she would require undergraduate students to work with the chorus. She said this would allow students to find out what methods worked with children and which ones didn't when teaching music.
She has tried to get the word out to childrens' parents by sending information to different elementary and junior high schools across Lawrence and Topeka. She said unlike other youth musical groups, this one does not require an audition or extensive musical knowledge.
Hedden said while the choir had already started rehearsals she continued to look for more children to participate. She said she could add 52 to 57 more students.
"We are accessible to all children in the area," she said.
Williams said the experience had been great as parents and students asked her questions. She said it made her feel like a teacher.
"Knowing they are there having a lot of fun and they are helping me learn and I'm helping them learn," she said. "It's very gratifying."
Edited by Kellis Robinett
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