Section A·Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, February 23, 1999
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Regional debate tournament dedicated to Whitman coach
Participants inspired by cancer struggle
Sean Harris speaks for Becky Galentine, Dann W. Parson Young Educator Award recipient. Galentine is a debate coach and who is fighting breast cancer. Harris and Adam Symonds, middle, students of Galentine at Whitman University, accepted the award on her behalf from assistant debate coach Valerie Renegar, right.
Photo by Ruben Nagura (KANSAN)
By Ezra Sykes Kansan staff writer
Arguments and rebuttals resounded throughout Wescoe Hall, but debaters from across the country had a different kind of battle on their minds — a topic they could all agree upon.
Becky Galentine's fight against breast cancer and promotion of breast cancer awareness were the themes of the 42nd annual Donn W. Parson Heart of America debate tournament this weekend.
Galentine, a debate coach at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 at the age of 25.
Although Galentine was unable to attend the tournament because of her illness, she was given the Donn W. Parson Young Educator Award at the awards ceremony yesterday morning.
Adam Symonds, a debater from Whitman College, has known Galentine for the past three years and read the first half of an acceptance speech that she had prepared.
After a period of remission in 1996, the cancer returned a year later, and she had to undergo high-dose chemotherapy.
"It is a big impact on me to see someone in the prime of life and have breast cancer," said Symonds before the ceremony. "Most think of women with breast cancer as 40 or 50. I looked at the disease and how I valued my life. It has that effect on others who meet Becky."
Also at the ceremony, a clip of the film 2 Chicks, 2 Bikes, 1 Cause was shown that contained a segment of Galentine undergoing a bone scan and treatment for cancer.
Symonds, who shaved his head to signify his support for Galentine (hair loss is a side effect of chemotherapy), said that her
courage and strength in her battle with cancer was inspiring.
"She's one of those people that you have to notice," he said. "Her presence is very large."
Galentine said in a phone interview that her students had been supportive in several ways.
"Certain individuals have been here to spend the day with me when I'm at my sickest. They made time to logistically help out. One even came to the doctor with me.
"But more importantly, teaching and learning with them and being needed by them and watching them blossom as debaters has kept me alive. They are the best drug on the market I've ever found."
Sean Harris, debate coach for the University of Puget Sound, held back tears as he read the second half of Galentine's acceptance speech, in which she said that debate had offered her a shield from cancer.
A five-page handout was distributed at the tournament in which Galentine described her cancer experiences, methods of detection and a diagram of how to do a breast self-examination.
"You know that debate is pretty much how I keep fighting this disease," she wrote in the handout.
After the ceremony, Harris said that he had spoken to Galentine Sunday night and that she sounded pretty well.
"She was amazingly appreciative of everything KU had done to raise awareness," said Harris, who was once coached by Galentine at Whitman College.
But breast cancer wasn't all that was on her mind.
"She was concerned about how her team was doing," said Harris, with a grin on his face. "She's still very much a coach. Nothing will ever change that."
Galentine said when she received an e-mail telling her that the tournament would be dedicated to breast cancer awareness, she began to cry.
"I'm still at a loss for words," she said.
Although she said her cancer would probably not go into remission again, Galentine said she felt better now than she had in the past two years.
"I feel too damn good to be dying," she said.
—Edited by Juan H. Heath
Congratulations January Kansan Ad Staff Award Winners
From left to right:
Rob Hays Retail Rep
Heather Williams Account Assistant
Mike Gianfrancesco Online Rep
Jennifer Biehler Retail Rep
Thad Crane Campus Rep
Below left to right: Ryan "Rocko" Riggin Regional Rep Ashley "Foxy Doe" Williamson Creative Chris "Bam-Bam" Corley Manager Justin "The Hatman" Allen Zone Man