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P10
December 2013
On paper, the subject sounded interesting. But Richardson’s delivery
was gripping, bringing to life the biographical piece about a woman who
witnessed her family murdered in the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The student’s
voice shifted between characterizations of victims and killers, demanding
attention as it boomed to the corners of the room.
Richardson, 21, a Grand Canyon University senior, went on later that week
to take first place in the open prose event at a collegiate speech and debate
competition in San Diego. The October tournament marked the first of
several in this inaugural year for the GCU speech and debate team. Sponsored
by the College of Arts and Sciences, the team is composed of 12 students who
earned $2,000 scholarships to compete on behalf of the University.
“I feel so connected to it,” said Richardson about her Rwandan piece, which
focuses on the restorative nature of forgiving war crimes.
“I love being a storyteller … that’s my passion,” she said. “It’s not only an
opportunity to tell a story, but it has a message behind it that everyone can
relate to because it’s a story of forgiveness and hurt.”
Richardson excelled in speech and theatre at Central High School in urban
Phoenix. She elected to major in communications at GCU. She also volunteers
in community programs, plays the saxophone, performs in a local black theatre
troupe, and is actively involved in the small Phoenix church where her father
serves as a deacon.
Her friends sometimes wonder why she’s so passionate about advocating for
minority rights through her speech and debate club. She tells them “it’s like
competitive theatre without the stage.”
A
bout a week before her team’s first-ever competition,
Jasmine Richardson
strolled confidently
to the front of a classroom to practice a speech.
This year, the College of Arts and Sciences hired
Barry Regan
, a
communications instructor with a background in coaching public speaking, to
manage the new team. Regan drills students on the foundational principles
of everything from extemporaneous and impromptu speaking to more
traditional, parliamentary-style debate strategy. Students are required to
read and discuss current events through sources such as The Economist and
BBC News to prepare thoughtful, comprehensive arguments.
Regan said he and his students, whose majors range from business to Christian
studies, welcome the idea of competing in national tournaments against larger
public universities. He said the experience gives them “more confidence to
speak publicly in any situation,” which is transferable to just about any profession.
The team includes
Javohir “C.J.” Sodikov
, a senior who transferred from an
international university in his native Uzbekistan. While Richardson and several
other students specialize in the speech side, Sodikov is one of those who
focuses on debate.
Sodikov, 22, said debate competitions require that students use the most
effective arrangement of words to make points. In today’s world, that is a lost
art, he said.
“Actions are important. But to get the action going, you need to be able to
express yourself,” said Sodikov, who grew up Muslim, is fluent in Russian and
majors in accounting.
“It’s a lot of pressure, a lot of responsibility,” Sodikov said. “But since it’s our
first time going to other states for competitions … we’re excited how it’s
going to be.”
■
– by Michael Ferraresi
C.J. Sodikov, a senior debater from Uzbekistan,
grew up Muslim and is fluent in Russian.
Photos by Darryl Webb
Jasmine Richardson, a senior from central Phoenix,
says storytelling is her passion.
TALKING POINTS
World views come into play on new speech and debate team