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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