Everyone is passionate about something, whether it’s music, sports, or their jobs. This week’s campus celebrity talked to me about her passion — and that passion is debate. Debate teaches many beneficial skills for its members such as public speaking and researching skills. Networking opportunities for graduate school or future professions are also some perks for being involved with debate.
Starting off her debate career at Shawnee Mission West High School, senior and political science major Melanie Campbell currently debates for the University of Kansas. KU’s debate team has had more teams compete in the National Debate Tournament than any other university (Bet you didn’t know that!). A debate tournament in 2012 left Campbell and then partner, Amanda Gress, third place out of 55 teams. Melanie was named top speaker, ranking her first place as an individual debater.
Earlier this month, a competition at The University of Missouri-Kansas City put Campbell and her new partner, Chris Birzer, second place out of a pool of 100+ teams. Northwestern University, Harvard, Kansas State, and Gonzaga were just a few of the schools they were up against. This year, Melanie was ranked third place as an individual speaker, “Receiving first place (third place, or any speaker award) is an awesome recognition of the time and work I spent preparing for the tournament. It is an indicator that judges recognize my talent, and that all the time and work I put into debate pays off,” said Campbell.
Melanie puts an average of 25-30 hours a week into research preparing for tournaments, which is not uncommon with competitive debate teams. Aside from her research, she also coaches high school debate, her past two schools being Shawnee Mission West and Blue Valley North, and currently New Trier Township High School, which is located in the suburbs of Chicago. During the summer, she teaches at the Jayhawk Debate Institute, a three week session where high school students come to learn about debate. She also worked at the Women’s Debate Institute, an institute “dedicated to creating an environment that fosters community, leadership and college attendance among high school women.”
With this being Melanie’s fourth year on KU’s team, there are many lessons she has taken away from her time as a debater and she will only be continuing to acquire more. There is no off-season for Campbell, but she doesn’t see this as an issue. “Debate is invaluable, and the research skills I’ve learned, friendships I’ve created, and future opportunities I’ve made for myself are more than worth it,” said Campbell.