Larry McNamara ’73, senior counsel in Labor and Employment for Tesoro Companies Inc., calls litigation “a higher stakes debate tournament.” McNamara believes the debate program at IC, coupled with the College’s rigorous academic standards, helped him develop the skills to thrive in law school and his career.

“Debate requires the efficient construction and explication of facts in an argument that is, hopefully, persuasive and intelligible; such must be accomplished in a very short amount of time as one must stand and deliver a rebuttal without much, if any, time for reflection,” said McNamara.

Assistant professor of communication and rhetorical studies and director of debate, Nick Sciullo, is continuing the tradition of strong debate at IC. The Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) honored the Illinois College Debate Team with the prestigious Garrison Newcomer Award last year and Sciullo led this year’s team to a top five listings in ADA Novice rnakings, top 30 in CEDA, and top 30 in NDT. Sciullo said that many students involved in debate do go on to practice law in some capacity.

Current debater Erin Hodgson ’17 is among those students; she was undecided on what field she would pursue after graduation until joining the debate team the summer before her senior year.

“Debate has sparked a passion in me for social justice and for equality and inclusiveness. That is why I am pursuing law, to represent those marginalized persons and fight for them. Practicing any type of law, the fast-paced, critical- thinking, demanding nature of debate would prepare you,” said Hodgson, who will attend SIU School of Law on a full tuition scholarship this fall.

Another member of the current debate team, James Hills ’18, will intern at Rammelkamp Bradney P.C. in Jacksonville next year. Two of the firm’s named partners are late IC alumni Ted Rammelkamp ’40 and Bob Bradney ’47. Hills said that he feels well prepared for a future in law, having gained many useful skills through debate that will be an asset as he heads to law school, including the ability to research and speak effectively in public.