Recognition for BGSU Pi Kappa Delta at 75

In the 75 years since BGSU’s chapter of Pi Kappa Delta was chartered in 1930, it has made significant contributions to the aims and objectives of the nation’s foremost forensic honorary, especially across the Midwest. The chapter serves as a support organization for the award-winning BGSU Falcon Forensics, Speech and Debate Team.

It is in recognition of these accomplishments that the National Council of Pi Kappa Delta recently sent a congratulatory message to the BGSU chapter. “We [the National Council] appreciate the example of Bowling Green State University,” wrote Thomas M. Huebner, who is in charge of Charter and Standards for the organization.

The chapter will be recognized at the organization’s National Convention and Tournament in St. Louis. It is a well-deserved recognition as the chapter celebrates its 75th anniversary in the 2004-05 school year.

Indeed, in the last week of February this year—and for the first time in 50 years—BGSU hosted the Pi Kappa Delta Provincial Tournament, having hosted the Ohio Forensics Association Novice State Championships in the first week of that month. Last year it hosted the Provincial Tournament and Conference for the Greater Northeast. But whether they are hosting or competing far away from home, the BGSU team has always given a strong performance.

In recent times, much of the credit for this exceptional performance must go to Paul Wesley Alday, the University’s Director of Forensics and Debate. “Under Paul’s direction, the Forensic teams have been extremely successful in competitions across the Midwest,” said Ronald Shields, chair of the Department of Theatre and Film. For instance, the team has won the Collegiate Forensics Association championship the last three years.

The winning streak—and the significant honor and recognition from the national organization—inspires Paul Alday and his team to reach for higher grounds. According to Alday, the organization plans to establish an alumni chapter for BGSU. This will be one of only two such chapters in active development in the state of Ohio. This initiative may well turn out to be of strategic importance, given that as the University’s oldest continually active student organization, the BGSU chapter of Pi Kappa Delta has an alumni base of over a thousand.

Other planned activities for the next year include participation in the national convention, continued children’s readings at the Wood County Public Library, forensic event showcases and participation in Campus Fest 2004. “It is an exciting year for us,” enthused Alday.

Founded nearly 100 years ago, Pi Kappa Delta is the oldest and largest national collegiate forensic honorary. It promotes individual speaking events, community service and scholarship. Above all, its purpose is to “promote the art of persuasion, beautiful and just.”

Awaiting the judges' decision at the 2004 University of Akron tournament are Forensics and Debate Team members (left to right) Leah D'Emilio, a junior from Akron; Tony Wise, a senior from Norton; Candice Conley of Youngstown, who graduated in May; and Heather Crosby, a senior from Cleveland.