Speech Team Hosts Annual Big Red Tournament of Love
Competitors represented 16 schools, including Cornell. Guest Speaker Cody Keenan spoke about his experience as a Obama's Director of Speechwriting.
On Sunday, February 20th, 2022, the Cornell Speech Team hosted their annual Big Red Tournament of Love. Over 16 schools attended, resulting in over 120 individual entries. The tournament featured all 11 individual speech events as well as IPDA debate. 9 competitors represented Cornell in the tournament, including 6 novices, resulting in two national qualifications. Tournament judges included Cornell alumni, family, and faculty.
After the competition concluded, the tournament hosted guest speaker Cody Keenan, who was Director of Speechwriting under President Barack Obama. Speech Team co-Captain Callie McQuilkin led the conversation with Keenan about his career path and his speechwriting process. The audience of around 100 people included Cornell community members and competitors from across the country.
Concurrent to the tournament, team members ran the Big Red Advocacy Telethon. In one day, the students raised $455 for the Ithaca Advocacy Center, a nonprofit dedicated to sexual assault prevention efforts and support for survivors.
Speech Coach MacLain Naumann coordinated the tournament only twenty days after starting the job, with the help of Cornell Speech and Debate Staff Sam Nelson, Armands Revelins, and Matthew Ibeike-jonah. Captains Callie McQuilkin and Chloe Washabaugh, and Limited Prep Student Coach Scott Siegel also helped with tournament operations.
The Speech Team is now one step closer to nationals season. After a few more weeks of regular season competitions, the team will head to the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in March. Cornell will also compete at the American Forensic Association National Tournament in April.