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ADVISER CREDITS COACHES AND TEAM LEADERS

by C. Thomas Preston, Jr.

First off, I would like to thank both University Relations and -The Current- for continually reporting the results of the UM-St. Louis Forensics and Debate team. While flattered at the opening statement "led by Tom Preston," I would like to add, with this letter, some recognition to those who really have led the team and made it work well.

Jason Shaw, an alumnus of Southwest Baptist University who now lives and works in St. Louis, has been an invaluable volunteer coach-for no pay-for our individual events students. In the last two weekends, UM-St. Louis has won five individual events titles, including most recently a first place in duo interpretation by Joy Nash and Dawne Nasiruddin, and a first place in dramatic interpretation by Nash at a Feb. 21 tournament at Truman State. By giving of his time, Shaw, along with his hard-working students, have enhanced greatly UM-St. Louis' recent reputation in debate and forensics. As well, Doug Dennis, a student a UM-Rolla, has formed the backbone of our policy debate coaching. On the whole, the students should be proud of their accomplishments, with Shaw and Dennis taking the bulk of the coaching credit this year. Kenneth Winfrey, the club president, has taken the lead in managing the day to day affairs of the squad, and Robert Dempsey, our SGA representative, has been like a third coach both at and between tournaments in terms of making sure the team represents both the University and the student body well.

I continue to write books and articles, make reservations, order supplies and trophies for our tournaments, make (and drink) coffee, visit high schools, write grants, drive vans and help club president Winfrey and secretary/treasurer Veronica Morrow-Reel with the essential paperwork-but Shaw and Dennis deserve the lion's share of the coaching credit for this year's success and the students deserve all of the credit for their fine efforts and performance-and that includes all 55 who have represented their university in at least one tournament for this year. From there, the creativity necessary for success has come.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment and for your fine coverage. 90 awards thus far for 1997-98-on to 100!