GMU, JMU Forensics Host 'Virginia Is For Lovers' Spring 2008

By Connect Mason Reporter James D. Mink

Each year, the forensics teams at George Mason University and James Madison University come together to present the Virginia Is For Lovers Spring Swing, a weekend-long competition in which students from across the eastern United States perform in various public-speaking categories.

The Spring 2008 tournament took place on George Mason's Fairfax campus last Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16-17. The schools alternated hosting duties between the days.

Participating students exhibited knowledge and skill about a wide variety of topics. In the Extemporaneous Speaking category, students were given 30 minutes to research and prepare speeches on questions related to various current news events.

Participants in After Dinner Speaking were given a serious topic in which they used humor to appeal to the audience. A speaker demonstrated the idea that parents are treating their kids as if they’re older than they really are, while telling jokes about Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and spray-on tans.

Other areas of competition included poetry, drama, and persuasive speaking.

George Mason’s Forensics Team completed Saturday’s events with 34 finalists, 4 out of the top 5 overall speakers, and winning 9 out of 11 events, according to head coach and director Peter Pober.

“[Pober's] got a winning streak unlike anyone else,” said one of the tournament judges. “Dr. Pober is clearly one of the most outstanding coaches that you’re going to find anywhere in the country.”

George Mason has one of the top forensic programs in the United States, and, according to the team website, “has been the most successful team in George Mason’s history.”

Pober, who is now in his fifth year here, noted that “GMU is one of only five teams to qualify students every single year to the national tournament since its founding.” He mentioned that George Mason also has very good high school summer programs and tournaments in forensics.

Dr. Pober credited the administration because they “understand the benefits of forensics.” He also credited the team as being “some of the most dedicated, hard-working, driven students who [love] representing this school across the country.”