Girouard Selected to Represent the United States on Debate Tour of Japan
Christopher Girouard, a senior political science and communication double-major from Chesterfield, Mo., has been selected to represent the United States on a tour of Japan.
Selected as one of only two students for this honor by the National Communication Association’s Committee on International Discussion and Debate (CIDD), Girouard will tour Japan for approximately a month this June as a member of the U.S. team. He joins a master’s degree candidate from Cornell University and a supervisor from the CIDD on the trip.
In order to be selected from the competitive pool of bachelor and master students from around the country—including some active graduate student debate coaches—Girouard was first selected by a screening committee in November, then completed a live interview in Dallas, Jan. 9-10, during which he had to demonstrate skills in debate, argumentation, instruction and intercultural and diplomatic adaptability.
The CIDD has sponsored international debate exchanges since 1922 and has sponsored students to tour the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the former Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic States. Each year the CIDD also organizes tours of the U.S. by the British national team, as well as tours by the Japanese national team every other year. The costs of the delegation’s travel are underwritten by the CIDD and host institutions abroad.
With the American delegation, Girouard will visit several Japanese universities and cultural associations for demonstration debates and guest lectures on American academic debating. Past tours of Japan have included debates in front of Japanese business leaders, high school teachers and media representatives.
Selected as one of only two students for this honor by the National Communication Association’s Committee on International Discussion and Debate (CIDD), Girouard will tour Japan for approximately a month this June as a member of the U.S. team. He joins a master’s degree candidate from Cornell University and a supervisor from the CIDD on the trip.
In order to be selected from the competitive pool of bachelor and master students from around the country—including some active graduate student debate coaches—Girouard was first selected by a screening committee in November, then completed a live interview in Dallas, Jan. 9-10, during which he had to demonstrate skills in debate, argumentation, instruction and intercultural and diplomatic adaptability.
The CIDD has sponsored international debate exchanges since 1922 and has sponsored students to tour the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the former Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and the Baltic States. Each year the CIDD also organizes tours of the U.S. by the British national team, as well as tours by the Japanese national team every other year. The costs of the delegation’s travel are underwritten by the CIDD and host institutions abroad.
With the American delegation, Girouard will visit several Japanese universities and cultural associations for demonstration debates and guest lectures on American academic debating. Past tours of Japan have included debates in front of Japanese business leaders, high school teachers and media representatives.
