MEDIA RELEASE

Japanese National Debate Team to Visit CSUN

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Feb. 26, 2008) — Cal State Northridge’s Mike Curb College of Arts Media and Communication, the Department of Communication Studies and Matador Forensics Society officials will jointly host the Japanese National Debate Team in a unique cross-cultural discussion on civil society.

As part of a nationwide tour, the Japanese debate team will visit eight universities while in the United States, and will stop by CSUN on Friday, Feb. 29, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. in the Armer Theatre, located in Manzanita Hall, room 100.

"The debates with the Japanese National Team will provide our students with a unique educational opportunity," said John Kephart, director of forensics. "Watching students from different cultures interact on issues of contemporary significance generates cross-cultural understanding that is difficult to achieve solely in a classroom setting and helps to engage students on issues relevant to themselves and their communities."

The Japanese team will participate in a debate against CSUN’s Matador Forensics Squad. Audience participation is encouraged through an interactive format, as the moderator will be soliciting audience questions during the debate.

The Matador Forensics Society competes in intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments across the country. The society focuses on team policy debate and a range of public speaking methods including persuasive, informative, impromptu and dramatic interpretation.

The Japanese debate team’s visit will offer the CSUN students a chance to see how other cultures interpret social issues, said Kephart.

"Ultimately, such interaction helps us understand that cultures different from our own share our concerns, and that we must act cooperatively to solve global problems," he said.

The debate is free and open to the public. For more information, contact the Department of Communication Studies at (818) 677-2853.