CDL Alums Among Top College Debate Teams in Nation

Loyola University Chicago juniors Nick Locke and Elvis Veizi have received a first round bid to the annual National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, which recognizes the finest competition in American parliamentary debate. Of the 675 teams that competed this year Nick and Elvis were one of only 24 teams to win this honor. The 2011 NPTE will be hosted by Regis University and held on the campus of the University of Colorado Denver on March 11-14, 2011.

The duo had an impressive start to the season by going undefeated at the Purdue Boilermaker tournament last September and capped the semester by taking top honors at the Loyola Rambler Debate Tournament in December. Elvis noted that “it took a great deal of hard work to reach our goal.”

At a typical tournament, the students receive fifteen minutes to prepare prior to each debate on a wide variety of subjects dealing with politics, ethics, energy, the economy, and world affairs, among others. Nick was quick to recognize the contributions of his teammates in helping them prepare for the debates this fall.

In addition to regular competitions, Nick and Elvis we also invited to participate in a live internet debate hosted by We the Students at the University of Miami Florida last November.

Nick and Elvis are both products of the Chicago Debate League. They are both graduates of Lane Tech College Prep and regularly return to judge high school competitions in the city. Nick has also worked as a coach for the North Lawndale College Prep Charter High School debate team and was the 2008 Chase Urban Debate National Champion for Lane Tech.