OU student debates his way to the top of national rankings

An OU student has placed first in debate tournaments at Georgia State, Harvard and the University of Texas and has brought OU into a tie for most awards won by a school, according to a press release.

RJ Giglio, a business management senior and member of the OU Shannon Self Debate Program, won these tournaments, as well as two Cross Examination Debate Association National Championships. Giglio has also received a national top 10 speaker award.

“The entire university community is deeply proud of the accomplishments of RJ Giglio,” Boren said in a press release. “He has played an important role in revitalizing the great debating tradition at OU.”

The debate association is the largest intercollegiate policy debate group in the United Statees. These awards are two of three first place awards in OU’s history with the association.

Giglio said he is excited for this year’s national tournament and said as long as the team engages, they will win.

Giglio and his teammate Chris Leonardi, University College freshman, will finish the current season ranked in the top five in the nation, he said. The team is currently ranked third in the nation, according to a press release.

OU will host, for the second time in five years, the 2012 CEDA National Debate Tournament on March 22 to 26. OU’s debate program is favoured to win this year’s national debate, according to a press release.

“With all of the training the freshman have received, the team will be strong for years to come,” Giglio said.

OU’s debate team has also won three of the last five national debates, winning against 142 teams and 240 individual competitors, according to a press release.

Connor Sullivan

Connor is a former staff member of The Oklahoma Daily who worked as Campus Reporter.