Okay, so you're dying to know. What is this whole forensics thing? Okay, its not about crime, it even doesn't have much to do with for or ensics. The individual events side of forensics is focused on public speaking, limited preparation events, and interpretation of literary works. Still confused? Don't worry, it took some of us a few years to figure it out too.

So what's this all about?

What do I get out of this? Well, if you happen to be walking the streets of Aix en Provence, you might get some eggs. Otherwise, you'll get future job skills, a better ability to speak, and even class credit. Individual events also offers you the opportunity to meet students from around the nation. Many members of the team have friends across the United States.

So who are these crazy guys and gulls?

So who coaches these people?
 

So, where are you going with all of this? Well, this year, we went to Ypsilanti, Michigan, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In the 1999-2000 season nationals will be at Ohio and Nebraska.  The culminating experiences of each forensic year are national tournaments. At these tournaments, ISU faces its toughest competition all year. Studentswho compete for ISU get to compete against the best schools in the nation.
 What are you up to this week?
Let's all go to nationals...
 

Derek and Will Major display the trophies given away by ISU at the ISU MAFL last year.

Tradition is an integral component of the ISU forensics program. Back in the 1970's, ISU hosted the first AFA national tournament ever. For the past several decades, ISU has placed in the top five at the NFA tournament, and normally makes the top ten at AFA. In this decade, ISU has consistently placed in the top three places at NFA, and was second at NFA last year.

Those who survived
 

So is this all there is? Nope, ISU forensics is certainly about more than giving speeches. Forensics offers students to compete with a great bunch of people. In fact, the members of the team often spend a great deal of time with each other. Forensics competitors have even been known to.... gasp.... marry each other.

Outside of the tournament
 
 

What else is the forensics team up to? Well, during our semi-off season we host a summer camp for high school speech students from Illinois and across the nation. These students eventually move on to excel at regionals, sectionals, and state. Some even become top competitors on the college circuit.

What is this high school camp?

Hey, We're not the only ones out here. There are tons of pages out there for speech and communication programs.

All those programs

Let's go to ISU's department of communication

Click Here for the ISU Alumni Map

Let's visit ISU's student newspaper, The Daily Vidette

Questions about ISU speech? email head coach Tom Zeidler

Questions about this page? email Jude