Brownson Debate Team Showcase Rhetorical Criticism Research
Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Meg Gawron, a junior in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations, presented her paper and presentation that was entitled "How the Law Redefines Rights: A Feminist Analysis of Texas S.B. 8." Dan O'Connor, a junior in the College of Communications and the Arts, presented his paper and presentation that was entitled "White Allyship and Martian Manifest Destiny." Finally, the third Seton Hall undergrad to present their paper was Safa Shaikh, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. Shaikh's paper and presentation was entitled "Suli Deals' & Political Symbolism: The Cultural Subjugation of Muslim Women," which was awarded as the Top Student Paper Award!
Shaikh recalls "I am still incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have presented my piece on the fetishization and subjugation of Muslim women at the Felician Undergraduate Research Conference." She continues, "Being able to speak and connect with an audience that genuinely showed interest in changing the status quo was incredibly meaningful to me, a Muslim woman."
On being the recipient of Top Student Paper Award, Shaikh says that "Receiving a distinction as top student paper was not only an unbelievable honor, but it was also a reminder of how valuable my advocacy truly is. Again, I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and to have had the guidance and support of the Brownson Speech and Debate Team who made the performance possible!"
The Brownson Speech and Debate team is led by Professor Catherine Zizik, the founding director of forensics of the Brownson Speech and Debate Team. Professor Zizik also is an Associate Professor of Communication at Seton Hall University.
Professor Zizik noted that the students had a rewarding experience while at the conference, where they were all honored to have met HRH Prince Adnan El-Hashemite.
Further, the conference director, Ingrid Dul, was so pleased by the students representing Seton Hall, that she invited all three students to be a part of the Education Department's research podcast. Prof. Dul wrote that "…thank you for helping your students submit their proposals for our conference. Second, Dr. Sequeira and I were so impressed with Safa, Meg, and Daniel. They were incredibly eloquent, professional, and delivered spectacular research."
The mission of the Brownson Speech and Debate is to foster academic and ethical development of students and to prepare them to become leaders in their professional and community lives. Members participate in academic and co-curricular activities dedicated to the advancement of logic, argumentative skills, advocacy, creativity, rhetorical excellence and performance artistry through undergraduate intercollegiate forensics. The experiential enrichment helps members to increase their awareness and critical evaluation of current political, social, economic and cultural issues, further enhancing the mission and culture of Seton Hall.
Full-time undergraduate students interested in becoming a Pirate Speaker may contact the team's director, Catherine Zizik, M.A./M.F.A., to schedule an audition.
The College of Communication and the Arts currently offers graduate-level programs in Museum Professions and Communications, with the opportunity to pursue specialty areas of study, including options in Public Relations, Digital Communication/Communication Technologies, and Communication in Organizations. In addition, four dual-degree options, including three accelerated M.A./B.A. programs and a dual M.B.A./M.A. degree with the School of Diplomacy and International Relation are offered.
For more information about Graduate Studies within the College of Communication and the Arts, please contact Dr. Ryan Hudes.
Categories: Arts and Culture
