SEEYLI 2004 PUBLIC DEBATE FESTIVAL
Background on invited guest speakers

Timothy O'Donnell is an Assistant Professor in the Department of English, Linguistics and Speech at Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Pittsburgh and has published numerous articles in scholarly journals and debate handbooks, including “Controlling Russian Biological Weapons Proliferation,” published in The Hitchhiker’s Companion to the 2001-2002 CX Debate Topic. Tim's areas of research specialization include public argument and rhetoric of science.
Professor O'Donnell is scheduled to give commentary in the following debate:
"Resolved: Military Intervention in Iraq Will Increase Democracy in the Middle East."(9:00 a.m.)

Ginny Britt is a Wake Forest University alum who works with the Winston-Salem based nonprofit organization The Advocacy for the Poor. This organization is committed to speaking out for the financially poor of Forsyth County, advancing their interests, and working for systematic change.
Ms. Britt is scheduled to give commentary in the following debates:
"Is Abortion Murder?" (9:00 a.m.)
"Resolved: Prostitution Should Be Legalized in Southeast Europe." (10:30 a.m.)

Gordon Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Communication and Director of Debate at the University of Pittsburgh. His academic work focuses on rhetoric of science, public argument, and argumentation pedagogy. Gordon's first book, Strategic Deception: Rhetoric Science and Politics in Missile Defense Advocacy (Michigan State University Press, 2000) won the National Communication Association's award for Distinguished Scholarship in Rhetoric and Public Address. As Director of the University of Pittsburgh’s William Pitt Debating Union since 1995, Professor Mitchell has organized and moderated over 60 public debates in seven states. He recently learned salsa dancing and is a fan of sweep rowing on Pittsburgh's three rivers.
Professor Mitchell is scheduled to give commentary in the following debate:
"Should Affirmative Action Be Applied in U.S. Universities?" (10:30 a.m.)

Hannah Hardgrave is an Associate Professor of Philosophy at Wake Forest University, where she has taught since 1984. She received an A.B. from Brown University and an M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in Philosophy. Before coming to Wake Forest, she taught at Western Illinois University, the University of Washington and the University of Maryland. Her specialization, in both teaching and research, is Applied Ethics, specifically Medical Ethics. Professor Hardgrave has been on the various Ethics Committees at the Baptist Medical Center since they were established. She has also incorporated her extracurricular interests in movies and in Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" in her courses.
Professor Hardgrave is scheduled to give commentary in the following debate:
"Should Adolescents Be Allowed to Have Plastic Surgery Without Physical Necessity?" (1:00 p.m.)

Michael David Hazen is a full Professor and former Chair of the Department of Communication at Wake Forest University. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. Professor Hazen's research interests include: theories on the nature of messages; the rhetorical construction of difference; the interaction between message structures and information processing; the impact of new media, and intercultural and international communication. He has published numerous articles in leading scholarly journals and logged thousands of miles as a popular speaker at international conferences.
Professor Hazen is scheduled to give commentary in the following debate:
"Resolved: Security Measures at the Athens Olympic Games are Excessive." (1:00 p.m.)

Deepa Kumar is an Assistant Professor of Communication at Rutgers University. After receiving her Ph.D. in Communication at the University of Pittsburgh, she taught for several years at Wake Forest University. She specializes in critical media studies, focusing on class dimensions of media communication, global media's impact on democracy, and critical analysis of news, with particular attention to news reporting on wars and imperialism. A rising star in the field of Communication, Professor Kumar's work has been featured in scores of prestigious international conferences. 
Professor Kumar is scheduled to give commentary in the following debate:
"Can Citizens Get Objective Information About the 'War on Terrorism'?" (3:30 p.m.)