No, it has nothing to do with CSI. Nor does it have anything to do with gore of any type—except maybe loosely that of the Al variety. Actually, the Gustavus Forensics team is more about learning and teaching about current issues and less about creepy body tissues, more about expressing opinions and less about—well, you get the picture.
So far this year, the non-criminologists have started strong. They won third place on Sept. 26, 2009 and fourth place on Sept. 27,2009 in Palatine, IL. During K-State Swing, Oct. 3-4, the team took second place both days.
“We describe the first season as a marathon,” Senior History and Communication Studies Major Mary Cunningham said.
Just like a marathon, forensics takes a lot of training. Kris Kracht, director of forensics, said that it requires approximately 20 hours of preparation time each week in order to get ready for a forensics meet, which then takes up an entire weekend. Many of the Forensics team members agree that being involved in forensics is like taking an additional course.
Marathons also call for mastery of multiple disciplines. “[Forensics] is a liberal arts education in an activity,” Cunningham said.
Unlike a marathon, however, forensics integrates a lot of teamwork.
Speaking is an individual activity, but the preparation involves the entire team. There are many individual aspects to forensics, including the categories of Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Extemporaneous Speaking, Persuasive Speaking and After-Dinner Speaking, to name a few.
Essentially, when you make a speech, you are on your own in front of a crowd. You spend a lot of time doing research independently. You write your own speech, but then the team comes together and helps you make it better.
“The team is like a family,” First-Year Kate Bissen said. “[They] really joined forces, and they helped me get my piece to a better place.”
Family is a popular word for the forensics team. “We call ourselves a family; we are a family,” Cunningham said.
“Every moment I’m with them is a memorable moment,” Senior Communication Studies Major Alex Brakke said.
This weekend from Saturday, Oct. 17 to Sunday, Oct. 18, the Gustavus Forensics team will compete in the Minnesota River Swing at MSU-Mankato and at our own Gustavus Adolphus College.