Sewanee students, faculty, and guests gathered over three nights to attend the 8th Annual Festival of Speaking & Listening, held April 20-22, 2026.
On the first night, Rhetoric Professor Dr. Jeffrey Kurtz from Denison University joined us for the Festival Keynote Address entitled: “Bleeding Beneath the Escalator: Rebelling Against Rhetoric’s in Extremis Prospects.” Dr. Kurtz’s talk revisited the anniversary of the 2015 Charleston church shootings, and rhetoric’s role in the aftermath. He emphasized the importance of a liberal education, specifically the place of rhetoric in liberal education, in helping citizens responsibly navigate public controversies on subjects such as race, religion, and gun control.
On the second night, the Sewanee Debate Union sponsored a debate on the following:
Resolved: This house believes that the federal government should keep its hands off of the curricula of private universities.
Affirming the resolution was the three-person team of Margaret Philips (C’29 in Rhetoric), Dr. Chris Silver (Psychology), and Whit Uden (C’28 in Classical Languages). Eliza Dieck (C’26 in Rhetoric), Dr. Jim Peters (Philosophy), and Trinity Reddick (C’27 in Politics and Rhetoric) represented the opposing viewpoint. SDU’s president, and incoming president of the Order of the Gown, Betsy Baker highlighted the “privilege of seeing some of Sewanee’s best and brightest demonstrate what good debate looks like: well-researched arguments, incorrigible curiosity, and deep respect for participants and positions across the board.”
On the third night, the Public Speaking Contest featured five outstanding contestants selected by their peers in sections of RHET 101: Public Speaking from Easter and Advent 2025 taught by Drs. Jamie Capuzza and Melody Lehn. The speakers included:
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Alpha Bah, a senior studying Economics and Computer Science, on “Why We Deserve a Real Financial Education”;
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Betsy Baker, a junior studying Classics and Rhetoric, on “Wanted: A Stable International Economy”;
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Ann-Marie Brose, a junior studying Rhetoric and Business, on “Who Determines Truth? Governing Misinformation”;
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Josh Kim, a senior studying Economics, on “The New Driving Factor of Collegiate Sports: NIL”;
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Will Snead, a junior studying American Studies, Art History, and Rhetoric, on “Finish the Fight: Why the ERA Must Become Law.”
An expert panel including Margaret McGuire (Student Outreach and Instruction Librarian at duPont Library), Dr. Terry Papillon (Professor of Classics and Rhetoric), and A.J. Stacey (Winner of the 2025 Public Speaking Contest) had the difficult decision of identifying 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place, which respectively went to Baker (1st), Bah (2nd), and Kim (3rd). Congratulations to all finalists!
Dean Nicky Campbell attended, noted that the contest is a “remarkable opportunity for our students to build important communication skills,” and thanked the faculty mentors for working with these superb student speakers.
Stay tuned for information about next year’s Festival!
