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Ashland debate team wins again By JONEL ALECCIA ASHLAND - The Ashland High School speech and debate team won a regional tournament Saturday, proving the powerhouse program has survived a drug scandal that divided the community, the coach said. "We're a better team this season because we saw a need to utilize the strength of the remaining kids," said coach John Tredway, who brought home the overall team title at Willamette University for the 11th consecutive year. "When we went up to get the sweepstakes award, one of the kids said, 'This shows we can do it without them,'" he added. "It was not spiteful, just determined." Six seniors left or were removed from the speech and debate team this fall after controversy surrounding an investigation of marijuana use by Ashland students attending a national tournament in Oklahoma City in June. A Eugene coach said she smelled marijuana smoke coming from a room were five of the boys were staying. Three months of turmoil culminated in September, when the Ashland School Board, in a 3-2 vote, reversed a decision to expel two seniors suspected of drug use. The move prompted protests from teachers who said administrators had failed to support the district's own drug policies. The situation has stirred deep emotions about student drug use and the district's response to it, as evidenced, in part, by letters to the editor in the Mail Tribune and the Ashland Daily Tidings. Some community members believe the district's policy is too harsh and that administrators' enforcement of it lacks compassion; others contend that the district must have strict guidelines about drug use and clear penalties for breaking them to set consistent standards for students. For remaining members of the speech and debate team, seniors in particular, the convtroversy has been especially difficult, said Tredway. "The kids knew that a different attitude needed to prevail in which rights could be balanced with responsibilities and they met the test in competition as well as working as a team," he said. Other changes have included the addition of an assistant speech coach and more parent chaperones. At least one parent said she's relieved the team's focus can return to the subjects of speech and debate. "I think the debate team doing well helps the community understand these kids are working hard and are committed to this," said Teresa Westmoreland, whose son Andrew was named first outstanding speaker in senior policy debate at the Willamette tournament. In addition to the overall award from among 39 schools in Oregon and Washington, the Ashland team accrued the following individual awards. Andrew Westmoreland, first, outstanding speaker, senior policy debate Jesse Richards, first, outstanding speaker, novice public debate Connor Buhl, first, junior radio commentary Jazmin Hupp and Emily Robbins, first, senior dual interpretation Jazmin Hupp, first, senior poetry Randa Duffy, first, junior poetry Amy Hopkins, first, senior expository speaking Kristin Pew and Rachel Sohl, tied with each other, first, novice Lincoln-Douglas debate Ailee Slater and Chris Bingham, first, junior policy debate Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.