UA Communication Studies Department to Host Annual Speak Off

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. —The department of communication studies at The University of Alabama will host its annual Speak Off competition Nov. 9 in Morgan Auditorium, showcasing COM 123’s most talented public speakers.

COM 123 is The University of Alabama’s introductory public speaking course, a core curriculum course open to students of any major. The class teaches the basic principles of public speaking and how to appropriately articulate oneself in formal speaking situations.

Students were nominated from all COM 123 performance labs and will be judged in a preliminary round today. Six finalists will be chosen and will recite a speech of their choice.

Judges include Dr. Mark Nelson, associate provost in Academic Affairs, Dr. Beth Bennett, department chair of communication studies, and Dr. Frank Thompson, recently retired director of the UA Forensics Council.

“This is the highlight of our public speaking program each semester, to see students bring what they have learned in class to an audience of their peers and perform with confidence and eloquence,” said Dr. Alexa S. Chilcutt, director of the Public Speaking Program.

The first-place winner will receive the Oscar Newton Public Speaking award and a monetary prize of $200. The second-place winner will receive $150 and the third-place winner $50.

The department of communication studies is part of UA’s College of Communication and Information Sciences.