Students of the week: WIlliam Loftus and Nina Rezai

Students from every state gathered in Birmingham, Ala., this weekend for a tournament that William Loftus, 16, and Nina Rezai, 17, can only describe as “epic.”

The two Holy Cross students are among 3,000 others competing in the National Forensic League Debate Tournament.

The tournament consists of 15 events. Loftus and Rezai will participate in daily competitions for six straight days starting today.

Rezai, who is team captain, said she enjoys the rush of arguing about adult topics with people her age.

She and Loftus have been spending part of their summer vacation at the Forest Library preparing for the tournament by reading through about 300 pages of material.

It’s worth it to them, though, because, just like at any high school sporting event, college scouts will be there.

“(Debate) is gold on a college resume,” Loftus said.

To prepare for a debate, the students research a given topic beforehand and develop an argument for both sides, whether they agree or disagree.

Having to engage in either side of an issue can be tough. Rezai once had to argue for military action in Iran.

“It was really hard to say that … because I have family there. My brother and father were furious because I was so persuasive about it.”

Rezai said that even though most schools offer debate as a class, Holy Cross does not. She and Loftus have worked mostly on their own accord to start up a club and advance it with fundraisers.

They do feel, however, that their school has provided them with one advantage.

“We come from Holy Cross where everyone loves each other,” Rezai said. “The other schools seem so mean.”

Loftus added that while the other teams tend to be louder and more aggressive, their team will “remain calm.”

It is a strategy that has gotten them this far, and that is the one thing that is not up for debate.