[eDebate] University of Florida Graduate Assistantship

[Marissa Silber]

Dear Debate Community,

The University of Florida Speech and Debate Team anticipates having a second 
debate graduate assistantship available starting this Fall 2006. As a 
current debate assistant, I wanted to tell you about the great opportunities 
offered to you as a graduate assistantship. One of the unique aspects of the 
assistantships is that you can get your Masters OR PhD in any field 
(engineering, health communication, etc) ? unlike many assistantships, you 
do NOT have to study communications. I, for example, am in the PhD program 
in the Political Science Department. Another unique aspect is that there are 
often teaching opportunities available ? this semester, for example, I am 
teaching two sections of Introduction to Public Speaking.

Working with the UF Speech and Debate Team is an excellent opportunity. The 
Director of Forensics, Kellie Roberts, is a phenomenal director ? very 
supportive and helpful. The Director of Debate is Frank Irizarry which 
should be selling point enough ? who doesn?t want to work with the Big 
Papa?!!? Although there are obviously expectations that you attend debate 
meetings, travel, watch practice debates, and do research ? there is 
flexibility within the schedule and an understanding that you are part of 
the program both as a student and coach. Our team is pretty small, which 
allows us as coaches to really work with all of the debaters and be able to 
travel to a lot of national and regional tournaments. We have strong student 
government, departmental, and alumni support (which is why we foresee a 
second assistantship opening up).

We encourage you to apply soon to the department of your choice ? I know, 
for example, the Political Science Department?s deadline is before March 15 
however they recommend applying sooner. In order to apply for an 
assistantship you will have to communicate with us about your interest and 
then we can start the assistantship application process.

After being at University of Florida for almost two years already (and with 
many more years to go), I feel confident saying that the University of 
Florida and the Speech and Debate Team have an incredible amount to offer. 
If you are interested in applying  and/or have any questions,  please feel 
free to contact me (silber at ufl.edu) or the Director of Debate, Frank 
Irizarry (gatordebate at aol.com).

I look forward to potentially working with one of you next year!

Marissa Silber
University of Florida
PhD student ? Political Science
Policy Debate Graduate Assistant
Introduction to Public Speaking (SPC 2600) Instructor
silber at ufl.edu