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CORVALLIS - Students from the forensics team at Oregon State University placed at the International Forensics Association Championships, held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Renee Rider and Dawn Hedrick placed third in parliamentary debate, where students are given 15 minutes to prepare their cases on topics ranging from contemporary issues to philosophical dilemmas. Rider is a senior from Corvallis majoring in fisheries and wildlife; Hedrick, a junior from Junction City majoring in general agriculture.

Rider also placed fifth in informative speaking, which requires students to deliver a prepared speech of 10 minutes that illuminates a topic. Rider's talk was on high tech microscopes called flow cytometers that enable doctors to diagnose and predict the course of cancers.

Kathy LaVeine, a freshman speech major from Tigard, reached the semifinals of the impromptu speaking category. Impromptu requires students to interpret a quotation, develop a speech, and deliver it within seven minutes.

The OSU team members funded their way to the championships. Trischa Knapp, an assistant professor of speech communication, directed the team. While in Portugal, Knapp was invited to lecture at local schools and participate in sample debates.