Making it to the Final 8 of "American Idol" is serious business—but not as serious as being selected as one of only eight undergraduate and graduate students nationwide chosen to compete for the two slots available on the United States National Debate Team, Japan Tour. Dylan Rothermel, a junior economics major at Truman Sate University, was the first Truman State University student to be a finalist of the coveted team amid hard-hitting competition. Most applicants were graduate students with stout debating and coaching experience.

Despite his age, Rothermel is no debate tyro; his team has been honored as one of the top 16 in parliamentary debate, and he has reached at least semifinals in three of the nation's most prestigious round-robin tournaments.

To gain entrance into this world-class level, Rothermel had to try-out at the National Communication Association (NCA) office in Washington, D.C., Dec. 1-2, 2006, where he presented a lecture on the history of militarism in Japan from the Tokugawa period through World War II, and participated in a policy-style debate over the question of whether the United States should support the full-scale rearmament of Japan.

According to Rothermel, being chosen as a finalist for this team "was external validation of the work that I put into debate every day. The mere fact that I was selected as a finalist shows that the individuals who were choosing among the applicant pool saw the work and intensity I bring to the activity—that validation is always heartening to receive."

Another bonus is that the experience gave Rothermel the opportunity to exercise real-life interview skills. Rothermel states, "I'll certainly be taking what I learned from that interview and using it when I enter the job market."

Since 1922, the Committee on International Discussion and Debate has sponsored debate team exchanges with Britain, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, the Philippines, the Baltic Republics and the former USSR. As part of the program, Truman has hosted teams from Britain, Russia, Japan, and Ireland. Truman's legacy of excellence in debate is epitomized in Rothermel.

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Rhonda Vincent, one of the most acclaimed and well-liked figures on today's bluegrass scene, recently posted a quiz on her web site that asked, "What class did Rhonda take at Truman State University?" The choices were: 1. swimming; 2. yoga; or, 3. photography.

If you answered 3—you're right. But you were also on the mark if you answered 2 and 3. In keeping with her try-everything, enhance-your-life spirit, Rhonda, an accounting major at Truman (surprisingly, not a music major), studied a variety of subjects at Truman, including music business, English, and business law.

Rhonda never expected the benefits of this liberal arts education and how it would enhance her recording career as well as her personal life. But every day Rhonda refers back to her Truman education. Take her photography class, for instance. She uses the knowledge she gained as she gives input on her photo shoots and scrutinizes album covers and press coverage.

And that business law course proved indispensable when she signed her first 100-page contract for her first label. While the temptation was to sign the bottom line without reading the fine print, Rhonda took the contract home to dissect every page. When a business problem crops up, she often delves into her library of Truman textbooks for valuable instruction.

Rhonda, who has just completed her 24th album, presses forward with enthusiasm and creativity. But she doesn't take her success for granted, pointing to her hard work at Truman as the elemental reason why she is where she is today.

She states, "As a student, you don't really realize how the classes will influence your work later on. Having a broad education only enhances your ability to perform in the business world—and it gives you that edge over someone else."

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Unless you consider watching "Sports Center" an educational experience, "sports" and "education" aren't words you often hear together. But at Truman, sports are an elemental part of its liberal arts education. In fact, according to Scott Wagner, director of Truman Intramurals, "the intramural program offers all students opportunities to help achieve the most of a liberal arts education."

Based on the idea that a liberal arts education calls for learning both inside and outside the classroom—and that the informal learning is as important as the rigorous, formal classroom method—Truman has developed a comprehensive co-curricular and intramural program. With over 50 events scheduled, there is a team for passionate competitors and happy-go-lucky athlete-lites alike. Last year, over 3000 students participated in intramurals each semester.

Aside from being a free program, here are a few other key reasons why you should check out the intramural program at Truman:

Friends. When you're new to college, making friends can be a challenge. But when you rally around a common purpose, it's easy to make connections on a casual level that can deepen over time. You'll also meet people who have similar interests—and maybe even a few who are different but may teach you a thing or two.

Fun. After hours hitting the books, your body—and spirit—can get a little stiff. Playing on a team can pump some much needed adrenaline into your system and help you cast off some of your curricular cares. You may find you're less anxious as you work on your chem. lab later on.

Fitness. Everyone knows about the Freshman 15, and the best way to keep those pounds off is to stay physically active. And there's no better way to stay committed than to do something you enjoy—and with friends.

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After one semester, Ben Clark, a communications major at Carleton College, and Shoshana Harl, an art history student at University of Missouri-Columbia, knew they made the wrong choice by not choosing Truman. After some ample soul searching, Ben and Shoshana made the transfer. Though it might seem an inconvenience to "start over," Ben and Shoshana agree that it was the best decision they ever made. Here's why:

Professors
She says: At Mizzou, I was just a number; at Truman my professors know my name (which is a great comfort to me). They also challenge and engage you. The professors want you to succeed, and it really shows. I get better classes and professors and pay less than I did at Mizzou.

He says: At Carleton, many of my professors seemed to care more about their prized research or their new book than helping me learn. Here at Truman the professors seem more content. They put the students first. Truman has great professors who really care about their students. The professors make the difference.

Home Away from Home
She says: I love the campus! The facilities are great and the campus is beautiful. Not to mention, the students are enthusiastic.

He says: It may seem strange that I didn't go to Truman in the first place, since it seemed so comfortable. But as a senior in high school, I made the choice to go to Carleton because it wasn't as familiar to me. I wanted to forge my own way. The problem came when the novelty of Carleton wore off, and I was surrounded by 400 people with whom I had virtually nothing in common. That's when I thought about how welcoming Kirksville had been—which led to my transfer here.

Activities
She says: Because Truman has so many activities going on, it's hard not to be involved. The campus has a large variety of groups to join—you can always find something that will fit your personality. There is a club for nearly every interest, from the Art History Society to the table tennis club.

He says: Truman offers tons of on-campus activities, and if you look hard enough, you can find some really great activities in Kirksville as well. The music scene in Kirksville has definitely been a highlight for me. Just recently, The Ike Reilly Assassination, critically acclaimed by the New York Times, came to play here. Not bad, huh?

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