Members of the University of Alabama Forensic Council, or speech team, are inviting students and the public to join them as they showcase their nationally competitive events Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. in 120 Farrah Hall.

The team will showcase a range of styles from impromptu speeches to after-dinner talks and oral interpretations. The showcase will help the 19-time national championship winning team prepare for national competition. Collin Metcalf, a senior majoring in communication studies, economics and finance, is coming back to the showcase to perform a piece on video game addiction and how it is handled in a society of 200 million video game players.

(See also “Forensic Council to hold showcase before competition“)

“Not many people seek to improve their public speaking,” Metcalf said. “This is a feat we demonstrate almost every weekend.”

Wednesday’s showcase will be the largest of a three-day event series that starts Tuesday and continues through Thursday. Each night will consist of around six student forensic speakers ranging from a variety of events, topics and levels.

On Tuesday, Madison Darling, a freshman majoring in secondary education, will perform an after-dinner speech on sexism in today’s society as shown through Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts programs.

“This speech debunks all the mystery about how we’re all good little cookie sellers,” Darling said. “I just want my message to be heard more than anything.”

(See also “Forensics Council takes home top-ten finish at nationals“)

Kevin Pabst, a junior majoring in communication studies, will also showcase his events, including an after-dinner speech Wednesday on trailer park housing for senior citizens.

“A lot of people have business interpretations of forensics. They don’t fully understand,” Pabst said. “This is something you have to see in action. It’s not what you expect.”

Within 10 minutes, Pabst said, he will explain how the growing housing crisis is affecting the elderly because of their rapidly growing population.

“This is an energetic and passionate evening that everyone should come to,” Pabst said.

Katerina Pena, a senior majoring in public relations and advertising, will also perform Wednesday and said returning to this showcase makes her more proud than nervous.

“Passion makes you nervous, and those nerves make us stronger,” Pena said.

(See also “Forensics Council ‘show off’ public speaking skills“)