Debater earns chance to go to tournament

Nina Neff reads The Economist. She agrees with the politics of Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

And she’s never met a debate topic she didn’t like.

The 16-year-old home-schooled student will have plenty of chances to present both sides of an argument as she heads to the National Forensic League’s national debate tournament, June 18 outside Dallas.

“I have always been fascinated by politics and philosophies,” Neff said. “When I’m debating, I feel nothing else in the world matters because I am the issue.”

Neff has been home-schooled by her mom, Joanie Eppinga, most of her life. The Peaceful Valley resident is enrolled at The Enrichment Cooperative on North Ash Street. She and her mom spend a few days a week with the other home-school students at the center. Neff also is a student in the Running Start program at Eastern Washington University.

Last year, the young entrepreneur started a magazine called Contentious Times. She published nine issues but said she had to quit because she ran out of money. She estimated each month’s issue cost her $300. Even charging $3 an issue, Neff found herself in the hole.

The trip to nationals will cost between $1,000 and $3,000. Neff said she is considering putting together fund-raiser events to help pay her way.

Neff began the 2005-06 school year as a novice debater on first-year coach Mike Page’s team. She quickly moved up to the varsity level. She is the only varsity debater on the school’s team.

“I had no idea,” Page said about Neff’s ability “She’s off-the-charts very good.”

Nicole Bishop of Mead joined Neff in qualifying in the Lincoln-Douglas format, where debaters must prepare for both sides of the issues.

Neff and Bishop were well prepared for the resolution: Should juveniles who commit violent crimes be tried and punished as adults? Neff unanimously won five out of six rounds in the debate at Central Valley on Feb. 24 and 25, which qualified her for nationals.

Neff also will compete in extemporaneous and student congress at the state level, to be held over two weekends this spring.

Neff said would is considering a future as a political science writer. However, her ideal job would be to serve as an ambassador or diplomat.