The University of Texas at Dallas speech team continues to grow and improve its program, earning second place in a statewide spring tournament. At the Texas Intercollegiate Forensic Association (TIFA) state tournament in February, team members also placed second and third in several categories, including national parliamentary debate, international public debate, extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. “To go to the state tournament and to do that well — especially among the larger teams from Texas State University and UT Austin – was tremendous,” said Gooch, who also is the head of communication studies in the Bass School. I expect very good things to happen.”Student Media Win Awards at Statewide ContestUniversity of Texas at Dallas student media received seven awards at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association annual conference this spring. UT Dallas’ student newspaper, The Mercury, which competed in the Division 1 category, earned second-place honors for Editorial and Feature Page/Spread Design-Newspaper, and third-place awards for Cover Design-Newspaper and Overall Design-Newspaper.