Sitting at a table in their “squad room,” several members of the UW-Eau Claire forensics team looked through old team scrapbooks while eating pizza and laughing about the experiences they’ve shared since the beginning of the season.

In less than 30 hours, the team will be leaving, like they do almost every other year, to attend the 2006 National Forensic Association’s national conference, but this time they won’t have to go far.

After years of waiting for the opportunity, members are looking forward to having the tournament on their own turf – the Eau Claire campus.

Organizers expect between 800 and 1,000 competitors and judges from about 86 different schools from around the nation to be on campus for the five-day event, which begins tonight and runs through Monday.

“I’m definitely excited about it,” said senior Betsy Schroeder, captain of the forensics team. “It’s getting really exciting, and we’re pumped up for it.”

Although Eau Claire has been a participant in every NFA tournament since it began in 1971, this is the first time Eau Claire will host the national event.

“Eau Claire forensics has always been a program that has proven its excellence again and again,” said Karen Morris, senior lecturer of communications and director of the Eau Claire’s forensics program.

The event usually lasts two half-days on Thursday and Friday, but because this year’s tournament landed on the weekend of April break, the NFA executive council extended the length to five days.

“I thought it would be difficult because of the university being closed,” Morris said, “but everyone’s been very helpful.”

Although a few schools that usually attend the annual tournament decided not to come because of the competition dates, Morris said that additional schools that don’t usually attend have also registered.

In preparation for the tournament, the communication and journalism department created a course, “Event Planning and Communication,” that provided advertising and public relations students the opportunity to help plan the tournament.

“First I thought a class would be cool, but now I think a class is necessary,” she said, explaining that with a class of 35 students dedicated to organizing the event, her team has more time to prepare for the competition.

The class split into five different groups, each group taking a portion of the work needed to set up the event. Groups worked on projects ranging from designing and producing a program, setting up rooms for the events and creating T-shirts and other merchandise.

This year’s theme is that of “a good old-fashioned tournament,” Morris said, explaining that the event will feature vintage music, candy and games.

“If I didn’t have the support that I have, I wouldn’t feel the way that I do,” Morris said. “I’m excited.”

Morris is also a member of the NFA Executive Council and expects to be officially named vice president of tournament administration at the event.

“It’s kind of weird to have both those hats,” Morris said of being the program director at Eau Claire as well as a member of the Council.

“It was kind of strange to go bid in front of these people I’ve been working with for so long,” she said. “It was really nice to hear all the positive comments though.”

“All I know is how to run a tournament, and that’s what I’m doing.”

The team will “leave” Thursday night for the Holiday Inn, 2703 Craig Road, in order to put themselves in the mindset of Nationals, Morris said.

“You have to pretend you’re not from Eau Claire,” Morris said. “You’re not a host; you’re a competitor.”

Sophomore Hilary Rasmussen agreed, saying however that being able to compete at nationals without leaving Eau Claire can be an inspiration.

“It’s kind of nice we don’t have a 16-hour bus ride,” she said. “We’re very excited about having other teams come (to Eau Claire) and compete with us.”

“I’m so excited,” Rasmussen said. “I’m completely stoked.”