UW Speech and Debate: A Tradition of Excellence

The Wyoming Speech and Debate Union, AKA UW Debate, is a co-curricular activity sponsored by the Department of Communication and Journalism and the College of Arts and Sciences. Participation is open to any undergraduate student. The team travels nationally to from fifteen to twenty intercollegiate tournaments each academic year. UW is a member of the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), The National Debate Tournament (NDT), the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) and the National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE). Team members compete in two-person debates in policy (CEDA/NDT) and parliamentary (NPDA/NPTE) debate formats. The team also hosts on-campus events including public debates, intercollegiate tournaments, and high school and college summer workshops.

 

The University of Wyoming's Speech and Debate tradition began around 1912, with the formulation of a triangular debate league with teams in Colorado.  The Cowboys were the first regional team to successfully demand the inclusion of women in debate competition, and UW has been a dominant national presence in intercollegiate debate for the past eight decades.

 

The Wyoming Speech and Debate Union operates under the premise that intercollegiate debate is a uniquely rewarding educational experience, enhanced by competitive success and ethical conduct. Commitment and excellence are the foundation of a quality program. Debate is an activity designed to enhance the student's academic experience and to complement the curriculum. It is always remembered that academic coursework is the highest priority for the college student. To be eligible for team travel, the student must maintain a 2.5 grade point average and be in good standing in all coursework. Course Credit and scholarships are available for debate participation.
 

Mission Statement:

 

It is the mission of the Wyoming Speech and Debate Union:

 

...to provide participating students a valuable educational activity with a primary emphasis on intercollegiate debate competition;

 

...to present public debates, host debate competitions and instructional institutes, and to expose the University and the surrounding community to the democratizing and dialectical educational benefits of debate;

 

...to offer debate activities which improve critical thinking, research skills, ethical argumentation, advocacy, analysis, persuasion, oral presentation, listening, organization, teamwork, group problem solving, citizenship, and leadership.

 

Debate is a valuable alternate to the violence of physical conflict and the silencing effects of totalitarianism. To that end, UW debaters are instructed to demonstrate self-discipline, maturity, responsibility, solidarity and respect for all participants at all times.

 

UW SPEECH AND DEBATE PRESIDENTS:

2006-2007:            WILL JENSEN   
2007-2008:            ANTHONY ROBERTS

2008-2009:            LINDSEY DEVRIES