*NEW* All interested students are encouraged to fill out an application for the KU DEBATE SUMMER WORKSHOP. Fill one out even if you can't attend this summer and we will get in touch with you.
An Adventure In Competition, Learning, and Life!
Part of the Family
Being part of the debate team at KU is more than just participating in an extra-curricular activity. It's like being part of a large extended family. KU debaters are the benefices of a long tradition in debate and forensic activities dating back over three quarters of a century. Alumni are an important part of our family, but so are the faculty who work with us, the coaching staff, and the debaters themselves, who live, work, and socialize together. "You'll be hard pressed to find a nicer bunch of people to work and travel with," says former Assistant Coach, Kevin Minch. "Our debaters are genuinely friendly. They care about each other and their work. It shows in their performance and the way they work together."
Quality Training
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| Dr. Scott Harris, Director of Debate |
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KU debaters get the best coaching the University's resources can obtain. Dr. Scott Harris, Director of Debate, has coached at Wayne State University and Northwestern University while in graduate school, and at The University of Louisville as Director of Debate before coming to KU. He is the author of Advancing in Debate: Skills and Concepts (with George Ziegelmueller and Dan Bloomingdale) and has a lengthy record of winning teams to his credit. Harris is aided by a staff of three assistant coaches.
Jan Hovden
Phil Samuels (BA, Emporia State) Phil had a successful debate career at Emporia State. Phil qualified to the NDT all three years he debated and debated in the outrounds of both the NDT and CEDA Nationals. Phil has been coaching at KU for since 2004.
Sarah Topp
Success
KU Debate has a record of success unmatched in American debate. Entering 2000, KU had qualified more teams to the National Debate Tournament than any other debate program in America. It has had fourteen "Final Four" appearances (more than the men's basketball team) and won four national titles.
KU debaters have gone on to success after college as well. KU Debate alumni include lawyers, legislators, former state and federal attorney generals, prosecutors, and Justice Department officals, financiers, teachers, professors, artists, doctors, and civic leaders.
Competition
KU debaters travel widely -- regardless of their class level. Most years the entire squad travels to The University of Northern Iowa season opener. Then the team divides forces and travels regional and national circuits for the widest experience and best competition possible.
In the past few years, KU debate has criss-crossed the nation, from California to New York, from Texas to Illinois. Debaters drive in University vans or fly to their destinations all at the team's expense. Students do not pay for travel or for competition at KU.
Facilities
KU debaters have access to their own working space in KU's Bailey Hall. The team's squadroom is equipped with three high tech Dell Dimension computers, a laser printer, a photocopier, and all of the equipment necessary to produce quality briefs. Students can always use the squadroom as a place to hang out, do homework, search Lexis-Nexis, and check their latest e-mail messages.
Coming to KU
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| The KU Campus |
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If you are thinking about attending KU, you'll want to make the necessary arrangements to visit the campus, talk to admissions, meet with the coaching staff, and visit academic departments. We can help you to make those arrangements. If you want a recruitment packet, please direct a letter to:
KU Debate
The University of Kansas
Department of Communication Studies
B105 Bailey Hall
Lawrence, KS 66044
The packet includes an application to the University, background information on the team, information about scholarships and housing, and other helpful facts.
If you wish to make a campus visit and meet the members of the team and staff, please call at least two weeks in advance at (785) 864-9878. E-Mail can be directed to sharris@ku.edu. We will arrange for you to stay in the dorms or with one of our debaters, and acclimate you to the KU Debate environment. You can also click here to take a virtual tour of the KU campus
If you're already a KU student, call or stop by our offices in the sub-basement of Bailey Hall. We'd be happy to talk to you.
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