he University of Rochester Debate Union is a co-curricular, intercollegiate activity competing both regionally and nationally. We are part of both the Department of English and the Student Association. Ken Johnson has acted as Director of Forensics for two years and has coached at the university for five years. Ken teaches a beginning Debate class every semester (ENG 135) and Advanced Debate in the Spring (ENG 136), for those who completed Debate I.

The team acts as both a forum for those who want an outlet for public speaking and those who want to feel competitive success. We require no prior experience and everyone is welcome to join. We encourage and foster novice through varsity debate beginning early in fall through March. There are NO tryouts! Join us today! In fact, in the 2005-2006 season, the University of Rochester Debate Team was ranked 8th in the nation by the National Debate Tournament, largely on the success of brand new debaters.

For the 2001-2002 season, the UR squad was ranked 1st in the nation by the NDT and 2nd by CEDA and ADA.

We are members of the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), the National Debate Tournament (NDT), the American Debate Association, and the Society Advocating More and Better Argumentation (SAMBA).

For MORE information, please go to: University of Rochester Debate Union. Meetings are Mondays and Thursday at 7:00 pm in Morey 100.

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