The University of Oregon Ducks Debate and Speech Team
This is the homepage of the 2009 and 2011 national champion UO forensics program. Debate at Oregon is a co-curricular, competitive event open to all undergraduates students attending the University of Oregon. Email us: UODEBATE@GMAIL.COM
Program History
The University of Oregon Forensics Program was founded alongside the University in 1876. Initially the program consisted of two student formed forensic societies. These developed into “doughnut league” inter-dorm competitions in the 1890s. And in 1891, the UO began intercollegiate competition; starting with a debate against Willamette University on a labor topic. By 1911, the team was so successful we were able to charge admission to debates. One of our favorite points of history: proceeds from these early campus debates funded the start-up of the University of Oregon football program. The UO Forensics team holds regular campus debates to this day.
Any UO student can join the UO Debate and Speech Team. The team is largely funded by the Incidental Fee, and overseen by the Associated Students of the University of Oregon (the UO student government). To learn more about the ASUO and other student funded, student governed programs, visit asuo.uoregon.edu.
The UO Forensics Team is both a Debate and Speech Program. For more information on the events we offer, click here.
Every winter the team hosts the Robert D. Clark high school debate tournament (formerly known as “Bower Aly”). The largest in the Pacific Northwest, the Clark Tournament brings over 600 high school students and coaches to campus to compete in various forms of competitive speech and debate.
In August the team hosts the Oregon Debate Institute. The ODI is a one-of-a-kind, two week institute offering all levels of education in the arts of forensics.
The team travels extensively throughout the United States, competing at 10-12 tournaments between September and March. These tournaments give Oregon students a unique opportunity to compete against and learn from some of the nations most critically minded students and professors as well as to travel to and experience college communities across the country.
The team is growing rapidly. If you would like to be a part of the UO Debate and Speech team, or give a tax deductible donation to the team, please contact the UO Debate & Speech coaching staff at uodebate@gmail.com.
