51³Ô¹ÏÍø

SMU’s nationally ranked Debate Team competed in Marshall, Texas at East Texas Baptist University over the weekend of November 10-11 and came away with wins and accolades, including joining the ranks of the Top Ten U.S. debate teams as determined by the International Public Debate Association (IPDA). More than 70 universities and colleges participate in IPDA debates including University of North Texas, Texas Christian University, Texas A&M, University of Virginia, University of Tennessee and Idaho State University.

In current national rankings, SMU’s novice debate squad is ranked second, topped only by Union University of Jackson, Tenn. SMU’s combined novice/junior varsity/varsity squad is ranked seventh in the nation. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøstudents Matthew Lucci and Maggie Cook Allen are ranked first and third nationally as individual speakers in novice, the highest national squad rankings of 51³Ô¹ÏÍødebate in more than 10 years.

During the competition, Meadows film student Audrey Ngo (B.A. French ’20) was awarded highest-rated “first speaker” by the competition’s seven judges in the junior varsity division after completing a 5-2 record in preliminary rounds. Journalism, political science and human rights triple-major Connor Pittman (’21) scored three wins and four losses in the junior varsity division.

51³Ô¹ÏÍødebaters are coached by alumnus Jaden Warren (’17; top speaker at the 2016 Pi Kappa Delta National Forensics championships in Lexington, Ky.); 51³Ô¹ÏÍøLecturer in English Ross Sloan; and Keith Milstead, president of the International Public Debate Association. The 51³Ô¹ÏÍødebate program is directed by Meadows Associate Professor Dr. Ben Voth. The 51³Ô¹ÏÍødebate program is supported by 51³Ô¹ÏÍøMeadows School of the Arts and 51³Ô¹ÏÍøStudent Affairs.

Read more about 51³Ô¹ÏÍøDebate.