Southern Methodist University Debate

Our 2025 calendar report

2025 year long report Debate SMU recording Director of Debate and Speech and Professor of Rhetoric Dr Ben Voth explains the activities of the SMU Debate and Speech program for calendar year 2025.

Join us for debate instruction tonight

https://www.youtube.com/live/JQko42La7Js?si=njbjnWe_uDNVk33q

2025 ACC Debate Tournament Final Round - SMU vs Wake Forest This year’s topic is “Resolved: Washington D.C should be granted statehood"Speech Times:1st Affirmative 6 MinutesCross examination by 2nd Negative Speaker, 4...

Eric Ryan won top speaker at IPDA nationals today.

Brandt Vernon was second speaker in professional division.

Six students advanced to elimination rounds.

Three students advanced to the quarterfinals in professional, varsity and novice divisions

SMU was 7th in natatoriumional sweepstakes

Eric Ryan, Sophia Graham, Brett Russell, Sarah Tedesse, Brandt Vernon, and Evangeline Bulick advanced to the elimination rounds of the National Championship for IPDA debate in Houston. More than 300 competitors nationwide attended the competition among more than 45 collegies and universities across America. Competing universities included: Abilene Christian, Arkansas Tech, Boise State, California State, Dallas Baptist, Grand Canyon University, Lewis & Clark, Louisiana Tech, Marshall University, Middle Tennessee State University, Mississippi State, Oral Roberts, San Jose State, Texas State, University of Arkansas, University of Nevada Reno, Weber State, and William Carey. SMU qualified elimination round competitors in three of the four divisions. SMU won 58 percent of its preliminary rounds.

Congratulations to Brett Trussell and Megan Watson who advanced to the quarterfinals of novice and junior varsity debate at the University of Central Arkansas tournament this weekend.

Five students and Dr. voth are on their way to South Korea for the international Forensics association tournament. They will compete for two days in speech and debate events.

SMU debate took 18 competitors to the Dallas Baptist University debate tournament (February 7-9) and took Second place overall behind Abilene Christian University. SMU won the championship for the professional division that allows coaches, undergraduates and graduated professionals compete against each other. SMU’s champion— a Dallas area attorney, Brandt Vernon— is also the 2024 National Champion in professional division debate. Megan Watson was a finalist in the junior varsity division of the tournament. New SMU debater and first year student Sarah Tadesse was a semifinalist in Novice debate along with Sophia Graham. New SMU debater Atina Nikpour was an octafinalist in novice.

Sophia Graham was the top speaker in novice. Atina Nikpour was the fifth speaker in novice. Paul Wuller was the second speaker in the junior varsity division. Brandt Vernon was the second speaker in the professional division.

Take a look at our successful program activity for 2024:

2024 SMU Debate in Review SMU debate activity during the 2024 calendar year. This includes our public debates, tournament competitions, special academic activities and international ...

Proud of the SMU debaters winning the junior varsity championship and the team varsity championship here in Tulsa. All the students are doing a great job from varsity to novice.

We do more debate on Sunday.

Won the DFW debate tournament October 4-5