Whitman has a storied history in Debate & Forensics, beginning in the 1980s with literary societies. The Whitman College Debate & Forensics team is among the most successful collegiate forensic programs in the country, and offers comprehensive intramural and interscholastic competitive debating and speaking. Team members are focused on critical literature, parliamentary case writing, interpretatio
n, and current event research appropriate for individual events, including practice drills, strategy sessions, and practice debates. Whitman’s debate and forensics team travels extensively to regional and national tournaments and engages with the highest quality competition. At the interscholastic level, the Whitman Debate & Forensics team competes in Parliamentary debate, Public Forum Debate, IPDA, as well all American Forensics Association events. Whitman’s excellence in debate and forensics is reflected in hundreds of awards and consistent yearly placement among the top national teams, including several national championships in parliamentary debate. Whitman debaters have advanced to elimination rounds at over 90% of the tournaments they have attended in the past thirty years. Additionally, in 2022/2023 the team has expanded into a full service program bringing home a 4th place sweepstakes trophy at the program's first comprehensive nationals, Pi Kappa Delta, as well as a Junior Varsity Public Forum National Title at the same tournament. Additionally, Whitman students placed 6th and 3rd in Open Editorial Impromptu. Outside of competition, you can find the Whitman Debate & Forensics team engaging in various community service endeavors such as; work with the Portland Urban Debate League, Toastmasters with the Oregon State Penitentiary, and volunteering with local K-12 schools. To find out more information, visit us at https://www.whitman.edu/life-at-whitman/whitman-debate-and-forensics
If you want to apply to join the team (scholarships available) reach out to [email protected]
If you want to support the team please check out https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/7878/donations/new
