The UM Program excelled because of its support of the Miami Dade Urban Debate League which promotes debate opportunities for inner city youth, its hosting of public debate events including international teams, hosting of debate workshops and tournaments, participation and support of political debates, and its involvement with the ground breaking live internet debate program, “We The Students,” produced in cooperation with the Open Student Television Network.

David Steinberg, UM Debate Director and member of the UM School of Communication faculty since 1990, views receiving the Public Sphere Award as one of his program’s greatest achievements.  “All debate programs work for competitive tournament success, but few have been as innovative at serving their communities in socially positive ways as the UM team.  I am proud of the contributions we have been able to make through the support of the School of Communication and the University, as well as the Miami Ethics Programs,” said Steinberg.

In addition, the organization selected debate team graduate assistant, Nicole Richter, to represent the Southeast Region of CEDA as a final round judge for the national championship tournament, a rare opportunity awarded to only highly accomplished debate scholars.

Carrie Hanson, Debate Team member and University of Miami undergraduate English major, was also recognized as a team member of CEDA’s Scholastic All American Debate Team for 2007-2008. She will be joining a team of student debaters from throughout the nation, who have established excellent academic records as well as debate success.  This honor places Carrie among the top 5% of intercollegiate debaters.  At least one UM student has been named each year to the team since CEDA began its All American Team in 1990.

CEDA is the professional organization promoting and overseeing intercollegiate policy debate competition in the United States. For more information on the Cross Examination Debate Association, visit: http://www.cedadebate.org.
For more about “We The Students,” visit: http://ostnwethestudents.miami.edu/

About UM Debate: The UM Debate Team is a co-curricular activity sponsored by the School of Communication. Participation is open to any undergraduate student. UM is a member of the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), The National Debate Tournament (NDT), the American Debate Association (ADA) and Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha national forensics honorary (DSR-TKA). Team members compete in two-person team topic debate in Championship and Novice national competitions. The team also hosts on-campus events including public debates, intercollegiate tournaments, and a high school summer workshop, and hosts the Miami Dade Urban Debate League. For more information on the UM Debate Team, visit: http://debate.miami.edu/