Communication Studies

Summer is a time when students are free from school and parents scramble to find a camp their child can have fun in, but that is also educational. With so many camp choices, probably the hardest sell for a parent to make to their free-from-the-constraints-of-learning child would be... debate camp. I can hear the conversation now: "You mean a camp that's like school,” asks a dumbfounded child. "Kind of, but I swear it's fun," says a parent with a trembling voice. This is the part when tears and arguments start [...]

The University of Miami Debate Team completed its competition in Policy Debate ranked fourth nationally by the American Debate Association for 2014-15, rising two spots from sixth place in 2013-14. The nationally ranked second place Novice Debate squad and the nationally ranked second place Individual Novice Debate team drove this impressive performance. UM’s Junior Varsity squad placed fifth in the nation. Despite relying almost exclusively on students with no prior debate experience, UM’s team excels against programs with more coaches and more experienced high school debaters by relying on a [...]

On April 6, University of Miami’s Debate Team hosted a public debate with three collegiate debate champions from Ireland. The Irish debaters were winners in the Irish Times National Debate Championship earning them a tour of the United States, during which they participate in a series of audience debates. The Irish Debaters, Hugh Guidera and his partner Rónán O’Connor of Trinity College in Dublin, and Eoin MacLachlan of University College, also in Dublin, began their tour in early March in Spokane, Washington. After stops in Kansas City, Los Angeles, Denver, [...]

By Lizzie Wilcox Senior Spencer George has been a member of University of Miami’s debate team since the fall semester of his freshman year. He started debating a little in high school, but really got into it once he came to UM. George just wrapped up his debate career over spring break at the American Debate Association Nationals, where he was one of three finalists for the Julia Burke Award. “It’s an award given to individuals who are successful in debate competitively and also focus on reaching out to others, [...]

With the promise of cold weather and stiff competition, the University of Miami’s debate team travelled to Indiana to compete in the fifth annual Hoosier Invitational Tournament in Bloomington. From Jan. 31 to Feb. 2, the UM team debated their way to the top of the rankings. UM Novice Debaters clinched first and second place for the University of Miami. The UM team of Kladius Maynard and Lucas Baker won five of seven preliminary debates, advancing into the semifinal debate where they won a 3-0 decision over the team from [...]