UAA wins bid to host 2015 US Universities Debating Championship
by Michelle Saport |
The Seawolf Debate Program successfully bid for the opportunity to host the 2015 United States Universities Debating Championship, set to occur on April 11, 12 and 13 in Anchorage.
The national championship, commonly referred to as USUDC, features between 100 and 200 of the best intercollegiate debate teams across America facing off in a series of preliminary and elimination rounds to determine the winners. The Seawolf Debate Program has a deep history of involvement with the USUDC. Since winning the national championship in 2005, Alaska teams have regularly advanced to the final rounds and earned top speaker awards. At this year's competition, the team brought home Quarterfinalist, 10th Place Speaker, Top Novice Speaker and Top Judge 2014 awards.
As a program that regularly travels to the lower 48 to compete, it is our pleasure to bring intercollegiate debating to the Anchorage community by hosting one of the most prestigious tournaments of the year. Building on the success of our public exhibition debates such as the UAA Vs. Yale Debate held this spring, we intend to afford the public an exclusive opportunity to participate by attending the final round of the national championship.
The host of the USUDC is chosen by representatives of the participating schools at the previous year's championship tournament through a competitive selection process. The 2015 tournament will be convened by Director of Debate Steve Johnson and Assistant Coach Amie Stanley. The organization committee also includes Tabulation Directors Steve Llano of St. John's University and Will Reilley of La Verne University, responsible for ensuring the competitive tabulation accuracy of the tournament. Kate Falkenstein of Yale University and Megan Towles of Carroll College will serve as the chief adjudicators, responsible for both the selection of debate topics and ensuring a high degree of judge quality for the competition.
If you would like more information, please contact:
- Amie Stanley at (907) 786-4395 or amiestanley@gmail.com; or
- Steve Johnson at (907) 786-4391 or steve.johnson@uaa.alaska.edu.
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