Members

enjoying Bradley University’s 75th Annual LE Norton memorial tournament.

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has been home to forensics societies since its founding. We have a tradition of Speech and Debate excellence.

In 1893, the University of Wisconsin debated the University of Michigan in the second intercollegiate debate ever held in the USA, according to some sources. Wisconsin speakers were American Forensics Association national champions in 1986 (afterdinner speaking), 1988 (informative speaking), and 1989 (communication analysis) and were National Forensics Association national champions in 1989 (rhetorical criticism and persuasive speaking) and 1990 (informative, persuasive, and rhetorical criticism).

Today members may compete in any of 11 forensics events—impromptu, prose, extemporaneous, rhetorical criticism, after-dinner speaking, dramatic interpretation, poetry, informative, persuasive, duo, or program oral interpretation—and two kinds of debate. In keeping with UW’s position as a university of global significance and the Wisconsin Idea, we debate in the World Universities Debating Championship format and in Civic Debates.

“Worlds” (also known as British Parliamentary) connects Badgers with students from around the world. It is accessible to new debaters and public audiences while also offering new strategic and competitive challenges to experienced debaters.

We also do Civic Debate. Civic Debate is unified by its desire to engage with stakeholders of contemporary issues, encourage scholarship, and promote service. In 2020 Badgers were recognized by the European Union’s Ambassador to the United States for a policy presented to the Delegation of the European Union to the United States.