Tags: Public Debate

Mission Statement: The University of Georgia Debate team is committed to facilitating a positive policy debate experience for students in an inclusive environment.

Watch our current recipients of the Richard B. Russell scholarship battle it out over whether the United States should allow for oil and gas drilling in the outer continental shelf!  A huge thanks to the Russell Foundation, the Special Collections Library, and friend of the program/GA Tech debater Ricardo Saenz for his great audio/camera work! 

The Georgia Debate Union and the Richard B. Russell Library are excited to announce the 1st Annual Russell Scholars Debate.  The topic will be whether or not the Federal Government should substantially increase domestic energy production in the United States. On the affirmative will be Robert Galerstein and Shyam Shanker while Austin Layton and Chetan Hebbale will go negative.  The debate is scheduled for April 25th, 7pm at the Special…

UGA had a strong first semester, earning the top ranking in the Southeast from the Cross Examination Debate Association. The team would like to thank our debaters, coaches, and alumni for helping to make this possible.  The team is now on the home stretch. Headed to Districts this weekend, the team hopes to qualify a team for the National Debate Tournament for a 24th consecutive season. Also of note, the team is hosting numerous on-campus…

The Georgia Debate Union is proud to participate in a perrenial debate. The Great Debate between Booker T. Washington's economic theory and W.E.B. Dubois' education theory will be applied to the contemporary times.  The debate will be held on February 21, 2013 in Demosthenian Hall at 5 pm. We would encourage anyone interested to arrive early as securing seating may be difficult for this exciting event! Downloads Flyer for BTW WED Debate

Ed Panetta will be providing real time Twitter commentary to CNN HLN for the first presidential debate.   

On October 13th, the University of Georgia Debate Union will host the Southern regional championship of the Great Communicator Debate Series.  This is a national competition sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Foundation.   The regional tournament will draw students from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee.  The student who wins the tournament in Athens will compete in the national finals at the…

On November 30th, 2010, the Georgia Debate Union hosted a public debate on United States immigration policy. Junior Mike Lacy and Sophomore Austin Layton debated the question of whether allowing greater immigration of skilled workers to the United States would advance US interests in the 21st century. Despite rain that evening, a crowd of UGA students and staff made the trip to observe the debate at the Tate Student Center.

UGA graduate assistant coaches Rob Mulholand and John Turner recently squared off in a public debate about nuclear weapons policy. Further information is available here: http://www.redandblack.com/2010/02/23/group-debates-nuclear-issues/

Michael Waldman (L) and Andrew Napolitano Debate Abortion Photo Credit: Video Still from The Red & Black On October 15, the University Student Union at UGA hosted a public debate between Michael Waldman and Andrew Napolitano on the issue of abortion.  Waldman, who was Director of Speechwriting for President Clinton from 1995-1999, advocated abortion rights and Napolitano, former judge and law professor turned FOX…