Forensics Forecast: Tradition Meets Innovation at the University of Utah
The University of Utah’s John R. Park Debate Society is entering an especially exciting chapter—one that honors its storied history while creating new opportunities for students, faculty, and the community to participate in civic debate. With new leadership, a return to the tradition of policy debate, and novel initiatives, the 25-26 academic year promises to be a landmark moment for Utah forensics (speech and debate).
New Leadership and Vision
This year, the team welcomed a new director and coaching staff who bring expertise and deep roots in Utah forensics. Associate Director Duncan Stewart, joining us from a successful tenure at California State University Long Beach, and Assistant Director Averie Vockel, both alumni of the John R. Park Debate Society and former Utah high school debaters, offer a unique perspective that bridges the team’s past and future. Their leadership underscores a commitment to building on decades of the team’s competitive success in both speech and debate while embracing forward-looking, non-competitive, programs that broaden the impact of debate education.
As part of their new competitive curriculum, the John R. Park Debate Society will return to the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) this year, the largest intercollegiate policy debate association in the United States. This return marks a revival of Utah’s historic strength in policy debate.
Expanding Debate Across Campus
In partnership with the Provost’s Office and supported by a grant from the Arthur Vining Davis Foundation, the John R. Park Debate Society is piloting a new program named Debate Across the Curriculum. Already reaching more than 500 students, this initiative aims to bring debate education to classrooms across all colleges on campus. This program provides students the opportunity to engage in guided debates on topics core to their coursework. The goal of the Provost's Office and Debate Society is to bring public deliberation and advocacy exercises to classrooms that may not otherwise get to experience debate education. If you’d like to host a participatory in-class debate in partnership with Debate Across the Curriculum, reach out to forensics@utah.edu.
Mission
While many programs nationwide specialize in either elite competition or public debate, Utah continues to excel at both. The team’s work is grounded in three pillars: competition, community engagement, and public deliberation.
Competition
Utah debaters are preparing for a strong competitive season, team leadership is aiming for each member to qualify for the National Forensics Association (NFA) tournament while creating break out success at CEDA after a more than 20-year hiatus. Meeting these goals would mean that each student is proficient in both speech and debate at the highest levels of competition. These formats emphasize deep investigative research and public address techniques—skills that have long defined the program’s national reputation.
Community Engagement
Forensics at Utah extends beyond campus and aims to provide platforms for civic participation among Utah’s communities. Notably, the Refugee Debate League, now in its fourth semester, was created in partnership with the Utah Department of Workforce Services and the Refugee Services Office. This program is a way for refugee youth to participate in debate and create pathways to higher education. Led by Averie Vockel, the Refugee Debate League involves full-team participation from coaches to undergraduates. Beyond this, the debate society has a rich history of engaging with high school debate. This is most prominent through their annual Beehive Bonanza debate tournament which continues to bring thousands of high school students and parents from across five states to campus, fostering the next generation of debaters and strengthening Utah’s presence in the region.
Public Deliberation
In addition to classroom partnerships, the John R. Park Debate Society is committed to being a site for public disagreement to happen in accessible and transparent ways. In line with this, the team plans to host two public events that bring campus and community voices together. Public debates will feature moderated discussions between local leaders and community members on topics of public concern. More information will be shared about this semester’s public debate soon.
Conclusion
For more than a century, the John R. Park Debate Society has been one of the oldest and strongest in the western United States. Today, it remains dedicated to its core mission. With energized leadership, new campus partnerships, and continued excellence in competition, the team is positioned to remain a multifaceted national leader.
Faculty, alumni, and friends of the program are warmly invited to engage with the team by attending events, mentoring students, or supporting initiatives. To learn more or get involved, contact forensics@utah.edu.