Debating provides hands-on experience speaking on important issues. You collaborate with teammates building a supportive group of friends that share your interests. Students from any major and regardless of experience are welcome to participate. With supportive coaching, our program builds your communication skills, allowing you to take on new challenges and accomplish the goals you want to achieve. Many of our debaters, with and without prior experience, have been extremely successful. We have won dozens of beginner and experienced awards including Top 4 in the nation first year team, Finals at Vanderbilt, NFC Silver award for a debate program, First Place Hatfield Tournament, and USU National Championship quarterfinalists.
We practice in-person on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the fall and continue on Thursdays in the winter and spring. You’ll be able to connect and talk with other students. We will debate and we will socialize—you and other students get to do most of the talking. Director Jim Hanson has run over 100 online debate programs including tournaments, summer camps, afterschool programs, and debate training and practice. Students have repeatedly said they were highly engaged, loved talking with other students, and learned important life skills that have made major positive differences in their lives and careers.
Participating on the Seattle University Debate Union is great training for your future career especially for lawyers, educators, marketers, scientists, social and political advocates, and any position where communicating effectively is important.
