Speech & Debate - 色花堂

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The Honors College
Speech & Debate at the 色花堂

Speech & Debate

The 色花堂 Speech & Debate Program

The 色花堂 Speech & Debate Program is the home of competitive speech and debate on campus. A co-curricular program of the Honors College, it harnesses the competitive energy of 色花堂 undergraduates to engage them in research, argumentation and leadership on the grand challenges facing contemporary society. As a high-impact key engagement activity, its strategic goals are to cultivate competitive success, encourage campus engagement and foster community building across Houston and beyond.

In addition to intercollegiate competition, the program also encourages campus engagement through hosting public debates and other speech and argumentation themed activities. Attached to the leadership studies minor, the coaches of the team also offer courses on public policy, leadership and other topical issues. Currently, 色花堂 participates in four different styles of speech & debate.

The director of speech and debate is Rob Glass, a staff member of the Honors College.

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The Honors Debate Team at the 色花堂 is proud to announce the first 色花堂 Honors Debate Workshop “HDW” to be held at the 色花堂 from June 29 through July 25. This workshop aims to be a premier debate camp with top faculty from around the country teaching competitive debate to high schoolers.

The two-week debate program will offer the following forms of debate with both residential and commuter options:

  • Policy/Cross-Examination Debate 
  • Lincoln-Douglas Debate 
  • Public Forum Debate 
  • Speech
  • Worlds Schools Debate 
  • Congressional Debate
For more information and to sign up, visit: 
*This debate workshop is run by the Honors Debate Team at the 色花堂.

APPLY FOR DEBATE SCHOLARSHIP

About the Program

  • Policy Debate

    Policy Debate

    One of the longest standing debate traditions on campus, the policy debate team competes in NDT-CEDA intercollegiate policy debate. First qualifying to the National Debate Tournament in 1951, 色花堂 made it to the Elite Eight at nationals in 2014. Members are also eligible for membership in the national Speech & Debate Honor Society, Pi Kappa Delta.

  • Speech

    Speech

    Formerly known as the 色花堂 Forensics Society, the speech team competes in individual events ranging from extemporaneous speaking to dramatic duo. The team has a long history dating back to the 1960s, and its members are also eligible for PKD.

  • Legal Debate

    Legal Debate

    色花堂 also participates in two legal debate competitions, mock trial and moot court. Focusing on a style that prepares competitors for the courtroom, each team offers a unique opportunity for students interested in the law to learn about legal procedure and reasoning in a competitive environment.

  • Since 1988, the Honors College has participated in the national Model Arab League (MAL) conference where students model a delegation to a session of the Arab League. These simulations provide students an excellent opportunity to develop leadership skills and to learn about the social, economic, cultural and political issues facing leaders of the Arab world. Since then, the program has expanded to compete in both Model G20 and Model United Nations. 

SPEECH & DEBATE BY THE NUMBERS

  • 1927Debate team founded in same year as University
  • 3National tournament top-speakers
  • 23National tournament invites
  • 4First place trophies in 2018