Speech and Debate Team
The East Tennessee State University Speech and Debate Team is a student organization that provides university students with a place to sharpen their rhetorical communication skills. We meet on campus each week during the spring and fall semesters. Our members are encouraged to pursue competitive goals at local, regional, state, and national speech and debate tournaments. We train to compete in Parliamentary Debate (NPDA), one-on-one debate (IPDA), and Individual Events (IE). Students who attend our meetings regularly and compete at tournaments can earn 1 or 3 credit hours for their participation.
Donna J. Taylor, Director taylordj1@etsu.edu
Laughton Messmer, Debate Coach messmer@etsu.edu
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Find Us
The ETSU Speech and Debate Team maintains an open-door policy. Any university student who is interested in learning more about our program is welcome to stop by one of our weekly meetings, follow us on social media, or e-mail the Director at taylordj1@etsu.edu
Speech and Debate Team Meetings
Thursday, 5:00-7:00 P.M.
D.P. Culp Student Center Room 303Instagram www.instagram.com/speechanddebateatetsu
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In the News
April 2023
Senior Communications Major Brooke Hornberger attended the American Forensic Association (AFA) National Forensics Tournament hosted by Santa Ana Community College in Santa Ana, CA. After receiving the prestigious recognition of an 'All American' Award* during the opening ceremony, she went on to become a Quarterfinalist in Prose and was the 6th Place Finalist in Dramatic Interpretation. Brooke’s combined points earned ETSU a 5th Place Limited Entry Team Sweepstakes Trophy.
*The 'All American' award is given to senior students who have not only excelled in the competitive realm of forensics competition but who have also demonstrated exceptional scholarship and service at their institutions.
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Competitive Events
The ETSU Speech and Debate Team trains to compete in a variety of individual and team events. The events are as follows:
- Debate:
- NPDA
- IPDA
- Individual Events
- Informative
- Persuasive
- After Dinner Speaking
- Communication Analysis
- Prose
- Dramatic Duo
- Program Oral Interpretation
- Dramatic Interpretation
- Poetry
- Impromptu
- Extemporaneous
- Debate:
Course Credit Option
COMM 2325 Speech and Debate Team (1 to 3 credits)
Provides participation opportunities in the department’s Speech and Debate Team, which competes in tournaments with other schools. Team meetings cover study and practice of delivery skills, debate case construction, various speech genres, and other topics relevant to inter-collegiate competition. Repeatable for up to 6 credit hours.
For more information contact Laughton Messmer at messmer@etsu.edu
Creative Arts Scholarship
The Creative Arts Scholarship Program is for first-time, out-of-state graduate, and undergraduate students, including international and transfer students. Applicants must be accepted to ETSU before they will be considered for a Creative Arts Scholarship. These scholarships are available to Communication Studies majors, as well as any student pursuing a minor in Communication Studies or Storytelling. Scholarships are awarded for 8 semesters (does not include summers). Recipients of the Creative Arts Scholarship can attend ETSU at the tuition rate equivalent to the in-state rate.
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Additional Requirements for the CAS Scholarship with the Speech & Debate Team
- Register for COMM 2325.
- Attend weekly meetings.
- Compete in three tournaments per semester.
- Participate in team service activities (e.g., recruitment, hosting, fundraising).
For more information visit https://www.etsu.edu/cas/creative-arts-scholarship/