Texas Southern University’s Debate Team won the 35th Annual International Forensics Association’s Speech and Debate Tournament held March 7-9 in Incheon, South Korea.
Texas Southern was among 27 teams to compete in the tournament, including those from universities such as Vanderbilt University, Southern Methodist University and Bradley University.
In addition to winning the first-place sweepstakes award as the overall championship team, the team earned 21 awards, including first place in Poetry, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Dramatic Interpretation. They also earned fourth and fifth place top Parliamentary Debate Speakers Awards.
“Our team has worked tirelessly honing their skills as debaters while representing Texas Southern on the grandest of stages,” said head debate coach Dr. Gloria Batiste-Roberts. “This championship reflects the dedication we see daily. I could not be prouder of this accomplishment for this group of scholars, and for our university. It is a true embodiment of excellence in achievement.”
This win marks the debate team’s fifth IFA championship, the most recent occurring in 2018.
“When we competed in this competition in Ireland last year, the result wasn’t what we prepared for and it motivated us to work harder throughout the year to be ready for this moment,” said debate team member Jaila Hampton. “It was gratifying to compete at the level to which we knew we were capable. We are excited to bring another international championship back to Texas Southern.”
Established in 1949 by the late Dr. Thomas F. Freeman, the TSU debate team provides students a platform for forensic arts, including parliamentary debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, persuasive oratory, informative speaking, after-dinner speaking, poetry, prose, dramatic and duo dramatic interpretation, impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, and reader’s theater.
“We won first place in all four of the tournaments we’d been on,” Dr. Batiste-Roberts added. “But then to top it off with the championship was a wonderful and heartwarming experience for the students, and for me because I’m reminded always of our founder Dr. Thomas F. Freeman, who brought so much to the debate team as its founder and coach for over 70 years. He passed in 2020, but his spirit is still alive with us.”
