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Public Debate at UM in November 2021
Members of the Warren Debate Union at the University of Alaska Anchorage
Director of Forensics Dr. Jacob Justice
Clark, a sophomore, defends his argument.
Student members of the Warren Debate Union posed in front of classroom buildings at the University of Denver

Warren Debate Union

Be intuitive, be creative, be brilliant. 

The Ty R. Warren Debate Union, an intercollegiate body of undergraduate students, engages global communication through British Parliamentary/Worlds Style Debate on campus, within our region, nationally, and around the globe.

Joining the Warren Debate Union is a fantastic way to

  1. improve your speaking and research skills
  2. make friends with likeminded students that love arguing
  3. travel to amazing locations across the nation
  4. have fun

Now housed under the Department of Writing and Rhetoric at The University of Mississippi, the Warren Debate Union challenges students of all majors and backgrounds to think critically and improve their communication skills through debate and public speaking. Staging the debate on campus through their involvement and providing opportunities for public engagement annually, the Warren Debate Union is proud to host an annual high school invitational tournament recognized by the Mississippi High School Activities Association, the National Speech and Debate Association, and the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions; assist in the development and annual operation of Speaker’s Edge, a competitive speaking event for our MBA, Masters in Accountancy, and Juris Doctor Programs; and present public debates for the evaluation of the Lafayette-Oxford-University community.

Competing student members represented the University proudly in competitions during the 2021-2022 season at Vanderbilt University, Denver University, and the University of Alaska at Anchorage. Encouraging others to speak to their passions, members of the Warren Debate Union lead by example.

In the past, WDU have served their community by hosting a fundraising event for the Sunflower County Freedom Project, an educational non-profit in the Mississippi Delta. This event not only raised money for a great cause, but piloted a new form tournament, focused on communication as opposed to competition.

For further information about joining the team and our weekly meetings please contact Dr. Jacob Justice, Director of Forensics, at jwjustic@olemiss.edu or debate@olemiss.edu.

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