• Welcome
• Programs
  • Intercollegiate Debate
  • International Debate
  • Public Advocacy
  • Intercollegiate Speech
• Events
• Staff
• Scholarships
  • First Year Student Application (DOC)
  • Continuing Student Application (DOC)
• Supported Associations
• Policies
  • General Requirements for Participation
  • Specific Requirements for Participation
  • Responsibilities
• Roster
• Alumni Information
• Student Travel Schedule
• Recent Awards

Welcome

The Willamette University Debate Union (WUDU), established in 1856 as the Philomathean Society, is the oldest in the Western United States. The Debating Union, a co-curricular program of the College of Liberal Arts, is designed to provide opportunities for students to improve their skills in argumentation, advocacy, and public performance.

The Debating Union is designed to serve a variety of students: those who want to make speech and debate a central part of their college experience and those who want speech or debate to be one aspect of a varied college education. Both groups can find a home in the Willamette University Debating Union. All WUDU students are expected to maintain good grades and to make regular progress toward their degrees. Any full-time student of the College who meets the minimum grade-point requirements is eligible to be a member of the WUDU. WUDU includes of some of the university's best and brightest students—students who maintain high grades while being active in speech, debate, and other extracurricular activities.

WUDU students participate in debate and individual events. Debaters participate in parliamentary debate as sponsored by the National Parliamentary Debate Association and the International Debate Education Association and individual event speakers participate in events sponsored by the American Forensic Association. WUDU also offers opportunities for participation in International Debate and Public Debate activities.