Debate Team

In August 2023, the university launched Dialogue Vanderbilt, its core initiative to bridge divides, reestablish a vibrant culture of civil discourse and free expression, and showcase experts from on campus and around the world, leading the charge to build more engaged citizens and communities.  Read More

The tournament, scheduled for Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, is recognized as the largest college debate competition in the world, attracting more than 400 teams from educational institutions across the globe. This is the third time Vanderbilt Debate will participate in face-to-face debates at the WUDC, having previously represented the university in 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand, and in 2022 in Madrid, Spain. The team’s participation underscores Vanderbilt’s commitment to fostering intellectual rigor and global engagement through the art of debate.  Read More

Vanderbilt Debate will host an open house, public debate and alumni reunion on Friday, Nov. 3. This event series is an opportunity to reflect on the history of debate at Vanderbilt, connect with alumni, explore the new debate space and hear about where Vanderbilt Debate is headed next. The event is open to the public, and attendance from past and present Vanderbilt Debate students is strongly encouraged.  Read More

A team of students from Vanderbilt University competed against many of the top debate teams in the nation at the recent European Union-sponsored Schuman Challenge, an annual foreign affairs contest for undergraduate students in the U.S. It provides competitors a chance to present and defend transatlantic policy recommendations in front of a panel of judges.   Read More

With consequential midterm elections less than one month away, the Vanderbilt University Debate Team will host an intercollegiate debate this weekend on how to improve U.S. election processes and boost voter turnout. The event will be on Saturday, Oct. 15, at The Commons Center Multipurpose Room. Read More

Vanderbilt's debate team guru, M.L. Sandoz, has been honored for encouraging public debate by students of all ages. Read More

Top scholars from Vanderbilt's undergraduate and professional schools were honored with Founder’s Medals May 9, 2014. Read More

(Anne Rayner/Vanderbilt) Young debaters from John Early Middle School and Henry Maxwell Elementary School were named the champions of the Metro Elementary Debate League after a debate held at Vanderbilt University. The debate, judged and coached by members of the Vanderbilt Debate Team, was held… Read More

Senior Lecturer in Communication Studies M.L. Sandoz (center) was presented with the Chancellor's Cup by Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos and president of the Nashville Vanderbilt Chapter MaryNell Bryan. (Joe Howell/Vanderbilt) M.L. Sandoz, senior lecturer in communication studies and director of Vanderbilt’s debate team, received an unexpected visitor… Read More

At the 2012 American Debate Association National Championship, Xin (Malia) Zhan and Saad Rehman took home the championship in the JV division, with Rehman also winning the Top Speaker Award in that division. (Photo provided by Vanderbilt Debate Team) The Vanderbilt debate team ended its year with some notable… Read More

(Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Debate Team) Members of the community will have a chance to see two of Vanderbilt’s top debaters in action Friday afternoon in Buttrick Hall. Vanderbilt sophomores Saad Rehman and Karl Gressly, last year’s American Debate Association national champions in novice debate, will square… Read More