Vanderbilt Debate

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

As a follow-up to the successful and illuminating Agnon Dialogues discussion on gun restrictions, Vanderbilt Debate lab is partnering with Vanderbilt Political Review, College Republicans and College Democrats to host a debate on gun control policy Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. Read More

The Dialogue Vanderbilt Public Debate Series is scheduled to kick off with a public debate on Friday, Feb. 2, at 6 p.m. The debate tournament will follow on Saturday and Sunday.  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

As part of Dialogue Vanderbilt, the debate team hosted an online event with the Rwandan National Debate Team on Nov. 29. Read More

Vanderbilt student Daniel Ardity earned a place on the U.S. Debate Team this year, an accomplishment that has allowed him to travel around the world while also continuing to hone his debate skills closer at home. Read More

Always at the helm of fostering campus dialogue, the Vanderbilt Debate team exists to provide on-campus, national and international educational opportunities that enable students to improve their analytical, communication, critical thinking, listening and research skills. Read More

Members of Vanderbilt Debate share how their participation on the team has contributed to a meaningful undergraduate experience. 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

The University of Mississippi teamed with Vanderbilt to host a debate exhibition on Feb. 3. The free event, part of an effort to increase civic engagement on Vanderbilt’s campus, drew an audience from the higher ed and Nashville communities.  Read More

Vanderbilt University invites the Nashville and campus communities to an exhibition on Friday, Feb. 3, designed to introduce the craft of debate to new audiences while exploring a timely topic. Read More