Personal Stories
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Alan Mygatt-Tauber
I, along with my partner Heidi Ford, won the first National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, a national championship which is invite only and which Oregon has won many times since. We were recognized by the Provost and other academic leaders. We also put on several community events to highlight key issues of import to the campus and broader community.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Alan Mygatt-Tauber
I was one of the captains of the team my senior year and my participation in debate prepared me to serve within student government both at Oregon and in both law school and grad school. The leadership skills I learned propelled me throughout my academic and non-academic careers to leadership positions.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Alan Mygatt-Tauber
My time in debate prepared me to be a lawyer by honing my critical thinking skills and the ability to see all sides of an issue, how to recognize the strengths and weaknesses of an argument and to make strategic decisions about what arguments to pursue and which to abandon.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Alan Mygatt-Tauber
In went to Oregon over many other debate schools because of attending the high school tournament for four years as a student.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Kara Borden
I attended the University of Oregon high school tournament in 1998 during my first year in high school and winning that tournament in the junior division was a turning point in my career and made me think very favorably on the university based on how well it was hosted by then Director of Forensics Rick Peacor.
I ultimately won 5th place in the high school national tournament, a level that was unprecedented for a policy debater from Oregon. I applied to certain universities, and was accepted and recruited as a valued debater for multiple private schools, which included many calls from members of the debate team to encourage me to attend their university. I would not have applied to or attended UO without the debate program, regardless of receiving the Presidential Scholarship from UO that covered my full tuition or acceptance to the Clark Honors College. Simply put, without the debate program, or the recruiting efforts of a dedicated Director of Forensics, I would have never considered attending UO as a potential path forward.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Brendan Randall
For a fresh high school graduate going to college, adjusting to life away from home can be difficult. At such an early age, we aren't often thinking about professional development. Instead, early college is much like the high school we just escaped. The difference comes in when a freshman finds themselves, sometimes entirely on accident, in a program as robust and live-changing as university forensics. As a freshman, I was able to meet real state and federal judges, travel, and network in a way that often only those at elite private universities can do. This program, and others like it, is an important part of what allows the UO to stand on equal footing with other highly prestigious universities.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Brendan Randall
UO Forensics honed my passion for the eloquence that language can bring to everyday conversation. It also honed my passion for our legal system and showed me the importance that even a simple understanding of law has on our lives. Once I graduated, I put the advocacy skills I learned in Mock Trial to work in the City of Portland, working to help make the city a safer place for residents and visitors. I was proud to put what I learned at the UO to real-world practice.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Brendan Randall
Forensics introduced me to the real nitty gritty of the US legal system. I had always considered learning law, but ultimately it was UO Mock Trial that truly set me on that path. One of the most foundational experiences UO Mock Trial gave me was getting to observe a match judged by Chief Judge McShane for the District of Oregon inside of his own courtroom. It cannot be understated how incredible a position UO's forensics program inhabits. Few undergraduates can even hope to have the level of personal and professional development that the UO offers, and it is programs like Speech and Debate and Mock Trial that keep the UO at the top.
Ultimately, I returned to the UO to obtain my J.D. almost exclusively because my combined experience as an undergraduate duck made me want to come back. I knew that with programs like ours, I could be proud to come back and attend one of the best public universities in the PNW.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Brendan Randall
I was heavily involved in Speech and Debate in high school, and UO's robust forensics program played no small part in my later decision to matriculate at the UO. Though I ended up doing Mock Trial instead of Speech and Debate, my participation in UO Forensics played a significant part in my development as a fledgling college student. My early years simply would not have been the same without forensics.
Building My Academic and Intellectual Core: Isaac Gottesman
Forensics was the most important activity I participated in during high school and college. It provided the intellectual foundations for my professional life as a college professor and scholar. Forensics taught me how to conduct scholarly research, use evidence to support claims, engage in reasoned argument, see multiple sides to complex issues, pay attention to nuance in language, and to organize my thoughts so they are clear, coherent, and persuasive. I draw on my background in forensics every day—as a teacher, as a department chair, and as a scholar.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Isaac Gottesman
I competed in forensics at South Eugene HS and wanted to debate in college. Despite receiving forensics scholarship opportunities at other institutions, I chose to attend the UO Honors College because of its strong forensics program.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Greg Oakes
I coached at Lincoln HS for about 8 years after graduation. I attended UofO debate tournament in HS and came to UofO primarily due to my participation in UofO debate.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Greg Oakes
Major impact on my banking career and also impacted on my work with various non profits over the years in leadership positions. President and Treasurer on various non profit organizations to help my local community.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Greg Oakes
Participation was extremely impactful on my whole career. To build an argument and advocating for a position is crucial my entire banking career.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Greg Oakes
I attended UofO Tournament. I was recruited and participated in debate all four of my years.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Frances (Stern) Dudley
I have spent about 35 years bragging about being a part of this program. As a lifetime alumni association member, it is the first thing I think of when I think of my time there. It was a primary reason I wanted my daughter, also a debater, who is a Freshman this year, to go there.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Frances (Stern) Dudley
My ability to think and analyze on my feet in high conflict legal situations was enhanced in a manner that would not have been possible without it.
Building My Academic and Intellectual Core: Frances (Stern) Dudley
My participation in Forensics, both Speech and Debate, built my self-confidence, ability to see arguments from a variety of perspectives, and allowed me to thrive in my chosen profession. Friends I made during my years in the program last to this day.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: David Ross
While competing with UO Forensics, I spoke on the subject of water rights allocation at an international Tournament of Champions, facing off respectfully against a team from Kazakhstan. It's something I still think fondly about, & a subject which has become only more relevant with time.
Here’s How You Can Support the Legacy.
Oregon Forensics has always been more than competition — it’s community, confidence, and lifelong connection.
Here’s how you can help keep that momentum going.