Personal Stories
Building My Academic and Intellectual Core: Brooke Kuhn
When I joined the UO Debate team I was not confident in my abilities as a speaker or researcher. I had tried debate formats in high school and found them wildly inaccessible to newcomers in a way that this department puts to shame. After only a few practices with Trond and all the coaching staff, as well as peer support, I found myself crafting arguments and excitedly planning for argumentative speeches I hoped to make at upcoming tournaments. The team meeting became the highlight of my week, and the tournaments the highlights of the year. Even though I had greater time commitments, I was able to be what I considered successful as a debater and a student, while having time for hobbies and part time work. When I think about the summit of my time at the U of O, I can picture how it felt when at the end of my senior year, I had been awarded the 5th place overall speaker at the year-end Tournament and Conference of Scholars.
How Forensics Elevated the University of Oregon: Tisha Oehmen
I was honored to represent the University of Oregon for three consecutive years at the National Individual Events Tournament, bringing national recognition to the program and the university. In addition, I contributed to campus and community life by helping run the annual High School Tournament while I was a team member, and later returning in a volunteer capacity to support its continued success. These experiences not only highlighted the strength of the UO Forensics program but also extended its impact by engaging and inspiring future generations of students.
Forensics and My Path to Leadership: Tisha Oehmen
Forensics taught me how to lead—how to stand up, speak with confidence, and share ideas that matter. The skills I developed in public speaking have carried into every aspect of my life and leadership, from facilitating conversations at local business meetings to guiding companies through the process of identifying their core essence and brand. Most importantly, I’ve been able to help business owners clearly and confidently establish their identities in the marketplace. None of this would have been possible without the foundation I gained through forensics.
Shaping My Career Beyond UO: Tisha Oehmen
Perhaps the most essential part of my college education was my participation in Forensics. The program taught me to critically analyze current issues and place them within broader frameworks, deepening my understanding of the world. Through countless hours of research, forming conclusions, and articulating the foundations of my reasoning—while also engaging with and challenging the perspectives of others—I gained invaluable experience in the marketplace of ideas. I rely on these skills of inquiry, dialogue, and critical reflection daily, both in my professional work and as an engaged human being in today’s sociopolitical climate.
Building My Academic and Intellectual Core: Tisha Oehmen
Learning how to research, take a topic, and examine it through multiple rhetorical frameworks taught me to see issues from different perspectives. Forensics gave me the ability to dissect and understand complex topics dispassionately, setting aside sophistry and emotion, leading to well-rounded and well-informed opinions. These skills are invaluable in today’s climate, where sophistry, headlines, and soundbites often dominate the conversation. The ability—and necessity—to pursue genuine understanding is more critical than ever, and forensics gave me the tools to do exactly that.
How I Found My Way to UO Forensics: Tisha Oehmen
The UO Forensics team played a pivotal role in my decision to transfer to the University of Oregon. Its rich heritage, longstanding history, and reputation for excellence made it, without question, the most compelling factor in my choice to attend.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Jessica Nevin
Forensics is crucial to the growth and success of so many programs and persons np matter what direction they may be heading. It’s an inclusive environment for true productivity and inspiration.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Kathleen Bauer
I chose the University of Oregon specifically for its debate team and the opportunity to join a renowned program with thought leaders shaping the future of the activity. Debate was my most formative classroom. It taught me to build arguments from evidence, listen deeply, and communicate clearly under real pressure—skills that now define my work. As a management consultant, specializing in change management for mental health and substance use disorder clinics, debate trained me to frame complex problems, ask insightful questions without alienating stakeholders, and deliver recommendations that are both compelling and accountable to facts that create real impact in people's lives and health. Arguing both sides built empathy and my coalition-building muscle. From this, I learned to anticipate objections, craft messaging for different audiences, and help organizations move through uncertainty and change. Debate gave me psychological safety practices before I had that language. It taught me active listening, separating people from problems, de-escalation, and resilience after tough rounds. The U of O debate team wasn’t just an activity; it was mentorship, leadership training, and a community that opened doors and helped build my confidence. Eliminating this program would remove a proven on-ramp for students to translate debate into real-world impact. I’m grateful for what UO Forensics (and especially what my coaches, David Frank, Rick Peacor, and Trond Jacobsen) made possible for me and it would break my heart to see its dissolution.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Peter O’Konski
In 2020, when all classes were online at UO, I took the CHC's debate course taught by Trond Jacobsen, Ph.D. Even virtually, Trond's commitment to facilitating rigorous research and high-quality discourse shone through. Now more than ever in this age of misinformation, being able to research the truth, recognize when others are using bad-faith arguments, and eloquently defend the facts are vital skills. Forensics should absolutely continue to be taught at the CHC.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Erin Casini
Mock trial provided me with a community to lean on and help me decide to take the leap of faith and go to law school. It taught me the skills of being a confident public speaker and basic trial skills that have made me successful in my career. I made life long friends that continue to encourage and support me to this day.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Alex Gardner
Forensics teaches critical thinking and communication skills, two of the most essential skills for any professinal (and both sorely lacking in many contemporary UO graduates.)
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Lisa Cornwell
I chose UO because of the department and the forensics program. My involvement over all my college years was critical to building my sense of self, my skills as an orator and my community within a large university. Forensics remains the most valuable part of my college career and I trust this is true for countless others. It would be tragic to see the program cancelled,
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Francesca Thuresson
My time in Forensics was short, but incredibly impactful. I participated on the debate team for one season as a part of a class, and by the end of that season I had won an award in communication and had indefinitely become a better advocate and diplomat. This program has been changing students for the better since its creation at the very start of the U of O. Let's not abandon it, and everything it has done for students and alum, now.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: George J. Tichy, II
I am an attorney with the firm of Littler Mendelson (formerly Littler, Mendelson, Fastiff, Tichy and Mathiason), one of the largest law firms in the world specializing in employment and labor law. When I first came to the firm in San Francisco, there were 5 lawyers. Today there are more than 1800 lawyers. Of the 5 name partners/shareholders, 3 of us were on the debate team at our respective colleges. I was on the debate team at Oregon; Wesley Fastiff was on the debate team at Tufts; and Garry Mathiason was on the debate team at Northwestern. I can tell you without equivocation that the forensics program was an important part of my development. I can't imagine Oregon not having a first rate and effective forensic program. Please retain the current program. It has benefited the students and the finances of the University with donations to various departments (not just forensics) such as the George J Tichy Employment and Labor Law Section of the University of Oregon Law School.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Clay McKean
I participated in debate from 2015-2017 and it was the most educationally rigorous and challenging as well as fulfilling part of my college experience.
I built comradery with teammates while learning how to construct, destruct, and work through arguments which has paid dividends in my professional career.
Almost 10 years after graduation I don't talk as much with my friends from class, dorms, fraternity, but I still stay in contact with every member of the debate team while I competed, and have used them as professional references to advance my career.
UO debate is one of the most decorated teams at the university and in the nation. Letting this program disappear would cause significant harm to the student body and reputation of the University of Oregon.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Angela Muniz
My time with the forensics team was vital to my career today. Being able to assess an issue and articulate my opinions in a fair and rational manor is something I still actively use. I also feel the experience has taught me to listen - a skill I use with my clients that helps me better serve them. Beyond the forensic skills, I remember the friends and instructors with fond memories. Such an important part of my time at the UO and in forming the person I am today.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Sean McKean
Forensics is draw that brought me to Oregon and my continued participation as a coach of the debate team is what caused me to continue my academic career at the law school. Forensics is singularly responsible for almost all of my career success and dismantling the institutional support would be a short-sighted and enormous loss to the University.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Charles Hillestad
It may have been the single most important thing I did at U of O to set me on my successful career path as an attorney for 43 years. The debate team competition and the individual speech competitions helped me immensely. How can you possibly not have such a program? In fact, it should be greatly expanded. It brought major honors to the school.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Sebastian Duffy
My experience in mock trial allowed me to travel, make lasting friendships, and compete with students from universities around the region. I was able to take on a leadership role, and win an award at the regional level. I have no doubt that my participation in Mock Trial has given me a competitive edge on the job market, as well as in further academic pursuits. Programs in the forensics department are exactly the kind that are worth the investment. They attract high achievers, build translatable skills in student members, encourage alumni donations, and increase the competitiveness of the university with other prestigious institutions in the region. The forensics program is highly affordable when considering all of these factors.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Robert Withycombe, Ph.D. (U of O)
I was a college debate competitor, high school coach, and college coach for more than 45 years. During that time I watched hundreds of students grow, mature, develop critical reasoning and presentation skills, and go on to have successful careers and lead productive lives. In the grand scheme of things, College debate is a low cost, high return opportunity that should be celebrated, not eliminated!
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.