Personal Stories
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Michael Buseman
Public speaking does not come naturally to most folks. So, when you combine that experience with the fundamentals of research you get something that is unique out of the program. Absolutely necessary for the practice of law. More importantly, perhaps, is the opportunity for high school students to also have the opportunity to be in a group that focuses on communication. I personally feel that speech itself has become misunderstood, and is under threat. I can’t imagine taking away something so fundamental at the university level.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Kevin Boyer
I was the Director of Debate under David Frank from 1986 to 1988. David recruited me to attend UO for my master's degree and direct the program after I won the CEDA national championship in 1986 and Oregon's reputation was stellar.
I saw first hand how transformative competitive debate was for each of the students who participated, the impact they brought to the rest of their classes, and the pride of their success throughout the university. I'm heartbroken at the thought that these experiences won't be available to UO students, or that they'll be at risk every year if a student club model is adopted. Competitive speech & debate deserves to be funded fully, especially in a world where $40M plus is spent on football and $140M plus is spent on sports overall. No, debate doesn't draw booster money like football. Yes, it's worth being fully funded. Please, please change this decision.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Garret Simmer
Oregon Forensics was an incredible program for me, and allowed me to compete in mock trial on a team of like-minded individuals. It also helped inspire me to go to law school, which I am doing now. The forensics program is important and should stay alive.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Jean M. Ward, PhD
Today, at age 87, I cannot imagine my life, including my professional success, without the extremely valuable and challenging experiences of my undergraduate years in the U of O Forensics Program, coached then by N. Scott Nobles. Forensics contributed greatly to my major and success as a student, strengthened my graduate work, and eventually influenced my teaching, first at the high school level, where I taught U.S. History and coached Debate, and two years later at the college level, where I taught and served in the administration for 42 years.
Please realize both the historic and current importance of forensics at the U of O, and keep this essential program strong now and for future generations. When reason and logic are so often ignored, what better way to learn the important skills of research, critical thinking, listening and speaking! What better way to bring some hope to the world!
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Robert Taylor
As a high school speech and debate competitor, nothing opened my eyes to the wider world than my first trip to the Oregon High School tournament. As a senior from Beaverton HS, I was named the outstanding competitor at that competition. It was, even more than qualifying for the National Forensics Tournament, the highlight of my HS career.
I chose to attend UO as a National Merit Finalist. Neither of my parents made it longer than a year in college. My experience in forensics allowed me to graduate with honors in English. I later attended the University of Washington School of Law, where I also graduated with honors and served in the Law Review.
Cutting the program would not only damage the current students, it would irrevocably damage high school speech and debate in Oregon. Even after I stopped competing seriously in college, I worked on the HS tournament. I felt obliged to give back.
The current director of the program, Trond Jacobson, has done a fantastic job of outreach to alumni, and built a superb learning environment for the current students.
I implore you to maintain the program, for the good of current students, and for the thousands of Oregon high school students who regard that trip to Eugene as the highlight of their year.
Robert Taylor, ‘85
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Danielle Endres, PhD
Nothing prepared me more for my current position as a tenured full professor and Director of the Environmental Humanities program at U of Utah than my time in Oregon Forensics. I learned to write, research, make well supported arguments, and speak well from participation on the debate team. I would have never pursued graduate school without the encouragement of my coaches and would have never succeeded in obtaining my master's degree and PhD without the writing, research, and argumentation skills I learned from debate. This activity is not just a student club, it is form of pedagogy focused on building critical thinking, dialogue, and debate skills that are at the core of the mission of higher education.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Seth Seagoe
My decision to take Honors Oral Advocacy with the Forensics program was my first of many steps outside my comfort zone at the University of Oregon. Public speaking and debate was scary! Not only did I learn to research, construct, and give arguments skillfully, I learned to face my fears. This time of my education was crucial in developing the growth mindset that I'm currently relying on as I'm applying to medical schools.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Parker Nagy
Participating in debate has helped me improve and refine my public speaking and research skills in a way that has greatly improved my academic abilities and success. It has helped me understand how to identify useful academic articles, quickly and accurately find information within them, and present that information in a persuasive and easy to understand way. It has also provided a valuable sense of community within a large university.
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Brynn Kirkham
I took a course taught by Professor Trond Jacobson that introduced me to the world of forensics. This honors class taught me about global politics and debate in a setting I had never thought I would get to experience before. Attending debates with members of other teams from schools across the country was an opportunity I would never trade. Furthermore, I believe this chance is part of what makes the University of Oregon unique - other future students deserve the same wonderful opportunity I had to gain perspective and education during an ever-changing global landscape.
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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.