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.