Wake Debate

As hard as it is to accept, 15 years ago we lost Ross K. Smith. Today, we are also excited to announce the creation of the Ross K. Smith archive. We are scanning a series of Ross’s papers, collecting videos, and putting his documents in one location that we will share with the broader debate community.

If you happen to have anything that you would like to contribute (e.g. a special email from Ross) then please reach out to Jarrod Atchison ([email protected]).

As a small teaser, this is a picture of the first page of the speech that Ross gave at the Northwestern tournament arguing for the merger between CEDA and the NDT.

And, we are also celebrating Ross’s legacy with a full day of activities at the Ross K. Smith debate workshop. Teaching and directing the workshop was one of the hallmarks of Ross’s contributions to debate and we are so honored to have students from across the country here to get better at debate.

Massive congratulations to everyone competing at the National Debate Tournament (NDT) this weekend. HUGE CONGRATS to Dimarvin and Sebastian (Wake CP) on Quarterfinals, Gene and Alex (Wake BM) and Raunak and Jazmyn (Wake DL) on doubles!! We're so proud and looking forward to the next season!!!

As we venture to the NDT this week, we want to commemorate MASSIVE successes as CEDA. HUGE CONGRATS to Dimarvin (senior) and Eli (sophomore) - the 2023 CEDA FINALISTS. Congratulations to Dimarvin for 7th Speaker and for his 2ND CEDA finals appearance and to Eli for 17th Speaker. Carrying this positive energy into the weekend!

Great article on our partnership with the New York City Urban Debate League. Go Deacs!

NYCUDL-Wake Forest debate "Dream Team" builds path to college scholarships Bronx freshman Mariah Griffin told Newsweek she knows that her participation in the Dream Team "will have a significant impact further on in my life."

On the anniversary of Ross's passing, we continue to thank our opponents and revisit his powerful speeches at the Shirley. Please take a moment to thank the members of the debate community that had an impact on your life.

Ross Smith at the 2003 Wake Forest Debate Tournament I took this video at the 2003 Wake Forest Debate Tournament banquet. Ross spoke about his love for the debate community, and the activity. Ross passed away t...

Check out the new street sign on Reynolda and Colosseum. Very cool.

One of our most famous alumni embraces his post-debate career.
https://www.hollyhillandco.com/stories-recipes/roger-solt?fbclid=IwAR1QNTNT7c-uqSrinvVt_wtooLM1l_8ogCTiO_J9R-98372Va4KoWGbJUoo

Roger Solt - the hidden figure of Holly Hill Inn — Holly Hill He’s been a man of mystery for many years. Meet Chris and Ouita’s business partner and Ouita’s long ago college debate coach.

https://news.wfu.edu/2023/05/02/wfu-debate-team-honored-by-city-of-winston-salem-for-national-wins/

WFU Debate team honored by City of Winston-Salem for national championship wins During the Winston-Salem City Council meeting on May 1, Wake Forest University’s debaters, coaches and staff received a resolution by the City of Winston-Salem for their historic national title wins this year. In 2023, Wake Forest University created history by winning all three major national poli...

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/debate-brings-many-benefits-to-students/7075563.html

Debate Brings Many Benefits to Students Students and their coaches point to several benefits of the activity. They say debate helps develop research skills, critical thinking skills, time management, and public speaking.

The debate team celebrates at the end-of-the-year Awards Party. Happening as this is posted. Table, never before all in the same location, (L to R) the CEDA. ADA., NDT, & ACC Championships.

"Thus for the first time in the history of the institution three successive engagements have been won in one year. Another significant feature about the matter is that Wake Forest arranged all the debates on the one question, "Resolved, That the federal government should settle industrial disputes by compulsory arbitration." (Debates with Baylor, Randolph Macon, and Emory and Henry College). Asheville Citizen-Times, April 24, 1919.

Picture: Campus in 1919

https://blogs.iu.edu/oneillschool/2023/03/10/graham-earns-recognition-from-two-organizations-for-lifetime-achievements/

Graham earns recognition from two organizations for lifetime achievements – O’Neill School Graham earns recognition from two organizations for lifetime achievements Posted on March 10, 2023 by Ken Bikoff John Graham Professor John D. Graham at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs is receiving accolades this month from the Society of Benefit-Cost Analysis and th...

Among the Top ten speakers at NDT. Iyana Trotman 3rd, Tajaih Robinson 4th, Ana Bittner 7th, Ari Davidson 8th.

Top Speakers at CEDA Nationals in Houstom, Ari 1st, Ana 2nd, Iyana 3rd, Taj 5th, & Raunak Dua 13th.

A sweep, Wow!

https://news.wfu.edu/2023/04/13/wake-forest-makes-intercollegiate-debate-history-with-triple-crown/

Wake Forest makes intercollegiate debate history with ‘Triple Crown’ | Wake Forest News Wake Forest University has clinched another national debate championship. This comes on the heels of winning the prestigious National Debate Tournament last week. On Tuesday, April 11, WFU’s top two teams (juniors Iyana Trotman and Tajaih Robinson along with seniors Ana Bittner and Ari Davison) cl...

History Has Been Made! Wake Debate completes the Triple Crown with a historic closeout of the 2023 Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship with a 23-1 ballot count across the event.

Ari Davison (top speaker) and Ana Bittner (2nd speaker) along with Iyana Trotman (3rd speaker) and Tajaih Robinson (5th speaker) closed out CEDA nationals by winning 1st and 2nd overall places!

This is the first time in history that a debate program has won the American Debate Association, National Debate Tournament, and Cross Examination Debate Association national championships in the same season!!

https://news.wfu.edu/2023/04/05/wake-forest-debate-team-wins-national-championship/

Wake Forest Debate team wins national championship The Wake Forest University debate team won the national championship in intercollegiate debating Monday night at the 77th National Debate Tournament. Wake Forest juniors Iyana Trotman and Tajaih Robinson defeated the University of Michigan in the final round.

The exciting news from the wee hours of Monday morning is that Wake Forest debaters Iyana Trotman and Tajaih Robinson won the 2023 National Debate Tournament!

Iyana and Tajaih defeated the University of Michigan on a 4-1 decision in the championship debate. They defeated Dartmouth College in the semifinals, the University of Kansas in the elite eight, and Michigan State University in the sweet sixteen.

Wake Forest University also served as the host of the 77th National Debate Tournament which took place outside of Washington D.C. in Chantilly, VA.

This is the third time that Wake Forest has won the National Debate Tournament. The first victory was in 1997 and the second was in 2008. Wake Forest was also runner-up in 2006 and 2009. The National Debate Tournament is restricted to the top 78 teams in the nation and every participant must qualify to attend the championship.

Wake Forest qualified three teams (the max allowed). Ana Bittner and Ari Davidson made it to the elite eight and Jazmyn Luckett and Asya Taylor made the top 32.

In addition to the elimination round placement, the debaters achieved the following speaker awards:
Iyana: 3rd overall speaker
Tajaih: 4th overall speaker
Ana: 7th overall speaker
Ari: 8th overall speaker

Iyana and Tajaih were ranked the #3 team heading into the tournament and Ana and Ari were ranked the #5 team. This is the first time that Wake Forest Debate has had two top 5 teams entering the National Debate Tournament.

Go Deacs!

Wake Luckett & Taylor vs Trinity, Rd 2, NDT

Wake has two team in nation’s top five

Wake teams, coaches and alumni at NDT DC opening assembly. Remarkable group, better pics later.

For generations of Wake Forest Debaters the home of Mrs. Smith, Ross's mom, was a gathering, comforting, and even the refuge on occasion. The Country Club address welcomed Wake Debate for decades. Yesterday morning our community lost our matriarch. Marguerite was 98 years old, sharp as a tack, and cared about all her adopted children, Wake Debaters.

On July 19th we are thinking of legendary Wake Debate Director and Head Coach, Ross K. Smith--not only for what he did for Wake Debate but for the entire debate community.