SearchCU Speech & Debate Team
For more information on forensics and debate, contact Marty Birkholt
(mjb@creighton.edu, 280-2524)
or Katie Hatfield.
Creighton University Forensics
The Forensics Team is Creighton University's nationally renowned competitive speech and debate program. We are open to all CU students regardless of major or level of previous competitive experience. The team meets for practice on Tuesday nights, and members also meet with coaches for individual rehearsal.
We will travel to 22 tournaments this season that students may choose to attend. Our schedule usually includes tournaments in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and Oregon. We have also traveled abroad to debate in Greece, Ireland, and England giving Creighton international standing that complements our national ranking. Together with the Creighton Oratorical Society we also host a variety of events on campus. This year we will be hosting the Irish national debate team. We will also be sponsoring a series of student/faculty debates, a poetry slam, and a special performance showcase.
Creighton’s Forensics Team is a great way to meet people, develop skills, and just have fun! We would love to have you experience what makes us one of the best in the nation.
Debate
We participate in two forms of debate, Lincoln-Douglas and parliamentary debate. Lincoln-Douglas Debate is evidence based policy debate between two contestants. L-D uses the same topic for the entire year. Students work to improve both their analytic and oratorical skills in this event.
The Creighton Debate Team won the Lincoln-Douglas national championship in 2002 and again in 2003 with students placing fifth, eighth, and tenth in the nation. In 2007, Mike Storey won the Individual National Championship in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Parliamentary Debate is an extemporaneous form of debate modeled after British parliament. Teams of two debaters clash on a variety of current events and philosophical topics. Speakers may not use written evidence during the debate. Creighton’s top team placed second and the team finished eighth at nationals this year.
Individual Events
We offer students the opportunity to compete in 11 different individual events. These events include After Dinner Speaking, Communication Analysis, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Dramatic Duo, Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Impromptu Speaking.
We had the national champions in duet interpretation in 2003 and have had multiple students advance to elimination rounds at nationals each year. This year the team placed twelfth overall.
Coaching Staff
The Director of Forensics is Marty Birkholt. He has a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Arizona State University. Marty has coached several national finalists and champions.
The Assistant Director of Forensics is Katherine L. Hatfield. She received her BA in 2000 from Central Michigan University, her Masters from Central Michigan in 2002, and her Ph.D. from Ohio University.
We also have seven regular volunteer coaches including former national champions, graduate students, doctors, and practicing lawyers.