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Established in 1880 as the university's first chartered undergraduate organization, the USC Trojan Debate Squad has enjoyed a long tradition of academic excellence and competitive success. The squad has earned a reputation as a formidable presence in the world of forensics competition, and continues to attract some of the most talented students in the nation to USC.
“USC formally opens, with 53 students and 10 faculty. Marion McKinley Bovard is named the university’s first president. A college of liberal arts, a university band, and a debate team are established." - USC Fact Book
Under the leadership of distinguished forensics expert Dr. Alan Nichols from 1921 to the mid 1950s, the USC Trojan Debate Squad became one of the highest-ranked programs in the country. Click here for a full list of all of the Directors of the TDS. The leadership of Dr. Nichols, and subsequent coaches, helped USC establish and maintain its place as one of the leading forensics programs in the nation, especially for team debate.
The Trojans have been a cornerstone of the National Debate Tournament since it began in 1947 when Potter Kerfoot and George Grover finished second at the inaugural tournament. The following year Kerfoot also won the first ever Top Speaker award. The Trojans have maintained that level of excellence. Trojans have qualified for the NDT in every year since 1963 and no University has qualified for the NDT in more seasons (53). In that time 85 USC teams have qualified for this prestigious tournament. Click here for a full list of all USC teams who have qualified for the NDT. You can also view a list of all of the Trojans who have individual recognition through speaker awards at the NDT.
The USC Trojan Debate Squad's primary mission continues to be the development and cultivation of competent and inquiring minds. Attracting students from a variety of majors and disciplines, the program provides an intensive learning laboratory that offers students a superior education in argument theory, the principles of advocacy, critical thinking, refutation, systematic research and the articulation of ideas through oral communication. The TDS is an honor society and even though team members practice, research and prepare for competition for as many as 25-30 hours each week and spend roughly 12-16 days competing each semester, the squad maintains an outstanding grade point average.
The Trojans compete in a range of forensic forums. In addition to hosting international debate teams each year, the Trojans are nationally competitive in the National Debate Tournament and the Cross-Examination Debate Association.
The squad selects captains to serve as its student leaders. Click here to view a full list of Trojan Debate Squad captains. Each year the outstanding male and female student are also recognized. Click here to see a list of The Robert Croutch honorees for outstanding squad member and here for a list of the Lillian Kim honorees for outstanding female squad member.
The University of Southern California's tradition of forensics distinction stems from the dedication of decades of students and teachers, and from the emphatic support of the Annenberg School for Communication and the growing body of forensic alumni and friends. Graduates of the USC debate Squad have gone onto become leaders in government, public service, industry, law, education and the military, taking with them the high standards of inquiry, craftsmanship, integrity and determination gained from their forensics experience. Illustrious debate alumni, who include former Secretary of State Warren Christopher, famed attorneys Seth Hufstedler, Burt Pines, Howard Miller, Gregson Bautzer, and Arthur Groman; Admiral David Cooney, the former president and CEO of Goodwill Industries International; Murray Bring, former vice chairman and general counsel for Philip Morris; former California State Senator Richard Richards; and Judges Lillian Stevens, Homer Bell, George Dell, and Tomson Ong, often declare or have declared their forensics backgrounds to have been of superior value to their careers.
Each new class of students becomes part of this tradition as the squad looks forward to a bright future of debate at USC. |
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