University of Texas at Austin Hosts College Debate’s National Championship Competition, March 26-30

Event: This weekend, 78 teams from 49 colleges and universities will converge on The University of Texas at Austin campus to compete in the 2009 National Debate Tournament sponsored by the American Forensic Association.

When: March 26-30

Where: The opening ceremony and final debate round will take place in the Phoenix Ballroom at the Double Tree Hotel (6506 I-35 North). The tournament will take place in various buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus over the weekend. For specific times and locations, visit the National Debate Tournament Web site: http://groups.wfu.edu/NDT/.

Background: Established in 1947, the National Debate Tournament is hosted by a different college or university each year and brings some of the best and brightest students in the nation together to debate policy issues. The topic of this year’s debate is whether the U.S. federal government should substantially reduce its agricultural support and eliminate domestic subsidies for biofuels, corn, cotton, dairy, fisheries, rice, soybeans, sugar, wheat and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.

The University of Texas at Austin debate team, open to any undergraduate enrolled at the university, is a highly competitive program geared toward competing at the National Debate Tournament and Cross-Examination Debate Association national tournaments. The team, coached by Dr. Joel Rollins, has been ranked in the top 10 since 1990. For more information about the National Debate Tournament, visit http://groups.wfu.edu/NDT/.

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Contacts:
Joel Rollins
512-565-4532
Tiara Naputi
816-916-9906 (mobile)