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William Pitt Debating Union

May 08, 2024

The William Pitt Debating Union (WPDU) is the debating society of the University of Pittsburgh. Falling under the auspices of the Department of Communication, the WPDU is a co-curricular program and hub for a wide range of debating activities, including intercollegiate policy debate, public debate, and debate outreach. One of the oldest collegiate debating organizations in the nation, the WPDU grew from the University’s Division of Public Speaking in 1912.[1] Throughout its history, the WPDU has regularly participated in national and international competitions, including capturing the affirmative team two-man debate national championship at the 1947 Grand National Forensic Tournament,[2] and appearing 45 times at the National Debate Tournament (through 2019),[3][4] where it captured the 1981 national championship.[5][6] The WPDU is located in the heart Pitt's campus and is housed on the fourteenth floor of the Cathedral of Learning.[7] The WPDU also offers scholarships to top team participants.

Trophy case of the William Pitt Debating Union, in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Communication, seen here on the former eleventh floor location (now 14th floor) of the Cathedral of Learning

Competitions edit

 
The English Nationality Room is one venue sometimes utilized for debates[8]

The WPDU has participated in, and traveled extensively to intercollegiate debate competitions since its early history.[9] A regular participant regional and national competitions, the WPDU has previously won the Pennsylvania State Debating Championship,[10] qualified for the National Debate Tournament forty-five times,[3][4] and captured the 1981 National Debate Tournament national championship.[6] In addition, at the 1947 Grand National Forensic Tournament,[11] a two-man affirmative debate team won the national championship competing against 89 other teams, while Pitt's negative team finished as runners-up.[2] The WPDU has also finished first in the American Debate Association’s varsity rankings and its debaters have won hundreds of individual speaking awards.[12] In the past the WPDU hosted major intercollegiate debating competitions,[13][14] and through the years, the team has appeared on television,[15] including once hosting its own weekly television show in the 1950s,[16] and its success has enjoyed coverage in local and regional media.[17][18][19]

Public Debate edit

 
On set of Face the People, WPDU's weekly television show broadcast during the late 1950s and early 1960s on WQED

Throughout its history, the WPDU has frequently convened public debates on salient and pressing topics facing local, regional and national communities, sometimes drawing large crowds[20] and media attention.[21] Today, these debates typically feature a mix of student and expert advocates, audience participation periods, and formats tailored specifically for each debate. Topics have included school vouchers,[22] the merging local governments,[23] and transportation issues,[24] peer-to-peer file sharing, textbook pricing, and sex education.[25] In 2000, the Cross Examination Debate Association recognized the Union’s public debate efforts with the Public Sphere Award.[26]

International Debate edit

The Union regularly hosts foreign national teams on their debating tours of the United States, having entertained the British, Japanese, Russian and Irish national teams, and has also traveled for international debates.[27] In 2000, the WPDU hosted a public debate between the national high school select teams from New Zealand and South Africa. From 2001-2006, WPDU coaches worked with the U.S. State Department to teach the public debate process as a strategy of civil society empowerment to high school students from Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Romania, Macedonia and Montenegro.[25]

Outreach edit

The WPDU has a long history of outreach exemplified by its history of hosting high school debate clinics and tournaments as far back as at least the 1930s.[28] Since 1995, the WPDU has reached thousands of elementary and secondary school students through its outreach initiatives, including the College in High School Argument program and the Middle School Public Debate Program.[25]

Coaches edit

The WPDU employs two full-time directors and numerous graduate teaching assistants working with debate therefore making it one of the largest and most experienced debating coaching staffs in the United States. The current WPDU faculty includes the following:[29]

Current
Director of the William Pitt Debating Union: Calum Matheson 2015–Present
Director of Debate: Eric English 2015–Present

Former Directors of Debate
Robert P. Newman - 1952 to 1967
Thomas Kane - 1967 to 1990
Arnie Madsen - 1990 to 1994
Gordon Mitchell, 1995-2007
Shanara Reid-Brinkley, 2007-2015

Former Coaches
Matt Brigham, Matt Gayetsky, Taylor Hahn, Amber Kelsie, Odile Hobeika, Joseph Packer, Sydney Pasquinelli, John Rief, Brent Saindon

Related edit

References edit

  1. ^ "About the William Pitt Debating Union". Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  2. ^ a b "Nation's Highest Award Won By Men's Debate Club". The Pitt News. Pittsburgh, PA. 1947-04-08. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  3. ^ a b "National Debate Tournament Participating Schools, 1947-2009". Winston-Salem, NC: National Debate Tournament. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  4. ^ a b "Tournament Results". National Debate Tournament. 2020. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  5. ^ Markess, Valerie (1981-04-14). "Pitt Debate Team Wins National Title" (Press release). University of Pittsburgh Department of News & Publications. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  6. ^ a b "Results from Previous National Debate Tournament, 1977-1986" (PDF). Winston-Salem, NC: National Debate Tournament. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  7. ^ "Debate | Department of Communication". www.comm.pitt.edu. Retrieved 2022-11-30.
  8. ^ Ganek, Edwin, ed. (1956). "William Pitt Debate Union". The Owl. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh. p. 150. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  9. ^ "Pitt Debaters: University Debate Team has Extensive Travel Schedule". The Pittsburgh Press. 1928-10-21. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  10. ^ Alberts, Robert C. (1986). "The Creative Eye". Pitt: The Story of the University of Pittsburgh, 1787-1987. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press. p. 368. ISBN 0-8229-1150-7. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  11. ^ "Forensic Tourney Begun Here Today". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, VA. 1947-04-02. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  12. ^ Intercollegiate Policy Debate
  13. ^ "Students Debate Red China Issue; 26 Colleges and Universities at Pittsburgh Tourney -Finals Set for Today". The New York Times. New York, NY. 1954-12-11. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  14. ^ "58 College Debate Teams Meeting Here". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. 1957-12-12. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  15. ^ Patricia, Plants (1968-03-19). "Pitt Debaters to Appear on WJAC-TV" (Press release). Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Department of News and Publications. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  16. ^ Gillotti, Chris, ed. (1959). William Pitt Debating Union. Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh. p. 239. Retrieved April 17, 2018. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  17. ^ "Fast Talkers: Pitt's Crack Debate Team Hits the Road for Some Hyper Tournament Action". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. 1999-03-30. p. G-1. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  18. ^ "Pitt Debate Team Wins Tournament". The Pittsburgh Press. 1947-02-23. p. 10. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  19. ^ "Pitt Debate Team WIns at Geneva". Beaver Valley Times. Vol. 81, no. 244. 1957-03-18. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  20. ^ "Pitt Debates Oxford on War". The Pittsburgh Press. 1939-11-09. p. 15. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  21. ^ "U.S. Funds for Schools Debated". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Pittsburgh, PA. 1972-10-02. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  22. ^ "Pitt will host debate on school vouchers". Beaver County Times. Vol. 124, no. 294. Beaver, PA. 1999-03-18. p. A8. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  23. ^ Smit, Debra Diamond (2007-04-18). "Debate tonight at Pitt : To merge or not to merge city and county governments". Pop City. Pittsburgh, PA: Issue Media Group. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  24. ^ "Mon-Fayette completion will be topic of debate". The Tribune-Review. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  25. ^ a b c "Debate in the Community". University of Pittsburgh. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  26. ^ "Public Sphere Award". Cross Examination Debate Association. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  27. ^ Vondas, Jerry (1982-10-14). "Pitt Debater is Fighting War of Words in Russia". The Pittsburgh Press. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  28. ^ "Pitt Holds Annual High School Debate Clinic" (Press release). Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh University News Service. 1959-01-17. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  29. ^ "Coaches". University of Pittsburgh. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-10-14.

External links edit

  • William Pitt Debating Union homepage
  • William Pitt Debating Union streaming media site

May 08, 2024
william, pitt, debating, union, wpdu, debating, society, university, pittsburgh, falling, under, auspices, department, communication, wpdu, curricular, program, wide, range, debating, activities, including, intercollegiate, policy, debate, public, debate, deba. The William Pitt Debating Union WPDU is the debating society of the University of Pittsburgh Falling under the auspices of the Department of Communication the WPDU is a co curricular program and hub for a wide range of debating activities including intercollegiate policy debate public debate and debate outreach One of the oldest collegiate debating organizations in the nation the WPDU grew from the University s Division of Public Speaking in 1912 1 Throughout its history the WPDU has regularly participated in national and international competitions including capturing the affirmative team two man debate national championship at the 1947 Grand National Forensic Tournament 2 and appearing 45 times at the National Debate Tournament through 2019 3 4 where it captured the 1981 national championship 5 6 The WPDU is located in the heart Pitt s campus and is housed on the fourteenth floor of the Cathedral of Learning 7 The WPDU also offers scholarships to top team participants Trophy case of the William Pitt Debating Union in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Communication seen here on the former eleventh floor location now 14th floor of the Cathedral of Learning Contents 1 Competitions 2 Public Debate 3 International Debate 4 Outreach 5 Coaches 6 Related 7 References 8 External linksCompetitions edit nbsp The English Nationality Room is one venue sometimes utilized for debates 8 The WPDU has participated in and traveled extensively to intercollegiate debate competitions since its early history 9 A regular participant regional and national competitions the WPDU has previously won the Pennsylvania State Debating Championship 10 qualified for the National Debate Tournament forty five times 3 4 and captured the 1981 National Debate Tournament national championship 6 In addition at the 1947 Grand National Forensic Tournament 11 a two man affirmative debate team won the national championship competing against 89 other teams while Pitt s negative team finished as runners up 2 The WPDU has also finished first in the American Debate Association s varsity rankings and its debaters have won hundreds of individual speaking awards 12 In the past the WPDU hosted major intercollegiate debating competitions 13 14 and through the years the team has appeared on television 15 including once hosting its own weekly television show in the 1950s 16 and its success has enjoyed coverage in local and regional media 17 18 19 Public Debate edit nbsp On set of Face the People WPDU s weekly television show broadcast during the late 1950s and early 1960s on WQED Throughout its history the WPDU has frequently convened public debates on salient and pressing topics facing local regional and national communities sometimes drawing large crowds 20 and media attention 21 Today these debates typically feature a mix of student and expert advocates audience participation periods and formats tailored specifically for each debate Topics have included school vouchers 22 the merging local governments 23 and transportation issues 24 peer to peer file sharing textbook pricing and sex education 25 In 2000 the Cross Examination Debate Association recognized the Union s public debate efforts with the Public Sphere Award 26 International Debate editThe Union regularly hosts foreign national teams on their debating tours of the United States having entertained the British Japanese Russian and Irish national teams and has also traveled for international debates 27 In 2000 the WPDU hosted a public debate between the national high school select teams from New Zealand and South Africa From 2001 2006 WPDU coaches worked with the U S State Department to teach the public debate process as a strategy of civil society empowerment to high school students from Albania Kosovo Serbia Romania Macedonia and Montenegro 25 Outreach editThe WPDU has a long history of outreach exemplified by its history of hosting high school debate clinics and tournaments as far back as at least the 1930s 28 Since 1995 the WPDU has reached thousands of elementary and secondary school students through its outreach initiatives including the College in High School Argument program and the Middle School Public Debate Program 25 Coaches editThe WPDU employs two full time directors and numerous graduate teaching assistants working with debate therefore making it one of the largest and most experienced debating coaching staffs in the United States The current WPDU faculty includes the following 29 Current Director of the William Pitt Debating Union Calum Matheson 2015 Present Director of Debate Eric English 2015 PresentFormer Directors of Debate Robert P Newman 1952 to 1967 Thomas Kane 1967 to 1990 Arnie Madsen 1990 to 1994 Gordon Mitchell 1995 2007 Shanara Reid Brinkley 2007 2015Former Coaches Matt Brigham Matt Gayetsky Taylor Hahn Amber Kelsie Odile Hobeika Joseph Packer Sydney Pasquinelli John Rief Brent SaindonRelated edit nbsp Cambridge Union Society nbsp Oxford Union Society nbsp The Durham Union Society nbsp London School of Economics Grimshaw International Relations Club nbsp Yale Debate Association nbsp Berkeley Forum nbsp Olivaint Conference nbsp Olivaint Conference of Belgium nbsp Debattierclub Stuttgart nbsp Common Sense Society Budapest nbsp Queen s Debating UnionReferences edit About the William Pitt Debating Union Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh 2010 04 30 Retrieved 2010 10 14 a b Nation s Highest Award Won By Men s Debate Club The Pitt News Pittsburgh PA 1947 04 08 Retrieved 2010 10 29 a b National Debate Tournament Participating Schools 1947 2009 Winston Salem NC National Debate Tournament Retrieved 2010 10 14 a b Tournament Results National Debate Tournament 2020 Retrieved February 27 2020 Markess Valerie 1981 04 14 Pitt Debate Team Wins National Title Press release University of Pittsburgh Department of News amp Publications Retrieved 2010 10 14 a b Results from Previous National Debate Tournament 1977 1986 PDF Winston Salem NC National Debate Tournament Retrieved 2010 10 14 Debate Department of Communication www comm pitt edu Retrieved 2022 11 30 Ganek Edwin ed 1956 William Pitt Debate Union The Owl Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh p 150 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Pitt Debaters University Debate Team has Extensive Travel Schedule The Pittsburgh Press 1928 10 21 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Alberts Robert C 1986 The Creative Eye Pitt The Story of the University of Pittsburgh 1787 1987 Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh Press p 368 ISBN 0 8229 1150 7 Retrieved 2010 10 08 Forensic Tourney Begun Here Today The Free Lance Star Fredericksburg VA 1947 04 02 Retrieved 2010 10 28 Intercollegiate Policy Debate Students Debate Red China Issue 26 Colleges and Universities at Pittsburgh Tourney Finals Set for Today The New York Times New York NY 1954 12 11 Retrieved 2010 10 14 58 College Debate Teams Meeting Here Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pittsburgh PA 1957 12 12 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Patricia Plants 1968 03 19 Pitt Debaters to Appear on WJAC TV Press release Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh Department of News and Publications Retrieved 2010 10 14 Gillotti Chris ed 1959 William Pitt Debating Union Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh p 239 Retrieved April 17 2018 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Fast Talkers Pitt s Crack Debate Team Hits the Road for Some Hyper Tournament Action Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pittsburgh PA 1999 03 30 p G 1 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Pitt Debate Team Wins Tournament The Pittsburgh Press 1947 02 23 p 10 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Pitt Debate Team WIns at Geneva Beaver Valley Times Vol 81 no 244 1957 03 18 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Pitt Debates Oxford on War The Pittsburgh Press 1939 11 09 p 15 Retrieved 2010 10 14 U S Funds for Schools Debated Pittsburgh Post Gazette Pittsburgh PA 1972 10 02 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Pitt will host debate on school vouchers Beaver County Times Vol 124 no 294 Beaver PA 1999 03 18 p A8 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Smit Debra Diamond 2007 04 18 Debate tonight at Pitt To merge or not to merge city and county governments Pop City Pittsburgh PA Issue Media Group Retrieved 2010 10 14 Mon Fayette completion will be topic of debate The Tribune Review 2008 04 11 Retrieved 2010 10 14 a b c Debate in the Community University of Pittsburgh 2010 04 30 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Public Sphere Award Cross Examination Debate Association Retrieved 2010 10 14 Vondas Jerry 1982 10 14 Pitt Debater is Fighting War of Words in Russia The Pittsburgh Press Retrieved 2010 10 14 Pitt Holds Annual High School Debate Clinic Press release Pittsburgh PA University of Pittsburgh University News Service 1959 01 17 Retrieved 2010 10 14 Coaches University of Pittsburgh 2010 04 30 Retrieved 2010 10 14 External links editWilliam Pitt Debating Union homepage William Pitt Debating Union streaming media site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Pitt Debating Union amp oldid 1156737045, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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