NSU Forensics Team
The Communication Studies program is one of the few on campus that offers a co-curricular
competitive activity via a Forensics (speech and debate) team. Many empirical studies
have demonstrated a correlation between competitive speech participation and professional
career success. One survey of U.S. Senators and Representatives revealed that over
60 percent had participated in high school or college forensics (Asonye, 2006). A
study by Hobbs and Chandler (1991) concluded that competitive speech participation
"provides significant benefits for those entering the professions of law, management,
ministry and teaching (p6)." A survey of Midwest business hiring managers "listed
debate first among twenty other activities and academic specializations that an applicant
might present on a resume" (Sheckels, 1984). In the same survey, competitive debate
was overwhelming the first choice of recruiting directors at major law firms (p 2). The
NSU speech forensics program is a co-curricular program. This program directly links
back to the curriculum taught in our unit of communication. This student experience
allows students to compete in public speaking and oral interpretation with other colleges
and universities in the region and nation.
Contact Katie Thomas at thoma162@nsuok.edu for more information or Complete this Google Form to alert the coaching staff of your interest in the team.