Debate

Join the Liberty Debate Team

Be part of a full squad competitive debate team with a legacy of over 25 years of championship policy debate. Benefit from our full-time coaching staff and travel throughout the school year. Learn everything you need to join LU Debate and compete with a winning team at LU Debate Week.

Tuition scholarships are available for eligible first-year college debaters with or without experience, and returning junior varsity and varsity debaters.

With the Debate Team, you’ll learn how to grow in graduate-level research and presentation skills that will prepare you for your future. Get trained in critical thinking and argument strategy, and gain practical communication skills.

Ready to join our team?

Apply Today

Our Current Successes

Novice Champions at the JV/Novice National Tournament at WVU
JV Champions at the American Debate Association National Championship at Indiana University.

Scholarship Giving Opportunity

The Dr. Rakeem Robinson Liberty University Debate Team Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund

Travel With the Debate Team

The competitive debate season spans the entire academic year, so you can expect to travel multiple times each semester. All travel expenses are covered by LU Debate.

Current Season

Places We Travel:

George Mason University
University of Kentucky
United States Military Academy West Point
Harvard University

What Debate Team Alumni Are Saying

Debate has introduced me to a world of people, cultures, and ideas that have helped shape who I am. It has shown me that learning critical thinking and complex problem-solving isn’t just found in the classroom.

There is nothing like competitive debate to encourage deep research and sharp thinking while also building empathy with other viewpoints.

My experience doing college debate at Liberty was so practical in refining the key skills that I’ve needed in my career - critical thinking, research, writing, speaking, and the ability to see both sides of an issue. It also allowed me to manage the rigors of my master’s and doctoral work.

Contact Us

Hours

Mon. – Fri.
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Our Debate Schedule

Social Media

Follow Our Team on Instagram

libertydebate

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Remembering all the things we are thankful for today—our Liberty Debate family, the growth we’ve shared, and the opportunities to learn and compete together. Grateful for this amazing community and the memories we continue to make. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful Thanksgiving! 🦃 #goflames #LUDebate

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Big weekend for our Novice squad at the ADA Fall Championship! 🎉

Congratulations to Liberty AS (Hayla Aziz/JD Satterfield) who dominated with a perfect 6-0 record, earning TOP seed and finishing as Octofinalists.

Congratulations to Liberty FG (Ethan Fritz/Jesse Garner), Liberty LT (Landon Lugo/Elijah Tooley), and Liberty HY (Elaine Yoon/Cole Heckel) all went 5-1, earning byes into the first elimination rounds. Liberty LT finished as Octofinalists, Liberty FG as Quarterfinalists, and Liberty HY as Semifinalists.

Liberty EW (Beatrix Wiehe/Hunter Etienne) went 3-3 and ended as Double-Octofinalists.

Speaker Award:
- 10th: Hayla
- 8th: JD
- 7th: Landon
- 6th: Elijah
- 4th: Elaine
- 3rd: Cole

We’re incredibly proud of their hard work and success as they wrap up their first semester of college debate. Congrats to our Novice squad on a stellar tournament! 💙 #LibertyDebate #ludebate #goflames

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🏆 Congratulations to Liberty JS (Lydia Schmidtler/Katrina Jorquez) on being in the Octofinals of the JV division at the ADA Fall Championship.

Great tournament JS!

#ludebate #libertyuniversity #goflames

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Congratulations to Liberty CL on being in the Double Octofinals of the Varsity division at the Shirley Debate Tournament hosted by Wake Forest University. CL went 5-2 in prelims, ending as the 22nd seed in a pool with over 120 teams.

And a special shout out to Jayden for being the 21st Speaker!!

Congratulations, Emmalee and Jayden, on a great tournament!

#ludebate #libertyuniversity #goflames

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