SearchCU Speech & Debate Team
For more information on forensics and debate, contact Marty Birkholt
(mjb@creighton.edu, 280-2524) or Laura Keimig (laurakeimig@creighton.edu, 280-2631).
Creighton University Forensics
The Forensics Team is Creighton University's nationally renowned competitive speech and debate program. We are open to all CU students regardless of major or level of previous competitive experience. The team meets for practice on Tuesday nights, and members also meet with coaches for individual rehearsal.
We travel to approximately 20 tournaments during the season that students may choose to attend. Our schedule usually includes tournaments in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, and Oregon. We have also traveled abroad to debate in Greece, Ireland, and England giving Creighton international standing that complements our national ranking. Together with the Creighton Oratorical Society we also host a variety of events on campus. On occasion, we host the Irish national debate team. We also sponsor a series of student/faculty debates, a poetry slam, and a special performance showcase.
During the past several years, Creighton has developed one of the most diverse and competitive forensics programs in the region. Our debate team is currently ranked 5th in the nation in Lincoln-Douglas debate and won back-to-back sweepstakes championships in 2002 and 2003 at the National Forensics Association tournament. We also are proud to be home to the 2009 National Champion in Lincoln Douglas Debate, Mike Storey, and the 2010 National Champion in Prose Interpretation, Chris Fowler. Our Individual Events team is currently ranked 18th in the nation according to the National Forensics Association.
Creighton’s Forensics Team is a great way to meet people, develop skills, and just have fun! We would love to have you experience what makes us one of the best in the nation.
Debate
We participate in two forms of debate, Lincoln-Douglas and parliamentary debate. Lincoln-Douglas Debate is evidence based policy debate between two contestants. L-D uses the same topic for the entire year. Students work to improve both their analytic and oratorical skills in this event.
The Creighton Debate Team won the Lincoln-Douglas national championship in 2002 and again in 2003 with students placing fifth, eighth, and tenth in the nation. In 2007, Mike Storey won the Individual National Championship in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Parliamentary Debate is an extemporaneous form of debate modeled after British parliament. Teams of two debaters clash on a variety of current events and philosophical topics. Speakers may not use written evidence during the debate. Creighton’s top team placed second and the team finished eighth at nationals this year.
Individual Events
We offer students the opportunity to compete in 11 different individual events. These events include After Dinner Speaking, Communication Analysis, Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Dramatic Duo, Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Prose Interpretation, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Impromptu Speaking.
We had the national champions in duet interpretation in 2003 and have had multiple students advance to elimination rounds at nationals each year. This year the team placed twelfth overall.
Coaching Staff
The Director of Debate is Marty Birkholt. He has a Ph.D. in Communication Studies from Arizona State University. Marty has coached several national finalists and champions.
The Director of Forensics is Laura Keimig. She has a M. S. from South Dakota State University and has most recently coached at James Madison University.
We also have seven regular volunteer coaches including former national champions, graduate students, doctors, and practicing lawyers.