SMU Wins Professional Debate Championship

Brandt Vernon, a debater from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas secured a national title in individual debate at the IPDA National Championship Tournament in Starkville, Mississippi last week. Brandt is an associate of the Norton Rose Fulbright law firm, and competes in the professional division of the International Public Debate Association (IPDA), representing SMU. This win represents the program's 12th national title in competitive speech and debate.

SMU Debate Team (Brandt Vernon on the far left)

Program Director Dr. Ben Voth, who has led the SMU debate team since 2008, has described this year's tournament success as "perhaps the best [the team] has ever done at the National Championship." The SMU team also took home a 3rd place finish overall at the annual tournament and had 9 of its 11 competitors reach elimination rounds.

Since Dr. Voth took over the program in 2008, SMU has not gone more than 4 years without winning a national championship. Collectively, the SMU Debate program has secured 10 state championships, 12 national championships, and even a world championship.

This year's IPDA National Championship Tournament was the largest in the organization's history, with 49 competing schools and over 300 individual competitors. The professional division of IPDA debate is open to anyone who wishes to compete, which sets the organization apart from other competitive collegiate leagues, which only offer debate activities to enrolled college students. This also make the professional division more challenging, as many of those who compete have spent decades honing their skills.

Brandt has some experience in competitive debate activities, having earned a regional championship in moot court while studying law at the University of Texas in Austin. Brandt was also a finalist at the 2022 IPDA National Championships.

IPDA includes both individual and team formats, and is a popular collegiate debate league. While particularly strong in the Southern United States, the national championship attracts participants from across the country. The 2025 IPDA National Championship will be held in Houston, Texas.