Cornell Speech & Debate Society

01/14/2026

For Parents looking for a great summer opportunity for their middle/high school kids.
Cornell International Summer Debate Camp : July 25–August 3, 2026

Join us for this summer’s camp which offers an exceptional experiential immersion in debates. This in-person debate camp provides a unique opportunity for campers to meet and interact with other students from different backgrounds, make friends, gain confidence, enjoy the beautiful campus while also learning fantastic debate skills from top Cornell faculty and coaches. It’s a truly enriching academic camp and learning environment. Last year, we had 200+ students from 25 States and 17 countries. We expect same for the 2026 camp.
Take a moment to sign up your kid for the camp. Email: debate@cornell.edu or call: 607-379-2031 or visit the website to register: https://www.ilr.cornell.edu/cornell-international-debate-camp

Looking forward to welcoming all students (beginners and more experienced debaters) to the Cornell International Summer Debate Camp, July 25-August 3, 2026.

01/04/2026

Our Cornell University Debate team did not prevail in the WUDC Sofia. However the team performed well and gave a good account of our Cornell Speech & Debate Society program. It was a great experience for our novice team competing in the open against top teams in the world.
Nick Abernethy and Benjamin Vigueras broke as judges. Nick was an adjudicator for the open semifinal.

01/01/2026

Cornell University Debate team is currently participating in the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) Sofia, Bulgaria 🇧🇬.
Against the toughest competition on the planet, the Cornell contingent is holding its own and performing brilliantly. Go Big Red!

11/25/2025

We are in desperate need of your financial support so we can send our students to some national championship tournaments this academic year. Please give as you are able. Thank you.

https://crowdfunding.cornell.edu/project/48035?utm_source=scalefunder&utm_campaign=site_share&utm_medium=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawOS29FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEekxvVtOiGA6scFD5RKg7335lxe_9P3Rw7q5TJ274W4AyXZJqwDlFIrpmKnPc_aem_MeX_SeNG3-PRC3r20XGAKA

Help Cornell University raise $50,000 for the project: From the Hill....World - Amplify Cornell Speech and Debate!. Your gift will make a difference!

11/23/2025

11/23/2025

Cornell University BP team Wins USUDC!
The Cornell team of Michelle Fan & Jayesha Sharma won the Novice division of the States Universities Debate Championship (USUDC) held at the University of Pennsylvania, Nov 21-23.
Michelle & Jayesha beat teams from , and in the final.

11/11/2025

Cornell British Parliamentary Debate Team Secures Dominant Performance at Brad Smith Memorial Tournament
The Cornell Worlds (British Parliamentary) Debate Team showcased remarkable skill and depth at the Brad Smith Memorial Debate Tournament, hosted by the University of Rochester from November 7-9. The competition featured strong teams from leading universities and colleges across the Northeast United States.
Cornell's performance was distinguished by its success across all competitive metrics:
• Record Advancement: A notable seven out of eight Cornell teams successfully advanced to the elimination rounds, competing in the Open Semi-finals and Novice Finals.
• Championship Title: The team of Neal Goturi & Sebastian Rajguru (Cornell GR) won the Novice Division of the tournament, earning the prestigious Brad Smith Memorial Debate Novice title.
• Final Representation: Cornell had a strong presence in the competition's pinnacle event, with three teams—Cornell AJ (Eamin Ahmed & Soren Jensen), Cornell IV (Emir Icyer & Benjamin Vigueras), and Cornell RG (Haider Rizvi & Abhay Gupta)—reaching the Grand Final.
• Speaker Excellence: Cornell debaters demonstrated unparalleled individual talent, capturing eight of the ten available top speaker positions. These top speakers included Abhay Gupta, Soren Jensen, Adrian Young, Haider Rizvi, Benjamin Vigueras, Barron Ren, Michelle Fan, and Jayesha Sharma.
The team's collective and individual achievements reflect its dedication and strategic preparation. The program anticipates replicating this high level of performance in its upcoming competitive season.

08/26/2025

Cornell's Summer Debate Camp Was a Resounding Success!

From July 27 to August 4, 2025, the Cornell Speech and Debate Program hosted the International Summer Debate Camp on the Cornell Ithaca campus. The camp brought together over 200 middle and high school students from 25 states and 15 countries for an immersive experience in debate.

To ensure an outstanding experience for every participant, campers were placed into one of 10 cohorts based on their prior experience. This thoughtful approach allowed instructors to tailor their teaching to each group. Beginners felt empowered and supported, while seasoned debaters stayed stimulated and challenged. This system is designed for optimal learning, building confidence, and ensuring everyone has a rewarding experience.

Over the course of the 10-day camp, students honed their skills and broadened their understanding of debate through more than 20 elective courses. They debated a wide range of current topics, from artificial intelligence and tariffs to labor unions and international relations. A major highlight was the opportunity to learn from Cornell professors. Ariel Avgar, the Cornell University ILR School David M. Cohen Professor of Labor Relations, Law, and History, lectured on unions, and Graeme Bailey, a professor in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, spoke about computational creativity.

The camp culminated in a celebratory banquet at the The Statler Hotel at Cornell University, where awards and certificates of completion were distributed. The event was a testament to the hard work and growth of the campers. Throughout the camp, students formed lasting friendships, engaged in significant learning, and had a great time. The overall experience was overwhelmingly positive.

We look forward to hosting the camp again next year.

06/24/2025

The Cornell International Summer Debate Camp stands out due to its innovative cohort structure. Put simply, our cohort model is a game-changer. We strategically place campers into groups based on their prior experience, then provide precision-tailored instruction. This prevents beginners from feeling overwhelmed and empowers them to excel, while seasoned debaters remain stimulated and challenged. It's a system designed for optimal learning, building confidence, and ensuring an outstanding camp experience for every participant.
Don't miss out, sign up your child for the Cornell International Summer Debate Camp July 27-August 4
debate@cornell.edu

06/13/2025

The 2024-2025 academic year marked a period of exceptional achievement for the Cornell University British Parliamentary (Worlds) Debate Team and the broader Cornell Speech & Debate Program. The team successfully met and exceeded high expectations across all key areas, including recruitment, member retention, active participation, and competitive performance.
The BP team will be ready to go at it again in the coming academic year. We wish everyone (alumni, students, staff and supporters) a great summer!

05/09/2025

We had our end of year banquet at The Statler Hotel at Cornell University on Sunday, May 4, 2025. It was a delightful way to wrap up a stellar year. Our Cornell Speech & Debate Society teams continue to impress and turn in excellent performances at regional, national and international tournaments.
We used the occasion of the banquet to celebrate graduating seniors and bid them a fond farewell.
Program director Sam Nelson presented a special friend of Cornell Speech and Debate award to Brigid Beachler in recognition of her great support of our program.
Distinguished alum, Angela Lu, received the Almnus of the Year Award!