LAWRENCE DEBATE UNION
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
105 YEARS OF SPEAKING TRUTH
TO POWER
2003-2004 BANQUET
PROGRAM:
Reception
Dinner
Welcome
Special Awards
Annual Prizes
Senior Speeches
Farewell
Edwin
Lawrence wanted a banquet to be held at the end of each debate season to
celebrate the forensic experience. Every spring we invite a few honored guests
and all LDU parents to join us for a good time. A booklet about the year is
prepared, seniors say good-bye, there is a minimum of oratory, and the various
prizes for debate achievement may be distributed. Substantial cash awards
accompany many of these prizes. These awards are distributed based on service
to the LDU and others on the team, and achievement in representing the LDU and
UVM in analysis and performance. A committee appointed by the coaches gives out
these awards.
BRIEF HISTORY OF DEBATE
AT UVM:
NOW 105 YEARS OLD
Intercollegiate
debate at the University of Vermont began in 1899 when Edwin W. Lawrence '01
started the University of Vermont debate team. Throughout the early part of
this century debate was a constant part of life at UVM. After the Second World
War, a cohesive national level of debate competition began to take shape, and
Vermont was an important force. Dr. Robert Huber came to UVM in the late
1940's, and throughout the 1950's and 1960's he led the Vermont debate team to
national dominance, including national titles at all levels. During this time,
Edwin W. Lawrence gave generously to the University to establish an endowment
for the debate team and a professorial chair to teach forensics and work with
the team ÑÑ which became the Lawrence Debate Union. The 1980's replaced the
doldrums of the 1970's with a revitalized and successful debate team stressing
education, competition, and service. Throughout the 1980Õs and 1990Õs UVM has
been a consistent top national competitor. Since the award was created five out
of the six East Region Debater of the Year awards have gone to UVM students.
During this period UVM has national championships in Novice Debate. Junior
varsity Debate, and Public Debate, and has placed as high as Third in Varsity
Debate and as high as Fifth in the National Sweepstakes race. This is doubly
impressive because the vast majority of our opponent schools have extensive scholarship
programs for talented high school debaters and a substantially larger budget,
while UVM has students with little or no high school experience and very high
travel costs. Success is possible through a community of students, staff,
faculty, alumni volunteers, and friends.
ORGANIZATION OF THE LDU:
The LDU is an endowed,
co-curricular program at the University of Vermont located within the Speech
and Debate program of the Department of Theatre. It is directed by the Lawrence
Professor of Forensics and coaches hired by the University.
Members
of the LDU are UVM students enrolled in at least six hours of undergraduate
study per semester and who are working toward a Bachelor's degree. Members are
expected to attend meetings, participate meaningfully in one of the three LDU
areas of emphasis, provide information to the coaching staff about academic
schedules and standing, and follow through on voluntary verbal commitments.
The
LDU has active partnerships with the Community College of Vermont, St. MichaelÕs
College, Middlebury College, and Burlington High School.
The
coaching staff is composed of debate experts who teach debate, explore issues,
and coach students to win in competition and in life. They are overworked and
underpaid.
The
primary budget for the LDU is the income generated each year by the Lawrence
Fund to Encourage and Develop Debating. It is our generous bequest from Mr.
Lawrence, and as such, the LDU is responsible for the highest standards of good
stewardship. It may or may not be completely spent in any given year, and
unspent funds are rolled forward to the next year.
The
Student Government Association also sponsors the LDU. A small sum of money each
year is used to travel and to promote community debates. For these purposes,
the LDU elects a student as S.G.A. Coordinator each year, and these funds are
spent as directed by the S.G.A.
2003-2004
DEBATERS
