About Erskine College Debate

The Erskine College Debate Team was formed in August 2022. Students on the debate team learn to develop skills in clear communication, team building, creative thinking, logic, ethics, research, and community. Team members seek to glorify God through their interactions, during competition and at all other times, by setting examples of character and integrity on and off campus. The team plans to compete in debate tournaments across the United States, providing participants with opportunities to network with future leaders across America. Members of the debate team may receive academic scholarships to attend Erskine College.  

What form of debate does Erskine compete in?

Erskine College participates in Individual and Team IPDA debate. The International Public Debate Association, or IPDA, was founded in 1997 as a “real world” form of rhetorical Battle between two or four debaters. Many other styles have competition books with strict obedience to the hundreds of ules. However, IPDA moves away from this precedent, with the emphasis being on actual debating with only a limited set of rules. Students are given a topic with 30minutes to prepare their position before they debate. The goal of IPDA debate is to have logical, evidence centered debates on current event topics in a manner in which lay judges can understand.