Welcome to the home for the IPDA on the World Wide Web!
We encourage you to explore this site and keep checking back regularly for updates. This site is about you ... the debaters and coaches involved in IPDA as well as those interested in becoming involved in this activity. If you have suggestions, simply let us know!
To find out more about our organization, or submit any questions you may have - simply use the "IPDA Interest Form" below and one of our organization's officers will respond to your inquiry.
To sign up for more information delivered to your e-mail accounts, we recommend that you join our IPDA Listserve. Instructions can be found under More Info?!
To find out more about our organization, or submit any questions you may have - simply use the "IPDA Interest Form" below and one of our organization's officers will respond to your inquiry.
To sign up for more information delivered to your e-mail accounts, we recommend that you join our IPDA Listserve. Instructions can be found under More Info?!
News & Notes
May 16, 2020:
It is with profound sadness that the Executive Committee marks the passing of co-founder Dr. Alan Cirlin this week. Alan was instrumental in the creation and spread of the International Public Debate Association during the early years, and his writings in each of the IPDA textbooks and his work in our IPDA journal continue to provide insight into what makes our form of debate so valuable.
Several members of the IPDA helped sum up what Alan meant to our organization:
Trey Gibson, former DoF at LSU-Shreveport noted, "In the wake of his passing and in phone conversations with others, it dawns on me that few if any knows the history of IPDA. I have often moaned when individual debaters cite incorrectly IPDA rules or talk about IPDA in metadebates clearly not understanding or even knowing about IPDA’s past history. Well, Alan was a big part of that history."
Jack Rogers, the first President of the IPDA wrote, "As I sit here in my office writing this soliloquy regarding Alan, I cannot help but think of that all to famous line in Charles Dickins’ A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Sharing the IPDA journey with Alan, we truly experienced all of the highs and lows reflected in Dickins’ quotation. We shared them together and that’s what made life bearable. As I reminisce about Alan and all that he means to me and the IPDA, his passing engenders the best of times as I celebrate in the memories of him and as his legacy. It also reflects the worst of times as his passing makes the IPDA community’s world a little darker. I think Alan would say ‘quit mopping around feeling sorry for yourself. We’ve got work to do!"
Dr. Cirlin's legacy is his impact on others, and his work within the debate community is nothing short of extraordinary. The IPDA owes Alan a debt that can never be repaid, and his efforts were the very foundation of who we are today. Godspeed, Alan!
It is with profound sadness that the Executive Committee marks the passing of co-founder Dr. Alan Cirlin this week. Alan was instrumental in the creation and spread of the International Public Debate Association during the early years, and his writings in each of the IPDA textbooks and his work in our IPDA journal continue to provide insight into what makes our form of debate so valuable.
Several members of the IPDA helped sum up what Alan meant to our organization:
Trey Gibson, former DoF at LSU-Shreveport noted, "In the wake of his passing and in phone conversations with others, it dawns on me that few if any knows the history of IPDA. I have often moaned when individual debaters cite incorrectly IPDA rules or talk about IPDA in metadebates clearly not understanding or even knowing about IPDA’s past history. Well, Alan was a big part of that history."
Jack Rogers, the first President of the IPDA wrote, "As I sit here in my office writing this soliloquy regarding Alan, I cannot help but think of that all to famous line in Charles Dickins’ A Tale of Two Cities, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” Sharing the IPDA journey with Alan, we truly experienced all of the highs and lows reflected in Dickins’ quotation. We shared them together and that’s what made life bearable. As I reminisce about Alan and all that he means to me and the IPDA, his passing engenders the best of times as I celebrate in the memories of him and as his legacy. It also reflects the worst of times as his passing makes the IPDA community’s world a little darker. I think Alan would say ‘quit mopping around feeling sorry for yourself. We’ve got work to do!"
Dr. Cirlin's legacy is his impact on others, and his work within the debate community is nothing short of extraordinary. The IPDA owes Alan a debt that can never be repaid, and his efforts were the very foundation of who we are today. Godspeed, Alan!
2019/2020 IPDA National Champions
For the full list of awards, please click HERE.
For the full list of awards, please click HERE.
Though the cancellation of the 2020 IPDA National Championship Tournament & Convention due to COVID-19 left the IPDA unable to hold our annual Championship Banquet, the IPDA is proud to announce the full slate of season-long IPDA National Champions for 2019/2020!
Founder's Cup Champions: Union University
Scholastic Cup Champions: Union University
Top Community College: Lee College
Novice Debate Champion: Elliot Jenkins (University of Tennessee - Knoxville)
Novice Speaking Champion: Emma Waite (Southern Methodist University)
Novice Squad Champions: Union University
JV Debate Champion: Mia Robertson (Mississippi State University)
JV Speaking Champion: Megan Arbuckle (LSU - Shreveport)
JV Squad Champions: Union University
Varsity Debate Champion: Jacob Holland (University of Central Arkansas)
Varsity Speaking Champion: Keithen Lewis (Bossier Parish Community College)
Varsity Squad Champions: LSU-Shreveport
Professional Debate Champion: Matthew Lucci (Southern Methodist University / UT-Tyler)
Professional Speaking Champion: Matthew Lucci (Southern Methodist University / UT-Tyler)
Professional Squad Champions: LSU-Shreveport
Team Debate Champions: Matthew Gedeon / Dominick Mercer (LSU-Shreveport)
Team Speaking Champion: Dominick Mercer (LSU-Shreveport)
Team Squad Champions: LSU-Shreveport
The Fight Like Emilie Campaign Champions: Bossier Parish Community College, raising $2691.68
Bennett Strange Coach of the Year: Anthony McMullen, University of Central Arkansas
For full awards results, please click HERE. For full season-long scores and standings, please click HERE.
The IPDA Textbook is now available for purchase!
The International Public Debate Association is proud to announce that a textbook has been created that offers specific instruction on the IPDA style of debate. Edited by Dr. Pat Richey of MTSU, with contributions by a host of the top current and former IPDA coaches in the nation, this text will help you and your program train debaters of all skill levels to the highest possible standards.
Click the link below for ordering information:
International Public Debate Association Textbook, 1st Edition
The International Public Debate Association is proud to announce that a textbook has been created that offers specific instruction on the IPDA style of debate. Edited by Dr. Pat Richey of MTSU, with contributions by a host of the top current and former IPDA coaches in the nation, this text will help you and your program train debaters of all skill levels to the highest possible standards.
Click the link below for ordering information:
International Public Debate Association Textbook, 1st Edition
