10/23/07

KU debate team celebrates national ranking, $1 million endowment

LAWRENCE – KU’s debate team, ranked in October as No. 1 in the nation, has an additional cause to celebrate. Alumni of KU’s debate team have raised a $1 million endowment to support the squad.

Scott Harris, KU’s debate coach, announced Oct. 19 at a debate alumni reunion that KU enjoyed the first-place ranking in varsity standings for the National Debate Tournament. Rankings are based on accumulated points made during this semester’s first six tournaments. Official rankings are made at the end of each semester. Rankings change weekly with tournaments across the country.

KU’s debate team has a long and successful history. KU has sent more teams to the National Debate Tournament than any other college or university. By qualifying the past 39 consecutive years, KU has the second-longest active streak of any college or university in the United States. Debaters from KU have won the national title four times and reached the Final Four 13 times.

The team has benefited from decades of strong leadership. Harris was named “Coach of the Year” at the National Debate Tournament in 2006 and 2007. And Donn Parson, professor of communication studies, coached KU’s debate team for 24 years and served 12 years as director of the National Debate Tournament.

In addition to the first-place ranking, the 40 KU debate alumni attending the reunion were equally excited by an official recognition of their success in raising a $1 million endowment fund to support the debate team.

Since 1978, KU’s debate team has been supported in part through private donations made to KU Endowment. The donations provide scholarships and cover travel and other expenses incurred in competing with students from the nation’s top colleges and universities.

The debate endowment fund is managed by KU Endowment, the independent, nonprofit organization serving as the official fundraising and fund-management organization for KU. Founded in 1891, KU Endowment is the first foundation of its kind at a U.S. public university.

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