Equality in Forensics September 1st Newsletter

Coaching, Community, and Competition Made Accessible for All.

Welcome to Equality in Forensics’ third newsletter. For those just joining, we are a nonprofit student-run organization committed to providing an equitable Speech and Debate experience for all competitors out there.

Across the country, the tournament season has started to heat up. For some, this will be the year where they take their first dip into the world of Speech and Debate, for others this will be their final plunge. No matter the depth and level each competitor is at, here at Equality in Forensics we are proud to offer resources every step of the way.

In this week’s edition we will cover the new short-form content Equality in Forensics has to offer as well as a video from Wharton student Matthew Noriega on how to frame Speech and Debate in college applications. Moving from there, we will highlight the details of our regional chapters and weekly scrimmages. Finally, we will close with our Congress and Extemp coaching, Kentucky Season Opener Independent Entries, and last but not least, our Equality in Forensics publications.

“Life loves to be taken by the lapel and be told, ‘I am with you kid. Let’s go!’”

— Maya Angelou

Video Content

This week, Equality in Forensics had on Wharton student Matthew Noriega, a former Congressional Debater who was able to explain effective ways to truly emphasize the value and impact that Speech and Debate. From the best way to quantify the numbers to the qualitative words in all of our arsenals, the video is a must-watch for those looking to incorporate Speech and Debate as part of their college applications.

Equality in Forensics is also building up its short-form content through Instagram reels and TikTok. Distinct from our YouTube which contains long-form videos centered around topic lectures and building debate skills, our short-form content takes a community-based approach. Videos will feature familiar faces from chapters across the country covering funny speech and debate-related trends to vlogging big tournaments. Keep an eye out for it!

Equality In Forensics Chapter Details

With the school season starting, the excitement for Equality in Forensics Chapters couldn't be higher. Programs are running well, new chapters are being made, and events are being scheduled. For context, Chapters are localized, small communities of Equality in Forensics members who help distribute our resources to small communities all across the country.

They also hold inviting community events, all in an effort to further equity on the debate circuit. For example, just 2 weeks ago, Minnesota held a chapter bake sale that raised over $200. They plan to put all the money toward equity movements (judging fees, programs, camp, etc.) to help build up their local circuit. A few months ago, the Pittsburgh(PAIR) Chapter met with the state board and amended judging rules to be more equitable (more than one judge, virtual judges, no AI, etc.). These initiatives have done tons of national good for chapters all around. And we're planning even more stuff as well: West Virginia is looking over the possibility of creating their own NSDA district so people can actually go to Nationals in the state. Ohio is having discussions about a novice tournament to help ninth graders get integrated into the circuit. Oklahoma is planning equitable drives to host to raise funds for underprepared schools. And Arizona is planning free coaching in major speech events this season! Our other 17 chapters are doing similar things and growing at strong rates. We're locked and loaded for the next few weeks!

Equality in Forensics Publications

In our domestic news, read about voter suppression laws in the South, RFK’s recent endorsement of Trump, and a comparison of Harris and Trump's economic agenda. In our international news, read about the overwhelmed UK prison system, a newly empowered military in Argentina, women’s rights in India, and a constitutional challenge in Thailand. Operations Director C.J. Getting attended the DNC live for three of the convention’s four days as part of the Illinois Youth Press Corps. He interviewed over a dozen governors, senators, representatives, and delegates from across the country. Read the Red Folder's first-ever on-site report.

"With the DNC showcasing the Democratic Party to millions of Americans on live television each night, it presented the unique and powerful opportunity to reframe the views of what it means to be a Democrat...As American flags waved all across the United Center and chants of “USA!” rang out, it felt as if the Democrats were finally taking steps to challenge the GOP’s monopoly on patriotism."

C.J Getting, Coverage of the Convention: What Happened at the DNC

The Red Folder has begun a collaboration with our extemp question writers. As part of their weekly questions offering, they will post 8 questions that directly relate to every article the Red Folder publishes.

This week, Kira Waldhalm reflected on her experience as a competitor and judge, noting that the over-competitive nature of debate often does far more harm than good. Among other points, she pointed out the fact that the most impactful way to keep debate a safe space for others was to be kind to your opponents and to treat them as more than just numbers to beat.

"As a judge, the most important thing you want to see in a round are clashes of well-made arguments...Yet, many debate rounds can turn into people bullying their opponents into feeling less than them. It doesn’t matter if you’re going against someone competing in their very first varsity tournament, that doesn’t give you the right to treat them less than you."

Kira Waldham, The Problem with Hostility in Debate

August Recap:
Coaching from Champions and Independent Entries

Congress has finalized its best coaching roster to date. From Harvard second place finisher Nicholas Ostheimer from Florida, TOC 3rd place finisher Alisha Hassanali from California, to NSDA Senate t6 finisher Swathi Bodduluri from Pennsylvania, our coaching staff has a range of styles and backgrounds stretching across the entire country.

Equality in Forensics is also offering its best lineup in history for free lab extemp coaching this fall. The finalized lineup includes the 2024 champions of NSDA IX (Anthony Babu), NSDA USX (Tea Shouldice), NIETOC (Robert Zhang), ETOC (Sasha Morel), and UKTOC (Charlotte Reitman). Sign up today!

Closing

September is upon us and so is a new season of competition. Whether this is the year you plunge deeper than ever into elimination rounds, the year where you decide to make your splash in the ocean of competitors, or even the year that you enter into this ocean that is forensics with the rest of us, here at Equality in Forensics we wish you the beginning of a wonderful fall.

Produced by Charlie Hui and the rest of the Equality in Forensics Team