COVID-19 has caused several clubs and organizations to transition to a virtual format this year. The WKU Debate Team is no different.

This transition is causing many changes to the program. According to Ganer Newman, the director of forensics at WKU, the team is aiming to open up their recruitment to anyone who is interested in debating, with no prior experience.

The decision to open up recruitment was made after the competition scene for debate tournaments transitioned to an online format. Newman said in an informational meeting Thursday that the team no longer has to worry about their travel budget limiting their roster, allowing them to have as many team members as possible.

Director of Debate Chad Meadows highlighted some of the benefits of joining the WKU debate team as well.

Meadows said formal debating allows students to develop adept listening capabilities, flexible perspectives, information processing skills and improve their public speaking abilities.

Meadows also spoke on the success of the WKU debate team, boasting the seven national titles they have acquired over the past 10 years, and their recent victory in the WKU fall tournament.

The WKU fall tournament was held on Sept. 25, with WKU claiming victory over UCLA, Notre Dame, Penn State, Texas A&M and UK.

Meadows and Newman also pointed out that the team’s main goal is to help students prepare to tackle their professional lives after they graduate from WKU with the skills that they will gain and develop throughout their career with the team.

It is not too late to join the team either. For more information on joining the WKU Debate Team, you can email Ganer Newman at [email protected].

Shane Stryker can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @shanestryker.