As one of U-M’s oldest traditions, participation in the program goes far beyond individual competition, supporting young debaters through four main areas:
Traveling varsity team
Students receive elite coaching and travel across the country to compete against the best collegiate teams in the nation.
Detroit urban debate outreach
U-M debaters mentor local youth and bring competitive debate opportunities to high schools in Detroit.
Summer debate camp
High schoolers from across the country visit Ann Arbor to learn advanced research and argument skills at the Summer National Institute.
National tournaments
Michigan hosts premier tournaments on campus, welcoming top high school debate talent to our university.
Get involved with Michigan Debate
Find out how you can join the varsity team, help with our community outreach programs, and more.