Rutgers University–Newark Debate Team

Why Debate at Rutgers–Newark?

You don't need experience. You need something to say. Rutgers–Newark Debate takes students from every major and every background and trains them to think clearly, speak with confidence, and compete, at no cost to you. We offer multiple speech and debate events, so there's a place for every kind of speaker. New students are trained from the ground up.

• Learn how to build an argument
  Debate teaches you logic by making you use it. You'll learn to take a claim, back it with evidence, spot the weak link in someone else's reasoning, and answer it on the spot. That skill travels to every class paper, every lab report, every hard conversation, and eventually every meeting you'll ever sit in.
• Become the strongest speaker in the room
  Most people dread public speaking. Debaters do it every week. Job interviews, class presentations, law school cold calls, pitching an idea to a boss: all of it gets easier once you've defended a position in front of a judge with a timer running. Employers consistently rank communication among the skills they want most. Debate is where you practice it.
• See the world, fully paid
  The team has already traveled to California, Hawaii, Greece, Korea, Japan, and more. Travel, lodging, entry fees, and meals (through a daily per diem) are covered by the program. You bring the arguments; we handle the rest.
• Scholarship money while you're in school
  Debate is not just an activity on top of your bills. The program awards thousands of dollars in scholarship money to undergraduate debaters.
• Stand out for grad school and jobs
  Competitive debate on a transcript tells admissions committees and employers that you can research, reason, and perform under pressure. Debate alumni go on to law, government, policy, education, business, and media, and they bring their skills with them.
• A path to a free master's degree
  Collegiate debate experience opens doors to graduate teaching assistantships in debate and communication programs. Many of these positions cover tuition and pay a stipend, which means your undergraduate debate career can turn into a master's degree at no cost to you.

The Rutgers University–Newark Debate Team is deeply rooted in the tradition of public advocacy within Newark, providing students with skills in British Parliamentary and Forensic debate styles to enhance critical thinking, research, and advocacy abilities. Participants are committed to community engagement, conducting outreach, hosting public debates, and partnering with local schools to expand access to debate education. The team also emphasizes academic excellence, ensuring that participants' involvement in debate supports their academic growth and leadership development. Events such as collegiate tournaments, public debates, and a summer camp foster community involvement and promote debate skills across various age groups and backgrounds. 

The team's close ties with the Newark Debate Academy (NDA) have created a pipeline for students from Newark Public Schools to engage in debate from elementary school through college. RUN debate participants serve as adjudicators, educators, and mentors, working with students across Newark and helping to organize key debate events such as the Elite 8 tournament. Through this partnership, the Rutgers debate team continues to promote educational opportunities, professional development, and community service while reflecting the diversity and collaborative spirit of Rutgers University-Newark. The team is also committed to advancing the mission of the School of Public Affairs and Administration by fostering public dialogue, community engagement, and political awareness through debate. 

The RUN Debate Team, founded in 2008, is housed in the School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA) and sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor, Newark.

What Is Debate and Forensics?