Cornell Speech and Debate

The Cornell Speech and Debate Program is the only university-sponsored debate organization at Cornell. We compete in Policy debate, Worlds (British Parliamentary) debate, Spanish-language Worlds debate and Individual Speech events. The organization is one of the largest of its kind in the United States, boasting over 100 members from diverse backgrounds.

10 members of the Cornell speech team at an awards ceremony with their trophies

News

Policy Team shines at Binghamton

Oct 2, 2025

During this season's district opener, policy debate makes a strong first impression!

Policy Team shines at Binghamton

Go Big Red! Policy Beats Harvard - Not Once, But Twice!

Nov 25, 2024

Cornell policy debate traveled to Winston-Salem for an intense national tournament last weekend.

Students make the peace sign at Policy at Wake Forest event

Go Big Red! Policy Beats Harvard - Not Once, But Twice!

Policy Team wins at USMA and reclaims top 10 ranking nationally!

Nov 12, 2024

After dominating in the JV division at West Point, Cornell policy debate shows it can dominate nationally.

Policy Team wins at USMA and reclaims top 10 ranking nationally!

Policy Team eliminates some serious competition at Harvard

Oct 29, 2024

After traveling to Cambridge, MA, multiple policy team entries break to elimination rounds during the Harvard College Tournament.

Policy Team eliminates some serious competition at Harvard

Speech gives historic performance at Alabama

Oct 26, 2024

During their weekend in Alabama, Cornell Speech finishes strong!

Speech gives historic performance at Alabama

Policy Team shines in Houston

Oct 21, 2024

Despite facing new competition in Houston, all four Cornell Policy entries advanced to elimination rounds.

Policy Team shines in Houston

Cornell's British Parliament team takes on competition at the University of Toronto

Oct 20, 2024

Winning multiple top speaker awards, the BP team finds success internationally.

Cornell's British Parliament team takes on competition at the University of Toronto

Speech Team dominates in Virginia

Oct 8, 2024

At James Mason University, the Cornell Speech team finished their season opener strong.

Speech Team dominates in Virginia

Policy Team wins in Binghamton

Sep 30, 2024

During this season's district opener, policy debate wins JV Finals and shows strength with multiple teams in elims!

Policy Team wins in Binghamton

BP speakers win at UCLA IV tournament

Sep 29, 2024

After winning multiple speaker awards at their first tournament, BP looks forward to an exciting season.

BP speakers win at UCLA IV tournament

Cornell Policy team finishes the season off strong!

Apr 30, 2024

After NDT wins, Cornell Policy Debate ranks 4th in the nation.

Armands, Praveen, and Devansh at the NDT

Cornell Policy team finishes the season off strong!

Speech wins big at AFA national tournament

Apr 20, 2024

The Cornell speech team wins 6th place nationally!

Speech wins big at AFA national tournament

Speech Takes on Ireland!

Mar 21, 2024

In Dublin, Cornell Speech wins big

Speech Takes on Ireland!

Policy Takes On JV Novice Nationals

Mar 7, 2024

Cornell Policy's Novice and JV teams take on the competition in West Virginia

Policy Takes On JV Novice Nationals

Policy Wins Big at Suffolk

Mar 1, 2024

While in Boston, Cornell Policy dominated.

Policy Wins Big at Suffolk

Cornell Speech Hosts the Big Red Tournament of Love

Feb 20, 2024

During Valentine's Weekend, the Speech Team Dominates

Cornell Speech Hosts the Big Red Tournament of Love

Cornell Speech dominates during the Virginia is for Lovers Speech Invitational (Again!)

Feb 17, 2024

During these dual swings, Cornell Speakers won big.

Cornell Speech dominates during the Virginia is for Lovers Speech Invitational (Again!)

Cornell Policy Team takes on the Naval Academy

Jan 16, 2024

From January 13th to 15th, the policy team debated in Annapolis.

Cornell Policy Team takes on the Naval Academy

Focus on Illustrious Alums: Jeremy Rosen & Marc Kesselman

Dec 8, 2023

Jeremy Rosen & Marc Kesselman bringing the Sword to Cornell in 1992!

Jeremy and Marc - West Point Tournament Champs

Focus on Illustrious Alums: Jeremy Rosen & Marc Kesselman

Continuing their winning streak, Speech dominates at OCHO IE.

Nov 22, 2023

Speech traveled to compete in Easton, Pennsylvania from October 14th through 16th.

Continuing their winning streak, Speech dominates at OCHO IE.

Cornell Speech dominates during the Virginia is for Lovers Speech Invitational

Nov 20, 2023

Speech finishes 3rd at JMU and 1st at GMU during its double header in Virginia.

Cornell Speech dominates during the Virginia is for Lovers Speech Invitational

Cornell BP heads to Yale's Invitational Tournament

Oct 28, 2023

Cornell BP maintains their winning streak, with multiple teams competing in elimination rounds at Yale.

Cornell BP heads to Yale's Invitational Tournament

Sweeping performance by Cornell BP at USUDC in Geneva, NY

Oct 23, 2023

Cornell BP headed to Geneva, NY from the 21st to 23rd of October and had several teams reach elimination rounds, along with Best Speaker awards.

Sweeping performance by Cornell BP at USUDC in Geneva, NY

Policy Team entries reach quarterfinals at the West Point Military Academy Tournament

Oct 21, 2023

Policy headed to USMA from October 21st to 23rd, with all teams making it to elimination rounds.

Policy Team entries reach quarterfinals at the West Point Military Academy Tournament

Policy Team wins University of Houston national tournament

Oct 16, 2023

Cornell won the entire Novice division at Houston, by winning the final round as well as achieving the Best Speaker award.

Policy Team wins University of Houston national tournament

BP reaches finals at Hart House IV

Oct 15, 2023

From October 13th to 15th, Cornell's British Parliament team headed to the University of Toronto, where they reached finals.

BP reaches finals at Hart House IV

Policy Team wins Phyllis Schatz Debate Invitational at Binghamton

Sep 22, 2023

Cornell finished 1st place in the tournament for both Novice and Varsity categories, along with claiming several Top Speaker spots.

Policy Team wins Phyllis Schatz Debate Invitational at Binghamton

Cornell Speech Team at the 2023 American Forensic Association National Tournament

Apr 10, 2023

The Cornell Speech Team brought 38 entries across 13 students to Santa Ana, California during the first weekend of April.

Students pose in suits after a day of competition

Cornell Speech Team at the 2023 American Forensic Association National Tournament

Speech Team Wins Division at Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament

Mar 20, 2023

From March 15th to 18th, the Cornell Speech Team competed at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament in Westchester, PA.

Two students stand on a stage holding trophies

Speech Team Wins Division at Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament

BP Team Reaches Finals at International Tournament

Mar 14, 2023

Cornell Worlds Debate sent 1 team and 1 judge to the Baltic Open in early March, hosted virtually by the Riga Debate Society in the Stockholm School of Economics.

Two students stand side by side with an arm around each other in front of a wall of trophies

BP Team Reaches Finals at International Tournament