Edwin Lawrence wanted a banquet to be held at the end of each debate season to celebrate the forensic experience. Every Spring we invite a few honored guests and all LDU parents to join us for a good time. A booklet about the year is prepared, seniors say good-bye, there is a minimum of oratory, and the various prizes for debate achievement may be distributed. Many of these prizes are accompanied by substantial cash awards. These awards are distributed based on service to the LDU and others on the team, and achievement in representing the LDU and UVM in analysis and performance. These awards are given out by a committee appointed by the coaches.
Food Line | Some of the 99-00 Awards
Reception
Dinner
Welcome
Senior Speeches
Awards
Intercollegiate debate at the University of Vermont began in 1899 when Edwin W. Lawrence '01 started the University of Vermont debate team. Throughout the early part of this century debate was a constant part of life at UVM. After the Second World War, a cohesive national level of debate competition began to take shape, and Vermont was an important force. Dr. Robert Huber came to UVM in the late 1940's, and throughout the 1950's and 1960's he led the Vermont debate team to national dominance, including national titles at all levels. During this time, Edwin W. Lawrence gave generously to the University to establish an endowment for the debate team and a professorial chair to teach forensics and work with the team —— which became the Lawrence Debate Union. The 1980's replaced the doldrums of the 1970's with a revitalized and successful debate team stressing education, competition, and service. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s UVM has been a consistent top national competitor. Since the award was created four out of the five East Region Debater of the Year awards have gone to UVM students. During this period UVM has national championships in Novice Debate and Public Debate, and has placed as high as Third in Varsity Debate and as high as Fifth in the National Sweepstakes race. This is doubly impressive because the vast majority of our opponent schools have extensive scholarship programs for talented high school debaters and a substantially larger budget, while UVM has students with little or no high school experience and very high travel costs. Success is possible through a community of students, staff, faculty, alumni volunteers, and friends.
The LDU is an endowed, co-curricular program at the University of Vermont. It is directed by the Lawrence Professor of Forensics and coaches hired by the University.
Members of the LDU are UVM students enrolled in at least six hours of undergraduate study per semester and who are working toward a Bachelor's degree. Members are expected to attend meetings, participate meaningfully in one of the three LDU areas of emphasis, provide information to the coaching staff about academic schedules and standing, and follow through on voluntary verbal commitments.
The coaching staff is composed of debate experts who teach debate, explore issues, and coach students to win in competition and in life. They are overworked and underpaid.
The primary budget for the LDU is the income generated each year by the Lawrence Fund to Encourage and Develop Debating. It is our generous bequest from Mr. Lawrence, and as such, the LDU is responsible for the highest standards of good stewardship. It may or may not be completely spent in any given year, and unspent funds are rolled forward to the next year.
The LDU is also sponsored by the Student Government Association. A small sum of money each year is used to travel and to promote community debates For these purposes, the LDU elects a student as S.G.A. Coordinator each year, and these funds are spent as directed by the S.G.A.
Allana Alexander (above)
Rob Bernstein
Eric Chartan
Jordan Clark (above)
Mark Douglas (Middlebury)
Ben Etherington
Aaron Fishbone
Casey Gervais
Stephen Gilpatric
Amanda Henchel
Mariellen Jewers (Trinity)
Jennifer Knops
Greta Lockwood
Benjamin Luntz
Steph McDonald
Ted Malley
Timothy Miller
Helen Morgan (above, right)
Anthony Pagan
Meredith Parmett
Emily Parsons
Mike Phippen
Jaime Robertson
Lisbeth Robinson
Daniel Serfer
Sarah Jane Snider (above)
Jessica Thompson
Heather Towne
Craig Weidhorn
Peter Winfield
Adam Zerenner
Andy Ellis, Friend
Rachel Hewitt, Friend
Jackie Massey, Faculty
Alfred Snider, Faculty
Trond Jacobson, Friend
Justin Parmett, Alumni
Rae Lynn Schwartz, Alumna
Shawn Wilkerson, Friend
Univ. of Northern Iowa
Univ. of South Carolina
University of Kentucky
West Point
Harvard University
University of Central Oklahoma
Columbia University
Wake Forest University
Binghamton University
University of Missouri at Kansas City
William Jewell College
Southern Illinois Univ.
Cornell Univ.
SUNY Rockland
University of Kansas
Towson State Univ.
University of Vermont
CEDA Nationals in Kansas
NDT Nationals in Kansas City
Ken Barton, Thrifty Car Rental
Marty Chausse, UVM Travel
Andrea Comtois, Theatre Dept.
Bill Gill, Library
Andrew Hendrickson, A&S Computing
Lynda Majarian, Public Relations
Karen McGregor, Adelphia Cable
Lois Parry, Facilities Scheduling
Joan Smith, A&S Dean
Martin Thaler, Theatre Dept.
Wes Wright, CIT
Erica Albin, Attorney, Vermont
David Berube, Univ. of South Carolina
Beth Breger, Open Society Institute
Lance Brown, Peoplesforum.com
Matt Byrne, Attorney, Chicago
Sallie Chafer, Ziggurat Consulting
Nicholas Danigelis, Univ. of Vermont
Steve Dolley, Nuclear Control Institute
Laura & Glenn Ellingson, Florida
Glen Frappier, Gonzaga University
Rosemarie Graham Giacin, Providence, RI
Maryscott & Jim Greenwood, US Embassy-Canada
Jethro Hayman, Cornell University
Joe Hazard, Apple Computer
Pierre Heidrich, J.B. Nutter & Co., Kansas City
Terry McKnight, Forestworld.com
John Meany, Claremont Colleges
Chuck Morton, Attorney, Maryland
Eric Nelson, Aide to Chief of Staff, US Air Force
Erynne Ross, Attorney, Chicago
Sarah Ryan, Capital University
Noel Selegzi, International Debate Education Association
Marc Whitmore, English-Speaking Union, London
Weekly television show on Burlington Channel 15, Wed. 12:30 PM, Thur. 10:30 PM, Sat. 1 PM. 216 different shows so far. Now also available on the internet.
Two week intensive summer debate program held for 18 summers. The largest summer educational program in the USA for college debaters, in 1999 had over 300 students.
The internet's largest and most complete resource for debate related instructional, theoretical, organizational, and reference material. http://debate.uvm.edu/
GREEN MOUNTAIN DEBATES
Workshops and televised debates for Vermont high schools.
Our weekly newsletter available to any and all. Let us know if you would like a mail or email subscription.
LAWRENCE DEBATE UNION WEB SITE
Find out about us, see pictures from the last 50 years, refer interested students to it. http://debate.uvm.edu/ldu.html
Working with 28 inner city high schools sponsoring debate teams.
Email listserv for American college policy debate, now with 1100 subscribers.