Frequently Asked Questions about Forensics at Lewis & Clark College

Q: Who can participate in forensics at Lewis & Clark?

A: Any full-time Lewis & Clark undergraduate in good academic standing is eligible to participate. The only requirement is interest. No previous experience or training is necessary. Of course, any high school or college experience you’ve had in forensics will be of benefit to you, but you can obtain training through classes in argumentation and debate, oral interpretation, and public speaking.

Q: What are the benefits of forensics?

A: Forensics sharpens your ability to research and analyze problems, think and listen critically, express your thoughts clearly and fluently, and better understand public affairs. It increases your confidence and poise and provides constant intellectual stimulation. You will have opportunities to compete against some of the best students from other colleges and universities, to travel, and to develop friendships with other outstanding students at Lewis & Clark and across the nation. Many executives, lawyers, teachers, public relations officers, radio and television personalities, and prominent public figures testify to the benefits of their forensics participation. Many of them found lifelong friends through their involvement. They also gained valuable skills for use in their careers.

Q: What areas are available for participation in forensics?

Lewis & Clark has a full selection of competitive and noncompetitive forensics activities. Competition in novice or junior divisions can challenge the beginner. Senior-division competition can challenge even the brightest, best-prepared, most experienced competitor. Lewis & Clark competes in NPDA and NPTE parliamentary debate and AFA individual events.

Students from the College also compete in a full range of individual events including expository, extemporaneous, impromptu, and after-dinner speaking; oratory; communication analysis; and oral interpretation.

Occasionally the squad is also involved in discussion, radio, and television speaking. In addition, Lewis & Clark has an extensive public forum-speakers bureau, which puts forensics squad members in front of college, high school, and community audiences for demonstration debates and speeches. The College works with the International Exchange Program to host debates on current controversial issues.

Q: Where do Lewis & Clark forensics participants travel?

A: Forensics participants travel mainly in the Northwest, competing against University of Washington, Carroll College, University of Oregon, Whitman College, Willamette University, and others. On occasion, participants also travel to California, Kansas, Maryland, Utah, and other “exotic” sites, where they compete against schools such as University of Southern California, Northwestern University, University of Texas at Austin, and University of California at Berkeley.

Q: Is credit given for forensics?

A: Yes. By registering for Public Advocacy you can receive credit for your participation, depending on how much you do. Public speaking, argumentation and debate, and oral interpretation are recommended for their intrinsic merit as well as for their aid to participation in forensics activities.

Q: How is the program organized?

A: Lewis & Clark’s forensics program emphasizes squad work toward sweepstakes awards for overall excellence. The staff believes that each person needs several kinds of speaking experiences to benefit fully from forensics participation. A Central Evidence System is used for debate, a file of opposing cases is maintained, and squad extemporaneous resources are accessible. Several people on or near the squad have extensive interpretation files. Some transcripts and tapes of old orations, debates, and interpretative efforts also are available. All these systems benefit squad members, and shared efforts help limit the amount of time required for any one person’s preparation. Ultimately, however, individuals stand on their own; the squad effort supplements individual effort and vice versa.

Q: How much time will forensics take?

A: The time you invest in forensics depends on how much you want to do and at what level. If you want to do well in many events at a national level, you will have to spend a great deal of time. Squad meetings, practice debates, and practice speeches are held regularly; potential tournaments are scheduled almost every weekend. This is time well spent as an intellectual experience that reinforces coursework.

Thousands of students have distinguished themselves in forensics while maintaining their grades, their social lives, and other activities that interested them. Your classes must come first in time allocation, but if you are active in the forensics program it could take the second greatest amount of your time during fall and winter. For the student who wants to engage in an exciting and intellectually challenging activity, the time commitment is extremely worthwhile.

Q: What happens if a forensics event conflicts with classes?

A: Forensics schedules are planned around classes to the greatest extent possible. While most professors are sympathetic to missing classes for good cause, class attendance is the individual student’s responsibility. Students must maintain contact with their professors when forced to miss class for forensics competition and arrange make-up work before leaving.

Q: How much does forensics cost?

A: The only cost to you as a forensics participant is in time, effort, and personal debate or speech materials. Lewis & Clark pays entry, travel, motel, and food expenses for tournaments or speaking events.

Q: Is Lewis & Clark a member of national forensics organizations?

A: Lewis & Clark participates in the following national forensics organizations:

• American Forensics Association (AFA)
• National Individual Events Tournament (NIET)
• National Forensic Association (NFA)
• National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPE)
• National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA)
• Northwest Forensics Association

Q: What resources help finance an education at Lewis & Clark?

A: Forensics scholarships are available for students demonstrating exceptional talent. These scholarships are based on financial need, talent in forensics, and scholarship. If you are interested in applying for one of these scholarships, you should follow all normal College admission procedures. If you are seeking financial aid based on need, you must also file an application for financial aid using the forms supplied by the College. If you are applying on a merit basis only, you do not need to do this.

In addition to these procedures, you should send the following materials to the director of forensics:

1. A letter stating your interest in forensics and in the Lewis & Clark forensics scholarships with a short statement of your experience and success in forensics participation: (Classes, summer workshops, tournament achievements, etc.)
2. A letter of recommendation from your forensics coach commenting on your talent, work ethic, intellectual potential, and cooperativeness.

Q: How do we compare to other collegiate programs in forensics?