University of Texas at Austin Hosts College Debate's National Championship Competition, March 26-30

March 26, 2009

Event: This weekend, 78 teams from 49 colleges and universities will converge on The University of Texas at Austin campus to compete in the 2009 National Debate Tournament sponsored by the American Forensic Association.

When: March 26-30

Events of potential media interest include:

• 8 p.m., March 26, opening ceremony featuring keynote address from Jim Hightower
• 9 p.m., March 30, final debate to determine national champion

Where: The opening ceremony and final debate round will take place in the Phoenix Ballroom at the Double Tree Hotel (6506 I-35 North). The tournament will take place in various buildings on The University of Texas at Austin campus over the weekend.

Background: Established in 1947, the National Debate Tournament is hosted by a different college or university each year and brings some of the best and brightest students in the nation together to debate policy issues. The topic of this year's debate is whether the U.S. federal government should substantially reduce its agricultural support and eliminate domestic subsidies for biofuels, corn, cotton, dairy, fisheries, rice, soybeans, sugar, wheat and Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations.

The University of Texas at Austin debate team, open to any undergraduate enrolled at the university, is a highly competitive program geared toward competing at the National Debate Tournament and Cross-Examination Debate Association national tournaments. The team, coached by Dr. Joel Rollins, has been ranked in the top 10 since 1990. Learn more about the National Debate Tournament.

For more information, contact: Erin Geisler, College of Communication, 512 475 8071; Joel Rollins, 512-565-4532, or Tiara Naputi, 816-916-9906 (mobile).