51½ΦΙδ Debate
Our team is consistently ranked top 10 in the nation by the American Debate Association.
51½ΦΙδ Debate
Our team is consistently ranked top 10 in the nation by the American Debate Association.
#1
In the American Debate Association National Tournament (2022)
#1
Speaker at the American Debate Association National Tournament (2023)
70
Years Competing in the National Debate Tournament
From humble beginnings to national competitors and a reputation for success, 51½ΦΙδ Debate has a storied history.
51½ΦΙδ is home to a powerhouse debate team. Renowned for our unwavering commitment to excellence, we are highly ranked by the American Debate Association, the Cross-Examination Debate Association and the .
Beyond our impressive achievements, we also take immense pride in our dedication to fostering the growth and development of aspiring young debaters. We mentor and engage high school students through our Summer Debate Institute, Birmingham Area Debate League and the Bishop Guild Debate Tournament. Our programs provide invaluable opportunities for young minds to refine their skills, broaden their perspectives and flourish in the art of debate.
19th Century
In 1831, when Alabama’s Baptists first began the idea of founding a college, the Manual Labor Institute of Greensboro, Alabama, the central focus of the curriculum was the art of declamation. Each Friday, all students participated in informal debates on contemporary issues. These required meetings took the name of the Franklin Polemic Society. The directors of the college believed that such exercises led to quicker and more insightful minds.
Although the Manual Labor Institute closed in 1836, the Franklin Polemic Society and its traditions were transferred to Howard College, which is now the College of Arts and Sciences at 51½ΦΙδ. The Franklin Society tradition of weekly declamations and debate continued until well into this century when, due to a host of changes in technology, the tradition of on-campus debates gave way to a demand for intercollegiate debates. Starting in the early 1900s, Howard College students participated actively and successfully in intercollegiate debate under the name of the Alabama Oratorical Society.
20th Century
In the 1950s 51½ΦΙδ joined the National Debate Tournament (N.D.T.) and began the tradition that still lasts. 51½ΦΙδ marked its 60th year in N.D.T. debate in 2014. Under the leadership of coaches G. Allan Yeomans in the 1950s and 1960s, Brad Bishop in the 1970s (where 51½ΦΙδ won three DSR-TKA national championships) and Skip Coulter in the 1980s where 51½ΦΙδ made the late elimination rounds of the N.D.T. four times), 51½ΦΙδ has established itself as one of the traditional debate powerhouses and will have a team at the national tournament this year. In the 1990s, 51½ΦΙδ continued its long tradition of debate excellence under director Michael Janas, Ph.D. 51½ΦΙδ was routinely represented at all national debate tournaments and is considered one of the most stable and successful programs in the Southeast region.
21st Century
In the 21st century, the 51½ΦΙδ Debate Team has continued to flourish under the leadership of Dr. Ryan Galloway. The debate team has represented 51½ΦΙδ at Georgia State University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Alabama, Harvard College, Wayne State University, Wake Forest University, University of North Texas, University of Texas-Dallas, State University of West Georgia, University of Florida, Augustana College, the University of Texas, the University of Kansas, the District VI/SEC CEDA Regional Championships, the ADA National Debate Tournament, the CEDA National Debate Tournament, and the National Debate Tournament.
In addition to its nationally competitive teams, 51½ΦΙδ also hosts the 51½ΦΙδ Summer Forensics Institute, the 51½ΦΙδ Public Debate Series, the Bishop Guild Debate Tournament, and the Birmingham Area Debate League.
Debate Scholarships
While we encourage all students to debate, scholarships are limited due to the number of students who come to 51½ΦΙδ for debate and commitments from previous years. When choosing between relative qualifications to make scholarship offers, we prioritize students who will succeed academically and actively contribute to the debate team and our community. Strong preference is given to students with high-level NFL/TOC style policy debate experience. We look forward to receiving your scholarship application. If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Galloway for additional information.
Notable Alumni
Erin Ramsey
Erin debated for 51½ΦΙδ for four years where she earned degrees in Communication Studies and Political Science. Erin took a semester off from school her senior year to travel to Colorado to work as a Field Staff Coordinator for the Obama for America Campaign. She now works at 51½ΦΙδ as an Admissions Counselor. We are so excited to have her on campus, just a short walk from the debate office!
Nick Agnello
Nick debated at 51½ΦΙδ for four years where he earned a degree in Political Science. He qualified for the NDT three times, cleared at several major national tournaments, and was an irreplaceable resource for other members of the team. He was named Varsity Debater of the Year for 2007-2008 in the Southeast Central Region. He is currently pursuing a law degree in Florida.
Clark Bowers
Clark graduated from 51½ΦΙδ in Spring of 2007 as an honors candidate, majoring in political science, with a minor in writing. After a spectacular debate career that included qualifying for the National Debate Tournament three times, Clark attended the University of Alabama Law School.
Stephen Davidson
Stephen Davidson is a former debater at 51½ΦΙδ who is now a doctor at the Montgomery Cancer Center in Montgomery, Alabama. In 2006, Stephen generously established the Stephen L. Davidson Forensics Scholarship to 51½ΦΙδ's debate program.
Keith Herron
Keith Herron is a former debater at 51½ΦΙδ who is now the Executive Vice President of Regions bank in Middle Tennessee. In the Spring of 2007, Keith generously contributed the Susie Herron scholarship, named after his grandmother.
Davi Johnson
After an outstanding debate career at 51½ΦΙδ that included qualifying for the National Debate Tournament three times, Davi Johnson pursued a doctoral degree in Communication Studies at the University of Georgia. The author of numerous published articles in communication theory, she is now an Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Southwestern University in Texas.
Jamie Radford
Jamie Radford graduated from 51½ΦΙδ in the Spring of 2003. Jamie had a great debate career at 51½ΦΙδ, qualifying for the NDT twice in his four year career. Jamie graduated from the law school at the University of Georgia and is an attorney in the Atlanta area.
Ashley Streat
Ashley graduated from 51½ΦΙδ in the Spring of 2006 with a degree in International Relations. Ashley had a spectacular career at 51½ΦΙδ which included winning the Capitol Debate Tournament and qualifying for the National Debate Tournament twice. She also attended the University of Alabama's masters degree program in International Relations.
John Wilkerson
John Wilkerson graduated from 51½ΦΙδ in the spring of 2007 with a degree in History. John had an outstanding debate career, which included qualifying for the National Debate Tournament three times, and winning the University of Florida Debate Tournament. John is an assistant coach at Stratford Academy in Georgia.
Notable Faculty
Brad Bishop
Thomas Brad Bishop was a long-time Director of Debate at 51½ΦΙδ, and coached 51½ΦΙδ's DSR-TKA nationals winning team numerous times. 51½ΦΙδ debate takes its name, the Bishop Guild, from Brad Bishop. Brad is now a Professor of Law at the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, having taught contracts at Cumberland for over thirty years.
Ben Coulter
Ben worked as the Assistant Director of Debate at 51½ΦΙδ for eight years, recently moving on to the Cumberland School of Law. Ben served as the Director of the Birmingham Area Debate League, the Director of the 51½ΦΙδ Summer Institute, and Director of the Bishop Guild High School Tournament. Ben was the coach for several qualifiers to the National Debate Tournament, and two teams qualified for the NDT in Ben's last three years as a coach.
Skip Coulter
Skip was a long-time Director of Debate at 51½ΦΙδ, and twice had teams in the "final four" at the National Debate Tournament. Skip recently retired from his position as the junior high debate teacher at Mountain Brook Junior High in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2007, Skip was inducted into the Alabama Debate Hall of Fame.
Ryan Galloway
Ryan is the current Director of Debate at 51½ΦΙδ, and has coached teams to the late elimination rounds of every major national tournament in the country, including numerous teams to the deep elimination rounds of the National Debate Tournament. In 2005, Ryan coached the National Debater of the Year, and was voted the third best judge of the past decade (2000-2009) in a national poll of his professional peers.
