National Educational Debate Association

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The National Educational Debate Association (NEDA) is a collegiate debate association emphasizing typical public forum debate. Colleges compete at eight tournaments each year: four in the fall semester and four in the spring semester, including the National Tournament. The fall topic is a value resolution, while the spring topic is a policy resolution.

NEDA began in the fall of 1994 at the Central States convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Many schools left the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) because they felt CEDA did not represent audience-centered debate. The resulting organization was founded by Gary Horn, professor at Ferris State University and others. In 1999, several schools left to form the Great Plains Forensic Conference.

Other variations from CEDA debate include the ability to decide topicality at the end of the constructive speeches, closed cross examination, and a focus on delivery and argumentation. Also, half of all tournament judges are 'lay judges' - that is, they are not debate coaches. Membership in NEDA is by invitation only. The intended focus is on the clash over the issues central to the debate proposition.

Divisions

Teams in NEDA compete in one of three categories:

• Novice
• Open
• Lincoln-Douglas (LD)

Colleges in NEDA

• Anderson University (AU)
• Ball State University (BSU)
• Bob Jones University (BJU)
• Duquesne University (DUQ)
• Hillsdale College (HILL)
• Owensboro Community College (OCTC)
• Patrick Henry College (PHC)
• Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO)
• Transylvania University (TRA)
• University of Dayton (DAY)

Colleges formerly in NEDA

• Baptist Bible College, Missouri
• Capital University
• Carthage College
• Cedarville University
• DePauw University
• East Central University
• Eastern New Mexico University
• Ferris State University
• Missouri Southern State University
• Murray State University
• Northeastern State University
• Northern Oklahoma College
• University of Oklahoma
• University of South Dakota
• University of Wisconsin-Madison
• University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
• Western Illinois University
• Wheaton College, Illinois

Tournament Champions

• Fall 2004
  • Dec 3-4, Ball State University
  • Nov 5-6, Hillsdale College
    • Open: Matt duMee and Christy Ross (PHC)
    • Novice: Kellen Funk and Rebecca Gaal (BJU)
  • Oct 22-23, Transylvania University
    • Open: Sam Curet and Anne Corda (PHC)
    • Novice: Ryan Hornung and Anita Mohinani (BJU)
  • Oct 1-2, Anderson University
    • Open: Isaiah McPeak and Keren McElvey (PHC)
    • Novice: Ryan Hornung and Anita Mohinani (BJU)
    • LD: Randy Melchert (BJU)

Complete List of NEDA Tournament Results

Resolutions

• Fall 2004: Resolved: Separation of church and state is being inappropriately eroded.
• Spring 2004: Resolved: The United States should significantly reduce its foreign military commitments
• Fall 2003: Resolved: United States corporations are insufficiently loyal to American workers
• Spring 2003: Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its citizens' access to affordable health care
• Fall 2002: Resolved: Civil liberties are being inappropriately eroded
• Spring 2002: Resolved: That the United States should substantially expand its efforts to prevent terrorism
• Fall 2001: Resolved: A national missile defense system would be beneficial to the security of this nation
• Spring 2001: Resolved: That the United States should significantly decrease its dependence on foreign oil
• Fall 1998: Resolved: Corporate emphasis on profit is excessive
• Spring 1998: Resolved: that the United States should abolish the use of peer jurors
• Spring 1997: Resolved: that the Central Intelligence Agency should be eliminated

External Links

• National Educational Debate Association