News
Spring 2008
Public Debate on the Future of Transportation in Pittsburgh: "Should the Mon-Fayette Expressway Be Completed?"
The William Pitt Debating Union will host a public debate addressing the future of transportation in Pittsburgh on Monday, April 14 from 6-7:30 p.m.
in the Frick Fine Arts auditorium.
WPDU to Host Public Debate on Socially Responsible Investing Feb. 21
The William Pitt Debating Union will host a public debate addressing guidelines for socially responsible investing in higher education, February 21, 2008 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall room 343.
Pitt Tandem storms U.S. Naval Academy
The WPDU's team of super sophomores, Stephanie Luczajko and Jennifer Sweeney, reached the sweet sixteen elimination round at the debate tournament hosted by the U.S. Naval Academy last weekend in Annapolis, Maryland.
Fall 2007
WPDU Pulls Off Rare Triple Play at Richmond Tourney
The WPDU pulled off a rare feat October 13-15, 2007, qualifying three varsity teams for the elimination rounds at the Jay Weinberg Autumn Debate Tournament hosted by the University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
WPDU to Debate the British National Debating Team
The Department of Communication will host an international public debate between the William Pitt Debating Union (WPDU) and the British National Debating Team, Friday October 5 from 5:00pm to 6:00 pm in Pitt's English Nationality Room, 144 Cathedral of Learning.
Reid-Brinkley's Arrival Completes Argumentation and Debate Dream Team
Pittsburgh is a city of confluences. Its picturesque skyline unfolds around merging rivers, and now, four current and former Directors of Debate come together in the city's most storied university to form an argumentation and debate dream team.
Spring 2007
WPDU's two Scholastic All-Americans Headed to Cornell, Villanova
At the Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship Tournament held at the University of Oklahoma, March 22-25, 2007, the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Debating Union (WPDU) forged reinforcements for its motto "Brains of Steel."
Public Debate on the Future of Pittsburgh
The William Pitt Debating Union will host a public debate addressing the future of Pittsburgh on Wednesday, April 18 from 6-8 p.m. in the Graduate School of Public Health's Parran Hall Auditorium Room G-23.
Forte Named Finalist for Julia Burke Award
WPDU senior debater Melina Forte has been selected as a finalist for the Julia Burke Award for Character and Excellence in Policy Debate.
Public Debate on Net Neutrality
William Pitt Debating Union debaters Michael Mangus, Melissa Mistretta, and Guy Risko joined Hal Singer, president of Criterion Economics, and Art Brodsky, communications director for Public Knowledge, in a public debate on the question "Should Congress guarantee Net neutrality?" on Friday, February 23, 2007.
Woods Snags Teaching Fellowship
WPDU assistant coach Carly Woods was awarded a teaching fellowship from the University of Pittsburgh's Women's Studies Program.
WPDU Tandem Qualifies for National Debate Tournament
The Pittsburgh debate tandem of senior Melina Forte and first-year student Michael Mangus won the District VII qualifying tournament's final six ballots, defeating opponents from Clarion University and the U.S. Naval Academy to finish among the top eight teams in the region and qualify for the 61st National Debate Tournament.
Fall 2006
Improversy Comes to Pittsburgh
During a visit to Pittsburgh in early October, former Oxford debaters and European parliamentary debating champions Fraser Campbell and Gavin Illsley visited Department of Communication classes, staged a public debate on smoking that drew a capacity audience in the English Nationality Room, and capped their stay by helping Pitt debaters debut a new soapbox speaking event: Improvised Controversy, "improversy," on the Schenley Plaza lawn.
WPDU Cracks Top 10 in National Debate Tournament Poll
On the strength of stellar early-season performances at the West Virginia University tournament (including second-speaker and second-place team honors), the WPDU has cracked the top 10 of the National Debate Tournament’s varsity points standings.
Spring 2006
Hahn Wins Fulbright Fellowship
Recent WPDU alumna Allison Hahn became one of very few undergraduate students nationwide to win a Fulbright Fellowship.
Debate Authors Working Group Founded
Working with Director of Debate Gordon Mitchell, WPDU assistant coaches Matt Brigham and John Rief converted energy from a fall 2005 directed reading project into establishment of a new organization in Pittsburgh, the Schenley Park DAWG (Debate Authors Working Group).
Chancellor's Award for Chalus
WPDU administrative assistant Peg Chalus won a 2006 Chancellor’s Award for Staff Excellence in service to the University.
Fall 2005
Pitt Triumphs at Richmond Tourney
In recent tournament action, David Weston and Melina Forte defeated Emory, Wake Forest, Gonzaga, and Trinity in successive elimination rounds to win the Richmond tournament October 14-16, 2005, while Darinka Maldonado and John Karlovic reached the quarterfinals in the junior varsity division of the Liberty University tournament October 7-9, 2005. At the Liberty tournament, Darinka also won fifth individual speaker honors.
Brits and WPDU Debate Guantanamo
On October 17, 2005, the WPDU hosted the British National Select Team for an international public debate on U.S. detention policy. The debate drew 75 audience members to the English Nationality Room in the Cathedral of Learning. Representing the WPDU were graduate students Steven Llano and Damien Pfister, while Kenneth Fleming and Sion Owen provided spirited opposition from the other side of the Atlantic.