Texas Southern University Debate Team Earns Second Place at International Championship in Athens

The internationally acclaimed Texas Southern University Debate Team has once again demonstrated its excellence on the global stage, earning second place overall at the International Forensics Association Speech & Debate Tournament and Conference held March 8–12 in Athens, Greece.

Competing against more than 30 universities from around the world, the team also captured first place in Duo Interpretation and first place in Informative Speaking, highlighting the program’s continued strength in both interpretive performance and persuasive public address.

The achievement builds on the team’s historic legacy of success in international competition. Texas Southern previously earned the overall championship at the 2025 International Forensics Association tournament in Incheon, South Korea, marking the program’s fifth IFA championship and reinforcing its standing as one of the premier debate programs in the world.

“Our students represented Texas Southern University with excellence, discipline and pride,” said Dr. Gloria Batiste-Roberts, head debate coach. “Placing second on the international stage and earning top honors in Duo Interpretation and Informative Speaking reflects the dedication and talent of our students. We are incredibly proud of the way they continue to showcase Texas Southern’s tradition of excellence in forensic arts around the world.”

The International Forensics Association conference brings together universities, scholars, judges, and students to compete in parliamentary debate, individual events, and interpretive performance while also engaging in discussions about rhetoric, advocacy and global discourse.

Established in 1949 by the late Dr. Thomas F. Freeman, the Texas Southern University Debate Team has long served as a cornerstone of academic excellence and student development at the university. For more than seven decades, the program has empowered students with critical thinking, public speaking and leadership skills that extend far beyond competition.

As the team continues its tradition of international achievement, community support remains essential. Alumni, supporters and friends of the university are encouraged to invest in the continued success of the Debate Team through monetary gifts that help offset travel, lodging and competition expenses.

Supporters can contribute by visiting: https://giving.tsu.edu/debateteam/