Forensics
Macalester’s forensics program provides a wide variety of opportunities for students to improve their skills in the core liberal arts disciplines of rhetoric, logic, and argumentation.
Joining a Forensics Team
Looking to hone your public speaking skills, debate public policy, or practice the power of persuasion? Forensics participation is open to all interested students. While we encourage those with considerable high school experience to join our ranks, we are also open to those who have never competed before.
Macalester College has a long and storied tradition in intercollegiate forensics. Our first intercollegiate debate took place on April 7, 1911. While our story began with a 2-1 loss to St. Olaf College, it did not take Macalester students very long to develop a reputation as one of the best forensics programs around. Over the course of the last 111 years, Macalester students have won national titles in events ranging from extemporaneous speaking and oratory to policy debate and mock trial.
Opportunities at Mac
Mock Trial
Rotating between criminal and civil cases, students in Mock Trial perform as attorneys and witnesses on one or both sides of the case. Macalester’s program competes in tournaments using the case materials provided by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA).
Ethics/Bioethics Bowl
This form of team debate focuses on finding answers to real world ethical dilemmas in politics, culture, technology, the environment, medicine, and more. The Bioethics version centers completely around biomedical issues, ranging from patient care to research ethics.
Policy Debate
Moving at a fast pace, Policy Debate is a research-intensive activity that debates on a year-long legal, domestic or international policy resolution. Macalester competes on the National Debate Tournament (NDT) and Cross Examination Association (CEDA) circuit.
Moot Court
As one of the newest teams within Forensics, Moot Court participants argue both sides whether or not a student agrees with it, strengthening and preparing students’ argumentative skills for when their own beliefs are challenged.
Model UN
With a team of 12, Macalester competes each year at the National Model United Nations conference in New York City. NMUN•NY is the world’s largest, oldest, and most prestigious intercollegiate Model UN conference.
Contact Forensics
If you have any questions about the program, or are interested in joining, please contact our Director of Forensics, Beau Larsen.