In previous years projects included African famine relief and University divestment from South Africa. Requires near unanimous endorsement by LDU members. The major focus of the LDU is to teach students how to debate. Students learn to debate by debating. Students give practice debate speeches and then move into practice debates.
Students debate as two person teams.
Before these practice sessions become substantive, students need to learn about the issues being debated, partially through library research and partially through discussion, review of arguments prepared by others, and briefing sessions. Students need to take initiative in signing up for practice sessions. After students learn the basics of debate, they exercise their abilities against other colleges and universities in competition. Students find a debate partner, prepare to represent the University in competition, and then are offered opportunities to travel to often exotic places and debate other schools. The coaches will observe teams preparing for competition and then offer some of them travel opportunities.