The 1980's replaced the doldrums of the 1970's with a revitalized and successful debate team stressing education, competition, and service. Throughout the 1980's and 1990's UVM has been a consistent top national competitor. Since the award was created three out of the four East Region Debater of the Year awards have gone to UVM students. During this period UVM has national championships in Novice Debate and Public Debate, and has placed as high as Third in Varsity Debate and as high as Fifth in the National Sweepstakes race. This is doubly impressive because the vast majority of our opponent schools have extensive scholarship programs for talented high school debaters and a substantially larger budget, while UVM has students with little or no high school experience and very high travel costs.
Success is possible through a community of students, staff, faculty, alumni volunteers, and friends.
The LDU is an endowed, co-curricular program at the University of Vermont. It is directed by the Lawrence Professor of Forensics and coaches hired by the University. Members of the LDU are UVM students enrolled in at least six hours of undergraduate study per semester and who are working toward a Bachelor's degree. Members are expected to attend meetings, participate meaningfully in one of the three LDU areas of emphasis, provide information to the coaching staff about academic schedules and standing, and follow through on voluntary verbal commitments. The coaching staff is composed of debate experts who teach debate, explore issues, and coach students to win in competition and in life.