BYU Students Revived Campus Debate Team
After a decades-long hiatus, students have successfully established a new debate program at Brigham Young University.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Language Learning
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Students Jack Lindsey and Collin Powell have successfully revived the debate program at Brigham Young University. The initiative follows a petition supported by 75 signatures to bring competitive debate back to the Provo campus.
Why it matters
The original debate team disbanded in the late 1980s or early 1990s due to lack of funding and the loss of its coach. This revival provides students with a formal platform to participate in competitive tournaments once again.
The revived debate program is supported by 75 petition signatures. Meetings saw growth from an average of 5 attendees in the first semester to 30 students by the second.
The players
Jack Lindsey
He is a Brigham Young University student who co-founded the revived debate club.
Collin Powell
He is a student at Brigham Young University who partnered to lead the effort in re-establishing the debate program.
Ben Crosby
He is the instructor appointed to teach the newly approved Debate and Argumentation class at the university.
Ryan Davis
He is a professor at Brigham Young University who provided guidance and support for the debate program's return.
Kennedy Center
This is the university institution that reviewed and officially approved the new academic course for the debate team.
The details
Students collaborated with faculty, including Professor Ryan Davis, to secure approval from the Kennedy Center for a new course titled IAS 397R Section 5. The course, taught by Ben Crosby, serves as the academic structure to facilitate the team's return to competition.
Timeline
The original debate team disbanded between the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The new debate club held its first meetings during the 2025 winter semester.
The competitive debate team is scheduled to return this fall.
Culture Shift
This revival reflects a broader resurgence in student-led extracurricular interest in formal rhetoric and public speaking. By institutionalizing the activity through a dedicated course, the program secures a more stable future than the previous iteration that suffered from sudden leadership loss.
Students at the university can now enroll in IAS 397R Section 5 to participate in competitive debate activities. This program restores an extracurricular opportunity that has been absent from the Provo campus for over 30 years.
The takeaway
Student-led advocacy can effectively reverse long-standing institutional gaps in extracurricular programming. Engaging with faculty mentors early in the petition process was critical to transitioning from an informal club to a sanctioned university course.
Further reading
For more information on academic programs, visit the Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BYU Daily Universe.
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