The Holt V. Spicer Debate Forum’s Missouri State Debate Institute (MSDI) welcomed 40 high school students to its two-week cross-examination (CX) debate camp, held June 25-July 7, 2023. While most of this year’s MSDI students were from Missouri, students from Utah, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma were also represented, marking a 40 percent increase in total enrollment in the camp from 2022.

Practicing debate skills

During MSDI, debaters acquire detailed understanding about proposals related to the camp’s debate topic. The 2023 topic focused on alleviating inequality, such as universal basic income, the green new deal, Medicare for all and other social security or job guarantee proposals. Students participate in roughly 20 debates, half on each side of the topic. Between debates and speech “redos,” a typical MSDI student will also give over 60 structured speeches. Many of the students enroll in college coursework tied to the camp as well.

Faculty members Dr. Eric Morris, Heather Walters and Kristen Stout paired with Spicer Forum alumni Parker Hopkins and Sam Cade to teach multiple labs during the camp.

“If you hear the faint buzz of 40 students speaking at once on the third floor of Craig, you are probably hearing MSDI, hard at work!” says Morris.

About MSDI

MSDI was created in 1997 by Dr. John Fritch, former Director of the National Debate Tournament, to provide students with low-cost options to learn more about debate and communication.

Learn more about the Missouri State Debate Institute

News submitted by Dr. Eric Morris, edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.