The UC Santa Barbara debate team went to South Korea from March 7-9 to compete in the International Forensics Association’s 35th Annual International Speech and Debate Tournament and earned three medals — two in speech and one in debate.

UCSB Debate members competed in the International Forensics Association’s 35th Annual International Speech and Debate Tournament at the University of Utah’s Asia Campus in Incheon, South Korea. Courtesy of UCSB debate team

This year’s tournament was hosted by the University of Utah’s Asia Campus in Incheon, South Korea. In the past, this tournament was hosted in hotels abroad, making this particular tournament unique.

“This is the first time in the tournament’s history where they had it at a campus,” Xander Hepburn, a third-year economics and accounting major and UCSB Debate president, said. “It was just really exciting. Obviously chaotic moments running around and language barriers, but overall, it was super positive.”

For the past five tournaments, UCSB Debate has attended regional tournaments, visiting Irvine, San Diego and Los Angeles. They previously competed against teams from Vanderbilt University and Point Loma Nazarene University, who were familiar faces at this competition.

“It was obviously the first time UCSB [Debate] has done anything like this,” Hepburn said. “Going as far as Korea was really special.”

According to Hepburn, attending the tournament wasn’t guaranteed due to issues with receiving funding from the university. 

“I was happy we got funding for it from the school this first time,” Hepburn said. “That’s the only reason we were able to go.” 

By the time UCSB Debate received funding and confirmation that they could compete, it was only a week until the tournament. Members who’ve participated in past tournaments say they typically prepare by keeping up with current events.

“Going to speech and debate, we want to be educated on current issues,” Nathan Carvajal, a third-year economics and accounting major, said. “Specifically for this competition, we were given more details that specific topics for speech and debate would be about Korea in and of itself.”

UCSB Debate members participate in various formats of speech and debate. For the international event, they participated in the impromptu speech event, where speakers get two minutes to craft a five-minute speech. They also participate in the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) format of debate. Through a one-on-one format, debaters are given five topics to debate, and each cross one off until one topic is left. For this form of debate, they are given 30 minutes to prepare.

Fourth-year political science major and Vice President of Communications for UCSB Debate, Shree Chandran said that some of the topics that arose in the tournament included superbugs, which are bacteria that can’t be treated by antibiotics, cost of health care, the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea and international relations.

The tournament was an all-day event, with teams arriving by 8 a.m. Some teams finished competing by 4 p.m., but all attendees stayed for awards, which ended around 8 p.m.

The tournament took place during Week 9 of winter quarter, which some attendees reported complicated their schedules.

“I had a final the day after I flew back from Korea, another final the next day, then a final at the end of the week,” Carvajal said. “For me, there are a lot of sacrifices, but what I get out of the end of the day is a sense of accomplishment.”

UCSB Debate members won a silver medal in the IPDA debate event and two bronze medals in speech events. These achievements grew their total number of tournament medals won to over ten.

“Next year, [the tournament is] gonna be in Athens, Greece,” Hepburn said. “We’re definitely planning to attend.”

A version of this article appeared on p. 6 of the May 1, 2025 edition of the Daily Nexus.