Chronology of Speech and Debate at Ohio State

Part of a new emphasis in team outlook is to develop and maintain a better record of speech and debate alumni and history at Ohio State. This section represents a compilation of information taken from many different sources including stored team documents and materials found at the Ohio State Archives. The information contained here is not guarenteed to be correct, but is correct to the best knowledge and intrepration of those who have contributed to speech and debate historical research. Many of the original documents from which this information was gathered were degraded or incomplete. This team history is currently incomplete and will continue to be contributed to in the future. If you have information that you would like added to the team history or a correction of information that is listed here, please contact the team at osu_forensics@hotmail.com Note: "AM" designates OSU Alumni Magazine

Last Update: 8/08/2004

1870
- Ohio Agricultural and Mechanical College ( later The Ohio State University ) Founded

1874
- Alcyone and Horton Literary Societies organized at Ohio State (AM, Oct. 1962, p.9)

1880
- June 22: Horton Literary Society holds "first annual commencement" (AM, Oct. 1962, p.9)

1885
-Alcyone and Horton Literary Societies begin meeting in annual contests in oratory and debate (AM, oct. 1962, p. 9)
-Debate Question: "Are Populous Cities Favorable to the Best Interests of Society?"

1906
-State University Debating League composed of state universities in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio holds first series of debates (AM)

1910
-Regular courses in debating and extempore speaking offered. Interest in debate steadily increasing (AM)
-Ohio State chapter of Delta Sigma Rho, National Honorary Forensics Fraternity, founded (golden anniversary program)

1912
-Ohio State wins 7th annual series of debates for State University Debating League. 6 team members selected from competition pool of 52. (AM)

1913
-Ohio State Debate has won conference championship the previous two years (AM)
-Debate Resolution: "Resolved: that the fixing of minimum wage by state boards is desirable" (AM)

1914
-Ohio State belongs to the Tri-State Oratorical League (AM)
-Ohio State Debate wins against Indiana, loses to Illinois (AM)

1915
-Ohio State wins tri-state oratorical league tournament (AM)
-Debate Resolution: "Resolved: that the federal government should own and operate the telegraph and telephone systems of the United States" (AM)

1920
-Ohio State Defeated by Wisconsin in a debate presided over by William Oxley Thompson, the fifth president of the university. (AM)

1923
-Men's Debate competes with Indiana, West Virginia, Washington Universities. Defeated Indiana, Purdue, and Penn State. (AM)
-Ohio State and University of Michigan join in creation of first women's debating league. Michigan won first match (AM, 1924)

1924
-Sigma Delta Phi, women's speech arts sorority, exists at Ohio State (AM)
-Forum, a men's honorary public speaking fraternity, exists at Ohio State (AM)
-No OSU debate team has been defeated in 10 intercollegiate competitions over the past two years (AM)
-Separate women's debates have been held the past two years (AM)
-December 5th: Women's annual debate verses University of Michigan (AM)
-March 5th: Debate vs. Indiana University (AM)
-Oct. 10th: Ohio State defeats team from Oxford, England in debate judged by audience. Debate held in University Chapel and presided over by William Oxley Thompson

1925
-Ohio State defeats Michigan in annual women's debate
-Ohio State has won 4 of 6 contests

1926
-Glenn Ross is the Debate Business Manager
-Nov. 15th: Glenn Ross writes letter to Ohio Staters encouraging them to support the debate team and buy and sell season tickets

1927
-Ohio State Debate receives its first official funding appropriation of six hundred dollars (AM)
-Women's debate defeats Indiana and Michigan
-April 21: Intramural Debating season begins
-Dec. 8th: Inter-fraternity oratorical contest held by the Forum Society

1928
-Debate office possibly located in Mendenhall Lab
-Women's debate team defeats Michigan and Indiana for 3rd year in a row (AM)
-Delta Sigma Rho National Honorary Forensics Fraternity active at OSU
-"Pi Beta Delta" (then Phi Delta Gamma) winner of 1927 intermural debates
-25 schools form Ohio State High School Debating League with assistance from J. Glenn Ross of Ohio State (AM April 1929)
-Columbus dispatch donates trophies and medals to High School League competition (AM April 1929)

1929
-Debate team exists in the English department under the public speaking division
-Eight hundred dollar appropriation to Dept of English for defraying the expenses of intercollegiate debating and the encouragement of inter-high school debating (AM Feb. 1929)
-OSU Debaters defeated by Illinois. Resolution: "that a judge or board of judges be substituted for the jury system in the United States." (AM April 1929)
-OSU a member of the Western Conference Debating League
-OSU defeated Michigan in 1929 (AM April 1929)
-J. Glenn Ross faculty manager of debating. Been with program last two years
-Ross organized intramural debating and state-wide system of interscholastic high school debating last year.
-Dec. 12th: OSU Defeats Northwestern at the Chapel. Resolution: "That the principle of the chain store system is detrimental to the best interests of the US public." (AM Jan. 1930)

1941
-Ohio State undisputed Big Ten debate champion verses Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa, Chicago, Indiana, Illinois (AM)
-C.Emory. Glander, assistant in Dept of Speech, coach

1942
-Debate team finishes third in the annual Intercollegiate Big Ten debate at Northwestern. Resolution: "Resolved: That the democracies should form a federation to establish and maintain the eight Roosevelt-Churchill principles" (AM, June 1942)

1943
-Debate second place in Western Conference Competition (AM, May 1943)

1945
-Ohio State shared second place with Indiana University at the Midwestern Debate Conference held last month at Northwestern University (AM, Jan 1945)

1946
-Professor Paul Carmack left the University of Syracuse to come to the Ohio State University (reported in 1950 scrapbook)

1947
-Dec. 13th: Debate between Purdue and Ohio State. Transcript in archives
-Paul Carmack leads efforts to revitalize interest in collegiate debate (1950 scrapbook)

1949
-Dr. Paul Carmack team coach
-207 Derby Hall possible team office for Forensics Society
-Oct. 26, 1949: Dean of Men, Joseph A. Park, writes letter recognizing the Ohio State Forensics Society in response to a request from Dr. Carmack
-Extemporaneous speaking is listed as a competitive event

1950
-Jan. 12th: Team adopts an emblem/key?
-Jan. 14th: Weslayan Tournament: A Novice men's debate team places first
-Feb. 18th: Certificate of achievement to Ohio State Debate Team from Delta Sigma Rho
-April: OSU Debaters Richard Schrek and Daniel Kechel defeat visiting Princeton debaters. resolution: "Resolved: that the U.S. should nationalize the basic non-agricultural industries"
-J. Gariser Drushal encourages students to participate in "oratory contests, interpretative readings, extemporaneous speaking, and a special peace oratory."
-Hope L. Joseph participated in a Big Ten debate tournament held spring 1950.
-OSU Participates in televised debates on WBNS, also broadcast on radio
-OSU hosts debates with professors and visiting debaters from Scotland
-Team participates in the National Debate Tournament at West Point
-OSU Debaters running for Ohio General Assembly
-Former OSU Forensics Society member (1949-1950) elected to Ohio General Assembly

1951
-Ohio State wins Big Ten debate title, OSU has most honors, tied with Minnesota for number of "superiors". Harland Randolph perfect score
-Visiting team from Cambridge University debated with OSU Graduate students in an event open to the public and sponsored by the Forensics Society
-Nov. 27th: Exhibition debates against visiting team from Oxford University
-Forensics society sponsors a lecture series during 1951-52
-Ohio State takes first place at the 1951 Otterbein Tournament

1952
-Feb. 9th: OSU awarded certificate at Kent State Buckeye Debate Tournament
-April: Ohio State hosts the Big Ten Debate Tournament
-April 22-26: Ohio State team of Harland Randolph and John Berger place 8th at the National Debate Tournament at West Point. Harland Randolph is 6th speaker overall.
-Western Conference Tournament: Berger-Randolph are 1st place with Randolph 1st speaker and Berger 4th Speaker
-Harland Randolph place 1st at 6 tournaments and are undefeated at 5.
-Ohio State 1st at State Debate Tournament at Capital University which was sponsored by the Ohio Association of College
Teachers. eighteen teams total in attendance. (AM March 1952)

1953
-Records indicate that speech and debate at Ohio State is facing financial problems. fund raising and cost-cutting discussions
-Nov. 29th: OSU Debater Harland Randolph departs on a tour of England and India to engage in exhibitions at over 20 foreign Universities.
-The University holds a fund-raising tour in order to finance Randolph's trip

1954
-Dr. Paul Carmack remains coordinator of Ohio State Debate
-New staff members: Maurice Klein, John Mendiola, George Heisey
-Sept. 22nd: Forensics Open house at office in 309 Ohio Union
-Oct. 30th: Denison Tournament
-Debate topic: "U.S. should extend diplomatic recognition to Communist China"
-Nov. 7th: Televised debate with visiting oxford debaters. Affirmative and Negative sides have one OSU and one oxforddebater. Harland Randolph affirmative, John Mendiola negative. topic:"Is our far eastern foreign policy sound?"
-Nov. 9th: practices with Ohio University women's team
-Nov. 20th: 4 person debate tournament at Wooster
-Dec. 3-4th: State finals women's debate: Capital University
-Dec. 11th: Otterbein tournament (Forensics Society Newsletter)
-Dr. Paul Carmack is president of the American Forensic Association (News article: March 11)
-Speech Department is located at 205 Derby Hall
-Debate season ticket prices: General: $5.00, Student: $2.50, single event general: $1.20, single event student: $0.60.
-Exhibition debate round was held between a two man team visiting from India and an Ohio State team (News article: March 11)

1955
-Jan. 15th: Ohio Wesleyan Tournament
-Jan. 22nd: Ohio State Tournament
-Jan. 29th: Ohio State Tournament
-Feb. 5th: Marietta Tournament
-Feb. 11-12th: Marshall Wyeth Tournament
-Feb. 12th: Buckeye Tournament at Kent State
-Feb. 18-19th: Women’s Individual Tournament: Extemp, Oratory, Interp
-Feb. 19th: Depauw University Tournament
-Feb. 25-26th: Men’s State Tournament: Capital University
-Nov. 3rd: Lecture series with Cambridge debaters. Topic: “Guarenteed annual wage” OSU Debaters: Ruth Lauree Thompson, Kenneth B. Creasy. (event poster)
-Coaches: Carmack, Mendiola, Ray Heisey for 1954-55 season
-offices in 205 Derby Hall

1956
-Feb. 11th: Certificate of merit from 14th annual Buckeye Debate Tournament at Kent State
-Feb. 24-25th: Ohio State 1st place at Ohio Men’s Intercollegiate Debate Tournament at Capital University

1957
-Feb. 9th: Buckeye Debate Tournament at Kent State. Certificates of merit given to Ohio State University, William Ritter, William Hamann
-Feb. 16th: Marshall-Wythe Debate Tournament at College of William and Mary. William Ritter certificate for rating of excellent
-Nov. 23rd: Morris Harvey Forensics Meet: Charleston West Virginia. Bill Horst 3rd in discussion, Jane Miller, Bill Horst, Nancy Roger, Vivian Larsen, 3rd in Debate (2nd division)

1958
-Feb. 8th: Marshall-Wythe Debate Tournament, College of William and Mary. William Hamann: Superior, Allen Rule: Superior, Larry Schlote: Excellent
-October: OSU-Oxford televised debate. Topic: “The West should adopt the Russian system of Education”. OSU debaters: Carl Hetrick: arts-4, Allen Rule: com-2, Richard Rieke, OSU instructor of speech serves as moderator (News article)
-Women’s Debating Team is 1st of 14 at state finals, winners from a 5-way tie. (AM Jan. 58)

1959
-February: Northwestern Coon Memorial Tournament. Resolution: “further development of nuclear weapons should be prohibited by international agreement”. OSU Debaters: Allen R. Rule, William Hamann, William Laughran. Coach: Richard Rieke. (News article, Feb. 12th)
-Historical Lincoln-Douglass debates are re-inacted every other week in televised programs on WOSU-TV. A series of 7 debates are hosted by Emeritus Professor Earl Wiley and produced by Paul Carmack, professor of speech (Dispatch article, Feb. 15th)
-Hamann and Rule are semi-finalists, 3rd place of 78, at Harvard college invitational debate tournament (News article)
-April: Televised debates on the merit of compulsory ROTC. James Caplinger, Carl Hetrick, Allen Rule, William Hamann. (Lantern Article: April 1st and 6th)
-“Both Sides” is a weekly half hour televised program of debates and news analysis shown on WOSU-TV at 9:00 PM. Richard Rieke is the host of the program. The first debate was held on April 4th and involved the topic: proposed prohibition of nuclear weapons (Lantern Article, April 2nd)
-Feb. 7th: Marshall Wythe Debate Tournament at the College of William and Mary. James Caplinger: superior, Dale Williams, excellent.
-Spontaneous $58.00 donation by students witnessing debate allows James L. Caplinger, William Hamann, William H. Loughran, and Allen R. Rule to travel to a tournament at the University of Hawaii. (Lantern, July 30, 1959)
-2nd annual University of Kentucky Tournament: Allen Rule, Ed McGlone, Bill Hamann, Sarah Benson, 1st place of 54. Allen Rule 3rd speaker (News article, Oct. 21, 26, 1959)
-Team meetings are Tuesdays at 7:00 pm in Derby Hall room 205
-Women's Varsity Debate Team is 3rd at women's state tournament at Capital University. Team of Wain, Benson, Chatfield, and Diane Powell. Topic: "Resolved: that the Congress should be given the power to reverse decisions of the supreme court."
-Wake Forest College Tournament: Hamann and Rule place 2nd
-Mens team places first at Ohio Intercollegiate Debate Tournament at Capital University (Dispatch article, Dec. 2nd)
-Otterbein Invitational Holiday Debate Tournament. 4th place debate: Diane Powell, Ed McGlone, Wain, Benson (News article, Dec. 14th, 1959)
-OSU attends Detroit "Debate Days," an audience judged debate exhibition. (Daily Collegian of Wayne State, Nov. 10th)

1960
-Ohio Wesleyan University Debate Tournament: Team of Wain, Benson, Chatfield and Powell is 1st place based on points and 3rd on record (News article: Jan. 11, 1960)
-Cross Examination tournament at Illinois State Normal University: Bloomington. Allen Rule and Ed McGlone attended (News article: Jan. 11, 1960)
-Jan. 29th: Banquet at Ohio Union: Golden Aniversary of the founding of Ohio State chapter of Delta Sigma Rho. Ohio Chief Justice Carl V. Weygandt honorary speaker. (Dispatch, Jan. 24th)
-Ohio State Tournament coincides with Delta Sigma Rho banquet. Debate headquarters for the tournament is in Derby Hall. Harriet Wain president of the Forensics Society at Ohio State. Over 100 students from 18 schools are at the tournament. Bill Hamann, senior, and Gilbert E. Shepard compete in debate. (News articles: Feb. 2 and 3rd, 1960)
-Forensics Society membership about 20 people. 3 to 4 debates are held each week on campus. The society sponsors special programs on campus and is sent to tournaments across the nation (News article: Feb. 3rd 1960)
-Ohio State attends 3rd annual Capitol Hill Tournament held at University of Maryland. Harriet Wain second in Persuasive speaking. Final debate round held in the senate caucus room in Washington D.C. Judged by senators. Competitors addressed by senator Kenneth Keating and associate supreme court justice Thomas Clark. (Dispatch, Feb. 29, 1960)
-Harvard University tournament: Allen Rule and Dale Williams are 2nd overall. Rule receives silver cup for being top speaker, Williams is second place speaker
-Northwestern University Debate Tournament: Williams and Rule are second overall.
-Dec. 2,3rd: Ohio State is invited to compete to the 2nd annual National Invitational Debate Tournament at the US air force academy in Colorado
-Autumn quarter: Allen Rule and Dale Williams are 3rd place at Purdue and 2nd place at Kentucky tournaments

1961
-April 26-29th: Ohio State competes in the 15th annual NDT National Debate Tournament held at West Point.
-Ohio State takes 1st at 14th annual University of Pittsburgh Cross-Examination Debate Tournament. Topic: "Labor organizations should be under the jurisdiction of anti-trust legislation"
-Dale Williams is part of a 7-way tie for first place in the Men's State College Debate Tournament at Capital University. Topic: "Should the US adopt a program of compulsory health insurance for all citizens" (Columbus citizen journal, Feb. 20, 1961)
-Jan. 6-7th: Illinois State Normal University Forensics Tournament: Allen Rule and Dave Williams take 1st place.
-Purdue Invitational Forensics conference: Edward Glone is top individual (Dispatch, Nov. 19)

1962
-Dale E. Williams and Sarah Jane Benson are National Champions of Debate at NDT. Sarah Benson is the first woman to win NDT. (AM Oct. 1962)
-Richard Rieke is coach

1965
-Harold Lawson Coach
-Ohio State is 2nd place at 18th annual Otterbein Holiday Tournament (Dispatch, Dec. 13th)

1966
-Jan: Ohio University Novice Tournament: Dona Griffith, Samuel Eisen, Ray Robinson, George Pfleger, 1st overall. Dona Griffith 1st speaker
-Feb: Dartmouth College National Invitational Debate Tournament. James Luck, arts-2, and Michael Manley, commerce-4, 1st overall. Luck and Manley won 15 trophies 65-66 season.
-Northwestern University Tournament: Luck and Manley 1st place
-Jan. 22-29: Ohio State Tournament: 45 Schools attend
-State Tournament at Capital University: Ohio State is 1st. Roger Schwenke, Luck, Manley, and Ed. Smith. Same team also won Kent State University Tournament and placed second at Western Reserve University (Dispatch, Feb. 27th)
-Ohio State won 24th Annual Buckeye Debate Tournament at Kent State. Question: "Should greater power be given to law enforcement agents in criminal investigations and prosecutions?" (Dispatch, Feb. 13th)
-Miami University Forensics Tournament: Edward Smith – individual events winner (Dispatch, March 13th)
-March 20-22nd: District 5 Qualifier: James Luck with Michael Manley as first alternate
-Seven first place awards, 15 trophies in 29 tournaments
-traveled over 100,000 miles
-April 20-23rd: National Debate Tournament, West Point. Team members: Betty Mathis, William Woods, Dean Conley, Steve Keller

1967
-Debate Resolution: "Resolved: the United State should substantially reduce its foreign policy commitments"
-Western Reserve Tournament: 1st place
-Debate Office located at 305A Derby Hall
-April 16-19th: National Debate Tournament: Chicago Illinois. Edward Smith and James Luck. 43 tournaments, 38 trophies
-Dec. 10th: Otterbein college tournament. First place: Gary Varga, Steven Keller, William Woods, Karen Lanman.

1968
-Ohio State places first at Capital University Tournament (Dispatch, Feb. 25th)
-Ohio State debaters Steven Keller and William Woods place 2nd at Michigan State Tournament (Lantern, April 3rd)
-April 15-18th: National Debate Tounrament hosted by Brooklyn College. Resolution: "Resolved: that the federal government should guarantee a minimum annual cash income to all citizens"
-Ohio State wins National four person debate tournament. Carl Klein is fifth speaker and Dean Conley is seventh speaker. (Lantern, April 17th)
-Ohio State places first at the Otterbein tournament. (Dispatch, Oct. 21st)
-USC and Ohio State debate teams square off on the question of who had the best football team when both were scheduled to play in the Rose Bowl. (Citizen Journal, Nov. 29th)
-Resolved: "Executive Control of US Foreign Policy should be curtailed"
-Ohio State host debate tournament, approximately 100 debate squads participating. Ohio State wins on a 4-1 decision.

1969
-Ohio State defeats USC in debate (Lantern, Jan. 20th)
-Feb. 27th – March 1st: Notre Dame Invitational. Ohio State receives award for superior debating and is ranked 22nd overall
-April 24-17th: NDT at Northern Illinois University. Dale Hemple and Richard Rosen represent Ohio State
-Coach for 1969-70 season: Donal Stanton
-Oct. 25-26th: Motor City Invitational. Wall and Hafner are 2-4
-Oct. 24-26th: Kansas State University: Richard Rosen and Mike Sproule are 20th
-Oct. 31-Nov. 2nd: Emory University: Richard Rosen and Dale Hample are Quarterfinalists
-Nov. 7-8th: University of Cincinnati: Gordon Wall, Mike Sproule, Dale Hample, Rick Rosen are 1st overall
-Nov. 13-15th: Purdue: Dale Hample and Mike Sproule are Quarterfinalists. Sproule is first speaker and Hample is 7th speaker
-Nov. 20-22nd: University of Illinois: Sproule and Hample are Octofinalists
-November 23-25th: Marietta College Tournament
-Dec. 5-7th: Ohio State Tournament. 72 teams attend from 44 different schools

1970
-Forensics office is located in 203 Derby Hall
-April 16-19th: National Debate Tournament hosted by University of Houston. Dale Hample and Mike Sproule attend with an at-large qualification
-3 person coaching staff
-Ohio State places 1st at Western Illinois Tournament, 2nd at Kansas State Tournament, and Qualified to National Tournament of Champions. (Lantern, Oct. 28th)
-Resolution: "Should the Federal Government adopt a system of compulsory wage and price control?" (Lantern, Oct. 28th)
-Tournament schedule includes 35 tournaments
-Dec. 4-6th: Ohio State Tournament: 106 teams compete
-Vanderbilt Tournament: Mike Sproule and Dale Hample are 1st place

1971
-Resolution: "Resolved: that greater controls should be imposed on the gathering and utilization of information about US Citizens by Government Agencies"
-March 29-April 1st: DSR-TKA National Tournament in New Mexico.
-November 19-21st: Ohio State University Tournament
-Director is James Michael Sproule

1972
-Team offices in 205 Derby Hall
-Oct. 13-15th: University of Kentucky Henry Clay Debates
-Dec. 1-3rd: Ohio State University Tournament
-Ohio State is first at the Ruth A. Wilcox Forensics Invitational
-Bowling Green University Tournament: Ohio State team of Meizlish and Purcell are quarterfinalists
-Ohio State is 10th place at Naval Academy Tournament
-DSR TKA Nationals: Ohio State is second with a (12-4) record

1976
-Ohio State has 14 competitors in the 1976-77 season

1977
-Ohio State has 23 competitors in the 1977-78 season

1978
-Ohio State has 30 competitors in the 1978-79 season
-Team offices in 205 Derby Hall
-Jan. 26-28th: Ohio State Tournament: 70 team entry cutoff
-T.C. Winebrenner Coach
-Allen Lowenthal and Harold Lawson defeat a team from Michigan
-Speech and Debate funding is cut by the Communications Department and the program moves to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (Dispatch 4/10/79)
-Communications Department regains control of program after a short time and proposes a switch from NDT debate to a Big Ten Debating League, competitors and team alumni resist the change (Dispatch 4/10/79)

1979
-Jan. 12-13th: Ohio State IE Tournament
-Jan. 26-28th: Ohio State Debate Tournament
-Forensics Advisory committee consists of the following members: Rick Soller (President), Dr. Smallwood, Professor Herson, Professor Herman, Professor Elliot
-Ohio State wins 22 trophies in the 1979-80 season
-Search for new Director of Forensics
-Autumn quarter 1979 (78?) Ohio State Speech and Debate is separated from the Department of Communications and moved under the Division of Student Affairs at the behest of State Representatives and former team members Mike Stinziano and Dean Conley in order to maintain the competitiveness of NDT style debate (Dispatch 4/10/79)

1980
-Director: Harold Lawson
-Team offices in 464 Ohio Union
-Jan. 26-28th: OSU Debate Tournament: 80 team entry cutoff
-3rd Annual Buckeye Invitational Individual Events Tournament held with 15 schools attending
-Decision made to evaluate Forensics program for academic merit by a special advisory team during the 1980-81 season.
-1980-81 season: 156 trophies won, new team record (Letter, 11/16/81)

1981
-The Forensics program is under the Student Life Offfice.
-The spring report of the Forensics Evaluation Committee is incomplete and program organization and funding are extended for 1 year (Letter, 11/16/81)
-The 1981-82 season begins with only 3 returning individual events competitors and 0 returning debaters
-Autumn Quarter 1981: David Radanovich becomes Director of Forensics
-Oct. 16-17th: OSU Hosts 4th Annual Buckeye Invitational Tournament: 15 Schools attend (monthly report: 11/5/81)

1982
-April 22-26th: Ohio State hosts the 12th annual National Forensics Association NFA Tournament attended by 130 schools (Annual report, 4/5/83)
-Forensics Offices are located in the student services building (monthly report: 7/6/82)
-OSU hosts its first ever high school debate tournament in October (report: 11/3/82)
-OSU Forensics previously held some offices in the Ohio Union but by November is housed totally in the student services building (monthly report: 11/3/82)
Oct. 15-17th: Ohio State hosts 5th buckeye invitational

1983
-Fall quarter 1983: team attends 5 tournaments: 2 at Bowling Green SU, Miami University, Ball State University, Shippenburg State University PA.
-Feb. 10-12th: OSU Hosts Ohio high school big districts tournament
-OSU places 7th in overall IE at the NFA tournament: its first finish in the top 10
-late in 1983: Forensics budget reduction proposed: (letters: 12/16/83, 12/23/83)

1984
-New forensics evaluation committee formed to provide recommendations for continuation and budget of program to administration (letter: 3/13/84)
-170 trophies won in 1983-84 season: (evalution report: 5/18/84)
-Forensics evalution report submitted
-Ohio State is Novice overall Champions and Novice I.E. Champions at Ohio Forensics Association (OFA)

1986
-August 1986: Phil Martin becomes Director of Forensics
-Letters reflect concern about the poor condition of Forensics office space
-July 1986: Forensics Program Support Fund established to assist in attending tournaments, recruiting students, and retaining experienced competitors

1987
-CETA / NDT team is discontinued due to budget reductions

1990
-Phil Martin is Director of Forensics and departs after summer 1990
-April 24-May 1: Ohio State is 16th place at the NFA tournament
-June 25-26: OSU hosts the Ohio Forensics Association Constitutional Convention
-July 1990: Forensics Program moves from the office of student life to Ohio Union oversight.
-2 Ohio State students attend the Interstate Oratorical Contest. Tracy Shario advances to a semi-final round.
-Reports indicate that the location of the team office has moved 6 times in the last 10 years

1991
-Fall 1991: OSU Forensics attends 1 tournament fall quarter (report: Au92)

1992
-Mark S. Hickman starts as Director of Forensics on Sept 1st, 1992 (letter 5/9/94)
-Fall 1992: OSU Forensics first offers Lincoln Douglas Debate
-Team roster for 92-93 season is 15 students: 9 freshmen, 4 sophomores, 1 junior, 1 senior (report:Au92)
-Team attends 3 tournaments Fall quarter
-OSU hosts Holiday Frolic Tournament: 25 schools attend, tournament billed as 50% less expensive than other comparable tournaments
-OSU hosts the Generic tournament

1993
-Team roster for 93-94 season is 24 students: 3 freshmen, 10 sophomores, 8 juniors, 1 senior
-Team attends 4 tournments fall quarter: California University (PA), University of Indianapolis, Oakland University, and Kellogg
-The Forensics Union: a Student activity designed to support and publicize forensics is established (report: Au94)
-Annual Holiday Frolic is attended by 26 schools

1994
-Team roster for the 94-95 season: 19 students: 9 freshmen, 2 sophmores, 5 juniors, 3 seniors
-Autumn 94: Forensics Newsletter: "Buckeye Babbler" is sent to alumni and administrators
-annual Holiday Frolic tournament is attended by 28 schools
-Team attends 6 tournaments fall quarter: West Chester, Miami, Ball State, Indiana U, Eastern Michigan, Youngstown State. 10 tournament for the entire 94-95 season

1995
-Ohio State charters Ohio Sigma chapter of Pi Kappa Delta, national speech honorary
-Team roster for 95-96 season: 22 students: 8 freshmen, 6 sophomores, 5 juniors, 3 seniors (report: 7/31/96)
-Team competes in 13 tournaments 95-96 season

1996
-Summer 1996: speech and debate moves into redesigned space in Ohio Union Room 211
-Scott Smith wins OSU first individual LD national Championship
-Heather Blair wins NFA Rhetorical Criticism title.

1997:
-Mark Hickman leaves for West Chester University, Director position not filled.
-Ryan Hershberger joins Neil Aho as program Graduate Assistants
-Colin O’Brien wins NFA Extemporaneous title.
-IE squad finishes 8th at NFA

1998:
-Team Alumni Jeff Blair replaces Neil Aho as a coach.

1999:
-Dave Orensten replaces Ryan Hershberger. Both Dave and Jeff serve as Graduate Assistants.
-IE squad places 10th at NFA

2000:
-Program status re-evaluated by Ohio Union. Classified as a student organization and placed under the Office of Student Organizations.
-Team offices relocated to Room 313 of the Ohio Union.
-Matt Ross wins NFA Extemporaneous title.
-LD squad places 2nd at NFA IE squad places 10th.

2002:
-Scott Stevens is hired as sole Graduate Assistant, Ben Borchers and Chris Nieter act as student coaches.

2003:
-Program placed under Council of Student Affairs administration.
-Office relocated to room 340B of the Ohio Union.
-All formal coaching positions eliminated. Scott Stevens and Chris Nieter stay on as Volunteer coaches.

2004:
-Program adopted by the John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy
-Chris Nieter and William Couch hired as graduate assistant coaches
-Office is relocation to 2nd floor of rebuild Page Hall