UK Happenings

UK Bluegrass Debate Coalition Celebrates Inaugural Season

Photo by Mark Cornelison | UK Photo
Mark Cornelison | UK Photo

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 26, 2021) — The Bluegrass Debate Coalition (BDC), housed in the University of Kentucky College of Communication and information, is celebrating their inaugural season in a big way. On Thursday, May 27, at 7 p.m. EST, the BDC is hosting a one hour online event featuring a special message from Gov. Steve Beshear. Also included in the program is a short demonstration debate between UK and Western Kentucky University debaters and alumni and additional information about the BDC.

“The mission of our program is to promote debate both on campus and beyond," said Dave Arnett UK's director of debate. "The BDC is focused on helping the students who need it the most find their voices and build the confidence and skills necessary to advocate for positive changes in their communities.”

The UK Intercollegiate Debate Team housed in CI, one of the most successful collegiate debate teams in the country, launched the BDC to share their resources and expertise with middle school and high school debaters across the state of Kentucky. 

The BDC works with Kentucky schools to make competitive debate available to every middle school and high school student in the state. Debate has been proven to increase student academic performance. It also enriches and expands college and career opportunities and provides intellectual and networking tools for young people to thrive as active, responsible leaders in their communities. The BDC offers free educational resources, supports the development of new debate programs and hosts free online tournaments.

For more information about the event and the Zoom link visit https://www.bluegrassdebate.com/celebration-of-digital-debate.

For more information about the BDC visit https://www.bluegrassdebate.com.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.