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CSULB Speech and Debate Team

Beach Forensics offers intercollegiate speech and debate at CSULB; the debate team reached the 2026 National Debate Tournament final.

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Collegiate debate program

California State University, Long Beach

Activity: Unconfirmed

A CSULB report published August 5, 2026 describes the 2026 National Debate Tournament final and a late-July Summer Debate Institute, but does not provide an exact actual event date within the 2025–26 academic season. The report date is after that season ended and does not establish 2026–27 operations.

Verified 2026-11-02.

Source

Also known as Beach Forensics.

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How the program debates

Beach Forensics is CSU Long Beach’s intercollegiate speech and debate program. The team offers coaching, mentoring and competition to interested students across majors, and competes at universities around the country. A 2026 campus report documents team members mentoring high-school debaters through the Summer Debate Institute and reaching the National Debate Tournament final. The same report notes that the Cross Examination Debate Association recognized a Beach debater as its top debater for 2026 and named a CSULB graduate coach of the year. The team site says competition travel costs, including airfare, hotel and meals, are covered, and that scholarship opportunities are available. A university report also describes a named endowed scholarship for Speech and Debate students with financial need; it does not publish award amounts or application terms.

Debate formats

Circuits and associations

  • National Debate Tournament · Documented participation · 2025-2026Source

Joining and participation

Eligibility
The program page offers intercollegiate opportunities to all interested students; CSULB’s 2026 report says the team is open to all majors.SourceSource
Published fees
The program page says competition costs such as airfare, hotel and meals are covered; it does not give a cap or conditions.Source
Scholarships
The program page notes scholarship opportunities. A 2026 CSULB report describes a named endowed scholarship for Speech and Debate students with financial need; amounts and application terms are not stated on those pages.SourceSource
Read official joining information

Coaches and notable connections

Deven Cooper

Director of Beach Forensics

CSULB lists Cooper among the Communication Studies full-time faculty and identifies him as Director of Beach Forensics. Its August 2026 team report identifies him as Director of Debate and coach.

Official biographySourceSource

Jay A. Mercier

Forensics alumnus and endowed scholarship donor

CSULB describes Mercier as a former Beach forensics competitor and identifies him as a co-funder of a Speech and Debate endowed scholarship for students with financial need.

Official biographySource

History and achievements

  • 2026 · National Debate Tournament

    Reached the final round of the 2026 National Debate Tournament.

    Policy debate · Finalist

    Source

  • 2026 · CEDA awards

    A Beach debater was recognized as the Cross Examination Debate Association’s top debater for 2026; the association also named a CSULB graduate coach of the year.

    Policy debate

    SourceSource
Sources and verification
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Historical connections and results describe the named program and season. Contact the program for current participation details.