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Debate Union at UCLA

UCLA’s British Parliamentary debate union welcomes new members year-round and prepares through weekly practice, drills and tournament competition.

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Collegiate debate club

University of California, Los Angeles

Activity: Active

The UCLA Debate Union’s 2026 Invitational is dated October 17–18, 2026, on Tabroom; its linked 2026 awards presentation identifies a completed awards ceremony. This verifies program operations in the 2026–27 season through hosting. The event results shown are for a high-school tournament and do not establish UCLA competitors’ participation in a collegiate tournament.

Season 2026-2027. Evidence dated 2026-10-18. Verified 2026-11-02.

SourceSource

Also known as UCLA Debate Union.

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How the program debates

The Debate Union is UCLA’s intercollegiate competitive debating organization. It competes in British Parliamentary debate, where four two-person teams debate the same motion, with two teams on each side. Rounds use about 15 minutes of preparation without internet access, followed by a judged ranking. Practice includes full debate rounds and skills drills. The Union says there are no tryouts and that new members can join year-round at a level that suits them; students who want to travel to tournaments are expected to attend practice regularly, prepare outside sessions and contribute to team research. The program identifies itself as operating since 1920. It reports novice division Nationals wins in 2020 and 2023 and team breaks at the 2024 and 2025 World Championships.

Debate formats

Circuits and associations

Not documented.

Joining and participation

How to join
There are no tryouts; the team says it accepts new members year-round and that members can participate to the extent they choose. Students seeking tournament travel are expected to attend practice regularly, prepare outside scheduled sessions and contribute to team research.Source
Practice arrangements
The team lists weekly Tuesday practices from 6–8 p.m. and directs prospective members to Instagram for current practice-location details.SourceSourceSource
Read official joining information

Coaches and notable connections

Mark Huppin

Faculty advisor

UCLA’s Debate Union lists Huppin as its faculty advisor and a communications professor. The team page notes that he returned to UCLA for a Ph.D. in psychology after earning his law degree at Stanford.

Official biographySource

Ralph J. Bunche

Distinguished debate alumnus

The Debate Union identifies Bunche as a former UCLA debater and distinguished alumnus. He graduated from UCLA in 1927 and received the 1950 Nobel Peace Prize for his work securing an armistice between Israel and the Arab states.

Official biographySourceSource

History and achievements

The team’s official website identifies the Debate Union as operating since 1920.SourceSource

  • 2020 · USUDC

    Won the novice division of the 2020 US Universities Debating Championship (USUDC).

    British Parliamentary · Novice

    Source

  • 2023 · Nationals (event not specified by program)

    Won the novice division of Nationals in 2023; the program page does not name the tournament.

    British Parliamentary · Novice

    SourceSource

  • 2024 · World Championship

    UCLA reports that a team broke at the World Championship held in Vietnam.

    British Parliamentary

    SourceSource

  • 2025 · World Championship

    UCLA reports that a team broke at the World Championship held in Panama.

    British Parliamentary

    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.