Delta Sigma Rho-Tau Kappa Alpha
National Honorary Forensic
Society
PURPOSE: To promote interest in and to award suitable recognition for excellence in forensics and original speaking; and to foster respect for and an appreciation of freedom of speech as a vital element of democracy.
ELIGIBILITY: Participation, as a student, at a high level of excellence, in at least two years of intercollegiate (or equivalent) forensics or original speaking activity, supervised by the faculty sponsor of a campus chapter or by qualified members of the forensics staff--unless the forensics or original speaking activity was commenced in the senior year as an undergraduate, in which case one year of such participation shall be acceptable. The student shall have completed at least three semesters or five quarters of college prior to initiation, and shall rank in the upper thirty-five percent of the college class.
MAJOR ACTIVITIES: The society sponsors annual national and regional conferences at which students discuss and debate current vital national issues. A National Student Council involves undergraduate members in the operation of the society. The society publishes a journal, Speaker and Gavel, and has published a textbook, Argumentation and Debate. Annual awards are made to the Speaker of the Year, who exemplifies the characteristics of "effective, intelligent and responsible communication in a democracy," to Distinguished Alumni and to the winners in the National Forensic League nationwide high school tournament.
OFFICIAL CONTACT:
Treva Deantreva.dean@ua.edu
Department of Communication Studies
210j Reese Phifer Hall
Box 870172
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
NATIONAL OFFICERS:
President, Treva
Dean, University of Alabama
Vice President,
Benjamin Walker, Minnesota State University Mankato
Secretary, Amy
Martinelli, University of Florida
Treasurer, Mike
Edmonds, Colorado College
Editor, Speaker and
Gavel, Stephen Croucher, University of Jyvaskyla
Webmaster, Dan Cronn-Mills, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Historian, Robert Weiss, Prof. Emeritus, Depauw University
last update: November 2011