When Niko Sims first came to Emporia State, he had an “intense stutter” and didn’t apply himself to his studies. After walking into the debate room, his life changed. He soon found himself staying up late reading books, doing in-depth research and enjoying it. 

Now, in one action, a legacy has become history as the ESU debate team will be discontinued in May 2023, following the layoffs of 33 faculty members and the suspension of several university programs after the Kansas Board of Regents passed a new framework on Sept. 14. 

“These are people,” said Squid Monteith, 2020 ESU graduate and debate alum. “These are histories and legacies, and (the administration is) just kind of ignoring them, like they’re numbers on your page.”

Gwen Larson, director of media relations, said via email that the university administration declined to comment on this story. 

ESU debate began in 1874, according to the ESU website, predating even the first sandlot football games at ESU, then called the Kansas State Normal School.

Chris Loghry, instructor, director of debate and one of the 33 dismissed faculty members, was just settling into the idea of turning Emporia into his permanent home and continues his long history of the debate squad. Now, he says that this decision took his opportunity to spend his life in the town he loves and coach a team that means so much to him. 

“I was really excited that I could continue to be part of the legacy in Emporia and Emporia State University, really make that my home,” Loghry said. “And now I have to try to figure out something else, to go somewhere else.”

Shortly after announcing the debate program’s discontinuance, the university released its plan to “reinvest in” the art department, citing the program’s long history of excellence. This plan includes expanding existing programs and hiring new faculty members.

The university’s Facebook post regarding the changes to the art department sparked over 100 comments from the community, with a large number outraged about the disbandment of the debate team. 

“It’s like a backhand,” said Monteith. “It feels like they’re trying to gaslight the community into thinking they’re here for us.” 

Despite the administration’s recent announcements, Monteith said the squad is not done competing until their last day. Sims, a current squad member, echoed Monteith’s sentiment but likened the feeling to a “countdown.” 

The sole reason for academic survival 

Sims, a senior political science major and most senior member of the debate squad, is not alone in saying this program has changed him. 

Current and former debate members who spoke to The Bulletin said they may not have even graduated if it wasn’t for the squad. 

Monteith, who graduated with a communication degree and uses they/them pronouns, said that without the debate staff and communication department on campus, they could not have made it through the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Loghry has coached ESU debate for nine years but started with the program as a student in 2002. He cited his experience as the main reason he returned to ESU in 2008 to finish his degree. 

“The simplest way to put it is that there’s basically like a 0% chance I ever would have gone to or finished college without ESU debate,” Loghry said. 

James Vereen, senior interdisciplinary studies major and debate squad member, tried to step away from debate but found himself quickly returning. 

“I have both done debate and not done debate,” Vereen said. “In the semesters where I’ve done debate, I’ve been generally happier and also much more academically successful.”

Jackie Poapst, president of the Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA), agrees with the sentiment that debate can significantly impact the academic successes of the students involved, saying it is one of the “most valuable” activities for undergraduate students.  

“A single debate tournament is akin to taking a public speaking class about 15 times,” Poapst said. 

This claim can be directly seen in Sim’s ability to overcome his stutter, a feat he said he directly attributes to his experience in debate.  

CEDA is the “primary national association” for intercollegiate academic debate and hosts the national championship tournament, according to its website. CEDA will send letters to the ESU administration to support the debate program, according to Poapst.

Making history across the nation

Despite the small size of ESU, the debate team has competed–and won–against several schools, including the Ivy Leagues, according to Poapst.

“(The program suspension is) something I could never have imagined would have happened to one of the most long-standing and respected programs in the country,” Poapst said.

In the 2012-2013 academic year, alumni Elijah Smith and Ryan Wash helped ESU make debate history as the first university to “unite the crowns” and win the CEDA and National Debate Tournament championships in the same year, according to the ESU website. 

“It was incredible. It always will be,” said Loghry. “It’s almost indescribable because it was such a historic thing that had never been done before… It left me speechless.”

Poapst said one of her “fondest memories in debate” was when Smith and Wash made history and feels that the “short-sighted” decisions by ESU administration jeopardizes that.

The sudden decision to end the debate program will hit the debate world, as many coaches, judges and supporters come from ESU, Poapst said, adding, “I would go even further to say every person in the (debate) world can point out ESU students.” 

While Loghry was aware of the history and impact of the Emporia debate program, he said the community’s overwhelming support since the discontinuance announcement has put into perspective how much the debate world cares for this program.

‘Pride isn’t reciprocated’

When Sims coached and interacted with the debate community, he said he was always sure to show his ESU pride. “Stingers up,” he’d say. 

Now, his sense of pride has been dampened by the administration’s announcements, saying he feels the “pride isn’t reciprocated.”

“I want Emporia State administration to hold themselves accountable the way they taught their students to hold themselves accountable,” Monteith said. “When we take actions as students, and it receives backlash, we’re not allowed to just hide behind vague public statements. As students, we’re taught to defend our position, orient ourselves in a way of understanding, and be honorable to the things that we have said and done, and Emporia State has not done that.”

When Loghry received the news that the administration was suspending the squad, he said he was faced with hard-to-express emotions. 

“It felt like all of my friends died on the same day,” Loghry said. “I’m trying to figure out how to cope with that because it’s a lot. It’s a heavy weight, and I never expected myself to be the last director of such a long-standing and prestigious program.”

Cameron Burnett contributed reporting.

Sarah Spicer advises The Bulletin on stories about Emporia State’s framework to dismiss employees.