The Center for Democracy in Deaf America

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The Center for Democracy in Deaf America

A non-partisan organization at Gallaudet committed to disagreement, debate, and civic engagement

10/23/2026

On October 10, debaters Jevon Burns and Brenna Freeman competed in the St. Ignatius Policy Tournament at the University of San Francisco, where they earned second place overall out of fifteen teams.

Brenna took home the 1st place Speaker award in her very first intercollegiate tournament, while Jevon earned 2nd place Speaker.

Join us in congratulating our debaters in the comments below!

10/15/2026

What makes a Veditz Debate different? It’s the first debate format built around ASL and Deaf norms, reflecting how people communicate, challenge, and reason in sign language. Watch the video, then see it live at Gallaudet Homecoming tomorrow!

10/14/2026

Every generation of Bison swears their years at Gallaudet were the best. Only one can be right.

This Friday, October 16, at 1:30 PM, a special Veditz Debate comes to Homecoming. Alum, student, staff, or plainly curious, come defend your view and help settle it.

Which year gets your vote?

10/13/2026

Four minutes. One speech. A controversial motion. A full house voting before and after, so the only score that counts is who changed their mind.

That was the 7th Annual Stories and Speeches in Sign, our persuasive speech competition, and the start of this year’s debate season.

Sophomore Pax Holcomb took first. Freshman Brenna Freeman took second. Senior Dalina Schwartz took third and the Audience Favorite award.

Thank you to our judges, Stacy Nowak and Lorenzo Lewis, and to everyone who came to watch people argue on purpose.

10/05/2026

The fight your class has at every reunion (and in every Facebook group) finally enters the ring. Three corners. One crown. Zero chance anyone admits they were wrong.

You pick the champ. Nostalgia is not an argument. (It might win anyway.)

Come and watch The Era Showdown: A Veditz Debate with the Gallaudet Debate team on Friday, October 16, at 1:30 p.m. at Hall Memorial Building Atrium.

1976. 2001. 2026. Which era was the best time to a Bison?

May the best class win!

The Center for Democracy in Deaf America

(Flyer description in comments.)

10/02/2026

Meet the 2026–27 Gallaudet Debate Team. We have nine newcomers, five veterans, and they’re all ready for another year of joyful disagreement!

Watch for them on the schedule this fall. Check them out at our Homecoming Veditz debate in 2 weeks.

10/01/2026

Come and join us for our 7th Annual Stories and Speeches in Sign! Our debaters will take on controversial topics in only 4 minutes, and attempt to persuade you.

09/30/2026

What's on the Center for Democracy in Deaf America's event calendar this fall? Take a look and save the dates.

Which event are you most looking forward to? Tell us in the comments.

09/25/2026

Four minutes. One controversial topic of their choice.

We're kicking off this year's debate season with the 7th Annual Stories and Speeches in Sign, where Gallaudet debaters get four minutes to make their case and persuade you.

Come see what this year's debaters have to say!

09/25/2026

Four minutes. One controversial topic of their choice.

We’re kicking off this year’s debate season with the 7th Annual Stories and Speeches in Sign, where Gallaudet debaters get four minutes to make their case and persuade you.

Come see what this year’s debaters have to say!

Address

800 Florida Avenue NE
Washington D.C., DC
20002

Website

https://linktr.ee/thecdda

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