About Us
The University Speech Team is a student-led, collegiate speech team that aims to hone public speaking and argumentation skills while having fun! The team travels across the country to compete in speech tournaments between September and April, including national tournaments like the National Forensic Association (NFA) and the American Forensic Association (AFA). There are 11 different events students may participate in that span public address, limited preparation, and interpretation. Past speeches have included an informative speech about crafting as a form of activism, a humorous speech about how racial imposter syndrome disproportionately impacts multiracial people, and a dramatic interpretation of the ongoing gaslighting of LGBTQ+ individuals. Most importantly, the team strives to support students' academic journeys, develop friendships with speakers nationwide, and uplift students to be authentic. Through speech, we hope students discover communications skills they can use to advocate for a more just world. Past speakers have pursued law degrees, PhDs in communication, careers in journalism, and many more professional endeavors! For more information, contact us at umnspeechteam@gmail.com
