Rupp Debate Society Opens 2026-27 Season at College of Southern Idaho

Idaho State University's James M. & Sharon E. Rupp Debate Society opens its 2026-27 travel season September 25 and 26 at the Fran Tanner Open, hosted by the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls.

Isaac Brambila, Lazarus Clark and Alex Kuyperand will represent Idaho State in International Public Debate Association competition and in individual speaking events including extemporaneous speaking, communication analysis, and informative speaking. The team is directed by Dr. Sarah T. Partlow Lefevre, Professor of Communication, Media, and Persuasion, with assistant coaches Jack Quigley and Heather Gilmore, Ph.D.

Idaho State has placed at the Fran Tanner tournament in each of the last four seasons. In 2025 the team took five awards, including a Gold Award in Poetry for Isaac Brambila. In 2024 Gabe DesRobert, Isaac Brambila, and Mandi Hesby won first place in Readers Theater. In 2023 the squad finished third in team sweepstakes, and in 2022 it won first place in varsity debate.

The Rupp Debate Society competes in International Public Debate Association debate, British Parliamentary debate, and individual speaking events, and travels to four to six tournaments each year in addition to online competition. Chelsea Blanchard joins the program as a graduate research assistant for 2026-27.