MARTIN LUTHER KING FORENSIC SOCIETY

Howard University 's commitment to forensics dates back to the early 1940's. In 1973, The Martin Luther King, Jr. Forensics Society was founded by Dr. Laura A. Fleet.

From its inception until 1993 the Society was composed of two divisions: CEDA Debate and Individual Events. Because of growing interest in other forms of debate, the first Howard University Mock Trial Team was organized by Dr. Debyii Sababu-Thomas, its first Director in 1993. The CEDA Debate Team, which focused more on policy debate, was relocated to the Political Science Department College of Arts & Sciences in 2006.

Currently, Howard University's Martin Luther King Jr. Forensics society is composed of the Individual Events and Mock Trial teams. The Individual Events Team, a registered member of the American and National Forensics Associations, continues to live up to its legacy of excellence and achievement.

Over the past 30 years, students have won numerous awards in informative, persuasive, impromptu and extemporaneous speaking as well as poetry, prose and dramatic interpretation. Since its entry into the American Mock Trial Association intercollegiate circuit, Howard University Mock Trial teams have won several regional and national titles. It was the first team to win two national championships in the same year, the both the 1997 National Silver Flight Tournament and the 1997 National Championship. Additionally, the Howard Team has been listed in the Top Ten Teams in the nation for over 9 times and has won the 2000 National Silver Flight Championship, the 1998 and 2003 Eastern Regional Championship and the 2003 National Division Title. In April 2006, the team placed third in the nation.

Today, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Forensics Society is a thriving program. Howard University is one of the few Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU's) that competes in forensic intercollegiate competition. As part of the Department of Communication and Culture, the Society is open to all University students who excel in the art of public speaking and meet eligibility requirements. If you have questions or concerns about the Martin Luther King Forensics Society, please feel free to contact Tianna Y. Sousa-Johnson at ts_johnson@howard.edu or call (202) 806-4599.