Even high-performing students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Florida wrestle with communication basics — public speaking anxiety, structuring essays and citing sources. Today’s undergraduates are navigating a new terrain shaped by social isolation during the pandemic, the rise of social media, generative AI, civic polarization and eroding trust in news media. When added to the upheaval of college life, interpersonal communication becomes central to their academic and personal success.
A recently published analysis found that first-year university students struggle with communication skills, from public speaking to writing conventions and critical thinking. Writing in an academic setting is among the biggest obstacles, Gerald Chishiba and Joseph Mukuka concluded in their paper, “Communication Skills Challenges Experienced by First-Year University Students: A Systematic Review,” Journal of Education, Society and Behavioral Science.
It would be hard to find a student organization with more history than the Speech and Debate Society. Housed in the Dial Center, the team boasts a long legacy of competitive success and prestigious alumni, like George A. Smathers, who was president of the team while at UF.The current coach, Amy Martinelli, Ph.D., associate director of the Dial Center, also has a deep history with the team. She arrived at UF in 2001 as an undergraduate and became team president. She coached through her graduate studies and now serves as director of forensics and faculty advisor.
Speech and Debate Society students choose from 12 events, including platform speaking, dramatic interpretation and limited preparation. Most compete in at least three, and Martinelli helps coach each one. Through rigorous revision and rehearsal, students learn to craft compelling arguments and explore multiple modes of delivery — harkening back to the oratory tradition of ancient Greece.
Public performance on campus is increasingly important. Martinelli has partnered with the Office of Public Policy Events to stage public debates featuring research of leading UF scholars. These events allow students to engage in civil debates and receive real-time feedback from experts.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the group traveled to tournaments five weekends per semester. But funding changes and a slow return to in-person events disrupted that. “It’s really only the last two years that we’ve been back at sort of that normal pace. The team is starting to grow again and has more stability,” Martinelli said. Still, the team has maintained success by combining in-person and online competitions.
Now, Martinelli aspires to overcome the pitfalls of the pandemic and hopes to increase philanthropic support that will sustain the team for the long term. That’s been aided by an ongoing gift from Larren and Jennifer Odom, to their Chastain Wealth Management Speech and Debate Travel fund, which supports travel costs for the team. The Odoms aligned the gift with their values on freedom of speech. This year, the team will use the funds to send a representative to the Interstate Oratory Association’s annual public speaking contest, the longest-running oratory competition in the U.S.
“Competing in speech and debate is not just about winning awards,” Martinelli said. “Don’t get me wrong: We love bringing home trophies from our tournaments on the road. But what really makes participating in speech and debate meaningful is the sense of empowerment that comes along with all of the hard work.”
Source: https://news.clas.ufl.edu/communications-evolution-requires-new-approaches/