The
University of Kansas 
An Official Employee
Publication From the Office of University Relations
Forum honors KU debate, features former winners
Chancellor Robert Hemenway and the KU Debate Program are jointly hosting
a program titled “Public Talk about Issues: Can Debate about Policy
Be Both Sensible and Civil?” at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Dole Institute.
Panelists will include Congressman Dennis Moore; Mark Gidley, a senior
partner at White, Chase in Washington, D.C., an assistant attorney general
in the first Bush administration and 1983 national debate champion for
KU; Jim McLean, chief speech writer for Gov. Kathleen Sebelius; Bill Hensley,
a Wichita attorney and a semifinalist at the 1973 national debate tournament
for KU; and Diana Carlin, dean of the graduate school and international
programs and a former KU debater.
During the forum, Hubert Bell, retired cardiologist, and Bill Arnold,
associate professor of sociology, will be honored on the 50th anniversary
of their 1954 national debate tournament win.
Chancellor Hemenway created the forum to honor the distinguished history
of KU debate. Four teams have won national championships, and teams have
made it to the final four at the national tournament 13 times.
Over the past half-century, KU debate consistently has been ranked among
the top five programs in the country, along with Harvard, Dartmouth, the
University of Southern California, and Northwestern.