Testimonials
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Matthew Taylor
The University of Oregon forensics program was instrumental to my personal and professional journey. I gained experience and friends that have lasted my entire life. I left Oregon with a Masters degree and a year of experience as the interim Director of Forensics. I went to USC, earned my PhD, and became the Director of Forensics at CSU Long Beach. After retiring from coaching in 2005 I moved to Fullerton College where I led the Department of Communication Studies for almost 18 years. None of the opportunities that came to be after Oregon would have been possible without the support and opportunities afforded to me while in Eugene.
- Matthew Taylor 1990 MS Speech
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Quinn Gulka
In my two years participating in Oregon Forensics I am most proud of the culture of friendship we have built together. I am grateful to the program for developing my critical thinking and public speaking skills. But what is most enduring to me are the human relationships we have cultivated over dozens of tournaments. I could not have asked for better teammates or better coaches, because they are the ones that make this program worthwhile.
- Quinn Gulka 2027 Accounting; Political Science
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Julie Stevens
As a small town girl from Coos Bay, the U of O was an eye-opening experience, not least due to my three years of participation in the forensics program under the direction of Scott Noble. I came in thinking I wanted to be a reporter. I left for law school in New York City, my entire career focus having been redirected.
- Julie Stevens 1970 Journalism
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Erik Conrad
My three years at the UO were made more memorable by my activity in the Forensics program, not only through competition but judging at the yearly high school competition we hosted. I gained skills and knowledge that no other program could have provided.
- Erik Conrad 1989 Journalism
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Jesse Simons
Forensics was a very important part of my college journey and I would not have been as successful in my professional career without that experience.
- Jesse Simons 1995 Political Science
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Erik Sheldrake
Being part of the Oregon Forensics Team was amazing. From researching, to preparing speeches and arguments, to competing at tournaments, the training and skills I received have helped me grow and succeed in business and life. Giving new students and future leaders the opportunity to be a part of Oregon Forensics is critical at this time.
- Erik Sheldrake 1995 Marketing, Finance, Sociology
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Tisha Oehmen
Forensics taught me how to lead—how to stand up, speak with confidence, and share ideas that matter. The skills I developed in public speaking have carried into every aspect of my life and leadership, from facilitating conversations at local meetings to guiding companies through the process of identifying their core essence and brand. Most importantly, I’ve been able to help business owners clearly and confidently establish their identities in the marketplace. None of this would have been possible without the foundation I gained through forensics.
- Tisha Oehmen 1994, 2007 Political Science / MBA
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Garrett Caldwell
I credit forensics as the reason I have been able to suceed acedemically and personally. The skills in critcal thinking, information consolidation, note taking, and research that forensics has taught me are immensly valuable to the way I think and form my perspective. In class, work, and daily life, I use these skills in order to help me understand and interact with the world I live and experience. The forensics progam provides students an engaging and challenging outlet to practice forming thoughts and framing postions in a unqiue way often unattainable otherwise.
- Garrett Caldwell 2027 Psychology, BS; Computer Science, BS
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Nicholas Lougee
Forensics made me me who I am. I debated for Oregon for 4 years and coached for 7 years, including winning a national championship (NPTE). In this political climate of bad-faith public debate controlling the discursive space, there is not a single more important activity for us to institutionally support.
- Nicholas Lougee 1995 Sociology
What Forensics Has Meant to Me: Pieper James
Being part of the Oregon mock trial team taught me so much about myself and gave me the confidence and ability to stand up for myself and was an essential building block of my career since graduating. It gave me invaluable skills like public speaking, critical thinking, self confidence, and acedemic agility that I frankly could not have ever learned or obtained in a classroom and would have otherwise have taken years to learn in the work place. To deprive future U of O students the opportunity to access this critical club would be a disservice to their academic and career growth alike.
- Pieper James 2019 Political science & sociology
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