Our goal in honoring Dave is to provide an additional resources dedicated to underwriting the operational expenses of the program. Achieving this would return the program to the spending levels of 1990s era, and enable the program to travel teams, hire coaches, and purchase needed supplies.

Ideally, the program desires a travel/operational budget of $120,000. This budget closer reflects that of our competitors at Northwestern, Michigan, Wake, Emory, Dartmouth, Berkley, Kansas, and Michigan State. It mirrors the budget the program operated with during the 1990s and early 2000s when Iowa was at the top of the debate rankings.

With additional funds, the A. Craig Baird Debate Forum can:

• Support the travel expenses of 4 teams on the national circuit;
• Provide access to the additional tools and supplies needed to be competitive at the national level; and
• Expand on-campus outreach through revitalization of the international debate program and expansion of the public debate series to reinforce the contributions of debate to the University of Iowa community and UI leadership.

Visit HERE to to make your gift or pledge to the A. Craig Baird Debate Forum! For questions and information on supporting us through estate planning, appreciated securities or employee matching programs, please contact Jeff Liebermann, UI Center for Advancement at Jeff.Liebermann@foriowa.org