Membership
How do I become a member?
The members of the Wofford Debate Society of Wofford College come from a vast array of backgrounds, but all follow an identical path in becoming a member of the Society. To become a member, an interested Wofford undergraduate must attend and give three floor speeches in one semester or four speeches over two semesters. The prospective member is then invited to give a keynote address at a debate. Additionally, each individual is assigned a mentor in order to be familiarized with the traditions of the Society and to assist in preparation of the induction keynote. After giving a keynote speech at a debate, the lady or gentleman is inducted into the Society. Membership is open to all undergraduate students of Wofford College, and the Society does not engage in discriminatory membership policies.
To receive information about our weekly debates, join our mailing list (template form page).
If you have any questions about becoming a member or your status on the list of members to be inducted, please ask our membership secretary
Stephanie Goddard.
How do I get on the list of people to be inducted?
The list is maintained by the Membership Secretary. Each time a non-member speaks from the floor of the Debating Society, the Membership Secretary writes down the individual's name, as well as the date of the debate. When you have given three speeches, your name goes on a list of people who are waiting for an induction debate. For more information about the list, contact the Membership Secretary.
At every business meeting, the Membership Secretary reports the names of those members on the list. Induction dates are then assigned when available. In general, people are chosen from the list sequentially, ie. people who get on the list first are given induction dates first. However, the Society reserves its right to use discretion and use debate attendance as a factor for who is selected to be inducted. (For example, if someone comes to three debates, gives three speeches, but never comes to any debates after that, preference may be given to someone else who gave their speeches later, but showed dedication to the society by attending and speaking at nearly every debate.)