To start off let me just say, speech and debate (forensics) is the place I call home. It is a competitive circuit where we talk about the issues faced by all peoples in a variety of ways. Is acting your thing? Interpretation events are your go. Politics suit your fancy? See you in Extemporaneous speaking. Want to use logic and rhetoric to make your points? We have so many options for you in public address. However, there seems to be only one area where we see action, and even then only sometimes. That event is persuade/oratory. We see competitors pushing legislation, gathering items for continued conservancy or aid, and usually advocating for the groups that are helping the competitor make these changes.

We all found safe spaces to use our voice just by joining this community. Which speaking of, the collegiate forensics community is a tight knit group of individuals from all colleges. I've made friends in this event that I know I can count on no matter the circumstance. Topics range from racial issues, sexuality issues, current legislation, bad pieces of art, internet for the world, aiding countries, the narrative around refugees that reflect the Syrian refugee crisis, to who-knows-what. The people that bring these pieces to life are obviously tied to their pieces as tears while competing are not uncommon, all without a break in their flow. So we talk about the issues of the world, whether in big media or less known.

That's where my critique starts. We found this safe space, this competitive atmosphere, this group of progressive individuals who see the ways in which the world is changing or suggest that we need to do something to make the world change. The problem is the word stops here. The perfect example is last week I wrote a narrative surrounding my sexual assault and that got more discussion going than did my forensics piece, something I had competed with all year. When addressing it with a coach on the circuit the response was simple "Yeah, it [forensics] can be a vaccuum." So my thought, how do we bring our pieces out of the room and into the world? Do we have to? Is forensics more than an academic sport to win trophies?

Well if there's one thing I know forensics is so much more than just trophies. The pieces we're tied to should continue to make change outside of the circuit, if called for of course. The trouble is the onus is on us. It would take a highly dedicated individual with enough resources to bring the piece out of the room, and out of our little black books to home. That's tough. Which brings us back to "Do we have to?", the answer is no. Plain and simple, nobody should feel bad if their victory is winning a trophy up on the stage for talking for 7-10 minutes on something that matters to them, but how can we if we want to?

So my call for action. Coaches, competitors, forensics offices how can we create tools and resources to allow our competitors to make a greater change outside of tournament weekends? How can we push for more engagement in these issues and allow those that care ever so much to get involved in the issues that matter to them. One speech was on how access to resources, or lack thereof, was the reason this person was disabled. That person might want to join initiatives for accessibility on a larger scale than just pushing for it in their community. We should not only be a place for competition, but also give access to resources that allow the speech to make a difference in the world.