Universities from around the country will send their debate teams to test their forensic skills at the NIU debate tournament this weekend.

Ann Chaney, graduate assistant coach of the NIU debate team, said there are about 50 teams from 14 different schools participating in the two-day event.

The teams will debate the statement, “It is resolved that significantly stronger third party participation in United States presidential elections would benefit the political process.” Chaney said each team has to be prepared to support and oppose the statement. Each team will debate at least six times in the tournament, she said.

The 25 rounds of debate begin today in DuSable Hall at 3:30 p.m. and will end Saturday at 6 p.m. Chaney said room numbers and time schedules for the debates are posted in the lobbies of DuSable Hall.

She said most of the schools participating are from Illinois and Wisconsin, but some schools from Texas and New York also will take part.

This weekend’s debate tournament involves more teams than most of the tournaments held in the area. “Most tournaments around here have about 25 teams (participating),” she said.

Chaney attributed the high participation in the debate to the expansion of NIU’s program, which is part of the Cross Examination Debate Association. When programs expand and become more competitive, they become known nationally as credible programs, she said.