Illinois Policy Debate was founded in 2004 by undergraduates Chime Asonye and Forrest Sumlar and began competing with the 2005-06 National Debate Tournament (NDT) / Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) season. The team is dedicated to diversity and inclusiveness both in college debate and on the University of Illinois campus. Policy (or NDT/CEDA) debate requires intensive research and preparation across a broad, interdisciplinary range of issues and is often described as an intellectual equivalent to varsity sports. In Fall 2006 Illinois Policy Debate hosted the British National Debate Team. In April 2007 IPD hosted Joe Miller, author of the book Cross-X, and a public debate on the University's contract with the Coca-Cola Company. In the spring of 2008, IPD hosted the campus wide Illinois Debates: First Annual Intramural Policy Debate tournament. Past accomplishments by IPD members include being awarded "All-American" honors, and teaching academic debate in Liberia for the United States Agency for International Development. IPD, a registered student organization, is co-sponsored by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and the Campus Honors Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Current Officers:

Coach: Chad Henson
Graduate Advisor: Peter Campbell
President: Eric Ranz
Vice President: Phil Hoffman
Treasurer: Chicari Morris