Forensics benefits students and the university in several ways.

• Participation in forensics teaches fundamental skills, including persuasion, public speaking, critical thinking, policy analysis, performance, organization, case construction, and research.

• Students who participate in forensics acquire leadership abilities and often go on to prominent positions in government, education, business, and law.

• Forensics helps individuals to participate fully and confidently in democratic decision making.

• Forensics complements the existing curriculum by providing an avenue for intensive practice in advanced public speaking and argumentation.

• Forensics serves students from a wide variety of majors.

• Forensics provides an intimate and involving educational experience, which promotes recruitment and retention of the brightest students.

• University sponsored debates and forums provide a link with the community and promote student appreciation for community affairs and citizenship.

• Forensics tournaments provide recognition for outstanding student achievement and generate positive publicity for the university.

• There is strong interest in forensics among students who apply to UM. In 1998, 637 prospective students who sent their ACT scores to the University expressed an interest in competing in forensics.