Award-winning debate teams from the University of Oklahoma Shannon Self Debate Program and the Northwestern University Debate Society will meet for a public debate this Saturday on the OU Norman campus.

The debate is scheduled for 5 p.m. in room 103 of Dale Hall, 455 W. Lindsey St.

The topic will be “stand your ground” laws, a type of self-defense law that gives individuals the right to use deadly force under certain circumstances. For Saturday’s debate, Northwestern will advocate the laws should be reformed, and OU will advocate they should be abolished. Three debaters from each school will participate.

Both teams have agreed to host a public debate at their respective schools. While these teams vigorously compete against each other in tournament competition, Saturday’s debate is unique in that they have taken the time to debate in a forum open to the general public. Northwestern will host its debate sometime early next year on its campus in Evanston, Ill.

Both schools have two of the top-ranked debate teams nationwide. The OU Shannon Self Debate Program has won the National University Debate Championship four of the last seven years, and the Northwestern University Debate Society has won 14 national titles in the National Debate Tournament.

For additional information or for accommodations on the basis of disability, email debate@ou.edu.