Furthering his achievement in the University of Oklahoma’s Shannon Self Debate Program, University of Oklahoma junior Rashid Campbell earned the Title of First Speaker at the National Debate Tournament hosted by Indiana University. Campbell, an African American Studies major from Oakland, Calif., is the first African American to win the title in the 67-year history of the tournament.

“Rashid Campbell is an exceptional student and public speaker,” said OU President David L. Boren. “We are all honored that an OU student won the national individual speech championship at the national tournament.” 

Campbell defeated 160 students from across the nation for the title, and together with teammate and OU senior George Lee of Bryan, Texas, finished as a finalist team in the tournament at Indiana. Campbell and Lee also advanced to Finals in the 2014 Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship Tournament.

An OU debate team from the Shannon Self Debate Program has won the national championship in debate four of the past eight years.