Bethel College Forensics: Mission Statement

What is the Mission of Bethel Forensics?

We believe that forensics is an educational mission, specially designed to encourage students to improve their public speaking skills in a variety of different forms and contexts.

Bethel's program exists to serve three consitutencies:

• First, it serves the needs of the Department of Communication Studies, our sponsoring department. Forensics serves as a laboratory for students who take our courses, and it serves as a cocurricular way of giving students the opportunity to teach and be taught by others outside of our own institution.
• Second, it serves the needs of students of all majors. It is a way for students to learn more about communication as well as the world around us, and gives students opportunities to practice what they have learned.
• Finally, Bethel's forensics team exists in the context of a Christian institution. It is informed by the Christian mission of Bethel. Bethel's team is a part of both the forensic and the Christian community, and we seek to be positive examples of the work that God is doing through each member of the team.

What makes us unique?

• We seek to serve the forensics community through our commitment to first-time forensics students. We are the sponsoring school for Novice Nationals, a tournament for first-year intercollegiate competitors. Also, we encourage students with no previous experience to compete either as part of our courses or as part of our team.
• We believe that each student who is on our team is on the team for a reason. Our role is to help the student identify the reason, and find the ways in which we can minister to and through each student.
• We believe that our knowledge and experience is meant to be used not just for competitive reasons, but also to help others. That is one reason why we host the NPDA and NFA websites.