The Cornell Forensics Society (CFS), an organization that offers students the opportunity to participate in intercollegiate speech and debate competitions, is moving to the ILR School from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

"Having forensics in ILR fits well with our curriculum," said ILR Dean Harry Katz, the J. Sheinkman Professor in Collective Bargaining. "ILR students need to know how to debate, argue and articulate their ideas in a persuasive manner. Oral communications is an extremely important skill in the workplace."

"CALS helped launch the Cornell Forensics Society in the mid-'80s and made it one of the foremost programs in speech and debate in the United States," said Sam Nelson, assistant professor of communication, who has directed the society for five years.

More than 100 students from across the university participate in CFS, Nelson said, which makes it the largest intercollegiate forensics program in the country.

The CFS Policy Debate Team is ranked third in the United States. This academic year, three students just returned from Qatar from the inaugural debate between the Ithaca and Qatar campuses. The society will send three teams to Turkey for the World Universities Debating Championship in January and students who participate in the speech portion of the forensics program will attend the American Forensics Association National Tournament in March.

Two CFS alumni, Cameron Jones '89 and Chris Langone '89, are helping Nelson coach this year's team.

Linda McCandless is the director of communications for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.