Lowell Forensic Society
Encyclopedia
The Lowell Forensic Society, founded in 1892, is the oldest high school speech and debate team in the United States and also the largest organization at Lowell High School
in San Francisco, California. The society occupies Room 135, also known as "Leland Room," named after former Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury Marc E. Leland.
With over 200 members, the team travels regularly to prestigious national invitations, including Harvard, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Long Beach, and the Tournament of Champions
at Kentucky. Lowell Forensics has also competed in the National Speech and Debate Tournament
under the National Forensic League
for 40 years, making it one of the longest running national championship teams in the nation.
The Forensics team suffered a setback in 2002 when it lost Sandra Bird (albeit to retirement), an irreplaceable part of Lowell's debate legacy and its longtime coach. Bird, who brought the team from States to Nationals year after year as the coach of Lowell Forensics for decades, retired after receiving her fifth diamond (the highest and rarest honor bestowed by the National Forensic League).
In the years that followed Bird’s retirement, Christopher Newhouse, a biology teacher, took up the helm of leading the team while administrative and training duties largely fell into the hands of student leaders of the organization. The Forensics team, for a short period, was also conjoined to the English department, resulting in a lack of a permanent coaching staff. In light of these changes, the society board’s officer arrangements were reformed in 2003, with the creation of the new positions of Congress Director, Policy Debate Director, and Individual Events Director.
At the same time, despite these organizational challenges, Forensics in the new millennium has become the largest student organization on campus. In 2003-2005, Forensics membership more than tripled, with 172 students; one in nine Lowell students is affiliated with the Lowell Forensic Society and 199 new NFL degrees were earned in 2005. In the same year, with generous support from the Fineman Fund and the Lowell Alumni Association, Lowell qualified for Nationals for the 39th time in addition to State Championships, Stanford, Berkeley, and Harvard national invitational tournaments.
Despite the Society's long history, some firsts have been accomplished in relatively recent years. In 1999, the first policy debate team qualified for and attended the Tournament of Champions in Kentucky; in 2009, for the first time in Lowell Forensic Society history, members of the Lowell squad competed at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Albany, New York; and in 2010, Lowell sent its very first Parliamentary Debate team to the California State Championships.
, California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, actress Carol Channing
, actor Benjamin Bratt
, writer Naomi Wolf
, actor Bill Bixby
, PG&E CEO Frederick Mielke, author Daniel Handler
, and numerous academics, writers, and judges.
Lowell High School (San Francisco)
Lowell High School is a public magnet school in San Francisco, California. The school opened in 1856 as the Union Grammar School and attained its current name in 1896. Lowell moved to its current location in the Merced Manor neighborhood in 1962....
in San Francisco, California. The society occupies Room 135, also known as "Leland Room," named after former Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury Marc E. Leland.
With over 200 members, the team travels regularly to prestigious national invitations, including Harvard, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Long Beach, and the Tournament of Champions
Tournament of Champions
The Tournament of Champions may refer to:* H&R Block Tournament of Champions, one of the four major bowling tournaments on the PBA Tour* Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions, a tournament of past major winners in the game show Jeopardy!...
at Kentucky. Lowell Forensics has also competed in the National Speech and Debate Tournament
National Speech and Debate Tournament
The National Speech and Debate Tournament is a week-long high school championship forensics competition hosted by the National Forensic League...
under the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
for 40 years, making it one of the longest running national championship teams in the nation.
Recent history
In the nineties, the Forensic Society saw one of its greatest peaks under the leadership of Sandra Bird. Every year in the decade, Forensics made it to Nationals while Individual Events and Congress debate saw a major comeback in the late nineties as Lowellites took greater interest in dramatic events. In 1995, Lowell Forensics received the NFL Leading Chapter Award in San Francisco Bay Area District and later for two consecutive years, in 1997 and 1998, the Lowell Forensics Society was named one of the top 5% of NFL Chapters in the nation for achieving over 200 degrees.The Forensics team suffered a setback in 2002 when it lost Sandra Bird (albeit to retirement), an irreplaceable part of Lowell's debate legacy and its longtime coach. Bird, who brought the team from States to Nationals year after year as the coach of Lowell Forensics for decades, retired after receiving her fifth diamond (the highest and rarest honor bestowed by the National Forensic League).
In the years that followed Bird’s retirement, Christopher Newhouse, a biology teacher, took up the helm of leading the team while administrative and training duties largely fell into the hands of student leaders of the organization. The Forensics team, for a short period, was also conjoined to the English department, resulting in a lack of a permanent coaching staff. In light of these changes, the society board’s officer arrangements were reformed in 2003, with the creation of the new positions of Congress Director, Policy Debate Director, and Individual Events Director.
At the same time, despite these organizational challenges, Forensics in the new millennium has become the largest student organization on campus. In 2003-2005, Forensics membership more than tripled, with 172 students; one in nine Lowell students is affiliated with the Lowell Forensic Society and 199 new NFL degrees were earned in 2005. In the same year, with generous support from the Fineman Fund and the Lowell Alumni Association, Lowell qualified for Nationals for the 39th time in addition to State Championships, Stanford, Berkeley, and Harvard national invitational tournaments.
Despite the Society's long history, some firsts have been accomplished in relatively recent years. In 1999, the first policy debate team qualified for and attended the Tournament of Champions in Kentucky; in 2009, for the first time in Lowell Forensic Society history, members of the Lowell squad competed at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Albany, New York; and in 2010, Lowell sent its very first Parliamentary Debate team to the California State Championships.
Notable alumni
Lowell Forensic Society alumni include Yale University President Richard Levin, Supreme Court Justice Stephen BreyerStephen Breyer
Stephen Gerald Breyer is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, and known for his pragmatic approach to constitutional law, Breyer is generally associated with the more liberal side of the Court....
, California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown, actress Carol Channing
Carol Channing
Carol Elaine Channing is an American singer, actress, and comedienne. She is the recipient of three Tony Awards , a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination...
, actor Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt
Benjamin Bratt is an American actor. He is most famous for his role as Rey Curtis on the TV series Law & Order; and his appearances in the movies Blood in Blood Out, Miss Congeniality, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, Traffic, and Piñero.-Early life:Bratt was born in San Francisco, California,...
, writer Naomi Wolf
Naomi Wolf
Naomi Wolf is an American author and political consultant. With the publication of The Beauty Myth, she became a leading spokesperson of what was later described as the third wave of the feminist movement.-Biography:...
, actor Bill Bixby
Bill Bixby
Wilfred Bailey Everett “Bill” Bixby III was an American film and television actor, director, and frequent game show panelist.His career spanned over three decades; he appeared on stage, in motion pictures and TV series...
, PG&E CEO Frederick Mielke, author Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler
Daniel Handler is an American author, screenwriter and accordionist. He is best known for his work under the pen name Lemony Snicket.-Personal life:...
, and numerous academics, writers, and judges.
- Jack Anderson, 1949 Longtime Lowell H.S. Forensics coach and VPA Dept. chair
- Bill BixbyBill BixbyWilfred Bailey Everett “Bill” Bixby III was an American film and television actor, director, and frequent game show panelist.His career spanned over three decades; he appeared on stage, in motion pictures and TV series...
, 1952 Television star, My Favorite Martian and The Incredible Hulk - Stephen BreyerStephen BreyerStephen Gerald Breyer is an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1994, and known for his pragmatic approach to constitutional law, Breyer is generally associated with the more liberal side of the Court....
, 1955 U.S. Supreme Court associate justice; Harvard law professor - Edmund G. Brown, 1923 California Governor, 1959–1967; State Attorney General
- Harold BrownHarold BrownHarold Brown may refer to:*Harold Brown *Harold P. Brown, builder of the first electric chair*Harold L. Brown, Pennsylvania politician*Harold Brown , American physicist, U.S...
, 1925 California Court of Appeals justice - Julia Chang BlochJulia Chang BlochJulia Chang Bloch was an American diplomat, and the first U.S. ambassador of Asian origin. She is also the founder and current president of the US-China Education Trust.-Life and Political Career:...
, 1959 U.S. Ambassador to Nepal – first U.S. Ambassador of Asian descent - Carol ChanningCarol ChanningCarol Elaine Channing is an American singer, actress, and comedienne. She is the recipient of three Tony Awards , a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination...
, 1938 International star of screen and stage - John Heilbron, 1951 Vice Chancellor and professor of History at UC Berkeley
- Richard Levin, 1964 President, Yale University; Professor and Chairman of Economics, Yale University
- Marvin LewisMarvin LewisMarvin Ronald Lewis is the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League, a position he has held since January 14, 2003...
, 1924 San Francisco Supervisor and leader for creation of BART - Mathew TobrinerMathew TobrinerMathew Oscar Tobriner was an Associate Justice on the California Supreme Court from July 1962–January 1982. An appointee of Democratic Governor Pat Brown, he had worked as a labor lawyer until 1959, when Brown appointed him to the California Court of Appeal. After three years on the Court...
, 1920 California Supreme Court justice - Naomi WolfNaomi WolfNaomi Wolf is an American author and political consultant. With the publication of The Beauty Myth, she became a leading spokesperson of what was later described as the third wave of the feminist movement.-Biography:...
, 1980 Rhodes Scholar; Author, The Beauty Myth
Past Coaches
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| George Lorbeer | 1930–1960 |
| Jack Anderson | 1960–1975 |
| Sandra Bird | 1975–2001 |
| Christopher Newhouse | 2000–2005 |
| Harlan Edelman | 2002–2004 |
| Terence Abad | 2005–present |
Past presidents
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Barbara Hou | 1998–1999 |
| [unknown] | 1999–2000 |
| Emily Avera | 2000–2001 |
| Gigi Wong | 2001–2002 |
| Lauren Yee | 2002–2003 |
| Jeffrey Kwong | 2003–2005 |
| Huilin Wang | 2003–2004 |
| Nicole Hui | 2004–2005 |
| Jacky Kwong | 2005–2007 |
| Roy C. Lee | 2007–2008 |
| Justin Vuong | 2008–2009 |
| Thomas Tu | 2009–2010 |
| Matthew Estipona | 2010–2011 |
| Alison Ong | 2011-present |