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What is the history of UNI Forensics? UNI Forensics is one of the oldest student activities on this campus. Before one can understand the rich and vibrant history of forensics on this campus, it is vital to understand the previous institutional names of the campus. First, in 1876, the Iowa State Normal School was established. This name was used until 1909 when the institution became the Iowa State Teachers College . In 1961, another name change was instated. The selected name was the State College of Iowa. Finally, in 1967, the University of Northern Iowa was established. All four of these names were on the same campus that UNI rests on today. The Normal School is reported to have had many forensic exercises offered through the English department, such as elocution, oratory, and debate (Lang). Particular oratory contests that attracted great attention were the debates between the "pedogogs" of Cedar Falls and the "farms" of Iowa State College. These debates were so entertaining and popular that they became a regular feature in the campus newspaper. Research indicated that from 1911 to 1917, the Iowa State Teachers College won first place in the Interstate Normal Oratory League Contest (Lang). Debate was considered to be an activity for men only until 1915 when debate leagues were created for women competitors. The research does not indicate any time period when college forensics was inactive on the four institutions all housed on the campus of today's University of Northern Iowa .
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