After 74 Years, Wiley Gets to Debate SMU

Southern Methodist University technically won Wednesday night's debate competition with Wiley College, but participants saw a moral victory for both sides. The Dallas Morning News reported that SMU called off a contest with Wiley in 1935, apparently concerned about civil rights activism by the coach of the historically black college's debate coach. The story of Wiley's debate victories in a segregated era captured national attention last year with a movie whose star, Denzel Washington, donated funds to Wiley to revive its debate squad. And that made it possible for SMU and Wiley to finally meet.