Liberty 's Inter-Collegiate policy debate program ranked first overall for their division in the Championships at the National Debate Tournament in 2006 , 2007 , 2009 , 2010 , and 2011 . The overall rankings include varsity , junior varsity , and novice results . In varsity rankings , Liberty finished 20th in 2005 , 17th in 2006 , 24th in 2007 , 12th in 2008 , 9th in 2009 , 4th in 2010 and 4th in 2011 . Through 2016 , Liberty hosted the Virginia High School League 's ( VHSL ) annual Debate State Championships every April . Subsequent to controversial remarks made by Chancellor Falwell in December 2015 following the 2015 San Bernardino attack , a number of high school students , teachers , debate coaches , and parents expressed concerns over Liberty 's suitability for high school events , and some teams chose to not send students to compete at the annual State Championship in 2016 . VHSL discontinued using Liberty as a venue for debate competition after 2016 to ensure an " environment free from harassment , personal threat , or physical or mental harm . " In 2017 , Liberty University 's Debate Team finished atop the final rankings of all three national debate tournaments for the eighth time , sweeping the American Debate Association ( ADA ) , the Cross Examination Debate Association ( CEDA ) , and the National Debate Tournament ( NDT ) . Liberty remains the only school in the country to finish first in all three rankings in a single year . The team has placed first in the CEDA for the last eight years , first in the NDT for seven out of the last eight years , and first in the ADA for 13 out of the last 14 years
2015 San Bernardino attack
2015 San Bernardino attack
Liberty University