OATS Forensics

Online forensics competition has become a part of the landscape since 2020. What started as its necessary inclusion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual tournaments now make up an essential part of forensic competition. Synchronous tournaments provide many opportunities for competition, but in 2020 large groups of student competitors advocated for the inclusion of asynchronous tournament offerings. Citing concerns about consistent internet access, quiet and private locations for long periods of time, and a lack of equity, students called on the community to provide better options for participation. Among other solutions put forward, the OATS was born.

OATS, or the Online Asynchronous Tournament Series, started with seven asynchronous tournaments during the 2020-2021 season. Continued interest prompted continuation of the series, and during the fall of 2021 participation increased rapidly. Citing reasons like increased access for a variety of students (be it based on disability, socio-economic status, religious affiliation, or other reasons), the OATS serves specific needs for the collegiate speech community.

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