The University of Portland Speech and Debate Union’s performance at competitions this year has earned the program a No. 7 ranking among all universities in its division in the six-state Western region of the United States, according to team coach and advisor Brian Simmons, communication studies. This ranking, Simmons is proud to point out, is higher than many larger, public institutions including Portland State, Montana State, Utah State, Humboldt State, and other private institutions including Seattle University, Reed College, and George Fox University.