Debate contest is a traditional cultural activity of Nanjing University, which has a deep mass base. 1994 and 1995, the debate team of Nanjing University won the national college debate competition and the international college debate competition successively, and the "four golden flowers" were well-known in Beijing. 1992 from 2000, the school held a "take-off cup" debate competition every two years, and also held a freshman debate competition every year. This debate is very active in Nanjing University. With the development of campus debate entering the transition period, debate enthusiasts began to call for the establishment of their own student associations. In this context, the debate association came into being.

In March 2005, with the support of Hu Daping and Hu Yiqing, the head coaches of the Youth League Committee and the school debate team, the debate association was formally established. Yin Ming of Computer Department of Grade 02 and Le Jia of Law School are the main founders.