A study examined the beliefs and attitudes of students, coaches, and judges on the use of manuscripts at the college level in oral interpretation events (prose, drama, program oral interpretation, dramatic duo, and poetry). Survey data were collected from students, coach-judges, and hired judges participating in a Midwestern forensics tournament during the fall 1994-95 season. Results indicated a wide range of beliefs and perspectives concerning the subject--from mandatory use of the manuscript to maintain author integrity to how a manuscript limits and/or detracts from a performance. Results also indicated that the strongest perspective was to maintain the manuscript, and that author intent emerged as the dominant theoretical perspective for the use of a manuscript. Findings suggest that manuscripts will continue to be used in competitive forensics because: (1) judges-coaches and students will continue to incorporate the author intent/objectivist theoretical perspective as a justification for using manuscripts; (2) participants are hesitant to alter long standing traditions in forensics; and (3) participants are concerned how the absence of a manuscript may impact judging decisions. (Contains six notes.) (RS)