This Blog has now moved to idebate.org/worlddebating - all future posts will be made there!

26 November 2010

Reminder: Debate Park 51

This is a call to arms! This is a call for you and your friends to contribute to the preservation of democratic values. Everyone seems to have an opinion about Park51. Most of those opinions are either reactionary, emotionally biased or simply an exclamation of whatever position the mass media are bashing into our skulls that day. How isit that we can have reasoned and balanced debate on topics ranging from immigration policy to gay marriage, but we're so easily seducedby the over-simplified, eye-catching sound bites that pervade publicdiscussion of the 'Ground Zero Mosque'?

The issue is clearly polarizing, but that's precisely why we should be approaching it from the reasonable and impartial direction of debate. Together we can remedy the misinformation and inflammatory voices of mass media and the blogosphere. Together we will mediate the cacophony of competing and incompatible opinions.

http://debatepark51.org/ is hosting a series of on-line debates for teams from all over the world to contribute to this important and valuable debate. Regardless of your beliefs, each team must argue both in favor of the Islamic cultural center and to oppose it. By encouraging teams to defend both sides of the issue, we encourage understanding and tolerance, while discouraging bigotry and bias.

By singing up at http://bit.ly/DebateP51 , you'll get the chance to help us achieve these worthy goals. AND you get a sweet t-shirt http://bit.ly/CoolTShirt . AND you could win a book and a massive trophyhttp://bit.ly/MassiveTrophy .

Only a limited number of teams have registered so far, so you have areal chance of making your mark and lifting the coveted Debate Park51Winner's Trophy high above your very clever head.
Twitter http://twitter.com/DebatePark51

Facebook http://facebook.com/DebatePark51
http://debatepark51.org/

23 November 2010

Announcement:: Zagreb Worlds 2013 Bid


Dear fellow debaters from around the globe,

I am delighted to inform you that Zagreb is bidding to host WUDC 2013. Everything you might initially want to know about our bid can be found at www.zagrebworlds.com. We will obviously also be presenting the bid in detail at Worlds Council in Botswana, as well as at some other competitions prior to it, and you should feel free to ask questions to any member of our bid team at any time.

The Zagreb Worlds 2013 team are confident we can produce one of the best World Championships ever, and aside from myself and the Organising Committee, we are pleased to announce that Jonathan Leader Maynard (Two-Times Worlds Grand Finalist and European Champion and Best Speaker) will be our Chief Adjudicator, and that Fatih Mehmet Inal (Convenor, Koc Worlds 2010) is part of our team as an advisor to the OrgComm.

The tournament will all be held on one site in the beautiful Croatian capital of Zagreb, with a planned team cap of 400 - though we have the capacity to raise this if demand were high and we were sure that it would be an improvement to the championships for everyone. We have extensive plans for socials and excursions, an in-depth system of workshops and training sessions for less experienced debaters and judges, a revamped Worlds Masters competition, and more!

If you have immediate questions about adjudication, you can e-mail Jonathan at ca@zagrebworlds.com, or if you have more general questions, email OrgComm at info@zagrebworlds.com.

I look forward to seeing you in Botswana in a month's time and hopefully in Croatia in two years!

Sincerely,

Petar Bezjak
Organising Committee President

Sydney win Vic Wellington IV 2010

The University of Sydney Union (Paul Karp & Pat Caldwell) has won the Victoria University of Wellington IV 2010.

In the final they defeated Monash University (Kiran Iyer & Ravi Dutta), Victoria University (Christopher Bishop & Stephen Whittington) and Victoria University (Jenna Raeburn & Ella Edginton).

THE BREAK
1. Victoria University of Wellington (Bishop/Whittington) - 14 points, 839 speaker points
2. Monash University (Iyer/Dutta) - 13 points, 819 speaker points
3. University of Auckland (Baxter/Malik) - 12 points, 809 speaker points
4. Victoria University of Wellington (Raeburn/Edginton) - 10 points, 808 speaker points
5. Victoria/Auckland (Templeton/Upadhyay) - 10 points, 807 speaker points
6. University of Sydney Union (Karp/Caldwell) - 9 points, 831 speaker points
7. Victoria University of Wellington (Mukherjee/Smith) - 9 points, 827 speaker points
8. Victoria University of Wellington (O'Connor-McKenna/McCaffrey) - 9 points, 822 speaks

TOP TEN SPEAKERS

8= Hugh McCaffrey, 410
8= Ravi Dutta, 410
8= Akif Malik, 410
7. Joe Connell 411
6. Clodagh O'Connor-McKenna, 412
5. Paul Karp, 413
2= Pat Caldwell, 418
2= Udayan Mukherjee, 418
2= Christopher Bishop, 418
1. Stephen Whittington, 421

22 November 2010

HPU Pan Pacific Championship

The HPU Pan Pacific Championship is the largest college-level debating tournament in Hawaii. The tournament is open to U.S. and international colleges and universities.
The Pan Pacific Championship (PPC) will feature at least six preliminary debates and elimination rounds determined by the number of participants. All rounds will be debated in the British Parliamentary (World's Style) format. A workshop will be held on Friday for individuals new to this format. The event features the lush setting of Oahu, the welcoming atmosphere of Hawaii Pacific University (HPU), and challenging competition from around the world. Highlights from last year's tournament included fantastic debate, hula performances, Waikiki nightlife and a final round held at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Registration for the tournament is now open! View photos from past PPCs at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=21544&id=1496864603&l=4686c42d4c

Watch rounds of World's Style debate here.

If you have any questions or would like additional information regarding the tournament, travel, or HPU, please do not hesitate to contact the Director of Debate, Rose Helens-Hart. We look forward to seeing you in February at the Pan Pacific Championship.

Rose Helens-Hart
Director of Debate
Undergraduate Program Chair
Department of Communication
Hawaii Pacific University
1188 Fort Street, Suite 333
Honolulu HI, 96813


Registration Fees:
$125 per debate team and $30 per judge, coach and/or observer for the extended amenities package (includes select meals, beverages and cultural receptions throughout the tournament, etc.)The N-1 rule is enforced. The hired judging fee is $250 per team. All checks are payable to Hawaii Pacific University. Local teams should inquire about Kama'aina rates. All fees are due no later than event registration on Friday, February 11 2011.


Lodging information:
TBD


To register, please contact Rose Helens-Hart with team and adjudicator/observer numbers.


Tentative Schedule:
**Special Note: Please indicate whether or not your teams/coaches/judges/observers are interested in attending the workshop.

Friday, February 18th
Optional Parliamentary Training Session--HPU Downtown Campus
Evening Social or Luau (You won’t want to leave to Hawaii without experiencing a traditional Hawaiian meal and entertainment from the Pacific Islands. Seat reservation and payment must be taken in advance. More details will be provided to interested teams.)


Saturday, February 19th
8:15am Financial Registration
9:00am Adjudicator Meeting
9:30am Round 1
11:30am Round 2
1:00pm Lunch
2:30pm Round 3
4:45pm Round 4


Sunday, February 20th
8:15am Check-in
9:00am Round 5
11:15am Round 6
1:00pm Lunch
2:15pm Semifinal Debate
4:00 Grand Final Debate and Award Ceremony Social

Adelphi Tournament Results

Portland State University has won the 2010 Adelphi Brown and Gold Debate Tournament!

For more details and posts covering each round visit http://progymna.blogspot.com/

21 November 2010

Monash win Cambridge IV 2010

Monash A (Victor Finkel and Fiona Prowse) have won the Cambridge IV. Sam Block topped the speaker tab

Leiden B (Rob Honig & Ali Al Khatib) won the ESL final and Rob Honig was the best ESL speaker.


Breaking teams:

1 BPP A 14 846
2 MANCHESTER A 13 845
3 MONASH A 13 832
4 ULU A 12 845
5 SYDNEY UNION A 12 841
6 YALE A 12 801
7 DURHAM B 12 793
8 DURHAM A 11 819
9 UBC A 11 818
10 LSE B 11 810
11 KINGS INNS A 11 798
12 LOYOLA A 11 794
13 YALE C 11 785
14 OXFORD C 10 829
15 OXFORD A 10 819
16 UCD LAW C 10 788



ESL Break:
1 LEIDEN UNIVERSITY B 10 777
2 ASDV BONAPARTE A 10 766
3 BDU B 9 755
4 UTRECHT A 8 749
5 UTRECHT B 8 737
6 LEIDEN UNIVERSITY A 7 750
7 BBU A 7 739
8 UTRECHT C 7 737
- IIUM A 7 737
Utrecht C won the coin toss for the 8th spot in the semis.



More results once I get them.
Source: Twitter, comments & e-mail

Reminder on SSE Riga IV 2010

I would like to remind you about the annual SSE Riga IV that will take place on 10th and 11th of December.

The registration process is halfway finished, and we are pleased to say that more than 30 teams have already confirmed their participation, with new people applying every day. Our judging pool includes such famous debaters as Martins Vaivars, Will Jones, and Jens Fischer, and the beautiful city of Riga is ready to welcome you with its renowned hospitality and exciting nightlife.

You still have almost 2 weeks to apply for the tournament (the registration will be closed on November 30), so don't miss your chance! You can find out more at http://www.sserigads.com/registration/ or by sending an e-mail to sserigaiv@gmail.com.

See you in Riga!

Reinholds Pirags,
Chief Convener