WDI Session in Europe Now Full

The World Debate Institute affiliated program the International debate Academy Slovenia is now full. We have every room in the Hotel Ormoz full and even some additional spaces. Thanks to everyone who has shown such great support for the program. We are at our limit for the instructional part of the program. We are proud that so many have recognized us as the premier Worlds format training program on the globe.

But there is still an opportunity for you to join us and be part of what we are doing. There are lots of spots open for the tournament component of the program. The tournament will be a full service event hosted at the Faculty of Law in Maribor, Slovenia. The program will begin afternoon of 28 and continue until 30 November 2008. Join us for a vigorous and economical tournament. We will offer housing, meals and complete tournament entry fees for 50 Euros per person.

We offer great judging, featuring our remarkable faculty, including:

• Loke Wing Fatt, Singapore: Well known Asian debate trainer, WUDC breaking judge, honorary professorship North-Eastern University China, SAID Singapore, 4th IDAS.
• Jens Fischer, Germany: Berlin Debating Union, Chief Adjudicator at Europeans, 3rd IDAS.
• Sam Greenland, UK/Hong Kong/Australia: WUDC semifinalist for Sydney, Hong Kong world schools coach, 3rd IDAS.
• Steve Llano, USA: Professor at St. John’s University NY, NE USA Director of the Year, USA National Champion coach, 3rd IDAS.
• Branka Marusic, Croatia: President Europeans Council, IDAS Finalist, 2nd IDAS.
• Rhydian Morgan, UK: Chief Adjudicator and Finals judge at numerous tournaments, Welsh Debating Federation, World Debate Institute faculty 2008, 2nd IDAS.
• Debbie Newman, UK: Past president of Cambridge Union, England & Wales National Champion, former Director of Centre for Speech & Debate at English-Speaking Union, England World Schools coach and WSDC world champion coach.
• Alfred Snider, USA: Professor at University of Vermont, Director World Debate Institute, USA USA Coach of the Year, six recent debate textbooks, 6th IDAS.
• Bojana Skrt, Slovenia: Director ZIP, thrice WSDC EFL Champion coach, 6th IDAS.

Book your spot at the tournament now. There are cheap flights to Graz, Austria via Ryanair and other options, with an easy train connection to Maribor.

For more information contact Bojana Skrt at bojana.skrt@siol.net. Bojana can help you with travel arrangements.

The form to apply for the tournament is at http://debate.uvm.edu/idastourn.doc

The general website is at http://debate.uvm.edu/idas.html

See you in Maribor at the tournament!

WDI Announces 2009 Dates

2008 t-shirt back

Here are the dates for the 2009 World Debate Institute programs at the University of Vermont.

High School

• World Schools Debate Workshop July 25 - Aug 7
  

College

• National College Policy July 25 - Aug 7
  
• College Parliamentary Debate Workshop May 18 - 22
  
• College Parliamentary Debate Workshop Aug 1 - Aug 7
  

Teachers, Coaches

• Debate Coaching Workshop July 25 - 31
  
• Parliamentary Debate Workshop Aug 1 - Aug 7
  

World Debate Institute Kicks Off First Debate Tournament in Venezuela

Participants in one of the semifinal debates

Hello from Venezuela. I am Alfred Snider, director of the World Debate Institute.

I am in Caracas, which is supposed to be the city of eternal spring, since it is near the equator but in the mountains so it always has that spring-like flair.

It is lovely city, nestled between mountains that separate it from the Carbbean sea. The "Avila," or lovely moutain range, separates it from the ocean. It is nice, but the traffic is unbelievable and hostile. There are obviously too many cars, and it has the worst traffic I have seen in the known world. The people are friendly and the climate is friendly as well.

I am here for the first ever Venezuelan university debate tournament. I had a great lecture opportunity on Thursday afternoon at a local univeristy and about 90 people showed up to hear me talk about debate as a teaching tool in non-debate classrooms (literature, history, political science, etc.). They were attentive and seemed to like me, asking lots of questions and staying involved. Local organizers said it was a big success.

Friday the tournament started. They have had a lot of debate workshops here but never a tournament. Students seemed excied and ready. I judged four rounds today and have the following observations:

* Students seemed more ready that most beginners, because many of them have had model UN experience and have been to workshops held by the local organizers and staffed by excellent Spanish-speaking trainers from the USA, includling Luis Magallon, Brenda Montes, Kenda Cunningham and Sandra Maroschka. .
* I was pleased with their knowledge of the topic area, which is expanding representation on the UN security council. While not omniscient, they knew quite a lot.
* They had a very good idea of what the important issues were in the debates, going right to them and spending time there.
* They seemed really into it and are highly motivated.

The tournament completed successfully on Sunday with a rousing final round won by USB MN on a 5-4 decision, with some of Venezuela's top citizens judging.

Congratulations to Rita Moncada, organizer trained at WDI, and everyone who participated. WDI will be there to support you in all of your future efforts!

WDI Faculty WIn Two World Championships

Bojana Skrt (left), Debbie Newman (middle) along with WSDC 08 Convener Phyllis Hirth pose at WDI 2008

Two WDI faculty members have just experienced huge success at the recent World Schools Debating Championship held in Washington, DC.

World Universities Debating Workshop instructor Debbie Newman of the UK led her England team to the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, defeating New Zealand 5-4 in the finals.

World Schools Debating Workshop and World Universities Debating Workshop instructor Bojana Skrt of Slovenia led her Slovene team to the English as a Foreign Language WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

Congratulations to them both, and we look forward to having them back at World Debate Institute 2009 next summer.

WDI Success - Many People Make It Happen

Alison Maynard, Susie McPheeters, Ellen Morris, Janet Nunziata, Corin Blanchard and Nichole Hathaway pose after WDI debrief

It takes a crew to make a successful four-week event. Fortunately, at the University of Vermont the World Debate Institute has a dedicated and highly competent group of people who have worked very hard all year to make the event run so smoothly.

Whether it is lost library cards, locked rooms, premature expiration of computer access codes, parking issues or lost luggage, this crew has done a great job.

The group met this week for a WDI 2008 debrief and there was a long list of successes, challenges and plans for next summer. I want to personally thank everyone for their dedication and concern.

Policy Debate Final Round Now Online

The final round was won on a 3-0 decision:

[AFF] Zac Hartkopp (JCCC) & Derek Ziegler (Kansas State) defeat [NEG] Ben Dabiri(Oklahoma) & Jen Cox (Oklahoma).

Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should substantially reduce its agricultural support, at least eliminating nearly all of the domestic subsidies, for biofuels, Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, corn, cotton, dairy, fisheries, rice, soybeans, sugar and/or wheat.

Part One



Part Two

College Policy Tournament Results

Faculty members Ruth Zisman and David Register

David Register reports:

The 2008 National College Policy Debate Workshop is over!  The weather was
great and the evidence set is outstanding.  Our Scholars did an amazing job.
Thank you to Brian Rubaie, Lauren Sabino, Dylan Quigley, and Nick Watts for
all of their hard work in making this year such a success.


In our camp tournament, the final round was won on a 3-0 decision:

[AFF] Zac Hartkopp (JCCC) & Derek Ziegler (K State) defeat [NEG] Ben Dabiri
(OU) & Jen Cox (OU)


Speaker awards (2 and 3 tied):

1.       Ashley Fortner (Richmond)

2.       Jen Cox (Oklahoma)

3.       Derek Ziegler (K State)

4.       Ben Dabiri (Oklahoma)

See the indexes for the complete list of files produced:

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/wdi2008collegepolicyindexes1.pdf

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/wdi2008collegepolicyindexes2.pdf


Thank you to everyone who came, especially those novices from
Louisiana-Lafayette and Monmouth whose work ethics and brains should give
those programs a lot of hope for the future.


David Register
Lecturer/Debate Coach
Lawrence Debate Union
Department of Theatre
College of Arts & Sciences
University of Vermont
David.Register@uvm.edu

Debate - Policy - WDI Scholars Debate on Farm Subsidies

Left to right: Nick Watts, Lauren Sabino, Brian Rubiae, Dylan Quigley

Featuring Lauren Sabino of Wake Forest and Brian Rubiae of Texas-Dallas on the affirmative, against Dylan Quigley of Kansas and Nick Watts of Oklahoma on the negative. The debate was about ending agricultural subsidies to CAFOs (concentrated animal feeding operations). Part 3 contains comments from Kansas State's Justin Green. Negative win.

CAUTION: Policy debate takes place at very high speeds and can be very technical, and for those reasons may be the most rigorous form of debate there is.

See the video at
http://debatevideoblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/debate-policy-wdi-scholars-debate-on.html

College Policy Debate Workshop Ends

Policy "hat" winners: Ashley Fortner of Richmond, Jennifer Cox of Oklahoma, Chris Latucca of Vermont, Alease Scott of Louisiana and Brian Rubaie of Texas-Dallas

The last of the five WDI programs this summer ended on Wednesday as the College Policy Workshop came to a close.

The day featured the last preliminary round of the tournament, an exhibition debate by the scholars, the final round of the tournament, and an awards ceremony where the inevitable "hats" were given out.

More details coming in a day or so after we all recover a bit, but I would have to say that it was a huge success. The atmosphere was excellent, the debaters improved tremendously, the evidence set produced was truly excellent and a good time seemed to have been had by all, and the evaluations showed that.

Plans for the future were boiling as the faculty had their dinner of some tasty Thai food. Watch this space for more about 2009 to come.

Watch Final Round of World Universities Workshop

The four teams were: 1st government Emily Barkdoll & Ethan Backus of Vermont, 2nd government Joshua Miller & Mandy Frank of Vermont, 1st opposition Lee Richmond & Garret Valdez of Tennessee Tech, 2nd opposition Darius Niknamfard & Scott Crespo of Cornell.

After totalling the ranks, it was Joshua Miller & Mandy Frank of Vermont with 53 points, and the next closest was Lee Richmond & Garrett Valdez of Tennessee Tech with 25.

The motion was: This House would put security cameras in the public places of city centers.