The Ibis Debates
University of Miami
Coral Gables,
Florida
October 5-7, 2007
Offering 5 preliminary
rounds of debate plus appropriate elimination rounds in Championship and Novice
Policy Debate, and Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate, 4 preliminary rounds of Open
Public Forum Debate with appropriate elimination round, and 4 rounds plus finals
in Varsity Student Congress
The
schedule allows for students taking the SAT. Congress, Lincoln Douglas and Public Forum conclude on
Saturday evening (policy elim rounds are Sunday)
Hotel Information:
There is no official
Tournament Hotel, although we recommend the closest:
Holiday Inn University
of Miami, 1350 S. Dixie Highway,
Coral Gables, 305-667-5611
Many hotels do offer
discounts for University of Miami; be sure to ask, and tell them why you are
coming.
For a list of hotels offering
UM rates, you may wish to visit:
http://www.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,16036-1;18700-3,00.html
We suggest these mid level
properties close to campus (note, some of these are also listed at the
university link above):
Best Western South
Miami, 5959 S.W. 71st
St., Miami, 305-667-5424
Courtyard by Marriott
Dadeland, 9075 S. Dadeland Blvd.,
Miami, 305-670-1220 (recommended)
Doubletree Hotel, 2649 Bayshore Dr., Coconut Grove, 305-858-2500
(recommended)
Gables Motor Inn, 730 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, 305-661-7999
Hampton Inn Coconut
Grove, 2800 S.W. 28th
Terrace, Miami, 305-448-2800
Hampton Inn Dadeland, 8200 S.W. 70th Avenue, Miami,
305-269-0072 *(recommended)*
Holiday Inn Coral
Gables Business District, 2051
LeJeune Road, Coral Gables, 305-443-2301
Miami Marriott Dadeland, 9090 S. Dadeland Blvd., Miami, 305-670-1035
(recommended)
Radisson Kendall Hotel, 9100 N. Kendall Dr., Miami, 305-279-7700
Terrace Inn, 1430 S. Dixie Highway, Coral Gables, 305-662-8845
(This is the closest value inn)
Entries: At this
time, we will not limit entries; however, we reserve the right to do so as
necessary to facilitate the tournament.
We have very limited room availability. Please enter as soon as possible, and no later than 5:00
p.m. (Miami time), Monday, October 1st. Please
also note that for Student Congress, we ask that all
legislation be submitted by Friday, September 21st!
How to Enter: You
will be able to register at http://www.joyoftournaments.com/ On-line entry will be available on or
before September 1st.
If you have difficulty with
the entry process or need assistance, please contact Professor Steinberg (dave@miami.edu). Again, the entry cut-off date is Monday, October 1st,
at 5:00 p.m. in Miami. Please be sure to enter your school and
your students by that date.
Contact Information: For
information, assistance, etcÖ, please call the Tournament Director, David L.
Steinberg, 305-284-5553 (office), 305-926-8498 (cell), dave@miami.edu
Maps and Directions: For Maps
and directions to the campus, visit http://com.miami.edu/ContactUs.htm
For specific directions to
The School of Communication, visit http://com.miami.edu/directions/
Events: Team topic policy debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and
Student Congress.
1.
Team
Topic Policy Debate. Debaters will
compete on the 2007-2008 Policy Debate
Topic, Resolved: The United States federal government
should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan
Africa. The format will be 8-3-5 with 8 minutes
of preparation time. Championship
division is open to all middle school or high school students. Novice division is limited to students
debating their first policy resolution (first year, beginning debaters).
2.
Lincoln-Douglas
debaters will compete in an equal number of affirmative and negative debates on
the SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 LINCOLN FINANCIAL GROUP/NFL LD DEBATE TOPIC, Resolved:
A just society ought not use the death penalty as a form of punishment. Time limits will be 6-3-7-3-4-6-3
with three minutes of preparation time per debater. Open to all middle school
or high school students.
3.
Student
Congress. Please see attached
information for details (consistent with Florida Forensic League).
4.
Public
Forum Debate. Debaters will
compete on the October, 2007 PFD Topic.
The format is the standard 4-4-3-4-4-3-2-2-3-1-1.
Judging: You must provide one judge for every
2 debate (Policy or LD, or fraction thereof) and 5 congress entries (or
fraction thereof). If you are unable to provide judging,
we may not be able to accept your entry.
We will have a limited amount of hired judging available at $60 per
uncovered team for the team debate events, $60 per uncovered L-D debater, and
$30 per uncovered student congress entry.
Please let us know as soon as possible if you anticipate needing to hire
judging.
Fees: We will lose money. However, to help defray some of the costs
of trophies, materials, personnel, facilities, and hospitality, we will ask
that you pay a fee of $25 per debater (not per team) to be collected at registration.
Please pay by school. Checks
should be made out to UM Debate.
If you wish to pay by credit card, please contact Professor Steinberg.
Food and
amenities: A coaches/judges lounge with
refreshments will be available throughout the tournament. Continental Breakfast will be provided
on Sunday for all participants in the elimination rounds, as well as snacks throughout
the tournament. Participants will
be on your own for lunch on Saturday, but on campus dining will be open and
available.
Student
Congressional Debate
The Ibis Debates
are proud to support the growth and education of high school students through
skillful and entertaining debate. Your team is strongly encouraged to submit
original bills and resolutions for debate.
This tournament
will be following the Florida Forensics League Student Congress Manual. Please refer to the following
website for detailed rules, regulations, and procedures under the most recent
available Student Congress Manual:
http://www.floridaforensics.org/news_page.htm
The Director of
the Congressional Debates will be accepting a maximum of five (5) pieces of
legislation per competitor. All legislation must be submitted no later
than Friday, September 21st .
Email to David Steinberg dave@miami.edu.
Upon receipt,
legislation will be reviewed and accepted bill and resolution titles will be
emailed to you, giving your team ample research and preparation time.
Additionally, we will make the necessary copies so that each debater will have
a full text copy of the resolutions and bills at the commencement of the
tournament.
To ensure the maximum debate time, four
(4) preliminary rounds will be held, with appropriate elimination rounds. The
number of House and Senate chambers will be determined by the total number of
entries. I encourage you to enter as many team members as are interested, as
there is not a cap on entries. Please refer to the enclosed official invitation
packet for judge requirements and tournament hotel information.
Judges who are in need of rules and procedures information beyond what is
provided in the manual, or judges who wish to give formal notice of their
preference prior to tournament commencement should also contact David Steinberg.
Student Congressional Debate Format
I.
Temporary
Presiding Officers. Temporary
Presiding Officer will be a member of the tournament staff who will oversee the
election of the session Presiding Officer and Parliamentarian (who will also
act as session timer).
II.
Election of
Presiding Officer and Parliamentarian and Introduction of Judges. The floor will automatically be open
for nominations at the start of the session and votes will be cast by secret
ballot in accordance with FFL rules and regulations. Upon successful election,
the session Presiding Officer will be provided with a gavel and session will
commence. Parliamentarian will introduce judges and give them the opportunity
to announce their preferences and answer any questions from the floor.
III.
Selection of
Speakers and Speaking Order. Speaking
orders will be left to the discretion of each chamberís Presiding Officer.
Debaters will rise to be selected following each speech. They may NOT be placed
on a list at the commencement of the session. Proper motions and speaker
selections will be in accordance with FFL guidelines and Robertís Rules of
Order (Parliamentary Procedure).
IV.
Individual
Speeches and Cross Examination. Individual
speeches may not exceed three (3) minutes in duration. Remaining time may be
yielded to the floor for cross examination. Grace periods (max. 15 sec.) are at
the discretion of the Presiding Officer.
V.
Authorship
Speeches and Cross Examination. Authorship
speeches may not exceed three (3) minutes in duration. A mandatory two (2)
minute cross examination period will follow the authorship speech.
VI.
Final
Ballots and Judging. Judges will
follow FFL procedures, rules, and regulations. Top three (3) names for Selection of Best
Speaker of the session will be given to the chambers. Votes will be by secret
ballot with Parliamentarian as tie-break vote.
These are the most basic
rules that this tournament will follow; additional rules are found in the FFL
Manual. Should there be any
questions as to procedure, regulations, rules of nomination, speaking, voting,
etc, refer to the FFL Manual as the foremost authority or contact the Director
of Student Congressional Debate.

Tentative
Tournament Schedule*
Friday,
October 5
1:00
– 2:00 Registration,
Student Congressional Debate, Wolfson School of Communication Courtyard
2:30 – 3:00 Student
Congressional Debate Opening Assembly
3:00 – 3:30 Orientation
meeting and opening lecture for Novice Observers
3:30 – 3:45 Policy,
Public Forum, and Lincoln-Douglas Debate Opening Assembly
3:30 – 6:00 Legislative
Assembly Preliminary Round I
3:30
– 3:45 Preliminary
Business
3:45
– 5:45 Actual
Debate Time
5:45
– 6:00 Orders
of the Day
4:00 – 6:00 Round
I of Policy, Public Forum, and Lincoln-Douglas
6:00 – 8:00 Round
II of Policy, Public Forum, and
Lincoln-Douglas
8:00 – 8:45 Round
III of Lincoln-Douglas (Single-Flighted)
6:15 – 8:45 Legislative
Assembly Preliminary Round II
6:15
– 6:30 Preliminary
Business
6:30
– 8:30 Actual
Debate Time
8:30
– 8:45 Orders
of the Day
Saturday, October 6
12:00 p.m. Posting
of Round III of Policy Debate and Round IV of Lincoln-Douglas
12:30 – 2:30 Round
III of Policy Debate and Public Forum, and Round IV of Lincoln-Douglas
12:30 – 3:00 Legislative
Assembly Preliminary Round III
12:30
– 12:45 Preliminary
Business
12:45
– 2:45 Actual
Debate Time
2:45
- 3:00 Orders
of the Day
2:30 – 4:30 Round
IV of Policy Debate and Public
Forum, and Round V of Lincoln-Douglas
3:15 – 5:45 Legislative
Assembly Preliminary Round IV
3:15
– 3:30 Preliminary
Business
3:30
– 5:30 Actual
Debate Time
5:30
– 5:45 Orders
of the Day
4:45 Posting
of Lincoln-Douglas Elimination Round Participants
5:00 – 7:00 Round
V of Policy Debate
5:00 – ? 1st
Elimination Round of Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum Debate, (Elimination Rounds Continue)
6:00 Posting
of Congressional Debate Semifinals
6:00 – 8:15 Final
Legislative Assembly Round
6:00
– 6:15 Preliminary
Business
6:15
– 8:00 Actual
Debate Time
8:00
– 8:15 Orders
of the Day
8:30 – 9:00 Awards
Sunday, October 7
8:30 – 9:15 Posting
of Elimination Rounds and breakfast
9:30 – 11:30 First
Elimination Round of
Policy Debate
11:30 - ? Policy Debate
Elimination Rounds Continue
*This is a tentative schedule (start times
for each day will remain the same)!!
