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

 

 

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. 71^st 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. 28^th Terrace, Miami, 305-448-2800

Hampton Inn Dadeland, 8200 S.W. 70^th 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 1^st.  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 1^st.

  

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 1^st, 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 21^st .    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 –  ?                      1^st 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)!!