Please read the information below if you wish to trial for the World University Debating Championships. Victoria may send three teams of two people. Trialists should remember that although the Society endeavours to get funding, in the first instance those who go as Victoria’s debaters must be able to pay for their airfares (around $3000 NZD) and be able to pay their 390 euro registration fee. The registration fee is due before 15 September.
Worlds trials will be held across two nights (11 and 12 August from 6pm at the SUB – selectors are Ranald Clouston (C), Christopher Bishop, Clodagh O’Connor McKenna, Jonathan Orpin and Michael Mabbett). Trialists must be able to make both evenings.
* The first debate will be an ‘individual debate’: there are three speakers on each team – there will be a Prime Minister’s Speech, Extension Speech and Whip Speech on the government side, and a Leader of the Opposition Speech, Extension Speech and Whip Speech on the opposition side. This is the system they use at Cambridge. Debaters prepare alone – the purpose being to assess individuals on their individual merit without the aid of a team mate;
* If the selectors think it is appropriate, the second debate will also be in this manner or they may choose to go straight into normal British Parliamentary format;
* The third debate, on the second night will be in normal BP style;
* There will be a fourth debate on the second night in BP style if the selectors believe it to be necessary.
All trialists will be guaranteed two debates.
Those wishing to trial must email the chief selector (Ranald Clouston – rac76@cam.ac.uk) with the subject ‘Worlds Trials’ in the subject line before midnight Thursday 6 August:
a.) stating that they wish to trial; and
b.) their debating and adjudicating CV (which tournaments you have debated or judged at, how you did – i.e. results – and who you debated with)
A list will be sent around the trialists of those who have registered to trial – for their information, which may be of use to trialists in deciding on the following:
Those wishing to trial may send additional information to the chief selector (Ranald Clouston – rac76@cam.ac.uk) with the subject ‘Worlds Trials’ in the subject line before midnight Saturday 8 August:
* Trialists may send in preferences for speaker positions, but these are indicative for the selectors only. Selectors will try and give speakers a variety of positions;
* Trialists may send in negative or positive preferences about whom they would like to be placed in a team with – these are only indicative for the selectors and not guaranteed in any way;
* Trialists may send in vetos over people who they refuse to be placed in a team with. Trialists should beware however, that should the selectors feel they should go into a team with someone who the trialist has vetod, the veto-er will be moved ‘down’ into the next available position. So you veto at your own peril.
Posted in Worlds |
