Great Debating in a Difficult Field Yields Recognition

    It has been called “the most difficult debate tournament in the world” by some. Whether you believe that or not, it is a very challenging field of the best debating colleges and universities in IONA (“Islands of the North Atlantic”) as well as Europe along with world class American universities, that was at the Oxford Intervarsity 2011 tournament in Oxford, England.

    Vermont sent two teams (Paul Gross & Drew Adamczyk; Jessica Bullock & John Sadek) along with coach Mary Nugent to a two-tournament swing in the UK, with Oxford last weekend and Cambridge next weekend. The trip got off to a good start in some ways and not so good in others.

    Paul & Drew debated so well in the five preliminary rounds that they finished 10th on the 126 team tab. Both of them were tied for 18th speaker on the tab out of 252. In their quarterfinal round they did not advance. The list of teams in the top sixteen looked like the global elite of debate (with host Oxford missing, of course) and included winner Sydney from Australia, Ateneo de Manila from the Philippines, Cambridge, Durham, University College Dublin, Trinity College Dublin, University College Cork. Vermont led the way in an American charge, with USA schools Vermont, Yale, Stanford and Colgate also making the top sixteen. See the full tab at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkFU5VBfVM1IdHRsbVhWMEtoaWIzc3VOUl9qbVJ0N0E#gid=0

    “I think it is a sign that our regional competition is doing so well here in the Northeast that we as a region also do well in the major international tournaments,” said LDU director Alfred Snider. “It shows that a semifinal round at our regional tournaments is becoming as high quality as can be found in the world’s best tournaments. I think our students, along with coaches Stephen Boyle and now Mary Nugent, have made a big contribution to this development by so many different regional teams. Cornell won Hart House, HWS has done very well, and St.John’s has really represented us well on the international stage.”

    The bad news was that John & Jessica were down but not out. Jessica was feeling throat problems and John debated by himself and got a second. Jess came back for round two and they got a second. But after that, it was clear that Jess could not continue and so she began to recuperate and John became a judge and was placed in some excellent debates. Jessica is now well on the way to recuperation for Cambridge.

    In the week between Oxford and Cambridge, the crew have gone to Greece for a low cost hostel adventure, which is where the above picture of the four debaters in Athens comes from.

    Cambridge begins on Friday. Follow us on Twitter at @asnider for the latest. Cambridge will be a chance for Mary to return to her home, where she was Director of Debating at the Cambridge Union.

Wake Forest - Debating, Learning, Building for the future

   Stefanie Doucette and Dylan Cooper journeyed with David Register to North Carolina to attend the Franklin Shirley Debate Tournament at Wake Forest University. With 126 teams it is the policy debate equivalent of Oxford. Positive things happened even if the team was 2-6, repeating their record from Harvard. “We spent a lot of time planning and building for next semester and how we are going to change these numbers,” said David Register, “and I think we have a pretty good strategy, especially given how enthusiastic and perceptive these two students are.” Dillon McConnell accompanied them on the trip as a spotter and returned more excited about debate than ever after serving a valuable function. David Register was a highly preferred critic and judged many of the top rounds at the event eventually won by Northwestern.

Team Heads to International Debate Academy in Europe

    Sarina Selleck & Rebeca White are headed to Europe over the thanksgiving break. They will be attending the Ninth International Debate Academy to be held in the lovely Julian Alps of Slovenia. They are prepared for an intense debate training experience to be shared with over 100 other students from 27 different countries. There will be nineteen debates and millions of learning moments from a distinguished international faculty.  Alfred Snider and Mary Nugent will be faculty members there in a program directed by long-time LDU ally Bojana Skrt.  Details are at http://debateacademy.net/Debate_Academy/IDA_Slovenia.html

    Last year John Sadek & Jessica Bullock won the 60 team 24 nation tournament at the end of the event. Becca & Sarina said that that is “Always the plan.”

   

International Debate Academy Winners - 2010 | Hopefuls - 2011

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FLASHPOINT - DEBATERS DO TELEVISION

The regular television program of the LDU is on the air.

http://flashpointtv.blogspot.com/

Last taping with Mary Nugent, John Meany & Alfred Snider.

#427 Debate Education

http://vimeo.com/31761335

#428 Education reform through Debate

http://vimeo.com/31780572

We will be editing the final round from last weekend’s worlds tournament and putting it on as two Flashpoint episodes.

Next taping: Saturday December 10.

TRAINING THIS WEEK

POLICY:

Wed 4-7 PM David’s class Laf 401 Practice Debates

WORLDS:

Wed 4:04-7 PM 475 Main - Tuna’s Class, all welcome, 4 PM Points of Information

Wed 7 PM Motion drills with Tuna

NEWS FROM SQUAD MEETING

CLASSES:

Policy Class - Wednesdays 4-7 PM Waterman 401. Drop in!
Advanced Worlds Debate - Wednesdays 4-7 PM 475 Main. Drop in!

VAN CERTIFICATION: We need more certified drivers. Urgent. Stef, Dan N, John.

OFFICE: Take care of it, clean it up, AND NEVER use a faculty office without permission.

SGA: Paul & Jessica will handle paperwork. Stef is also doing a good job here. Thank them for this.

UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS: If you want to go to good tournaments, work hard, show up for training and help others.

    IDAS SLOVENIA: Becca & Sarina over the Thanksgiving break with Mary & Tuna

    WUDC MANILA: John-Jess, Paul-Drew, Sarina-Beca, Tuna & Mary

    WE START EARLY NEXT SEMESTER, SO BE READY!

LDU CLOTHING: Becca is working on some stylish clothing for the LDU. Details coming.

GREEN & GOLD DEBATES: Dec 3 Saturday, all-Vermont scrimmage with special prizes. Get new people to try it! 3 Rounds.

2011-12 COMPETITION

PHOTOS TO BE PROUD OF

Madeline Murphy-Hall, recently in Sudan; Kayce Massey, happy mom opens 6th Goodstuff store in Vermont

SEE CURRENT CROP OF ALUMNI PHOTOS AT http://debate.uvm.edu/debateblog/ldupix/Alumni.html

There are thousands of stories like these! Tell us yours.

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Robert Huber 1948 - Huber House Today - Robert Huber 1966