Loke Wing Fatt on the International Debate Academy

Loke Wing Fatt from Singapore:

I will be teaching at the IDAS for the 4th time this year, and consider it a great learning experience. Interacting with each new batch of keen, motivated and intelligent debate students make me feel hopeful that they will be the new catalysts of change in their respective future careers as they hone their debating and critical thinking skills with us. Moreover, it was a fantastic way to make new friends and network with fellow trainers from around the world. Each and every student is important to us and we always do our utmost to make sure that all of them take home life's lessons we have learnt in our different debate education journeys from diverse parts of the globe.

Elective Choices Announced for 2008

For a number of years now at the International Debate Academy we have offered a series of "electives." We have time slots in the schedule where we offer 4-5 different topics at once and students choose the presentations they would like to go and learn from. We offer a broad swath of subjects and ask the attendees when they arrive which ones they like the best. We tally the votes and then create a schedule of electives.

Here is the preliminary list for this year.

ELECTIVE CHOICES

-Evidence
-Counter proposals
-Religious based law- a short introduction into Sharia, Jewish and Canon law
-EU 101
-International law-brief introduction
-Right of self detremination
-Basis of criminal law- on international level
-UN 101
-NATO 101
-Rhetoric & style
-Identifying clash
-Zen debating - knifing without the knife
-Debating rights
-Advocating Marxism
-Economics, aka how to win debates on economics against economists, by an economics grad.
-Politics, aka how to win debates on political theory against politics students, by a politics postgrad.
-Philosophy, aka how to beat utilitarians in debate, by a philosophy postgrad.
-Law, aka how to beat lawyers in debates about law, by a man who hates lawyers.
-Extensions; how to speak brilliantly as the third speaker in British Parliamentary debates.
-Samurai debate
-Classical rhetorical theory
-Advanced opposition strategy
-Debating internationally as an English Foreign Language speaker
-Public, Radio, TV debates
-Preparation before the tournament, preparation at the tournament
-Motion Analysis-Tips on how to interpret debate motions and find the core issues of debate.
-BP Adjudication-An overview of how to make fair decisions in BP debates as a BP adjudicator.
-Saving a Bad Upper House Debate- What to do when your Upper House teams are not doing what they are supposed to do? Tips on how to win the debate at the Lower House when the people upstairs are under-performing.
-Strategic POIings-Tips on how to make the most of the POIs as an "offerer" or a receiver.
-Debating in Asia-An overview account of how debating is conducted in Asia.
-Extra Practice for BP Beginners (Combination of Elective 1 and 2 Sessions together) For beginners of BP debating who want an extra session of practice during the IDAS 2008.
-MINE IS BIGGER THAN YOURS-An explanation and evaluation of various measures by which you can show that your arguments are more important than theirs. Useful later in the debate and especially in the whip speech. In a debate where both sides are winning some issues, you need to show that yours come first.
-POINTS OF INFORMATION FOR MEANIES-Get the down and dirty about how to ask mean points and give mean answers. Learn how to take their points and make them count towards your victory. Not for the squeamish. Use some of these with care. Optional funny lines will also be provided.
-REVIEWING EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ABOUT SPEAKING STYLE-This presentation will inspect experimental findings about which speaking styles and mannerisms are most persuasive to audiences. While the research is not based in debate, it has been replicated and confirmed to be the actual situation in real life. Learn how to avoid powerless language, learn which hand gestures to avoid, learn which posture is most persuasive and a lot more. This presentation will not cover the use of aroma.

Coach/Trainers Elective Sessions
-Debate formats
-Drills and games to teach debate
-Curriculum development
-Creating lesson plans, creating workshop
-Training program model
-Adjudication
-Team based research strategy
-Basic coaching tips
-Team building
-Organising and running debate club
-Creating and coordinating the network of debate clubs
-Fundraising for debate
-Organising debate tournament
-Organising public debate
-Promotion of debate activities

Academy Schedule Announced

SIXTH INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ACADEMY SLOVENIA
NOVEMBER 2008

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 23 2008
Arrival Day

1900 Dinner

20.00 Opening Session
Introductions
Introduction to the format
Exhibition debate
Discussion of exhibition debate
Students take assessment test for group assignments
Socialize and find a debate partner

MONDAY NOVEMBER 24 2008
730-845 Breakfast
845 Morning announcements
900 Lecture
Advanced: Critiques
Intermediate: Case development
Beginner: Public speaking
1015-1130 Exercises
1130 Announcement of motion
1200 Practice debate
1330 Lunch
1500 Elective 1
1600 Elective 2
1700 Announcement of motion
1730 Practice debate
1900 Dinner
Evening – Country Exhibition

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 25 2007
730-845 Breakfast
845 Morning announcements
900 Lecture
Advanced: Clash
Intermediate: Argument & content development
Beginner: Role of the speakers, case structure, note taking
1015-1130 Exercises
1130 Announcement of motion
1200 Practice debate
1330 Lunch
1500 Elective 1
1600 Elective 2
1700 Announcement of motion
1730 Practice debate
1900 Dinner
Evening – Open

WENSDAY NOVEMBER 26 2008
730-845 Breakfast
845 Morning announcements
900 Lecture
Advanced:How to win debate from the first proposition
Intermediate: Extension
Beginner: Proposition strategies
1015-1130 Exercises
1130 Announcement of motion
1200 Practice debate
1330 Lunch
FREE TIME
1700 Announcement of the motion
1730 Practice debate
1900 Dinner
20.00 Elective 1
21.00 Elective 2


THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27 2008
730-845 Breakfast
845 Morning announcements
900 Lecture
Advanced: Framing
Intermediate: Whip speeches
Beginner: Opposition strategies
1015-1130 Exercises
1130 Announcement of motion
1200 Practice debate
1330 Lunch
1500 Elective 1
1600 Elective 2
1730 Practice debate
1900 Dinner
Evening – Open

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 28 2008
730-845 Breakfast
845 Morning announcements
900 Lecture
Advanced: Style
Intermediate: Advanced opposition strategies
Beginner: Case development
1015-1130 Exercises
1130 Announcement of motion
1200 Practice debate
1330 Lunch
1430 Board the bus
1500 Bus to Maribor leave
1600 Check into Maribor dorms
1630 Leave dorm, walk as a group to the tournament – Faculty of law
1700 Opening Assembly
1800 Round 1
Dinner at the tournament venue
2000 Round 2

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 29 2008
730-830 Breakfast
900 Round 3
1130 Round 4
1300 Lunch
1430 Round 5
1630 Round 6
1900 Dinner & Break announcement
Break Party

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 30 2008
730-830 Breakfast
900 Announcement of pairings and motion
Semifinals
1100 Final Round
Closing Ceremonies
Departure

Scholarship Form Now Available

The form to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2008 International Debate Academy is now available.

You can get it at http://debate.uvm.edu/idas08scholform.doc

[FROM THE FORM]

Please make sure to include:

1. A written statement by the applicant explaining:

a) Why you believe you are in need of financial aid.

b) What you can offer to the intellectual climate of IDAS in exchange so that it will be a more rewarding experience.

c) What are you doing to try and raise money to pay the uncovered portion of your fees.

d) Specify the amount of scholarship required for you to attend. There will be no 100% awards.

2. A written statement from a teacher, coach, debate coordinator, collegue discussing the students' potential and past debate/training performances record.

Scholarship applications must be sent to Bojana Skrt at bojana.skrt@siol.net by October 1 2008. Scholarship awards will be announced on October 10 2008.

Debbie Newman Added to Faculty

Debbie Newman (middle) with Bojana Skrt of IDAS (left) and Phyllis Hirth (right) convenor of World Schools Debate Championship in Washington, DC 2008

The International Debate Academy is proud to announce that Debbie Newman will be joining us in 2008 as a faculty member.

Debbie Newman has been a debater since high school where she reached the final of the world schools debating championships for England. At university she went on to become the President of the Cambridge Union and was the England & Wales National Debating Champion. After graduation, Debbie went to work for the English-Speaking Union where she eventually became the Head of the Centre for Speech and Debate. She is a qualified teacher and education consultant and is the current coach of the England Schools Debate Team. She has taught and judged debate around the globe and was this year for the third time at the World Debate Institute.

Applications Now Available Online

Get them now! Send them in as soon as possible but by October 15. Space may be limited this year!

For the entire program November 23-30 2008
http://debate.uvm.edu/idasall.doc

For just the tournament in Maribor November 28-30 2008
http://debate.uvm.edu/idastourn.doc

2008 Academy Details Announced

Ljubljana mayor Jankovic chats with winning team before final round

INTERNATIONAL DEBATE ACADEMY SLOVENIA 2008

THE BEST IN WUDC/BP DEBATE INSTRUCTION
23-30 NOVEMBER 2008

MANY WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

• Full program for university students – instruction, tournament.
• Tournament for university students – tournament in Maribor.
• Full program for trainers, teachers, coaches, club leaders, judges at any level in any debate format.

SPECIFIC DATES:

• Arrive in Ormoz, Slovenia November 23 2008
• Instruction in Ormoz November 24-28 2008
• Transfer to Maribor afternoon 28 November 2008
• Tournament in Maribor evening 28-30 November 2008

FACULTY

• Loke Wing Fatt, Singapore: Legendary 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. Invited.
• Sam Greenland, UK/Hong Kong/Australia: WUDC semifinalist for Sydney, Hong Kong world schools coach, 3rd IDAS.
• Neil Harvey-Smith, UK: President Worlds Council, Chief Adjudicator Europeans 2008, US Universities 2009, WUDC finalist, 2nd 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.
• Uve Poom, Estonia: Europeans EFL Champion, IDAS Finalist, Euros 2008 organizer, 2nd IDAS. Invited.
• Alfred Snider, USA: Professor at University of Vermont, Director World Debate Institute, USA Coach of the Year, six recent debate textbooks, 6th IDAS.
• Bojana Skrt, Slovenia: Director ZIP, twice WSDC EFL Champion coach, 6th IDAS.

Curriculum:
Students: Each Instruction day features a main lecture, exercise and drill sessions, and two complete critiqued practice debates. Many elective classes offered. Many training preparation sessions offered. Judge evaluation and training offered.
Trainers: Special track created based on the needs of attending trainers. All welcome.

Tournament:
Sponsored by IDAS, ZIP and hosted by Debate Club University of Maribor Faculty of Law. Six preliminary rounds and semifinals in the WUDC format. No team caps as of now. Faculty will serve as adjudication core and administration for the tournament.

Accommodations:
Rooms and full meals provided in Ormoz and Maribor. Social activities organized each evening.

Fees:
Includes all meals, double rooms, instructional materials, transportation from Ormoz to Maribor, and social activities.
200 Euros for full program, 50 Euros for tournament.

Scholarships:
We hope to offer substantial scholarships to needy applicants. We are in negotiations with sponsors now and hope to be able to offer substantial scholarship assistance. Get a scholarship form at the website.

Applications and information available:
APPLICATION DEADLINE 30 OCTOBER 2008
SOON AT THE WEBSITE http://debate.uvm.edu/idas.html
Questions? Ask Bojana Skrt, bojana.skrt@siol.net

Peter Mesarec, Assistant Director
Helena Felc, Social Director
Zlata Subinski, Tournament Host

Website: http://debate.uvm.edu/idas.html
Blogsite: http://internationaldebateacademy.blogspot.com/
More about ZIP: http://www.ljudmila.org/debata

We look forward to working with you at IDAS 2008!

-Bojana & Tuna

2008 International Debate Academy Announced

It is with great pleasure that ZIP-Slovenia and WDI-USA announce the Sixth International Debate Academy to be held in Slovenia in November 2008.

2008 DATES ARE NOVEMBER 23-30

SEE OUR BLOG AT http://internationaldebateacademy.blogspot.com/

THREE EVENTS:

WORKSHOP FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

WORKSHOP FOR TRAINERS, COACHES AND TEACHERS

AN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

For university students and trainers/teachers
23– 30th November 2008, Slovenia

Organized by:
ZIP – Za in proti (ZIP), Pro et Contra, Institute for the Culture of Dialogue, Slovenia
WDI – World Debate Institute, University of Vermont, USA

Webpage, registration form, scholarship form: http://debate.uvm.edu/idas2008.html

What is it?

It is the most international British Parliamentary Debate Training in the world with a distinguished training group. Attendees have come from over 26 different debating nations. The program involves a rigorous combination of lectures, skill exercise sessions and two practice debates per day. A major tournament will take place at the end. This year the tournament at the end of the Academy is open to all interested university debaters, so everybody who does not have time to come for the whole week can join us only for the tournament.

FACULTY FOR 2007 (MOST RETURNING FOR 2008)

Jens Fischer, Berlin Debating Union, Germany, Europeans CA
Neill Harvey-Smith, UK, Former WUDC Finalist
Steve Llano, St. Johns University, USA
Loke Wing Fatt, SAID, Singapore, WUDC breaking judge
Branka Marušic, EUDC President, Croatia
Rhydian Morgan, UK, Euros winner & multiple CA
Sam Nelson, Cornell University, USA
Uve Poom, Estonia, 2007 Euro ESL Champion
Bojana Skrt, Za in proti, zavod za kulturo dialoga, Slovenia
Alfred C. Snider, University of Vermont, USA, Director, World Debate Institute

Who can apply?

Students: For the whole Academy, everybody interested in debating is welcome, and can be beginners or they can be very experienced. The training will be divided into different tracks, based on the participant’s needs and experience, but reflecting realistic pedagogical needs.

Students: For the tournament only. Come and join us for spirited competition and fellowship. For the tournament only you apply as a team. One judge per 1 or 2 teams, 2 judges per 3 or 4 teams.

Trainers and Teachers: We will also have a track for trainers, coaches, team organizers and club trainers that will be far more flexible. See how debate training is done by those experienced, attend seminars on materials and technique, learn adjudication and a lot more.

Participation fee

• The whole Academy (it covers 8 days full room and board – accommodation/food, training and materials) TO BE ANNOUNCED.
• Tournament only (it covers 2 days full room and board – accommodation/food, tournament expenses) TO BE ANNOUNCED.
• The payment should be made in cash on arrival.
• This is a non-profit project, and no organizers or trainers are paid for their effort. Fees are designed to cover some costs only.

Scholarships
There are limited scholarships available. The scholarship application procedure is as follows: submit a scholarship form, receive a scholarship, and formally accept the scholarship. Scholarships will not be available for travel. SCHOLARSHIP FORM WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER.

Organizing committee:
Director of the Academy: Bojana Skrt, ZIP, bojana.skrt@siol.net
Head of Training: Alfred C. Snider, World Debate Institute, University of Vermont, alfred.snider@uvm.edu

IDAS 2007 Trainers Debate - Apologize for Colonialism

1st Proposition:
Alfred Snider, Director, World Debate Institute, University of Vermont, USA
Rhydian Morgan, Consultant, GRM Communications, UK
1st Opposition:
Neill Harvey-Smith, Consultant, Debate Chambers, UK
Branka Marusic, President, European Universities Debate Council, Croatia
2nd Proposition:
Sam Nelson, Cornell University, USA
Jens Fischer, Berlin Debating Union, Germany
2nd Opposition:
Loke Wing Fatt, S.A.I.D., Singapore
Uve Poom, Current Euros EFL Champion, Estonia

Final Results of Internaional Debate Academy 2007

Tournament champs with UK's Rhydian Morgan in the middle: Filip Dobranic and Maja Cimerman

19 countries: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, UK, Germany, Rumania, Mongolia, Taiwan, India, USA, Serbia, Ukraine, Estonia, Canada, Singapore, Bosnia & Herzgovina, Russia, Slovenia, and Venezuela.
32 teams.
16 adjudicators.


Here are the results:

Semifinal Round

The motion is:
This House believes that women should get an equal position in war with men.

Hall A
1Gov Ceranic & Jankovic-Romano Serbia ADVANCE
1Opp Kerr & Belak Slovenia
2Gov Plostajner & Jakovac Slovenia ADVANCE
2Opp Gabric & Vlacic Slovenia
Judges: Branka Marusic (chair), Neill Harvey-Smith, Loke Wing Fatt, Steve Llano, Jens Fischer

Hall B

1Gov Kunej & Kranjc Slovenia
1Opp Dobranic & Cimerman Slovenia ADVANCE
2Gov Bellwood & Culy USA ADVANCE
2Opp Tertnik & Jenko Slovenia
Judges: Isabel Loewe (chair), Rhydian Morgan, Sam Nelson, Simon Grabrovec, Uve Poom

Final Round

This House believes that financial support from the state should be sufficient to live on without requiring work.

1Gov Bellwood & Culy USA
1Opp Dobranic & Cimerman Slovenia
2Gov Plostajner & Jakovac Slovenia
2Opp Ceranic & Jankovic-Romano Serbia

WINNER: Maja Cimerman & Filip Dobranic Slovenia

TOP SPEAKER: Anna Mojca England Kerr Slovenia

2 Spela Kranjc Slovenia
3 Simon Belak Slovenia
3 Spela Kunej Slovenia
5 Filip Dobranic Slovenia
6 Maja Cimerman Slovenia
7 Igor Jakovac Slovenia
8 Alia Bellwood USA
8 Edita Gabric Slovenia
10 Alexandra Neacsu Romania

Find it at http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/IDAS2007FullTab.xls

MOTIONS FOR IDAS 2007 TOURNAMENT

Thanks to European Union program "All Equal, All Different" for the support of the equal opportunities motions during the tournament.

1. This House believes that all universities should have an equal opportunities officer.
2. This House believes the state should provide free education in the languages of ethnic minorities.
3. This House believes that the state should pay for trans-gender surgeries.
4. That this House would remove the right to refuse life-saving medical treatment.
5. This House would take a hard line against Iran.
6. This House believes that romantic relationships between university instructors and their students should be illegal.

SEMIFINALS:
This house believes that women should get an equal position in war with men.

FINALS:
This House believes that financial support from the state should be sufficient to live on without requiring work.

Stand by for an announcement of next year's International Debate Academy.

President-elect and Mayor Meet Debaters at International Debate Academy

Photo: Dr. Danilo Turk, President-elect of Slovenia, with students

When the International Debate Academy left its instructional home in the little town of Ormoz and made its way to Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, it got the recognition of some of the most prominent politicians in the country.

Dr. Danilo Turk, President-elect of Slovenia, addressed the debaters and judges at the opening ceremonies. Dr. Turk won an overwhelming mandate for President. He served for years as Kofi Anan's assistant at the UN in New York. He cautioned the debaters to understand the audience and not just the opponents in the debate and to recognize, in debating about equal opportunities, the distinction between discrimination and rational difference. He also answered several questions from the debaters, including how to respond to lies spread against you in politics.

Photo: Zoran Jankovic with tournament top speaker, Anna Mojca England Kerr.

Zoran Jankovic is the newly elected mayor of Ljubljana. He encouraged the debaters about visiting Ljubljana and indicated future cooperation with ZIP. ZIP will be co-sponsoring a conference in April to take place in Ljubljana. For more information, see http://debate.uvm.edu/betterworld.htm

Both politicians recognized the importance of debate in Slovenia, with Dr. Turk indicating he had been following it for several years.

Elimination Debates at International Debate Academy

Photo: Vesna, Tuna, Mario, Milan

The semifinals have just begun at the Faculty of Economics in Ljubljana.

The motion is:

This House believes that women should get an equal position in war with men.

Hall A
1Gov Ceranic & Jankovic-Romano
1Opp Kerr & Belak
2Gov Plostajner & Jakovac
2Opp Gabric & Vlacic
Judges: Branka Marusic (chair), Neill Harvey-Smith, Loke Wing Fatt, Steve Llano, Jens Fischer

Hall B

1Gov Kunej & Kranjc
1Opp Dobranic & Cimerman
2Gov Bellwood & Culy
2Opp Tertnik & Jenko
Judges: Isabel Loewe (chair), Rhydian Morgan, Sam Nelson, Simon Grabrovec, Uve Poom

Results to come soon.

International Debate Academy Tournament Slovenia Tab Now Available

Photo: Neill Harvey-Smith judging

The semifinals take place this morning, but the tab is now up and available. My thanks to Jens Fischer for his assistance.

Find it at http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/IDAS2007FullTab.xls

Full results coming soon.

Academy Concludes and Moves on to Ljubljana for the Tournament

In the small town of Ormoz, Slovenia, there were a lot of different languages being spoken as people from seventeen different nations gathered to focus on Worlds/BP format debating for six days, from 17-22 November 2007.

The program is sponsored by Z.I.P. (Za in Proti, Institute for Culture of Dialogue, the Slovenian national debate program) and the World Debate Institute (University of Vermont USA) and is now in its fifth year.

People attended who are citizens of: Slovenia, USA, UK, Germany, Singapore, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Albania, Ukraine, Estonia, Russia, Bosnia, Taiwan, Canada, India and Mongolia.

The program had a number of illustrious faculty members, including:

• Loke Wing Fatt, SAID Singapore and WUDC breaking judge.
  
• Jens Fischer, Germany, Chief Adjudicator at Euros.


• Neill Harvey-Smith, WUDC finalist and Chief Adjudicator for Euros
  2008, now with Debate Chambers, United Kingdom.


• Steve Llano, USA national champion coach, St. Johns University, USA.


• Branka Marusic, President of European Universities Debating Council, Croatia.


• Rhydian Morgan, Chief Adjudicator at numerous UK tournaments, now with GRM Communications, United Kingdom.


• Sam Nelson, USA national champion coach, Cornell University, USA.


• Uve Poom, Europeans EFL Champion and Euros 2008 organizer.


• Bojana Skrt, World Schools EFL Champion coach twice, Slovenia.


• Alfred Snider, USA national champion coach, Director of World Debate Institute, University of Vermont, USA.

With sixty people occupying the Hotel Ormoz, the days were full of learning activities. Each day included a morning lecture, a drill and exercise session, and then a full critiqued debate. Afternoons consisted of two slates of elective classes (where students can pick from 4-5 different subjects to attend), followed by another full critiqued debate. Evenings were free, but included a number of social events, such as the country exhibition and the kitsch party.

The following are some of the elective topics:
Poom:

• Intl relations 1


• Intl relations 2


• Economics for idiots


• Debating about rights
  
  Fatt:


• Research methods


• Humor


• Rebutting


• Motion analysis
  
  Marusic:


• Motion interpretation


• Case division


• Counter proposals
  
  Morgan:


• Style vs. substance


• Identifying clash


• Newman hierarchy


• Principles of criminal justice


• Zen debating - knifing without the knife


• Derivation of rights
  
  Harvey-Smith:


• Economics with NHS, aka how to win debates on economics against economists, by an economics grad.


• Politics with NHS, aka how to win debates on political theory against politics students, by a politics postgrad.


• Philosophy with NHS, aka how to beat utilitarians in debate, by a philosophy postgrad.


• Law with NHS, aka how to beat lawyers in debates about law, by a man who hates lawyers.


• Extensions; how to speak brilliantly as the third speaker in British Parliamentary debates.
  
  Snider:


• Note-taking before and during the debate


• Your 15 minutes prep and how to use it


• Mine is bigger than yours, comparing arguments
  
  Llano:


• Samurai debate


• Classical rhetorical theory


• Advanced opposition strategy
  
  Skrt:


• Strategy: How do we debate when we do not have a clue about the topic? What do we do when the first government comes out with a really bad case? ….
  
  Nelson:


• Tricks are for Kids. The role of the trickster in argumentation and its implications for current debate practice.


• Public speaking like you mean it! How to be a persuasive speaker


• Make love not war. Rejecting the warrior narrative in debate and replacing it with a more functional mindset: Debater as lover!


• Games people play. Debate games that teach you how to hone your debate skills.
  
  Separate coaching electives were held, including:


• Experiential learning - Poom


• Drills and games to teach debate - Fatt


• Adjudication - Harvey-Smith


• Training program model - Snider


• Team based research strategy - Llano


• Running university debate club: keep them coming, keep them staying, keep them motivated. Skrt


• Fundraising for the university debate club. Skrt


• Organising debate tournament. Skrt


• Organising public debate. Skrt
  

One other event of note was the show debate that was staged by the faculty. Steve Llano and Bojana Skrt chaired a debate on the motion; this House would apologize for colonialism. The first government team was Alfred Snider and Rhydian Morgan, the second government team was Jens Fischer and Sam Nelson, the first opposition team was Neill Harvey-Smith and Branka Marusic, and the second opposition team was Loke Wing Fatt and Uve Poom. The debate was a spirited affair, but was fairly serious (unlike many show debates) and tried to provide real examples to the student audience. The video will be posted online very soon. No decision was announced and the students kept talking about their individual decisions late into the night.

With sponsorship grants to debate motions on the issue of equal opportunities, many of the motions shared this these. Motions for the practice debates included:

• This House would bring George W. Bush to trial for war crimes.


• This House believes in cultural and racial assimilation.


• This house would support an independent state for the Kurdish people.


• This House supports affirmative action to solve for the effects of discrimination.


• This House would grant immunity to dictators who step down voluntarily.


• This House believes that there should be no religious holidays recognised as national holidays.


• This House believes the criminalisation of hate speech is a bad idea.


• This House believes all public bathrooms should be unisex.
  
  On Friday morning everyone boarded a bus for Ljubljana where they were housed in a dormitory and a tournament is now going on at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Administration and the Faculty of Economics.
  
  More on the tournament in a separate post.
  

Preparation Letter to Attendees

I am really glad you decided to participate at IDAS 2007 and I am sure together we will create a great event. I would also kindly ask everybody who registered in case something goes wrong and you can not participate, you let as know as soon as possible, because we do need to inform the venues about the final number. There are a little more than 70 participants from 17 countries, 4 continents comfirmed their participation for the whole Academy and there are around 15 debaters coming only for the tournament.

Here are some more details about the Academy, more details you can find at: http://debate.uvm.edu/idas2007.html, which I do recommend you check on regular basis till the beginning of the Academy.

Topic area: majority of the topics will be from the field of equal opportunities. You can find the list of topics and some research material on the IDAS web page.

Locations:
- From 17th – 23rd morning, Hotel Ormož, Vrazov trg 35 – it is the center of Ormož, 5 minutes walk from the train station. You can not get lost, Ormož is a small town.
- From 23rd 12.00 (registration) to Sunday 25th, Dijaški dom Bežigrad, Kardeljeva ploščad 28, Ljubljana. Please, go to http://www.ljubljana-tourism.si/ to find the map and the direction to come to the dorm.

Beginning of the Academy: The full calendar of Academy in Ormož and tournament in Ljubljana is available on the web page. Here I would just like to stress that the Academy starts on Saturday, the 17th at 17.00, so you are expected to come before that.

On Friday morning, the 23rd we will go to Ljubljana (the transport will be arrange by us), where the tournament will start at 14.00. The final debate will be at 12.00 on Sunday, the 25th November, the guest speaker being a mayor of Ljubljana Zoran Jankovič.

Participation fee: You are expected to pay the participation fee upon arrival in cash. You will get the official comfirmation of the payment. Here are the things which are covered by your participation fee, trainers voluntary work and other trainer in kind countribution, like their travel expences, ZIP and sponsorship from Office for youth and the action All equal – all different.

- Full board in Ormož, starting on the 17th with dinner and finishing on the 23rd with lunch; in Ljubljana starting with dinner on the 23rd, finishing on Sunday, the 25th with breakfast. In case you are staying extra nights in Ljubljana or coming earlier in Ormož, you need to pay directly to the hotel, however you do need to inform us about it.

- Transportation from Ormož to Ljubljana.

- Lectures, material, organisation.

All the other expences are yours, from extra nights, extra meals, transportation and everything else.

Social: There will be a country exhibition organised on Sunday evening. This is an event in which all of you need to participate: bring food, sweets, drinks, gifts, souvenirs, information about you country, music, dances you put it in display and you share all of these with all the participants. We are having participants from 17 countries, so we can expect a really great country exhibition.

Dress code: We are very informal, however, you can be if you want to, dress how you feel. Have in mind we are arranging the reception in Ormož mayor castle and that at the tournament finals there will be Ljubljana mayor coming.

Transport to Ormož: We are not organising pick ups and we do not organise the transport from Ljubljana to Ormož, this is up to you. Here is the list of trains for Ormož from Ljubljana and the information about the transportation from the airport to Ljubljana. Ljubljana train and bus station are together.

TRAINS TO ORMOŽ

Ljubljana 7.40 Ormož 10.25
Ljubljana 12.50 – Pragersko 15.08 arrival/departure 15.10 – Ormož 15.41
Ljubljana 17.25 – Pragersko 19.29 arrival/departure 19. 44 – Ormož 20.15

For the ones who are coming from Zagreb and Belgrade, change the train in Zidani most – you do not need to go to Ljubljana.

The train ticket one way from Ljubljana to Ormož is between 9 and 10 EUR.

BUS FROM LJUBLJANA AIRPORT TO LJUBLJANA

There are two different bus companies transporting from the airport to Ljubljana bus and railway station (they are together). It takes 30 to 45 minutes, costs 4,5 EUR.

7.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00
5:45 6:40 10:55 12:40 14:30 16:00 17:30 18:25 22:55 00:00

CONTACT NUMBERS:
Sintija Dobrotinšek, + 386 (0) 31 658 971
Bojana Skrt, + 386 (0) 41 423377

Looking forwad seeing you in Slovenia,

Bojana & Sintija

Equal Opportunity Motions

Since we have received substantial funding to discuss and debate equal opportunities as an issue, some of our motions will come from this category. As in the past, we are releasing a list of motions for your inspection. Not all of these motions will be used in the practice debates and the tournament.

TH believes positive discrimination is the best way to achieve equal opportunities.
TH supports that affirmative action to remedy the effects of discrimination is justified.
TH believes that racial equality is an impossible ideal.
TH believes the criminalisation of hate speech is a bad idea.
TH believes the state should pay for the education in the ethnic minorities languages.
TH supports a special seat for Roma in the European Parliament.
TH supports that ethnic minorities should have special seats in national parliaments.
TH believes in cultural and racial assimilation.
This house believes that homosexuals make good parents.
This house would permit Gay couples to adopt.
This house would put women in the military front line
This house believes that women should get an equal position in war with men
This house would positively discriminate in favor of women in the highest managment positions.
This house would positively discriminate women in the government.
This house believes:
That family and feminism are incompatible.
That we will only be post-feminist when we are in post-patriarchy.
That housewives should be paid for their work.
That feminism should give way to multiculturalism.
That feminism is corrupting the family.
That reproductive technologies are anti-women.
That media potrayal of women brings more harm than good.
That society is well – served by the maintenance of a separate culture for the deaf.
That individualts with disabilities ought to be afforded the same opportunities as able – bodied athletes.
That Mentally Handicapped People Are Better Cared For In The Community Than In Institutions.
That Elderly People Are Better Cared For In The Community Than In Institutions
That Mentally Handicapped People should be their own advocates.
That the state should be responsible for providing religious groups the venues for practising their religion.
That there should be no religious holiday recognised as a national holiday.
That all religious symbols should be banned from schools.
That sexual harassment on the working place should be punished more severly.
That state should pay for transgender surgeries.
All public bathrooms should be unisex.
Universities should have an ombudsman to investigate claims of sexual harassment of students by faculty.
Romantic relationships between professors and their students are unacceptable.

Academy Equal Opportunities Motions Background Files Available

The Academy (and scholarships) is being partially financed by a grant to investigate and debate about the concept of equal opportunities. Thus, a number of our motions will be about this concept, which is of increasing importance in the European community.

Here are some background pdf files for you to download and examine in preparation for debating these motions.

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/idas2007_equalopportunity.pdf

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/idas2007_discrimination.pdf

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/idas2007_ethnicminorities.pdf

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/idas2007_disabilities.pdf

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/idas2007_gender.pdf

http://debate.uvm.edu/dcpdf/idas2007_homosexuals.pdf

Transport Links to the Academy

Try to be in Ormoz by 1700 hours, please!

TRAINS TO ORMOZ
Ljubljana 7.40 Ormoz 10.25
Ljubljana 12.50 – Pragersko 15.08 arrival/departure 15.10 – Ormoz 15.41
Ljubljana 17.25 – Pragersko 19.29 arrival/departure 19. 44 – Ormoz 20.15

For the ones who are coming from Zagreb and Belgrade, change the train in Zidani most – you do not need to go to Ljubljana.

The train ticket one way from Ljubljana to Ormoz is between 9 and 10 EUR.

BUS FROM LJUBLJANA AIRPORT TO LJUBLJANA
There are two different bus companies transporting from the airport to Ljubljana bus and railway station (they are together). It takes 30 to 45 minutes, costs 4,5 EUR.
7.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 18.00 20.00
5:45 6:40 10:55 12:40 14:30 16:00 17:30 18:25 22:55 00:00

Academy Spaces Filling Up Fast

With a month to go before it begins, there are already over 60 debaters enrolled in the International Debate Academy. There is a limit (around 80) so act fast!

Students are enrolled from (in no order): Kazakhstan, Romania, Croatia, Russia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Netherlands, Serbia, Albania, Venezuela, USA, Estonia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Bulgaria, Bosnia & Herzogovina, and more. Faculty expand the list of countries, with Singapore and the UK.

Get information at the website, along with application and contact forms:
http://debate.uvm.edu/idas2007.html

See you there!

New Elective Topics Announced

PHOTO: Bojana Skrt with Korean debaters in 2005

Bojana Skrt has announced her elective topics for the upcoming IDAS 2007.

1. Roles of the speakers: What is each speaker supposed to do? What kind of skills are most required for different speeches?

2. Strategy: How do we debate when we do not have a clue about the topic? What do we do when the first government comes out with a really bad case?

3. Preparations between the tournaments, preparation in debate club, individual preparation.

4. Debating internationally as an English Foreign Language speaker.

5. Administering a university debate club: keep them coming, keep them staying, keep them motivated.

6. Fundraising for the university debate club.

7. Organising a debate tournament.

8. Organising a public debate.

9. The myth of the conventional wisdom.