UCO 2016 Joe C. Jackson Tournament Invite

The University of Central Oklahoma Debate Team invites you to attend the 2016 UCO – Joe C. Jackson annual debate tournament Friday November 4 through Sunday November 6, 2016.

The tournament will offer competition in Open, Junior, and Novice divisions of policy debate. If entries in one of the divisions are insufficient, then we will make appropriate arrangements. Our goal is to try to preserve the novice division as a separate entity in order to allow new debaters the chance to compete against individuals with similar experiences. All divisions will use the 9-3-6 format with 10 minutes of preparation time. The current NDT/CEDA topic will be utilized. The open division will clear to octafinals and all other divisions will be determined based on the number of participants, however teams with a losing record will not be eligible for elimination rounds. Double-octos will occur only if there are enough entries for 9 partial-double-octo debates. Hybrids are allowed. Debaters may go maverick and advance if it is the result of partner illness during the tournament. All coaching must end 5 minutes before the debate is scheduled to begin. All decisions must be made and ballots turned into the tab room 2 hours and 30 minutes after the round start time. Ties are not allowed. Please end post-round discussion 2 hours and 45 minutes after the round start in order to keep the tournament on time.

Judging: Each school is required to provide one judge for every two debate entries or portion thereof, entered. Judges covering one team are committed for three preliminary rounds. All judges are obligated through the first full elimination. All judges are obligated for one elimination round after their teams have been eliminated. Teams are responsible for providing and finding the judges to cover their obligations. Judges who are only qualified to hear novice or JV debate rounds can only cover teams in those divisions. If you bring an open team, you must have a judge that can provide judging in the open division.

We are committed to providing competitors a preferred and diverse judging pool. The tournament will not provide additional hired rounds in order to maximize preferences, and expect all judges will fulfill their commitment. In some instances this may result in mutuality of preference trumping the rank of preference. The tab room will also work to ensure diversity on elimination panels through manual placement and review of judges. Individuals wishing to judge additional rounds beyond their commitment may be hired by the tab room in order to increase diversity in the judging pool.

Important Note about Competition Rooms: Competitor and judges should not move any furniture or chairs from the classrooms. Additionally, do not use the tables in the classrooms with the classroom technology. The computer desks in classrooms are off limits to competitors. You may not unplug anything in a classroom for access to outlets. We will make an effort to provide classrooms with power strips. Last year nearly every room had its technology unplugged causing chaos when classes resumed on Monday. In order to be able to continue to host we have to implement a policy that will deter our guests from unplugging anything. As a result, the use of the classroom computer desks by competitors will result in those individuals being disqualified from the tournament. If you are caught unplugging classroom technology, you will be disqualified from the tournament. Judges and coaches violating this policy will result in having their teams disqualified from the tournament.

Tournament Hotel: We have blocks of rooms at two hotels located right off of I-35.

The tournament is on the weekend of a very large rodeo in the area, thus hotel rooms are in high demand. Please make arrangements early.

Blocks have been set up at the Fairfield Marriot: 301 Meline Dr, Edmond, OK (405) 341-4818.  $99 a night ask for the "UCO DEBATE" block.

Other hotels in the area without designated blocks:

The LaQuinta Suites in Edmond: 200 Meline Dr, Edmond, OK 73034 (405) 513-5353 We do not have a specific block at this hotel, but the suites can fit five people (two queens and a pullout sofa) which can sometimes help with rates.

The Sleep Inn in Edmond as well. 3608 Broadway Extension Hwy, Edmond, OK 73013 (405) 844-3000. Last year several teams stayed here at a rate less than the tournament hotel. If you ask for a UCO rate they may have a discount.

If you do not mind a slight commute, a number of hotels are nearby in the “Quail Springs” area of Oklahoma City (this is right on the border of OKC and Edmond). Every major hotel chain is in the area and it is closer to a number of dining and entertainment options

If you are having problems finding a hotel space please contact us and we can make recommendations.

Registration: Registration will be held in the lobby of the Liberal Arts Building on the UCO campus between 2 and 4 PM on Friday, November 4. 

Entry Fees: $35 per person (Debaters, Judges, Coaches, members of your entourage). $40 per uncovered round of judging. Make all checks payable to UCO. Our tax ID # is: 73-6017987

Entry Deadline: Wednesday, Nov 2 at 5PM. Any drops after that time will still be assessed an entry fee. Please register using  tabroom.com. Judge preferences are due by noon on Friday, Nov 4.

Contact:

Matthew Moore

Director of Debate – University of Central Oklahoma

mattmmoore@gmail.com

O: 405-974-5593

Schedule:

Friday, Nov 4

Registration 2-4PM, Liberal Arts Building.

4 PM Round 1

7 PM Round 2

Saturday, Nov 5

7:00 AM Pairings Released/Breakfast Provided

8:00 AM Round 3

11:00 PM Round 4

2:30 PM Round 5

5:30 PM Round 6

Sunday, Nov 6

7 AM Elim Pairings Released

8:00 AM Elim Round 1

11 AM Awards

12 PM Remaining Elim Rounds

Other Information:

Smoking/Tobacco-

UCO is a tobacco free campus. Smoking and all other uses of tobacco are prohibited anywhere on campus. Failure to comply with this policy may result in being asked to leave the campus by the UCO police department. Please make sure the members of your squad are aware of this policy. The UCO tobacco free policy is available here: http://administration.uco.edu/portal_public/policy/print.cfm?p=204

Food/Hospitality

We are committed to providing our guests the highest quality hospitality we can. We will have extensive snacks and drinks throughout the tournament.

Friday- Pizza and snacks will be available during Rd 1 and 2

Saturday- Donuts and Coffee in the Morning. Lunch Provided. Snacks throughout the day.

Sunday- Donuts and Coffee in the Morning. Pizza and snacks throughout the Afternoon.