RESULTS:

Full Results are available at this link

OBSERVER INFORMATION:

If the participants consent, rounds will be open to observers. The links to the zoom rooms are available the pairing. If you would like the password, please contact Tripp (link on the side or use harvard.debate (at) gmail.com). Observers should display their name and affiliation, keep their microphones on mute, their videos off, and refrain from commenting in the chat. No recording of any rounds shall be permitted. Each of the zoom rooms will hold up to 300 individuals, so we should have plenty of room. If we encounter problems or if participants request, I will limit the zoom rooms to participants via actively managed waiting rooms and ask observers to watch a youtube live stream. 

All speech documents from the weekend will be posted publicly here: https://groups.google.com/g/harvard-college-round-robin-2020. There will be no need for anyone to ask to be added to any email chain.  

Harvard College Online Round Robin Invitation

October 16-18, 2020

The Harvard Debate Council will be hosting an online round robin on the weekend of October 16-18, 2020 with nine rounds of competition. Two rounds will be scheduled on Friday, four on Saturday, and three on Sunday, followed by a live awards ceremony. A detailed schedule is provided below.

Key Details: 9 teams will be invited to compete. 8 teams will be invited based on a published formula that factors in the first two national tournaments of the season and 1 team will be invited as a wildcard chosen by the tournament director. The goal of this formula is to select the teams in a transparent and objective manner.  If necessary, the wildcard spot will be used to ensure the field is inclusive and representative of the debate community as a whole. The wildcard may also be used for a Harvard team if one does not otherwise qualify.

Format: Debates will use the 2020-2021 Cross Examination Debate Association topic. Speech times will follow the 9-3-6 format with 16 minutes of alternate use time and 10 minutes of tech time for each team. Alternate use time may be used for cross-examination or for preparation. We will continue the experiment from the last college tournament: alternate use time may be used for cross-examination of the 1NR, but for no other rebuttal speeches. Tech time is only to be used in the event of technological problems and may not substitute for prep time.

Platform: Rounds will be hosted on Zoom via links distributed with the pairing. If all debaters affirmatively consent, rounds will be livestreamed for outside observers. “In-Zoom” observers will be limited to debaters, judges, coaches, observers from schools in attendance, and any others who have received permission from the tournament director. Speech documents will be sent to a publicly available google group.

Fees: There will be no entry fees.

Invitations & Pairings: Invitations will be announced on October 6 or as soon as possible thereafter. Alternates will be selected in the event that a team declines their invitation. The pairing will be released one week before the tournament begins.

Judging: Each round will be judged by a panel of three judges. One judge will be provided by each team and two judges for each team will be hired by the tournament. The tournament will prioritize hiring a diverse set of highly qualified judges. Each hired judge will be randomly assigned to a team that they will not judge in the same manner as a judge from that school unless they are already constrained against a certain team. Judges will be hired in a transparent and objective manner. The tournament director will start with an alphabetical list of the 30 most highly preferred judges at Northwestern and accept recommendations from the community.

Conduct Policy: The tournament strives to foster an environment promoting inclusivity and respect. Participates should uphold those values. The tournament subscribes to the NDT Anti-Harassment Policy. The tournament will abide by Harvard College’s policies and procedures for sexual and gender-based harassment and discrimination. The policy is available here: https://hwpi.harvard.edu/files/titleix/files/harvard_sexual_harassment_policy_021017_final.pdf. Per its regulations, Harvard College will designate a representative of its Title IX office to be on call during the tournament to receive any complaints directly or indirectly by means of the tournament director.

The tournament will also abide by policies governing codes of conduct within the Harvard community, including those prohibiting racial discrimination and harassment. They are available here: https://handbook.fas.harvard.edu/book/conduct-within-community. Per its policies, Harvard College has designated a Racial Harassment Hearing Officer who is always available to receive any complaints of racial harassment directly or indirectly by means of the tournament director.

The tournament endorses the ABAP Digital Bill of Rights.

The Invitation Formula

Teams will be selected in rounds until eight spots have been taken, after which the wildcard team will be designated. Within each selection round, tiebreakers will be used as follows if necessary.

First Round (Automatic Invitation): NU Champion & Finalist, UK Champion & Finalist (2-4 teams)

Second Round (Automatic Invitation): Teams that appeared in Semis + Semis (0-2 teams)

Third Round: Teams that appeared in Semis + Quarters

1.     Tiebreaker 1: Total Number of Prelim Wins at both tournaments.

2.     Tiebreaker 2: Total Opponent Prelim Wins at both tournaments

3.     Tiebreaker 3: Head-to-Head

Fourth Round (if necessary): Teams that appeared in Semis + Octas OR in Quarters + Quarters

1.     Tiebreaker 1: Total Number of Prelim Wins at both tournaments.

2.     Tiebreaker 2: Total Opponent Prelim Wins at both tournaments

3.     Tiebreaker 3: Head-to-Head

Fifth Round (if necessary): Teams that appeared in Quarters + Octas

1.     Tiebreaker 1: Total Number of Prelim Wins at both tournaments

2.     Tiebreaker 2: Total Opponent Prelim Wins at both tournaments

3.     Tiebreaker 3: Head-to-Head

Tentative Schedule – All times EST

Friday, October 16

            Round 1

                        2:30pm – Report Time

                        3:00pm – Start Time

            Round 2

                        5:30pm – Report Time

                        6:00pm – Start Time

Saturday, October 17

            Round 3

                        9:30am – Report Time

                        10:00am – Start Time

            Round 4

                        12:30pm – Report Time

                        1:00pm – Start Time

            Round 5

                        3:30pm – Report Time

                        4:00pm – Start Time

            Round 6

                        6:30pm – Report Time

                        7:00pm – Start Time

Sunday, October 18

            Round 7

                        9:30am – Report Time

                        10:00am – Start Time

            Round 8

                        12:30pm – Report Time

                        1:00pm – Start Time

            Round 9

                        3:30pm – Report Time

                        4:00pm – Start Time

            ALL DECISIONS DUE: 7:30pm EST

            Awards Ceremony: 8:00pm EST