Idaho Mountain River District Tournament
2025 — ID/US
Idaho Mountain River District Qualifier
for the 2025 National Tournament
Belonging and Inclusion station
The Idaho Mountain River District is committed to providing a safer, more inclusive speech and debate competition. To that end, we will offer a Belonging and Inclusion Station as a tournament resource to provide interpersonal support to anyone who feels that an element of the tournament has excluded them. The BIS will also provide safeguards to any concerns about behavior that violates our harassment and discrimination policy.
Anyone seeking interpersonal support or needing to raise concerns regarding harassment and discrimination may visit our Belonging and Inclusion Advocate, Joseph Tyler. In order to contact Joseph, please stop by the Ballot Table located outside of the library at Blackfoot High School
What is the Belonging and Inclusion Station (BIS)? What is it for?
The Belonging and Inclusion Station is a Tournament resource designed to provide interpersonal support to participants who feel excluded from an aspect of a tournament. The BIS also safeguards against potential violations of the NSDA Harassment and Discrimination policy.
Scope:
The BIS may serve as a resource for any student, coach, judge, or official participating at a tournament to seek interpersonal support or raise concerns an individual feels harassment and/or discrimination has occurred.
Reasons Someone Might Visit the BIS
- An individual makes inappropriate remarks or jokes about traditionally marginalized groups.
- A really powerful speech (that violated no rules) triggers emotions in a contestant or judge and they need space to process their feelings.
You can also visit the BIS to express your feelings about the tournament. For example, if you do not make it to elimination rounds and your season is over, you can come to the BIS for help processing and unpacking your feelings.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I go to the BIS if I have a concern but don’t necessarily want someone to get in trouble?
Yes! The BIS is a wonderful resource for someone with a concern who just needs to be heard. It’s more of a space for interpersonal support than somewhere to get people in trouble.
What do I do if I’ve been harassed or discriminated against at the tournament?
You should tell an adult immediately – either your coach, a parent, or the tournament office. If you decide (or are encouraged) to go to the BIS, you should let the Belonging and Inclusion Advocate know that you have a concern and tell them the nature of the concern.
If something happened to me at a tournament two weeks ago, can I come to the BIS and raise a concern about that event?
In instances like this, it is recommended that you talk to your coach, parent, or supervising adult. The BIS is in place to handle concerns at that particular tournament.
What can I do if I have a concern about something that happened at a tournament, but don’t decide to say something until three days after the tournament?
If a concern is discovered or expressed after the tournament, it is recommended that you reach out to the tournament director.
What if the concerning behavior happens on the bus to/from the tournament or at the hotel during an overnight stay?
Incidents like that should be handled by the coaches and/or supervising adults of the schools involved.
What do you mean by harassment and discrimination?
The BIS uses the following definitions for harassment and discrimination:
Harassment: Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient’s participation at the district and/or national tournament (e.g., name-calling, graphic or written statements—including the use of cell phones or the internet, conduct that may be physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating).
Discrimination: Treatment of a person (favorably or less favorably) than another person or persons based on characteristics including, but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law.
Where do I go for a rule violation that is diversity-related?
Any concerns regarding violation of competitive rules should be directed to the tournament tab staff or tournament office. Should any rules violations also contain DEI elements or potential violations of the harassment/discrimination policy, the tournament office, and the Belonging and Inclusion Advocate will work in tandem to address the appropriate elements.