Invitation: Brad Smith Memorial Debates at U Rochester

Dear Friends,

The University of Rochester Debate Union is pleased to invite you to the H. Brad Smith Memorial Debate Tournament, taking place Saturday, November 8^th and Sunday, November 9^th at the University of Rochester campus. Our tournament is named in memory of H. Brad Smith, a longtime and invaluable supporter of the University of Rochester Debate Union, who passed away last year. We are thankful that Brad’s wife Jane Smith will be joining us to celebrate Brad and, as always, to help us run the tournament.

We’ll be offering five preliminary rounds of Novice debate on Saturday with elimination rounds on Sunday; in JV and Open we will have five preliminary rounds Saturday and round 6 on Sunday morning. Elimination rounds to follow, breaking to partial Octos or Quarters depending on the size of the field.

Tournament Info:

Tournament Director: Brady Fletcher

Tab director(s): Regionals: Joe Schatz

Registration:

Please enter all teams on tabroom by Tuesday before the tournament.

Email any registration questions or concerns to Brady Fletcher at brady.fletcher@rochester.edu.

The judging requirement for Regionals will be n-1 to ensure we have a large enough judge pool. That judge pool will only be as strong as your judges, so please be good community members and bring your extraordinary critics!

The remainder of this invitation includes all the necessary information for registration and lodging, as well as the schedule. We hope to see you at our tournament in November – please let me know if we can do anything to help make that happen. I can be reached at (585) 755-5156 for any last-minute questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Brady Fletcher

Director, University of Rochester Debate Union

Registration

Entry fees will be $100 per team. That fee will cover breakfast and lunch on both days and dinner Saturday.

Judging is n-1. There will be a $200 fee for each missing judge, but as hired judges are limited, we would rather have your judges than your money! If you have extra judging please make us aware when you register, as we may be willing to hire your extra critics.

Please make all checks payable to “University of Rochester.”

Lodging

Staybridge (by far the most geographically convenient, 15-minute walk to tournament): Use this link for a guaranteed group rate by Friday, October 31.

Hilton Garden Inn 9 also geographically fairly convenient, more pricey)

Holiday Inn

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination

The University of Rochester will uphold the principle of debate in an atmosphere of civility and mutual respect. All our guests should be treated fairly without regard to race, creed, age, gender identity, sex, national origin, and sexual orientation. Any incidences of harassment or discrimination should be reported to the tournament director (Brady Fletcher) immediately.

Tournament Schedule (tentative)

SATURDAY

7:30am: Breakfast and Check-In in Hutchison Hall Green Lounge

8am: Round 1

10:30am: Round 2

12pm: Lunch in Hutchison Hall Green Lounge

1pm: Round 3

3:30pm: Round 4

5pm: Dinner in Hutchison Hall Green Lounge

6pm: Round 5

SUNDAY

7:30am: Breakfast and Check-In

8am: Round 6 (Open/JV) and Partial Octo or Quarterfinal (Nov)

10:30am: Quarters (Open/JV) and Quarters or Semis (Nov)

12pm: Lunch in Hutchison Hall Green Lounge

1pm: Awards in Hubbell Auditorium

1:30pm: Semis (Open/JV) and Semis or Finals (Nov)

4pm: Finals Pairing (Open/JV, Nov if necessary)