Invitation

10th ANNUAL BEAR-SHOCK DEBATE TOURNAMENT

January 19-22, 2918

Dear colleagues:

Wichita State University’s Debate Team invites you to attend the 2018 Mel Moorhouse Debate Tournament.  This marks the tenth year of the combined tournament hosted by both Wichita State and Missouri State.  We aim to continue the tradition of excellent competition and hospitality started by Eric Morris and Heather Walters at Missouri State.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Jarman, Director of Debate

Sam Maurer, Associate Director of Debate

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

DIVISIONS:  There will be Open, Junior and Novice (with sufficient entries).  Time limits for the tournament are 9-3-6 with 10 min prep.  We will adhere to the CEDA guidelines for eligibility in each division.

TOPIC:  The 2017-2018 resolution will be used.

ENTRIES:  No limit on number of entries per school so long as an appropriate number of judges are provided.  Each school must arrange their own hired judging.  We will use the hiring exchange option available on tabroom.com.  No uncovered entries will be accepted.

FEES:  $60 per person attending the tournament (includes each debater, judge and observer).  The fees are used to pay for tournament expenses, meals, and awards.  You will be required to pay for any people entered but dropped after noon on Monday, January 15.  We will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday and Sunday.  The hotel will provide breakfast on Monday morning. We will have snacks on both days and coffee on Monday at the hotel.

DEBATES:  7 rounds of competition in the Open division.  6 rounds in Junior and Novice.  There will be an appropriate number of elimination debates in each division.  Criteria for qualifying are (1) win-loss record, (2) adjusted speaker points (3) total speaker points.  Brackets will NOT be broken in the elimination rounds.  In general, we will clear half the field. In open, we will clear all teams with 4 wins (assuming that conforms to CEDA’s rules). We cannot have more than 5 elim rounds.

JUDGING:  Each school is expected to provide four rounds of judging for the first team, and three for the second team, and so on.  The tournament has no hired judging.  You are required to arrange your own hired judges.  All judges in attendance should be available for at least 2 preliminary rounds.  If you need an exception for a medical or other appropriate reason, please email me.  All judges are committed through the first elimination round on Monday or the round after your last team is eliminated, whichever is later.

TAB ROOM:  The tab room will be administered by people from WSU and Missouri State.  Other coaches are welcome to observe.  No decision regarding any team participating in the tournament will be made solely by coaches associated with that team.

AWARDS:  Awards will be presented to all teams qualifying for the elimination rounds in all divisions of debate.  Awards will be given to the top speakers in all divisions of debate.

REGISTRATION:  Debate registration begins at 7:00pm Friday, January 19, at the hotel.  Please register no later than 9:00pm.  Please call Jeff if you will be late to registration (316-644-0213).

LODGING:  The tournament will continue to be hosted at the Marriott.  PLEASE stay at the tournament hotel.  We are depending on filling the hotel block in order to provide the competition rooms on Monday at a low cost.  I know you can find a lower cost option, but our ability to host depends on your reservation at the hotel. Use the following link to book rooms: https://tinyurl.com/moorhouse2018. Alternatively, you can call the hotel directly at 316-651-0333. You can also use the code DEBDEBA at marriott.com/ictwe. The rate is $95/night (up to 4 per room).  The rate includes free internet in hotel rooms, free internet in competition rooms on Monday, free parking and a continental breakfast on Monday.

ENTRY DEADLINE:   Entries must be received by Monday, January 15, by 12pm.  Please enter your teams through tabroom.com.  You will be charged for entries dropped after the deadline.  Judge preference will be turned on after the entry deadline.  All prefs must be completed prior to registration.

THE MEL MOORHOUSE INVITATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT

January 19-22, 2018

Tentative Tournament Schedule

Friday, January 19

7:00-9:00pm                Registration/reception for coaches @ Marriott

Saturday, January 20

8:00am            Breakfast available on the campus

9:00am            Round 1 start  (decision deadline:  11:30am)

11:00am          Lunch served on campus (Shocker Dining Hall)

12:30pm          Round 2 start  (decision deadline:  3:00pm)

3:30pm            Round 3 start  (pairings @ 3:15; decision deadline:  6:15pm)

5:30pm            Dinner served on campus

6:45pm            Round 4 start  (pairings @ 6:30pm; decision deadline:  9:30pm)

Sunday, January 21

8:00am            Breakfast available on the campus

9:00am             Round 5 start  (pairings @ 8:15am; decision deadline:  11:30am)

11:00am          Lunch served on campus

12:45pm          Round 6 start  (pairings @ 12:00pm; decision deadline:  3:00pm)

3:45pm            Round 7 start  (pairings @ 3:15pm; decision deadline:  5:15pm)

5:30pm            Awards / Dinner on the campus

7:30pm            First elimination round  (pairings @ 7:00pm; decision deadline:  10:15pm)

Monday, January 22  -- AT THE MARRIOTT

9:00am             Second elimination round  (pairings @ 8:15am; decision deadline:  11:45am)

12:45am          Third elimination round  (pairings @ 12:00pm; decision deadline:  3:30pm)

4:30pm            Fourth elimination round  (pairings @ 3:45; decision deadline:  7:15pm)

8:15pm            Fifth elimination round  (pairings @ 7:30pm; decision deadline:  11pm)