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24 March 2000

WUDC Sydney 2000: Tab System

Both the way results are processed and the rules for doing so will be different at Sydney Worlds. We are currently developing a program for processing the results with Richard Edwards of Baylor University in the US, who has written a comprehensive program for American styles of debating called Tab Room. Worlds 2000 will be run by a new version of Tab Room, and will be fully automated, which should mean a much faster draw for our participants.

Because of the opportunities offered by a fully automated process, we have decided to rethink the rules by which the tab is operated.

At Sydney Worlds:
The draw will still be power-paired, so you will be debating teams on the same or a similar number of points.

The formation of debates within each pool of teams on the same number of team points will be random - so there will be no power-pairing of teams within pools based on speaker points.

Promotion from lower to higher pools will be random. That means that if there are, say, 7 teams on 12 points, the team that is promoted - to make a total of eight teams - will be randomly chosen from those teams on 11 points.

We can thereby process the draw without collecting speaker points, which will make it substantially faster. Speaker points will still be collected and used to separate teams in the ultimate break and to award Best Speaker prizes.

The computer will automatically adjust teams' speaking positions within each debate based on the previous rounds. This should mean that the distribution of speaking positions over the 9 rounds is as close to even as possible.

We believe that the randomisation of these processes, which were previously based on speaker points, will not punish teams unduly, and resolves ongoing debates about which of a number of alternating systems is fairer. In addition, at the top and bottom of the draw in particular, there should be more variety in the match-ups that are produced. You will also appreciate that our capacity to complete the draw without entering speaker points will greatly reduce the delay between debates.

The program will be available for free over the Internet.

Dominic Knight
Tournament Director

WUDC Sydney 2000 Results

Prize-winners

World Universities Debating ChampionshipWinner: Monash A (Cathy Rossouw and Kim Little, Australia)
Monash University, of Melbourne Australia, successfully defended the title won by Andrew Phillips and Meg O'Sullivan in Manila in 1999. This is the first ever successful championship defence at Worlds. Australia has now won the Championships more times than any other nation - on a total of six occasions.

Runners up:
Glasgow C (John-Paul Toner and Eleanor Winton, Scotland)
UC Dublin A (Simon Mills and Paul Brady, Ireland)
La Verne A (Justin Rodriguez and Sean Krispinsky, USA).

World Masters Debating Championship
Winner: Australia (Ben Richards and Tony Burke)

WUDC English as a Second Language Championship
Winner: National University of Singapore A (Rahul Ghosh and Wen-Qing Ngoei)

WUDC Public Speaking Championship
Winner: Benet Brandreth (Middle Temple, England)

WUDC Stand-Up Comedy Championship
Winners: Alan Merson and Ian Rutherford (Glasgow University Union, Scotland)

Best Speakers
1) Andy Kidd (Oxford A)
Andy was also named Best Speaker at the 1999 Worlds in Manila, where he was also a finalist.
2) Jacob Sullivan (Oxford A)
3) Ryan Orange (Oxford C)
4) Kim Little (Monash A)
5) Kirsty McNeill (Oxford C)
6) David O'Mahoney (Inner Temple A)
7) Kate Macdonald (Melbourne A)
8) Chris Bacon (Melbourne A)
9) Robert Silver (Ottawa A)
10) David Gamage (Stanford A)

WUDC Sydney 2000 Email updates

16 March 1999


Dear Debaters,
IMPORTANT NOTICE!!
The XXth World Universities Debating Championship has been MOVED to start on TUESDAY 4th of JANUARY and finish with the grand final on Tuesday 11th, with accommodation provided until 12 noon on Wednesday 12th of January.

This decision has been based on our research into the price and availability of flights into Sydney directly before New Year's Eve from many parts of the world. Many flights into Sydney are already booked out with people arriving for the new millenium. Prices are already prohibitive and set to rise as we approach that date. Our new dates will enable you to fly to Sydney AFTER New Year (and the first of January!), which should solve these problems. This does NOT remove the NEED TO BOOK EARLY. Australia seems to be an extremely desirable destination this summer, and the travel agents expect flights to be booked out close to that date.

Quite a few people also communicated with us a wish to spend this special New Year's Eve with loved ones back home.

We understand that this move may cause some people difficulties, and we apologise for this. We felt, however, that the date change was the lesser of two evils. We will endeavour to render all assistance possible to overcome these difficulties. In the past, the tournament has been held even later in January.

If you still wish to celebrate the new millennium in Sydney, do not fear. We will still be offering a package of accommodation and informal social events starting from the 27th of December. We will still be having a NYE party and all of you are most welcome to come and join us. This will provide you with the perfect opportunity to have a real Sydney summer holiday in the sun, and enable you to be relaxed and refreshed for the start of the tournament.

There will be no shortage of things to see and do during this period, Sydney will be full of action and excitement as well as places to relax and get a good tan. You may even wish to visit other parts of Australia first. We will endeavour to assist you to plan a trip to suit your desires. You can stay at Sydney Uni (in our cheap college accommodation - other accommodation will be extremely expensive) any nights you require from 27th December.

More information giving further details of our tournament will follow very soon. Our website is now up at http://www.worlds.usyd.edu.au/, and will shortly be updated to reflect the date change.

You should direct any queries arising from this email to me, Peter Nicholas, the Communications Director for Worlds 2000 at the email address comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au.

In general, please use your regional email addresses for all other enquiries. We have now appointed two people to co-ordinate communications with specific regions.

For Europeans emailing to europe@worlds.usyd.edu.au, your queries will now be answered by Belinda Yeo, who recently adjudicated at the Manila Worlds.

People resident in North or South America should use america@worlds.usyd.edu.au. This will reach Ed Sexton.

All others should use
africa@worlds.usyd.edu.au
aust-nz@worlds.usyd.edu.au
asia@worlds.usyd.edu.au
which will be answered by me.

If you are no longer a debater or in contact with your university, please forward this to the relevant person. We would also appreciate it if you could advise us of their contact details.

You may also get this email more than once. I apologise if this has occurred.

I hope you understand our concerns, and will still be able to see us in Sydney come January next year. Again, if you have any queries or problems, please reply to me or your regional co-ordinators.

Yours Sincerely
Peter Nicholas
Communications Director
For the Sydney Worlds 2000 Executive

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

4 June 1999

Dear Debaters,
You are receiving this email because, according to our records, you are
interested in the World Universities Debating Championship. If this is not
the case, please reply telling me so, and we will remove you from our list.
If this is so, we apologise for disturbing you.

I hope that all of you now realise that dates of the XXth World Universities
Debating Championship, to be hosted by the University of Sydney Union, have
been changed . Sydney Worlds 2000 will now start on the 4th of January 2000,
and the Grand Final will be on the evening of 11th of January, meaning that
accommodation lasts until noon on the 12th. This move was unavoidable due to
the restricted availability and excessive pricing of flights prior to
January 1st into Sydney. If there are any further questions arising from
this change, please feel free to ask me.

Preparations for Worlds are now well advanced and we are looking forward to
greeting you all in Sydney.

----------------------

TIMETABLE

----------------------

4th January

* Registration

* Opening ceremony

* Opening night party



5th January

* Worlds Masters

* Training seminars

* Adjudicator evaluation



6th January

* Debate rounds 1, 2, 3

* Party [Glasgow (next year's hosts) Night either tonight or tomorrow]



7th January

* Debate rounds 4, 5, 6

* Party



8th January

* Debate rounds 7, 8, 9

* Break night party



9th January

* Free day

* Worlds Council



10th January

* Octo- and Quarter-finals

* Championship Dinner (Darling Harbour)



11th January

* Semi-finals

* Grand Final

* Final night party



12th January

* Bye

----------------------

ACCOMMODATION

----------------------

Rego costs include all accommodation from the night of 4th of January till
the noon on the 12th of January.

Accommodation will be in the on-campus residential colleges of Sydney
University in single or double rooms. The colleges are 5 minutes' walk from
the debating venues. The university itself is a 10 minute bus trip from the
city centre and harbour. Accommodation will include breakfast each day, and
most other meals will also be provided.

Accommodation will be available before the tournament from the 27th of
December, and for a fairly flexible amount of time afterwards. Again, this
will include breakfast. Extra accommodation will cost A$40 per night. We
will endeavour to meet to everyone at the airport, given sufficient notice
of your flight details. Some help with travel after the tournament will also
be available.

New Year's Eve in Sydney will be sensational, as Sydney has been recognised
as one of the best three or four venues in the world for the end of the
millennium. (That's why flights are so difficult before New Year's! So book
early, i.e. now, if you're arriving before then. Several airlines are using
sliding scales to jack prices up month-by-month.) We will be providing for
whoever can make it. Our plans for this night are still being finalised, but
a big party will very much be the order of the day.

----------------------

SOCIAL

----------------------

We'll be hitting many of Sydney's top nightspots. The venues will range from

the harbour, to the city, to historic venues within Sydney University

itself. (100% guarantee against the use of basketball courts). The socials

are designed to cater for the diversity of interests that are the world

debating community as well as cater for cross-cultural common denominators

of food and drink. They will include live bands, DJs, night-clubs, open air

venues and our harbour. Everyone is flocking to Sydney in 2000 for its

nightlife. (Not the fact they heard that there was going to be a debating

tournament on, funnily enough). The university itself is situated in the

heart of Sydney's student district, and the surrounds are full of cheap and

cheerful multi-cultural restaurants, bars and cafés. But never fear, for

those of you who grew fond of the Manila MegaMall experience, we have a mall

of our own (though admittedly smaller) on one edge of the university.



---------------------

DEBATING AND ADJUDICATION

---------------------

The tournament promises the highest standards of adjudication and debating.

We have recently hosted the Australasian debating tournament, and the same

people are back again to make sure Sydney Worlds 2000 runs just as smoothly.

The debating tradition at Sydney University is extremely strong, with over

100 debaters regularly attending debates, and a proud record over the

history of Worlds itself.



Adjudicators will be subjected to rigorous testing and evaluation. Our Chief

Adjudicator, Rebecca Graham, has had extensive Worlds experience, and will

be assisted by our two Deputy Chief Adjudicators Ben Foss and Andy Hume,

from America and the UK respectively. We aim to ensure the highest ever

standard of adjudication at a Worlds through our new programme of

accreditation, which is similar to that used for the Australasians

tournament.



---------------------

ADJUDICATOR-TO-DEBATER RATIO

---------------------

Current Worlds regulations state the each university must send one less

adjudicator than the total number of teams ("n-1"). Therefore, if your

university wishes to send 4 teams, it must send 3 adjudicators, if you wish

to send 2 teams, you must send 1 adjudicator.



There will also be a team cap of six teams per university. If this creates

difficulties for any reason, please contact us now.

------------------------

REGISTRATION DETAILS AND DEADLINES

------------------------

You need not pay us until October, but if now is easier, we can invoice you

and process your payment now.



Registration will be charged in Australian Dollars (currently around 62 US

cents). Registration for each debater will be $A550 Australian Dollars, and

$A525 per adjudicator (on the basis that they sit our accreditation test). A

late fee will apply after November 1.



Payment may be made by cheque or money order to "The University of Sydney

Union", direct transfer or credit card. For any payment enquiries, please

email Laila De Melo, our Finance Director, on finance@worlds.usyd.edu.au and

cc your email to me at comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au





------------------------

WORLDS MASTERS

------------------------

We will be continuing with the Worlds Masters tournament that began in

Manila. (This tournament is designed to lure previous megastars back as

adjudicators). Representation will be by nations, with each nation sending

up to two teams of two people. The national intervarsity debating body is

responsible for naming teams.



As you may have deduced, the format has been changed to regular Worlds style

rather than four per team, but two teams may enter from each nation.



The knockout rounds will be conducted on the 5th of January and the final

will be later on in the week. Expressions of interest in Worlds Masters

should be made to you national body and then to myself.

------------------------

COMMUNICATIONS

------------------------

While I am the overall Communications Director for Worlds

(comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au), we have appointed regional co-ordinators who

will be dealing with your day-to-day concerns directly.



These are

North America: Edward Sexton

america@worlds.usyd.edu.au



Europe: Belinda Yeo

europe@worlds.usyd.edu.au



If you are from either of these regions, Ed or Belinda should be your first

point of contact.



I will be co-ordinating Asia, Africa and our own region, and can be reached

on

* asia@worlds.usyd.edu.au

* africa@worlds.usyd.edu.au

or

aust-nz@worlds.usyd.edu.au.



I am also available over ICQ (UIN 13530418) or AOL instant messenger

("Dasher PJN")



Please also check our soon-to-be-updated website,

http://www.worlds.usyd.edu.au for further details. We will post all

newsletters there in future.



From our website, you can join one of two Worlds eGroups (sydworlds-announce

or sydworlds-digest) to make sure you're emailed either general

announcements or more detailed information about the tournament. Please do

this, particularly if you're the contact person from your university.



We would also advise that you start looking into buying tickets to Sydney

soon. We are still working on several airlines for discounted rates and will

update you if any deal does eventuate.



I hope to be in touch with you all soon.



Cheers,

Peter Nicholas

Communications Director

Sydney Worlds 2000















--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



8 September 1999



Dear Debater



This is another email concerning the XXth World Universities Debating Championship. If you no longer wish to receive any information about this tournament, please reply to us now.



The XXth World Championships are only four months away and we at Sydney University are getting really excited about Worlds. The debates community on campus is becoming even more active than ever. We've got over 100 Sydney University students debating in Worlds style at the moment and many of them will be organising and adjudicating at the tournament. We've also recently confirmed the Governor General of Australia (our de facto head of state) to be the patron of the tournament.



We're pleased to announce that the website has finally been updated to include more registration information. This includes the registration deadline of the 31st of October 1999. Later registration may incur a substantial late fee. Those who have not settled all debts with us by the 4th of January , which is the first day of the tournament, will be unable to participate.



The website contains some useful travel links for Sydney and Australia. It also includes the rules of the tournament and will soon be updated again with more adjudication and social information. Socially the tournament promises to be one of the best yet which some crazy events like harbour cruises, free day trips to the beach, a formal dinner at the Darling Harbour Convention Centre (an Olympic venue) and parties at some of the city's most prestigious pubs and clubs.



Also, it would be useful at this stage if you could update your regional co-ordinator with a new estimate of how many people are coming from your university and whether you need a formal invite for your institution or help with sponsorship letters. Any flight information and requests for accommodation outside the tournament dates would also be appreciated.



Lastly, it would be useful if you could send me the most up-to-date postal address for your institution's debate society for my records . Our registration forms will be available on our website in the next fortnight, but if you'd prefer, you can ask us to post them to you instead.



Cheers



Peter Nicholas



Communications Director



Sydney Worlds 2000





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



26 September 1999



Dear Debaters,



This is another update from the Sydney Worlds 2000 Executive. If you would

no longer like to be informed about Worlds, or have received this in error,

I apologise, and ask you to reply so that I can remove you from my list.



We are pleased to announce that the registration forms can now be downloaded

from the website from the 'registration' page

http://www.worlds.usyd.edu.au/registration.htm. Please note that the

registration deadline is the 31st of October. Universities registering after

this date do so at their own risk, as Sydney will be an incredibly busy city

in January 2000 and we need to finalise our accommodation needs as soon as

possible. Consequently, we are not guaranteeing participation in the

tournament to those registering after this date. Payments made after the

31st may also incur a 25 dollar late fee at the discretion of the finance

director. If you have any difficulties with this, contact us now.



Moreover, those wanting accomodation before the tournament from the 27th of

December should contact us immediately. We can accommodate everyone as long

as we have **plenty** of notice - again, if you ask us late, we may not be

able to help you. You should email your regional contact person soon if you

do require this accommodation (unless you have already) and confirm it by

sending in your registration forms by fax or mail.



We are also happy to announce that in order to aid your preparation for the

tournament, and further the high standard of debating, a Worlds-style

training video and commentary has been prepared by the Chief Adjudicator.

This video will be distributed to all universities who will attend Sydney

Worlds on a request basis.



If you are in the UK or North America, the video will be distributed through

the Deputy Chief Adjudicators, Ben Foss and Andy Hume, in conjunction with

the relevent regional body. Videos will be distributed at the various autumn

Debating Competitions. For more information on this, contact Rebecca Graham,

our Chief Adjudicator, at

chief.adjudicator@worlds.usyd.edu.au



If you are in any other region, we will be directly in charge of

distribution. Please email me at comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au to request a

copy.



In other exciting news, for all those who have not yet booked flights we are

in the final stages of arranging a flight deal with Qantas. The details are

still being finalised, but international flights may be discounted by about

10 per cent if you are able to find a group of 10 people who are

intending to travel on the same flight and you are travelling within 7 days

either side of the tournament. I will email you the complete details when

they are finalised later in the week.



Furthermore, for all those cricket fans out there, we have managed to secure

tickets for the India-Australia Test match for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of

January. If you will be in Sydney during this period, please let us know

if you want tickets so we can get some idea of how many tickets to put

aside.



I hope to see you all in Sydney



Cheers

Peter Nicholas

Communications Director,

Sydney Worlds 2000.

www.worlds.usyd.edu.au

comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au



previous updates can be viewed at

http://www.worlds.usyd.edu.au/bulletins.htm





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



19 October 1999



WORLDS TRAINING VIDEO/ QANTAS



Dear all,





This is a reminder notice about the Worlds Video Sydney University is making available to all institutions. If your institution would like a

copy of this video, you have until October 31st to let us know so we can copy the videos and distribute them, allowing adequate time for interested competitors and adjudicators to watch the video before the tournament.





Below is detailed information about the video to enable you to decide whether you want a copy. If you have any more questions, feel free to contact the Chief Adjudicator, Rebecca Graham, at chief.adjudicator@worlds.usyd.edu.au.



INFORMATION ABOUT THE WORLDS VIDEO



What is the video?

It is probably best to start by outlining what this video is not. This video is NOT an adjudication accreditation video. It is a training video. It is specifically suited to adjudicators (judges) trying to improve their knowledge and understanding of British Parliamentary Style debating. However, it may also be of interest to debaters training for the competition.





What is on the video?



The video is of a British Parliamentary style debate staged at Sydney Uni earlier this year. The competitors are unfortunately mostly Australian, due to the lack of debaters of other nationalities in Sydney.



What comes with the video?



The video comes with an Information Pack including:

* The Worlds Rules

* An Introduction to the video and to Worlds-style debating

* Notes to read during the debate



It is the last of these three items, the notes to read during the debate, which is the most important. These notes comprise a commentary on each speaker. They look at the various components of the speech (eg positive matter, rebuttal, points of information) and enunciate the positive and negative things speakers did in each of these areas. These notes should enhance your understanding of what teams and speakers are meant to do in a Worlds-style debate and better equip you to judge a debate.





Are there any other formalities (eg accreditation or testing) that adjudicators should know about?



Adjudicators will be tested at Worlds on January 5, the day before debating starts. The test will involve all adjudicators watching another video-taped debate and writing a one page outline of how they awarded the debate and why. We intend to screen this video on Jan 2, 3 and 4 as well and encourage adjudicators to watch it as soon as they get to Sydney.



_____________________________________________________



The universities from outside the UK and North America that have ordered

the training video so far are as follows.

ADFA

Macquarie

UTS

University of Santo Tomas

NUS

Nanyang

Bandung Institute of Technology

Institut Teknologi Mara

Hebrew University Israel

Rhodes

Stellenbosch

MEDUNSA

University of Cape Town



If you believe you have already ordered the video and are not on

this list,

please email comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au now.



FLIGHT INFORMATION



Qantas Airways has been appointed the Official Airline for the World Universities Debating Championships to be held in Sydney, 4-11 January 2000. Under this arrangement Qantas offices in all parts of the world will be pleased to discuss with you or your travel agent any special travel requirements and itineraries, and will explain airfare structure for the most economical travel to suit your needs. Please quote the reference code CIC*461/200



Qantas reservations telephone numbers you should call are:



UK/Europe

Amsterdam: 683 8081

Geneva: 0848 888 747

Germany: 0180 3250630

Paris: 803 846 846

Rome: 06 5249 1525

Stockholm: 0824 2502

United Kingdom:0345 747 767

Zurich: 01 211 4411



North &South America-

Canada: 1800 227 4500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1800 227 4500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

USA (inc Honolulu):1800 227 4500 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1800 227 4500 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

Buenos Aires: 4320 6688

Santiago: 232 9562



South Pacific



Auckland: 357 8900

Rest of NZ: 0800 808 767

Nadi: 72 2880

Noumea: 28 6546

Papeete: 43 06 65

Port Moresby: 321 12 00



Asia:

Bali: 288331

Bankok: 636 1747

Beijing: 6467 4794

Ho Chi Minh City: 842 4950

Hong Kong: 2842 1438

Jakarta: 230 0277

Kuala Lumpor: 267 6188

Manila: 812 0607

Mumbai: 282 8794

New Delhi: 332 9027

Seoul: 777 6871

Shanghai: 6279 8128

Singapore: 839 7788

Taipei: 2522 1001

Tokyo: 3593 7000

Rest of Japan: 0120 7020



Africa:

Harare: 751228

Johannesburg: 784 5300



Furthermore, we are looking forward to receiving your registration by October 31. If you are having difficulties, please contact us now.



Cheers,

Peter Nicholas and Rebecca Graham for the

Sydney Worlds 2000 Executive



comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au



www.worlds.usyd.edu.au







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



5 November 1999



WORLDS 2000 FINANCE DETAILS



Dear Worlds Debaters,



The bank account details for wire transfers have been changed to deal with

the huge influx of funds. Future bank wire transfers should be directed to



To: University of Sydney Union

Bank: National Australia Bank

Branch: Wentworth Building, University of Sydney

State Code: 082

Branch: 372

Account No: 50945 3758



Universities who have already wired money to the old account

will receive individual confirmation of this as soon as possible.



Laila de Melo, the Finance Director, can be reached at

lademelo@hotmail.com if you have any finance queries. Finance emails can

also be cc'd the me at comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au



Laila would also like to stress the importance of filling out the finance

form page of the registration kit. Anyone who has sent the other

registration forms, but not a finance form should contact Laila

now by email to explain how you are going to pay.



REGISTRATION.

Although the deadline for worlds registration has passed, we still have

plenty of places available in the tournament for any interested

parties. We would appreciate you contacting us very soon if you are still

interested in coming to worlds.



Your first point of contact should be your regional directors

America: Edward: america@worlds.usyd.edu.au

Europe: Belinda europe@worlds.usyd.edu.au

The rest of the world: myself at asia@worlds.usyd.edu.au

aust-nz@worlds.usyd.edu.au

africa@worlds.usyd.edu.au

comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au



Tournament details are readily available at our website,

http://www.worlds.usyd.edu.au

If you know of anyone who you think does not know about the tournament,

please send me their contact details ASAP.

To gain exemption from the $25 late fee, please contact Laila at

lademelo@hotmail.com and explain your situation.



We will all endeavour to answer your emails as soon as possible,

but please bear in mind that we are currently doing our end-of-year exams

most of which will be finished by the 19th of November.



ACCOMODATION

Pre-tournament accomodation is almost at capacity. Therefore we would

encourage anyone arriving earlier who has not already booked accomodation

with us on the registration forms or by email to look into finding their

own accomodation in hostels. This may also be substantially cheaper than our

college accomodation rate as dorm rooms can be booked for around

$20 a night. If this proves impossible, further college accomodation may be

available, although there may be a price rise for people who book late.



some useful websites include,

http://www.ozemail.com.au/~hotels/mainlist.htm



http://www.users.bigpond.com/funkhouse/



http://www.nomads-backpackers.com/venues/dwn_t.html



http://www.planetbackpack.com.au/default.asp



also maybe Millett's Budget Accomodation may be helpful

milcrist@webmail.com.au

phone + 61 2 9 283 6599 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting + 61 2 9 283 6599 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

fax +61 2 9262 9705



or Forest Lodge Backpackers' which is near the University can be phoned on

+612 9660 1872 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +612 9660 1872 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

(These people have indicated to us that they will not start taking bookings

until December.)

Another hotel close to university is the Vulcan, 500 Wattle St, Ultimo NSW

2007, phone +612 9211 3283 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +612 9211 3283 end_of_the_skype_highlighting, Fax +612 9212 7439. (although don't tell these

people you are attending worlds as we have recently declined their offer to

accommodate participants during the tournament.)



Post-tournament accomodation can be booked now, but we would

prefer if this was done during the tournament. At that stage we will be

able to

offer you a range of different packages that will suit your individual

needs.

Furthermore, more than two nights of post-tournament accomodation in the

colleges may not be feasible at this stage. There should be a

huge amount of accomdation available in Sydney at that time after the New

Years Eve crowd has moved on.



I would also like to add that the response to this year's Worlds has been

tremendous. The tournament will consist of at least 700 people

and includes many new regions and debating soceties that have never

participated before.

Everyone at Sydney University have become increasingly excited about the

tournament and we have 100 students already signed up as helpers.

The second wave of video orders were also addressed and mailed out

personally by the Chief Adjudicator earlier this week.



Best of luck with your preparations



regards,



Peter Nicholas

Communications Director for the

Sydney Worlds 2000 Executive

4th-11th January 2000 at the University of Sydney

comms@worlds.usyd.edu.au

www.worlds.usyd.edu.au

+61 417 672 603 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting +61 417 672 603 end_of_the_skype_highlighting (Mobile)

Fax + 61 2 9563 6109

Mailing Address:

Worlds Committee, Access Centre,

Level 3 Wentworth Building,

University of Sydney NSW 2006,

AUSTRALIA



ICQ: 13530418

WUDC Sydney 2000 Handbook























23 March 2000

WUDC Sydney 2000 Rules

World Universities Debating Championship 2000

World Parliamentary Debating Rules

By Ray D’Cruz

Part 1— Introduction

1.1 The format of the debate

1.1.1 The debate will consist of four teams of two persons (persons will be known as "members"), a chairperson (known as the "Speaker of the House" or "Mister/Madame Speaker" and an adjudicator or panel of adjudicators.

1.1.2 Teams will consist of the following members:

Opening Government:

"Prime Minister" or "First Government member" and

"Deputy Prime Minister" or "Second Government member";

Opening Opposition:

"Leader of the Opposition" or "First Opposition member" and

"Deputy Leader of the Opposition" or "Second Opposition member";

Closing Government:

"Member for the Government" or "Third Government member" and

"Government Whip" or "Fourth Opposition member";

Closing Opposition:

"Member for the Opposition" or "Third Opposition member" and

"Opposition Whip" or "Fourth Opposition member".



1.1.3 Members will deliver substantive speeches in the following order:

(1) Prime Minister;

(2) Opposition Leader;

(3) Deputy Prime Minister;

(4) Deputy Opposition Leader;

(5) Member for the Government;

(6) Member for the Opposition;

(7) Government Whip;

(8) Opposition Whip.



1.1.4 Members will deliver a substantive speech of seven minutes duration and should offer points of information while members of the opposing teams are speaking.

1.2 The motion

1.2.1 The motion should be unambiguously worded.

1.2.2 The motion should reflect that the World Universities Debating Championship is an international tournament.

1.2.3 The members should debate the motion in the spirit of the motion and the tournament.



1.3 Preparation

1.3.1 The debate should commence 15 minutes after the motion is announced.

1.3.2 Teams should arrive at their debate within five minutes of the scheduled starting time for that debate.

1.3.3 Members are permitted to use printed or written material during preparation and during the debate. Printed material includes books, journals, newspapers and other similar materials. The use of electronic equipment is prohibited during preparation and in the debate.



1.4 Points of Information

1.4.1 Points of Information (questions directed to the member speaking) may be asked between first minute mark and the six minute mark of the members’ speeches (speeches are of seven minutes duration).

1.4.2 To ask a Point of Information, a member should stand, place one hand on his or her head and extend the other towards the member speaking. The member may announce that they would like to ask a "Point of Information" or use other words to this effect.

1.4.3 The member who is speaking may accept or decline to answer the Point of Information.

1.4.4 Points of Information should not exceed 15 seconds in length.

1.4.5 The member who is speaking may ask the person offering the Point of Information to sit down where the offeror has had a reasonable opportunity to be heard and understood.

1.4.6 Members should attempt to answer at least two Points of Information during their speech. Members should also offer Points of Information.

1.4.7 Points of Information should be assessed in accordance with clause 3.3.4 of these rules.

1.4.8 Points of Order and Points of Personal Privilege are not permitted.



1.5 Timing of the speeches

1.5.1 Speeches should be seven minutes in duration (this should be signalled by two strikes of the gavel). Speeches over seven minutes and 15 seconds may be penalised.

1.5.2 Points of Information may only be offered between the first minute mark and the six minute mark of the speech (this period should be signalled by one strike of the gavel at the first minute and one strike at the sixth minute).

1.5.3 It is the duty of the Speaker of the House to time speeches.

1.5.4 In the absence of the Speaker of the House, it is the duty of the Chair of the Adjudication panel to ensure that speeches are timed.



1.6 The adjudication

1.6.1 The debate should be adjudicated by a panel of at least three adjudicators, where this is possible.

1.6.2 At the conclusion of the debate, the adjudicators should confer and rank the teams, from first placed to last placed. (see Part 5: The Adjudication).

1.6.3 There will be verbal adjudications of the debate after the first six preliminary rounds of the tournament. The verbal adjudication should be delivered in accordance with clause 5.5 of these rules.



Part 2 — Definitions

2.1 The definition

2.1.1 The definition should state the issue (or issues) for debate arising out of the motion and state the meaning of any terms in the motion which require interpretation.

2.1.2 The Prime Minister should provide the definition at the beginning of his or her speech.

2.1.3 The definition must:

(a) have a clear and logical link to the motion - this means that an average reasonable person would accept the link made by the member between the motion and the definition (where there is no such link the definition is sometimes referred to as a "squirrel");

(b) not be self-proving - a definition is self-proving when the case is that something should or should not be done and there is no reasonable rebuttal. A definition is may also be self-proving when the case is that a certain state of affairs exists or does not exist and there is no reasonable rebuttal (these definitions are sometimes referred to as "truisms").

(c) not be time set - this means that the debate must take place in the present and that the definition cannot set the debate in the past or the future; and

(d) not be place set unfairly - this means that the definition cannot restrict the debate so narrowly to a particular geographical or political location that a participant of the tournament could not reasonably be expected to have knowledge of the place.





2.2 Challenging the definition

2.2.1 The Leader of the Opposition may challenge the definition if it violates clause 2.1.3 of these rules. The Leader of the Opposition should clearly state that he or she is challenging the definition.

2.2.2 The Leader of the Opposition should substitute an alternative definition after challenging the definition of the Prime Minister.



2.3 Assessing the definitional challenge

2.3.1 The adjudicator should determine the definition to be ‘unreasonable’ where it violates clause 2.1.3 of these rules.

2.3.2 The onus to establish that the definition is unreasonable is on the members asserting that the definition is unreasonable.

2.3.3 Where the definition is unreasonable, the opposition should substitute an alternative definition that should be accepted by the adjudicator provided it is not unreasonable.

2.3.4 Where the definition of the Opening Government is unreasonable and an alternative definition is substituted by the Opening Opposition, the Closing Government may introduce matter which is inconsistent with the matter presented by the Opening Government and consistent with the definition of the Opening Opposition.

2.3.5 If the Opening Opposition has substitued a definition that is also unreasonable, the Closing Government may challenge the definition of the Opening Opposition and substitute an alternative definition.

2.3.6 If the Closing Government has substitued a definition that is also unreasonable (in addition to the unreasonable definitions of the Opening Government and Opening Opposition, the Closing Opposition may challenge the definition of the Closing Government and substitute an alternative definition.



Part 3 — Matter

3.1 The definition of matter

3.1.1 Matter is the content of the speech. It is the arguments a debater uses to further his or her case and persuade the audience.

3.1.2 Matter includes arguments and reasoning, examples, case studies, facts and any other material that attempts to further the case.

3.1.3 Matter includes positive (or substantive) material and rebuttal (arguments specifically aimed to refute the arguments of the opposing team(s)). Matter includes Points of Information.



3.2 The elements of matter

3.2.1 Matter should be relevant, logical and consistent.

3.2.2 Matter should be relevant. It should relate to the issues of the debate: positive material should support the case being presented and rebuttal should refute the material being presented by the opposing team(s). The Member should appropriately prioritise and apportion time to the dynamic issues of the debate.

3.2.3 Matter should be logical. Arguments should be developed logically in order to be clear and well-reasoned and therefore plausible. The conclusion of all arguments should support the member’s case.

3.2.4 Matter should be consistent. Members should ensure that the matter they present is consistent within their speech, their team and the remainder of the members on their side of the debate (subject to clauses 2.3.4, 2.3.5 or 2.3.6 of these rules).

3.2.5 All Members should present positive matter (except the final two members in the debate) and all members should present rebuttal (except the first member in the debate). The Government Whip may choose to present positive matter.

3.2.6 All Members should attempt to answer at least two points of information during their own speech and offer points of information during opposing speeches.



3.3 Assessing matter

3.3.1 The matter presented should be persuasive. ‘The elements of matter’ should assist an adjudicator to assess the persuasiveness and credibility of the matter presented.

3.3.2 Matter should be assessed from the viewpoint of the average reasonable person. Adjudicators should analyse the matter presented and assess its persuasiveness, while disregarding any specialist knowledge they may have on the issue of the debate.

3.3.3 Adjudicators should not allow bias to influence their assessment. Debaters should not be discriminated against on the basis of religion, sex, race, colour, nationality, sexual preference, age, social status or disability.

3.3.4 Points of information should be assessed according to the effect they have on the persuasiveness of the cases of both the member answering the point of information and the member offering the point of information.



Part 4 — Manner

4.1 The definition of manner

4.1.1 Manner is the presentation of the speech. It is the style and structure a member uses to further his or her case and persuade the audience.

4.1.2 Manner is comprised of many separate elements. Some, but not all, of these elements are listed below.



4.2 The elements of style

4.2.1 The elements of style include eye contact, voice modulation, hand gestures, language, the use of notes and any other element which may affect the effectiveness of the presentation of the member.

4.2.2 Eye contact will generally assist a member to persuade an audience as it allows the member to appear more sincere.

4.2.3 Voice modulation will generally assist a member to persuade an audience as the debater may emphasise important arguments and keep the attention of the audience. This includes the pitch, tone, and volume of the member’s voice and the use of pauses.

4.2.4 Hand gestures will generally assist a member to emphasise important arguments. Excessive hand movements may however be distracting and reduce the attentiveness of the audience to the arguments.

4.2.5 Language should be clear and simple. Members who use language which is too verbose or confusing may detract from the argument if they lose the attention of the audience.

4.2.6 The use of notes is permitted, but members should be careful that they do not rely on their notes too much and detract from the other elements of manner.



4.3 The elements of structure

4.3.1 The elements of structure include the structure of the speech of the member and the structure of the speech of the team.

4.3.2 The matter of the speech of each member must be structured. The member should organise his or her matter to improve the effectiveness of their presentation. The substantive speech of each members should:

(a) include:an introduction, conclusion and a series of arguments; and

(b) be well-timed in accordance with the time limitations and the need to prioritise and apportion time to matter.



4.3.3 The matter of the team must be structured. The team should organise their matter to improve the effectiveness of their presentation. The team should:

(a) contain a consistent approach to the issues being debated; and

(b) allocate positive matter to each member where both members of the team are introducing positive matter; and



4.4 Assessing manner

4.4.1 Adjudicators should assess the elements of manner together in order to determine the overall effectiveness of the member’s presentation. Adjudicators should assess whether the member’s presentation is assisted or diminished by their manner.

4.4.2 Adjudicators should be aware that at a World Championship, there are many styles which are appropriate, and that they should not discriminate against a member simply because the manner would be deemed ‘inappropriate Parliamentary debating’ in their own country.

4.4.3 Adjudicators should not allow bias to influence their assessment. Members should not be discriminated against on the basis of religion, sex, race, colour, nationality, language (subject to Rule 4.2.4), sexual preference, age, social status or disability.



Part 5 — The Adjudication

5.1 The role of the adjudicator

5.1.1 The adjudicator must:

(a) Confer upon and discuss the debate with the other adjudicators;

(b) Determine the rankings of the teams;

(c) Determine the team grades;

(d) Determine the speaker marks;

(e) Provide a verbal adjudication to the members; and

(f) Complete any documentation required by the tournament.



5.1.2 The adjudication panel should attempt to agree on the adjudication of the debate. Adjudicators should therefore confer in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect

5.1.3 Adjudicators should acknowledge that adjudicators on a panel may form different or opposite views of the debate. Adjudicators should therefore attempt to base their conclusions on these rules in order to limit subjectivity and to provide a consistent approach to the assessment of debates.

5.2 Ranking teams

5.2.1 Teams should be ranked from first place to last place. First placed teams should be awarded three points, second placed teams should be awarded two points, third placed teams should be awarded one point and fourth placed teams should be awarded zero points.

5.2.2 Teams may receive zero points where they fail to arrive at the debate more than five minutes after the scheduled time for debate.

5.2.3 Teams may receive zero points where the adjudicators unanimously agree that the Member has (or Members have) harassed another debater on the basis of religion, sex, race, colour, nationality, sexual preference or disability.

5.2.4 Adjudicators should confer upon team rankings. Where a unanimous decision cannot be reached after conferral, the decision of the majority will determine the rankings. Where a majority decision cannot be reached, the Chair of the panel of adjudicators will determine the rankings.



5.3 Grading and marking the teams

5.3.1 The panel of adjudicators should agree upon the grade that each team is to be awarded. Each adjudicator may then mark the teams at their discretion but within the agreed grade. Where there is a member of the panel who has dissented in the ranking of the teams, that adjudicator will not need to agree upon the team grades and may complete their scoresheet at their own discretion.

5.3.2 Team grades and marks should be given the following interpretation:





Grade Marks Meaning

A 180-200 Excellent to flawless. The standard you would expect to see from a team at the Semi Final / Grand Final level of the tournament. The team has many strengths and few, if any, weaknesses.

B 160-179 Above average to very good. The standard you would expect to see from a team at the finals level or in contention to make to the finals. The team has clear strengths and some minor weaknesses.

C 140-159 Average. The team has strengths and weaknesses in roughly equal proportions.

D 120-139 Poor to below average. The team has clear problems and some minor strengths.

E 100-119 Very poor. The team has fundamental weaknesses and few, if any, strengths.



5.4 Marking the members

5.4.1 After the adjudicators have agreed upon the grade that each team is to be awarded, each adjudicator may mark the individual members at their discretion but must ensure that the aggregate points of the team members is within the agreed grade for that team.

5.4.2 Individual members’ marks should be given the following interpretation:







Grade Marks Meaning

A 90-100 Excellent to flawless. The standard of speech you would expect to see from a speaker at the Semi Final / Grand Final level of the tournament. This speaker has many strengths and few, if any, weaknesses.

B 80-89 Above average to very good. The standard you would expect to see from a speaker at the finals level or in contention to make to the finals. This speaker has clear strengths and some minor weaknesses.

C 70-79 Average. The speaker has strengths and weaknesses and roughly equal proportions.

D 60-69 Average. The speaker has strengths and weaknesses and roughly equal proportions.

E 50-59 Very poor. This speaker has fundamental weaknesses and few, if any, strengths.



5.5 Verbal adjudications

5.5.1 At the conclusion of the conferral, the adjudication panel should provide a verbal adjudication of the debate.

5.5.2 The verbal adjudication should be delivered by the Chair of the adjudication panel, or where the Chair dissents, by a member of the adjudication panel nominated by the Chair of the panel.

5.5.3 The verbal adjudication should:

(a) identify the order in which the teams were ranked

(b) explain the reasons for the rankings of team, ensuring that each team is referred to in this explanation; and

(c) provide constructive comments to individual members where the adjudication panel believes this is necessary.

5.5.4 The verbal adjudication should not exceed 10 minutes.

5.5.5 The members must not harass the adjudicators following the verbal adjudication.

5.5.6 The members may approach an adjudicator for further clarification following the verbal adjudication; these inquiries must at all times be polite and non-confrontational.



5.5.4 The verbal adjudication should not exceed 10 minutes.

5.5.5 The members must not harass the adjudicators following the verbal adjudication.

5.5.6 The members may approach an adjudicator for further clarification following the verbal adjudication; these inquiries must at all times be polite and non-confrontational.

WUDC Sydney 2000 Financial report

Finances


Layla presented Sydney’s budget

• ran to budget, broke even - will give copy of statement to Colm for ratification (see attached document)

• in terms of the outstanding $1000 from Princeton, $500 was paid, and they will cover the outstanding amount

• there are three outstanding debtors at this point, one big one which is the GUU, and then Strathclyde and Northwestern

- GUU - are owe the amount of A$5615.30 for what Sydney provided for the Host Night Party. Bills have been sent and the amount is still outstanding and in some dispute - the GUU have to pay soonest.

o Colm - it must be raised with the GUU rep when they arrive

- Sydney ask the Council to bear it in mind that there is the precedent of sanctions for this kind of problem, and that they wish Council to apply the same format of sanction as used with Princeton in the past i.e. either agree staggered payments or Glasgow banned from future competitions.

- the other two debtors are minor amounts and are being checked

- Strathclyde - A$1625 for 2 debaters and an adjudicator

NorthWestern - A$840 for extra accommodation

Sydney Worlds 2000 Budget




Participation

402 Debaters

165 external adjudicators

42 Sydney People

19 Observers



Total 628 People



REVENUE



Registration

Debaters 221100

External Adjudicators 86625

Observers 10450



Total 318175



Sponsorship

Union 5000

University 5000

Foundation 5000

Union Contingency 5687

Coke 5000

Blakes 2000

Claton Utz 2000

McKinseys 2000

Cox Purtell 1000

Kennards 1000

AJ Bell 250

Debates Committee 4000



Total 37937



Princeton payment $500 (USD) *not included in revenue figure - see Tab



Pre-tournament Accomodation

$40(AUD) per head per night

Total 20800 520 nights *not included in revenue figure - see Exp

*Paid direct to colleges



Post-tournament Accomodation

$40(AUD) per head per night

Total 4360 109 Nights *not included in revenue figure - see Exp

*Paid direct to colleges



T-Shirts

$15 (AUD) per shirt

69 Shirts 1035

5 Shirts 75



Total: 1110



Videos

$30 (AUD) per video

3 videos 90



Total Revenue 357312





EXPENDITURE



Accomodation

Womens 80 23040

Andrews 88 24640

Wesley 96 29184 Singles

Wesley 84 21504 Doubles

Internat 67 17152

Pauls 198 50688

Arundel 15 1800



Subtotal: 168008



Extra Accomodation

B Foss DCA 288

A Welch CLO 288

A Hume DCA 343 Motel

A Hume DCA 144 College

Arundel CLO 30

Internat CLO 70

Lost Deposits 650 Johns



Subtotal 1813



Total: 169821



Lunches

Lunch 1 1375 Pizza

Lunch 2 2450

Lunch 3 2250

Lunch 4 3000

Kosher/Halal 605



Total 9680



Publications

Handbook 4500

Spon proposals 1000

Photocopying 1200



Total 6700



Transport

Buses 6200 Cheque 1

Buses 6200 Cheque 2

Buses 2320 Cheque 3

Minibus 1400

Petty cash 424.15



Total 16544.15



Adjudication

Seminar 1 56 Paid by Deb Comm

Seminar 2 56 Paid by Deb Comm

Seminar 3 56 Paid by Deb Comm

Video duplication 395

Fax Paper 5.9

Postage 96.45

Postage Lables 125

DCA (AH) videos 500 227.48 pounds

DCA (AH) ticket 1 800 342 pounds

DCA (AH) ticket 2 2000 295000 drachmas

DCA (BF) ticket 2400 $1730 (USD)

DCA (BF) videos 600



Total 7090.35



Administration

Registration 825.35

Stationary 342.5

Trophies 5510

Food 339.34

Condoms 125

Stopwatches 248.83

T-Shirts 427 Petty Cash

T-Shirts 1652 invoice

Publicity 19.5

Parking tickets 228 2 x $114

Closing Ceremony 2800

Gifts 800

Namila Night 3100

Room attendants 3500

Mobile Phones 1200



Total: 21117.52



Tab

Computer program $500 (USD) covered by Princeton payment



Extra Accomodation

Pre-tournament 20800 520 nights

Post-tournament 4360 109 nights



Total: 25160 *not included in Exp total - see Revenue



Social

Opening Night

Base Rate 26520

Security 350

DJ 800

Extra Sydney people 460



Total 28130



Championship Dinner

Base fee 5500 Inc special lighting

Per Head 52320 654 people 68 Sydney people

Kosher/Halal 300 extra $20/head per meal



Total: 58120



Break Night

Base Rate 4000

Bar tab 16500

DJ 900

Refund (bar tab) -877



Total 20523



Pauls Day

Marquee 1162

Security 720 $180 x 4

Sound System 230

Licence 182

BBQ 1925 $3.5 x 550

Lunch 324.89



Total 4543.89



Burdekin 2160

Final Night 5400

Consuls Night 1500

NYE 69.77

Decorations 105

Yakka party 147

One World Sport 210



Total: 120908.7



Opening Ceremony

Chairs 700

Band 400

Champagne 3000

Dance troupe 700

Flags 350

Petty cash 200

Metropolitan Land C 100



Total 5450



Total Expenditure 357311.7



SURPLUS 0