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13 January 2011

De La Salle WUDC 2012: Call for DCA Applications from Middle East and Africa

Dear World Debating Community,

We are writing to open the application process for the Middle East and Africa DCA spot for De La Salle WUDC 2012. All interested parties most of whose international debating experience is in this region are strongly encouraged to apply. Application forms can be found at www.dlsuworlds.com, or requested by email from sam.block@dlsuworlds.com or lucinda.david@dlsuworlds.com, to both of which addresses the forms, accompanied by CVs should be sent.

The applications timetable will be as follows:
·         All applications due in: 1200 GMT, Monday the 24th of January.
·         Feedback process opens: later on Monday the 24th of January.
·         Feedback process closes: 1200 GMT, Friday the 4th of February.

If you have any queries, or would like to talk about the position, please feel free to get in touch on the addresses above. We very much look forward to receiving applications, and to completing our adjudication team.

Many thanks,

Sam Block & Lucinda David
Chief Adjudicators
DLSU WUDC 2012

12 January 2011

Past winners of the North American Debating Championships

2010-2011
Host: Fordham University

Winner: Yale University (Nate Blevins and Pam Brown)
Finalist. Yale University (Alyssa Bilinski and Kate Falkenstien)
Top Speaker: Kate Falkenstien (Yale University)

2009-2010
Host: York University
Winner: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Adam Goldstein & Bill Magnuson)
Finalist: McGill University (Saro Setrakian & Sean Stefanik)
Top Speaker: Richard Lizius (University of Toronto)

2008-2009
Host: Amherst College
Winner: Yale University (Grant May & Andrew Rohrbach)
Finalist. McGill University (Sophie MacIntyre & Saro Setrakian)
Top Speaker: Mark Samburg (Harvard University)

2007-2008
Host: Carleton University
Winner: University of Toronto (Jon Laxer & Jason Rogers)
Finalist: Harvard University (R. Kyle Bean & Mark Samburg)
Top Speaker: Josh Bone (Yale University)
Public Speaking Champion: Vinay Kumar Mysore (McGill University)

2006-2007
Host: Bates College
Winner: Yale University (Dylan Gadek & Matthew Wansley)
Finalist: University of British Columbia (Teddy Harrison & Ashish Sinha)
Top Speaker: Ian Freeman (Carleton University)

2005-2006
Host: Hart House, Toronto
Winner: Yale University (Matthew Wansley & Ben Eidelson)
Finalist: Queen's University (Laura Kusisto & Adam Lazier)
Top Speaker: Rory Gillis (Yale University)
Public Speaking Champion: Jason Rogers (McGill University)

2004-2005
Host: Cornell University
Winner: University of Toronto (Joanna Nairn & Melanie Tharamangalam)
Finalist: Harvard University (Fuad Faridi & Alexander Schwab)
Top Speaker: Rory Gillis (Yale University)

2003-2004
Host: Queens University
Winner: McGill (James "Ren" Renihan and Gordon Shotwell)
Finalist: MIT (Patrick Nichols and Adam Unikowsky)
Top Speaker: Greg Allen (University of British Columbia)
Top Public Speaker: Stuart Savelkoul (Dickinson State University)

2002-2003
Host: John Hopkin's University
Winner: MIT Phil Larochelle & Patrick Nichols
Finalist: Columbia University Maxim Mayer-Cesiano & Evan Mayo-Wilson
Top Speaker: New York University Emily Schleicher

2001-2002
Host: McGill
Winner: Hart House, Aaron Rousseau & Rory McKeown
Finalist: MIT, Shuman Ghosemajumder & Phil Larochelle
Top Speaker: Ranjan Agarwal, University of Ottawa EDS (English Debating Society)
Top Public Speaker: Aidan Johnson, Hart House

2000-2001
Host: Cornell University
Winner: Brandeis University (Adam Zirkin & Storey Clayton)
Finalist: Columbia University (Jeff Williams & Harry Layman)
Top Speaker: David Silverman (Princeton University )

1999-00
Host: Queen's University
Winner: University of Ottawa (Rob Silver & Casey Halladay)
Finalist: University of Ottawa (Scott Thurlow & Adam Jantunen)
Top Speaker: Casey Halladay (Ottawa)

1998-99
Host: Smith's College
Winner: University of Guelph (Nathan MacDonald & Averill Pessin)
Finalist: New York University (Peter Guirguis & Glen Whitman)
Top Speaker: Jason Goldman (Princeton University )

1997-98
Host: McGill University
Winner: University of Western Ontario (Rob Silver & Nathan MacDonald)
Finalist: Carleton University (Linda McMillan & Mike Peters)
Top Speaker: Casey Halladay (University of Ottawa Law)

1996-97
Host: John Hopkins University
Winner: Princeton University (Oleske & O’Murchada)
Finalist University of Pennsylvania (Stris & Rogers)
Top Speaker: John Oleske (Princeton)

1995-96
Host: Hart House, Toronto
Winner: McGill University (Springer & Cohen)
Finalist University of Guelph (Scala & Guirgis)
Top Speaker: Ron Guirgis (Guelph)

1994-95
Host: University of Pennsylvania
Winner: Swathmore College (Mallory & Potishman)
Finalist: Hart House, Toronto (O’Leary & McLuggage)
Top Speaker: Mike D’Abramo (Hart House, Toronto)

1993-94
Host: Sodales, Dalhousie University
Winner: Hart House, Toronto (Plaw & Cass)
Finalist: Princeton (Kern & Ricks)
Top Speaker: Avery Plaw (Hart House, Toronto)

1992-93
Host: Bates College
Winner: Hart House, Toronto (Meehan & Brent)
Finalist: Harvard (Kennedy & Friedman)
Top Speaker: Marc Givens (Queens University)

1991-92
Host: McGill University
Winner: Queens University (Alicia Maine & Marc Givens)
Finalist Harvard (Kennedy & Friedman)
Top Speaker: Ted Cruz (Princeton)

9 January 2011

Initial Information on WUDC *en espaƱol*



With Colm's permission, I have asked contacts in Venezuela to provide as much information as possible for the Spanish language World Championships to be held in Caracas later this year. Much of the information thus far is of a 'this is how we generally do things' nature, and more details and final confirmation are to follow. Much will depend on the number of teams that apply for places, &c., but for now, here is what we have:


The tournament will run from July 25th - July 31st inclusive. 


Particpation fees are traditionally kept very low, if any at all are charged (of course, for a tournament of this nature they may be slightly higher than the norm) and no decision yet has been made on what fees if any would be applied to overseas institutions. 


Accommodation for debaters visiting Caracas from other parts of South America (principally Colombia and Peru) has in the past been arranged domestically - that is, debaters have stayed with members of Caracas University for the duration, participating in the home life. Of course, for this tournament, it will depend greatly on how many people are actually attending, but we can be sure that our Venezuelan hosts will make sure that people are comfortable and well looked-after when there. The usual socials programme and visits around the city will hopefully be offered as well (and having been lucky enough to meet with the Venezuelan debaters at IDAS for a few years, I can confirm that these guys know how to party!)


As people in Venezuela are currently returning after the Christmas break and a successful time at Botswana WUDC, more information will be forthcoming shortly, and we hope to release more details publicly after January 16th. Watch this space, and please support what is a very worthwhile and necessary venture for the development of debate globally.


Best wishes to all readers of the blog for the New Year.


G. Rhydian Morgan



Offline for a short time

I know that there are a number of emails and announcements waiting in my in box to be published to the blog. People have also asked when will I publish the 2011 version of my world rankings. Unfortunately due to unforeseen family commitments I have not been on line for the last few days. I will be back on line early next week and will catch up on the back log as quickly as possible.