Indiana Novice Debate Tournament at Chesterton High School

 

This year Chesterton High School is proud to host the annual Novice only kickoff debate tournament.  We thank Munster High School for not only coming up with this event, but for hosting it for the past 15+ years!   We are excited be Indiana's first in person tournament in over a year and will work with all teams to ensure that everyone feels safe and comfortable. Many of the traditions from that tournament will be maintained to make sure that we get our first year debaters off to the best start possible.  

 

Date:  Saturday September 25th

 

Location:  Chesterton High School - 2125 South 11th Street Chesterton, In 46304

 

Time/Schedule:

-  As we know, first time novice debate tends to be slightly shorter than midseason varsity debate.  We will adjust these times throughout the tournament, if debaters are taking up their full time.  Our goal is to end the day early!   

-  Registration - 8:15 to 8:45 Central Time

-  Round 1 - 9:00 am Central

-  Round 2 - 10:00 am Central

-  Round 3 - 11:00 am Central

-  Lunch - Noon

-  Round 4 - 1:00 pm

 

Events/Competitors/Topics

-  ONLY novice debaters are allowed to compete at this tournament.  We will define that as a student that is either in their first year of debate OR a student that has 0 NFL/NSDA points and the coach verifies that they are indeed at a novice level (there are many of us who had students join last year, but never really got started).  

-  Lincoln-Douglas debate - TOPIC:  Resolved: The member nations of the World Trade Organization ought to reduce intellectual property protections for medicines.     ****NOTE THIS IS NOT THE NSDA NOVICE TOPIC - No one from Indiana does that one!****

-  Public Forum debate - TOPIC:  Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization should substantially increase its defense commitments to the Baltic states.

-  Policy debate - TOPIC:  Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its protection of water resources in the United States.

 

****Additionally, all affirmatives are held to the following restrictions (and only these restrictions)****

Novice Case Limits for the 2021-2022 Policy Debate Topic

Substantially strengthen federal surveillance and standards for lead in drinking water.

Substantially limit the use of hydraulic fracturing by energy companies in the United States.

Substantially strengthen federal standards for agriculture-related runoff into lakes and streams.

Substantially increase the protection of wetlands in the United States.

 

- Congressional Debate - IHSFA September Docket legislation # 1, 2, 4, and 5

A Bill to Transfer Renewable Energy Subsidies to Clean Coal Subsidies to Advance the Clean

Energy Industry

2. A Bill to Establish an Online Voting System

4. A Bill to Abolish the Use of Solitary Confinement in Prisons to Encourage The Rehabilitation Of

Prisoners

5. A Bill to Defund the W.H.O. To Increase Efficacy in Health Policy

 

NOVICE TOURNAMENT Specialties

-  One varsity debater per entry is allowed to be in with the novices for the first three rounds.  Their job is to add confidence and provide basic instructions.  IE - they should be there to tell the students ("You should flow right now - grab your red pen and write in this column") AND NOT TO say things like - "They contradicted themselves into a double turn - let me look through my files and we can run this sick card that is going to crush them - it is called De-Dev!"

-  Novices will be on their own for round 4 - they will be ready then

-  Any varsity debater with two or more years of experience - whom their coach deems as qualified can judge.

 

Awards

-  We have ribbons for the top places as well as medals for the tournament champions

 

OTHER NOTES:

-  We will do anything to help debaters get off to a great start!  If this means you want a debater to go maverick - just let us know.  If you need them to sit out and watch something first let us know and we will set up a demonstration round or a teaching session.  If they have to leave early that is also fine with us - just notify us and we will work to make this a great experience!

 

COVID INFORMATION:

-  We are currently at Tier 2 of our 4 step Covid Response Plan.  I will notify everyone of changes in the run up to the tournament.  That means that we are a mask optional school.  We will have students speak (and do cross-x) from their seat instead of from a shared podium.  We will also instruct that there should be no handshaking.  Besides a cafeteria style competitor room - I will make individual rooms available as "hang out spots" for each school that desires one.  That way you have a squad room where only your school's contestants are.  If we are forced to bump up to Tier 3 students would be required to wear their mask for every moment besides their official speech time (at which point it would be optional for them).  

(vr)