Dear Friends,

 

On behalf of the new College of Human Development, Culture and Media at Seton Hall University, and the Brownson Speech and Debate Team, we are delighted to invite you to the Annual Ed Leonard Memorial Speech Tournament to be held virtually via Yaatly.com on October 21st, 2023. Our friends at SNAFU have graciously offered to swing with us, and their tournament will be held in the same modality on October 22.

 

Ed Leonard was an extremely talented young man who began his forensics career at Brookdale Community College and spent the last years of his life at Seton Hall. He truly made an indelible imprint upon the forensics community. Ed was always kind to others and very humble when he accepted his numerous awards. Ed treated others with dignity and respect. Perhaps Seneca the Elder had Ed Leonard in mind when he penned, "An orator is a good man who speaks well". It is our intent to bottle Ed Leonard's "goodness" at his tournament's namesake, and we are looking forward to offering you a well organized and high spirited weekend full of quality competition. 

 

The Ed Leonard Tournament is open to all schools wishing to attend, and will feature the 11 AFA-NST events as well as two special I.E. events: Impromptu Sales, and Editorial Impromptu. All points and tabulations will be conducted according to NST procedures. Two preliminary rounds of individual events will be followed by finals consisting of the top six contestants in each event. We will offer an Individual Speaker Award to the top three individuals who enter in at least four events in all three genres of forensics. Sweepstakes awards will be given to the top three schools. This year, we are also excited to announce our partnership with Pi Kappa Delta, and will be offering sweepstakes awards to the top three PKD member schools. 

 

Should you have any further questions please contact Catherine Zizik at 862-253-7886, Catherine.Zizik@shu.edu or Brian Sumereau at 201-566-7643 or brian.sumereau@shu.edu. On behalf of the team and coaching staff, we look forward to seeing you virtually in October.

 

All the best,

 

Brian Sumereau, Head Coach

Catherine Zizik, Director of Forensics

Jess Rauchberg, Assistant Coach

 

 

ED LEONARD TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

 

Saturday October 21st, 2023

All times Eastern

 

Registration                 8:00 AM

Extemp Draw               8:30 AM

Round 1A                     9:00 AM

Round 1B                   10:15 AM

Lunch Break               11:30 AM

Extemp Draw             12:00 PM

Round 2A                   12:30 PM

Round 2B                     1:45 PM           

Finals Extemp Draw     3:15 PM

Finals A                         3:30 PM

Finals B                         4:45 PM

Awards                              ASAP

* Schedule subject to change *

 

Entries:

Students may enter up to 3 events per pattern; schools may enter no more than 6 entries per event. Students may enter 2 Duos so long as it is with 2 different partners. Please let us know of any accessibility needs.

 

Pattern A: EXT, PER, POI, DUO, PRO, INF, and Impromptu Sales (SAL)

Pattern B: IMP, DI, ADS, CA, POE, and Editorial Impromptu (EI)

 

Please enter Seton Hall’s fun and creative event: Impromptu Sales. Students will receive a description of a random object and will have 6 minutes to prepare and deliver a sales speech on the object that they envision that fits the description. The focus is on the uses of this object, the organization of the speech, creativity, and general delivery skills. Give it a try!

 

In our partnership with Pi Kappa Delta, we will also be offering Editorial Impromptu. Students will receive a short editorial (3-5 paragraphs) and develop a response. Participants will be allocated nine (9) minutes to divide between preparation and speech time. Speakers must speak for at least five (5) minutes. Limited notes, prepared in the round, are permitted. Judges will provide time signals.

 

All Entries are due Wednesday, October 18th by 5:00pm Eastern Time. Submit your entry through Speechwire. If you experience any problems with your entry submission, please contact Brian Sumereau at brian.sumereau@shu.edu .

 

Yaatly and Speechwire:

All performances will happen through Yaatly, and all ballots will be handled through Speechwire. Please ensure that all students, coaches and judges have active accounts in both Yaatly and Speechwire.

 

Awards:

Awards will be given to all elimination round competitors, the top three individual sweepstakes speakers, and sweepstakes awards for the top three teams as well as the top three PKD member teams. To be eligible for individual sweepstakes, contestants must compete in all three genres of forensics (LP, PA and Interp) and in at least four events. Considering how many Limited Prep events we're offering, try one of them out! 

For sweepstakes awards, finalists will receive 12 points for first place, 10 points for second, 8 points for third, 7 points for fourth, 5 points for fifth, and 3 points for sixth.  

 

Rules:

Seton Hall University will use the current standing event definitions and time limits as published by the American Forensics Association.  We will offer a semi-final round for any event with 40 or more entries competing in both preliminary rounds of competition.  

 

Judges:

One judge covers six IE slots. Judging obligation is based on the initial entry to the tournament. Accommodations will be made if possible.

 

Content/Trigger Warnings:

The use of content/trigger warnings is encouraged in all events by writing it in the Yaatly chat and/or verbally notifying audiences before performances. We will honor an open-door policy. Students and audience members are encouraged to mute the performance or step out of virtual performance rooms at any time, no questions asked, if they feel the need to. Judges who are concerned about triggers can contact Brian Sumereau at brian.sumereau@shu.edu or the tab room and accommodations will be made if possible.

 

 

Seton Hall University Fees:

$ 8 per slot

$ 15 per uncovered IE slot (judge covers 6 IE slots)

$ 10 per dropped slot through Friday, Oct. 20

$ 15 per additional entry after Wednesday, Oct. 18th (if room allows)  

$ 100 per judge dropped through Friday, Oct. 20

$ 25 dropped IE slots, and $125 per dropped judge Saturday morning

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