There is no debate about the tournament coming up at UNBC for public speaking.
The Northern Academic Debate Championship is now open for registration. The vocal gloves get dropped March 18 to 20, open to anyone across Northern B.C. from Grade 8 to 12.
The president of the host UNBC Debate Society, Sufey Chen, is calling for participants to get signed up.
"The main focus of the tournament is to develop debate and public speaking skills through intensive debate rounds and workshops; introduce high school students to post-secondary education through an orientation to the university; and enhance the education and success of students through academic and social means," said Chen. "Our goal is to promote debate and education in a dynamic and spirited environment."
Over three days, the tournament will have four preliminary rounds of debate with a break to semi-finals and finals. There will also be a public speaking competition, training workshops and skill development seminars, a banquet and social, awards presentation, UNBC campus tours and an orientation to the university, and many team-bonding activities.
Chen said the theme would be based on Harry Potter. Participants would face the sorting hat at the outset of the tournament and be assigned to one of four competition houses: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.
"Teams will receive points for academic-based and spirit-based challenges, which sparks a whole new level of excitement to the traditional debate tournament," Chen said.
Debaters of all experience levels are welcome.
The registration fee for the tournament is $25 per student (due March 1) which includes food, workshops, prizes, and more. Early bird registration (before Feb. 1) is only $15/ student.
Debaters sign up in teams of two, with a partner in the same grade category (Gr. 8, Gr. 9-10, or Gr. 11-12). Hybrid teams (teams of students from different schools) are allowed.
Both the Parliamentary style and the National debate styles will be used.
Resolutions will be released on Feb. 1 and will be on academic or current issues.
Registration forms will be available through your teacher contact or under the Northern Academic Debate Championship heading on the UNBC Debate Society's website (http://unbcdebate.com).
For more information, e-mail info@unbcdebate.com. You may also directly contact Chen at sufey@unbcdebate.com or Tournament Director James Alexander at james@unbcdebate.com.
