Pictures

Cornell View

Cornell Milkshake Van

Ithaca College - Post Debate

Rochester - Post Debate
(note new t-shirts over suits)

Alex with Boston College's trophy cabinet

Facebook

We are now on facebook as well in an attempt to make this the most multi/cross/hip media USA tour to date - the group is open to all so you post photos and comments.

http://dur.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5430439429

A&A xx

Debate 4: University of Vermont, VT - Part 2

Sorry for the lack of updates we have been rather busy for the last couple of days. We continued to compete in the Vermont parliamentary tournament debating the motions, ‘THW nationalise energy resources’, ‘THW scrap the Olympics’, TH prefers soft power to hard power’ and ‘THW negotiate with terrorists’. We were pleased with the way we spoke especially when we got to nationalise all of the US energy industry. Overall we won three and came second twice (although ali was not convinced with one call – but hey this is debating) – Ultimately though we were not allowed to break and went on to judge the semi finals before watching the final on withdrawing US troops for Iraq.

Overall the standard of the BP tournament was good considering that very few teams had any really BP experience although the APDA debaters were able to make the transition quite easily. We also go our chance to see some policy debate a first for both of us – it did live up to the hype with 350 words a minute speeches which prove totally unintelligible to the untrained ear! But it is a skill in and of its self and the depth and rigor that the debates have is certainly superior to BP but the accessibility to and audience or to new speakers is very low. Moreover due to the masses of research involved in policy there is very little time for socialising at tournaments with everyone going to prep as soon as they have finished their last debate. Consequently we didn’t get much of a chance to speak to many policy debaters, although we did get to talk to several of the West Point guys who were debating in uniform. (The West Point team is very competitive to get on to as it is one of the few teams that allows you to get off base each weekend to compete as a result it produces several good teams each year).

The other thing to note about US tournaments is the amount of trophies there are to be won. Dog tags for the top ten speakers in each division and trophies for the top ten teams and best 2 speakers in each division. A contrast to the UK where you might get a bottle of beer for winning the final and a trophy you have to give back next year if your lucky. We were very pleased when the two Rochester speakers who had been looking after us ranked 1st and 3rd in the Parliamentary speakers tab.

So after the excitement of Vermont and sleeping in Mandy’s attic it was off to Boston College courtesy of their coach John Katsulas during the drive we got to check off two more states, New Hampshire (or Bartlett Country as we called it) and Massachusetts.

Debate 4: University of Vermont, VT

Quick post to say we are in Burlington Vermont - around 1/2 hour from the Canadian border. Taking part in the northeast's first BP tournamnet which is running along side a policy tournament here in Vermont. They are letting us do the preliminary round but not break. The competition has 20 teams from schools across the region.

We have done both a judges and competitors workshops on the parliamentary format and competed in one round so far, 2nd opp to "THW prioritize organ donation for those who live heathly lifestyles" - We took part in an excellent first round debate with some APDA and Policy speakers who adapted really well to the format.

The competition is being run by the legendary Alfred "Tuna" Snider - http://globaldebateblog.blogspot.com/

He once studied in Durham so must therefore be great!

More news after once we finish the rounds

Debate 3: University of Rochester, NY

After a two hour drive to Rochester we were met by their debate coach Ken and taken to our motel - Rochester’s finest, with a great view of the truck stop/highway. After a short break we were taken through the rain to the campus where we were to debate the Iran topic again.

The debate took place in front of around 30 people in a large lecture hall - the Rochester team were both very good and had a lot of policy experience this combined with a good deal of prep meant they presented a comprehensive case against invasion. We attempted to counter with a great deal of principled human rights bravo (whist trying to side step the practicalities slightly). The format also included POIs which were new to the audience and were good fun. The audience also got into the debate having been told that parliamentary debate required a great deal of booing and clapping - unfortunately most of the claps were reserved for Rochester and the hissing for us. However we were both impressed with the quality of speeches form the audience during the floor debate. (Ali did have to explain at one point that debate was an intellectual game and possibly the British in a non-debate world didn't want to blow Iran of the face of the planet) - Despite the fact that we thought that we had no hope we were surprised that went managed to scrape a diplomatic draw 12-12 in the floor vote, leaving our 100% record in tact.

Rochester also highlighted for us the difference between British and American debate. Were we are used to small student run organizations. Rochester has a debate team office that could seat 40, a professional coach and 3 assistant coaches – we also learnt about some of the finer points of policy debating and realized that it was far more nuanced than some people can give it credit for. We were very impressed by the professional set up and the scale of the operation.

After the debate we were taken out for dinner (now sporting our new Rochester debate tee-shirts) and then on to a bar to sample the local beers - including a Blueberry flavored lager "It tastes just like pie" A. Just. Our pool record currently stands at 5-2, however we are 1-1 at darts.

Role on Vermont…

Debate 2: Ithaca College, NY

Drove across town to Ithaca.

Smoothies with Immunity.

THBT the US should sign up to the ICC.

Freshman and Sophomore novices - excellent speeches.

Close, 2nd victory.

Reception - great desserts!

Irish Bar.

Pool hustler.

Debate 1: Cornell University, NY

On our first evening we were met by the Cornell Coach Sam Nelson and his assistant Tony at JFK Airport. After a 4 Hour Drive to Campus we arrived at the Cornell campus in Ithica. During the trip we got a chance to talk to Sam about the next 11 weeks - he is responsible for getting across the US during the tour so we were pleased that he was both excited about the tour and put us at ease right away. 

Our first night we stayed at the 4* hotel on the Cornell campus which is run by the School of Hotel Management. It appears there are schools in just about everything at Cornell, butchering, hotel management and conflict resolution to name a few. Sadly we did not get a chance to appreciate our hotel room fully as we were up the next morning to go for breakfast. (although Ali was able to get excited that the view from our window was a stereotypical ivy league picture - e.g. stones buildings with ivy attached).  Sam then toured us around campus before we met some of his students who showed us some more of the very beautiful campus as well as there dorm block (built to look like a castle).

Debate One: This was to be a BP debate in front of Sam's debate class - around 120 students. Cornell does mostly policy debate so a parliamentary debate would be a novelty. (more on the BP/Policy/every other american debate format discussion to come) - We were 1st op to the motion 'THB that invading Iran would do more harm than good". We reveled in our chance to be Neo-Cons although Alex's assertion that we could invade Russia to might have gone to far. I his summation Sam described Ali as Churchillian and Alex's speech reminiscent to Thatcher, Alex was not pleased with his comparison! But this unholy alliance sent team Britain to their 1st win.