[eDebate] LAST CALL for NORTHWESTERN TOURNEY

[Scott Deatherage]

If you have not entered and would like to do so, please respond to this 
message asap.  The entry deadline was last Friday at Noon.  Several people 
who did not read the URL post carefully have begged and pleaded with me 
over the last four days.  I have entered them, primarily because we got the 
URL out later than we originally promised.  However, we are now reaching 
the point of no return:  The tournament is larger than any Owen L. Coon in 
history, classrooms are at a premium, and at present we have no extra rooms 
for rounds 1 and 2.  In addition, we need to finalize the judge pool asap 
so that a preference sheet can be made available.  I will start saying no 
at noon today.

Let me also remind you that the DROP DEADLINE is Wednesday, February 5 
(tomorrow) at Noon CST.  If you drop between now and the drop deadline, 
there is no fee.  However, if you drop after the announced deadline, there 
is a $40 per person drop fee.  That's not because we hate you.  It's 
because I must provide final counts to our various food providers at that 
time.  Once I give them a final guarantee, our contracts oblige us to pay, 
your presence notwithstanding.

Should you need to DROP a person or team, please do so by accessing your 
account on the web page, just as you entered.  The URL is 
www.debatetournament.com/northwestern2003.  Please ALSO CONFIRM your drop 
or change by sending e-mail to me, lsd041 at northwestern.edu or 
nudebate at northwestern.edu.  The tournament will be paired on the basis of 
what is in the database, and that is established only by your entry on the 
web page and your subsequent editing of it.

Finally, let me urge you to read past posts that you may have ignored, 
especially coaches.  In addition to the invitation, two other posts have 
come previous to this:  one announcing the URL for entry and one providing 
overflow hotel information.  The one with the URL included a number of 
other announcements that may impact your visit.  The invitation, which is 
available on the web page, contains a number of announcements about changes 
in the tournament as compared to past years.  I encourage you to visit it 
and the edebate posts.

Look for at least two additional posts:  one from Gary Larson announcing 
the availability of the preference sheets, and one from me regarding a 
number of tournament logistics.  We look forward to your visit.  See you 
soon.  Best.  SD





Scott Deatherage
Director of Debate
Northwestern University
Evanston, Illinois