[eDebate] Invitation to compete for the Madison Cup at JMU

[pete bsumek]

On behalf of the James Madison Center and JMU Debate we are pleased and
excited to invite you to compete for the Madison Cup at the second annual
?James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizens Forum? on March 16-17, 2004.

The James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizens Forum is a unique
inter-collegiate debate competition, which combines the excitement and
challenge of tournament competition with the relevance and empowerment of a
public audience and audience participation.   It is also one of the
showcase events of our university?s Madison Week Celebration. 

The tournament details are enclosed with this letter.  If you should have
any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We look forward to hosting you in March!




Pete Bsumek, Ph. D.				Eric Jenkins
Director of Debate				Assist. Director of Debat
MSC 2106					MSC 2106
School of Comm. Studies				School of Comm. Studies
James Madison University			James Madison University
(O) 540-568-3386				(O) 540-568-1738
(FAX) 540-568-6059				(FAX) 540-568-6059
(E-mail) bsumekpk at jmu.edu			(E-mail) jenkines at jmu.edu










Background: Timed to coincide with James Madison University's yearly
celebration of James Madison's birthday in mid-March, The James Madison
Commemorative Debate and Citizen Forum centers on an important question
facing American democracy. Last year?s topic was "The War on Terrorism." 
Debaters argued both sides of the resolution: Resolved: That the Patriot
Act(s) are an unpatriotic infringement upon American civil liberties.
 
The James Madison Center at James Madison University sponsors the event in
the spirit of James Madison's ideal that a republican democracy is healthy
only when informed and civil debate thrives. The entire event will be
broadcast live on the World Wide Web.  Last year?s debate featured teams
from Mary Washington College, the University of Richmond, the University of
Pittsburgh and James Madison University.  It is archived at the following
web site:  http://www.jmu.edu/birthday/audio.shtml
 
This year the intellectual theme for Madison Week is ?Freedom of the
Press.?  Ben Bradlee, former executive editor of the Washington Post, will
deliver the Madison Day Address.  Mr. Bradlee was the one who made the
decision to go to press with ?the Watergate story.?  He is also reputed to
be one of the few who knows who ?Deep Throat? was.

2004 Topic: Resolved: that current corporate media conglomerates are an
insult to the ideals of the First Amendment. 

Eligible Participants:  Each school may enter one two-person team.  The
debate is open to undergraduate students who are in good standing at their
respective institutions.  Second teams will be considered on a case-by-case
basis, if space permits.  

Competition Format:  The debate uses a ?long table? format.  This is a
public debate.   Last year there was an audience of around 250 people.  
The ?long table? format features two, or three (two person) teams on each
side of the question.  Speeches start with the affirmative and alternate
between the affirmative and negative throughout the debate.  Teams are
randomly assigned to sides and speaker positions.  Teams are assigned
speaker positions, not individual speakers.  In other words, if a team is
selected to be the first affirmative, they will give the first two
affirmative speeches in the debate.  The first and last speech on each side
of the question is uninterruptible.  Any member of the opposing team may
interrupt the speeches in the middle of the debate in order to ask the
speaker to yield to a question.  Speakers are not required to answer these
questions (although not answering questions may cause the audience to think
that the speaker is ?dodgy?).  Please see the example format below for more
information.

Jury Adjudication Procedure:  A three to seven member panel will adjudicate
the debate.  At the completion of the debate, the panel will adjourn to
discuss, deliberate and decide upon the winners as a group.  The jury votes
for (2-person) teams, not sides of the question.  In other words, first
place could go to an affirmative team, while second place could be awarded
to a negative team. 

Public Participation:  While the jury deliberates, the floor will be opened
for audience comments and speeches.  An award for the best floor speech
will be presented.  Local newspapers, politicians, and the general public
are invited.  Last year Senator Leahy?s office circulated and publicized
the debate broad cast in the senate, and Rep. Goodlatte sent a legislative
aid.  We hope to have C-SPAN type coverage in the not too distant future.

Awards:  The first place team will leave with the Madison Cup?a very nice
traveling trophy. The Madison Week committee will also pay to house the
winning team over night, so that JMU President Linwood Rose can present the
Madison Cup the next day as part of the culmination of the Madison Week
celebration. Unique individual awards will also be given to first, second
and (assuming there are six teams in the final round) third place teams. 
All participants in the final round will be recognized with awards. 

Entry:  There are no entry fees. We can accommodate 12 teams.  Entry is on
a first come, first serve basis.  Deadline for entry is March 1.  This is
necessary so we can draw for sides two weeks prior to the debate.

Lodging:  We have a block of rooms reserved.  We will send you the
information when you register.  Rooms will run $50.00 plus tax for
double-doubles.  If you would like to attend, but cannot afford lodging,
please contact us and we will do everything we can to fix that problem.

Travel:  James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, VA, which is
two hours southwest of Washington, D.C. on I-81.  If you plan to fly
consider Dullas and Washington National/Reagan Airports in Washington DC (2
hours away), Richmond airport (2 hours away), Charlottesville airport (one
hour away) and the Shenandoah Regional Airport (15 minutes away).  We are
happy to provide transportation to and from any of these airports.

Schedule: 

Tuesday March 16, 11:00am: Preliminary debate rounds (if necessary) 
Tuesday March 16, 3:30pm: James Madison Commemorative Debate and Citizen Forum
Tuesday March 16, 5:30pm:  Reception for participants
Tuesday March 16, 6:30pm: Dinner at a local restaurant
Wednesday, March 17, 11:00pm: Wreath laying Ceremony
Wednesday, March 17, 2:30pm:  Madison Day Ceremony (presentation of Madison
Cup to first place debate team & Madison Day Address).

Questions:  Please do not hesitate to contact us.



Example Debate Format:  We have included last year?s school participants so
you can get a feel for the format.  If there are 6 teams, two speeches will
be added to the middle of the debate on each side.

Introduction:  Philip Bigler, Director James Madison Center

Moderator explains the debate format to the audience

1st Affirmative Speech (Richmond #1): (5 minutes) uninterruptible

1st Negative Speech (Mary Washington #1): (5 minutes) uninterruptible

2nd Affirmative Speech (Richmond #2): (6 minutes):  The first and last
minute of the speech are uninterruptible.  In the 2nd-5th minutes of the
speech any opposition debater may ask the speaker to yield to a question. 
The speaker may accept, or decline the question.

2nd Negative Speech (Mary Washington #2): (6 minutes): The first and last
minute of the speech are uninterruptible.  In the 2nd-5th minutes of the
speech any opposition debater may ask the speaker to yield to a question. 
The speaker may accept, or decline the question.

3rd Affirmative Speech (Pittsburgh #1): (6 minutes): The first and last
minute of the speech are uninterruptible.  In the 2nd-5th minutes of the
speech any opposition debater may ask the speaker to yield to a question. 
The speaker may accept, or decline the question.

3rd Negative Speech (James Madison #1): (6 minutes): The first and last
minute of the speech are uninterruptible.  In the 2nd-5th minutes of the
speech any opposition debater may ask the speaker to yield to a question. 
The speaker may accept, or decline the question.

4th Affirmative Speech (Pittsburgh #2): (5 minutes) uninterruptible

4th Negative Speech (James Madison #2): (5 minutes) uninterruptible



















Pete Bsumek, Ph.D.
Assitant Professor/Dir. of Debate
CISAT Modular Bld., Room 100
MSC 2106
School of Communication Studies
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
(o) 540-568-3386
(h) 540-433-9302
(c) 540-421-4105
(f) 540-568-6059