Fellow Debaters,

We are pleased to invite you to the thirtieth annual Loomis Chaffee School Debate Tournament to be held Sunday, January 15, 2012. A schedule of events, including the time and place for registration, is linked on the right column of this page. The tournament is one of several sponsored throughout the year by various members of DANEIS (The Debating Association of New England Independent Schools). We hope that some schools which have not yet participated in DANEIS events but which have debating groups will choose to attend. Schools will be limited to a maximum of two four-person teams in each division. We can accommodate up to 56 four-person teams. Recently we have been at or near capacity. This tournament serves as the last qualifying tournament for the world championships.

There will be three rounds of debate in both the Novice and Advanced divisions on the resolution: "Resolved: that significant procedural change(s), to include filibuster reform, should be made in the United States legislature.” The affirmative side has an obligation to define the terms at the start of the debate, but, of course, in a way that allows for good debate to take place. Since this is a policy change debate the affirmative case should include the sketch of a plan to implement that change. For a more complete discussion of affirmative and negative responsibilities please refer to the judging overview.

Please note that the tournament is a switch-side tournament, meaning that over the course of the day each 2-person team will debate on both sides of the resolution. Each 4-person team will consist of one 2-person team which debates the first 2 rounds on affirmative and the third on negative, and another 2-person team which debates the first 2 rounds on negative and the last on affirmative. We hope that debaters will enjoy this opportunity for switch-side debating.

In both the Novice and Advanced divisions the format of the debates will be 7 minute constructive speeches, 3 minute cross examinations, and 4 minute rebuttals. The fees for entering the tournament will be $65 for each four-person team entered (max of 2 in each division) - there is no additional fee for observers. Every school should bring a judge for each 4-person team they enter. We have no objections to experienced, upper level student debaters serving as judges in the novice division, but adults should judge in the advanced division. We make NO promise to supply extra judges.

At the conclusion of the 3 rounds of debate (while the tabulations are being completed) there will be an exhibition debate between the top two 2-person teams (not from the same school) from the Advanced division. This exhibition involving 4 of the league's best debaters should be instructive for all of our debaters (particularly the novices) as well as helpful for any school that is just now forming a debate group. An awards ceremony and supper follows the exhibition debate.

We have linked a form for you to use to indicate whether or not you are attending, and if you are attending, then the number of teams you plan to bring in each division. We hope to hear from you soon; and we strongly urge you to reply by Jan. 9.

Sincerely,

Curt Robison (Adviser to the Loomis Chaffee Debate Society)
The Loomis Chaffee School
Windsor, CT 06095
Office phone: (860) 687 6122 (feel free to leave a voice mail day or night)
Home phone: (860) 687 6185
Email (preferred form of communication): curt_robison@loomis.org