October 23, 2023

Dear Colleagues,

The Vanderbilt University Debate Team and the Department of Communication Studies invites you and your teams to the 5th Annual Vanderbilt British Parliamentary Debate Tournament to be held February 2-4, 2024. All schools are welcome.

The CA team for the tournament will be Gina Iberri-Shea (Air Force), Rob Margesson (Regis), and Will Reid (Clemson).

Will Silberman has graciously agreed to run the tab room.

The tournament will have an Open division of BP debate. If numbers warrant, we will have separate elimination rounds and speaker awards for Novice and English-as-a-Second-Language speakers. Entries will be due by 5pm Central on January 26, 2024. Entries will be done through forensicstournament.net. We will post to the BP in North America page on Facebook when we are ready to accept entries.  

We will provide breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday. Snacks will also be provided throughout the tournament.

We have secured a rate of $165 a night at the Holiday Inn Nashville-Vanderbilt (link for reservations below). This is a good rate for the Vanderbilt area and I encourage you to make reservations there. The deadline to make reservations in the room block is January 3, 2024. This hotel is within walking distance (10-15 minutes) of competition rooms, close to several good places to eat, and a quick Uber/Lyft ride away from most of Nashville.

We look forward to seeing you all in February.

Sincerely,

M. L. Sandoz                                            John P. Koch

Director of Forensics                               Director of Debate 

(615-) 322-8669 Office                            (615) 343-6989 Office

(615) 500-6184 Cell                                (330) 280-3310 Cell

(615) 343-7918 Fax                                 john.p.koch@vanderbilt.edu

ML.Sandoz@vanderbilt.edu

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

Entries: We will be using Forensics Tournament for entries. Registration link will be available soon. Deadline is 5pm Central on January 26, 2024.

Divisions: Open BP. Novice and ESL designations will be collected at registration. 

JUDGES: We will use n-1 for determining judging commitment, except all teams are required to provide one judge. For example, if you have 1 team, you will need to provide 1judge. If you have 2 teams, you will need to provide 1 judge. If you have 3 teams, you will need to provide 2 judges, etc. All judges are obligated 1 break round after their teams are eliminated.

AWARDS: All teams reaching elimination rounds will receive awards. In addition, speaker awards will be given to the top 10 speakers (in each division, if numbers warrant).

FEES: Entry fees of $80 per person (including judges and observers) will be collected at registration. We will be able to accept cash, check, or credit card. These fees help cover the cost of four meals, snacks, trophies, and hiring judges. If these fees will prevent you from attending, please contact ML Sandoz (ml.sandoz@vanderbilt.edu) to discuss the possibility of fee reductions and waivers for your program.   

DEADLINES: 1.) All teams must be entered on Forensics Tournament by January 26, 2024 at 5pm Central and 2.) All dietary restrictions or accommodation requests should be communicated to john.p.koch@vanderbilt.edu by January 26, 2024 at 5pm Central. 

TRANSPORTATION: Nashville and Vanderbilt are easily accessible by I-24, I-40, and I-65. In addition, Nashville Airport (BNA) is serviced by most major airlines. You are likely to find the best rates and times through Southwest Airlines, as roughly 60% of all flights in and out of BNA are through them.

AIRPORT SHUTTLE to HOTEL: We recommend using Airport Express (615) 275-1180. Lyft/Uber are also readily available in Nashville.

RENTAL VEHICLES: As noted above, Lyft/Uber are readily available at all times of the day in Nashville. Additionally, the tournament hotel is within walking distance of competition buildings/rooms. It is possible then to not rent a vehicle for this tournament. If you want one though, BNA has most major rental car company options. 

TOURNAMENT HOTEL: We have reserved a block of rooms at the Holiday Inn Nashville-Vanderbilt from 2/2-2/5. This hotel is within walking distance of the tournament and dining establishments. It is also an Uber/Lyft ride away from the restaurants and nightlife of downtown Nashville. The room rate is $165 a night and must be booked by 1/3/24. Rooms can be booked here: Vanderbilt Debate Tournament.  If you would prefer to call: 615-327-4707 and reference the block code Vanderbilt University BP Debate Tournament.

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Friday February 2

6pm-7pm: Public Debate between Vanderbilt and the United States Air Force Academy. All are invited. This event is an annual priority of our Chancellor’s Office and we deeply appreciate your attendance at it. It will be located in Wilson 103 (we will have students at the Holiday Inn to walk you over at 5:30pm).

7-9pm: Registration and Coaches Reception in the lobby outside of Wilson 103.

Saturday February 3

8:45am: Sign-in and Breakfast (Students will be in lobby of hotel at 8:30am to walk you to competition rooms)

9:15: Judge and Debater Briefing

9:45: Round 1 Motion

11:45: Round 2 Motion

1:45: Lunch

2:30: Round 3 Motion

4:30: Round 4 Motion

Sunday February 4

9am: Sign-in and Breakfast

9:30: Round 5 Motion

11:30: Round 6 Motion

1:15: Lunch, Breaks, and Awards

2pm (or earlier if we are able): Quarters, Novice (semis or finals), ESL (semis or finals)

TBD (as early as possible after quarters): Semis for Open BP (Finals if necessary in other break-out divisions)

TBD (as early as possible after semi’s): Open BP Finals