INVITATION:

The Harvard Speech and Parliamentary Debate Society will be holding the 2005 Harvard Debating Championships on October 7-8. We are once again proud to host the month's APDA meeting, and we are looking forward to bringing you the league's deepest judging pool and a blisteringly fast computerized tab room.

As always, there will be five rounds of preliminary competition breaking to octofinals. And don't forget to bring your novices: we will send the top four teams to novice semifinals.

Remember all those tournaments where everyone complained about the vast number of Harvard debaters? Well, now you can let that work in your favor, as we offer you an immense judging pool composed of experienced debaters and rich with esteemed Dinos from all over, including National champions, North American champions, and other APDA graduates from New York, Boston, and all over the country.

Couple this with another one of our fantastic Harvard banquets and an APDA meeting that is sure to entertain, and you have yourself a tournament you won't want to miss.

Below, you will find more detailed information regarding the tournament, or go to our website at: http://hcs.harvard.edu/~debate

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about our tournament.

Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you at the 2005 Harvard Debating Championships.

Sincerely,

Zach Cafritz
Vice President - Tournament Director
Harvard Speech and Parliamentary Debate Society
Email: zcafritz@fas.harvard.edu

DETAILS:

DATES:

Friday, October 7 - Saturday, October 8
Check in anytime beween 1pm-2:30pm

TOURNAMENT FEATURES:

There will be five preliminary rounds of parliamentary debate, after which we will break to octofinals. We will provide a sumptuous banquet for dinner on Friday, breakfast Saturday morning, and mouth-watering snacks on Friday afternoon. In addition to recognizing the top speakers and teams, we will provide trophies for the top novice competitors. So, please, bring your novices!

REGISTRATION FEES:

Fees are subject to change until tournament plans are finalized.

$110 per two-person team.

If your school has never before attended the Harvard Championships,
the fee is only $90 per two-person team.

JUDGING REQUIREMENTS:

$20

HOW DO I PRE-REGISTER?:

here!

If you don't like computers, no problem. Just email our T.D., Zach Cafritz.
or write to...

Zach Cafritz
364 Currier Mail Center
Cambridge, MA 02138

If you pre-register by e-mail or post, we need to know the following:

WHERE IS GA?

GA will be in the Science Center, where it has traditionally been. The Science Center is the
polaroid camera-esque masterpiece located next to the castle-like Memorial Hall.

You can also check out the map here.

WHEN SHOULD I GET THERE?

BY 2:30pm

Please take into account the time it will take to drive into Boston (traffic can be pretty horrendous),
and the time it will take to walk to GA (give yourself half an hour).

WHERE SHOULD I PARK?

Take I-95 (North or South) to exit 29. Get on Route 2 going eastbound. Somewhere after exit 60 or so there will be a sign for Alewife on the right. Bear right at the alewife sign going past the bowling alley. You will soon see a large parking garage called Alewife. Turn in and park.

After parking, follow the signs for the T (subway). Alewife is the last stop, so get on whatever train is there. Take the train three stops to Harvard Square.

When you get out, you will see Harvard Yard (if you see Out of Town news, turn right). Walk along the sidewalk to the left of Harvard Yard, keeping Harvard Yard on your right. The path will curve right after a bit and then you will see an underpass on your left. After the underpass is no longer next to you, turn left. The science center is in front of you. GA is in Science Center C.

If you would like, you are also welcome to park in one of the garages within Harvard Square itself. These garages, however, will be much more expensive.

DO I HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING?

Parking fees from other lots will not be deducted.

DIRECTIONS:

BY CAR:

After parking, follow the signs for the T (subway). Alewife is the last stop, so get on whatever train is there. Take the train three stops to Harvard Square.

FROM LOGAN AIRPORT:

You can take Boston's subway, inscrutably called the "T" to Harvard. From your terminal, take the free #22 shuttle bus to the AIRPORT "T" STATION (Blue line). Take the blue line (towards Bowdoin) for four stops to GOVERNMENT CENTER. At Government Center, change to the GREEN LINE westbound. Go one stop to PARK STREET. Change to the RED LINE outbound (toward ALEWIFE), for four stops and get off at HARVARD. The Subway ride from Logan takes 45-60 minutes. Subway tokens cost $1.25. Please tell us if you plan on flying to the tournament. We will try to have someone at the airport to meet you.

FROM BOSTON'S SOUTH STATION
(THE TRAIN):

There is a subway stop adjacent to South Station. Take the RED LINE toward Alewife for six stops, get off at Harvard.

WHERE DO I GO TO CHECK IN?

MAP

HOUSING:

We will provide housing for the tournament. Bring a sleeping bag or pillow or whatever you need to get comfortable. We can house teams coming from far away for an extra day or two before and after the tournament, but please let us know as soon as possible if you will need extra housing.

ORIENTATION MEETING FOR NON-APDA SCHOOLS:

If you are not a member of the American Parliamentary Debate Association, don't fret. We will have an optional orientation session that will explain all the APDA quirks. Let us know as soon as possible if you will be attending this session. If you can't, don't worry: our judges will just be looking to be convinced of your position, not at your manner of convincing, so non-APDA schools will not be at a competitive disadvantage.

WEATHER:

It will rain. Bring an umbrella.

EMERGENCIES:

Zach Cafritz

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:

FRIDAY

1:00PM – 2:30 PM Registration
3:30PM Round I - Pairings read
5:15PM Round II - Pairings read
7:00PM Banquet begins
8:00PM Banquet ends; return to GA
8:15PM Round III - Pairings read
9:30PM Round IV - Pairings read
10:00PM APDA Meeting

SATURDAY

8:00AM Breakfast begins
9:30AM Round IV - Pairings re-read
11:15AM Round V - Pairings read
1:00AM Octofinals announced in GA
2:45PM Quarterfinals/Novice Semis announced in GA
4:00PM Semifinals/Novice Finals announced in GA
5:15PM Finals announced in GA
5:15PM Awards

FINAL WORDS

Thanks a lot! We're looking forward to seeing everybody this fall,

~ Zach