WUDC and Policy Formats Share Tournament Spotlight in Connecticut

There will be over 100 teams at this tournament, with 66 policy teams and 42 WUDC teams. I believe this shows that the different formats can grow together.

From http://www.newstimes.com/ci_10796588

WestConn to host weekend-long debate tournament
Newstimes
NewsTimes.com
Article Last Updated:10/24/2008 12:07:31 AM EDT
By Eileen FitzGerald
DANBURY -- Students from 15 public and private colleges in the Northeast will debate the most crucial issues facing the country during a tournament at Western Connecticut State University this weekend.

The Hat City Debates will be run by the Roger Sherman Debate Society at WestConn on Saturday and Sunday. The tournament is free and open to the public.

About 100 teams will participate. Participating schools include New York University, Harvard University, Dartmouth College, Baruch College, Cornell University and Marist College.

Students can choose to debate in one of two formats.

One is the policy debate, in which teams will argue whether the United States should decrease its agricultural subsidies to farmers.

Students arguing in the policy debates prepare by conducting research on agricultural policy.

The policy debates are 1½ hours, and at the end of six rounds, the winners qualify for the elimination rounds.

The other kind is the parliamentary debate, which is less formal.

"For the parliamentary debate, they will only get the issues right before they debate,'' said Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox, WestConn debate team adviser and associate professor of History and Non-Western Cultures. "It will show their current knowledge on a topic."

The topics will include the top issues of the day and will definitely include the election and the economic bailout.

He said the parliamentary debates show off the students' general knowledge, while the policy debates highlight their research skills.

Last year, WestConn's debate team was ranked 12th highest for Masters-Level public universities nationally.

Regionally, WestConn's debate team ranked at No. 11 in New England regardless of size and type of university.

The debates will take place on the first floor of Warner Hall, on the university's Midtown campus, 181 White St.

Debating will start at 8 a.m. and end at 8 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.