CANADIAN UNIVERSITY SOCIETY FOR INTERCOLLEGIATE DEBATE

Central Meeting: November 25, 2003

McMaster University

1. Call to Order

Meeting called to order by Emma Lowman, Chair at 2:30pm.

2. Roll Call and Voting Rights

Present

Emma Lowman, CUSID Central Vice-President

Wayne Chu, Executive Director

Carleton University

Concordia University

McGill University

McMaster University

Queen’s University

University of Guelph

University of Ottawa

University of Toronto, Hart House

University of Toronto, Trinity College

University of Waterloo (Full Directed Proxy)

University of Western Ontario

University of Western Ontario, Huron College (Proxy to Western)

University of Western Ontario, King’s College (Proxy to Western)

Wilfred Laurier University

York University

Motion to allow Leger Chief Adjudicator, motioned by Queen’s seconded by Western.

MOTION PASSED

2. Central VP Report

• Pleased to see progress in Central with the creation of new clubs.
• Lots of new things with DOFLD, including the startup of new clubs.
• Niagra College at McMaster University starting up.  Hope to encourage smaller schools to start clubs in the future.

3. Address from CA

• n/2 rule needs to be taken more seriously, not just by following letter of the law but bigger schools need to send more and better qualified judges.
• A policy is not necessarily required, but schools need to take into account of the reasons for the requirement and follow suit.
• Moreover, there is a greater effort to standardize and train judges.  While this is a good starting point, we need to do more.
• Perhaps we can look at Australian model.  This should not be expected to be a policy, but it should be considered especially with smaller schools popping up.

3. Call for bids for Central Novice Championship

Western bids for Central Novice

• Very similar to previous years.  See CUSIDnet for bid.
• 6 rounds, CP rounds, with a BP show round and information on both styles in packages
• On advice of Stephen Patel, will obtain video of good CP round to show between rounds.
• POIs encouraged
• Scoring range of 36-42, 38 average.
• Hardware as usual.
• No school cap, n/2 judging encouraged.
• Hopefully will get Stephen Patel again.
• 1/3 of tournament billeted on first come first serve basis.
• Accommodation to minors, Elephant & Castle on Saturday night.
• Will get food from good reputable place.
• Tournament to be held Oct 2 – 4.
• Registration cost of $90/billeted team, $165/hotel team.
• Same discounts as before.
• Discounts now only applies to cost of registration, not hotel costs.
• Tournament staff TBA with 2 equity officers (one of each sex), runners in every building before allowing novices at UWO to debate

Questions

Ottawa:            People who didn’t fill their time were not penalized

UWO:              Reinforce at judge briefing to emphasize filling your time

Mac:                Contingency plan for venues denying novices?

UWO:              Rare exceptional circumstance.

Mac:                Make sure that things are paper

MOTION CARRIES: 13 FOR, 3 ABSTENTIONS

MOTION CARRIES

4. Call for bids for Leger Cup

Motion to table to Nationals by McGill, seconded by Laurier

MOTION CARRIES

5.  Call for nominations for Central Vice President

Queen’s University, seconded by McGill University, nominates Aron Seal.

University of Western Ontario, seconded by Carleton University, nominates Mona Afrouz.

Presentations

Mona Afrouz

• TD at novice, 2^nd year in CUSID, previously debated in United States.
• Have leadership skills, and committed to job.
• Main focus is fundraising for Leger – Wants to make bid for Leger more competitive.
• Continuous sponsorship to keep schools from losing money.
• Second issue is double cohort – have wet-dry policy to encourage at least at title tournaments for minors to be able to participate.
• Third issue – communication between regional VP’s, especially since national execs are mostly based in Central.
• Important to make CUSID more united to lower weaknesses, better the strengths.
• CUSID as a whole is working well, we should not make drastic changes because they are not needed.
• If club execs need help, always available, but is willing to help.

Aron Seal

• Debating for a very, very, very long time.
• Main responsibility is representation and support for clubs.
• Experience at Queen’s helps clubs to find funding and support
• Representation – Have gone to debates in West, Central, East and US, and has gotten to know people in all regions very well.
• Main issue is all-ages access – recognizes need for access and does not want to trivialize issues.
• Mandate all tournaments to have all-ages access
• Have public discussion between clubs to discuss how to ensure all-ages access and hold events.
• Promoting HS tourneys – Very important to promote and we should collectively promote.
• French debating – attend new schools meetings, help DOFLD

Questions

Guelph:             Speak briefly on small schools and better judges coming out to tournaments.

Aron:                Reflected in platform – experience allows him to provide whatever help is needed.  Promoting HS tournaments helps clubs develop.  Regarding judges, we should give discounts to experienced judges.

Mona:              With experience as TD with novice, knows issues.  Encourage schools to come to novice first and help clubs run tournaments and then work on establishing.  Regarding judges, encouragement of big schools, discounts, create list of alumni and use it.

McMaster:       Regarding underage policies, how much jurisdiction do you actually have to enforce tournaments that are not sanctioned?

Aron:                The by-law is only with respect to title tournaments.  With non-sanctioned tournaments, CUSID has no direct say, but by promoting discussion, we will have more ideas to use.

Mona:              Encouragement is the key.  Requirement is not good because some clubs simply can’t do it.  Otherwise, will hinder bids.

McGill:             What role the VP central will play in BP debate?  Where do you see CUSID Central with BP.

Aron:                The issues have been discussed at length and have been dealt with ie. National BP Championships.  CUSID exec should analyze and listen to clubs.  By promoting discussion, clubs can better understand other clubs decisions and can make their own decisions.

Mona:              VP Central is only a liaison between National exec and members.  Listen the concerns and express those concerns to National Exec.  If Central wants more BP, convey that.  Communication more successful that way.

York:               Innovations on Central Canadian Championships?

Aron:                Depends on the school that hosts Leger.  VP Central should be resource and has to be involved or is available if the host decides to help.

Mona:              Lack of fundraising and judging pool is problem is why there are no bids.  If we improve these issues, more bids will result.

Aron Seal will be the CUSID VP Central for 2003 – 2004.

6.  New Business

No new business.

7. Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 3:10pm.