CUSID was proud to crown new National Champions at Queen’s University this past week. Congratulations to Adrienne Lipsey and Richard Lizius of the University of Toronto’s Hart House, for defeating the joint National Top Speakers, Mike Jancik and Jason Rogers from McGill University. The Grand Final was held in Canada’s first Parliament, and was presided over by the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Congratulations also go to the new Novice Champions, McGill’s Riva Gold and Sophie MacIntyre, defeating Hart House’s Ben Schachter and Josh Xiong on a 4-3 decision after a 75 minute deliberation. Canada’s Top Public Speaker is McGill’s Leon Grek, who defeated McGill’s Padraic Scanlan, also on a 4-3 vote. The Top Novice Speaker was Hart House’s John Ashbourne.

The new CUSID Executive includes the University of Toronto’s Nick Shkordoff as President, the University of Ottawa’s Alex Amar as Executive Director, and the University of Toronto’s Paul-Erik Dash Veel as Treasurer.

Other business from the Annual General Meeting included the allocation of the 2007-2008 British Parliamentary Championships to Edmonton’s University of Alberta, the 2007-2008 North American Debating Championships to Carleton University in Ottawa, the 2007-2008 National Championships to Dalhousie University of Halifax, and the adoption of criteria to clarify CUSID recognition of multiple clubs at a single institution.

The Central Region General Meeting granted the 2007-2008 Central Canadian Novice Championships to York University’s Osgoode Hall, and the L?ger Cup to Kingston’s Royal Military College.

Many thanks and congratulations to Queen’s University for an impeccable tournament.

CUSID was proud to crown new National Champions at Queen’s University this past week. Congratulations to Adrienne Lipsey and Richard Lizius of the University of Toronto’s Hart House, for defeating the joint National Top Speakers, Mike Jancik and Jason Rogers from McGill University. The Grand Final was held in Canada’s first Parliament, and was presided over by the Honourable Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons.

Congratulations also go to the new Novice Champions, McGill’s Riva Gold and Sophie MacIntyre, defeating Hart House’s Ben Schachter and Josh Xiong on a 4-3 decision after a 75 minute deliberation. Canada’s Top Public Speaker is McGill’s Leon Grek, who defeated McGill’s Padraic Scanlan, also on a 4-3 vote. The Top Novice Speaker was Hart House’s John Ashbourne.

The new CUSID Executive includes the University of Toronto’s Nick Shkordoff as President, the University of Ottawa’s Alex Amar as Executive Director, and the University of Toronto’s Paul-Erik Dash Veel as Treasurer.

Other business from the Annual General Meeting included the allocation of the 2007-2008 British Parliamentary Championships to Edmonton’s University of Alberta, the 2007-2008 North American Debating Championships to Carleton University in Ottawa, the 2007-2008 National Championships to Dalhousie University of Halifax, and the adoption of criteria to clarify CUSID recognition of multiple clubs at a single institution.

The Central Region General Meeting granted the 2007-2008 Central Canadian Novice Championships to York University’s Osgoode Hall, and the L?ger Cup to Kingston’s Royal Military College.

Many thanks and congratulations to Queen’s University for an impeccable tournament.

Bates College of Lewiston, Maine, hosted this past year’s annual North American Debating Championships. CUSID congratulates Carleton’s Ian Freeman for winning Top Speaker – the first Canadian to do so at an American-hosted Championship since 1995 – and the University of British Columbia’s Teddy Harrison & Ashish Sinha for reaching finals, Carleton University’s Padraic Ryan, who with Ian broke undefeated and finished in the semi-final, and quarter-finalists Paul-Erik Dash Veel & Adrienne Lipsey of Hart House at the University of Toronto.

CUSID also thanks Joanna Nairn of Harvard (formerly of Hart House) for her work as Canadian Deputy Chief Adjudicator and congratulates Yale’s Dylan Gadek and Matt Wansley, the new champions.

Vancouver’s University of British Columbia hosted the 2006-2007 World Universities Debating Championship. CUSID congratulates McGill’s Leon Grek and Vinay Kumar Mysore for breaking 6th and finishing as octo-finalists, and the University of Alaska’s Chris Kolerok and Tom Lassen for breaking 22nd and finishing as semi-finalists.

CUSID also recognizes the achievements of the following alumni and friends: Birmingham A featuring Adam Gaya of McGill, breaking 23rd and finishing as octo-finalists; Helsinki A featuring Gabriel Mastico, formerly of the University of British Columbia, breaking 26th and finishing as octo-finalists, and Oxford E featuring Jess Prince and Alex Campbell, both formerly of McGill, breaking 3rd and finishing as octo-finalists. Alex finished as the World’s 9th speaker, and Jess finished as the World’s Best Speaker.

Congratulations, all!

CUSID Central Region Meeting

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Queen’s University

Present:

McMaster University (Kozo Ota)

University of Guelph (Shaughnessy Hawkins)

Carleton University (Adam Coombs)

University of Western Ontario (Cari Ferguson)

Lakehead University (Miranda Serravalle)

University of Toronto (Hart House) (Sarah Ingimundson)

York University (Rudi Lof)

University of Ottawa (English Debating Society) (Bill Hughes)

Royal Military College (Jon Douglas)

Queen’s University (Sarah Sahagian)

McGill University (Bryan Badali)

Bishops University (Ben Wald)

University of Waterloo – Directed proxy

Chair: Kozo Ota

Minutes: Kozo Ota

1. Call to Order

18:32

2. Approval of Agenda

APPROVED

3. Bids for Novice

Osgoode Hall (York) presents a bid for Central Novice.

Concerns are raised about Amir Mohareb’s experience with being a CA. Osgoode believes Amir has the relevant skills to come up with resolutions, and that he is willing to seek help from more experienced past Chief Adjudicators. There will be an informal team around Amir, but he will lead his adjudication team.

Concerns are raised about the 60 team cap being too low, and how realistic it would be to raise it. Osgoode might have logistics and judging issues if the cap is raised. The number was determined based on informal polling, and the club was not willing to organize a larger tournament without compromising the quality of judging. If the region is willing to commit to sending enough judges Osgoode will work hard enough to guarantee that the cap can be raised. There is general agreement that the community will work with Osgoode to allow a raising of the team cap.

Concerns are raised about the proposed “speed dating” social. Some feel that the forced socialization aspect of the event will not be well received by novices. Given the nature of Ontario’s drinking laws and novice ages it seems unrealistic to expect the same kind of socials possible in Quebec. Furthermore some feel that drinking has been over-emphasized and welcome Osgoode’s social idea. Osgoode ultimately believes that if clubs sell the idea to their novices positively the event will be successful.

MOTION to accept Osgoode’s bid for Central Novice, in principle, without a commitment to open or closed quarters.

Disposition: Passes with dissents on a voice vote.

A vote is taken to determine whether Osgoode Central Novice should have open or closed quarters.

Disposition: Osgoode Central Novice will have closed quarter finals.

4. Bids for Leger

The Royal Military College presents a bid for Leger.

Since the presentation of their bid on CUSIDnet, RMC has discovered their scheduling options are more flexible. Including dates in the first semester, RMC would also be able to host in the second semester on the traditional Dorchester weekend (vacated by Carleton’s successful NorAms bid).

A vote is taken to determine whether the membership would like to see Leger held in the first semester or the second semester.

Disposition: The membership unanimously decides it would like Leger to be hosted in second semester.

MOTION to accept RMC’s bid for Leger Cup in second semester.

Disposition: Passed unanimously on a voice vote.

5. Scheduling Discussion

DEFERRED

6. Other Business

none

7. Adjournment

18:58