Miami Debaters Return to Oxford for Debate Work Week

This Sunday the people who are debating for Miami are returning to Oxford to begin our one-week workshop on the college topic. Our first meeting is Sunday evening.

Our debaters are:

Lydia Elkins (second year)
Ilya Galperin (second year)
Dan Gibbons (second year)
Mike Jensen (second year)
Matt Kern (third year)
Mike Maffie (second year)
Mike Richarson (first year - St. Johns)
Stephen Solomon - (fourth year)
Kevin Wieck (first year - MBA)
Aaron Vison (first year - GBN)
Jason Young (first year - Centerville)

We also know of a couple of potential other people who are interested in being on the team but who will not be attending our workshop.

Our travel schedule (debaters will attend 4-5 of these) for the first semester:

University of Northern Iowa
Georgia State University
University of Kentucky
Loyola University, Chicago
Wayne State University
Harvard University
Wake Forest University
John Carroll University

Steve

Open Thread

Post on any topic that you wish.

Name the 5-Week Workshop

As I wrote in the previous post, the name "Oxford Scholars" belongs to the MU undergraduate honors program. We agreed that we would find a new name starting in 2006.

While I'm sure this post will cause many humorous suggestions, we hope you'll make a few serious ones too.

Just so you know, we've ruled out "Lundy's Camp 'o K's". Also the "Karl Rove Scholars" has been rejected. Otherwise let us know your thoughts.

We'll give a small reward to the first person who suggests on this blog the name we ultimately select.

Steve

Announcements: 2006 Dates, Name the 5-Week Workshop, and Open Threads

Greetings -

Sorry we haven't posted for a few days. Confession, we took some time off.

Anyhow we have three pretty big announcements for you.

First, we've established the dates tentatively for Summer 2006. The 3-Week workshop (Red Hawk) will run from June 25 to July 15. The 5-Week workshop (see below about the name) will run from June 25 to July 29. So pretty much the same dates as this past summer.

So those of you who aren't seniors should mark the dates on your calendar. Seniors, tell your friends.

Also in the 2006 department, we've started negotiating with faculty members regarding next summer and will certainly let you know here when we have some names to announce.

Second, we have to change the name of the 5-week workshop, and we want your suggestions. It turns out there already is a program on our campus called the "Oxford Scholars" (it's part of the undergraduate honors program). Well they were a little miffed that we created this confusion and asked us to change the name starting next year. That's where you come in.

We sort of like the name "Oxford" as a starter, but aren't wedded to it. We want you to help us come up with the name, so I'll start a thread as soon as I finish this post - called "Name the Five-Week Workshop" and you can post your ideas there.

Third, since so many of you are clamoring for new posts, and frankly we're sort of busy now getting ready to debate China, we will periodically (at least once a week) create an "Open Thread" where you guys can post on whatever topics you like. For example, you could let us know how you've been doing since camp ended. If you want to discuss the real world (current events, the 2006 elections, the 2008 elections...etc.) go for it. Whatever you want. Just keep it in relatively good taste, as always. Your parents read this, you know.

Why do so many of you post anonymously?

Some people from the camp have probably quit looking at the blog for now, so since we're getting active again you might want to let them know there's plenty to read about.

Good luck, let us know how you are doing.

Steve

More Concluding Photos

the CD are away

Today the CD's were mailed to all the 3 week campers. The CDs have all the evidence produced during the institute - including the five-week workshop.

Good luck.

-Mike

Miami Debate Institute - 5 Week Workshop - Class of 2005

Congratulations to our first class of students - they all put forth a tremendous effort over the last five weeks. We wish them the best of luck in the upcoming year.

The Final Round

In the final round Alec and Stefan were affirmative running their Korematsu affirmative, Chris and Priya were negative.

The negative ran Test Case Specification, Topicality (substantial authority), a Constitutive Criminology kritik, and an EU-China arms sales disadvantage. They ultimately went for topicality in the 2NR.

The teams split the two faculty judges (Kenda Cunningham and Ben Voth) leaving the decision up to the student panel. On an 8-5 decision the negative won.

Congratulations to Priya Parikh and Chris Barnett for winning, and also the other finalists, Alec Wright and Stefan Jiang.

Steve Mancuso

Semi-Final Results

Alec and Stefan defeated Viki and Kate on a 3-0 decision.

Alec and Stefan were affirmative running a Korematsu affirmative, with advantages on Racism, Deference and Policy Simulation good. Viki and Kate ran Topicality (Korematsu was charged), a Terrorism DA, a Biopower kritik, and a four-minute case attack. They went for the DA and K in the block and the Biopower K in the 2NR. The affirmative won on a permutation, link turns, framework and a solvency deficit for the alternative. Several judges felt that Alec's cross examination of Viki was the most effective they had seen at the workshop.

Chris and Priya defeated Kurt and Abe on a 2-1 decision, where both lab leaders voted for the winning team but the student vote went 8-1 for the losing team.

Kurt and Abe were affirmative running an Enemy Combatants affirmative with a New International advantage. Chris and Priya ran Topicality (authority), a Biopower kritik, an EU-China Arms Sales disadvantage, and a Terrorism disadvantage. They went for everything in the block except for the Terrorism DA. The 2NR went for topicality and the kritik. The negative won on topicality.

Tournament Results

The following teams cleared at the tournament:

Alec Wright (Centerville, OH) and Stefan Jiang (Chattahoochee, GA)
Abe Corrigan (Glenbrook South, IL) and Kurt Woolford (Wichita East, KS)
Kate Carter (Claremont, CA) and Viki Henning-Smedja (Carrollton, FL)
Chris Barnett (St. Johns, OH) and Priya Parikh (Princeton, OH)

Congratulations to them and all other teams who demonstrated outstanding improvement throughout the summer. The debates at the tournament were excellent and the competition close but very friendly.

Tomorrow's elimination rounds begin at 9:30 a.m. in Bachelor Hall.

Steve Mancuso

Go Reds!

Last weekend the Miami Debate Institute visited Cincinnati to watch the Reds club the Brewers 11-6. During the 7th inning the scoreboard announced to the entire stadium that the Miami Debate Institute was visiting for the night. Everyone had a great time watching the Reds (finally) win a game.

-mdm

The Final Workshop in a Workshop: Roger Solt, University of Kentucky

To conclude the "workshop-in-a-workshop" format at the Miami Debate Institute, Roger Solt, legendary debate coach at the University of Kentucky made a two-day visit to Oxford this past week. He lectured and conducted strategy exercises covering advanced theory issues and also how to defeat critical arguments. Roger should know, he's been one of the top college coaches for over twenty years, having coached 5 NDT Top Speakers, a NDT National Champion and in 2003 an NDT runner-up.

Roger’s initial lecture on theory outlined the development of theory as a debate argument. He then tied this lesson into practical advice on topics such as conditionality. Roger then developed a comprehensive take on dispositionality, including a theory that constructed an “affirmative dispositionality” and “negative dispositionality”.

The lecture on winning against critical arguments covered the different theoretical strategies the affirmative can employ against kritiks - on such topics as permutations, fiat, conditionality of alternatives, and advocacy-inclusion theory. Using examples from the civil liberties topic, Roger illustrated how an affirmative could use their case for link-turning, permuting, or impact-turning kritikal arguments.

Each of the institute participants then prepped and gave an extensive speech responding to the negative Critical Legal Studies kritik (a common kritik on this year’s topic). These speeches were delivered in the Miami Institute small-group Speaking Clinic format. The workshop then reconvened as a whole as all the lab leaders and Roger provided insight and feedback.

Roger’s lecture concluded the workshop in a workshop series at the Miami Debate Institute. We would like to extend thanks to Roger, Will Repko and Dallas Perkins for helping the Miami Debate Institute become the first institute with a unique “workshop in a workshop” format.

-mdm