Philosophy: Wake Forest University enjoys a century and half old tradition of debate success (since 1935). Long-term success is built on enduring principles, at a team and individual level. I ndividually, a successful debater is one who sets high goals for themselves and in the process of striving to reach the goals discovers their own abilities and limitations. Debate at the highest level is an enjoyable process of intellectual and personal self-discovery. This level of individual success is, by definition available to students of all experience and talent levels, so our team is open to all that are willing to strive to achieve such success. As a team, debate success is measured in terms of group effort and synergy. A team can enable everyone to have more enjoyment and more individual success as defined above. Personal sacrifice and compromise ends up being repaid many times over in the benefits that a friendly, cooperative team produces. Everyone shares in the joy of the accomplishments of everyone else, from novice to NDT champion.
Attitude: As defined above, success is an ongoing process. As such attitude, or outlook, is both a reflection and product of this success, and an essential ingredient in it. A successful attitude as a member of a team is based on responsibility and respect. Responsibility requires honesty and integrity in fulfilling promises to oneself and to others. Respect necessitates treating others politely, kindly, and honestly. In the long run, our success is measured most by what went into it, and is hollow or bittersweet absent a joyful attitude.
Academics: They come first. Your studies should be your primary concern. However, we do not view academics and debate as competitive with each other, or zero-sum. Rather, they are complementary. Those who manage their time well will find they have time to succeed in both environments. As Dr. Louden likes to say, "The busier you are, the more time you have." Overall GPA’s falling below the Wake Forest average @ 2.7, grades below C in individual classes, and semester GPA’s of 2.0 or less will warrant a meeting with the Director and coach, and an adjustment of travel schedule. Continued academic problems, and overall GPA’s below 2.0, and lack of progress ultimately result in total restriction of travel until such time as evidence of improvement is shown.
Tournament Hosting: One of the few non-negotiable requirements of being a debate team member is that you devote two weekends out of the school year to assisting with the Earlybird High School and Dixie Classic College Debate tournaments. These tournaments are a service to the debate community, and we pride ourselves on our reputation as the best tournament hosts in the country. Everyone on the team gives up his or her lives for these two weekends, without exception.
Meetings: The other main non-negotiable requirement is that you attend debate team meetings one night a week. These meetings are essential for the coordination of such a large group. It is the only regular opportunity for everyone to get together as a team. It is wise to regularly check your box in the squad room, as well as your email, to keep up to date on schedule changes, or general information. Special Note: Having a test the next day is not an excuse from a meeting manage your time so that you can study around the minimal time you must commit to our meetings.
Travel Schedule: Your schedule will be worked out on a team by team basis. Relevant criteria for attending the tournaments of your choice include your academic performance (see above), and the quality of the debate assignments you complete. Plan on attending competitive tournaments that will challenge your skill as a debater. The average number of tournaments attended per semester is three to five. Meal money is provided for each debater at a tournament--$10 a day.
Travel Conduct: It is an honor to attend debate tournaments as representatives of the University. Debate tournament attendance is one of the few officially excused class absences one can receive. As representatives of the school, you are expected to behave as such. What this means is that you should avoid rude, illicit, or illegal behavior at tournaments. If you have questions as to what this entails, just ask.
Use of Facilities: You will discover that we have one of the finest debate facilities in the nation. Not many debate squads have an extremely large squad room, evidence room, and access to computers for debate assignments. In order to use these excellent accommodations, it is import to take minimal steps to care for them. Plainly speaking, keep things clean. This means both the mess you make and the mess you see. Blaming someone for a mess may make you feel that you can ignore it, but really misses the point. Be constructive and take care of things yourself. It is, of course, wise to not leave your things in common places, such as a shared desk or by a computer, if you plan on leaving the area for any period of time. Avoid the danger of losing your possessions and clean up after yourself. Secondly, be aware that we share the areas with others in the department and the University. Photocopy etiquette, sensitivity to noise levels during office and class hours and general politeness are necessary.
Assignments: In order too effectively research the debate topic, assignments are devised and given out at meetings. We depend on one another to accomplish these assignments in a thorough and efficient manner. All evidence is shared with all team members. Upon receiving an assignment, you are expected to accomplish it by the stated deadline in a legible fashion. Many copy machines in the library and in Carswell are available for your use, but you are responsible for the actual photocopying and distribution.
Evidence Sharing: All evidence is distributed for use of all team members. However, all evidence is also for the exclusive use of the Wake Forest Debate Team only. Trading, giving away, taking it with you when you quit or graduate, or other distribution of Wake Forest evidence to high schools or other colleges is expressly prohibited. Sharing of cites is encouraged.
Partner Pairings: The procedure for partner pairings aims to contribute to the team and individual success ass defined above. Practice rounds will be scheduled soon after the retreat to help in the preference process. After the practice rounds debaters will submit a rank ordered preference list. Based on these lists, pairings will be made, maximizing overall debater preference. When preferences don’t match, debaters may be asked to re-rank from a different list or coaches will make a decision taking into account their best judgment of individual and overall team needs. After all teams have debated at two tournaments the possibility of revision will be considered. Should debaters quit or other unforeseen events occur, teams will be repaired by a more ad hoc basis (necessarily), with an attempt to preserve the goals of the above process.
Post-season Play: Every debater will get some sort of "reward" tournament to conclude their season, including Novice Nationals, JV Nationals, CEDA Nationals, or the NDT. Unfortunately, as long as the NDT is limited to three teams per school, we have to make some difficult decisions. Teams will be chosen based primarily on their chances for success in the NDT itself. Should there be relatively close calls in that regard other factors including academics and attitude, or overall four-year NDT opportunities, may be considered. It should be remembered that success at the NDT is first, not the definition of individual success, and second, is attributable to and a function of team-wide success. Revisit the "Philosophy" paragraph above for clarification.