With the sponsorship of the Illini Union Board, the Illinois Policy Debate Team which is institutionally supported by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs and Campus Honors Program will be organizing and hosting an intramural debate tournament to be held on April 4th and April 5th at a location to be determined. The purpose of these debates is to revitalize a culture of academic debate and political engagement on the University of Illinois campus.

The tournament will feature a pool of up to thirty-two teams, each consisting of two members. Participants are limited to current undergraduates at the University of Illinois. The general campus population is invited to watch the debates and, in particular, the final round of competition, which will be held between the top two teams of the tournament. Judging for individual debate rounds, will be conducted by faculty members, graduate students, and select members of the Illinois Policy Debate team.

The winner of Illinois Debates will win receive a grand prize of $1000, the finalist (runner-up) will receive $500, and the semi-finalist will receive $250, each amount to be split between the team members to be added to their student accounts. Awards will also be given to the top ten speakers of the tournament as judged by the preliminary debate rounds.

After hosting the first tournament of its kind in over three decades, the Illinois Policy Debate team, the Illinois Debates: Second Annual Intramural Debate Tournament will be more extensive and inclusive. The UIUC campus has been known in the past as a prime location for both intramural and invitational debate tournaments. Illinois Policy Debate, with the support of the Illini Union Board, Institute for Government and Public Affairs, and Campus Honors Program are seeking to revive this tradition.

Application

Tournament Applications should be submitted electronically here. Applications are due by midnight on April 5th

Please direct any questions regarding this application to the Co-Directors of this project: Eric Ranz (eranz2@uiuc.edu) Peter Campbell (pcampbe3@uiuc.edu) or Chime Asonye, (casonye2@uiuc.edu)

The Illinois Policy Debate team is institutionally supported by the Institute for Government and Public Affairs and the Campus Honors Program.