Harvard College World Schools Invitational 2021
2021 — Online, MA/US
Welcome to the 6th Annual Harvard College World Schools Invitational! The dates for the invitational are March 19th-21st, 2021. We hope to see you there!
Sever Hall: https://harvard.zoom.us/my/wstsever
Emerson Hall: https://harvard.zoom.us/my/wstemerson
Currier House: https://harvard.zoom.us/my/wstcurrier
Winthrop House: https://harvard.zoom.us/my/wstwinthrop
Debater's Briefing: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1jLjSVJ7Z0To9_zVAQvCSCqiXvm68xpms4TPv3JCi2Oc/edit?usp=sharing
Judge's Briefing: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1e--OOlmrwxO8eH9SXb8pWm-dX-rr84VWkJPFwkkmKZM/edit?usp=sharing
All briefings, live motion drops, and break announcements will take place at our GA link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84984269567?pwd=a0RqNTlsOXgweW9CYXlKTXdKVUtKUT09
The help desk has been closed for outrounds. Please email harvardwst@gmail.com for any concerns or find a member of the OrgComm.
All debaters in Double Octos should fill out this consent form: https://forms.gle/b6VLsHDAzrd6T6hQA
(note: the helpdesk is for logistical concerns and we will NOT answer questions about impromptu motions)
Impromptu motions will also be blasted on our Facebook event page (Harvard College World Schools Debate Invitational 2021) and through Tab email blasts.
Tournament Schedule
Fri, Mar 19th
9:00am EST - Registration
10:00am EST - Judge Briefing
10:20am EST - Debater Briefing
11:00am EST - Round 1 (prepared)
12:30pm EST - Lunch
1:30pm EST - Round 2 (prepared)
3:00pm EST - Round 3 (impromptu)
Sat, Mar 20th
10:00am EST - Round 4 (prepared)
11:30am EST - Round 5 (prepared)
1:00pm EST - Lunch
2:00pm EST - Round 6 (impromptu)
4:30pm EST - Dinner
5:15pm EST - Break Announcement
5:30pm EST - Full Triples (impromptu)
Sun, Mar 21st
9:30am EST - Double Octofinals (impromptu)
12:00pm EST - Lunch / Awards Announcement
1:00pm EST - Octofinals (prepared)
2:30pm EST - Quarterfinals (impromptu)
5:00pm EST - Dinner
5:30pm EST - Semifinals (impromptu)
8:00pm EST - Finals (impromptu)
Our tournament offers:
High-Quality Judging:
The majority of our judge pool is composed of former WSDC Champions, WSDC National team members, out-round WSDC judges, highly successful British Parliamentary collegiate debaters, and other members of the Harvard College Debating Union who come from highly successful domestic and international backgrounds.
High-Quality Competition:
We frequently have multiple national teams attend our tournament as they prepare for the upcoming World Schools Debating Championship in the summer.
High-Quality Training:
Every year, we host multiple trainings on the WSDC format and other important issues that come up in debate to prepare our debaters and adjudicators; these formats will be led by members of our organizing and CA team, all of whom are immensely qualified WSDC debaters.
Prepared Motions:
Rounds 1 and 2: THBT the US government should nationalize Facebook and Twitter.
Rounds 4 and 5: THS the West imposing economic sanctions on Myanmar.
Octofinals: THP an increase of power of labor unions over comprehensive improvements in labor laws (e.g. raising the minimum wage, extending parental leave).
Competition Rules and Eligibility:
The Harvard College World Schools Invitational will be in the World Schools Debating Championships style. All rules and formats on tournament procedure will follow the WSDC handbook.
In following the spirit of WSDC, all teams will be of 3-5 students. All speakers in a team must be 19 years of age or younger in March 2021. Further, speakers must neither be enrolled in a university or equivalent post-secondary learning institution nor be attending university varsity debating training in March 2021. An eligibility check will be done on each team interested in competing for a berth at HCWSI in the month prior to the event.
Hybrid teams (i.e. teams with debaters from multiple schools) are allowed, as are independent teams not affiliated with an institution. Novice eligibility shall be defined as competing at three tournaments (including the HCWSI 2021) or less.
Judging Requirement:
One judge is required for every two teams per school (rounded up, so schools with 5 teams require 3 judges). A missing judge fee is applied at a rate of $100 per day for teams that fail to meet their judging obligation: each full missing judge incurs a fine of $300.
Independent Adjudicators:
We are seeking independent adjudicators to judge the Harvard College World Schools Invitational. We have generous IA funding to support qualified adjudicators. Please find our IA application here: https://forms.gle/E5gfPGmH6GaAuhRJ7.
Registration & Fees
If you have not used Tabroom before, you will need your students to create student Tabroom accounts and link them to your Institution before registering. This video (https://youtu.be/3YNrHUweRPA) describes the process in detail.
Upon registration, please remember to confirm your spot at the tournament by sending the registration fee according to the information on the invoice under the "Fees" tab. Please recall that a missing judge fee is applied for institutions missing judges. To enter your judge's name, you will need to link your judge's account to your institution's roster.
