We are now taking applications from members to be on the Melbourne Mini organising committee. From the 7th to the 9th of December this year Melbourne University Debating Society will be hosting the annual Melbourne-Mini debating tournament. This is a national tournament that is one of the biggest in the country in the lead up to the World Championships.
The positions available are for Co-Convenor, Tournament Director, Social Officer, Logistics Officer and for three general representatives. Please send your applications to this email address by Monday, October 1st. Your application should include any relevant debating or organising experience and a brief note explaining why you would like to be involved.
The Committee is formed in association with the Debating Association of Victoria (DAV). The MUDS Executive are calling for applications to be on this organising committee. The positions available are:
Co-Convenor
Responsible for the overall operation of the tournament. Needs to be personable, approachable, enthusiastic and organised.
Logistics
In charge of all things logistical. This is predominantly the room allocations, and conversing with building management and security.
Social Officer
In charge of putting the word 'Partay' in Melbourne Mini. Organises and runs the social events for the weekend.
Committee Member
Helps out all other members in the organisation of the tournament.
The other Co-Convenor will be Laura Bellamy from the DAV, who you may know as the Treasurer of MUDS.
All applications are to be emailed to this address by Monday 1st October.
If you have any queries, or want to know why you should be part of getting this tournament up and running, please don't hesitate to ask by sending an email to this address.
We are now entering the business end for all of those in MUDS wishing to attend the World Universities Debating Championships in Thailand this year. The details you need to know in order to attend for MUDS are below. Excitingly, MUDS recently received confirmation of sponsorship from the Community and Cultural Relations Advisory Group at the University, meaning we are now able to announce that the top 3 adjudicators and the top 6 debaters will each receive $1000 towards the costs of Worlds!
*The Selection Process
Debaters
In order to determine teams, we hold 'trials'. Two external selectors will watch each interested debater in one debate (hence, everyone debating twice) and determine a ranking for all the speakers.
Teams are then preliminarily formed on the basis of the rankings (speakers 1-2 form Melbourne A, speakers 3-4 form Melbourne B etc). We will send as many teams (n) as:
1. We have 'n-1' adjudicators for (this is a tournament requirement)
2. We are able to register (this year is 5 teams and 5 adjudicators)
If one third of the top three teams is not female, then female debaters will be pulled up into the top three teams in order to meet our Affirmative Action requirements.
Approximately one week after trials, a 'team formation' meeting is held. This is when the contingent is finalised. You must decide by this date:
Register for trials to the MUDS account (mudsonline@gmail.com) by Monday 1st October. We encourage people to trial, even if they are not yet sure whether they can attend the tournament! Even if you have already expressed interest in attending, you need to email us again to confirm you attendance at trials and/or submit your adjudication CV.
Adjudicators
Adjudicators of all levels of experience are welcome to come to Worlds. All adjudicators sit an 'adjudication test' at the start of the tournament (this is where all the adjudicators watch and adjudicate the same debate!) and you can nominate to be a 'Trainee adjudicator' if you have never adjudicated before. The number of adjudicators we have also determines how many people can debate, so adjudicators are highly sought after! We would also encourage people interested in debating in also applying to adjudicate in case they miss out on a team.
To apply to adjudicate, you must email the MUDS account (mudsonline@gmail.com) by Monday 1st October:
- An adjudication CV; and
- A debating CV
(These are each an outline of the relevant experience and/or achievements you have in the area.)
In order to determine sponsorship, Selectors will rank the adjudicators on the basis of these CVs.
Timeline
Event | Date |
| Register for Worlds Trials (debaters) Applications Due (adjudicators) | Monday 1st October |
| Worlds Trials: 10:30am – 5pm Law School | Sunday 7th October |
| Team Formation Meeting: 1pm Level 10 Foyer Redmond Barry | Monday 15th October |
| Deadline for Registration Payment* to MUDS Account | Friday 19th October |
| WORLDS!!! | 27th December 2007 - 5th January 2008 |
Payment Details
Bank: National Australia Bank
Name: Melbourne University Debating Society
BSB: 083-457 Account No: 517574963
(Please include your name in the description of the deposit so we can identify it.)
Note that transfers may need a day or two to clear so please make sure that the money reaches the account by the date outlined above so that we can pay full registration for our contingent without incurring any late fines.
MUDS is in the process of seeking sponsorship for Worlds from the the Cultural and Community Relations Advisory Group at the University. Last year this application was very successful and this year we are hoping we will similarly be able to procure sponsorship for our top 3 teams and adjudicators.
*Sponsorship Eligibility
To be eligible for sponsorship you must:
For further details, see the sponsorship eligibility requirements on the MUDS website.
As though the World Championships wasn't enough, there is another tournament just beforehand from the 15th - 19th December in Kuala Lumpur, called the World Universities Peace Invitational Debate (WUPID).One exciting element is that the winner takes home up to MYR 10,000. For all details, go to http://www.wupid.hngsc.com. If you are interested in attending, please email Seamus Coleman at seamus.coleman@gmail.com.
On the first Tuesday back from the break, Tuesday 2nd October, will be the Grand Final of the Hamish Malcolm Competition. There will be the best teams in the comp fighting it out for the major prize, the speaker prizes awarded, much hilarity and joy, as well as a sizable food and drinks budget thanks to MUDS at the Corkman afterwards!! See you there!
Week 9 | Tuesday, 2 October – Hamish Malcolm Grand Final and drinks Thursday, 4 October – Trials warm-up Sunday, 7 October – Worlds Trials |
Week 10 | Public Debates week, including MUDS Free-for-all |
Week 11 | Tuesday, 16 October - Open Competition Rounds 1 and 2 |
Week 12 | Tuesday, 23 October - Open Competition Round 3 and Grand Final |