MUDS Update!

(Week Six)

Lunchtime public debate on Tuesday

MUDS and Oaktree Foundation
present a public debate on the topic:

That trade liberalisation is failing the world's poor

This Tuesday, April 22 from 12pm
Baldwin Spencer Theatre

Australs 2008 - Ateneo de Manila, Philippines

About the Tournament

Australs, or the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships, is held every year in the Vice Chancellors Common Week during the holidays (or basically the first week of July!)

It is probably the most prestigious 3 on 3 tournament in the World, with between 70 and 100 teams participating from all over Australia, New Zealand and Asia. The tournament is held in 3 on 3 style with replies (called 'Australs style'!). There are usually 7 rounds of debates and 4 rounds of finals as well as an ESL finals series. And there are some serious social events each night!

This year, the tournament is being hosted by Ateneo de Manila, in Manila, Philipines and is running from 3rd to 11th July. The weather is great, food and drinks cost next to nothing, and the Filipinos really know how to throw a party!

For more information, visit the tournament website at: http://www.ateneoaustrals.com/.

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How do I get to represent Melbourne at Australs?

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 1-3 form Melbourne 1, speakers 4-6 form Melbourne 2 etc). We will send as many teams (n) as:

• We have 'n-1' adjudicators for (this is a tournament requirement)
• We are able to register (the maximum is somewhere between 4 and 6 teams)

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. The same applies with regard to males.

Approximately one week after trials, a 'team formation' meeting is held. This is when the contingent is finalised. You must decide by this date:

• Whether you are definitely attending the tournament,
• Whether you wish to debate or adjudicate (if you applied for both), and
• The final teams.

Register for trials by email (mudsonline@gmail.com) by Tuesday 29th April. We encourage people to trial, even if they are not yet sure whether they can attend the tournament!

) by Tuesday 29th April. We encourage people to trial, even if they are not yet sure whether they can attend the tournament!

Adjudicators

Adjudicators of all levels of experience are welcome to come to Australs. 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 7th May:

• 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
Binding Expressions of Interest to attend Australs trials and Applications due for Adjudicators	Tuesday 29th April
Australs Trials: 10:30am – 5pm Law School	Sunday 4th May
Team Formation Meeting: 1pm Level 10 Foyer Redmond Barry	Monday 12th May
Deadline for Registration Payment to MUDS Account	Friday 16th May
AUSTRALS!!!	3rd to 11th July 2008

Available Sponsorship

In 2008, MUDS will be providing the following sponsorship to attend the tournament (subject to AA):

Debaters

1st – 3rd ranked eligible debaters - $250 (each)

4th – 6th ranked eligible debaters - $125 (each)

Adjudicator

1st ranked eligible adjudicator - $250

2nd ranked eligible adjudicator - $125

Sponsorship Eligibility

To be eligible for sponsorship you must:

1. Be a current student of Melbourne University
2. Be a current MUDS member
3. Meet a threshold test for contribution and involvement in the club.

For further details, see the sponsorship eligibility requirements.

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Payment Details

Registration for Australs costs $480 AUD.

The details of the MUDS bank account are:

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.

REMEMBER:

Register for trials to the MUDS account (mudsonline@gmail.com) by Tuesday 29th April. We encourage people to trial, even if they are not yet sure whether they can attend the tournament!

) by Tuesday 29th April. We encourage people to trial, even if they are not yet sure whether they can attend the tournament!

We hope to see you there!!

Easters training

It's less than three weeks away and fast approaching. (No, it's not superman.) However, we are planning to make you superhuman debaters/adjudicators for Easters 2008. Sunday's training session was very successful, and there is still one more training session organised so you can ask questions and get comprehensive feedback:

Training session

Date: Tuesday, 22 April
Time: 5:30pm
Venue: Redmond Barry, room 1120

RSVP now: mudsonline@gmail.com

MUDS Calendar

Cheers,

Melbourne University Debating Society

mudsonline@gmail.com

Visit our website (www.mudsonline.net) for details of training, debating, tournaments and more!

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