How can I be a part of the Parliamentary Debate Team at Dartmouth?
At the beginning of each academic year, we hold an information session to explain how the team works (who we are as a team, what APDA and BP are, the try-out process, the schedule for our competitions, etc.). Anyone who is interested in joining MUST attend this information session. We then have tryouts for the team and induct new members!
Is there a try-out or selection process?
In order to be part of the team, you must participate in the selection process (which will be described in detail during the information session, as it changes each year). Try-outs are open to every one, whether or not you have debated before. You will not be tested on the technicalities of Parli debate, but rather on your ability to form and respond to arguments. Many members of our team had never debated before coming to Dartmouth.
What does being on the team look like?
Besides practicing and going to tournaments together, we are also a tight-nit group of friends. We meet up for practices three times a week, go to tournaments 2-3 weekends every term, and also have social events. We do a debate Big-Little program (where each new member gets a debate "Big" who goes and gets meals with them, gives them treats, and we have a social for Big-Little reveal). We also host socials from playing pong tournaments, to carving ice sculptures during Winter Carnival, to just getting dinner together.
What is the time commitment like?
If you become part of the team, we expect you to attend at least two practices a week, and we hope that you come to at least one tournament per term. With that being said, members of our team have varying levels of commitment and whether you are the most active member or just show up to practice a couple times a week, we still value everyone on the team equally!
Do I need to have debated in high school?
Not at all! Many of the best debaters at Dartmouth had never done anything like debate before college. We have a wide range of members, from former national champions to people who were afraid of public speaking. We are looking for members who are highly committed to the team.
Do I need a regular debate partner?
You don't need to debate with the same person regularly (qualification points for nationals are recorded individually). Some people choose to debate with a regular partner, while others debate with a different partner every tournament. You're also allowed to debate with a partner from a different school, which is called hybriding. Our members have hybrided with debaters from Stanford, Yale, Harvard, Brown, Brandeis, Amherst, etc.
Do I need to pay for tournaments?
No. The team covers registration fees, transportation, etc. and the school hosting the tournament will provide food and housing.
Do you get to travel to anywhere interesting through debate?
In the past couple of years, Dartmouth debaters have competed at tournaments in Tokyo, London, Greece, the Netherlands, Canada, New York City, and Washington, D.C., so there are opportunities for significant travel through debate for members who would like to be more competitive. On typical weekends, we drive to tournaments all around the Northeast, so there are ample opportunities through debate to get out of Hanover for a bit.
Do you recruit high school debaters?
No, we do not recruit, and we have no say in the Dartmouth admissions process.
Do you do policy debate or BP (British Parliamentary) debate?
We don't do any policy debate; Dartmouth has a separate policy debate team. BP at Dartmouth does fall under our organization. We typically teach and practice APDA style, which is the dominant form of debating in the U.S., but we also send teams to Yale IV and Brandeis IV each year, and we send one team to the World Universities Debating Championships each year as well. We are currently expanding or BP program.
How can we contact you?
Our email is Parliamentary.Debate.Team@dartmouth.edu
Feel free to email our Executives as well if you would like to specifically direct your question to any one of us!