Welcome.We will be posting some links and information here regarding the Richmond Urban Debate League.
If you are looking for the Richmond Public Schools DEBATE EVIDENCE PORTAL, the link is here (password protected):
http://blog.richmond.edu/debate/2009/07/30/debate-evidence-portal/
If you are looking for SCHEDULE OF VIRGINIA TOURNAMENTS and similar information, go here: http://blog.richmond.edu/debate/2009/07/14/high-school-debate-tournament-information-in-virginia-2009-10/
If you are interested in volunteering to help, scroll down further on this page. An outstanding article written by Jack Cooksey about the project in the June issue of Richmond Magazine can be found here: http://www.richmondmagazine.com/?articleID=31413e1860e488469a55ed87fb3d3083
Background and Overview
This project was initiated by The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney for the City of Richmond in partnership with the PODIUM Literary Journal founded by Richmond author David L. Robbins. These organizations are committed to academic co-curricular expansion in the Richmond Public Schools. The urban debate league is one component of a multi-pronged approach to engage students through the application “of creative and analytical skills to current social issues” (PEN PROJECT, 2009). The Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney also assists Youth Court and Mock Trial as part of its program for alternative education. More information from recent connections to the Greater Richmond Bar Foundation can be found here: http://www.grbf.org/alternative_education.htm
The Commonwealth’s Attorney, Michael N. Herring, and Special Programs Director, Lindy Bumgarner, have been working with Richmond public schools since 2008 training students in the practice of competitive debate. With help from attorneys, High School teachers and administrators, and other members of the community, Urban Debate League students receive mentoring and coaching at bi-weekly practices and other events.
On May 14th, 2009, students from Thomas Jefferson High School debated against students from George Wythe High School on the topic, Resolved: that juveniles should be tried as adults. This was the fourth and final debate of the 2008-09 season with both schools having emerged victorious in previous contests. After opening and closing statements, direct questioning, the presentation of evidence, and a number of extremely well-developed arguments, the team from Thomas Jefferson prevailed in a close decision rendered by members of the Board of Richmond Public Schools as well as other administrators and educators.
Beginning in July of 2009, the University of Richmond Debate Program is fortunate and excited to help with the Richmond Urban Debate League. With assistance from the Common Ground Initiative at the University of Richmond as well as the Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office, the Debate Program offered a number of one-week scholarships to attend the National Debate Institute (URNDI) held on campus in July.
The web site for the URNDI is here: http://debate.richmond.edu/outreach/index.html
Students live on campus and spend upwards of 10 hours a day involved in research, brief writing, practice debates, and theory discussions.
Volunteering / Supporting the Richmond UDL
In addition to general fund-raising and promotion (crucial to the long-term success of the program), we are also in need of volunteer assistance in a number of areas beginning in late August of 2009:
Transporters: Transporting coaches and other helpers to and from the University to practice sites at area High Schools. Transporting students to practice sites at other schools, home after late practices, and to and from tournament competition.
Research Assistants: To help students find articles and prepare arguments, the league always needs individuals willing to be available on-line, over the phone, and/or in person to work on research projects for debates as well as assisting with general argument construction.
Primary Coaches: Primary coaches will be linked with particular schools and will take on primary responsibility for organizing, preparing, and training the students for debate competitions. These are the most important positions in the entire program and interested candidates must be fully prepared to devote a number of hours (4-10) each week in addition to at least (minimum) 5-6 weekends to travel, coach, and judge. The long term goal is to connect at least two primary coaches with each school.
Assistant Coaches: These individuals will be linked with particular schools or designated as universal coaches who will teach particular skills or arguments across the league. Commitment levels for these positions vary, but each assistant coach must provide a specific schedule to the volunteer coordinator and primary coaches prior to the season and maintain that schedule, including practice dates and tournament travel.
Academic Mentors/Aides: These mentors typically do not have debate backgrounds, but are versed in an academic skill set (teachers of all kinds, communication scholars, lawyers, writers, etc.) allowing them to contribute to practice sessions in terms of listening to arguments, providing feedback on a particular topic area, judging practice debates, assisting in argument construction, etc. The Academic Mentors/Aides will typically be linked with a particular school and perhaps even a particular group of students at that school. These candidates should provide a schedule of available times to the volunteer coordinator with as much advance notice as possible, including transportation needs if any.
Judges: Judges will attend tournament competitions and judge debates objectively, providing as much constructive criticism as possible in addition to timing the debate and rendering a decision. Judges should provide a schedule of available times to the volunteer coordinator with as much advance notice as possible, including transportation needs if any.
General Facilitators: Often standing in for the other positions, these individuals are on call to help the program, including general administration, tournament logistics, newsletter updates, etc.
If one or more of these positions interests you, send a brief description of your interests using the format below to:
email (without spaces)— k k u s w a @ r i c h m o n d . e d u
mail: UDL Volunteers c/o Debate
Dr. Kevin Kuswa
400-A Weinstein Hall
University of Richmond, VA 23173
You should hear back relatively quickly to confirm that we received your information with more updates expected in July.
Richmond Urban Debate League Volunteer Information Form
Name:
How did you hear about this?
Email: (let us know if you do NOT want to be on the Richmond udl email list)
Address:
Phone:
Background Information: Provide what would be helpful—for example, academic background, debate background, previous teaching experience, transportation needs, etc.
***UR undergrads—there *may* be course credit opportunities—contact us separately as soon as possible with those questions.
Position/s Interested In: (see above for descriptions—many positions do not require debate expertise).
Expected Time Commitment: (we understand this can fluctuate—our motto is “advanced notice”).
Other:
Useful Links:
Commonwealth Attorney’s Office
http://www.richmondgov.com/departments/commonwealthAttorney/
Greater Richmond Bar Foundation
University of Richmond Debate Program
National Association for Urban Debate Leagues
Colleges seeking udl students:
http://debate.uvm.edu/udl/udlcollegelist.html
Article Links:
If you missed it, the outstanding article written by Jack Cooksey about the project in the June issue of Richmond Magazine can be found here: http://www.richmondmagazine.com/?articleID=31413e1860e488469a55ed87fb3d3083
