ACC Debate Championship
Starting in 2015, the member schools of the ACC are reviving the ACC debate championship. This year’s
will be hosted by the Wake Forest University debate program in Winston-Salem, NC from April 10-12,
2015 at Wake Forest University’s Graylyn International Conference Center. The topic of this year’s
debate competition is:
Resolved: Student athletes should receive monetary compensation for
participating in athletic competitions
Each school is represented by a team consisting of two students and a debate coach (optional). The
members of the UVa team will be selected based on a video application (see information below for
more details). The ACC championship debate tournament will provide accommodations, meals, out of
conference judging, tournament souvenirs, and trophies for the participants and coaches. The Provost
Office will cover the costs of travel (driving) for the coach and debaters.
If you are interested in being considered for the team, please follow the steps below by Friday, March
27th at 5 PM (late submissions will not be accepted):

Read the Suggested Guidelines and FAQs below.

Create a 90 second video which helps explains to the judges why you should be a member of the
2015 ACC debate team from UVa.

Upload your video to the 2015 ACC Debate App Collab Site by completing steps on the attached
document.
We plan to notify selected students no later than March 31st. If you have any additional questions,
please contact:
Archie Holmes, Vice Provost for Educational Innovation and Interdisciplinary Studies
[email protected]
ACC Debate Championship
Suggested Guidelines and FAQs
Who is eligible to participate?
Degree seeking undergraduate students who are currently enrolled at UVa for the spring 2015 semester.
What should I put in my video?
Think about the video as your application. As such, you need to be able to explain to the judges why you
should be part of the team. Things that you might include could be who you are, what previous debate
experience you have, what experiences you have which makes you a good person to address the debate
topic, and your initial thoughts on the debate topic.
Can two students apply as a team?
Yes as long as each person individually meets the eligibility criteria. While you will still have 90 seconds
for your video, you should address why you make a good debate team.
Who is the audience for the video?
Your video should be pitched for the general public.
Where can I borrow video equipment?
Since we are using Collab, you can use your computer’s webcam to create your video if you so choose.
If you want more sophisticated video equipment, please visit the Circulation Desk in Clemons.
Am I restricted to 90 seconds for my video?
Yes. Videos that are more than 90 seconds will not be judged. We suggest embracing the challenge of
trying to convey your story in this short timeframe.
By what criteria will the videos be judged?
The judges’ sole criteria will be to select the two people to make up UVa debate team for this
competition. As such, you need to use your 90 seconds to make your case. Video quality is not being
used as a criteria unless if distracts from your story.
I want to have music and/or video images in my video; can I do this legally?
You cannot include copyrighted media in your video unless you have written permission from the
copyright holder. If you cannot obtain permission from the copyright holder, you can consider using
open source music or videos.
Where can I get some additional information on Kaltura
https://wiki.shanti.virginia.edu/display/KB/Kaltura+Management+Console+%28KMC%29+Guide
What kind of permissions do I need for my video?
ACC Debate Championship
When you complete the online submission form, you will be asked to respond to a series of questions
related to consent forms for participants in video besides yourself (if applicable), permissions for the use
of images or music, etc. Your replies to these questions are bound by the U.Va. Honor Code.
What is the format for the debate?
The debates will be public with a goal of attracting media attention and local participation. The current
format for each debate will be as follows:
First Affirmative Constructive Speech (5 minutes)
Cross Examination (2 minutes)
First Negative Constructive Speech (5 minutes)
Cross Examination (2 minutes)
Second Affirmative Constructive Speech (5 minutes)
Cross Examination (2 minutes)
Second Negative Constructive Speech (5 minutes)
Cross Examination (2 minutes)
First Negative Rebuttal (4 minutes)
First Affirmative Rebuttal (4 minutes)
Second Negative Rebuttal (4 minutes)
Second Affirmative Rebuttal (4 minutes)
Each team would have 5 minutes of preparation time to be used as necessary. Each team would have an
equal number of affirmative and negative debates during the preliminary rounds. The sides for the
championship debate would be determined by a coin toss.
What is the schedule for the debate competition?
The schedule below is tentative but should give you a general idea.
April 10, 2015:
Students, coaches, and judges arrive.
7-10pm: registration and reception at Graylyn Pairings released.
April 11, 2015:
7:30am: Breakfast at Graylyn
8:30am: Round 1
10:00am: Round 2
12:00pm: Lunch at Graylyn
1:30pm: Round 3
3:00pm: Round 4
6:00pm: Dinner at Graylyn
9:00pm: Coaches and Judges Reception
April 12, 2015:
7:30am: Breakfast at Graylyn
8:30am: Round 1
10:00am: Round 2
12:00pm: Awards Lunch at Graylyn (announcement of speaker awards
and final round)
2:00pm: Championship Round