Intervarsity Competitions
MAD attends the three main Intervarsities (IVs) available to Australian debaters - Easters, Australasians and Worlds. For information about each one, see the sections below.
A table of MAD's recent and impressive IV success is available here.
EASTERS: AUSTRALIAN INTERVARSITY DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Easters occurs over the Easter Break, where you will be introduced to a weekend of debating competition and non-stop partying. It is also the first IV that many of you wil have the pleasure of experiencing. Easters is held throughout Australia, but this year it is in our very own backyard, courtesy of the University of Melbourne.
Traditionally, Easters is a novice tournament, and Monash has a proud record of always sending the largest contingent. Novices are considered to be those new to University debating, or University debaters who have not yet attended an Australs or a Worlds tournament. This means that MAD strongly encourages all of our first year members to attend, as it is a tremendous learning experience.
The tournament itself is not strictly competitive and all people who have attended past Easters IVs will tell you that it is the most relaxed and friendly tournament on the circuit.
Held in 3 on 3 style debating, the tournament operates in a debating format that will be familiar to anyone who debated at school. There is also the opportunity to attend Easters as a trainee adjudicator, where you will be taught to become a qualified adjudicator for future tournaments.
So, if you make it through Easters, you'll be ready for Australs...
AUSTRALASIANS: AUSTRALASIAN DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The AustralAsian IV usually occurs at the beginning of July. In 2001 Australs is being hosted by Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, so be prepared for a tournament that will absolutely knock your socks off. Australs involved teams from all over the AustralAsian region, so Australia gets to pit the cream of our talent against some of the most pretigious universities from Asia. Australs is renowned for partying, so be prepared to put your drinking cap on as some nights can be full of debauchery [website ed: ahem!].
The tournament is held in 3 on 3 style (the same as Easters) with replies that occur after the conclusion of eac team's case. AustralAsians is not always held in Australia so be prepared to travel to some exciting Asian destinations in the future. More often than not, they make a welcome break from the Melbourne winter [website ed: yes, you get to spend an even wetter winter in Sydney, for example]. MAD members can go as debaters or adjudicators.
The 2002 Championships will be hosted by the University of Melbourne.
WORLDS: WORLD UNIVERSITIES DEBATING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Worlds is the Mount Everest of the IV circuit and is considered to be the most prestigious debating tournament in the world. Worlds occurs at the end of each year, and is being hosted this year by Hart House at the University of Toronto, so be prepared for some freezing weather.
Worlds will see universities from all over the glove competing for the ultimate debating prize. Monash are the back-to-back world champions, so you can expect a hearty monash contingent to attempt the unthinkable and win Worlds three times in a row!
Worlds is held in British Parliamentary Style debating, which most newcomers will probably not be familiar with. MAD runs training programs to readily equip all our newcomes with the BP knowledge they need, plus Monash has an abundance of World Champions to teach you the intricacies. Worlds is the best tournament for meeting people from all over the world and making friends that you will keep for a long time - an adventure not to be missed!
Check out the Hart House Univeristy Worlds website at http://worlds2002.com.
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The information contained on these pages is intended as a guide only. No responsibility taken for errors or omissions.