Greetings. Hope everyone's end of the academic term is treating them well. We are now only a few weeks out from the beginning of the California swing at USC and I want to highlight a few items. Consider this your tournament checklist.
1. Last call for entry changes - The entry system will be turned off on Tuesday, December 18th. If you have any judge changes, competitor changes, etc. please make them on debate results. All subsequent changes need to be made to me directly. 2. Preferences - Our plan is to turn the preference system on no later than Thursday, December 20. If all goes well it may be even closer to the 18th. Specific instructions will be made available at that time, but both divisions will be asked to rank all judges using a per round commitment system that utilizes a six category and strike system. Prefs are due by the evening of December 28th, but with all of the traveling (and likely weather delays) we ask folks to use the extra time and complete their preferences early. 3. Last call for Shuttle Transportation - If you intend to use our shuttle transportation, please email me by this Sunday. I have shuttle requests from Binghamton, Emory, Georgetown, Gonzaga, Harvard, Mary Washington, and Texas-Austin. If you need shuttling to and from the hotel, please let me know. 4. Vegetarians and Vegans - We need numbers of guests with dietary restrictions. 5. Elimination Round Estimates - Our invite specifies we will clear all teams with winning record up to a full doubles bracket in each division. Current estimates are of a full doubles bracket in open and likely a partial octos bracket in JV. This is likely to be an additional elim than past years in JV, so please be aware of the modified schedule needs. 6. Guest names provided to the Sheraton - We have worked to accommodate every squad (to my knowledge) at the Sheraton. This will make the elim day easier as well as for the New Year's party. It is important, however, that the Sheraton have the names of every member of your group. The 'Giant' New Year's Eve party/concert/festival happens in downtown and so the Sheraton is rightly concerned about your safety. There will be times where the hotel will require ID's and/or room keys to access guest floors. This is for our protection so please cooperate. If you are commuting to the tournament just make sure I have a list of your tournament participants. 7. Guest conduct at the tournament - We are very excited to have you as our guests in Los Angeles and to our campus. At the same time, it is important that I remind everyone that you are representatives of your university or college when you are at the tournament. If our guests engage in destructive, threatening, violent, or harassing behavior we are obligated as university employees to report it to our appropriate campus office, including the Department of Public Safety and the Office of Equity and Diversity. Those offices will provide specific guidance which may include the decision to report specific actions to your college or university. We trust that no such actions will be needed, but we wish to alert you of this requirement. Thanks again for your support for our ever growing tournament. We have 88 teams in open and 22 in JV entered as of today. Current weather is sunny and highs in the low 60s - so it should make for a great tournament experience. Happy and safe holidays to all. Gordon Gordon Stables, Ph.D. Director of Debate and Forensics Annenberg School for Communication University of Southern California Office: 213 740 2759 Fax: 213 740 3913 <http://usctrojandebate.com/> http://usctrojandebate.com
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