2003 Dalhousie University CUSID Spring General Meeting

Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate

General Meeting
Saturday March 15 and Sunday March 16, 2003
Dalhousie University

MINUTES
(Taken by Carissa Whiteman)

1. Call to Order

Present:
PRESENT:
TJ Adhihetty, President
Carissa Whiteman, Executive Director
Allan Ferriss, Treasurer
James Crossman, VP Western
Emma Lowman, VP Central
Gavin Magrath, VP Atlantic
Erik Eastaugh, Director of French Language Debate

Acadia University – Alexa Smith
Carleton University – an Michael Powell
Concordia University – Gaetano Cecere
Dalhousie University, Sodales – Megan de Graaf
Memorial University – Mary Ryan
McGill University – Konrad Koncewicz
McMaster University – Adam Barker
Queen’s University – Will Hutcheson
Royal Military College – Jessica Davis
St. Thomas University – Mike Collins
University College of Cape Breton – Patrick McNeil
University of Alberta – Helen McGraw
University of British Columbia – Michael Kotrly
University of Calgary – Michael James
University of Guelph – Heather Keyes
University of New Brunswick – Devin Keating
University of Ottawa – Erik Eastaugh
University of Saskatchewan – Tamara Harder
University of Toronto, Hart House – Ducan Plaunt
University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College – William Dun
University of Western Ontario – Jenn Knoll
University of Western Ontario, King’s College – Beth Hopkins

Marianopolis College – carried by McGill University
University of Waterloo – carried by Guelph University
University of Western Ontario, Huron College – carried by the University of Western Ontario
York University – carried by McMaster University

2. Roll Call and Voting Rights

3. Approval of the Agenda

-addition of 6j (Motions)
-motioned for approval motioned by Dalhousie University and seconded by Queen’s University.
PASSED

4. Approval of Minutes from Previous Meeting

-motioned for approval motioned Carleton University and seconded by University of Guelph.
PASSED

5. Oral and Written Reports

• President (TJ Adhihetty)
  –see written report

• Executive Director (Carissa Whiteman)
  –see written report

• Treasurer (Allan Ferriss)
  -all finances are in order, and records have been updated
  -CUSID is still waiting for payment of membership fees as there is record of 19 members and 18 have paid
  -in terms of the budget, banking fees totaled $10.00 and there was no cost for office supplies.
  -costs incurred include the website domain renewal and trophies
  -the surplus will be obtained

• VP Atlantic (Gavin Magrath)
  -there has been an increasing trend of more active Atlantic debaters.
  -will be making requests for teaching materials to provide to the region and for developing debating societies

• VP Central (Emma Lowman)
  –see written report

• VP West (James Crossman)
  -Hugill Cup was larger and more competitive than previous years
  -Pacific Cup at UBC was also quite successful
  the previously misplaced McGoun Cup was found at Stellenbosh World’s
  -will be continuing to work on revitalizing smaller clubs in the region

• Director of French Language Debate (Erik Eastaugh)
  -was reappointed for the 2002-2003 term and has continued to promote French debating in CUSID
  -no host thus far for French Nationals for next year
  -in regards to expanding interest of French debating to non-central regions it will be encouraged, but the difficulties are recognized.

6. Motions

a. Amendment of ss.2, 3, 4, of the Constitution – Purpose of CUSID

2.     CUSID is a federation of Canadian post-secondary debating societies.
3.     The purpose of CUSID is to:

a. promote a forum for post-secondary students to exchange ideas through debate and public speech
b. establish standards in the areas of debate, public speech, individual and society conduct, tournament organization, judging, tournament eligibility, and other applicable topics,
c. provide collective resources to its members,
d. assist in the formation of post-secondary debating societies across Canada,
e. represent the interests of Canadian debaters internationally,
f. annually sanction: two National Championships, in both English and French, Regional Championships and Regional Novice Tournaments.

4.     The purpose of CUSID is founded on the goodwill of each member and their shared commitment to fulfill this purpose.

-motioned for approval motioned by McGill University and seconded by Queen’s University.
PASSED

b. Amendment to the Eligibility and Representation By-Law – Novice Status

ELIGIBILITY AND REPRESENTATION RULE

10. An individual shall be excluded from claiming novice status if the individual.

(a) has competed in the debating portion of one or more post-secondary level debating tournaments hosted by a CUSID member in any previous year, or
(b) has competed in the debating portion of one or more post-secondary level debating tournaments recognized by the American Parliamentary Debate Association, National Parliamentary Debate Association (United States), World Universities Debating Council, or any other national or international debating organization recognized by the President. Such participation shall have taken place in any previous year.

Furthermore, to be excluded from claiming novice status, the individual must have been a registered post-secondary student, or was representing a post-secondary institution or a CUSID member at the time of their participation in (a) or (b).

11. If there are questions as to eligibility or novice status, the President, in consultation with the rest of the Executive, shall determine the status of the individual. The method of appeal of the President’s ruling shall be a motion passed by the CUSID membership.

CONFIRMATION VOTE

1. To be eligible to attend CUSID-sanctioned tournaments and, as far as is enforceable, any other tournaments, a debater must be both a representative of one of CUSID’s full or provisional members and a registered student at an academic institution represented by that CUSID member. Furthermore, a registered student is either a full or part-time student in a program working towards a degree. A students’ official status is verified by a letter from the registrar of that institution.

-motioned for approval motioned by University of Ottawa and seconded by Queen’s University.
PASSED

c. Amendments to the Constitution and New By-Law – Position of the DoFLD

37. Any resolutions adopted at an informal meeting are advisory only, and are not binding on the membership, except the election of the Director of French Language Debate.

38. The Executive shall be composed of the President, Executive Director, Treasurer, Director of French Language Debate, and three Vice-Presidents, one from each of the three regions.

45. The Director of French Language Debate shall

a. promote and represent CUSID to CEGEPs and other post-secondary institutions with bilingual and francophone students;
b. relay the concerns of bilingual and francophone members to the Executive;
c. oversee the organization of the French National Championship, and aid in its promotion;
d. submit an interim report for each issue of the newsletter;
e. submit an annual report, preferably at the National Championship;
f. serve as Chair of the informal meeting at the French National Championship.

47. The Director of French Language Debate shall be elected each year at an informal meeting called for such a purpose at the French National Championships.

51. Impeachment proceedings must be commenced by way of a petition to the Executive. Where such proceedings concern the President, Executive Director, Treasurer, or the Director of French Language Debate such a petition requires signatures in the number of twenty-five percent of the full members. Where such proceedings concern a Vice-President, such a petition requires signatures in the number of twenty-five percent of the full members in the respective region. Only members in good standing can sign such a petition.

52. Upon commencement of the impeachment proceedings concerning the President, Executive Director, Treasurer, or the Director of French Language Debate, the Executive shall hold a general meeting, called for the purposes of impeachment, as soon as possible. The membership shall decide, at such a general meeting, whether a member of the Executive will be impeached. A resolution to impeach must pass by a two-thirds vote.

-motioned for approval and open vote motioned by University of Guelph and seconded by University of Ottawa.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

d. Amendments to the Outcomes By-Law – Allowing Consensus Judging, moved by University of Alberta

OUTCOMES RULE

1. Adjudication may be by secret ballot or by consensus; the method of adjudication shall be made clear in the tournament invitation and briefings.

2. If adjudication is by secret ballot, the following rules shall apply:

a. In determining the outcome of a debate, each judge shall have one vote;
b. If a judge awards a higher point total to one team than to the other, the judge shall be deemed to have voted for that team. If a judge awards an equal point total to both teams, the judge shall be deemed to have voted for the Government;
c. If the result of the vote of the judges is a tie the Government shall be deemed the winner;
d. These rules do not apply to public or open rounds which combine the results of a panel of judges and a House vote.
e. Adjudicators may confer upon and discuss the debate with each other at the discretion of the tournament director(s).

3. If adjudication is by consensus, the following rules shall apply:

a. One adjudicator in each room shall be appointed Chair;
b. Adjudicators shall confer upon and discuss the debate with the Chair and other adjudicators;
c. The adjudication panel shall determine the winning team;
d. Each judge shall award speaker scores individually although the panel may confer on the matter;
e. The adjudication panel shall attempt to agree on the adjudication of the debate;
f. Should the adjudication panel be unable to arrive at a consensus, the decision of the chair shall prevail;
g. Adjudicators may register a dissenting opinion with the Tournament Director.

4. This by-law applied to CUSID-sanctioned tournaments and, as far as is enforceable, to all other tournaments.

-motioned for approval motioned by University of Guelph and seconded by University of Ottawa.
PASSED

e. New Bid Requirements By-Law

BID REQUIREMENTS BY-LAW

1. A bid for a CUSID-sanctioned tournament must include information regarding:

a. Debating Style & Format for all the days of the tournament including, but not limited to:
-type of resolutions being used (e.g. straight, squirrelable, or tight-linked),
-whether points of information will be permitted,
-whether there will be protected times during constructive and rebuttal speeches
b. Tabulations System for the all days of the tournament including, but not limited to:
-description of the computer program,
-method of pairings,-constraints being used in pairings,
-method of pull-ups in pairings,
-method of selecting government and opposition positions,
-method of ranking individual speakers and awarding speaker awards
c. Awards being presented to competitors.

2. A bid for a CUSID-sanctioned tournament should, wherever possible include information regarding:

a. The Debating Society including, but not limited to:
-the history of the society,
-current membership size,
-expected membership size during hosting of the tournament,
-previous tournament hosting experience of the society
b. Judging for all the days of the tournament including, but not limited to:
-description of local judging pool
c. Fees & Judge Requirements
d. School Cap
e. Entertainment including, but not limited to: Non-Drinking & Underage events
f. Accommodations
g. Awards being presented to competitors
h. Tentative Dates & Schedule
i. Possible or tentative Tournament Staff – specifically Tournament Director, Chief Adjudicator, Tabs Coordinator, Equity/Complaints Officers (different person for each position)

3.    A member successful in its bid to host a CUSID-sanctioned tournament is bound by the bid at the time of acceptance by the membership. Furthermore, commitments made at the meeting where the bid selection takes place will be considered part of the bid and therefore binds the successful bidder. Changes to or deviations from the bid require the approval of the Executive for the National and North American tournaments and the regional VPs for regional tournaments, three weeks prior to the tournament commencing.

4.    The Executive may stipulate further required bid information prior to the bid selection meeting.

-some discussion and amendments to the proposal
PASSED

**Adjournment for Saturday March 15, 2003 **

-motioned for approval motioned by University of Saskatchewan and seconded by Dalhousie University.
PASSED

**Continued Sunday March 16, 2003**

f. Confirming vote of previous amendment to the Eligibility and Representation By-Law

TERMINATION AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

8. In the situation where a CUSID member has not participated in any CUSID sanctioned tournament for four consecutive years or has not been a member in good standing of CUSID for four consecutive years, that member will be automatically removed from Schedule A of the CUSID Constitution and will lose all accorded privileges. It is highly encouraged that the dormant member reapplies to gain status as a CUSID member and subsequently become a member in good standing.

-motioned for approval motioned by University of Western Ontario, Huron College and seconded by McMaster University.
PASSED

g. Amendment to s. 17 of the Constitution – Change to Email Address

17. On submission of a list of executives, with email addresses and phone numbers, to the President and on payment of the membership fee for the year, full members will become members in good standing for the duration of that year.

h. Amendment to s. 55, 57 of the Constitution – Two Weeks Advance Notice of Texts of Amendments.

55. The membership has the power to enact, amend, or repeal by-laws, by majority vote.  This power can only be exercised at a general meeting. Such a meeting must have been called for the purpose of considering such an amendment and the full text of the amendment must be provided to the membership two weeks in advance of the meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be in accordance with section 62 of this Constitution (NOTICE OF A MEETING).

57. This constitution shall only be amended by a two-thirds vote at a general meeting.  Such a meeting must have been called for the purpose of considering such an amendment and the full text of the amendment must be provided to the membership two weeks in advance of the meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be in accordance with section 62 of this Constitution (NOTICE OF A MEETING).

-motioned to omnibus sections (6g, h,) motioned by McGill University and seconded by McMaster University.
ALL PASSED

i. Motion to Repeal DoFLD By-Law and Re-Number the Constitution Accordingly

MOTION TO REPEAL AND RE-NUMBER

Motion to repeal the Director of French Language Debate By-Law and re-number the Constitution accordingly after the inclusion of ss. 45, 47.

-motioned for approval motioned by Carleton University and seconded by McGill University.
PASSED

j. Motion to Regulate Surplus Spending moved by Western

Ratification of any spending proposal of the CUSID surplus requires a two-thirds majority at a general meeting.

-motioned for approval motioned by the University of Western Ontario and seconded by McMaster University
PASSED

7. New Business

1. Selection of the 2004 North American Championships host
   -both Queen’s University and McGill University compete to bid.

Bid Outlines
Queens
-6 rounds with 1 random round
-100 team cap but no school restrictions
-judging with no n-rule
-incentives for alumni to help
-adjudicators exam (for both Canadian and American judges)
-multinational panels
-discussion judging
-underage friendly
-discounts for small schools and far schools

McGill
-judging at McGill is deep
-school has strong experience with APDA
-will work to improve relationship between CUSID and APDA
-fee is maximum $250 CDN but will endeavor to fundraise and reduce the price
-entertainment – Molson room, Thursday and Friday night social events
-hosting NorthAms will help McGill in pursuing the larger bid of World’s in 2 years

Questions
-judges discounts to McGill
-timing for judges briefing to Queen’s
-consensus judging
-legitimacy of link between NorthAms next year and Worlds later to McGill

-vote:
Queens – 15
McGill – 5
2004 North American Championships will be hosted by Queen’s University

b. Selection of the 2004 National Championship host

McGill
-Winter Carnival will still happen
-no split rebuttal but possible PMRE
-DCAs from each region
-entertainment – perhaps not the Molson room but an alternate venue with a full open bar
-can’t commit to decent price
-discounts (billeting) to those coming far
-same judging requirement as proposed in NorthAms bid (n/2 rounded down)

-vote:
Favour – 19
Against – 1
2004 National Championships will be hosted by McGill University

8. Elections

1. President
   -both Adam Barker (McMaster University) and Konrad Koncewicz (McGill University) compete.

vote:
Adam Barker – 9
Konrad Koncewicz – 11
Konrad Koncewicz will serve as CUSID’s President for 2003-2004

b. Executive Director
Wayne Chu (Carleton University) will serve as CUSID’s Executive Director for 2003-2004

c. Treasurer
Gaurav Toshniwal (McGill University) will serve as CUSID’s Treasurer for 2003-2004

d. Confirming the Director of French Language Debate
Guy Philippe Allen Bouchard (McGill University) will serve as CUSID’s Director of French Language Debate for 2003-2004

9.    Adjournment

NOTE:  McMaster University will hold the CENTRAL CUSID regional tournament and University College of Cape Breton will hold the ATLANTIC CUSID regional tournament as decided after Adjournment.