We want a
successful, safe, and fun program. Please read this form carefully. You are
expected to understand and adhere to the expectations noted below. Following
the below expectations is required in order to participate on the ___ College
Speech and Debate Program. Further, you should encourage others on our program
to adhere to these expectations, you should discourage and attempt to stop
violations of these expectations, and you should inform the head coaches about
violations of these expectations so that problems are prevented, addressed, and
our team is the successful, safe, and fun environment we want.
The term “participants” refers to
students, judges, and coaches taking part in the __ College Speech and Debate
Program.
Technology Use: Participants are expected to follow
__ College’s Ethical Use of Information Technology. See: include link to your school’s
technology policy (eg no spamming, no hacking, etc.)
Eligibility: We want a diverse and academically
engaged team. Participants will maintain academic eligibility. Participants
should regularly attend courses, complete class assignments on time and with
high quality work, and maintain at least a __ GPA. Further, participants will
keep professors apprised of speech and debate absences and will makeup work for
their classes in coordination with their professors. You should be a positive
force in your classes; use discussion to provide comments helpful to class discussions—avoiding
arguing and either talking too much or too little. See: include link to your school’s eligibility
policy.
Spending Team Money: We want finances spent ethically and
for the purposes of the program. Participants will not seek to charge any
expenditure to ___ College except those that are 1) pre-approved by the head
coaches; 2) are explicitly for the educational or business purpose of the
speech and debate program; AND 3) must be receipted and explained. Expenditures
for personal purposes are never reimbursed including for clothing, toiletries,
medicines, personal use of vehicles, etc.
No alcohol, drugs: We want responsible, safe,
professional environments for our participants. Participants will not use
alcohol nor illicit drugs nor drug paraphernalia nor engage in any crime at any
__ College Speech and Debate program events including from beginning of travel
to end of travel for tournaments and off campus events as well as on campus
events and any social events or meetings with recruits. Participants will
remove themselves from any area or room in which alcohol or illicit drugs are
being used or paraphernalia is visible except that participants may remain at
the non-bar portion of an alcohol licensed restaurant. Students will not drink
nor use illicit drugs nor view drug paraphernalia nor commit any crime with a
coach or judge at any time, including social events and non-__ College
sponsored events. The program sponsors no parties with alcohol or drugs;
furthermore, social events among team members shall not be called
debate/speech/forensics events/parties as they are not events/parties
affiliated in any way with the program.
Romantic Relationships: Students may not engage in romantic
interactions with recruits interested in __ College. Students should be aware
that coaches or judges that are hired by __ College may not be in any form of a
romantic relationship with a student.
Comfortable Environment: We want and expect participants to
treat other participants on the program and those from other colleges and
universities with respect and support. Participants will not engage in any
harassment or discrimination. Participants may disagree with the views of
others but they will not verbally or physically attack other persons.
Participants will not disparage nor treat poorly nor interfere with any person
from making a claim of discrimination or harassment. The below are statements
of __ College’s policy concerning assuring a comfortable environment:
Provide a link to your school’s anti-harassment – Title IX policy.
Include school’s definition of sexual harassment/harassment.
No Hazing:
Any student can participate on the __ College Speech and Debate Program
so long as that student is eligible and adheres to the program’s and school’s
expectations. To that end, participants will not engage in any hazing or
initiation rituals. The below is from __ College’s policy prohibiting hazing.
Provide a link to your school’s anti-hazing policy. Include school’s definition
of hazing.
Treating host facilities and others
right: We want our
team to be respectful of our communities. Participants will treat hotels,
schools, rental vehicles, and restaurants including their associated staff
members with care and courteous behavior. Participants will avoid loud noise
and disruptive behavior at schools, during debates/speeches, and at hotels.
Participants will not argue with judges about decisions. Participants will
clean areas where the program congregates at tournaments, van and rental
vehicles we use, and classrooms we use on campus for practice sessions.
Hotel Rooming Policy: Students will be placed into a hotel
room based on student preference and gender. No one but __ College students
participating at the tournament may be in our hotel rooms. Participants should
contact one of the head coaches as soon as possible if an issue arises
requiring a room change or adjustment. Participants will not move from their
assigned room without the permission of a staff member unless there is an
emergency. Participants must be in their room and not leave after the curfew
time established by the head coaches. At curfew, participants understand that
their room may be inspected by a head coach to assure adherence to team
guidelines.
Driving to and from Tournaments,
Events, Practices Off Campus: Drivers will drive safely per __
College’s driving expectations to avoid any danger and to provide a comfortable
and safe ride for participants. Riders will respect the driver’s need to
concentrate on driving safely by not distracting the driver. Those who ride
separately from the team or stay at a location other than the arranged
hotel/location at a tournament, will inform the
College on the travel application form.
Working with the coaches: We want you to improve as much as you
can, working with coaches cooperatively. Students should arrive to practice and
research sessions as well as tournaments on time and be productive and seek to
improve. If you will be late or cannot attend, do at least two of these: post a
note near the room, email, text, or facebook, to
communicate that. Students should work with coaches or on their own and work
without disrupting others. Participants will be honest in their dealings with
each other on the program. Students and coaches will work to solve problems
including events in which they may have done something wrong. Students are
welcome to provide comments for coaches to improve; harsh criticisms are not
productive to that end.
Preparation Work: We want to students to engage in
speech and debate to progress. Students are expected to participate in the Prep
Session at the beginning of the semester. Students are expected to practice
twice a week in debate and in speaking in the weeks leading up to a tournament.
Students are expected to prepare short research assignments for their debate
topics. Students are expected to participate in all of their debates and
speaking events at tournaments. All along, students are expected to work to
improve, to become the best they can be.
No Plagiarism: Participants will honestly and
accurately cite specific ideas originated by others when appropriate citation
is expected in debates and speeches. While argumentation can include
embellishment and framing of information for persuasive goals, participants
will not fabricate or lie about facts.
Dress: The program encourages “nice casual”
to “business professional” attire that is attuned to the style the participant
prefers. Clothing that is wrinkled or dirty, that has messages that demean
others (though it may disagree with others), or that is worn by most people
primarily only at social functions is not appropriate. Participants should
bathe/shower and wear fresh clothes each day.
Maintaining Contact: Good communication is important to
our team.
Participants are expected to check the __ College Speech and Debate Facebook
page each day, preferably two or three times a day, and should respond to
emails/texts/e-messages sent by coaches and other team members promptly. Phone
messages should be returned. Such contact and responsiveness is needed to
maximize coach and other student educational objectives.
I _______________________________________ (print your first
and last name), agree on this date of _____________________ that I understand
and will follow and encourage others to follow the above __ College Speech and
Debate Program Expectations. Further, I
know that I should discourage violations of these expectations, and that I
should inform the head coaches of any violations of these expectations.