National Speech & Debate Association
— Core Values — EQUITY • INTEGRITY • RESPECT • LEADERSHIP • SERVICE
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7 Over the next two years, the NSDA will conceptualize a judge accreditation that will meet local and national judge training needs and will equip local tournament directors with actionable steps to create a safer and more equitable speech and debate program.
The NSDA will continue to provide and promote safe spaces for underrepresented or marginalized groups to meet. (a) Continue to provide space and time for coaches’ caucuses to meet surrounding the National Tournament, proactively promoting awareness and attendance of these discussions leading up to the tournament.
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(b) Explore creating or sharing current avenues for an ongoing connection among these communities during the school year.
The NSDA will continue to strive for an equitable and representative judging pool at the National Tournament. (a) With our new judge training initiative, the NSDA will offer and promote a judge accreditation program that incorporates implicit bias and cultural competency training for speech and debate judges at all levels. Cultural competency and other judge training elements will continue to be required for the National Tournament. Learn more at www.speechanddebate.org/ judge-training. (b) Continue to recruit and offer the opportunity for National Tournament judges to self-identify as diversity enhancing.
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The NSDA will develop more resources on implementing an effective equity office at local and regional tournaments to facilitate safer and more equitable speech and debate environments. The NSDA will run an online speech and debate tournament series free to NSDA members. The NSDA will also provide donorfunded subgrants to schools to help increase access to speech and debate.
To increase our transparency and accountability, we have listed these commitments on our website at www. speechanddebate.org/2020-21-equitycommitments. Throughout the year, we will include updates and hyperlinks on that web page announcing our completion of each item.
Thanks to the generosity of The Julia Burke Foundation, NSDA member students have the opportunity to compete in a series of free tournaments this year. Each event will have a middle school and an open high school division. Schools and students must be NSDA members to enter the tournament. There is no entry fee for participation. Learn more and register online: www.speechanddebate.org/ springboard-series
Live Speech and Debate Tournament December 5, 2020 Events: Middle school and open high school divisions of Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, Program Oral Interpretation, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Prepared Mixed Extemp, Policy Debate, Public Forum Debate, LincolnDouglas Debate, World Schools Debate, and Congressional Debate Register by November 30, 2020
ROSTRUM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
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