A: Let's break this down Congress style:
Pros: Suits, dress pants, button down shirts, at-or-below-the-knee skirts, pleasant smell (showered)
Cons: Flip flops, jeans, spaghetti straps, t-shirts, wrestler masks (it's happened)
A: There is truly an event for everyone! Check out our events page for event descriptions and advice. Keep in mind that you should use your first year debating to find the event that is right for you: this can be a process. It is required that you stay with each event for at least two tournaments; you tend to vastly improve from one tournament to the next (and even between rounds) as you learn more about the specific event. People tend to choose Duo their first year because they don't want to perform alone, but Duo is one of the hardest events to do well in. Choose an event that you're excited about, not because you want to perform with a friend.
A: Yes you can! It's called double entering. It's not suggested for your first tournament, and it can be stressful. Plus, you don't see the rest of the team very much throughout the day (we'd miss you!), and you will have to pay for both events. A lot of people choose to do this, and it can be really fun.
A: Yes, and you should. Your first year debating should be used to find an event or two that you are interested in and passionate about. To do this, you will need to try different events. We require you to stay with an event for at least two tournaments, because you tend to vastly improve from tournament to tournament. Other than that, we encourage you to try the wide range of events. Maybe a "Congress person" is really a Dramatic Interp person in the closet. You never know!
A: You can always look at your ballots when we go to Elizabeth's after tournaments (before the food comes so they don't get all greasy and "great job" turns into "goffud ifdjs"). After that, they are in the English room in the modular building (now Ms. Fletcher-Herring's room, formerly Ms. Crone's) in the speech and debate crate in a folder with your last name on it. You're welcome to look at them anytime, but please don't take them home without asking Angela.
A: I am really sorry. Everyone gets a judge once in a while that is inexplicably harsh. It could be that you look like their evil cousin, or right before the round they got some terrible news. I can relate: one tournament, I got 1st place, 2nd place, 1st place, 5th place. 5th place? I could have won something if it wasn't for that crazy judge in her embroidered Christmas sweater! Everyone has one or two of these stories: it's like an initiation into Speech and Debate.
There's not much we can do: the exception is if they say anything inappropriate. Once someone wrote "You're pretty" on one of our member's ballots. If something like that happens, we can talk to the tournament officials about it. All judges should sign their name and school at the bottom of a ballot.