The YDA Goes Global

British Parliamentary Debate:

The YDA boasts a tradition of success in the British Parliamentary style, particularly at the annual World Universities Debating Championships, or "Worlds," as the tournament is called. The BP format differs from the American Parliamentary style practiced in the United States: it features four teams debating at once instead of two, and places a greater emphasis on global current events. As a result, success at BP tournaments, including Worlds, has proved difficult for Americans. Yale, however, has invested significant time and energy over the past several years in developing a robust BP debate program. In recent years, the YDA has excelled at the format and has helped to introduce the rest of the American Parliamentary Debate Association to BP.

Due to the successes of the 2010-2011 season, the Yale Debate Association attained the distinction of being the 3rd ranked team in the world. At the 2009, 2010, and 2011 World Championships, Yale broke two teams at Worlds, more than any other American university.

Since the 2006 season, Yale has been the highest-ranked American university in international debating. At the 2008 World Championships in Thailand, Yale broke three teams to the octofinals, more than the rest of America's universities combined, and one Yale team reached the semifinals. Yale also boasted the second-place individual speaker at the tournament, out of over six hundred debaters. Recent years have shown similar success: during the 2006-2007 season, eight different combinations of debaters from Yale reached final rounds at BP tournaments, and a Yale team was even named the Canadian National Champions in BP debate. During the 2005-2006 season, Yale placed teams in the final round of the Oxford, Cambridge, and World Championships in the same year, an unprecedented feat for an American university. Two Yale debaters, tied in the speaker rankings, received joint top speaker honors at the World Championships as well.

In October of 2006, the YDA hosted the first ever Yale IV, an international debate tournament in the BP style. "IV" stands for inter-varsity, styled after the names of the Oxford and Cambridge debate tournaments that, along with Worlds, are the only other truly international competitions. The Yale IV, now an annual event, has been a tremendous success, drawing over one hundred teams each year from Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and all across the United States. The event has helped to expose American debaters to the BP format, and to solidify Yale's reputation as one of the premier international debate organizations.

Yale's Worlds Delegations:

2011: Gabarone Competitors: Nate Blevins Pam Brown Naz El-Khatib Kate Falkenstien Nick Cugini Ben Kornfeld Alyssa Bilinski Max Dovala Robert Colonel Anna Moore Judges: Andrew Connery Aaron Hakim Michael Magdzik	2010: Koc Competitors: Grant May Steven Kryger Habib Moody James Luccarelli Tess Reed Pam Brown Naz El-Khatib Kate Falkenstien Judges: Tommy Bodeau Kristin Briggs Nate Blevins Meng Jia Yang Edie Joseph Arjun Shenoy Marc Wallach Shaina Wright	2009: Cork Competitors: Grant May Andrew Rohrbach Steven Kryger Jeff Geels Erin Miller Habib Moody Judges: Spencer Stackhouse Tess Reed James Luccarelli Pam Brown Shaina Wright Mark Longhurst Kristin Briggs	2008: Bangkok Competitors: Josh Bone Andrew Rohrbach Lauren Hallett Ashali Singham Jeff Geels Haley Nix Erin Miller David Kasten Grant May Jason Blau Judges: Steven Kryger Lauren Henry Tess Reed	2007: Vancouver Competitors: Adam Chilton David Denton Josh Bone Dylan Gadek Matthew Wansley Rosa Po Ben Eidelson Jed Glickstein Andrew Rohrbach Ashali Singham Erin Miller Jason Blau Judges: Ian Clowes Jeff Geels Lauren Hallett David Kasten Jessica Marsden Haley Nix Luke Ortega	2006: Dublin Competitors: Beth O'Connor Rory Gillis Ariel Schneller Joshua Johnson Adam Chilton Dylan Gadek Sarah Marberg Ashali Singham David Denton Josh Bone Rosa Po Lauren Hallett Judges: Jessica Marsden David Kasten Ben Eidelson Jocelyn Courtney Ian Clowes
2005: Malaysia Competitors: Josh Bendor Rory Gillis Andrew Korn Mikey Palmeri Judges: Ariel Schneller	2004: Singapore Competitors: Rory Gillis Joe Ross Josh Bendor Andrew Korn Judges: Monica Mix	2003: Stellenbosch Competitors: Beth O'Connor Adam Jed Tim Willenken Aaron Lemon-Strauss Judges: Joe Ross	2002: Toronto Competitors: Matthew Longo Jay Cox Beth O'Connor Adam Jed Tim Willenken Aaron Lemon-Strauss Judges: Joe Ross	2001: Glasgow Competitors: Brian Fletcher Scott Luftglass Nicola Mrazek Krishanti Vignarajah Matthew Longo Phil Fortino Judges: Sarah Parcek Beth O'Connor
2000: Sydney Competitors: Peter Friedman Thom Cantey Nicola Mrazek Gideon Maltz Judges: Matthew Longo

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