General Assembly at the YDA's 2009 Osterweis Tournament
The Yale Debate Association is deeply committed to debate as an integral part of the educational experience. The team carries this commitment out by promoting debate among college and high school students, particularly in New Haven and Connecticut at large. Yale hosts two college-level tournaments: one inter-varsity, and one intramural. The Yale IV is an internationally attended British Parliamentary tournament specifically designed to give American debaters exposure to this international style of debate. The intramural competition (the Adams Cup) is intended to foster the feeling of community and a spirit of competition between Yale residential colleges and to give non-debaters the chance to participate in this excellent activity.
In the fall, Yale hosts a premier national circuit debate tournament which draws high school students from around the country. This three day event requires months of hard work on the part of the tournament staff as well as a marathon weekend of volunteering for the entire team. But the culmination of the team's community service efforts comes in the Spring, when Yale hosts the Osterweis Parliamentary Debate Tournament, which is free for Connecticut high school students. The tournament has become an important event for these debaters and is now recognized as the state championship for the Connecticut Debate League.
Further to this commitment, the YDA has partnered with the Urban Debate League, a community service organization responsible for establishing and maintaining debate programs in New Haven public schools. In addition to lending significant financial support to the organization, the team is actively involved in the coaching and tournament staff for the UDL.