The KeyVolume 51, Number 2 – 2019

Friday – March 22, 2019

The Key is a daily publication that will provide useful information about the tournament and convention, as well as useless information about the people, schools, and events that not everyone sees or hears. Look for each day’s issue on TABROOM.COM sometime in the late morning. One of the important things The Key will provide are statements from candidates for office. Saturday’s issue will include statements from candidates for At-Large, Community College, and Graduate Student candidates. Sunday’s issue will include statements from candidates for the At-Large student member. There will also be daily updates from your host and tournament director, as well as other important reminders and information to help navigate you through your tournament and convention days. Finally, there will be a contest each day; two randomly drawn correct answer sheet will win PKD water bottles and a third randomly drawn correct answer sheet will win a PKD keychain.

Welcome to Hofstra University and the 51st Biennial Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament and Convention. We hope you have a fabulous time!

VOTE NOW…and Later as Well!One of the most important things that happens at this convention and tournament is voting for our leadership. Today we will complete our voting for President-Elect. Voting starts tomorrow for three at-large seats, community college representative, graduate student representative, and student at-large seat. Candidate statements will be published in tomorrow’s Key. Candidates for professional positions will speak at tomorrow’s business meeting, while student candidates will speak at tomorrow’s student caucus. If you are interested in running for one of these positions and want your statement published, email it as a Word attachment to Scott Jensen at jensensc@webster.edu before 8:00 Saturday morning.

The voting box is in the food area of the Student Center, across from the ballot and vendor fair tables. Voting is open…

Today until 5:00 pm Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00 pm Sunday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Be sure you have your voting delegate ribbon—and be sure to vote!

Pi Kappa Delta and Public Outreach

Pi Kappa Delta is committed to public outreach. With events like PersuasionWorks, and grant opportunities ranging from underwriting improvisational performance to assisting financially

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challenged programs in their efforts to attend the national tournament, PKD works hard to make what we do at tournaments a small part of our broader effort to promote its motto of “the art of persuasion, beautiful and just.” Two examples of this outreach have a presence at this year’s convention and tournament

The Theatre of Public Policy—Improv and Advocacy Comes TogetherOne of the convention events Wednesday afternoon was a performance by the Theatre of Public Policy, or T2P2. This improvisational group travels throughout the country and performs for a variety of audiences. The group was formed in 2011 by Tane Danger and Brandon Boat. As explained on their website, “These shows begin with policy makers and thought leaders discussing the hot issues of the day. Then, in real time, the cast re-imagines the debate through the spontaneity of unscripted theater making policy fun.”Wednesday’s performance focused on immigration. Pi Kappa Delta alum and immigration lawyer, Dr. Casey Antonio Williams, talked about the critical issues within today’s immigration debate and answered questions from both T2P2 founder Tane Danger and audience members. Members of T2P2 created and performed a variety of hysterical scenes that integrated the content from interactions with Dr. Williams.

Pi Kappa Delta has a grant that helps support chapters who invite T2P2 to their campus. The group can perform virtually any topic, and is also open to working with campus performance groups, talking to classes, or doing any number of other things as part of their visit. For more information about T2P2, visit their website, http://t2p2.net/. For information on how to work with PKD to bring this fun to your campus, contact our COO, Phil Voight, at pvoight@gustavus.edu.

Success AcademyCompetitive scholastic debate is an unmatched method for fostering civic engagement, developing powerful critical thinking and public speaking skills, but it has long been dominated by students from elite schools. In the fall of 2014, Success Academy set out to reverse this trend by launching an immersive debate program that would prepared our scholars to compete at the most advanced level. Today, 15 dedicated debate coaches work with almost 850 Success Academy scholars in elective classes and competitive teams. Starting in fifth grade, scholars on the debate team spend a minimum of five hours a week

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in training, and compete in 15 tournaments each year. In 2017, we launched the Success Academy Debate League. SADL provides all our scholars access to high quality coaching support from university debate teams in the north east (including NYU, New School, Columbia, Fordham, Rutgers, Harvard, and Liberty University.) Through these partnerships, our scholars have a clear pipeline to college through the network.

The mission of SA Debate is to integrate argumentation and competitive debate into our schools to develop critical thinkers ready for college, career, and engagement with the world around them. SA sees debate not as an activity for a small group of elite students, but rather as an academic, competitive platform for all to develop critical-thinking, increased comprehension, audibility, and self-advocacy skills.  Fundamentally, we believe that if all students at a school have access to this platform, debate will be a defining aspect of a school’s academic identity and the skills to which scholars engage all of their courses. By recruiting, retaining, and training students, coaches are part of a broader effort to boost academic rigor across the network.

If you’re interested in being a full time debate teacher & coach please apply online at https://bit.ly/2HyM5iE. You can also email Meagan.Kowaleski@successacademies .com  for more information. We will be at PKD this weekend hosting a table in the Student Center Atrium so please stop by and say hello!

Day Two from Tournament Director, Dr. Jessica FurgersonDay One is officially in the books! I cannot thank you enough for your patience in dealing with hiccups as they arose and I am confident that we have taken the necessary steps to avoid those issues moving forward! 

Don't forget to attend the special events planned for tomorrow including the Meet the Presidential Candidates Forum at 11:30 and the Alumni Showcase at 5:15. This showcase will feature Banafshae Khan (CMI) and Ken Newby (Morehouse) facing off against Cody Peterson & Mark Faaita (both of CSU Chico) in an NPDA debate. I am sure it will be an excellent debate!

I would like to give a special shout out to National Council Members Victoria Ledford and Joel Anguiano. These two are not only my best friends, which I am sure is a job in and of itself, but have also been my most trusted assistants with everything related to running the tournament over the last few days. If you see them, thank them!

Thank You, National Council Student Representatives!Donovan Henry and Olivia Potter have spent the last two years representing the students (and general membership) of Pi Kappa Delta as student representatives. The two have been part of face-to-face and Web council meetings and exchanges. Their ideas have helped shape important work done over the last two years. Donovan, a senior at Hofstra University, will graduate with a degree in sociology and a minor in psychology. He plans to enroll in a graduate program to study public policy. Olivia is a senior at Webster University. She will graduate with a degree in international relations with minors in French and speech communication studies. She plans to attend law school and study international law.

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TCU and Fort Worth, 2021—Here we Come!

The Texas Zeta Chapter of Pi Kappa Delta invites y’all to Texas Christian University for the 2021 Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament and Convention, March 11-14, 2021. TCU is located in the heart of Fort Worth with easy access to ample hotel and dining space for tournament guests. Our campus is close to both downtown, and to many suburban and less costly hotel options that will suit the needs of teams of all budgets. Fort Worth is accessible through the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (30 miles from TCU, over 1850 flights per day at affordable rates), which will offer teams major airport and car rental access. Teams choosing to drive to the tournament will find that Fort Worth is easily accessible by interstate, and no more than a two-day drive from most locations in the continental U.S. Teams looking for something to do outside tournament hours will find many affordable and team-friendly options in Fort Worth. The historic Stockyards district offers daily cattle drives, dining and shopping, and a rodeo arena with weekly rodeo events. The Fort Worth Zoo is just two miles from TCU, and ranked one of the top zoos in the nation. The area offers theater, sporting, world class museums, and historic sites that are all affordable for visiting teams. Our campus boasts two dedicated debate chambers, and amble and accessible competition space with available food and coffee in easy walking distance of tournament headquarters. We hope to extend some big Texas hospitality in 2021!

Frog

Frog Fountain, TCU Debating Chamber, and Fort Worth

Convention Events—Plan to Attend!Convention and social events continue today and throughout the rest of the weekend. Don’t forget to stop and see the travelling version of the Pi Kappa Delta Hall of Fame and fascinating historical items from our archives, open for viewing each day in the Student Center Theater Lobby. In addition, the following events are part of each day’s schedule…

Friday 11:30 am Meet the Candidates Forum—President-Elect—Student Center Theatre

12:45 pm Professional Development Session—Public Relations—Shapiro Family room 401

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5:15 pm Alumni Showcase—Student Center Theater

Saturday 9:45 am Meet the Candidates Forum—At-Large National Council—Student

Center Theater10:00 am Alumni Showcase—Student Center Theater11:45 am Business Meeting—Student Center Theater12:30 pm Student Caucus—Student Center Multipurpose Room7:00 pm Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony—University Club7:30 pm Coach Reception—University Club

Student Reception—Student Center Dining RoomRefreshments will be available at both receptions. Debate elimination rounds and participants in the first showcase will also be announced at the student reception.

“Investigative” ReportingWith budget cuts, my steady loss of hearing, and preference to stay in one place while I drink coffee and visit with friends, I am at a loss for reporters to roam the halls, prep rooms, and hotels finding breaking news that you don’t need to know. If you know anything that the rest of us should know—tell me! Send it to me!

What I do know…

Someone wasn’t thinking when they thought it would be a good idea to give “Draw Man” Tom Serfass a paper cutter. Someone keep the band aids handy!

Don’t believe the power of the printed press is dying. This editor has revealed the up-to-now hidden identity of Ohio University’s director. Not Jennifer…its JESSICA. (At least until Sunday and perhaps forever with her students.)

Reportedly security detail had to be called to the Lion’s Den area to break up a potential rumble. Seems a couple smarties were talking smack about the Cubs. Heard from one person—NOT the Editor—“We don’t need your pity!”

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The tournament staff is doubling as elves in Santa’s Workshop—busily preparing for Sunday night’s awards banquet. There is an uncontrollable enthusiasm from some who get to play with tools and build things. (There was caution to not equip any of them with a tool that plugs in or could break things!”

You Can’t Win if You Don’t Play!No winners for Thursday’s trivia contest…so we will extend it to the end of the day today. The list is at the end of this issue of The Key. Play yesterday’s and today’s! Three randomly drawn answer sheets will win PKD jump drives each day.

Contribute to The KeyPlease, PLEASE…if you have anything for The Key, email me at jensensc@webster.edu. I would love to know the inside scoop about the student, alumni, and professional faces of PKD. I’d love to know about interesting stories. Very importantly, if you plan to run for a national office, I need a brief statement from you before Saturday morning. Please email it me as a Word attachment. Help me help you with great content for The Key.

Scott Jensen, Webster UniversityEditor, The Key

jensensc@webster.edu

Only SIX days until life begins anew…Major League Baseball Opening Day!

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Daily Trivia Contest

Each day there will be a trivia contest based on the chapters attending this year’s tournament and convention. Copy, paste, and email your answer sheet to jensensc@webster.edu by the deadline announced for each day. A random drawing of correct answer sheets will determine three daily winners! Email completed answer sheets by 8:00 am Saturday.

Day One—Where can You Find Our Chapters?

For each chapter, write the city and state where they are located.

Name______________________________________________Phone____________________________________

School_____________________________________________Email____________________________________

Bowling Green State University _________________________________________________________

Butler University _________________________________________________________

Carson-Newman University _________________________________________________________

College of DuPage _________________________________________________________

Cornell University _________________________________________________________

Davis and Elkins College _________________________________________________________

Grove City College _________________________________________________________

John Carroll University _________________________________________________________

Linfield College _________________________________________________________

McNeese State University _________________________________________________________

Northern State University _________________________________________________________

Otterbein University _________________________________________________________

Southwest Baptist University_________________________________________________________

Sterling College _________________________________________________________

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Valdosta State University _________________________________________________________

Daily Trivia Contest

Each day there will be a trivia contest based on the chapters attending this year’s tournament and convention. Email your answer sheet to jensensc@webster.edu by the deadline announced for each day. A random drawing of correct answer sheets will determine three daily winners!

Day Two—Who/What is the Mascot?

For each chapter, write the mascot for that school. An exact name is not necessary—but an accurate description/label for what/who it is should be provided. Answer sheets should be emailed by 8:00 am Saturday.

Name______________________________________________Phone____________________________________

School_____________________________________________Email____________________________________

Azusa Pacific University _________________________________________________________

Central Florida University _________________________________________________________

Dutchess Community College_________________________________________________________

Emerson College _________________________________________________________

Idaho State University_________________________________________________________

Kansas City, KS Community College_________________________________________________________

Lafayette College _________________________________________________________

Marian University _________________________________________________________

Morehouse College _________________________________________________________

Northwest Missouri State University_________________________________________________________

Texas Christian University _________________________________________________________

Transylvania University _________________________________________________________

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University of the Cumberlands _________________________________________________________

University of Houston_________________________________________________________

University of South Dakota _________________________________________________________

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