Announcing the Participants in the 2011 Performance Trust Public Debates on the U.S. Economy

We are very pleased to announce the 12 teams invited to participate in the 2011 Performance Trust Public Debates on the U.S. Economy, December 9th and 10th, 2011, at Performance Trust Capital Partners in Chicago.

Amundsen H.S.
C.J. Colon and M.P. Atta-Krah

Brooks College Prep
Brianna Stuckey and Ryan Jones

Jones College Prep
Bruce Weber and Hollie Davis

King College Prep
Kevin Grandberry and LaDonna Miller

Lane Tech College Prep
Ariannna Arnone and Javonna Hines

Morgan Park H.S.
Jeannae Meaders and Melody Sprolls

Northside College Prep
Jennie Wang and Pauline Esman

Phoenix Military Academy
Brenda Munoz and Carlos Ballesteros

Von Steuben Metro Science Center
Jesse Okwu and Quddus Akinlusi

Whitney Young Magnet H.S.
Hannah Nasser and Marcel Roman

Daniel Hale Williams Prep School of Medicine
Marissa Bacon and Mercedes Hall

University of Chicago Woodlawn Charter H.S.
Isaac Brown and Vernon Fleming

We have three preparation workshops, required for all 12 teams, though coaches are only required to attend the first, on October 19th, 5pm – 7pm, at Performance Trust, 500 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL. The Planning Timeline provides the full schedule, taking us from now until the Event Schedule, on December 9th – 10th, 2011.

The 2011 Performance Trust Public Debates Format is one developed specially by the Chicago Debate Commission, and it emphasizes public audience persuasion, while retaining the two pillars of rigor in competitive academic debate: responsiveness and evidence.

The topics couldn’t be timelier or more important. All 12 teams will debate four rounds, once on the affirmative and once on the negative on each of two debate resolutions.

Resolution A

Resolved: That the United States is now on an irreversible course of long-term economic decline.

Resolution B

Resolved: That the United States federal government should invest substantial spending in a new stimulus program.

The Runner-Up Round and the Championship Round on Saturday, December 10th, will be on one of the two resolutions above.

Coaches from the invited schools should contact Bill Altorfer — billaltorfer@resources.chicagodebates.org — to let him know how to allocate their $500 incentives (half of which will be paid out now, half on site on December 10th). Coaches who have not submitted a Tax Information Form to Bill should do so right away, so they can receive incentive payment.

We thank Chicago Debate Commission Board member Robert Chrismer and Performance Trust CEO Rich Berg for arranging for the continuation and expansion of the Performance Trust Public Debates.

Let us know if you have any questions.