Stormwind University is proud to announce the subsequent dates of our monthly Debate Series in 2021! (Still going strong since March 2016!)
WHAT: Citizens of Stormwind City and all throughout Azeroth! Stormwind University wants to hear YOUR opinions on some of our world’s most vexing dilemmas and social quandaries!
Once every month, Azeroth’s greatest scholars, philosophers, free thinkers, and - yes! - even and especially adventurers, are openly invited to get together and duke it out in the intellectual arena! Whether we’re debating the cause of conflict, solutions to a long-standing dilemma, historical and/or present day speculations or perhaps what the future may hold, we can guarantee this: You’ll leave seeing our worlds just a little bit differently!
ALL are welcome to attend - Alliance, Horde and everything in between alike! This is a community-wide event, and we’re looking for interested parties to be guests in our audience forum, as well as eager participants to fill out two teams on the occasions when the volunteer panel format is used for a topic! (The selection of format will be determined and announced in advance in this thread!)
WHEN: The SECOND Wednesday of each month at the 7th bell of the evening ((7pm Pacific/10pm Eastern)).
WHERE: OOCly, the town hall in the Ruins of the Scarlet Enclave. ICly, this building represents one of Stormwind University’s salon rooms on the main campus!
*** For courtesy and convenience, summons will be provided via Raid invitation to the Debate group, for audience members and debaters alike! Please be sure to whisper our advertisers for a Point Of Contact on the date of the event for assistance and/or further information! ***
WHO: Any debate will consist of at least two debaters, which anyone can volunteer for. (Preferably, in advance of the event date!) As this event is conducted ICly, unique and interesting takes on the topic are expected and in fact, encouraged! Presently, there is a hard cap of six debaters total for our panels - two teams of three, who will each take one side of the debate topic at hand. There have been exceptions to this rule in the past, but typically only for a special topic and participants booked well in advance!
FORMAT:
[#1 - The Volunteer Panel Format]
After stating the session’s topic, our debate begins by each of our speakers, in order, making their opening statements — a clear and concise statement, made up of no more than three chat boxes worth of dialogue - declaring the argument they’ll defend for the duration of the event. This order will be determined by our designated proctor and will be constant throughout the entire debate. Following this, the debaters, in order, will have the opportunity to speak throughout a number of rounds. Using no more than three chat boxes worth of dialogue, they may defend, rebut and, of course, debate theirs and their rivals’ claims!
There is presently a limit of six rounds per Debate session; Introductions & Opening Statements, four rounds of official debate between the two teams, then the Closing Arguments & Conclusion.
While we do our very best to ensure that the official debate portion of the evening will go on for no longer than two hours, time taken per round and the number of debaters is too random to establish a definitive time limit. After the speakers have made their closing remarks, the floor will be open to a Question & Answer session with the audience.
[#2 - The Roundtable Format]
Our beloved community has spoken, and we have listened! In an ongoing effort to make our community events even more engaging and interactive, we’ve decided to officially add this format more regularly to our Debate Series as opposed to an occasional “special” feature!
The roundtable format is rather self-explanatory - Topics conducted this way allow for more of a free-flow exchange of ideas among all attendees present. No need for a panel! All are welcome to come and share their opinions, wisdom, life experience - or all three! - with our peers and allies in an open forum, moderated by a member of the Stormwind University faculty!
As always, we ask that our attendees keep things civil and respectful, and we’ll be glad to hear your take on the topic at hand! We’ve found that the roundtable format allows for an even larger melting pot of ideas, and best of all, YOU get to contribute directly to the proceedings and discussion!
Of course, participation in a roundtable format debate is still purely voluntary. Sitting in, listening and observing, is and always will be welcome for our attendees!
DEBATE TOPIC:
To Be Announced!
Awesome! Where do I sign up?:
It’s easy! Feel free to contact me (Amaranthaea) or Maurien via whisper or in-game letter (IC or OOC), detailing your/character’s take on an upcoming topic! We’re looking for interesting, unique opinions, and we’re excited to hear what you’ve got in store for us! We can also be contacted via our Tumblr page.
In addition, we’re also glad to accept suggestions for future debate topics from throughout our wonderful community! Of course, due credit for any debate topic suggestion that we may use will be given, along with a mention & Thank You upon presentation of said topic!
NEXT DEBATE: Wednesday, September 8th at 7:00 PM (Server time)
TOPIC: “Had the Draenei Come To Azeroth As Conquerors, Would They Have Succeeded?”
![:sweat_smile:](https://d38bqls1q93fod.cloudfront.net/en/wow/images/emoji/twitter/sweat_smile.png?v=6" ":sweat_smile:")
We’ve utilized Wednesdays since the inception of these events, so we’re just used to it at this point! Not to mention, there’s usually so many other events taking place on the weekends (understandably so!) throughout the community! Still, we appreciate the enthusiasm and support! ![:smile:](https://d38bqls1q93fod.cloudfront.net/en/wow/images/emoji/twitter/smile.png?v=6" ":smile:")
![:smiley:](https://d38bqls1q93fod.cloudfront.net/en/wow/images/emoji/twitter/smiley.png?v=6" ":smiley:")