Automatic bids go to the 2009 winners of the following tournaments:

* We recognize that this list may make some people unhappy, but we want to assure you that we took this very seriously and had extensive consultation with our advisory board. We do not intend this to be a list of the best tournaments in the world, whatever that might mean. Rather, it seemed to us that this list best allowed us to accomplish the goals outlined in our vision statement.

At-large applications will be reviewed in early February and selections announced by February 14. Applications will be reviewed by a committee, in consultation with members of the advisory board where appropriate. Selections will be made on the basis of the mission of the tournament, which includes consideration of both skill and diversity.

All applications for an at-large bid should be sent by e-mail to the tournament’s convener (barnes @ hws . edu). These should include:

• The names and e-mail addresses of both debaters applying
• Debating accomplishments you would like us to consider
  • These do not need to be accomplishments as a member of this team
• Assurance that both debaters were students of the same university during 2009
• Name and qualifications of any judge you propose bringing
  • You are not required to bring a judge
  • A highly qualified judge may improve your application
  • This is a promise for that judge to attend if the team attends
  • It is possible for the team and not the judge to be invited (based on our needs)
• The amount of financial aid you would need in order to attend
• Applications are due by January 31

Rules for automatic bids: An automatic bid qualifies the debaters on the team that earned it, not the school that they attend. In the case of a two-person team that qualifies, one of the attending debaters may be changed, but one of these two debaters must attend. Of course, we prefer that the entire qualifying team attends. In the case of a three-person team that qualifies (e.g., from Australs), we prefer that both attending debaters be members from the qualifying team, but we will consider requests for teams where only one attending member was on the qualifying team. Late changes to registration by automatic bid teams will be permitted, as long as these requirements are still met. Schools are not limited to one team, but obviously one automatic bid can only be used once. To reserve their place at the round robin, they will be required to send in their registration fee, to be received no later than January 31.