Affirmative Action & N-1 Rules

published by logan on Fri, 06/13/2008 - 12:31

Both the AustralAsian and Australian Intervarsity Debating Championships (Easters) require contingents to comply with an Affirmative Action rule and an Adjudicator Requirement rule.

AIDA Constitution requires that (1) at least one third of all debating contingents must be female; and that (2) at least once third of the debaters in the first three teams of all debating contingents must be female.

The total number of adjudicators sent by registering institutions must equal the total number of teams minus 1. (e.g. If sending 3 teams, an institution must send 2 adjudicators).

Note: DCAs do not count towards either rule.

Teams

Adjudicator Requirement

Minimum Female Debaters

Minimum Females in Contingent

1

0

1

1

2

1

2

3

3

2

3

4

4

3

3

5

5

4

3

7

6

5

3

8

Exemptions

Exemptions to the Affirmative Action rule may be granted on the grounds of:

  • the university debating association is so small that the affirmative action requirement would be difficult to apply; or where
  • the university debating association is a relatively new participant in debating tournaments; or where
  • the university debating association has had inadequate notice of the affirmative action requirement. 

Exemptions to the n-1 rule are generally considered less acceptable, but may be granted in extreme circumstances.  These circumstances currently vary between Australs and Easters, but broadly consist of the following:

  • The university debating association is so small that the n minus one rule would be difficult to apply; or where
  • The university debating association is a relatively new participant in debating tournaments; or where
  • The university debating association has had inadequate notice of the n minus one rule.
  • Inserted into the Easters provisions at the 2008 meeting: A member/members of the university’s contingent has pulled out due to extreme, unforeseeable or emergency circumstances, immediately preceding the tournament (e.g. A member of a contingent has pulled out due to a car accident, hospitalisation, or a death in the family). For this ground of exemption, Council should take into account the impact of the exemption on the pool of adjudicators. 

Institutions which do not comply with, but have been informed of the Affirmative Action requirements and the n minus one rule, and do not attend the preliminary meeting where they could reasonably attend will be ineligible to compete in the finals series.