Fordham Fall Finale
PassedSeason closed with a hometown push in the Bronx. Thank you for showing up, filling every slot, and ending Fall 2025 together.
Fall 2025 season wrapped
Season CompleteEvery Fall 2025 tournament is now in the books. Take a breather, review your flows, and watch for Spring announcements in the calendar and TIDs.
- Calendar: We’ll publish Spring dates as soon as APDA releases them. Check back regularly.
- Prep: Use the break to polish favorite cases and refresh rebuttal drills with your partners.
- Resources: Keep files tidy — the Case Builder tools and resource library are available year-round.
Season closed — stay tuned for Spring 2026 travel plans and rosters.
Upcoming Targets
There are no upcoming tournaments right now. We’ll update this page as soon as Spring bids are available.
Passed Tournaments
Brandeis
PassedThank you to everyone who travelled to Waltham. Debrief notes, photos, and receipts live in the shared TID and Google Chat threads.
Brown
PassedProvidence is in the books. Check the shared TID and Google Chat for reflections, photos, and any outstanding follow-ups.
Harvard (APDA Meeting)
PassedCambridge is in the books. Check Google Chat and the TID for reflections and meeting takeaways.
Johns Hopkins Novice (APDA)
PassedThanks to everyone who travelled to Baltimore for novice weekend! Check Recent Highlights for the recap and shout-outs.
Notable Achievements
2024–25
UVA Tournament, 5th best varsity speaker
American University Tournament, 6th best varsity speaker
Columbia University Tournament, 10th best varsity team
2023–24
2nd best team of the year, Ailin Jia and Aadhavaarasan Raviarasan
8th best club of the year
2nd best speaker of the year, Aadhavaarasan Raviarasan
Judging
Great rounds need great judges. You can sign up to judge using the same interest form as debaters - just select “Judge.” We’ll provide a quick briefing, a timer, and a flow sheet. No prior APDA experience required.
- Before: Read the case statement, note any CWs, track protected time.
- During: Flow key claims and responses, weigh clearly; watch for valid POOs.
- After: Give a concise Reason for Decision and fair speaks.
How APDA Tournaments Work (60-second primer)
- Schedule: Most run Fri–Sat (occasional Sun). Expect an opening assembly, 5+ prelim rounds, then elims.
- Break: Teams with strong prelim records “break” to elimination rounds; exact cut depends on field size.
- Speaks & ranks: Judges award speaker points and ranks each round; totals determine breaks and awards.
- Judging: Experienced judges “flow” rounds, weigh comparative strength, assign speaks, and call winners.
- Pairing: A tab system pairs teams each round based on records and constraints.
Eligibility & Selection
To be considered for a tournament, meet the rolling three-week minimum before the sign-up deadline:
- At least 1 Monday Lesson + 2 Wednesday Training meetings
- Selection signals: commitment, experience balance, learning opportunity, roster size & logistics
Tournament Info Documents (TIDs)
Each tournament has a TID - a single source of truth with timelines, travel, lodging, maps, schedules, packing lists, equity reminders, and contacts. We’ll publish each TID to a public Drive folder once the roster is set.
Logistics & Costs
Costs
$0 to compete. PDU covers travel, registration, and lodging.
Travel & ID
We travel by train/bus/van depending on distance. Bring a valid photo ID. Exact meet-up times are in each TID.
Travel release form
If you are confirmed to attend, complete the PDU Travel Release Form before departure so we can keep university travel records up to date.
Meals
Hosts usually provide lunch on Day 1 and breakfast/lunch on Day 2. Pack snacks and a water bottle.
Absence letters
Need a letter for professors? Contact the Operations Director - we’ll coordinate.
Day-of updates
Urgent changes appear on the Calendar and via email/Discord. Check both during travel weekends.
Partners & Roles
Partners are requested or assigned in person on a per-tournament basis.
- Have a preferred partner? Tell us - we’ll try to honor it based on availability.
- New or flexible? We’ll pair you with someone compatible.
- Not a fit? Partnerships can change between events - normal.
Equity & Safety
Follow host equity policies and PDU standards: debate ideas, not identities; use Content Warnings (CWs) and honor opt-outs. Report concerns to the Equity Team or a PDU officer immediately.
Results & Highlights
We’ll post monthly highlights here - breaks, speaker awards, and photos.