EVIDENCE RING POLICY
There are many different cases each year, making it difficult for one team to research and adequately prepare to refute each one. One of the greatest benefits of the club is to pool the efforts of all students in researching and preparing briefs against known cases.
At the beginning of the season, students will be given assignments to research and cut pieces of evidence from credible sources on known cases, to strengthen the existing briefs. Once the tournament season starts, students will prepare briefs on the cases they went negative against at the previous tournament.
Below are the guidelines under which LAHSD Evidence Ring operates.
The evidence ring is available for LAHSD members who are competing for our club. Debaters must declare allegiance to the club they are planning to compete for at the start of the season.
Evidence is shared only among members who contribute. This approach strengthens and equips our debate teams and encourages all teams to contribute.
Commitment, loyalty and support for one another is vital to the success of any organization and its members. As such, loyalty to club members takes precedence over loyalty to non-club friendships, outside teams and outside evidence rings.
Club members cannot share or trade case information, evidence or briefs against another LAHSD team. This includes information shared in the club evidence ring, during club meetings and personal briefs written specifically against an LAHSD team’s case. This will keep the level of trust high so each student can bring and share their best work at club.
Students with an out of town partner are required to adhere to club guidelines concerning sharing case information and evidence of club teams.
Students partnered with a member of another club can share paper copies of LAHSD evidence during tournaments but those copies must remain in the LAHSD member’s possession. Club evidence should be kept in a separate evidence box.
Club evidence cannot be forwarded digitally or otherwise to anyone outside of LAHSD.
Personal evidence (not from the evidence ring) can be shared outside the club only if it does not impact a case being run by an LAHSD team. The basic principle of club affiliation is a loyalty first to club members.
Students are encouraged to assist other LAHSD evidence ring members during the tournament as needed.
If there are two LAHSD teams debating each other in outrounds, they are on their own. We ask that no other club members assist them so as not to show bias for or against either team. All teams are encouraged to come to tournaments well prepared.
Club Loyalty
Priority is to club families and protecting the integrity of club information so that club will be a safe place for students to brainstorm and get the help they need. Never discuss information received from club association with outside families. For example, if a team decides to run a new case, that information is considered club confidential.
First loyalty is to LAHSD, not friendships. If friendships take precedence over club loyalty for you, you may be asked to leave LAHSD.
Students are required to maintain a strict posture of club loyalty at tournaments. Outside teams may approach you for information that will help them. Be careful.