Question 1

Do I need debate experience to join?

Accepted Answer

No prior experience is required. All new members without at least one year of British Parliamentary debate experience must enroll in the club's own BP Debate DeCal, taught by executive board members.

Question 2

Can I take the DeCal without joining the club?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The British Parliamentary Debate DeCal is open to all Berkeley students regardless of club membership. All students who express an interest in learning are admitted after filling out a short preliminary survey.

Question 3

What does the application process look like?

Accepted Answer

Applicants complete a written application centered on argument construction, choosing one of five prompts and writing reasoned arguments for or against it. Invited candidates then do a 20-minute in-person interview involving a short impromptu speech on a topic area of their choice (economics, social justice, international relations, philosophy, or arts and culture).

Question 4

What tournaments does the club compete in?

Accepted Answer

The club competes at regional invitationals (e.g. UBC IV, UCLA IV, Seattle IV, USC IV, Yale IV), national championships (APDA, North American Universities Debating Championships, United States Universities Debating Championships), and the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC).

Question 5

What tournaments does DSB host itself?

Accepted Answer

The club hosts two annual tournaments: Berkeley IV, a two-day BP tournament in Spring, and the Cal Parli Invitational, a two-day high school American Parliamentary tournament held in Fall on the Berkeley campus.

Debate Society of Berkeley