Code of Conduct

NSDA Vancouver is dedicated to offering a safe, inclusive educational environment to all tournament participants and administrators. Speech and Debate is an activity that requires all of us to engage in dialogue, contestation of ideas and disagreement with grace and sincerity. 

The National Speech & Debate Association is committed to providing its participants, judges, coaches, and staff the opportunity to pursue excellence in their endeavors. This opportunity can exist only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. The NSDA prohibits all forms of harassment and discrimination. Accordingly, all forms of harassment and discrimination, whether written or oral, based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by any applicable federal, state, or local law are prohibited, whether committed by participants, judges, coaches, or observers. Individuals who are found to have violated this policy will be subject to the full range of sanctions, up to and including removal from the tournament premises.

Governing Principles

• Access – to a safe space for competition
• Equity – to all members of our community
• Competition – fair and objective standards for participation.

DEI Partners

Women’s Debate Institute (WDI) – we endorse their statement on Best Online Practices.

Association of Black Argumentation Professionals (ABAP) – we endorse their Digital Bill of Rights.

WDI Best Online Practices

We also hope our students will consider the following best practices for engaging safely online:

1. Be selective with the information you share – the WDI is working to make our platforms as secure as they can be, but the internet is, unfortunately, less private than an in-person camp. Therefore, we ask that students consider the potential outcomes before sharing private or personal information during WDI Online Summer Programming activities and/or with persons you meet through WDI Online Summer Programming.

2. Protect your information – we encourage our students to check their privacy settings on their social media accounts to ensure their information is protected. While the WDI does not use social media platforms for programming, we recognize that many of our students will use these platforms to connect with each other.

3. Be active in creating an inclusive community – developing a safe environment is everyone’s responsibility at the WDI. If students witness participants being teased, made fun of, bullied or harassed, we ask that students step-in and check-in, which includes interrupting the negative interactions and providing support afterward. Finally, we encourage our students to discuss any incidences of teasing, derogatory, offensive, or hurtful comments with WDI staff.

For ABAP’s Digital Bill of Rights click HERE.