Dear Colleagues,

You are cordially invited to attend The 2008 Hilltopper Classic at Marquette University High School in Milwaukee, WI. The MUHS Webster Club is once again excited to welcome friends new and old from across the state, region, and country to enjoy fine hospitality and excellent competition and judging.

The 9th Annual Hilltopper Classic will take place on Friday, September 19th and Saturday, September 20th. Competition will be offered in both Varsity and Novice Policy Debate as well as Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Public Forum Debate. Finalists in Varsity Policy Debate will once again earn a bid to the National Tournament of Champions at the University of Kentucky.

After much consideration, we have decided to maintain our "Texas-style" two-day tournament format again this year. With escalating travel costs and shrinking budgets, regional tournaments are essential to the health of the debate community and we are committed to hosting a tournament that is both affordable and accessible to the broadest constituency possible.

By maintaining the Hilltopper Classic as a two-day event, we hope to help squads minimize costs by arriving on Friday and returning home late on Saturday night, necessitating only a single night's hotel stay. Teams are of course welcome to stay in Milwaukee on Saturday night if this is within their means, but by concluding the tournament on Saturday night we ensure that no team is required to make that choice.

Of course, the "Texas-style" format is not without its downsides. The schedule will once again be intense and opportunities for relaxation, socializing, and community building will be limited. We will of course do our best to provide a hospitable and friendly atmosphere, but teams will have to endure a long night on Friday and an early morning on Saturday. Squads that reach the late elimination rounds will also have to drive home late on Saturday night and into Sunday morning, but we hope that coaches and debaters alike will appreciate the opportunity to sleep late on Sunday and enjoy a rare weekend "off day" early in the season.

On behalf of the Webster Club and the entire Marquette University High School community, I look forward to hosting you here in beautiful Milwaukee.

Sincerely,

Bill Batterman

Director of Debate & Forensics, Tournament Director

Marquette University High School