April 6, 2023 (newsweek.com) – For the first time ever, NAUDL hosted a hybrid open-policy debate tournament. Most of the Urban Debate National Championship tournament was in-person, after four years of online debate. Thirty-eight teams from 19 different Urban Debate leagues gathered at Southern Methodist University in Dallas from March 31 to April 2.
But just as the semifinals began Sunday, the weather in Texas took a turn. With tornado watches implemented across the South and Midwest, teams scrambled to get home as many flights out of Dallas were canceled. To ensure every team got home in a safe and timely manner, NAUDL decided to push back the final round and host it over Zoom.