Michigan State Debate


Applying/Tuition
Residence and Living Accommodations
Camp Life
Travel
Forms (UPDATED FOR 2007)
Preparing For the Institute
Administrative

Applying/Tuition

Q: What does tuition include?
A: Camp tuition covers participation in the program, housing, food (the cafeteria offers three meals a day except for Sundays which exclude dinner), copying of all shared/core camp evidence, copying of all lab evidence from the students' own lab, an SDI T-shirt and a 2007 SDI Evidence CD that includes a scanned copy of every file produced within their particular session. (Students in the two and three week labs will receive the two and three week lab evidence on CD; four week students will receive a CD that includes all two, three, and four week SDI files.)

Q: When is the SDI application deadline?
A: The early application deadline for the 4 and 5 week programs is April 8, 2007. Please note that in order to receive the $150 tuition discount, we must receive your non-refundable $600 deposit by April 8, 2007 as well.

The traditional application deadline for the 4 and 5 week programs is May 14, 2007.

The application deadline for the 2 week and 3 week programs is May 25, 2007. A $300 dollar deposit should accompany 2 and 3 week applications.

Q: Is my deposit due with my application?
A: This depends on which camp you are applying for.

For the two and three week sessions: A deposit in the amount of $300 (payable to "Michigan State University" is necessary to complete your application.

For regular applicants to the four or five week session: You can apply without sending in a deposit. If accepted, students will have one week from the date of their acceptance to confirm their attendance with a $600 deposit. Failure to submit a deposit on time may result in the forfeiture of admission.

For early deposit applicants to the four or five week session: Students who send in a $600 deposit along with their application by April 8, 2007, will receive a $150 discount off the total price of 4-week tuition if they are accepted. Students who are not accepted can either have their deposit applied to another session of the SDI or have their payment refunded. Deposits are non-refundable for accepted students.

Q: Who do I write my deposit check/money order to?
Deposits should be made payable to "Michigan State University" or "Spartan Debate Institutes."

Q: Is my deposit refundable?
A: No. Deposits are non-refundable. The only exception is students who are early deposit applicants to our four-week program and are not accepted.

Q: Can I pay with a credit card?
A: Yes, you can pay the deposit or entire balance of SDI tuition by credit card. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. To pay by credit card, please visit http://debate.msu.edu/payment.

Q: When is the balance of my tuition due?
A: After the deposit is submitted, the balance of the tuition is due at or before registration on July 8th, 2007.

Q: Is financial assistance available for students?
A: Limited need-based financial assistance is available for students who qualify. All scholarship forms must be received by Monday, May 7, 2007 to be considered. Decisions will be sent out in late May. Applicants are asked not to contact the office about decisions unless they have not received a response by Memorial Day. The forms are available on this site by clicking on the "Apply" button at the top of the page.

Q: Can I Commute?
A: It is possible to commute from the SDI. Contact the administrative staff for exact pricing options. It is possible to commute with or without a meal plan for all sessions.

Residence and Living Accommodations

Q: Where is the SDI held on the MSU campus?
A: The SDI is returning this year to its traditional location at Yakeley-Gilchrist Hall, in MSU's West Circle complex. Sitting adjacent to Grand River Avenue and downtown East Lansing, Yakeley-Gilchrist provides students with short walks to lecture facilities, as well as easy access to a variety of dining and shopping opportunities during scheduled breaks during the camp.

A full campus map is available at http://www.hfs.msu.edu/msumap-index.html

Q: Do campers live with college students?
A: No. SDI Students do not live with college students. Yakeley-Gilchrist Hall is reserved only for summer programs like the SDI at the time of the institute. These are the same dorm rooms that college students live in during the year, however, so campers can still get a feel for college life on the MSU campus.

Q: Are the floors co-ed?
A: No. Floors for all SDI summer sessions are segregated by sex, and students are not allowed on the floors of the opposite sex. All staff living on the floors to assist students with living concerns are the same sex as the student.

Q: Are roommate requests honored?
A: Roommate requests will only be honored under the following conditions:

Q: How many students live in each dorm room?
A: Two students live in each dorm room.

Q: Can the cafeteria accommodate students with special dietary needs or severe food allergies?
A: Yes! The MSU Food Services are used to assisting students year-round with special dietary accommodations or needs. Please note any food allergies or diets on appropriate forms before the students arrives. In cases of limited diet or severe allergies, students can meet with a food service staff member to obtain ingredient lists and/or menus to assure that they can be accommodated. Vegetarian, vegan, and diabetic diets are common and are easily accommodated with daily selections.

Q: Can I rent a refrigerator or microwave?
A: Yes! Through the MSU Residence Hall, microwaves and refrigerators are available for rental. Last year's prices were $11/week for each appliance, and are expected to be similar this year. Students who are interested in this option can sign up with the residence hall at check-in. The residence hall is responsible for renting out appliances, not the SDI directly.

Q: Is there ethernet access in the dorm rooms?
A: Yes. At registration we have a hand-out that gives easy instructions for how your computer can be configured for the MSU campus network.

Q: What type of supervision is there in the dorms?
A: There are three levels of staff supervision in the dorms. MSU has a Residence Life Staff that manages and supervises the dorms. These conference assistants are trained by the University for hosting summer workshops and assisting with any problems should they occur. In addition, the SDI also employs several floor monitors familiar with debate to ensure student safety and watch the dorm floors during late night hours. Several of these staff members live on the floors to assist with any problems or concerns and to provide a visible supervisory presence. There is also another level of dorm supervision provided by the main staff of the SDI, most of which lives in the dorm for the duration of the camp.

Q: What safety provisions are there in the dorm?
A: All students must be in the dorm by 10 p.m. for an 11 p.m. bed-check. At 11 p.m., the building doors are locked and all entering persons must be checked in through a desk receptionist. Students must stay on their floor after bed-check until lights out at midnight. Night monitors and other support staff help supervise the students. Built in safety provisions of the MSU campus also support the safety of its summer programs, such as nighttime path lighting, emergency phones, emergency blue light trails, and campus police presence in most of the residence halls throughout the day and night as part of the "Police in the Community" project.

Q: Can students receive mail or packages at the camp?
A: Yes! The general address will be located on students' final confirmation forms which will be sent in late June. You must add their room number, which they will learn on day one at check-in.

Q: How can students be contacted while at the SDI?
A: Every student dorm room has a phone jack. Students must bring a non-cellular phone to plug into that jack for their own use. The phone number will be on the phone plate in their room. If you drive your student, please write that number down before you leave their room. If your student is arriving by any other means, please ask them to check in with you upon arrival and leave their dorm telephone number with you. THE MSU RESIDENCE HALLS WILL NOT GIVE STUDENT PHONE NUMBER OUT TO PARENTS BECAUSE OF CAMPUS PRIVACY REGULATIONS. Please establish a plan for when your child will phone home, and ask them to stick with it. In case of emergency, you may call the SDI administrative staff on-site at the camp on their cell phones.

Q: What is a typical day like?
A: Each day, the schedule of events at the SDI is pretty full. Exact daily schedules will vary according to the workgroup ("lab") placement and session of the student. The instructors of the labs set different paces based on the session, age, and experience level of their students, but a sample day might look like this:

This schedule varies a lot based on which part of the camp it is. During week one, the camp has some group lectures which the whole camp attends. During some weeks, instructors might heavily emphasize research time and strategy development. In other weeks, lab instructors will do more speeches and less library research. Free time is often built in when the group needs it. Many of our instructors are high school teachers and debate coaches so they are really good at staying in tune with when the students need a break. Keying in on that, many will suggest group free time. Kids are most likely to have individual free time before or after meals when there is supervision around and on the student floors.

Q: What happens on weekends?
A: Schedules are usually more relaxed on weekends. We try to integrate more down time and recreational events, like volleyball, soccer, basketball, a Euchre cards tournament, and the now "famous" SDI Dance. Work-groups will probably still meet on the weekends but not for most of the day.

Q: Where are lab rooms located?
A: That depends on the session you enroll in. Two and Three week lab groups typically have rooms right in the residence hall complex. Many of them have been completely renovated within the last few years.

Four-week lab groups meet in the MSU Union, which is probably the nicest facility used by any debate camp. TheUnion is located very close to the dormitory and contains several large high-technology meeting rooms with air-conditioning. Here is an exterior picture:

Q: How much computer access do students have on the campus?
A: Students have access to computers at the SDI in-house library and several rooms of the camp office that are only for student use. Students also get an MSU "pilot id" which allows them to use most computers on the MSU campus.

Q: Should I bring a computer or laptop?
A: If students desire and have access, they can bring their own computers, laptops, printers, and equipment. Some students find it helpful to have their own computers on hand, but it is certainly not a condition or necessity for participation in the program. The SDI and MSU cannot be held responsible for lost or stolen equipment. If you are bringing a computer to the SDI, please click here to review our suggestions for how to configure your compute before you arrive.

Q: How much access do students have to the MSU libraries? What are the libraries like?
A: The MSU Libraries are tremendously cooperative with SDI. They allow our campers to have guided access with their instructors and library monitors built into virtually every daily schedule.

Inside, the library has been recently renovated. One nice feature is the addition of a CyberCafe on the main floor where patrons can purchase a variety of drinks and snacks. There are several comfortable seating areas, computer on which to check e-mail or use the Internet, and ports to which laptop users can connect.

Q: What are E-Tokens? How can I print on campus?
A: E-tokens are the electronic money you have on your account if you are an SDI student to print from university computers. They allow you to print, like an MSU student, to the MSU laser printers for $0.05/page instead of standing in line to pay for each separate print job. E-tokens will be associated with your personal MSU email account, which you will get at registration. Every SDI student will start the camp with E-tokens already in their account at no additional charge. Students who wish to purchase additional E-tokens can do so during the camp from the MSU Computer Center. Please note that E-tokens only involve personal computer printing during the camp and have nothing to do with the finished camp evidence that the SDI copies for students. You do not need to use E-tokens to receive any finished debate files.

Q: Is there a post office close to the dorm?
A: Students will be able to mail items directly from the residence hall.

Q: Can students have checks cashed or money orders sent to them during the camp?
A: It is possible to do either. Contact the SDI administrative staff during the camp to arrange it.

Q: When should I arrive at the SDI?
A: All SDI students should plan to arrive in East Lansing on Sunday, July 8th, 2007. Registration will be from approximately 11am until 6pm.

Q: When should I depart the SDI?
A: Students should plan to depart the SDI by 2pm of the last day of their particular session. Two week students depart on Friday, July 20, 2007. Three week students depart on Friday, July 27, 2007. Four week students depart on Friday, August 3, 2007. Five week students depart on Sunday, August 12, 2007.

Q: What if I need to arrive late or depart early?
A: Although all students are encouraged to arrive in time for registration and depart during the normal hours, the SDI can usually accommodate your unique travel needs. Please contact us in advance about specific arrangements and travel requests.

Q: Are travel accommodations paid in any part by the camp tuition?
A: Unfortunately, no.

Q: Is East Lansing easy to find or travel to?
A: Yes, East Lansing is very easy to find and travel to! Many people don't know it, but MSU is a community of over 45,000 students and staff members. It also borders Michigan's state capital city: Lansing, Michigan.

Q: What is the best way to get to East Lansing?
A: We have had students find many ways to get to the camp. Students can be picked up from the East Lansing bus depot, Amtrak station, and Lansing Airport by SDI staff members.

Q: Which airport is best to fly into?
A: The easiest airport to fly into and for our staff to pick arriving students up from is the Lansing Capital City Airport in Lansing, Michigan. The airport code is LAN in all major travel services. There is a $5 charge (each way) for SDI-coordinated ground transportation to and from Lansing. The Lansing Airport is only about 15 minutes away from the SDI facilities. Information about the airlines that fly into Lansing can be found at http://www.flylansing.com.

Q: Can I fly into the Flint (FNT) airport?
A: YES. The Flint airport is relatively affordable, low-congestion, and only 45 minutes from MSU. Last summer, several students from the Southeast, in particular, received good prices on Airtran into Flint. This summer, the SDI will again coordinate shuttle service to and from the Flint airport. There is a $20 charge (each way) for SDI-coordinated ground transportation to and from Flint. This amount would be added directly onto the student’s institute tuition. The SDI will coordinate ground transportation, which will be done either by an MSU Charter Bus or by private taxi services (depending on the number of students). There will ONE wave of transportation on July 9th: it will leave the airport for East Lansing at approximately 4:45pm.

When booking your trip, please choose a flight that arrives early enough to collect your baggage and luggage. Information about the airlines that fly into FNT can be found at http://www.bishopairport.org.

Q: Can I fly into Detroit or Grand Rapids?
A: Please note that there is no SDI related shuttle service this year to and from the Detroit Metro Airport or the Grand Rapids Airport.

Q: Are any SDI staff at the airports to assist students?
A: YES. The SDI will have staff members at each of the Lansing and Flint airports in order to confirm flight arrivals, assist students, and generally make sure that everything runs smoothly. SDI staff will all be wearing 2007 SDI T-Shirts.

Q: Is there shuttle service from the East Lansing bus or Amtrak depot?
A: Students can be picked up from the East Lansing bus depot and Amtrak station by SDI staff members. There is no charge.

Q: How do I arrange for this SDI-provided transportation?
A: Students will receive a Travel Information Form along with their acceptance packets that should be returned to the SDI after it is completed. This form will allow you to inform us of all logistical information such as flight numbers, arrival/departure times, and any unique transportation needs.

Q: When are Travel Forms due?
A: Travel information Forms are due by JUNE 15th, 2007. If you would like another copy of the Travel Information Form, it is available here (pdf).

There are several forms that you need to return to us. If you misplaced them, they are available here in Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format:

Our final mailing includes the following additional documents (we've included links to the 2006 versions below - updated forms will be available when we make the mailing):

Q: What is not included in the camp tuition?
A: Any dinners on Sundays besides registration day are not covered in the camp tuition. Personal researching/copy costs are not covered by camp tuition. Any recreational or spending money is not covered by camp tuition. Any sources of food or beverage from outside the residence hall cafeteria is not covered by the camp tuition.

Q: What personal items do I need to bring?
A: Students should plan to bring clothing for a range of Michigan weather! In past years, the weather has ranged from very cool (low 50s) to very hot and humid. A list of suggestions for what to bring is available above in the forms section.

Q: What are the institute rules?
A: These are the rules listed on the form that the students and a parent/guardian will be asked to sign. A copy of the University and Institute rules is available here in Adobe Acrobat (pdf).

Q: Are visits possible?
A: Visits are always welcome! Visitors who are not parents or guardians must have parental permission to take students off the grounds and must sign students out in the in-house office. Parents and guardians should check students in and out in the in-house office as well.

Q: How much spending money do students need to bring?
A: Students should plan on paying for their own copying and printing costs for all of the research that they do (on campus, the cost is $0.10/page), money for dinner on each Sunday of their session (excluding day 1) as the cafeteria does not serve meals then, some money for snacks and beverages, and perhaps some money for recreational activities. In the past, labs have attended a movie or gone bowling as a group. The appropriate amount of spending money varies for each student -- generally, students will not be likely to incur more than $30 in copying costs for research.

Q: Who is in charge of the SDI?
A: The SDI is run by Greta Stahl, Director of Debate at MSU, and Will Repko, Head Coach of the MSU Debate Team.

Q: Who do I contact at the SDI in case of emergency during the camp? How do I do that?
A: Before the SDI begins, you can contact us in the debate office at 517-432-9667. During the camp, the administrative staff moves on site to live in the residence halls with the students. The SDI office number during the camp will be sent to parents in our final confirmation packets.