I will be putting all of the information regarding the administration of the Seminar on this front page. I will update it regularly over the coming days.
If you have questions, please email them to *all* of the following addresses:
antonucci23@gmail.com
georgetowndebateseminar@gmail.com
jpaul717@gmail.com
Please do *not* direct inquiries through Facebook or cross-x.com. Such inquiries do not folderize well, and thus tend to get lost in the shuffle.
TRAVEL DATES
WHEN DO WE ARRIVE AND DEPART?
For the 3-week session, arrive on 6/12 and depart on 7/1.
For the 2-week session, arrive on 6/18 and depart on 7/1.
There will be a meeting in the evening, but it is not crucial. Choose the time of day for your travels according to your convenience and optimal pricing. Extremely early morning arrivals are suboptimal but acceptable if you find they're necessary.
Further information is available under the Dates and Pricing link, but clarification seemed necessary.
FINANCIAL MATTERS
Q: Is there a deposit? When is it due?
A: We must receive a $500 deposit by May 5th, 2009.
Q: Is this deposit refundable?
A: No.
Q: When is full tuition due?
A: June 1st, 2009.
Q: Can I just pay at registration?
A: No. You must pay in full by June 1st, 2009.
Q: Do you accept credit cards?
A: Not at this time. Please pay by check.
Q: To whom should I make the check payable?
A: Georgetown University.
(While you are welcome to indicate that the check is for debate seminar tuition, our program is a component of Georgetown, and they handle our finances.)
Q: To what address should I send the check?
A: Please address the envelope to
Jonathan Paul
Director of Debate
Georgetown University
424 Leavey Center
Washington, DC 20057
Q: I would like to know if you have received my check. How might I make this determination?
A: You are welcome to email georgetowndebateseminar@gmail.com. If you are especially concerned, we can make a note to call or email you when we have received your payment.
ARRIVAL
Q: How do I get to Georgetown if I am flying?
A: Two major airports are reasonably close to Georgetown: Washington Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Given your luggage, we would recommend taking a taxi to Georgetown.
Q: How do I get to Georgetown on the train?
A: Debaters along the Northeast Corridor may wish to consider taking an Amtrak train. The Acela Express may be a lower-cost alternative to air travel.
Taking a cab from Washington Union Station to Georgetown should be easy.
Q: Should I take the Metro subway to Georgetown?
A: Absolutely not.
Although the Metro does service Reagan Airport and Union Station, we do not recommend taking the subway. You'll probably have too much luggage. More importantly, Georgetown is not on the Metro system. You would have to walk from Rosslyn or Foggy Bottom, which would mean a very long hike with luggage in summer heat.
Q: Where should I direct my taxicab?
A: Direct your taxi driver to the front gate of Georgetown University, at the intersection of 37th and O Streets Northwest. Please emphasize Northwest.
Q: What if I have trouble finding my way?
A: This seems unlikely. If you do encounter difficulties, however, you will have the personal cell phone numbers of at least two staff members, including Mr. Antonucci. You will receive this in the information packet that we will mail to you. (I'm reluctant to post this to a website for obvious reasons.)
Q: I'm driving. How do I get there, and how should I proceed upon our arrival?
A: Google or your GPS should be able to direct you successfully. Please account for rush hour traffic. We will be happy to provide you with more specific directions if you let us know your point of origin and planned time of arrival.
Parking directly next to the dorm may be challenging. We recommend dropping your student off at the front gate. If you'd like to eat a meal or tour the campus with your child, on-street parking should be plentiful. I've always found on-street parking in the residential area just north of campus, by the hospital, plentiful.
If you are visiting, we'd love to meet with you as well!
Q: How will I know that my child has arrived safely?
A: As each student arrives, a staff member will announce their arrival via our Twitter account. We will also make sure that each student calls his or her guardian upon their arrival.
DEPARTURE
Q: How will I leave?
A: We will supervise your depature. This means that we will make sure that you get in a cab with sufficient time to make your flight.
Q: May I stay past the end of the institute?
A: No. We have a fixed arrangement with the Office of Residence Life. In the event of an exceptional, unforeseen circumstance, we will gladly escort you to a safe and clean local hotel.
Q: How do I know that my child arrived successfully at the airport or train station?
We will strongly remind Seminar students to call home upon their arrival at the airport or train station.
DORM LIFE
Q: Where will I stay?
A: Harbin Hall.
You can find the location on this mini-map. Please check out the larger map as well.
Q: Is bedding provided?
A: No. You must bring your own sheets, pillows, and towels. This point bears emphasis because, while Georgetown is near an excellent shopping district, there is not an inexpensive general store such as Target close to campus.
Q: Is the dorm air conditioned?
A: Yes.
Q: Are there laundry machines in the dorm?
A: Yes.
Q: Will I have a roommate?
A: Yes. All students will be housed in doubles.
Q: Can I choose my roommate?
A: Yes. We will honor all mutual requests. If you do not have a preference, your roommate will be assigned randomly.
Q: Should I bring identification?
A: Yes. Please bring state-sanctioned identification, such as a driver's license, state-issued non-driver ID, or a passport.
DORM RULES
Q: Can I bring my own car?
A: No. For safety reasons, we cannot allow this.
You wouldn't need it, and parking would be an ongoing hassle. The campus is very compact.
Q: What happens if I smoke tobacco, drink alcohol, use illegal substances, or assault another student?
A: You will be expelled from camp immediately and your parents or guardians will be notified within the hour, regardless of the hour. We will expect you to depart the premises within 24 hours at your own expense.
These penalties may seem harsh, but they are a precondition to our existence. There is no warning or exceptions to these rules. If you commit a crime, you cannot be here.
Q: What procedures govern daily checks on my whereabouts?
A: We will conduct a morning roll call in the classroom. We will also conduct a room check at midnight.
After each successful check, we will post to the Twitter account for parents or guardians who may wish to reassure themselves.
Q: What if I miss room check or roll call?
We will call you. If you do not answer, we will look for you. If we cannot find you promptly, we must call campus security and your parents.
Q: Can I leave campus?
You may leave campus during your free time within prescribed boundaries.
We will publish a map with these boundaries shortly.
RELIGIOUS ISSUES
Q: Will I have time for religious observances on Saturday and Sunday?
A: Yes. We will build time into the schedule. If you prefer to perform religious observances on another day or at another time, please let us know in advance so that we can accommodate your preferences.
Q: Are there adequate facilities for these observances on campus?
A: Yes. A complete list can be found here.
I will be calling the Campus Ministry shortly to make sure that services will be available during the summer. If they are not, I will post a list of nearby churches and facilities. Please let me know if you have any difficulties finding an appropriate outlet for your religious preferences during your stay here.
