The Oxford Intervarsity Championship was sponsored by PriceWaterhouseCoopers and was held on the 13th and 14th of November. BQDC debaters making the trip included Mircea Lupu '11, Andrew Wong '12, Andy Kageleiry '12, Mikey Pasek '12, Etnire, and Mahmud. Out of the 140 team field, compiled from universities in 20 different countries, Etnire and Mahmud finished 25th overall, and 5th amongst American teams (finishing behind only the "A" teams of Yale, MIT, Princeton, and Stanford). Batesies also had the privilege of competing against former Brooks Quimby debater Daniel Berman '08, who is currently a graduate student at St. Andrews University in Scotland.

The Cambridge Intervarsity Championship was held on the 20th and 21st of November, and consisted of another geographically diverse set of 108 teams. The BQDC was represented by Joseph Kibe '11, Ali Vingiano '11, Nate Sweet '11, Ariela Silberstein '10, Rachel Kurzius '10, and Matt Marienthal '10. The partnership of Sweet and Silberstein finished highest amongst the Cambridge contingent with a 43rd overall finish, with Kurzius and Marienthal not far behind at 58th.

Both tournaments were held in British parliamentary style (standard for international competitions), which has four teams, closed motions, and a more rhetorical style than American parliamentary. Additionally, graduate students and law students are allowed to compete in such international competitions, causing several 19 year old Brooks Quimby members to be squared off against opponents up to 6 years their senior. English tournaments are especially memorable because of their traditions (such as Irish debaters going up into the balcony of the parliamentary chambers in protest when the "breaks" are read) and historic nature of their campuses and debate societies.

Motions included:

-"This house would allow deaf parents to use medical technology to ensure that their children are deaf."

-"This house believes in a European super-state"

-"This house believes that minors should be allowed to choose gender reassignment surgery"

The BQDC will resume action in a few short weeks with the World Universities Debating Championships hosted by Koc University in Antalya, Turkey, over the New Year. Bates will be represented in the debates by Marienthal, Kurzius, Etnire, Mahmud, Sweet, and Silberstein. They will also add to the adjudication pool with Walter Garcia '11 and coach Jan Hovden.