The Inter-House Debate Council, a new organization designed to give upperclassmen a chance to debate, will formally launch its operations next week.

Roger D. Irle '56, chairman of the Council, announced that there will be a meeting of all those interested in the Lamont Forum Room at 7:30 on Monday. The Student Council has approved the group's constitution and, pending Dean Watson's approval, the organization will be able to start operations in the middle of next week.

The goal of the Council is to "fill the gap between those interested in debating and those who can compete for positions on the Varsity Debate Council." Under the new system, there will be a ten-week round of practice debates in which each House will compete five times. At the end of this period, each house will pick its best team to debate in a final tourney scheduled to take place in the last week of April.

Irle explained that "the topics of these preliminary debates won't involve too much research, for many of those participating will not be very experienced." The subject debated in the opening round will be: "Resolved: That the Federal government should compel the state of Alabama to grant equal educational opportunities to Negroes."

Each House has already elected one representative to serve on the Council. Paul G. O'Leary '56 of Dudley will serve as vice-chairman and Bryan Wilhelm '57, as secretary.