Introducing Empire Chicago: The Windy City Landing
Empire to host its first Empire Classic (in-person) program since COVID-19
This fall, Empire is hosting its first Empire Classic program since COVID-19 changed how we live and how we work. We can’t wait to see our Empire Family, again in person, rather than behind a screen, at Empire Chicago: The Windy City Landing.
Introduction
We expect Empire Chicago to feature everything that students have come to love about Empire—a challenging case, fun ceremonies and a vibrant city—in an environment that is high energy and promotes safety.
After 17 months, it is apparent to all that COVID-19 is not just disappearing. That means as a society, we must figure out how to navigate this new normal together. In the education space, we’ve been tasked with creating opportunities that balance a student’s need for in-person engagement and human interaction with the need to keep them (and their loved ones) safe from the virus. It’s a tall order, made more difficult by the recent emergence of the Delta variant.
At Empire, we are trying our best to strike the appropriate balance, while providing the organization with the protection it needs to host an event of this magnitude. You have our word that every decision we make is driven by a desire to provide the best possible experience for your students and your team. You also have our word that we will listen with compassion and an open mind, should you ever bring a concern to our attention.
If you are a team that is interested in competing at Empire Chicago, please take a moment to read this page of the site carefully.
The Decision-Making Process: From Then to Now
Over the past three months, we’ve been in contact with our Empire Family and our venue partners in Atlanta, Chicago and New York. We’ve also been carefully reviewing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated guidelines for K-12 schools and the country, at large. We have relied on, and will continue to follow, recommendations from the CDC, the City of Chicago, and local public health authorities and experts.
Initially, we didn’t plan to host an in-person competition this fall. But once more Americans became vaccinated, the CDC changed its guidance surrounding masks, and states loosened COVID-19 restrictions. By early June, more and more teams began reaching out to us about an in-person competition.
As of this update, the Delta variant has led to additional adjustments of public health regulations in some states and municipalities. Given the CDC’s current guidance, we still feel comfortable moving ahead with Empire Chicago with additional health safety requirements.
In formulating our current plan, Empire has relied on the following resources:
Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools (July 9, 2021)
Interim Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People (July 28, 2021)
Embrace Uncertainty
Coordinating an Empire program requires a great deal of event planning, which is complicated by COVID-19. A staple of good event planning is stellar organization, most of which is done well in advance of the event. The pandemic has made that nearly impossible, leaving conference organizers with two options for this year: host online only or embrace uncertainty. Though not an easy decision, we are choosing the latter approach and ask that you join us
In practice, that means three things:
Empire Chicago is subject to change. Our decisions are made based on current data and circumstances, but obviously things can change quickly. We might have to add a COVID safeguard at the last minute, or delay a trial, or even delay the competition. While the latter is a worst case scenario, we have to plan, together, for all contingencies.
Competition fees are refundable on account of COVID-19. We will refund your fees in full, should you need to withdraw from Empire Chicago prior to competition weekend.
Mutual communication and transparency. If there is a new CDC regulation or other public health requirement that impacts Empire Chicago, we’ll reach out to you as soon as possible. Likewise, if a circumstance that might impact your team’s participation—say your school district changes a directive—we expect you to let us know as soon as possible. We view this as a partnership.
Embracing the uncertainty requires mutual trust between Empire and its participants. We are committed to treating our participants with dignity and respect. We are committed to operating with integrity.
Promoting Safety at Empire Chicago: Rules & Procedures
We have taken a holistic approach to designing a competition that, we believe, will be an enjoyable experience for our students and promote safety. There are many questions that we’re still trying to answer, and that we expect participants to help us answer in the coming months. With that said, we are excited to share with you our plan for Empire Chicago:
Venue & Events
We’ve partnered with Hilton and Hilton Chicago, pioneers of the Hilton CleanStay program, to host Empire Chicago in its entirety;
The trials, ceremonies and accommodations are all at Hilton Chicago.
As part of its response to COVID-19, Hilton teamed up with Reckitt, maker of Lysol & Dettol, to develop the Hilton CleanStay program to ensure that all of its facilities are safe and clean. Read more here.
A coach and/or chaperone can more easily manage their team because they won’t be traveling on a bus or walking to a courthouse for the mock trials.
Empire will host an Opening and Closing Ceremony. How the event is structured will depend on the state of the virus at the time of Empire Chicago. In other words, it is to be determined;
Empire expects to host a public service project and social event for the students. How the event is structured will depend on the state of the virus at the time of Empire Chicago;
Each conference room (i.e. mock trial room) will have a capacity limit that is less than the conference room’s ordinary maximum capacity;
As a result, we may have to put a cap on the number of spectators a team can bring with them to Chicago. We are still working on configurations for each mock trial room and will provide more information, when available.
Before Leaving for Chicago
All competition attendees (i.e. student, coach, observer) must submit proof of vaccination or proof of a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, taken within 72 hours of the attendee’s departure to Chicago;
Before departing to Chicago, an attendee and/or parent of an attendee must upload their documentation electronically, in response to Empire’s email request for that information.
If an attendee is vaccinated, they will need to upload their official CDC issued COVID-19 Vaccination Record.
If an attendee is not vaccinated, they will need to upload a negative test result on official letterhead of a laboratory or medical facility, which clearly list the student’s name.
Rapid antigen tests will not be accepted.
All competition attendees must declare that they have not been knowingly exposed to a person that has COVID-19 within 72 hours of the attendee’s departure to Chicago;
All competition attendees must electronically submit a waiver, indicating that they understand the risks associated with traveling to Chicago and interacting with other students;
A team’s coach will be required to electronically enter the name of each attendee and their email, or the attendee’s parent’s email if the attendee is a minor
Each mock trial team must be accompanied by at least two adults, one of which is available to tend to a student in case of illness.
Monitoring COVID at the Competition
Empire will have a First Aid official on site at Hilton Chicago on November 12-15. The official will serve as Empire’s Medical Consultant (EMC) for the competition;
Should a student register a fever or demonstrate symptoms of COVID-19 at the competition, a team is required to bring that student to the EMC, accompanied by an adult;
The EMC’s role is to determine whether a student should seek further medical advice and/or be quarantined for a period of time.
Empire will provide teams with a list of urgent cares and hospitals that are in close proximity to the hotel.
In consultation with the EMC, Empire will decide if and when the impacted student may return to the competition. The decision of Empire as it relates to a student’s health readiness, that is their ability to compete in a trial or attend an Empire event, is final.
Teams will receive one digital forehead thermometer, as part of their registration materials. A team’s coach is responsible for taking the temperature of each person that is a part of their group (i.e. student, co-coach, observer) before the start of each event (i.e. ceremony, social event or public service project) and before the start of each trial day;
If an attendee registers a temperature of 99 degrees or higher, they are required to be sent to the EMC for a consult.
A coach is required to make a digital declaration that their students have not demonstrated a high temperature prior to each round.
Masks
At this point in time, all competition attendees are required to wear masks at all Empire competition events, which includes the trials themselves, the Opening and Closing Ceremony, social event(s), and public service project.
Based on current regulations at the time, we may permit a student to remove their mask when speaking in court. A final decision will be made at a later date.
When a competition attendee (i.e. student, coach, observer) is in a Hilton Chicago guest room or hallway, they are subject to the Hilton Chicago rules at the time governing masks. Where an attendee is an Empire reserved conference room or ballroom, they are required to abide by Empire’s COVID-19 mitigation measures, which may exceed the hotel’s rules in place at the time.
Social Distancing
At Empire Chicago events, we will recommend that competition attendees from different schools remain, at least, three feet from one another (the current CDC guideline).
Given that each mock trial team is traveling together, with students likely sharing hotel rooms with another, we consider each team to form their own pod in which social distancing can’t be maintained.
In trial, students will be asked to constructively show documents to their opposing counsel and the judge / jury in order to maintain social distancing.
We will place an X on the floor and ask that students not cross that mark, when presenting.
Empire Volunteers
All competition judges, jurors and Empire staff are required to be vaccinated and to submit proof of vaccination;
All competition judges, jurors and Empire staff are required to wear masks at Empire Chicago events;
All competition judges, jurors and Empire staff are required to remain three feet away from the students;
Each competition judge, juror and staff member will have their temperature checked before the start of their day at Empire Chicago.
