to those in denial

[Gary Rees]

As is often the case, Mike and I agree about many things and I think he
speaks well about the problems and frustrations of small programs.

I'm not sure I can speak to all of those problems, but I have witnessed
some ways that "national" programs/tournaments and regional/programs
tournaments can help each other.

SEMO conducted a first-time tournament this year.  Jen Rigdon did a great
job and we all look forward to participating again next year.  A large
part of the success was the entry and participation of the nearby SIU
(national) program.  Not only did they provide teams/entries but a cadre
of excellent judges.  (BTW, the SIU debaters/coaches/judges have been
extremely helpful in many ways to our own small, regional program.
Thanks!:))

Second example--we have participated in a small, Missouri-only state
championship tourney for a number of years.  Keeping CEDA debate alive
there has been very difficult.  I have engaged my now departed (to ie's
and parli) colleagues at in-state schools repeatedly at annual business
meetings to keep that effort alive.  This year's state tourney had the
best entry for many years, thanks to the support of two "national"
programs--SMSU and UMKC.  While this effort has not been easy I believe it
serves as an example of how continued dialogue and cooperation between
regional and national programs can make a difference.

I could give many other examples of how Mid-America Region schools have
helped to support our own small program, but I believe these two
illustrate the importance of dialogue and cooperation between regional and
national circuits.  Thanks for reading.

Gary Rees
Central Methodist College
Fayette, MO 65248 816-248-3392 x273

On Fri, 13 Mar 1998, Michael R. Dickman wrote:

> Berube reports that the biggest reason schools drop out is because the coach left.  Tuna replies there is a shortage of good coaches and we need to provide more coaches.  The picture this gives me is of a dog chasing its own tail.  The question Berube's research should be asking us is why did the coach leave?  The young ga's say give us our turn and watch out! ... anyone else remember when the young ga's were saying that they were different because they were the first generation to have debated their whole college career in ceda.  Give us (the true ceda people) our turn and watch out!  How many of them are now of the saurian persuasion, or have left the activity?
>
> On another note.  Some of you have responded to Mike Eaves lament from the school with a $4k budget by saying that he should not expect a national championship with that kind of a budget.  Well, knowing Mike, I don't think he dreams that dream, what I think he and many from small budget one coach teams would like is an arena where we can teach our students the lessons, joys and heartaches that make up academci debate.  We had it not that long ago in strong regional tournaments.  They (the strong regional tournaments) are the true dinosaurs in this discussion and what some of us are trying to do is figure a way to get it back.
>
> The question may be, is can a strong national circuit and a strong regional circuit co-exist? What are the trade offs one group imposes on the other?  How can a rough balance be struck between the two?  Finger pointing on both sides doesn't cut it.  Saying young ga's are destroying sound debate principles is not the way to solve the problem,  saying that the regional people are argumentatively back ward and want to go back to a "golden age" that never existed, doesn't solve the problem.
>
> What I think both sides want are viable arenas to play in, how do we get there from here?
>
> Mike
> CC Debate
>
> ----------
> From:   Alfred C. Snider[SMTP:asnider at ZOO.UVM.EDU]
> Sent:   Thursday, March 12, 1998 3:59 PM
> To:     EDEBATE at LIST.UVM.EDU
> Subject:        Re: to those in denial
>
> David Berube did some interesting research on this. Results came up as to
> why schools stopped debating CEDA, and the winner was.... The coach left. A
> dedicated coach left a program and could not be replaced. (biggest reason)
>
> There is a shortage of good debate aocehs in America.
>
> Tuna
>
> >has any one contactedthose schools that participated  at ceda nats over
> >the past several years and are not this year?  what do their program
> >directors and students say?  i'd just like to know who isn't
> >participating that once was and what their reasons are for not
> >participating.
> >
> >take care,
> >
> >joel
>
> Alfred Charles Snider -- "Tuna", Edwin W. Lawrence Professor of Forensics,
> University of Vermont, Mail: 475 Main Street, UVM, Burlington, VT
> 05405-4225, Phone: 802-656-0097, Fax: 802-656-4275; President, Cross
> Examination Debate Association 1997-98
> http://debate.uvm.edu/ceda.html; DEBATE CENTRAL:  Debate's Biggest Website
>  http://debate.uvm.edu/
> +++++
> WORLD DEBATE INSTITUTE 1998 - make plans now - http://debate.uvm.edu/ndi.html
>