Drinking and drugs

[Bob Lechtreck]

At 04:27 PM 3/25/98 EST, MWBRYANT wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>
What's next? Breathanalyzers for debate judges?  I'll pass, I promise.
>>>>>>>>>>

I suspect that Bear and I will be on opposing camps again (although I could
be wrong - again), but I feel that this is an issue which SHOULD be addressed.

This post is only prompted by the recent posts, and has NO bearing on any
incidents which did or did not occur at CEDA Nats (heck, I wasn't even there).

Drinking and drug use by judges has ALWAYS been a problem with me, but never
more than when I feel it affected a debate one of my teams was in a few
years ago.

3 fine judges (who were all debaters not long ago) saw what seemed to have
been completely different debates. The problem was that 2 of them had gone
out just before the debate and gotten high smoking pot (hell, I don't even
know if this is the "current" term for it). I would not be so bold as to say
that the altered mind DEFINITELY made those two see the round differently,
but it sure seems more than likely.

The point of this little anecdote is to express my concern at what I
consider to be a problem. Judges who use drugs or alcohol before or during a
debate round do the debaters, their coaches, and the activity a disservice.

Let me say, up front, that what a person does for relaxation is none of my
business. However, when that relaxation interferes with someone else's hard
work, I am opposed.

This activity is hard enough for the debaters as it is, so I think we owe it
to the students to make sure that EVERY possible brain cell is focused on
them. To give them less than that is unacceptable.

I hope that this little rant does not label me a prude (although I have been
called that before) or a spoilsport (I don't think I am). I simply think
that the debaters deserve our COMPLETE attention for that 2 hours.

That's it, thanx for reading.

Peace,

Bob Lechtreck
Bakersfield College
"Putting out fires, and damn good debaters!!!"