ARKANSAS TECH (Bob Bolen) ON CEDA IN AR-LA

[glenn prince]

  I have been following this discussion closely since Glenn posted his
initial complaint about the "death of debate" in this region. I respect
Glenn, and I think that he is right to some extent, but I think that it is
changing. As for Arkansas colleges, there are two teams here at ASU who do
well enough (though, this year, frustratingly, not as well as we would like
:)!!!) at the tournaments that we go to.

Glenn's response:  As much as I love my good friend Robert Tankersley, he is
wrong.  Arkansas debate is going nowhere.  The amount of teams from when I
entered this activity as a freshman, to now when I judge as a freshman is
amazing.  The team number is cut in half.


Dr. Bolen's program at Tech has several debaters whom I respect and who also
do pretty well.

Glenn's response:  Kudos to Wayne and David!!!
(And, of course all you other fine ATU debaters...Nicole, Justin, etc)


A lot of us who are from Arkansas schools are underclassmen (though not
me...) who have a lot of time to grow, and grow the noteriety of their
programs at the same time.

Glenn's response:  Time isn't on our side.  That's the problem.  Yeah, I am
a freshman, but that isn't an instant panacea for the problem.  The fact
remains that I am the ONLY freshman, and after next year, we'll be down to 2
CEDA debaters.  Problem....I think so.


The Arkansas high school circuit has more very talented debaters than ever
before, and they must matriculate somewhere.

Glenn's response:  Yeah, but it isn't Arkansas.  All of the LR Central
debaters go to the Northeast because the state itself can't offer them
anything.  We simply can't compete.


Thus, I think that the solution to this problem lies in more effective
recruiting
and somehow convincing the powers that be at these universities (i.e, those
who distribute funds) that this is a worthwhile activity worthy of funding.


Glenn's response:  I am not at all accusing ASU of not funding us or of
being anything less than really benevolent to us.  I agree that more can be
done to recruit and that is why I go to judge 3 or 4 high school tournaments
a semester.  I'm trying to keep as much talent here as possible.


I think that this is hopefully, and likely, a temporary problem that those
of us who debate at these colleges must work hard to fix. Hence, I disagree
with my friend Glenn and his proposition that policy debate is dead in this
area, though it is certainly ailing. We just need to be more attentive to
the arduous task of recruitment, and redouble our efforts in the
never-ending quest for precious funding.

Glenn's response:  There were 6 teams at LSU-S.  A sign of the times..yes.
I'm not saying we should throw in the hat and sit on our asses, I'm just
saying that we need to open our eyes and ears and know that there is a very
serious problem emerging.

It is 3:09 am and I am very tired from LSU-S.  Good night to all.

Glenn Prince III
ASU '03


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