CSUF and GSL

[Joseph Carver]

I have silently observed the discussion that has taken place on this list
for the past few months about these two tournaments.  While some of the
banter has been entertaining, I do believe that it has resulted in an us
against them attitude. I don't think that John or Geoff were a part of that.
  At risk of seeming like a District IX traitor, I am thrilled that Jon had
a successful tournament and was blown away by the expertise with which Geoff
operated his.  Do I have to choose?  Jon's obligation is to his program.
Geoff's is to his. Perhaps there is room to accomodate both with date
changes but, if Jon or Geoff cannot find an eqiutable compromise, I hardly
would feel that all hope is lost.
It is an impossibility for many California schools to attend the GSL.
Perhaps Jon has extended an opportunity for "one more competition" to some
of those schools.   Geoff most likely did the same.
The GSL was an example of adapting or dying. Geoff made additions that were
necessary to bring folks back.  Had he not wanted the imput of the
community, I would have lost no sleep sending kids to Fullerton. Our
obligation is to the students.  My students want to go where the competition
is.  I wonder how many other tournaments outside district 9 occurred this
weekend and why they ar not the subject of this intense scrutiny?  The
obvious answer is that Jon Bruschke hade a connection to this district and
therefore owed it to them to not overlap. I guess in my heart I just don't
agree. Congratulations to both CSUF and GSL for making what could have been
an obsolete forensics weekend into a success.

Joe Carver
CEU Debate
District IX
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Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2000 11:15:09 -0800
Reply-To: Sue_Lowrie at CAPGROUP.COM
To: Team Topic Debating in America <EDEBATE at LIST.UVM.EDU>
From: Sue Lowrie <Sue_Lowrie at CAPGROUP.COM>
Subject: Re: CSUF and GSL
Comments: To: Joseph Carver <carverjoseph at HOTMAIL.COM>

I concur with Joe's viewpoint...I have many wonderful memories of my GSL
experiences and was disappointed to see the tournament shrinking with each
passing year.  I am happy that the tournament was a success this year and look
forward to many bigger and better GSLs in the future.  BUT, having come from a
JC background when beginning in debate, I also think it is important to realize
that there are many two year schools (and some four year schools) in Southern
California that would never be able to make the trip to Utah.  For them, this
weekend was an added benefit in that it was local AND it offered good
competition and good judging.  It sounds like GSL offered some of the same for
some smaller schools in their area that would never be able to make the drive to
Fullerton for the weekend.  I, like Joe, would like to applaud both programs for
offering a chance at competition in their local district/area.  It seems to me
that regional competition is a dying breed in debate and anything we can do to
bring some tournaments back up to par (albeit small, but challenging and
educational), is something we should be encouraging, rather than discouraging!

Thanks to Fullerton for offering a wonderful tournament that Southern California
can be proud of and thanks to Geoff and Utah for continuing the tradition of
GSL!

Kudos to all...
Sue