ADA/CEDA/NDT Community,
I am responsible for a mistake in the ADA/NWG novice packet that meant that an offensive term was included in one of the arguments.
This note is to apologize for and correct that mistake.
In the file labeled “Farm Workers Affirmative (NWG)” in the NWG packet and “Farm Workers Affirmative-ADA Novice Packet-Fall2025” in the ADA packet, one of the 1AC advantages is labeled “Fairness.” The very first tag was supposed to read “Farm Worker exclusion was a deliberate tool to exploit Black and poor laborers” (to match the text at the end of the evidence) but actually read “Farm Worker exclusion was a deliberate tool to exploit Blacks and poor laborers.”
1. I know better than to use that term, but somehow missed it when reviewing the file (despite its prominent place in the advantage).
2. I wanted to apologize, rather than dismiss it as a “typo,” because I know that, even if it is “just a mistake,” it can do harm. One coach described it as a “jump scare,” and I understand why.
3. I encourage folks to find this argument in the packet and edit it, so that it doesn’t continue to hurt people.
4. I want to thank the folks that brought this to my attention—I appreciate the opportunity to at least attempt to address this.
I am very sorry for this and apologize, especially to anyone who felt harmed by the appearance of that inappropriate and offensive term.
Neil Butt
Assistant Director of Debate
James Madison University
.