A new year and a new topic
Reasons why I’m excited about the new year:
1) My school got a travel budget increase, so we’re going to travel a bit more and see some more midwestern L/D. (Okay, these aren’t necessarily reasons why YOU would be excited, this is my list.)
2) The Cuba topic is a fascinating one with lots of literature on both sides and a wealth of material ripe for both humor and pathos.
3) Constructive engagement was argued recently (by some of my debaters in fact) in CEDA, and so I think we understand the T arguments fairly well going in.
4) I think the topic lends itself to public debates in a way that could grow many LD programs.
Anyway, those are my initial thoughts… now I’m off to write my Cuban Baseball Defectors Repatriation affirmative….
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Comments
I would like to schedule an LD only tournament at RCC, but am not sure when to do it. I will bring it up in the seminar at Rancho Mirage, but if there are suggestions already then I’m open to it. This would be at the Riverside City campus, and the idea is to provide another SoCal LD experience for the students. Based upon the schedule so far, it appears that either the second half of November or some time in January would be ideal…but I’m not familiar with your schedules so you’d have to guide me. If anyone has a vote for a weekend, just post it here and I’ll consider all suggestions before I pick a date.
Sounds great to me. As long as there are no conflicts I can provide at least 5 debaters and extra judges. Right now, the second week in October, the 3rd and 4th week in November (these are usually avoided since some directors will be at NCA) or any of the the first 3 weeks in January are all good. Perhaps the week after the warm up in September as well? I think even a small tournament that early in the year would be beneficial. It might be worthwhile to wait until the Sunday at the coach’s conference to see which weekend might fall through. I can say that our CBU tournament on last year’s schedule will be gone, but I don’t know of any other changes.
I may or may not be able to wait. Of course my Department and the District need to know these things as soon as they can know them. If there is enough interest in holding a tournament in say the second week of January, then we can go with that and that gives us some time to get organized. Perhaps we will have more debaters interested if we give them time to get involved in the topic. I have heard from one Director, for instance, that they don’t tend to work on LD until the Spring. That might change in the coming years with a year-round topic, but we can expect a rocky start for those not used to the full year of policy on one single topic. As a new hire, though, I don’t think I have the clout to schedule something in September, even if it is small. I would help run one on another campus, but that’s about all I can offer.
January would be a good time – people who are just starting the event can use some of the files here to get up to speed on NFA-LD. Additionally, for those of us from the fall we can try out our new positions from Christmas break. I’m envisioning this year of doing a big Xmas Camp at Cerritos to write new positions and front lines. That in addition to the potential camp at CBU.
Oh, and Mike: this may be of interest –
Baseball – Big and Little: Its Role in U.S.-Cuba Relations
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5453
Sydne,
By any chance may I have your e-mail?? I am a student at RCC interested in forensics. Thanks!!
Sure thing, let’s talk strategy!
sydne.kasle@rcc.edu
I definitely agree Mike – I think Southern California NFA-LD is going to be huge this year!