These past few days, I’ve been finalizing our schedule and basic arrangements for next year. I’ll be others are doing the same. So, let’s share thoughts.

It’s time to name your favorite tournaments. I’ve listed a few categories in the main article. Go!

BEST AWARDS (and why!)
BEST COMPETITION (and why!)
BEST HOSPITALITY (and why!)
BEST TOURNAMENT STAFF (and why!)
BEST VENUE (and why!)
BEST ATMOSPHERE (and why!)
BEST JUDGING (and why!)
BEST TRADITIONS (and why!)
MOST FUN (and why!)
MOST SENTIMENTAL VALUE (and why!)
OVERALL FAVORITE (and why!)
1-3 TOURNAMENTS YOU’D LIKE TO ATTEND NEXT YEAR, NOT COUNTING CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENTS (and why!)

After having lived here for over thirty years with a Green Card, my father took the citizenship oath — pledging, rather dramatically, to “absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity” to His Majesty Don Juan Carlos I, King of all the Spaniards — and became a United States citizen. So, I’ve reflected a great deal this year on what it means to be an American. Regardless of personal politics, I hope you’ll take a moment today to do the same.

We will be returning now to more frequent — daily! — posts as tournament invitations are released, discussions are started, and coverage of VBI@UCLA 2010 begins.

As we adjust to our new comment system, I’d like to reiterate the call to debate’s newest alumni: where are you going to school in the fall?

The National Forensic League announced:

After the NFL rallied to meet its goal for ticket sales, Executive Director Scott Wunn will throw out the first pitch in the June 16 Royals game in Kansas City. No word yet on how he intends to prepare for his Major League debut.

Do you want to see Mr. Wunn in action? Only one day remains to purchase tickets to the June 16 Royals game in Kansas City! If you are attending this summer’s “Jazzin’ It Up in KC” Nationals, don’t miss NFL recognition night at “The K” (Royals Stadium).

Tickets are only $12 in advance and can be ordered via the local host Web site at http://debatekc2010.org. Remember, payment for tickets must be made by June 2. Please note that we can not accept purchase orders or credit cards for Royals tickets or local merchandse.

While you are on the Web site, take a moment to pre-order official tournament merchandise. Many items are selling out quickly and will be sold out soon, so order yours now to avoid missing out! All pre-sold merchandise, Worlds of Fun and Royals tickets will be waiting for you to pick up at registration.

The following message was sent out by Jon Cruz.

The New York State Debate Coaches Association invites coaches from the Empire State to join us at the inaugural meeting of our organization. We will constitute ourselves formally and begin discussion of major items as outlined in the agenda below.

The meeting will take place at 6:00 PM on Friday, June 4, 2010. We thank Harry Feder, director of debate at the Beacon School, for securing meeting spcae at Friedman Kaplan Seiler and Adelman LLP, which is located at 1633 Broadway (cross street is 50th Street) in Manhattan. The large conference room we’ll be using is on the forty-sixth floor. The building requires the names of guests in advance; if you would like to attend this meeting, please contact Jon Cruz.

The New York State Debate Coaches Association seeks to recognize the significant accomplishments of debaters, debate coaches, and debate programs in the state, to develop infrastructure that responds to the contemporary and growing needs of the evolving high school debate community in the state, and to grow debate in the state.

Our web site is located at NYSDCA.org.

[b]Agenda for June 4, 2010 Meeting[/b]

I. Constitution of Organization

II. Nomination and Election of Officers

III. NYSDCA State Tournament 2011
a. Date & Location
b. Qualification System
c. 2010 Status (Co-Hosted with Westchester Classic)

IV. Discussion of By-Laws
a. Membership

V. Discussion of Outreach & Growth Efforts

VI. Open Discussion

Please join me in wishing the happiest of birthdays to the most intense of debate coaches: Neil Conrad!

Just remember Neil: one more year. (Sorry, that joke is never getting old, even if it comes to a point where Neil and I are the only ones who get it…though I suspect that his summer students from the past know the reference.)

Neil inspires his students and his colleagues to be the best they can be. On his birthday, I’d like to recognize him for being a very cool friend, a very intense coach, and a very good person.

This is intended as a place for celebration, but also a place for networking; indeed, if you’re coming to New York, in addition to posting here, drop me a line so we can network about judging, coaching, and so on. There are plenty of area programs looking for assistants! I am sure coaches here and elsewhere would like to network as well. (And that’s no April Fool’s Day prank.)

But that’s not news to us. Victor — the coach of Brentwood School, a district chair for the National Forensic League, a high-power attorney, and a past Berkeley champion himself — has long been a champion for the debate community. And today, on his birthday, I’d like to thank him for all he’s done to make this web site and this institution possible. Thank you, Victor!

Happy birthday!

Have you written debate-themed poetry, creative writing, or essays that you’d like to share with the community? Don’t be shy. Post!

What describes the forensics room, to me?

Friends and memories I can’t recycle.

A letter from his siblings, posted on CaringBridge, has been reposted here on VBD.

Dear Friends:

Today we lost our brother, Clinton Taylor. Words cannot express our sorrow and grief over our loss. All of us have cried so much that we could fill up a well. And yet, as we hugged Clinton one last time, we told him that “God gave Him to us, and God will get him back.” This is the only comfort we have in Clinton’s death. We know that God has welcomed Clinton into heaven tonight with open arms.

Last night when Mom left Children’s Hospital, she tried to repeat the 23rd Psalm; however, she told us that she kept stopping at the verse, “even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death.” Perhaps her lack for memory or concentration was God’s way of preparing us for what was ahead today.

When you read this, we ask that you recite Psalm 23. It will be a comfort to the Taylor family, our extended family, friends and to Clinton, for he would not want us to worry about him. Clinton was a special child of God, and we will always remember the love he had for all of us.

Thank you for your love, care, concern, and support. It means a lot to us and to our parents.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in paths of righteousness

For His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me;

Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou dost prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Thou hast anointed by head with oil;

My cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Malcolm, Lottice, and Emma Taylor, loving siblings of Clinton Taylor

His teammate Mims Windham was also in the car but was not seriously injured. Clinton’s family has asked for the community’s prayers and good wishes for a speedy recovery.

A full letter from the Taylor family can be found below; a page with updates is available about CaringBridge. Please keep Clinton in your thoughts.

The letter follows.

Friends,

Just after midnight, early Saturday morning February 6, George and I learned that Clinton, our 16 year old son, had been in an automobile accident. Clinton and a friend were coming home from a debate tournament. Clinton suffered head injuries, and he is in a coma. He also has a broken right femur.

George and I have been at Children’s Hospital for many of the last 36 hours. All we can ask is that you pray for Clinton. As my minister from Independent Presbyterian Church prayed with Clinton yesterday, she said, “Lord, we pray boldly for Clinton.”

The first 72 hours are critical for a head injury. I ask that you pray boldly and specifically for the healing of Clinton’s brain. I ask for your prayers for the healing of his mind, body and spirit. Please pray for strength for Clinton, George, Malcolm, Lottice, Emma and me as well as our extended family for today, and each day to come. As I tell my 5th grade Sunday School students, God’s hotline is open 24/7.

I am also asking for prayers for Mims Windham, who was in the car with Clinton, but not seriously injured. Please pray for the staff at Children’s Hospital working with Clinton–doctors, nurses, and all other caretakers–they will truly make a difference in Clinton’s care.” Honey

“His writings have changed the consciousness of a generation, and helped open new paths to understanding and its crucial meaning for our lives,” Noam Chomsky once wrote of Zinn.

Click here for the Boston Globe’s obituary of Howard Zinn.

The two “Anderson girls” (and three more sisters) still live in Minnesota, Lucy in Hallock and Demaris in Golden Valley. If you have any questions about their memories of Minnesota debate in the 1930s (debate styles? topics? all-girl teams?), share them in a comment here, and Juli Tarsney will pass them along and report back …

Read the article about Lewis by clicking here. And please join me in congratulating him by posting a comment here on VBD!

The director of debate at Harvard-Westlake School and the executive director of Victory Briefs is one of the most successful coaches in the history of Lincoln-Douglas debate. He is also one of my best friends.

Bietz is at the MBA Round Robin this weekend. But I know he’s checking in here. So on behalf of the debate community: Mike Bietz, we LUV you! And to those of you reading, show Bietz the luv too and post a message to him.

Jon Cruz asks that you call this year “Twenty-Ten” and not “Two Thousand Ten.” Thank you.

The Texas Debate Collective is a nonprofit organization devoted to providing free or low-cost debate education to communities across Texas. A winter institute was held on the campus of Strake Jesuit College Preparatory from December 27 to 30 for three-and-a-half days of intense study and topic preparation.

There were forty-four campers that attended with thirteen of those on full tuition scholarships. The faculty included Ryan Bennett, Chris Castillo, Andrew Cockroft, Tom Evnen, Monica Ghosh, Ryan Graham, Chris McMichael, Shane O’Neal, Devin Race, Becca Traber, Andrew Waks, Andy Werner, Kris Wright, and more.

Murvin Auzenne acted as dorm director.

Detherage was the executive director of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues. Prior to taking the helm at the NAUDL, the Duck — as Deatherage was widely known — served as director of debate at Northwestern University, where he had what was rightly described as an ‘unparalleled record of coaching success.” His teams won the NDT national championship seven times; he additionally coached four NDT top speakers. Deatherage was voted Coach of the Decade for the 1990s by his peers.

A 2008 graduate of the University of Chicago, Bell is an aspiring anthropologist who hopes focus on human rights, particularly for Africa and people with HIV/AIDS.

The following is an excerpt from a University of Chicago press release:

Bell, from West Des Moines, Iowa, was an Anthropology and Gender Studies major at the University. She first became interested in the importance of anthropology while an intern with the University’s Human Rights Program in South Africa, where she worked for an HIV/AIDS advocacy organization, the Treatment Action Campaign. She will use her Rhodes scholarship to pursue an M.Phil in Development Studies at University of Oxford. Her goal is to help in the global fight for social justice, particularly for Africa and people with HIV/AIDS.

“It doesn’t matter how many clinics, doctors and medications you can provide to address the AIDS epidemic if people don’t believe in Western medical solutions,” said Bell, 23, about her time in South Africa. “Anthropologists are crucial to devising ways in which Western medicine isn’t a challenge to local understandings of medicine or broader local value and religious systems. But it’s important that those anthropological insights can be communicated across development policy teams, which are often dominated by economists, statistician and political scientists.

“Oxford’s program is a great fit for me in that it has programs in economics and political science as well as anthropology, so that I’ll learn the methodologies used by other people on development program teams,” Bell said.

Bell’s Rhodes is the University’s 46th and its seventh in the last five years. The Rhodes Scholarships were established in the will of British colonial pioneer and statesman Cecil J. Rhodes and were initiated upon his death in 1902. The awards provide tuition and a living stipend for two years of study in any field at Oxford.

As a College student, Bell was elected a Student Marshal, the highest academic honor the University bestows to undergraduates, and was a Truman Scholar, a distinction awarded annually to about 65 socially committed college juniors in the United States.

“Stephanie worked very hard for this, and we’re delighted that she will have the opportunity to study at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar,” said Mary Daniels, Senior Adviser for Scholarships and Fellowships in the College.

Bell currently works for Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit organization in San Francisco that helps nonprofits form strategies and develop their organizations. In her current role she has helped develop plans for the education of disadvantaged groups, including strategic planning for the Gates Foundation and the National Parent Teacher Association.

“A team will be comprised of five individuals and coaches are encouraged to play. Hybrid teams are welcome, so if you’re coming alone, use the comment box below or lddebate.org to form a team. Entry fees will be $10-$15. Let the trash talking begin.”

“While LD rounds are at Glenbrook North,” Parker continues, “the dodgeball tournament will be held at Glenbrook South on Saturday night following the conclusion of round 4. I understand that this will make it difficult for some teams without rental cars to attend, but I hope we can accommodate you. If you will have open car seats and are attending the dodgeball tournament, please let me know.”

Live long and prosper, birthday boy!

The competition ends on October 31, 2009. “Show your support for the debate community and vote!” urges Kyle Deming. “It only takes seconds, but you can make an enormous difference by participating and informing as many people – friends, relatives, team members, teachers, students — as you can…. If you’re interested in learning more or getting involved, visit our website, and thanks in advance!

Please join me in wishing happy birthday to one of our community’s nicest, humblest, and hardest-working people: my friend, Chris Blay!

This is the thirteenth year in which the award has been presented. The full text of the letter from the Brody family presenting the scholarship and details about the award’s history are available here on VBD.

Boyd notes:

On August 6, 1997, the debate community lost a dear friend in Jonathan Brody. Grapevine High School Debate was one of the many fortunate squads that Jon had a hand in boosting and molding into the program it is today. Jon served as a volunteer assistant for Grapevine in 1992-93. A TFA State Champion, TOC top speaker, and one of the most successful debaters on the college circuit, Jon won the Golden Bear award at the University of Baylor’s tournament and advanced to the semifinals of the National Debate Tournament. Grapevine Debate is pleased to present this annual award in honor of Jon’s memory: the Jonathan Brody Service to Debate Award. This award is given to a high school senior debater who is competing in the Grapevine Classic and meets the following criteria:

1) Extraordinary Commitment to Debate
2) Perseverance
3) Overcoming Obstacles to remain in debate (family, financial, illness, etc.)
4) Outstanding Assistance to others in the activity.
5) A Senior debater competing in the Grapevine Classic.

On Thursday, Jane Boyd, director of forensics at Grapevine High School, received the following letter:

Dear Ms. Boyd,

I am the mother of Jonathan Brody. I have occasionally seen mention of the award which was instituted in my late son’s memory and have been overwhelmed with joy that he has not been forgotten. The forensics program was such an important part of his life, and I believe provides an invaluable addition to students’ education and growth. I’ve been in touch with his dad, Martin Brody. We would like to assure that this award be continued in perpetuity, providing a $500 scholarship for the winners. We are prepared to begin as soon as possible.

Many thanks and have a great tournament!

Most sincerely,
Rabbi Lynn Brody

We in the community often talk about the importance of supporting and expanding debate on all levels. I’d like to report on MHL Workshop to encourage other local leagues to consider establishing similar programs.

The goal of the Workshop, as noted in the invitation sent to league coaches, was “to provide instruction for new novices (total newbies) and intermediate debaters (second-year or lightly experienced
third-year), as well as a chance for new coaches to meet the old-timers and pick up some pointers on running their programs.”

The Workshop also featured training sessions for varsity debaters who would also be wearing the hat of “team leader” — captain, novice director, and so on — this season, as well as day-long training for parent judges in both Public Forum debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate.

The program administrators included MHL co-directors Jim Menick and Jon Cruz, MHL coaches Sheryl Kaczmarek and Joe Vaughan, and special guest coach Chris Palmer. Collectively, they designed the curriculum and schedule and implemented

The program featured a number of coaches and former debaters who volunteered their time, free of charge, to provide quality instruction to the 125 students and numerous new coaches and prospective parent judges who registered to participate in the day-long workshop.

Coaches Aracelis Biel (Brooklyn Technical High School) and Mira Chernick (Stuyvesant High School) and former debaters Antoinette Fuoto (Monticello High School) and Narayan Subramanian (Lynbrook High School in California) joined Jon Cruz and Jim Menick for Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Coaches Kurt Shelton (University High School) and Sarah M. Heaton (formerly of the Bronx High School of Science) joined Sheryl Kaczmarek in policy debate.

Coaches Chetan Hertzig of Harrison High School and P.J. Wexler of Needham High School joined Chris Palmer in Public Forum debate. (Students from Hertzig’s new program at Harrison attended the MHL Workshop, their first introduction to the world of interscholastic debate. They will be competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate.)

Coach Sabrina Graham (Monticello High School) also joined Cruz and Menick in an orientation and meet-and-greet session for new coaches.

Students, coaches, and parents attended from a number of MHL programs, including American History High School, Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School, the Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, the Bronx High School of Science, Brooklyn Technical High School, Byram Hills High School, Frederick Douglass Academy, Harrison High School, Hendrick Hudson High School, Hunter College High School, Monticello High School, Newburgh Free Academy, Scarsdale High School, the Beacon School, and White Plains High School.

In the spirit of expanding debate opportunities, schools from outside New York and New Jersey were invited to attend, and they did: Dallastown High School in Pennsylvania, Needham High School in Massachusetts, and Newton North and South High Schools in in Massachusetts all registered as well.

Several different tracks — novice Lincoln-Douglas debate, junior varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, novice and junior varsity policy debate, Public Forum debate, coach orientation, parent orientation, student leader workshop — were offered. Most students, for obvious reasons, elected to stay in one track, but some chose to attend modules in different events.

The novice training program included a focus on the “Modest Novice” resolution, a three-month program that the MHL is helping to pilot this season.

Students were offered four modules in each track.

Novice Lincoln-Douglas debaters were treated to “Basic LD Mechanics” with Biel, “Deep Background on the Modest Novice” with Biel, a demonstration debate (for several tracks) between Chernick and Subramanian moderated by Cruz, and a brainstorming session on the Modest Novice resolution with Menick.

J.V. Lincoln-Douglas debaters enjoyed an extensive topic overview with Cruz, “Advanced Arguments and Strategies” with Chernick, the aforementioned demonstration debate between Chernick and Subramanian moderated by Cruz, and an extended discussion of the demonstration round with the participants.

The student leader workshop included “Architects of the Future” with Fuoto and Subramanian, a brainstorming session on the Modest Novice resolution with Subramanian, the previously mentioned demonstration round, and a recruitment/retention training session with Cruz.

Policy debaters were treated to “Theoretical Issues: Topicality” with Kaczmarek, “Cross-Examination” with Shelton, “Counterplan Theories” with Heaton, and a session on present cases and strategies with Kaczmarek.

The Public Forum debate track included “Mechanics” with Chris Palmer, a student demonstration round (featuring Bronx Science’s Dasha Fayvinova, Carolyn Lipp, Sushi Subbarumu, and Katie Wong) moderated by Palmer, “Case Writing Philosophies” with Menick and Palmer, and a topic discussion with Palmer.

Parents enjoyed an overview to tournaments and Public Forum debate with Hertzig and Wexler, the Public Forum student demonstration round moderated by Palmer, an introduction to Lincoln-Douglas debate with Biel, and a Lincoln-Douglas student demonstration round (featuring Bronx Science’s Ellie Merle and Max Weinreich) moderated by Biel.

New coaches had an opportunity to meet with leadership of both the MHL and the New York Catholic Forensic League (NYCFL); the latter held its annual business meeting at Bronx Science in conjunction with the first part of the Workshop. This gave new coaches an opportunity to network with and pick the brains of experienced veterans like Eric Di Michele of Regis High School, Andrew Monteleone of Monsignor Farrell High School, Charlie Sloat of Iona Preparatory School, and others. They then participated in a formal discussion seminar and workshop moderated by Cruz and Menick (with assistance from Graham) before moving on to observe the large Lincoln-Douglas debate demonstration round and participate in policy and Public Forum modules.

Formal outlines are available for a number of the modules, and the MHL is happy to provide these to those in the community who would like them. Outlines will soon be uploaded to the Metro-Hudson League web site.

Many pieces of legislation with which he was intimately involved have been debated by high school students for nearly fifty years.

“For five decades,” President Obama noted this morning, “virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health, and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.”

“As most of you know,” she begins, “for the last seven years I have been working on getting my feature film Love and Debate (aka Thanks To Gravity) made. I have poured my heart and soul into this film and am happy to say that we created something I am very proud of. We have an unbelievable cast, an amazing soundtrack, and a finished product one critic recently called, ‘the best coming of age film I’ve seen. Now the film is finally being released and I need all of your help to get the demand for it up!!”

The full message can be read after the jump.

——————–
Subject: Love and Debate

Dear Friends,

As most of you know, for the last seven years I have been working on getting my feature film “Love and Debate” (aka “Thanks To Gravity”) made. I have poured my heart and soul into this film and am happy to say that we created something I am very proud of. We have an unbelievable cast, an amazing soundtrack, and a finished product one critic recently called, “the best coming of age film I’ve seen”.

Now the film is finally being released and I need all of your help to get the demand for it up! The pre-sales start today and will make a big difference in the release. Times are very tough for independent films right now, BUT if we all make a lot of noise (as I know we all can) the orders will go up from all the vendors.

——————–
Subject: Love and Debate

Dear Friends,

As most of you know, for the last seven years I have been working on getting my feature film “Love and Debate” (aka “Thanks To Gravity”) made. I have poured my heart and soul into this film and am happy to say that we created something I am very proud of. We have an unbelievable cast, an amazing soundtrack, and a finished product one critic recently called, “the best coming of age film I’ve seen”.

Now the film is finally being released and I need all of your help to get the demand for it up!! The pre-sales start today and will make a big difference in the release. Times are very tough for independent films right now, BUT if we all make a lot of noise (as I know we all can) the orders will go up from all the vendors.

So- PLEASE GO RIGHT NOW to: www.LOVEandDEBATE.com and buy the film direct. THEN PLEASE send out as many mass e-mails as you can asking everyone you know to buy it as well. ALSO- if you have a NETFLIX QUE please add it there as well; It will drive the orders up big time if they get a lot of attention around it in the next 2 weeks. We all need to rally big time!!!!

I am so grateful for all of your help and support throughout the years. Thank you!!

Jess

The cast includes Gina Philips (Jeepers Creepers 1 and 3) , Sean Astin (Lord of The Rings, 24), Adam Rodriguez (CSI Miami and star of the new Tyler Perry movie) , Bryan Greenberg (Bride Wars, Prime), Sendhil Ramamurthy (star of Heroes), Rachel Miner (Californication), Shirley Knight (As Good as it Gets, Desperate Housewives), Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill) and on and on….

Below is a bit of information but PLEASE GO TO www.LOVEandDEBATE.com and order the movie now!!!!! Then e-mail everyone you know!

Jordan Landa is not your average Latin girl. She has dreams, big ones. As a rising star in the debate world, her allusive dreams seem finally within her grasp. But when the “perfect guy” from her past reappears, so do her desires for a life she thought she didn’t want. With beautiful Miami as a backdrop, a cutting-edge soundtrack, and a hot sexy young cast, it is the perfect setting for a girl to choose between LOVE AND DEBATE.

A hell of a lot better than Dirty Dancing, My Girl, and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The best female coming of age film I’ve seen.” -POLLy STAFFLE

“Philips unearths a heartfelt, relatable character. The film wins you over like one of her debate arguments.”
-FilM ThreaT

“What makes the film so rewarding is that it is a small, heartfelt pic with emotional truth at its core”
-FFT

“A must see!”
-Juicy Magazine

THANK YOU!!
——————–

Take a moment to congratulate him on LDDebate.org.

Patterson will remain director of the TOC. For insights into the foundation of the TOC and its continued growth, click here for an interview I conducted with J.W. Patterson.

Bill’s birthday falls on the same day that I came across a link on LDDebate.org about case lists in Lincoln-Douglas debate. You may want to join in the discussion.

I owe Mike West a tremendous debt of gratitude for his assistance in bringing back LDDebate.org. We’ve worked around the clock over the course of this weekend — pretty literally, as he lives in Germany and I’m currently on the West Coast — to bring you a web site that combines the most appropriate modern features with the right nostalgic touches. (Member numbers? Light bulbs? The color scheme?)

Enjoy!

Smith was well-liked and well-respected by his peers and enjoyed a great deal of success in high-level college policy debate. He was named National Coach of the Year in 1994 and 1998 and, in “Best of the Decade” polling, he was named Best Judge of the 1990s. (He was also ranked second as “Best Coach of the 1990s.”) Smith had qualified more teams to the elimination rounds of the National Debate Tournament than any other coach in the last decade. He also actively reached out to the high school speech and debate community, particularly once he took the helm of the Wake Forest National Earlybird.

Wake Forest University’s official statement follows.

Ross Smith, Wake Forest debate director, dies of heart attack July 19

July 20, 2009

Ross K. Smith, who led Wake Forest University debate teams to national championships during his 25 years at the university, died July 19 at his home after suffering a heart attack. Smith was 54.

Just last year, Smith led a Wake Forest team to capture the 2008 National Debate Tournament championship. He also coached the university’s 1997 national championship team.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. July 23 in Wake Forest’s Wait Chapel. A reception in Carswell Hall will follow. A guestbook has been created on the university Web site at http://www.wfu.edu/wowf/guest/smith/index.php.

In his long career in debate, Smith encountered thousands of college and high school debaters from all over the United States. Smith was the coach and eventual director of Wake Forest’s debate program, led debate competitions at Wake Forest for college and high school debaters, judged debate competitions nationwide, and taught at summer debate workshops at Wake Forest and elsewhere in the country. In recent years, Smith also worked with eastern European high school students who came to Wake Forest for summer debate programs sponsored by the U.S. State Department.

Smith, who became Wake Forest’s debate coach in 1984 and its debate program director two years ago, was named national debate coach of the year in 1994 and 1998. In 2009, he received the George Ziegelmueller Award, presented by the National Debate Tournament to recognize long-term career contributions to the national debate community. His debate experiences at Wake Forest began when he was a student and a member of the debate team at the university, where he graduated in 1982.

“We will all miss Ross dearly,” said Wake Forest Provost Jill Tiefenthaler. “The extraordinary debate program he helped build personifies what is the very best about Wake Forest.”

Smith’s death was being discussed around the country by those involved in college debate.

“I’ve received several hundred comments and e-mails from all over the country and the essence is that they all learned more from Ross about debate than anyone else in their lives,” said Allan Louden, an associate professor of communication at Wake Forest, who directed its debate program for more than 25 years before Smith assumed that role.

Harvard University’s long-time debate coach, Dallas G. Perkins Jr., said that debate students and coaches around the country are saddened by Smith’s death. Perkins said that the debate community was communicating throughout the day through all means—from social networking sites to telephone calls—to discuss Smith.

“He was an innovator, that was a big part of his success. He was an excellent coach and mentor and advisor,” said Perkins, a friend and colleague since Smith’s college days.

A Wake Forest graduate, Smith qualified more teams to the elimination rounds in debate competition than any other coach in the nation in recent years. Eight of his recent teams reached the final four in the National Debate Tournament.

“Isaac Newton said that he saw further by standing on the shoulders of giants, and there is no bigger giant in national debate than Ross,” said Brad Hall, a former member of Wake Forest’s debate team who made the National Debate Tournament finals in 2006 and now works for former Vice President Al Gore.

Hall was inspired to attend Wake Forest based on the reputation of the debate program.

“In my opinion, what makes Wake Forest debate stand out among other debate programs is the sense of family and a strong bond across generations of debaters and coaches,” said Hall. “Ross played an essential role in creating this Wake Forest debate family because he warmly welcomed generations of debaters and taught them the importance of being part of a team. What he taught thousands of debaters about decision making, logic, and living a life for the good of humanity will not be quickly forgotten.”

For many years, Smith helped organize one of the top college debate competitions in the country, the Franklin R. Shirley Classic, hosted by Wake Forest.

Smith was also involved in high school debate and helped organize the National Earlybird Tournament hosted by Wake Forest each year for high school debaters. In addition, he worked with the Wake Forest Debate Outreach program on initiatives that helped develop area middle school and high school debate programs.

Smith researched and/or edited 20 policy debate research guides on subjects including foreign policy towards Russia and China, global environmental issues, law and education. He developed DebateScoop.org, a Web site dedicated to review and commentary of political debate nationally. A team of debate scholars from across the nation contributed analyses on the site to promote public understanding of political debate.

A press release was sent to area media and to Victory Briefs Daily. It appears in full after the jump.

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2009

Manchester Essex Names New Debate Coach

Manchester Essex Regional High School is pleased to announce the appointment of William Cooper as its new debate coach. After a nationwide search, William Cooper was selected to teach in the Social Studies department and serve as the school’s head debate coach.

For the past ten years Cooper has taught at Arthur L. Johnson High School in Clark, New Jersey, where he taught debate, government, and History. Besides his teaching experience, Cooper brings extensive experience running and coaching a nationally competitive debate team. Cooper is a Diamond coach in the National Forensic League and was awarded the Melvin B. Tolson Teacher of the Year Award in 2008 and the Educator of the Year and Winner of the Governor’s Award in Arts Education in 2009. He has qualified students to all three major national championships and has served as President of the New Jersey Forensic League for the past two years.

Before entering the teaching profession Cooper practiced law in Lexington, Virginia. He earned a BA from Hamilton College, a JD from Washington & Lee University, and a teaching certificate from Mary Baldwin College. Social Studies department chair Dan Jewett said, “It is a testament to Manchester Essex debate that we were able to attract such a highly qualified teacher and coach. Bill’s experience and expertise will be an asset to the program in the years ahead. We are excited to have him at MERHS.”

The Manchester Essex Debate Team was founded in 1971 and after a few initial years as a club activity it became a regular part of the curriculum. In 1987, Manchester Essex High School gained national recognition for its debate program by winning both the National Forensic League debate championship (Cincinnati, OH) and the National Tournament of Champions (Lexington, KY). Since then the team has repeatedly qualified for all three national tournaments (NFLs, CFLs, and TOCs). In 2006 the team once again won the National Tournament of Champions, this time in Public Forum debate.

-END-

The gadget, along with Gmail instructions and an iGoogle button as well is available at The Debate Gadget for Victory Briefs.

iDebate can be downloaded by clicking here. Many thanks to Dan for putting so much effort into this program and giving it away — for free — to the debate community.

All three are passionately dedicated to the activity in which we participate and all three are incredibly kind and friendly folks. Please join me in wishing them a happy birthday!

You can access the article about Baker by clicking here.

Tarsney reminded me that it’s been some time since I did an article on the community’s favorite debate awards. So, I turn it to you: which tournament(s) feature your favorite awards? Why?

Many programs end the season with a special event: a meal, an awards ceremony, or a combination of thereof. Does your team have any special ways of ending the season? Does it confer any special honors or awards? Tell us!

“He spoke so quickly,” claimed CNN, “it was impossible to decipher his words, as listeners began to laugh and applaud.” Debaters, you be the judges. Click here to access a video featuring Wilder. (And check out the video of the “Fastest Talker” from That’s Incredible! in the comments!)

Davis was a major force in forensics; she was elected a Key Coach of the Barkley Forum for High Schools in 1997 and attained two diamonds in the National Forensic League. She was also a member of the Tennessee High School Speech and Drama League Hall of Fame.

Click here to listen to the interview. (Strossen’s comments on high school debate begin at about the forty-sixth minute.)

This is intended as a place for celebration, but also a place for networking; indeed, if you’re coming to New York, in addition to posting here, drop me a line so we can network about judging, coaching, and so on. (There are plenty of area programs looking for assistants!) I am sure coaches here and elsewhere would like to network as well.

His career spanned forty-eight years and included coaching at Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School, Calvert Hall College, La Salle College High School, and finally Delone Catholic High School. First elected to the NFL Board in 1978, Bro. Rene served in this leadership role for over thirty years.

The National Forensic League today released the following obituary:

Bro. Rene Sterner, FSC, legendary NFL coach and longtime member of the NFL Board of Directors, passed away Monday morning, May 11, 2009 due to health complications related to cancer. His legendary NFL career spanned 48 years and included coaching at Central Catholic High School, Pittsburgh, Calvert Hall College, La Salle College High School, and finally Delone Catholic High School. A highly respected leader in the forensics community, he served 30 years as a member of the NFL Board of Directors.

Bro Rene’s numerous accomplishments include: winning the TKA trophy (now the Bruno E. Jacob trophy) in 1972, the championship in Policy Debate at the 1980 Nationals, and election to the NFL Hall of Fame in 1987. Bro. Rene was first elected to the NFL Board in 1978 and served as an at-large elected member until 1986, when he was appointed as the school administrator presence on the board. One of his tasks was to present the case for listing the NFL National Tournament on the National Association of Secondary School Principals’ approved list of contests and activities. He hosted the NFL Nationals in Pittsburgh (1961, 1972) and in Philadelphia (2005), co-ran the Speech Tab Room in the late 70’s, chaired a variety of Board Committees for new events, chaired the search committee for the NFL Executive Director, conducted the Board’s election of officers, and ran and organized Extemp Commentary. He was a six-diamond coach.

Brother Rene took his role as a leader in the NFL very seriously. In a 2008 interview he explained: “My whole life has been in education. I think NFL presents opportunities in many ways what education is all about. To develop leadership skills in young people is perhaps what education is really about more than anything. Our future depends on the quality of the leaders and their ability to examine issues thoughtfully, carefully, and not be swayed too easily by words that are not always truthful, clear, or accurate.”

His Viewing and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at La Salle College High School on Friday evening, May 15th at 7:30pm.

Please join me in wishing the happiest of birthdays to the most intense of debate coaches: Neil Conrad!

Just remember Neil: one more year.

By the way, In case you don’t know Neil personally, believe me: he’s really that intense. A former champion basketball player, Neil coaches between debate rounds the way one might coach between basketball games.

Some exciting posts are coming after my return this weekend.

“The NDCA newsletter would like to have a write up on your favorite moments in debate,” Serrano explains. “Don’t feel constrained — your answers could be the most important thing you learned, your favorite camp memory, your favorite team story, your favorite argument, etc. You can also use this as your chance to thank your friends, your coaches, your judges, your administrators, your childhood pets, etc. One to two sentences is ideal, but if you feel you need a few more, that’s okay, too.”

Please help Serrano and participate. You can access the very brief submission form online.

He’s an attorney and a debate coach, a tennis player and a reality television show star, a leader and a friend. He came in first place at the California Invitational at Berkley in 1989; he’s currently in first place, with his sister Tammy, in The Amazing Race in 2009.

Without Victor, there would be no VBI, and without Victor, there would be no VBD. Please join me in wishing the “Victor” in “Victory Briefs” a very, very happy birthday.

Reports indicate that the Iron Lady was delighted by Hamilton’s political stances.

Many thanks to Chris Blay for his assistance in making my little prank work as planned. And many thanks to the literally hundreds of readers who contacted me throughout the day to express their enjoyment — or confusion!

Interested in reading about the history of LDDebate.org? Here’s an interview I conducted with founder Mike West just over five years ago. (Check for the Mark Webber comment!)

Also, check out the celebration of Gary “bigjohnson” Johnson’s eight thousandth LDDebate.org post in May of 2005.

“Senior year is drawing to an end,” writes Jeff. “I’m trying to get some scholarship money so I can afford college.” With the help of VBD readers, Zhao has advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of Zinch.com’s $20,000 college scholarship contest. “I come to you asking for a HUGE favor.”

“I know VBD gets massive amounts of traffic daily, and as the competition gets tougher and tougher, I’m going to need all the help I can get to make it to the next elimination round. It would be great if i could get the support of at least a portion of the debate community in this competition.”

You can check out Jeff’s Facebook group with more information on the scholarship and voting process; and you can also check out the voting page itself, now updated for the Sweet Sixteen voting.

Voting resets every single round, which lasts about four days.

Anybody who is interested should immediately e-mail Eric Fischer, as spots will be given out on a first come, first served basis. The draft will take place some time in the next two weeks.

The league is a head-to-head most categories league on ESPN.com. The field will be split into four pods each consisting of five teams.

Your memory isn’t deceiving you. This is an old “Topic for Debate” that never quite took off. I can’t help but be saddened that this particular discussion faltered, as sibling articles racked up 100+ (sometimes 200+!) comments. So, after reading some posts on Jim Menick’s “Coachean Life” blog — in which the author criticized the notion of the judges differing on their “paradigms” in the first place — I decided to give this discussion one last try.

In a past discussion about case disclosure and case lists, a point was raised towards later in the 227-comment thread regarding judge paradigms and “neg bias.” LD debaters and coaches throw around terms like “traditional,” “progressive,” “old school,” “circuit,” “values,” “critical,” and “theory” but it seems to me as if these labels do not describe organized philosophies of adjudicating rounds.

What labels could be used? What about models of evaluation offered by members of the community in past articles on VBD and in the Rostrum? Or is Menick right: should there be (or is there already?) a “uniform” way of evaluating rounds?

For the sake of full disclosure, this practice has been followed by a number of tournament directors that I consider very close friends, and I am all for the ecological benefit of reducing paper output and the ease-of-mind benefit of increasing efficiency at tournaments. I don’t think I’m firmly on one side or the other on this issue, but I admit that I’ve wondered: shouldn’t a ballot be a private communication between the judge and the competitors, like a grade from a teacher? Or does “openness” of case positions trump all? What do you think?

Mathew DeWaal — MacArthur High School (TX)
Skyller Armenta — Mansfield High School (TX)
Ryan Wallace — Seminole High School (TX)
Evan Turner — Aldine High School (TX)
Katie Elder — Ronald Reagan High School (TX)
Kathlyn Christman — Austin High School (TX)
Mala Ramkumar — Westlake High School (TX)
Mason Colley — Atascocita High School (TX)
Veronica Lazo — Westfield High School (TX)
Kathryn Christensen — Oak Ridge High School (TX)
Miranda Grummons — Magnolia High School (TX)
Sanjana Puri — Flower Mound High School (TX)
Lauren Sechrist — Randall High School (TX)
Zoe Christiansen — Stratford High School (TX)
Terrence Young — Angleton High School (TX)
Stephones Brown — Eisenhower High School (TX)
Johnnie Boatright — Burges High School (TX)
Austin Hays — Central High School (TX)

The finalists were recently named. Among the semifinalists were many debaters. I’ll list the ones I know. Please join me in congratulating them, and please fill me in with more debaters’ names. I’ll include them here as well.

Click here for a complete list of semifinalists.

Congratulations to the following speakers and debaters who were semifinalists in the Intel Science Talent Search:

Bellarmine College Preparatory School (CA) — Ani Deshmukh
Bellarmine College Preparatory School (CA) — Nitin Egbert
The Bronx High School of Science (NY) — Timi Chu
Byram Hills High School (NY) — Samantha Sanders
Chaminade High School (NY) — Alex Kamath
The Harker School (CA) — Vikram Nathan
The Harker School (CA) — Denzil Sikka
Lexington High School (MA) — Noah Arbesfeld
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA) — Jared Hallett
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA) — Lily Hsiang
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA) — Alex Kim
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA) — Joy Lee
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA) — Sumit Malik
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA) — Divya Srinivasan

Idriss Fofana and Thomas Kakalios were presented with the Tabroom Turkey Award; Gregg Fishbein, Hannah Stafford, and Heather Stesin were recognized as Friends of Blake. A list of past recipients of the Outstanding Coach Award follows.

1979: Ruth Westrom — Saint Anthony Village High School (MN)
1980: Art McMillon — Eau Claire Memorial High School (WI)
1981: Merle Bauder — Grand Rapids High School (MN)
1982: Donus Roberts — Watertown High School (SD)
1983: Joe Tamillo — White Bear Lake High School (MN)
1984: Jim Graupner — Stillwater Area High School (MN)
1985: Mike Murr — Simley High School (MN)
1986: Greg Dawson — The Blake School (MN)
1987: Tom Stolen — Anoka High School (MN)
1988: Barb Kersten — Roseville Area High School (MN)
1989: Dorothy Sunne — Forest Lake High School (MN)
1990: David St. Germain — Chaska High School (MN)
1991: Gail Sarff — Wayzata High School (MN)
1992: Norm Leistikow — Bloomington Jefferson High School (MN)
1993: Helen Fisk — Saint Paul Academy (MN)
1994: Lee Alto — Grand Rapids High School (MI)
1995: Randy Keillor — Saint Francis High School (MN)
1996: Wanda Manther — Rosemount High School (MN)
1997: Steve Fetzik — Austin High School (MN)
1998: Jim Sauer — La Crosse Central High School (WI)
1999: Pam Cady Wycoff — Apple Valley High School (MN)
2000: Chris McDonald — Bloomington Jefferson High School (MN)
2001: Lynn Schmitt & Joe Schmitt — Edina High School (MN)
2002: Cort Sylvester — Rosemount High School (MN)
2003: Mike Bietz — Edina High School (MN) & Myles Wagner — Coon Rapids High School (MN)
2004: Fred Robertson — Fremont High School (NE)
2005: Jenny Heidt — Westminster Schools (GA)
2006: Andy Charrier — Lakeville North and South High Schools (MN)
2007: Tara Tate — Glenbrook South High School (IL)
2008: Pete Nikolai — Saint Paul Central High School (MN)

Many of the topics will be broader-reaching questions. For example, “Is vigilantism ever justified?” Other topics noted in the e-mail are more “comic-specific,” such as, “Who would win in a fight? Rhino vs. a rhino? Iron Man or Captain America?” or “Breast implants: sensible personal decision for super heroines or unnecessary battle hazard?”

Apply now! (Costumes are encouraged.)

Case has shared both the invitation and the application with the VBD community.

Click here for the invitation.

Click here for the application.

This year’s inductees are Jon Cruz of the Bronx High School of Science, Shuntá Jordan of Pace Academy, and Andrew West of Myers Park High School.

“The most prestigious presentation made by the Barkley Forum is the presentation of the Gold Key,” explains Melissa Maxcy Wade. Cruz’s gold key was presented by Eric Di Michele of Regis High School. Jordan’s gold key was presented by Betty Maddox of the Atlanta Public Schools. West’s gold key was presented by Jenny Heidt of Westminster Schools.

Invitation to the Society is a lifetime designation.

The members of the Gold Key Society are:

1. Evelyn Anderson Campbell* — 1964 — Montgomery Bell Academy
2. Rose B. Johnson — 1964 — Woodlawn High School
3. Dorothy McColl Lupold — 1964 — A. C. Flora High School
4. Harold Donald Phillips — 1964 — Central Gwinnett High School
5. Elliot Tourret Schmidt — 1964 — McCallie High School
6. Elizabeth Hall Vickery — 1964 — Hart County High School
7. Peggy Maxwell Childs* — 1965 — Cross Keys High School
8. Matilou Bolton Duke — 1965 — Battle Ground Academy
9. Sandra Worthington Silvers* — 1965 — Calhoun High School
10. Robert H. Woodland — 1965 — Clarkesville High School
11. Michael James Longsdon* — 1966 — Leon High School
12. Sister Mary Elaine Ryan* — 1966 — St. Pius X High School
13. Etta Scarborough* — 1966 — Sarasota High School
14. Hunter A. Strickland* — 1966 — Putnam County High School
15. Jane Wright Eldridge — 1967 — Madison High School (Hunters Lane High School)
16. Franklin Dean Grant* — 1967 — Chamblee High School
17. Hazel Green Gann — 1968 — Unicoi County High School
18. Eugene C. Loring* — 1968 — Central Gwinnett High School
19. Anne Douglas White — 1968 — Overton High School
20. Robert Dillard Ballentine — 1969 — Woodward Academy
21. James Lewis Mann II — 1969 — Dreher High School
22. Linda Whitaker Rothwell — 1969 — Dutch Forte High School (Irmo High School)
23. Mary Dean — 1970 — Bluefield High School
24. Charles Frederick Clark — 1971 — North Springs High School
25. James Madison Copeland — 1971 — Marquette University High School
26. John Robert Hester* — 1971 — Frayser High School
27. Selma Ridgway — 1971 — Montgomery Bell Academy
28. Kenneth H. Rosenthal — 1972 — Coral Gables High School
29. Thomas Edward Shoemate* — 1972 — Lakeside High School
30. David Thomas Mellon Horn, Jr. — 1973 — Bishop McDevitt High School
31. Harry T. Klugel — 1973 — Wheaton High School
32. John Sexton — 1973 — St. Brendan High School
33. Ralph E. Carey* — 1974 — Miami Beach High School
34. Bro. Rene Sterner — 1974 — Calvert Hall High School
35. William Vogel — 1975 — Lakeland High School
36. Theodore Phillip Wolf — 1975 — North Springs High School
37. Phyllis Barton* — 1976 — Princeton High School
38. Charles Edwin Brower* — 1976 — Dallas-Jesuit High School
39. Robert Stanley Erwin — 1976 — Virgil T. Grissom High School (Calhoun High School)
40. Tony Wayne Anderson — 1977 — Peachtree High School
41. Charline Ladd Burton — 1977 — Heritage Hall High School
42. Esther Wolf Kalmbach — 1977 — Whitmer High School
43. Thomas Glenn Pelham* — 1977 — In honorarium (Emory University)
44. Ted Belch — 1978 — Glenbrook South High School (Glenbrook North High School)
45. Julia Blyton Roberts — 1978 — Paducah-Tilghman High School
46. Richard B. Sodikow — 1978 — The Bronx High School of Science
47. George King Mengert — 1979 — Pace Academy
48. Rhoda Kirchner Radow* — 1979 — Nova High School
49. Thomas Wooten Williams — 1979 — Chillicothe High School
50. Ralph Eugene Bender — 1980 — Centerville High School
51. Dale McCall — 1980 — Twin Lakes High School (Wellington High School)
52. George Henry Stege — 1980 — Glenbrook South High School
53. Virginia Priest Sutherland — 1980 — Myers Park High School
54. Melissa Maxcy Wade — 1980 — In honorarium (Emory University)
55. Kenny Dale Barfield — 1981 — Mars Hill High School
56. Thomas Donald Smith — 1981 — Firestone High School
57. Barbara Burns Swisher — 1981 — Charles Henderson High School
58. Dennis Duane Winfield — 1981 — In honorarium
59. L.D. Naegelin* — 1982 — Winston Churchill High School
60. Paula Harris Nettles — 1982 — Woodward Academy
61. James J. Unger — 1982 — In honorarium
62. James E. Fleissner — 1983 — The Kinkaid School
63. Susan Tillman Pelham — 1983 — In honorarium
64. William Woods “Billy” Tate, Jr. — 1983 — Montgomery Bell Academy
65. Daryl J. Fisher — 1984 — Isidore Newman School
66. Lois Cromar Hintze — 1984 — Heritage Hall High School
67. James Shipp — 1985 — Marysville High School
68. Charles Spurlock — 1985 — Pace Academy
69. Paul Allen Newman — 1986 — The Kinkaid School
70. Les Phillips — 1986 — Lexington High School
71. Rhae Martin Swisher, Jr. — 1986 — In honorarium
72. Lee James Turner — 1986 — Pine Crest High School
73. Greg Varley — 1986 — Lakeland High School
74. Patricia Bailey — 1987 — Homewood High School
75. Roberta Dawes — 1987 — Overton High School
76. Bob Frank — 1987 — Great Bridge High School
77. Fr. Raymond Hahn — 1987 — Cathedral Preparatory School
78. Walter Alan Ulrich* — 1987 — In honorarium (University of Northern Iowa)
79. David Baker — 1988 — St. Mark’s School of Texas
80. Eric Brannen — 1988 — Westminster High School
81. Sally Schecter — 1988 — Hendrick Hudson High School
82. Tim Averill — 1989 — Manchester High School (Waring School)
83. Dennis DeYoung — 1989 — Montgomery Bell Academy High School
84. Fran Berger* — 1990 — Miami Palmetto High School
85. Eric Di Michele — 1990 — Regis High School
86. Marilee Dukes — 1990 — Vestavia Hills High School
87. Glenda Ferguson — 1990 — Heritage Hall High School
88. Alex Pritchard — 1991 — Greenhill School (Westwood High School)
89. Randy Shaver — 1991 — Thomas Wingate Andrews High School
90. Jeffrey Wortman — 1991 — Glenbrook North High School
91. Byron Arthur — 1992 — New Orleans Jesuit High School
92. Brent Farrand — 1992 — Newark Science High School
93. David Richardson — 1993 — Omaha Westside High School
94. Merle Ulery — 1993 — North Miami Beach High School
95. James Paul Hunter — 1994 — Oak Park-River Forest High School
96. Gloria Robison — 1994 — Saint James School (Ronald Reagan High School)
97. Paul Slappey* — 1994 — In honorarium (University of Iowa)
98. Chris Wheatley — 1994 — Pace Academy
99. Marie Dzuris — 1995 — Centerville High School
100. Rich Edwards — 1995 — In honorarium (Baylor University)
101. Julie Sheinman — 1995 — Stuyvesant High School
102. John Woollen — 1995 — Enloe High School
103. Richard Bracknell — 1996 — Carrollton High School
104. Randy McCutcheon — 1996 — Albuquerque Academy
105. Bruce Rogers — 1996 — Northside High School
106. Ed Williams — 1996 — Charlotte-Latin High School (Woodward Academy)
107. Sandra Davis — 1997 — Battle Ground Academy
108. Rose Joyce — 1997 — Monticello High School
109. Michele Coody* — 1997 — Saint James School
110. Tom Sullivan* — 1998 — In honorarium
111. David Glass — 1998 — Edgemont High School
112. Sheryl Kaczmarek – 1998 — Newburgh Free Academy
113. Matthew Whipple — 1998 — Glenbrook South High School
114. Alan Coverstone — 1999 — Montgomery Bell Academy
115. Aaron Timmons — 1999 — Greenhill School
116. David Cheshier — 2000 — In honorarium
117. Betty Maddox — 2000 — In honorarium
118. Greg Myrberg — 2000 — Iowa City West High School
119. Charles Oakes — 2000 — Battle Ground Academy
120. J.W. Patterson — 2000 — In honorarium (University of Kentucky)
121. Kandi King — 2001 — Winston Churchill High School
122. Michael Jablonski — 2001 — In honorarium
123. Dan Lingel — 2002 — Dallas Jesuit High School
124. Jim Wade — 2002 — Milton High School
125. Jane Boyd — 2003 — Grapevine High School
126. Frank Seaver — 2003 — Woodward Academy
127. Tommie Lindsey, Jr. — 2004 — James Logan High School
128. Lisa Miller — 2004 — Nova High School
129. Bill Newnam — 2004 — Emory University
130. David Huston — 2005 — Highland Park High School
131. Linda Oddo — 2005 — New Trier High School
132. Warren Sprouse — 2005 — Cedar Rapids Washington High School
133. Jonathan Alston — 2006 — Newark Science Park High School
134. Sharon Semmens — 2006 — In honorarium (Emory University)
135. Doug Springer — 2006 — New Trier High School
136. Tara Tate — 2006 — Glenbrook South High School
137. Scott Wunn — 2006 — National Forensic League
138. Eric Emerson — 2007 — The Kinkaid School
139. Lexy Green — 2007 — College Preparatory School
140. Jenny Heidt — 2007 — Westminster Schools
141. Jay Rye — 2007 — The Montgomery Academy
142. Pam Cady Wycoff — 2007 — Apple Valley High School
143. Michael Bacon* — 2008 — Newburgh Free Academy, In honorarium
144. Allen Louden — 2008 — In honorarium (Wake Forest University)
145. Tracey McFarland — 2008 — Dallas Jesuit High School
146. Jim Wakefield — 2008 — Fort Lauderdale High School
147. Jon Cruz — 2009 — The Bronx High School of Science
148. Shuntá Jordan — 2009 — Pace Academy
149. Andrew West — 2009 — Myers Park High School

Bietz has been the answer to many of debate trivia questions posed to me; I could write entire articles about his coaching accomplishments. But on his birthday, I’d like to thank him for being an incredible advocate for students in this activity — through his work at Victory Briefs, Harvard-Westlake, and elsewhere — and for being an incredible friend.

If you enjoy all of the services provided by this web site, you have Mike Bietz to thank.

On behalf of the debate community: Mike Bietz, we LUV you!

(If there are others listed who I’m overlooking, please let the world know!)

What are your…resolutions for 2009? (Where’s a rim shot sound effect when I need one?)

For those in the community who knew Dr. Scott Nobles the longtime debate coach at Macalester College. It is with sadness that I report that on December 24th Scott passed away. Scott was a great influence on the Minnesota Debate Community for many years hosting tournaments at Macalester as well as a summer debate institute. Scott was a truly passionate man who loved debate and the educational challenge it presented for students at all levels. There will not be any memorial service in accordance with Dr. Nobles wishes.

Chris

For those who are interested notes of condolences can be sent to Judy Nobles

Judy Nobles
160-E, West Wentworth Ave.
W. St. Paul, MN 55118

(1) http://www.americanforensics.org/awards/ndtchamps.html

I present to you the love child of Strake Jesuit’s Gary Johnson and Bronx Science’s Saboor Sheerazi: Fort Lauderdale’s Dylan Boigris.

I’m kidding, I’m kidding! There are few folks in the debate community who are more committed than Wes Craven to providing opportunities for as wide a range of high school debaters as possible. There are also few folks who are more obvious “lifers” than my good friend and colleague at the Victory Briefs Institute. So, please join me in wishing a happy twenty-eighth birthday to Wes Craven!

This year’s recipient is Dave McGinnis, head debate coach at Valley High School in Iowa. McGinnis is also a member of the Apple Valley High School class of 1993.

Previous recipients include Wayne Brinton of Apple Valley High School in Minnesota, Steve Fetzik of Austin High School in Minnesota, Scott Wunn of Iowa City West High School in Iowa (and now the executive director of the National Forensic League), Judy Olson of Valley High School in Iowa, Michael W. Burton of Eastside Catholic High School in Washington, Cindi Timmons of Colleyville Heritage High School in Texas, Paul Bellus of the University of Iowa, and Doug Springer of New Trier Township High School.

The inaugural Distinguished Alumnus Award was presented to an alumna: Shannon Heim (née Brinton) of the class of 1990. She was Apple Valley’s first Lincoln-Douglas debater. The 2006 honoree was Douglas Anderson of the class of 1990; the 2007 honoree was Pete Nikolai of the class of 1991.

This year’s recipient was Andrea Singh.

Who or what are you dressing up as for Halloween?

As debate on the September-October resolution winds down, I’d like to revisit the conversation that was sparked when the topic was first announced. Debaters often find reason to nitpick just about any resolution that’s announced. With this particular resolution, the talk appeared to be more heated. Some said it would ruin the first two months of competition; others said it would save Lincoln-Douglas debate itself. Having debated the resolution, what are your thoughts on how the topic has been playing out?

I’ve recognized a couple of debaters just from a quick glance: Ken Hershey of Scarsdale High School, Alexandra Hohauser of Schreiber High School, Devin Race and Andrew Waks of Westlake High School, and Seth Teleky of the Bronx High School of Science are among the winners. Congratulations!

Do you recognize any other debaters on the list? My look-over was very, very cursory; I am sure I missed other people.

“The league was a lot of fun and we hope to resurrect it next spring,” notes Eric. “Now, though, we will be starting the Victory Briefs Fantasy Basketball League.” Contact Eric via the comments section below, by Facebook, or by e-mail if you are interested in participating.

The final standings are as follows:

1. Monticello MT (Matthew Thomas)

2. Byram Hills EF (Eric Fischer)

3. Monticello DC (Dan Cook)

4. Lexington NB (Nate Bernitz)

5. Niskayuna DV (Deek Velagandula)

6. Upper St. Clair JG (JP Gooderham)

7. Judge Aaron Zisook

8. Scarsdale BA (Ben Abrahams)

9. Lake Highland PD (Philip Deuchler)

10. Newtown AA (Akshay Agashe)

11. Niskayuna SD (Sam Dharia)

12. Collegiate MW (Marc Wallach)

13. Kinkaid PA (Phil Angelides)

14. Judge Jimi Morales

15. Atholton NK (Nikhil Karnik)

16. Judge Alex Weaver

17. Berkeley Carroll DS (Dylan Scher)

18. Lakeville North TT (Tyler Traub)

19. Scarsdale JS (Josh Seiden)

20. Brentwood MS (Michael Shagrin)

Jim Shapiro graduated from Harvard University, ran across the United States and the islands of Japan, and is a published author. His books include Meditations from the Breakdown Lane and Ultramarathon. This summer, he started a debate program in Syria.

I’ve compiled a few of my favorite Shapiroisms in his honor.

“It pays to read announcements more carefully. I blandly assumed Big Bronx was LD-flavored as always. Your chef’s hand slipped some spice into the oratorical gumbo. That’s great news. We’ll be there!”

“Undoubtedly redundant since you know the minutiae of the seed stock for every LD harvest but Dylan Scher will be going first year at Woodward.”

“Who knows what Jackson is doing. He’s an untethered blimp.”

“Dylan Scher and Andrew Timko are yes. I need to hear tomorrow morning from four others. And I need to check with the peripatetic Isaac Bloch. Hopefully, all entered tomorrow. Yes, I will be around this weekend, as long as Isaac keeps his crocodile nostrils above water and continues to snap up unwary prey.”

“As soon as I learn something, I’ll send a carrier pigeon!”

“You are up to your usual mind-reading tricks, I see, as I was just wondering about the Scher clan’s invasion of southern California. Happy to get your note. Dylan looks well-fed and is clearly well-attuned to things that I can barely comprehend about the movies. Tell Lisa I’ve been a little hungry mornings ever since my a.m. source of nourishment left the East Coast. And you’re right, the weather is pretty often beastly. No other word for it.”

The show will have four different segments on impressive women, including one on the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute and its collaboration with IMPACT Coalition debate programs in New York.

From Will Baker, the director of IMPACT Coalition:

—

For more than a decade, the IMPACT Coalition has provided debate opportunities for students in NYC public schools, specializing in serving at-risk stuudents. IMPACT has trained over 5000 NYC students and 300 teachers in the transformative power of academic debate. Tonight a group of those debaters vying for a slot in the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute (BALI) will be featured on PBS.

The special one-hour episode of NOW on PBS, “Women, Power and Politics: A Rising Tide” will air tonight (this Friday), September 19th, at 8:30PM, EST. The show will have four different segments on impressive women including the one on the BALI program.

A special preview excerpt of the show can be found on the NOW on PBS homepage at http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/437/video-excerpt.html

To support debate for more kids in NYC, please click here:

http://www.impactcoalition.org/aboutus/abt_infstu_dona.html

The full title is
“Women, Power and Politics: A Rising Tide?”

The show, hosted by Maria Hinojosa, will have four segments on impressive women including one on the IMPACT debaters who participate in the BALI program.

Excerpt from PBS’ Press Release:

What Happens When Women Achieve Political Power?

In the program “WOMEN, POWER, AND POLITICS: A RISING TIDE? ,” Hinojosa interviews President Michele Bachelet of Chile, the first woman leader in Latin America who did not have a husband precede her as President, as well as former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen, now in a tight race for a seat in the U.S. Senate.Hinojosa also travels to Rwanda, where, 14 years after a horrific massacre left nearly one million people dead, women make up nearly half of the government, and an economic boom is enriching lives. Rwanda now has the highest percentage of women in government of any country.The show also follows a group of diverse high school girls competing in a debate competition for the chance to participate in the Bella Abzug Leadership Institute. These girls — some from disadvantaged backgrounds — are on the cusp of finding their way as future leaders.”The United States ranks 68th among countries for number of women in national political office,” says Hinojosa, who conceived the project earlier this year. “That says a lot about us, but also about the rest of the world, where women are accomplishing great things in places where you’d least expect it. “This is an important, unique story about empowered women, but the insight we uncover has the power to enlighten and inspire everyone.”Maria Hinojosa is available to share personal and professional details of her journalistic journey.The NOW website at www.pbs.org/now will feature web-exclusive commentary from noteworthy women including Maria Bartiromo, Sandra Cisneros, and Mary Robinson, as well as opportunities for all women to post and share their stories of ambition, success, and discouragement.

Here’s a shortcut to that preview, which will also be on YouTube starting 9/15:

http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/437/video-excerpt.html

PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

Peace & Justice,

Will Baker
IMPACT Coalition

What gender issues do you believe play into the way politics are conducted, and debates are held and judged? What posited gender issues do you believe may be overstated?

Berger created one the original Lincoln-Douglas debate dynasty programs as the coach of Miami Palmetto. She coached three students to the final round of the Tournament of Champions — two won the title — and also coached two top speakers at the TOC. A four-diamond coach in the National Forensic League, Berger coached multiple debaters to finals of many of the most prestigious tournaments at the time, including Emory, St. Mark’s, the Bronx Round Robin, the Glenbrook Round Robin, the MBA Round Robin, and Nationals. She was a respected and beloved leader and a real icon in this community.

The Miami Herald’s obituary for Berger is now online; the obituary also has a link to a guest book.

Fourteen of her former students submitted the following joint letter for publication in the Miami Herald:

This week South Florida lost a largely unknown but unforgettable hero. Her name was Francine Berger, but to the many students whose lives she touched, she was simply “Coach.” For three decades, Mrs. Berger served as the Speech and Debate Coach at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, where her students won numerous team and individual national debating championships. She was colorful and controversial, mercurial and madcap — but, above all, Mrs. Berger was dedicated to her students more than perhaps any teacher we have ever known. She constantly traveled across the country to attend her students’ debate competitions; she insisted that the whole squad fundraise to support those members who otherwise could not afford travel costs; and she spent early mornings and late nights dispensing advice and stories aboard countless Greyhound buses, airplanes, and the occasional desktop. Her legacy, apart from from her beloved family, is the legion of successful minds she helped shape. That fraternity includes Ivy League professors, business executives, Supreme Court clerks, physicians, government officials, teachers, attorneys, dedicated parents, and many other success stories. For we, her former students, there are few associations in our lives that evoke greater fondness and pride than the label of “Palmetto Debater.” Much of the credit belongs to Mrs. Berger, and for so many of us, she will never be forgotten.

–Richard Rosenthal (Miami, FL)
–Stephen Rosenthal (Miami, FL)
–Adam Levin (Washington, DC)
–Ketanji Brown Jackson (Washington, DC)
–Nathaniel Persily (New York, NY)
–Meredith Persily Lamel (Washington, DC)
–Gerald Greenberg (Miami, FL)
–Todd Lebowitz (Cleveland, OH)
–Jarrett Wolf (Miami, FL)
–Michael Samway (Miami, FL)
–David Buckner (Miami, FL)
–Craig Tinsky (Washington, DC)
–Jonathan Minsker (New York, NY)
–William Schild (Miami, FL)

“I decided to start this project because I think it is a really easy way for people to help out their community, while at the same time getting rid of clutter,” Gorski said. “Reading during my elementary years let me explore new worlds. It also immensely helped my writing and vocabulary skills; something which is very useful in everyday life. I would like for more children to have greater access to books, as I think it will help their overall education.”

The program will donate grade-level appropriate books to each classroom in all of the elementary schools in the Perkiomen Valley School District.

“Debaters tend to be the type of students who enjoy reading,” commented Gorski, “and I’ve found that many families have old books collecting dust in their house. Since debaters are now well beyond their elementary years, they have no use for their old books. Stories for Students is a great way for these high schoolers to better the community while creating more space in their homes.”

Questions can be directed to Gorski by e-mail.

Sandberg twice qualified to the Tournament of Champions, and also qualified to NFL Nationals. Sandberg — pictured on the left at the 1996 Nationals, with Leslie Neeland and Alex Gomez — earned bids at prestigious tournaments from around the nation including the Glenbrooks, St. Mark’s, and Wake Forest. She was a finalist at the 1997 Wake Forest Early Bird.

She was well known for her ability to have an active spirit that would tell you exactly what she thought, and she would rarely bow to convention. She continued this spirit both at Emory University and Harvard Law School. And while accomplishing much at both places and making a multitude of friends, she began a long-standing fight with breast cancer.

He is also an invaluable member of the Victory Briefs family. Without Jon I’m certain that VBD and the entire LD debate community would not be same as it is today. Please wish him a Happy Birthday!

For more Jim Menick debate goodness, check out Coachean Life. (It’s pronounced “coh-wackean.”)

Fred was promised a VBD front page article. And so, here it is.

For the record, I have been told that a Jason Baldwin autographed T-shirt went for a substantially higher price.

As a long-time Kevin Garnett fan and as someone who grew up despising the Celtics, I’m quite torn. Every time reference is made to those teams of the 80s I just think about how much I rooted for the Lakers. I’m afraid this is KG’s last chance. Even if the Celtics make the finals again next year, the Western Conference isn’t getting easier.

Who are you rooting for?

Nicholas was an exceptional young man who was considered a friend by many, both inside and outside the debate community. “Although our loss is terrible,” noted Ronald D. Liebowitz, president of Middlebury College, in addressing Nick’s college peers, “it cannot compare to the pain that Nick’s mother Natalie and his family are experiencing now. Our deepest sympathies remain with them.”

The following is an article from the Burlington Free Press.

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MIDDLEBURY — The night he vanished, Middlebury College student Nicholas Garza wandered due east from a friend’s residence hall, toward the creek in which his body would be found almost four months later, instead of north in the direction of his own dorm, police said Wednesday.

Authorities identified the body of the 19-year-old freshman from Albuquerque, N.M., through dental records Wednesday evening, a day after recovery crews removed his remains from Otter Creek near downtown, Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley said.

An autopsy showed Garza suffered no injuries or trauma, the chief said, but the procedure revealed little about the cause of Garza’s death or clues as to why he followed a seemingly incongruous path in the minutes after 11 p.m. Feb. 5, the last time anyone reported seeing him.

A full report from the Medical Examiner’s Office, including potential toxicology results, blood-alcohol content and a determination of the cause and manner of death, is expected in about six weeks, Hanley said.

“There is no sign of foul play,” the chief said at his station in Middlebury. “The next step is to put together all the information that we have. We’re hoping the medical examiner’s report could give us that keystone piece of evidence we need.”

Linking the facts

Earlier this month, specially trained dogs from a Maine search-and-rescue organization tracked Garza on a winding route from Stewart Hall past campus buildings, through open fields, onto and then off the porch of a vacant house, and eventually to a spot where a thin trail bends sharply left, then right, to a narrow footbridge over Otter Creek near Middlebury Union High School, Hanley said.

Someone missing that turn, as authorities now believe Garza did, would plummet into the water, which — on the cold night the student disappeared — sported slippery banks and a crust of ice over most of the deep channel, Hanley said.

“It’s a very, very slight grade, and then it drops off like this,” the chief said as he made a quick downward gesture with his outstretched left hand, “6 feet right into the water.”

The dog search occurred May 10 but relied on items police sealed after removing them from Garza’s dorm room shortly after his family reported him missing Feb. 10. On their own, the results seemed interesting and helpful, Hanley said. Combining that information with other facts — the discovery of the body almost a mile downstream, aerial photographs from April that likely show a body, and additional tracking-dog information — authorities believe they have answered the investigation’s first question: What happened that night?

“We’re pretty confident on the ‘how,’” Hanley said, but he added authorities remain unsure of the “why.” “The cause and manner is still what we’re up in the air on.”

Garza last was seen leaving Stewart Hall, a campus dormitory south of his residence in Allen Hall. Police have said some drinking occurred during the gathering that six students attended, and authorities heard various accounts of Garza’s level of intoxication, ranging from none at all to highly inebriated. He was not wearing a coat, and until Tuesday investigators had located neither his wallet nor his cell phone, on which no activity transpired.

The wallet, containing Garza’s photo identification, and the phone were in the pockets of his jeans, Hanley said.

The search dogs followed a course beginning in Stewart Hall and leading to the creek, and then their handlers intentionally confused the canines and had them repeat the procedure two more times, Hanley said. The result remained the same.

“The dogs track and track and track, and they go right into the water,” he said.

Autopsy challenges

A coroner’s examination in situations such as this is difficult and unlikely to produce valuable results, said Dr. Masatoshi Kida, director of autopsy services at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington and a professor of pathology at the University of Vermont.

Kida is unaffiliated with the Garza case.

“I’m not optimistic in any sense,” Kida said. “With several months passed, decomposition will mask what happened.”

The water temperature has been rising for weeks, creating conditions that would cause remains to deteriorate more quickly, he said. That would hamper determining a person’s blood-alcohol content or even the cause of death, unless some visible trauma occurred, such as a skull fracture or stab wound that nicked a bone, Kida said.

Kida said he has confidence in the state Medical Examiner’s Office to perform as thorough a forensic autopsy as possible.

“They do their best all the time, but sometimes even experts have limitations,” the doctor said. “Everybody will do their best job to try to help the family members.”

On campus, Garza is being remembered as an energetic and friendly young man with passions for politics and poetry, debate and literature, hockey and music, Middlebury College President Ronald Liebowitz said in a statement issued shortly after the identification of Garza’s remains.

“Nothing is harder for a college community than the loss of one of its own students. Although our loss is terrible, it cannot compare to the pain that Nick’s mother, Natalie, and his family are experiencing now,” Liebowitz said. “Our deepest sympathies remain with them.”

Liebowitz said the campus community will gather this fall in remembrance of Garza.