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Re: Debaters as judges

1.  The wrong debaters end up judging?

If I am going to have active debaters judge my teams, I would want the best
active debaters around in the round.  Unfortunately, if you use
student-involved panels in outrounds, it means that you are using students who
are NOT in outrounds to judge.  In other words, teams that couldn't make it
out of prelims (or early outs) are judging.  Sort of creepy.

2.  How do debaters get coached?

One of the first things most coaches do before their teams starts an outround
is to discuss the panel with the debaters.  How does a coach advise her or his
students to approach a particular panel if they have no idea how one of the
judges perceives debate?  For those of you who believe in less active
coaching, how do debaters determine on their own how to approach an utter
unknown as a judge?  

3.  Too close for objectivity?

A week ago, people were in favor of having newbie judges watch rounds until
they felt comfortable/confident to judge.  Now others are expecting a
non-breaking/advancing debater to do this all of the sudden.  The irony.

Meanwhile, people want to insure "fair" judging at all turns.  Now, some
advocate putting people who still have very direct contact and sometimes
personal stakes into elim rounds.  More irony.

I am not saying that all active debaters would be corrupt.  I am also not
claiming that receipt of a diploma (or in sadder cases the end of eligibility)
give someone the magic power of objectivity in all cases.  I do, however,
think that there is a greater likelihood of non-round motivated decisions
among active debaters.


--There are a few other reasons I can think of, but I'll let this fly as the
starter set and see what others think.  It is an interesting idea, but I don't
think it is a good one.

Pax
Carson Brackney
Asst Dir of Speech & Debate
Wichita State U
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