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To: CEDA-L@cornell.edu
Date:          Tue, 10 Dec 1996 13:23:51 MST7MDT
Subject:       Re: Transfers
Reply-to: WEST@EDU-SUU-CENTRUM.CN.SUU.EDU
Priority: normal
X-mailer: Pegasus Mail v3.22
Message-ID: <1949354776@EDU-SUU-CENTRUM.CN.SUU.EDU>

I really don't want to enter the transfer thread again, but did want 
to make a couple of points about what Tony King says below.  These 
aren't really "refutation," but deal with some issues being raised:

>     One thing that the community seems to be ignoring is the  fact 
> that the community is the debaters.  The community does not exist 
> without them.  This is important to remember.  Yes, it may be unfair to a 
> particular program, but no one said life was fair and second, as I have 
> heard coaches say on  this line is that the debater and what is best for 
> them should be the number one concern.

I hear a form of this argument a lot in response to a number of 
issues, and I think it is both circular reasoning and a strawfigure.  
Of course "debate is for debaters" and the "community is the 
debaters."  But this begs the question.  Virtually every 
controversial issue in intercollegiate debate has passionate 
advocates on both sides who care deeply about debaters and what is 
best for them.  I think most of those reacting to what they perceive 
as abusive transfers are also concerned about the "community."  They 
worry about the debaters left behind who may have missed development 
because resources were spent on the student who has now transferred.  
They worry about the debaters who will now never get a chance to 
debate because the program went belly-up after the administration got 
sick of spending thousands of dollars a year to provide a "feeder" 
school for other programs.  They worry about debaters enticed away by 
delusions of grandeur which are never fulfilled.  ALL of these 
debaters are part of the "community of debaters" as well.  There are 
good arguments on both sides of the transfer issue, as well as other 
issues.  Let's stick to those arguments, not appeals to who likes 
debaters best.

> Since so many of the coaches act in their own interests, why 
> should not the debaters?
>

I have long contended that a coach leaving should be acceptable 
reason for transfer.  By the way, I think the NCAA should allow this 
as well.

Terry West
Southern Utah

 > Tony King
> currently at moorpark college
>
Archive created by Jonathan Stanton (jonathan@cs.jhu.edu)
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