[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next]
[Date Index] [Thread Index] [Author Index]
Return to main CEDA-L Archive Page

END SUMMER TOPIC VOTING - A by-law amendment

Alfred C. Snider, University of Vermont

At the CEDA Meeting in Tennessee I made a proposal to amend the by-laws to
eliminate topic voting during the summer. It was passed by the Executive
Committee by a 2/3rds margin and thus will go to a vote of the membership.

This is the last bit of topic reform business that I have to offer at this
time. I also think it should be the least controversial.

This proposal calls for the "Topic Area Vote" to be completed by early
February and for the "Topic Vote" to be completed by mid-May. IT DOES NOT
change the release date of the topic.

This means that we will no longer choose topics over the summer. We will
finish voting by May 15, and the results will remain sealed until August 15.

Summer topic voting has some problems which we should try to avoid. 
* First, I think that summer voting disenfranchises students. Their input is
more difficult to get when they are away from campus and working for the
summer. They are not on-line or with other debaters in many instances. 
* Second, I think that summer voting makes participation by coaches more
difficult. Coaching the debate team need not be a 12-month commitment,
although for many of us it is. Many coaches travel and engage in other
projects over the summer. 
* Third, I think this amendment gives us some downtime, a period of time when
there is NOTHING going on. 
* Fourth, this amendment might save the organization money in expenses for
flying people to topic committee meetings and reimbursing other travel
expenses.

There will still be plenty of time to discuss and debate about the topic
choices. The process will last all during the school year, and there will be
a good six weeks between nationals and the end of school to hash out the
issues.

Arguments like "we won't be able to deal with fast breaking issues" are not
unique because we already have adopted a year-long topic process.

I trust the Executive Secretary to not count the votes or leak the results. 

I urge you to vote YES on this motion, to complete the Topic Area Vote by
early February and the Topic Vote by mid-May.

==========

1997-98 TOPIC SELECTION SCHEDULE

If this motion passes, here is the way it will work. I think this system will
vastly improve our process. This year was particularly difficult because of
our August 15 topic release. Next year we will have lots of time to consider
these issues.

JULY - Solicit Topic Papers for 97-98
NOVEMBER - Receive Topic Papers to review. Circulate them.
SCA LATE-NOVEMBER - Topic Committee will select Topic Areas for ballot.
DECEMBER - Release Topic Areas as early as possible.
FEBRUARY - Topic Area Vote completed early in the month and announced.
FEBRUARY - Wording Papers solicited for winning Topic Area.
MARCH - Topic Committee meets to select topics for ballot.
CEDA NATIONALS - Topic Ballot announced.
MAY 15 - Topic Vote completed, no results announced.
AUGUST 15 - Topic for 1997-98 announced.


PS: I love the way I am calling for a summer vote to end summer topic voting.
Archive created by Jonathan Stanton (jonathan@cs.jhu.edu)
Return to main CEDA-L Archive Page