Topic Committee Report

[Ccrensh@ccom.ua.edu]

Dear Community,

I am happy to report a very productive topic committee meeting.  I 
would like to express my thanks to all of the members of the topic 
committee: Jenny Barker, Gina Lane, Tuna Snider, Russ Church, Greg 
Simerly, David Hingstman, and Scott Jensen.  I would also like to 
thank Mike Krueger, Glenn Frappier and Eric Slusher who took time out 
of their summer to come to the meeting and give us their input.  
Along those same lines, thank you to all of you who took the time to 
give us your feedback via the list serves.  It was extremely helpful. 
 We spent all thursday and friday mornings reading and discussing 
your posts.  An especially big thank you goes to Gary Larson who was 
our kind and gracious host.

We are making one final check with a grammarian about the list phrase 
one or more of the following Southeast Asian nations: (list of 
countries).  Once that is done, we will forward the final topics to 
our executive secretary to place on the ballot.  The topics are as 
follows (absent any potential changes after the grammarian's advice):

Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should 
substantially change its trade and/or aid policies to increase 
protection of human rights in one or more of the following Southeast 
Asian nations: Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, 
Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should 
substantially increase its security assistance to one or more of the 
following Southeast Asian nations: Brunei Darussalam, Myanmar 
(Burma), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, 
Thailand, Vietnam.

Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should 
substantially change its development assistance policies toward one 
or more ASEAN member nations in one or more of the following areas: 
poverty alleviation, environmental protection, counter narcotics 
assistance.

Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should 
substantially change its non-military foreign policy toward one or 
more of the following Southeast Asian nations: Brunei Darussalam, 
Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, 
Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam.

Resolved: that the Association of Southeast Asian Nations should 
promote substantial reforms among its member nations in one or more 
of the following areas: environmental protection, regional security, 
trade.

We also discussed our recommended changes to the topic committee 
process and have developed a few amendments to improve the process.  
I invite your comments and suggestions on the following:

1. Proposed constitutional amendment to add a second student member 
to the topic committee:

In Article IV, Section 11B3, change "one representative" to "two 
representatives."

2. Proposed by-law amendment to add a second studnet member to the 
topic committee:

In by-law IV, section 1, line 3, change "seven" to "ten."
In by-law IV, section 1, line 4, change "three" to "five."
Insert after period in by law IV, section 1, line 4, "Two of the 
at-large members must be students."
In by-law IV, section1, lines 4 & 5, insert "of non-student members" 
after "nominations" and before "will."
Insert at the end of section 1: "In the case of a tie, the topic 
committee chair shall not vote."
In by-law IV, section 1, line 8, change "latter three" to "three 
non-student."

Rationale for 1 & 2:
Adding another student member to the topic committee increases 
student representation in our organziation regarding a crucial 
organizational decision.  Our treasurer says we can afford it.

3. Proposal for clarifying topic committee membership:

Proposed by-law amendment:

In by-law IV, section 1, line 3, change "four" to "five."
IN by-law IV, section 1, line 4, after the second period, insert "The 
executive officers will assume their topic committeee duties for the 
subsequent year beginning at the national tournament."
IN by-law IV, section 1, line 6, strike "nominees will be accepted 
only from regions unrepresented by teh executive officers already 
serving on the committee.  The top elected at-large members from 
three separate regions will serve."

Rationale for 3:
This amendment clarifies some arcane language int he constitution 
based on other organizational arrangements that have changed.  This 
amendment accounts for the fact that the executive secretary and 
treasurer office have been split.  It also ensures that hte regional 
requirement will not interfere with the need to expand the membership 
of the committee.  Experience shows that the ten members of the 
committee already represent geographically diverse constitutents.  It 
also clarifies the topic committee membership change over date.

If 2 & 3 are adopted, by-law IV, section 1 will read as follows:

The CEDA topic selection committee will be reponsible for choosing 
problem areas and writing debate topics.  The CEDA topic selection 
committee will consist of ten members.  Five members will be 
executive officers.  The executive officers will assume their topic 
committee duties for the subsequent year beginning at the national 
tournament.  The reamaining five at-large members will be drawn from 
a national pool.  Two of the at-large members must be students.  Open 
nomination of non-student representatives will be three years and to 
provide for overlap one will be elected each year.  INt he case of a 
tie, the topic committee chair shall not vote.

4. Proposal for voluntary narrower topic for novice division.

Proposed by-law amendment:

In by-law IV, at the end of section2, add "The topic committee will 

construct a narrower version of hte topic for use in the novice 
division.  Either the winning topic or the novice topic may be used 
in novice competition for the entire debate season.  Students 
competing in novice divisions using the voluntary novice topic will 
be eligible to earn sweepstakes points.  The novice topic will be 
announced within two weeks of the relaease date of the winning topic.

Rational for 4:

Providing a narrower version of the topic for the novice division for 
voluntary use by tournament directors will promote novice 
participation and assist pedagogical efforts to recruit students wiht 
no previous debate experience.  Since it is voluntary, it will serve 
the needs of certain members if they so desire.  Those who do not 
wish to use the narrower novice topic do not have to do so.

I would appreciate any feedback y'all might have regarding these 
suggested changes.  I plan on submitting them soon.  Thanks so much.

Best,

Carrie

Carrie Crenshaw, Ph.D.
University of Alabama
Topic Committee Chair

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