national qualification

[WHALEN_ST@Mercer.PeachNet.Edu]

I thought I'd take a moment to respond to Travis' thoughts on nationals 
qualification.  We have spent countless hours in NDT arguing about this 
double edged sword.  Standards make the tournament a special place to be 
invited, but they also can keep some students from having a year 
culminating experience.  This is especially important as many students 
attend nationals to gauge their progree (last year we were 3-5 this 
year we were 4-4 etc.)

Having seen the injustices done to excellent debaters at CEDA Nationals 
in years past (some more painful than others), I have long been an 
advocate of basic qualifications as Travis suggested.  But the Mahoney 
proposal seems to me to capture the best of both worlds for me and would 
illiminate the need for CEDA National qualifications.  After debating 
NDT all year we crossed over for CEDA nationals this year and I was 
reminded of the whole community feeling that one gets at that 
tournament.  I would like to see CEDA and NDT debate the same or similar 
topics and see if the NDT can serve the values of competitive selection 
while the CEDA National tournament could serve to bring everyone 
together at the end of the year.

Winning either tournament in that case would be a significant 
accomplishment and those who didn't qualify for the NDT would still have 
a national tournament to end their year.

Shawn Whalen
Mercer
Date sent:  26-MAY-1994 14:55:34

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