B-10
Friday, October 23, 1970
University Daily Kansan
Kansan Photos by MARILYN McMULLEN
An Informal Practice Round Helps Correct Flaws in Discussing a New Case
By MELISSA BERG And STEVE SHERMAN
And STEVE SHERMAN
Kansan Reviewers
The figures are impressive. The 1969-1970 University o Kansas debate squad complete the most successful season of the decade, winning over 75 awards and tournaments held in 16 states.
For the twentieth time in 24 years, KU earned an invitation to the National Debate Tournament, a record unequalled by school and produced the first and third place teams in the nation.
... coaches take informal, relaxed approach to debate instruction
With this previous record of success in mind, the 1970-1971 squad has already shown its potential to win a national winning tradition. Ten debaters brought home honors from the first weekend of the KU debate. The team won all three of the first place Western Swing Award for the outstanding team at the University of Wyoming and the University of Colorado tournaments.
In order to select a national tour, college submits suggestions to the selection committee who then narrow the number to five. The final selection is voted on by all college coaches in the country, each school
But the facts and figures are only a surface representation of what is happening. basic ingredients of their winning record: a successful working relationship between coaches and players, and a dedication on the part of the group.
The topic is always very current, and "Since we are facing economic times, I talk to people very appropriate," Parson said.
He noted that national debate topics often result in results. An example is the 1989 topic, "Resolved: that the federal government should share a budget of revenues with the states." Since then, President Nixon has come to believe that a proposal along the same lines.
"Squad members miss 30 or more hours per year, but usually instructive. Cooperative in allowing them to miss classes and make up work," he said.
"The real pressure of school work comes when you are working on a case instead of the big one," Bartelli, Pittock junior, said. "It's hard to explain to a teacher that you don't have an assignment done because you stay uped at the night working on a case."
Funds to transport the team to tournaments are obtained from the city council and from administrative allocations. They are apportioned by tournament sponsors.
The coaches decide who will attend each tournament, Parson explained. Debaters are matched
John Parson, associate professor of museums and director of forensics said that he and his four graduate assistants, Bob Emry, John Lester, Dan Crary, and Dan Crary, take a relaxed informal approach in their work.
Miss Bartell said that she debates because it allows her to make a case for it, "to fulfill the competitive urge that is required by nature," it says. "I was able to defend it."
Some debaters said they felt they were type-cast as overly super-intellectuals by most people. "Most people don't believe that we are just plain and ordinary people," said Miss
Masterson said he feels that people who have some knowledge of debate look at things in a different light.
"They view debaters with respect. They see us as kids who don't receive money or much recognition, and yet they spend as much time on their activity than others who get monetary rewards."
"Lack of support is evident in the situation," said the team. "There are no scholarships for debaters at KU. Alumni give priorities to other things such as
This weekend, debaters will be competing at the Emporia State Tournament, which they consider the best team in the country for this time of the year.
"The coaches are friendly people," Bill Russell, Omaha sophomore, said. "They don't benefit on you. They make it fun."
"I see myself competing as a basketball player, or a football or basketball player, Russell said. "I don't mind not getting the support, but I do mind it."
"I imagine that we'll come away from this tournament pretty scared. That will be all though because then we'll know what haven't covered and what we have to compete with," she said.
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However, the most beneficial criticism is given outsideSEC counselors and debaters just come by for a "brainstorm session." Harrall
In a typical practice session, Person and his assistants can be found at the hall listening to the debaters' arguments and criticizing their
The debaters also meet as a class once a week. During this time those who have been at school discuss the validity of arguments they heard from other schools. The then students tournament ballots, note criticisms, make changes in their cases.
This year, the government is delivering information in the form of question. Resolved: That the federal government should instill a program of wage and prctice education.
Informality is also evident in the practice debate sessions which are held two or three times a week, and scheduled at convenient times for the debaters and serve as trial teams preparing for tournament.
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‘In Debate We Share Everything’
... including criticism of each other’s techniques
When the year's debate topic is announced, usually in August, the group must announce the day of the summers, a three-week session is held in which debaters research their topic. Every possible source is covered, from online articles in newspaper articles, John Hawkins Church, Vaishnoi said.
Once the tournament schedule starts, nerves become tense. Masterson described the exasperating experience as "a good way to get ulcers." "The debater has to listen constantly to his opponents and take part in the game of the same time he must also be formulating his own argument, ferreting out inconsistencies in his defense, searching for invalid logic."
When a day's debate rounds are over, the squad must prepare itself. The team will meet the next day's debate, said that nightly bull sessions were useful for trading in daylight hours they have heard during the day.
In addition to the difficulties of the debate itself, there are other problems that face every debater.
with tournaments according to
their preferences.
To go is left up to each debate.
There are enough tournaments to
go around for everyone, he ad-
dicts.
There are always certain teams that debates "gun" for at least three years, teams in the nation. Among these are Georgetown, Dartmouth, UCLA, USC, Stanford, Norfolk State and the University of Houston.
Many of these schools host some of the top tournaments in the nation. Three Kansas schools: Emporia, Pittsburgh and St. Louis, all have investments that are considered to be among the best in the country.
Susan Goering Researches the Topic
... this year, it's wage and price control
"It not until afterward that you think about the consequences. Then you shake for some reason, and you could have gone wrong, Robert Prentice, Turon senior said. Preston and Dan Beck, Mission senior, brought back the third game last year's national tournament.
The United States is unwor-
into eight regions for the debate
scheduling process. A power
matching system is used, in
which each region has a stable
strength from each region
are pitted against one another.
KU's Heart of America is held in March of each year.
The culmination of this year's national National Basketball Tournament, to be held at Macalester College in the state capital, will bring together the best baskets in the country who compete for the title of the top debate team.
"Everyone meets eight teams," Parson explained, "one from each region to create geographical balance."
Of the 30 members on this
ship, only four are returning
members from last year. Only one-third of them are
returning from journalism, history, political
science, Greek classics, public
administration, English and
Spanish.
Masterson instructed the squad as similar to a fraternity. "So many people, especially in a large school, have close relations with people other than their roommates," he said. "In debate we share everything, there is an 'esprit de corps', and I think it's important why people stay in debate."
Parson noted that debate experience has a practical application in later careers. A poll by the American Forensics Association asked half of U.S. Congressmen and senators were debaters, he said.
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