31 January 2006
31 January 2006 | News from Vermont Debate AKA The Voice of Edwin is the weekly newsletter of the Edwin Lawrence Debate Union at the University of Vermont, an endowed co-curricular program which trains students in debating and sponsors national competition and community events. The newsletter is published every Tuesday during the school year and infrequently at other times. Alfred C. Snider is the Director. 802-656-0097 voice, 802-238-8345 mobile, 802-656-4275 fax, alfred.snider@uvm.edu email, and http://debate.uvm.edu/ldu.html web site. To unsubscribe from the email version of the newsletter go to http://list.uvm.edu/archives/topicnews.html . |
| Some of the award winners: Ethan Backus, Nick Landsman-Roos. Leslie Keller,
Mike McMahan |
While
the team showing at Bard was strong this weekend there were soft spots
and performances did not always meet expectations. Three of the eight teams
in varsity quarterfinals were from UVM, but two went out in quarters and
the other went out in semis. It was a time of close decisions that caused
disappointment, especially for Nick Landsman-Roos and Jason Hitchcock losing
2-1 in quarters to Binghamton and Mike McMahan and Ethan Nelson losing
2-1 to West Point in semis. Leslie Keller and Megan harlow had a "break
out" tournament, as the two jv debaters were 4-2 and did not have to debate
in octafinals, receiving a bye into quarterfinals. In quarters they met
Mike and Ethan who advanced because of their superior record. Ethan Nelson
was the top speaker in varsity while Mike McMahan was second, showing extreme
promise and accomplishment for their new "talk slow, read no evidence" strategy.
Ethan also was top speaker AND played his ukulele in each and every debate
while singing songs he and Mike had written. Other varsity teams were not
pleased with their performances, even though all of them are jv debaters
in the open division. Stephanie Kimerer and Brady Fletcher were 2-4, Sumeet
Sharma and Jeffrey Wilson were 2-4, and Shane Clark and Chase Whiting were
1-5.
"We had hoped to clear 4-5 teams in varsity and close out the tournament," said coach Snider, "but we will have to roll it up and try again at Binghamton."
The lone award in the other two divisions was for Ethan Backus, who was the fifth speaker in novice debate even though it was his second tournament ever. Ethan and Dave Bates were 2-4, and Alex Thibault and Justin Brown were 1-5. In the jv division Julia Benjamin was very helpful in agreeing to debate with promising novice Danielle Goldschneider who was at her second tournament.
Conclusions at the squad meeting were that individuals could have and need to perform better while younger debaters agreed that the answer to improving their record is to do more preparation.
In
cooperation with the UVM Development Office the LDU has begun a major fundraising
campaign to provide sufficient funds for the larger squad and secure funding
far into the future. Thanks to alums Chuck Morton and Aaron Fishbone for
their help, and also to current debater Leslie Keller. A larger database
of alumni is being assembled and an integrated plan is already working.
The theme is to salute coaches past and present, with the target being
the 25th year since Robert Huber retired and the 25th year since coach
Snider arrived. The salute involves helping students now and increasing
the endowment created by Edwin Lawrence.
The two parts of the program are now active and deserve your attention:
First, there simply just are not enough funds to complete the year. This year the LDU has the largest debate team in America according to debateresults.com, with 43 active debaters who have attended tournaments. Costs have continued to go up and the endowment has been fairly flat from last year to this year. The performance of the squad indicates that the LDU will probably qualify two teams for the National Debate Tournament, the most expensive debate event on the schedule, to be held in Chicago. Likewise, there are many teams deserving of going to CEDA Nationals in Dallas. The time of purchase for airplane tickets is drawing closer. Funds will run out before these events are paid for. The Student Government Association has refused to offer supplemental funding. A target amount of $5000-$8000 is being sought. This would make sure both nationals take place as well as the remaining tournaments on the schedule, including JV/Novice Nationals at West Virginia.
Donations are tax deductible and very welcome. Please make checks payable to "UVM Debate." You can mail them to Lawrence Debate Union, 475 Main Street, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405. Gifts can now be made online at https://alumni.uvm.edu/giving/support.asp , but please make sure to designate your gift for "Debate."
Second, a major mailing is about to go out to all alumni and supporters. It will also be sent as an email message to everyone we have email addresses for. One important goal of this effort is to build up our list of names. Alums should send us the names of those they remember being on the team with them so that we can locate them and join them in the effort, as well as making it easier for old teammates to contact each other. This will allow us to add these people to the newsletter list as well as make them aware of what the LDU is doing now and what our needs are. This effort should lead to targeted solicitations, events to be held in major cities with alumni concentrations, and more personal conversations. The goal here is, of course, to meet immediate financial needs, but also to begin the process of building up the endowment for a secure future.
We will keep you
posted about our progress. Thanks for the check last week we received from
Jacob Ricker-Gilbert. Every donation helps!
The
LDU has a large contingent going to Binghamton University the weekend
after this. Cost-cutting is foremost on our minds but winning all three
divisions is every bit as important.
Open: Kimerer-Fletcher, Whiting-Clark, Keller-Harlow, Hitchcock-Landsman-Roos,
McMahan-Nelson, Sharma-Wilson. JV: Jokajtys-Lavallee. Novice: Goldschneider-Laleman,
Backus-Brown. Coaches/Judges: J. Morgan Parmett, Snider, Skrt, Kern,
Reimer, and more are needed.
<===
World traveling debate trainer Loke Wing Fatt with his family
The Lawrence Debate Union and the World Debate Institute have formed a working partnership to spread debate with one of the world's most dynamic debate outreach organizations, the Society of Associated Intertertiary Debaters, based in Singapore and directed by Loke Wing Fatt. Loke and Vermont debate first met each other at the World Debate Institute-Asia training program held in Korea last August. It was obvious that the two groups shared a mission (debate outreach) and an energy that would work well together. Loke later came to the International Debate Academy Slovenia sponsored by WDI and European partner ZIP (Slovenia). It became clearer then that the two groups have much to teach each other. Exchange visits are now being planned, with Loke coming to Vermont for the summer 2006 World Debate Institute, and LDU Director Snider going to Singapore in late 2006 or summer 2007 to work on debate across the curriculum with Singaporean teachers.
Countries that are deeply divided along political and ideological grounds desperately need debate. Two such countries are the USA and Venezuela. Already working with Venezuelan debate group Fundalieres, UVM was contacted by Rita Moncada of Venezuela who is working to promote debate at a citizen level. They are planning a workshop for the end of February and needed curricular advice and help in selecting trainers. A curriculum was produced and agreed on, and it was arranged for Chilean trainer Alvaro Ferrer who has attended WDI to go to Caracas to direct the workshop under the sponsorship of Germany's Konrad Adenauer Institute. Additional funds to bring Spanish-speaking trainers from the USA through the US Agency for International Development did not come through, so the size of the workshop had to b cut back. Rita reports that more workshops will be held and that UVM will be involved in planning them.
| SEMESTER ONE Record Placed | SEMESTER TWO |
10/1-2 BUFFALO 32-36 1-3-5 |
1/3-5 NORTH
TEXAS 12-18 |
Watch Flashpoint
from your computer screen whenever you want! You will need RealPlayer installed
on your computer to become a part of our growing audience. Here are some
recent programs now available at http://debate.uvm.edu/flashpoint.html.
Watch on Burlington Channel 15 Wednesday 12:30 PM, Thursday 10 PM, Saturday
1 PM.
Next taping: February 4, Sat., meet at 2 PM. Topics: LDU fundraising, and TBA.
Fletcher, Brown, Jokajtys, Kimerer.
Zoe Anderson is the topic and program coordinator.
NOTES FROM MONDAY NIGHT'S 6 PM MEETING:
EVERYONE WHO WENT TO BARD NEEDS TO SIGN THE FOOD MONEY LIST POSTED IN THE OFFICE.
POTLUCK DINNER SWCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE MORGAN PARMETT HOMESTEAD.
NEW SWEATSHIRT/PANTS ORDER GOING IN. EMAIL TUNA WITH YOUR ORDER.
WE NEED TO SET A DATE FOR THE BANQUET -- APRIL 15 OR 29 WOULD BE BEST.
RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS: READ NEW FILES & ORGANIZE, NEW ASSIGNMENTS NEXT WEEK.
PLEASE GET ALL EVIDENCE TUBS OFF THE BACK PORCH AND THE SEMINAR ROOM AND INTO THE BASEMENT.
NEW WIRELESS BEING INSTALLED IN THE OFFICE
NEW COMPUTERS IN THE OFFICE, NEW DATA JACKS SOON.
WORK STUDY POSITIONS: CHASE IS EVIDENCE, JULIA IS MIDDLE SCHOOL, LESLIE IS FUNDRAISING, STEFFI IS EVIDENCE ARCHIVING, BUT ALL SHOULD HELP CHASE PRINT THE EVIDENCE.
THE PC IN THE OFFICE IS ONLY FOR EVIDENCE ARCHIVING. PLEASE USE MACS OTHERWISE.
TO JOIN THE LDU DEBATER LISTSERV GO TO http://list.uvm.edu/archives/debater.html
LDU Director
Snider had a wonderful lunch on Wed, February 1 with Gale Lawrence, granddaughter
of Edwin Lawrence, our great benefactor. It was at the Waterman manor
and was also attended by Arts & Sciences Dean Ellie Miller and Becky
Arnold from Development. Gale had some great pictures
and stories of "Daddy Edwin" and we will be sharing those in the weeks
to come.
SQUAD
MEETS AT 6 PM EACH MONDAY NIGHT, 475 MAIN STREET, ALL WELCOME!2004-2005 NOVICE DEBATE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONS
2004-2005 JV DEBATE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
UVM DEBATE WAS #6 IN THE CEDA NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES FOR 2004-2005
UVM DEBATE WAS #18 IN THE CEDA NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES FOR 2003-2004
UVM DEBATE WAS #10 IN THE CEDA NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES FOR 2002-2003
OUR RECORD |
WINS |
LOSSES |
PERCENTAGE |
PREVIOUSLY |
156 |
178 |
47.8 |
Bard
College |
24 |
34 |
|
TOTAL |
180 |
212 |
45.9% |
2004-2005 RECORD |
323 |
328 |
49.6% |
2003-2004 RECORD |
315 |
374 |
45.7% |
2002-2003 RECORD |
334 |
384 |
46.5% |
HUBER HOUSE!