To see the color photo version go to http://debate.uvm.edu/vofelist.html and select the latest newsletter.

11 April 2006

END OF AN ERA
Justin & Helen Morgan Parmett Moving On, Leaving Rich Legacy

| Justin Morgan Parmett, Helen Morgan Parmett, Alfred Snider at Huber House |

It has happened before and it will probably happen again. Coaching positions at the University of Vermont are exciting and productive, but they probably are not what entire careers are made of. Most of the coaches have been extremely overqualified and very underpaid. Many of them have gone on to exciting opportunities in debate, academia, the professions and business. This will also be true of the extremely talented pair of coaches that will be moving on, Helen and Justin Morgan Parmett. Having announced resignations at the conclusion of this semester in a letter from January 2006, the full impact of their departure began to take hold at CEDA nationals in Dallas when it became clear that they were attending their last tournament as the coaches for the University of Vermont.

They leave a remarkable legacy of achievement and accomplishment. They have been a strong force for offering the magic of debate to new students, even if it takes extra time and energy. With both patience and enthusiasm they have brought debate to a while generation of Vermont debaters (we think of four years as a generation) at a level unprecedented in Lawrence Debate Union history. When they arrived as coaches in the summer of 2002 here is what the 28 May 2002 Voice of Edwin had to say about Helen, then Helen Morgan:
"The LDU announced its coaching staff for 2002-2003. Jackie Massey's position as lecturer and coach will be filled by Helen Morgan '00, who has just completed her masters degree at the University of Pittsburgh, where she was a star student, teacher, and coach. Helen was twice named All-American while at UVM and qualified for the elimination rounds at both CEDA Nationals and the NDT. She was named "most valuable debater" in spring, 2000. Helen has one of the highest GPAs of any LDU debater and graduated Summa Cum Laude. Her work at the World Debate Institute has been outstanding, and the LDU debaters are very excited to be working with her."
Here is what the Voice of Edwin had to say about Justin, then Justin Parmett:
"Justin Parmett '99 will also be joining the coaching staff. Justin will also be teaching Effective Speaking through Continuing Education. Justin was an outstanding debater for UVM and was named top varsity speaker at the East regional championships in spring, 1999. He has since completed a masters degree at the University of South Carolina where he also served as debate coach. Justin has received the judging award for excellence at Towson University and has been an outstanding faculty member at the World Debate Institute."

The changes for them and for everyone involved in UVM debate have been considerable. They were married, had a beautiful child Nakobe, have switched positions as Justin replaced Helen in the faculty position while Helen took Justin's coaching job, they introduced new courses into the UVM curriculum and they have presided over a bounteous period of debate success. Some of these successes include:
-An average rank of 13 in the national sweepstakes during that period.
-The expansion of the team into the largest policy debate program in the nation.
-The winning of three consecutive junior varsity national championships.
-Two novice national championships and a second place.
-Qualifying two teams for the NDT.
-19 tournament championship first place winners.

The real value they have had for the students and the program goes far beyond winning and losing. They have supported every student in finding their voice in the way they want to, either in traditional debate means or through music or poetry or singing or narratives, and have helped each and every student do this at a high level of achievement. They have promoted tolerance and diversity on the squad and within the national debate community. They have promoted extensive public debate and outreach to the community. They have sponsored numerous students in special for-credit projects to fulfill perceived student needs.

They have also shared their beautiful son, Nakobe, in a way that has helped debaters and others put life into perspective and shown what the really important things in life are, and that they can do it all. At left Nakobe is seen at CEDA Nationals in Dallas (through a window) doing the "pen in the mouth" speaking drill with Leslie Keller before the morning debates. Any prediction of his future is likely to be an underestimate.

Very few alumni have given so much to Vermont debate. As they focus more on personal life and family in the future, we look forward to reporting on them as alumni. But, they will always be more than alumni, they are embodiments of the commitment to access, integrity and excellence that they have made a hallmark of the Lawrence Debate Union during their time here.

No departing coaches are ever "replaced." Someone else comes on to offer what they have to everyone else. This transition will probably be much the same. There is no way to "replace" Helen and Justin.

A nationwide search is now underway to fill the faculty and coaching positions.

ALUMNI -- HELP US EXPAND OUR CONTACT LIST
MAKE THE 21st CENTURY FINANCIALLY SECURE FOR THE LDU

With this year's needs met, the LDU fundraising focus now turns to enhancing the long-term financial viability of the program. The goal is to enhance the endowment so that the program will be financially secure through the 21st century. Many alumni received a mailing in the last two weeks outlining the beginning of our campaign and the reasons for giving. If you did not, please email your mailing address to Tuna at alfred.snider@uvm.edu.
Specific efforts include:
-Collection and expansion of names and addresses to fill out the alumni contact list. PLEASE SEND US A LIST OF PEOPLE YOU REMEMBER AS BEING ON THE TEAM WITH YOU. EVEN IF YOU CANNOT MAKE A CONTRIBUTION YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE IN THIS IMPORTANT WAY.
-Establishment of relationships with debaters from the 1950's and 1960's about the LDU of the 21st Century.
-Creation of giving plans and recognition goals.
-Establishment of a alumni referral service so that former debaters can make contact with their team mates.
-Work to establish a companion endowment for bequests and targeted giving.
-Events to be held in major cities to bring together debate alumni and others.
-Creation of a "Distinguished Alumni Award" to be given to an outstanding alumni each year at the banquet.
"We need to score some big donations to raise another million dollars," said Snider, "and that includes working on planned giving, bequests and more, especially from the debaters of Doc Huber's era, who are now really making their debate experience pay off. They have the ability to give and the Development office at UVM is solidly behind us with all of their expertise. If Jerry Falwell's Liberty University can spend $500,000 a year on debate, we can achieve a goal of $130,000 for UVM."
BUT YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT, GIVE NOW IF YOU CAN! 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 are tax deductible.
Gifts can now be made online at https://alumni.uvm.edu/giving/support.asp , but please make sure to designate your gift for "Debate." Email your pdf receipt to alfred.snider@uvm.edu.
If you would like to talk about a major gift or a bequest you should contact Randy Wilson who is our contact in Development, and you can contact him by phone - Desk: 802/656-4253, Cell: 802/598-3961, Toll Free: 888/458-8691, Fax: 802/656-8678, or by e-mail: randy.wilson@uvm.edu.
We will have a complete list of donors available soon on a new and expanded LDU alumni website.

PUBLIC DEBATE DURING EARTH WEEK
ENVIRONMENTALISM VS. DEEP ECOLOGY

The LDU will hold a major public debate on campus on April 18, 2006 at 8 PM in Lafayette 207 lecture hall. The event will be co-sponsored by the SPEAKS residential group in the Living and Learning Center and many more campus organizations. The debate will feature LDU student debaters as well as two faculty members, including John Erikson and Alfred Snider. Helen and Justin will make vegan cookies. Tuna will make posters. Publicity is something everyone can help with.

Taylor Lalemand is leading the effort but seeks help and advice.

DEBATERS ACTIVE IN LIVABLE WAGE CAMPAIGN
WEEK OF ACTION AND MORE

A number of debaters, including Brady Fletcher and Dave Bates among others, have been involved in the campaign for the university and al of Vermont to offer a wage that people can actually live on. Arguing that full time work should not lead to financial desperation, students have indicted on campus employment that fails to meet this basic standard as well as university contractors who fail to meet it. The Livable Wage Campaign has been going on at UVM for two years already, led by SLAP and another group called Students for Peace & Global Justice. Many campus janitors and food service workers earn around $8 an hour, while Vermont's Joint Fiscal Office calculates that a worker needs to earn at least $12.02 (in 2004 dollars) to make ends meet in Burlington. $12.02 an hour is needed even if the employer offers benefits (there's a separate, higher number calculated for workers who don't receive benefits).

On Tuesday the group will be establishing a tent city on the UVM green (they even received permission) and rumor has it that it will be called "Fogelville" after the UVM president. It is hoped that this will capture the attention of the university and the public. Several rallies and actions are scheduled. On Monday UVM security turned away students protesting a meet with the president that had been cancelled. Previously they had scaled rooftops and had staged a "Dancin' for Justice" action that caught a lot of attention. For a report on this go to http://www.livingwageaction.org/tour_updates_uvm060404.htm

Next week's newsletter will feature reports from the student tent city, rallies, as well as commentary by debaters involved about the events and their feelings about the movement.

FLASHPOINT TELEVISION

Watch Flashpoint from your computer screen whenever you want! You will need RealPlayer and QuickTime 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 Tuesday 12:30 PM, Thursday 10 PM, Saturday 1 PM.
Last taping: #317 Nuclear Iran, #318 Legalize Marijuana? Panelists: Snider, Clark, Anderson, Lockwood, Brown.
Next taping: April 15, Saturday, leave office at 2 PM. Topics to be decided. Panelists: Zoe Anderson, Shane Clark, Matt Jokajtys, Justin Brown, Alfred Snider. Others are welcome.
Zoe Anderson is the topic and program coordinator.

SQUAD MEETS AT 6 PM EACH MONDAY NIGHT, 475 MAIN STREET, ALL WELCOME!

ALWAYS CALL IT HUBER HOUSE!