9 September 2003

LDU PREPS FOR SEASON OPENER

Before the debates begin, a whole lot of research and briefing!


| LDU evidence starter set -- we are far beyond this now! |

This time of the year is particularly hectic around Huber Hall (475 Main Street). The topic is broad, the strategies of our opponents are as unknown as possible and as varied as our imaginations. The possible sources of evidence are as broad as the knowledge base of humanity, and the tasks facing researchers are never ending. There is always more to read, more to organize, and more to integrate into our arguments. The fact that the LDU has many internet-connected computers, a dedicated laser printer, and a new copier expand even these possibilities. Returning debaters and coaches have taken up the challenge and the LDU grunts ahead in its research and preparation effort.

Because of the nature of this year's topic, there are seven different separate subjects within the research parameters, each area quite large. The topic committee decided to create another "list" topic that gives affirmatives choice, and this topic has more choice than any in recent history. The topic itself reads:
The United States Federal Government should enact one or more of the following:
-Withdrawal of its World Trade Organization complaint against the European Union’s restrictions on genetically modified foods
-A substantial increase in its government-to-government economic and/or conflict prevention assistance to Turkey and/or Greece
- Full withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Removal of its barriers to and encouragement of substantial European Union and/or North Atlantic Treaty Organization participation in peacekeeping in Iraq and reconstruction in Iraq
- Removal of its tactical nuclear weapons from Europe
- Harmonization of its intellectual property law with the European Union in the area of human DNA sequences
- Rescission of all or nearly all agriculture subsidy increases in the 2002 Farm Bill.

The LDU has already set its focus for affirmative cases, with two being produced for Georgia State and more on the way after that. Last Sunday there was a huge evidence sort for the affirmative, and the briefing was completed on Monday. Long and intellectually bruising argument strategy meetings have produced a series of "generic" arguments that can apply to a number of topic areas, while each separate topic area has a committee of people assigned to it to produce negative strategy and arguments. The brainstorming sessions turned up far more good ideas than there is time to pursue before the first tournament, so it looks like a year full of creativity and interesting issues. It is hoped that the negative portions of the work can be finished by this weekend so that the teams will have time to absorb and learn the arguments before departing for Atlanta a week from Friday.

At Georgia State (the traditional opening weekend for college policy debate in the USA) the LDU will be represented by two teams: senior Jillian Marty and junior Edwin Owusu are one team, while junior Sheila Limprevil and sophomore Jake Meany are the other. Three coaches will attend to maximize our early-season scouting, including Helen Morgan, Justin Parmett, and Gordie Miller. The rest of the squad will open at the Rochester tournament on October 4-5. 2003.

MEETINGS AND EVENTS THIS WEEK

WED 5 PM NOVICE RECRUITMENT MEETING (TIMM, JAKE, TUNA)
WED 6:30 PM NOVICE TRAINING-OPEN TO ALL (TUNA)
THUR 6 PM AND ON - RESEARCH & BRIEFING FOR ALL
THUR 7 PM NATO MEETING (TUNA, ERIC, NICK, TERESA)
SUNDAY - TBA - MORE NOVICE TRAINING
FRI 4 PM PRACTICE DEBATE MARTY-OWUSU MEANY-LIMPREVIL
SAT 1 PM PRACTICE DEBATE KERN-VARELA HILL-MATES

TRAVEL SCHEDULE 2003-2004

RESEARCH

Research Director is Jillian Marty. Assignments accepted must be completed.

THURSDAY NIGHT RESEARCH AND BRIEFING MEETING
6 PM UNTIL IT IS DONE!
ALL INITIAL ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE DONE BY SATURDAY!
NEW SHORT-TERM RESEARCH ASSIGNMENTS NEXT MONDAY

LDU'S TV SHOW

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.

Last taping last Saturday (Dean Phenomenon & Occupation of Iraq, with Snider, Hill, Mates, Lockwood).
We need topics for our next taping.

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

ALWAYS CALL IT HUBER HALL!