COLLEGE LD THE NEXT STEP? by Jason Gordon

When the National Forensics League and Paul Bellus at the University of Iowa was offended that these same individuals pioneered Lincoln Douglas debate in the recognized these experiences I had, and ap- would host LD at their tournaments for high early 80’s, no one had any idea that it would proached me when I came to Iowa. school, but not be willing to put their money be as successful as it is today. Lincoln Coming to Iowa, I realized that I could where their mouth is. Douglas debate is offered at many schools only debate NDT, because that was the ac- At this point, I want to commend Dr. around the nation, and is debated at the tivity offered by the program. Dr. Dave, David Hingstman and Paul Bellus for reach- three national tournaments. On local and Paul Slappey and I sat down to dinner one ing out, as Ted Belch did when I was in high national circuits alike, it is paired side by night, and Dr. Dave told us his mission. school. All of them have had very success- side with policy debate. My experience with “Jason, I would like to start an LD program ful policy teams in recent years, and yet they LD has been from the ground up. on the college level, and I want you to help still want to branch out. I thank them for As a freshman at Glenbrook North, I me do it.” I was flattered to be asked to their willingness to explore other forms of knew very little about debate, or the school’s pioneer an activity I love on the collegiate debate. success. LD was virtually non existent level. That being said, there are some stu- when Cheryl Niehaus, then LD coach at GBN After gathering information from stu- dents who wish to participate in college LD approached me to come after school one dents around the country, I have realized without speech clubs at their respective day in November. She introduced me to an there is a need for collegiate LD as it is de- colleges and universities. These individu- activity that she participated in at Isidore bated on the high school level. There exist als must work through their student gov- Newman when she was in high school: value other forms of debate, which appear as feed- ernments to receive funding. Without a debate. At the time, I was uncertain of what ers for high school LDers, none of which budget, it becomes hard for these individu- debate was, but I decided to take part in the come close to LD debate. However, I found als to travel. Learning how to request fund- new activity. After a few tournaments, I that most LDers stop debating after high ing from student governments may be the decided LD was very fitting, and I contin- school. It’s not that they don’t want to de- largest bit of red tape some debaters face. ued to work at it. bate (though this might be the case for a When they go at it alone, this burden would As spring neared, I was told that I few) but that they don’t have an activity deter a great number of individuals from try- could go to debate camp. Debate camp? which is similar to the one in which they ing to travel. They have camps for debate? That sum- participated in high school. The second challenge is convincing mer, I attended the Summer Institute in Fo- That spring, we hosted the first Baird existing programs to open their arms to new rensics at the University of Iowa. I was Collegiate LD Round Robin, with Michelin debate. As noted from the unnamed amazed to see how much I had to learn. I Massey from the University of Colorado- coaches response above, some programs came back excited to participate, and called Boulder defeating Jowei Chen from Yale on may feel LD is not something they want to Cheryl as soon as I got back. Ted Belch, a 2-1 decision, with Professors Nelson and pursue. I ask them why? I have yet to get a head coach at GBN recognized that I was Farrell on top, and Professor Slappey in dis- sufficient response. I will admit that some serious to take this program to new levels. sent. While this tournament was a large programs fear my attempts to start college He asked me if I would be interested in trav- step toward a national program, it also shed LD, as they feel it will take away students eling with the policy team, and as a sopho- some light on the challenges that the activ- from their existing infrastructure, but I ar- more, I began going to national circuit tour- ity faces as we move forward. gue that this activity will bring new kids to naments. The first challenge is funding. Some the program, not steal theirs. [Regardless, I Four years later, I got word that the students need to be able to go to their exist- cannot comprehend why so many are scared first LD debater from GBN was invited to ing speech clubs in college and ask for of a new program. Maybe it’s because they the MBA Round Robin. To imagine that a money to participate in college LD. This don’t want to spend the money on it, but I program that started from nothing is enjoy- becomes troublesome. While some organi- am offended at such a response] I should ing some success today is unfathomable. zations are small and tight for money, I have note that some of the participants at our My experiences working with Ted, Cheryl, found others that are too selfish to give it round robin paid for it out of their own and new coach Fred Noyes were amazing. up their existing funds. I spoke with an ex pocket. Though my success as a debater was lim- LDer now on one of the largest NDT team The third challenge is forming a na- ited, I learned how to build a program from in the country, and asked her if her coach tional organization. After this is accom- nothing. I attribute the success of the ac- was interested in traveling debaters to our plished, we see many other challenges be- tivity at GBN to Ted. His willingness to try tournament. The coach said she could not coming easier. Membership to a national new things, and take risks make the LD pro- justify the expense, because she felt the organization could allow students to form gram what it is today. Dr. David Hingstman money would be better spent on NDT. I local chapters and request funding. Fur- thermore, regional contests could attract very important in cross ex, and are unique Critical thinking serves an important func- students who cannot travel far. Finally, the to LD debate. Unlike collegiate parliamen- tion in the fields of academics, business, activity could be held at tournaments side tary debate, collegiate LD forces individu- law, medicine, and many other professional by side with NDT, as Policy and LD are on als to make quick decisions about which fields. My point here is simple, continuing the high school circuit. arguments to emphasize in rebuttals, time to think this way, through debate, will allow At this point, some questions still re- allocation, word economy, and flow cover- success in both undergraduate, and post main. First, why not participate in parlia- age. Finally, LD provides a unique activity undergraduate experiences. mentary debate, instead of Lincoln Dou- that discusses issues of value. The devel- Ultimately, it is each student’s deci- glas? The answer to this question is rooted opment of a value premise, criteria and ar- sion to debate in a post high school atmo- in the fundamentals of Lincoln Douglas guments that circulate around a central the- sphere. My argument is simple. Despite debate. LD is a unique activity that encour- sis are all distinctive to LD. the initial hurdles that the activity faces, a ages careful preparation. LD requires ex- The second question that many are greater benefit exists to the student, both in tensive research on a topic, and careful asking is why participate in Collegiate LD academics, and as an alternative to parlia- preparation. I am finding more frequently, at all, instead of focusing more on academ- mentary debate. Collegiate LD serves that high school debaters who do exten- ics. My response is that LD has a close unique functions in the fields of research, sive research are those with well-developed relationship with academic research, writ- critical thinking skills, and breadth of knowl- arguments. Students moving away from the ing and learning in the humanities and so- edge that students would not be exposed stock evidence towards quality literature are cial sciences. Specifically, topics including to otherwise. those debaters who are in the later elimina- philosophy, political science, political tion debates. Further, with the changing of theory, communication studies, journalism, (Jason Gordon is a double major in politi- topics on a frequent basis, LD debaters gain fine arts, history and sociology. Students cal science and economics in the honors a greater depth of knowledge on different who debate are exposed to core issues in all program at the University of Iowa. Jason current issues. of these fields. As noted above, LD forces is a member of the A. Craig Baird Debate Lincoln Douglas debate also allows students to research extensively. Not just Forum at the University. Each spring, Ja- individuals to participate in an activity the ability to research effectively, but the son hosts the Iowa Juniors Round Robin. which individuals can make quick decisions topics being researched for debate directly The top 28 sophomores and juniors are on their toes. Unlike policy, or parliamen- permeate the issues being discussed in the invited each year to participate in the tour- tary debate, judges and debaters hold class. Ultimately, the more informed stu- nament. Outside of debate, Jason partici- unique weight to the cross-examination pe- dent is the student who writes the better pates in Dance Marathon, Phi Alpha Delta riod. Conceding arguments, trapping op- papers, and essays on exams. Pre Law Fraternity, student government, ponents, and setting up responses become Collegiate Lincoln Douglas, similar to local politics, and is an avid Hawkeye fan.) NDT, forces students to think a certain way.