An Introduction to the Next Half Century
By Brett M. O'Donnell, Liberty University and 51st NDT Host

* As we embark on our journey from the past fifty years to the next fifty years, I thought it might be interesting for our community to pause and contemplate the future. Wake Forest and Allen Louden did an outstanding job of celebrating the past. Our intention is to celebrate the promise of many bright tomorrows for the National Debate Tournament, its participants, and the activity of intercollegiate debate. I asked several of my colleagues to predict what the future holds for both our tournament and debate I general and to identify issues that are important for our community to consider as we turn this important "corner." The issues they discuss are as diverse as the authors themselves, but one common theme emerges from them all; though our activity is faced with difficulties, its benefits remain as significant now as at the first National Debate Tournament and continue to justify debate's and the NDT's enduring place in the academy. It is how we address the identified difficulties that will determine the ability of our community to continue to pass these benefits on to those who matter most, our students. I hope this section of the tournament booklet will serve to magnify discussions about our strengths and weaknesses among all of the participants in debate so that we can remain a viable educational and competitive activity for the next fifty years and beyond.