Minutes of the November 19,1993 National Debate Tournament Committee

The meeting was held at the SCA Convention in Miami Beach, Florida.

Chair Frank Harrison called the meeting to order at 2:35 pm. Dale Herbeck serving as Secretary. Arnie Madsen serving as Parliamentarian.

PRESENT: Gass for District 1, Garrett replaces Backus for District 3, Williams for District 4, Deatherage and Ziegelmueller replace Mancuso and Snowball for District 5, Patterson for District 6, Decker for District 7, Bjork as District 9, Hingstman as Central Representative, Herbeck replaces Grinder as Eastern Representative, Harrison as Southern Representative, Southworth as Western Representative.

MINUTES of the previous meeting were approved without objection.

REPORT ON TOURNAMENT RULES.

Rules of the National Committee are current. Rules of National Tournament are current. Arnie Madsen reported that there is ambiguity regarding the date amendments take effect. Consistent with the charter, Madsen suggested that amendments enacted prior to 15 January should take effect in the same year, while amendments enacted after 15 January should take effect the following year. If enacted, this change would be consistent with the Charter. Bjork moved the Madsen proposal. Seconded. Passed unanimously. Chair Harrison announced this change would take effect immediately.

REPORT OF THE RANKING SECRETARY.

Ranking Secretary Star Muir was not in attendance. In his absence, it was reported that the first of three rankings were distributed at the Wake Forest tournament. The second set of rankings will be distributed at the Northwestern tournament and the final rankings will be distributed after the NDT.

REPORT OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

1993 NDT. Tim Hynes expressed gratitude to Bill Henderson for his exemplary work in hosting the NDT at the University of Northern Iowa.

1994 NDT. Hynes reported that the 1994 will beheld on 17-21 March at the University of Louisville. Fee will be $190 per team. Schools with extra people may purchase meal tickets at the following rates: $50 per person for the basic meal plan, $20 per person for the tournament banquet, or $70 for the meal plan and the banquet. The basic meal plan includes two breakfasts, light lunches, and one light buffet dinner. Louisville will provide an additional lunch during elimination rounds. Fees have been set to include 3.5 people per team (2 debaters, 1.5 judges). Hynes has arranged for a separate Lexis/Nexis room to avoid the noise problems encountered during the reading of the pairings at UNI. Announcements at Louisville will take place in the Student Activity Center, debates will occur in adjacent buildings. Elimination rounds will occur at the Galt House. Rates at the Galt House are $50 for a single, $60 for a double, $70 for three or more, plus an additional tax of 10.25%. There are other events in town during the NDT(North American Truck and Trailer Show and the Kennedy State High School Basketball Tournament), so participants are encouraged to make reservations as soon as possible (502-589-5200). While it may be possible to obtain cheaper lodging elsewhere, Hynes encouraged all participants to stay at the Galt House as the hotel is providing special considerations to the tournament.

1995 NDT. The 1995 NDT will be held at West Georgia College from 31 March through 3 April. Chester Gibson has promised more food, an additional hotel, and $50 or less a night for accommodations.

CHANGES IN THE CHARTER. The Board of Trustees recommended the following changes in Article V of the Charter to bring the language into conformity with past practice:

A/1: Delete "with the approval of the National Committee."

A/2: Delete "with the approval of the National Committee."

A/4. Delete "with no person serving more than two consecutive terms."

B/1/d. Delete "with the approval of the National Committee."

DUES FOR 1994-1995. The Board of Trustees reported that they had created two new membership categories. In additional to the $30 subscription fee, a new "Ranking Membership" will be available for $15 and a "Patron Membership" will be available for $50. A "Rankings Membership" entitles a school to participate in the NDT Rankings but not at the NDT. A "Patron Membership" includes all of the privileges as the traditional subscription, while allowing schools to make a contribution to the NDT. The new fee structure takes effect in academic year 1994-1995.

MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS. 60 schools have paid the subscription fee to date. 111 subscribed to the NDT last year. Lucy Keele, Treasurer of the Board, encouraged Committee members to use their powers of persuasion to encourage subscriptions. The Board of Trustees approved several lifetime awards which will be announced and presented at the 1994 NDT. The Board of Trustees allocated $50 to be used by the NDT Committee to fund a mailing to high schools through the National Forensic League.

DISCUSSION OF THE CHARTER CHANGES. Chairman Harrison invited debate on the proposed changes in the Charter regarding the Board of Trustees. Hearing no discussion, the Chair announced that these items would be submitted to vote by the members of the American Forensic Association at their business meeting. If approved at that meeting, these changes will be submitted to a mail ballot of all AFA members.

REPORT ON THE 1995 NDT.

Bruce Daniels affirmed the substance of the Board of Trustees Report. The Ramada and Days Inn will provide rooms for less than $50. A Lexis/Nexis connection will be arranged. A fax machine will be available. The facilities at West Georgia College remain unchanged, although a new food court has been created.

REPORT OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR. Delayed by the Chair until the Saturday meeting.

REPORT OF THE TOPIC SELECTION REVISION COMMITTEE.

Acting on a request of the NDT Committee made during the 1993 NDT, AFA President Herbeck presented the recommendation for the Topic Selection Revision Committee (John Bart, chair, Amy Fugate, David Hingstman, Steve Mancuso, and George Ziegelmueller) to the Council on Forensic Organizations. Herbeck reported that COFU had no objections to the proposal to change the method of selecting the debate resolution.

Lengthy floor debate followed concerning how to proceed. Some members of the Committee felt that the NDT Committee should subsume topic selection, while others felt that the Policy Debate Caucus would be a more representative body. There was also discussion of who would pay for the topic papers (4 or 5 papers per year, $100 per paper) and other administrative expenses. Moved that the Topic Selection Committee be charged with developing a specific proposal by the Northwestern meeting of the NDT Committee. Seconded. Passed by voice vote.

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON BIDS.

In response to the possibility that there may be less schools applying for the NDT than the number of bids available, a Committee (Scott Deatherage, George Ziegelmueller, and John Katsulas) was charged with devising an alternative. After a meeting at Wake Forest, Ziegelmueller offered the following language for discussion:

"If after the allocation of first round and district bids, the total number of teams indicating interest in attending the NDT is smaller than the number of second round slots, minus those six designated for possible third teams, all remaining first and second teams shall automatically be qualified regardless of seasons record."

This language produced a lengthy exchange on the likelihood that this contingency would develop, the implications of this proposal on the qualification procedure created last year, and the interpretation of the language. It was moved that discussion be delayed until after new language could be prepared by Deatherage and Ziegelmueller.

UNDERGRADUATE JUDGING.

A proposal to change the qualification for judging was circulated prior to the meeting. Southworth moved the change. Seconded. As written, the current rule reads as follows:

III. A. Qualification for Judges. To attain eligibility for judging at the National Tournament a judge:

1. must hold a baccalaureate degree, and:
2. should have judged at least 20 rounds, including four elimination rounds, on the current resolution during the current season.

The proposed alternative would change III.A.1 to read:

1. must hold a baccalaureate degree, or having no remaining eligibility, and;

In defense of allowing undergraduates who had expended their eligibility to judge at the NDT, it was argued that this change would eliminate an unnecessary and burdensome requirement, increase the number of available judges, and benefit smaller programs unable to find qualified judges. In opposition to the motion, it was argued that the change would undermine academic integrity, remove an incentive for timely graduation, and would not significantly increase the number of qualified judges. The original motion was amended with the approval of both the mover and the seconder to read:

1. must hold a baccalaureate degree, or have no remaining eligibility and be willing to waive eligibility for participation at the NDT in the future, and;

Passed by voice vote. Division of the house. Passed by a vote of 8-3 (Ayes: Garrett for District 3, Williams for District 4, Deatherage/Ziegelmueller for District 5, Patterson for District 6, Decker for District 7, Bjork for district 9, Hingstman as Central Representative, and Southworth as Western Representative. Nays: Gass for District 1, Herbeck as Eastern Representative, Harrison as Southern Representative). Since the vote exceeded 2/3 majority, Chair Harrison reported this change would take effect at the 1994 NDT.

REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON BIDS.

As a substitute for the original discussion items, Deatherage and Ziegelmueller offered the following language--

"If after first round at large bids are selected, the total number of applications to the bid allocation committee is equal to or less than the total number of team slots allocated to the district and the second round pool minus the six slots designated for possible third teams, all applying first and second teams shall automatically be qualified regardless of season record."

There was renewed discussion on the revised language and its implications. Absent a consensus, no action was taken on this item and was placed on the agenda for the Saturday morning meeting.

THE COMMITTEE WAS ADJOURNED AT 3:55 p.m.

MINUTES OF THE NATIONAL DEBATE TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE MEETING at the 1993 SCA Convention, Miami Beach, Florida Saturday, 20 November

Chair Frank Harrison called the meeting to order at 8:34 a.m. Dale Herbeck serving as Secretary. Arnie Madsen serving as Parliamentarian.

PRESENT: Gass for District 1, Garrett replaces Backus for District 3, Williams for District 4, Deatherage and Ziegelmueller replace Mancuso and Snowball for District 5, Patterson for District 6, Decker for District 7, Bjork as District 9, Hingstman as Central Representative, Herbeck replaces Grinder as Eastern Representative, Harrison as Southern Representative, Parson as Tournament Director.

DEATHERAGE/ZIEGELMUELLER PROPOSAL.

The Chair began discussion on the revised language prepared by Deatherage and Ziegelmueller which states:

"If after first round at large bids are selected, the total number of applications to the bid allocation committee is equal to or less than the total number of team slots allocated tot he district and the second round pool minus the six slots designated for possible third teams, all applying first and second teams shall automatically be qualified regardless of seasons record."

Discussion ensured about the probability of empty slots, the impact of changing the qualification procedure, and the implications of the proposal. Question was called. Motion was defeated on a voice vote.

TWO JUDGES.

An item from Bill Southworth proposing two judge panels during preliminary rounds was placed on the agenda. In Southworth's absence, it was suggested that decreasing the size of panels would allow enforcement of the 20 round minimum and save resources. Acting on a prior agreement with Southworth, the Chair placed two judges on the agenda as old business for the Northwestern Committee Meeting.

REPORT OF THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR.

TOURNAMENT PROCEDURE. Tournament Director Donn Parson began by reporting on the 1993 NDT at UNI. While feedback on the 1993 NDT was favorable, Parson asked for advice from the Committee on three matters pertaining to tournament practice.

1. 45 MINUTE RULE. Parson suggested that the 45 minute rule (rounds started 45 minutes after announcements) be reduced by 5 minutes to shorten the length of the day. Given the proximity of the buildings at Louisville, Parson proposed to employ a 40 minute rule at the 1994 NDT. There was no objection from the committee.

2. 30 MINUTE RULE. Parson proposed a 30 minute period between the announcement of quarters, semis, and finals and the start of the round. Since the brackets are known, teams have the opportunity to prepare for the next round while the judges are deciding the previous round. Members of the Committee voiced concerns about whether this would save a significant amount of time and a consensus emerged that the 40 minute rule should be used during elimination rounds.

3. JUDGE PREFERENCE SHEETS. Parson proposed increasing the number of judges teams must circle on the elimination preference sheet from 40 to 50. After discussion, it was agreed that teams will be required to circle 45 judges on the elimination round strike sheet at the 1994 NDT.

FIRST/SECOND ROUND DATES. The dates for the 1994 NDT are 17-21 March. Using the traditional deadlines adjusted for and earlier NDT, first round bids would be due on the 7 February with an announcement on 10 February. Second round bids would be due 24 February with an announcement on 28 February. During the discussion at UNI other dates were considered on the assumption it might be possible to include the Northwestern tournament in first round balloting. After extensive discussion involving processing time, tournament schedules, and the availability of discounted air fares, it was moved that first round bids would be mailed on 28 February, due with the Tournament Director on 1 March, and announced on 3 March. Moved. Seconded. Passed unanimously.

BID ALLOCATION. A statement of intent to enter teams at districts would be due with the District Chairs on 8 February. District Chairs will immediately forward that information to the Bid Allocation Committee. Moved. Seconded. Passed unanimously.

OTHER BUSINESS.

Chair Harrison reported that the Board of Trustees has allocated $50 for a mailing regarding NDT Debate to be sent to high schools active in the National Forensic League.

George Ziegelmueller reported that Lincoln National Insurance Company is interested in sponsoring a series of debates between NDT and CEDA schools in Washington, D.C. The format under discussion would involve multiple teams and might include money which could be used for awards or scholarships. Moved that Ziegelmueller continued to negotiate with Lincoln National. Seconded. Passed unanimously.

Chair Harrison requested that all Committee members notify him regarding their plans for the Northwestern NDT Committee Meeting. If members are designating proxies, that information must be communicated in a timely fashion so that all necessary parties can be released from their judging obligations.

Chair Harrison requested feedback on the possibility of holding the NDT Committee Meetings at the 1994 SCA Convention on the Friday before the Convention. Next year's SCA Convention will run from Saturday through Tuesday immediately prior to Thanksgiving.

THE COMMITTEE WAS ADJOURNED AT 9:58 a.m.

Respectively submitted,
Dale Herbeck
Acting Secretary