Hi, Shawn! In order for that open discussion to take place (and you've now
initiated it in multiple wide-ranging forums), it might be useful if those of
us on these lists who haven't seen your teams this year could know what you're
talking about.
--Neil Berch
West Virginia University
----- Original Message -----
From: Shawn T Whalen<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ; [EMAIL
PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ; [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL
PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 9:46 PM
Subject: [eDebate] Accusations of Illegal Debating
Dear Colleagues,
Last weekend, San Francisco State University debaters were accused of
behaving illegally. It is the first time in my 31 years of experience in
scholastic debate, that such an accusation has been levied based entirely on
the content and performance of an argument made during a debate.
Our students have employed the same basic argument since the start of the
year, and I think it is unfortunate that none of my colleagues sought to raise
concerns that they might have had about our arguments with me. I have been
centrally involved in my students' argument and performative choices this
season and I invite those of you with concerns about them to discuss those
concerns with me directly.
While I completely respect and promote the rights of each individual to
assert and defend all of their rights under the law, I want to suggest that
debate rounds might not be the most appropriate place to make those assertions.
Debate judges and debate tournament officials are rarely qualified to
adjudicate these claims and debaters themselves are rarely qualified to address
the full complexity of legal accusations. These types of accusations put
judges and tournament officials in a very awkward position and potentially
connect them to the legal claims being made in compromising ways.
Our students encourage and invite a discussion of style, taste, and
aesthetics but ethical and legal accusations are designed to enjoin us from
inviting that discussion. By their very nature they chill that discussion
immediately given the contemporary protocols for managing these accusations in
the debate community. Legal accusations, in particular, go much further in
their potential to chill these discussions. These accusations have forced us to
seek the support of university administrators who do not fully appreciate the
debate tournament context and who could act as censors. We are gratified that
our administrators have chosen to support our academic work, but we recognize
that not every administrator would see the risk/reward calculus in the same
way.
My students and I feel strongly that these accusations are a grave threat to
our academic freedom and unless and until we are legally enjoined from doing so
we will proceed making our arguments as we see fit. I remain distressed and
saddened by the lack of support that seemed to exist among my colleagues last
weekend for my students' rights to free speech and academic freedom. I hope
that as educators and colleagues we can make time for a discussion about how
these types of conflicts might be better managed.
Sincerely,
Shawn Whalen
Director of Forensics
San Francisco State University
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