[debate-l] Re: [university-l] International TPS Tournament in Beijing, China

[Jason Jarvis]

I think its great that IDEA is holding competitions in
China.  However, I am curious why NO EFFORT whatsoever
was made to talk to people in Northeast Asia regarding
the competition and its timing.

For the past 3 years, Korea has hosted the Northeast
Asian Open debating competition in early November. 
The competition attracts teams from Korea, Japan,
Thailand and the United States (consistently).
 
This year it will be on literally the same weekend
that the organizers in Beijing are holding their
tournament (not surprising since we have always used
early November!)
http://kudc.org/nao/index.htm

So far the Northeast Asians has only been held in
Korea, but the long term hope is that this becomes a
tournament that is the regional championship, and
which will rotate to other countries.  A goal that is
less likely to be achieved if Chinese participants are
encourged by IDEA to stay home.

Remarkably, the competition has been advertised on all
the major international listserv's including  IDEA
lists EVERY YEAR IT HAS BEEN HELD (this year as
well).....

What is frustrating is that the region could use more
competitions, particularly ones which are free!,
however, this is the SECOND time in the same year that
IDEA has hosted a tournament in China when it OVERLAPS
with other important competitions.  The tournament in
Xian took place at almost the same time as
Worlds...which is somewhat more forgivable due to the
WUDC being in Dublin.  However, this time, it overlaps
with the ONLY regional championshp.

I think Sharon Porter is a nice person (I found her to
be quite pleasant during my coaching days at Arizona
State), and do not mean to denigrate her, or anyone
else as human beings. However, quite frankly I am very
irritated by this glaring oversite and the tunnel
vision that leads people to fail to consult folks in
the region before they plan events.  

IDEA's goal ought to be to encourage regional debate,
and Chinese participation in it.  That REQUIRES
consulting with other people, (meaning people who live
outside of America) about what is happening locally.

If the goal is to get the Chinese to debate, why
doesnt IDEA fly Chinese students to Korea in November?

 
OR 

If the goal is to get them to debate in BP, how about
ANY of the numerous regional IV warmup tournaments
being held throughout Southeast Asia???? (The Asian
debate listservs, there are 2, are really useful for
gathering information on these events).

In the long run, the interaction with other students
and faculty from ASIAN universities will be more
beneficial to them as it will create regional support
networks of people who can help them on a more
consistent basis.

.02,


    
Jason L. Jarvis
Assistant Dean and Lecturer

Korea Development Institute Graduate School of Public Policy and Management
http://www.kdischool.ac.kr/
Office: 82-2-3299-1031
Email: debatekorea at kdischool.ac.kr


Korea Debate Listserv
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/koreadebatelist/
  






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