here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University

Cannot judge University of Colorado at Boulder
Competed in NPDA from 1996 until 2000 - Eight total years of competitive debate
experience – 11 years of debate judging/coaching experience.
I’ve judged approximately 30 rounds of parliamentary debate rounds at the Mile High
Swing, Pt. Loma, and NPTE. I’ve judged another 100 rounds of high school LD and
policy debates.
Approach of the critic to decision-making (for example, adherence to the trichotomy,
stock-issues, policymaker, tabula rasa, etc.):
I do my best to minimize my role in the round. I want you to debate the way you feel
most comfortable. I have my preferences that are listed here; but, ultimately, each round
is your own. Treat it as such. Have fun!
In general, I vote for the team that does the best job in prioritizing the impacts of the
arguments they’re making in comparison to the arguments that their opponents are
making. How you create those hierarchies is entirely up to you. Perhaps you prefer a
value-criterion model; maybe you establish a decision-rule through an independent voting
issue; you may even possibly just ask me to do a body count. Tell me the framework I
ought to use to judge the debate and I will do my best. I’ll flow your arguments
diligently in this pursuit.
Particular issues:
(1) Theory arguments: I like them if they are run
properly and have a full explanation about why the argument is relevant to my decisionmaking.
(2) Critical and performative arguments: I like
them if you can explain the philosophy to justify your argumentation/methodology. Be
prepared to answer arguments from your opponents why they’re bad. Please ensure that
you explain why the argument is germane to the topic/your opponent’s case.
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