here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University
here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University
here - College of Arts & Sciences - Bethel University
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Whitsitt, Travis<br />
The Colorado <strong>College</strong><br />
Background <strong>of</strong> the critic:<br />
I did 4 years <strong>of</strong> parli at Colorado <strong>College</strong>, 3 years under Bonnie Stapleton and my senior<br />
year under Chris Shaw.<br />
Approach <strong>of</strong> the critic to decision-making (for example, ad<strong>here</strong>nce to the trichotomy,<br />
stock-issues, policymaker, tabula rasa, etc.):<br />
I view debate as a competitive game, nothing more. The game does have certain rules,<br />
but I will listen to arguments about why those rules are illegitimate if you care to present<br />
them. I will vote on anything as long as you give me clear reasons why I should.<br />
I hate to say I have zero tolerance for anything, but I will have a lot <strong>of</strong> trouble evaluating<br />
a fact debate. Unless you can provide me with a co<strong>here</strong>nt framework for evaluating such<br />
a debate, I think fact debates default to counting examples or warrants, which is not a<br />
productive use <strong>of</strong> anyone's time. However, if you think you have the fact framework that<br />
is objective and usable, then feel free.<br />
Relative importance <strong>of</strong> presentation/communication skills to the critic in decision-making<br />
:<br />
I try to stick to the flow. If someone tells me the sky is green, I treat it as gospel until you<br />
tell me something else. I think I'm pretty good, but I'll yell "clear" if I can't understand<br />
you.<br />
Relative importance <strong>of</strong> on-case argumentation to the critic in decision-making:<br />
For the love, though, weigh impacts. Really. Please. Otherwise, I do it for you, and<br />
someone gets very angry that I didn't do it their way.<br />
Have fun, be rude or cordial, I don't care. Just win and be smart.<br />
Openness to critical/performative styles <strong>of</strong> debating:<br />
My conservative politics will not play into my evaluation <strong>of</strong> your arguments, so run<br />
whatever you like. I will be pleased if you bother to warrant leftist arguments rather than<br />
assuming their intuitive truth like you can with many judges, but I won't punish you for<br />
not doing so (unless, <strong>of</strong> course, your lack <strong>of</strong> warrants allows the other team to beat your<br />
arguments).<br />
Any additional comments:<br />
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