Access to Debate:
A special note to first years and those with limited or no experience
Western Debate strongly believes that the opportunity to debate should be open to all that are interested. It is a goal of the program to provide opportunity to all that seek it and to provide an appropriate level of competition to help them develop their skills. In order to operationalize this goal, the program will seek out talented students with a successful history in high school to join the team, but also students with little or no experience. Those from both high profile and less competitive squads are welcome, as well as though who may be trying it for the first time in college. The squad accepts the responsibility to be more than a cooperative of already experienced participants, but to actively recruit and train those who are not familiar with the activity.
The program also recognizes that those with limited experience need the same amount of competitive opportunities to develop. In response to the recognition, the program will employ and effort based standard for participation over a talent based or exclusively performance based reward system. Those students who work hard to prepare, and make an effort at improvement will be the students who are given the priority to travel regardless of experience.
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Effort Based Rewards
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Opportunity Regardless of Past Experience
