Equality in Forensics May 11th Newsletter
May good vibes and AP fives be with you!
The final stretch of the school year is now here. As the Speech and Debate community remembers that the only thing more stressful than breaks and RFDS might just be finishing another year’s worth of AP, IB, and final exams. No matter the time of year or skill level, Equality in Forensics is committed to helping everyone out there!
In this newsletter, Equality in Forensics will cover Board of Directors Applications and the Extemp Coaching Lab.
“The month of May is the gateway to summer.”
-Jean Hersey
Board of Directors Applications
As seniors graduate from Equality in Forensics, we are looking for a new set of Board of Directors!
Many seniors are leaving the organization. Many underclassmen are getting promoted, leaving vacancies in important Deputy Director positions. These positions are substantial commitments because we're doing real work -- but that also means we need new people with technical skills and backgrounds. We're looking for people with backgrounds in social media, visual design, fundraising, grant writing, and copy editing. This is the pipeline to higher Equality in Forensics leadership down the line.
—Nicholas Ostheimer, Equality in Forensics Executive Director
To apply, simply fill out the form below. Keep in mind the significant time and energy required for each role, as we strive to make Speech and Debate a more equal place for all.
Championship Extemp Lab
Equality in Forensics has launched our first-ever Championship Extemp Lab! We are committed to helping you succeed at all of the national championships coming up, and our staff of national finalists and champions are here to do just that!
Weekly Publications
Red Folder: In domestic news, read about Trump's plans for the federal budget, an AI model recently donated by the Pentagon, funding cuts for public media, and the now-closed de minimis loophole. In international news, read about quickly rising tensions in the Kashmir region, Australian election troubles, the recent losses faced by Canada's CPC, and a debrief of Singaporean elections.
Blog: This week, Owen Reed wrote about how, despite the amount of progress we’ve made, the debate space still struggles with blatant homophobia. This is evident through judge bias and inaccessibility; however, progressive argumentation may pave the way for a more welcoming forensics community that is accepting of queer debaters.
“While homophobia is still present throughout the debate space through inaccessibility, judge bias, rejection of argumentation and the current resolutional model of debate, the rising progressive style of debate leaves queer debaters with hope. Hope that eventually we can express our queerness in round without scrutiny, or the potential of being voted down. Hope that the space can feel like home again.”
Speaking from the Margins: Confronting Homophobia in the Debate Space—Owen Reed
Want to write for the blog? Anyone and everyone can write for Equality in Forensics’ blog, so don’t wait!
Conclusion
As the season comes to a close, we here are Equality in Forensics hope you the best, whether you are a novice excited for your sophomore year, or a graduating senior saying goodbye to high school Speech and Debate. As a school year closes, we are excited for all that is to come! Thank you, everyone, for a great year!
Written by Charlie Hui with the help of the rest of the Equality in Forensics Team.