Open CA application should be the norm.
Cross-posted at Seventwenty
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CA's are usually chosen based on who the conveners know. I've always thought that closed CA selection gives worse CA's chosen less based on ability than on popularity. That's why for Maastricht Open 2015 we opened CA applications to anyone willing to fill in our online form. The result was a world class CA team and fantastic motions.
Why open CA application is great.
The simplest reason for an open application process it that it gives more candidates as both those the conveners approach personally and convince to apply as well as others who apply of their own volition can be chosen from. Another reason is that it minimizes the impact of personal biases on choosing CA's, a problem I think is widespread. [Edit] This is because it ensures that there is little to no bias in who gets to be in the pool of candidates that are considered for CA as everyone can apply. This is in stark contrast to a closed process where not only do the conveners choose the CA's from the pool but they determine who should be in the pool in the first place, usually based on who they know either personally or by reputation, leaving far more room for bias. [Edit Ends]I don't mean so much racial or gender bias but rather reputation bias, where people with better connections, more exposure or from more respected institutions are given undue preference.
How to run an open CA application?
The application process used for Maastricht Open was simple and should work for most tournaments. We:
- Created a google form asking prospective applicants for their personal details, required travel funding (preferred and minimum), judging experience, speaking experience, other experience and a final question asking them what makes them a great CA.
- Posted the form online in debating facebook groups with an explanation of what Mass Open was and why it would be awesome, advertised Maas open and how to apply to CA at tournaments we went to.
- Once the application deadline had passed, weighed up the applicants based on their debating CV's and required funding.
Non-Issues
Running open applications isn't difficult or time consuming. The only objections I've heard deal with the selection processes rather than with anything inherit to open applications. While we chose our CA's based on ability, it would have been equally possible to select based on reputation, gender/race, development potential, ability to bring judges or any other criteria imaginable.
Stylistically necessary conclusion
When firms look for employees, they cast their nets as widely as possible, making available positions public and applications as open as is practical. We expect the same of virtually all areas of society. I don't see why the same shouldn't apply to debating.
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