UIL Speech Judges

If you have corrections, questions or comments regarding this information, please notify The UIL Speech and Debate department at speech@uiltexas.org or 512-471-5883.

Jan Seiter

Current high school:
Northside Stevens

Currently coaching?: Yes

Conference:

Number of years coached: 16

Number of tournaments judged: 6

High school attended:
Colerain HS

Graduated high school: 1974

Participated in high school: No

Participated in college: Yes

Judging qualifications:
I have judged as both a coach and under contract for over 20 years around the state. For debate, I am a tabula rasa judge; I listen to any argument and rely on the debater to explain their position. I am a stickler for the rules of debate: LD is about a philosophical position, not a policy or rationalization that the position must work in the real world. CX IS about policy, and may be linked to a philosophical premise, but numbers, facts and weight of evidence is key.

Judging Philosophy

CX

Rounds judged: 6
Judging approach: Tabula Rasa
Policy priority: Communication skills and resolution of substantive issues are of equal importance
Evidence philosophy: Quality of evidence is more important than quantity of evidence
Paradigm: I am a tabula rasa judge; I listen to any argument and rely on the debater to explain their position. I am a stickler for the rules of debate: CX IS about policy, and may be linked to a philosophical premise, but numbers, facts and weight of evidence is key. I do not like spreading as a tactic. I can handle a debater who speaks quickly, but packing evidence against an opponent without a serious plan is gamesmanship and not civil debate.

LD

Rounds judged: 14
Approach: Communication skills and resolution of substantive issues are of equal importance
Philosophy:
LD is a value debate and therefore set somewhat outside of reality as we know it. The debate should be about what can be achieved if we subscribe to the stated position, NOT what is expedient or pragmatic.

Contact Information

email: jan.seiter@nisd.net
cell:
office: 210 3976554

Availability Information

Meet types:
Regional CX State State Meet Congress Region Congress State

Qualified for:
CX
LD
Extemp
Prose/Poetry
Congress

Travel

Region of residence:
1

I will travel to: 1 2 4 5 8