Andrew Baker -- Dartmouth

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Judging philosophy:

I debated for The University of Texas at Dallas for four years and am in my first year coaching at Dartmouth.

Arguments are "good" or "bad" relative only to their answers. There is no vacuum in which we can place evidence to determine its persuasive value. Often times I find myself persuaded by a well executed strategy over the substantive issues raised by that strategy because a team, sometimes caught up on a singular issue they feel they are "objectively right about," has not fully disputed the truth value of their opponents arguments. This is not to say something such as "anything is an argument" or "offense always beats defense," just that arguments only go as far as they're allowed to. If you think an argument is objectively bad, it shouldn't be hard for you to explain to me why I shouldn't be persuaded by it. Example: if an academically well thought out and defended aff never fully responds to a negative teams well presented argument that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should shape how I vote, I will be ordering two eggs (scrambled), toast, and a pile of bacon without blinking.

Other stuff:
Conditionality - usually comes down to the functions of arguments before the number of them. In all honesty, if the neg puts some time into defending it they can usually get away with a lot; but, there is a line and some teams are better than others on telling me when and where to draw it.

Topicality - cards cards cards, I need them to figure out what you're trying to tell me the topic should look like.

Paperless - everybody's learning, lets just try to be quick and courteous about it

The aff should take more risks in strategy - if you kick your aff to capitalize on an error made by the neg or something I'm not going to automatically assume it was a hail marry

Seasonal voting record:

Tourney Div Rd AFF NEG Decision
GSU Open 2 NoTexa McCullough 28 Peretz 28.5 L'Ville Barnett 27.7 Gordon 27.5 AFF
GSU Open 4 Kansas Petersen 28.5 Wilkins 28.3 Wake LeDuc 28.6 Quinn 28.4 NEG
GSU Open 6 UGA Lacy 28.5 Layton 28.4 Oklhma Giglio 29.2 Leonardi 28 NEG
GSU Open 7 Wake McCarty 28.6 Miller 28.5 Harvard Bolman 27.6 Suo 27.5 AFF
GSU Open Doub Mo St Foley 0 Rumbaugh 0 Michig Allen 0 Liu 0 NEG 3-0 (NEG)
KY Open 2 IllState Dorsey 27.7 Ogbuli 27.9 Kansas Foreman 27.5 Wood 27.6 NEG
KY Open 4 Wake Min 28.1 Bailey 28.2 L'Ville Lattimore 27.5 Hodges 27.6 AFF
KY Open 6 Michig Levy 27.7 Gill 27.5 KState Hallinan 28 Ziegler 28.5 NEG
KY Open 7 Minn Plutowski 27.9 Svoboda 28.4 GeoMas Frank 27.5 Kyagaba 27.6 AFF
KY Open 8 NoTexa Kersch 28.1 Pryor 27.8 Trinit Bram 28.3 Uzman 28.2 NEG
KY Open Doub WayneS Messina 0 Leap 0 Gonzo Kanellopoulos 0 Moczulski 0 NEG 2-1 (NEG)
KY Open Octo UGA Lacy 0 Layton 0 LMU Ewing 0 Mollison 0 NEG 3-0 (NEG)
Wake Open 4 Minn Crunkilton 27.5 Ehrlich 27.8 Baylor Ford 28.2 Kaut 28.3 NEG
Wake Open 7 Kentuc Cavalier 28 Woika 27.6 NoTexa Kersch 28.5 Pryor 28.1 NEG
Wake Open 8 Nwstrn Lee 28.6 Vellayappan 28.5 WestGa Gaius 28 Robles 27.8 AFF
Wake Open Doub Nwstrn Mair 0 Waxman 0 Oklhma Giglio 0 Leonardi 0 NEG 3-0 (NEG)
Wake Open Octo Oklhma Giglio 0 Leonardi 0 Michig Allen 0 Liu 0 AFF 2-1 (AFF)
Harvard Open 2 Libert Landrum 27.6 Siegrist 28 WestGa Gaius 27.8 Robles 27.7 NEG
Harvard Open 3 Baylor Ford 27.9 Kaut 27.7 Oklhma Giglio 29.1 Leonardi 28.4 NEG
Harvard Open 4 Wake Bencosme 28.4 Carlotti 28.6 Nwstrn Beiermeister 29 Kirshon 29.2 NEG
Harvard Open Semi GTown Arsht 0 Markoff 0 MichSt Lanning 0 Ramesh 0 NEG 2-1 (AFF)
Texas Open 4 Texas Fitz 27.9 Stolte 27.6 Whitman Collier 27.8 Menzies 27.7 NEG
Texas Open 6 Wichit Box 28.8 Munday 29.3 Michig Keller 28.1 Xheka 27.9 AFF
Texas Open 7 KState Kowaleski 27.8 Ziegler 28.7 Wake Bailey 28.6 Min 28.5 NEG
Texas Open Doub Oklhma Giglio 0 Leonardi 0 Kansas Petersen 0 Wilkins 0 AFF 2-1 (NEG)
Texas Open Octo Nwstrn Blumenthal 0 Miles 0 Gonzo Kanellopoulos 0 Moczulski 0 AFF 3-0 (AFF)
USC Open 2 GTown Coles 27.9 Vale 28.1 Samfor DeFoor 27.7 Vande Kamp 27.5 AFF
USC Open 4 KState Kowaleski 27.6 Ziegler 28.6 Michig Hirn 28.7 Liu 28.3 NEG
USC Open Doub Kansas Petersen 0 Wilkins 0 Nwstrn Mair 0 Waxman 0 AFF 3-0 (AFF)
CSUF Open 3 Libert Ayodeji 28.3 Holguin 28.1 Stanfo Khamphoune 28 Sonnenberg 27.9 AFF
CSUF Open Doub Michig Allen 0 Liu 0 Nwstrn Mair 0 Waxman 0 AFF 2-1 (AFF)
CSUF Open Octo LMU Ewing 0 Mollison 0 Nwstrn Lee 0 Vellayappan 0 AFF 2-1 (NEG)
Georgia Open 2 Wake McCarty 27.7 Miller 27.9 USFSP Gonzalez 26.9 Shane 27.1 AFF
Georgia Open 3 Florid Prescott 27.6 chessman 27.5 Iowa Croat 28.6 Lehrman 28.2 NEG
Georgia Open 4 IllState Harris 27.8 Ogbuli 28.2 Kentuc Robinson 28.1 Woika 28.4 AFF
Georgia Open 5 Vandy Stothers 28.4 Williford 28.2 Florid Lee 27.5 Manov 27.6 AFF
Georgia Open Octo Emory Holland 0 Moore 0 IllState Harris 0 Ogbuli 0 AFF 3-0 (AFF)
Georgia Open Qurt Wake McCarty 0 Miller 0 UGA Feinberg 0 Geddes 0 AFF 3-0 (AFF)
Georgia Open Final Emory Collins 0 Mullins 0 Wake McCarty 0 Miller 0 NEG 3-0 (NEG)
D8Qual Open 1 BosCol Carlman 27.6 McCormick 27.5 Harvard Bolman 28.6 Suo 28.5 NEG
D8Qual Open 2 BosCol Benedict 28.3 Maerowitz 28.1 Harvard Dimitrijevic 28.6 Taylor 28.7 NEG
D8Qual Open 3 Vermont Doucette 27.9 Cooper 27.5 Crnl Cue 28.1 Wright 28.4 NEG
D8Qual Open 4 Bing Choudhury 28.2 Reddick 28 CUNY Cheung 27.4 Forbes 28.1 AFF
D8Qual Open 5 CUNY Baroudi 28.5 Jackson 28.6 WCSU Pasquence 28.7 Wolff 28.4 NEG
D8Qual Open 6 WCSU Allen 27.3 Townsend 27.4 Bing Choudhury 27.5 Reddick 27.9 NEG
D8Qual Open Semi Rochstr Schwartz 0 Batha 0 BosCol Carlman 0 McCormick 0 NEG 2-1 (NEG)
NDT Open 4 Wake McCarty 28.5 Miller 28 CSUF bugrov 28.3 cruz 28.1 AFF
NDT Open 5 Crnl Cue 28.3 Wright 28.2 Michig Hirn 28.5 Liu 28.1 NEG
NDT Open 6 Wake Bailey 28.6 Min 28.5 Gonzo Kostun 27.6 Newton 27.3 AFF
NDT Open 7 Gonzo Kanellopoulos 28.8 Moczulski 29 Iowa Aufderheide 28.5 Kann 28.6 AFF
NDT Open 8 Kansas Petersen 28.6 Wilkins 28.7 Texas Liu 28.5 Miller 28.4 AFF
NDT Open Doub Oklhma Masterson 0 Tomik 0 Wake Bailey 0 Min 0 AFF 4-1 (AFF)
DartRR Open 2 GTown Arsht 29.1 Markoff 29 Michig Allen 28.8 Liu 28.5 AFF

Tourney	Div	Rd	AFF					NEG					Decision
GSU	Open	2	NoTexa	McCullough	28	Peretz	28.5	L'Ville	Barnett	27.7	Gordon	27.5	AFF
GSU	Open	4	Kansas	Petersen	28.5	Wilkins	28.3	Wake	LeDuc	28.6	Quinn	28.4	NEG
GSU	Open	6	UGA	Lacy	28.5	Layton	28.4	Oklhma	Giglio	29.2	Leonardi	28	NEG
GSU	Open	7	Wake	McCarty	28.6	Miller	28.5	Harvard	Bolman	27.6	Suo	27.5	AFF
GSU	Open	Doub	Mo St	Foley	0	Rumbaugh	0	Michig	Allen	0	Liu	0	NEG 3-0 (NEG)
KY	Open	2	IllState	Dorsey	27.7	Ogbuli	27.9	Kansas	Foreman	27.5	Wood	27.6	NEG
KY	Open	4	Wake	Min	28.1	Bailey	28.2	L'Ville	Lattimore	27.5	Hodges	27.6	AFF
KY	Open	6	Michig	Levy	27.7	Gill	27.5	KState	Hallinan	28	Ziegler	28.5	NEG
KY	Open	7	Minn	Plutowski	27.9	Svoboda	28.4	GeoMas	Frank	27.5	Kyagaba	27.6	AFF
KY	Open	8	NoTexa	Kersch	28.1	Pryor	27.8	Trinit	Bram	28.3	Uzman	28.2	NEG
KY	Open	Doub	WayneS	Messina	0	Leap	0	Gonzo	Kanellopoulos	0	Moczulski	0	NEG 2-1 (NEG)
KY	Open	Octo	UGA	Lacy	0	Layton	0	LMU	Ewing	0	Mollison	0	NEG 3-0 (NEG)
Wake	Open	4	Minn	Crunkilton	27.5	Ehrlich	27.8	Baylor	Ford	28.2	Kaut	28.3	NEG
Wake	Open	7	Kentuc	Cavalier	28	Woika	27.6	NoTexa	Kersch	28.5	Pryor	28.1	NEG
Wake	Open	8	Nwstrn	Lee	28.6	Vellayappan	28.5	WestGa	Gaius	28	Robles	27.8	AFF
Wake	Open	Doub	Nwstrn	Mair	0	Waxman	0	Oklhma	Giglio	0	Leonardi	0	NEG 3-0 (NEG)
Wake	Open	Octo	Oklhma	Giglio	0	Leonardi	0	Michig	Allen	0	Liu	0	AFF 2-1 (AFF)
Harvard	Open	2	Libert	Landrum	27.6	Siegrist	28	WestGa	Gaius	27.8	Robles	27.7	NEG
Harvard	Open	3	Baylor	Ford	27.9	Kaut	27.7	Oklhma	Giglio	29.1	Leonardi	28.4	NEG
Harvard	Open	4	Wake	Bencosme	28.4	Carlotti	28.6	Nwstrn	Beiermeister	29	Kirshon	29.2	NEG
Harvard	Open	Semi	GTown	Arsht	0	Markoff	0	MichSt	Lanning	0	Ramesh	0	NEG 2-1 (AFF)
Texas	Open	4	Texas	Fitz	27.9	Stolte	27.6	Whitman	Collier	27.8	Menzies	27.7	NEG
Texas	Open	6	Wichit	Box	28.8	Munday	29.3	Michig	Keller	28.1	Xheka	27.9	AFF
Texas	Open	7	KState	Kowaleski	27.8	Ziegler	28.7	Wake	Bailey	28.6	Min	28.5	NEG
Texas	Open	Doub	Oklhma	Giglio	0	Leonardi	0	Kansas	Petersen	0	Wilkins	0	AFF 2-1 (NEG)
Texas	Open	Octo	Nwstrn	Blumenthal	0	Miles	0	Gonzo	Kanellopoulos	0	Moczulski	0	AFF 3-0 (AFF)
USC	Open	2	GTown	Coles	27.9	Vale	28.1	Samfor	DeFoor	27.7	Vande Kamp	27.5	AFF
USC	Open	4	KState	Kowaleski	27.6	Ziegler	28.6	Michig	Hirn	28.7	Liu	28.3	NEG
USC	Open	Doub	Kansas	Petersen	0	Wilkins	0	Nwstrn	Mair	0	Waxman	0	AFF 3-0 (AFF)
CSUF	Open	3	Libert	Ayodeji	28.3	Holguin	28.1	Stanfo	Khamphoune	28	Sonnenberg	27.9	AFF
CSUF	Open	Doub	Michig	Allen	0	Liu	0	Nwstrn	Mair	0	Waxman	0	AFF 2-1 (AFF)
CSUF	Open	Octo	LMU	Ewing	0	Mollison	0	Nwstrn	Lee	0	Vellayappan	0	AFF 2-1 (NEG)
Georgia	Open	2	Wake	McCarty	27.7	Miller	27.9	USFSP	Gonzalez	26.9	Shane	27.1	AFF
Georgia	Open	3	Florid	Prescott	27.6	chessman	27.5	Iowa	Croat	28.6	Lehrman	28.2	NEG
Georgia	Open	4	IllState	Harris	27.8	Ogbuli	28.2	Kentuc	Robinson	28.1	Woika	28.4	AFF
Georgia	Open	5	Vandy	Stothers	28.4	Williford	28.2	Florid	Lee	27.5	Manov	27.6	AFF
Georgia	Open	Octo	Emory	Holland	0	Moore	0	IllState	Harris	0	Ogbuli	0	AFF 3-0 (AFF)
Georgia	Open	Qurt	Wake	McCarty	0	Miller	0	UGA	Feinberg	0	Geddes	0	AFF 3-0 (AFF)
Georgia	Open	Final	Emory	Collins	0	Mullins	0	Wake	McCarty	0	Miller	0	NEG 3-0 (NEG)
D8Qual	Open	1	BosCol	Carlman	27.6	McCormick	27.5	Harvard	Bolman	28.6	Suo	28.5	NEG
D8Qual	Open	2	BosCol	Benedict	28.3	Maerowitz	28.1	Harvard	Dimitrijevic	28.6	Taylor	28.7	NEG
D8Qual	Open	3	Vermont	Doucette	27.9	Cooper	27.5	Crnl	Cue	28.1	Wright	28.4	NEG
D8Qual	Open	4	Bing	Choudhury	28.2	Reddick	28	CUNY	Cheung	27.4	Forbes	28.1	AFF
D8Qual	Open	5	CUNY	Baroudi	28.5	Jackson	28.6	WCSU	Pasquence	28.7	Wolff	28.4	NEG
D8Qual	Open	6	WCSU	Allen	27.3	Townsend	27.4	Bing	Choudhury	27.5	Reddick	27.9	NEG
D8Qual	Open	Semi	Rochstr	Schwartz	0	Batha	0	BosCol	Carlman	0	McCormick	0	NEG 2-1 (NEG)
NDT	Open	4	Wake	McCarty	28.5	Miller	28	CSUF	bugrov	28.3	cruz	28.1	AFF
NDT	Open	5	Crnl	Cue	28.3	Wright	28.2	Michig	Hirn	28.5	Liu	28.1	NEG
NDT	Open	6	Wake	Bailey	28.6	Min	28.5	Gonzo	Kostun	27.6	Newton	27.3	AFF
NDT	Open	7	Gonzo	Kanellopoulos	28.8	Moczulski	29	Iowa	Aufderheide	28.5	Kann	28.6	AFF
NDT	Open	8	Kansas	Petersen	28.6	Wilkins	28.7	Texas	Liu	28.5	Miller	28.4	AFF
NDT	Open	Doub	Oklhma	Masterson	0	Tomik	0	Wake	Bailey	0	Min	0	AFF 4-1 (AFF)
DartRR	Open	2	GTown	Arsht	29.1	Markoff	29	Michig	Allen	28.8	Liu	28.5	AFF

Judge Philosophy Alternate Format:

I debated for The University of Texas at Dallas for four years and am in my first year coaching at Dartmouth. Arguments are "good" or "bad" relative only to their answers. There is no vacuum in which we can place evidence to determine its persuasive value. Often times I find myself persuaded by a well executed strategy over the substantive issues raised by that strategy because a team, sometimes caught up on a singular issue they feel they are "objectively right about," has not fully disputed the truth value of their opponents arguments. This is not to say something such as "anything is an argument" or "offense always beats defense," just that arguments only go as far as they're allowed to. If you think an argument is objectively bad, it shouldn't be hard for you to explain to me why I shouldn't be persuaded by it. Example: if an academically well thought out and defended aff never fully responds to a negative teams well presented argument that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should shape how I vote, I will be ordering two eggs (scrambled), toast, and a pile of bacon without blinking. Other stuff: Conditionality - usually comes down to the functions of arguments before the number of them. In all honesty, if the neg puts some time into defending it they can usually get away with a lot; but, there is a line and some teams are better than others on telling me when and where to draw it. Topicality - cards cards cards, I need them to figure out what you're trying to tell me the topic should look like. Paperless - everybody's learning, lets just try to be quick and courteous about it The aff should take more risks in strategy - if you kick your aff to capitalize on an error made by the neg or something I'm not going to automatically assume it was a hail marry