Rhiannon Mim

At the 2008 World Debate Championship, the World Debate Council awarded Ian Lising, assistant professor of speech and debate, the Order of Distinction for six years of service as chairman of the World Universities Debating Championships. Lising has participated in the debate championships for 15 years and has served as a ULV faculty member since 1999.

Jaclyn Mittman
Staff Writer

Ian Lising, University of La Verne debate coach and assistant professor of speech and debate, was awarded the World Debate Council Order of Distinction at the 2008 World Debate Championship in Thailand on Jan. 1.

Lising was honored at the grand final award ceremony of the World Championships, held at the Assumption University of Thailand, Dec. 27 to Jan. 5.

“This came as a surprise. It was unanticipated and I was quite humbled by it,” Lising said. “It was overwhelming and I consider this a tremendous honor.”

After serving as adjudicator in the grand final panel of the championships for six years, Lising was given the title World Council Member Emeritus, an honor bestowed only to three other individuals in the world.

While this allows him to serve in an advisory capacity indefinitely, Lising made the decision to retire from the council before his seventh year in order to give someone else the opportunity.

“I decided to step down from council because World’s has a lot of great people working and even though I retired from the position I still get to aid many of these individuals,” Lising said.

The 28th World Champion­ship was the largest competition ever, with more than 1,200 participants from around the globe.

But with Lising serving as chairman, the La Verne debate team had to compete without a coach.

Josh Martin, a senior and captain of the debate team, is Lising’s assistant when Lising is forced to split his time.

Although Lising was busy at the championship, Martin, as well as other members of the team, agreed that they got to experience more because of Lising’s position on council.

“Ian prepared us for the competition, but Josh was there to help us out. He basically filled Ian’s shoes,” said Briana Pride, a sophomore debate team member.
“It was frustrating at times, but coming from La Verne, we always benefited from his high ranking,” Martin said.

This was Pride’s first time attending the World Champion­ships.

“I remember Ian talking about the competitions and all of the people on council he knows, but I got to see how many people he knew at the competition,” Pride said. “People flooded to him and wanted to shake his hand. He was a big deal.”

This competition marked Lising’s sixth time as a judge on the grand final panel.
He was tied at a record of five years with Neill Harvey-Smith, another member of the panel, but has now achieved a world record.

“Ian put a lot of years and hard work into his position as chairman. The council will miss him, but it is definitely time for someone else to step up and take the lead,” Martin said.

Lising has attended 15 World Championships in many countries but has yet to actually tour any of the locations he has visited.

“It’s funny. I remember universities, hotel rooms and the routes in between the two,” Lising said.

“While the team went off to sight-see, I was always stuck in closed rooms.”
Upon receiving his award, Lising thanked his wife, Lissa Bernardo-Lising, and his team for their patience and understanding.

“I always thought this kind of award was reserved for old people,” Lising said. “I guess that means I’m old.”

Jaclyn Mittman can be reached at jmittman@ulv.edu.