Debate coach Lising on top of world
Campus Times
March 8, 2002
Moving into both a new office and a new home last fall, the University
of La Verne's director of forensics, Ian T. Lising, has adorned his walls
at home and at work with posters from the "Star Wars" movies.
A life-long avid "Star Wars" fan, Lising says that he carries
the Jedi philosophy with him at all times. "I always wanted to be a
Jedi, but the closest thing to it is a teacher, I guess," he said.
University of La Verne speech communication professor and debate coach,
Ian T. Lising, started his New Year on a good note by being elected chairman
of the World Debate Council at the last world debate meeting held at the
beginning of the year.
Lising, 29, is honored by the decision but feels a bit intimidated about
being accountable for the vision of debating in the future.
"It is a great honor, but it is also quite daunting," Lising
said. "It is scary to think you are responsible for the direction of
where debating will be headed in the next year."
The Irish delegate nominated Lising and the World Council elected him
to be chairman of the 23rd World Championship, which will be held in South
Africa from the last part of December 2002 until mid-January 2003.
"It will be my role to help mediate World Championship debating
issues," Lising said about his chairman position. "Also to run
the World Council meeting."
This will be his 10th World Championship appearance. Lising competed
twice as an undergraduate at Ateneo de Manila University, once as a director,
represented as a judge three times for the University of La Verne and three
times as a judge for Ateneo.
Since Lising's arrival, the ULV debate team has earned remarkable honors.
In his first year Lising took the debate team to the World Championship
in Australia where they finished second. The following year the debate team
traveled back to the World Championship, this time in Glasgow, Scotland
where they qualified for the semifinals. Last month the debate team took
fiftieth at the World Championship in Toronto, Canada.
Lising is no stranger to flying. Besides touring the world with the
debate team, he was born in New Jersey and moved to the Philippines at the
ripe age of 6. From there he moved to Nebraska at the age of 16 to finish
up high school, only to go back to the Philippines to attend college at
Ateneo de Manila.
After completing his undergraduate work, at the age of 21, Lising began
teaching English literature and debate at both the high school and college
levels.
At 26, Lising packed his bags once more and headed out west to the University
of La Verne in the Fall of 1999, where he is now enjoying his third year
on the faculty.
Initially Lising had never heard of the University of La Verne, but
while speaking to him about his decision and observing the smile spread
across his face, it was obvious that he is enjoying his time on the West
Coast.
"I love the campus; I will not work anywhere else," Lising
said. "Never have I experienced another university that has supported
our debating program as fully as this one has."
Lising considered venturing into the field of law, but in 1994 while
competing in his last debating competition at the University of Melbourne
in Australia, he realized that law was not his calling after all.
"I realized I was more interested in the art of debating and helping
others enjoy it rather than going into politics or law," Lising said.
"I realized I wanted to give the joy to others."
And help his students reap the benefits of debate is what he does very
well. One could spontaneously show up at Lising's office and often catch
him exceeding his professorial duties by connecting one-on-one with his
students after class.
Lising credits the University of La Verne's small environment to his
capability to interact with his students personally.
"That is the reason why I love La Verne a lot," Lising said.
"You can give more personal attention to each student."
Lising states that as a person he always makes it his duty to help his
students maximize their skills, help them become the people they are destined
to be, not only in debate but in life.
"He is one of the most amazing people I have ever met because he
understands his position in the world and his purpose," said senior
communications major Ross Mathews about Lising. "He is the reason why
I came back to speech and debate because his focus is on developing the
person not necessarily on winning or losing."
When asked what wants his students to walk out of his classrooms having
learned, his reply reflected the ideology of his educational essence.
"I want my students to leave knowing that they are better than
they think they are," Lising said. "They are capable of more than
they see for themselves."
Lising has his well-balanced childhood to thank for his noble teaching
style. He said that his parents keep him grounded, and even when he decided
not to go into the family shipping business, his parents supported him.
His father encouraged him to be successful and determined, while his
mother shaped him to be selfless and generous.
"I remember my dad telling me 'I don't care if you are a garbage
man, a congressman or a painter,'" recalled Lising. "'As long
as you are the best garbage man, the best congressman or the best painter.'
And my mom always reminded me that doing things for others is what makes
me truly a person."
Currently Lising is preparing to propose a new idea to the World Council.
He said it is too difficult to explain, but to put it in simple terms; he
is trying to prevent the type of judging scandal that occurred in the 2002
Winter Olympics.
Lising wants to clarify that although debating is a very challenging
activity, anyone can do it, and that the very person reading this article
could be the next debater.
