Affirmative Case #2: Camp 1998

Imagine your son on the football field. The bright stadium lights illuminating a cold Friday night in October. After the third play of the game has been executed, your son doesn't get up. He can't. From your perch, high in the stands, you watch as coaches and trainers run toward him. Upon examination, it is suspected that some crushed vertebra has occurred and that part of his spinal chord could be severed. He will probably never walk again. Upon further investigation, you find that the incident was not an accident. The other player that infringed on your son's safety and tackled him, was on drugs, thereby causing your son's aggressor to not be in control of his actions. In a fit of rage, the opposing player did not execute the play properly which ultimately resulted in your son's crippling injury. Random drug testing could possibly have spared the pain and suffering that your son will have to endure for the remainder of his life. Therefore, I stand Resolved: that random testing of student athletes for illegal drug use is justified.

To make sure the resolution is clear, I offer the following definitions taken from Webster's Dictionary:
*random- lacking a definite plan, purpose, or pattern.
*testing- a critical examination, observation, or evaluation.
*student athlete- one who attends a school and is trained in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.
*illegal-not according to or authorized by law.
*drug-something that causes addiction or habituation.

The value that I will uphold in today's round is that of safety.

The criteria that I chose to uphold and weigh by value is that of utilitarianism.

I have three contentions to uphold my value and criteria. They are One: Athletes are poised leaders of the school, Two: Drugs affect the safety of all students in the school, and Three: Drugs affect all the athletes on the field.

Now on to my first contention: Athletes are poised leaders of the school.

In the majority of schools, athletes are considered leaders. As leaders, athletes are looked upon with great respect and their presence is often followed. In the 1996 Olympics, Gary Hall, winner of three medals was found positive in a drug test. This left the US teams in horror. Many swimmers admired him. Some may have even followed his bad example. Why can't this scenario also happen in a high school or junior high? Lt. Gov. Gary Davis said that studies show that 42% of 12th graders said that they used illegal drugs in the past 12 months. I believe that athletes' examples are followed, not only can they hurt others, but also themselves which brings me to

Contention Two: Drugs affect the safety of all students in the school.

According to Justice Scalia of the Supreme Court, "The effects of a drug-infested school are visited not just upon the users, but upon the entire student body and faculty as the educational process is disrupted." When a student goes to school, he does not need to be worried about the big jock on campus who takes steroids. Steroid users have an increased potential for violence. The student knows this and will in turn, worry more about avoiding the jock and not on his studies. Now on to

Contention Three: Drugs affect all the athletes on the field.

The game has just started and you're ready to play. Everything is great and it's the big game. You're part of the line and getting ready to block, but something is really bothering you. The center on the opposing team is giving you dirty looks, like he really wants to kill you. All of the sudden the quarterback says, "hike," and the center charges at you, rips off your helmet and begins to beat you until you are unconscious. The crowd is stunned and apparently so are you. If only they had drug tested that center. How would you like a friend, a relative, or even yourself to be injured by a drugged up athlete? If there was random drug testing, it could be possible for such disasters to be prevented.

In conclusion, I firmly believe that for the majority to be free of safety worries, the random testing for illegal drug use among student athletes needs to be put in effect for the safety of everyone. I believe that athletes are role models and that the best example for others to follow is for the athletes to be drug free.

I am now open for cross examination.

**NOTE: I did not write this case myself. I was given it by my sqad leader. I just included it for reference if the topic ever is to come back up.