So far as I can determine, the Maryland Academic Quiz Team has run an successful program for many years. They have lengthy experience in running tournaments at both the high school and college level. They enjoy playing ACF. I was interested in playing at DSHIT III back in May, to celebrate the end of the school year. Unfortunately, we weren't able to make the long trek to College Park, but I did write and submit a packet for it. Maureen Smith was kind enough to put up with (and actually use, I believe) my horrid first packet, and for the encouragement I received from that I am quite grateful. On the other hand, I have also read postings on the mailing list by members of MAQT that were mean, petty, and spiteful. The point of this discourse is that, in this Internet age, Messrs. Allen, Hamilton, et al. have passed the Turing Test and have convinced me that they are indeed humans. Judging from the recent postings of Mr. Goss and Mr. Schluessel, it would seem as though seeing them alive and breathing makes it more difficult to recognize them as human. The issue at hand is that a MAQT house team won the MAQT's tournament, and they won a key game on a packet written by MAQT alumni. In the "argument" that has raged since this hit the net, the following accusations have been fielded against MAQT: 1) The questions were stacked to favour the Maryland team because Maryland played Chicago on Michigan's packet. 2) The house team was acting as a legitimate tournament contender, not assuming its proper role of being there to round out the field. 3) Maryland has stacked the quizbowl canon so as to favour themselves. 4) Rudeness and arrogance. Starting with #4 -- obviously it does not behoove a host team to be rude and arrogant. People don't like travelling a long way and paying a lot of money to be treated badly. As I wasn't there, I can't say whether or not anyone was rude; I just think it goes without saying that rudeness is bad, and all teams should strive to minimize it. As for #1 to #3 -- I ran a tournament last month. The UWO house team finished in second place, which was rather surprising to a lot of people, myself included. Most of the feedback I received from the competitors was positive. The negative comments were the of the usual sort -- a bit too hard, not enough science, that sort of thing. This message will be continued in the ever-exciting part two!
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