Can the 'Merger' Emerge with Multiple Identities?

This paper considers the future of the National Debate Tournament (NDT)/Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) merger from a historical perspective. The paper speculates on "natural rhythms" of organizations for perpetuation and attenuation. Specifically, it explores the historical growth and retrenchment of Delta Sigma Rho (DSR)/Tau Kappa Alpha (TKA) and Phi Kappa Delta (PKD) as a model for the future of the current merger. It finds that Vectors of Goals, Competitive Demands, and Governance converge and diverge in "predictable" ways, suggesting good and bad times for the merger. (NKA)