Debating Dictators PDF Print E-mail
By Sebastian Hirsch   
Tuesday, 06 September 2005


On Club Day, about 75 people gathered in the Campus Center to witness this semester's opening event of the IUB Debating Society. It started with a short presentation on the Society, its activities, and the rules of debating. While President Axel Domeyer was giving this introductory talk, seven of IUB's finest debaters started preparing for a show debate. They were joined by first-year student Gabriela Olariu, who had gained a lot of debating experience in high school and teamed up with alumnus Steffen Vollmerding. The motion 'That this house believes in benevolent dictatorship' was reminiscent of the Society's early days under Attiya Noon from Pakistan, and it promised heated debate. Yet Sebastian Hirsch and Henrik Maedler lacked the spirit to earnestly discuss the merits of Pakistan's strong leader President Pervez Musharraf.

Instead, they chose to make use of the definitional powers of the opening government team and proposed to institute Henrik as the benevolent dictator of the IUB student government. While they drew many laughs from the audience, their proposal was also met with fierce opposition from the opposing bench. Steffen and Gabriela cited the many achievements of the current government and questioned the superior qualities of the proposed candidate.

On the second half of the table, Algirdas Grybas and Alena Asyamova gave a nod to the 'awesome people" who had assembled for the debate and suggested that the IUB Debating Society members should take over the leadership of all other student clubs. Matthias Bröcheler and Stefan Anca opposed on the grounds of time management, and doubted to find someone for ballet dancing.

Chief Adjudicator Mark Comerford was pleased by the entertaining debate, though he had to note a slight lack of content in some speeches. The best team award went to Algirdas and Alena, while Matthias was named best speaker. Members of the audience were as delighted as the adjudicators and many expressed their interest to join the Society.

They were given the opportunity to do so last Saturday as the Society held an introductory workshop on British Parliamentary Style debating. An event which attracted more than 35 people, the 3.5 hour workshop combined instruction in debate theory with many practical examples and exercises, culminating in a "Society Freshies' Debate". While the workshop participants enjoyed the event as being one professionally organized experience, the Society's Presidential Board was delighted with the turn-out and strong interest on the part of the participants.

All acquired knowledge can be put into practice on Tuesday, September 06, at 09:00 p.m. in the Student Bar. There the IUB Debating Society will commence this semester's series of Casual Debates, which should see an exciting mixture of experienced and new debaters at the table. Casual Debates comply with regular British Parliamentary Style and are held on serious and humorous topics in an informal setting.

All members of the IUB community are cordially invited to attend and will have the opportunity to join the Society. Refreshments are available from the Bar.
 
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