Debsoc’s back and better than ever!  

Our tournaments aren't all about the debating

Thinking about joining? 

We cater for all abilities, from beginner to expert, so if you’re interested, there are lots of ways to sign up.  Come to Opening Night or our first debating night. Email us at exec@debating.co.nz.  Visit our stand near the quad - we’ll be there during Freshers’ Week from 9am – 5pm, and during O Week from 8am – 5pm.  We’ll even have a stand at Law School, 11am – 3pm during O Week.  Remember, if you were a member last year you’ll still need to re-join this year.

Opening Night

Some say Opening Night is the biggest event on the Debsoc calendar.  They’re probably right.  So come along on Tuesday 9th March at 6pm to hear what Debsoc has to offer you.  You can watch some of our best speakers argue it out in a debate, mix and mingle with the Debsoc crowd and enjoy some drinks and nibbles – on us.  Oh and by the way – the venue is TBC, but it will be on campus.  All the more reason to join us.

Tush, Bri and Craig demonstrate just how much fun there is to be had at Opening Night

Thursday 12th March

This is when it all begins.    Take part in a training seminar, watch a How to Debate video or try your hand at debating itself with other speakers of a similar ability.  We’ll of course top it off with some friendly drinks at a nearby bar afterwards. 

Debsoc’s back.  Get excited.

End of Year Dinner 2009

Thanks to everyone who came to the End of Year Dinner. It was a fantastic night and it was great to see you all. Thanks too for the kind words. At the dinner we handed out a number of awards for 2009, which are summarized below:

Oratory Competition – 3rd Place:
Briony Bennett

Oratory Competition – 2nd Place:
Sam Bookman

Oratory Competition – 1st Place:
Max Harris

Amatuer (weekend) BP Tournament – Best Speaker:
Alex Kirch

Amatuer (weekend) BP Tournament – Winners:
Chuan-Zheng Lee and Charlotte Forster

Auckland University BP Open – Best Speaker:
Nupur Upadhyay

Auckland University BP Open – Runners Up:
Hank Bao and Alex Chiu

Auckland University BP Open – Winners:
Sam Bookman and Gretta Schumacher

Most Promising Female Speaker:
Gretta Schumacher

Most Promising Male Speaker:
Sam Bookman

Best Speaker:
Max Harris

Shield for Contribution to the Club:
Glenn Riddell

Life Membership:
Life Membership of the Society was awarded to Desley Horton and Brad Ward

Debating: it's what we do.

Hi all,

After 8 competitive rounds we are happy to announce the results and break for the AUBPO contest in 2009.

1. Before we get to those results however, please take note of the special arrangements for this Thursday:

• There will be a semi-final held at 6pm this Thursday (instead of a regular ‘Pro Debate’);
• There will be a Grand Final straight afterward (when the second round normally occurs);
• General debates will be at the special time of 6pm (so in the first time slot) so people can watch the final if they wish to;
• If you want to participate in a general debate you must therefore arrive at the special time of 610pm;
• People are welcome (and encouraged) to watch the semis and finals!

2. Top Eight Teams (in order):

Below are the top breaking teams in order of results. Teams were ranked first by their ‘win points’ and then where necessary by their speaker scores. Where teams had debated more than 5 times, their top 5 results were counted.

These people are happy because they can't wait to be at the AUBPO final!

1. Brad/Nupur (not eligible to break)

2. Gretta/Sam

3. Benedict/Mark

4. David/Jesse

5. Hank/Alex

6. Charlotte/Chuan-Zheng

7. Ashton/Verity

8. Aritra/Andrew

9. Kate/Kirsty

These 8 teams (including Kate and Kirsty because my team will not be continuing) will be text over the next few days to confirm their availability for the finals. Congratulations to those teams and to everyone else who competed!

3. Top Ten Speakers (in order)

Below are the top ten speakers in order. Note that speakers were ranked if they had debated at least three times. Scores were taken individually, so people who did not have consisted teams were not disadvantaged.

Some of our members. A happy bunch. We dress well.

1. Brad Ward

2. Nupur Upadhyay

3. Mark Tush

4. Sam

5. Gretta

6. Ed Brownlee

7. Charlotte Forster

8. Ashton Goatley

9. Benedict Tompkins

10. Tim Conder

4. Special Thanks:

Many of you will have debated against me during the preliminary rounds. It’s been good to have an opportunity to debate alongside you all rather than simply judge you each week. Because the tournament is about you however, my team will not be progressing in the tournament. On that basis, I would like to pay special thanks to my partner in crime, Nupur Upadhyay, who misses out on an opportunity to compete in the finals as a result. Nupur has been a strong debater and her individual speaker ranking reflects that; I’m sure on any other team she would have otherwise been in the final so my thanks and congratulations go to her.

Thanks also to everyone who has competed, debated and adjudicated throughout the semester. It’s been a great tournament and I hope you have all enjoyed it.

5. Weekly ‘Best Speaker’ awards:

You will recall that each week we have been awarding the best speaker in a randomly drawn room a prize. That prize has been a free ticket to our end of year dinner (see below). Not all weekly winners have been announced on the night, so check below for your name. Winners are:

This is me congratulating the AUBPO winners.

• Round 1: Tracey Hu
• Round 2: Charlotte Forster
• Round 3: Chantelle Butler
• Round 4: TBC (see below)
• Round 5: TBC (see below)
• Round 6: TBC (see below)
• Round 7: Rupert Nelson
• Round 8: Jesse Hart

Apologies that I do not have the winners recorded for Rounds 4,5 and 6. I don’t have the results with me and would prefer to get this email out to you all as soon as possible. If anyone can help fill me if they remember receiving a prize that would be appreciated, otherwise I will be in touch with the other 3 recipients when I track down the mark sheets!

Come and have dinner with us!

The annual Debsoc End of Year Dinner is being held next Friday! This is an event not to be missed and you MUST RSVP if you want to come. Ticket sales may be limited, so get in quick! Details are:

When: Friday 23 October, from 6pm.

Where: Shochiku Japanese Teepan Yaki Restaurant – 460 Queen St

Cost: $20 per person

Food: Price includes a set dinner menu. There is a choice between chicken, beef and a vegetarian option. Dinner includes rice, salad, fried dumplings, miso soup, sushi, katsu and more!

Drinks: The Society will be putting on half a bottle of wine free per person. Given that some people will not drink, this will probably work out to slightly more than half a bottle per drinker in practice. We are investigating what we can do for non-drinkers and will announce something closer to the night. The restaurant is BYO with corkage waived, so you can bring extra wine should you like! There is a bottle shop right next door to the restaurant, so you will be able to pop next door during the evening if needed.

What happens: We’ll have dinner, drinks, make some short speeches and give out some awards. Then we’ll hit town. It’s a big night and a good way to celebrate the end of debating and the end of classes. Don’t miss it.

Payment: We will not be taking cash on the night, so you must RSVP and pay in advance. There are three ways to pay:

• In person this Thursday at Debsoc;
• Text me on 021 2344612 and meet me somewhere at uni this week;
• Bank transfer us us the cash (preferred option);

Bank Details:

• Account Name: University of Auckland Debating Society;
• Account Number: 38-9008-0327404-00

Get in quick and email us if you have any questions!

Brad

Meet Akif this week at Debsoc

Hi all,

1. AUBPO Continues this Thursday 15 October
Rather than hold the AUBPO break rounds this week we have decided to hold those next week and hold another general AUBPO round to let teams have one last hit at reaching five debates. That means all teams can enter/attend as usual and we will have be having casual debates for people not in teams as well. We will be in Stone this week. A Pro Debate will start at 6pm so arrive anytime before 6:45pm to register for the general rounds. The topic for that round will be released at 7:15pm.

This is instead of a catch up round tomorrow.

2. So the AUBPO Final is Next Thursday 22 October
The break to the final debate in the AUBPO Competition will be announced this Friday and a final will take place next Thursday. More details will follow on Friday

3. End of Year Dinner Next Friday 23 October
The End of Year Dinner and Prize-giving is shaping up for next Friday 23 October. We have something pretty cool in mind and will announce the location and pricing details tomorrow or Thursday. In the meantime, just keep that night free for some Debsoc fun!

4. NZBP This Novemeber
The NZ BP Champs take place next month on 21/22 November in Wellington. The competition is open entry – so ANYONE can attend. Better yet, you get to select your own team! Auckland Debsoc always sends a large contingent along and we expect at least 25-30 of us will make it down this time too. More details can be found here. It’s going to be an excellent way to finish the year, so we encourage everyone to think about attending!

If you didn’t email in last week, do email in and let us know if you wish to attend!

That’s all,

Brad