PHOTO: Faculty at dinner party and wine tasting

The six-day training program for university students ended last Thursday evening as the rand final and the final celebration took place. Debaters and trainers from over 18 countries had gathered together to rigorously study British Parliamentary debating in the town of Ormuz.

On Tuesday the day was altered slightly to feature a visit by the deputy chief of mission at the USA embassy, an organization that had served as a sponsor of the event. She had a lively session with the students discussing international events.

A Kitch Party was held one night where people put on the most outrageous clothing they could find (often beloning to a member of the opposite gender) for a grand time.

Just before the tournament students voted from among a slate of electives offered by the faculty. Here are the electives that they chose, and students could go to any they wanted to.

9 AM

ROOM 2

Whip Speeches – Sam Greenland

So, I speak last. What do I have to do to show I can do this speech well?

ROOM1

James & Sam’s Excellent Crash Course in Motion Analysis – James Thomas & Sam Nelson

A topic-by-topic discussion (using the topics remaining to be debated here) of the many issues that will be debated during the tournament.

ROOM 3

Fundamental Principles of Debate – Jens Fischer

Offers another look into the mechanics of debate and offers a comprehensive model of a logical and causal debate.

10 AM

ROOM 3

Winning with Style – Sam Nelson & James Thomas

Tips on doing your best while demonstrating grace under pressure.

ROOM 1

Seeing the Wood in the Trees – Jens Fischer

Debates are supposed to clash on big and important ideas. This elective shows you how to set the debate for this goal, but also make it interesting.

ROOM 2

Motions, Cases & Definitions – Sam Greenland

What is the motion really about? How can you expect the debate to develop.

The tournament began on Wednesday and there were three ropunds. The second and thirds rounds were power paired. We use the tournamnt tab software that has been developed by the Germans called TOURNAMAN, and it seemed to work well.

<== Teo & Jure at the Kitch Party

The motions at the tournament were:

Round One: European Parliament should act to condemn all smoking in public places in the European Union.

Round Two: 1. European Parliament should act to promote reduction of agricultural subsidies.

Round Three: It is justified to have affirmative action for European Parliament elections to achieve higher representation of women among its members.

Round Four: European Parliament should act to promote a mission to send humans to Mars.

Round Five: The authority of the European Parliament should be increased.

Semifinals: European Parliament should act to condemn the centralization of media outlets.

Finals: European Parliament should act to condemn the expansion of nuclear power to generate electricity.

Two teams missed the semifinals by speaker points: Siti and Hot Woodchucks. After five rounds the following teams advanced to the semifinals.

Team 208 - Dan Dauplaise & David Jelenc

Spela & Spela - Spela Kunej & Spela Kranjc

What Would Judas Do? - Filip Dobranic & Branka Marusic

Apathetic Hungarian - Elizabeth Berthold & Sean Luechtefeld

Too Bloody Early in the Morning - Maja Cimerman & Anna Kerr

Chicken Pox - Uve Poom & Urshka Derganc

Moral Lawyers - Jure Planinsek &Sintija Dobrotinsek

Danzka - Octavian Buta & Karolina Piatkowski

Two teams from each semifinal advanced to the finals. They placed as follows:

1. Apathetic Hungarian 1st opp

2. What Would Judas Do? 1st govt

3. Chick Pox 2nd opp

4. Too Bloody Early in the Morning 2nd govt

<== Malaysian debaters

Speaker awards were as follows:

1. Filip Dobranic Slovenia

2. Adam Barry USA

3. Spela Kranjc Slovenia

4. Dan Dauplaise USA

5. Simon Belak Slovenia

6. Elizabeth Berthold USA

7. Meor Malaysia

8. Spela Kunej Slovenia

9. Jure Planinsek Slovenia

10. Cheong En Min Singapore

11. Hewlens Wong Singapore

12. Otavian Buta Romania

13. Uve Poom Estonia

14. Liviu Gajora Romania

15. Sintija Dobrotinsek Slovenia

16. Sean Luechtefeld USA

17. Maja Cimerman Slovenia

18. Anna Kerr Slovenia

19. Peter Mesarec Slovenia

20. Alecsanda Botosneanu Romania

The most striking thing about the program was the way students improved massively as they days went by. Every student improved and the faculty were very impressed.

Stand by for an announcement about next year.