Campus Debate 2018

Margaret Thatcher said “I love argument. I love debate. I don’t expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that’s not their job.” These words came to life during Debate 2018, where student speakers of the NWU Potchefstroom Campus competed for the title of Debate champion.

Debate provides an opportunity to students of the NWU Potchefstroom Campus to hone their skills as orators. Margy Jacbos, deputy-chairperson of the SCC: Arts Council and organiser of Debate 2018 said that this marked the first time that both Afrikaans and English debate league was held. Students were challenged with complex topics like: “This house supports the United Kingdom’s decision to leave the European Union” and “This house supports a two state solution for the Israeli-Palestine conflict.”

Debate entails two teams, the government and the opposition, both consisting of 4 members. The government starts the debate where after the opposition follows with their rebuttal and counter arguments. Each member of the team (also referred to as the party) has seven minutes and fifteen seconds to deliver their arguments. Members to the debate can continually raise points of rebuttal in an effort to dismantle their counterpart’s argument. It is precisely this argument that forces speakers to think on their feet while still delivering a sensible argument.

The final adjudication panel included various debate specialists including: Prof. Paul Schutte, Daniella van Heerden, Bennie Botha, Jean-Marc Stidworthy, Leeto Nthoba, Nopisho Fish, Cyprian Moloto en Prof. Klaus Beiter.

Heide Ladies hostel triumphed as the overall winners for the ladies, with Excelsior, Patria and Veritas Men’s hostel collectively the overall winners for the gents. Ruan Jacobs and Marlene Roets were respectively crown as the best Afrikaans gents and ladies speaker, with the title of best English speakers going to Nametsegang Larato Mokae (ladies), and both Joshuea Swart and Divan van Wyk (gents).

And as any debater would testify, pick your side, and sit tight! After all, Margaret Thatcher did say: “Standing in the middle of the road is very dangerous; you get knocked down by the traffic from both sides.”

Thank you to the ATKV who made Campus Debate 2018 possible as main sponsor.

Follow the link for the complete results list of Campus Debate 2018, or go to the NWU-Puk Kunste / arts Facebook page for more information.

Written by: Christian Herselman

Photo: Tian du Preez