Otago University Debating Society
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The Otago University Debating Society (OUDS) was established in 1888 and is the oldest Otago University Dunedin, New Zealand society.
For 118 years OUDS has aimed to provide a welcoming forum to debate issues facing New Zealand and beyond. OUDS members compete in domestic, national and international tournaments.
In conjunction with members from the Otago University Rugby Club, OUDS members formed the Otago University Students Association (OUSA) in 1890 because it felt that university students needed strong representation. OUSA has become a strong advocate for student rights.
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[edit] Bluff Cup
Bluff Cup is the name given to the debates held between members of OUDS each week. The aim of the competition is to strengthen speakers of all abilities and to have fun debating a variety of topics. Each team name is be based on a South Island locality. The Bluff Cup itself was donated in 1988 by the team the won the OUDS championship - Team Bluff.
The 2005 Bluff Cup title went to the Rakiura Rebels, led by Max Johns.
The final debate in the 2006 Bluff Cup was a showdown between the Taieri Tycoons and the Maori Hill Mafia. The moot was "That this House supports the Otago University Code of Student Conduct", and it was won by the Tycoons who were negating the motion.
OUDS Individual Achievement Awards 2006:
- Debater of the Year: Jesse Wall
- Adjudicator of the Year: Simon Connell
- Most Promising Speaker: Joanna Welson
- President's Cup for Greatest Contribution to the Society: Clifford Robinson
[edit] Univeristy Games
University Games (also known as "Easters") is the first national debating tournament of the year. Otago is a regular competitor at the tournament, usually sending the maximum of five teams. The tournament is held in the first mid-semester break. Teams (of two speakers) are given 3 minutes preparation time. University Games provides an ideal opportunity to dive head first into both debating and socialising, providing the chance to meet debaters and adjudicators from other New Zealand Universities. University Games 2007 will be held at the University of Canterbury on 10th - 13th April.
Otago has performed well at this tournament in recent years. In 2005, Otago 1 made the final of the competition with Marcelo Rodreguiez-Ferrere being named in the New Zealand Universities Impromptu Debating Team. Laura Fraser was also named in the New Zealand Team as both Captain and Best Speaker. In 2006, Otago 2 made the semi finals with Jesse Wall being named as reserve for the New Zealand team and Will Chisholm receiving a Highly Commended.
[edit] Claytons
Claytons is a casual tournament designed for more inexperienced debaters. It is held annually between OUDS and the University of Canterbury Debating Society who alternate as the host. It is open to debaters who have not been to more than two national tournaments. Teams of three speakers are given 30 minutes preparation time before each debate.
OUDS hosted the 2006 competition was in Waimate, South Canterbury. In a very close final debate, the tournament was won by a team from Canterbury. Two OUDS members, Tristan Egarr and Lucy Johnson were selected in the tournament team for speaking very well at the tournament.
[edit] Australs
"Australs" or the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships is a week long competition and held in the break between University semesters. The event brings together a wide range of Australasian debating societies. Australs provides an opportunity for debaters of all abilities to participate in one of the worlds largest international tournaments.
Debates are held over a range of international topics. Australs follows a traditional debating format: 3 team members with 7 preliminary rounds. Topics are impromptu with half and hour of preparation time allowed.
In 2005, Australs was held in Brisbane. The OUDS A team (Kate Wevers, Renee Heal and Laura Fraser) were ranked 15th after the preliminary rounds. However, they were knocked out in the Octo-finals.
2006, Australs were held at Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. A strong contingent of OUDS members attended this competition. Mention here must go to Simon Connell who made it to the quarter-finals as an adjudicator. Monash 1 took out the title after a fantastic debate against Melbourne 1.
[edit] Joynt Scroll
Joynt Scroll (otherwise known as New Zealand University Prepared Debating Championships or "Winters") is a 3 team member fully prepared debating competition. Joynt Scroll is New Zealand’s oldest and most respected national university debating tournament. Otago has a very strong record in the competition. OUDS is the only society to have had a team in the final every year since 2003, with OUDS winning the competition in 2004.
OUDS won the 1979 competition - the first win in 22 years with a team consisting of Michael Laws, Greg McCormick and Rod Carr and won it again in 1983 with Laws, Vicky Casey and Liam Kennedy defeating the Otago University 1 team in the final. This was the first year double entries from universities were allowed. Laws and Carr were selected as both NZ Universities and New Zealand debating representatives.
In 2005 OUDS hosted the tournament. Laura Fraser was named in the New Zealand Team Universities Prepared Debating Team. Otago 3 team members Nick Valentine and Jono Willis received Promising Speaker awards, and Otago 2 member Will Chisholm picked up a Highly Commended Award. Otago 1 made the final but lost a closely fought debate by a 3-4 split to Auckland 1. Otago's adjudicators also performed well.
The 2006 Joynt Scroll tournament was hosted in Auckland during the second semester break. It was won by Victoria, who beat Otago 1 in a well-fought final. The Otago team consisted of Jesse Wall, Dan Connor and Laura Fraser. Ms Fraser made the New Zealand team and Emma Peart broke to the final as an adjudicator.
[edit] Victoria University BP Tournament
The Victoria University BP (British Parliamentary) tournament is held at the very end of the academic year after the stress of exams are over. It is a relatively new tournament and debates are run in British Parliamentary style (as is done at the World Universities Debating Championship). It was established in 2004 by the Victoria University Debating Society.
The tournament is a mixture of social and serious debating. OUDS has had teams reach the finals of the competition in both 2005 and 2006.
[edit] Worlds
OUDS sends members to compete in the World Universities Debating Championship in most years. Worlds is held over the New Year and 300+ teams from all over the globe come together and debate in Parliamentary Debate style over a period of 10 days.
The 2008 tournament will be held in Thailand, and the 2009 tournament in Cork.
[edit] Crate Debate
This is an annual debate which is more about the social aspects of debating than the quality of the debate itself. The moot for the 2006 debate was "That the street deserves the beat". No one is quite sure who won...
[edit] OUDS Alumni
- Mary Emelia Moore (1869 – 1951) (Presbyterian missionary)
- Michael Laws (writer/broadcaster and currently Mayor of Wanganui; former MP for National and NZ First)
- Rod Carr (at Otago University 1977-1981) Deputy Governor Reserve Bank of New Zealand 1998-2003
- Rebecca Macfie (award-winning journalist, editor 'Unlimited' magazine)(1978-81)
- Craig Stobo (former chief executive of Bankers Trust)
- David Pine ('Sneaky Feelings' pop singer and current NZ ambassador to Malaysia)
- Tim Gibson (current CE of NZ Trade & Industry)
- Lisa Futschek (former UN diplomat & NZ charge d'affaire to South America)
- Hon. David Cunliffe (Minister of Immigration & Telecommunications)
- Rachel Carell (Rhodes Scholar 2001), Chris Curran (Rhodes Scholar 2001), Melanie Bunce (Commonwealth Scholar 2005), Holly Walker (Rhodes Scholar 2006)
- Lawyers incl Liam Kennedy, Dean Tobin, Sally McMillan, Vicky Casey, Paul Johns.
- Civil servant and general layabout Max Johns.
[edit] Contacting OUDS
OUDS is run by an elected executive. The society organises a range of different social and debating functions throughout the year. OUDS is always looking for new members, regardless of your debating ability and experience. If you would like to contact OUDS, you can do so by emailing ouds2007@gmail.com or by writing to us at the following address:
Otago University Debating Society c/o OUSA, Cumberland Street, Dunedin, New Zealand.
OUDS will also be represented at the University of Otago Clubs and Societies Day on the 21st February 2007, Clubs and Societies Centre, Albany Street.
[edit] OUDS 2007
- President: Laura Fraser
- Vice President: Jono Willis
- Secretary-Treasurer: Emma Peart
- Development: Will Chisholm
- Social: Nick Valentine
- Schools Representative: Josh McGettigan
- Public Relations: Poppy Haynes
- First Year Representative: Andrew 'Mosgiel' Haines
- Womans Rights Officer: Harriette Richards
