Otago University Debating Society
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The Otago University Debating Society (OUDS) was established in 1888 and is the oldest University of Otago, 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 based on a South Island locality. The Bluff Cup itself was donated in 1988 by the team the won the OUDS championship - Team Bluff.
[edit] University 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 was 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.
In 2007, Otago 1 made the semi-finals, whilst Otago stalwart William Chisholm was awarded with a place in the NZ debating team. Nicholas Gavey was awarded Most Promising Speaker.
[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.
The 2007 tournament, held in Christchurch, was won by Otago.
[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. The tradition was broken in 2007, in which there were 8 preliminary rounds. Otago did not attend. Topics are impromptu with half an hour of preparation time allowed.
[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 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.
[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.
[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, Vice-Chancellor of Canterbury University 2008-
- 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 (Labour MP and former Minister of Health)
- Rachel Carrell (Rhodes Scholar 2001), Chris Curran (Rhodes Scholar 2001), Melanie Bunce (Commonwealth Scholar 2005), Holly Walker (Rhodes Scholar 2006)
[edit] OUDS Executive 2008
- President: Jono Willis
- Vice President: Josh McGettigan
- Secretary-Treasurer: Poppy Haynes
- Development: Will Chisholm
- Social: Andrew 'Mosgiel' Haines
- Schools Representative: Nick Gavey
- Public Relations: Clifford Robertson
- First Year Representative: Harry Misselbrook
- Women's Rights Officer: Helen Churchman
