Aberystwyth University Debating Union

The Aberystwyth University Debating Union (AUDU), still officially known as the University of Wales, Aberystwyth Debating Union, is a university debating society re-established in 2006 and originally formed in 1884 at what was then called the University of Wales, Aberystwyth [ [http://www.aberdebating.co.uk/index.php/about-the-adu About the ADU ] ] . This makes the debating union the oldest society at the university, which itself was founded in 1872. The society is devoted to furthering debate as a means of discussing issues in society, teaching debating and public speaking to the students of Aberystwyth University, and competing at intervarsity debating competitions in the UK,Europe and the rest of the world.

History of the Society

Aberystwyth University (under its previous guise) has had a debating society for much of its existence; however, by 2006 the old society had been disbanded and its membership had left the university, having fallen into a sclerosis arising largely from its failure to compete at inter-varsity competitions and maintain a scheduled, structured weekly debate. It had some successes in its time, most notably its victory in the Middle Temple inter-varsity competition in 1993 [ [http://flynn.debating.net/ World Debate Website ] ] . It has also sent teams to compete at various worlds and European tournaments. It was revived in its present form in 2006.

The new society was founded by a graduate student from Limerick who began putting up posters and booking a meeting room following the Aberystwyth Students' Union societies fair in early October 2006, at which he realised that the university was lacking a forum for the advancement of student speech and debate. The posters promised new members the chance to "debate the great issues of the day and compete against Britain's best and brightest at inter-varsity competitions". The first motion debated by what would be the AUDU was "that this house would legalise marijuana". This was done on a pedagogical basis by way of introducing prospective members to the rules of debating. The attendance at this first meeting was approximately twenty-three people.

At its first official sitting, a constitution was passed and the first executive of the society elected. This constitution is largely based on that of the University of Limerick Debating Union, of which society the AUDU founder and first auditor (president) is an honorary life member. This has led to a close organic relationship between the mother and child societies and much of the ethos of the AUDU is based on that of its parent. The motion for this first sitting of the house was "that this house would invade North Korea". The motion was defeated.

Initially, the AUDU had quite a significant turnover in membership, particularly among the law students who made up the bulk of its ordinary membership and officers. This was stabilised by 2007, though most of the law students have left the society, which now mainly consists of students from the University's much renowned International Politics Department.

Organisation

The organisation of the society is determined by the constitution. It comprises ordinary members and officers with different portfolios. To become an ordinary member, one merely needs to pay the subscription fee. This entitles the member to vote at any of the society's meetings and stand for election to the executive.

The executive is made up of all the elected officers, who have different responsibilities, and are answerable to the auditor. This position is currently filled by Kris Hicks [ [http://www.aberguild.co.uk/default.asp?ContentID=317 Aberystwyth Guild of Students : List of Societies ] ] .

Day-To-Day Activities

The society sits once a week, chiefly to debate a topic chosen beforehand. However, according to the society constitution, the first part of the meeting is devoted to private members time, where any member of the society may raise a topic of their choice and propose a motion in favour of any particular action or moral resolution.

Intervarsity Competitions

Despite being seriously under-funded, the society still manages to send teams to many of the inter-varsity competitions hosted by other University Societies. Some modest success has followed since 2006, especially when considering the size, age and wealth of the society. It is currently ranked 58th in the world league of University Debating Societies [ [http://www.britishdebate.com/universities/results/rankings/index.asp | British Debate | Universities | Rankings ] ] .

This rank, however, is likely to be revised upward at next calculation due to the society's success in the Welsh leg of John Smith Memorial Mace, where Holly Tomlinson and David Jones defeated teams from Cardiff, Swansea, Glamorgan and other teams from Aberystwyth, to lift the trophy [ [http://www.walesdebate.org.uk/dsp_whatsnew_detail.cfm?WhatsNewId=70 Wales Debating Federation ] ] . They are now through to represent Wales in the International Final of the John Smith Memorial Mace to be held at the headquarters of the ESU in London on April 25 2008 [ [http://worlddebating.blogspot.com/2008/04/international-mace-final.html World Debating Website: International Mace Final ] ] .

Past Auditors (2006 Revived Society Onwards)

*Nicolas Strauss 2007-08
*Michael Keary 2006-07

External links

* [http://www.aberdebating.co.uk/ Aberystwyth University Debating Union Website]
* [http://www.britishdebate.com/ British Debating Website]
* [http://www.walesdebate.org.uk/ Wales Debating Federation Website]

References