If you enjoyed the VSM Public Debate, you should come along to the Old Government Buildings Lecture Theatre One again tonight at 6:30pm to hear the final debate in the Victoria Debating Society’s 2009 series. The debate (on the moot “That this House has confidence in Her Majesty’s Government” will be chaired by the Vice Chancellor Professor Pat Walsh and will feature four champion present and past student debaters (Chris Bishop, Richard D’Ath, Clodagh O’Connor McKenna and Seb Templeton), Labour MP Chris Hipkins and past president of the New Zealand Young Nationals Michael Mabbett. There will be a question and answer session and tea, coffee and chatting afterwards.

For more info, contact me on 027 349 6498/emilyrobyn@gmail.com or join the group for this event at this link:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137458127514&index=1

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The public debates this year have been a huge success. Now on Monday we’re happy to announce the most relevant of these to you – the voluntary student union membership debate. The debate will be held at 6:30pm in the Old Government Building (Pipetea Campus) Lecture Theatre One.

The speakers are:

Aff
David Garrett MP
Stephen Whittington (student debater)
Peter McCaffrey (ACT on Campus Vice President)

Neg
Helen Kelly (President, New Zealand Council of Trade Unions)
Seb Templeton (student debater)
Max Hardy (Vic Labour President)

There will also be a panel of both people in the debate, and other speakers to ask questions of at the end.
For more information, check out the Facebook event here.

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If you’ve been to our last two public debates you’ll know the third isn’t to be missed. If you haven’t been to the others: the third one isn’t to be missed. The topic is ‘That we need a centre-right government’ and we’ve got a great line-up of speakers.

On the aff: Stephen Franks (National candidate for Wgtn Central)
Christopher Finlayson MP (National candidate for Rongotai)
Stephen Whittington (champion student debater).

And the neg: Grant Robertson (Labour candidate for Wgtn Central)
Sue Kedgley MP (Green candidate for Wgtn Central)
Polly Higbee (champion student debater).

The debate will be chaired by Sean Plunket from Radio New Zealand and it will be a gold coin entry affair with questions and tea and coffee afterwards. The key info: Monday 6:30pm in Rutherford House LT1. Be there.

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If you haven’t heard about it, keep reading. On Monday 4th August we’re hosting our second public debate, on the topic That God is dead. It will be at 6pm in Rutherford House. After the huge success of our last public debate on education vouchers, this one promises to be even better. make sure you’re free that night to come along.

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Missing Debsoc over your exam/holiday break? Check out the public debate that we ran on school vouchers back in May. Whether you missed it or came along it’s a great 90 minutes’ entertainment. Well done to Emily who ran it, and our very own Stephen Whittington who showed his skills against some high profile speakers.

Check out this debate under the video section, which you can find under the Debsoc Guide tab. Also keep an eye out for the intro debate from this year, and last year’s winning Plunket Medal speech. They’ll be up by the end of July.

Happy holidays!

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Last night saw the conclusion of the largest and most successful Vic Champs grade for many years, with the team of Sarah Wilson, Philip Belesky, Richard D’Ath, Corrina Howland, and Nick Henwood taking down Ben Moore, Philip Claridge, Nik Bruce-Smith and Kathy Scott-Dowell and Harley Thorpe in a 5-0 decision in the Grand Final.

A number of individual awards were given out. Congrats to: Sarah Wilson (Best Speaker of Vic Champs 2008), Philip Claridge (Most Improved), Ben Moore (Highly Commended) and Philip Belesky (Highly Commended). Thanks to Hugh McCaffrey for running Vic Champs 2008.

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The first in a series of public debates organised by the Debating Society, and sponsored by Victoria University, takes place on 26 May at 6pm in Rutherford House (Lecture Theatre Two).

Topic: That New Zealand should implement a system of education vouchers

Affirmative: Roger Kerr (Business Roundtable), Heather Roy MP (ACT candidate for Wellington Central) and Stephen Whittington (LLB Hons/BA student, champion student debater)

Negative: Grant Robertson (Labour candidate for Wellington Central), John Minto (Quality Public Education Coalition), and Arthur Graves (Principals’ Council of New Zealand).

Spread the word and come along on the 26th! Free entry.

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We have a lot of public debates planned for 2008. It’s election year and there’s a lot to be debated. Stay tuned here for an update from Emily soon on some of our big public projects this year.

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