The Otago University Debating Society (OUDS) was established in 1888 and is the oldest Otago University Dunedin, New Zealand society. For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... Debate is a formalized system of (usually) logical argument. ... The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. ... There are two major regional debating championships for universities in Asia. ... The Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (known colloquially as Australs) is one of the worlds largest debating tournaments, second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship, and one of the largest annual student events in the world. ... The European Universities Debating Championship (colloquially known as Euros or Europeans) is a regional equivalent to the World Universities Debating Championship (Worlds) held in British Parliamentary style. ... The John Smith Memorial Mace (known between 1954 and 1995 as the Observer Mace) is the foremost student debating competition in the British Isles and Ireland. ... The North American Debating Championship is the premier parliamentary debating championship in North America, sanctioned by the national university debating associations in the United States and Canada, the American Parliamentary Debating Association and the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate. ... The American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) is the oldest intercollegiate parliamentary debating association in the United States, and one of two in the nation overall, the other being the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA). ... CUSID Logo The Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate (CUSID generally, and SUCDI in French) is the national organization which governs and represents university-level debating and public speaking in Canada. ... The English-Speaking Union is an international educational charity founded in 1918 to promote international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language. ... The National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) is one of the two national intercollegiate parliamentary debate organizations in the United States. ... Australia-Asia debate is a form of academic debate. ... British Parliamentary style debate is a common form of academic debate. ... This is a list of top-ranked university debaters from official international competitions, in any debating style. ... The coat of arms for the Cambridge Union Society, which shares much in common with the coat of arms for the University of Cambridge. ... The front aspect of Glasgow University Union Glasgow University Union (GUU) is one of the students unions operating at the University of Glasgow. ... The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a private debating society in the city of Oxford, England, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Logo of the UCC Philosoph The UCC Philosophical Society the Philosoph is the largest debating society at University College Cork, Ireland. ... The stage of Conron Hall at University College, the main debating chamber of the University of Western Ontario Debating Society Gallery at Conron Hall The University of Western Ontario Debating Society is the oldest student association at the University of Western Ontario, and is one of the largest and most... The College Historical Society (commonly known as The Hist) was founded in Trinity College in 1770 and traces its creation to the historical society founded by the philosopher Edmund Burke in Dublin in 1747. ... The University Philosophical Society (commonly known as The Phil or The Auto-Phil) is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin. ... Logo of Debsoc, 2007 Logo of the VUW Australs 2006 VUW Debsoc, Joynt Scroll 2006 The Victoria University of Wellington Debating Society (Inc. ... Dunedin (ÅŒtepoti in Maori) is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the region of Otago. ...

1988 OUDS members

First Debating Dinner for 2005 OUDS members

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. Image File history File links Ouds_1988. ... Image File history File links Ouds_1988. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1121x820, 211 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1121x820, 211 KB) Licensing I, the creator of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Debate (North American English) or debating (British English) is a formal method of interactive and position representational argument. ...

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.

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.

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. Prominent homosexual Nicholas Gavey was awarded Most Promising Speaker.

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.

Australs

Some of the New Zealanders who attended the 2005 Australs Comp in Brisbane

"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. The Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (known colloquially as Australs) is one of the worlds largest debating tournaments, second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship, and one of the largest annual student events in the world. ... Image File history File links Australsgroup. ... Image File history File links Australsgroup. ... The Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (known colloquially as Australs) is one of the worlds largest debating tournaments, second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship, and one of the largest annual student events in the world. ...

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.

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.

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.

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 Carrell (Rhodes Scholar 2001), Chris Curran (Rhodes Scholar 2001), Melanie Bunce (Commonwealth Scholar 2005), Holly Walker (Rhodes Scholar 2006)

Michael Laws (born 1957) is a New Zealand politician, broadcaster and columnist. ... David Cunliffe closing the 2005 Auckland BioBlitz David Richard Cunliffe is a New Zealand politician. ...

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

External links

• OUDS website
• University of Otago homepage