30 teams enter English debating competition at UI<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Should the Indonesian military remain in
\npolitics? Should Indonesia lease some of its islands? Is Asterix
\nreally mightier than Obelix? Are monarchies really a thing of the
\npast? Should anyone ever become a sex symbol?<\/p>\n
These are some of the issues -- 90 altogether -- that have
\nbeen offered by organizers of the inaugural university English
\ndebating tournament which begins this weekend at the University
\nof Indonesia (UI) campus.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Varsities English Debate 1998 will see 30 teams
\n-- each with three speakers -- from 19 universities across the
\ncountry displaying their debating skills on issues ranging from
\npolitics and gender conflict, to humor.<\/p>\n
The University of Indonesia English debating society, which is
\norganizing the Aug. 1-3 tournament, has selected the Australian
\nparliamentary format for the event, promising a boisterous yet
\neloquent and stinging contest of words and wit.<\/p>\n
The winning team will be nominated for the world English
\ndebating tournament which takes place in December, Achmad
\nNurhoeri Sukarsono, president of the debating society, said.<\/p>\n
Achmad represented the University of Indonesia at the fourth
\nAsian English debating competition in Singapore last year.<\/p>\n
Hisal Maruli Manurung, who supervises the debating society,
\nsaid Indonesia lagged behind most of its neighbors when it came
\nto debating in English because it had only just begun to develop
\nthe tradition. In contrast, Singapore and the Philippines have
\nhad participants qualifying for the latter stages of
\ninternational competitions, he added.<\/p>\n
The tournament this weekend is the start of efforts to make
\ndebate in English a tradition among Indonesian students and to
\nunearth any hidden talents which may be lurking around the
\nnation's campuses.<\/p>\n
The tournament is sponsored by RCTI, a private television
\nstation. According to the tournament organizers, the sponsor will
\nbroadcast some of the debates on television. Members of the
\npublic are welcome to join the audience. (emb)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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