Not too long ago, being dead was ever so easy. They’d force you in some debate crash course, lower you gingerly in a debate tournament with a pool of over-aged debate sharks and let you rot in peace. I know this personally, because I was a product of what Saiful personally calls the ‘crash test’ and have watched people’s hope of being president scattered and shredded in embarrassment. And that was how debaters were screened and made back then. Just like how the aborigines teach their children to swim – throw them in!
But then on one fine day, some shark came up with a bonzo idea and decided: Lets pool those green-horns together, let them have fun with one another, and eat them up later. We love happy novice debaters – They’re delicious.
Knowing this will be a huge benefit to novice debaters. If you do badly at the national novice for instance, you could either work harder, which for some people may take 261 light years. Or there is always the option of gardening.
If you do find the stomach and the fondness of getting beaten up as surprisingly liberating, debating is always the better option. I know this because I carry with me a broken nose and ligament on my left knee that has torn four times. And this is not because I’m especially clumsy. It’s what happens when you find excitement by playing rugby … and losing.
On a serious note, see you there. I’ll be adjudicating. And if you have a problem with that, yeah, whatever.
For more info, visit their website at http://utmaradebates.weebly.com/index.html.
Emberpen
February 22, 2011
Peace, bro.
I would like to put forward my opinions on the recent Novice Debate.
I believe there were a few significant things that needs to be improved.
1. The fact that this competition involves high school students and is set within UiTM campus perimeters should have made it a non-smoking area. Even if anyone demands to smoke, it should have been done outside the competition area. It imposes a bad image to many parties, especially the admin.
2. I thought that showing videos such as ’300′ was a very bad start and it killed the debate spirit. I mean, the video contains many scenes which are not suitable and doesn’t relate at all to the competition. I suggest that at least videos such as ‘The Simpsons’, although it is plain dumb, is better for the viewers of this prestigious competition.
3. I find a few motions in this competition is very disturbing and sensitive (ie unsuitable). Motions such as “THW Allow Muslims To Convert To Other Religion” (I forgot how the actual motions sounds like) and even the fake motions are a sign of condescending Islam. Try to think of it. If the Indians can cause a national outbreak in the Interlok novel issue just because of the word ‘paria’ in it, what about these motions? The effects can be detrimental. Plus, the motions don’t signify the theme ‘So Malaysians la’. I was picturing motions related to employees getting fake MCs from doctors or maybe the fact that we throw garbage around absent-mindedly.
If the admin feels my opinion isn’t justified, I would like to see a motion concerning Chinese playing fireworks in the middle of the night of CNY without the police’s consent in the future. Even brother Serphy got mad at the quarter-finals towards the Govt who said that Chinese women can’t be helped being discriminated.
These are the issues I thought were significant during the whole competition. I appreciate that the admin and those who are concerned to take actions to prevent these from happening again.
Thank you very much.
Muhammad Yunus
February 22, 2011
Hi Emberpen,
I have personally notified the organizers of the comment that you have written. Thank you for your honest concern and support.
Mai Mokhsein
February 22, 2011
Hi Emberpen,
) sincerely believes that apostasy is a serious matter concerning Malaysia that should not be ignored, as are all matters concerning constitutional rights. And in debates, there will also be a bench defending the opposite of the motion and it’s all about challenging one’s thinking skills. Should some novices really feel uncomfortable debating a sensitive issue, there’s always two other motions. Even in 2008 with the Hindraf issue, the then-adjudication core felt it was necessary for novices to debate on abolishing special rights for Malays, which I’m sure is a sentiment all adjudication core members share. We appreciate other suggestions of motions that you brought up, but the adjudication core also needs to consider whether such a topic will produce enough issues for a fruitful and progressive debate and as such leaving us no choice but to negate topics with smaller concerns such as littering and fake MCs, but focusing more on political and rights-based issues in Malaysia. Truth be told, in so far as today, they’ve only had good feedback for the Novice motions. But they would, too, extend their apologies to anyone who were offended by the motions.
We appreciate very much your feedback and suggestions. As the President of UT MARA, on behalf of the administration and the adjudication core, I would like to very much extend my apologies to you and any other participants who felt offended by the motions or the running of the tournament.
Firstly, it is very much regretful that we couldn’t actively control the debaters’ sporadic tendency to smoke on campus grounds. Rest assured that it wasn’t done with our approval, consent nor endorsement. With larger and looming responsibilities, we very much regret overlooking this matter and this matter has been duly noted by the administration.
Secondly, on behalf of the adjudication core, we’d like to inform you that the motions have been carefully chosen for the development of novices. Like in all debating tournaments, debate is all about challenging your beliefs and defending the most controversial and sensitive of issues. The adj core (and one of them from an Islamic institution
Thirdly, I’ve tried to track the aforementioned video, but to no avail. All the 30 seconds videos for the motions have been carefully screened to ensure for appropriate viewing for the schoolchildrens present. Thus, we’re very sorry if unauthorised videos had been shown to the audience during breaks that weren’t made for appropriate viewing. We’ll ensure that no similar coincidences happen in the future.
Thank you Emberpen, we don’t take any criticism lightly.
Best regards,
Mai
Kai 626
February 23, 2011
Mai,
The video mentioned was shown prior to the start of Novice, during registration of the teams on Friday. It was not in any way sanctioned by the organizing committee of National Novice 2011, nor the UT MARA Debaters. It was the initiative of several bored people who wanted to pass the time while others are registering.
I do hope that this information is useful, and I sincerely apologize on behalf of the ‘bored people’ if the movie had offended anyone.
Best Regards,
Faris Farid
Emellia
February 23, 2011
Hey Emberpen,
As the convener, I thank you for the feedback regarding the running of the tournament. I second Mai’s response to the issues raised by you earlier.
We will take necessary actions to improve Novice next year.
Ps: Thanks for the write-up, Yunus!
Cheers,
Emellia
farouq
February 25, 2011
1st of all congrats 2 you guys all for the success of novice, u guys r the best WOOOO HOOO!!
2nd i would like 2 highlight this is the most fun tourney that i had participated, KLIUC Love everything, T-shirts(re-print more lahh) the motion(wickedly cool) and the host( u guys r so frenly:) )
but there 2 minor thing i think can improve in novice, namely:
1. u guys should stick 2 the schedule coz it’s a bit unfair for other pep that did came on time, and even if we gonna wait 4 da others, i think it better to give them 1/2hour 2 came 2 the briefing provided that u warn them 1st. or else i guess if u don start to b strict in handling this prob of tourney starting and ending late, it will never stop
2. on the accommodation(delta hotel) it’s a good, but i guest Emellia was doin everything plus i can c there juz too much work load on Emellia back, and that y we had a minor problem with our room but it was quickly handle, but i would like 2 suggest that the transportation and accommodation should b done by sm1 else/ sm other commitee that only focus on transportation n acommodation only(i.e. another sub within the runner core), rather dumping it all to the convener back. sb kesian aku tgk emy 2. mlm 2 nampak ngat dia penat gile.
anyhow, all in all it was a fun tourney, for that u guys should pat urself on the back
can wait 4 the result tab!!
c ya around
farouq
February 25, 2011
ah 1 more thing
class rooms.
even though i didn’t had any prob with it, but i guest it would be great if u guys can show us the layout of the building. cause u gotta admit the S & T building is confusing. i literally walk from 1 end to another during lunch(as my own initiative) 2 understand the structure of the building n how to apply to the class room list that was given, and then i finally understand how the list work.
other then that u guys were great,
but i felt pity on OBAMA as he has 2 explain repeataively until we understand
i guest it would help Obama more if he had more runner 2 help him out too, bcoz poor guy, he had 2 run 2 everywhere and everyone.
anyhow, here a suggestion,
why dn u guys have a friendly sparring b4 the tourney it self, it would help participant to b familiarize with the place, plus preparing them 4 the tourney. that would be great
anyhow good luck guys on the upcoming tourney
Mawi-World
February 27, 2011
is it true that both teams in the finals were composite? the HELP team was not in HELP yet. and the SWAT team was not all from SWAT? IS NOT FAIR
Ashwin
March 19, 2011
Can’t find the tabs on Nat Nov 2011′s website.