Update: European Championships

Every year in the summer 600-odd debaters travel from all corners of Europe to one university that hosts the European Debate Championships (EUDC). This year EUDC was held in Vienna (home of strudel, Culture, and amazing organisational prowess) and LSE sent eight of our finest (or at least most debate obsessed): three teams and two judges. Among the many reasons to join the LSESU Debate Society (semi-warm semi-regular free pizza, intellectual advancement, the preposterous good looks of almost all of our committee members) the chance to go to EUDC has to be a strong contender. All the debaters stayed in a lovely four-star hotel (the cost of which was included in the society-sponsored ticket) with almost all meals included. Each day was spent debating, with time left over to explore Vienna.

“One of my favourite moments was hanging out in Prater at night, after a long day of judging debates in the hot Vienna summer. It was lot of fun to just go on all these ancient, weird rides with all the great, friendly people from all over the world.”

- Felix, who is tragically leaving us this year

Debaters at Prater, an enormous 250 year-old amusement park

The most tense (but also exciting) part of these days are often the moments before the motion is announced, after which you have only fifteen minutes to prepare your arguments. The motion could be on private military contractors, arms embargos on China, ‘placebo’ medications like homeopathy or how TNC’s should be regulated in the developing world (all of these were covered throughout the week), but in that moment you have no idea. The debates are eight speeches long: in each you need to quickly rebut everything that was said before you, before trying to squeeze in a new and original case for your side. After the debate, as you wait outside until the judge delivers the call, you chat nervously with the other debaters (some of whose arguments you may have just heatedly disparaged). There is something uniquely valuable in the opportunities to meet people you get at these events. You often find out that the speakers you were competing against are from Warsaw, Istanbul, or Tel Aviv citizens of fascinating countries who sometimes have completely different perspectives on the issues being debated.

Austrian cuisine in copious amounts, organised by Vienna EUDC

“My favourite debate was probably round 6: “This House would only allow the media and campaigning organisations to depict or publish information about the deceased in a tragedy with the explicit permission of the family.” It was both an interesting variation on consent arguments - why even when we are dead, we may still have rights to privacy and dignity - and a discussion on whether this would make the world a better place. The motions in general allowed a lot more non-consequential analysis than most debate competitions I've been at, that was very refreshing.”

- Billy, our Training Officer (who apparently thinks it is OK to use ‘non-consequential analysis’ in casual conversation)

Belvedere Palace, Vienna

For the gala on the last night of the competition (when the winners of the final are announced) the Vienna Org Comm managed to get the completely unbelievable Rathaus (Town Hall): a beautiful Neo-Gothic building in the centre of Vienna. LSE Debate looked lovely (please see evidence below) and acted far more sophisticated than we ever have or will again.

Saskia and Hannah, competing as LSE B

One of the most difficult group photos of all time, coordinated for your enjoyment

Felix and Jamie*

The results were good as well: LSE A, B and C finished in 20^th, 21^st and 53^rd place respectively, out of 215 teams! Daniel Bramble, our training officer, was also the 37^th best speaker (out of 427). Claudia, our president, was nominated to judge the semi-finals. The morning after, we all separated: some returned to England, Hannah went to Shanghai, Saskia went to Würzburg, and Bramble, Billy and Julia set off to hitchhike to Rotterdam.

Now that almost all of us are back in London, we’re (supposed to be) busy planning exciting events for the beginning of term, like a public debate, newcomer training sessions, and tryouts for the first tournament of the year. Whether you find us online or at Fresher’s Fair, we hope to meet you soon!

- Julia Slupska, Publicity Officer

Facebook / Twitter

Also, feel free to send me an email at j.slupska@lse.ac.uk !

*Disclaimer: debaters rarely this dashingly well-dressed