ANU75: Student debate by Experience ANU

Promoting a safe space to debate is a key function of a university. It enables students to make decisions, not just limiting to themselves, but the world around them. As Sydney J. Harris, a 20th century journalist from the Chicago Daily News said, 'The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.'

The topic for this debate was: That the present condition of humanity is better than it will be in 100 years time.

Our student debaters:
Dominic Guinane is a 3rd year JD student, and also holds a Master of Public Administration from ANU's Crawford School of Public Policy. Since coming to ANU, he has won the Australasian Debating Championship in 2017, where he was also named the best speaker of the tournament. He has also appeared in the Grand Final of the World Universities Debating Championship and the Semi Final of the Australian Intervarsity Debating Championship, where he was again the best overall speaker.

Jordyn Gibson is a final year student studying Law/International Relations. She currently works on biosecurity policy within the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. She has been debating for 5 years and has been the champion and best speaker of the Australasian Women and Gender Minorities' Championship, a quarterfinalist of the Australasian Intervarsity Championship, and a quarterfinalist and 9th best speaker of Australian National Championship.

Ally Pitt is a 2nd year studying Arts (Linguistics) and International Security Studies, and one of the Vice Presidents of the ANU Debating Society. In 2020, she was the champion of the Australasian Wom*n's Debating Championship and runner up at the Australian Intervarsity Debating Championships. In the future, she hopes to avoid the corporate 9-5 by contributing to language conservation and documentation in Oceania.

Tomas Frankham is a sixth-year student currently in his second semester of a Masters of Political Science. He has been debating for six years and has made the Quarterfinals of the Australasians championships, as well as the Octofinals of both Australian and World championships. He intends to work in the public service after his studies.

Ellen Thurlow is a fourth year law and international relations student at ANU, who works part time at the AGS and the high court. She likes debating and has been doing it since Year 6. Ellen has made the grand finals of several inter-varsity competitions and her team won the Australasian Inter-varsity debating championship in 2020.

Callum Dargavel is undertaking an honours program following completion of a Bachelor of Asian Studies/PPE. He was champion and best grand final speaker at the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championship in 2017. He was also best overall speaker at the Australian Championships in 2020.

Our judging panel consisted of:

Sarah Ison, Political Reporter from The Australian

Professor Nicholas Brown, School of History, ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences

Alicia Louise Lillington, Change and Communications Lead, Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment

About the ANU Debating society
ANU Debating is one of the most active and successful debating societies both in Australia and the world. We regularly have teams competing at the highest levels in the finals of the annual national, regional and world debating championships.

https://anusa.com.au/life/club/anudebating/