|
From February 2 to 4, 2007, 120 young “combatants” from all over Europe will visit Jacobs University to participate in the debating tournament IUB Open organized by the university’s debating society. The grand finale, which is open to the public, will take place on Sunday in Bremen's concert hall “Die Glocke”. As the second of eight tournaments the IUB Open 2007 for the third time is part of the annual debating season “ZEITDebatten” sponsored by the weekly newspaper "Die ZEIT".
[
Jan
26, 2007]
Hot debates, harebrained arguments and inventive objections, but please, presented in all earnestness, well structured, logical, and only 7 minutes long at max – this is the material of the tournamental debates starting on the Jacobs University campus next week. Under the patronage of the university’s president Joachim Treusch the debaters will perform the tournament in the British Parliamentary Style (BPS). While the preliminary rounds are held on-campus, the grand finale - Sunday, February 4 - takes place in the Bremen concert hall “Die Glocke”. Starting at 2:30 p.m. it will be opened by Christian Jacobs, President of the Jacobs Foundation. There is no entrance fee.
“An international university such as Jacobs University is an ideal venue for such an international debating tournament and the only one in English of the series”, says Henrik Maedler, president of the university’s debating club. “Whether conducted with intellectual depth, a good sense of humor or downright polemically – the debates are sure to be very exciting. This is the third tournament organized by our club and we are proud to have record application numbers this year”, he continues.
All members of the IUB community are warmly invited to join in any event of the tournament and come to see high-quality debates as well as attend debaucherous parties.
Tournament Schedule:
Friday, February 2
6.30 p.m. Opening Ceremony | Campus Centre, Conference Hall
7.00 p.m. Debates, Round 1 | East Hall/West Hall
9.30 p.m. Debates, Round 2 | East Hall/West Hall
Saturday, February 3
8.30 a.m. Debates, Round 3 | East Hall/West Hall
11.00 a.m. Debates, Round 4 | East Hall/West Hall
2.30 p.m. Debates, Round 5 | East Hall/West Hall
11.00 p.m. IUB Open Party | H 3
Sunday, February 4
11.00 a.m. Semi-Finals | Campus Centre, East Wing/West Wing
2.30 p.m. IUB Open Grand Final | “Die Glocke” (Domsheide 4/5)
 |
 |
 |
British Parliamentary Style (BPS) |
|
|
|
|
Most large international debating tournaments are carried out in British Parliamentary Style (BPS). No other style is comparatively suitable for tournament debating. A tradition of about 200 years guarantees the quality of the model both in theory and practice.
The fundamental idea of BPS is simple: four teams compete on two sides. Every speech has to provide new insights into the topic and rebut the arguments of the opposite side. The differences in content are always central, revealing the Pros and Cons. Those who elude this conflict lose.
BPS requires much technical finesse. This way, debates become thrilling and entertaining, but also very challenging. Just like political parties in a coalition, every team has to develop its own profile in order to beat the rivals on the same side without contradicting them.
The IUB Debating Society was founded back in 2002 by several students who had come to IUB from countries where debating has a long and established tradition. These students started to run a few debates on campus and introduced Society members to the basics of British Parliamentary Style.
|
|
|
