The KU Debating Society Has Begun.

I am not a fan of societies. They tend to have little or no attendance at meetings, and few actually engage with the students. A debating society however, is different.

Learning how to debate is a skill, it can teach you how to think on your feet, being able to put forward arguments on a variety of subjects and most of all it provides one with the life skill of public speaking. Its all about improving your confidence and changing your perspectives.

"Once learnt public speaking is a skill you keep for life, its a real investment in yourself".
-Bill Gates

It has always got to me why our ever so progressive university has a societies like the Persian or Somali society yet it does not have a debating society, a real place where students can engage in real intellectual debate. All of the TOP Universities in the country have flourishing societies that already participate in regional and international debating tournaments.

http://www.britishdebate.com/universities/unions.asp

I and others have have taken it upon themselves to set up the Kingston university's 1st debating society.

Our vision for the future is for Kingston University Students to be able to stand on the same stages and compete in the same tournaments with the best Debating Societies of the country, be it Harvard, Yale or any University in the Top 10 University Debate Rankings. It may take a year, two years or maybe ten to achieve this, but we are determined we will succeed.

European Universities Debate Rankings

Once set up I and others will be posting regularly on this space about meetings and new ideas/initiatives so be involved, after all it is being part of societies such as this which matters. So invest in yourself and get something more out of your university. 2009 is going to be a fun year.