Echoes: Feedback and Aftershocks

Hello, debaters.

I wanted to share with you a few words from our college leadership.

First, Dr. Rachel Johnson, an Assistant Dean and Professor of Psychology (and one of our wonderful faculty advisors) reported on a few of her conversations after the event. In include a slightly shortened version of her comments here:

Jonathan - 

How amazing to have students prepare arguments, in English, and speak in public. Just having achieved this is a great thing.  

I know my group . . . didn't have much time to prepare and as a consequence their content was quite weak. Their will to participate meant that this wouldn't hold them back.  Then, at the end all three were so proud of themselves.  One of them . . .  told me that she had been truly terrified.  But she'd been prepared to put herself through this ordeal.  She then told me that it was the first time ever that she'd spoken in public - she'd not performed before, even in front of a small group, even in Arabic.  She then said that now she knows that she can both speak in public and do this in English.  And so she's going to participate again.  She was very grateful to have had the experience and boost to self-esteem.

I also spoke with the Gulf News representatives [Bala and Sanjay].  The two blokes told me how MUCH they'd enjoyed the debate, how impressed they were with the students - their energy confidence insight humour and force.  They had also been impressed by your previous 'debate on debates'.   They told me to thank you on their behalf.

I also talked to [Aida Al Busaidy] and [Maysam Ali].  They shared similar views.  They were amazed to hear also that many of the women would be from the Northern Emirates.  They're keen to cover events outside of Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so will be in touch again with you, CHSS and probably Maryak Bayshak.  They want to know about any 'event' going on here that would be interesting to cover.

Dr Rachel Johnson

Assistant Dean, Planning and Assessment

Associate Professor, Psychology

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Second, the response from Dean Baker, who remarked how pleased and proud he was several times throughout the event:

Jonathon,

Permit me to add to Rachel's encomium my own hearty written congratulations

to you and our faculty colleagues for an extraordinarily successful start to

the debate culture on campus. It would not have been nearly so wonderful

without your personal skill in bringing it all together. Today's Gulf News

has two splendid stories. It was a great occasion, and the students'

enthusiasm was wonderful to behold. No doubt word is spreading among

students and you may be swamped with more recruits and the need to move to a

larger venue next time! 

 

[Dean Baker]

Of course, all the congratulations belong to you, the teams and squads and advisors who worked so hard behind the scenes. Let's keep it up!

And speaking of congratulations, here's a link to the continued coverage in Gulf News' Notes section. 

We're still waiting for pictures to trickle in, and will post them as soon as we can. In the meantime, remember our general meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

Among other things, we need to sign up new recruits, establish our student executive, approve a schedule for the next round of debates, discuss last week's event, and (maybe) have a short training session on evidence. It will be a busy but important meeting. 

See you there!

We Have Winners!

Results of the inaugural debates are in!

Let's begin with some congratulations and recognitions:

First, we are very pleased to report that all of the teams performed admirably: despite some initial difficulties with scheduling and preparation, we were able to move ahead with the three debates as scheduled. They are all winners, and we are very proud of them for their courage and commitment.

Second, thanks ever so much to our dedicated faculty advisors: in the batter's box this month were Dr. Said, Dr. Rachel, Dr. Sally, Dr. Dawn, and Mr. Tim. They were a great help to the squads, and in turn the squads were a great help to the teams they chose to represent them. It was a wonderful night of stirring, energetic, and intelligent debate. 

Third, thanks to Saba and Mai for "speaking up" and volunteering to moderate and keep the debates on schedule. They were both wonderful, and helped make the evening a delightful affair for all.

Fourth, thanks also to the Dean and our partners at Gulf News and in the Women's Day organizing committee: Barb Struthers, Basil Muir, and, of course, the unsinkable Monique Holtzhausen. Well done, all!

Last, but certainly not least, the debates were judged by three leading lights in UAE Society--all accomplished women, and all very gracious for agreeing to join us: Ms. Maysam Ali of Gulf News--Notes, Ms. Aida Al Busaidy of dubaigroup/Dubai One, and Dr. Maryam Bayshak of our very own CHSS: fitting that as assistant dean of student success she was there to help us celebrate the successes of our debate society members.

Winners, in order of debate:

Debate 1: Squad 2, represented by Fadwa Baraba, Shaikha Naqbi, and Haya Tenaiji 

Debate 2: Squad 3, represented by Aamna Mazrooei, Maryam Al Shamsi, and Ehsan Al Maamari

Debate 3: Squad 5, represented by Haifa Hydrose, Fatima Deria, and Ruaa Abdulla

Best Overall Team for the March 4 debates: Squad 5

Congratulations to all of you for a very fine and very successful first evening of debate! We look forward to more next month!

Pictures to follow: for now look here and here for coverage in Gulf News. We're famous!