Barristers' Debate at ESU Debating Society
The Dartmouth House Debating Society convened on Monday 5 December for the Barristers' debate. Criminal Barrister George Payne and Cambridge law student Anna Lintner proposed the motion "This House would abandon ASBOs" with BBP Law School students Richard Roberts and Steven Cooke in opposition.
The audience were treated to a thoroughly interesting debate and were then given the opportunity to contribute to the proceedings in a series of floor speeches. The motion was narrowly defeated by two votes.
The next debate will take place on Wednesday 11 December when members of the England Schools Debating Team development group will debate the motion "This House would break the law to protect the rights of animals." (Info from
vivienne_thomson@esu.org).
Cambridge win the England Mace
A record number of institutions participated in the English Championships of the 2005-06 ESU John Smith Memorial Mace, the National Universities Debating Competition, which took place on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 of November at Dartmouth House and the Chesterfield Hotel. Teams from BPP, Bristol, Oxford and Cambridge took part in the final debating the motion "This House would create a Truth and Reconciliation Commission for the Northern Ireland Conflict". Congratulations to the winning team, first opposition Nick Devlin and Alyson Thomson from the University of Cambridge, who will go on to represent England at the International Final in Wales next year. Well done also to Tara Mounce of the University of Oxford who was the highest ranking individual speaker. Special thanks go to this year's Mace convenor Harriet Jones-Fenleigh for her hard work and support.
