Kent Debating Society

Updates from February, 2012

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  THW Ban Religious Studies in Schools

  Oliver Blackley 6:10 am on February 23, 2012 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  Our debate this week is on the topic of religious studies in schools. We’re hosting Dr. Jessica Frasier, lecturer in religious studies of Kent’s School of European Culture and Languages, who’ll be giving a short lecture on the topic. As always, we’ll be in Keynes LT5 at 6pm on Tuesday.

  Update 27/2/: We sent four teams to the Manchester IV this weekend, and gave our best IV performance yet, so well done to everyone who competed! If you are interested in taking part in IV’s in the future, be sure to attend our debates and let our debate convenor, Monifa, know.

  Our very own IV is also fast approaching, so if you’re looking to get involved with the society, network with debaters from other prestigious university societies and unions, as well as have plenty of fun do express your interest to do so in our Facebook group!

  See you on Tuesday!

   

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  Kent Union Hustings

  Oliver Blackley 12:41 pm on February 20, 2012 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  As part of the upcoming union elections the Kent Debating Society are holding hustings (aka debates) for the different sabbatical roles.

  The weeks programme is as follows:
  Monday 20th – VP Sports & VP Activities
  KLT5 6pm
  Chaired by Fiona Brittle

  Tuesday 21st – VP Welfare
  KS14 4pm
  Chaired by Philip Pearson

  Wednesday 22nd – President
  KLT6 6pm
  Chaired by Oliver Blackley

  Thursday 23rd – VP Education
  KLT5 6pm
  Chaired by Joe Boulton

  Each event will be held in a ‘Question Time’ style with candidates answering a number of questions from you, the voter. So this is the best chance to go behind the manifestos and get a first-hand feel of each of the candidates for yourself.

  Each candidate will get a 1 minute opening statement before we start to take questions from the floor. After all questions have been answered, each candidate will have a further 1 minute for a closing statement.

  So come down and see what each candidate stands for and decide who is best placed to represent you. We have booked time slots of 2 hours, so we expect the Question Times to last no longer than 2 hours.

  Additionally, we will have a live Twitter feed from the @kentdebating twitter to keep you all up to speed if you cannot make some of the events. You can submit questions via our twitter too or via the wall of this event.

   
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  This House Would Invite the BNP to Speak at the University of Kent

  Oliver Blackley 1:52 pm on February 4, 2012 | 0 Permalink | Log in to leave a Comment
  

  Next week, we’ll be holding a debate on the motion This house would invite the BNP to speak at the University of Kent. Our guest speaker for the evening is Professor John Fitzpatrick of Kent’s Law School We hope that this motion will generate some hearty discussion, particularly given that Kent Union currently has a ‘No Platform’ policy, which dictates that the Union can’t give platform to any group that promotes fascist views.

  Does gagging and repressing such views set a bad precedent for plurality and freedom of speech? Or do such groups deserve no platform because of their inherently discriminatory views and violent tactics? Does providing a platform elevate or diminish the chances of their views being championed and legitimised or discredited and dismissed?

  We hope to provide a neutral forum to discuss these questions, and we hope to have a cracking good debate in the process!

  As always, we’ll be meeting at 6pm in Keynes LT5 this Tuesday and heading for drinks afterwards in K-Bar.

  Also, the details of Kent’s first Inter-Varsity competition are beginning to take shape. Check out our relevant Facebook and KDS page for more information!