Debate 2021 to be first mass contact event on campus
The North-West University (NWU) has allowed the Student Campus Council (SCC) for arts to officially host Debate 2021 on the Potchefstroom campus as the first mass contact event of the year. That means up to 50 people will be allowed at the event.
Although no spectators will be allowed, supporters can live stream the semi-finals and finals on the SCC Facebook page.
The campus debate started on 28 April and will last until 1 May, in the E8 building. The qualifying rounds were on 28 April, and will continue on Thursday, 29 April, from 18:30 until 22:00. The quarter finals and qualifying rounds will be on Friday, 30 April. The semi-finals and final will be on Saturday, 1 May, starting at 08:00 until 13:00.
This will be the first time since 2020’s nationwide lockdown that a campus event is hosted as a mass contact session, rather than only allowing three to five people.
Eiska Wentzel (22), SCC arts vice-chairperson of administration and private students, said with this event the aim was to provide students with a platform to showcase their debating talent. “Every year we host the campus debate to help students improve their argumentative and public speaking skills,” Wentzel said.
The debating competition is open to both residence and private students. There are two students in each debating team, and each residence is required to enter at least one team.
Wentzel pointed out how lengthy the process of acquiring the green light from the university was, as many documents were needed and protocols had to be followed before any event could take place.
“There are, of course, Covid-19 regulations that are still in place at the NWU that we have to adhere to, like keeping your masks on when you are inside the venue and when you are not speaking. Also, screening and sanitising are done at the venue entrance. Green tokens to access campus are also checked. There were documents that were sent to the director of student life, Dr Corrie Rheeder, as well as to campus protection services and finally the management of the NWU,” Wentzel said.
Cabrin Redlinghys (20), the chairperson of the NWU Potchefstroom debating society, said that the hostel debate has been a tradition for years and is a huge event. Even though there are still protocols to be followed on campus, they appreciate the SCC’s efforts for making it happen. “So far, day one went smoothly. We appreciate the efforts the arts council has gone through to make this happen,” Redlinghys said.
Ready for battle: Morne du Plessis (20), Werner van Zyl (20), Ruan van Achterbergh (22) and Rigardt Hug (21) are the Excelsior men’s residence debating squad. They are ready for duty. (Picture: Lilitha Bodlani) 
Students with their game faces on. Kastel women’s residence debating team, Liebe Botha (20), Milia Botha (20), Boitumelo Segona (18) and Mmatekane Seja (18), are very excited about participating in the event. (Picture: Lilitha Bodlani)
Rigardt Hug (21), a BSc Honours student and resident of Excelsior men’s residence, was excited about this year’s campus debate. “It’s more than just student life, for us it is tradition at our hostel. You always want to set a good example for the first and second years,” Hug said. Hug knows there is a lot at stake. “There can only be two teams this time around (an Afrikaans and an English team), we definitely want to show the other residences we are the cream of the crop,” Hug said.
