Two Nationals, ALSA UI & English Fiesta, to Run Next Week

Two nationwide debating tournaments, ALSA UI English Competition and UMM English Fiesta, will take place from April 29, promising intense clashes between the powerhouses and spirited challenges from darkhorses. Several institutions, including Universitas Gadjah Mada, have opted to tackle both fronts while all West Java schools like Universitas Indonesia and Institut Teknologi Bandung opted to have a sole focus on the more prestigious E-Comp.

The E-Comp at Universitas Indonesia's Law School in Depok is the longest-running debate event in the country and 50 varsity teams are ready to battle it out this year. After coming short in three grand finals this year, UI eyes to win on home soil and grab its first trophy in 2011. ITB, which has won one local, one national and one international tournament this year, is the reigning champion and wants to keep that title. Recent IVED champion UGM will send two teams each to ALSA UI and English Fiesta, proving they have depth but the double-pronged approach will be harder to prove as a winning strategy. Binus International, the only other institution that has won a national-scale intervarsity this year, has also chosen to seek success in both competitions.

The varsity teams must also watch out for the WSDC Indonesia squad as the national coaches are poised to make the top four high school debaters in the country debate against college students. They are ineligible to win the category but the teenagers can become spoilers that may affect break chances. ALSA UI will also hold a separate competition for high school, which is considered as the most prestigious institution-based tournament in the category.

On the same dates, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, the host of the next IVED, will run its annual English Fiesta debates that have been upgraded to national level. Forty teams from Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Bali islands will be present. The winner will get a golden ticket to go to IVED without paying the registration and accommodation fees. Organizers have reminded participants to avoid wearing clothes that reveal too much flesh, like shorts and sleeveless shirts, adhering to the dresscode at the Islamic school.