NUDC 2014: Biggest National Round to Take Place on Batam Island

Universitas Batam will host the final battles of the 2014 National Universities Debating Championship from August 19 to 24. This will be the biggest ever NUDC following the expansion from 96 teams to 112. This is due to the new education ministry policy that created two new regional offices, increasing the number to 14 from 12. Sticking to its geographical representation principles, the ministry still allows each regional office to send 8 teams each, regardless of skill level.

So, the expansion means a hike in quantity, not quality. The regional offices that were broken into smaller units all were among those that had the worst performing teams. There will be 8 teams from the remote West Papua/Papua region alone after they no longer need to compete with universities in Maluku. The same thing goes to Aceh province, which will have 8 teams, although it had difficulty to qualify more than one when it was still part of the northern Sumatra regional division. There will be a lot more teams with insufficient understanding about what a good competitive debate should be like. This will give extra pressure to adjudicators in reviewing debates with low clarity.  

While many of the participating teams are new, the main adjudication panel is not. Last year's chief adjudicator Boby Andika Ruitang from Universitas Indonesia returns to lead the judges along with three deputies who come from the three most successful state universities in debating. They are UI's Egalita Irfan, the best speaker of the 2012 Indonesia Varsities English Debate, Erwina Salsabila, the EFL champion of United Asian Debating Championship 2014 from Universitas Gadjah Mada, and Alris Alfharisi, the EFL Champion of UADC 2013 from Institut Teknologi Bandung. They will face the tough challenge to decide motions that can be understood and give added value to a pool of debaters who mainly may have limited insight into the most contemporary topics. They will also need to make sure all teams, including total greenhorns, get fair adjudication for their efforts.

The teams are as follows (alphabetical within their regions):

Region I (North Sumatra)
Akademi Sekretari Manajemen Cendana, Politeknik Ganesha, STBA Persahabtan Internasional Asia, STIE IT&B, STMIK Mikroskil, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Universitas Muhammadiyah Tapanuli Selatan, Universitas Sumatera Utara,   

Region II (South Sumatra, Lampung, Bengkulu, Bangka Belitung)
Politeknik Sriwijaya, STBA Teknokrat, STIE Musi Palembang, STKIP Muhammadiyah Pringsewu, Universitas Bengkulu, Universitas Bina Darma, Universitas Lampung, Universitas Sriwijaya,  

Region III (Greater Jakarta, Banten)
Institut Pertanian Bogor, Sekolah Tinggi Parawisata Trisakti, Universitas Bakrie, Universitas Bina Nusantara, Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Kristen Indonesia, Universitas Paramadina, Universitas Pelita Harapan

Region IV (West Java)
Politeknik Negeri Bandung, Institut Teknologi Bandung, STKIP Siliwangi, Universitas Komputer Indonesia, Universitas Padjadjaran,  Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Universitas Telkom, Universitas Wiralodra 

Region V (Yogyakarta)
STBA LIA Yogyakarta, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta, Universitas Sanata Dharma

Region VI (Central Java)
Universitas Dian Nuswantoro, Universitas Diponegoro, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Universitas Katolik Soegijapranata, Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana, Universitas Negeri Sebelas Maret, Universitas Negeri Semarang, Universitas PGRI Semarang 

Region VII (East Java)
Politeknik Negeri Malang, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Brawijaya, Universitas Jember, Universitas Katolik Widya Mandala Surabaya, Universitas Negeri Malang, Universitas Surabaya 

Region VIII (Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara)
Politeknik Negeri Bali, STIBA Saraswati, STIKES Bali, Universitas Mahasaraswati, Universitas Mataram, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Universitas Udayana, Universitas Warmadewa

Region IX (Sulawesi)
Politeknik Negeri Ujung Pandang, Universitas Hasanuddin, Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, Universitas Muhammadiyah Pare-Pare, Universitas Muslim Indonesia, Universitas Negeri Gorontalo, Universitas Negeri Makassar,  Universitas Sam Ratulangi

Region X (West Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, Riau Islands)
Politeknik Negeri Batam, Politeknik Negeri Bengkalis, Universitas Andalas, Universitas Batam, Universitas Jambi, Universitas Mahaputra Muhammad Yamin, Universitas Negeri Padang, Universitas Riau

Region XI (Kalimantan)
IKIP PGRI Pontianak, Politeknik Negeri Banjarmasin, STKIP PGRI Banjarmasin, Universitas Balikpapan, Universitas Lambung Mangkurat, Universitas Mulawarman, Universitas Palangka Raya, Universitas Tanjungpura 

Region XII (Maluku, North Maluku)
STIKES Maluku Husada, STIKOM Ambon, STKIP Kie Raha Ternate, Universitas Iqra Buru, Universitas Khairun, Universitas Kristen Indonesia Maluku, Universitas Muhammadiyah Ternate, Universitas Pattimura

Region XIII (Aceh)
STKIP Bina Bangsa, STKIP Muhammadiyah Aceh Barat Daya, Universitas Abulyatama, Universitas Al Muslim, Universitas Jabal Ghafur, Universitas Serambi Mekkah, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Universitas Ubudiyah

Region XIV (West Papua, Papua)
STKIP Muhammadiyah Sorong, Universitas Cenderawasih, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sorong, Universitas Musamus Merauke, Universitas Negeri Papua, Universitas Sains dan Teknologi Jayapura, Universitas Victory Sorong, Universitas Yapis Papua,  

The top teams in NUDC have always come from the same places. For the last three years, the title has been held by Jakarta-based Binus University. Non-Java teams have never reached the semifinal of NUDC. However, powerhouses are constrained by the regulation that a school can only send one team to NUDC. The fact is schools that have the chance to win still come from a very small circle, all of them are Java-based. Hence, for the top teams, real competition only starts at the top 16 stage.

The reality is still harsh for non-Java teams. Without better training and sustainable support for non-Java debaters, this divide has little likelihood to change. Simply sending debaters to competitions is not enough for non-Java institutions. The things good debaters do before a competition  -practicing, case-building, reading materials, watching debate videos- need to be done consistently by the non-Java debaters if they want to catch up. This does not mean a debater who comes from a remote place in Indonesia cannot excel on the national stage. In this year's NUDC, one of the debaters who have the chance to emerge as best speaker actually went to a high school in East Nusa Tenggara, one of the poorest provinces in the country. UI's Dennys Kapa is now part of the elite class of Indonesian debaters because he trained hard for years and had a supporting environment in his current university.  

JOVED 2014: Binus Int'l Debaters Win 1st JOVED Title, Sweep the Awards

JOVED 2014 Champions - Binus International A

#2 Binus International A (Wilson Salim, Melisa Irene, Gierdino Julian) championed the 18th Java Overland Varsities English Debate, giving their club its first trophy from the mother of debating tournaments in Indonesia. JOVED was the first competition in Indonesia that used an internationally accepted debating format.

Binus International Pool of English Debaters (Bipeds) is now truly a national powerhouse after winning the three most prestigious tournaments in Indonesia within 6 years of its establishment. Bipeds won the Indonesian Varsities English Debate in 2013 and the National Universities Debating Championships in 2011 and 2013. Siblings Wilson Salim and Melisa Irene also took home the best speaker awards after they were tied on the top of the tab.

In the final, the winners defeated #1 Universitas Brawijaya (Zelly Sidi Zamzami, Nadya Ayuning, M. Fahri Akbar) and dashed the hope of debaters from East Java to see the trophy go to their province for the first time. Champions of major national debating tournaments in Indonesia have all  come from schools located in the western and central parts of Java island. Bipeds knocked down the motion 'This House Would Oblige Media Companies to Allocate Proportionate Airtime for All Political Advertisements", an apt topic considering how television stations in Indonesia are taking sides and following the political choices of their owners.   

JOVED 2014: Brawijaya, Binus Intl Face Off in Their First JOVED Final

The final of the 2014 Java Overland Varsities English Debate will be between clubs that have never reached this stage before. #1 Universitas Brawijaya (Zelly Sidi Zamzami, M. Fahri Akbar, Nadya Ayuning) will be the first ever team from their school to debate in the final of a classic national tournament. They are members of UB's Formasi club. Their opponent will be #2 Binus International (Melisa Irene, Wilson Salim, Gierdino Julian), who come from BIPEDS, an organization that last year won the country's no.1 tournament -- the Indonesia Varsities English Debate. The club had never produced a JOVED finalist. Binus students have won JOVED before but they came from a different club.

The history of JOVED is full of milestones. It is the first tournament in Indonesia that uses an internationally accepted format. It is the competition with the most diverse set of champions. No school has been able to win three JOVEDs in a row. It is the first debate contest that had a winner from outside the western Java debate epicenter. The 18th edition of JOVED will also become a milestone as it will have a champion from a club with no history of winning it.  

DOTY 2014: 2 UGM Debaters Take Turns in Leading Table

Universitas Gadjah Mada debaters Indriani Pratiwti and Romario Tambunan are still leading the 2014 IndoDebate Debater of the Year table after 5 months. They have been in the top three since they combined forces to win the Indonesian Varsities English Debate in January. Indriani bested previous leader Romario in May after reaching the final of the Atma Jaya Intervarsities. The current list also incorporated results from the Climate Change Debate, the English Fiesta competition and the National English-Arabic Olympics. It did not take into account two other competitions that concluded in May due to their limits on participation. The International Humanitarian Law debate only allowed students of International Relations to join while the National Newbies Debate Competition was a novice tournament.  

For the first time this year, all top 10 speakers on the list come from the three top powerhouses that are coincidentally the leading state universities in the country - UGM, Universitas Indonesia and Institut Teknologi Bandung. Below is the top end of the DOTY 2014 list as of May. The full list can be accessed here.

1. Indriani Pratiwi (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
2. Romario Tambunan (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
3. Roderick Sibarani (Universitas Indonesia)
4. Vicario Reinaldo (Institut Teknologi Bandung)
5. Magreta Kailla Adenta (Universitas Indonesia)
6. Wida Wahyuni (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
7. Alif Satria (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
8. Aulia Anggita (Universitas Indonesia)
9. Kirana Kania (Institut Teknologi Bandung)
10. Terry Muthahhari (Universitas Indonesia)

ALSA UI E-Comp 2014: UI v Atma in a Classic Final After 5 Years

Teams from Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Atma Jaya Jakarta met a couple of times in the final of major English debate competitions when the activity began to spread in this country in late 1990s. But such encounters dwindled after the turn of the millenium. There was only one final match in Indonesia's three classical tournaments between the two, in 2009. That record will change this afternoon.

#1 UI A (Magreta Kailla Adenta, Terry Muthahhari, Roderick Sibarani) will face #3 Atma Jaya A (Cindy Fransisca, Kario Teguh, Silvya Suwandy) in the final of this year's ALSA UI English Competition, one of the classics. In the last encounter, Atma Jaya defeated UI in the 2009 ALSA UI E-Comp final to grab its first title from the tournament. The other classics are the Indonesian Varsities English Debate and Java Overland Varsities English Debate. UI beat Atma Jaya in IVED 1999 championship debate but the tables turned in the JOVED final a few months after.      

DOTY 2014: UGM Reign Continues, Unpar Debaters Enter Top 10

The Universitas Gadjah Mada debaters who won the national 3-on-3 title last January have  comfortable positions at the top of the 2014 IndoDebate Debater of the Year table. Indriani Pratiwi leads the trio but partner Romario Tambunan tails him closely with the same score. Both of them added points to their tally after reaching the semifinal of the PetroGas Debate. Their former IVED mate Alif Satria, who reached the final at PGD, is at third place.

Revian Wirabuana and Devris Wijaya, speakers from Universitas Parahyangan, one of the founding pillars of the Indonesian competitive debating scene, are fresh additions to the top 10 after they won the 2014 ALSA Unpad E-Challenge. It was Unpar's first trophy in four years.  The full list can be accessed here. The top 10 individuals on the DOTY 2014 list as of March 2014 is as follows:

1. Indriani Pratiwi (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
2. Romario Tambunan (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
3. Alif Satria (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
4. Vicario Reinaldo (Institut Teknologi Bandung)
5. Roderick Sibarani (Universitas Indonesia)
6. Melisa Irene (Binus International) 
7. Erwina Salsabila (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
8. Revian Wirabuana (Universitas Parahyangan)
9. Devris Wijaya (Universitas Parahyangan)
10. Thoriq Murtadho (Universitas Gadjah Mada)

Indonesian Debaters Mourn the Passing of Trailblazer Perry Harahap

The Indonesian debating community mourned after hearing Permata Harahap, or simply known as Perry, died on February 6, 2014. Perry co-founded the English Debating Society Universitas Indonesia, the club that pioneered the activity of competitive debating in the country. The national 3-on-3 championship, the Indonesian Varsities English Debate (IVED), was his brainchild and he convened the first of its kind in 1998.  He was the pillar of a community that started small but now has turned into a society of thousands.

For many debaters, they have lost a coach who was willing to go to all corners of the country to train students and proliferate the values of competitive debating. He did not only coached numerous EDSUI teams but also developed speakers of other universities, including Universitas Atma Jaya Jakarta and Universitas Paramadina where he was pursuing his master's degree. His former trainees fondly remember his calm yet strong presence. Some who never met him can also recall their first sessions of debating practice was based on a guidebook that Perry authored.

For others, he was the example of a sharp third speaker and feared opponent. He won the first ALSA UI debate contest way back in 1996 when internationally accepted formats were unknown in Indonesia. He then went to the 1997 Asian Intervarsity Debating Championships as a member of the first Indonesian contingent in the regional tourney. From there he mastered the international styles and went on to become the finalist of the 1st Java Overland Varsities English Debate in 1997, the first tournament using an accepted format. He also debated in the 1998 ASEAN Varsities Debate in Kuala Lumpur and the 1999 All-Asians in Bangkok. Team mates and rivals respect his ability to dissect cases and present logically solid arguments.

On February 16, the former and current debaters who miss Perry will hold a tribute for him after a family-held prayers. The wake will take place from 1 pm at the Paladian Apartment club house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, right beside the hospital where he was treated during his final days. The event is open to all friends, debaters and those who only know him by reputation.  

DOTY 2014: Gadjah Mada Debaters Take Early Lead This Year

Debaters from Universitas Gadjah Mada filled up the first three spots of the new IndoDebate Debater of the Year table following the restart of the count for 2014. Indriani Pratiwi, Romario Tambunan and Alif Satria did not only give UGM its third national 3-on-3 title from the recent Indonesian Varsities English Debate but they also came first, second, third on the tournament's individual tab. Whether they could keep the lead is still up in the air. UGM debaters had a strong start last year but failed to outlast the formidable Binus International pair of Jaran Walia, who eventually won the third DOTY title, and Invi Atmanegara in crucial competitions in the second half of 2013.

Besides the UGM trio, Fauzan Reza Maulana and Vicario Reinaldo from Institut Teknologi Bandung are also high on the list after their victory in the EFL category of the recent World Universities Debating Championships. In this month's count, DOTY 2013 rankings affected the order for those with the same total points. The table used a list of top 10 Indonesians in WUDC 2014's open speaker tab to feed the columns, disregarding their language statuses. The top 10 individuals on the DOTY 2014 list as of January 2014 is as follows:

1. Indriani Pratiwi (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
2. Alif Satria (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
3. Romario Tambunan (Universitas Gadjah Mada)
4. Fauzan Reza Maulana (Institut Teknologi Bandung)
5. Magreta Kailla Adenta (Universitas Indonesia)
6. Vicario Reinaldo (Institut Teknologi Bandung)
7. Revaldi Wirabuana (Universitas Indonesia)
8. Elvia Sumayastra (Universitas Indonesia)
9. Jaran Walia (Binus International)
10. Invi Atmanegara (Binus International)

IVED 2014: Key Results

Champions: #1 Universitas Gadjah Mada A (Indriani Pratiwi, Romario Tambunan, Alif Satria)
Finalists: #2 Universitas Indonesia A (Magreta Kailla Adenta, Revaldi Wirabuana, Elvia Sumayastra)
Best Speaker: Indriani Pratiwi (Universitas Gadjah Mada A)
Novice Champions: #4N Perguruan Tinggi Teknokrat B (Timotius Imannuel, Zahra Mutiah, Yurisa Yulia Yunara)
Novice Finalists: #2N Universitas Jenderal Soedirman A (Dendi Liya, Chrisna Gilang, Shella Aliandri)
Best Novice Speaker: Kristi Ardiana (Universitas Indonesia C)
Best Reply Speaker: Wira Agung Swadana (Universitas Padjadjaran)

Top 10 Speakers

IVED 2014 Grand Final at UKSW Salatiga - UGM A vs UI A

1. Indriani Pratiwi (Universitas Gadjah Mada A)
2. Romario Tambunan (Universitas Gadjah Mada A)
3. Alif Satria (Universitas Gadjah Mada A)
4. Irene Anindyaputri (Universitas Sanata Dharma A)
5. Magreta Kailla Adenta (Universitas Indonesia A)
6. Terry Muthahhari (Universitas Indonesia B)
7. Melisa Irene (Binus International A)
8. Muhammad Fidhzariyan (Universitas Gadjah Mada B)
9. Kristi Ardiana (Universitas Indonesia C)
10. Albert Santoso (Universitas Indonesia B)

Top 5 Novice Speakers
1. Kristi Ardiana (Universitas Indonesia C)
2. Aldila Irsyad Noi (Universitas Gadjah Mada C)
3. Himang Sharatun (Universitas Gadjah Mada C)
4. Ganjar Denis (Universitas Gadjah Mada B)
4. Vania Setiowati (Universitas Sanata Dharma A)

IVED 2014: UGM Wins National Title, UI Loses 4th Straight Final

IVED 2014 Champs - UGM A (Alif Satria, Indriani Pratiwi, Romario Tambunan)

#1 Universitas Gadjah Mada A (Alif Satria, Indriani Pratiwi, Romario Tambunan) claimed the national 3-on-3 title after defeating #2 Universitas Indonesia A (Magreta Kailla Adenta, Revaldi Wirabuana, Elvia Sumayastra) in the final of the 2014 Indonesian Varsities English Debate through a unanimous decision. UGM's Indriani Pratiwi also bagged the best speaker award while her partners came second and third.

UGM speaker Alif Satria avenged his loss against UI debaters Magreta Kailla Adenta and Elvia Sumayastra who beat him in the final of the 2013 Java Overland Varsities English Debate six months ago. The victory is also the Yogyakarta school's third in IVED after winning the tournament in 2009 and 2011.

For UI, it was the fourth straight IVED final defeat. UI championed the first six IVEDs, as well as, the 2006 and 2008 editions but could not yet clinch a ninth triumph in the most celebrated nationwide debate tournament in Indonesia although showing a strong performance year after year. The consolation this year came from UI freshman Kristi Ardiana who won the best novice speaker award.

The surprise package in IVED 2014 came from Universitas Sanata Dharma, another Yogyakarta school but without UGM's notable debating record. Two Sadhar teams advanced into the knockouts, including #4 Sadhar A (Tethy Cahyati Pesoa, Irene Anindiyaputri, Vania Setiowati) after defeating 2 UI teams in the preliminaries. Sadhar debater Irene Anindyaputri emerged as the 4th best speaker, the first time ever a debater from her school slipped into the Top 10 debater list of a major Indonesian debate competition. The Sadhar teams are UGM-trained.

In the novice category, Lampung-based Perguruan Tinggi Teknokrat B (Timotius Immanuel, Zahra Mutiah, Yurisa Yulia Yunara) defeated Universitas Jenderal Soedirman A ( Dendi Liya, Chrisna Gilang, Shella Aliandri) in the final and became the first ever team from Sumatra island to take home a trophy from IVED. Previously, Java-based debaters swept all the accolades.

IVED 2014: UGM, UI Meet Again in the Final Just Like in 2011

Unbeaten #1 Universitas Gadjah Mada A (Alif Satria, Indriani Pratiwi, Romario Tambunan) will go against #2 Universitas Indonesia A (Magreta Kailla Adenta, Revaldi Wirabuana, Elvia Sumayastra) in the final of the 2014 Indonesian Varsities English Debate, the national 3-on-3 championship. Teams from the two state universities met in the 2011 IVED final that ended with the Yogyakarta school emerging as the victor. This year's finalists also clashed in the last preliminary round of IVED 2014, which had the same result as the 2011 final.

The UI debaters, however, are bent on settling the score and giving their school its ninth IVED victory. UI teams championed the first six IVEDs. The last time UI won was in 2008. UI teams fell in the final in the 3 most recent editions. UGM has two IVED trophies in its cabinet. UI, which hosted the first IVED in 1998, will organize the country's most prestigious tournament for the second time next year.

In the final of the novice category, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman A (Dendi Liya, Chrisna Gilang, Shella Aliandri) will face Perguruan Tinggi Teknokrat B (Zahra Mutiah, Timotius Immanuel, Yurisa Yulia Yunara). All finals will take place tomorrow at Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana in Salatiga.    

IVED 2014: Main Knockout Bracket

1. UGM A
	1. UGM A
16. UMM
		1. UGM A
8. UGM C
	8. UGM C
9. UI C
			1. UGM A
4. Sadhar A
	4. Sadhar A
13. Binus Intl B
		5. ITB B
5. ITB B
	5. ITB B
12. UAJY
				1. UGM A
2. UI A
	2. UI A
15. Sadhar B
		2. UI A
7. Brawijaya A
	10. ITB C
10. ITB C
			2. UI A
3. Bipeds A
	3. Bipeds A
14. ITB A
		3. Bipeds A
6. UGM B
	6. UGM B
11. Binus A