When will we see your likes again? 

Ein Bericht von Georg Probst

Senior Debaters end Debating Season successfully at Finals in Würzburg

Last weekend (Friday 21 to Sunday 23) our Senior Debaters took part in the final rounds of this year’s South League, organised by the Debating Society Germany (DSG) in Würzburg. A decent start in the preliminary four rounds earlier in the season made us confident for the venue. We had only narrowly been defeated by last year’s winning team from Goethe Gymnasium Karlsruhe, tied one debate and won two more. 

And indeed, with three more wins and only one loss in Würzburg our senior debaters added sufficient points on the scoreboard to once again make it to the octo-finals. We were assigned Opposition on the motion This House Would Not negotiate with terrorists. Despite having debated the issue as such really well, we lost on an unfortunate strategic mistake: We were cornered with a tight definition of not being willing to negotiate at all and at no time. Admittedly a sly move by team proposition from Goethe Gymnasium Emmendingen. We fought back bravely but got out of that corner way to late in the debate and ultimately had to admit defeat. Just the same, with a contested and split decision in this round we have still managed to finish among the top ten teams in DSG’s South League. 

In addition, we even have one of our debaters enter the individual top ten list of all speakers this year: 

Special Congrats go out to Julia Liu for finishing 6^th on individual speaker points! Hear! Hear!

More congrats for their outstanding effort and achievement go out to Vincent Eckert, Sibel Reinelt, Heidi Urena Barsallo and Philipp Schuster!

The Seniors would like to take the opportunity to thank the SEB for their generous support during the season. Your help is very much appreciated! 

As the debating season 2024/2025 has now come to a close, it is time for Freshman and Sophomores (aka 9^th graders and E Phase) to step up to the plate and continue the legacy of the Bravehearts: Happy to lose – Happier to win! 

Interested? Contact Mr Probst for further details

This year’s motions: 

THBT social media should be restricted to private use.

THW allow people to sue their family for religious indoctrination they experienced during childhood.

THW prioritize mental health education in schools.

THBT regional parties (e.g. the CSU in Bavaria, the SNP in Scotland) do more harm than good.

In countries with compulsory military service, TH as a feminist movement would support compulsory military service for both men and women.

THW not negotiated with terrorists.