Easters & The Macquarie University Debating Society
A polished performance

Macquarie University Debating Society (MUDS) has been heavily involved in campus life, in the local community, and in intervarsity competition. MUDS has successfully competed both nationally and internationally in debating tournaments.

Macquarie last hosted Easters in 1993, though have competed in every tournament since its inception in 1990. Teams from Macquarie regularly make the finals, recently reaching the octo finals in 2005 and the quarter finals in 2002 and 2003.

Macquarie also had the proud honour of winning the World Universities Debating Competition in 1996 ad Australasians in 1994. At Worlds in Singapore in 2004, Macquarie reached the quarter finals and in Manilla in 1999, Macquarie made it through to the semi finals. MUDS is ranked within the top 35 of all universities worldwide.

For the past seven consecutive years, MUDS has efficiently hosted three divisions of the Macquarie Schools’ Cup. Each division, spread throughout the year, draws up to 60 teams. On the basis of this experience, the society has a great deal of institutional knowledge to deliver a refined and fun Easters.
Supported by the University Administration, faculties, campus facilities, students and debaters, MUDS endeavours to pull off a polished performance.

Aims

Within our society, we wish to expand the presence of debating within Macquarie University and the North Ryde area, furthering the cause of public debate. The experience of UQ especially has clearly demonstrated the positive flow on effects of hosting a tournament for improving the health of a society. Since 2004, Macquarie has made the Octo-Finals of Easters, Australs and Worlds. While we are confident we will deliver a top tournament, hosting it will hopefully allow us to reach the next step as a society of strength. A stronger Macquarie is a stronger Australian Debating Circuit.

Our greater focus, however, is in increasing the reputation of the Australian Championships. We see the tournament as a unique display of the importance of academic rigour and discipline. Further, we see its cultural role within the North Ryde region and beyond as spreading the message about the importance of public debate. Easters should realise its true potential through the support of innovative sponsors, publicising itself to the wider community, and increasing the depth and breadth of those members of the public who access the tournament.