VOX POP (debate)
VOX POP is the annual inter-university debate competition of Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and was started in 2010 with the intention of reviving the tradition of debating and argumentative discussions in Jadavpur University by the Jadavpur University Debating Society (JUDS).
Etymology
Vox populi Latin:() abbreviated as Vox pop, is a Latin phrase that literally means voice of the people.
VOX POP 2010
The first EDition of VOX POP was held on the 1st of October 2010. It was an Intra-University Policy debate for Undergraduate and Postgraduate first years. The event saw participation of a number of teams from the different departments and faculties of the university.
VOX POP 2011
The second edition of VOX POP was a two day debating festival in the month of February bringing together participants in teams of two from some of the best colleges of India. The main idea behind the debate was to challenge the oratorical and argumentative skills of some of the best debaters by making each round of the debate different from each other and at the same time highlighting the different ways in which the Voice of the people is heard and represented across the world.
Quarter Finals
The Quarter Finals were held at the TEQIP building, Jadavpur University on the 20th of February 2011. The round was eliminatory in nature. There were four Policy debates from which eight teams proceeded to the Semi Finals. Each of the Quarter Finals was judged by a panel of two professors from some of the most prestigious colleges and universities like Presidency University, Kolkata, Loreto College, Kolkata, University of Calcutta and Jadavpur University. The motions for the Quarter Finals covered a wide range of issues like development and the environment, the state of democracy in India, the role of the UN in the modern world and the economic policy in India post liberalization and its role in the growth of corruption in society.
Semi Finals
The Semi Finals too were held at the TEQIP building, Jadavpur University on the 20th of February 2011. The eight qualifying teams from the Quarter Finals competed in four debates based on the American Parliamentary Debate format. Two Semi Final rounds were be held simultaneously, each of which was judged by a panel of four eminent personalities including professors from the best colleges in Kolkata and professionals from the international public speaking organization, Toastmasters International. Once again, the topics covered a wide range of issues, from the autonomy of the C.B.I., the nexus between sports administrators and politicians and the need for prisoners to be given a second chance. The winners of each of the four Semi Finals qualified for the Finals; these included teams from the The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences or NUJS, Loreto College, Kolkata and Jadavpur University.
Finals
The Finals were held on the 21st of February at the Gandhi Bhavan, Jadavpur University and saw a face-off between the top four teams of the tournament. The competition was based on the British Parliamentary Style of debating, highlighting the rise of coalition governments in multi party democracies around the world. The three member panel of judges included Swapan Dasgupta, Utpal Chatterjee (the former SHERIFF of Kolkata and Ashok Vishwanathan. The motion for the finals was "In the opinion of the house, Given the current situation in Kashmir, a plebiscite is a must." The motion was carried by the government with The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences winning the debate, followed by Jadavpur University and Loreto College, Kolkata in the first and second runners up positions.
See also
- Jadavpur University
- Sanskriti (culfest)