Faculty of Law’s Debate Team has brought good results to UGM by becoming the first winner in the Debate on the Constitution for Java and Yogyakarta. In the event held by Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW) on 5 May, the team, consisting of Dian Agung Wicaksono, M. Fatahillah Akbar, Rokib, and Harsya Mahdi have defeated 14 teams from a number of universities in those provinces.
Universitas Gadjah Mada, Universitas Diponegoro, Universitas Islam Indonesia, Universitas Katolik Soegijapranata, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Universitas Janabadra, and Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana participated in the event. Dian Agung Wicaksono, committee chairman said that each team were debating on a given theme. The UGM team passed the quarter-final after winning over Universitas Janabadra team on the debate of "Multi-Parties Coalition Cabinet". In the semifinal, they beat the Universitas Diponegoro team on the theme of ACFTA. In the final, UGM had the upper hand over the host, UKSW team, on the theme of "Impeachment of Vice-President in Bailout of Century Bank". Dian Agung Wicaksono and friends were also chosen Best Debaters.
Dian said that they won because they had the constitutional design and strong philosophical and juridical foundation. They also presented an interesting plot by dividing the task to every member such as presenter of problem construction, debater, and reviewer. “This made us more focused,†Dian said on Wednesday (26/5).
Meanwhile, Harsya Mahdi representing his team expressed his pride and joy, although victory is not their main goal. “Winning is one thing, but we don’t aim at it. What is more important is to keep exploring knowledge and in terms of debate, how we present good arguments,†he ended.