Once again, brilliant achievement is made by UGM student at the national level. This time, the UGM debate team managed to become the winner in a debate competition organized by the Constitutional Court (MK) from May 28 -July 1 at the Constitutional Court Building, Jakarta. In the debate, the UGM team successfully set aside a team of Andalas University (Unad) in the final (1/7) after a debate with the theme Death Penalty for Corruptors.
In the debate, UGM team acts as the team that support death penalty, revealing the various definitions to the juridical-philosophical foundation for such penalty for corruptors. Meanwhile, the Unad team acts as opponents against the death penalty for corruptors.
According to UGM team, corruption is extraordinary crime and often done by people who have access to power. "Therefore, to face corruption has to be done in extraordinary way too, which is giving the death penalty," said the manager of UGM debate team, Laras Susanti, representing her team when speaking to reporters on Friday (8/7) in UGM Stana Parahita.
The victory that was achieved by the UGM team consisting of Mochamad Adib Zain, Suryana Yogawara, Windi Afdal (performer), Azizah Amalia, Hesa Adrian, M. Farid Alwajdi (riset), Laras Susanti, Dian Agung W., S.H, and M. Fatahillah Akbar, SH (Manager), Andi Sandi A.T.T., S.H, LLM. (Supervisor) is not easily obtained. Previously, in early May, they had to compete at the regional level and competed with 15 teams from several universities in Central Java and Yogyakarta.
In the regional competition, UGM is announced as the winner and is entitled to advance to the national level after defeating Christian University of Satya Wacana in the debate entitled " Governor of DIY (Yogyakarta Special Province) Election ". "At the national level, 24 universities from six regional compete to be the best and, thanks to god, we were selected as the winner,“ she said.
Laras said her team is declared as the best team because they use basic theory that corresponds with the theme in the argumentation. In addition, the team was also productive in the debate by always refuting the arguments of opponents. M. Adib Zain added that he and his colleagues are very grateful for the achievements. Their efforts and hard work are not in vain. UGM had once won the first place in this competition in 2008. However, UGM failed to win it in the next consecutive two years. "We are grateful to regain the title," he said.
However, according to M. Adib Zain, becoming a champion is not the most important thing. "In the competition, it’s not just about winning or losing, but more important is the process of learning," he added.
The MK Debate Competition was attended by 94 universities. The implementation is divided into two stages, namely the regional and the national ones. The second place of national winner is achieved by the Andalas University team, while the third place the North Sumatra University (USU team).