BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – For college student, public speaking and think critically are soft-skills they need to own. The skill is important to have to make their thoughts more wide-opened, flexible and logical. These are aspects needed to be emphasized to members of Pasundan Debate Club (PDC), an Unpas student organization of interest and skill, under the supervision of Faculty of Law. This unit established since 2009 was formerly known as Institution of Research and Debate Studies (Lembaga Kajian Riset dan Debat, Lemkarisba). However, as time went by and organization transformation, in March 30th, 2020, it was changed to PDC.
PDC formed its members to not only be a mentally-strong debater, but also able to respond to an argument based on the principle of debate, that is to pay attention on the philosophical, juridical and sociological elements.
“Philosophical element means that it was studied based on Pancasila and 1945 Constituion. Juridical element is based on Law and existing legal regulations. Meanwhile, sociological element describes community’s point of view in dealing with those problems or issues,” explained the Head of PDC for the period of 2021-2022, Rayhan Ananta Yukas, on Friday (July 2nd, 2021).
In developing and honing its members’ skills, every week PDC still routinely holds a motion review, current issues discussion as well as upgrading 1 and 2. The upgrading aims to increase members’ competence whose training activities are distinguished based on the members’ skill: newbie and advanced.
“Training activities are indeed different between one to another member. We could not make it similar, so the level motion review and its matrix are adjusted to what they know first, to make them get used to it,” he said.
Apart from weekly activities, PDC also creates a monthly program entitled ‘Ngeteh – Ngobrol Enak tengan Hukum’ to expand the existence as well as open a public discussion. As far as it went, the discussion has been held three times, both via Live Instagram and other teleconference media.
“We have already opened a public discussion about the perspective of 2024 Election, terrorism in the globalization era and the existence of legal advocate position of West Java Regional Police Office in police institution in West Java. The keynote speakers are from outside of the community, since we focus on other activities; such as doing routine training and practice,” he said.
Mentioned about the ethics of debating, according to Rayhan, the thing that needs to be considered is not to demean the other person. Because, debate is not to bring down opponents or find enemies, but to defend each other’s arguments.
“Most importantly, do not insult the other person, control your emotions. When conveying an argument, try not to stutter and get to the point as well as adjust body gestures, including hand movements. Adjust to the rhythm and what is being conveyed,” he continued.
Generally, at the debate competition, the juries will give score based on three components: including matter (contents and argument logic), manner (tone of speech) and method (debate structure and technique). To fulfill all those three component, before getting into the competition, PDC will hone and fix its delegation by forming a concrete planning.
“When they are going to get into the competition, the delegates will be trained for about a week to get their mental and thoughts focused, do the routine motion review and other trainings. Try to be as relaxed as possible, avoid overthinking, so it can create an atmosphere of the competition itself, since we should be spontaneous and responsive at the debate,” he said.
In the near future, PDC plans to send delegates to a debate competition held by Faculty of Law Universitas Airlangga. However, it is still being considered because the competition is conducted online.
“We are technically prepared. We may join it [the competition]. But I think it would miss the principle. Something’s gambling. We are only directed to make video which seemingly are like speech contest. We are not faced directly into the opponent’s team, so we could not refute each other or measure the opponent’s statement or response. We also do not know whether our argument is right or wrong,” he ended. (Reta)*