UNAIR NEWS – A team of students from the International Relations program at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has achieved a significant achievement. The team, consisting of Jaudah Dahlia Saldi, Ghozy Aulia Hanafi, and Muhammad Aditya Saputra, placed second in the “Legal Critique” debate competition organized by the Student Representative Council of the Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB) at Universitas Brawijaya on Saturday, November 8, 2025.
This year’s competition carried the theme “Dissecting Aspirations, Uncovering Manipulation.” It encouraged participants to critically examine claims made in the name of public aspiration and the ways political elites may manipulate such narratives. The overarching motion, “17+8 as a Political Elite Maneuver Under the Guise of Public Aspiration,” challenged debaters to analyze how appeals to public interest are often used to advance personal or group agendas. It also underscored the role of law in identifying and addressing political manipulation.
The team’s journey in the debate
Initially, the UNAIR team hesitated to participate, given that they were still adjusting to campus life as first-year students. However, their interest in the topic ultimately led them to register on the final day of registration.
“At first, we were unsure whether to join because we were still adapting as freshmen. But we found the theme compelling, so we decided to sign up at the last minute,” said Saldi, a member of the team.
The selection rounds were conducted online, with participants debating from a campus gazebo on Saturday. After advancing through a competitive preliminary stage, the UNAIR team advanced a place in the finals, where they faced strong contenders from Universitas Jenderal Soedirman and Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta.
“We were surprised to go up against more experienced competitors, including upperclassmen from the fifth and seventh semesters, as well as other freshmen from different universities,” Saldi added.
“The pressure was definitely there, especially since it was our first major competition. Still, we chose to push forward and give it our best, even without knowing how it would turn out,” Saldi continued.
Overcoming challenges in the competition
The competition environment presented its own challenges, particularly during the preliminary rounds, as the setting was often busy and less than ideal for focused debate. Despite this, the UNAIR team demonstrated strong commitment and sharp analytical thinking, maintaining concentration throughout each round.
“In addition to the noisy environment, some of the motions were challenging and occasionally unbalanced,” Saldi explained.
Their second-place finish reflects both determination and resilience. “Alhamdulillah, we were able to secure second place,” Saldi said, expressing gratitude for the result.
This achievement highlights not only the team’s academic capability but also their ability to think critically and engage with complex political and legal issues. Despite being newcomers to university life, they demonstrated the confidence to compete at a high level and navigate demanding challenges.
Author: Saffana Raisa Rahmania
Editor : Ragil Kukuh Imanto
