UNAIR NEWS – Working in a debate community that has not been formally established as a talent interest organization under the faculty does not stop the spirit of three Universitas Airlangga students (UNAIR) to make achievements. The three students of UNAIR’s Faculty of Social and Political Science (FISIP) debate community have just won second place ( runner-up ) in the National Debate Political Competition held at Universitas Christian Indonesia (UKI) on 29- 31st of January.

The three students are Muhammad Risyad Fahlefi (Political Science), Abidzar Roeri Bahrelvi (Sociology), and I Gusti Ngurah Dicky Harvana (International Relations). They are in the fourth semester.

With the theme “Political Identity and Diversity”, Risyad and the team have gone through two stages, pre-elimination and preliminary rounds. In the pre-elimination phase, they were against teams from Universitas Indonesia (UI), Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), and UKI.

In the preliminary round, they were matched up with the team from President University (twice) and UKI. Arriving in the final round, they were against the delegates from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and got runner-up.

Risyad admitted, the delegation of FISIP debate community has several times participated in similar events and competitions. Both at regional and national levels.

“The FISIP debate community have already made numerous achievements, starting with our seniors. Until now, we are trying to keep it going. Unfortunately, the achievement (from our older seniors, ed) was very rarely exposed, “said Risyad.

Meanwhile, Risyad hoped that the debate community will be inaugurated into a faculty semi-autonomous body (BSO), to be legal and managed directly under the auspices of FISIP UNAIR.

“This (community debate FISIP, ed) is still a community. I hope it will be established as a BSO. Because, this community has produced many trophies and there is always regeneration in it, “said Risyad. “However, the regeneration is not official. Only based on the same interest from FISIP students, “he added.

Nevertheless, continued Rasyid, the department and Faculty always provide support to the student debate community who will follow competition. One of them is through easy paper issuance. (*)

Author: Binti Q. Masruroh

Editor: Feri Fenoria