What appears in mind when someone mentions the name MEDC? For most, the Maitreyawira English Debating Championship dominates minds, reminding them of the thrilling memories of ever contributing to it. MEDC is an English debating tournament established in 2017 by the debating club of Maitreyawira Batam High School, namely MAULERS (Maitreyawira Ultimate Debaters). In 2023, MEDC was held for three (3) days, from February 10th to February 12th, 2023. This article will include information regarding 2023 MEDC—the reasoning, the procedure, and what the committee and participants have to say.
Debate is an activity where several individuals channel their opinions through different perceptions. Within a debate, the topic that is brought up to be discussed varies from Politics, Economics, Law, Education, International Relationships, Environment, and many others. These topics are also called motions. In a debate, teams are divided into a proposition team, a team supporting the motion, and an opposition team, a team against the motion. Debaters would provide arguments based on their knowledge, supported by facts and logic, to strengthen each team's stance. Additionally, a debate is open for all ages, and it trains individuals' critical thinking and introduces them to knowledge from all across the globe.
In the early days of high school, debate attracted several Maitreyawira Batam High School students. From then, they proposed the formation of a Debate Club as a debate initiative for Maitreyawira Batam High School students and as a platform for them to voice their opinions. The name MAULERS was formed as an abbreviation of Maitreyawira Ultimate Debaters, and it was approved on January 16th, 2017. Since then, MAULERS has never stopped expanding their influence to generations of Maitreyawira Batam high schoolers. They have trained and joined competitions, starting regionally and further advancing to a national and international scale.
Inspired by the beauty of debate and the thrill of joining debate competitions, MAULERS grew the desire to organize their own debate competition the same year. This was the beginning of a long adventure at the Maitreyawira English Debating Championship (MEDC). In 2017, MEDC was first created as a regional competition, accepting students from around the Riau Islands province. Over the years, MEDC has never stopped improving and advancing.
The year 2023 marks the 6th year of MEDC. Opened for high schoolers from all around Indonesia, it was a big success. 2023 MEDC raised the theme from one of the Four Cardinals of Virtue: Justice, with the slogan "Attesting one's virtue and morality, dwelling on judgment and consequence." This theme was a continuation of 2022 MEDC's theme, Four Cardinals of Virtue: Prudence.
2023 MEDC provided two phases of registration, namely an Early Bird, from December 18th, 2022, to January 8th, 2023, and a Late Bird, from January 9th, 2023, to February 9th, 2023. At the end of the registration, 44 teams had registered themselves to compete at the 2023 MEDC. The number of 44 became the breaking record for the teams that had participated in MEDC from year to year.
A competition will not be complete without the presence of the Adjudicating Board. 2023 MEDC was blessed to have Ms. Banun Sabri as the Chief Adjudicator, Kak Tengku Omar as the Deputy Chief Adjudicator, Kak Andree Chandra as our Tabulator, and 21 amazing Invited Adjudicators to ensure 2023 MEDC's quality for a fantastic experience. Not to mention, for efficiency for both judges and debaters, Liaison Officers (LOs) are assigned in every chamber to guide the chamber before, during, and after the debate.
Days approaching the designated day, the 2023 MEDC Committees gathered for several days to rehearse their agendas. Liaison Officers (LOs) were guided and familiarized with the technicalities and their role with the help of other committees, including the Liaison Officer Coordinator, Auron Rafael Hoverio (XII MIPA 2).
"I took part as LO's Coordinator where I organize LOs by making sure they are ready for the round. Mainly it revolves around reminding them when the round will start and helping them double check their job in filling identifiers. For example, names, teams, speakers position, and etcetera, for the MEDC timer." said Auron, 2023 MEDC's Liaison Officers Coordinator.
"I attended the simulation that was provided by the committees several times to make sure that I clearly understood what I should do in the competition," added Kelly Chou (XI MIPA 1), one of 2023 MEDC's Liaison Officers.
The Day 1 of 2023 MEDC includes the Technical Meeting. It was held on Friday, February 10th, 2023, in the auditorium of Maitreyawira Batam. The Technical Meeting is an introduction for the committee and participants, including an explanation of 2023 MEDC.
The second day of 2023 MEDC, on Saturday, February 11th, 2023, includes the preliminary rounds. The committees gathered in SMA Maitreyawira Batam, utilizing more or less five classrooms, ranging from XI IBB (R309) to XI IPS 2 (R313), for means of briefing and preparation. Participants were then assigned to check in, and the opening ceremony began, including opening speeches from Miss Mariati, S.S., M.Pd., as the Principal of Maitreyawira Batam High School, Pak Vinentius Darmawan, S.Pd., as MAULERS advisor, Rachel Chen, as 2023 MEDC Head Committee, and Louis Fabiano Wu, as the Head of Maitreyawira Batam High School Student Council, MAEVES.
On the last day of 2023 MEDC, 16 teams that made it into the breaking category advanced to the elimination rounds, including the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and Grand final.
In 2023 MEDC, Maitreyawira Batam High School sent three (3) teams to participate in the competition, Team A, B, and C. Team A consists of Albert Ong (XI IPS 1), Raymond Arvin (X MIPA 1), and Yvonne Ng (XI IPS 1). Team B consists of Cecillia Viena Cheung (XI MIPA 2), Felicia Anggraini (XI MIPA 2), and Kelvin (XI MIPA 1). Lastly, Team C consists of Jennifer Khang (XI MIPA 1), Liora Livia Ng (X MIPA 1), and Siu Yen (X IPS 3).
"As a debater representing my debate club MAULERS or Maitreyawira Batam Highschool, which is the organizer of this competition, I have been preparing extensively for the competition by engaging in self-matterloading, sparring, and receiving coaching from invited coaches from the University of Indonesia," said Albert Ong, one of Maitreyawira Batam High School's representatives for 2023 MEDC.
Furthermore, winner announcements were arranged at the end of Day 3 of 2023 MEDC, announcing the results of the Grand Final round and the best speakers. Joyfully, the Maitreyawira Batam High School teams did not come back home empty-handed. Team A won the Open 1st Runner-Up, and Team B won the Open 2nd Runner-Up, as well as multiple best speaker achievements from individual members, Yvonne Ng (XI IPS 1) as the Open 2nd Best Speaker, 2nd U-16 Best Speaker, and Co-4th Reply Speaker, Cecillia Viena Cheung (XI MIPA 2) as the 7th Open Best Speaker, Raymond Arvin (X MIPA 1) as the 8th Open Best Speaker, and Kelvin as the 10th Open Best Speaker.
2023 MEDC will not be possible without the contribution of every single committee and every actor involved. To officially close 2023 MEDC, a committee dissolution event was arranged as a sign of gratitude for the committees. Snacks and drinks were prepared, followed by an evaluation and closing speeches from the Principal and Head of the Committee.
"MEDC taught me that there's no perfect plan. We always need to make sure that we have backup plans because nobody knows what will happen on D-Day. MEDC also taught me that communication is key. The main reason as to why we are punctual at times and why we can organize the event neatly is through smooth communication," claimed Auron Rafael Hoverio, 2023 MEDC's Liaison Officer Coordinator.
On the other hand, according to Albert Ong, one of Maitreyawira Batam High School's representatives for 2023 MEDC, "From what I have learned, in order to achieve our goals, we must make an effort to prepare ourselves as best as we can. Although I may feel a bit dissatisfied with the end results and guilty for making mistakes that I know I shouldn't have made, I choose not to let myself be overwhelmed by those mistakes. Instead, I use them as motivation to continue improving myself."
Overall, the 2023 MEDC was a great success. Furthermore, the journey of MEDC certainly will not stop here. The upcoming MEDC adventure awaits in 2024.
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