Am 6. und 7. Dezember fand das Amsterdam Open statt. Das englischsprachige Turnier wurde von Aniket Godbole und Dominic Ferris gewonnen.

Im Finale konnten sich „Closer to the Rotterdam-Aber alliance you were expecting“ (Aniket Godbole, Dominic Ferris) in der Eröffnenden Opposition zum Thema „This House, as Iran, Regrets its nuclear program.“ durchsetzen. Das Finale komplettierten „Swiss Rizz“ (Dino Wildi, Matthias Roshardt) in der Eröffnenden Regierung, „Balkan Grills“ (Irina Chicus, Pjotr Koster) in der Schließenden Regierung und „Why can’t Helen Keller drive? Because she’s a woman“ (Krish Singh, Ellie Middleton) in der Schließenden Regierung. Das Finale wurde juriert von Victor Bervoets (Wien) im Chair, zusammen mit Eitan Ern Loo, Leander Mathissen (München), Maja Piczman und Novak Celebic.

Auf diesem Turnier gab es sowohl ein Viertel- als auch ein Halbfinale. Zeitgleich mit dem Viertelfinale fand ein Novice-Finale statt. Dieses wurde gewonnen von „Adam Mickiewicz University RIP FRANZ SMUDA“ (Nikodem Nowicki, Julia Tuzińska) in der Schließenden Opposition. Durchsetzen konnten sie sich gegen „Groningen Debating Society Kalliope Germans“ (Luisa Grimm, Jasmin Victoria Henriette Stumpf) in der Eröffnenden Regierung, „Utrecht Debating Society People of the isles“ (Adam Hennessy, Daisy Tostevin) in der Eröffnenden Opposition und „*DSDC Intercity Nieuwe Generatie“ (Iris Franken, Greta Morgan-Foster) in der Schließenden Regierung. Juriert wurde dieses Finale von Maja Piczman im Chair, zusammen mit Eitan Ern Loo, Oana Nitu, Yiyang Qian (Aachen) und Zohha Lanker.

Zeitgleich mit den Halbfinalen gab es außerdem noch ein ESL-Finale. Hier konnte „Maastricht University the three Gs (girlboss, gatekeep, gaslight)“ (Mirtel Etverk, Gabrielė Petronytė) in der Schließenden Opposition als Sieger hervorgehen. Hinwegsetzen konnten sie sich gegen „*DSDC Sprinter Light train“ (Ebbie Bückmann, Sönmez Alp Işık) in der Eröffnenden Regierung, „RWTH Aachen Bahkauv“ (Jonathan Krapp, Josef Hoppe; Aachen) in der Eröffnenden Opposition und „Sofia University B“ (Katerina Nankova, Deo Rusev) in der Schließenden Regierung. Im Chair wurde dieses Finale von Krzysztof Ludwiczak juriert, mit einem Panel, bestehend aus Eitan Ern Loo, Marilia Montenegro, Oana Nitu und Victor Bervoets.

Für den VDCH waren Teams und Jurierende aus Aachen, Berlin, Heidelberg (Rederei), München, Wien und Zürich vor Ort. Als Jurierende breakten Yiyang Qian (Aachen), welcher das Novice-Finale jurierte, Leander Mathissen (München), welcher ein Viertelfinale und das Open-Finale jurierte, und Victor Bervoets (Wien), welcher ein Viertelfinale und Novice-Finale als Panelist und das Open-Finale als Chair jurierte. Bei den Redenden breakten „RWTH Aachen University Bahkauv“ (Jonathan Krapp, Josef Hoppe; Aachen) in der ESL-Kategorie und „Debattierklub Wien Vienna A(mbulance)“ (Anton Gonta, Marina Kojić; Wien) in der Open-Kategorie. Letztere konnten sogar das Halbfinale erreichen.

Das Turnier wurde von Lina Fefer und dem Vorstand der ASDV Bonaparte organisiert. Für die Themen als auch den sportlichen Teil war eine Chefjury bestehend aus Amitai Ben Porat, Aymaan Sheikh, Lucie Slamova und Oana Nitu verantwortlich. Unterstützt wurden sie dabei von Yvonne Farrell, die für den Tab zuständig war.

Jurierendenbreak:

Abhishek Acharya, Alexandru Mihai Chirita, Amitai Ben Porat, Aymaan Sheikh, Charlie Hamilton, Eitan Ern Loo, Gonçalo Teixeira, Hanna Szczerbińska, Jagoda Sabljić, Joep van Heugten, Kamil Piotr Mścisz, Krzysztof Ludwiczak, Kseniia Eremchuk, Leander Mathissen, Lina Fefer, Lucie Slamova, Maja Piczman, Marilia Montenegro, Midori Kail, Novak Celebic, Oana Nitu, Victor Bervoets, Yiyang Qian, Zach Fleesler, Zohha Lanker,

Teambreak Open:

1. Balkan Grills (Irina Chicus, Pjotr Koster), 13 Teampunkte, 803 Speaks
2. DK Wien Vienna A(mbulance) (Anton Gonta, Marina Kojić), 13 Teampunkte, 798 Speaks
3. Why can’t Helen Keller drive? Beca (Krish Singh, Ellie Middleton), 12 Teampunkte, 805 Speaks
4. TCD Phil touch the grass (Adrianna Mazur, Chris Hu), 12 Teampunkte, 775 Speaks
5. LSE I believe it’s Tesco soup (Meagan Tam, Rayaan Aly Khan), 11 Teampunkte, 806 Speaks
6. EDS A (Marin Marinov, Kaloyan Kotzev), 11 Teampunkte, 793 Speaks
7. UDS 7 vinkjes and WGM illegal immigran (Niya Balcheva, Max Maes), 11 Teampunkte, 791 Speaks
8. dubai chocolate labubu matcha yoga (idan ben avi, Leon Kersten), 11 Teampunkte, 787 Speaks
9. Swiss Rizz (Dino Wildi, Matthias Roshardt), 11 Teampunkte, 766 Speaks
10. Closer to the Rotterdam-Aber allia (Dominic Ferris, Aniket Godbole), 10 Teampunkte, 790 Speaks
11. UCL torono gerbs (Parsa Hassanpour, Andy Yu), 10 Teampunkte, 780 Speaks
12. UCL guess who went on a year abroad an (Javi Bermejo Vilas, Esther Lüscher), 10 Teampunkte, 772 Speaks
13. EUDU Crocodile Dundee (Ruby McIntee, Max Lindley), 10 Teampunkte, 771 Speaks
14. Leiden daan should know (Daan Koning, Jagoda Pluskwa-Dąbrowska), 10 Teampunkte, 758 Speaks

=15. EUDU If I’m a racial minority, and you‘ (Luyanda Madliwa, Dani Lopez), 9 Teampunkte, 784 Speaks

=15. UU Liberation Front (Roald de Vries, Raoul Meijer), 9 Teampunkte, 784 Speaks

Novice Break:

1. UCL torono gerbs (Parsa Hassanpour, Andy Yu), 10 Teampunkte, 780 Speaks  [different break]
2. UDS People of the isles (Adam Hennessy, Daisy Tostevin), 9 Teampunkte, 735 Speaks
3. *DSDC Intercity Nieuwe Generatie (Iris Franken, Greta Morgan-Foster), 8 Teampunkte, 757 Speaks
4. UAM RIP FRANZ SMUDA (Nikodem Nowicki, Julia Tuzińska), 8 Teampunkte, 746 Speaks
5. GDS Kalliope Germans (Luisa Grimm, Jasmin Victoria Henriette Stumpf), 7 Teampunkte, 736 Speaks

ESL Break:

1. Balkan Grills (Irina Chicus, Pjotr Koster), 13 Teampunkte, 803 Speaks [different break]
2. DK Wien Vienna A(mbulance) (Anton Gonta, Marina Kojić), 13 Teampunkte, 798 Speaks [different break]
3. EDS A (Marin Marinov, Kaloyan Kotzev), 11 Teampunkte, 793 Speaks [different break]
4. UDS 7 vinkjes and WGM illegal immigran (Niya Balcheva, Max Maes), 11 Teampunkte, 791 Speaks [different break]
5. dubai chocolate labubu matcha yoga (idan ben avi, Leon Kersten), 11 Teampunkte, 787 Speaks [different break]
6. Leiden daan should know (Daan Koning, Jagoda Pluskwa-Dąbrowska), 10 Teampunkte, 758 Speaks [different break]
7. UU Liberation Front (Roald de Vries, Raoul Meijer), 9 Teampunkte, 784 Speaks [different break]
8. RWTH Aachen Bahkauv (Jonathan Krapp, Josef Hoppe), 9 Teampunkte, 768 Speaks
9. *DSDC Sprinter Light train (Ebbie Bückmann, *Sönmez Alp Işık), 9 Teampunkte, 763 Speaks
10. Sofia B (Katerina Nankova, Deo Rusev), 8 Teampunkte, 774 Speaks
11. Maastricht the three Gs (Mirtel Etverk, Gabrielė Petronytė), 8 Teampunkte, 770 Speaks

Redner:innen Top 10:

1. Rayaan Aly Khan, 81,20

=2. Ellie Middleton, 80,60

=2. Pjotr Koster, 80,60

=4. Krish Singh, 80,40

=4. Marina Kojić, 80,40

=6. Meagan Tam, 80,00

=6. Irina Chicus, 80,00

8. Marin Marinov, 79,60

9. Niya Balcheva, 79,40

=10. Anton Gonta, 79,20

=10. Luyanda Madliwa, 79,20

Novice Redner:innen Top 5:

1. Parsa Hassanpour, 78,20

2. Andy Yu, 77,80

3. Paige Milligan, 77,40

=4. Sönmez Alp Işık, 76,80

=4. Iris Franken, 76,80

Die Themen des Turniers im Überblick:

Round 1: This House Prefers art that addresses class inequality through the glorification of working-class lives (e.g. Paterson, Empire of Light, American Beauty, Take Me Home, Country Roads) over art that addresses class inequality through the demonisation of economic elites (e.g. The Wolf of Wall Street, The Great Gatsby, Snowpiercer, American Psycho).

Round 2: Infoslide: For the purpose of this debate, under the ‘Not Guilty for the Reason of Insanity’ (NGRI) model, a defendant who was found to have severe mental illness or defect at the time of committing a crime is formally acquitted of a crime, and placed to a mental health facility, with their release being dependent on periodic reviews. Under the ‘Guilty but Mentally Ill’ (GBMI) model, the defendant is found guilty, receives a regular sentence, part of which is mental health treatment. If found to be mentally fit before the end of their sentence, they must still serve the remainder of the sentence in prison.

In Western countries, This House Prefers the GBMI model to the NGRI model.

Round 3: Infoslide: A university’s research contribution is usually measured by metrics such as publication volume, citations, patent production, and scientific breakthroughs.

This House Predicts that, over the next decade, Chinese universities will contribute more to research in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields than American universities.

Round 4: Within interpersonal relationships, This House Opposes norms which encourage individuals to conceal their dislike of the other person.

Round 5: Infoslide: “Going public” means a company begins selling ownership to the general public through the stock market. 

This House Supports large American AI firms going public.

Quarterfinals: Infoslide: For the purposes of this debate, Tafsir and Fiqh refer to two distinct approaches adopted by Islamic feminist organizations. Feminist Tafsir are reinterpretations and relitigations of the Qur’an and religious law on women’s rights. Tafsir is used to argue for theological reforms at religious courts and religious universities. By contrast, Feminist Fiqh is an approach which utilizes the state’s secular legal system and legalist principles to launch challenges against legislation which discriminates against women.

In Islamic countries with secular constitutions (e.g. Turkey, Bangladesh, Malaysia), This House Prefers for feminists to focus on Tafsir as opposed to Fiq in their advocacy.

Novice Final: Infoslide: Before 2024, municipalities in the Netherlands took in asylum seekers on a voluntarily basis only. This led to a concentration of most asylum seekers into specific areas such as Ter Apel, Amsterdam, Leeuwarden. To combat this trend, the Dutch goverment introduced the Spreidingswet (Spreading Law), which requires each municipality to host a proportional amount of the country’s asylum seekers and construct reception centers for them. The centers must at minimum provide temporary housing and basic services to all asylees to meet guidelines.

This House Opposes the spreading law.

Semifinals: Infoslide: Sub-sovereign debt refers to debt issued by regional authorities (e.g. states, districts, cities). Sovereign debt refers to debt issued by the national government directly.  

This House Believes That federal governments should apply stricter controls on sub-sovereign debt compared with sovereign debt (e.g. capping bond issuance, lower debt ceilings, less purchasing of sub-sovereign debt by central bank in the secondary market etc.).

ESL Final: Infoslide: Following the collapse of the Novi Sad Railway Station in 2024, which killed 16 people, anti-government student protests have emerged across Serbia. By March, protests have spread to over 400 cities, including Belgrade, Novi Sad and Nis, reaching a peak of 350,000 participants in the largest protest held in Belgrade last March.  

This House Regrets the decision of the student protesters to advance candidates in the 2027 Serbian Parliamentary Elections.

Grand Final: Infoslide: Iran’s nuclear program has been in development since the 1950’s – while it was paused shortly thereafter, The Iranian Revolutinary Guard Corps (IRGC) revived it followkng the Islamic Revolution (1979). In recent years, the program has expanded to include several refinement facillities, large stockpiles of enriched uranium, and both civil and military aims.

This House, as Iran, Regrets its nuclear program.

lg/aeh.