University of Waikato Law student named debating judge

University of Waikato history was made last week when Debating Society president Chamanthie Sinhalage was made a fully accredited adjudicator by the New Zealand Universities Debating Council.

Sinhalage is a founding member of the Debating Society, also known on campus as ‘Debsoc’, and is the first national debating tournament accredited judge to come from Waikato University.

At a tournament held on May 21 and 22 at Massey University, Sinhalage was made a bona fide judge and will be able to deliver binding judgements at all national debating tournaments from now on.

“This is a momentous achievement for the University as never before has there been an accredited judge from Waikato,” says Sinhalage.

To become an accredited judge, applications must be impartial and have a high level of analytical ability as well as debating skill. They also have to sit as ‘judges in training’ for between three to eight tournaments before being seen by two ‘super adjudicators’ before becoming accredited.

‘Debsoc was founded by Sinhalage and other Te Piringa - Faculty of Law students in 2010 following the collapse of the Waikato Debating Society in 2007 and is now the second largest debating society in the country.

“At only a year old, this latest achievement is a significant milestone on the society’s road to a bigger, better and brighter future,” says Sinhalage.

Sinhalage is currently in her fifth year of a joint Law and Arts degree majoring in Public Relations and Politics degree.