Justice v Democracy speech wins Thesis in 3 competition

University of Waikato Thesis in 3 winner Debrin Foxcroft has travelled to South Africa, Chile and Brazil to research how countries deal with issues of justice as they move from dictatorship to democracy.

Ms Foxcroft was one of 10 finalists in last night’s Thesis in 3 competition held at a public function at Hamilton’s Clarence St Theatre, where doctoral students had to outline their research and potential outcomes in three minutes before a panel of judges and a capacity audience.

Justice v Democracy

Foxcroft’s subject, Justice versus Democracy, looks at the consequences of granting amnesty for crimes committed by the state or against the state.  As part of her research she interviewed the first democratically elected president of Chile, 92-year-old Patricio Alwin.

“The most interesting thing the President said during the hour long interview was that his conscience was clear. He said his government had done the best that they could in the situation, anything more and he feared the military would have staged another coup.”

Foxcroft entered Waikato’s Thesis in 3 last year, but didn’t win, so was determined to have another go this year.

Perseverance 

“I’m so pleased I did. I think I have an interesting subject – full of blood and guts and lawyers! I know some students say the competition is extra work, but it’s worth it. You have to focus so hard on what it is you’re doing and what you’re trying to achieve, and it can lead to all sorts of opportunities.

“I actually used my Thesis in 3 script to explain what I was doing to a group of people on a plane - and it was that chance meeting that actually led to me getting the interview with the former Chilean president.”

Foxcroft won $5000 for her Thesis in 3 win, which was sponsored by Accountants Prior Blackburn Ltd. She will put the money towards her research.

People's Choice Award

Phoebe Guo from Waikato Management School won the people’s choice and was runner up overall with a speech titled Childbirth, culture and communication: A matter of conception. She said Chinese childbirth practices and Chinese women’s values towards childbirth and communication are considerably different from those in New Zealand and can lead to a lot of insecurity and anxiety during pregnancy and childbirth. “Maternity care providers need to have a clearer understanding of the needs and anxieties of women giving birth in a foreign land.”

Last night’s judges were Hamilton mayor Julie Hardaker, Emeritus Professor Warwick Silvester and the University’s Assistant Vice-Chancellor Operations Anna Bounds. The Thesis in 3 competition wrapped up Postgraduate Research Month at the University of Waikato.