About Us!
As the oldest accredited club on campus, our mission as an organization is to encourage and facilitate the acquisition and refinement of public speaking skills. Each year, the UWODS strives to broaden the university debating experience for its members by participating in debates both on campus and throughout North America and abroad. With students from all faculties and walks of life, we thrive on the unique perspectives and contributions that each of our members bring forward.
The UWODS has a storied history. In the “Golden Nineties” Western teams routinely placed in the finals of major debating tournaments. Western’s teams won the ‘97 national championship, were finalists in ‘94, ‘97 & ‘98, won the ‘97 North-American Championships, and were finalists in ‘98 World Championships.
In recent years, the UWODS has grown its ability to attract and retain young debaters, sending countless people to tournaments around the world, including the 2008 World Championships in Thailand, the 2007 World Championships in Vancouver, and the upcoming World Championships in Turkey.
The UWODS is committed to ensuring everyone who is interested has the ability to learn and practice debating, and compete at the highest levels which they can succeed.
Join us as we embark on an exhilarating journey filled with great people, great socials, and even greater debates. Come and discover what it is about the wonderful world of debating that has enthralled so many students.
Executive
President: Alexandra Hetherington
VP Training: Sydney Thurn
VP Finance: Andrew Kinsella
VP Communications: Jason Rosenberg
VP Logistics: Will Orr
Member at Large: Christine Gemmink
High School Tournament Director: Soheil Milani