ADS ranks 7th in World University Debate Rankings

THE ATENEO Debate Society (ADS) recently emerged as the seventh best debating institution in the World University Debate Rankings, alongside debate societies from Yale, Oxford and Cambridge. ADS is the only debate society from Asia in the top 10 list.

According to the International Debate Education Association (IDEA) website, the rankings are drawn from the results of 33 high-profile tournaments across the world to show an accurate representation of the comparative strengths of debating societies against each other.

Points were calculated based on a participant’s final position on the tabs. Total points are the sum of the results of all the teams of each participating society that joins the tournaments over the year, including the World Universities Debating Championship.

As of the 2011 rankings, ADS has a total of 3,070 points. Other universities in the top 100 include the UP Diliman, ranked 23rd, DLSU, 42nd, FEU, 92nd, and Xavier University, 95th.

Blue Symphony accredited

ATENEO’S IN-HOUSE classical music group has been approved as the 50th member of the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo (COA). Office of Student Affairs Director Christopher Castillo announced Blue Symphony’s accreditation at the COA and Sanggunian induction and turnover ceremony last March 2.

Driven by Jesuit ideals, Blue Symphony is devoted to preserving and performing classical music, and providing a home for musicians in the school. Arnold Garcia, Kevin Dy, Philip Bautista and AJ Perez founded the group three years ago.

Blue Symphony Vice President for Human Resources Nathania Chua said official recognition and funding means better things ahead.

“We’re really here to show that classical music is to stay within this Ateneo… [We desire] to share our music with everyone,” she said. “We’re here to share this passion we have and show everyone how talented we are.”