Should we pay pregnant women to give up smoking?

Debating gets underway again next week at Heaton Manor as the society's competition teams take part in a practice debate for the Northern Junior Debating Championships which take place on Saturday 27th September at the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle.

Debating the motion 'This House would pay pregnant women to give up smoking' will be:

Proposition
James Bartle
James is the Society's President and won 2008's Grand Final debate alongside Laurie J Dudley. He competed in ICYD 2007 alongside David Shepherd, partnered Laurie J Dudley in NJDC 2007 and reached the finals of ICYD 2008 held in Oxford earlier this year with David Larke. NJDC 2008 will be James' final competition at junior level.

Saskia Neibig
Saskia Neibig is Chair of the Executive and will partner James at NJDC 2008. Saskia previously competed in ICYD and NJDC 2007. Saskia and James are considered two of the society's strongest debaters although Tuesday's debate will be the first time they've ever competed on the same team in a debate.

Opposition
Sam Hunt
Sam Hunt is an experienced debater who has been with the society since its beginning. He is an accomplished campanologist and is currently Assistant to the Executive Committee. Like his partner in NJDC 2008, Sam is a competition novice although he did attend the finals of ICYD 2008 as an observer.

Ghazaleh Mohammadi-Zaniani
Ghazaleh has been debating for little over five months but quickly came to the attention of the society's leaders and has been partnered with Sam for next week's competition. Ghazaleh and Sam have debated together before but Ghazaleh has no experience of competitive debating although like Sam was an observer in Oxford.

The debate will take place on Tuesday 23rd September at 2.45pm in L7. Adam Thompson, Vice-President of the Society will be in the Chair whilst Sophie Barker is the Student Judge.