University of Southampton Debating Union

Our next CA is :
Ananya Venkatesan

Having graduated from university, Ananya claims she is fairly committed to her “soft retirement” from debating. Her actions say otherwise - but who knows what the future holds.

Ananya has broken as a judge at a few things, judging some finals like Oxford IV and Glasgow Ancients, chairing some out rounds like Trinity IV and KCL Open, and chairing some finals like Scottish Mace and Glasgow WGM. She has also broken at a few things as a speaker including Cambridge IV and Doxbridge Worlds.

Ananya has been part of the Org Com for over 25 comps including Glasgow EUDC 2024🦄 and she is very excited to be at her first ever Southampton Open!

Our next CA : Rick Tan

Rick Tan is undoubtedly one of the best partners I have ever spoken with. This is in part due to his incredible debating abilities but more significantly based in the fact he is so incredibly diligent and hardworking. I have lost count of the number of times an idea briefing touched in prep becomes an incredibly well mech’d argument by the time the prep timer ends. I feel like this can definitely be attributed to his time in the Navy, his razor-sharp focus and attention to detail seem almost otherworldly. This lead us to a break at a hugely competitive LSE Open earlier this, as well as ones at LSE IV, Trinity IV, UCL IV and Tokyo IV to name a few. Despite what I can only assume is a crushing weight of such talent he remains completely devoid of ego. Set only on doing his best and working hard for the team, it is this sincerity paired with a want to engage honestly and fairly that I truly look up to. There is no doubt in my mind that this is how he has clinched judging breaks at LSE x Imperial as well as the UCL: IV, Pro Am & Presidents Cup (what can I say my boy loves UCL).

In short, Rick Tan is a stone cold speaker & judge who will work relentlessly for Southampton Open 2024 all the while having a smile on his face, y’all are lucky to have him.

Bio by: Umar Buckus

Hi everyone it’s that exciting time to announce our CAs for Southampton Open on May 4th.

Our first CA: Arjun Raman
Arjun is a grade A simp. He's a sellout finance bro graduating in 3 years while still being 3 years old inside (to be clear, Katelyn is wrong, I'm 19), they're an American red flag who sends instagram reels (also a red flag).

(As a speaker, Arj has broken to partials at Black Sea EUDC as well as quarters at the Oxford IV and the India WUDC fundraiser, he made open finals of Bristol Open, Charity Fantasy Open, Hypothetical Open & Cardiff Open, won the Panamanian Debating Championship, made open semis of the Odesa Open and 3UDU Open, and recently spoke an 88⁉️ at Glasgow Ancients.)

As a judge, Arjun has chaired the silver finals of LSE Juniors and panelled the final rounds of Paris WSDC, LSE x Imperial Novices, Zagreb Pre-WUDC (novice final) Manchester Novices & the open partial semifinals of UCL IV. This is Arjun's third adjcore, having CA'ed Exeter Open and Imperial Juniors earlier this year.
Bio by: Katelyn Cai

New social :)

Hey! I've got some exciting news for you! We’re doing a winter ball on the 12th of December at Revolución de Cuba! ☃️🎊
You can get your tickets through the link in our bio! Ticket price includes food and entry, but you can also opt to get one with a drinks voucher 🍺🥂
The menu is on the second slide, reach out if you have allergies or can’t eat anything and we’ll sort it 🙂
Dress code is Black Tie! so pick out something nice! 🎉🕺💃
Excited to see you there!!!
https://www.fatsoma.com/e/gmmcn861/the-big-ball-2023

Interest form link in bio, hope to see you there :)