About the Debating Society

The University of Helsinki Debating Society (UHDS) is a club under the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. Every week we debate on current issues and funny topics. We want to speak persuasively and logically, we want to think quickly on our feet and not let our opponent take the initiative, we want to present our cases powerfully and flawlessly. We want to be able to speak anywhere, anytime, on any topic, in front of any audience.

The Board

Our society is run by a board of committee members consisting mainly of students from the various universities, faculties and other institutions in Helsinki. They accept the heavy responsibility of organising weekly debates, competitions, workshops and trips abroad to international competitions. The board communicates mainly by email but has meetings every few months in order to get together and discuss how best to achieve our humble aim of becoming the best debating society in the world. Every year we have an election at which our members can elect who they would like to lead the society in this quest.

Descriptions of Key Roles

1. President: Responsible for the overall running of the society and the coordination of board members. Lives in debate palace. Reportedly.
2. Vice-President: Assists the President and takes over in their absence. Often seen reading Machiavelli.
3. Treasurer: Manages the society’s accounts. Prepares annual audited financial statements. Has summer place in the Cayman Islands.
4. Secretary: Takes minutes at board meetings and records actions. Trapped in Iron Cage of Bureaucracy
5. Communications Officer: Responsible for promotion of society, mailing lists and membership lists. Position was formally known as Propaganda Officer
6. Socials Officer: Initiates and coordinates socials. Should not be blamed for any hangovers those socials might cause.
7. Finnish and Novice Representative: Makes sure new and Finnish members are looked after. Organic Intellectual.

Board for 2011/2012 Term

• President – Mitjo Vaulasvirta
• Vice-President -Tom Jansson
• Secretary – Linda Ojanen
• Treasurer – Robert Service
• Socials Officer – Julia Parikka
• Communications Officer – Bei Wang
• Tournament Coordinator-Tianyan Liu
• Novice/Finnish Representative – Milla Huuskonen

Board for 2010/2011 Term

• President – Tianyan Liu
• Vice-President – Anna Bessonova
• Secretary – Ieva Kovarskyte
• Treasurer – Ami Ganguli
• Socials Officer – Tom Jansson
• Communications Officer – Mitjo Vaulasvirta
• Novice/Finnish Representative – Katri Tikka

Board for 2009/2010 Term

• President – Anna Bessonova
• Vice-President – Julia Toivanen
• Secretary – Ieva Kovarskyte
• Treasurer – Ami Ganguli
• Socials Officer – Rachel Strickman
• Communications Officer – Tianyan Liu
• Novice/Finnish Representative – Katri Tikka

Board for 2008/2009 Term

Upon resignation of our dear and beloved President, Irina Subulica, due to her graduation from the University of Helsinki the board elected Anna Bessonova as the new President of the Society. Rachel Strickman, our devoted member, was elected as the new Secretary. Congratulations!

• President – Irina Subulica
• Vice-President – Julia Toivanen
• Secretary – Anna Bessonova
• Treasurer – Ami Ganguli
• Tournament Coordinator – Joel Ormala
• Communications Officer – Sedeer El-Showk
• Novice/Finnish Representative – Ieva Kovarskyte

Board Assistants

• TBC

Previous Boards

Board for 2007/2008 Term

• President – Richard Penny
• Vice-President – Ina Subulica
• Secretary – Joel Ormala
• Treasurer – Helena Service
• Communications Officer – Anna Bessonova
• Competitions Officer – Simiam Ghan
• Finnish and Novice Representative – Julia Toivanen

The Board 2007/8 – Spring

• President – Richard Penny
• Vice-President Internal – Gabe Mastico /Sedeer El Showk
• Vice-President External – Ina Subulica
• Vice-President Finance – Ami Ganguli
• Vice-President Development – Marja-Liisa Helenius
• Secretary – Kashif Haseeb
• Webmaster – Henri Sivonen
• Social Co-ordinator – Anja Bessonova
• Training and Coaching Supervisor – Helena Service

Board Assistants

• Digital Information Office – Sedeer El Showk
• Recruitment Officer – Keyvan Dastalmachi
• Public Outreach Officer – Simiam Ghan

The Board 2006 – Spring

• President – Søren Berg Rasmussen
• Vice-president Internal – Richard Penny
• Vice-president External – Antti Mäkelä
• Vice-president Finance – Ami Ganguli
• Vice-president Development – Gabe Mastico
• Secretary – Scott Sphar
• Webmaster – Henri Sivonen
• Social Coordinator – Tiina Likki
• Novice Representative – Abby Semple

The Board 2005 – Fall

• President – Daniel Rankin
• Vice Presidents – Martin-Eric Racine & Søren Berg Rasmussen
• Treasurer – Tom Crawley
• Secretary – Waqar Khan
• Web Masters – Marko Saaresto & Henri Sivonen
• PR Officer – Rich Penny
• Development Officer – Nina Saarikoski
• Social Affairs Officer – Tiina Likki

The Board 2005 – Spring

• President – Dave McGeady
• Vice Presidents – Martin-Eric Racine & Søren Berg Rasmussen
• Treasurer – Tom Crawley
• Secretary – Waqar Khan
• Development Officer – Nina Saarikoski

The Board 2003–2004

• President – Timo Stewart
• Vice President – Alina Belskaya
• Treasurer – Lie Luo
• Secretary – Waqar Khan
• Web Master – Ville Pohjanheimo
• PR Officer – Elisa Jalkanen

The Board 2002–2003

• President – Suvi Kivipuro
• Vice President – Julia Ojanen
• Treasurer – Timo Stewart
• Secretary – Kerstin Planken
• Web Master – Kai Hendry

The Board 2001–2002

• President – Julia Ojanen
• Vice President – Florian Cauvin
• Treasurer – Suvi Kivipuro
• Secretary – Alina Belskaya (fall term) / Iana Afanassieva (spring term)
• Web Master – Ville Pohjanheimo
• Project Officer – Niina Saarikoski
• Vice Treasurer and email list manager – Adrian Solitander (spring term)
• Web page editor and email list manager – Kai Hendry (fall term)