The Debate Society of Thessaloniki is a non-profit volunteer organization that was founded in 2003 and is one of the oldest debate societies in the Mediterranean region. The Debate Society is the umbrella organization of the Debate Society of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and of the Debate Society of the University of Macedonia. The Society aims at the promotion of university structure debate to students of all ages and regardless of the field of their studies. The Society is run by an Organizing Committee whose members are equal to each other with no hierarchy among them with the only exception being the existence of the role of a Representative of the Committee who represents the Society in organizations as well as takes immediate decisions once it is needed. Our main partner is the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and especially the Office for the Coordination of Volunteer Activities of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
Our mission is the enforcement of democracy and of a system of values through the exercise and empowerment of critical thinking, endorsement of dialogue, the development of the ability to express yourself fluently and correctly, the socialization of students and the growth of fair play within a safe environment for each one of them. We are educated and then educate others in the rules and principles of debate and the technique of speaking in public with no fear.
With the start of the winter semester and for the whole academic year we hold 3-hour meetings each Friday in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki which are split in educating the theoretical part of the debate and then practicing it. Every year in April we also organize the Panhellenic Debate Tournament with debaters from all the debate clubs of Greece. Throughout the year we additionally organize debate education seminars and public speaking events. We represent both the Aristotle University and the University of Macedonia in every major debate tournament on a national and international level. Our Society has also taken part in the first tv show in Greece based on debate with its content being the organization of live debate tournament among participants of all the debate clubs in Greece.
