Wednesday, 20th February 2008
What a debate!
"This was a special moment" – PN activist
"This wasn't a debate. It was a mass meeting" – MLP activist
"This was the best event of the electoral campaign so far" – Daphne Caruana Galizia
"Tajtuni Buzz!" – Dr. Josie Muscat
"Students side with Gonzi in rowdy debate" – The Times
"Leaders battle it out on the University stage" – The Malta Indepenendent
"L-istudenti: Le ghal Sant" – In-Nazzjon
"Ostilita' organizzata fl-Universita" – l-Orizzont
Only one thing can be sure. Students are back in the headlines. And this time, it's not because of the petty issue of parking, or the hackneyed stipends argument. This time it is democracy, student political activism, the behaviour and reactions towards the most important people in the country.
As CEO of InSite, I am very proud that we organised this event. Not only because it was the first time the four leaders were made to answer questions so close to each other in a timed American-style format, but because for the first time in recent memory, Sir Temi Zammit Hall was overflowing with students, all keen to see what was going to happen.
Watching the hall fill up from backstage I felt proud, because now people could not talk of apathy or disinterest anymore. Students were queuing from more than an hour before the debate, because they were interested, they wanted to see what the leaders had to say and they wanted to show their support to their preferred candidate. Students are not apathetic, they just need space to discuss what they care about. So many times, we get it wrong. This time, we got it right. Students want to talk about politics.
The questions by Karl Schembri and Josanne Cassar, were great – to the point, factual, nasty and controversial. They made the students sit at the edge of their seats excited to listen to the answers, while keeping an eye on the timers.
Yes manoeuvring there was. Not from InSite's side, though, but from the young blind activists of both big parties. Coaches brought teenagers in droves from Junior College, and the activists cheered, booed and gave standing ovations to the leaders they supported, regardless of what was said. And although not typical of a debate format, what we had was a political debate with a very strong and active audience more typical of a mass meeting.
What was the aim? Originally to have a really smooth-running timed debate with little student interruption. But in a way I am glad that students made this event about themselves. I'm glad so many students stood up to ask questions, and my biggest regret is that the event had to be cut short and only three questions were asked.
Many have complained that this debate turned into a mass meeting. This was not InSite's intention. We opened the doors, let everyone in and introduced the four leaders. The Nationalist stronghold was evident instantly.
Most of those who attended the debate have never voted in a general election before. But this time they will. If the attitude is a reflection of the student population as a whole, PN have a chance of winning yet another election, thanks in the most part to all those first time voters who, like KSU president David Herrera, do not trust Dr. Sant.
All in all this was an entertaining and exhilarating event. Although the crowd was severely one sided (something beyond anyone's control), the actual debate was fair and balanced and this is something which not many media organisations can claim of their own coverage.
Hopefully students will continue to show such involvement during the electoral campaign, and more events of this kind will be organised so that everyone can put democracy in practice and make an informed decision.
Thanks
again to the four leaders for attending and being very courteous.
Thanks to the journalists and moderator. Thanks to everyone who
participated in the organisation of the event. Thanks to all the media
for coming and reporting, even if some of your facts were distorted.
Most of all, thank you to the students for attending so numerously, for
showing that you do care about how your country is run.
Next time, try to be more civil and tolerant to other people's ideas, and when you are given the chance to watch a debate, try to stick to watching it rather than turn it into a mass meeting. But whatever form of next time there is – make sure you are there, because our presence is important.We showed ourselves that if we organise something big enough we can get all the attention we want. Just think of all the other things we can achieve through that attention.
Christian Peregin is a third year B.Communications (Hons.) student and CEO of InSite, the University student media organisation. www.insite.org.mt
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Comments
it definatly was not a serious political debate, and you have your dear (ex) leader to thank for that for not even answering simple, straightforward questions.
Furthermore, incase you've been going around with your eyes shut for the past 10 years, or you've just joined us from the planet Mars, you would have realised that the economy has shifted from manufacturing and shipping (which your party wants to blindly and illegally subsidise) towards IT and services....(a sector which as been integrated into educational strategy as well as attracting investment from that sector) So from that point of view, i'd say students DID have a fair idea as to where their future lies
Frankly, I'm tired of listening to such comments as "students know where their future lies", just because arrogant Nationalist students thought they were at La Corrida instead of a serious political debate. It was clear that there was also a considerable number of Labour supporters present, because clapping could be heard throughout the hall after Dr Sant had spoken, but unfortunately this was drowned by the booing and obscene words shouted down at the stage by Nationalist fanatics. Labour, AD and AN supporters did not show disrespect to the other leaders, but clapped politely when they agreed with what was being said. To top it all off, Dr Gonzi never tried to stop his supporters from their shameful behaviour, but seemed to be enjoying himself. Will these be the future Nationalist leaders of our country? If so, God be with us.
media. Is that what a news paper or a Tv station should promote? Huge, fat lies to implant hatred towards fellow citizens
and most of all promote racism, and the funny thing is that all this is done just to cover up the incompetence of the
opposition party.
This time it is us students who are being called shallow because we stood up for our rights. I think the booing was
justifiable in that occasion where Sant tried to mock a student with the silly habit he has of beating around the bush when
asked a good question. Where is the so-called freedom of expression? MLP are already this arrogant yet still in opposition
I just don't want to imagine them coming to power and get thrown back into the dark ages of the 70s and 80s again where even
the word "nation" was illegal to use.
I condemn all the hatred that is being promoted and encourage people to reason out issues and choose the best party for the
national interest.
One last thing! I feel free to call double-faced and very superficial all those people who grumble about the government just
because they wanted an illegal favor that wasn't returned - yet they are not ashamed to throw mud adhoc and call the
government as corrupt.
Shameful! We students study hard to earn our grades and get a good job. That is why I agree with fellow students to voice
their feelings and say no to Sant and his pathetic ideals of governing Malta. We want more opportunities to show our worth
and live up to our potential.
REMOVING STIPENDS !! Yes vote labour and every body would start to like 70s and 80s music.
This week of the electoral campaign has revealed how intolerant the MLP is to those who do not agree with them and the phrase Dr. Sant likes to use frequently probably reflects the ingrained intolerance "Those who are not against us are with us" (Dawk li mhumiex kontra taghna huma maghna) So do not dare disagree because then you're against them and according to Dr. Mangion probably you have something wrong with your DNA.
I think the time has come to give the Labour party a message that yes a change is needed but in the Labour Party.
Simply because some questions were not to the liking of one particular leader does not make the whole debate partial.
If that leader was shrewd enough he could very well have adjusted his attirude and refrained from asking the audience questions which he should have sized up the answers to a long time ago!
I am sure that had Dr. Gonzi slipped up or refused to give straight answers, the audience would have equally resented him.
We should all remember that in many oppressed countries now enjoying democracy, it was, in many cases, the students who made the first move.
So, I say to Dr. Sant - having the students on the other side of your fence does not augur well for the MLP in this election and beyond.
Junior College students were brought to University by BOTH political organisations SDM and PULSE. None were encouraged or organised by InSite.
Contrary to what some Labour party media reported, InSite does not apologize for what happened during the debate. What disappoints us are the accusations that InSite is somehow not independent.
InSite is made up of a diverse team with members of all political beliefs, and we take pride in this fact. Being in any way politically opinionated as an individual, does not make the organisation less impartial or objective. Also, simply because members of the organisation, including myself, have friends who they are supporting for the general election, does not change this fact.
I think instead of making a fuss about student reactions and trying to find every way to make the students look bad, the media and the general public should focus on the debate - the strengths and weaknesses of each leader and what was said.