Written by Patricia Hill
With an entrance not dissimilar to the AFL or NRL Grand Finals, Ursula and Wright Hall took the stage for the Interhall Arts Committee (IAC) Debating Finals on 16 April 2026. Amongst a sea of orange and green, and the occasional bee costume, endearing chants and finger snaps were heard as the Finalists hashed it out in Marie Reay.
But the event didn’t start here. Over the course of the weekend, 11 teams (plus an additional Team X) went head-to-head in a series of debates in the hopes of winning the IAC Arts Shield at the end of the year.
The annual IAC Debating competition is “only open to those who are part of ANU’s 11 residential halls,” meaning it “tends to be more lighthearted, though no less important” says IAC President Killian Greenan.
“[The] halls are encouraged to give everyone who wants to debate a go, with its timing at the start of the year serving as an introduction to university debating for many people.”
The event is entirely student-run. “We put numerous hours into planning this event, starting all the way back in January with booking out the venue and liaising with ANU stakeholders to ensure that the event could occur,” says Killian.
“We are lucky enough to work closely with the ANU Debating Society on this event and they provide us with a Chief Adjudicator who is responsible for sourcing the topics as well as overseeing the adjudication process.”
Debating is not the only event run by IAC, who organise “several arts events such as Debating, Trivia, Dance and the Big Night Out every year!” says Sharanya Sudarshan, IAC Communications Director.
“These events entail students living across different halls on campus as well as off campus (shout-out Griffin) competing to win the annual Arts Shield announced at the end of year celebration at Spartos!”
The debating topics cover a variety of areas such as “Public Policy, Technology, Politics, Economics, Science etc., and tested the debaters’ ability to come up with arguments on the spot”. This year’s semi-finalists were Ursula Hall, Wright Hall, Burgmann College, and Bruce Hall, each critically engaging in the topics for a chance in Monday’s finals.
Topics such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the hypotheticals of “selling out” as a musician drew a crowd of a few dozen to Sunday’s Semi-Finals on 15 April, 2026. The debaters brought in contemporary examples – from Taylor Swift to AI fruit videos to Sam Altman, no stone was left unturned.
The finalists, Wright and Ursula Hall, engaged in one final debate over whether a “lonely 25 year old” would benefit from ‘Matchstick’, a hypothetical dating app which “uses AI to predict how long a prospective relationship will last”.
The crowd of spectators were seen chanting “We Love Hinge”, as the finalists pointed to the “lies and deception”, and “awkward talking phases” of modern-day dating. They discussed the options for a 25-year-old looking to “get out there”, who may be “lonely and not have any further opportunities”.
While all in good fun, the debate touched on real issues for young people today, such as the post-Covid dating scene, and the “capitalisation of loneliness” that is experienced through dating apps.
This year, Wright Hall went home with the winning title.
Organisers encourage students who want to get involved in any IAC events to talk to their Hall’s arts reps, as well as checking the IAC socials.
The Interhall Arts Committee’s largest event is a battle-of-the-bands style competition, Big Night Out (BNO), which will be occurring on 7 May.
More to come on who takes home this year’s Arts Shield.
Graphics by Laudine Cao and Eve-Lily Kelly.
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