AUDITOR’S ADDRESS

It is now over three years since my first involvement in the Lit’n’Deb, when I spoke in the world-record breaker debate of the 148th session (at 28 days it is a record that still stands). If I recall correctly, I believe I spent an hour or so discussing T-shirts. Unfortunately this level of erudition is not one I have always lived up to while speaking as Auditor. There is something about the auditorial gown and chain that fills me with an uncontrollable urge to make bad jokes and ramble insanely.

Thankfully, this society is well stocked with speakers whose attitude to debate is a little more intelligent than mine. It is for this reason that the Lit’n’Deb remains the main forum for discussion, for students of this college, on issues that concern them. Whether this issue at hand is the students union, the threat of impending nuclear catastrophe or the decline in quality of Mr Kipling Pies, anyone may speak, because everyone in college, including lecturers, or even Mussolini, is a member.

Throughout the year we have endeavoured to identify and encourage the debating skills of our members, entering speakers, many of them first years, in national and international competition. The experience gained by speakers in this way, will, I have no doubt, be invaluable in the coming years.

The job of Auditor is not always an easy one, but those difficulties I have encountered were overcome with the help of an excellent committee which I shall not forget. As my tenure as Auditor draws to a close, I wish to thank the members of this society and wish my successors of years to come good luck in fulfilling the role of the Lit’n’Deb, as stated in our constitution of “encouraging debate and disputation, and promoting soundness of thought in the college”. My thanks to the members, past, present and future of the Literary and Debating Society.

Fergal Crehan

Auditor, the 151st Session