The Alexander Brown Hall Literary and Debating Society (ABHLDS) has officially announced its withdrawal from the 2024 edition of Jaw War: Rise of Legends, citing dissatisfaction with the judging process and organizational concerns.
The decision follows a series of contentious issues that arose during the Hall Round of the competition, which saw ABHLDS receive what it described as an “unexplainable and painfully ridiculous” evaluation.
In a public statement released by the Society, it was revealed that despite losing in what they considered a surprising turn of events, the constituency firmly believes that they were unfairly ranked among the “third worst constituencies” of the night. The Society also expressed frustration with the lack of transparency surrounding the judging process, pointing out that constituencies are not allowed to review the judging sheets that could clarify the reasons behind their performance.
“We cannot fathom why the Literary and Debating Society (TLDS) refuses to allow constituencies to view the judging sheets, especially when so much effort and resources are invested by the speakers. This lack of review process is detrimental and unhelpful,” the statement read.
The ABHLDS also took issue with the interpretation of the TLDS constitution, particularly Article 5, Section 8, which the TLDS has used to justify the non-disclosure of judging sheets. The Society contends that while the article states the judges’ decision is final, it does not prevent constituencies from seeing the judging sheets for transparency and feedback purposes.
Further, the Society criticized the poor organization during the competition, highlighting problems with the timekeeping system and the selection of judges, which they described as inept. These concerns, coupled with the contentious outcomes of the event, led to their decision to withdraw not only from the current edition but from future editions of Jaw War.
The statement emphasized that while their withdrawal may be perceived as unsportsmanlike, the ABHLDS remains resolute in its decision, stressing that their action is rooted in genuine grievances rather than sourness over the loss. “We agree that our decision may come across as ‘sore losers,’ but we know that it does not reflect our true intent,” the statement affirmed.
The Society also made it clear that they were not open to discussions about their decision. They referenced a dismissive response from the TLDS Vice President, who reportedly told them that their dissatisfaction was not of concern to the organization.
As a result of these ongoing issues, the ABHLDS has officially pulled out from this and future editions of Jaw War, leaving a notable void in the competition that has drawn attention from both participants and observers alike.
The TLDS has yet to issue an official response to the statement.
