Upon the arrival of the 2024 Cohort freshmen of Guangdong Technion - Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), the students have been actively participating in diverse campus activities. On the debate stage, they refined arguments through spirited exchanges; in psychological seminars, they learned from external perspective and proactively seek self-reflection. More exciting campus cultural activities await. Stay tuned for them!

Freshman Debate Competition

"On the day when population and resources are in extreme conflict, should we embark on a journey with Earth or should Thanos snap his fingers?" In the final of the Debate Competition for freshmen, two teams contributed many brilliant arguments and justifications through strong teamwork, skillfully handling the relationship between language and logic, to explore the reality of humanity through science fiction.

The final's debate topic combined reflections on disaster and humanistic care from the movies "The Wandering Earth" and "The Avengers". The pro side argued that the Earth should be taken on the journey, but not everyone should be transferred; instead, a smart lottery system should determine the survivors. The con side believed that it's better to randomly eliminate half of the life in the universe by a finger snap from a super-villain.

"A lottery to determine survivors brings a better maintenance of order; human destiny should be mastered by humans, not by Thanos." "It's fairer if humans randomly vanish in an instant. They still get a chance to return." The debaters engaged in heated debates around fairness, human rights, and social structures, seeking logical loopholes in each other's arguments, continuously deepening and refining their own viewpoints, and pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

After both sides completed their concluding statements, the judges provided feedback on the participants' performances. "It is not easy for the freshmen to provide such rich elaborations on a topic where both views are 'extremely evil', and the two teams were evenly matched. It would be better to consider more diverse values in debates. We look forward to seeing more amazing performances from you." Ultimately, the pro side, composed of Ye Rui, Gao Ziwen, Yang Tianqi, Zhu Yuzhou, and He Kuiyuan, narrowly defeated the con side by a single vote.

In the Debate Competition, students focused on trending news, discussing whether the "gold medal wish" in Olympic arenas should be diminished; they explored the balance between algorithms and creativity in the age of AI, grounded in their STEM programs; they also delved into personal growth, analyzing whether one should accept or push themselves when facing mental exhaustion... The freshmen demonstrated a broad range of interests and humanistic qualities, enjoying the charm of debate through the clash of ideas.

Psychological Lecture

"What's the impact of environment on individuals?" "How to better adapt to a new role?" Recently, a psychological lecture was held by the Mental Health Office of Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), to help the freshmen understand the psychological challenges they may face in university life and provide strategies and support for coping with them.

It's noted that the freshmen are in a psychologically turbulent stage, facing numerous challenges. The lecture highlighted four major challenges that freshmen typically face: academic inadaptation caused by study pressure, establishing new interpersonal relationships, emotional adjustments like homesickness and fatigue due to changes in life, and the transition from minors to adults.

Being "aware" of one's current psychological state, which is crucial for coping with it, was emphasized in the lecture. To further assist students in understanding their psychological state, the speaker designed an interactive session where students could reflect on their experiences and psychological changes since they have joined GTIIT.

GTIIT Mental Health Office will be with the freshman throughout their four years, offering support and assistance during difficult times.

How to Make an Appointment?

Please contact the GTIIT Mental Health Office at counseling@gtiit.edu.cn, describing your situation. You will receive a response for further arrangements on the next working day.

Text: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, Zhang Kehan, Dai Li

Photos: GTIIT News & Public Affairs, Mi Xujie, Fan Xin