The Jacobs University Debating Society began in fall 2002, when Attiya Noon posted a message on the IUB Community Forums, "A couple of friends and myself were thinking of starting a debating society since no college is complete without one." At the first meeting three people were present, among them Attiya and Ian Marshall, who would later become the first President and Vice-President of the Society. On September 15, 2002, the first ever debate was held at IUB. The topic was 'This house believes that there is nothing quite like McDonalds'.
The Society moved quickly to establish itself by writing a constitution and becoming a member of the Verband der Debattierclubs an Hochschulen (VDCH), the umbrella organization of Germany's debating community. In the meantime more members joined the club at Jacobs University, and regular debates allowed newcomers to learn about British Parliamenty Debating.
In the first semester ambitions were high: the Society planned to send a team to the World's University competition in South Africa and to host an own tournament in the spring semester. Due to lack of time, money, and manpower both of these plans never materialised, but big goals kept members motivated. In January of 2003 the Society sent its first team to a competition, the Münster Invitational Tournament. Uros Urosevic and Hauke Holtkamp were the first ever Jacobs University debaters to venture off-campus.
In March 2003, knowledge of the Jacobs University Debating Society at Jacobs University and around Germany jumped up a notch with Jacobs University's win at the Central and Eastern European Tournament 2003 in Berlin. Attiya Noon and Ian Marshall surprised themselves more than anyone else with this triumph.