Michaelmas Term 2022 | The Cambridge Union

Welcome to the Union

To those of you who are joining us this term, welcome. There’s not much I wouldn’t give to be in your position again. Nothing will ever compare to your first term here. It is my firm belief that Michaelmas is the most exciting time to be in Cambridge. The city is beautiful in Autumn, brim ming with possibilities as you settle into the rhythm of university life.

And I hope that after Bridgemas has been and gone, once you’re back home reflecting on strange Cambridge traditions, and yearning for one more trip to Van of Life, that you will also remember the Union as an important part of your first days in the city.

I hope that you will look back on many evenings spent at our bar and restaurant, The Orator, that you will share pictures from our Freshers Ball (for which free tickets will be offered to new members), and that you will continue to argue your own take on our famous Thursday Night Debates.

The Union offers something really quite special, and something I’m not sure you’ll be able to find again, anywhere. This term is no different. With 20 speaker events, 9 packed debates, panels, a play, exhibitions, a series of stellar socials, and two balls, the Union really has so much to offer. Whether you want to grill Brian Cox, debate whether we really do have the Right to Offend, or to meet Ian McElhinny, there’s something for everyone in this termcard.

A few important dates. From now, until 23:59pm on the 14th Octo ber, all of our events will be open to all and completely free to attend. If you’re interested in finding out more what the Union has to offer, or you simply want entertainment for an evening, please do come along to a few events in this period. Trust me, you’ll never experience anything quite like the atmosphere of our first debate of term, on the motion This House Has No Confidence in His Majesty’s Government.

Our Freshers Discount ends that night, so don’t delay. For the first two weeks of term membership is discounted by £40. If that hasn’t convinced you, on the evening of the 17th October we host our famous Freshers Ball. Tickets will be balloted to all those who join, and guaran teed for the first 100 members. I promise you, you won’t get the chance to attend a ball like this for free ever again.

And finally, to all those returning to Cambridge. Thank you for joining us for another year. I look forward to seeing many familiar faces in the chamber this term. Please, make your voice heard. This is your Union. We are, at heart, a member’s society. We are run by and for our mem bers. So please, stop by the President’s Office, or drop me an email at president@cus.org if you have ideas about how we can do things differ ently, speaker suggestions, or are just keen to say hello or get involved. I’d love to meet you.

LARA BROWN President, Michaelmas 2022

BRIEF

Joining the Union

Almost everything in the termcard (apart from our open period events) is open to members only. Joining the Union grants you access to our speaker events, debates, and socials for your whole life. The Union houses an incredible library, a new members room, our cellars (transformed into a nightclub on wednesday evenings), and a bar and restaurant (where you’ll get a discount). Plus, lifetime members who join in the freshers period will be entered into a ballot for a free ticket to our Freshers Ball.

Life Membership is open to all students and staff from the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin, as well as Judge Business School and BPP Law School Cambridge.

OPEN PERIOD

We know that becoming a member of the Union can be a big commitment. So, for the first two weeks of term, to help you decide, we’ve made all of our events ‘open to all’ for the first two weeks of term, until the 16th October.

So please, make the most of this opportunity and come along to some of our open period events. Our ents officer, Ed, has been working hard to plan a number of socials that will introduce you to union life.

THE FRESHERS’ DISCOUNT

Coinciding with the Open Period, we run a once a year ‘Freshers Discount’. For two weeks only (until the 14th October) Union Membership is available to buy for the discounted price of £190. That’s the equivalent of spending £1.22 on coffee a week over the course of a three year degree. After that, the price of membership will go up to £230.

ACCESS MEMBERSHIP

Access membership is the same as life membership but at a lower price for those in receipt of university bursaries. If you are not sure if you qualify for access membership please email info@cus.org.

ACCESS PRICES

£200 reduced to £130, for incomes below £25,000

£200 reduced to £150, for incomes £25,001 - £33,750

£200 reduced to £170, for incomes £33,751 - £42,620

OPEN PERIOD EVENTS:

Come along to all of these events completely free of charge:

Dot Cotton Club Night | 1st October in the Cellars

Rotation clothes rental stall at the Union | 11am - 4pm, 4th October

Theo Paphitis | 6pm, 4th October

No Confidence Debate | 8pm, 6th October

The Vamps | 4pm, 7th October

Simon Evans | 6pm, 10th October

Pub Quiz in the Cellars | 8pm - 10pm, 10th October

Union Tours | 2pm - 5pm, 10th & 11th October

Robert Harris | 6pm, 11th October

Mock PMQs | 5pm, 12th October

Energy Nationalisation Debate | 8pm, 13th October

Meet the Committee Social | 4:30pm - 6pm, 14th October

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Union is proud to offer 55 members the chance to join free of charge each year.

The Silver Street Scholarships, generously supported by Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queen’s College, will enable 25 students from any college to join the Union for life without pay ment, provided they can demonstrate clear financial need, and a sense of why the Union would be likely to benefit them.

The Stephen Fry Scholarships enable 30 students studying a STEM subject at University to join free of charge, with a preference again going to those in a position of financial need.

The application forms for both of these scholarships will be circulated on our website, Facebook, and Instagram. There is a short questionnaire to fill in to help us determine who is most likely to derive the most benefit from these schemed, and the scholars will asked to attend a social event with the individuals supporting each programme.

A brief history

Founded in 1815 from the merger of several smaller debating societies, the Union is the oldest debating society in the world. We are now proud to have more than 70,000 life members, making us the largest student organisation at the University of Cambridge.

We moved into our present building in 1866. The building is located just off Bridge Street — a prime location which has put us at the centre of Cambridge life and has no doubt helped contrib ute to our fascinating and illustrious history.

Today, the Union enjoys a strong relationship with our partners in the University of Cambridge, yet at several moments throughout our existence, the University has attempted to stifle debate at the Union or stop it entirely. Dramatically, on 24th March 1817, the University proctors burst into a Cambridge Union Society meeting, demanding the dissolution of the Society in a bid to stop its debates. The President, William Whewell demanded the proctors leave for the Society to consider their demand. The Society decided to put up a fight for free expression on campus. More than two-hundred years after this incident, the present committee is delighted to be able to carry on with this vital mission.

Early in the Second World War, the Society’s building was commandeered for use by the RAF to provide classrooms for the teaching of navigation; and later it was used as a base for D-Day planning during Operation Conqueror. Although these events are shrouded in secrecy, it has been widely speculated that Generals Montgomery and Eisenhower were in attendance. The Union li brary was sadly hit by Luftwaffe bombs. This left several of our books with shrapnel damage, some of which can still be seen on our older books today, in a poignant reminder of the Second World War in which the Union and many of its members played such a vital role.

Amongst our most famous members over the years are King George VI and King Charles III, but in addition to our Royal heritage, the Union has also produced a number of successful politicians, the most famous of which are the so-called ‘Cambridge Mafia’. Members of the group — Leon Brit tan, Norman Fowler, Ken Clarke, Michael Howard, John Gummer and Norman Lamont — serve as a powerful reminder of how a society like the Union, with its focus on the development oratory skill and the promotion of free speech has served as a launching point for many the successful political career.

Although many of our earlier members were men, women have also played a leading role in the shaping of the Society as it exists today. The Union’s first female President, Baroness Mallalieu, was elected to serve in Michaelmas Term 1967, less than 20 years after women had first been al lowed to take their degrees from Cambridge. Since then, notable presidents have included former Lords Speaker Baroness Hayman and the broadcaster and journalist Clare Balding. This strong tradition continues to this day, and I have had the honour of serving alongside two wonderful female Presidents so far during my term has Vice President — Leti Ryder (Easter 2021) and our current President Lara Brown (Michaelmas 2022).

As I begin my second term serving as Vice President of the Cambridge Union Society, I am abso lutely delighted to have been able to work alongside Lara to put together such a terrific term card. Not only do members have a wonderful speech to look forward to from our Professor Stephen

Hawking Fellow, Professor Brian Cox, but they can also expect some fascinating events with sen ior politicians from around the world. Most notably, we will be joined by Dan Meridor, the Former Deputy Prime Minister of Israel, and Mick Mulvaney, who served as White House Chief of Staff during the Trump Administration.

Lara and I will also be overseeing the development of the Snooker room, which will become a purpose-built member room, creating a reliably available space in which members can relax, have a coffee, and study or socialise with friends. Upgrades to our chamber’s Audio-Visual system have provided us with greater flexibility with the type of events we can hold, which has been particu larly useful as we have made plays a regular fixture of the Union term card. I have been fortunate to have a key role in the running of these popular plays and I hope that you will enjoy this term’s showcasing of The Haunting of Hill House just as much.

We at the Union are incredibly excited to welcome everyone back to Cambridge for the new term. Whatever your interests, we have something for you and we hope to see you this term.

DAVID EAGLESON

Vice President

My many thanks have to go to Lord Parkinson whose book on the history of the Cambridge Union, entitled ‘Arena of Ambition’, has proven to be an invaluable resource with many useful insights for myself and many other members of our committee, and which was instrumental to me in compiling this brief history.

How to get involved

The Cambridge Union is first and foremost a member’s society, and its daily activities, from the mundane to the extravagant, would not be possible without committees and the members that run them. Having said that, I remember how confused I was when I first heard about the Union, and how it took me weeks to grapple with the internal structures and learn the workings of this place. Your participation and contributions are the most important part of the Union, but we understand that members need to be informed to be empowered - and that is what we have attempted to ensure with both this page, and more in-depth, the How to Get Involved Guide for Michaelmas 2022 which has been published as a separate document to this termcard and is available on the Union’s social media.

HOW DEBATE NIGHTS WORK AT THE CAMBRIDGE UNION:

Debates are held every week on a Thursday and are a staple of the Union’s calendar. The evening begins around 7:30pm with an ‘Emergency Debate’ held on a topic relevant, although different to the subject of the main debate. The motion of the Emergency Debate is advertised on the Union’s social media on the Monday before the debates, with four slots available (two proposition, two opposition) on a first come-first-serve basis - it’s a great way to get a taste of debating at the Union without the pressure of the cameras. After the Emergency, the Main Debate begins at 8pm with the Vice President ringing the famous bell, leading the speakers for the debate.

There are six speakers in total, with most debates having one or more slots for a student speaker which can be earnt through auditioning. Audition information is published at the beginning of the week via the Union’s social media channels and is also circulated via the weekly newsletter.

If you don’t want to plunge into the deep end immediately, you can offer Points of Information or Floor Speeches during debates. Points of Information can be offered during any point of a speech, questioning the content of something a speaker has said. A Floor Speech occurs after each set of proposition and opposition speeches (besides the last set) and consists of a speech in either prop osition, opposition or abstention for about two minutes.

The most important thing is that regardless of experience, you get involved in whatever capacity you feel comfortable. The Union will always welcome your input - you’re what makes the society!

If you have any questions about getting involved please email me at equalities@cus.org!

ELLIE BREEZE

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Competitive debating

WHAT IS COMPETITIVE DEBATING?

Competitive debating at the university level often follows the British Parliamentary (‘BP’) format. There are four teams of two speakers each, with two teams proposing the motion (the ‘Govern ment’ teams) and two teams opposing the motion (the ‘Opposition’ teams). On each side, there are both Opening half and Closing half teams (i.e. Opening Government or ‘OG’ and Closing Gov ernment or ‘CG’). Teams must represent their side of the motion and are competing to present the most compelling, impactful, unique and substantiated arguments for their side. Each team is given 15 minutes to prepare once the motion is released and speakers are given 7 minutes each to present their arguments. The speaking order starts with the first speaker of OG followed by the first speaker of Opening Opposition and alternates with the last speaker coming from the Closing Opposition or ‘CO’.

HOW DO YOU GET INVOLVED IN COMPETITIVE DEBATING?

The most direct way to get involved in competitive debating is to join one of our training streams. We offer three streams: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced. In each stream, we have dedicated trainers who will run weekly workshops and/or competitive debates to help you improve your debating skills. Additionally, you can sign up to represent Cambridge at external tournaments and competitions — these opportunities will be publicised regularly via our mailing list and our group chats for each stream. With the return to in-person debating, there are more opportunities to par ticipate in external tournaments all across the UK, Europe and North America as well.

You can also get involved by volunteering at tournaments organized by Cambridge. Every year we run Cambridge Schools, which is a tournament targeted towards high-school debaters all across the UK. We also run Cambridge Wom*n’s and Gender Minorities and the extremely popular Cam bridge Inter-varsity tournament. You can get involved at these tournaments as a judge, tabulation team member or simply volunteering to help with logistics.

Also feel free to pop into our various competitive debating socials which will be organized all throughout the year.

THE COMPETITIVE DEBATING LUNCH

Join us in-person at the Union at 6pm on 12th October for our competitive debating launch. You’ll be able to ask members of our competitive debating subcommittee all the questions you have, en joy amazing cupcakes and most importantly, sign up for our training streams! To stay up to date with all our latest achievements and activities, you may request to join the Cambridge Debating Facebook group, and join our mailing list. All relevant links can be found at: https://cambridgede bating2022.carrd.co/

KEY DATES:

Competitive Debating Launch at the Union | 6pm, 12th October

Final deadline to register for training streams | 19th October

Allocation of training streams | 25th October

First training session and a small debate social for each stream | 26th, 27th and 28th October

Cambridge IV 2022 | 5th and 6th November

Cambridge Wom*ns and Gender Minorities | 26th November

Cambridge Schools Regionals, ICYD Regionals | 3rd December and onwards

World’s University Debating Championship | 27th December

CONTACT INFOMRATION

Bernd Wong bernd.wong@cus.org

Isabelle Sim isabelle.sim@cus.org

Bernd and Isabelle debating@cus.org

debates

An introduction

Thursday night debates are the heart and soul of the Union – the atmosphere in the chamber as we listen to insightful perspectives on a variety of issues, as well as challenging and questioning them, is truly unique and I’ve never experienced anything close to it elsewhere.

I am beyond proud to present a set of nine debates with a diverse range of speakers from all walks of life, and a diverse set of topics too – from politics past and present to social issues and foreign affairs, there is something for everyone and I hope that whether you’re a fresher or a Union vet eran, you’ll find yourself drawn to the Union on Thursdays to experience our debates this term.

But one of the best parts of being a member of this society is that you’re never limited to watching debates – you can take part in them. There are ample slots for students to take centre stage as main speakers in our debates this term, and all you have to do to get an audition is apply. And if you’re not successful, don’t give up – just ask for feedback and try again! Equally, you can make a floor speech just by putting your hand up in the chamber between speeches, and challenge speak ers on their points at any time.

Cambridge is a busy place, full of things to do and people to see. But amongst the lectures and studying, you can always spend Thursday night relaxing at the Union, and I look forward to seeing you there!

SAM CARLING

Officer,

debates

Summary of Debates

No Confidence | Thursday 6th October

Energy Nationalisation | Thursday 13th October

Sex Work and Feminism | Thursday 20th October

Experts | Thursday 27th October

America | Thursday 3rd November

Reparations | Thursday 10th November

Free Speech | Thursday 17th November

New Labour | Thursday 24th November

Western Intervention | Thursday 1st December

HOUSE

Has No Confidence In His Majesty’s Government

For the first time in 70 years, the Union debates the record of His Majesty’s Government. After 12 years of the Conservatives and four Prime Ministers, crisis is the word on everyone’s lips, yet on the 6th October PM Truss will be celebrating only the 30th day of her premiership. If the ‘Mini Budget’ is anything to go by, however, she is determined to push forward with seismic changes, regardless of their popularity. In Liz we Truss?

NIK JOHNSON

Mayor Nik Johnson is the Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and leads the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority with respon sibility for skills and further education, transport and infrastructure, housing and communities, and business support. He is also a qualified paediatrician.

TO BE CONFIRMED

The speaker will be announced in due course.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a Student Speaker.

OPPOSITION

BIM AFOLANI

Bim Afolami has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for Hitchin and Harpenden since 2017. Bim is chair of the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group, and leads the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Credit Unions.

TO BE CONFIRMED

The speaker will be announced in due course.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

Would Nationalise the Grid

With Russia squeezing Europe’s gas supplies, the price of energy is pushing record new highs. The government will provide billions of dollars of support for consumers, but some are denouncing this as a handout to the industry, one posting record profits - profits which the government refuses to impose a windfall tax upon. Has the industry failed in its obligations to the public? Is nationalisation really the silver bullet some would have it be, or would it be a mistake?

AMY CALLAGHAN

Amy is the Scottish National Party MP for East Dunbartonshire, having won the seat from the Liberal Democrats in the 2019 general election. She is the SNP Spokesperson for Pensions and Intergenerational Affairs, and chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Children, Teenagers and Young Adults with Cancer.

TO BE CONFIRMED

The speaker will be announced in due course.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a Student Speaker.

OPPOSITION

ANDREW LILICO

Andrew Lilico is an author, journalist, economist, and political commentator. He is the Executive Director and Principal of Europe Economics, and has written for a number of platforms including The Telegraph, UnHerd, and The Guardian.

BEN WILSON

Ben is the Chief Strategy and External Affairs Officer of the National Grid. Previously, he was CEO of Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), one of the largest utility infrastructure businesses in Australia, and has more than 25 years’ experience in the energy sector internationally.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

HOUSE

Believes Sex Work is Compatible with Feminism

Globally, there are a variety of perspectives on sex work – but there’s no question that those people, mainly women, who earn money from prostitution, pornography and other forms of it face stigma and shame from society. Should this work be treated as a profession, or is it an exploitation of women that must be stamped out? This debate will an

alyse both sides of the argument, and come to a conclusion on whether sex work can be empowering or whether it is always unethical and

NIINA VUOLAJÄRVI

Niina Vuolajärvi is an assistant professor in International Migration at the LSE European Institute. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on the fields of migration, feminism, and socio-legal studies. Niina’s projects have investigat ed migrant sex work, prostitution and migration policies, post-deportation experiences, and race and colonial legacies in Europe

CAROLINE SPIEGEL

Caroline Spiegel is the Founder and CEO of Quinn, the app for audio erotica. Before dropping out to start Quinn, Caroline studied computer systems at Stanford and worked at Protocol Labs. Quinn is on a mission to elevate the romance genre, and introduce immersive, ethical erotic content into the mainstream.

CHIDERA EGGERUE

Chidera Eggerue, popularly known as ‘The Slumflower’ is an author and advocate who rose to popularity from her viral movement #saggyboobsmatter in 2018. Since then, she has become a Number 1 Sunday Times Bestselling Author with her first book “What A Time To Be Alone”, and has brought an important conversation about women’s bodies and autonomy to the forefront through her 2020 Channel 4 documentary “Bring Back the Bush”.

OPPOSITION

RACHEL MORAN

Rachel Moran is a survivor of prostitution and sex trafficking, and author of Paid For: My Journey Through Prostitution. Her work seeks to raise aware ness of the dangers of those practices, and the risks to women posed by broad acceptance of them.

JULIE SWEDE

Julie Swede is a campaigner and activist who has worked with the HOPE Campaign at the Centre for Women’s Justice. She is a survivor of prostitution and sex trafficking and works to provide support for women in prostitution.

MICKEY MEJI

Mickey Meji is a feminist and human rights activist whose work focuses on the abolition of prostitution. She is an Advocacy Coordinator at Embrace Dig nity, a South African NGO which challenges gendered power inequalities.

Has Had Enough of Experts

The Covid Pandemic has drawn attention to the role experts play within government, and to what extent this role subverts the sover eignty of the people. We explore whether populism should be viewed as a realisation of the people’s sovereignty, and consequently a mani festation of core democratic principles, or whether populism is in fact a corrosive force on these principles.

LORD MATT RIDLEY

Matt Ridley, the Viscount Ridley, is a science writer, journalist, and business man. His books, including The Red Queen, Genome, The Rational Optimist and The Evolution of Everything, have sold over a million copies and won sev eral awards. He served in the Lords between 2013 and 2021 and was founding chairman of the International Centre for Life in Newcastle Upon Tyne.

LAURA DODSWORTH

Laura Dodsworth is a photographer, artist, and author. She has written for The Sunday Times, The Telegraph, and The Guardian, amongst others. Her work explores controversial topics such as sex-based rights and behavioural science.

JOHAN ANDERBERG

Johan Anderberg is a Swedish writer and journalist who has been a regular contributor to a number of Swedish and international media outlets, including the Wall Street Journal. His recent book The Herd highlights Sweden’s experi ence of the Covid-19 pandemic.

OPPOSITION

KAMRAN ABBASI

Kamran Abbasi is editor in chief of The BMJ. He is a doctor, journalist, editor, and broadcaster. He has consulted for several major organisations including Harvard University, the NHS, the World Health Organisation, and McKinsey & Co. In addition, Kamran has been Chief Executive of an online learning company and is an experienced radio and television commentator.

JOHAN CHRISTENSEN

Johan Christensen is an assistant professor at the University of Leiden. His research focuses on the role of experts and expertise in public policy making. His newest book, Expertise, Policy-making and Democracy will be published in Autumn 2022.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

HOUSE

Would Vote Blue No Matter Who

America is soon to go through the midterm elections – and Joe Biden’s record in office will be put to the test by the American people. Will he retain his slim majorities in both chambers of Congress, or will he lose one or both and with them, lose much of his legislative power? The political landscape continues to change rapidly – with the overturning of Roe vs Wade being a key turning point in the polling. Does Biden deserve to retain his majority, or is it time for the Republicans to rise

JANE HARMAN

Jane Harman is the former Congresswoman for California’s 36th congres sional district. After leaving Congress in 2011, she became President and CEO of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a quasi-government entity which conducts research to inform public policy.

SIR PETER WESTMACOTT

Sir Peter Westmacott is a diplomat who served as Ambassador to the United States from 2012 until 2016. He has also served in diplomatic posts in Iran, France, and Turkey, and is an ambassadorial fellow of the Atlantic Council.

JEH JOHNSON

Jeh Johnson is the former United States Secretary of Homeland Security. Jeh is an accomplished lawyer, and was also general counsel at the Department of Defense during the first years of the Obama administration.

OPPOSITION

TREY GOWDY

Trey Gowdy is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Doesn’t Hurt to Ask and co-author of Unified, with Senator Tim Scott. Gowdy served as a four-term congressman from South Carolina. Before running for Congress, he served as a federal prosecutor in his home state and a district attorney in Spartanburg and Cherokee counties.

MICK MULVANEY

Mick Mulvaney is the former director of the Office of Management and Budget. He has served as White House Chief of Staff, and in the House of Representatives. He has worked as an on-air contributor for CBS News since early 2022.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

Would Pay Reparations

The University of Cambridge recently released a comprehensive re port into the legacies of slavery that continue to seep into our modern experience of studying, working and living in this community. Addi tionally, not so long ago, the University Council took the decision to return the collection of Benin Bronzes held in Cambridge back to the government of Nigeria following their looting by Britain in a raid many years ago. Discussion and debate around the meaning of this legacy for us now continue, and there is no better time to revisit the question of whether Britain owes reparations to it’s former colonies.

BELL RIBEIRO-ADDY

Bell Ribeiro-Addy has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Streatham since 2019. She is a self-described “life-long socialist” and feminist, and served as Shadow Minister for Immigration in 2020.

MEERA SABARATNAM

Dr Meera Sabaratnam is a reader in International Relations at SOAS Uni versity of London. Her research focuses on the colonial and postcolonial dimensions of world politics, and her book Decolonising Intervention seeks to criticise the current model of development aid.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

OPPOSITION

CALVIN ROBINSON

The Reverend Calvin Robinson is an Anglican Deacon, TV/Radio Presenter and Conservative Commentator. He regularly features on GMB, BBC Radio, GB News and in print for The Telegraph, Daily Mail, Spectator, and Spiked.

RAFE HEYDEL-MANKOO

Rafe Heydel-Mankoo is an author, broadcaster and historian specialising in British institutions, the Monarchy and the Commonwealth Realms, and one of North America’s leading experts on the British monarchy. Rafe appears regularly on TV, radio, and in print media, commentating on royal events.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

Believes in the Right to Offend

As the world’s oldest free speech and debate society, this is a topic we take seriously - indeed this time last year our very chamber was unex pectedly thrust into the centre of the conversation. With this debate we plan on tackling this issue head on.

TOBY YOUNG

Toby Young is a British journalist and political commentator. He is the Found er and Director of the Free Speech Union, and a regular contributor to The Spectator, The Daily Telegraph, and the Daily Mail.

SIMON EVANS

Simon is one of the UK’s most respected and established comedians. He is a regular on TV and radio and particularly popular on the corporate and after dinner circuit. His TV credits include BBC One’s Live at the Apollo and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, BBC Two’s Mock the Week and was a regular on Channel 4’s Stand Up for the Week.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

OPPOSITION

TO BE CONFIRMED

The speaker will be announced in due course.

TO BE CONFIRMED

The speaker will be announced in due course.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

HOUSE

Believes That New Labour Saved Britain

In 1997, Tony Blair and the Labour Party swept into office with a land slide majority and transformed Britain following 18 years of Conserv ative rule under Margaret Thatcher and John Major. But were their reforms the best thing for Britain? Would it have fallen behind the rest of the Western World without the premierships of Blair and Brown?

With so many parallels between the direction the Labour Party is tak ing now and that which it took in the 1990s, now is the time to debate the legacy of New Labour.

LORD CHRIS SMITH

Chris Smith, Lord Smith of Finsbury, is a former Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury and served as the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 1997 to 2001. While at university, he was President of the Cambridge Union, and is now our Chairman of Trustees.

BARONESS ANGELA SMITH

Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon, has been the Leader of the Op position in the House of Lords since 2015, and was formerly the Member of Parliament for Basildon from 1997 to 2010. In the Commons, she served as a minister across a number of portfolios in the Blair and Brown governments.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

OPPOSITION

ANDREW MITCHELL

Andrew Mitchell has been the Member of Parliament for Sutton Coldfield since 2001. He has served as Chief Whip, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury, and Secretary of State for International Development. He is a for mer President of the Cambridge Union.

SIMON BAYNES

Simon Baynes has been the Members of Parliament for Clywd South since 2019. He is currently Parliamentary Private Secretary to DCMS and was for merly Minister for Justice and Tackling Illegal Migration.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

Believes Western Intervention Has Been a Force for Good

This debate will investigate how Western interventions have shaped international relations as well as political realities and personal lives across the globe. As we are yet again reminded of the immediate impact of war and its human suffering, we expect to hear a variety of perspectives on the legacy, and future value, of interventionism.

LARA BROWN

Lara is the outgoing President of the Cambridge Union. In her spare time she is also a third year English Literature Student at Downing College. She is look ing forward to retirement, and spending some time with the much neglected romantic poets of her dissertation.

KAMILIA SIDIQI

Kamila Sidiqi is an Afghan entrepreneur and politician that served in the Afghan government from 2014 to 2017. She has worked to bring business, leadership, and entrepreneurial skills to Afghan women. She is a founding member of the Afghan Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

TO BE CONFIRMED

The speaker will be announced in due course.

OPPOSITION

YASMINE AHMED

Yasmine Ahmed is a lawyer and activist, and the UK director of Human Rights Watch. She has also served as Executive Director of award winning human rights organisation, Rights And Security International.

PETER HITCHENS

Peter Hitchens is a journalist and author, currently at The Mail on Sunday. Once a correspondent in Moscow and Washington, he has visited 57 coun tries on assignment. His latest book, ‘A Revolution Betrayed’, focuses on the destruction state grammar schools and the effects on the education system.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Auditions will be held to select a student speaker.

speakers

An introduction

The beginning of a new year is always an exciting time at Cambridge, and this is no different for the Cambridge Union. This Michaelmas Term at the Union presents an opportunity for everybody to learn about a range of topics by those who are renowned in their field:

Art enthusiasts should look forward to Director of the Tate art museums and galleries, Maria Balshaw, speaking with art critic Louisa Buck. Football fans can revel in the successes of The Li onesses with former England player Eniola Aluko. Entrepreneurial types will be sure to enjoy our event with Theo Paphitis, retail magnate and Dragons’ Den star. And of course, hearing from Brad and James from The Vamps is certain to satisfy the curiosity of our music lovers.

I am honoured to be able to present these speakers and am deeply thankful for my Speakers’ Sub committee, who have worked hard to help create this line-up. This term will continue the Cam bridge Union’s tradition of providing a platform for incredible speakers to widen the perspectives of our members, and I do hope to see you all in the audience!

ELLENOOR SHAMELI

Officer, Michaelmas

speakers

Summary of Speakers

Theo Paphitis

James Brittain-McVey

& Bradley Simpson

Robert Harris Mock PMQs

Bo Seo

Mick Mulvaney

Afghan Interpreters

Issy Wood Benjamin Butterworth

Freddy McConnell

Eniola Aluko

Charlie Kirk Brian Cox

Cindy Gallop

Dan Meridor

Ian McElhinney

Maria Balshaw in conversation with Louisa Buck

Trevor Horn

Theo Paphitis

CHAIRPERSON OF BOUX AVENUE

Cypriot born Theo Paphitis has a business empire that spans retail, property and finance. He left school at 16 with no qualifications due to his dyslexia, but soon discovered his passion for retail working for Watches of Switzerlandand the rest is history. Theo is also known for his 8 years as Millwall Chair man, as well as many TV appearances, including most notably as a Dragon on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den. He supports several charities, through his Theo Paphitis Charitable Trust, and is also Chancellor of Solent University.

James Brittain-McVey and Bradley Simpson

THE VAMPS

Since their platinum-selling debut album, Meet The Vamps, crashed into the UK charts at number 2 in 2014, The Vamps have been holding onto a dreamlike rush of albums (four in total, including 2017’s chart-topping Night & Day (Night Edition), featuring the Matoma-assisted global smash All Night), singles (eight top 40 hits including five top 10s), and world tours (they’re the first band to headline London’s O2 Arena five years in a row). With the tour for 2018’s guest-heavy, Top 3 hit Night & Day (Day Edition) all done the band returned from a short break when the global pandemic struck just as they were crafting Cherry Blossom, their fifth studio album which landed them their second UK Number 1. In 2022, the band celebrate 10 years since formation and to celebrate will take to the road again embarking on a 10 Year Anniversary Greatest Hits Arena Tour, kicking off in the UK this November.

Robert Harris NOVELIST

Robert Harris is the author of fifteen bestselling novels: the Cicero Trilogy – Imperium, Lustrum and Dictator – Fatherland, Enigma, Archangel, Pom peii, The Ghost, The Fear Index, An Officer and a Spy, which won four prizes including the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, Conclave, Munich, The Second Sleep, V2 and Act of Oblivion. He will be in conversation with histori an Clare Jackson.

IN COLLABORATION WITH

MOCK PRIME MINISTER’S QUESTIONS

Every Wednesday in the House of Commons, the Prime Minister faces half an hour of questions as her opponents try to trip her up and her allies give her opportunities to showcase government successes. Join us as we host our own version of this famous feature of British politics, with representatives from Cambridge’s political societies battling it out in our own chamber.

Bo Seo

DEBATER, JOURNALIST & AUTHOR

Bo H. Seo is a Korean-Australian debater, journalist, author, and two time world debating champion, having won both the World Universities Debating Championship in 2016 and the World Schools Debating Championships in 2013. He’s the author of Good Arguments, a book about how skills trans ferred from debating can be applied to public discourse and personal rela tionships. He will be doing an hour long talk, followed by a debating master class.

Mick Mulvaney

FORMER U.S. REPRESENTATIVE

Mick Mulvaney is the former director of the US Office of Management and Budget, but is more widely known for his role as acting White House Chief of Staff from January 2019 to March 2020, during the Trump administration. Mulvaney has been closely linked to the Trump-Ukraine scandal and has made claims that the deep state worked against Donald Trump. Following his tenure as White House Chief of Staff, Mulvaney served as US Special Envoy for Northern Ireland, but resigned on from the Trump Administration on January 7th 2021 following the storming of the US Capitol the day before. Mulvaney has provided testimony to the House Committee investigating the January 6th Capitol riot and now contributes to CBS News.

WE’RE HERE BECAUSE YOU WERE THERE

This collaborative project documents the experiences of Afghan in terpreters who worked for the British Army, recently resettled to the UK under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy. By centering Afghan interpreters’ own stories, viewers are invited to engage with the people behind the headlines and numbers.

‘We Are Here, Because You Were There: Afghan Interpreters in the UK’ encourages reflection on the deep entanglement between the UK and Afghanistan, which has shaped Afghan interpreters’ lives from childhood or early adulthood. Together their individual stories and images reflect the structural and lasting impact of Britain’s military intervention and migration policies.

The Cambridge Union is proud to host photographer Andy Barnham, in conversation with two Afghan interpreters, for a panel talk to mark the opening of this exhibition in Cambridge. The talk will take place on the 25th October at 6pm. The exhibition will be open until 1st Novem ber in the Cambridge Union Library.

Issy Wood ARTIST

Issy Wood (b. 1993, USA) is an artist living and working in London. Her practice spans painting, music and writing. She is represented by Carlos / Ishikawa and Michael Werner. A self-proclaimed ‘medieval millennial,’ her art combines relics of the past with practices of the present in a way that presents a blurring of worlds.

Benjamin Butterworth

EDITOR & REPORTER

Benjamin Butterworth is the Late Editor and Senior Reporter at The i. He has also written for the Guardian, Washington Post and The Independent. Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Butterworth criticised Piers Morgan for his comments on transgender issues, subsequently signing a petition to fire him.

Freddy McConnell

WRITER, JOURNALIST AND SPEAKER

Freddy McConnell is a writer, journalist and speaker who began his career at The Guardian in London and Sydney. In 2018, he became a dad and shared his experience of pregnancy as a transgender man in the BIFA-nominated documentary Seahorse. Wanting to tell more stories of queer parenthood, he then created the BBC podcast, Pride & Joy. His first picture book, Little Sea horse and the Big Question - about what families really “need” - is published by Puffin. Freddy is also a campaigner for LGBTQ+ family equality. His fight to be recognised as his children’s father or parent on their birth certificates is waiting to be heard by the European Court of Human Rights. Having given birth to his second child in early 2022, Freddy is now freelance and a fulltime parent, living with his family on the Kent coast.

Eniola Aluko

FOOTBALL EXECUTIVE AND PROFESSIONAL PLAYER

Eniola Aluko is a football executive, leading pundit for ITV, BT Sport, Am azon and Fox Sports, and a former professional player. Over her career, she has represented England over 100 times over 13 years and played for Great Britain in 2012 London Olympics. She is also an accomplished lawyer, phi lanthropist, best-selling author, and sports administrator in her role as the first ever Sporting Director for Angel City FC.

Charlie Kirk

ACTIVIST & RADIO HOST

Charlie Kirk is an American conservative activist and radio talk show host. He founded Turning Point USA with Bill Montgomery in 2012, and has served as its executive director since. He is the CEO of Turning Point Action, Students for Trump, and Turning Point Faith, president of Turning Point Endowment, and a member of the Council for National Policy. Kirk has writ ten three books.

Brian Cox

The Professor Hawking Fellowship Committee is delighted to announce that PROFESSOR BRIAN COX is the recipient of the 2022 Professor Hawking Fellowship.

Professor Cox’s commitment to academia, and his unparalleled work to edu cate and inspire the next generation towards an interest in physics, making science truly and genuinely accessible for those who might have never other wise discovered a passion for it, make him stand out as the recipient for this year’s Fellowship. The Union are delighted that Professor Cox has agreed to address local school children as part of his Fellowship acceptance.

WITH THE KIND SUPPORT OF

Cindy Gallop

CEO OF MAKELOVENOTPORN

Cindy Gallop is the founder and CEO of MakeLoveNotPorn, launched at TED 2009 – ‘Pro-sex. Pro-porn. Pro-knowing the difference’. In 2013 she turned MakeLoveNotPorn into the world’s first user-generated, human-cu rated social sex videosharing platform https://www.makelovenotporn.tv/ socializing and normalizing sex in order to make it easier to talk about, to promote consent, communication, good sexual values and good sexual behav ior. MakeLoveNotPorn’s mission is to end rape culture by spearheading the Social Sex Revolution https://socialsexrevolution.com/ (the revolutionary part isn’t the sex, but the social). Cindy speaks at conferences globally and con sults, describing her approach as ‘I like to blow shit up. I am the Michael Bay of business.’ Follow her on Twitter @cindygallop.

Dan Meridor

FORMER ISRAELI MINISTER

Dan Meridor has spent most of his political career in the Likud party. Begin ning his career as a lawyer working in Tel Aviv, Meridor began his govern ment career working as Cabinet Secretary before running for the Knesset in the 1984 election. Meridor has held a long list of government positions, serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Justice and Minister of Intelligence and Atomic Energy Agency.

Ian McElhinney

ACTOR AND DIRECTOR

Ian McElhinney is a Northern Irish actor and director. He has appeared in many television series in a career spanning more than forty years; notable appearances include Taggart, Hornblower, Cold Feet, and The Tudors. In re cent times his best known roles are as Barristan Selmy in Game of Thrones, Morgan Monroe in The Fall, and Granda Joe in Derry Girls.

MARIA BALSHAW

IN CONVERSATION WITH

LOUISA BUCK

Maria Balshaw is the first female Director of Tate, a role she has held since June 2017. She has overall responsibility for Tate’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations - most famously she has commis sioned and championed art from a diverse set of artists, particularly women artists and artwork from West African artists in exhibitions at Tate.

Louisa Buck MA Cantab, MA Courtauld Institute, is a writer and broadcaster on contemporary art. Since 1997 she has been London contemporary art columnist for The Art Newspaper, and is a regular reviewer on BBC radio and TV, including Front Row, Nightwaves and BBC World Service’s The Strand.

Trevor Horn

PRODUCER, SONGWRITER AND MUSICIAN

Trevor Horn is a British producer, songwriter, and musician. After initial suc cess with new wave band The Buggles, best known for their single hit ‘Video Killed The Radio Star’, he went on to produce for many of pop’s most iconic bands and artists such as The Pet Shop Boys, Yes, John Legend, and Robbie Williams.

PANELS

Free conversation and open discourse are at the centre of what the Union aims to provide. To treat topics and issues with the delicacy and respect they deserve is crucial to ensure members leave our Chamber with a new perspective or education on the issues of today. These panels have been created with the aim of widening, or indeed starting, conversations around topics and issues that we feel must be brought to attention. By bringing together experts on a topic, people who are genuinely passionate about the ideas and perspectives they hold, members will be encouraged to interact with issues in ways that they hadn’t considered before. From starting dialogue around Northern identity, to discussing the future of America following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, these events are merely intended to begin conversations - not end them.

We kick off our panels with a discussion relevant to all Cambridge students, a questioning of the role of elite universities in the perpetuation of the ‘Establishment’. Here we bring together the founder of the 93% Club, one of the lead campaigners in the Justice 4 Grenfell campaign, the founding director of the ‘Speaking of Prejudice’ Project, and the founding director and CEO of Disabled Students UK to discuss the role that higher education has played in their professional and personal lives.

This is followed by a collaborative event with the newly formed Cambridge University for Repro ductive Rights (CURR), considering the future of reproductive rights in America following the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Here we attempt to examine the wide reaching effects and impacts this ruling will have on individuals, and discuss the intersection of liberation and health rights within the broader tradition of feminist theory.

Northern Voices opens a conversation about regional identity and the extent to which what side of the North-South divide you’re born on impacts your personal and professional life. Speakers will focus on the extent to which there exists a pertinent divide between southern and northern individuals, and how this divide is being felt by students and professionals alike.

Lastly, ‘Access in the Legal Industry’ is held in collaboration with the Cambridge University Law Society (CULS) and aims to touch on the traditional and modern; with conversations about typical limitations placed on minority students in the legal industry and also touching on the barrister strikes being held, and what issues they bring to light.

PANELS

These panels are intended to begin conversations and broaden perspectives, and it is my sincere hope that members come away from these events and continue researching and discussing topics presented. I would encourage every member to attend even if you feel the topic does not neces sarily pertain to yourself personally. There is always something to learn and something to discuss, and that is the ethos of the Union and these panels.

ELLIE BREEZE Equalities Officer, Michaelmas 2022 equalities@cus.org

Summary of Events

Challenging the Establishment | Friday 7th October

Post Roe America | Friday 14th October

Northern Voices | Wednesday 9th November

Access in the Legal Profession | Saturday 12th November

Skin Deep Exhibition | Friday 21st October - Sunday 23rd October

ACS Exhibition | Sunday 13th November

CHALLENGING THE ESTABLISHMENT

‘The Establishment’ panel is an attempt to showcase marginalised voices working within the Establishment – something that has histor ically played a role in this marginalisation. We invited our panellists to speak about their experience with the Establishment, how Cambridge fits into it, and what they believe the future of it is.

PANELISTS

YVETTE WILLIAMS MBE

Yvette Williams MBE is one of the lead campaigners in the Justice 4 Grenfell campaign, having witnessed the tragedy living in North Kensington. She has worked with the Mangrove Community Association, the Tabernacle Com munity Centre, and the Pepper Pot Club, is a founding member of Operation Black Vote, was the head of Equality and Diversity for the Crown Prosecution Services for 14 years, and has worked on the campaigns for Stephen Law rence and Frank Critchlow. Her entire career has been dedicated to equality, diversity, and community relations. She was awarded an MBE in 2012 and featured on the cover of Vogue in 2020.

SOPHIE PENDER

Sophie Pender is the founder of the 93% Club, a student-run charity dedicat ed to supporting the 93% of students in the UK who attend state schools, by providing them with networking and opportunities for employment that are more often and easily accessed by their public-school counterparts – an ‘alter native Bullingdon Club’. She was named in the Forbes 30 under 30 for Social Impact in 2022, and is now an associate at Herbert Smith Freehills.

DR ROBERT MCKENZIE

Dr Robert McKenzie has his MA in Psychology, his MSc in Applied Linguis tics, and his PhD in Sociolinguistics. He has taught in England, Scotland, Hong Kong, Italy, France, Spain, and Poland. His research focusses on public and personal attitudes towards language, speech perception, and social responses to language variation. He is the founding director of the ‘Speaking of Prejudice’ Project, a research project investigating implicit and explicit attitudes towards accents spoken in the North and South of England in an attempt to highlight linguistic biases and accentism.

METTE WESTANDE

Mette Westander is the founding director and CEO of Disabled Students UK, an organisation aiming to improve accessibility for disabled students in Higher Education and beyond. They empower students, inform policy, spread awareness, and work to hold Universities accountable to their disabled students so that everyone can have equal access to education. Mette is autistic and living with a chronic illness.

POST-ROE AMERICA

The overturning of the precedent set by Roe v. Wade in June sent shockwaves around the world, with many activists loudly criticising the move and the implications it would have for access to abortion. Looking further than the main critique that the overturning prevents safe and legal access to abortions, this panel attempts to examine the less obvious impacts of this historic overturning and provide a wel come space for members to examine what the future of a Post-Roe America looks like.

This event is being held in collaboration with CURR (Cambridge University for Reproductive Rights), which is being launched this Michaelmas. There will be a social held at the Orator after the panel, with members being encouraged to discuss the conversations held during the panel.

PANELISTS

ROBIN FRETWELL WILSON

Robin Fretwell Wilson is the Director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs for the University of Illinois System, of which the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is a part, as well as the Mildred Van Voorhis Jones Chair in Law at the University of Illinois College of Law. Professor Wilson co-directs the College of Law’s Epstein Health Law and Policy Program and co-directs and founded its Family Law and Policy Program. She specializes in family law and health law, and her research and teaching interests also include biomedical ethics, law and religion, children and violence, and law and science.

MELISSA UPRETI

Melissa Upreti is a human rights lawyer and women’s rights advocate who has spent nearly two decades advocating for the recognition and fulfillment of women’s rights through the use of national, regional, and international law and mechanisms.

NATHALIE KAPP

Nathalie Kapp is an adjunct associate professor at the Gillings School of Glob al Public Health, focusing on conversations and issues within the medical field that pertain to health equity.

DR RICHARD JOHNSON

Dr Richard Johnson works at Queen Mary as Lecturer in US Politics & Policy in 2020. He has held visiting research and teaching positions at Yale Univer sity, Cambridge University, and Beijing Foreign Studies University. He studied at Cambridge (Jesus College) and Oxford (Nuffield College), where he taught tutorials on US and comparative politics.

NORTHERN VOICES

Levelling up has been a political hot topic for the last decade, but what does this mean for the lives of real people? Are Northern students still affected disproportionately by their identity? And why does it feel like a stigma still pertains around Northern accents and aspects of culture? Northern voices as a panel aims to open up a discussion on Northern identity, accent and aspiration. Held in collaboration with the Cambridge University Northern Society, we will ask what being Northern means to those who were born there, and how has it affected the careers and lives of those in the public eye.

PANELISTS

PAUL SMITH

Paul Smith is a musician from Stockton-on-Tees best known as the lead sing er of British Indie Rock band Maximo Park.

TONY WALSH

Tony Walsh is a poet and performer from from Manchester, best known for his performance of ‘This is the Place’ following the tragic Manchester Arena attacks.

NANCY TUPLING

Nancy Tupling is a penultimate year HSPS student at Trinity College from West Yorkshire and is the current president of the Cambridge University Northern Society.

JULIE HESMONDHALGH

Julie Hesmondhalgh is an actress from Lancashire, best known for her role as Hayley Cropper in Coronation Street.

PHILLIP PROUDFOOT

Phillip Proudfoot is an anthropologist and politician from County Durham and is best known as the founder of the Northern Independence Party.

ACCESS IN THE LEGAL PROFESSION

Introduction: The recent strikes by Criminal Barristers have drawn significant media attention to conversations surrounding the topic of financial accessibility in the legal industry. Here, we attempt t focus on the ongoing issues of accessibility surrounding the legal profession such as, financial barriers, representation of ethnic minorities, and more. We will touch on the current situation affecting the criminal bar and whether those who do not come from ‘stereotypical backgrounds’ can make a career out of law. In discussing the intersectional barriers faced by many, we attempt to highlight ongoing issues in the legal industry and ask how best to tackle them going forwards.

This event is in collaboration with CULS, meaning CULS members who are not Union members are to be allowed access to the event on presentation of a valid CULS membership card or a CULS email.

PANELISTS

MAAHA ELAHI

Maaha Elahi read Law at St Johns College Cambridge, graduated in 2018. She then went on to do the BPTC at City, University of London in 2018 after being granted the McMahon Law Studentship. Maaha has experience as a clerk in Deighton Piece Glynn Ltd, as a casework in the Howard League and later House of Commons, and then as a Paralegal for Payne Hicks Beach LLP and later the Cabinet Office working on the Infected Blood Inquiry. She now has secured a pupillage at Garden Court Chambers starting this year.

SAIQA CHAUDRY

Saiqa Chaudry read Law at Kings College Cambridge, graduating in 2003. She was then Called to the Bar in 2005. In 2015, she was appointed a Deputy District Judge sitting in on civil and family cases. She joined New Court Chambers in 2016 and continues to have a family law practice. Saiqa is also Head of the Pupillage Committee at her chambers.

MAAZ SHAHZAD

Maaz Shahzad read Law at Trinity College Cambridge, graduating in 2020. He gained experience at a Vac Scheme in Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP in his final year, before working as a legal consultant for Blackstone between from June to August this year. He is now a trainee solicitor at White & Case LLP where he focuses on Construction law, Project Finance and Banking Law.

SKIN DEEP EXHIBITION

Skin Deep is an exploration of race within portraiture.

The Exhibition comprises of a selection of self-portraits by Joshua Obichere, an Artist, Educator and Masters graduate from The Univer sity of Cambridge. Within each self-portrait, are perceptions of black ness, thought of by Joshua’s year 12 students, who were involved in his study on blackness in portraiture.

Every portrait has been constructed by Joshua, following the research project with 10 of his students who went through the process of chal lenging their perceptions of blackness, to then project a new light on what blackness can look like as a Portrait. Joshua has transformed the final outcomes of each portrait by including elements of black identity.

Skin Deep will break through the surface of blackness and help the viewer to step into the world of Joshua, and the way his students view race. The project is essentially an artist informing practice on art for the education of race and social justice.

ACS MOTHERLAND CONFERENCE

The Cambridge Union will be the venue for the ACS’ annual Moth erland Conference - a day-long experience for African and Caribbe an students to gain insight into the perspectives and experiences of professionals with similar heritage. This day is open to all and aims to widen perspectives and challenge traditional boundaries.

The African Caribbean Society (ACS) aims to provide safe spaces for the African Caribbean community within Cambridge University, providing platforms for voices and experiences that have traditionally been neglected in these kinds of spaces and institutions. They strive for the well-being of all current students; however it is also imperative to them that prospective students from African and Caribbean back grounds feel that there is a place for them at the University of Cam bridge and get the support with their applications.

events

An introduction

Alongside the amazing speaker events and debate nights, the Union is also centre for social activ ity at Cambridge. This term will kick off with lots of events to welcome everyone back to to Cam bridge, whether you’re a fresher looking to find out what the Union’s about or a seasoned member, ranging from tours of our iconic Victorian building to a pub quiz in the cellar bar, and our open period will culminate in our annual Freshers’ Ball.

The rest of term will see the return of old favourites, from Yoga to Dog Therapy, classic events with a twist, such as the Indie after Dark, as well as a host of new ones including screenings of all of England’s Football World Cup games! There are lots of free events on offer and huge discounts on ticketed events for Union members as well so whether you’re looking for a night-out of drink, mu sic and partying, or a relaxed Yoga session at the start of a busy week, the Union has you covered. Make sure to come down and check out our socials!

EDWARD HILDITCH

Events Officer, Michaelmas 2022

events events

UNION TOURS

DATE: Monday 10th and Tuesday 11th October from 2-5pm

LOCATION: Tours will begin at the Round Church entrance to the Union!

New to Cambridge and want to find out what the Union is all about?

Join us on a short tour of the Union’s historic Victorian building (locat ed at 9A Bridge Street), which has hosted Presidents and Nobel prize winners alike, where you’ll be able to learn more about the Union’s history, what sorts of events it puts on and the range of facilities, from a library to our own restaurant and bar, on offer!

MEET THE COMMITTEE SOCIAL

DATE: Friday 14th October from 430-6pm

LOCATION: Library

This will be a great chance to meet some of the Union’s committee and find out more about what’s on this term as well as ways you can get involved with the society. Oh and there’ll be free wine too!

FRESHERS’ BALL

DATE: Monday 17th October from 8-11pm

LOCATION: Queue will begin from the Round Church entrance

The flagship event of the Union’s open period, 500 free tickets to attend the Freshers’ Ball will be offered to 500 of the first people to buy membership this Michaelmas. On offer will be live music, a silent disco, free food options ranging from doughnuts to Jack’s Gelato as well as a glass of prosecco on arrival, while our Orator bar will be open all night. Buy your membership now to increase your chance of getting a ticket and check out the Freshers’ Ball poster elsewhere in the ter mcard!

YOGA

DATE: Monday 24th October and Monday 21st November from 2-3pm

LOCATION: Library

Looking for a way to destress ahead of a busy week or wanting to get some relaxed exercise in then look no further than our Yoga sessions, returning twice this term after great success last Lent term. Run by a professional instructor from CAMYOGA, entry will likely be just £3 for members and £6 for non-members!

JAZZ AFTER DARK

DATE: Wednesday 26th October from 8-10pm

LOCATION: Cellars

Our hugely popular After Darks return to the Union this Michaelmas and we kick off by hosting some of the most talented student jazz bands in our iconic Cellars. Our Cellars bar will be open as well so make sure to join us for a night of cheap drinks and quality jazz. Tick ets will likely be £5 for members and £8 for non-members.

PUPPY THERAPY

DATE: TBD

LOCATION: The Chamber

Run in conjunction with Student Minds Cambridge and Pets as Ther apy, our puppy therapy returns for the third time in a row and offers a great chance to relax and chill with some adorable puppies in the middle of a hectic Cambridge term.

INDIE AFTER DARK

DATE: Wednesday 9th November from 8-10pm

LOCATION: Cellars

The second of our After Darks this Michaelmas, join us after the Northern Voices panel (whose panellists include an Indie musician!) for a night of Indie music brought to you by two of Cambridge’s most talented student bands. Our cellar bar will be open as well so make sure to get your tickets early, when they are released, likely to be priced at £4 for members and £7 for non-members!

SWIFT AFTER DARK

DATE: Wednesday 16th November from 8-10pm

LOCATION: Cellars

The third and final After Dark of this term will see the Union collabo rate with the Cambridge University Taylor Swift Appreciation Society (CUTSAS) to put on a night of Taylor Swift’s biggest hits specially curated by the CUTSAS committee and is the perfect way to start your evening before heading off to Rumboogie! Tickets will likely be only £2 as well!

WORLD CUP SCREENINGS

DATE: Friday 25th November and Tuesday 29th November from 6309pm

LOCATION: Orator

The football world cup is one of the biggest sporting events this year so join us in the Orator bar to watch two of England and Wales’ evening group game matches where drinks will, as always, be available at discounted prices for Union members.

More than a Union bar...

Your Union bar and restaurant, The Orator is a central hub of activity with events taking place throughout the week and is a beautiful place to sit and work (wi-fi is free) or just chat with friends.

Grab a coffee with friends, catch up over lunch or dinner, listen to the debate results over a cocktail.

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Welfare at the Union

As a members’ society, we’re dedicated to enhancing and protecting every aspect of your expe rience at the Union – including your wellbeing. Your welfare officers are a friendly face you can catch in the Orator after an event, or in the Union building for coffee! Our email (welfare@cus.org) is always available to give us your feedback, to reach out, or just to chat – one of us will get back to you as soon as possible.

First and foremost, we want your experience with us as welfare officers, as well as the rest of the Union, to be a positive one. But we know we don’t always get it right. If something at an event makes you uncomfortable or upset, or you have an issue with a way an experience was handled, or anything is affecting your experience at the Union, please reach out. Whether that’s in-person or online, after a debate or at a drop-in session, we are there to listen, to help, and to care.

Our care extends past Union business – feel free to come to the drop-in sessions to vent about an essay, to get something off your chest, or just to have someone to have a little natter with. We can’t make your experience at the Union the best it can be if you don’t feel the best you can be. This is your society – we’re here to help.

This term at the Union is absolutely one to look forward to. If you need anything, at all, please come to a drop-in session for a coffee and a chat! Drop us an email! Grab us in the Orator! We’re so looking forward to seeing you all this term.

If you have any questions about welfare at the Union please email me at welfare@cus.org!

ALEX HORAN Welfare Officer, Michaelmas 2022

Full Committee

Secretary & Chief of Staff for Debates -

Charlie Palmer

Alumnae Officer - John Lush

Events Management Officer - Laura Lock

Heads of Audio-Visual - Ewan Woods & James Shillington

Audio-Visual Officer - Mark Wadey

Senior Guest LiaIson - Nick Davis

Guest LiaIsons - Veronica Hera, Connor Philips, Georgia Fearn & Sarah Levy

Heads of Publicity - Hannah Huang & Johan Nerlov

Online Publicity Officers - Ellen Withington, Leo Wang, Lilliana Walker & Juan Albin

In Person Publicity Officer - Izzy Porter

Head of Press - Holly Sheridan

Press Officer - Sam Stern

Senior Photographer - Tobia Nava

Junior Photographer - Nordin Catic

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

Head of Membership - Eleanor Stiles

Faculty Outreach Officers - Gia Bao & Owen Cooper

Online Outreach Officer - Katie Clarke

In Person Outreach Officer - Rudi Ellis-Jones & Sanah Kashyap

DEBATES COMMITTEE

Alix Danis

Harrison Moore

Charlie Palmer

Alistair Mathieson

Annissa La Touche

Bella Shorrock

College Outreach - Alistair Mathieson

ARU Outreach - James Shillington

Graduate Outreach - Ali Giritlioglu

Joshua Shortman

Louis Burrows

Philip Al-Taiee

Ruby Power

Alex Horan

SPEAKERS COMMITTEE

Sasha Grantham

Sal Widdicombe

Ewan Woods

Shibhangi Ghose

Alex Pullen

REVIEW COMMITTEE

Joshua Blanchard Lewis (Chair)

Jgb@cantab.net

Page Nyame-Satterthwaite

pn283@cantab.ac.uk

Nicholas Wright

N.Wright@4stonebuildings.com

Freddie Dyke

freddiedyke@gmail.com

TRUSTEES

The Rt Hon. the Lord Smith of Finsbury PC

Ms Rachel Green

Ms Araba Taylor

Ms Lara Brown

Mr Philip Harrison

EQAULITIES SUB-COMMITTEE

BME Officer - Muhammed Hasan Lone

BME Officer - Sally Leung

WNB Officer - Katie Clarke

WNB Officer - Katie Heggs

Nick Davis

Prrajesh Varathan

Saleyha Ahsan

Sufiyan Alim

Tilly Palmer

Imran Mateo

imranmateo@gmail.com

Alex Forzani

alexforzani11@gmail.com

Sam Longton

samlongton@yahoo.co.uk

Mr David Branch Mr David Robinson

Mr David Eagleson

Sir Christopher Greenwood QC

Mr. Nick Heath FRICS

Class Act Officer - Jason Singh

Class Act Officer - Alex Horan

D&I Officer - Josh Hack

LGBTQ+ Officer - Victoria Cota

YOU CAN WORK WITH ALL OF

President’s Thanks

I am lucky enough to have spent the last three years surrounded by some genuinely incredible people. In sitting down to write this thanks it has come clear how much I owe to so many people. I’m endlessly grateful to all of them, for their hours of hard work, and unwavering support.

My first thanks have to go to the people that have helped wrestle this term card together. Johanwithout you, I would have nothing to write a president’s thanks on. Thank you for stepping up at the eleventh hour and doing an incredible job on it. David - you’re a better Vice President than I could ever have dared to ask for. Thank you for fielding my late night phone calls, for being there to sort any contract thrown at me, and most of all for keeping me calm amidst all the chaos of a Michaelmas term. Sam C - I don’t know how you do it. By my count, I think you’ve had five jobs over the last year, and yet you’ve put together a stellar set of debates which I can’t wait to chair. Ellenoor - you’ve had such a busy summer, thank you for still making time for the Union. Your positive mindset has brought much needed relief to many a tense meeting. Ellie - you have gone above and beyond in ways I could never have asked for. You’ve redefined the role of an Equalities Officer, liaising with schools, ensuring diversity on the termcard, and running a brilliant commit tee, all while stepping in to help other officers when it’s needed. I know you will do great things here and I can’t wait to see them. Ed - I can’t wait to attend your events. You’ve brought a sense of fun to the term, and done so with such extreme organisation.

My second thanks must go to the people who’ve helped me get here. To my housemates. Keirwhy, oh why did you set the bar so high for a Michaelmas Term? It’s impossible to compete, but I’m so grateful for everything you did to help me in our time at the Union together. Chris - I’m not sure I’ve been easy to live with in these final days of termcard preparation. Thank you for putting up with me, for offering help where it’s needed (despite your own term planning), and for being an endless source of advice. I can’t wait to see what you do with Lent. To the people who taught me the ropes. Leti - thank you for such a diligent handover, and for being such a good friend to me in our time together on Standing. I will always look back on Easter with fond memories. James - I couldn’t have worked with a better President to learn the ropes of this job. Rachel Tustin - you were my first President. I joined the Union because of you, thank you so much for that.

To the debates and speakers subcommittees - thank you for giving up so much of your time for this termcard. I hope that you enjoy watching the fruits of your labours come together in inter views and on Thursday nights. Special mentions must go to those who have gone above and be yond - Charlie, Ewan, Bella, Annissa, Alix, Joshua, Alex, Prrajesh, and Tilly. Thank you for your dedication to this society, I look forward to sharing many dinners with all of you.

To those who will come after me. Sal, Max, Harrison, and Shibhangi - I cannot wait to see Lent Term. Sal - the Speakers role badly needed a shakeup, and you’re just the man to do it. I’m looking forward to seeing who you bring. Max - I know you’ll put on some bloody good debates, I’ll be in the front row. Harrison - thank you, for putting aside your own term and helping me with my debates, that takes real selflessness. I know your ents will be incredible. Shibhangi - we’ve worked together on god knows how many termcards. You’re an absolute machine and I’m so glad Chris will have you next term, he’s incredibly lucky.

Isabelle and Bernd - thank you for everything you do, this society wouldn’t be what it is without you. I first came to the Union via debating, and I’m endlessly grateful that you continue to inspire people to do just that.

To the people who make this place run, who keep the ship from sinking (daily). John (and Sky) you’ve been a source of calm in stormy waters. Thank you for always knowing what to do when I’m at my wits end. Bill Bailey - you were an incredible bursar, and did a greater service to the Union than I’ve known someone do. Thank you for coming back when the society needed you, we won’t soon forget that. Joe - stopping students from burning this place down with their next great idea can’t be easy - thank you for doing it so well. Our events would never get off the ground without you. Sam H - you breathe life into this building every day, thank you, not just for that, but for your encyclopaedic knowledge of which celebrities have plans to come to Cambridge. To Madi ha, Hannah, Kat, Sam M, Hannah, Justyna, and Ella - I’m so deeply fond of all of you. Thank you for being the voices of continuity at the Union, for keeping things ticking along in tough times. And to Andrew on the bar - you never fail to cheer me up, thank you for the hundreds of cups of tea I must have consumed getting this termcard together. To Phil and Wayne - this place would literally fall down without you, thank you for waging the constant battle against decay.

My final thanks has to go to those outside the society. Firstly, to Sam B - I’m sorry that our rela tionship has consisted almost entirely of watching me stress about the Michaelmas Termcard (at least now I can promise only eight more weeks of it..). Thank you for being a relentless source of support and advice, I couldn’t have done any of this without you. To my friends in college - Lam orna, Sorrel, Izzy, Emily, and Ellie, thank you for giving me a welcome break from it all. To Ama - your brilliance knows no bounds, but most of all, thank you for offering me perspective when I needed it most. To my parents - when I demanded we pick up my union membership card on my first day in the city, that might have been a sign of things to come. I have no doubt I would never have had the guts to get involved without you. I also have no doubt I’ll never be able to properly thank you for everything you’ve done to help me get here.

A final thanks must go to you, the membership. Thank you to everyone that voted for me - doing this job has been the most rewarding experience of my life. Thank you to everyone who’s ever attended a debate, given a point of information, asked a speaker question, or emailed me a sug gestion - you make this place worth working for. I hope I’ve done you proud, and that you enjoy the coming term.

LARA BROWN

President, Michaelmas 2022

Thank you to Katie Ponder for her design of the front cover.