Oxford Union Michaelmas Term 2018

Michaelmas 2018

MICHAELMAS 2018

Stephen Horvath President The Union is prominently associated with the principle of free speech, and we are proud that Harold Macmillan, who was a Union Officer before becoming Prime Minister, declared that the Union was “the last bastion of free speech in the Western world.” Yet our Rules make no mention of free speech, simply stating that “the object of the Society shall be the advancement of education” amongst Oxford students.

When the Union was founded in 1823, the University excluded anyone who was not a practising Anglican man, and restricted the rights of its students to criticise that religious and political orthodoxy. Those students who founded the Union understood that we could learn as much from our peers as we can from our books, and that encountering controversial viewpoints was an essential component of a liberal education – a radical challenge to the narrow pedagogical philosophy of the University.

The Union still has an important role in introducing students to unfamiliar ideas and perspectives that might not fit neatly into a reading list or an examination paper.

This termcard should offer something to every member: listening to the Bulgarian President and a former Australian Prime Minister speak on the European Union is a valuable opportunity for us to delve deeper into the debate on Brexit, and the chance to hear Jude Law’s stories from conflict zones or Russell Brand’s experiences of addiction is a unique opportunity to hear the most personal stories of Britain’s most famous stars.

I hope you all find something to challenge and to entertain you this term.

Stephen Horvath New College

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Genevieve Athis Librarian

James Lamming Treasurer

I hope that you have all enjoyed your well-deserved holidays and feel ready and rested for another busy eight weeks in Oxford!

To new students and returning members, the warmest of welcomes to Michaelmas Term 2018 at the Oxford Union!

As Librarian, it has been my privilege (always) and my pleasure (usually) to have organised a term’s worth of speakers. From world leaders to sporting icons, musicians to philosophers, I hope you can agree there is something for everyone in the Michaelmas 2018 term card.

In your well-deserved absence, our exceptional sponsorship team and I have done our best to ensure that the Union’s finances remain healthy, and that you continue to get the best from your membership. Over the summer we have brought on board several new high profile partners, including Citadel Securities, the World Branding Forum, and Allen & Overy.

The Committee and I will continue to work hard throughout the term to confirm arrangements for potential future events, so don’t forget to check us out on our social media pages. As always, there will be ballots for drinks and dinners with speakers, so do remember to take advantage of these opportunities.

More excitingly, our team have added exciting new Treasurer’s Treats, including the Oxford Wine Café.

Don’t forget that details of our many Treasurer’s Treats can be found both within this term card, and online. These special discounts are available to all of our members.

In addition to our speakers, I also oversee upkeep and improvements to our beautiful Library, a truly tranquil and inspiring workspace. If you are interested in joining the Library Committee, please do not hesitate to get in touch: librarian@oxford-union.org.

I would encourage any member who is interested to attend our weekly meetings of the Finance Committee and apply to become a part of the running of the Union. If you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch: treasurer@oxford-union.org. I hope to see you around the Union this term; just remember, facilis descensus Averno.

Genevieve Athis Christ Church

James Lamming Exeter College

Nick Brown Secretary

A warm welcome to all after a (hopefully) relaxing vacation, and especially to the Freshers. I still remember my first and favourite experience of the Union in an electric and thrilling No Confidence debate last year. I truly hope that many of you are able to have as valuable a time here as I have so far, and that you are able to find something here that you enjoy – the Union should be for everyone.

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The Union prides itself on its rich history, from the ‘King and Country’ debate in 1933 to Malcolm X’s ground-breaking speech. I’m proud to share this term card which, I hope, will both contribute to this legacy as well as fascinate, thrill and inspire many of you.

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As your Secretary, my main job is to organise socials for you. I’m very excited to welcome many of you to “a Night in Paradise” at our ball. Also, be sure to watch your Facebook for Pub Quiz events – they’re always a laugh! Please never hesitate to reach out by email to secretary@oxford-union.org if you have any questions/suggestions – it’s always a pleasure!

Nick Brown Magdalen College

Special Events

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Debates

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Contents This House Has No Confidence in Her Majesty’s Government............................................ 6 This House Believes That Science Alone Can Never Answer our Biggest Questions................ 8 This House Believes the War on Terror Has Been its own Worst Enemy.............................. 10 This House Believes that Retributive Justice is Obsolete................................................. 12 This House Believes We Have Not Remembered Them................................................... 14 This House Believes Private Schools are a Public Disaster................................................ 16 This House Believes Ireland is Ready for Reunification.................................................... 18

The Oxford Union was established to protect and uphold the principle of free speech, and debating remains at the heart of the society today. Debates are held on Thursday evenings during term on a variety of different topics and are often the highlight of the week. The timings for debates are as follows: 19:45 – Emergency Debate: The motions seek to address topical issues and are set by the Consultative Committee each week.

20:30 – Main Debate: Featuring high-profile speakers from around the world, our main debate motions are decided by the committee over the vacation; details can be found on the pages which follow.

Members’ participation in debates is very much encouraged. A ballot will be released each week via email and our Facebook page for members to attend the pre-debate dinner with our guest speakers.

In the Main Debate, points of information can be offered to guests during their speeches, and time is also reserved for members to give short floor speeches before the final speaker on each side.

There are exciting prizes for the best floor speakers in the Emergency and Main debates each week, including an overnight stay for two at the Old Parsonage Hotel and a three course dinner for two at No. 1 Ship Street.

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First week

Thursday 11 October 20:30

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This House Has No Confidence in Her Majesty’s Government Following the loss of the Conservative majority last June and the divisive Chequers plan, pressure has steadily mounted on Theresa May’s government. With the Labour Party in disarray over allegations of widespread antisemitism and the Liberal Democrats struggling to recover their former influence, the current relevance of such a debate is undeniable. Can Her Majesty’s Government be trusted to ensure the stability the nation so desperately needs?

Proposition

Opposition

Nia Griffith MP Nia Griffith is a Welsh Labour MP currently serving as Shadow Secretary of State for Defence and previously as Shadow Secretary of State for Wales.

Sam Gyimah MP Sam Gyimah is a Conservative MP currently serving as Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation. He was the President of The Oxford Union in Michaelmas 1997.

Chris Bryant MP Chris Bryant is a Labour MP and former Shadow Leader of the House of Commons.

He was previously a Church of England vicar.

Brandon Lewis MP Brandon Lewis is a Conservative MP, serving as Chairman of the Conservative Party and as Minister without Portfolio since January 2018.

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Second week

Thursday 18 October 20:30

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This House Believes that Science Alone Can Never Answer our Biggest Questions The nineteenth century saw Enlightenment philosophers predict a final stage in human progress in which science would succeed religious superstition as the balm to our metaphysical concerns. Today, although technology and the scientific pursuit of truth dominate every aspect of our lives, few feel we are close to achieving such an eventuality. Why is this? Do religion and philosophy occupy a space that science cannot touch, or will scientific progress one day be able to answer the deepest questions of humanity?

Proposition

Opposition

Dr Denis Alexander Denis Alexander is the Emeritus Director of the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, a molecular biologist, and an evangelical Christian.

Professor Ijeoma Uchegbu Ijeoma Uchegbu is a prize-winning professor of Pharmaceutical Nanoscience, the named inventor on 11 patents, and the Chief Scientific Officer of Nanomerics Ltd.

Professor Richard Swinburne Richard Swinburne is an Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of Oxford. For over 50 years he has written and argued for the existence of God.

Professor Peter Atkins Peter Atkins is a former Professor of Chemistry at the University of Oxford. He is a notable atheist, having been described as ‘more hardline than Richard Dawkins’.

Professor Frank Tipler Frank Tipler is a Professor of Mathematics and Physics at Tulane University. He has written extensively on the relationship between physics and anthropology.

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Third week

Thursday 25 October 20:30

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This House Believes the War on Terror Has Been its own Worst Enemy As one of the defining foreign policy issues of the 21st century, the War on Terror has seen huge amounts of resources poured into interventionist campaigns across the world. However, with a significant increase in terror attacks in the West, and several countries throughout the Middle East still engulfed in conflict with Islamic extremists, its efficacy is often brought into question. Will the main legacy of the War on Terror be a contribution to religious tension and an exacerbation of the problems it purported to prevent?

Proposition Sir Ivor Roberts Sir Ivor Roberts is a former British ambassador to Yugoslavia, Ireland, and Italy, and former President of Trinity College, Oxford. Roberts is an advisory board member of the Counter Extremism Project.

David Pratt PC, KStG David Pratt is a former Canadian Minister of National Defence and Chair of the Commons Defence Committee. He is a director of the Conference of Defence Associations of Canada.

Congresswoman Jane Harman Jane Harman is the CEO of the Wilson Center. She was a nine-term member of Congress, serving decades on the major security committees in the House of Representatives.

Opposition Sir Mark Rowley QPM Sir Mark Rowley is a retired senior police officer with over 30 years service. He was the National Lead for Counter Terrorism Policing.

Ambassador Gerald Feierstein Gerald M. Feierstein was the United States Ambassador to Yemen between 2010 and 2013. He currently serves in the Department of State on Near East Affairs.

Elaine Duke Elaine Duke is a former United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security between 2017 and 2018.

General Graeme Lamb KBE, CMG, DSO Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb is a retired British Army Officer. He has served in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Iraq and is known for his contributions to counter-insurgency.

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Fourth week

Thursday 1 November 20:30

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This House Believes that Retributive Justice is Obsolete The principle of retribution has underpinned many judicial systems dating back to the Biblical era, and is a core tenet of our understanding of punishment. Yet the increasingly troubling rates of recidivism and the number of non-violent offenders in prison have raised doubts about the efficacy of such a judicial system. Does retributive justice belong in the past, or is it still a necessary part of the healing process for victims and a core component of rehabilitation?

Proposition

Opposition

Frances Crook OBE Frances Crook OBE is the Chief Executive of the Howard League for Penal Reform, the oldest penal reform charity in the United Kingdom.

Peter Hitchens Peter Hitchens is a prominent journalist and commentator, the author of ‘A Brief History of Crime’, and an outspoken critic of the current criminal justice system.

Ard van der Steur Ard van der Steur is a Dutch lawyer and former politician.

He was the Dutch Minister of Security and Justice between 2015 and 2017.

Peter Dawson Peter Dawson is Director of the Prison Reform Trust, and he previously served as Governor in the Downview and High Down prisons.

Dominic Grieve QC MP Dominic Grieve MP is a Conservative politician and the Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee. He is a former Attorney General, Shadow Home Secretary, and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice.

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Fifth week

Thursday 8 November 20:30

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This House Believes We Have Not Remembered Them One hundred years on from the end of one of the bloodiest chapters in human history, the legacy of the Great War is still apparent, from the perennial poppies to the poetry of Rupert Brooke, Siegfried Sassoon, and Wilfred Owen. Yet, how far has the promise of “lest we forget� been kept? Have we romanticised remembrance beyond recognition, a mere shadow of what the fallen are truly owed? Or, 100 years on, are the lessons of 1918 remembered more potently than ever?

Proposition

Opposition

Professor Catriona Pennell Professor Catriona Pennell is a First World War historian, focusing on the memory and legacy of the war in schools and current conflicts.

Simon Jenkins Simon Jenkins is a former editor of the Evening Standard and The Times. He has argued for the end of Remembrance Days.

Dr Jenny Macleod Dr Jenny Macleod is the cofounder of the International Society for First World War Studies and has worked for the Joint Services Command and Staff College.

Surgeon Commander Andrew Murrison MP Andrew Murrison is a doctor, naval officer, and politician.

He has served as a Conservative MP since 2001, and is a former Minister for International Security Strategy.

Major General Nicholas Caplin CB Major General Nicholas Caplin is a retired British Army Officer and the Chief Executive of Blind Veterans UK since 2014.

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Sixth week

Thursday 15 November 20:30

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This House Believes Private Schools are a Public Disaster World-renowned for its historic private schools, the British education system has been responsible for the education of many of the country’s political and industry leaders. But is it possible to reconcile the existence and prominence of these elitist institutions with our ideal of education as a fundamental tool for social mobility? Are private schools, in fact, a disaster for the British public?

Proposition Brett Wigdortz OBE Brett Wigdortz OBE is a social entrepreneur and the Founder of the educational charity Teach First. He was recently appointed as the chair of the National Citizen Service.

Karin Smyth MP Karin Smyth MP is a Labour MP for Bristol South and a former UEA Student Union President.

Opposition Barnaby Lenon Barnaby Lenon is a former headmaster of Harrow School and the chairman of the Independent Schools Council.

William Wragg MP William Wragg MP is a Conservative MP. He currently sits on the Education Select Committee and is a former school teacher.

Sir Graham Brady MP Sir Graham Brady MP is the Chairman of the 1922 Committee. In 2007 he resigned as a Shadow Minister to protest David Cameron’s opposition to grammar schools.

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Seventh week

Thursday 22 November 20:30

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This House Believes Ireland is Ready for Reunification Twenty years on from the Good Friday Agreement, government in Northern Ireland is at a standstill. Partisan politics have strengthened, not soothed, sectarian divisions, and a settlement becomes less likely by the day. In this context, the United Kingom’s impending departure from the EU has triggered a renewed focus on that question which has shaped an island’s history has the time come for a united Ireland? The Oxford Union is proud to host this historic debate between leaders North and South of the border.

Proposition

Opposition

Colum Eastwood MLA Colum Eastwood MLA is the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and a former Mayor of Derry.

Mike Nesbitt MLA Mike Nesbitt MLA was the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 2012 to 2017.

Micheál Martin TD Micheál Martin TD has served as the Leader of the Opposition in Ireland and the Leader of Fianna Fáil since 2011.

Claire Sugden Claire Sugden MLA served as Minister of Justice in the devolved Northern Irish Executive.

Joan Burton TD Joan Burton TD served as Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Labour Party between 2014 and 2016.

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Special Events

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SPECIAL EVENTS

W E D N E S DAY, O C T 1 7 , 1 9 : 3 0

Euro Head to Head ‘The Euro Is Now Stronger Than Ever Before’ Taking place the evening before a major European Council meeting and after a summer of intense discussion around Eurozone reform, this head to head debate casts a critical eye on one of the European Union’s core institutions.

Proposition Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis Valdis Dombrovskis is the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Euro and Social Dialogue, also in charge of Financial Stability, Financial Services and the Capital Markets Union.

Prior to that, he served three consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Latvia, becoming the longest serving elected head of government in Latvia’s history.

Opposition To be announced

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W E D N E S DAY, O C T 2 4 , 2 0 : 0 0

Modern Slavery Panel Hiding in Plain Sight Once associated with the cotton fields of the American South and the sugar plantations of Haiti, the face of slavery today encompasses child labour, forced sex work, and the persecution of domestic workers. This panel aims to bring together the voices of philanthropists, activists and policy-makers to evaluate measures such as the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015 and GRETA, and to discuss a comprehensive individual, social and policy response for the future.

Monique Villa Monique Villa is the CEO of the Thomson Reuter Foundation, the charitable arm of the Canadian news network. She mainly campaigns on modern slavery and human trafficking.

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Manasi Pradhan Manasi Pradhan is one of the world’s foremost women’s rights activists and authors, and she is the founder of the Honour for Women National Campaign to end violence against women in India.

Baroness Elizabeth Butler-Sloss Elizabeth Butler-Sloss was the first female Lord Justice of Appeal. She chaired the 2014 Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse.

Andrew Wallis OBE Andrew Wallis is the CEO of Unseen, a multi-award winning charity working towards a world without slavery. He is also chairman of the Working Group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report on the issue.

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W E D N E S DAY, O C T 3 1 , 2 0 : 0 0

Suffrage Panel 100 Years On 100 years on from the first British women being granted the vote, those campaigners who broke the law in the pursuit of justice are still marked as criminals. Whilst the convictions of Alan Turing and soldiers court-martialed for cowardice in World War One have since have been overturned, there has been no such reprieve for the suffragettes. Indeed, what barriers still remain to the full and equal participation of women in British politics?

Amber Rudd MP Dr Helen Pankhurst Amber Rudd is a Conservative Dr Helen Pankhurst is a politician who served as Home women’s rights activist and Secretary between 2016 and writer and is the great2018, and is a former Minister granddaughter of Emmeline for Women and Equalities.

Pankhurst, the leader of the suffragette movement.

Dawn Butler MP Dawn Butler is a Labour politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities.

Dr Fern Riddell Dr Fern Riddell is a cultural historian specialising in entertainment, sex, and the suffragettes in Victorian and Edwardian Britain.

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W E D N E S DAY, N O V 7 , 1 7 : 0 0

Co-hosted with the Silk Road Society

Silk Road Panel The Future of Central Asia

For millennia, this region has been the geographic, economic and cultural pivot of Eurasia. These countries have, in the 27 year since the collapse of the USSR, used their sovereignty to play an important role in international affairs, especially in economic development and security. It is our pleasure to host the most senior diplomatic representatives in the United Kingdom of the Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, for a discussion on their perspectives on the future of Central Asia.

Hotam Qurbonov Mr Qurbonov is the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Tajikistan and acting Head of Mission. He was appointed to this position in October 2017.

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Erlan Idrissov Mr Erlan Idrissov has been the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the United Kingdom since February 2017, and was previously the country’s Foreign Minister.

Gulnara Iskakova Mrs Iskakova has been the Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan since August 2015, and she was previously the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Yazmurad Seryaev Mr Seryaev is the Ambassador of Turkmenistan, and one of the youngest heads of diplomatic mission in the United Kingdom.

Alisher Shaykhov Mr Shaykhov has been the Ambassador of Uzbekistan since July 2017, and previously was Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations of Uzbekistan.

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T U E S DAY, N O V 2 7

Debater of the Year competition

The Grand Final of the Union’s internal debating competition will take place in the Goodman Library. Generously sponsored by the Richard O’Sullivan Memorial Fund, for the 22nd year running, there is £1,600 of prize money on offer. Come and watch some of our top debaters!

If you are interested in taking part yourself, please e-mail cdsc@oxford-union.org.

W E D N E S DAY, N O V 2 8 , 1 8 : 0 0

Peking University HSBC Business School Varsity Debate This House Believes China Is the Best Model For Developing Countries Debaters from the Oxford Union will speak against students from Peking University HSBC Business School (PHBS) in the first instalment of an exciting international varsity debate. PHBS was the first Chinese higher education institution to offer an exclusively English language Master’s degree, and also became the first to open a campus beyond mainland China with its Boar’s Hill, Oxfordshire Campus.

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Speakers

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Each term, we aim to bring you unique and influential speakers, including pioneers and leaders from virtually every field. We hope that there will be something for everyone in what we believe to be an incredibly diverse line-up.

It should be noted, however, that one of the challenges inherent to inviting and hosting high calibre speakers is that their schedules can change at short notice. In the rare situation in which this occurs, we will do everything we can to rearrange the event for a different date, and ensure that members are given as much notice as possible of these changes or cancellations.

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SPEAKERS

Contents First week...........................................28 Second week.......................................32 Third week..........................................36 Fourth week........................................38 Fifth week...........................................42 Sixth week..........................................44 Seventh week.....................................46 Eighth week........................................50

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F R I DAY, O C T 5 , 2 0 : 0 0

Tony Abbott MP 28th Prime Minister of Australia A former Rhodes Scholar, Tony Abbott served as the Prime Minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. Abbott’s time in office witnessed the cutting of ‘red tape’ in Australian regulation, the introduction of legislation intended to prevent illegal immigration, and the signing of free trade deals with China, Japan, and South Korea. He will be speaking on the title ‘Brexit - Be Happy’.

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M O N DAY, O C T 8 , 2 0 : 0 0

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Prime Minister Wickremesinghe is one of Sri Lanka’s most decorated politicians. Previously Sri Lanka’s youngest ever cabinet minister, he quickly rose through the ranks, becoming Prime Minister for the first time in 1993. To date he has served as the nation’s Prime Minister for three non-concurrent terms, most recently since 2015.

W E D N E S DAY, O C T 1 0 , 1 7 : 0 0

Margarita Simonyan Editor-in-Chief of RT As Editor-in-Chief of RT (formerly Russia Today) since 2005, Margarita Simonyan has overseen a rapid growth of the outlet’s television audience to 100 million weekly viewers. In 2013, she also became Editor-in-Chief of Rossiya Segodnya, an international news agency and radio service that broadcasts in more than 30 languages. As a war correspondent, she reported from Chechnya during the Second Chechen Campaign, from the Beslan School Siege, and from Abkhazia, which earned her several journalism awards.

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W E D N E S DAY, O C T 1 0 , 2 0 : 0 0

President Tarja Halonen Former President of Finland

The first female President of Finland from 2000 to 2012, Halonen is well known for her outspoken support of feminist and LGBTQIA+ movements. An experienced politician who had previously served as Minister of Social Affairs and Health, Justice, and Foreign Affairs, Halonen was an extremely popular president with peak approval ratings of 88%.

Halonen currently serves as a member of the Council of Women World Leaders. Her talk is entitled ‘Is Sustainable Development at Risk?’

T H U R S DAY, O C T 1 1 , 1 7 : 0 0

Jo Malone CBE Businesswoman and Perfumer Jo Malone earned a MBE in 2008 for her services to the British beauty industry, and in 2018 a CBE for her services to the British economy and the GREAT Britain Campaign. Jo’s career took off with the world famous Jo Malone London brand, of which she remained creative director until 2006. Unable to stay away from fragrance, in November 2011 Jo launched her new artisanal fragrance stores Jo Loves.

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F R I DAY, O C T 1 2 , 1 7 : 0 0

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud Former President of Somalia The President of Somalia from 2012 to 2017, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud was the leader of Somalia’s first constitutional government in 20 years. He has made great efforts to address the corruption, socio-economic, and security concerns of Somalia, surviving several attacks on his life during his term as President. He will be speaking on ‘Building a State on Sand’.

F R I DAY, O C T 1 2 , 1 9 : 0 0

President Ian Khama Former President of Botswana The President of Botswana from 2008 to 2018 and former leader of the Botswana Defence Force, Khama has been an outspoken critic of other African leaders, primarily Robert Mugabe, for holding on to power for too long, and has also given consistent support to the International Criminal Court, unlike many of his peers. Whilst in office, Mr Khama focused on reducing poverty, expanded the powers of the presidency, and enlarged the role of the state in national media.

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S U N DAY, O C T 1 4 , 1 7 : 0 0

Jude Law & Jeremy Gilley Peace One Day

British actor Jude Law has been supporting Peace One Day for over 10 years, raising awareness of Peace Day on 21 September – a day of ceasefire and non-violence. He has travelled to war-torn countries including Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with founder Jeremy Gilley, where he has learnt the positive impact of a day of ceasefire and non-violence first hand. During the speech he and Jeremy will be launching Peace One Day’s latest initiative ‘Impact Profile’.

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Hamid Baeidinejad Ambassador of Iran

SPEAKERS

Second week

T U E S DAY, O C T 1 6 , 1 7 : 0 0

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The Ambassador of Iran to the U.K. since 2016, he previously served as one of the senior members of the Iranian nuclear negotiating team for the Joint Plan of Action, the international nuclear deal, and was Director-General for political and international security affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He is an expert in disarmament, international security and multilateral diplomacy, and he will be giving a speech on ‘A View From Tehran: the Iranian Nuclear Deal Three Years On’.

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W E D N E S DAY, O C T 1 7 , 1 4 : 0 0

Sir Paul Smith CBE Fashion Designer One of Britain’s foremost designers, Sir Paul Smith has enjoyed a career full of international success and acclaim. Sir Paul’s designs have become instantly recognisable, known for their bold use of striped colour and a mixture of traditional and modern trends.

Since opening his first store in 1976, he now boasts over 200 stores worldwide.

T H U R S DAY, O C T 1 8 , 1 7 : 0 0

President Rumen Radev President of Bulgaria

As President of Bulgaria since 2016, Radev has been a vocal advocate of the tightening of Bulgaria’s borders and the strengthening of relations with Russia whilst maintaining active membership of NATO. Previously the Commander of the Bulgarian Air Force, he is a qualified pilot and holds a Doctor of Military Sciences degree in the field of air combat tactical training.

He will be speaking on ‘The Expansion of the EU in Eastern Europe’.

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Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu MP Leader of the Turkish Opposition

Second week

F R I DAY, O C T 1 9 , 2 0 : 0 0

SPEAKERS

A vocal critic of Erdoğan, Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu has been the Leader of the Main Opposition in Turkey since 2010, representing the Republican People’s Party (CHP). After the failed coup d’état in 2016 and Erdoğan’s subsequent crackdown, Kemal led thousands in protest on a ‘Justice March’ of 450 km from Ankara to Istanbul.

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M O N DAY, O C T 2 2 , 1 7 : 0 0

Russell Brand Comedian, Actor, Writer, Podcaster & Addict In recent years, Russell Brand has become a recognised spokesperson on the subject of addiction and recovery: self-authoring two documentaries on the subject as well as releasing the Sunday Times bestselling book, Recovery: Freedom From Our Addictions. This is ‘the age of addiction’, and in this talk Russell will introduce the programme that has saved his life. With a powerful mix of honesty, humour, and compassion, Russell Brand tells his intimate yet universal story and shares the practical advice and wisdom he has been taught through his fifteen and a half years of recovery.

The world around us is changing. New ways of working create new opportunities, and we’re looking for people who are ready to make an impact. With our world-class development programme and industry leading experts behind you, you can become a lawyer of the future.

If you’re made for more, we want to hear from you.

Visit our website to find out more.

A career in Law aograduate.com 36

@AllenOveryGrads

/allenoverygrads

AllenOveryGrads

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Georgina Beyer World’s First Openly Transgender Mayor Georgina Beyer was the world’s first transgender Mayor and MP. A former sex worker, she has campaigned for reformed prostitution legislation and LGBTQIA+ rights in New Zealand, including the passing of the Civil Union Act of 2004. Her open discussion of her pre-political life has had a profound impact on political discourse in New Zealand and placed the issue of LGBTQIA+ rights in the political mainstream. This event is made possible by the support of Air New Zealand.

W E D N E S DAY, O C T 2 4 1 7 : 0 0

Nigel Owens MBE International Rugby Referee

Third week

T U E S DAY, O C T 2 3 , 2 0 : 0 0

SPEAKERS

Since taking up refereeing in 1987, Nigel Owens MBE has risen to prominence as one of rugby’s most respected officials. He is the most capped international referee in history, and officiated the Rugby World Cup Final in 2015. Fluent in Welsh and English, Owens is also known for his appearances on Welsh television.

As an openly gay man, Owens has spoken extensively about his struggles with coming to terms with his sexuality in the world of rugby.

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M O N DAY, O C T 2 9 , 2 0 : 0 0

Wang Dan Chinese Dissident One of the most active voices in support of democracy worldwide, Dan was imprisoned for his leading role in the Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. He was arrested again in 1995 after further campaigning for democracy, and was charged with plotting to overthrow the government and given an eleven year sentence. He was released in 1998 for medical reasons and sent to the US. He has remained a vocal supporter of democracy in China, and received his Ph.D. from Harvard University.

T U E S DAY, O C T 3 0 , 1 7 : 0 0

Senator Luther Strange Former US Senator Appointed to serve as the United States Senator for Alabama following Jeff Sessions’ appointment as US Attorney General, Strange received President Trump’s public support in the 2017 special election. Despite this, he lost the Republican primary to populist insurgent Roy Moore. Moore later lost to Doug Jones, the first Democratic Senator from Alabama since 1997.

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Professor Peter Higgs CH Nobel Laureate Physicist

SPEAKERS

Fourth week

T U E S DAY, O C T 3 0 , 2 0 : 0 0

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Widely renowned for his work on the mass of subatomic particles, Professor Peter Higgs is a British theoretical physicist who is currently an emeritus professor at the University of Edinburgh. Higgs proposed his main theory regarding subatomic particles in the 1960s which was confirmed only in 2012 when CERN announced the discovery of the Higgs boson at the Large Hadron Collider. In 2015, Higgs was awarded with the Copley Medal, the world’s oldest scientific prize, by the Royal Society.

Professor Higgs will be in conversation with Professor Frank Close.

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supports The Oxford Union

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Koen Lenaerts President of the European Court of Justice Lenaerts first joined the ECJ as a judge in 2003, and has been its President since 2015. He is also a Professor of Law at Katholieke Universitiet Leuven, and was previously a member of the Coudenberg group, a Belgian think tank founded to promote the idea of a federal Belgium. Lenaerts has advocated a Norwegian-style Brexit compromise that would allow the UK access to the single market.

F R I DAY, N O V 2 , 2 0 : 0 0

Rep. Barney Frank Architect of Post-2008 Financial Crisis Legislation

Fourth week

F R I DAY, N O V 2 , 1 7 : 0 0

SPEAKERS

Barney Frank served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. He was a leading co-sponsor of the 2010 DoddFrank Act, a sweeping reform of the U.S. financial industry in the wake of the financial crisis. Frank married his husband whilst a member of Congress, and is a prominent advocate for marriage equality.

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M O N DAY, N O V 5 , 2 0 : 0 0

Obi Felten X, Alphabet’s moonshot factory Obi Felten is responsible for getting early stage projects at X (formerly known as Google X) from the lab into the real world, including self-driving cars and delivery drones. Along with her work at X, Obi is a startup mentor and angel investor, with a focus on women entrepreneurs. She set up Campus, a Google-funded space for London tech entrepreneurs, and is on the board of Picasso Labs, an image analytics startup.

T U E S DAY, N O V 6 , 2 0 : 0 0

Krishnan Guru-Murthy Channel 4 News Presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy is one of the main anchors of Channel 4 News. His TV career began at the age of eighteen presenting youth television for the BBC. He went on to present, report, and produce a variety of programmes from Newsround to Newsnight. He has delivered special war reports from Syria, Yemen, and Gaza, and he reports for the foreign affairs series Unreported World.

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Dr. Alice Weidel MdB Leader of Alternative für Deutschland

Fifth week

W E D N E S DAY, N O V 7 , 2 0 : 0 0

SPEAKERS

As the current leader of the opposition Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Dr. Weidel is a prominent critic of Chancellor Merkel’s government. She is also currently a member of the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, for the Baden-Württemberg region. She says that she first decided to join the AfD party due to their opposition to the Euro, and she is also outspoken on issues such as the refugee crisis and traditional social values.

F R I DAY, N O V 9 , 2 0 : 0 0

Professor Slavoj Žižek Philosopher A Hegelian philosopher and leading figure on the academic left, Žižek is the International Director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities and the author of numerous books. His critical analysis of popular culture has gained him international recognition, and he has been called the ‘Elvis of cultural theory.’

His most recent book, Like A Thief In Broad Daylight, discusses the dangers and possibilities thrown up by recent advances in technology, and the electrifying implications for us all.

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M O N DAY, N O V 1 2 , 1 7 : 0 0

Afrojack Dutch DJ and Producer Nick van de Wall, more commonly known as Afrojack, is a Dutch DJ and record producer. He has collaborated with the likes of David Guetta, Beyoncé, Madonna, and many more. In 2007, he founded Wall Recordings and has since become a CEO of LDH Europe. His most famous songs include Give Me Everything (feat. Pitbull) and Take Over Control (feat.

Eva Simmons).

M O N DAY, N O V 1 2 , 2 0 : 0 0

Dame Barbara Stocking DBE Former CEO of Oxfam GB Dame Barbara Stocking is a former NHS director, Chief Executive of Oxfam GB, and the current president of Murray Edwards College, Cambridge. During her tenure at Oxfam, she oversaw the charity’s development in becoming one of Britain’s largest retailers, with over 700 shops. She led the independent inquiry into the WHO’s handling of the Ebola crisis, and will be speaking on ‘Providing Aid in Crisis Zones’.

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Sixth week

W E D N E S DAY, N O V 1 4 , 1 7 : 0 0

SPEAKERS

Jamie & Rebekah Vardy Footballer & Barnardo’s Ambassador

A footballing phenomenon, Jamie Vardy was thrust into the limelight after an exceptional season leading Leicester City to victory in the 2015/16 Premier League, scoring in a record-breaking eleven straight league games. Previously a prolific goalscorer in non-league football with Fleetwood Town, Vardy’s meteoric ascent resulted in his first international cap for England in Dublin and a spot in the England 2018 World Cup squad. His wife, Rebekah Vardy, is a TV presenter and ambassador for Barnardo’s who has spoken out about her own experiences with mental health.

W E D N E S DAY, N O V 1 4 , 2 0 : 0 0

Yanis Varoufakis Economist & Critic of Neoliberalism

Yanis Varoufakis is an economist, author, and politician who served as the Greek Minister of Finance in 2015. Since then, Varoufakis has launched the pan-European ‘Democracy in Europe Movement 2025’. In this talk, he will argue ‘the Euro has never been more problematic’.

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M O N DAY, N O V 1 9 , 1 7 : 0 0

Little Mix Girl Group Little Mix is an award-winning British pop group formed in 2011 during the eighth series of The X Factor, the first group to win the show. They have sold over 17 million records, including four UK number-one singles, with their hit Shout Out to My Ex achieving triple platinum status and winning Best British Single at the 2017 Brit Awards.

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MICHAELMAS 2018

Jo Konta British Women’s No. 1 Tennis Player

SPEAKERS

Seventh week

M O N DAY, N O V 1 9 , 2 0 : 0 0

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The current British number one, Jo Konta was first introduced to tennis at an after-school programme at the age of eight. She has finished in the global top ten for the last two years. In 2016, she became the first British female tennis player to reach a Grand Slam singles semi-final in 32 years. She has won three singles titles on the WTA Tour, as well as eleven singles and four doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit.

T U E S DAY, N O V 2 0 , 1 7 : 0 0

Dr Bennet Omalu The Doctor Who Took on the NFL

Omalu is a physician who has conducted groundbreaking research in the field of concussion in athletes. The 2011 NFL lockout was in part due to Omalu’s findings, as players made their own safety a key issue. He was played by Will Smith in the 2015 film Concussion. He also conducted a private autopsy of Stephon Clark, an unarmed African-American fatally shot by the police, which differed significantly from the official police autopsy.

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T U E S DAY, N O V 2 0 , 2 0 : 0 0

Ding Junhui Snooker Legend The most successful Asian player in the history of snooker, Ding Junhui rose to international prominence in 2002 when he won the Asian Under-21 Championship, becoming the youngest holder of the IBSF World Under-21 Championship at age 15. He has won 12 major titles in his career and is the only Asian player to have been ranked world number one.

W E D N E S DAY, N O V 2 1 , 1 7 : 0 0

Alexa Chung Model & Designer This British supermodel and fashion designer has worked with Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Stella McCartney, and Longchamp. She has also been a regular model for Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. In 2010, she was named in Tatler’s Top 10 best dressed list. In her role as a TV host, she has interviewed Jean Paul Gaultier, Christian Lacroix, and Roberto Cavalli.

In May 2016, Chung launched her own fashion label, Alexachung.

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MICHAELMAS 2018

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Lieutenant General Nasir Khan Janjua Outgoing Pakistani National Security Advisor Janjua is a retired three-star General and formerly served as National Security Advisor of Pakistan. He saw active service in Siachen against the Indian Army, and has led a number of military operations against terrorists. In 2015, Janjua retired from military service and was appointed to the National Security Council.

T H U R S DAY, N O V 2 2 , 1 7 : 0 0

Tom Price Trump’s Former Health and Human Services Secretary

Seventh week

W E D N E S DAY, N O V 2 1 , 2 0 : 0 0

SPEAKERS

Previously a Congressman for Georgia’s Sixth District and Chair of the influential House Budget Committee, Price served as United States Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Trump.

As Health Secretary, Price oversaw efforts to repeal parts of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ‘Obamacare’.

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Sonia Friedman Three-Time West End Producer of the Year Sona Friedman is a West End and Broadway producer responsible for some of the most successful theatre productions of recent years. Since 1990, Sonia Friedman has developed, initiated, and produced over 160 new productions, which have won a combined 48 Olivier Awards, 24 Tony Awards, and 2 BAFTAs. Recent West End and Broadway productions include the UK premiere of The Book of Mormon, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Dreamgirls, The Inheritance, Mean Girls, The Jungle, Farinelli and the King, Travesties, and 1984.

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Eighth week

F R I DAY, N O V 3 0 , 1 6 : 0 0

MICHAELMAS 2018

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SPEAKERS

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We are the Global Game-changers. You could be too.

Find out more at

hoganlovells.com/graduates

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Socials

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SOCIALS

PUB QUIZZES Come to the Members’ Bar this term to tackle our fiendish pub quizzes, with the best team winning one of a range of amazing prizes.

Ever-popular, these quizzes will test your knowledge on subjects from railways to musicals, and everything in between!

Make sure that you join us for one this term – dates and times will be announced as the term goes on.

Watch out for guided tastings with our Master distiller Cory Mason IN THE UNION BAR We cultivate, craft, create and curate the very finest spirits using sustainably grown ancient grains

C R E ATED IN OUR MAGNIFICENT HA N D MAD E P O T S TILLS Spiritual excellence for curious minds

SPIRITOFTOAD.COm

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The Oxford TH E O X FUnion O R D Presents UNION

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M I C H A E L M A S Members 2 0 1 8 | Stickets: O C I A LÂŁ65 S

Non-Members tickets: ÂŁ75

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MOTOWN, SOUL, FUNK & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL

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OPEN ‘TIL 3AM SIX NIGHTS A WEEK FREE ENTRY TO ALL OXFORD UNION MEMBERS

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SOCIALS

The Oxford Union

Student Essentials Fair Everything you need to survive life as a student, all in one place.

Posters, plants, and bikes on sale Come along, and meet companies including the following: Cycle King Biostar Pyramid Posters George Street Social Mission Burrito

Friday 5th and Saturday 6th of October 2018 10:00 - 18:00 Contact James Lamming: treasurer@oxford-union.org

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Information

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Competitive Debating The Union’s competitive debating squad has a well-established reputation as one of the most successful in the world, having won the World and European University Championships on many occasions. Over the summer vacation, Oxford excelled at the European Universities Debating Championships: one of our teams reached the Grand Final, and we had multiple speakers ranked in the top ten.

We offer workshops and coaching squads for all ability levels, whether you are a complete novice or an experienced competitor. Our beginners’ workshops run on Sunday evenings from 19:30. Open for all, they consist of a 15-minute workshop followed by a practice debate. Feel free to dip in and out, and we encourage you to get involved with these even if you have not debated so far.

In November, the Oxford Union is hosting our annual Inter-Varsity Debating Competition and the Women’s Open. These two competitions are run by Oxford, and we invite universities from all around the world to compete.

To sign up to the mailing list for regular updates and information, send a blank email to debate-announce-subscribe@maillist. ox.ac.uk. You are also very welcome to join the Oxford Debaters group on Facebook.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Chair of the Debate Selection Committee, Andrew Seow: cdsc@oxford-union.org.

We send teams to a number of competitions each term and information on how to apply will be included in the mailing list. Travel expenses are paid, and we have sent teams to places ranging from Texas to Copenhagen.

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Women’s Public Speaking Workshops We have recently reintroduced women’s public speaking workshops, open to all self-identifying female members and non-binary members.

The workshops will be run by some of our most experienced female debaters. The experience of speaking in front of audiences ranging from small panels to packed lecture halls means that our workshop leaders will be able to share relatable techniques to improve your confidence in your public speaking. These workshops are designed to

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help you improve a range of transferable skills – from constructing a clear presentation speech to making your delivery as effective as possible – that will be helpful for those interested in debating, as well as anyone presenting academic papers or pitching professional ideas.

Further details about timing will be advertised via email and our Facebook page.

The sessions are designed to be casual and accessible to those with no experience of public speaking or debating, and we look forward to welcoming you.

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How to get involved Participate in Debates

Debates usually take place on Thursday evenings, and are held in the Chamber.

They cover a range of subjects and are a great opportunity to challenge speakers as well as to voice your opinions on topical issues. You can participate by giving a speech in the Emergency Debate (starting at 19:45) or a floor speech during the Main Debate (starting at 20:30). For those interested in honing their debating skills, debating workshops are held in the Union every Sunday at 19:30.

Run for Election

Elections for Officership and other positions are held on the Friday of 7th Week each term. Being on committee gives members the opportunity to invite speakers, organise debates, and take responsibility for the overall functioning of the Society.

Candidates are required to make a number of speeches, depending on the position for which they are running, and nomination packs can be picked up in the General Office from Wednesday of 5th Week. The deadline for nominations is Friday of 6th Week.

For more information, please contact the Returning Officer at ro@oxford-union.org.

Apply for an Appointed Position

Applications for Hilary Term’s appointed positions open towards the end of term.

Positions allow you to invite speakers and arrange debates, improve access and representation, manage press relations, and fundraise for the Society. For more information, contact Daniel Wilkinson, the President-Elect, at president-elect@oxfordunion.org.

Attend Committees

All Union committees are open for members to attend and observe. If you are interested in becoming a committee member, please email the relevant committee Chair.

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R E S TA U R A N T

&

B A R

QUOD’S WELCOME TO OXFORD... CUP OF COFFEE ON US!

Present this page at Quod before November 30th 2018 to receive one complimentary cup of coffee

BAR 62

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92-94 HIGH STREET, OXFORD OX1 4BJ 01865 202505 INFO@QUOD.CO.UK WWW.QUOD.CO.UK

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I N FOR M AT IO N

Library The Old Library, which is well-stocked and spacious, is open to all members. It is adorned with some of the world’s most famous Pre-Raphaelite murals, painted by artists including William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti. The adjoining Poetry Room is a true hidden gem, tucked away and perfectly quiet for independent study.

There are a number of other study spaces in the Union, from the Goodman Library to the Gladstone, Morris and TV Rooms. If you have any comments about them or the libraries, a suggestions book can be found in the Old Library.

Old Library term-time opening hours: Mon-Fri: 09:30 – 19:00 Sat: 12:00 – 16:30 Sun: Closed Old Library vacation opening hours: Mon-Fri: 09:30 – 17:00 Weekends and Bank Holidays: Closed If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email the Librarian, Genevieve Athis: librarian@oxford-union.org.

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The Members’ Bar Few places in Oxford boast the comfort and affordability of our Members’ Bar. Perfect for a quiet coffee, a light lunch or an evening drink, it is a place where members and their guests can enjoy high quality food and beverages at student prices, with a 25% members only discount. Our lunchtime menu boasts a delicious selection of homemade options.

The Members’ Bar is decorated with memorabilia from past guests, and you never know which of our speakers might choose to drop by while visiting the Union.

Following each debate, the Bar is where the President will read out the result of the vote after everyone has left the Chamber.

This term we will also be hosting at least

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two pub quizzes; with a number of exciting prizes for the winners and runners up, these are always a highlight of the term.

Our House Manager, Bridget Gaughan, would be happy to hear from Members with questions and suggestions, and can be reached at housemanager@oxford-union.org.

Term time opening hours (subject to demand): Mon-Wed: 10:00 – 00:00 Thurs-Sat: 10:00 – 02:00 Sun: 12:00 – 22:30 Our lunch menu is served: Mon-Fri: 11:30 – 14:30

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Guest Policy Members are allowed to bring up to three guests to an event, as long as: 1. The guest is not themselves eligible for membership of the Oxford Union.

2. The guest pays a ÂŁ10 fee on the door

Events will be made exclusive to members when there is a security risk. Given (3) above, it is unlikely that there will be space for guests at an extremely popular event. It is also a guest policy that the same guest must not attend more than 3 times in one term.

3. All members who wish to attend the event have already taken their seats. advert oxford union copy.pdf

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Committees Standing Committee

Access Committee

Chair Stephen Horvath, President The Union’s governing body, which makes all major decisions concerning the running of the Society, and oversees the work of all committees.

Monday, 16:00, President’s Office

Chairs Brian Wong and Kirsten Stewart, Access Officers Responsible for the promotion of wider participation in, and engagement with, the Society.

Friday, 13:00, President’s Office

Finance Committee Chair Stephen Horvath, President The committee scrutinises all areas of the Union’s finances, reporting its findings to the Standing Committee.

Monday, 15:00, President’s Office

Consultative Committee Chair Patrick Cole, CCC A chance for members to question the elected Committee, suggest emergency debate motions, and hear updates on any upcoming events.

Monday, 13:15, Gladstone Room

Library Committee Chair Genevieve Athis, Librarian Responsible for choosing new library books, and for all other aspects of the Library’s management.

Monday, 14:15, Morris Room

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Debate Selection Committee Chair Andrew Seow, CDSC Responsible for organising internal competitions and training, and for selecting members to represent the Union at external debating competitions.

Sunday, 17:00, Gladstone Room

Wine and Spirits Committee Chair Nick Brown, Secretary Responsible for choosing and managing the Bar’s stocks, setting its prices, and composing the budget.

Ad hoc (twice termly)

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The Oxford Union Committee

President Stephen Horvath New College

Librarian Genevieve Athis Christ Church

President-Elect Daniel Wilkinson Oriel

Treasurer James Lamming Exeter

Librarian-Elect Brendan McGrath Oriel

Secretary Nick Brown Magdalen

Treasurer-Elect Amy Gregg Somerville

Standing Committee

Rebecca Collins Balliol

Sara Dube St. Hugh’s

Gemma Timmons Magdalen

Anisha Faruk The Queen’s

Harry Webster Worcester

Mahi Joshi Trinity

Maxim Parr-Reid Trinity

Secretary’s Committee Olivia Railton Wadham

Jim Brennan St. Peter’s

Chaitanya Kediyal Exeter

Hugh Bellamy LMH

Abhishek Adavikolanu Pembroke

Shining Zhao University

Roman Marshall Jesus

Parth Ahya Keble

Jack Blowers Oriel

Ella Penny S.E.H.

James Dix Christ Church

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Appointed Officials & Staff

CCC Patrick Cole LMH

Chief Partnership Officer Charlie Coverman Brasenose

Director of Press Megan Bennett Regent’s Park

Returning Officer Alexandra Galloway Magdalen

Chief of Staff Nick Leah Lincoln

Access Officer Access Officer Women’s Officer Disabilities Officer LGBTQIA+ Officer Ethnic Minorities Officer International Officer Graduate Officer Brookes Officer Press Officers Logistics Officers Guest Liaison Officers

Photography Graphic Design

Staff

Bursar House Manager Librarian-in-Charge Events Manager Accounts Manager

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Director of Research Hugh Nicholl Pembroke

CCS Samir Chitnavis Jesus

Kirsten Stewart Brian Wong Minal Haq Rebecca Wright Dominic Gray Antonia Heng Lee Chin Wee Thomas Crook Olly Woodhouse Daniil Ukhorisky & Adithi Shenava Joe Sisson, Guy Harris, Alyssa Nathanson-Tanner, Amber Seaward, Nikhil Shah, Alexandra Galloway Francesca Odgers, Tim Krupa, Ray Williams, James Golding, Matthias Hoffman-Vagenheim, Olivia Leigh Romain Reglade, Love Hedman, Barker Evans Maria Lambert, www.graphicsbymaria.co.uk

Lindsey Warne Bridget Gaughan Thomas Corrick Joanne Morgan Rob Phillips

Trustees

Hon. Peter Jay Sean Power, Senior Librarian Stephen Dixon, Senior Treasurer

The Committee worked incredibly hard over the summer to put together this termcard, and I am immensely thankful to all of them, especially to my three officers. We all owe an even bigger thanks to the Union’s staff, who ensure the Society survives from term to term.

My six terms on committee have been highly enjoyable and truly rewarding, and I am so lucky to have benefited from the advice and encouragement of some fantastic friends (as well as the challenge of some worthy opponents).

H.K. – this journey would have never begun without you, and I am so thankful for that Thursday of 7th Fellows’ Garden chat. G.B.V.C. – for the intrigue of the initial lunch, and the satisfaction of eliminating extraneous alterations whilst maintaining sanity. N.K. – for sharp insights at every political hurdle, and pushing me to improve through self-criticism.

L.V. – I learnt more than I could ever have imagined from working for you, and you truly are my constantly protective fairy godmother. M.L. – you have gone the extra mile (or 6,000) for me in the most supportive manner, with endless behind the scenes work and wise counsel. Thank you to everyone in Team #IGNITE for believing in me at the critical juncture, and to G.A. & J.L. for working with me to make those core ideas come to life this term. E.E.R. – your faith in me made this termcard possible.

Finally, I am thankful to everyone outside of Frewin Court who has shown such patience in supporting me through this journey: my friends in Oxford and beyond, the Warden and Fellows of New College, my parents, godparents, and grandparents.

I Corinthians 3:6

Events Subject to Change Without Notice

Debates

Special Events

Sunday

0th 1

Monday

SEPT 30

3

OCT 15 J.P. Morgan Smoothie Bar Russell Brand: 17:00

OCT 21

OCT 22 Wang Dan: 20:00

OCT 28

6 7

Oxford Women’s Open

NOV 11

OCT 23

NOV 12

NOV 26

Modern 20:00

Suffrage

Silk Roa

Alice We

Jamie & 17:00

NOV 13

NOV 20 Debater of the Year Final

NOV 25

Nigel Ow

NOV 6

Ding Junhui: 20:00

th

Euro Hea

OCT 30

Bennet Omalu: 17:00

NOV 19

Sir Paul

Professor Peter Higgs: 20:00

Afrojack: 17:00

Jo Konta: 20:00

NOV 18

Georgina Beyer: 20:00

NOV 5 Dame Barbara Stocking: 20:00

Presiden 20:00

OCT 16

Krishnan Guru-Murthy: 20:00

Little Mix: 17:00

th

8

OCT 29

NOV 4

th

OCT 9

Senator Luther Strange: 17:00

Obi Felten: 20:00

th

Margari 17:00

Hamid Baeidinejad: 17:00

OCT 14

th

5

OCT 2

OCT 8

Jude Law & Jeremy Gilley: 17:00

rd

4

Wedne

OCT 1

OCT 7

2

Tuesday

P.M. Wickremesinghe: 20:00

st nd

Term Pla

NOV 27

Yanis Va

Alexa Ch Lt. Gen. 20:00

Peking U 18:00

£5

anner

esday

Speakers Thursday

Socials Friday

Saturday

Student Essentials Fair Tony Abbott: 20:00

OCT 3

ita Simonyan:

nt Tarja Halonen:

OCT 10

Smith: 14:00

ad to Head: 19:30

OCT 17

wens: 17:00

n Slavery Panel:

OCT 4 Jo Malone: 17:00

No Confidence Debate: 18:30

OCT 11

President Rumen Radev: 17:00

e Panel: 20:00

OCT 31

ad Panel: 17:00

eidel: 20:00

NOV 7

& Rebekah Vardy :

aroufakis: 20:00

NOV 8

Nasir Janjua:

NOV 21

OCT 19

OCT 20

OCT 26

OCT 27

Oxford Union Ball

Koen Lenaerts: 17:00

Rep. Barney Frank: 20:00

NOV 2 Oxford IV

Professor Slavoj Žižek: 20:00

NOV 15 Tom Price: 17:00

Ireland Debate: 18:30

NOV 22

University Debate:

NOV 28

Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu: 20:00

NOV 3 Oxford IV

NOV 9

NOV 10

NOV 16

NOV 17

NOV 23

NOV 24

Private Schools Debate: 18:30

NOV 14

hung: 17:00

OCT 13

OCT 12

NOV 1 WW1 Debate: 18:30

OCT 6

President Ian Khama: 20:00

OCT 25 Justice Debate: 18:30

Debaters’ Drinks

President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud: 17:00

OCT 18

OCT 24

Student Essentials Fair

OCT 5

Science Debate: 18:30

War on Terror Debate: 18:30

Other

Elections

Sonia Friedman: 16:00

NOV 29

NOV 30

DEC 1

“Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties.�

John Milton, Areopagitica