MICHAELMAS 2018
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DE BAT E S
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on Terror Has Been its own Worst Enemy.............................. 10 This House Believes that Retributive Justice is Obsolete................................................. 12 This House Believes We Have Not Remembered Them................................................... 14 This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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