Oxford Union Freshers' Guide 2022

THEOXFORDUNION

A SOCIETY LIKE NO OTHER

The Oxford Union is u lse will you find a lineup of such disting ch week is packed with events, and our m h leaders in every field, from politics and

The Union is also the of each term is the Union Ball, one of the Our Members' Bar, Snooker Room and fre ommunity beyond their college bubbles. brary and historic reading rooms also pr king environment, highly valued by mem g

Until 18.00 on Thursday of 2nd Week the Union's events and facilities are open to all members and Life Membership is available at a discounted rate. Come along during the Open Period to find out for yourself what the Union has to offer, and to meet the current committee.

Joining the Oxford Union gives you the opportunity to participate in the free exchange of ideas at an extraordinary place. We look forward to welcoming you!

HISTORY

THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS STUDENT SOCIETY

The Oxford Union was founded in 1823 as a forum for open debate, challenging the restrictive University authorities. It soon became the key place for student discussion, and William Gladstone future Prime Minister was a leading figure in the Union's early years. The Union continues to champion free speech and is still run by students.

History Alumni

Many Union alumni have gone on to become internationally renowned. Six former British Prime Ministers and several foreign leaders including Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s first female Prime Minister, were leaders in the Union. Numerous other high profile figures have held positions in the Union, such as Tony Benn, Lord Heseltine, Michael Foot, John Buchan and Tariq Ali.

200 Years of the Union

2023 marks the Oxford Union's 200th anniversary. Across the last 200 years, the Union has been a central part of the lives of hundreds of thousands of students. This year, there will be numerous celebratory events, from a Bicentenary Ball to a special debate featuring some of our most prominent alumni. Make sure you don't miss out!

SPEAKERS MEET YOUR HEROES

Each week, the Union hosts individual guest speakers. Members can attend events with their favourite celebrities, public figures and world leaders, and often these talks are followed by book signings and an opportunity to meet the speaker. The Union invites speakers from around the world and across the political spectrum, and always provides members the opportunity to challenge the speaker during events.

Politics

No other student society offers members the opportunity to directly confront some of the world's foremost political figures. Gerry Adams proposed the reunification of Ireland while still banned from appearing on television, Colonel Gaddafi argued for a new African Union via a live video stream to the Chamber, and Marine Le Pen faced questions about accusations of xenophobia within her party.

The Union frequently hosts Britain’s biggest politicians, including Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May, Tony Benn, Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage, Nick Clegg, David Miliband, and Sir John Major. Many global Heads of State and Government have also made their mark at the Union: we have welcomed Pakistan’s President Pervez Musharaff, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Australian Prime Ministers Malcolm Turnbull, John Howard and Kevin Rudd

Senator Robert Kennedy’s visit in the 1960s also blazed a trail for America’s political heavyweights. We have hosted US Presidents Nixon, Carter, Reagan, and Clinton; it was at the Union that President Nixon first publicly apologised for the Watergate scandal. We have also welcomed Senator Bernie Sanders, Secretaries of State John Kerry and Madeleine Albright, Senator Stacey Abrams and Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the Union.

SPEAKERS MEET YOUR HEROES

Science

Albert Einstein’s 1933 visit to the Oxford Union was the beginning of a great tradition of scientific figures addressing the Chamber In recent terms we have hosted Richard Dawkins, Buzz Aldrin, John Ellis, Lord Robert Winston, Dame Jane Goodall, Simon Singh, Prof. Stephen Hawking and Baroness Greenfield.

Religion

The Union was founded to allow free discussion of religion, and we continue to provide this today. We have hosted numerous prominent religious figures including Mother Teresa of Calcutta, HH the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. We frequently host debates on religion; recent topics have included the existence of God and the relationship between religion, extremism, and politics.

Business

The Union has hosted a huge number of world business leaders, from tech billionaires Jack Dorsey, Stephen Schwarzman, Peter Thiel, Eric Schmidt, and Brian Chesky to business moguls Deborah Meaden, Mark Cuban, Touker Suleyman, Bernard Arnault, and Lord Sugar.

Business related debates are also common, on topics ranging from the viability of socialism to the morality of Wall Street.

SPEAKERS MEET YOUR HEROES

Music

In 2001, Michael Jackson chose to make his first public speech in over a decade at the Union, whilst a few years ago Sir Elton John flew in to discuss Putin, gay rights and his career in front of a packed chamber. In recent times A$AP Rocky, Tom Odell, Marina Diamandis, Akala, Mark Ronson and Shakira have all spoken. Musical guests often treat our members to intimate concerts: Billy Joel, Hozier, Emeli Sande, Nicola Benedetti, James Blunt, KT Tunstall, The Wombats, Scouting for Girls, and Snow Patrol each delivered performances when they visited.

Arts & Journalism

Union members have heard from renowned author Salman Rushdie, architect Dame Zaha Hadid, literary legend Philip Pullman, designers Anna Wintour and Vivienne Westwood, leading psychologist Jordan Peterson, and luminary journalists such as Sir Michael Parkinson, Jon Snow, Nick Robinson, Robert Peston and Clarissa Ward.

SPEAKERS

MEET YOUR HEROES

Sport

The Union has hosted footballing royalty Diego Maradona, Edwin van der Sar, and Sir Geoff Hurst; Rugby World Cup winners Lawrence Dallaglio and Will Greenwood; cricket superstars Imran Khan, Ebony Rainford-Brent, and Andrew Strauss; boxing legends Anthony Joshua, Chris Eubank, and George Foreman; Formula One champion Nico Rosberg; Wimbledon king Boris Becker; cycling icons Mark Cavendish and Victoria Pendleton; diving champion Tom Daley; hockey medallists Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh; and rowing titans Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Katherine Grainger, and Helen Glover

Film and Entertainment

The Union has welcomed veteran thespians and Hollywood giants. In recent years members have heard from Morgan Freeman, Dame Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Mark Hamill, Natalie Portman, Zachary Quinto, Martin Scorsese, Bryan Cranston, Kit Harington and many more Often this is not just an opportunity to ask about their latest blockbuster: Sir Ian McKellen described his lifelong support for the gay rights movement, and Warwick Davis discussed how his disability shapes his life.

STUDYIN BEAUTY

UNRIVALLED FACILITIES

The Old Library

The Old Library, which is well stocked and spacious, is open to all members. Home to a beautiful collection of Pre Raphaelite murals, the individual desks and cosy armchairs make it a fantastic place to study. The Library offers a variety of resources, ranging from academic texts to magazines, travel guides and newspapers

Workspaces

The Union Buildings also offer several other more informal study spaces, including the Goodman Library, the Gladstone Room (furnished with Gladstone’s original cabinet desk), the Macmillan Room and the TV Room. These rooms provide a relaxed atmosphere where you can study with friends and catch up in the centre of Oxford.

SOCIALISE UNMISSABLE EVENTS

The Bar

The Members’ Bar offers coffee, cakes, homemade lunch options and drinks at some of the cheapest prices in Oxford. Our weekly cocktails and regular social events make it the perfect place to meet up with friends Speakers often join students in the bar for a drink and an informal chat after events!

The Gardens and Snooker Room

The Union gardens are the perfect place to grab lunch, sit in the sun, or work outside. The Snooker Room is another gem, featuring two full sized snooker tables. It is the only room like it in Oxford and the tables can be booked by members at the bar. It is open all day and is the perfect place to unwind after studying.

Social Events

The termly Union Ball is one of the cheapest and best at Oxford. This past year, our chamber has become a huge silent disco, the courtyard has housed a vodka luge sculpted into the Eiffel Tower, and Dick and Dom have DJ'd in the bar. We also host regular pub quizzes and live music nights, and in recent terms have welcomed members to garden parties, ceilidhs, gin tastings and wine and cheese nights.

BECOME A MEMBER

JOIN NOW WITH THE OPEN PERIOD DISCOUNT

Who Joins the Union?

There is no typical Union member we welcome undergraduate and postgraduate members from a diverse range of political, cultural and academic backgrounds. Most members use their membership to access our facilities and enjoy events; wanting to debate or run for election is certainly not a prerequisite for joining!

Life Membership

Life Membership is available at a discounted rate of £270.38 during the Open Period (ordinary rate £299 95) This grants you exclusive access to the Union's facilities and events for the rest of your life Across a three year degree, Life Membership works out at less than £30 a term that's 50p a day, or a cup of coffee a week.

Financial Assistance

Life Membership is available at the discounted Access rate of £150 during the Open Period (ordinary Access rate £178.50) for students eligible for a Maintenance Loan of £8,318 or more. It is also possible to pay for Life Membership in termly instalments, and cheaper annual options are available for students on shorter courses.

BECOME A MEMBER

DISCOUNT ENDS ON THURSDAY 20 OCTOBER 2022

Try Before You Buy

The Union is normally only open to members. However, during the Union's "Open Period" all students can attend social events, watch speakers and debates, and use the Union's facilities. The Open Period ends at 18.00 on Thursday 20 October.

How to Join

It is easy to join online by visiting www oxford union.org. You can also join by visiting our General Office in the Union's buildings. If you have questions or concerns, please get in touch with enquiries@oxford union.org or by calling 01865 241353.

Getting Involved

Once you ’ re a member, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the Union. To find out more about our elected and appointed committees and opportunities, check out our "How to Get Involved Handbook", available at issuu.com/oxfordunion.