The HistOracle 246

contents 2... letter from the auditor 3... this term at the hist 6... our history 7... guests this year 8... get involved 10... freshers’ week at the hist 11... about the hist 15... the committee 21... the g.m.b.

follow us youtube.com/user/TCDHist

twitter.com/thehist

facebook.com/TheHist.Trinity

thehist.com

@TheHist_

Editor: Ines Niarchos Contributors: Imaan Bari, Anna Kylkilahti, Catherine Prasifika, Olly Donnelly, and OisĂ­n McElhinney And a massive thank you to the whole committee of Hist 246 for securing adverts!

letter from the auditor Well Hello there!

Congratulations on starting in college! It will be a great four to six years in your life, filled with friends, parties, and conversations in which you think you sounded more intelligent then you did.

The Hist is now in it’s 246th session. As always we have our weekly debates, monthly panel discussions, several trips around the country throughout the year and many guest speakers so we can make everyone we know jealous with numerous selfies with famous people. The debates at the Hist are about the most interesting topics a group of college students can come up with so you, as a new college student will probably love them. They are accompanied by some fantastic receptions and great deals on our society cards. After the weekly Wednesday debate you can often find most of the Hist at one of the many Dublin institutions around Trinity.

So when asking yourself how you should start off your college experience you should definitely be thinking about joining the Hist, at least once (although no harm in twice for safety). We even have the added bonus of having four year membership so pay once at the start of your college life and you have access to all the debates, trips, famous people and awesome receptions you could hope for. Not to mention our conversation room and free breakfast once a week for a whole year.

So if you want to find a group of overly talkative people come along for a natter, it will also sound great to tell your granny that you joined a debating society in college.

So enjoy Trinity, enjoy Freshers Week and I hope we meet at some point in the next year!

Love & Discourse, Julia McCarthy

this term at the hist 1

freshers’ week debate: this house would free the nipple 23.9.15

2 3 4 5 6

this house would open all borders 30.9.15

this house welcomes the fall of global capitalism 7.10.15

this house believes in absolute freedom of speech 14.10.15

this house would legalise all drugs 21.10.15

this house regrets syriza 28.10.15

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

this house would only consume art created by women 4.11.15

reading week debate: this house would become immortal 11.11.15

this house believes the existence of evil disproves god 18.11.15

student economic review debate: trinity v cambridge 25.11.15

this house supports hilary 2016 2.12.15

maidens final 9.12.15

henry grattans’ final 16.12.15

On the Wednesday of Freshers’ Week, why not come join us at the first debate of the year at the Hist? If you couldn’t guess it from the poster above, we’ll be discussing the ‘free the nipple’ movement in what should prove to be a really interesting evening. There’ll be a great reception and night out after, so don’t miss out on the best night of the start of the year!

our history The Hist was founded by Edmund Burke in 1770, making us the oldest debating society in the world! It was created with the intention of being a society for ‘speeching, reading, writing and arguing, in Morality, History, Criticism, Politics and all the useful branches of philosophy’, something we at the Hist would argue have stuck to very well.

Despite being called the Historical Society, we’ve had a radical past, we were even expelled from college twice, once in 1794 and once in 1815 because of our love of debating ‘questions of modern politics’ and for the controversial debate motion on whether Brutus was justified in killing Julius Caesar.

Things were different in the 19th Century.

Despite this, we were eventually allowed to return to college and took our place as an integral part of Trinity. In 1902 we moved into our current gothic abode, the GMB, which we share with our friends in the Phil.

Though it was slightly damaged in a fire in 2000 (read: very damaged), we survived and we still hold debates every Wednesday, even on ‘questions of modern politics’. Although we’ve also changed a bit for the better; especially in allowing women to become members in 1969 (in fact, Mary Harney became our first female Auditor).

‘Greatest school of the orators’ - Edward Kennedy about the Hist

Over the course of our history we have been addressed by many famous speakers, with a breadth from Edward Kennedy to Sinéad O’Connor. In the last decade we also became a force in Competitive Debating and our talented debaters have won many intervarsity debating competitions. And we also hosted Worlds in 1992. All in all we think we’ve done pretty well, we’ve survived a fire and being kicked out of college twice; we’ve become a much more equal place; and all while hosting great speakers and debates.

guests Here are just some of the guests that we have confirmed for this year. For more information and updates make sure to follow us on social media!

john pilger

robert sheehan

John Pilger is a journalist and filmmaker who has won an Emmy and a BAFTA for his documentaries. He has reported on wars such as the Vietnam war and was active in the civil rights movement.

Robert Sheehan is an Irish actor, who has starred in the series Misfits and Love/Hate. He has been nominated for three IFTAs and one BAFTA.

michael d. higgins

Michael D. Higgins is the current President of Ireland, alongside this he is a poet, author, and broadcaster.

simon pegg Simon Pegg is an English actor and director, and who starred in and directed Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, and The World’s End.

jessie cave Jessie Cave is an English actress famous for her role, Lavender Brown, in the Harry Potter films. She has also recently released a comic, Lovesick.

and: david norris, katherine lynch, peter singer, carlos garcia de alba, sean bean, laura bates

get involved If all of this has got you thirsting to get involved in the Hist, then don’t worry, there are plenty of ways: have a go at Maidens; enjoy a free breakfast at Tea and Toast; or speak about a subject you love at a Derby of Rhetoric. We have it all!

maidens If you want to learn how to debate or develop your debating style, or even if you just have a passing interest; then you should sign up to Maidens. It’s our competition that we run throughout Michaelmas term for speakers who are in their first year of college level debating.

This means that it’s great for beginners, and we’ll also help you develop a style of speaking and techniques for structuring an argument. You also get to meet a bunch of other Freshers in the process and there are prizes, such as mugs and portable chargers, for debating rounds each week!

The motions are really varied, from comedy debates to debating whether or not Thatcher was worse that Pinochet; and who knows, maybe that knowledge’ll come in handy some day. If you’re not confident speaking in front of crowds don’t worry, the first rounds are not held in front of an audience. The preliminary rounds are then used to decide who goes into the quarter-final; but if you don’t qualify there’s still a chance as we also hold the Oscar Wilde Memorial Competition. The winner of which goes in as a ‘Wilde Card’ qualifier.

The grande finale is then held two weeks before the end of term and is a massive blowout. Not only this, but the winner wins a paid internship at Mason Hayes & Curran and of course the glory of having won Maidens. If you want to get involved just sign up at our freshers’ stand, email Ronan at recesec@thehist.com, or send us a message through smoke signals (though we wouldn’t recommend the last one).

tea & toast Is it lashing rain outside? Are you longing for your kettle and a cup of Lyons? Do you just passionately love Nutella?

Tea and toast can be your second breakfast (or lunch, we don’t judge) with side dishes of new friends and debate banter every Wednesday from 11 am onwards at the Hist convo room. Absolutely everyone from the Hist is welcome to come along, whether you’re an old GMB hack or a dewy-eyed Fresher who only got pressured into joining during Freshers’ week. You get free coffee, tea, toast and condiments, and on special occasions there may even be something fancier such as mince pies. And if you’re not feeling spoilt enough already everyone there is good craic.

Debating is by no means the only acceptable form of conversation, but if you feel like it you’re sure to find some likeminded people to rant with. You can even scheme to smash the patriarchy. Or neoliberal capitalism. Whatever you’re into. Or you can just go to the (overpriced and totally mainstream) uni coffee shop. Whatever. We don’t care. You’d probably feel more at home at UCD anyways.

derbies of rhetoric Picture this. Cold Friday evening, GMB-bound, you curiously listening to a student’s theories on the paradoxical life of Marx and why he was actually a member of the Illuminati. A place where ideas and interests are shared, an occasion where instead of having to listen to professors or snooty debaters, you can listen to quirky individuals sharing cool ideas they have about cool things. That’s what Derbies of Rhetoric are all about.

Topics in the past have ranged from the history of martial arts to theories of religious fundamentalism in the western world. It is a great way to gain confidence or experience in public speaking in a less intimidating way. You can present poems, theories, short stories, and recitations of dark magic, anything that you feel other people need to hear.

Derbies play an integral role in what discourse is to the Hist. Definitely try and attend a couple throughout the year. Last year KC Peaches kindly supplied us with cakes and other lovely treats some evenings, so maybe pop in if you are just feeling a tad peckish. But at least pretend you came for the rhetoric.

about the hist What does the Hist do? Well, we like to debate each other. But we also debate other universities too! And we also have a bunch of awesome guests that we invite over the course of the year. We’re just a pretty intellectual bunch really.

wednesday night debates Wednesday night debates are one of the main reasons for the Hist’s existence. Held every Wednesday in term time, even in Reading Weeks, it’s here that ideas are discussed and motions held or torn apart. For the past two hundred and forty six years we’ve been a bastion of free speech; and in earlier times students became so enthused that the debates ended with a duel. That doesn’t happen so much anymore though.

private business 7pm Private Business is held at the beginning of every debate, and as with most things in Trinity its name has absolutely nothing to do with what it actually is, because anyone can attend. Firstly the Auditor, Julia, calls the house to order and invites an ordinary member of the society (that is, someone who doesn’t hold a committee position) to take the chair.

After that the Record Sectary Ronan will read the minutes of the last Private Business. But this is usually just a chance to make jokes about people (note: don’t get on the bad side of Ronan). Then the Treasurer, Luke, will impose fines onto anyone who has misbehaved in the previous debate, but no one ever actually gets fined unless Luke’s in a really bad mood.

The Librarian, Andrew, will then ask if there’s any other business. There is never any other business. After that the committee retires back upstairs to plot world domination for all anyone knows. Why do we do all this?

No one’s really sure.

public business 7.30pm Now we get to the actual debating part… almost. This time the guest sits in the chair and they call the house to order. The Record Secretary then gives a summary about the last debate that we had and he’ll point out if someone’s made a particularly pertinent point, or if someone said something ridiculous (again, don’t get on the bad side of Ronan). Finally the debate starts. There’ll normally be two guests, one for each side, and four student speakers but it changes on occasion.

Emotions run high when the debate is happening, especially if it’s a controversial topic, and there’s often a lot of cries of ‘shame’ or applause while speeches are going on. Members who aren’t in the debate are encouraged to raise points of information, where they can ask a question to the speaker; but make it short and snappy!

This might all sound mildly terrifying for speakers, but speaking in a debate is actually really rewarding and you’ll find it’s not so bad once you’re up there. If you think you might want to speak in a debate don’t hesitate to go up to a member of committee and they’ll be happy to give tips.

Once everyone’s had a chance to speak, the guest chair will give a speech summing up the debate and then the motion gets put to the house, which is where the audience decides which side won. The whole place descends into people shouting either ‘aye’ or ‘nay’, and the side that shouts loudest is the winning side. Incredibly scientific, we know. When it’s all over everyone goes upstairs for the reception, a lavish affair, where you can gorge yourself on biscuits and refreshments to your hearts content or maybe even speak to some the guests.

other events It might seem like we really love debating (we do) but we also have time for other events too. And you know what’s great? It’s all free with your Hist membership!

inaugural and guest speakers The Inaugural is the night of the year when we all get all get dressed up in our finery to hear the Auditor and invited guests give a speech on a topic of the Auditor’s choosing, followed by a reception and a night out.

Last year Judith Butler, world-renowned philosopher and feminist icon, was invited as a guest on the topic ‘The Need for Radical Approaches to Politics and Oppression’.

Previous years’ guests included Harvey Milk, on the topic ‘The Future of the LGBT Community’, and Germaine Greer. So it’s a pretty big deal.

While the Inaugural is the fanciest night we host, we also have other guests speaking over the course of the year to which you don’t need to wear black tie. Guests have included Michael D. Higgins and José Manuel Barroso, former president of the European Commission. Some of the guests we have planned for next year can be found in this booklet, and make sure to keep updated with us on social media for news of other confirmed guests (or even if you just want to know what we’re up to).

burke sessions The Burke Sessions (named after our founder Edmund Burke) are another chance to see some really interesting guests. These are fornightly panel discussions that we hold on a broad variety of topics, usually on Monday at five, in the Conversation Room. Last year we held a very successful panel on ‘Irish Feminism in the 21st Century’. This explored issues such as the role of women in different industries in the modern age; and featured Marita Conlon-McKenna. Other panels have had diverse topics, ranging from mental health to fashion. They’re held in an informal environment and this means that issues which aren’t suited to a debate format can be explored with plenty of time for questions at the end; additionally it’s a great way of getting involved as an ordinary member!

competitive debating If you’re a thrill seeker who also happens to hate going outside, then look no further, competitive debating may be just for you! Competitive debaters are the jocks of the debating world, the unathletic jumper-clad as they are.

The average debate is an hour long rhetorical shouting match where people are obligated to sit quietly and listen while you explain your point. Whether you are proposition or opposition, opening or closing, you only get 15 minutes to prepare your speech, but fret not because this is a team sport, so you also have a partner to sit there befuddled with you as you say the motion out loud over and over again trying to make sense of it.

In all seriousness, competitive debating is a chance to push yourself a little bit, to challenge how much you know about the world, and to examine beliefs you may have held for years. Not to mention the fact that you get to travel across the country with your friends for two days away with a guaranteed social each night.

If speaking seems like it’s too much pressure or just not your thing, the other side to competitive debating is judging. As a judge you get to listen to the speakers as they pull analysis out of thin air and decide who actually knew what they were talking about. It is often overlooked, but judging is where the true power lies in debating, and no debate could happen without a few good judges.

If the idea of going off to competitions is a bit intimidating, we run workshops during the year to give an overview of how debating works, coupled with drop in debates where anyone can show up and test their rhetorical skills or judging abilities. Feel free to get in touch with any member of the DC department if you have any questions.

the committee julia auditor Julia is the auditor/mother of the Hist. She’s responsible for making sure we all stay in line and do our jobs, drink enough fluids, and get enough sleep. She’s always ready with a cup of tea and maybe some wedges with some solid words of wisdom – but don’t let this maternal exterior fool you into thinking you can get away with murder. Cross her if you dare – she’s lethal in a snowball fight, just ask the widows of her last victims.

luke treasurer Every morning, Luke wakes up to a breakfast of twenty-four raw eggs mixed with protein, before pumping some ‘ron at the gym. This makes him the perfect Treasurer for the reason that we live in fear of Sampson and Golliath (his guns) and would rather not owe him money. He’s really really nice though (please don’t hurt me).

annabel correspondence secretary You’ll love our outrageously competent CorrSec, Annabel, almost as much as she loves her pet pig, Wilbur. When it comes to getting things done, nothing stands in her way (unless she’s suddenly required at a ‘sesh’ to be the life and soul of the party: then work can wait).

‘Effortlessly elegant and aggressively likeable’ sums her up, we think.

ronan record secretary Ronan is The Hist’s Rec Sec, and he’ll be Recing Secs all over the place this year. While many have said Ronan looks like Rick Astley, we in The Hist know that in fact, Rick Astley looks like Ronan. Don’t be fooled by his puppy dog eyes and over sized jumpers, he is in fact, thirsting for power and Fresher blood, hence he will be running our Maidens competition.

ines censor

There is nothing bad to be said about Ines. This is mainly because she has editorial control over this magazine, but also because she’s a great person. She is basically your stereotypical Philosophy student, who can be relied upon to pull out a copy of one of Nietzche’s works from her trench coat pocket at any given moment.

andrew librarian Andrew can be found on any given day pretending that the floor of the Hist Conversation Room is lava. We all quietly try to ignore it but when he touches the floor and starts screaming it’s pretty disruptive. However being so in touch with his imaginative inner child has made him the perfect person to run the Leinster Schools debating competition. His other hobbies include Ultimate Frisbee and convincing everyone around him that it’s cool.

stephen debates convener Stephen’s unwavering belief in the free market has led him to consider sponsorship options for his bio. While playing Starcraft™ and drinking a cold, refreshing Pepsi™, Stephen organises Debate-related events for the Hist, including the forthcoming CocaCola-HSBC-RedBull-Skynet Trinity IV (Supported by Microsoft). *YOUR AD HERE EMAIL DC@ THEHIST.COM*

olly events convener

Olly is, in fact, not Japanese; nor was he forced to join the Japanese Navy (despite the beliefs of our former DC) but, instead, hails from Belfast. He describes himself as ‘a bit of a geek’ and can usually be found chatting about Japan. Did I tell you he went to Japan? He also really likes Japan. And miso soup.

sophie s.m.c.

Sophie is our committee’s silly bundle of joy. A walking quotebook, a radiator of energy, and a stalker of Imaan, she’s literally the best person on earth to brighten your day. Or maybe it’s Imaan. they’re always together, you see, so it’s hard to know who’s doing what.

oisin pro-treasurer Oisin is an avid believer in free speech and spends his time writing articles about feminism and why trigger warnings are an essential tool in the world of academia. Go to his Facebook page, you’ll find numerous articles defending the likes of George Bush, why the term ‘Film Noir’ is thrown around far too freely, and why eventually speaking the English language will be problematic. You may catch him moseying around campus clad in suspenders or a beige tweed blazer.

grace pro-corrsec

Once upon a time Grace lived in a kingdom under the sea, but one day she found out about the joys of debating and found herself compelled to leave her sea-kingdom to make her way to Dublin. Her fairy godmother stepped in to give her legs, with the condition that she couldn’t be seen after midnight. Which is why you might find Grace hurrying off after debates in the direction of the sea.

ríona pro-corrsec Riona keeps the levels of ‘Soundness’ in the Hist up to a very respectable level.

If you can’t hit it off with her, then you’re just antisocial (sorry!). In the midst of loud and opinionated college debaters, she’s often the voice of reason.

No controversy here, move on folks!

paul pro-corrsec

Paul may seem wise beyond his years. And that’s because he is, in fact, five thousand years old and his current form is merely his latest historical reincarnation (notable previous ones including Robespierre and Franklin Roosevelt). A red-blooded (and red scarfed) socialist with a love for Ed Miliband and Marx, he will steer the Hist firmly to the Left this year.

caitlin pro-recsec Everyone needs a Caitilin (pronounced “cawch-leen”, get it right, ok?) in their life. Luckily we actually do have one. The uber-relaxed pro-Rec Sec balances out the Protestant West Brit-ness of the GMB with some Northern Catholic charm. An unapologetic science geek, she brings a cool accent and much needed rational thought..

giordan pro-recsec One could be forgiven for thinking Giordan came straight out of a Tim Burton film. Cats came from far and wide to try to take his soul. He resided in a city which, according to legend, cursed travelling intruders with illness (may have been due to it also being 14,000 feet above sea level, but who knows). After a long string of events, including a move from Bolivia, he felt a calling to our own Burton-esque GMB where he dwells until this day.

imaan pro-censor Imaan is so grunge. So totally grunge. You wouldn’t even get it. She spends her time buying clothes in vintage shops, drinking matcha latte’s (made with almond milk), and talking to people you wouldn’t even understand.

She detests hipsters.

anna pro-censor

The Finns hate capitalism, love feminism and have blonde hair and blue eyes. Maybe that’s just our pro-censor, Anna, but find us another Finn and disprove it! Sometimes people ask Anna if Finland is really as good as it seems. It is. Her government pays students to go abroad just to see how much better Finland is.

cahal pro-librarian Cahal Sweeney shall never vanquish’d be until Great Birham Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him. A man whose vaulting ambition knows no bounds, he would fit more aptly into a Shakespearean tragedy than a metropolitan university in the city centre.

Alas and alack, however, now that he is here, he spends his time analysing the patterns of failure and triumph in history as well as the disaster zone of politics.

meg pro-librarian

Meg is kind, brims with passion so much that when she was asked by Trinity News to sum up her time with the Hist last year, she said: “I wish we could all get along like we used to in middle school. I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles,” An ardent feminist she has decided to save cheesy pop music from the throes of the patriarchy by creating feminist-friendly versions of classics. She is yet to realise though that ‘I’m a Kenny boy in a Kenny world’ probably won’t work out.

sean pro-librarian

Sean has reluctantly taken on the burden of being Hist 246’s token Engineering student, meaning he’s like a fish out of water (just a very well-designed one, right?) Expect cool quirky surprises like random juggling and yo-yo tricks. Just don’t bring up Leeds airport (long story, you’ll find out at some stage). We like him, so will you!

catherine pro-dc Every year the Hist looks for a pro-DC with a talent for debating; a passion for competition; an extensive knowledge of the secret to eternal life; and a welcoming personality.

Meet Catherine, who came to Trinity last year at the tender age of [unintelligible rune] and joined the Hist’s super-team of competitive debaters. From running workshops and competitions, to assuring you that your mortal struggles have neither meaning nor consequence in the infinity of spacetime, she’ll help you get the most out of the Hist.

alex pro-dc Alex is our resident Transylvanian in the Hist. Pretty relevant for a society of which Bram Stoker was once Auditor. Always sharply dressed, you’ll soon notice that his tastes are (fortunately) not confined to human blood but everything from weightlifting to discussing the literary works of the Marquis de Sade. Expect enthralling conversations with our beloved pro-DC.

ciara pro-ec

Ciara manages to break all the rules when it comes to being a Hist member: for starters, she’s always up for “da bantz”, while also combing super-organisational skills with being amazingly chill. In a society of indecisive, coddled debaters, efficiency is a rare trait to find but thankfully for both her fellow Histies and you freshers, she gets the job” done

ADVE

ERTS

the g.m.b.

second floor

first floor

ground floor

The GMB, or more formally the Graduate’s Memorial Building, is right by the Dining Hall. It is the home of the Hist and it has its own debating chamber, Reasource Room, and our society rooms. We like to think it’s pretty great. Here’s a little guide just in case you get lost:

The top floor of the GMB is basically a secret paradise (practically no one knows it exists, so that’s your prize for reading this far into the HistOracle). Up here there’s the Resource Room and a computer room. It also has a great view over campus from some of the top floor windows. The Resource Room (which was the main hit of the fire in 2000) is where we hold some rounds of Maidens, along with our other internal debating competitions. And if you can’t find a free computer anywhere on campus, it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll find one here. I told you, it’s a secret paradise.

The first floor hosts our Conversation Room and Committee Room. It’s in the Conversation Room that you can find our sign up sheets if you want to speak in a debate or go to an intervarsity debating competition. The Conversation Room’s great for hanging out in, sleeping on the couches if you fancy a mid-day nap (expect to find at least one person sleeping there at any given time), or working in when the library inevitably has no seats.

We also have a selection of newspapers and magazines that you can browse and it’s here that we’ll host some of our smaller events.

The debating chamber has its home on the ground floor, it’s here that we hold our debates (aside from in Reading Week, when they move upstairs to our Conversation Room) and on Wednesdays you’ll find us here hammering out ideas from seven thirty onewards.

During the day there’ll probably be the odd lost tourist who’s accidentally wondered in with no idea where they are, or a couple of people making use of the table football table.