The Oxford Union

Founded	1823
Home Page	The Oxford Union
Officers of the Union, Michaelmas Term 2008 Image File history File links Oxford Union, 2004-02-28. ... Michaelmas term is the first term of Oxford University, Cambridge University, LSE, University of Wales, Lampeter, Durham University, and formerly University of Newcastle upon Tynes academic year, and is the only term name shared by Oxford and Cambridge, Oxford and Lampeter and Oxford and Durham. ...
President	Josh Roche, Christ Church
President-Elect	Charlie Holt, Lady Margaret Hall
Librarian	Leo-Marcus Wan, University College
Treasurer	Mike Roberts, Corpus Christi College
Treasurer-Elect	James Langman, University College
Secretary	Tom Hartley, Worcester College

The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a prestigious debating society in the city of Oxford, UK, whose membership is drawn primarily but not exclusively from the University of Oxford. It was founded in 1823 and gained a worldwide reputation for the cut and thrust of its debate, proving a valuable training ground for many future politicians from Britain and other countries. and of the Christ Church College name Christ Church Latin name Ædes Christi Named after Jesus Christ Established 1546 Sister college Trinity College, Cambridge Dean The Very Revd Christopher Andrew Lewis JCR president Laura Ellis Undergraduates 426 GCR president Tim Benjamin Graduates 154 Location of Christ Church within central Oxford... Lady Margaret Hall is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... College name University College Collegium Magnae Aulae Universitatis Named after Established 1249 Sister College Trinity Hall Master Lord Butler of Brockwell JCR President Peter Surr Undergraduates 420 MCR President Monte MacDiarmid Graduates 144 Homepage Boatclub Crest of University College, Oxford University College (in full, the The Master and Fellows of... College name Corpus Christi College Named after Corpus Christi, Body of Christ Established 1517 Sister College Corpus Christi College President Sir Tim Lankester JCR President Binyamin Even Undergraduates 239 Graduates 126 Homepage Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. ... College name University College Collegium Magnae Aulae Universitatis Named after Established 1249 Sister College Trinity Hall Master Lord Butler of Brockwell JCR President Peter Surr Undergraduates 420 MCR President Monte MacDiarmid Graduates 144 Homepage Boatclub Crest of University College, Oxford University College (in full, the The Master and Fellows of... College name Worcester College Collegium Vigorniense Named after Sir Thomas Cookes, Worcestershire Established 1714 Sister College St Catharines College Provost Richard Smethurst JCR President Minesh Tanna Undergraduates 408 MCR President Tom Marshall Graduates 167 Homepage Worcester College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in... For the community in Florida, see University, Florida. ... Parliamentary Debate, is an academic debate event. ... The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the worlds largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. ... There are two major regional debating championships for universities in Asia. ... The Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (known colloquially as Australs) is one of the worlds largest debating tournaments, second only in size to the World Universities Debating Championship, and one of the largest annual student events in the world. ... The European Universities Debating Championship (colloquially known as Euros or Europeans) is a regional equivalent to the World Universities Debating Championship (Worlds) held in British Parliamentary style. ... The John Smith Memorial Mace (known between 1954 and 1995 as the Observer Mace) is the foremost student debating competition in the British Isles and Ireland. ... The North American Debating Championship is the premier parliamentary debating championship in North America, sanctioned by the national university debating associations in the United States and Canada, the American Parliamentary Debating Association and the Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate. ... The American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA) is the oldest intercollegiate parliamentary debating association in the United States, and one of two in the nation overall, the other being the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA). ... CUSID Logo The Canadian University Society for Intercollegiate Debate (CUSID generally, and SUCDI in French) is the national organization which governs and represents university-level debating and public speaking in Canada. ... The English-Speaking Union is an international educational charity founded in 1918 to promote international understanding and friendship through the use of the English language. ... The National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) is one of the two national intercollegiate parliamentary debate organizations in the United States. ... Australia-Asia debate is a form of academic debate. ... British Parliamentary style debate is a common form of academic debate. ... This is a list of top-ranked university debaters from official international competitions, in any debating style. ... The coat of arms for the Cambridge Union Society, which shares much in common with the coat of arms for the University of Cambridge. ... Logo of the UCC Philosoph The UCC Philosophical Society the Philosoph is the largest debating society at University College Cork, Ireland. ... The Literary & Debating Society (often referred to as the Lit & Deb) is a debating society of the National University of Ireland, Galway. ... The front aspect of Glasgow University Union Glasgow University Union (GUU) is one of the students unions operating at the University of Glasgow. ... // The University of Limerick Debating Union is a society open to the students and staff of the university to engage in debate on topical issues and participates in student inter-varsity debating competitions. ... The Otago University Debating Society (OUDS) was established in 1888 and is the oldest Otago University Dunedin, New Zealand society. ... Orientation Week at the University of Sydney is organised by the Union. ... The College Historical Society (commonly known as The Hist within College) was founded in Trinity College in 1770 and traces its creation to the historical society founded by the philosopher Edmund Burke in Dublin in 1747. ... The University Philosophical Society (commonly known as The Phil or The Auto-Phil) is a student paper-reading and debating society in Trinity College, Dublin. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...   The Literary and Historical Society (L&H) is University College Dublins oldest debating society and the official College Debating Union. ... Logo of Debsoc, 2007 Logo of the VUW Australs 2006 VUW Debsoc, Joynt Scroll 2006 The Victoria University of Wellington Debating Society (Inc. ... The stage of Conron Hall at University College, the main debating chamber of the University of Western Ontario Debating Society Gallery at Conron Hall The University of Western Ontario Debating Society is the oldest student association at the University of Western Ontario, and is one of the largest and most... Debate is a formalized system of (usually) logical argument. ... This article is about the city of Oxford in England. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent... The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University), located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ... 1823 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ...

Status and membership

The Oxford Union is an unincorporated association, holding its property in trust in favour of its objectives and members, and governed by its rules (which form a multi-partite contract between the members). A voluntary association (also sometimes called just an association) is a group of individuals who voluntarily enter into an agreement to form a body (or organization) to accomplish a purpose. ... This law-related article does not cite its references or sources. ... A contract is a legally binding exchange of promises or agreement between parties that the law will enforce. ...

Since its foundation, it has been independent of the University: historically, this was because the Victorian University restricted junior members from discussing certain issues (for example, theology). Despite such restrictions since being lifted, it has remained entirely separate from the University, and is constitutionally bound to remain so.

Only members of Oxford University are eligible to become life members of the Union, but students at Oxford Brookes University and certain other educational institutions are entitled to join for the duration of their time in Oxford. Shorter membership is also extended to those participating in some visiting study programmes in Oxford.

The Union buildings are owned by a separate charitable trust, the Oxford Literary and Debating Union Trust. A charitable trust is a trust established for charitable purposes. ...

The Union buildings

The Oxford Union buildings are located in Frewin Court, off Cornmarket Street, and on St Michael's Street. The original Union buildings were designed by Alfred Waterhouse and opened in 1879. This was about a decade after the completion of the Cambridge Union's premises, also designed by Waterhouse, and the exterior of the two buildings was very similar. Cornmarket Street, Oxford, is the street that leads north from Carfax Tower towards St Giles. Cornmarket seen from the north Located there is a variety of shops and businesses, including: Boots Burger King The Clarendon Centre Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) Starbucks Cornmarket seen from the south, 2004; notice the newly... The Oxford Union debating chamber, off St Michaels Street. ... The Natural History Museum in South Kensington, London, has an ornate terracotta facade typical of high Victorian architecture. ... Year 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

The current debating chamber

A debating chamber was subsequently added, but the Union's growing membership meant that it became too small, and is now the "Old Library". The current debating chamber, and several further extensions to the main buildings were added over the next forty years. The final extension was completed in 1912, adding a dining room and a second library, together with basement library stacks. Image File history File links OxfordUnionTwo20040228CopyrightKaihsuTai. ... Image File history File links OxfordUnionTwo20040228CopyrightKaihsuTai. ...

Many of the rooms in the Union are named after figures from the Union's past, such as the Goodman Library, with its oriel windows, and the wood-panelled MacMillan Room with barrel ceiling. The buildings have gradually been added to with paintings and statues of past presidents and prominent members. The Gladstone Room also contains Gladstone's original cabinet table, semi-circular in design so that he could look all his ministers in the eye as he held forth.

In the debating chamber there are busts of such notables as Roy Jenkins, Edward Heath, Michael Heseltine and William Gladstone. There is also a fine grand piano in the debating chambers known as the “Bartlet-Jones Piano” after the Oxford University Music Society president who found it dusty and forgotten in a cupboard in the Holywell Music Room and placed it on permanent loan to the Union. The piano was unveiled by Vladimir Ashkenazy, who famously refused to play it in front of the packed chamber because he “had not warmed up”. The despatch boxes which continue to be used in Union debates were formerly in the chambers of the House of Commons. Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, OM, PC (November 11, 1920 – January 5, 2003) was a British politician and a prominent Labour Member of Parliament in the 1960s and 1970s, and founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). ... For other persons named Edward Heath, see Edward Heath (disambiguation). ... Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician. ... Gladstone redirects here. ... Formed in 1867, the Oxford University Music Society (OUMS) is one of the oldest societies in Oxford University. ... The Holywell Music Room is Oxfords chamber music hall and is situated east of Broad Street in the city centre. ... Vladimir Davidovich Ashkenazy (Russian: Влади́мир Дави́дович А́шкенази, Vladimir Davidovič AÅ¡kenasi) (b. ...

The buildings were used as a location for the films Oxford Blues (1984), The Madness of King George (1994) and opposite, in St Michael's Street, Iris (2001).^[1] Oxford Blues is a 1984 film. ... The Madness of King George is a 1994 film which tells the story of King George III of the United Kingdoms deteriorating mental health, and the equally declining relationship between him and his son, the Prince of Wales. ... Iris is a 2001 film that tells the story of British novelist Iris Murdoch and her relationship with John Bayley. ...

Debating

Debating at the Oxford Union takes two forms, competitive debating, and chamber debating.

Competitive debating is the preserve of a minority of members of the Union. The Union's best debaters compete internationally against other top debating societies, and the Oxford Union regularly fields one of the most successful teams at the World Universities Debating Championship (which the Union hosted in 1993) and the European Universities Debating Championship. The Union also runs the Oxford Schools' Debating Competition, the prestigious Oxford Intervarsity Debating Competition which attracts universities from around the world and a number of internal debating competitions. The Oxford Union is currently the reigning World Champion in University Debating, after team Oxford A (comprising debaters Lewis Iwu and Samir Deger-Sen) won the 2008 World Universities' Debating Championship in Assumption University, Thailand. The World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) is the worlds largest debating tournament, and one of the largest annual international student events in the world. ... The European Universities Debating Championship (colloquially known as Euros or Europeans) is a regional equivalent to the World Universities Debating Championship (Worlds) held in British Parliamentary style. ...

Chamber debating, including the debates (known as Public Business Meetings) with invited guest speakers for which the Union is best known, tends to be less formalised (even if more formal) than competitive debates, and the manner of delivery is closer to public speaking, with audience engagement far more important.

Public Business Meeting debates also have voting. At the end of the debate, the audience votes on the proposition by exiting the hall through a door, the right-hand side of which is marked 'ayes' and the left-hand side 'noes'. This follows the style of the British Parliament, which votes this way if it is necessary to "divide the House".

The Union and the Student Union

The Oxford Union is often confused with the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU). OUSU is the officially recognised student representative body of the University of Oxford. Unlike almost all other British university student unions, OUSU has no central building to provide a venue for students, only a set of administrative offices, while all events are run in conjunction with other local venues. This stems largely from the fact that each of the University's Colleges has its own Junior Common Room, or JCR which provides many of the functions, albeit on a smaller scale, that would otherwise be provided by a central student union. The Oxford University Student Union is the official student union of the University of Oxford, representing the interests of its members to the university and the outside world. ... The University of Oxford comprises 39 Colleges and 7 religious Permanent Private Halls (PPHs), which are autonomous self-governing corporations within the university. ... The term Junior Combination Room or Junior Common Room (JCR) is used in many British universities (as well as at Harvard College in the United States) to refer to the collective of students (similar to a students union) at a constituent part of a university, typically a college or a...

OLDUT and OUS

It is not generally recognised (either by the outside world, or the Union's members) that the Oxford Union Society does not own its buildings. The Oxford Union was never financially secure, and its position was not helped by its termly changes of junior (i.e. student) officers. There was also a significant level of historic debt, associated with the erection of its buildings.

Following a particularly bad period in the 1970s, the Union buildings were sold to a charitable trust ("OLDUT", the Oxford Literary and Debating Union Trust), and the Oxford Union Society was granted a licence to occupy the building.

Several parts of what were historically the Union buildings and grounds were subsequently either sold or made the subject of long leases, including an area of land around the rear of the debating chamber, part of the Union cellars (adjoining that now occupied by the Purple Turtle), and part of what was formerly the Steward's house (now occupied by the Landmark Trust). OLDUT has subsequently paid for the refurbishment and maintenance of the Union buildings, both from its own resources and by securing private donations and grant funding.

As a result of OLDUT's creation, the future of the physical Union is now secured, so that even if the Oxford Union Society were to cease to be, or to fail financially, the buildings would not be lost. In addition, OLDUT provides some financial support for the running of the Union in those areas where the Union undertakes activities which match OLDUT's charitable objectives - particularly the operation of the Union's library.

Despite the importance of OLDUT in preserving the fabric of the Union, the relationship between OLDUT and OUS has at times been strained. OLDUT is first and foremost a charitable trust, and it has objectives which do not always match those of what is primarily a student society.

Notable speakers

The Oxford Union has a long history of hosting international figures and celebrities.^[2] Previous guests have included the Dalai Lama, Winston Churchill, Mother Teresa, UN Weapons Inspector Hans Blix, former US Presidents Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, US diplomat Henry Kissinger, United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange, Russian politician and former finance minister Grigory Yavlinsky, notable barrister and prime-ministerial spouse Cherie Booth QC, Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams, physicist Stephen Hawking, biologist Richard Dawkins debating creationist A. E. Wilder-Smith during the Huxley Memorial Debate, autistic savant Kim Peek, comedian and writer Stephen Fry, US politician Robert Kennedy, actors Warren Beatty, Clint Eastwood, Ewan McGregor, Malcolm X, O.J. Simpson, porn stars Jenna Jameson and Ron Jeremy, footballer Diego Maradona, rock star Jon Bon Jovi, pop star Michael Jackson, televangelist Jerry Falwell, magician David Blaine, TV talk show host Jerry Springer, singer Barry White, puppet Kermit the Frog, actress Judi Dench, singer Gerard Way, fashion journalist Anna Wintour, and musical humourist and conductor Gerard Hoffnung. Tenzin Gyatso is the fourteenth and current Dalai Lama. ... Churchill redirects here. ... Mother Teresa (born Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu IPA: ) (August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997) was a Roman Catholic nun who founded the Missionaries of Charity and won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work. ...   (born 28 June 1928 in Uppsala, Sweden) is a Swedish diplomat and politician. ... Nixon redirects here. ... For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... Reagan redirects here. ... Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German-born American politician, and 1973 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ... Scotus may refer to: Latin for Scot as in: Medieval philosopher and theologian Duns Scotus 9th-century Irish theologian, philosopher, and poet, Johannes Scotus Eriugena Supreme Court of the United States Category: ...   (born March 11, 1936[1]) is an American jurist and the second most senior Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. ... Pervez Musharraf (Urdu: ) (born 11 August 1943, Delhi) is the current President of Pakistan, Chief of Army Staff of the Pakistan Army. ... David Russell Lange CH, ONZ (who pronounced his name IPA: long-ee) (4 August 1942 – 13 August 2005), served as Prime Minister of New Zealand from 1984 to 1989. ... Grigory Alexeyevich Yavlinsky (born 1952) is a Russian economist, political figure, and reformer. ... Cherie Blair born 23 September 1954, known professionally as Cherie Booth QC, is an English barrister. ... For pre-Arthur Griffith use of the political name, see Sinn Féin (19th century). ... Gerard Adams MP (Irish: [1]; born 6 October 1948) is an Irish Republican politician and abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. ... Stephen William Hawking, CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA, (born 8 January 1942) is a British theoretical physicist. ... Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS (born March 26, 1941) is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer who holds the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... The Huxley Memorial Debate took place on February 14, 1986 under the auspices of the Oxford Union a student debate club of Oxford University. ... Kim Peek (born November 11, 1951), is a savant with a photographic or eidetic memory and developmental disabilities, possibly resulting from congenital brain abnormalities. ... Stephen John Fry (born 24 August 1957) is an English comedian, writer, actor, humourist, novelist, columnist, filmmaker and television personality. ... Robert Kennedy Robert Francis Bobby Kennedy, also called RFK (November 20, 1925–June 6, 1968) was the younger brother of President John F. Kennedy, and was appointed by his brother as Attorney General for his administration. ... Henry Warren Beatty (born March 30, 1937), better known as Warren Beatty, is an Academy Award and Golden Globe-winning American actor, producer, screenwriter, and director. ... For other uses, see Clint Eastwood (disambiguation). ... Ewan Gordon McGregor (born March 31, 1971; pronounced )[1] is a Scottish actor who has had significant success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. ... Malcolm X, born Malcolm Little, also known as Detroit Red and Al-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Omaha, Nebraska, May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 in New York City) was a Muslim Minister and National Spokesman for the Nation of Islam. ... Orenthal James Simpson (born July 9, 1947), commonly known as O. J. Simpson and also just by his initials O.J. and his nickname The Juice, is a retired American football player who achieved stardom at the collegiate and professional levels. ... Jenna Jameson (born Jenna Marie Massoli on April 9, 1974)[4] is an American pornographic actress and entrepreneur who has been called the worlds most famous porn star[5][2][6] and The Queen of Porn.[7] She started acting in erotic films in 1993 after having worked as... Ron Jeremy (born on March 12, 1953) is an American pornographic actor currently residing in Long Island, New York, United States. ... Maradona redirects here. ... Jon Bon Jovi (born John Francis Bongiovi, Jr. ... For other persons named Michael Jackson, see Michael Jackson (disambiguation). ... This article is about Jerry Falwell, Sr. ... David Blaine (born David Blaine White on April 4, 1973 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.) is an American world record holding magician and endurance artist of Puerto Rican and American heritage. ... This article is about Jerry Springer himself. ... Barry Eugene White (born Barrence Eugene Carter, September 12, 1944) – July 4, 2003) was a Grammy Award winning American record producer, songwriter and singer responsible for the creation of numerous hit soul and disco songs. ... Kermit the Frog is a Muppet, one of puppeteer Jim Hensons most famous and beloved creations, first introduced in 1955. ... Dame Judith Olivia Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA, (born 9 December 1934), usually known as Dame Judi Dench, is an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Tony, three-time BAFTA, and six-time Laurence Olivier Award-winning English actress. ... Gerard Arthur Way (born April 9, 1977) is the front man, lead vocalist and co-founder of the band My Chemical Romance; he is also elder brother to the bands bass player, Mikey Way. ... Anna Wintour (born November 3, 1949, in London) has been the editor-in-chief of American Vogue since 1988. ... Gerard Hoffnung (1925-1959) was an artist and musician, best known for his humorous works. ...

Free speech

The Oxford Union has long associated itself with freedom of speech, most famously by debating and passing the motion "This House would under no circumstances fight for its King and country" in 1933. This article is about the general concept. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

What is generally forgotten (but arguably more significant as an example of the Union's commitment to freedom of speech) is that an attempt was made by several prominent Union members (including Randolph Churchill) to expunge this motion and the result of the debate from the Union's minute book. This attempt was roundly defeated — in a meeting far better attended than the original debate. Sir Edward Heath records in his memoirs that Randolph Churchill was then chased around Oxford by undergraduates who intended to debag him (i.e. humiliate him by removing his trousers), and was then fined by the police for being illegally parked. Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer Churchill (May 28, 1911-June 6, 1968) was the son of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine. ... Randolph Frederick Edward Spencer Churchill (May 28, 1911-June 6, 1968) was the son of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine. ...

Harold Macmillan called the Oxford Union "the last bastion of free speech in the Western world.", a quotation which continues to feature prominently in the Union's publicity. Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894 – 29 December 1986), was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ...

However, the Union's commitment to free speech has been tested by pressure to deny platforms to controversial speakers. An invitation to the now convicted Nazi apologist David Irving to speak in a debate on censorship in 2001 was met by a coordinated campaign by left-wing, Jewish, and anti-fascist groups, together with the elected leadership of the Oxford University Student Union, to have the invitation withdrawn. Despite the fact that there was no mechanism in the Union's constitution by which members could compel the President — who is responsible for organising debates — to either cancel a debate or withdraw an invitation to a particular speaker, attempts were made to pass a Union motion ordering her to do so. Following a particularly bitter meeting of Union members, and a subsequent meeting of the Union's governing body, the Standing Committee, the President decided the debate would have to be cancelled.^[3] For other uses, see David Irving (disambiguation). ... This article is about the year. ... The Oxford University Student Union is the official student union of the University of Oxford, representing the interests of its members to the university and the outside world. ...

A previous debate which was to have involved the far-right leader John Tyndall was met with a similar campaign in 1998, although that debate was cancelled on police advice following a series of racially motivated nail-bombings in London, rather than as a result of the opposition.^[4] John Hutchyns Tyndall (born 14 July 1934;died 19 July 2005) was a far-right British nationalist politician best known for leading the National Front in the 1970s and for founding the British National Party in the 1980s. ... Year 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar). ... David Copeland David John Copeland (born May 15, 1976) is a former member of the British neo-Nazi National Socialist Movement, who became known as the London nailbomber after a 13-day bombing campaign in April 1999 aimed at Londons black, Asian, and gay communities. ...

In May 2007, the House debated but ultimately voted down a motion that would have declared "this House regrets the Founding of America". ^[5]

Irving/Griffin controversy

In November 2007, President Luke Tryl sparked controversy by inviting Holocaust denier David Irving and British National Party leader Nick Griffin to speak at a Union forum on the topic of free speech. Following protests by several student groups, a poll of the Union's members was taken and resulted in a two-to-one majority in favour of the invitations.^[6] Richard Harwoods Did Six Million Really Die? Holocaust denial is the claim that the mainstream historical version of the Holocaust is either highly exaggerated or completely falsified. ... For other uses, see David Irving (disambiguation). ... The British National Party (BNP) is a white nationalist political party in the United Kingdom. ... Nicholas John Nick Griffin (born 1959) is a British politician. ...

On the evening of the planned debate several hundred protesters gathered outside the Union buildings, chanting anti-fascist slogans and later preventing guests and Union members from entering the premises. Eventually succeeding in breaching the poorly-maintained security cordon, around 20 of the campaigners attempted to force their way through to the main chamber, whereupon some of the waiting audience blocked access by pushing back against the chamber doors. After students were convinced to yield to the protestors by Union staff, a sit-in protest was staged in the debating chamber, which prevented a full debate from occurring due to security concerns. A small number of the audience attempted to reason with the demonstrators. Because of a lack of security personnel, a number of students from the audience eventually came to take on the responsibilities of controlling events, in one instance preventing a scuffle from breaking out between a protestor and members of the audience, and eventually assisting police in herding protestors from the main hall. One student protestor interviewed by BBC News reported that fellow protestors played 'jingles' on the piano and danced on the President's chair [1] although the truth of the latter assertion is seriously questioned by eyewitnesses. Smaller debates were eventually held with Irving and Griffin in separate rooms, amid criticism that the police and Union officials had not foreseen the degree of unrest which the controversial invitations would arouse.^[7] The President of Oxford University Student Union, Martin McCluskey, strongly criticised the decision to proceed with the debate, claiming that providing Irving and Griffin with a platform for their extreme views afforded them undue legitimacy.^[8] Some students following the event criticised the Student Union for preventing Oxford Union members (as students themselves) from exercising the right to free assembly, and accused the Oxford University Student Union of hypocrisy in seemingly restricting the rights of free speech to those individuals whose views chimed with those of the Student Union leadership (although the decision to oppose the invite had been agreed by representatives of the Student Population at a Council meeting).^[9]

Governance

The Oxford Union is run by the Standing Committee which is elected termly and is constituted by the junior officers (the current President, President-Elect, Junior Librarian, Junior Treasurer, Treasurer-Elect and Secretary), five elected members and recent junior officers (who have chosen to serve). The Standing Committee is also attended ex-officio by the Chairman of the Consultative Committee, the Returning Officer (responsible for the conduct of the Union's elections and for advising on the interpretation of the Union's rules) and the Chairman of the Debates Selection Committee, none of whom has a vote. The Union also has two senior officers, the Senior Librarian and Senior Treasurer (generally Oxford academics but must be members of the Union) who advise the Standing Committee.

The junior officers each have specific areas of responsibility, such as debates (President), "speaker meetings" (President and Librarian), sponsorship and funding (Junior Treasurer), and social events (Secretary). The junior officers-elect spend a term preparing their area, before assuming their office.

A number of other committee run or advise the running of various aspects of the Union, including the Wines and Spirits Committee (the Union's bar), the Cellar Management Committee (responsible for liaison with the management of the Purple Turtle), the Library Committee (responsible principally for library acquisitions), the Finance Committee (which advises the Standing Committee on financial matters), and the Debates Selection Committee (who run competitive debating). Two further committees, the Secretary's Committee and the Consultative Committee, are not, despite their names, committees in the traditional sense.

The Secretary's Committee consists of nine members, elected on a termly basis in the same ballot as that for the Officer and Standing Committee, who assist at the Union's social functions, and is generally the first stage for any aspiring Union politician. Although considered a committee under the rules, it only ever meets informally, and is more akin to a group of people with a particular role, rather than a committee.

The Consultative Committee holds weekly public meetings during term time, at which members can informally question the junior officers and members of the elected committees on the performance of their duties. All members of the Union are considered members of the Consultative Committee, so meetings tend to be more like an open forum.

The Chairman of the Consultative Committee (who is elected termly, but not during the Union's main elections) is a member of Standing Committee but without voting rights, responsible for the Union's publicity, website and archives; setting up the Union's rooms for events; chairing Consultative Committee, and bringing up any matters of concern at Standing Committee.

The Returning Officer is elected from a body of Deputy Returning Officers whose members have been approved by a scrutiny committee. He is responsible for running the Society's elections and is empowered (along with the President) to interpret the Society's constitution. It remains hotly disputed whether the Returning Officer wields disproportionate influence without an electoral mandate, or maintains an essential check and balance to the powers of the President.

The day to day management of the Union is partly conducted by professional staff, principally the Bursar and the Steward.

Past officers

Famous past Presidents of the Oxford Union include: Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ...

• Harold Macmillan
• Tariq Ali
• Herbert Henry Asquith
• Hilaire Belloc
• Tony Benn
• Benazir Bhutto
• Robin Day
• William Ewart Gladstone
• Michael Foot
• William Hague
• Michael Heseltine
• Edward Heath
• Anthony Howard
• Boris Johnson
• Lalith Athulathmudali
• Lakshman Kadirgamar
• David Lewis^[10]
• Henry Edward Cardinal Manning
• Montek Singh Ahluwalia
• Andrew Sullivan
• Jeremy Thorpe
• Gyles Brandreth

Other officers of the Union who have achieved political success include Ann Widdecombe, Edwina Currie, and Roy Jenkins. Maurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton, OM, PC (10 February 1894 – 29 December 1986), was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. ... Tariq Ali Tariq Ali (Urdu: طارق علی) (born October 21, 1943) is a British-Pakistani historian, novelist, filmmaker, political campaigner, and commentator. ... The Right Honourable Herbert Henry Asquith, 1st Earl of Oxford and Asquith, KG, PC (12 September 1852–15 February 1928) served as the Liberal Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1908 to 1916. ... Photograph of Belloc Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (27 July 1870 – 16 July 1953) was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century. ... Anthony Tony Neil Wedgwood Benn (born 3 April 1925), formerly 2nd Viscount Stansgate, is a British socialist politician. ... Benazir Bhutto (Urdu: بینظیر بھٹو, IPA: ; Sindhi:بینظیر ڀُٽو ) (born 21 June 1953 in Karachi) is a Pakistani politician who became the first elected woman to lead a post-colonial Muslim state. ... Sir Robin Day, OBE (24 October 1923 – 6 August 2000) was a British political broadcaster and commentator of note. ... William Ewart Gladstone (29 December 1809 – 19 May 1898) was a British Liberal Party statesman and Prime Minister (1868–1874, 1880–1885, 1886 and 1892–1894). ... For other persons named Michael Foot, see Michael Foot (disambiguation). ... William Jefferson Hague (born 26 March 1961) is a British politician, the Member of Parliament for Richmond, North Yorkshire, former leader of the Conservative Party, and current Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary. ... Michael Ray Dibdin Heseltine, Baron Heseltine, CH, PC (born 21 March 1933) is a British businessman and Conservative Party politician. ... For other persons named Edward Heath, see Edward Heath (disambiguation). ... Anthony Michell Howard (born February 12, 1934) is a prominent British journalist, broadcaster and writer. ... Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964, better known as Boris Johnson)[2] is a British politician and the current Mayor of London; he is also a journalist and author, formerly serving as editor of The Spectator. ... Lalith Athulathmudali was a Sri Lankan politician of the United National Party. ... Kadirgamar on a diplomatic visit to France, January 1996. ... David Lewis (born Losz),[1] CC, MA (June 23, or October 1909 -May 23, 1981)[1][2] was a Russian-born Canadian labour lawyer and social democratic politician. ... 1882 caricature from Punch Henry Edward Cardinal Manning (July 15, 1808 - January 14, 1892) was an English Catholic Archbishop and Cardinal. ... Montek Singh Ahluwalia (born November 24, 1943) has been a key figure in Indias economic reforms from the early 1980s onwards. ... Andrew Michael Sullivan (born August 10, 1963) is English, a self-described libertarian conservative author and political commentator, known for his often personal style of political analysis. ... John Jeremy Thorpe (born April 29, 1929) is a British politician, who was leader of the Liberal Party from 1967 to 1976. ... Gyles Daubeney Brandreth (born March 8, 1948 in Germany) is a celebrity, author and politician in the United Kingdom. ... Ann Noreen Widdecombe (born 4 October 1947) is a British Conservative Party politician. ... Edwina Currie Jones née Cohen, (born 13 October 1946) is a former British Member of Parliament. ... Roy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead, OM, PC (November 11, 1920 – January 5, 2003) was a British politician and a prominent Labour Member of Parliament in the 1960s and 1970s, and founding member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). ...

Elections

The Union holds elections in the penultimate week of each University term, in order to allow members of the society to choose officers and committee members for the following term. The elections are held to fill the offices of President-elect, Librarian, Treasurer-elect and Secretary, as well as 5 elected positions on the Standing Committee and 9 positions on the Secretary's Committee. The election for the Chairman of the Consultative Committee is held at CC on Monday of 8th week. The University of Oxford (informally Oxford University), located in the city of Oxford, England, is the oldest university in the English-speaking world. ...

Notes

1. ^ Leonard (2004); p. 200
2. ^ BBC News (2001a)
3. ^ BBC News (2001b)
4. ^ BBC News (1999)
5. ^ Frei (2007)
6. ^ http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-171789593.html
7. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/nov/27/highereducation.studentpoliticseducation
8. ^ http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=71119
9. ^ http://www.ousu.org/news/ousu-council-votes-to-oppose-nick-griffin-and-david-irving/
10. ^ Smith (1989); p. 180-184

References

• BBC News (1999) Racism debate scrapped after bombings, Online news 27 April 1999, [Accessed 4 June 2006] - Cancellation of the debate involving John Tyndall
• BBC News (2001a) Oxford's star chamber, Online news 5 May 2001, [Accessed 4 June 2006] - Oxford Union history
• BBC News (2001b) Oxford drops Hitler historian debate, Online news 9 May 2001, [Accessed 4 June 2006] - Cancellation of the debate involving David Irving
• Frei, Matt (2007) Washington diary: Land of ideas, BBC News online 2 May 2007, [Accessed 4 June 2006]
• Graham, Fiona (2005) Playing at Politics: an ethnology of the Oxford Union, Edinburgh : Dunedin Academic Press, ISBN 1-903765-52-8
• Leonard, Bill (2004) The Oxford of Inspector Morse : films locations history, Oxford : Location Guides, ISBN 0-9547671-0-1
• Oxford Union (2006a) The Oxford Union Intervarsity 2007, www site [Accessed 4 June 2006]
• Oxford Union (2006b) The Oxford Union Schools' Debating Competition 2006/07, www site [Accessed 4 June 2006]
• Smith, Cameron (1989) Unfinished Journey: the Lewis family, Toronto : Summerhill Press, ISBN 0-929091-04-3
• Walter, David (1984) The Oxford Union: playground of power, London : Macdonald, ISBN 0-356-09502-9

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External links

• Oxford Union official website
• Election results since 2002