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Michael Li President
Presidents frequently choose to reflect upon the Union’s colourful history in this introduction. As the Union inches towards its bicentennial in 2023, and we approach the end of another academic year, I wanted instead to consider its future direction – how well will the values, structures and facilities which our committee inherited serve the decades ahead? It is stating the obvious to suggest that the values of the 21 st century are – despite the triumphs of reactionary politics in the last year – radically different to those shared by the Union’s founders. The threat to free speech is no longer religious orthodoxy or outright state control. Instead, we find University campuses (although, thankfully, not the Union itself) challenged by the burden of ‘Prevent’ legislation, with its chilling effect upon academic freedom. At the same time, as one of our debates will address, issues surrounding safe spaces and no-platforming present a new balancing act for institutions such as the Union, which seeks to ensure that widespread beliefs are constantly challenged at the University while acknowledging the platform which it awards matters. Perhaps our future would be brighter were we to focus less upon who should not have a ‘platform’, and instead seek to ensure that structurally marginalised voices have the resources and opportunities necessary to influence public discourse – because free speech is immeasurably strengthened by a diversity of participants. The more mundane demands upon our Union have, similarly, been transformed since 1823. We must not simply adapt to
these changing pressures, but instead innovate to deepen our engagement with members around the globe. The launch of a new website this term, and installation of an additional fire escape in the Chamber this summer, are both significant investments in the Union’s ongoing development. It is important to continue safeguarding this Society’s sustainability, even when caught up in the excitement of speaker negotiations. Tony Benn, President 70 years ago this term, once said ‘hope is the fuel of progress, and fear is the prison in which you put yourself’. This term starts with John Cleese asking why there is no hope. Against the backdrop of the UK’s departure from the EU and unprecedented setbacks for causes of progress and equality around the world, 2017 might not appear to be a year for optimism. Many have cause to be fearful, and there is much to be done in the fight for a better future. I hope we can mobilise this fear, while remaining confident in humanity's better nature, to effect change. I trust that you will find something to be hopeful about from one of the events your Committee has worked tirelessly to put on this term. At the very least, it might be an excuse to escape the prison of exam revision.
Michael Li | Magdalen College
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Henry Kitchen Librarian
Welcome back! I hope you all enjoyed your vacation. For the past few weeks, the Librarian’s Office has been hard at work organising the visits of the speakers for this term. I hope that even with all of your commitments, many of you will be able to enjoy the fantastic line-up of speakers we have arranged. Of course, some dates are still being arranged, so please do continue to read our e-mails and social media channels for additional information. Also do make sure to take advantage of our randomly balloted spaces for members at all of our drinks and photo events speakers. It is worth noting, however, that Librarians, as the title suggests, do also play a part in looking after the library. If any of you would like to contribute to the running of the library by joining the Library Committee, please do get in touch. Finally, best of luck to those entering exam season. Henry Kitchen | Exeter College librarian@oxford-union.org
Laali Vadlamani Treasurer
I hope you’ve all had a lovely vacation and are well-rested for all that Summer in Oxford brings! Whilst for many of you Trinity term means exams, I hope that we can provide more than a few good excuses for a revision break. The Treasurer’s Office (TO) has been hard at work to maintain the Union’s finances through partnerships both new and old. Apart from corporate relations, we’ve also been working to strengthen our alumni network through the work of our blossoming Development Office. We really do love a good deal in the Treasurer’s office – you will find enclosed our Treasurer’s Treats card, which lists over 40 discounts available to you across Oxford. From fudge to frozen yoghurt, we’ve got you covered. Finally, I hope that you’ll all be willing to take a punt on speaking in one of our emergency or floor debates this term – my team and I have put together some truly fantastic prizes. Leave behind the Pimm’s for a champagne dinner for two at the Randolph or for the riskier amongst you, enjoy the sunny skies from above on a Gyrocopter experience. If you’re interested in finding out more about the work of the TO, or have any questions or suggestions, please do drop me an email! Laali Vadlamani | Trinity College treasurer@oxford-union.org
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Maan Al-Yasiri Secretary
Welcome back to Oxford; I hope you have all had a restful vacation and are ready for the upcoming term. Despite my terrible handwriting, it is my job to write up the minutes of Standing Committee and our formal Thursday debates. More interestingly, it falls upon me to organise the fun at the Union. We have two socials featuring (in varying tantalising combinations) vodka, champagne, jazz, chocolate, and Russian folk music! I hope to also see you at one of our pub quizzes where you’ll have a chance of winning some exciting prizes. Also, I invite any similarly fun people to get involved in the Union's Wine and Spirits Committee to help run our wonderful Bar (which continues to have a 25% discount for members). Finally, if you have any suggestions for how the Union could improve its social side, please do send me an email.
C O N T E N T S Debates
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Speakers
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Socials
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Information
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Maan Al-Yasiri | Brasenose College secretary@oxford-union.org
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We are pleased to be hosting BBC Question Time on Thursday 27 April, which means there will be no debate held in First Week. Members can apply to join the audience by visiting bbc.co.uk/questiontime
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DEBATES Kanye Debate
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Universities Debate
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Comedy Debate
10
Patriotism Debate
12
Democracy Debate
14
China Debate
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Feminism Debate
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SECO N D
THIS
W EEK
HO USE
D EBATE
B ELIE V ES
KANYE IS MORE RELEVANT THAN SHAKESPEARE T H URSD AY
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Ossian Ward
Justin Hunte
Leading art critic and head of content at the Lisson Gallery. He is a former editor of the V&A magazine, and visual arts editor for Time Out London.
LA-based hip hop reviewer, former editor-in-chief of prominent industry website HipHopDX and host of hip-hop podcast The Breakdown.
Jensen Karp
Anthony Anaxagorou
Former freestyle rapper in Los Angeles and current popular podcast host. He wrote Kanye West Owes Me $300, describing his experiences as an aspiring rap artist.
Acclaimed poet, publisher, and author for national television and radio. He is the first young poet to win the London Mayor’s Slam Poetry award.
Big Narstie Rapper and MC with a ten year career producing such hits as “They Don’t Know” and “When the Bassline Drops” with Craig David. He is also famous for his hit YouTube series “Uncle Pain”.
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THIRD
THIS
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HO USE
D EB ATE
B ELIE V ES
A UNIVERSITY MUST B E A S A F E S PA C E T H URSD AY
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Paris Lees
Katie Hopkins
Prolific writer and activist for transgender rights, Lees has presented several TV and radio shows, and topped The Independent on Sunday's Pink List.
A columnist for The Sun, Hopkins has attracted widespread media attention for her controversial comments. She gained fame as a candidate on The Apprentice.
Richard Brooks
Peter Hitchens
Former Hull University Union President and incumb ent NUS VP for Union Development, Brooks often writes about student union politics and is a #LoveSUs ambassador.
Prominent journalist and critic of political correctness, Hitchens won the prestigious Orwell Prize in recognition of his work as a foreign correspondent.
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THE
CO M ED Y
THIS
DEB ATE
HOUSE
REGRETS THE SUCCESS OF ITS FRIENDS M ON D AY
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Ava Vidal
Piers Corbyn
A former prison guard who was inspired by Chris Rock to turn to stand-up comedy, Vidal has appeared in Mock the Week and Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow.
Older brother of Jeremy Corbyn and owner of a forecast company WeatherAction. Between 1986 and 1990, he served as a Labour councillor.
Simon Evans
Kate Smurthwaite
Veteran stand-up comedian, Evans has written for countless TV shows such as Not Going Out and Eight out of Ten Cats.
A stand-up comedian by trade, she has been publicly outspoken as a radical activist on topics such as politics, gender and religion.
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FOUR TH
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DEBATE
B ELIE V ES
PAT R I O T I S M D I V I D E S U S MORE THAN IT UNITES US T H URSD AY
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Stephen Hale OBE
Baroness Tina Stowell
Formerly a director of Oxfam International, Hale currently serves as Chief Executive of Refugee Action, a charity supporting refugee rights.
A Conservative peer, Baroness Stowell served as Leader of the House of Lords between 2014 and 2016 topping off a 25 year career in government and media.
Major General Jonathan Shaw CBE
Cheryl Gillan MP
During a 32 year career in the army, he served as Director Special Forces (2003-6) having had experience overseeing operations in the Falklands, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The longest-serving female MP, Gillan was the Secretary of State for Wales from 2010-2012 and represents Chesham and Amersham.
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FIFTH
THIS
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HO USE
DEB ATE
B ELIE V ES
DEMOCRACY IS FOR SALE T H URSD AY
14
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Cenk Uygur
Floyd Abrams
A former attorney and outspoken liberal activist, Uygur co-founded the popular online show The Young Turks. He founded Wolf-Pac, a lobbying group for campaign finance reform
Expert on the American constitution and prominent litigator, Abrams challenged the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act as a violation of the First Amendment.
Michael Crick
James Bopp Jr.
Founding member of Channel 4, Crick recently uncovered overspending by the Conservative Party in the 2015 general election. He was President in Michaelmas 1979.
One of the most influential lawyers in America, Bopp has argued countless election law cases and represented Citizens United in its earlier stages of litigation.
Alexandra Runswick
Andrew Bridgen MP
Director of Unlock Democracy, a grassroots campaign to make democracy fairer. Runswick regularly advocates electoral reform in the UK.
Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, Bridgen has served on the Regulatory Reform Committee since 2010.
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SIXTH
W EEK
THIS
D EB ATE
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W E L C O M E S C H I N A’ S I M PA C T O V E R S E A S T H URSDAY
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Robert Rotberg
Baroness Falkner
President emeritus of the World Peace Foundation (1993-2010), Rotberg is a distinguished academic who created the Index of African Governance, measuring the quality of governance in the continent.
Liberal Democrat life peer and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Baroness Falkner sits on the National Security Strategy Joint Committee and the European Union Committee.
Prof. Linda Yueh
Pokong Chen
Fellow and lecturer in economics at St. Edmund’s Hall and director of China Growth Centre. From 2013 to 2015, she was Chief Business Correspondent for BBC News.
Imprisoned for democratic activism as a student in China, Chen has written several books and political columns on Chinese politics since moving to the USA.
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SEVEN TH
THIS
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HO USE
D EBATE
B ELIE V ES
FEMINIST MOVEMENTS DISREGARD MINORITY WOMEN T H URSDAY
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P ROP O SI TI ON
OP POS ITION
Baroness McGregor-Smith CBE
Yasmin Qureshi MP
The only Asian female CEO in the FTSE 250 when she took over Mitie Group in 2007, she has been a trailblazer for women in business.
Labour MP for Bolton South East, criminal law barrister and Shadow Minister for Justice, Qureshi is one of Britain’s first female Muslim MPs.
Minna Salami
Judy Cheng-Hopkins
Best known for her blog MsAfropolitan focusing on African feminist issues, her articles have been featured in The Guardian and The Huffington Post.
Currently serving as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Adviser to the University of Peace, Cheng-Hopkins is a prolific advocate on issues facing refugees.
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DEBATE FLOOR PRIZES Main Debate First Prize
2 3 4 4 5 6 7 20
Kanye Debate
Ashmolean Dining Room
Safe Spaces Debate
Macdonald Randolph Hotel
ÂŁ120 Voucher
Three-course champagne dinner for two
Comedy Debate
The Ex(c)iting Game
Patriotism Debate
Gyrocopter
Game for four
Experience flight
Democracy Debate
Macdonald Randolph Hotel
China Debate
Old Bank Hotel
Feminism Debate
Macdonald Randolph Hotel
Three-course champagne dinner for two
Stay for two with breakfast
Three-course champagne dinner for two
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Main Debate Second Prize Quod Dinner for two
Millet’s Falconry £80 experience
Emergency Debate Prize Ultimate Picture Palace Cinema Pair of tickets
Ultimate Picture Palace Cinema Pair of tickets
Ultimate Picture Palace Cinema
Pieminister
Pair of tickets
Vouchers for Two
Victoria Arms Two-course meal for two
iScream Gelato £25 voucher
Ultimate Picture Palace Cinema
Oxford Kayak Tours
Pair of tickets
Experience for two
Turtle Bay
Ultimate Picture Palace Cinema
£50 voucher
Pair of tickets
Bill’s Dinner for two
Jericho Cookery School £60 voucher
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S P EAKERS Noughth Week
24
First Week
25
Second Week
29
Third Week
34
Fourth Week
40
Fifth Week
44
Sixth Week
46
Seventh Week
52
Eighth Week
57
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N OUG HTH
W EEK
JOHN CLEESE
W hy
is there no hope ?
A household name in film and television, John Cleese has enjoyed a distinguished career in comedy. Known best for co-founding the comedy troupe Monty Python and for his role as Basil Fawlty in the BAFTA winning Fawlty Towers, he has been working in comedy for over 50 years.
T H U RSDAY
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FIRST
W EEK
JOHN RHYS-DAVIES
Having played Gimli in the Lord of the Rings trilogy as well as Sallah in the Indiana Jones films, Rhys-Davies has had a wide and varied acting career, including in voice-overs - providing voices of characters in Aladdin, the Gargoyles, Spongebob Squarepants and the Justice League.
M ON D AY
2 4
A PRIL
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KHIZR KHAN T H E G O L D S TA R FAT H E R
A Harvard-educated lawyer, Khizr Khan rose to prominence with his address at the 2016 Democratic National Convention wherein Khan asked Trump if he had ‘even read the United States constitution’. As the parents of Captain Humayun Khan a courageous soldier killed in action in Iraq - they stood up to Trump’s Islamophobia.
T U ESDAY
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M.I.A.
M.I.A. is a musician and artist who has been nominated for a Grammy, Academy, Brit and Mercury award, the only artist in history to do so. She is outspoken on issues ranging from the oppression of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka to the rehabilitation of child soldiers in Liberia.
T U ESDAY
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A PRIL
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ERIK PRINCE F O U N D E R O F B L A C K W AT E R
A Former Navy SEAL, in 1997 Erik Prince founded contractual security company Blackwater (now known as Academi) and saw the company grow into one of the largest private security firms. Despite managing the sale of the company in 2010, Prince continues to work in the security sector as well as in private equity.
WE D NESD AY
28
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SECO N D
W EEK
NICK CAVE Nick Cave has been performing music for more than thirty years as the lead singer of The Birthday Party, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds and Grinderman. He is also an acclaimed film score composer, screenwriter & novelist. He continues to play for the Bad Seeds and is involved in an ever-increasing variety of music, literary, film and theatre projects.
M O N D AY
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TONY PULIS After a 17-year footballing career, Tony Pulis took his first management role as Harry Redknapp’s assistant at Bournemouth. His pragmatic style proved most successful at Stoke City which he guided into the Premier League in the 200708 season, and then into their first FA Cup final in the 201011 season. He is the current manager of West Bromwich Albion.
M O N D AY
1
MAY
2017
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20:00
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JUDGE JUDY
A retired Manhattan lawyer, Judy Sheindlin presides over the hit CBS reality courtroom show Judge Judy which has seen success from both viewers and critics, winning a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program in 2013. For the past three years, it has been the highest rated daytime show on U.S. television.
T U ESDAY
30
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D AV I D H AY E
David “The Hayemaker� Haye is only the second ever boxer in history to unify the World Cruiserweight division and go onto become World Heavyweight Champion of the World. Famed for his unique speed and power combination, Haye turned professional in 2002, aged 22, with his first fight against Tony Booth where he won by way of knockout.
T UESD AY
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HESTON BLUMENTHAL OBE
Famous for his award-winning 3-Michelin starred ‘The Fat Duck’, Blumenthal is considered to be one of the greatest chefs of our generation. Self-taught, he has pushed boundaries and entirely revolutionised cooking. He emphasises scientific understanding in cooking and for this he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
WE D N ESD AY
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Y E O N M I PA R K
Yeonmi Park defected from North Korea only to fall in the hands of human traffickers in China. After escaping, she has dedicated her life to advocating for human rights in North Korea as well as for the victims of human trafficking. She rose to prominence after a moving speech that has been viewed more than 82 million times.
WE DN ESDAY
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THIRD
W EEK
SIR DEREK JACOBI
Amongst the most successful British actors of all time, Sir Derek has been the recipient of two Olivier awards as well as a lifetime Tony award. Whilst primarily a stage actor, Sir Derek has enjoyed success in television and film, taking prominent roles in The King’s Speech and Cinderella in recent years.
M ON D AY
34
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LORD JEFFREY ARCHER
A controversial figure in British politics, Lord Archer has had an enigmatic career. As an author, he has sold over 330m copies worldwide and as a politician he has been made a life peer and deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. Yet he is one of the few peers to serve time in prison, during which he wrote a threevolume memoir entitled A Prison Diary.
M ON D AY
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PA N EL
THE WORLD’S SHAME: ENDING SEXUAL VIOLENCE It is now 2017: 1 in 3 women still experience physical or sexual violence. This panel will aim to discuss some of the issues facing those trying to enact change across the globe, including the role that policymakers can play in the years to come. Eliminating such violence is no small feat, but it’s certainly not unachievable. It’s time to act now.
Angela Rose
Leslee Udwin
American activist known for publicising her story of being kidnapped and sexually assaulted aged 17 in 1996. Founder and executive director of the NGO PAVE: Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment.
TUESD AY
36
Polly Neate
British filmmaker who created the documentary ‘India’s Daughter' following the brutal Delhi gang-rape murder in 2012. Her work aims to shed light on the patriarchal society and culture which encourages violence against women.
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M AY
2 0 1 7
CEO of Women’s Aid, she is a prominent commentator on violence against women and on sexism and feminism more widely. Her work has influenced government and spearheaded policy change.
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ARMANDO IANNUCCI OBE
A writer and satirist producer, Iannucci is most well-known for his creation and direction of The Thick of It, the acclaimed BBC political satire. In 2012, he adapted this project to the United States through HBO’s Veep, through which he received critical acclaim.
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DAMBISA MOYO A pre-eminent thinker influencing key decisionmakers in strategic investment and public policy. Her work focuses on macroeconomics, geopolitics, technology and millennial themes. She is the author of three best-selling books and was named in the list of Time 100 Most Influential people in the world.
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SIR VENKI RAMAKRISHNAN Sir Venki is a Nobel Prize-winning biologist whose work on the atomic structure of the ribosome has provided many fundamental biological insights. In November 2015, he was elected President of the Royal Society.
FRIDAY
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PA N EL
P S Y C H O PAT H N I G H T Psychopathic traits can lead to success in life. Everyone has psychopathic characteristics to some degree. Are you a psychopath? Join the authors of The Good Psychopath’s Guide to Success, interviewed by the broadcaster Ian Collins, to find out…
Andy McNab
Dr Kevin Dutton
Ian Collins
McNab was at the centre of SAS operations for nine years. During the Gulf War, he commanded Bravo Two Zero, and was the British Army’s most highly decorated serving soldier when he finally left the SAS.
A research psychologist at the University of Oxford, his principal interests are persuasion and social influence, and the psychopathic personality. Dutton authored The Wisdom of Psychopaths, which explores the positive side of being a psychopath.
Host of The Late Show on LBC, Collins is a veteran radio broadcaster, having previously been the longest serving presenter at talkSPORT. He is a frequent media commentator, and recently released the book 67 People I’d Like to Slap.
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FOUR TH
W EEK
SÉRGIO MORO
Sérgio Moro became a household name in Brazil for his work presiding over trials connected to Petrobras where former politicians and directors connected to the company were found to have accepted bribes totaling $3 billion in return for paying abnormally high prices to construction and service firms. Through this work, he aims to defeat a culture of corruption in Brazil. For his efforts, Moro was listed 13 th in Fortune’s 2016 World’s Greatest Leaders.
M O N D AY
40
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P R O F. L I S A RANDALL One of the leading contributors to modern particle physics, Prof. Randall is currently at Harvard University, researching elementary particles and forces as well as extra dimensions in space. Randall has received acclaim both from within and outside the scientific community, being named one of TIME’s Top 100 Thinkers.
T U E SD AY
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H.E. BUJAR NISHANI President of Albania The sixth President of the Republic of Albania, H.E. Bujar Nishani is a member of the Democratic Party and served as Minister of Interior before his election to the presidency in 2012. His progressive policies have focused on integrating the country into modern Europe, tackling climate change and solving the immigration crisis.
TUESDAY
1 6
MAY
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The Oxford Union
WILEY Described by many as the Godfather of Grime, Wiley rose to fame for such top 10 hits as “Wearing my Rolex”, “Can You Hear Me?” and “Heatwave” which draw upon influences from dancehall, garage and drum and base. He is regularly named as the most influential figure in UK hip hop and was instrumental in the rise of Dizzee Rascal, Chip and Tinchy Stryder.
W E DN E S D AY
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VADIM KRASNOSELSKY President of Transnistria In December 2016, Vadim Krasnoselsky became President of Transnistria, a land-locked, self-proclaimed state located on the border of Moldova and Ukraine. Unrecognised by the UN and its member states, the territory became the subject of dispute after the dissolution of the USSR in 1992, and its legal and military status is still unresolved today.
FRID AY
42
1 9
MAY
2017
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JEREMY IRONS
An actor trained at the prestigious Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, Irons has taken his undeniable talent onto the stage and the screen. He has become one of very few actors to achieve the ‘triple crown’ of acting, earning an Academy Award, an Emmy award, and a Tony award.
WE D N ESD AY
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FIFTH
W EEK
MARC JACOBS
Head designer of his fashion label, Marc Jacobs has over 200 stores in 80 countries. He was also the creative director of Louis Vuitton from 1997 and 2014 and has been recognised by Time on the list of the 100 most influential people. He has an ongoing project, titled “Protect the skin you’re in”, raising awareness for melanoma featuring nude celebrities on t-shirts.
FIFTH
44
W EEK
(D ATE
TBC)
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PA N EL
H O U S E O F L O R D S PA N E L O N DEFENCE AND SECURITY
How well is the United Kingdom prepared, in terms of defence and security, for the challenges and threats that lie ahead? This panel event is based on the House of Lords debate on defence capability. The discussion will be chaired by Lord John Alderdice, who played a significant role in the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement, and served as the first Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly between 1998 and 2004. Further speakers will be announced in due course.
T U ESD AY
2 3
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17:15
In partnership with the Changing Character of War Programme
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EDDIE JONES Eddie Jones achieved initial success in international rugby coaching by leading Australia to the finals of the 2003 World Cup. Since then he has coached Japan and the Saracens and currently coaches the England team, winning his first 17 games, and leading the team to two Six Nations Championships.
FR I D AY
1 9
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SIXTH
W EEK
ROY HODGSON A veteran of the football coaching circuit, Roy Hodgson has managed sixteen teams in eight different countries, including Inter Milan, Fulham and Liverpool. With each team he achieved exceptional performance, which included guiding the Finland national team to their highest-ever FIFA ranking. Most recently, between 2012-16 Hodgson managed the England national team.
W ED N ESD AY
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2017
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SIMON MANN A former British army officer, Mann found himself at the forefront of a global scandal in 2004 when he was accused of leading a mercenary force to overthrow the President of Equatorial Guiana. After fleeing the country, he was extradited back from Zimbabwe and sentenced to 34 years imprisonment before being released after just over a year on humanitarian grounds.
W E D N E S D AY
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P R O F. M A U R I C E OBSTFELD Prof. Obstfeld is the current Chief Economist at the IMF, and previously served as a member of President Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers, he has written more than 100 articles on topics including exchange rates and capital markets.
THURSD AY
2 5
MAY
2017
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17:00
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PA N EL
H A C K I N G H U M A N AT T E N T I O N : THE ETHICS OF PERSUASIVE TECHNOLOGY Online technology is evolving to better exploit our psychological weaknesses. With politicians and corporations fiercely competing for the public’s attention, we explore the current methods of manipulation and the increasing ethical challenges facing the “attention economy.”
Prof. Tim Wu
Dr Mary Aiken
Prof. Luciano Floridi
Prof. Wu teaches law at Columbia and is a contributor for the New York Times. Having coined the term “network neutrality”, Prof. Wu has been named one of “America's 100 Most Influential Lawyers."
A specialist on the impact of technology on human behavior, Dr Aiken is a leading forensic cyber psychologist and advisor to the European Cybercrime Centre at Europol.
Prof. Floridi serves as the Director of Research at the Oxford Internet Institute. A Professor of Philosophy and Ethics of Information at Oxford, he also advised Google on the Right to be Forgotten.
F RIDAY
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HELEN GLOVER MBE
Two-time Olympic and three-time World Champion, quintuple World Cup champion and triple European champion, Glover has been consistently ranked as one of the best female rowers along with her rowing partner Heather Stanning. They have achieved the remarkable feat of holding all four of the World, Olympic, World Cup and European records.
FRIDAY
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The Oxford Union
DUSTIN LANCE BLACK
A critically acclaimed screenwriter, Dustin Lance Black has written J.Edgar, Pedro and Milk for which he won an Academy Award. The iconic film was based on the life of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to hold political office in California. Black is also a founding member of the American Foundation for Equal Rights, set up to advocate for the expansion of marriage equality in the United States.
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TA R I Q A L I
Writer, activist and filmmaker, Tariq Ali became politically active from a young age opposing military dictatorship in Pakistan. An ex-president of the Union, Ali has debated the legitimacy of the Vietnam War with Kissinger and has extensively critisised American foreign policy and neoliberal economics.
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S A L LY JEWELL Serving in the Obama administration, Sally Jewell was the 51 st Secretary of the Interior. During her four year tenure, she expanded conservation efforts and encouraged the transition to sustainable energy. She is notable as having been appointed Secretary without ever holding an elected position.
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GUS POYET In a career that has taken him to every corner of the footballing world, Poyet played for Grenoble, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur. As a manager, Poyet started with Brighton and Hove Albion, leading them to promotion. He currently manages Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
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DAISY RIDLEY
Starting out with minor roles on stage and on screen, Daisy Ridley broke through to international prominence as Rey in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. She is currently due to appear in a film depiction of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express and in Peter Rabbit, among other projects.
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MORGAN TSVANGIRAI
As President of the Zimbabwean Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai is the main leader of the opposition to President Robert Mugabe. In a power sharing agreement with Mugabe, Tsvangirai served as Prime Minister, a position established for him and then later abolished. He was defeated in 2013 for the Presidency by Mugabe but alleges that the election was a “huge farce�.
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MARK G AT I S S Mark Gatiss is a critically acclaimed writer, producer and actor. Best known for having written for all four Doctors in the modern television revival of Doctor Who, and as the cocreator and executive producer of Sherlock, Gatiss has also branched out into acting with roles in Wolf Hall and Game of Thrones.
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G E N . R AY M O N D THOMAS General Thomas is a four star general in the U.S. army. He fought in the two Gulf Wars, the Afghanistan War and the Invasions of Panama and Grenada. From 2012-2013, he was in charge of all U.S. and NATO Special Forces in Afghanistan. He currently acts as the commander of the U.S. Special Operations Command, charged with overseeing the Special Operations Commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.
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The Oxford Union
M I C H A E L H AY D E N
Originally an air force general, Hayden served as Director of the National Security Agency between 1999 and 2005 wherein he oversaw the expansion of the NSA’s surveillance program. In 2006, he was sworn in as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency until his retirement in 2009.
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DAVID WEIR CBE Born with a spinal cord transection that disabled the use of his legs, Weir overcame his disability to become a sixtime Paralympic gold medalist and six-time London Marathon winner in a remarkable career that spanned over twenty years.
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HOWARD GORDON Howard Gordon is responsible for bringing some of the greatest television franchises in recent memory to viewers; an executive producer on the Fox action series 24 and Showtime thriller Homeland, Gordon won Emmy awards for the production of both while also writing and producing NBC’s fantasy Awake.
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RICKY GERVAIS
Creator and star of The Office and Extras, Ricky Gervais has won three Golden Globes, two Primetime Emmys and seven BAFTAS. The Office is the most successful British comedy of all time, shown in more than 90 countries with seven remakes. Gervais has returned to stand-up comedy for the first time in seven years, touring his new show Humanity worldwide.
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S OCIAL S Pub Quizzes
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Moscow Never Sleeps
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Jazz, Fizz & Chocolates
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The Oxford Union
PUB QUIZZES
Our pub quizzes are famous not only for their difficulty, but also for their brilliant prizes. This term there will be £100 in cash for the winning team and a range of prizes for the runners up and for round winners. With questions ranging from sports to famous literary opening lines, you’d be a fool to miss them.
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MOSCOW
ugh the Ages: from Tchaikovsky to usic Thro DJ Sma n sh Russian M cktails · Russia Roulette · Vodka Luge Vodka Co · n i F a r t u n i t u o P F a e l m t a l T o r ee Choc
ay Friday 5 M
· 20:30 ‘til Late
NEVER SLEEPS
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LIVE JAZZ C H O C O L AT E TRUFFLES UNLIMITED S PA R K L I N G
JAZZ, FIZZ & C H O C O L AT E S B L A C K T I E | M O N D AY 2 2 M AY 2 0 : 0 0 ‘ T I L L AT E
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PARENTS IN OXFORD? MAKE A NIGHT OF IT AND ENJOY DINNER AS WELL
Get 20off%
your total bill
For more information call 01865 256410 or email foodservice.randolph@macdonald-hotels.co.uk Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LN Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Please bring this advert with you for redemption. Valid until 7th October 2017.
R E S TA U R A N T
&
B AR
B A R R ESTAU R A N T TE RRACE
“Popular throughout entire day” “Sublime” “Wonderful food ...excellent service ...amazing cocktails ...great atmosphere...” “Loved the buzz of the place” TRIPADVISOR 2017
no need to book 64
92-94 HIGH STREET, OXFORD OX1 4BJ 01865 202505 INFO@QUOD.CO.UK WWW.QUOD.CO.UK
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IN FORMATIO N Treasurer’s Treats
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Competitive Debating
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How it Works
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How to Get Involved
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The Library
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The Members’ Bar
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The Committee
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Union Policies
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Treasurer’s Treats Simply present your membership card to take advantage of these exclusive offers. If you would like to suggest a new Treat, or experience issues using any of the discounts listed, please contact Laali Vadlamani through treasurer@oxford-union.org
Bars Angels Bar Aroma Be At One Duke of Cambridge The House Raoul's The Varsity Club
Happy Hour prices (Sun–Fri) 10% discount, 10 sambuca / tequila shots for £20 2 cocktails for £10 (Sun-Thu) Happy Hour prices (Sun–Thu) Happy Hour prices (Sun–Thu) 30% discount (16:00–20:00) £2 entry on Tuesday
Cafés & Delicatessens Art Café Artisan Café Formosan Tea Bar Heroes iScream Gelato Jimbob's La Croissanterie Modern Art Oxford Café Moo-Moo's Nectar Oxford Sandwich Company Paul Queen's Lane Coffee House Queen's Lane Deli Ricardo's Smööy Frozen Yoghurt Sofi de France The Handlebar Tick Tock Café Vaults & Garden Café
10% discount Spend £5 and get free cake 10% discount Spend £5 and get free cake 10% discount 15% discount 20% discount 10% discount 10% discount 10% discount 5% discount 10% discount 10% discount 10% discount 10% discount (before 11:30) 10% discount 15% discount (20% if over £20) 30p off coffee (Mon–Sat after 18:00), 2 bottles of wine for £22 (Mon–Wed) 10% discount 10% discount (12:00–14:00), 20% food discount (on weekdays after 14:30)
Restaurants Ask Italian Café Rouge Côte Brasserie Mamma Mia Pizzeria Maxwell's Pieminister Qumins Indian Cuisine Shanghai 30's
Shops & Others Ben & Jacob’s Fudge Kitchen Happy Cakes Modern Art Oxford Shop OxBicycles Ultimate Picture Palace Zipcar 66
25% discount (Sun–Thu) 25% discount Complimentary Kir Royale when dining 20% discount (Tue–Fri, 17:00–19:30) 20% food discount 10% discount 15% discount (Mon–Thu before 18:30) 25% discount (15% takeaway discount)
25% off individual items, 20% off package deals, 10% off clearance 5 slices for £16 (or 7 for £22) 15% discount 10% discount Complimentary bike lock upon bike purchase 2 for 1 on Tuesday Half price membership and £30 driving credit
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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 multiple occasions. Whether you are a complete novice or an experienced debater, there is a Union workshop to help you improve and compete at the highest level. Our workshops run on Sunday evenings at 19:30. Open for all, they consist of a 15 minute workshop followed by a practice debate. Feel free to dip in and out. We send teams to a number of competitions each term; information on how to apply will be included in the mailing list. Travel expenses are paid, and we have fielded teams to places including Texas, Paris and Copenhagen.
compete or to attend workshops, the Union offers opportunities for members of all abilities and all levels of experience. We encourage you to get involved with these even if you have not debated so far. This term, the Oxford Women’s Open is taking place at the Union on 28-29 April, and will welcome speakers from all over the UK. 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 Debate Selection Committee, Sophie Large: cdsc@oxford-union.org
It's never too late to get involved with debating. Whether you are looking to
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How the Union Works Standing Committee Chair – Michael Li, President The Union's governing body, which makes all major decisions concerning the running of the Society, and oversees the work of all committees. Mondays, 16:00, President's Office
Access Committee Chairs – Carolina Earle and Alex Yeandle, Access Officers Responsible for the promotion of wider participation in, and engagement with, the Society. Fridays, 13:00, President’s Office
Finance Committee Chair – Michael Li, President The committee scrutinises all areas of the Union's finances, reporting its findings to the Standing Committee. Mondays, 15:00, President's Office
Debate Selection Committee Chair – Sophie Large, CDSC Responsible for organising internal competitions and training, and for selecting members to represent the Union at external debating competitions. Sundays, 17:00, Gladstone Room
Consultative Committee Chair – Daniel Wilkinson, CCC A chance for members to question the elected Committee, suggest emergency debate motions, and hear updates on upcoming events. Mondays, 13:15, Gladstone Room Library Committee Chair – Henry Kitchen, Librarian Responsible for choosing new library books and DVDs, and for all other aspects of the Library’s management. Mondays, 14:15, Morris Room
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Wines and Spirits Committee Chair – Maan Al-Yasiri, 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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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 Friday, 7th Week of 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, 5th Week. The deadline for nominations is Friday of 6th Week. For more information, contact the Returning Officer at ro@oxford-union.org.
Apply for an Appointed Position Applications for Michaelmas Term's appointed positions open in 7th Week of this 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 Chris Zabilowicz, the President-Elect, at president-elect@oxford-union.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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The Library The Old Library is a well-stocked and spacious library 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, and if you have any comments about them or the libraries, a suggestions book can be found in the Old Library.
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Old Library term-time opening hours: Mon–Fri: 09:30–19:00 Sat: 12:00–16:30 Old Library vacation opening hours: Mon–Fri: 09:30–17:00 (Except during building closure: 25 August - 11 September)
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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 our debates, meanwhile, 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 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: Thurs–Sat: Sun:
10:00 - 00:00 10:00 - 02:00 12:00 - 22:30
Our lunch menu is served: Mon–Fri:
11:30 - 14:30
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The Oxford Union Committee
President Michael Li Magdalen
Librarian Henry Kitchen Exeter
Treasurer Laali Vadlamani Trinity
Secretary Maan Al-Yasiri Brasenose
President-Elect Chris Zabilowicz Worcester
Librarian-Elect Melissa Hinkley Keble
Treasurer-Elect Gui Cavalcanti Pembroke
CCC Daniel Wilkinson Oriel
Standing Committee
Stephen Horvath New
Minal Haq Christ Church
Sabriyah Saeed Somerville
Myah Popat Pembroke
Andrew Ng Hertford
Secretary’s Committee
Norbert Sobolak Christ Church
Josie Dallas Magdalen 72
James Lamming Exeter
Isabelle Agerbak Worcester
Bryan O’Brien Keble
Milo Reynolds Merton
Shivani Ananth St Anne’s
Lavanya Chowdhury Lincoln
Kyrill Afudego Hertford
Amelia Weiss Brasenose
Matthew Cook Jesus
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Appointed Officials & Staff
Access Officer
Access Officer
Alex Yeadle St Hugh’s
Carolina Earle Pembroke
Chief of Staff Kaleem Hawa Lincoln
Director of Research Molly Greenwood St Hilda’s
Director of Comms Thomas Munro Corpus Christi
Alastair Graham
Returning Officer
Robert Paver
CCS
Ellen Kerslake
Senior Press Officer
Amele Van Alphen Toby Freedman
Press Officers
Julian Kirk
Development Officer
Alexandra Galloway
Women’s Officer
Brian Wong
LGBTQIA+ Officer
Wesley Zhang
Ethnic Minorities Officer
Victoria Strutt
Disabilities Officer
Célia Depommmier-Cotton
International Officer Graduate Officer
Oliver Woodhall
Brookes Officer
Yasmeen Khatib Flora Spielman Miranda Shaw Jan Bialas
Logistics Officers
Henry Robertson Robert Sutton
Partnership Officers Guest Liaison Officers
Research Officers
Sarah Bai; Katie Cook; Lara Davies; Robert Dunbar; Ed Evans; Alexandra Galloway; Alistair Hankey; Reza Javan; Grace Joel; Minji Kim; Keir Mather; Francesca Odgers; Abigail Ridsdill‑Smith; Victoria Strutt; Matthew Vautrey Sondra Anton; Zonghua Bo; Yasmeen Khatib; Brahma Mohanty; Thomas O’Driscoll Love Hedman, Romain Reglade, Barker Evans
Photography
www.cruciblecreative.co.uk
Graphic Design
Staff Bursar House Manager Librarian-in-Charge Events Manager Accounts Manager
Trustees Lindsey Warne Bridget Gaughan Su Lockley Joanne Billingham
Dr Jeremy Catto Hon. Peter Jay Sean Power, Senior Librarian Stephen Dixon, Senior Treasurer
Rob Phillips
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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. 3. All members who wish to attend the event have already taken their seats.
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.
Queues at the Union Members can get into the vast majority of events without queuing for more than 30 minutes, but this has not been true of some of our highest-profile visits. Our upcoming fire-escape installation should improve this. Until then, although we have tried ballots, queueing is the only way to ensure that those most passionate about hearing a certain speaker can guarantee their space. We recognise that this has access implications and presents difficulties for those with commitments leading up to the event, so we will continue to offer an advance ticket release for events which we anticipate to be over-subscribed; those with access concerns are welcome to contact the Office to make prior arrangements. Following feedback, we will only issue one ticket per person at the advance release, and will ensure that Union committee members are on hand - as far as possible - throughout queueing.
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How to Stay Informed
f T Y
theoxfordunion
@oxfordunion
oxfordunion
@theoxfordunion
oxford-union.org
Receive Notifications About Our Events Sign up to our mailing list by entering your email address on our website homepage: www.oxford-union.org. On our Facebook page, click ‘Like’ and then turn notifications on from the drop-down menu which appears. All of our events will be advertised on Facebook.
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Events Subject to Change Without Notice
Speaker
£5
Term Planner
Debate/Panel
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Social Event Thursday
Other
Friday
Saturday
John Cleese 20:00
0th
16
17 John Rhys-Davies 20:00
1st
23
24
30
4th
7
14
Tony Pulis 20:00
1
David Haye 20:00
2
Lord Jeffrey Archer 20:00
8
9
20 BBC Question Time
26 Heston Blumenthal 17:00
Sexual Violence Panel 20:00
Yeonmi Park 20:00
21 Oxford Women’s Open
27
3
4
Armando Iannucci 17:00
Dambisa Moyo 17:00
Sir Venki Ramakrishnan 17:00
Pub Quiz 20:00
Universities Debate 20:30
Psychopath Night 20:00
Patriotism Debate 20:30
President Vadim Krasnoselsky | 17:00
11
Wiley 17:00
Comedy Debate 20:30
President Bujar Nishani 20:00
Jeremy Irons 20:00
Defence & Security Panel | 17:15
Roy Hodgson 17:00
Prof. Maurice Obstfeld 17:00
Technology Panel 17:00
Simon Mann 20:00
Democracy Debate 20:30
Helen Glover 20:00
China Debate 20:30
Sally Jewell 20:00
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16
22
23
Pub Quiz 20:00
17
24
Tariq Ali 20:00
29
5
Lisa Randall 17:00
15
Oxford Women’s Open
Moscow Never Sleeps 20:00
Kanye Debate 20:30
10
22
28
Sérgio Moro 16:30
Jazz, Fizz & Chocolates 20:00
5th
25
Judge Judy 17:00
Sir Derek Jacobi 17:00
3rd
M.I.A. 20:00
19 Erik Prince 20:00
Khizr Khan 17:00
Nick Cave 17:00
2nd
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18
25
Eddie Jones 20:00
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12
13
19
20
26
27 Daisy Ridley 17:00
6th 28
29 Gus Poyet 20:00
30
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7th 4
5
6
David Weir 20:00
7
2
3
9
10
16
17
Union Elections 09:30 – 20:30
Feminism Debate 20:30
General Raymond Thomas | 20:00
Mark Gatiss 17:00
1
8
Michael Hayden 20:00
Howard Gordon 20:00
Ricky Gervais 17:00
8th 11
12
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The Union simply would not function without our dedicated and good humoured staff. I have learnt a great deal from working with each and every one of you, and had a lot of fun along the way. To my family and friends - I am thankful for your unwavering and patient support. WB, AM, CV, CN, EG, NK, HD and SMART - I am immensely grateful for your guidance and encouragement. It would not have been possible without you.
the Oxford Union Frewin Court Oxford OX1 3JB T: +44 (0) 1865 241 353 F: +44 (0) 1865 250 092 W: www.oxford-union.org