Preamble
Michaelmas 2021
President’s welcome Michaelmas is the most exciting time to be in Cambridge. It's the chance to settle into a new rhythm, with new papers & new people. The autumnal atmosphere and welcome return of the puffer jacket makes everything a little bit better too.
Royal Ballet will be joining a term that has already welcomed Nancy Pelosi to Cambridge. And even those names don't really reflect the full breadth of our events this term: from Billy Porter to mRNA vaccine scientist Katalin Kariko; from former Health secretary Matt Hancock to a genuinely confidential briefing from the Alpine Formula One team. And I still haven't mentioned Derren Brown, Jessie J, James Norton, Gary Neville, Nadiya Hussain, or Baroness Hale.
So too, I hope, does the Union. We've had countless brilliant speakers appear in our Michaelmas termcards over the years; countless spectacular freshers' balls; countless thrilling debates. Most nights across term we'll have something-or-other on, right the way into early December.
The other perk of a newly-redeveloped building is that we can host properly big social events again for the first time in a few years. And this term, not content just with our regular freshers' ball (tickets to which new members can still obtain for free by signing up at cambridgeunion.org), we're running our largest-ever ball come the end of term too, to really mark the Union's return to its pomp.
But this year, there's more to do. Not only is this the first term we can run our chamber at full capacity, it's the first term our multi-million pound redevelopment works will be fully finished: with our Union Cellars (where the Footlights were founded) now ready for socials, our new bar, The Orator, at full capacity, and our reading rooms open for members' use across the term. There's a lot, in short, for us to make the most of.
That, then, is a very brief look at the ways in which we've done our level best to make this Michaelmas as exciting as every Michaelmas should be. There is, of course, plenty more to be discovered over the coming pages, and I hope you'll take the time to have a good look through, and see which events you'd like to join us for. If, after that, you're convinced of the merits of joining us, have a look at pages 6-7 for information on ways to do this for less. In the meantime... see you around!
But make the most of it we have certainly tried. Our debates lineup is the most packed we've announced in years - right the way from our annual classic 'no confidence' motion to my presidential debate on morality on December 2nd. On Remembrance Day, we'll be debating British identity; early in term we've got a debate on Afghanistan; towards the end we have a ludicrously stacked debate on free will. And there are plenty of gems in-between.
Best wishes,
On speakers, meanwhile, I hope we've lived up to our history. Stephen Fry, Jordan Peterson, John Cleese, and even a free live performance from the
Keir Bradwell President, Michaelmas 2021
3
Contents
The Cambridge Union
Contents Preamble
page 5
Freshers'
page 10
Debates
page 13
Where we are Join us Scholarships Getting involved Competitive debating Treasurer's treats Disco discounts Freshers' Festival No confidence Varsity Obama Afghanistan Hedonism Good taste Britishness Labour Free will Literature Presidential Modi - Lent 2022
Speakers
page 39
Socials
page 65
Just visited: Nancy Pelosi Our largest ever event... Husam Zomlot Live Music Mondays Shemara Wikramanayake Comedy night Katalin Kariko Puppy therapy International aid panel FLY forum Carles Puigdemont 93% Club forum Alpine F1 Team FUSE check-in James Norton Debating Derren Brown Jazz After Dark Body image panel Election night social Simon Amstell National Liberal Club The Royal Ballet End of term social Gary Neville page 74 Credits Matt Hancock Standing committee John Cleese Subcommittees & staff Christopher Steele President's thanks Marina Warner HIV/AIDS panel Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Billy Porter Jordan Peterson Krishnan Guru-Murthy Stephen Fry Andrew Bailey & Mohamed El-Erian Jessie J Baroness Hale Nadiya Hussain
Cover illustration and Standing committee illustrations by Leti Ryder
4
Preamble
Michaelmas 2021
Where we are
One of the best things that Union membership provides is access to the rooms of our wonderful building, designed by Alfred Waterhouse in 1866. Following the conclusion of our redevelopment works, members can now take advantage of the following:
Our library, pictured this summer
The chamber
This is where the vast majority of our events are held, including all of our debates and major speaker events.
The library (pictured above)
Finding us Address: 9a Bridge Street Cambridge CB2 1UB
Email: Louise at info@cus.org Phone: 01223 566 421
From this term onwards, smaller-scale talks will take place in the library, which also houses collections available for members to browse.
The Fairfax Rhodes reading room
Fairfax Rhodes, adjacent to the library, will be available for use as a study space during working hours across term.
The Orator
The Orator is our new bar and brasserie, most easily accessed via Round Church street. Members receive 20% off all food and drink, year-round. See: theoratorcambridge.co.uk.
The Cellars
For more information on the Cellars, see page 13.
The Kennedy and Snooker rooms
These rooms, subject to availability, can also be used as a study area.
5
Join us
Join us
The Cambridge Union
cus.org/join
What is Union membership? Almost everything in this termcard, aside from events in our 'open period' (more on that below) is open to members only. That makes joining the Union the way to experience all of the speakers and debates we've got coming up this term, as well as for the rest of your time in Cambridge. In addition, you'll receive access to our facilities, discounts around town, and a whole series of social events, plus, for new lifetime members, entry
into the ballot for a free ticket to the Freshers' Festival (pages 10-11). Membership is open to all students and staff from the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin, as well as the Judge Business School and BPP Law School Cambridge.
Try before you buy: our 'open period' Of course, it can be difficult to work out whether the Union will be worth the membership fee for you without having been to visit us in-person. So for the first two weeks of term (until the 21st October), our events are 'open to all': you can come & watch our events without being a member yourself.
a sense for how our debates usually run, while we've got plenty of socials planned across that time too. The next page shows a list of all the events we're running over the next two weeks specifically to help introduce you to Union life - and, of course, hopefully convince you at the end of it that what we do is exciting enough to make us worth joining for life.
That means you can bring yourself along to our No Confidence debate this Thursday, for example, and get
Join for less: a discount this fortnight Coinciding with our 'open period' is a limited-time- Second years' discount - £155, down from £200 only discount on Union membership, which ends on the Last year, joining the Union was a much more difficult 21st October. This year, this comes in two forms: sell, with no freshers' ball, and events online. Since so many missed out, for this year’s open period, we're Freshers' discount - £185, down from £200 offering a £155 rate (the cheapest that membership Our freshers’ discount brings the price of lifetime has been in years) on a one-off basis. And second years membership down from £200 to £185. That’s £2.37 per will still be entered into the ballot for a free ticket to week of term of a three year degree, and means you'll the Freshers' Festival, for good measure. be on the ballot for a free ticket to our Freshers' Festival.
Other ways to join: lifetime access membership Access membership is the same as lifetime membership, To benefit from access membership, all we require is a but comes at a lower price to help those in receipt of letter from the university or Student Finance England university bursaries. We run three tiers of discount: for this year, or (for graduates), last year. Check out our website, cambridgeunion.org, for more details. £200 reduced to £115, for incomes below £25,000 £200 reduced to £135, for incomes £25,001-£33,750 This year, another way to join the Union for less is £200 reduced to £155, for incomes £33,751-£42,620 through one of our two scholarship programmes. There is more about this overleaf.
6
Preamble
Michaelmas 2021
Introducing...
Scholarships Freshers' open period events:
Silver Street & Stephen Fry Programmes
This year, we're exceptionally proud to be able to launch a Union first: a range of fully-funded scholarships, enabling 55 members to join free of charge each year for an initial three years. We hope our scholarship programmes this year mark the beginning, and that we'll be able to expand our offering in years to come.
These events are the perfect way to find out for yourself what the Union is like. If you're keen to see the place at your own pace, we'd especially recommend signing up for one of our tours this Saturday and Sunday, through the link on our Facebook page. There are other open-to-all events inside the termcard, but the selection below is especially suited to prospective new members and new students in Cambridge. See our Facebook for more information on each of the events below.
The Silver Street Scholarships, generously supported by Mohamed A. El-Erian, President of Queens' College, will enable 25 students from any college to join the Union for life without payment, provided they can demonstrate clear financial need, and a sense of why the Union would be likely to benefit them.
Beer festival
5pm, Wednesday 6th October
Coffee morning 11am, Thursday 7th October
The Stephen Fry Scholarships, meanwhile, enable 30 students studying a STEM subject at University to join free of charge, with preference again going to those in a position of financial need.
No Confidence debate 8pm, Thursday 7th October
Tours
The application forms for both of these scholarships will be circulated on our website, Facebook, and Instagram. There is a short questionnaire to fill in to help us determine who is most likely to derive the most benefit from these schemes, and the scholars will be asked to attend a social event with the individuals supporting each programme.
10am-4pm, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th October
Mock PMQs
6pm, Monday 11th October
Varsity debate
8pm, Tuesday 12th October Debating launch at 6pm, Sunday 10th
Husam Zomlot 5pm, Tuesday 19th October
7
Getting involved
Getting involved
The Cambridge Union
opportunities, and every year plenty of freshers and new members take the plunge.
How can I get involved? It is entirely possible to derive great value from the Union while a complete spectator: many of our members have no interest in participating in our debates or joining committees, but prefer to watch from the back benches instead.
Influencing the next termcard If you'd like to have a say in which events take place next term, there are two ways to do so: one is to email info@cus. org with suggestions for committee; the other is to join one of our 'invitations committees' (which report to the Speakers officer, Debates officer, and Equalities officer) and set to work inviting speakers to the Union yourself. Applications for these committees are usually opened shortly prior to the start of each term.
However, if you'd like to get truly stuck in and explore everything the Union has to offer, there are several ways to get involved, including competitive debating (see below), speaking in our debates (see page 13), and joining one of the various committees on offer (see page 74). No prior experience of the Union is required for any of these
Competitive debating
For the more practical-minded and those interested in giving back, we also offer the chance to organise a vast range of international debate competitions. Convening one of our competitions is a hugely rewarding process, as you get to oversee and plan competitions with thousands of participants and gain valuable skills for your CV!
What we do The Union is the central hub for competitive debating in Cambridge. As European Champions in 2019 and with consistent success at the World Universities Debating Championships, we offer the chance for members to take part in competitions locally, nationally, and internationally. It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent your secondary school years debating or have never debated before – we welcome all levels of experience, with the aim of taking complete novices to becoming some of the best debaters in the world. We offer three different training streams, for beginners, intermediates, and advanced debaters, with our expert coaches giving personalised and specific feedback to help you improve at our weekly sessions at the Union.
How to get involved Join the Cambridge Debating Facebook group and sign up to our mailing list (see our @cambridgedebating Instagram bio). To sign up for workshops, attend the debating launch at 6pm on the 10th of October (details below). If you can't make it, complete the sign-up form sent to those that have signed up to our mailing list.
Key dates Debating launch: 6pm, Sunday 10th October Even if you don’t want to attend competitions, our Come to our chamber to hear what Cambridge debating workshops will improve your analytical skills, critical is like, and sign up for our training workshops. thinking, and public speaking. They will aid your latenight essay crisis, and your ability to talk your way Weekly workshops: Beginners' training - Tuesdays at 6pm through an unprepared-for supervision. Intermediate training - Wednesdays at 6pm We also provide opportunities for debaters to travel Advanced training - Thursdays at 6pm internationally: in the past five years, we’ve funded These workshops take place in-person. To sign up, attend trips to South Africa, Malaysia, India, and beyond. We the debating launch or look out for the sign up form. also organise fun social events for everyone involved in Find out more debating. Joining debating as a fresher is a great way Any questions? Email the Competitive Debating to make friends from across Cambridge too. officers, Dioni and Sid, at debating@cus.org.
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Preamble
Michaelmas 2021
Treasurer's Treats
What are Treasurer's Treats? Union membership is as much about the time you spend outside our building as it is the time you spend inside it. To that end, each term we compile a list of discounts you can claim around town, just by showing your Union membership card. Floor speech prizes To encourage people to make short (one to two minute) speeches between pairs of main speeches in a debate, we offer a prize for the best floor speech each week. The prize for first few debates this term will be a makeover and photoshoot for two with Regina Ray Photography - with more prizes to be announced over time.
Discounts this Michaelmas:
Fudge Kitchen
5 for 4
Lockhouse Escape Room
20% off
Engravers Guild of London
20% off
Jack's Gelato
15% off
Up and Running Sportswear
10% off
Alwalton Hall
10% off
Primo Cycles
10% off
The Gardenia
10% off
Disco Discounts Cheeky Tiki - Thursdays at Lola Lo A classic tiki-themed student night with a mix of classics, RnB and dance. £2 off at the door. Let's Kill Disco - Fridays at MASH Featuring pop, dance, RnB, and a classic party atmosphere. £1 off at the door. Good Life - Saturdays at MASH House, soul and funk music, for a night filled with good vibes only. £1 off at the door. Slipped Disc - Sundays at MASH The best disco, house, funk and techno tunes. £2 off at the door. Motive - Mondays at Lola Lo Anglia Ruskin's best student night, with international beats and chart toppers. £2 off at the door. Glitterbomb - Tuesdays at Vinyl Cambridge’s biggest LGBTQ+ night. £1 off at the door. Woo Wednesdays - at MASH RnB, funk and hip hop classics. £2 off at the door.
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We're determined to ensure our members can make up for lost time and enjoy all that Cambridge nightlife has to offer. So we've secured an entry discount at a nightclub every single night of the week! Just show your Union membership card at the door. Please also keep an eye out for Union discounts on one-off events over the year. If you have any issues, email ents-elect@cus.org.
Debates
Contents
Our debates, & how to get involved in them
Our debates run every Thursday (and sometimes other days too) from 8pm-9:45pm, with the results announced afterwards in the bar.
No confidence
14
Varsity
16
Obama
18
Afghanistan
20
Hedonism
22
Good taste
24
Britishness
26
Labour
28
Free will
30
Literature
32
Presidential
34
The Union also holds weekly emergency debates. These are shorter, student-only debates held half an hour before the main debate starts, and focus on the current issues of the day. We always encourage members to participate, regardless of experience.
Modi (Lent '22)
36
Food and drink
There are six speakers in a debate, of which usually two are reserved for students and earned via open audition. Auditions are announced on our social media pages weekly, so make sure to keep an eye out if you’d like to speak! If you’re not keen to make a full speech, there are still other ways to get involved. You can make a ‘point of information’ - brief comments or questions directed at a speaker during their speech, offered by standing up and saying something like ‘on that point’ or ‘on a point of information’. It’s worth noting that these are are accepted at the discretion of the speaker - so you may not always get to make your point. You also have the chance to deliver a floor speech. These are given in either proposition, opposition or abstention of the motion, and usually last for one or two minutes. The best speech each debate wins a prize, for good measure.
Emergency debates
Members get 20% off at our bar, The Orator, which makes flocking there once the debate is over an even better plan than usual!
COVID-19
This term, our debates are back to being full-capacity events, with no masks required - at least while this level of restrictions continues.
No confidence debate
The Cambridge Union
This house has
no confidence in Her Majesty's Government
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 7th October
14
Week one
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#1
Wes Streeting MP Wes is the Labour Party's Shadow Secretary of State for Child Poverty. An MP for Ilford North since 2015, Wes has recently criticised the government over their cuts to Universal Credit and the rising levels of child poverty.
Polly Mackenzie Polly is the Chief Executive of Demos, a cross-party think tank that specialises in public policymaking. Polly worked for Nick Clegg from 2006-2015, helping to write the 2010 Coalition Agreement and serving as Director of Policy, 2010-15.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition James Cleverly MP James has been the Conservative MP for Braintree since 2015. He is currently the Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa in the Johnson ministry, and served as co-Chairman for the Conservative party from 2019-20.
Tom Harwood Tom is a journalist and political commentator, currently working as a correspondent for GB News. He ran the student wing of the Vote Leave campaign in 2016, and has been voted as one of the 100 most influential Conservatives in the UK.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
15
Varsity debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
Oxford and Cambridge should kiss and make up
Debate # 8pm, Tuesday 12th October
16
Week one
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition (Cambridge)
#2
Darina Andryichenko Darina is a second year linguist at Sidney Sussex College. She is an active competitive debater at the Union, and helps organise the Cambridge Schools competition.
Teodor Grama Teodor is a second year HSPSer at St. John's College. He represented Cambridge at the World Universities Debating Championship.
Jonathan Yap Jonathan is a second year HSPSer at Hughes Hall. He was a quarter-finalist at the European Debating Championship.
Opposition (Oxford) Ana Vilhelmina Verdnik Ana is undertaking a DPhil in Politics at St. Antony's College. She was World University Debating Champion 2017, and a finalist of the European Debating Championship 2021.
Chansol Park Chansol is a third year historian at Mansfield College. He is in charge of competitive debating at the Oxford Union.
Helen Hall Helen is a third year medic at Balliol College. She is the Internals Officer at Oxford Debating, and a beginner squad coach.
17
Obama debate
The Cambridge Union
Supported by:
This house
regrets the Obama years
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 14th October
18
Week two
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#3
John Prideaux John is the US Editor of the Economist and host of the Checks and Balance podcast. Previously a researcher in the House of Commons and the European Parliament, John has appeared on the BBC, CNN, Fox News, Sky News and ITV.
Julie Norman Julie is a lecturer in Politics & IR at University College London and is the Deputy Director for the UCL Centre on US Politics. Julie is a regular on the BBC, CNN and Bloomberg, and publishes in the Washington Post, Huffington Post, and the Hill.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Ewen MacAskill Ewen was the Guardian’s chief political correspondent, diplomatic editor, and Washington bureau chief over a 22 year stint. As White House correspondent from 2007-13, he covered the majority of the Obama years.
Jason Furman (Zoom) Jason served as Obama’s chief economic advisor. Referred to by Obama as "one of the most brilliant economic minds of his generation”, he was Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, and now lectures at Harvard.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
19
Afghanistan debate
The Cambridge Union
This house would have
remained in Afghanistan
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 21st October
20
Week three
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#4
Deborah Haynes Deborah is Security and Defence Editor at Sky News. Prior to this, she was Sky's Foreign Affairs editor, having joined Sky from the Times, where she won an Amnesty prize for her camapagning on behalf of the UK's Iraqi interpreters.
To be announced This speaker will be announced closer to the date of the debate itself.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Sir Robert Fry Sir Robert served as Director of Operations at the Ministry of Defence, having been Commandant General of the Royal Marines. He advised successive Prime Ministers on the military response to 9/11.
Shashank Joshi Shashank is the Economist's Defence Editor. A Kennedy scholar, Shashank was also a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, and a Senior Policy Fellow at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
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Hedonism debate
The Cambridge Union
This house would
rather be a Hedonist than a Stoic
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 28th October
22
Week four
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#5
Shazia Mirza Shazia is an award winning stand up comedian and writer. She has appeared on QI and HIGNFY. Her critically acclaimed show played for 103 nights internationally across the UK, US, Sweden, Ireland and France.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Viv Groskop Viv is a journalist, writer and comedian. An author of five books and a Guardian contributor, Viv has performed five one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and is the host of the charttopping podcast How to Own the Room.
Keara Murphy Keara is a stand up, actor and playwright. She produced ten one-woman shows for The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and has appeared on TV and radio for BBC, BBC2 and BBC Radio Scotland.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
23
Good taste debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
there's no such thing as good taste
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 4th November
24
Week five
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#6
Vanessa Friedman Vanessa is Fashion Director and Chief Fashion Critic at the New York Times. Having written for the FT, American Vogue and Vanity Fair, Vanessa has gained renown as one of the foremost critics in the fashion industry.
JJ Charlesworth JJ is an art critic and one of the editors of the art magazine ArtReview. JJ has lectured and taught extensively, tutoring at London’s Royal College of Art, the Royal Academy Schools and Central St Martins.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Andrew Graham-Dixon Andrew, an art historian, author and broadcaster, has presented landmark series on art for the BBC and was Chief Art Correspondent for the Sunday Telegraph 2003-05. He has also judged the Turner Prize and BP National Portrait Prize.
Paul Graham Paul is a computer scientist and venture capitalist who went on to study painting at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence. His essays on his personal website on the topic of art have achieved wide recognition.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
25
Britishness debate
The Cambridge Union
This house is
embarrassed to be British
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 11th November
26
Week six
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#7
Kalwant Bhopal Kalwant is a professor of education and social justice at Birmingham. Her 2019 book White Privilege: The myth of a post-racial society focusses on the structural and institutional racism that persists in Britain today.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Trevor Phillips Trevor is a former head of the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Commission for Racial Equality. He is now a vocal political commentator, and will be hosting a new programme - The Great Debate - on Sky News.
Robert Tombs Robert is an emeritus professor of French history at Cambridge. He has written books including This Sovereign Isle and The English and Their History, and now appears widely as a political commentator.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
27
Labour debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
the future of Labour is conservatism
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 18th November
28
Week seven
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#8
Paul Embery Paul is a trade union activist, pro-Brexit campaigner and Blue Labour proponent. Author of Despised: Why the Modern Left Loathes the Working Class, Paul discusses the disconnect between the working class and the Left.
Poppy Coburn Poppy is a recent Cambridge graduate who now works as an editorial trainee at UnHerd, recently writing about why she abandoned the 'performative' Extinction Rebellion.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Ben Bradshaw MP Ben was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport for 2009-10, and held senior positions in both the Blair and Brown administrations. He has also won a number of national and international awards for his journalism.
Jessica Asato Jessica previously served as director of Progress and vice-chair of the Fabian Society. She was the Social Media Lead in David Miliband’s leadership campaign and is currently the Head of Policy and Public Affairs for Barnardo’s.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
29
Free will debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
free will does not exist
Debate # 8pm, Tuesday 23rd November
30
Week seven
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#9
Anil Seth Anil is a professor of cognitive and computational neuroscience at Sussex. His new book, Being You: A New Science of Consciousness is a Sunday Times bestseller, and his TED talk has more than 12 million views.
Galen Strawson Galen is the chair in the philosophy department at the University of Texas. In the metaphysics of free will, he is best known for his Basic Argument, which holds that no agent can truly be morally responsible for their actions.
Hannah Critchlow Hannah's recent book, The Science of Fate, was a Sunday Times bestseller, and in 2019 she was named as one of Cambridge University’s ‘Rising Stars in the Life Sciences’.
Opposition Philip Ball Having trained as a chemist and a physicist, Philip was previously editor of the journal Nature for over 20 years, and contributes to publications such as the New Scientist, the New York Times, the Guardian, and the Financial Times.
Simon Blackburn Simon is a fellow of Trinity College, and a professor at the New College of the Humanities. He takes a compatibilist perspective on the problem of Free Will, arguing that it is possible to reconcile free will with determinism.
Daniel Dennett (Zoom) Daniel is a cognitive scientist working on the philosophy of mind, with emphasis on free will. He is known as one of the ‘Four Horsemen of New Atheism’, along with Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Richard Dawkins.
31
Literature debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
the age of the literary classic is over
Debate # 8pm, Saturday 27th November
32
Week eight
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#10
Merve Emre Merve is an associate professor of English at the University of Oxford. Her book The Personality Brokers was selected as one of the best of 2018 by the New York Times. She is curently working on a book on the crisis of the humanities.
Sarah Dillon Sarah is a professor of literature and the public humanities at Cambridge. She also co-created, wrote and presented the documentary series Literary Pursuits on Radio 3 from 2016-19, and the Close Reading feature on Radio 4 from 2014-16.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Terry Eagleton Terry is an internationally celebrated literary scholar and cultural theorist. Having published over 40 books, he is best known for Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983), which has now sold almost one million copies.
Lucy Hughes-Hallett Lucy is a cultural historian. Her biography The Pike: Gabriele D’Annunzio won all three of the UK's most prestigious prizes for non-fiction. She is the 2021 chair of the judges of the International Booker Prize.
Guy Gunaratne Guy is a journalist, filmmaker and novelist. Their first novel, In Our Mad and Furious City, won the International Dylan Thomas Prize. Guy currently holds the position of Fellow Commoner in the Creative Arts at Trinity College.
33
Presidential debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
what is morally wrong may be politically right
Debate # 8pm, Thursday 2nd December
34
Week nine
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
#11
Keir Bradwell Keir is the outgoing President of the Cambridge Union. A third year History and Politics student at Queens' College, he is a lost cause Hobbes and Weber obsessive.
Dan Hodges Dan is a columnist for the Mail on Sunday and political commentator. Dominic Cummings describes him as the "Clown Prince of s**t pundits".
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13. Preference will be given to female and non-binary auditionees, given our current gender-balance.
Opposition Philippe Sands QC Philippe is an author, and counsel and advocate at a variety of international courts and tribunals. He may also be bailing on us to go to Chile, but we'll update you on that soon.
Sir Anthony Seldon Sir Anthony is a political biographer extraordinaire, and an honorary historical adviser to 10 Downing Street, though we're not quite sure what that actually involves.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13. Preference will be given to female and non-binary auditionees, given our current gender-balance.
35
Modi debate
The Cambridge Union
This house believes
Modi has damaged Indian identity
Forthcomi Organised for Lent 2022
36
Lent 2022
Michaelmas 2021
Proposition
ing
Shashi Tharoor Shashi served for 29 years at the United Nations, culminating as Under-Secretary General under Kofi Annan. An MP since 2009, Shashi has authored 19 bestselling works of fiction and nonfiction since 1981.
Mahua Moitra Mahua has been an elected member of the Lok Sabha since 2019. A vocal critic of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Mahua is hailed as the face of Indian liberalism, and has gained huge support from the country’s youth and women.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
Opposition Swapan Dasgupta Swapan is an elected member of the upper house of the the Indian parliament. An active member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, he is regarded one of the most prominent center-right public intellectuals in India.
Makarand Paranjape Makarand is an academic, novelist, and poet. He has been awarded multiple literary awards for his work. He has also contributed to the discourse on Hindu-Muslim unity in India for numerous publications.
Student speaker This could be you! For details on how to audition for this slot, see page 13.
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Speakers How speaker events run
Speaker events offer members the chance to hear from, and engage with, some of the world’s most prominent figures. The format of these vary slightly, but typically include a semi-structured interview between a student moderator and a speaker, followed by a question and answer session that members are encouraged to take part in. This term, all of our speakers are in-person, with no 'virtual events' of any kind. We are very much looking forward to the resumption of normal service!
Meet and greet
We are now able to run meet and greet sessions once again. Where speakers are willing, we will advertise this on our Facebook page and you can reserve a spot.
Cancellations
In the case of speaker cancellations, we will do our best to reschedule as soon as possible and convey updated dates and times.
Food and drink
Members get 20% off at our bar, The Orator. There's no better place to go once our speaker events end!
COVID-19
This term, our speaker events are back to being full-capacity events, with no masks required - at least while this level of restrictions continues.
Contents
Just visited: Nancy Pelosi Husam Zomlot Shemara Wikramanayake Katalin Kariko International aid panel Carles Puigdemont Alpine F1 Team James Norton Derren Brown Body image panel Simon Amstell The Royal Ballet Gary Neville Matt Hancock John Cleese Christopher Steele Marina Warner HIV/AIDS panel Sir Jeffrey Donaldson Billy Porter Jordan Peterson Krishnan Guru-Murthy Stephen Fry Bailey & El-Erian Jessie J Baroness Hale Nadiya Hussain
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Already this term
The Cambridge Union
Nancy Pelosi
Last month, we were immensely fortunate to host Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. Speaker Pelosi is now the most senior incumbent American politician ever to have addressed our chamber. During her visit, she became an Honorary Member of the Union, owing to her commitment to free and fair elections - as evidenced by her inquest into the January 6th riots at the Capitol.
2pm, Thursday 16th September
She spoke about impeachment, climate, China, and her legislative priorities, taking plenty of quetstions from members as she went.
Already this term
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Shemara Wikramanayake is the CEO of Macquarie Group, a $125 billion investment bank. She was named the 29th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes in 2020. She is the only female CEO among Australia’s 20 biggest companies by market value. This event includes a networking opportunity following the conclusion of the talk.
In collaboration with Cambridge Women In Business Society
1pm, Friday 22nd October
Shemara Wikramanayake
Husam Zomlot 5pm, Tuesday 19th October Husam Zomlot has been Head of the Palestinian mission to the UK since October 2018. He was previously head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation mission to the US, which was closed by the Trump administration. He is also a strategic advisor to the Palestinian President.
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Professor Hawking Fellowship
The Cambridge Union
2021 Professor Hawking Fellow:
Katalin
Karikó Inventor of the mRNA vaccine Sponsored by:
7pm, Monday 1st November
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Speakers
About Katalin: Katalin Karikó is a pioneering biochemist widely regarded as pivotal in developing the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. Her work has allowed millions to be vaccinated worldwide, and paved the way for the easing of global lockdowns. Beyond the enormous utility of Dr. Karikó’s research in the context of the pandemic, mRNA vaccines are a technology with potentially vast scope for further applications, including on tackling difficult-totreat cancers.
Michaelmas 2021
International aid panel 4pm, Monday 1st November Our international aid panel will be centred around the British government’s recent decision to cut the overseas aid budget from 0.7% to 0.5% of gross national income. This will have a dramatic impact on the landscape of international development, only furthered by COVID-19 and climate issues. This panel discussion will seek to explore how we can use international aid to meet these challenges.
Lorriann Robinson Lorriann is the founder of the Advocacy Team, a consultancy that provides campaigning services to international organisations. In 2014, she played a leading role in the campaign to enshrine the 0.7% aid target into UK law.
Andrew Mitchell MP
Dr. Karikó is this year’s Professor Hawking Fellow. The Professor Hawking Fellowship was set up in honour of the late Stephen Hawking, whose talk at the Union in November 2017 was one of his final public appearances.
From 2010 to 2012, Andrew served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development. Earlier this year, he was critical of the government’s decision to reduce the annual aid budget to 0.5% of national income.
Sorcha O'Callaghan Sorcha leads research into humanitarian system reform, inclusion and gender, displacement and humanitarian financing. She is a specialist in displacement, civilian protection and humanitarian action in protracted crises.
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Alpine F1 Team
The Cambridge Union
Alpine F1 Team 7pm, Wednesday 3rd November
The Alpine F1 Team are quite keen to recruit Cambridge's engineers, so they're speaking with us later this term to discuss what a Formula One engineering department looks like, how car development works, and take questions from anyone with an even passing interest in the sport. They'll be discussing sensitive information, so this event will not be recorded, and photos or recordings of any sort are strictly not permitted.
Carles Puigdemont served as the President of Catalonia from 2016-17, until he was removed from office by the Spanish Government following the unilateral Catalan declaration of independence. He was arrested in late September this year for charges of sedition against the Spanish state, but has been temporarily released after hundreds of protestors rallied in support of him.
Carles Puigdemont Lent 2022
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
James Norton
October/November 2021
One of the favourites to be the next James Bond, Norton is an acclaimed actor who has starred in films and TV shows such as McMafia, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women, Happy Valley, and the BBC's adaptaion of War & Peace. He is currently the lead role in HBO's The Nevers, and, aptly, appeared in Grantchester from 2014-19.
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Derren Brown
The Cambridge Union
Derren Brown
October/November 2021 Derren Brown is an illusionist who gained public recognition through his TV and sell-out stage shows, which shine a light on the human psyche and how it can be manipulated. Brown does not claim to possess any supernatural powers as a magician; conversely, his shows are often designed to expose the methods of those who do assert such claims, such as faith healers and mediums. In his TV shows, Derren has played Russian Roulette whilst live on air, convinced middle-managers to commit an armed robbery in the street, stuck viewers to their sofas, successfully predicted the National Lottery, and hypnotised a man to assassinate (fellow Union guest) Stephen Fry. 46
Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Social media and body image panel 4:30pm, Monday 15th November Ambar Driscoll Ambar is a Bangladeshi and English model who launched her own wellness community, Bamby Collective. She utilises this to promote body positivity and break down unrealistic beauty standards perpetuated by social media.
Simon Amstell
Neelam Kaur Gill Neelam is the first model of Indian descent to walk for Burberry and become the face of L’Oréal. She uses her social media to speak out about depression, bullying, discrimination, body confidence issues, and internet trolls.
2pm, Monday 8th November
Adwoa Darko
Simon Amstell is a stand up comedian, writer, and director. He’s a good one, too: having seen his new tour Spirit Hole, the Evening Standard described him as “the undisputed king of the stand up confessional”. Spirit Hole (which you can see in Cambridge later that evening) comes fresh off the back of his Netflix special Set Free, and his feature film Benjamin.
Adwoa is a freelance writer, social justice educator, and the Inclusive Communities Manager at London Metropolitan University. She is passionate about diversity, inclusion, and body positivity, and promotes this in her writing.
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The Royal Ballet
The Cambridge Union
An evening with the...
Drinks reception Performances from Marcelino Sambé and Sarah Lamb And an interview with Kevin O’Hare
7:30pm, Tuesday 9th November
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Including an interview with...
Kevin O’Hare
Kevin O’Hare trained at The Royal Ballet School from the age of 11 and was a Principal dancer of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. He was appointed Director of the Royal Ballet in 2012. During this period Kevin has established the Royal Ballet as the world’s leading ballet company, commissioning new works, choreographic collaborations and engaging with new audiences.
About the Royal Ballet: The Royal Ballet is one of the world’s greatest classical ballet companies, based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Under the directorship of Kevin O’Hare, the Company unites tradition and innovation in world-class performances and is committed to enriching people’s lives through dance.
About our event: We are delighted to be welcoming Mr O’Hare and the dancers of the Royal Ballet to the Cambridge Union for an exclusive evening of live performance and discussion. Exploring the challenges and opportunities faced by dancers in their pursuit of artistry and perfection, join us for a unique event in collaboration with one of Britain’s foremost cultural institutions.
Amidst the blow dealt by the pandemic to the performing arts, the Royal Ballet has taken a singular approach going forward. Adapting to socially distanced practice and performance, the Company maintains its commitment to enriching people’s lives through dance.
In our chamber, classic and contemporary live performances from... Marcelino Sambé
Sarah Lamb
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Gary Neville
The Cambridge Union
Gary Neville
Gary Neville is a former professional footballer and a oneclub Manchester United man. During his playing career, he was club captain for five years, won the Premier League eight times, won the Champions League twice, and accumulated 95 caps for England. After retiring, he was the assistant manager of the English national team, before coaching Valencia CF. He is co-owner of Salford City FC, and a regular pundit on Sky Sports.
Wednesday 10th November
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
After time in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock replaced Jeremy Hunt as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in 2018. He served as Health Secretary from the beginning of the pandemic until his resignation earlier this year, and held an enormous degree of influence over our national lockdowns, as well as our PPE and vaccine rollouts.
Matt Hancock October/November 2021
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John Cleese
The Cambridge Union
John Cleese (and the Channel 4 production team)
7pm, Friday 12th November John Cleese co-founded Monty Python, now often cited as the most influential comedy group there has ever been. Cleese wrote and starred in Python sketch shows and films such as Life of Brian and Monty Python’s Flying Circus, before branching off into different writing and acting ventures, such as Fawlty Towers and Time Bandits. Cleese started off his career while at Downing College in the Cambridge Footlights, a comedy society founded inside our very own building. He is now filming a documentary series on 'woke culture' for Channel 4, which will include footage from our event.
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Christopher Steele 7pm, Monday 15th November
Christopher Steele is a former Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) officer, who rose to prominence in 2018 as the man behind the 'Trump dossier', which alleged Russia had a file of compromising information on the thenPresident. Once revealed as its author, he went into hiding. He continues to raise concerns about the extent of foreign influence in Western liberal democracies.
Marina Warner 7:30pm, Monday 22nd November Historian, mythographer, critic, and novelist President of the Royal Society of Literature Distinguished Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford 53
Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
HIV/AIDS in Britain panel This panel will explore the social story of HIV/AIDS and the stigma that has surrounded it. Adopting an intersectional approach to analyse how HIV/AIDS and attitudes towards the disease interact with the different social groups affected by it, we will answer questions such as: why did such a stigma around HIV/AIDS arise? How can we try to dismantle this stigma? And what is the future of HIV/AIDS in Britain?
4pm, Monday 22nd November Angelina Namiba
Angelina has 24 years of experience in the HIV sector, founding the 4MNetwork, which provides assistance to mothers living with HIV.
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson
Jane Anderson
Jane sits as the Chair of the National AIDS Trust. She has previously acted as Chair of the British HIV Association, and focusses on ethnic minority families.
October/ November 2021
Marc Thompson
Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, both in Northern Ireland and in the House of Commons. In 1998 he was one of the Ulster Unionist Party's negotiators for the Good Friday Agreement, but walked out of the delegation on the day of the agreement itself.
Marc works to promote awareness of HIV/AIDS and treatments for HIV/AIDS in queer British BME communities. He is the current director of The Love Tank.
George Severs
George is a Cambridge PhD student focussing on the history of British AIDS activism from 19821997. He is Secretary for the Oral History Society's LGBTQ group.
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Billy Porter
Billy Porter is an actor, singer, writer, and director, and a Tony, Grammy, Emmy and NAACP award winner.
Michaelmas 2021
Billy Porter
Wednesday 24th November
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Jordan
Peterson 6pm, Wednesday 24th November Jordan Peterson is best known for his bestselling book 12 Rules for Life: an Antidote to Chaos, alongside its follow-up, Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life. He is, as the New York Times puts it, "the most influential public intellectual in the Western world." In 2019, however, he had his visiting fellowship offer rescinded by the University of Cambridge, on account of his beliefs. He describes himself as a ‘classic British liberal’ and a ‘traditionalist’, and argues against the rise of identity politics. 57
Stephen Fry
The Cambridge Union
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Krishnan Guru-Murthy joined Channel 4 News in 1998 making him their second-longest-serving presenter. In addition to the News, he presents the foreign affairs documentary Unreported World, alongside special coverage and interviews. His podcast, Ways to Change the World, has been a particular success.
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Stephen Fry 6pm, Friday 26th November Stephen Fry is a national treasure, writer, actor, broadcaster, comedian, and director. Fry emerged through the Cambridge Footlights, and came to prominence with early programmes such as Blackadder, and Jeeves and Wooster. He has gone on to become a household name in a huge variety of arenas, and is perhaps bestknown to younger generations as the host of QI. A long-time Union member and supporter, he is here to mark the opening of the Union’s Stephen Fry Scholarship programme.
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Mohamed El-Erian & Andrew Bailey
The Cambridge Union
Mohamed El-Erian President of Queens' College Chief economic adviser, Allianz Former chair of Obama's global development council Twice a NYT bestselling author
in conversation with
Andrew Bailey Governor of the Bank of England since March 2020 Former Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (Also a Queens' alumni)
5pm, Thursday 25th November
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Jessie J October/November 2021 Jessie J's single Price Tag topped the charts in nineteen countries in 2011. In the decade since, she has found further commercial success: she was the first British female artist with six top-ten singles from a single album, she released the multi-platinum selling Bang Bang, and over the course of her career she has sold over 20 million singles and 3 million albums worldwide.
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Baroness Hale
The Cambridge Union
Baroness Hale Confirmed for Lent 2022
Baroness Hale served as President of the Supreme Court from 201720. She is one of just four women to have been appointed to the Supreme Court, and the only woman to have served as its President. As President, she found Johnson's prorogation of parliament unlawful, thus terminating parliament's suspension. Baroness Hale was also, until earlier this year, a non-permanent judge on the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong, but chose to leave her post after the passing of Hong Kong's new national security law. She will shortly be releasing her book Spider Woman: A Life.
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Speakers
Michaelmas 2021
Nadiya Hussain December 2021
Nadiya Hussain rose to fame after winning The Great British Bake Off in 2015. Since then, she has published multiple cookery books and hosted her own TV shows, including The Chronicles of Nadiya, and Nadiya’s Asian Odyssey, where she explored the food and regions of her heritage. Hussain has been open throughout her career about her struggles with mental health, and how baking can help. She has been a supporter of the YoungMinds charity, and in 2020 was made an MBE.
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Socials Contents Save the date
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Live Music Mondays
68
Jazz After Dark
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Cellars smoker
69
FLY forum
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93% Club forum
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FUSE check-in
70
Black History Month
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Debating
71
Puppy therapy
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Election night social
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National Liberal Club
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End of term social
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Our socials
With a building to ourselves, the Union has long been a social hub for both its own members and the wider university. This year, we are able to take this much further, as our multi-million pound redevelopment works have now finished. That means more space to run socials (including returning to our underground Cellars, which are where the Footlights were founded), higher capacities, and hopefully an extremely good fun term too. The two flagship events of this term are the Freshers' Festival (see pages 10-11), and our to-be-revealed event on the following page. The Freshers' Festival is free for the first 600 members to sign up, with the remaining free tickets allocated by random ballot to the next members to join us before the end of our discount period, on the 21st October.
The Orator
Members get 20% off at our bar, The Orator, which makes it a perfect place for a social occasion at any time in the week.
COVID-19
This term, our social events are back to being full-capacity, with no masks required - at least while this level of restrictions continues.
29 / 11 / 21 SAV E T H E DAT E
The Union's biggest ever event Members receive £15 off tickets Details to be revealed
Live Music Mondays
The Cambridge Union
Live Music Mondays Live Music Mondays are an opportunity to see live music in a new location – our historic Union Cellars. Better still, there will be an underground bar, where drinks will be sold at a 20% discount for members. To find us, visit our 'Orator entrance' on Round Church street, and head down the steps to the Cellars beneath. Live Music Monday I - Rock (11th October, 8pm) Since Pink Floyd once played in the Union Cellars, for our first Live Music Monday we're paying tribute them and other iconic rock bands. Local musician Chris Andrews will be performing some classic rock covers. Live Music Monday II - Reggae (8th November, 8pm) Our second Live Music Monday will be a reggae gig, featuring the Double Barrel Reggae and Ska Band. Expect colourful lights, loud music, dancing, and, of course, flowing drinks. Live Music Monday III - T.B.A. (22nd November, 8pm) We're going to decide on the theme for our third Live Music Monday based on the reception of I and II. So more news on this front soon... 68
Socials
Michaelmas 2021
Come and see the Union Cellars transformed into an underground Jazz Bar. Expect talented jazz musicians, swanky vibes, and smokey lights! As we'll be transforming the space like never before, this event will be ticketed. Book your tickets by clicking the Eventbrite link on the Facebook page for this event.
Cellars Smoker Date T.B.A.
8pm, Friday 15th October
Today, the Footlights practice and perform at the ADC, but it wasn’t always that way. Once upon a time, our two infamous societies shared the same building. For one night only, the Union Cellars will once again host a night of comedy on the same stage once inhabited in the days of one of this term’s speakers, Stephen Fry.
Jazz After Dark 69
Equalities socials
The Cambridge Union
Equalities events & socials
Fly Forum
93% Club 4:30pm, Thursday 28th October A forum in collaboration with The 93% Club. We'll discuss the marginalisation and difficulties working-class and state-school students face in elitist institutions like Cambridge, and to hear how graduates in professional sectors deal with these issues.
Friday 19th November FLY is a network and group for women and nonbinary students of colour at Cambridge. They're running three events over the day: 5:30pm: debating workshop This will be a chance for women and non-binary students of colour to try out debating in a supportive and inclusive environment. 7pm: Speaking Up forum The theme for the forum is ‘speaking up’. We will discuss how it feels to use our voices, both academically and socially, as women and non-binary people of colour in Cambridge.
FUSE wellbeing check-in
Sunday 7th November
8:30pm: social & drinks After our forum, we will then have a relaxed social, giving us a chance to mingle and continue to enjoy our community.
Open to all LGBTQ+ students of colour, this will be a guided group space to check in and reflect on mental health, especially considering the challenges of being a queer person of colour at Cambridge. Come along to listen, be heard and supported followed by a chilled social afterwards.
There's no pressure to join everything - come along to whichever parts appeal to you!
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Socials
Michaelmas 2021
Black History Month concert In collaboration with ACS, join us for an event celebrating black classical music talent, headlined by Alexis Ffrench, an acclaimed classical-soul pioneer and the UK’s biggest-selling pianist of this year. 100% of the proceeds of his song ‘Walk with Us’ were donated to Black Lives Matter. After an address, Alexis will be joined by classical student musicians at Cambridge for a concert, followed by a social and drinks.
Women & non-binary debating workshops
7pm, Mondays Weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8
Aimed at complete beginners and open to all self-identifying women and non-binary individuals, we are continuing our incredibly popular workshop series this term. These friendly and relaxed workshops aim to provide a supportive environment to develop public speaking skills and confidence. From this foundation, we hope participants will be encouraged to get involved with other debating opportunities at the Union.
Week one (11th October): introduction to debating & speeches Week two (18th October): CAMWIB employability workshop In this employability skills workshop in collaboration the Cambridge Women in Business Society, join us for an hour of professionally delivered exercises on confidence building, communication and public speaking, designed to give you an upper hand in interviews, the workplace and the world beyond. If you are a self-identifying woman or non-binary individual interested in professional development and eager to develop work-readiness, you are cordially invited! Week four (1st November): content & argument techniques Week six (15th November): introducing other debating techniques Week eight (29th November): weighing points & mock debate
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Puppy therapy
The Cambridge Union
Puppy therapy Week five By week 5, when work starts to take a toll, we're offering puppy therapy in collaboration with Student Minds Cambridge. Puppies in the chamber has always gone down well, and we're very excited to bring this back this year.
Election night social 8pm, Sunday 21st November
Come down to our election social, which will follow the Union's first election conducted via in-person balloting in years! As the Returning Officers count, enjoy drinks at members' rates in the bar, and partake in the excitement.
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Socials
Michaelmas 2021
National Liberal Club Reciprocal membership rights, year-round
The Cambridge Union has a reciprocal membership agreement with the National Liberal Club in London. The NLC is the 'most inclusive club in London', and is a wonderful place to study or meet people for drinks or dinner. To enter, simply show your Union membership card on the door.
End-of-term social Post-Presidential debate, Thursday 2nd December
Join us for a disco down in the Union Cellars at the end of the Presidential debate that wraps up our term, as we pass from one committee to the next. It'll be '80s...
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Committees
The Cambridge Union
Standing committee
Michaelmas elects
Sophie West Phoebe Pickering Christ's College Corpus Christi College Zara Salaria Keir Bradwell Leti Ryder Homerton College Queens' College Sidney Sussex College
What are the Union's committees? The Union is run through three basic types of committee - Standing committee, which consists of the elected officers for the current term and the next term alongside four annual appointed positions; Full committee, which consists of various 'departments', each of which is involved in the running and managing of our events (see overleaf for our Full committee this term); and the Subcommittees, which are appointed by each of the elected officers for that term.
President chairing its meetings. To run for an elected position on Standing committee you must already have served on Full committee, as well as contributed to the Society in other ways (see our constitution for more information). Full committee and the Subcommittees meanwhile make for an excellent way to begin getting involved at the Union. Neither require any previous experience, and give you an opportunity to either run our events or organise events for the coming term. Application cycles Standing committee's role is to oversee the wll be advertised across our social media and direction of the society as a whole, with the mailing list.
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Credits & information
Michaelmas 2021
Annual positions
Joshan Parmar Fitzwilliam College
Patrick Connolly Robinson College
Siddharth Pai King's College
Dioni Ellinikaki Sidney Sussex College
Lent elects
Sam Hunt Lara Brown Pembroke College Downing College David Quan James Vitali Ellenoor Shameli Clare College Christ's College Homerton College 75
Committees
Full committee We owe an enormous thanks to the following:
Secretary Publicity
Sharena Shiv Rhea Sarawgi (head) Muhammad Syed Events Management Izzy Porter Christopher George (head) Pranika Khullar Natalie Egan (deputy head) Sophia Wiginton Tommy Castellani Ilya Carey Luiza Aguilar James Shillington Oliver O'Brien Sam Carling Press David Eagleson Ed Barlow (head) Oliver Udy Charlotte McCarron Jack Rennie
Operations
Emma Prichard Photography Conall Hughes Nordin Catic (head) Chris Williamson Guest Liaison Tobia Nava Adam Bradley (co-head) Ama Otuo Calvin Hartley (co-head) Ben Phillips Isabella Sandak-Lewin Jasper Federman Welfare Lily-Rose Morris-Zumin Jamie Charles Sophia Nie Sophia Nie Eliot Johns Ama Otuo Audio-Visual Adele Chu (head) Membership James Shillington Mahera Sarkar (head) Mahon Hughes Anna Gvozdenovic Ewan Woods Eve Blain Ellie Hargrove Oliver Udy James Combe Issy Kaufman Somsubhro Bagchi Sasha Grantham
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The Cambridge Union
Credits & information
Michaelmas 2021
Subcommittees, trustees, & staff
Zara, Phoebe, Sophie, and Leti's committees:
Governance:
Equalities Committee Debates Committee
Katie McCullagh (Women's & nonbinary officer) Jude Jones (LGBTQ+ officer) Jasmin Kinnear (BME officer) Amel Elleily (Access officer) Abubakar Mohamud (Access officer)
Speakers Committee
David Eagleson Tommy Castellani Eva Morris Shibhangi Ghose Sara Abbad Leanne Zara Gayle Sam Carling Joseph Vambe Jack Rennie Harry Francis Ewan Woods Damian Molineus Caitlin Farrell Brahma Mohanty Annabelle Moody Adele Chu Adam Bradley
Tommy Castellani (No confidence, Labour) Laura Ryan (Good taste, free will) Laura Lungu (Free will) Kaylin Plant (Literature) Freddie Poser (Labour) Rhea Sarawgi (Britishness, good taste) Mahera Sarkar (Modi) Muhammad Syed (Obama)
Social Events Committee Izzy Porter Annabelle Moody Eva Morris Jonny Snell Annabel Morgan Sophia Wiginton Sara Abbad Anna Gvozdenovic
Trustees Lord Chris Smith (chair) Sir Christopher Greenwood Nigel Yandell Nick Heath Daniel Janner QC David Branch Araba Taylor Rachel Green David Robinson Keir Bradwell Patrick Connolly Dioni Ellinikaki
Staff Bill Bailey - Bursar Joe Burman - General Manager Sam Heap - Brasserie Manager Louise Gamon - Membership Secretary Katherine Connelly - Events Coordinator Sabine Edwards - Advertising & Sponsorship Elspeth Twist - Finance Manager Phil Caldecoat - Site Manager
Cover illustration and Standing committee illustrations by Leti Ryder
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President's thanks
The Cambridge Union
President's thanks
I
began at the Union by accident, and rose up the ranks by fortune. Given the life-changing wonderfulness I have fluked my way into, I have a deep-seated guilt complex about the entire affair: were it not for blind luck (and, admittedly, industrial spreadsheet deployment), someone else more deserving would be writing these thanks instead. So the following is my attempt to resolve some long-standing psychological issues and thank the people who are most to blame for my being here. I should say, however, that I am writing this at the end of an exceptionally long day of trying to wrestle this termcard into shape, so I suspect this is not going to be the most coherent set of thanks ever to have been published. To my housemates – James and Phoebe. If I wrote what I felt about you two on these pages the resultant text would be so horrendously cloying and embarrassing I’d have to resign my post immediately in disgrace. So I will save that for shortly after my second glass of wine next time we’re all together. But I can at least express here how lucky I am to know you both, despite the fact one of you is currently in Manchester and the other of you took the wrong bins out last week. Clearly nobody’s perfect, though you two aren’t far off. To my Michaelmas team. You are, quite genuinely, the most brilliant team of people I have ever seen assembled at once in this place. A president can only ever hope to be as good as the sum of their officers, and so the credit for anything in this termcard that goes well ought to be shared between you four. In
particular, I suspect there has never been a termcard with as many debates speakers sorted as this one, so thank you Sophie for doing twice the job in half the time. Zara, thank you for being the most energetic and gregarious Equalities Officer there ever will be: the scale of the work you’ve done deserves to be known by far more than just us. Leti, if I’d asked for any more from you I’d have been in trouble with the Geneva Convention, and yet not only have you opened up an entire new room, spent the summer inviting speakers, designed the termcard cover, and planned a full freshers’ fortnight, but you’ve done it all without ever really batting an eyelid. You are an enormous asset to this place. Finally, Phoebe – I’ve already gone on about you for too long. But we do make a rather good team. To the original sinners – GBBS & BG. Thank you for humouring me when I said, justifiably sheepishly, that this was where I wanted to be, many months before you had any reason at all to think I could or should be here. Nobody else would have taken me seriously. But the confidence you encouraged in me was the catalyst to everything else, and I can’t imagine what my life would be like now had we never crossed paths. Other than ‘very significantly worse in every respect’. To the others who share the blame – Emaan, Freddie, AG, RV, and on an existential level, Danny. You are all deeply wonderful people, and I am tremendously thankful to know or have known each of you. On plenty of occasions I’m not sure what I’d have done without you. Though while I'm
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Credits & information
Michaelmas 2021
at it, I would like to take this opportunity to single out Danny for widespread public condemnation as being the person who suggested I set up my first ever campaign group chat (in a JCR election, no less). Look upon his works, ye reader, and despair.
I've bored at any drinks reception ever. Meeting people like you is genuinely why this job is a joy.
To the goodness-knows-how-many people on Full Committee. You are in for a hell of a term. I hope you enjoy this period of your lives as much as I did, To the people I have neglected in pursuit of and that the Union works its magic on all of you a passable term’s worth of events – the entire too. More importantly, I hope that if you find my committee of Queens’ JCR (two years running), meetings boring you’ll tell me. all members of the Liberal Association, Tamara and Iona, my actual family, anyone who has tried To my mum and dad. Thank you for putting up with to get hold of me on Messenger since 2018, my first 21 years of living with me, and somehow still being year Queens’ friends, my supervisors, my Director infinitely supportive at the end of it. You are the of Studies, Sunderland Association Football Club, ultimate reason I’ve ever really done anything – people on committee who had other jobs for me, and encouraging me onto things like nobody else would. probably a few hundred others. Apologies. I’ll start I hope sneaking you into the occasional event begins to exist again soon. And then you’ll immediately to somewhat repay the infinite metaphorical debt I wish I’d go back to being quiet. owe you both, though I'm aware it probably won't even begin to cover the literal financial debt. To each of the political societies, and the friends I’ve made in them. Thank you for increasing the Finally – to everyone still reading. As my Union plausibility of my claim that the Union isn’t my career comes to a timely end, I should like to depart personality, even if only very slightly. And thank on one final piece of advice. For everything else you for some truly iconic memories too. that goes on around you, remember that at heart this place is, and should be, bloody good fun. To the staff – I will thank each of you in person. But I hope our members know that we wouldn’t be Keir x able to even vaguely approach doing any of this without you. To the random assortment of people I’ve come to know through this job, who I am well aware absolutely won’t be reading this – Mohamed, Chris, other Chris, Kelsey, Nick and Isobel, and anyone
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