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Contents Welcome
page 4
Join the Debate
page 5
Adapting to COVID-19
page 6
Competitive Debating
page 7
Debates
page 8
Speakers
page 28
Panels
page 46
Social Events
page 51
Standing Committee
page 56
Appointees
page 57
Staff & Governance
page 59
President’s Thanks
page 60
Termcard design by Keir Bradwell Cover by Sophie Yang 3
Welcome Party with Margaret Hodge, Iain McNichol, and John Mann on page 50, and on the 24th November, you’ll be able to join us in the chamber for a screening of Call Me By Your Name, before we hear from the author of the book himself the following day. Whatever your interests may be, we hope that this Michaelmas at the Union has something to your liking.
Michaelmas is a term of new beginnings. If you’re new to Cambridge, it’s a time to make friends, get involved in the full thrust of what our city has to offer, and begin a long line of what I hope will be very happy memories. If you’re returning after a long period away from the wonderful chaos of Cambridge life, this Michaelmas is a chance to do everything you wished you’d done in our short year last year; to embark on all sorts of adventures anew.
For all those new to the society, or even to Cambridge, we’re currently in our open period, in which all of our events are open to everyone eligible for membership. This allows you to get a taste for the Union and the events we host before joining the society. Running parallel to this is our freshers’ discount, through which the price of membership has been reduced to £160. This covers you for your time both in Cambridge and beyond. See Stephen Fry, who’s been using his since 1978. All of this does however, end on Friday 16th October, so do make sure to bear that in mind. What won’t end however, is our newly extended access membership, in which anyone eligible for a bursary from the university is able to receive up to £65 off the full price of life membership.
At the Union, we’re embarking on new things too. Our chamber is reopening for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, and we’re delighted to be able to host our first in-person events since March. We’ll be joined by figures from across the world this term – some from their homes on other continents, but most from our very own stage itself. So welcome to Cambridge – and welcome back to the Union, as we step into quite a different, yet highly exciting term. The Union’s fundamental purpose has long been for the defence of free speech, and it’s in our debates that this tradition lives on. As you’d expect, our ten debates this term cover a stellar line-up of parliamentarians, with Jacob Rees-Mogg, Baroness Chakrabarti, and the Father of the House joining us in our first two alone. But this year, we’ve returned to our founding rationale with vigour – being especially daring in our motions, and providing a home for the free exchange of ideas on the issues that matter. Joshua Wong, an activist for political freedom in Hong Kong, will be arguing on free speech; we’re hosting a special Remembrance Day debate on the Poppy with war veteran and Sheffield Mayor Dan Jarvis, and on the 22nd October, we’ll be talking about race and protest.
For those returning to Cambridge, you might notice some changes to the way things are running. The safety and wellbeing of our membership is of paramount importance, and we have taken some measures to ensure just that as we navigate these uncertain times. The building, including the chamber, will be operating at reduced capacity, and we will be balloting tickets to all events. It’s going to be quite a different term, but nevertheless, we’re delighted to be back, and to have you with us. If you do have any queries or suggestions, do feel free to email me at president@cus.org. Whether it’s debates, speakers, panels, social events or competitive debating, there will be plenty of things going on this Michaelmas - and with it, plenty of opportunities to get involved. Be it attending events, stewarding them, or simply going for a drink in the bar, we’re excited to welcome all members, old and new alike, for what promises to be an exciting term.
Our speaker line-up, meanwhile, embraces both the the classic and contemporary. Those of you who join us for our political fare will no doubt be particularly delighted by pages 40-41 of this termcard, where we welcome nearly-President Ted Cruz and former Prime Minister Theresa May - all within the space of three days. But this is also a diverse termcard, in more ways than one, and for those keener on pop culture we’re thrilled to be welcoming reality TV star Gemma Collins, actress and activist Jameela Jamil, and current Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers too. It’s difficult to tease the variety of our speakers this term adequately here – but I’m thrilled that we’ve covered so many areas of civic life within just 18 pages.
Best wishes,
Emaan Ullah President, Michaelmas 2020
And this year, some of our most exciting events lie even further into the termcard. We have a very exciting panel on the Labour
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Join the Debate What we offer A Union membership gives you the chance to benefit from everything the Union has to offer, including the building’s facilities, events, and discounts, just like the ones you’ll see in this termcard. We currently offer a discounted life membership for £160, which works out at about £53 per year of a three year degree, or roughly £2.20 per week of term. All students and staff from the University of Cambridge, as well as students from Anglia Ruskin University, Judge Business School and BPP Law School Cambridge are eligible to join. As a member of the Cambridge Union, you’ll have exclusive access to: Renowned weekly debates. The Union has a rich history of debating, and over the past 205 years, members have been witness to debates on all matters, each with their own unique outcome. In recent years, members have seen speakers such as Richard Dawkins, Jacob Rees-Mogg and Shami Chakrabarti take to the floor of our historic debating chamber.
the world’s best debaters, where our coaches offer training sessions and personalised feedback to help you improve. More information can be found on the next page.
Competitive debating, with opportunities for funded international travel. The Union is the heart of competitive debating at Cambridge, and allows members to go from being a novice to one of
Free WiFi, room hire, and study spaces for members. Our building offers free WiFi for its members, and subject to COVID-19 precautions, our rooms can be booked out for your own events.
A newly redeveloped building. Our vast £5.4 million redevelopment is almost finished, and by early 2021, you’ll be among the first to step inside. You’ll have access to discounted prices at our revamped members’ bar and brand new restaurant, as well as a members-only library and World class speakers. Though the Union is first and foremost a debating society, we lounge. have a long tradition of hosting world famous speakers from politics to pop culture. In recent years, we’ve hosted names from Members’ discounts. Microsoft founder Bill Gates, to singer and songwriter Dua Your membership card is the gateway to discounts at various Cambridge retailers,from the famed Jack’s Gelato to Côte Lipa, to actor and producer Robert Downey Jr. Brasserie. Check out below for a full list of discounts! Superb socials. Given COVID-19 precautions, our premises will likely be one Access to the Union’s live-streaming service. of the few spaces large enough to accommodate regular socials If you’re unable to attend an event in-person, we offer a members’ in Michaelmas. We hope the Union will become one of the live-streaming service on our website, allowing you to watch all of our events as they happen live in the chamber. safest and most exciting spaces to spend time this autumn!
Members’ discounts 1815 Bar, 15% off Locker Cafe, 15% off Jack’s Gelatos, 10% off at All Saints store Michaelhouse Cafe, 10% off Up and Running Sportswear, 10% off Alwalton Hall, 10% off Primo Cycles, 10% off The Gardenia, 10% off Cote Brasserie, 10% off set menu at selected times
Fudge Kitchen, 3 for 2 La Raza Cocktail Bar, 25% off Ta Bouche Cocktail Bar, 25% off Novi Cafe, 25% off food Monday-Friday Smokeworks Restaurant, 20% off Lockhouse Escape Room, 20% off Engravers Guild of London, 20% off Granny Ma’s Bubble Tea, 17% off Bellina Chocolate House, 15% off
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Membership Open Period At the beginning of term, we offer what is known as an ‘open period’, whereby all students can attend events, irrespective of whether or not you hold membership, effectively giving you the chance to try before you buy. This will last until midnight on Friday 16th October, along with our discounted membership price of £160, after which it will increase to £180.
Pricing There are two types of membership available: Annual membership - £110 Life membership - £180, reduced to £160 if you purchase before Friday 16th October as part of our freshers’ discount. Both offer the same perks, but for £50 more during our discount period, life membership covers you for your whole time at Cambridge - and beyond. Join at cus.org/join, and collect your membership card from 9:30am-5pm Monday to Friday at our main office, which can be found at 9A Bridge Street, CB2 1UB.
Our open period will feature a couple of debates, a number speakers and socially distanced events. It’s a great opportunity to get to know what the Union has to offer, and what you can look forward to as a member of the society.
Access We also offer discounts to the membership fee as part of our newly extended Access Membership scheme. Any recipient of a Cambridge University Bursary or Anglia Ruskin University Bursary is eligible to apply for Access Membership, and thereby up to £65 off the full cost of life membership. Please see cus.org/join/access-scheme for further information on our criteria.
Adapting to COVID-19 We want to ensure that our members feel safe and relaxed on Union premises during these uncertain times. The Michaelmas team have worked hard to prepare a dual term card of both physical and virtual events, all of which will be taking place in a COVID-secure environment. We are paying close attention to the latest government advice as we prepare for the release of the termcard, and will make changes in line with the most upto-date safety guidelines as required.
and take away. Entry to events will require tickets which can be obtained via a random ballot, and we will ask that you provide relevant details for the Union’s track-and-trace system. Additional COVID-19 related information specific to the events we are hosting will be available closer to the time. We will live-stream all events on our website’s Members Streaming Service and will prepare to take all events online should the situation significantly worsen. We greatly appreciate the flexibility, patience, and understanding of our members as we navigate these changing circumstances. The safety of our members is of paramount importance, and we will make our best efforts to ensure this. We look forward to welcoming members both current and new very soon.
We are currently planning to operate events in person at reduced capacity, with social-distancing measures, temperature checks and sanitiser stations in place at all events. Face-masks will be mandatory at all times on Union premises, with the exception of our bar, which will be operating via table service
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Competitive Debating What we do trips to South Africa, Malaysia, India, and beyond, and are planning trips to places including Seoul, Belgrade, and Shanghai this year! However, even if international travel isn’t for you, our workshops are extremely useful, aiding and abetting your late night essay crisis, and your ability to talk your way through an unprepared-for supervision.
Outside of hosting debates, speakers and entertainment, the Union is also the central hub for competitive debating in Cambridge, and offers members the chance to take part in debating competitions at a local, national and international level. It doesn’t matter if you’ve spent your secondary school years debating, or have never debated before - you need no prior experience to do well. There are multiple training streams (beginners, intermediates, and advanced), and can take you from being a novice to competing alongside some of the world’s best debaters.
For the more practical-minded, and those interested in giving back, we offer the chance to organise a vast range of international debate competitions. Convening is a hugely rewarding process, as you get to brush up on your organisation skills - after convening, no other task will seem stressful again!
Following that, coronavirus depending, you can take your debating skills worldwide: in the past five years, we have funded
Getting involved All news will come through either the Cambridge Debating Facebook group or through our mailing list, so make sure you’ve signed up! For the start of this term, at least, workshops will take place online, with the possibility of transitioning to in-person events if and when coronavirus allows.
Dates for the diary Debating Launch Monday 12th October, 8pm (Virtual) Come and meet the society, and get an insight into how to get involved with debating at Cambridge!
to speak, with your previous experience of debating taken into account, so that we can separate into workshop groups based on ability level for the rest of term. Movement between groups is very common - so don’t worry!
Beginners’ Introduction to Competitive Debating Wednesday 14th October, 8pm This is for people who are just getting started with debating we’ll teach you the ropes of British Parliamentary debating, with everyone being able to speak that wants to.
Workshops Beginners’ and Intermediates’ training will take place on Wednesday evenings, while Advanced Training will take place on Tuesday evenings, and will be advertised through the Cambridge Debating mailing list, as well as through the Cambridge Debating Facebook group.
Squad Try-Outs We will also advertise opportunities to get stuck into our Thursday 15th October, 8pm An opportunity to show off your skills! Everyone will be able charitable activities, so keep attuned for more news.
Find out more Please feel free to get in touch with us, either in person, over Facebook, or through emailing us at debating@cus.org. We’re very keen to answer any and all questions that you might have, and can’t wait until we can meet you all! Cary Godsal and Tamkeen Nawab, Competitive Debating Officers, 2020-2021
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Debates How debates run
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.
This term, debates will be taking place every Thursday, from 7:45pm to 9:15pm, in our debating chamber. There are typically six speakers in a debate, two of which 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 in a debate!
Though they unfortunately won’t be taking place this term, we are hoping for them to resume as soon as possible. We’ll be communicating all updates via the members’ mailing list and on our social media, so keep an eye out for when opportunities do arise!
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!
Can’t make the debate?
You can watch the debate on our members’ livestream, which can be found at cus.org/livestream. To get involved through social media, you can use the hashtags #CUS or #CUSdebate.
Food and drink
Due to recent government regulations, the bar will not be open after the debate, but we’re hoping for that to change as and when restrictions ease. You can of course, drop by the 1815 bar prior to the debate and grab a drink while you wait for the debate to start. All members get 15% off!
If that does happen to be the case, and you’re still keen to give your two pennies’ worth, you have the chance to deliver a floor speech. These are given in either proposition, opposition or abstention of the motion, and can be a little longer than a point of information, but still try to keep them brief. It’s also worth noting that the best speeches can win you prizes, which include punting sessions, cocktail workshops, or even restaurant vouchers.
COVID-19
As per government regulations, things will be operating a little differently this term. Entry to debates will require tickets, which can be obtained via a random ballot that will be circulated to members via email and social media.
At the end of the debate, the tellers will keep count of everyone’s votes, and will work out the outcome after everyone’s left the chamber. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to announce results in the bar as we typically would, but we will make sure to publish them online.
Whilst on the premises, social distancing must be observed at all times, as will the wearing of masks with the exception of the bar, which will be operating via table service and takeaway. Upon entry to debates, temperatures will be taken, and we will ask you provide relevant details for our track and trace system.
Get involved
In addition to speaking in the main debate, making points of information and delivering floor speeches, the Union also holds weekly emergency debates. 8
Contents No Confidence
page 10
Free Speech
page 12
Race
page 14
America
page 16
Comedy
page 18
Remembrance
page 20
Church
page 22
Middle East
page 24
Arts
page 26
Presidential
TBA
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1 10
This House Has
No Confidence in Her Majesty’s Government 7:45pm, Thursday 8th October In the wake of COVID-19, the government has been subject to both ardent applause and severe scrutiny. Has it shown a swift and smooth approach to tackling the virus? Or has it been nothing short of catastrophic, with one of the world’s highest death tolls, and a nation left truly and utterly divided?
Proposition Ash Sarkar Ash Sarkar is a journalist, activist, and senior editor at Novara Media. She also contributes to the Guardian and The Independent, focussing her work on race, gender, class and power. She also lectures in political theory at the Sandberg Instituut, and in 2017, taught Global Politics at Anglia Ruskin University as an associate lecturer.
Tan Dhesi MP Tan Dhesi is the Labour Member of Parliament for Slough, and is also the current Shadow Minister for Rail, having also been appointed earlier this year by Keir Starmer. He is also the former mayor of Gravesham and chair of Gravesham Constituency Labour Party. He is also a graduate of Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he read for a Master of Philosophy in the History and Politics of South Asia. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition The Rt. Hon Jacob Rees-Mogg MP Jacob Rees-Mogg is the Conservative Member of Parliament for North East Somerset, and is currently the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council. He has previously been a member of the Exiting the European Union Committee, the Treasury Select Committee and the Procedure Committee.
Sir Peter Bottomley MP Peter Bottomley is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Worthing West, and was a member of Margaret Thatcher’s government. He has been an MP since 1975, which following the 2019 general election, has made him the Father of the House of Commons. He is a graduate of Trinity College, Cambridge, where he read for a Bachelor’s degree in Economics.
Dean Russell MP Dean Russell is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Watford. He was the former Conservative Party parliamentary candidate for Luton South in 2017, and a former district councillor.
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2 12
This House Believes
Free Speech is Dead
7:45pm, Thursday 15th October
What role does free speech play in education, politics, diplomacy, art, and activism - and is it still to be found? What constitutes freedom of expression and opinion, and what are its benefits and harms? What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had, globally, on our ability to speak our minds? This debate asks whether political correctness really has gone mad, or remains a powerful force for good.
Proposition Joshua Wong (Virtual) Joshua Wong is a student activist and politician from Hong Kong, who previously served as the Secretary-General of pro-democracy party Demosistō. He first rose to international prominence during the 2014 Hong Kong protests, and has played a major role in both the Umbrella Movement, and in persuading US politicians to pass the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act during the 2019 protests. He has also been the subject of two documentaries, including the Netflix original, Joshua: Teenager vs Superpower. Professor Eric Kaufmann Eric Kaufmann is a Professor of Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London, and is a specialist on Orangeism in Northern Ireland, nationalism, political demography and religious demography. He has authored a number of books and reports, including Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth (2010), The Orange Order (2007) and The Rise and Fall of AngloAmerica (2004). He has also written for Prospect, Newsweek International and foreign policy magazines. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition The Rt. Hon Shami Chakrabarti (Virtual) Shami Chakrabarti is a Labour Party politician, barrister, and human rights activist. Between 2016 and 2020, she served as Shadow Attorney General for England to Wales. Prior to that, she was the director of Liberty, an advocacy group promoting civil liberties and human rights, and held the post between 2003 and 2016. She has written and broadcast widely, and has authored two books: On Liberty (2014) and On Women (2017). Inaya Folarin Iman Inaya Folarin Iman is a writer, political commentator and social campaigner. She is a director of the Free Speech Union, and has written for the Telegraph, The Spectator, Spiked and several other publications, focussing on politics and philosophy, with a particular interest in ‘big picture’ subjects like freedom of speech, democracy and liberty. She is also the founder of the Equiano Project, a debate, discussion and ideas forum, focussed on issues of race, culture and politics. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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This House Would
Stop Talking and Start Listening
7:45pm, Thursday 22nd October
Is Britain having a conversation about race? Who is talking about race, and why? Who is and isn’t listening? Is it ever helpful for white allies to insert themselves into the conversation? This debate will centre on who is doing anti-racist work and who isn’t, the role of discourse and dialogue in tackling institutionalised racism, and the power and the limitations of allyship.
Proposition Heidi Safia Mirza Heidi Safia Mirza is Emeritus Professor of Equalities Studies at University College London, and Visiting Professor of Race, Faith and Culture at Goldsmiths, University of London. A daughter of the Windrush generation and one of the first Black female professors in Britain, Heidi is known for her intersectional research on race, gender and identity in education. She has authored several best-selling books, including Young Female and Black, and Black British Feminism. Farrukh Dhondy Farrukh Dhondy is a writer, playwright, screenplay writer and activist. He was born in Pun, India, and later came to Britain on a scholarship, and read English at Pembroke College, Cambridge. He published thirty books, and was the Commissioning Editor for Multicultural programmes at Channel 4 between 1984 and 1997. He was a member of the British Black Panther Movement and the Race Today collective of activists and writers. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition Dr. Remi Adekoya Remi Adekoya is a writer, lecturer and political scientist, with an interest in identity and African development. He has written for the Guardian, the Washington Post, the Spectator, among others, and is the author of the upcoming book Biracial Britain: A Different Way of Looking at Race, which explores race and identity from a mixed-race perspective. Dr. Sunny Singh Sunny Singh is the Professor of Creative Writing and Inclusion in the Arts at London Metropolitan University. She has authored three critically acclaimed novels: Nani’s Book of Suicides (2000), With Krishna’s Eyes (2006), and Hotel Arcadia (2015), and is the founder of the Jhalak Prize for Book of the Year by a Writer of Colour, the Jhalak Children’s & YA Prize and the Jhalak Art Residency. She is currently finalising a monograph on Indian cinema, as well as a collection of short stories examining aspects of armed conflict over the past century. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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4 16
This House Believes
The End is Nigh for American 7:45pm, Thursday 27th October Supremacy Trump’s policy of ‘America first’ has seen America withdraw increasingly from the world stage, away from its key allies and partnerships, and towards protectionism, isolation, and hostility. But with the presidential election around the corner, is there a glimmer of hope for America? Or will this be the final nail in the coffin? Or is all of this nothing more than scaremongering from liberals?
Proposition To Be Confirmed
To Be Confirmed
Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition To Be Confirmed
To Be Confirmed
Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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5 18
This House Would
Re-Enact the Gunpowder Plot (on the assumption no-one was in Parliament at the time)
7:45pm, Thursday 5th November
Is it time we took action a little more radical than a vote of No Confidence? Should we bring Bonfire Night back with a boom? How would Guy Fawkes fare in 2020? Come along to this debate to hear from the Footlights in a light-hearted take on history and today’s turbulent politics.
In collaboration with the Cambridge Footlights
Proposition Jade Franks Jade Franks is a third year at St Edmund’s College studying Education, English, and Theatre. She’s President of the Footlights by day, General Secretary of the People’s Republic of Merseyside by night.
Joe Venable Joe is in his third year reading English at St Edmund’s College. He has definitely won a large number of prestigious comedy and debating awards, but alas, the constraints of space prevent him from listing them all here.
Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition Gabriel Barton-Singer Gabriel was President of the Union before this whole pandemic thing, and is currently unemployed.
Katie Davey Kate is a third year reading Education at Emmanuel College, who believed she was allergic to ginger beer for 19 years before it was just a big prank by her parents. She is hoping to embody their inexplicable confidence and commitment to a slightly strange cause in this debate. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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6 20
This House Would
Not Wear the Poppy 7:45pm, Tuesday 10th November Is it too easy to forget the past when it’s not visibly commemorated, or is there a risk that the memorialisation of war glorifies it? Is it possible to object to political militarism while giving due reverence to the heroes of the past? What does the poppy mean to those who wear it, and what message does it send to the next generation of decision makers and world leaders? This debate will centre on what it means to fight ‘for Queen and country’, and the role the poppy plays in our present and historical relationship to war, intervention, militarism, and patriotism.
Proposition
Ted Harrison (Virtual) Ted Harrison is artist, writer, broadcaster and journalist. A former BBC correspondent, he is also the author of Remembrance Today: Poppies, Grief and Heroism, an examination of how and why notions of heroism, of duty and of grief have become confused over time,and calls for a refocusing of Remembrance that will return us to its original purpose. In 2011, his art installation Innocence Betrayed was the Remembrance Day focus at St Paul’s Cathedral, London. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition Dan Jarvis MP Dan Jarvis is the Labour Member of Parliament for Barnsley Central, and in 2018 was elected as Mayor of the Sheffield City Region. He joined the British Army in 1996 and after completing training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, was commissioned into The Parachute Regiment. He was subsequently deployed to Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2011, Dan became the first person since World War Two to resign a commission in order to contest a Parliamentary by-election. Alexandra Churchill Alexandra Churchill is an author and television historian specialising in World War One, military, royal and maritime history. She is a co-founder of the Great War Group, a non-profit organisation to promote education on, and commemoration of, the First World War. She has contributed to and appeared in numerous television documentaries, including Timewatch, Fighting the Red Baron, Titanic with Len Goodman, and The Big Dig.
Abstention Geoff Tibbs Geoff Tibbs is a peace campaigner from the Peace Pledge Union, a non-governmental organisation that promotes pacifism. Every year before Remembrance Day, the Peace Pledge Union distributes white poppies, which have been worn since the 1930s as a symbol of peace and remembrance for all victims of war. In his other work, Geoff is a painter and a magician, and has edited several volumes of creative writing. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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7 22
This House Believes
The Catholic Church Should 7:45pm, Thursday Repent for its Sins 12th November The current Pope has said that he prefers “a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security.” Do you agree? Should the church look outwards and engage with the world, or does it first need to look inwards and atone for its own recent past?
Proposition Richard Scorer Richard Scorer is Head of Abuse Law at Slater & Gordon Lawyers and a Vice-President of the National Secular Society. He is one of Britain’s leading lawyers representing victims and survivors of child abuse, and published his book Betrayed: The English Catholic Church and the Sex Abuse Crisis was in 2014. Over the last 25 years, he has represented hundreds of survivors of clerical sex abuse in civil cases and in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sex Abuse. David Enright David Enright is a partner at the law firm Howe & Co., and is a regular commentator on national and international media on high profile legal issues. He is also a Justice of the Peace and a Visiting Fellow at University College London. Some of David’s notable cases include the Gurkha Justice Campaign, the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and the Grenfell Tower Public Inquiry. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition Dr. Gemma Simmonds Dr Gemma Simmonds is a sister of the Congregation of Jesus. She is a senior lecturer in pastoral theology, based at the Margaret Beaufort Institute of Theology in Cambridge, where she is also director of the Religious Life Institute. She has been a missionary in Brazil, a chaplain in the Universities of Cambridge and London, as well as a chaplaincy volunteer in Holloway Prison for 26 years. She is a regular broadcaster on religious matters on the BBC. To Be Confirmed
Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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8 24
This House Believes
Peace in the Middle East Runs 7:45pm, Thursday Through the Gulf 19th November This August, the United Arab Emirates became the third Arab country to officially normalise its relationship with Israel. Bahrain followed suit just last month, and these accords have been lauded by the American and Israeli governments as the most significant step forward for peace in the Middle East in a quarter of a century. However, the Palestinian leadership have criticised the agreements, arguing that Palestinians were ignored and betrayed. Is the Gulf boldly advancing peace in the region, or are they simply undermining Arab unity for the sake of their own regional interests?
Proposition
Yossi Klein Halevi (Virtual) Yossi Klein Halevi is an American-Israeli author and journalist, and is a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem. He has written numerous critically acclaimed booking books including Memoirs of a Jewish Extremist, At the Entrance to the Garden of Eden: A Jew’s Search for God with Christians and Muslims in the Holy Land, and Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor, which was a New York Times bestseller. Natasha Hausdorff Natasha Hausdorff is a British barrister and campaigner. Recently, she was Pegasus Scholar and Fellow in the National Security Law Programme at Columbia Law School in New York, lecturing on aspects of public international law and national security policy. She studied law at Oxford University, and clerked for the President of the Supreme Court of Israel in Jerusalem. Hausdorff is also a Director of UK Lawyers for Israel. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Opposition Dr. Hanan Ashrawi (Virtual) Hanan Ashrawi is a Palestinian legislator, activist and academic who serves on the Palestine Liberation Organisation’s Executive Committee and leads its Department of Culture and Information. She served as an official spokesperson of the Palestinian delegation to the Middle East peace process, from the Madrid Peace Conference of 1991 onwards. Her 1995 book, This Side of Peace chronicles the human and political drama at the heart of the negotiations. Professor Eugene Rogan FBA Eugene Rogan is a historian of the Middle East, who has been a Professor of Modern Middle Eastern History at Oxford since 2015, and Director of the Middle East Centre at St. Antony’s College. He undertook a doctorate in Middle Eastern history at Harvard University and then joined Oxford’s Faculty of Oriental Studies as a lecturer in 1991. His widely acclaimed book The Arabs: A History was published by Penguin in 2009. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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This House Believes
Art is Always Political
7:45pm, Thursday 26th November
Can art ever detach itself from the world in which it is produced? Is there something inherently subversive about literature, or is a conservative canon the worst enemy of progress? Can theatre change the status quo? How does music help or hinder social movements? This debate will centre on the role of art, from Michelangelo to contemporary pop culture, in our everyday lives and the makeup of our society, past and present.
Proposition Andrew Nairne OBE Andrew Nairne OBE is Director of Kettle’s Yard, the University of Cambridge’s modern and contemporary art gallery. He has held positions such as the Director of Modern Art Oxford, Chair of the Visual Arts and Galleries Association, and Executive Director of Arts Strategy at the Arts Council England. He was also Visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford. He received the Order of the British Empire in the 2019 New Year Honours for services to Museums and to the Arts. Shona McCarthy Shona McCarthy is the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the world’s largest arts festival. She is also Chair at Walk the Plank (Manchester) and Oh Yeah Music Centre (Belfast), and previously worked as Director of British Council Northern Ireland. She has been awarded both the Eisenhower Fellowship for Innovation and a Nesta Fellowship for Cultural Leadership. She has worked on cultural regeneration in places including Hong Kong, Indonesia, and India. Dr. Sarah Dillon Dr Sarah Dillon is a feminist film and literary critic, and theorist at the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge. Her upcoming book, Storylistening: Narrative Evidence and Public Reasoning, makes the case for the importance of taking stories seriously in the context of high-level decision making and policy making. She has also authored The Palimpsest: Literature, Criticism, Theory and Deconstruction, Feminism, Film. Sarah also works regularly as an arts broadcaster for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 4.
Opposition James Graham OBE FRSL James Graham is a playwright and screenwriter. His play This House enjoyed a sell-out premier run, Olivier-nominated West End revival, and much interest and admiration from current and former MPs for his rendition of life in the House of Commons. He won an Olivier Award for his play Labour of Love, and his play Ink was nominated for six Tony Awards. James’s screen work includes Brexit: An Uncivil War, which starred Benedict Cumberbatch, and was both Emmy and BAFTA-nominated. Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
Student speaker This could be you! Audition details can be found on page 8.
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Speakers How speaker events run
possible, and will be communicating changes via the members’ mailing list and on our social media as and when restrictions ease.
Speaker events offer members the chance to hear from, and engage with, some of the world’s most prominent figures, across fields such as politics, science, film, music and academia. The format of these vary slightly, but typically include either the delivery of a speech or a semi-structured interview between a student moderator and a speaker, followed by a question and answer session within which members are encouraged to take part.
Cancellations
In the case of speaker cancellations, we will do our best to reschedule as soon as possible and convey updated dates and times.
Can’t make the event?
You can watch the speaker event on our members’ livestream, which can be found at cus.org/livestream.
This term, and for the first time in our 205 year history, we will be holding speaker events both physically and virtually. Physical events will run as they normally would, whereby speakers address members live from the chamber, but as for our virtual speakers, they will be livestreamed from our chamber and projected onto the walls. Members will be able to ballot for places at all these events, and engage with both physical and live speakers during Q&As.
COVID-19
As per government regulations, things will be operating a little differently this term. Entry to events will require tickets, which can be obtained via a random ballot that will be circulated to members via email and social media. Whilst on the premises, social distancing must be observed at all times, as will the wearing of masks with the exception of the bar, which will be operating via table service and takeaway. Upon entry to debates, temperatures will be taken, and we will ask you provide relevant details for our track and trace system.
Meet and greet
Due to current government regulations, we regret that meet and greets will not be able to take place this term. We hope that these can resume as soon as
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Contents Robert Rinder
page 30
Julia Gillard
page 30
RAY BLK
page 31
Maverick Sabre
page 31
Jameela Jamil
page 32
TinashĂŠ
page 33
Waad al-Kateab
page 34
Cass Sunstein
page 34
Rainn Wilson
page 35
Sebastian Coe
page 35
Dr. Jane Goodall
page 36
Brendan Rodgers
page 37
Gemma Collins
page 38
Claude Littner
page 39
Noah Cyrus
page 39
Senator Ted Cruz
page 40
Theresa May MP
page 41
Andre Aciman
page 42
Emeli SandĂŠ
page 42
Iain Dale & Roger Mosey
page 43
Leo Varadkar
page 43
Rita Ora
page 44
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
page 45
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Robert Rinder 6pm, Tuesday 6th October Judge Rinder is a British criminal barrister and television personality. He was called to the Bar in 2011 and his practice at 2 Hare Court focuses on international fraud, money laundering and other forms of financial crime. Since 2014, he has hosted the reality courtroom series, Judge Rinder. In 2019, he also began hosting the Channel 4 series The Rob Rinder Verdict. Rinder came fifth in the fourteenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. He is notorious for his witty asides and no-nonsense approach when dealing with the novel disputes that come before him on his Television show. In 2018, he took part in a moving episode of the BBC’s genealogy programme, Who Do You Think You Are?
Julia Gillard AC 10am, Wednesday 7th October Virtual Julia Gillard was the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, the first and only woman to hold that position. She previously served as deputy prime minister of Australia from 2007 until 2010. Gillard’s famous Parliamentary speech against misogyny was voted ‘Most Unforgettable Australian TV Moment’ in a 13,000 vote poll by the Guardian. Together with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, she wrote Women and Leadership: Real Lives, Real Lessons which is an account of two high achieving women with an exposition of how gender impacts women’s access to and experience of leadership. It features an array of female leaders including Theresa May, Jacinda Ardern, and Hillary Clinton.
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RAY BLK
7pm, Friday 16th October Hailing from South East London, Rita Ekwere, known as RAY BLK, is a singersongwriter known for her introspective and sociopolitical lyrics. ‘BLK’ stands for “Building Living Knowing”, which she describes as her three main values. Her status amongst fans and critics alike has earnt her widespread praise, and in 2017, she became the first unsigned artist to win the BBC’s annual Sound of Award. In 2016, she released her debut mini-album, Durt, which featured collaborations with Stormzy and Wretch 32. In 2018, Ray released her debut full-length album, ‘Empress’. In 2019, Ray opened for Nicki Minaj in the UK leg of the Nicki Wrld Tour.
Maverick Sabre
Maverick Sabre is a singer, songwriter, and rapper, who came onto the scene through collaborations with Professor Green and Chase & Status. His debut album, ‘Lonely Are The Brave’, landed at number 2 on the UK album charts and sold over 250,000 copies. Since then, Maverick has been nominated for the Critic’s Choice Award at The BRIT Awards, guest featured on Jorja Smith’s USA tour and performed at major UK festivals such as Glastonbury Festival.
6:30pm, Monday 26th October
Maverick’s latest album ‘When I Wake Up’ has been a huge success since its release in 2019, with over 15 million streams to date. The album’s release was followed by a sold out UK/Ireland tour and a USA tour, which boasted sold out shows in LA and New York, and guest appearances from Jorja Smith, George The Poet and K Koke.
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Jameela Jamil 7pm, Monday 19th October Virtual
Jameela Jamil is an actress, radio presenter, model, writer and activist, who is best known for her role as Tahani in NBC’s critically acclaimed ‘The Good Place’. The show won and was nominated for many awards, including two Golden Globes. She first burst on to the scene in 2008 as a co-host of Channel 4’s ‘Freshly Squeezed’, and ‘T4’. Later in 2013, she became the first female solo presenter of BBC Radio 1’s ‘The Official Chart Show’, and, in addition to her broadcast work, fronted multiple modelling and advertising campaigns. Jameela is also a passionate advocate for many causes, and in 2018 launched a movement and social media platform called @i_Weigh, which is a community allyship platform with over 1.2 million followers. It is built to connect, empower and amplify diverse voices on issues stemming from mental health, to climate change, to the representation of marginalised groups and communities.
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Tinashé
7pm, Wednesday 28th October Virtual
Tinashé is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, producer and actress. Originally from Kentucky, she moved to Los Angeles in the early 2000s, where she established her acting career, starring alongside Tom Hanks in The Polar Express, and in a recurring role in the sitcom Two and a Half Men. Toward the end of that decade, she joined the Stunners, a short-lived teen pop group that recorded opened for Justin Bieber on his My World Tour. Following the group’s disbandment, Tinashé went solo, and made her commercial debut in 2014 with 2 On, a platinum Top 40 hit collaboration with DJ Mustard and ScHoolboy Q. This set up a trio of albums, including Aquarius and Nightride, both of which went Top Ten in the US R&B/Hip-Hop charts. She has also starred in the Emmy-award winning television special Rent: Live and released her album Songs for You in 2019.
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Waad al-Kateab 4pm, Tuesday 27th October
Waad al-Kateab is a Syrian journalist, filmmaker, activist and mother from Aleppo. Her 2019 documentary For Sama was nominated for four BAFTAs and won the award for best documentary. When the Syrian Civil War broke out in 2011, she began reporting on events for Channel 4 News. She decided to stay in her city and to document the subsequent five years she spent in years in Aleppo, falling in love with Hamza, a local doctor, and giving birth to their first daughter, Sama. al-Kateab won an International Emmy in 2017 for her coverage of the Siege of Aleppo. She would later tell the 73rd BAFTA awards ceremony: “At one moment… when I was in contact with Channel 4 News, we even thought [about] where we should bury our footage in case we didn’t make it – ‘this needs to be saved’.”
Cass Sunstein 5pm, Friday 30th October Virtual
Cass Sunstein is an American legal scholar with a particular focus in behavioral economics. He was the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2012, and is the New York Times bestselling author of The World According to Star Wars (2016) and Nudge (2008). In July 2017, Sunstein was elected a Corresponding Fellow of the British Academy. His status among legal minds is unparalleled as the most cited legal scholar in the United States. Sunstein’s most recent publications include “Conformity: The Power of Social Influences.” (2019) and “How Change Happens.” (2019).
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Rainn Wilson
7pm, Monday 2nd November Virtual
Rainn Wilson is an actor, writer, and producer, best known for playing Dwight Schrute in the NBC sitcom The Office, for which he earned three consecutive Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. Originally from Seattle, he began acting at the University of Washington and would feature in numerous Hollywood productions. He played the lead role in The Rocker (2008) and Super (2010), as well as supporting roles in the horror films Cooties (2014) and The Boy (2015). His voice was used for the computer motion picture Monsters vs. Aliens. Wilson published his autobiography, The Bassoon King, in late 2015.
Sebastian Coe Tuesday 3rd November
Seb Coe is an athlete and politician, who won four Olympic medals and set nine outdoor and three world records in middle-distance events. In 1979, he set three world records in the space of 41 days, and the record he set for the 800 metres in 1981 remained unbeaten until 1997. Coe later served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Falmouth and Camborne from 1992 to 1997, and was later elevated to the House of Lords in 2000. In 2004, Coe was chosen to head London’s bid for the 2012 Olympics. After its success, he became the chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games. In 2015, he was elected president of World Athletics - the sport’s international governing body. In December 2012 he was given the Lifetime Achievement award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
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H AW K I N G F E L LOWS H I P 2 0 2 0
Dr. Jane Goodall
Monday 9th November Virtual Kindly sponsored by:
The Professor Hawking Fellowship was established by the Cambridge Union in partnership with Professor Stephen Hawking to recognise his contribution to Cambridge, including academia and the awareness of disability rights. Professor Hawking delivered the inaugural lecture in 2017, and it has since been given by Sir Jony Ive (2018) and Bill Gates (2019). Recipients of the fellowship must fulfil the criteria of being distinguished in the fields of STEM, and of having made a significant or historic contribution to social discourse. In the Fellowship’s fourth year, we are delighted to announce that Dr. Jane Goodall DBE will be the 2020 Hawking Fellow, especially as this marks the 60th anniversary of her work in Tanzania. Jane Goodall is a British ethologist and primatologist, best known for her highly detailed and long-term research on the Kasakela chimpanzee community of Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania. It was here that she rectified a number of misunderstandings about chimpanzees, finding, for example, that they are omnivorous, not vegetarian, or that they are capable of making and using tools. Goodall has published a number of works about numerous aspects of her work, notably In the Shadow of Man (1971), in which she details her early years of study of chimpanzees. In 1977, she co-founded the Jane Goodall Institute ( JGI) in California,and later moved its headquarters to the Washington DC area. The work of both Dr. Goodall and the JGI has not only established and maintained the world’s longest running study of wild chimpanzees, but they have also collaborated extensively with local people to champion community-led organisation and sustainable development projects. Throughout this time, she has continued to write books and articles, such as The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behaviour (1986), which provides a summary of her years of observation in Gombe. Other works of hers focus on environmental and conservation issues, and in 2002, she become a UN Messenger of Peace.
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Brendan Rodgers Wednesday 11th November
Brendan Rodgers is the manager of Leicester City. He formerly managed Liverpool, replacing Kenny Dalglish. Following numerous successes at Liverpool, he moved to Celtic, which he led to two Scottish Premiership titles, two Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups. He played in his youth with Ballymena United, before signing with Reading, but had to retire from professional football at the age of 20 as due to a genetic knee condition. From 2004 he served as Chelsea’s head youth coach after impressing Jose Mourinho during a spell in Spain. Following a promotion to reserve-team manager at Chelsea, Rodgers spent time in senior managerial roles in Watford, Reading and Swansea, elevating the Welsh club to the Premier League.
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Gemma Collins 6:30pm, Friday 13th November
Gemma Collins first burst onto our screens when she joined BAFTA award-winning reality-TV show, ‘The Only Way is Essex’ in 2011, and has since become one of the nation’s most-loved television stars, renowned for her hilarious one-liners and striking personality. Gemma possesses a strong influence on social media, with over 1.2 million followers on Twitter, and 2 million followers on Instagram. Alongside her work in television, Gemma is also a businesswoman, running a successful plus-sized fashion boutique. She has published two books, created her own perfume, launched collaborations with Boohoo and In The Style, and hosts a weekly podcast produced by the BBC.
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Claude Littner 6pm, Monday 16th November
Renowned for his cut-throat appearances on all fifteen series of BBC One’s The Apprentice, Claude Littner is one of the UK’s most forthright business leaders - especially when told he had just six months to live in 1997 when diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He has chaired Amstrad International, ASCO, Viglen, Powerleague, and Azzuri Communications, and served as Chief Executive of Tottenham from 1993-1998. In 2014, the University of West London’s Business School was renamed the Claude Littner Business School in acknowledgement of his contributions to the university of which he is a Visiting Professor.
Noah Cyrus
Noah Cyrus is an American actress, singer and songwriter. One of today’s hottest upand-coming artists, Noah has forged her own path in music, since her debut single ‘Make Me (Cry)’ went straight to number one on Spotify’s Viral Global Chart within hours.
Tuesday 17th November Virtual
She has collaborated with artists including Labrinth and Leon Bridges, and is renowned for her honest lyrics which stem deep from her musical roots. Noah completed her first headline tour in autumn 2018, has graced Coachella twice, was included in Billboard’s 21 Under 21 for three consecutive years, and was named one of Time’s 30 Most Influential Teens in 2017.
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Senator Ted Cruz 5pm, Wednesday 18th November Virtual
Ted Cruz is the junior senator from Texas. In 2003, he became the youngest appointed solicitor general in the United States, arguing numerous cases in front of the Supreme Court. Following his election to the Senate in 2012, he became a firebrand of the Republican Party. Most recently, he came in second to President Donald Trump in the Republican primary election in 2016. During the impeachment trial, Cruz served as a key advisor to the President and was crucial in the legal arguments successfully acquitting him. His upcoming book, One Vote Away, a chronology of the importance of the Supreme Court, will be released on 6th October.
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Theresa May MP Friday 20th November
Theresa May has served as the Conservative Member of Parliament for Maidenhead since 1997, but is perhaps better known for being the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, where she held the position between 2016 and 2019. Prior to her role as Prime Minister, she held several positions within Parliament and Government. She was a member of the Shadow Cabinet from 1999 to 2010, and from 2002 to 2003 she was the first female Chairman of the Conservative Party. Between 2010 and 2016, she served as Home Secretary.
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André Aciman is an Eg yptian-American writer, widely known for his vivid and stirring novels, such as Call Me by Your Name. Of it, the Washington Post wrote, “if you have ever been the willing victim of obsessive love… you will recognize every nuance”. Aciman’s memoir Out of Egypt describes his family’s Sephardic roots, and was described by Michiko Kakutani as a “remarkable memoir... that leaves the reader with a mesmerizing portrait of a now-vanished world.” Aciman is also Professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where he teaches literary theory and Marcel Proust.
Andre Aciman
7pm, Wednesday 25th November Virtual
Emeli Sandé 6pm, Monday 30th November
Emeli Sandé is a British artist, singer and songwriter, renowned for her R&B, soul and gospel works. She has won four BRIT and three MOBO awards. Sandé’s first solo single Heaven was released in August 2011 to critical acclaim. Two UK and Ireland number-one singles followed: Read All About It with Professor Green and Beneath Your Beautiful, with Labrinth. Her album Our Version of Events spent ten weeks at number one and became the best-selling album of 2012 in the UK. In 2012, she performed in both the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the London Olympics.
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5pm, Friday 4th December
Iain Dale is a broadcaster, commentator and publisher. In 2003, he became the first openly gay Conservative candidate to contest a Parliamentary election. Since 2010, he has hosted a major discussion show on LBC, winning Radio Presenter of the Year in both 2013 and 2016. Dale is the founder of Britain’s leading political publisher, Biteback Publishing. The company has published more than 600 books, including the bestseller, Call Me Dave: The Unauthorised Biography of David Cameron and The Alastair Campbell Diaries.
Iain Dale & Roger Mosey
Roger Mosey is the Master of Selwyn College, and served as the head of the BBC’s television news, directing its 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games coverage. Mosey was also the editor of Radio 4’s Today programme.
Leo Varadkar
TBC
Leo Varadkar is an Irish politician who was Taoiseach and Minister for Defence from 2017 to 2020, and at age 38, his appointment made him Ireland’s the youngest ever Taoiseach. He was also the first person of Indian heritage to hold that office, and the fourth openly gay head of government in the world. He currently serves as Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In the midst of the 2015 equal marriage referendum, Varadkar came out as gay, making him the first serving Irish minister to do so. Varadkar was included in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018.
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Rita Ora TBC
Rita Ora is an British-Albanian singer, songwriter and actress. Originally from Pristina, Kosovo, to Albanian parents, she fled the former Yugoslavia with her family in 1991 and relocated to England, where she was raised in Notting Hill. She first rose to prominence when she featured on DJ Fresh’s 2012 single Hot Right Now, and quickly rose to the top the UK charts with her debut album Ora, released later that year, which included number one singles such as R.I.P and How We Do (Party). Between Ora and her second studio album Phoenix, released in 2018, she has remained on the charts with a consistent string of singles and collaborations, including Black Widow with Iggy Azalea (2014), Doing It with Charli XCX (2014), and Poison (2015).
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge TBC Whether it’s Fleabag, or Killing Eve, one name springs to mind. Though we’re yet to confirm a date, we’re hoping to hear soon from the two-time Golden Globe Award and three-time Emmy Award winning actress, writer and producer.
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Panels How panels run
this term. We hope that these can resume as soon as possible, and will be communicating changes via the members’ mailing list and on our social media, as and when restrictions ease.
Our panel events are live, thought-provoking discussions amongst a selected group of three or four speakers who all share differing perspectives. Each panel event is typically facilitated by a student moderator who guides the panel and the audience through the event, which typically lasts for an hour. We hope for our panel events to be warm and welcoming spaces that encourage meaningful discussions between panellists and attendees.
Can’t make the debate?
You can watch the speaker event on our members’ livestream, which can be found at cus.org/livestream.
COVID-19
As per government regulations, things will be operating a little differently this term. Entry to panels will require tickets, which can be obtained via a random ballot that will be circulated to members via email and social media.
This term, we will be holding panel events both physically and virtually, where some speakers will join us in the chamber, and others will be livestreamed from our chamber and projected onto the walls. Members will be able to ballot for places at all these events, and engage with both physical and live speakers during Q&As.
Whilst on the premises, social distancing must be observed at all times, as will the wearing of masks with the exception of the bar, which will be operating via table service and takeaway. Upon entry to debates, temperatures will be taken, and we will ask that you provide relevant details for the Union’s track and trace system.
Meet and greet
Due to current government regulations, we regret that meet and greets will not be able to take place
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Coronavirus has rapidly changed the way in which individuals relate to one another, transforming our intimate connections and relations. How will we, as students, explore sex and relationships whilst at university in the age of COVID-19? Can we, and should we, utilise technology for pleasure? We hope for this to be a welcoming space in which all individuals can express opinions and concerns, share experiences and ask questions, irrespective of gender, sexuality, relationship structures and disabilities.
Sex Education Let’s talk about sex 6:30pm, Wednesday 14th October
Dr. Anand Patel Dr Anand Patel is a GP based in inner London and also works at the Centre for Men’s Health on Harley Street, London treating sexual dysfunction and testosterone deficiency. He speaks both locally and nationally on behalf of the British Society of Sexual Medicine, and co-hosts The Pleasure Podcast which focuses on sex, relationships and intimacy.
Hannah Witton Hannah Witton is an award-winning sex and relationships YouTuber and author. In addition to her YouTube channel which has attracted over 80 million views, Hannah hosts a popular podcast, and has written two books called ‘Doing it’ and ‘The Hormone Diaries’. Regarded as one of the UK’s leading young voices, she is best known for her candid and open exploration of intimacy, disability, body image, gender and sexuality.
Sarah Mulindwa Sarah Mulindwa is a qualified nurse and star of Channel 4’s ‘The Sex Clinic’. She specialises in sexual health and relationships, and, in addition to her work in television and media, Sarah practices at one of London’s busiest sexual health clinics. Sarah also has a background in fashion as a stylist and was fashion editor of the 1883 magazine.
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Class
University challenge: how can higher education improve access for, and the experience of, those from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds? 6:30pm, Wednesday 4th November Despite the vast expansion of the United Kingdom’s higher education provision from the 1960’s onwards, concern remains about the under-representation of students from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Compared to their middle and upper class peers, they are statistically much less likely to apply to and win a place at the most selective institutions in the UK. How do we remedy this under-representation? How can universities make themselves more attractive to non-traditional applicants?
Ibz Mo Ibrahim Mohammed, more commonly known as Ibz Mo, is an educational influencer and YouTuber, who read Psychological and Behavioural Sciences at Wolfson College, Cambridge, and graduated in 2019. He began his YouTube channel just over three years ago to document his time at Cambridge as an ethnic minority and workingclass student, and today, has a total of over 125,000 subscribers, and over 11 million views.
Professor Lee Elliot Major OBE Professor Lee Elliot Major is Professor of Social Mobility at the University of Exeter, and is Britain’s first in the field. Alongside being a former Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust and authoring multiple books, Lee is also an Honorary Professor at the UCL Institute of Education, an Associate Member of Nuffield College, Oxford, and an Associate of LSE’s Centre for Economic Performance.
Professor Kalwant Bhopal Professor Kalwant Bhopal is Professor of Education and Social Justice and Director of the Centre for Research in Race and Education (CRRE) at the University of Birmingham. Her research focuses on the achievements and experiences of minority ethnic groups in education, and she has conducted extensive research on exploring discourses of identity and intersectionality, examining the lives of BME groups as well as the marginal position of Traveller communities.
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Yemen
Can Yemen continue as one country, or will it fragment? 6:30pm, Friday 6th November
As it enters its sixth year, the end of this ‘forgotten war’ does not seem to be in sight. Tensions continue to rise between the internationally-recognised government and the Houthi militias, and have been further complicated by the emergence of the Southern Transitional Council in 2017. With all these growing developments and the recent suspension of talks between the legitimate government and the STC, Yemenis seem more uncertain than ever about the future shape of their country. Is secession a real possibility? If not, is there any hope for federalism? Or might Yemen go in a different direction entirely?
In collaboration with Cambridge University Yemen Society
Dr. Ibrahim Fraihat (Virtual) Dr. Ibrahim Fraihat is an international conflict resolution professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies and Georgetown University. He previously served as Senior Foreign Policy Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and taught international conflict resolution at George Washington University and George Mason University. D r. Fraihat has published extensively on Middle East politics, with articles appearing in publications such as The New York Times, The Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, and Al Jazeera.
Gerald Feierstein (Virtual) Gerald Feierstein is the Senior Vice-President at the Washington-based Middle East Institute. He retired from the US Foreign Service in 2016 after a 41-year career, during which he served as a diplomat in nine overseas postings, including three tours in Pakistan, as well as assignments in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Lebanon, Jerusalem, and Tunisia. In 2010, Gerald was appointed by President Obama to be US Ambassador to Yemen, where he served until 2013.
Galal Maktari Galal Maktari is a writer and social scientist from Aden, Yemen. He is also a co-founder and director of the Independent Yemen Group, a UK-based NGO, which along with international NGOs, campaign for a democratic Yemen. His main research interest is the political sociology of Yemen, as well as current political developments in the Gulf region and its impact on Yemeni domestic politics.
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The ascension of Jeremy Corbyn to the Labour leadership in 2015 heralded a prolonged period of civil war within the Labour Party. Disputes between the Parliamentary Party and the leadership over Brexit, foreign policy, antiSemitism and control over the party’s direction were public and bitter. In this panel, we speak to some of the Corbyn era’s most prominent dissenters to find out what went on, and whether they feel accommodated in Keir Starmer’s Labour Party.
Labour Dissent and discord in the Corbyn years 6pm, Monday 23rd November
The Rt. Hon Dame Margaret Hodge Dame Margaret Hodge has been the MP for Barking since 1994, and held a number of ministerial roles in the Blair and Brown governments. She was born in Cairo in 1944, and her family fled Egypt in 1948 amid rising anti-Semitism. In her own constituency, she defeated Nick Griffin, the leader of the BNP, when he stood against her in the 2010 general election. She currently serves as Parliamentary Chair of the Jewish Labour Movement and has been a vocal critic of Jeremy Corbyn, famously confronting the then Labour leader face to face behind the Speaker’s Chair in the House of Commons.
Lord Iain McNichol Iain McNichol is a Labour politician and trade unionist. From 2011 to 2018, he served as General Secretary of the Labour Party, before being succeeded by Jennie Formby. McNichol became a life peer in 2018, and now serves as a Labour Whip in the House of Lords. He had previously worked for the GMB Union and between 2004 and 2011, he served as Labour’s National Political Officer.
Lord John Mann John Mann is an independent peer in the House of Lords, although he retains his membership of the Labour Party. He was the Labour MP for Bassetlaw from 2001 to 2019. A supporter of Brexit, he was one of only three Labour MPs to vote for Theresa May’s Brexit deal in January 2019. Mann serves as the Government’s independent advisor on anti-Semitism. He spent many years on the House of Commons Treasury Committee which he briefly chaired.
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Social Events Social events at the Union
COVID-19
Nevertheless, we’ve been working hard to operate as normally as possible, and retain our status as a unique institution for students across all colleges, degrees and years to socialise and enjoy an array of social events.
Whilst on the premises, social distancing must be observed at all times, as will the wearing of masks with the exception of the bar, which will be operating via table service and takeaway. Upon entry to debates, temperatures will be taken, and we will ask that you provide relevant details for the Union’s track and trace system.
With our own premises, including a large chamber, one of the city’s cheapest bars and a garden, the Union has long been a social hub for both its members and the wider university. The outbreak of COVID-19 has unfortunately meant that we’ve had to temporarily postpone some of our scheduled events, including our annual Freshers’ Ball and US Presidential Election All Nighter.
As per government regulations, things will be operating a little differently this term. Entry to our social events will require tickets, which can be obtained via a random ballot that will be circulated to members via email and social media.
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Enjoy the nice weather in Cambridge while it lasts! Book a time slot individually or with a group of up to four others, and get taken around our historic building by our officers. Tours end with complimentary ice cream from Jack’s Gelato, to savour on your walk back. Please make sure to bring your mask along, as it will be required for entry.
11am, Monday 5th October 11am, Sunday 11th October
Freshers’ Welcome Tours Freshers’ Drinks Undergraduates: 7pm, Friday 9th October Postgraduates: 7pm, Saturday 10th October Keen to meet new freshers and explore more of Cambridge at the start of term? At our freshers’ drinks, we’re offering complimentary alcoholic (and nonalcoholic) beverages, and great company. This event is open to all, so book a time slot now for an exclusive chance to experience the Union’s magic.
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Prime Minister’s Questions 7pm, Monday 12th October We will be welcoming the Chairman of Cambridge University Conservative Association (CUCA) and the Chair of Cambridge University Liberal Association (CULA) for what promises to be an exciting evening of political debate over various government policies. Join us on the evening of 12th October as each society stakes out their place on the political battlefield, and even pose your own questions to the ‘Prime Minister’!
Gin & Jazz
7pm, Saturday 17th October
Join the Downing Jazz Band on Saturday 17th at the Union for an evening of wonderful music and, dare we say it, equally wonderful refreshments. Members, new or old, get in free, and non-members can acquire tickets through our event page on Facebook.
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Film Screening: The Theory of Everything 7pm, Tuesday 13th October
To join us, book a spot in our chamber through our event page on Facebook.
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Film Screening: Call Me By Your Name
7pm, Tuesday 24th November Ahead of our conversation with André Aciman, author of the book upon which the film is based, join us for a screening of this modern classic. To reserve a space, visit our page for this event on Facebook.
Bridgemas Drinks 7pm, Saturday 28th November Celebrate the end of Michaelmas with a stocked up bar and some Bridgemas spirit. From there, wander into the chamber and enjoy some live music, and look forward to wrapping up another Cambridge term. It’ll be a night you won’t want to miss. Keep your eyes peeled for the ticket release!
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Standing Committee Comprised of up to fourteen members, Standing Committee is the committee responsible for the overall running of the society, leading the organising of the society’s events, the running of debating competitions, and the appointing of other committees. Elections are held termly for the positions of President, Executive Officer, Speakers Officer, Social Events Officer, and Diversity Officer, whilst the Vice President, Treasurer and Debating Officer are annual, appointed positions.
Standing Committee, Michaelmas 2020
Emaan Ullah President Homerton College
Jungmin Seo Vice-President Jesus College
Jess Molyneux Executive Officer Jesus College
Joel Rosen Speakers Officer Trinity Hall
Tara Bhagat Social Events Officer Sidney Sussex College
Georgia Gray Diversity Officer Peterhouse
Cary Godsal Debating Officer Peterhouse
Patrick Connolly Treasurer Robinson College
Tamkeen Nawab Debating Officer St. John’s College
James Vitali Executive Officer-Elect Christ’s College
Freddie Fisk President-Elect Robinson College
Keir Bradwell Speakers Officer-Elect Queens’ College
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Appointees Getting involved At the end of each term, the incoming team of officers interview people for a variety of positions across the appointed committees. Each one of these committees have a different collective responsibility, but all contribute in an important and unique way to the society. Calls for applications will be posted on our Facebook page, as well as to our mailing list.
Full Committee Full Committee is responsible for running the society on a day-to-day basis. These positions range from looking after high profile speakers, to managing long term press relations, to ensuring the logistical running of events and looking after our technical systems. Unlike Standing Committee, no experience is required for any of these roles.
Full Committee, Michaelmas 2020 Secretary Head of Events Management Events Management Officers Head of Audio-Visual Audio-Visual Officers Video Editor
Sam Hunt, Pembroke College Curtis Trynka, Corpus Christi College Emma Prichard, Murray Edwards College, & Jake Lowry, Sidney Sussex College Patrick Connolly, Robinson College Conall Hughes, Peterhouse, Adele Chu, Newnham College, Joshan Parmar, Fitzwilliam College, & Charlotte Morris, King’s College Leo Markakis, Anglia Ruskin University
Senior Guest Liaison (Debates) Guest Liaison Officers (Debates)
Naomi Kilcoyne, Trinity College Sophie West, Christ’s College, Kyoka Hadano, Peterhouse, Calvin Hartley, Trinity Hall, & James Mackey, Peterhouse
Senior Guest Liaison (Speakers) Guest Liaison Officers (Speakers)
Grace Smithson, Gonville & Caius College Liza Critchley, Clare College, Cordelia Sigurdsson, Emmanuel College, & Alice Le Coustumer, Murray Edwards College
Head of Press Press Officers Head of Publicity Publicity Officers
Beth Wright, Emmanuel College Sebastian Erskine, Gonville & Caius College, & Alisha Raja, Robinson College Trudy Yates, Peterhouse Su Shien Ng, Newnham College, & Henry Spencer, King’s College
Senior Photographer Junior Photographer
Nordin Ćatić, St. John’s College Levente Koroes, St. Edmund’s College
Membership Officers Graduate Officer
Lara Brown, Downing College, & Zachary Marsh, Robinson College Abraham Alheyali, St. Edmund’s College
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Diversity Sub-Committee The Diversity Sub-Committee is made up of a number of officers who work with the Diversity Officer to facilitate the representation of minority groups, and lead conversations about diversity.
Diversity Sub-Committee, Michaelmas 2020 Access Officer BME Officer Women’s & Non-Binary Officer LGBTQ+ Officer
Arran Parry-Davies, Christ’s College Shay Aziz, Lucy Cavendish College Scarlet Rowe, Gonville & Caius College Jake Lowry, Sidney Sussex College
Competitive Debating For the more practical-minded, and those interested in giving back, the Union offers the chance to organise a vast range of international debate competitions, some of which run hand-in-hand with our charitable aims as an organisation, including the Cambridge Schools Debating Competition, and our access work.
Convenors IV Convenors IV Deputy Convenor Schools Convenors Schools Deputy Convenor ICYD Convenors ICYD Deputy Convenor Wom*n’s Convenor
Patrick Connolly, Robinson College, & Harin Perera, St. Catherine’s College Oxana Zhigalova, St. Edmund’s College Atiyu Mehta, King’s College, & Yasmin Xuning Kanagalingam, Sidney Sussex College Conall Hughes, Peterhouse Joshan Parmar, Fitzwilliam College, & Filip Gavranovič, St. Catherine’s College Achilleas Papadimitriou, Sidney Sussex College Lara Brown, Downing College
Invitations Committees The Invitations Committees, made up of a Debates Sub-Committee and a Speakers Sub-Committee, assist the Executive Officer and Speakers Officer in putting together a series of debates and speaker events for the upcoming term.
Debates Sub-Committee Speakers Sub-Committee Lara Brown, Downing College Issac Fung, Emmanuel College Georgia Gray, Peterhouse Sam Hunt, Pembroke College Emma Prichard, Murray Edwards College Alisha Raja, Robinson College Kieron Spoors, Homerton College Curtis Trynka, Corpus Christi College James Vitali, Christ’s College
Keir Bradwell, Queens’ College Reuben Brown, Selwyn College Adele Chu, Newnham College Sebastian Erskine, Gonville & Caius College Matt Hilton, Emmanuel College Gina Kwon, Murray Edwards College Esther Lefort, Anglia Ruskin University Annabel Poon, St. John’s College Kenza Tazi, Murray Edwards College
Stewarding One of the easiest and non-committal ways to get involved in the Union is through stewarding events. Stewards are responsible for ensuring the logistical running of events under the supervision of the Events Management team, and can be seen wearing fetching high-vis jackets. The reward for stewarding includes some of the best seats in the house, as well as a £5 bar tab for each event stewarded. To find out more, join ‘Cambridge Union Society Stewards’ on Facebook, or reach out to our Head of Events Management, Curtis Trynka, at curtis.trynka@cus.org.
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Staff & Governance Trustees The Rt. Hon The Lord Chris Smith of Finsbury PC (Chair) Dr. Nigel Brown OBE Dr. Nigel Yandell Nick Heath FRICS The Hon. Daniel Janner QC David Branch
Araba Taylor Rachel Green David Robinson The President of the Cambridge Union, Emaan Ullah The Vice President of the Cambridge Union, Jungmin Seo The Director of Debating at the Cambridge Union, Cary Godsal
The Directors of Cambridge Union Society Enterprises Col. (Ret) William Bailey The President of the Cambridge Union, Emaan Ullah The Vice President of the Cambridge Union, Jungmin Seo
Dr. Nigel Brown OBE Rachel Green David Robinson
Review Committee Joshua Blanchard Lewis (ex officio Vice President, 2008-09) (Chair) Joel Fenster (ex officio President, Easter 2013) Alex Forzani (ex officio Vice President, 2008-09) Sam Longton (ex officio Social Events Officer, Lent 2019) Imran Mateo (ex officio Vice President, 2018-19) Page Nyame-Satterthwaite (ex officio President, Michaelmas 2017) Nick Wright (ex officio Vice President, 2008-09)
Staff Col. (Retd.) William Bailey MBE - Bursar Joe Burman - General Manager Sam Heap - Bar and Catering Manager Louise Gamon - Membership Secretary
Katherine Rickett - Events Coordinator Sabine Edwards - Advertising and Sponsorship Francesca Revelo - Accountant
2021 Committee Rachel Green (Chair) (ex officio President, Easter 1998) Col. (Retd.) William Bailey MBE (Bursar) David Branch (ex officio President, Michaelmas 1995) Alex Forzani (ex officio Vice President, 2012-13) The Hon. Daniel Janner QC (ex officio President, Michaelmas 1978) Emaan Ullah (President, Michaelmas 2020) Jungmin Seo (Vice President, 2020-21)
Freddie Fisk (President-Elect, Michaelmas 2020) Imran Mateo (ex officio Vice President, 2018-19) Vincent Rustill (ex officio Treasurer, Lent 2019) Abdullah Shah (ex officio President, Easter 2019) Nick Wright (ex officio Vice President, 2014-15) Amy Gregg (ex officio President, Lent 2015)
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President’s Thanks There are a great many people I owe my thanks to, so I’ll try my Patrick, I think I speak on behalf of everyone at the Union all best to keep things brief - ‘try’ being the key word. when I say we owe you so much - your endless abilities has kept the Union, as well as my sanity, very much afloat. And though it Beginning, of course, with the Michaelmas team, and specifically was occasionally to my detriment, what a feat it was to rewrite with you, Jungmin. Whether it’s the endless meetings, extensive the entire constitution over the course of the summer. I dread contingency planning, or last minute panics, I don’t think there’s to think where we’d be without you, and can only assume that anybody I would rather do this with. You have been a lifesaver on with you as Treasurer, the next two terms will run with ruthless so many occasions, and the most wonderful Vice President, and efficiency. I owe you nothing but my eternal thanks. I can only wish you the very best for the next couple of terms, and sincerely hope Cary and Tamkeen, even though debating has gone online, I that they are nowhere near as stressful and time consuming as very much expect to see you both in person at some point in the this one. near future. The shift from a physical term to a virtual one is far from ideal, but you’ve both stepped up to the task admirably, and Jess, from start to finish, you’ve done an admirable job as have done a marvellous job of ensuring the survival of debating. Executive Officer. It’s never an easy task, but I am blown away I hope you both break tradition and make it to the end of your by your ability to convince all kinds of speakers to take part in tenures - and please, look after yourselves. To each and every a debate, especially when they class it as ‘an imperialist white single one of you, you’ve created a phenomenal termcard, and I supremacist cis heteropatriarchal technique that transforms a hope you are forever proud. potential exchange of knowledge into a tool of exclusion and oppression’. You’ll be great no matter where you go. As for the Lent team - three kings, and it’s not even Christmas. Freddie, the Brown to my Blair, I couldn’t have asked for a better Joel, where do I begin? You’ve stepped well out of your remit friend and successor, and I know that the Union is going to be as Speakers Officer, and in fact, have put together a little bit of in the safest pair of hands when you’re in charge - that is, when everything, be it speakers, debates, panels, or socials. Thank you you’re not too busy socialising. for everything you’ve done for this term, and also for putting up with my constant hounding all summer. I look forward to the James, having once been in your shoes, being an Executive day we can see each other, free of termcard troubles, and full of Officer is an incredibly demanding job, especially in a Lent dreadful accents. term, but your endless enthusiasm, drive, and exceedingly cool demeanor gives me absolutely no doubt that you’ll do an Georgia, I mean it when I say that you have gone above and admirable job. At least, a far better job than I did. beyond in every regard, and that you should be so proud of the numerous events that you have organised this term. I still Keir, I can only start by saying that I think everyone who’s made remember the day I met you at your freshers’ welcome, and I am it this far deserves to know what an extraordinary job you’ve eternally glad that our paths crossed again, and that we got to done creating this termcard, and what an extraordinary job work on the same team. you’ll do when you’re actually in office. I really cannot thank you enough for everything you’ve done, especially when most of it Tara, even in spite of current circumstances, you have been a wasn’t even your burden to bear. I don’t think I ever expected to brilliant Social Events Officer, and I am in awe of your continual get on quite so well with you, but I’m exceptionally glad we do. enthusiasm and endless flow of ideas. You’ve shown nothing but Freddie, James and Keir, I couldn’t be handing over to a more resilience, and I hope you are proud of the brilliant events you’ve wonderful team, and I’m so excited to see what you put together put together. next term.
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I don’t think I could escape my thanks without mentioning a couple of past officers. Gabriel, my President, thank you showing me what being a president and chairing a debate ought to look like, and also for putting up with me when I was Executive Officer. Looking back, I’m honestly not quite sure how you did it, and I can only respect you all the more for it. Oh, and also, for making one more termcard appearance - I’m glad it’s in mine. Phoebe, I miss being on the same team as you, but I know that you’re going to put on an incredibly impressive term as Chairman. I’m so thankful for you, and dearly hope that we can resume our late, alcohol-fuelled evenings soon. Union-CUCA relations have truly never been better. And of course, the staff too, especially in a term like this. Bill, I don’t think there will ever be another Bursar quite like you, and hope that your final year in the society is just as good as the rest - even with the seemingly never ending disagreements. Joe, thank you so, so much for everything you’ve done. Put simply, this term would not be the same without you, and I think the society would malfunction in your absence. The same goes for you too Louise - whether it was back in Lent, or even now, you have saved me from countless blunders, and for that, I am forever in your debt. Sam, thanks for being the best (and I mean it) bar manager the society could have asked for. The 1815 will always hold a special place in my time at Cambridge, and it’s very much down to you (and the drinks). Sabine, thank you for all your hard work on sponsorship, especially when it came down to the Hawking Fellowship - it’s because of you we’ve secured someone so brilliant this year. Stephen, it’s been a while since I last saw you, so I hope to see you back in the building soon. Thanks for your never-ending coolness - a place like the Union could do with a bit more of it.
sometimes, and I can only thank you for putting your faith in me to lead a society quite unlike any other (save for perhaps, the other place). Speaking of, well done Beatrice. Your termcard is going to be brilliant, and I’m glad we’ve suffered the same ordeal together. And now, for everything outside of the Union. Verity, I am so glad that I get to call you one of my best friends. Your brilliance knows no bounds, and truth be told, I’m not quite sure where I’d be without it. I love you dearly, and I am counting down the days until formals resume so that we can complete the challenge once and for all. Sophie, I am ever thankful for the fateful day in which we bumped into each other. Thank you for being one of my best friends - geography wouldn’t be the same without you, and I can’t wait to see you and your yellow puffer soon. And also, thank you for designing the termcard cover - I adore it. To college friends (Andre, Becky, Christian, Hazel, Max, Kat and Hazel), and college husbands (Reuben and Kojin); to course friends inside of college (Ben, Bridget, Miriam, James, Omar and Zhanna), and to course friends outside of college (Amy, Charlotte, Darren, Ellie, Emma, Georgia, Josh, Naveen and Rosie). Thank you to all of you for dealing with my incessant rambling about ‘Union things’ for who knows how long - I know I’ve been insufferable, but it won’t be long until it’s all over. And thank you to my aunt and uncle - your endless love and support has been a lifeline, and I’m so proud to be your niece. And finally, thank you to the Cambridge Union. Whether it’s the friends I’ve made, the people I’ve met, the debates I’ve watched, or the drinks that have been drunk, it has been such a pleasure to be a part of this society - and the honour of my life to have actually led it. With very best wishes,
To everyone on Full Committee, without whom the society would run into the ground. I’m so thankful to be working with you all one last time - I don’t doubt it’ll be difficult, but you’ll do a splendid job and you have my endless gratitude. To Emaan Ullah the membership, who I hope can all find something that they President, Michaelmas 2020 enjoy this term, and also for electing me - it’s still a bit surreal
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