THE CAMBRIDGE
UNION
Michaelmas 2018
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Welcome to the Union
To every Fresher out there, welcome to Cambridge. This is the fourth time that I’ve made the trip back to the University after long summer months spent at home. Every time, I remember quite how special this place is. But there is nothing quite like your first term here. The blur of matriculation. The first punt. Savouring that first box of chips from Gardies. I sincerely hope that the Union will feature as part of your first Michaelmas.
To returning members, welcome back to your Union! As you might already have noticed, in response to your feedback, we have embarked on a number of changes. We’ve gone digital, moving away from the physical termcard – making this section even more skippable than before! You will still, of course, receive the ever-popular wall-planner in your pidge later on this week. The aforementioned chips will taste even better with our new 10% members’ discount on purchases from Gardies. Every one of our Facebook events will include a link enabling you to sign up to meet our speakers before their addresses in the Chamber. Each of our debates contains a student slot, to be filled by open audition.
With over thirty speakers, six panels, a reinvigorated debates programme, and a stack of stellar socials, there really is something for everybody. I won’t go into details here. You’ll be able to see all that later on! A few dates. Up until midnight on 10 October, all of our events – bar Adam Driver’s speech on 6 October – will be open to all. So please do come along. Test the waters and ask us questions. See whether membership is for you. On 13 October, we host our famous Freshers’ Ball. Tickets are free for all new members – the ballot closes on 4 October, so make sure to sign up before then.
This is your society, and we want you to be at the heart of how it operates. If you have read this far, kudos to you. I hope that you won’t be disappointed by what follows! I look forward to meeting you soon – the President’s office is always open.
Charles Connor President Michaelmas 2018
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Contents PRESIDENT THANKS A word from Charles Connor
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JOINING THE UNION Information about membership
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GETTING INVOLVED More information inside
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MEMBERS DISCOUNTS A list of participants
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THE REDEVELOPMENT Information about the upcoming works
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UNION+ 9 TAKE PART 10 IN THE DEBATE COMPETITIVE DEBATING
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DEBATES 13 Government Debate 14 Varsity Debate 16 Oxbridge Debate 18 #MeToo Debate 20 Churchill Debate 22 Comedy Debate 24 Cambridge Mafia 26 Big Data Debate 30 Left Debate 32 Presidential Debate 34
SPEAKERS 36 Robby Mook 37 Adam Driver 38 Michelle Rodriguez 39 Katie Piper 40 Tony Schwartz 41 Adwoa Aboah 42 Dylan Jones 43 TRH Beverley McLachlin 44 Geir Lippestad 45 ACS Conference 46 Paul Merton 47 Josh Littlejohn 48 John Ridding 49 Georgina Beyer 50 Jordan Peterson 51 Omarosa Manigault 52 Slavoj Zizek 53 James & Oliver Phelps 54 Atifete Jahjaga 55 Tim Wainwright 56 HRH Prince Albert 57 David Moyes 58 Sol Campbell 59 Farrah Storr 60 Kate Gilmore 61 Sie Jony Ive 62 Ingrid Betancourt 63 LaBeouf, Ronkko & Turner 64 Sir Ben Kingsley 65 Pedro Pascal 66
PANELS 68 Hong Kong Panel 69 Race Panel 70 The Future of Turkey 71 Gentrification Panel 72 Patriotism Panel 73 Women and Terrorism 74 EVENTS 75 Freshers’ Week Events 76 Weekly Events 77 STANDING 78 COMMITEE APPOINTEES 79 STAFF & GOVERNANCE
Term card kindly sponsored by
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Joining the Union A Union membership gives you the opportunity to benefit from everything the Union has to offer, including the building’s facilities, social events and the fantastic debates and speakers like the ones you will see in this term card. At the discounted price of £150 for lifetime membership, which works out at just £50 per year of a three-year degree, or about £2 per week of term. All students and staff of the University of Cambridge, as well as students at Anglia Ruskin University, BPP Law School Cambridge and Judge Business School are eligible to join.
There is an open period at the beginning of term an opportunity to try before you buy! It lasts until midnight on the 10th and includes open access to all of the events on at the Union in that time. It will feature two debates, speakers and plenty of other events. This is a fantastic opportunity to get to know what the Union building has to offer and what type of events you would have to look forward to as a member!
Members’ Benefits: ● Celebrity speakers ● Weekly debates ● Competitive debating, with opportunities for funded international travel ● Entry into a ballot for a free ticket to the Union’s Freshers’ Ball, the only ball for freshers in Cambridge ● Free room hire for members ● Members’ discounts around Cambridge ● Social events ● Discounts at the Union’s 1815 bar and café, including free filter coffee mornings before 11am ● Free WiFi and study spaces ● Access to the Union’s livestreaming service
Access Membership: £99 for lifetime membership, select access membership and bring evidence that your household income has been assessed at £25k or less by Student Finance England to the office on collection. Those eligible for the Full Newton Trust bursary (Cambridge University students) Start Up bursary (ARU students) and Cambridge Trust Scholarships can purchase access membership under this scheme.
Should you wish to buy a membership, there are three types available:
Lifetime Membership: £150 on discount, until midnight on the 10th. Lifetime membership of the Union and eligibility to enter into a ballot for a free Freshers’ Ball ticket. Annual Membership: £99 discount, until 10th October at midnight. Full year of membership from the day of joining. Join at cus.org/join-online or at the Union’s main office from 9.30am to 5.00pm, Monday-Friday. Address: 9A Bridge Street, CB2 1UB.
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Getting Involved STEWARDING
RUNNING FOR ELECTION
One of the best ways to get involved with the Union is stewarding our events. Stewards wear a fetching neon jacket, get the best seats in the house, a £5 bar tab and a free grilled sandwich per event stewarded. So what are you waiting for? Join ‘Cambridge Union Society Stewards’ on Facebook or reach out to hoem@cus.org for more details.
Each term elections are held for the positions of President, Executive Officer, Speakers Officer, Treasurer and Social Ents Officer. To run for election, one must satisfy a few criteria that can be found in the Union’s constitution on our website. Most of these involve supporting the Union’s competitive debating programme in a variety of ways. Running for President requires that one has previously been head of a department at the Union.
SUGGEST A SPEAKER
BEING APPOINTED
The easiest way to suggest a speaker is to fill in the form that goes directly to the team at:
At the end of each term, the incoming team of officers interviews people for a variety of positions on Full Committee, all of which are advertised via email, and in the Union’s Facebook Group. There are roles for anyone and everyone, regardless of experience, so do keep an eye out for the end of Michaelmas when the Lent team will start recruiting! Union experience is helpful but not required to apply for these roles.
https://cus.org/termcard/speaker-suggestions
INTERESTED IN TUTORING Click on the link below to find out more.
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Members’ Benefits We are currently finishing off our negotations with Cambridge retailers with announcements over the next week ahead.
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The Redevelopment The Union is excited to announce that we will be beginning the redevelopment of our historic building this academic year. The Union’s main chamber will remain open throughout the redevelopment and we will continue hosting all kinds of events throughout this period. We will be providing you with more updates about this process and any changes that you might expect over the next few months. If you have any questions about the redevelopment please do not hesitate to reach out.
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Union+ Union+ is about the Union’s ongoing commitment to access. By hosting events that are both diverse in content and open to all, the Union seeks to offer the whole Cambridge community, not just its own members, the ability to engage with the debates we are having nationally and internationally.
Political figures, such as Georgina Beyer, a New Zealand politician who became the world’s first transgender mayor, or the former President of Kosovo: Atifete Jahjaga will also be available – figures who in other settings might cost money. The Union is committed to using its resources as best it can to deliver high quality speakers not just to its members but to everyone. Individual speakers from the fourth sector, such as Tim Wainwright, the CEO of WaterAid, will address the chamber, as well as social entrepreneur Josh Littlejohn and UN legend Kate Gilmore.
We think that you cannot be part of a national debate if you are not including as many voices as possible in that debate. With this in mind this term’s Union+ panels seek to engage with some issues which are often excluded from widespread political discussion. With discussions about threats to democracy in Hong Kong and Turkey, we look at international politics on the fringes of Europe and well beyond it, with discussions about Women and Terror we look at an emerging theme of global politics: gender dynamics in terrorist organisations – a panel on gentrification will look at a major domestic political issue, and a panel on progressive patriotism will offer an opportunity for introspection from across party political divides.
Union+ offers something for everyone.
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Take part in the Debate As well as offering weekly emergency debates which allow students to get involved in speaking in the chamber, one slot every week in the main debate is allocated for a student who chooses to audition for it. This is a new initiative we are trialling this term.
Please come with 3 minutes of a full speech prepared for us, and the ability to answer questions on the topic. This is not just about talent at debating or public speaking, it is also about being able to make a unique and important contribution to the topic. If you are successful, then you will be able to enjoy a three-course dinner alongside the other guests for free.
If you want a chance to speak alongside Cabinet Ministers, Premiers, actors and academics then you should audition for this unique opportunity. Auditions will normally be held on Friday afternoons at 4:30, but you must book a slot in advance. You can do that by filling out your availability in this form.
For you, as a member, this is your chance to be part of history at the Union.
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Competitive Debating OPPORTUNITIES IN COMPETITIVE DEBATING
The Cambridge Union has achieved widespread success in competitive debating and has consistently performed well at tournaments nationally and internationally. In January this year, Cambridge teams represented the Union in the quarter-finals of the World Universities Debating Championships and in April, won the HWS Round Robin, the so-called “Tournament of Champions”. The Union came away with exceptional results again at the European Universities Debating Championships over the summer, reaching the both the open and SEL semi-finals.
There are an immense number of opportunities available in competitive debating at the Union to represent Cambridge and debate at competitions around the UK and internationally. Our members have travelled to numerous countries including the US, Mexico, Hong Kong, France, Serbia and many more! We’re already looking forwards to travelling to Cape Town at the end of Michaelmas. Additionally, there are numerous opportunities this term to volunteer or judge at the prestigious Cambridge Inter-Varsity and Women’s Open, as well as judging opportunities at regional rounds of the Cambridge Schools Competition and the International Competition for Young Debaters (ICYD) around the country.
JOIN COMPETITIVE DEBATING AT CAMBRIDGE Debating workshops are held every Tuesday at 7.30 pm and caters to everyone, regardless of previous experience. For those looking to learn a new skill, the “Introduction to Debating” workshop series will teach you everything you need to know about the British Parliamentary format to get started. If you’re already comfortable with the basics and want to develop your skills and learn about BP strategy, then our intermediate workshop will help you excel in competitive debating. Each week’s workshops are followed by practise debates, so you can put what you’ve learnt into practice, and socials afterwards in the Union bar.
FIND OUT MORE Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Debating Officers - Joy Jia and Trenton Sewell - at debating@cus.org. They will be more than happy to answer any questions or put you in touch with the Head of Participation, Gigi Gilgallon, or Heads of Training, Tim Lee and Christina Thomas.
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D E B AT E S
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NO CONFIDENCE IN HER MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT Taking place just as Brexit legislation will be inching its way through Parliament, the traditional opening debate of the year at the Union is more timely than ever. The Government’s slim working majority will be put under pressure, and party loyalties will be put to the test. Is another general election in the offing? Or is Theresa May strong and stable after all?
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Proposition THE RT. HON. SIR ED DAVEY MP Sir Ed Davey was the Energy Secretary in the Coalition government from from 2012-15 and the Liberal Democrat MP for Kingston and Surbiton from 1997-2015. After a short hiatus he regained his seat in the general election last year. CHRIS BRYANT MP Chris Bryant is a prominent Labour Party MP who served in Ed Miliband’s shadow cabinet and was Gordon Brown’s last Minister for Europe. He has represented the Rhondda constituency since 2001 and was formerly a vicar. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition PETER BONE MP Peter Bone is a prominent campaigner for Brexit and one of the backbench Conservative MPs behind the pressure group “Leave means Leave”. He has represented Wellingborough since 2005, and has become known for his distinctive style of questioning at Prime Minister’s Questions. THE RT. HON. SIR DESMOND SWAYNE MP Sir Desmond Swayne has represented New Forest West since 1997. He was David Cameron’s Parliamentary Private Secretary and then served as Minister of State at the Department for International Development. CONOR BURNS MP Conor Burns was Boris Johnson’s Parliamentary Private Secretary, and resigned in solidarity with him over the controversial Chequers Deal. He has represented Bournemouth West as a Conservative since 2010.
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VA R S I T Y D E B A T E
Come along to watch Oxford and Cambridge’s competitive battle it out in the Chamber, in a bid to secure debating glory. Motion will be confirmed nearer the time.
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Proposition JOY Joy is a second-year law student at Queens’ College and one of the current Debating Officers at the Cambridge Union. She represented Cambridge at this year’s World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) as an adjudicator. TRENTON Trenton is a second-year law student at Christs College. He is one of the two Debating Officers at the Cambridge Union this year. Trenton reached the semi-finals of the 2018 European University Debating Championship (EUDC). MATT Matt studied HSPS, graduating from Cambridge in 2018. He is an EUDC semi-finalist, WUDC breaking speaker and twice breaking speaker at LSE Open. He has also judged a WUDC open semi-final and ESL semi-final. Whilst at University, Matt was Head of Debate Training. TUDOR Tudor is a third-year law student at Trinity Hall. He has won the KCL Open, was a finalist of Imperial Open, Belgrade Open and Southampton Open, and a semifinalist at 8 other competitions. This summer, he reached the ESL semifinals of EUDC.
Opposition ANDREW Andrew is a third-year law student at Oxford and currently Chair of the Debates Selection Committee at the Oxford Union. Andrew has won the Newcastle and Sheffield IV and was a breaking judge at both EUDC and WUDC.
RACHEL Rachel is a third-year English student at Trinity College, and ‘Director of Training’ at Oxford Union. She is an EUDC quarter-finalist and has won Glasgow Ancients and the Imperial and Sheffield IV. Rachel also judged the ESL quarter-finals of WUDC and ESL semis of EUDC. OSKAR Oskar is a final-year law student at Lady Margaret Hall. Instead of absorbing the Dutch culture while studying in the Netherlands last year, Oskar spent his weekends debating in obscure cities, winning the Leiden Open and losing more finals than he would like to remember. ROSA Rosa is a finalist studying History and Politics at Oxford, and the Secretary and Socials Officer of the Oxford Union Debating Society. In 2016, Rosa represented England and won the World Schools Debating Championships and this summer, reached the finals of the EUDC. 17
THIS HOUSE BELIEVES
OXBRID GE HAS FA I L E D B R I TA I N
Oxford and Cambridge are undeniably world class universities. The last few months, however, have given rise to considerable public scrutiny as to whether these ancient institutions are out of step with modern Britain. Some critics have argued that Oxbridge closes its doors to a wide variety of students from divergent economic, regional and ethnic backgrounds. Others argue that Oxbridge’s excellence depends on its rigorous standards for academic entry. Many of graduates produced by Oxbridge may become prominent in public life – and are also coming under scrutiny. Are they too similar? Do they suffer from group-think? In short, is Britain being run into the ground by a cosy little elite?
This Debate is kindly sponsored by
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Proposition JONN ELLEDGE Jonn Elledge is the editor of CityMetric magazine and a prominent commentator on politics, public life and history, writing in the New Statesman. He matriculated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge in 1999. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition BOBBY SEAGULL Bobby Seagull is a maths teacher, television personality and University Challenge semi-finalist. He has recently published a book on maths teaching, and launched a television series with rival quizzer Eric Monkman. THE RT. HON. THE LORD SMITH OF FINSBURY Lord Chris Smith was first elected to parliament in 1983. He was the first openly gay MP, coming out in 1984, as well as the first openly gay cabinet minister, serving as culture secretary in Tony Blair’s first cabinet. CLLR. PROMISE KNIGHT Promise Knight is a Labour Councillor in Brent, and founder of the the Promise Foundation – an organisation that seeks to promote diversity at Oxbridge.
Thinking time No matter where you find yourself thinking about your future, think Strategy Consulting at OC&C
Associate Consultant deadline Sunday 4th November International strategy workshop deadline Sunday 21st October Summer internship deadline Sunday 13th January Data Analyst deadline Friday 30th November
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www.occstrategy.com
THIS HOUSE BELIEVES
#METOO H A S FA I L E D
In the aftermath of the worldwide #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault, which spread virally in October 2017, the question many are now asking is whether that rallying cry has been converted into real-life progress. A year on from the Weinstein scandal, October 2018 offers an ideal vantage point to look back upon the successes – and failures – of the #MeToo movement.
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Proposition ELLEN WHELAN Ella Whelan is the assistant editor at Spiked. She frequently features as a political commentator on TV and radio, specialising in the relationship between free speech, feminism and women’s liberation. Ella regularly features across British television, including appearances on SkyNews, BBC and Channel 5. She is the author of ‘What Women Want: Fun, Freedom and an End to Feminism’. MINNA SALAMI Minna Salami is a Finnish Nigerian journalist who has propagated information on African feminist issues, about the African diaspora, and Nigerian women through her award-winning blog MsAfropolitan. She has been listed by ELLE Magazine as one of “12 women changing the world”. KATE ANDREWS Kate Andrews is Associate Director at the Institute of Economic Affairs. She oversees the IEA’s Media Centre, which includes its communications, public affairs, and digital output. Kate regularly features across the national media, including appearances on BBC’s Any Questions and BBC’s Question Time.
Opposition
LADY NADIA ESSEX Nadia Essex, a professional dating coach, is famous for match-making on Channel 4’s Celebs Go Dating show. She frequently features on Good Morning Britain and has insight into how far the #MeToo has gone in British media. DR. MIRANDA HORVATH Miranda Horvath is an academic at Middlesex University London. She was previously a Fellow in the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit at London Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on violence against women from feminist and forensic psychological perspectives. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
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CHURCHILL WA S NO HERO In light of the recent Oscar awarded to Gary Oldham for his portrayal of Churchill as a war hero, questions about Britain’s colonial history, and more importantly, Britain’s colonial memory, are surfacing. Churchill’s views espoused in an imperial age can raise accusations of racist and imperialist attitudes. His role in events such as the Bengal famine and the partition of India have been criticised heavily, as well as his belief in global, racial hierarchies. On the other hand, Churchill spanned governments and parliaments across the twentieth century and few people can be argued to have had as much impact on this country as he did. Can these two sides of Churchill ever be reconciled? And if not, can we ever really call him a hero?
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Proposition MAYA GOODFELLOW Maya Goodfellow is a writer and researcher. She is a regular columnist for Media Diversified and LabourList and has written frequently for Al Jazeera and The Guardian. Her work mostly focuses on UK politics, gender and race. SALIL TRIPATHI Salil Tripathi is director of policy at the Institute for Human Rights and Business. Based in London, he is a contributing editor at Mint and Caravan in India and has previously held positions at Amnesty International and as a senior visiting fellow for business and human rights at the Kennedy School, Harvard University. He also acts as an adviser to several global initiatives involving business and human rights. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition BIM AFOLAMI MP Bim Afolami MP has served as the Conservative MP for Hitchin and Harpenden since the 2017 general election. Having studied Modern History at University College and served as Vice President of the Oxford Union, he proudly describes Winston Churchill as his ‘biggest hero.’ PROF. CHRISTOPHER CATHERWOOD Christopher Catherwood is an author and historian based in Cambridge, after having taught for many years at the University of Richmond. His written works include, ‘His Finest Hour: A Biography of Winston Churchill,’ and, ‘Churchill: The Flawed Genius of World War Two.’ STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
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T HAT T H E WO R L D IS BEYOND PA R O D Y Over the last couple of years the world has gone pretty topsy-turvy. Not only has this had profound geopolitical implications – it has also almost put satirists out of a job. Does satire have a place in a world in which its victims have become parodies of themselves? Boris Johnson, Donald Trump, even figures like Jeremy Corbyn seem to go out of their way to prove that public stereotypes of them if anything underplay their real character. How can we, or can we at all, satirise a figure like Jacob Rees-Mogg - or is the world truly beyond parody?
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Proposition HASAN AL HABIB Hasan al Habib is a PhD student in oncology at Downing College. He was formerly at Oxford University, for which he has been forgiven. He is well-known on the Cambridge stand-up scene, performing in many smokers. KEN CHENG Ken Cheng studied Mathematics at Homerton College, during which time he became heavily involved in the Cambridge comedy scene. He dropped out to become a professional poker player. He won the best joke of the Fringe award this year in Edinburgh, and comes to us fresh from his latest show in London. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition JOY HUNTER Joy Hunter is a third year at Queens’ College, studying Education. She is a stalwart of Cambridge comedy nights, and was an MC at free footlights nights up at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. EMMELINE DOWNIE Emmeline Downie is a finalist art historian at Newnham, she has just returned from a sellout Edinburgh Fringe show, Manhunt, which received rave reviews. She is the archivist of the Cambridge Footlights Administration Committee. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
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THE S P E C IA L R E L AT I O N S H I P IS OVER With the twin shockwaves of Brexit and Donald Trump both the US and the UK have made major and disruptive foreign policy pivots. The question has arisen of whether the “Special Relationship” can survive that process. This topic touches upon everything from Brexit to the middle-east – and asks us what the future is for one of the world’s most important alliances. This star-studded line-up offers expertise and front-line experience from international politics. Many times in its history the Union has hosted debates that have marked turning points in geopolitics - this debate may be remembered for years to come as a moment of reflection on the state of, or perhaps the end of, the special relationship.
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Proposition THE RT. HON. SIR VINCE CABLE MP PHD Sir Vince Cable is the leader of the Liberal Democrats and the MP for Twickenham. He was chief economist for BP, and is credited for predicting the financial crash. He served as Business Secretary from 2010-15, and has written on the economic crises facing the US and the UK. PRIME MINISTER BERNARD CAZENEUVE Bernard Cazeneuve served as Prime Minister of France until the election of Emmanuel Macron. A major figure in the Socialist Party, he was formerly Minister for the Interior and Minister for the Budget. He also served as Minister for Europe. He was mayor of Cherbourg-Octeville, a French department. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition SECRETARY JEH JOHNSON Secretary Jeh Johnson served in President Obama’s Cabinet as Secretary of Homeland Security from 2013-2017. He served as general counsel for the Air Force under President Clinton, and as special counsel to Secretary John Kerry’s presidential campaign. He was the designated survivor during President Trump’s inauguration. JOY JIA Joy is a second-year law student at Queens’ College and one of the current Debating Officers at the Cambridge Union. She represented Cambridge at this year’s World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) as an adjudicator.
HIGH PROFILE BRITISH POLITICAN Emily Anne Thornberry is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Islington South and Finsbury since the 2005 general election. Thornberry was born in north Surrey, the daughter of Sallie and Cedric Thornberry.
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T H A T D E B A T E S H AV E NEVER CONVINCED ANYONE OF ANY THING At the Cambridge Union a great deal of time is spent debating the issues of the day. But are people ever convinced by debates? Or do they simply come along to have their own biases confirmed? In short: is there much point to a debating institution like the Cambridge Union at all? Former Presidents of the Union who became prominent politicians under Margaret Thatcher return to the Union for the unveiling of their portraits in the chamber. Since they were friends at university their politics have diverged from each other’s significantly, particularly over Brexit. This debate will look at the history of the Union, debating at large, and ask whether we need to start debating again to solve our current political crises. Come along and hear from its most prominent alumni whether debating and the Union are really worth your time at all.
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Proposition THE RT. HON. KEN CLARKE CH QC MP Ken Clarke was Chancellor of the Exchequer in Sir John Major’s Government, as well as serving in a variety of Cabinet posts under Margaret Thatcher. He is a prominent voice on the left of the Conservative Party, and an ardent believer in the European Union. He was listed as an “mutineer” by the Daily Mail and he is a former President of the Cambridge Union. THE RT. HON. LORD LAMONT OF LERWICK Lord Norman Lamont also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer under Sir John Major, famously taking Britain out of the Exchange Rate Mechanism on Black Wednesday. He campaigned for Brexit, and is a former President of the Cambridge Union. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition THE RT. HON. THE LORD DEBEN Lord Deben served as Environment Secretary under Sir John Major, and was thought to be one of the most environmentally friendly ministers ever to hold the role. In opposition he played a key role in passing the Climate Change Act in 2008. He is a former President of the Cambridge Union. THE RT. HON. THE LORD HOWARD OF LYMPNE CH QC Lord Michael Howard was Home Secretary under Sir John Major and would go on to lead the Conservative Party into the 2005 general election, where, despite gaining seats, they fell short of unseating Tony Blair as Prime Minister. He was formerly both an Environment Secretary and an Employment Secretary under Margaret Thatcher. He is a former President of the Cambridge Union. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
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T HAT B I G DATA D E S T R OYS W HAT I T MEANS TO BE HUMAN The emergence of so-called “big data” is set to transform our lives immensely, and to a large extent has already done so. The opportunities presented by it could save lives, cure medical conditions, recalibrate our economy to distribute resources more efficiently. Yet big data’s emergence also poses threats to large sectors of the country, traditional methods of employment may become obsolete, our democracies may not be designed to deal with the political advertising big data could create. In short - should we be terrified of this brave new world, and does it pose an existential threat to our humanity?
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Proposition KENN CUKIER Kenn Cukier is the technology editor at the Economist, and is the author of “Big Data: A Revolution that Will Transform how we Work, Live and Think”. He has written previously for the Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. TBC
TBC
Opposition MARC GOODMAN Marc Goodman has spent a career in law enforcement and technology. He was appointed futurist-in-residence with the FBI, worked as a senior adviser to Interpol, and served as a street police officer. He founded the Future Crimes Institute and now serves as the Chair for Policy, Law, and Ethics at Silicon Valley’s Singularity University. TBC
TBC
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THIS HOUSE BELIEVES
T HAT T H E L E F T I S L O S I N G I T S WA Y
Developments since 2015 have seen radical shifts in the Left in the UK and across the world. The Labour Party’s change of leadership was presaged by a huge increase in the grassroots party membership. Momentum has emerged. All this is part of a wider phenomenon within the international political Left, from the emergence of Podemos in Spain, Syriza in Greece or even the Our Revolution movement in America, spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders. For some this new Left is backward looking and conservative, for others it is a new, exciting and radical movement. Most of these new movements have emerged first from splinter groups within social democratic parties – some say this evolution is essential for these parties to survive, others say it is the cause of their decline. So has the Left gone off the rails, or is this its most exciting development yet?
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Proposition THE RT. HON. DAME MARGARET HODGE MP Dame Margaret Hodge is a Labour MP and vocal critic of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party. She served as Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, and has been the MP for Barking since 1994. She allegedly told Jeremy Corbyn that he is a ‘****ing racist’. TBC
STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
Opposition DR. AARON BASTANI Aaron Bastani is a Left-wing journalist and vocal supporter of Corbynism. He runs Novara Media - a digital media company seeking to break the mound of British journalism. He is prominent on Twitter. RICHARD BURGON MP Richard Burgon is the Shadow Justice Secretary, promoted to the Shadow Cabinet by Jeremy Corbyn. He has represented Leeds East since 2015. He was formerly Chair of CULC. He is an important ally of a Jeremy Corbyn. STUDENT SPEAKER As part of a new initiative, every one of our debates this term will include a slot for a student speaker - which will be filled by open audition.
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THIS HOUSE WOULD
BRING BACK THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS Grammar schools, though nominally abolished decades ago, have never left us. Similarly, they have never left our public debate. Often posited as a solution to falling standards, or declining public order, the grammar school is seen by some as a silver bullet, by others as a fatal distraction. Recent government plans to expand the campuses of grammar schools already in existence have led many to fear that these “offsite campus expansions� are new grammar schools in all but name. Are grammar schools a means of social mobility, or just state-funded private schools for the middle-classes?
THURSDAY 29 NOVEMBER 7.30pm 34
Proposition CHRIS MCGOVERN Chris McGovern is chairman of the Campaign for Real Education. Chris McGovern has 35 years of teaching experience, as well as this, Chris is a qualified inspector for Ofsted. Chris has been an educational adviser to the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street under two prime ministers.He is a regular contributor to press, TV and radio discussion of educational matters at home and abroad. DR. SIMON HEFFER Simon Heffer is a journalist with the Daily Telegraph, but wrote formerly for the Daily Mail. He has written histories and biographies of notable British figures including Enoch Powell. He was the editor of Rightminds, an online paper attached to the Mail. THE RT. HON. SIR GRAHAM BRADY MP Graham Brady is a Conservative MP and Chairman of the 1922 Committee. He resigned from being shadow Europe Minister in protest at David Cameron’s opposition to expanding grammar schools. He is one of the most influential MPs in Parliament, responsible for whether a leadership election can be triggered against the Prime Minister.
Opposition CHARLES CONNOR Charles Connor is this term’s President of the Cambridge Union. He matriculated at King’s in 2015, he read for the Historical Tripos, and is now undertaking an MPhil. He previously served at the Union as both Executive Officer and as Speakers Officer. DR MARY BOUSTED Mary Bousted was elected General Secretary of the ATL, a teaching Union, in 2003. For the years 2016/17 she served as President of the Trades Union Congress. She is a staunch opponent of grammar schools, in line with the stances of both her own union and the TUC. THE RT. HON. THE BARONESS WILLIAMS OF CROSBY CH Shirley Williams was a Labour Education Secretary before famously breaking away from the party in the ‘80s. She helped lead the SDP, became a professor at Harvard and subsequently leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords. As Education Secretary, she oversaw a major programme of comprehensivisation.
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SPEAKERS
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ROBBY MO OK Former Political Campaign Strategist
Robby Mook is one of America’s leading political strategists. After a string of successes at the state level, he was appointed Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager in 2015 – making him the first openly gay man to lead a Presidential campaign. He is now the Co-Director of Harvard’s ‘Defending Digital Democracy’ project.
WEDNESDAY 3 OCTOBER 6.00pm 37
ADAM DRIVER American Actor
Adam Driver is one of Hollywood’s most exciting talents. Following his rise to prominence in HBO’s ‘Girls’, he has featured in a number of critically acclaimed films including ‘Star Wars’, ‘BlacKkKlansman’, and ‘Logan Lucky’. He is also the founder of Arts in the Armed Forces, a non-profit that performs theatre for the military. Note: this event will be MEMBERS ONLY – with a valid Union card required for access.
TBC 38
MICHELLE RODRIGUEZ American Actress
Michelle Rodriguez is one of the world’s most iconic action-movie actresses. She has starred in a number of blockbusters, including the ‘Fast & Furious’ series and ‘Avatar’. Her recent collaboration with Steve McQueen ‘Widows’, will hit screens this November.
TBC 39
KATIE PIPE R Charity founder, TV presenter, and current Strictly contestant Katie Piper is a best-selling international author, inspirational speaker, TV presenter, and current Strictly contestant. She rebuilt her life after surviving an acid attack in March 2008 at the age of 24. In 2009, while still in the early stages of recovery, Piper set up her Foundation, aiming to create a world in which scars do not limit a person’s function, social inclusion, or sense of well-being.
TBC 40
TONY S C HWA RT Z Trump’s Ghost Writer
Tony Schwartz is the credited co-author of President Trump’s The Art of the Deal. Having spent eighteen months working with Trump in the 1980s, he has spent the last two years offering a unique and damning insight into the unorthodox thought processes of the current ‘leader of the free world’.
FRIDAY 12 OCTOBER 7.00pm 41
ADWOA AB OAH Leading Model
Adwoa Aboah is a leading British model and activist. She featured on the front page of Edward Enninful’s first edition of Vogue and has fronted campaigns for Chanel and Burberry. She is also the founder of Gurls Talk, an organization that aims to create spaces for women to come together, both online and in person, to discuss mental health, body image and sexuality.
TBC 42
DYL AN JONES Editor of GQ
Born in Ely, Dylan Jones is a leading figure in British journalism. He has edited GQ since 1999, overseeing a transformation in the magazine’s fortunes. He is also an acclaimed author in his own right, having penned biographies of Jim Morrison and Paul Smith.
TUESDAY 16 OCTOBER 5.00pm 43
T HE RT. HON. BEV ERLEY MCL ACHLI N Longest-serving Chief Justice in Canadian history
Beverley McLachlin is a Canadian jurist, who served as Chief Justice of Canada from 2000 to 2017. She was the first woman to hold that position, and the longest serving Chief Justice in Canadian history. She is now a Non-Permanent Judge of the Court of Final Appeal in Hong Kong.
WEDNESDAY 17 OCTOBER 7.00pm 44
GEIR LIPPESTAD On Anders Breivik
Paul Greengrass is one of the most influential figures in British film, having directed the ‘Bourne’ trilogy, ‘Captain Phillips’, and ‘United 93’. His most recent project is ‘July 22’, a crime drama film based on the 2011 Norway terror attacks. The Union brings him together with Geir Lippestad, Anders Breivik’s defence lawyer, to discuss the film and the tragic events it depicts.
THURSDAY 18 OCTOBER 6.00pm 45
AC S C ONFE RE NC E The Motherland Conference, in partnership with Cambridge AfricanCaribbean Society, educates students to tap into the opportunities on the African continent, enables them to overcome the challenges of development and deepen their connection to the Motherland. The speakers reflect the Motherland we will inherit, a new and dynamic Africa which will influence the global landscape. Through intimate panel discussions centring around Business and Culture, as well as our Governance Key Note speeches, we will collectively forge a new vision for Africa.
SATURDAY 20 OCTOBER Midday - 6.00pm 46
PAUL MERTON Comedian and Satirist
An actor and writer, Merton has been at the top of British comedy for over 35 years. Paul Merton is considered to be one of Britain’s greatest comedians, known for his deadpan brand of comedy and his improvisational skills. His memorable role on BBC’s ‘Have I Got News For You’ has earned him an five nominations for the British Comedy Awards, as well as the Broadcasting Press Guild Award for Best NonActing Performer.
MONDAY 22 OCTOBER 6.00pm 47
JOSH LIT TLEJOHN Social Entrepreneur
Josh Littlejohn is the founder of Social Bite, a social enterprise dedicated to helping end homelessness in Scotland. His revolution against Scotland’s homelessness problem all started with the opening of a sandwich shop in the heart of Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh – a place he viewed as the ideal starting point. Josh says that he believes that Scotland’s compassion and generosity has been key to their success and that whenever they needed help or support, it didnt take much for people from all walks of life to come through for them.
WEDNESDAY 24 OCTOBER 5.00pm 48
JOHN RIDDING CEO of The Financial Times
John Ridding is the current CEO of the Financial Times. Appointed to this position in 2006, he has led its transformation from a print and advertising business to a digital and subscription business, reaching record readership in the process.
TUESDAY 30 OCTOBER 7.00pm 49
GEORGINA BEYER New Zealand Politician and the world’s first transsexual MP
Georgina Beyer is a New Zealand politician and a leading LGBT+ activist. After a brief spell as an actor and sex worker in the 1980s, Beyer was elected Mayor of Carleton in 1995 – becoming the world’s first transsexual mayor. With her victory in the 1999 General Election, she secured another first – the world’s first transsexual MP.
WEDNESDAY 31 OCTOBER 6.00pm 50
JORDAN PETERSON Canadian Psychology Professor
Dr. Peterson is a professor at the University of Toronto, a clinical psychologist and the author of the best selling ’12 Rules for Life’, which has been a Number 1 bestseller in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, the Netherlands and Brazil. He rose to international prominence in 2016, after criticising the Canadian government’s enactment of Bill C-16.
FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER 7.30pm 51
MANNY PAC QUIAO Filipino professional boxer and Senator
Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao has made a career out of taking opponents to school. He has done it 60 times inside a boxing ring. Now, boxing’s only eightdivision world champion has accepted an invitation to return to school himself and speak at the Cambridge Union. Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) is the only sitting Congressman and Senator to win a world title. After serving two terms as congressman, Pacquiao was elected to a Philippine Senate seat in May 2016, capturing over 16 million votes nationally.
TUESDAY 6 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 52
ING R I D BETA NC OURT Colombian-French Politician Ingrid Betancourt is a politician and former presidential candidate celebrated for her determination to combat widespread corruption. In 2002 she was taken hostage by the FARC, a terrorist guerrilla organization. For more than six and a half years, the FARC held her hostage in the Colombian jungle. She was rescued on July 2, 2008. She has received multiple international awards, including the French National Order of the LÊgion d’Honneur.
FRIDAY 9 NOVEMBER 6.00pm 53
SL AVOJ ZIZEK Leading Philosopher
Slavoj Žižek is a Hegelian philosopher, Lacanian psychoanalyst, and political activist. He is international director of the Birkbeck Institute for the Humanities and the author of numerous books, including his most recent work, ‘Like a Thief in Broad Daylight: Power in the Era of Post-Humanity’.
SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 54
OMAROS A MAN IGAULT President Trump’s former aide and releaser of the ‘Trump tapes’ Omarosa is an American reality TV star and former aide to President Trump. She served as Communications Director for the Office of Public Liaison from January to December 2017. Since leaving office, she has released a series of secret tapes, described as ‘one of the worst White House security breaches ever’.
SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 7.30pm 55
PEDRO PAS C A L Chilean Actor Pedro Pascal is a Chilean-born American actor. He is best known for portraying the roles of Oberyn Martell in the fourth season of the HBO series ‘Game of Thrones’ and Javier Peña in the Netflix series ‘Narcos’.
TBC 56
ATI F ET E JAH JAGA Former President of Kosovo
Atifete Jahjaga is a Kosovar politician who served as the third President of Kosovo. Upon her election in 2011, she became the first female President in Kosovo’s history. Since leaving office, she has decided to return to academia, pursuing legal studies at the University of Pristina.
TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 57
G A RY ALEJA NO Critic of President Duterte
Congressman Gary Alejano is a member of the opposition coalition and one of the most vocal critics of Philippine President Duterte’s government. He has campaigned for Pres. Duterte’s impeachment and submitted a complaint to the International Criminal Court in The Hague calling for an investigation into Pres. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign which, since 2016, has resulted in over 20,000 extra-judicial killings of mostly poor people. Congressman Alejano is a senatorial candidate in the mid-term elections to be held early next year. He is able to provide an insight into the Duterte government, specifically issues concerning impunity and extrajudicial killings, the Philippines’ pivot to China and the situation regarding Philippine maritime sovereignty in the South China Sea, and why he was moved to submit a complaint to the ICC.
TUESDAY 13 NOVEMBER 7.00pm 58
L A DY LESH UR R English Hip Hop Singer
If the royal monarchs organised a search for the new queen of British rap, it’s certain that all roads would lead toward Lady Leshurr. In the past twelve months, Lady Leshurr has firmly stamped her place atop the throne. She has been busy releasing singles, wowed audiences on Later….with Jools Holland, performed at Reading & Leeds Festival and took over the stage at Ibiza Rocks for Radio 1. She is about to be team captain on new ITV2 show Don’t Hate The Playaz where she will reign for 6 weeks. All of her hard work is paying off as she gains the recognition she deserves and solidifies herself in the canon of great British artists.
WEDNESDAY 14 NOVEMBER 2.00pm 59
PROF ES S OR HAWK ING FELLOWSHIP LECT URE
SIR JONY IVE
Chief Design Officer at Apple, and the 2018 Hawking Fellow The Professor Hawking Fellowship, created by the Cambridge Union Society in partnership with Professor Hawking, was set up to recognise the Professor’s contribution to Cambridge in a number of ways, particularly to academia and the awareness of disability rights. Professor Hawking delivered the Inaugural Fellowship Lecture on 23rd November 2017.
His undoubted technological expertise, coupled with his remarkable role in championing elegant & innovative design on a global stage have made Sir Jony uniquely qualified to receive this Fellowship. Jony has led Apple’s design team since 1996. He holds over 5,000 patents and has been recognized with numerous design awards, including the Design Museum London’s first Designer of the Year in 2003, the Design and Art Direction (D&AD) President’s Award in 2005 and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum’s Product Design Award in 2007. Jony is Apple Inc.’s Chief Design Officer, reporting to CEO Tim Cook.
Sadly this was to be one of his last public appearances. In this poignant second year of the Fellowship, we are delighted to announce that the recipient of the Professor Hawking Fellowship 2018 will be Sir Jony Ive. The nominees for the Fellowship must fulfil the criteria of being distinguished in the STEM fields and of having made an historic or significant contribution to social discourse.
He is a native of London, a graduate of Newcastle Polytechnic and holder of honorary doctorates from the Royal College of Art and Northumbria University as well as the Rhode Island School of Design.
The Hawking Committee are of the opinion that Sir Jony’s work and patents have played a pivotal role in shaping Apple’s successes over the last two decades.
w w w.haw k ing fel l ow ship.com
MONDAY 19 NOVEMBER 6.00pm
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Kindly sponsored by
TIM WAINW R IGH T Chief Executive of WaterAid UK Tim Wainwright, a Cambridge maths graduate, is the current Chief Executive of WaterAid UK - a charity focussing on providing people with clean water, safe sanitation, and hygiene education. He was appointed to that position in 2017, after a distinguished career in the development sector.
WEDNESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 7.00pm 61
HSH PR I NC E A L BERT Prince of Monaco
H.S.H. Prince Albert is the reigning monarch of the Principality of Monaco and head of the princely house of Grimaldi. He acceded to the throne in 2005 and quickly became a leading advocate for environmental causes. He is also a keen sportsman, competing in the bobsleigh in five successive Winter Olympics.
FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER 6.00pm 62
DAVID MOYES Scottish Football Manager
David Moyes is one of Britain’s best-known football managers. After an illustrious playing career, he has had spells managing Manchester United, Everton, Real Sociedad, and West Ham United.
SUNDAY 25 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 63
SOL CAMPBELL
Football Commentator and Former England Player Sol Campbell is one of the most successful English footballers of the last two decades, with 73 caps for his country. Following a successful stint at Tottenham, he joined Arsenal in 2001 – winning two Premier League titles with the Gunners, the second as part of the legendary ‘Invincibles’ team. Since his retirement from football, he has become increasingly involved in political activism.
MONDAY 26 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 64
FARR AH STORR Editor of Cosmopolitan
Farrah Storr is the awarding-winning editor-in-chief of ‘Cosmopolitan’, one of Britain’s most popular lifestyle magazines. She has just released her debut book, ‘The Discomfort Zone’.
WEDNESDAY 28 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 65
ADWOA AB OAH Leading Model and Activist
Adwoa Aboah is a leading British model and activist. She featured on the front page of Edward Enninful’s first edition of Vogue and has fronted campaigns for Chanel and Burberry. She is also the founder of Gurls Talk, an organization that aims to create spaces for women to come together, both online and in person, to discuss mental health, body image and sexuality.
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER 5.00pm 66
KATE GILMORE
Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the UN Kate Gilmore is the United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights. Prior to joining OHCHR, Gilmore was a key player in Amnesty International. Her work over the years has focussed on prevention of violence against women.
FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER 7.00pm 67
L ABEOU F, RONK KO & T UR NE R Performance Trio Shia LaBeouf, Nastja Säde Rönkkö, and Luke Turner work together as a performance trio. Their performance art explores connection, emotion, and collaboration across digital and physical platforms. More information about this event, including the exciting creative segment which will precede it, will be released in due course.
TBC 68
JAMES & OL IV E R PHE L P S The Weasley Twins Identical twin British actors, Oliver and James Phelps are best known for playing Fred and George Weasley in the ‘Harry Potter’ film series. They have also worked as runners on a variety of other films, and are supporters of the Teenage Cancer Trust.
TBC 69
SIR BE N K INGSL EY Award-winning British Actor Sir Ben is a legend of stage and screen. After a distinguished career with the RSC, he found international fame in 1982 with his Oscar-winning performance in ‘Gandhi’. Since then, he has appeared in a string of blockbusters, including ‘Hugo’, ‘Schindler’s List’, and ‘Shutter Island’.
TBC 70
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PA N E L S
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DEMO CR ACY IN HONG KONG Featuring Benny Tai, Joshua Wong, Martin Lee, Nathan Law, and Evan Fowler For the first event of the term, we will hear from four icons of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. Martin Lee, the ‘father of democracy’ in Hong Kong, will be headlining the panel. He will be joined in person by the youngest lawmaker in the history of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, Nathan Law, Benny Tai, the initiator of the 2014 Umbrella Movement, and Evan Fowler, a leading journalist. Nobel Peace Prize contender Joshua Wong will be speaking via video link.
TUESDAY 2 OCTOBER 6.00pm 73
ARE WE LIVING IN A POST-R ACE WORLD? Featuring Shaiymah Manzoor-Khan and Peter Herbert With 2018 marking fifty years since the assassination of Martin Luther King and the passing of the Race Relations Act here in the UK, this panel takes a moment to question just how far we have come. By taking a critical look at the role race continues to play in our institutions, we aim to chart the changing face of racism over the last half a century and figure out if we’re anywhere near a ‘Post-Race World’.
MONDAY 8 OCTOBER 6.00pm 74
T HE FU TURE OF TURKEY In collaboration with the Cambridge Middle East and North Africa Forum Featuring Guney Yildiz and Suat Kinilioglu Turkey has occupied a key place in global geopolitics since its foundation in the aftermath of the First World War. Straddling Asia and Europe, the Middle East and the Balkans, with borders touching several former Soviet Republics and a stockpile of American nuclear weapons on its soil, it is a pivotal player on the world stage. When those foreign policy elements are coupled with the intricacies of its domestic political culture, Turkey is well worth discussing! Events of the last few years have made such discussions increasingly pressing. The failure of the Gulenist coup and the recent Presidential election have shaken deep-rooted elements within the country’s political landscape. Erdogan’s flirtations with Russia have been looked on with alarm in Washington. Both domestically and in the foreign sphere, matters appear to be changing, rather rapidly.
MONDAY 15 OCTOBER 7.00pm 75
G EN TRIFICATION PA NE L Featuring Lewis Herbert, Mark Ramsen and Tanya Murat Gentrification of close knitted communities, housing and diaspora in the UK is a controversial, hotly debated topic. Although one may argue that renovations and improvement to housing is good in the long term, it also has profound negative effects on current occupants (often working-class families) who suffer from increased rents and unaffordable living costs in the local area. Usually this leads to pre-established familiar or ethnic groups being broken up and having to live elsewhere, moving further out from the city.
MONDAY 29 OCTOBER 7.00pm 76
RE-THINKING ‘BRITISH VALUES’ SHOULD WE BE PROU D TO BE PATR IOTIC ? Featuring Stephen Bush and Sunder Katwala
With 2018 marking fifty years since the assassination of Martin Luther King and the passing of the Race Relations Act here in the UK, this panel takes a moment to question just how far we have come. By taking a critical look at the role race continues to play in our institutions, we aim to chart the changing face of racism over the last half a century and figure out if we’re anywhere near a ‘Post-Race World’.
MONDAY 12 NOVEMBER 7.00pm 77
WOMEN A ND T ERRORI SM Featuring Laura Sjoberg, Katherine Brown, Joana Cook and Neil Basu
In our age of terrorism, the question many are now asking is why a number of women have opted to join terrorist groups which are – at least from a Western standard – to be perceived as sexist and misogynistic. We would like to question the gendered nature of women’s participation in political violence by assessing stereotypes such as romantic adventurism, naivety as well as the allure of social media – all of which are commonly portrayed as women’s paths into terrorism. What are the differences between women who support, women who join and women who become actively involved in terrorist groups? Why are there so many fewer female terrorists than there are male ones? Since women do not have significant decision-making power in the overall strategy of these groups, what kind of impact do they have?
FRIDAY 23 NOVEMBER 7.00pm 78
EVENTS
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FRESHERS’ WEEK EVENT S Freshers’ Free Sparkling Wine Reception Monday October 1st 7:00pm University Challenge Quiz with winner John-Clark Levin Tuesday October 2nd 8:00pm Wine and Cheese Tasting TBC Salsa Dance Taster Session Friday October 5th 6:00pm RocknRoll Dance Taster Session Friday October 5th 7:00pm Reggae Gig Friday October 5th 7:00pm Political Societies Drinks Friday October 5th 8:00pm Freshers’ Brunch Saturday October 6th 12:30pm Paterson Film Screening with CFA Saturday October 6th 6:00pm India Society Freshers’ Squash Sunday October 7th 1:00pm Gin Tasting with GinSoc and Sipsmiths Monday October 8th 6:00pm Varsity Ski Trip Launch Party Tuesday October 9th 8:30pm Free Latin Dancesport Session Wednesday October 10th 6:00pm Ballroom and Latin Classes Saturday October 12th 6:00pm Freshers’ Masquerade Ball Saturday October 13th 8:00pm Kindly sponsored by Cobra Beer 80
WEEKLY ENT S Puppy Therapy with Student Minds Sunday November 4th and Monday November 5th 12:30 to 14:30pm American Midterms All-Nighter Tuesday November 6th 8:00pm to 04:00am University Challenge Screenings Mondays 8:00pm Krav Maga Classes for Women Thursdays 5:30pm - 6:30pm Debate Workshops Tuesdays 7:30pm Mindfulness Classes Wednesdays 7:00pm to 8:30pm Sign Language Classes Wednesdays 6:00pm to 7:00pm Cocktail Workshops at the 1815 Bar On booking Film Screenings with CFA Weekly Day TBC FIFA Playstation Tournament November Date TBC
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STANDING COMMIT TEE
PRESIDENT Charles Connor
VICE PRESIDENT Imran Mateo
EXECUTIVE OFFICER SPEAKERS OFFICER Gabriel Barton-Singer Muhammed Chan
TREASURER Harriet Allison
ENTS OFFICER Abdullah Shah
DEBATING OFFICER Joy Jia
PRESIDENT-ELECT Will Smart
DEBATING OFFICER Trenton Sewell
EXECUTIVE-ELECT Rachel Tustin
SPEAKERS-ELECT Cecily Bateman
TREASURER-ELECT Vincent Rustill
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APPOINTEES
WOMEN’S OFFICER Julia Hubo
DIVERSITY OFFICER Haneen Zeglam
ACCESS OFFICER Yusuf Uddin
ACCESS OFFICER Chiara Rohlfs
WOMEN’S OFFICER DESIGNATE ACCESS OFFICER DESIGNATE Alex Murray Nikki Eames Secretary Heads of Events Managements Deputy Heads of Events Management Heads of Audio-Visual Deputy Heads of Audio-Visual Head Guest Liaison for Debates Senior Guest Liaisons for Debates Head Guest Liaisons for Speakers Senior Guest Liaisons for Speakers Heads of Publicity Deputy Head of Publicity Head of Press Deputy Heads of Press Heads of Membership Deputy Head of Membership
Alycia Leach Lucinda Hobden and Luke Hallam Alex Denny, Claudia Anderson and Liam Buckley Amy Macmillan and Adam Davies Emily Dunstan and Daniel Mackinnon Jamie Siviter James Hedge and Alex Wettig Eileen Maguire and Tudor Musat Zehn Mehmood and Theo Bearman Sabrina Lee and Josh Kimblin Maria Zarate Harry McNamara Naomi Sankaran and James Webb Oliver Layzell and Usama Safeer Tomi Baikie
DEBATING ROLES Head of Debate Training Heads of Debate Participation IV Conveners Schools Convener Schools Treasurer Women’s Open Conveners ICYD Convener ICYD Treasurer
Gigi Gilgallon Tim Lee and Christina Thomas Cecily Bateman and Athan Siah Achilleas Papadimitriou Vincent Rustill Rachel Tustin and Christina Thomas Gigi Gilgallon Matt Alderton
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S TA F F & G O V E R NA N C E TRUSTEES The Rt. Hon. The Lord 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 Union, Charles Connor The Vice President of the Union, Imran Mateo
THE DIRECTORS OF CAMBRIDGE UNION SOCIETY ENTERPRISES LTD Col. (Ret) William Bailey The President of the Union, Charles Connor The Vice President of the Union, Imran Mateo
Dr. Nigel Brown OBE Rachel Green David Robinson
REVIEW COMMITTEE Joshua Blanchard Lewis (ex officio Vice President, 2008-9) (Chair) Joel Fenster (ex officio President, Easter 2013) Alex Forzani (ex officio Vice President, 2012-13) Nick Wright (ex officio Vice President, 2014-15)
STAFF Col. (Ret.) William Bailey MBE - Bursar Joe Burman - General Manager Nathan Caples - Senior AV Technician Louise Gamon - Membership Secretary Katherine Rickett - Events Coordinator Sabine Edwards - Advertising & Sponsorship
Bartlomiej Fajer - Bar Manager Sam Heap - Catering and Assistant Bar Manager Leonardos Markakis - Bar Supervisor Yasmin Williams - Bar Supervisor Justina Aluko - Bar Staff Joseph Warner - Bar Staff Laurie-Anne Pryce - Accountant
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President’s Thanks If you are actually reading this, well done to you. You’ve fought through over thirty speaker events, six panels, eleven debates, and a panoply of socials. Those events have been put together by the best team I have had the privilege of working alongside in my time at the Union. That is, of course, not to diminish the record of all the wonderful people who I have learnt so much from over the years. Ed, Daniel, and Tim on the HoEM team. Kate, Leyla, and Anna from the iconic Lent 2017 SC. Andrea, Dan E, Daniel, Jonah, Maria, Hani, James B, James A, Miles, James F, Jali, Sam, George, Adam, Rhianna, Sally, Hannah, and Nancy – we have shared so many amazing/ bizarre experiences together, which I will never forget. Lastly, Page and Tom – without your inimitable example, I wouldn’t have had a clue how to run a Michaelmas term. Even so, it is the Michaelmas 2018 team I have to turn to with my most earnest thanks.
Muhammed – this term-card is a product of your tremendous capacity for hard work (and your capacity for enduring burnt Spanish omelette…). Don’t worry about WME, Harry Styles’ dad, or Kanye’s non-existent PA – you’ll be rivalling Jason Weinberg before you know it! Gabriel – despite your shoddy Sporcle record, you have more than delivered on your pledge to reinvigorate the debates line-up. Your strategy has worked to perfection, despite my occasional misgivings (#bigdata). Our debates this term will go down in history. You are behind that – and we should rejoice for that. Imran – last, but by no means least, you are the true hero of this place. Data-driven approaches, late night calls with Cupertino, flickering lights… you have been a pillar of strength in the flux and flow of Union life. Thank you for steering me away from my more outlandish schemes. The Union needs you – and is lucky to have you.
Yusuf and Chiara – thank you for your unwavering commitment, both to access and to our broader lineup. Yusuf – your effort on the gentrification panel and the Oxbridge debate has been monumental. Chiara – the Big Data suggestions, all the way from Ghana, were truly inspired. Julia – I still can’t quite understand how you managed to pull together a five-person discussion, including the Head of Counter-Terrorism Policing in the UK, within twenty-four hours! Your advice and ideas, even in the most taxing circumstances, have been invaluable. You can see the fruits of your hard work throughout this term-card. Haneen – thank you for being there throughout everything we have done, from discussions about Union+ to the initial meeting with the ACS. The Churchill debate, in particular, is something I am enormously looking forward to. You really have transformed the role of the Diversity Officer – something which the entire Union should be thankful for. Hattie – it has meant so much to have someone from ‘my generation’ stick with me into this term. Your wise words have curbed my (occasional) flights of fancy over the years. I can think of nobody I would prefer to have beside me as Treasurer.
To Bart, Sam, Leo, and the amazing 1815 team for keeping me going over the long summer months. Those glasses of water were indispensable! Louise – thanks for your incredible support over the years, despite oftbizarre demands. Sabine – the Hawking launch was executed to perfection. Joe – your vision for the Union is incredible, and one which the members should be grateful for. Katherine – you deserve a special thanks. Moving online – and moving design in-house – was a big step. But I am so glad that I made it. Thank you so much for enduring last-minute personnel and design changes – and for producing documents of such consistent quality. Though the Union means a great deal to me, I am, first and foremost, a member of King’s. Thanks to Dr. Smith, who was a real support throughout my undergrad career. I owe so much to so many of you that it would be uncharitable to name names. The many M2s over the years (the ‘Heavies’ in particular), all the PCC, the Engineers, Team 413, Bowl Culture… you know who you are. And I hope you know how much I appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for me, on a daily basis. Finally, a turn back home. SGS, despite my Presidential debate, made me who I am. Mum, Dad, Mia, my three grandparents – thanks for everything.
Abdullah – I know, without any doubt whatsoever, how amazing your Ball will be. You have gone above and beyond in everything you have done so far, from teaching me the dark arts of Facebook engagement to providing a much-needed support during ITV interviews. Freshers’ Week is going to be electric – down to you.
Charles Connor President Michaelmas 2018
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