Easter Term 2017

the Durham Union est. 1842

President’s Welcome

Join at www.dus.org.uk

Welcome back to Durham and to the Union for

Easter Term 2017!

Whether this is your final term in Durham before

graduating or your first taste of summer in

Durham, I hope the Union will be able to provide

a welcome distraction from exams and revision.

In our debates, we will be addressing some hot

topics, from equality to capitalism and what it means to be British. We

will be joined by some interesting speakers, including Graham Brady MP,

Vicky Pryce and Roger Helmer MEP.

I am delighted to be welcoming former Green Party leader Natalie Ben-

nett and First Secretary Alexander Novikov from the Russian Embassy to

Durham as part of our ongoing series of addresses from notable individ-

uals.

And who can forget that there’s a General Election coming up? Hopeful-

ly the Union can be Durham’s Election HQ!

Our socials, undoubtedly the best in Durham, will continue this term, in-

cluding the Garden Party on 14 June, the highlight of the Easter social

calendar. The bar at 24 North Baily is open each evening (except during

the exam period). We are the only society in Durham to have its own bar,

so why not make the most of it?

Friday 29th April, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

Positive Discrimi-

Friday 28th April, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

This House Believes Positive Discrimination Really Is

Positive

Sophia Cannon Barrister specialising in family law and commen-tator on BBC, ITV and Sky News

Ruby Lott-Lavigna

Ambassador for 50:50

Parliament who has

previously written for

The New Statesman and

The Guardian

Resham Kotecha

Conservative Parliamentary candidate and representative of Women2Win, co-founded by Theresa May to help women become Conserva-tive MPs.

TBC

Proposition Opposition

Friday 29th April, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

Brexit Ques-

Friday 5th May , 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

This House Believes Free Market Capitalism Is The Way

Forward

Graham Brady MP

Durham alumnus, MP for Altrincham and Sale West and Chairman of the Conservative 1922 Committee

Vicky Pryce

Renowned economist,

Board Member for the

CEBR and former Joint

Head of the Govern-

ment Economic

Service

Ben Lewis

Leading Member of the Communist Party of Great Britain

TBC

Proposition Opposition

Friday 29th April, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

Existence of

Monday 5th June, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

This House Believes Britain Is A Christian Country

Roger Helmer MEP

UKIP MEP for the East Midlands since 1999 and former business-man

Sanjay Jagatia

Secretary General and Di-rector of the Hindu Council of the United Kingdom

TBC

Proposition Opposition

TBC

Friday 29th April, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

Grammar

Friday 9th June, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

Farewell Debate: This House Would Be A Scottish

Nationalist

Jonty Bayliss

Our Easter President has Scottish family, which explains a lot.

George Jackson

Proud Member of Cale-donian Society, Past President and Returning Officer

Daniel Cohen

There’s a union flag in that picture of the new Michaelmas President. Need I say more?

Jack Gilmore

The Union’s laissez-faire Treasurer is taking a more active stance on this issue.

Proposition Opposition

Harriet Good

Our Equalities Officer visited many socialist republics on her gap yah.

Chris Clarke

Cadet Chris would defend the Union using force if necessary.

Address

Tuesday 25th April, 8:30pm, Debating Chamber

Alexander Novikov

First Secretary, Russian Embassy

For our first event of the term, we will be joined by First

Secretary Alexander Novikov from the Russian Embassy.

First Secretary Novikov has worked for the Russian For-

eign Ministry since 2000 and has been stationed in Lon-

don since 2015. He will address the Union on Russian

politics and opinions and will take questions.

Address

Address

Natalie Bennett

Former Green Party Leader

Serving as Party Leader between 2012 and 2016, Natalie

led the Greens to their best ever election performances,

quadrupling the number of votes they received in general

elections. Born in Australia, Natalie worked as a journal-

ist before emigrating to the UK in 1999.

Address

Desert Island Social

Tuesday 6th June, 8:30pm, 24 North Bailey Club

With exams out of the way, we’ll be going all out to

celebrate summer in tropical style! Expect drinks and

food to match the occasion.

Free for members; remember to bring your member-

ship card.

Durham Union Garden Party 2017

Wednesday 14th June, 3:00pm

The highlight of the Union’s summer social calendar,

with afternoon tea, Pimms and more to celebrate the

end of a successful year

The cost of this social will be subsidised, ticket prices

TBC.

Competitive De-

The Durham Union Society is one of the most famous institutions in the world for

competitive debating. At the most recent World Championships in Malaysia, our

Durham A team was ranked 9th in the world. We send our debaters to competitions not

only in the UK but all over the globe.

Debating is a fantastic way of improving your public speaking, learning to think on

your feet, and boosting your CV! It is also an opportunity to travel around the country

or even the world and to meet a variety of different people. Any member of the Union

can get involved: whether you have years of experience or none at all, there is a place

for you among the debaters in our society!

E-mail Ellie with any questions durhamdebate@gmail.com.

There are a large number of committees that all help to run the Union. Here is

a quick summary of what they do. All committee positions are up for election

at the start of Michaelmas Term. If you are a first year please do not be afraid

to stand, all of us officers started off on one of these committees during our

first term at Durham. Elections will follow the debates on the first two Fri-

days of term. All committee members become members of the General

Committee, the legislative body of the Union.

Consultative Committee, made up of college representatives who connect

the Union with the colleges. One secretary per college is elected in order to

gain members’ feedback, bring ideas to the office and distribute Union pub-

licity within their college. These positions are held for a year.

House Committee is responsible for the logistics of all Union events, includ-

ing Friday Night Debates. House Committee members meet the speakers and

socialise in the Reading Room afterwards.

Social Committee organises the Union’s balls and social events - perfect for

anyone getting involved in the creative side of the Union.

President’s Committee helps the President and President-Elect to prepare

for debates, forums and addresses. This is one of the best ways to get to know

the inner workings of the Union.

Sponsorship Committee encourages outside bodies to support the Union.

The committee is vital in obtaining support from local and national compa-

nies to help keep the Union running.

Getting Involved in the Un-

The Union Bar - 24 North

24 North Bailey Club is the Union’s very own bar. It is not

only the venue of our socials, but serves as a general place to

hang out for members and non-members. Every evening

people go there to enjoy our drinks and atmosphere. Being

bigger than most bars on the Bailey and having a large gar-

den, it is a fantastic place to spend your evening. Whether

you are on a bar crawl, or just looking for somewhere to

have a drink, grab your friends and visit 24 North Bailey!

Bar Events

In addition to our regular free socials, the bar holds frequent events, including a

series of pub quizzes and themed cocktail events. Look out for our weekly email

and our Facebook page for information about what’s going on in the bar.

Getting Involved Our bar is run almost exclusively by students. It is managed by the Union’s Cus-

todian and Assistant Custodian, both of whom are elected members, and the Bar

Committee. It offers students the opportunity to get involved with running a bar.

In addition to this Union members have an opportunity to work in the bar and

live in one of the eight bedrooms above 24s. Emails will be sent out with more

information when these become available.

Opening Hours

Sunday - Thursday: 8:30-11:30 pm

Friday & Saturday: 8:30-12:00 am

Who’s Who?

Jonty Bayliss

Clara Hodge

SPONSORSHIP SECRETARY

Ellie Markham

DIRECTOR OF DEBATING

Harriet Good: Diversity Officer

David Van Egghen: Assistant Secretary

Yago Lleonart Mateu: Steward

Sam Johnson-Audini: Assistant Sponsor-

ship Secretary

Martha Baines: Debate Training Sec.

Gabriel Kalcheim: Alumni Officer

George Jackson: Returning Officer

Rory Flynn: Debate Competitions Secre-

tary

Ollie Lewis

SECRETARY

Daniel Cohen

PRESIDENT-ELECT

Jack Gilmore

TREASURER

Izzy Morrow

SOCIAL SECRETARY

Daniel Cohen

CUSTODIAN

President’s Thanks

The Union is not just the President; it would collapse without the dedicated

work of our officers, committee members and staff.

Firstly, thank you to Sharon, our Officer Manager and Union keystone for

all your support to me as President and as Treasurer before that. Thank you

also to Alison, Sue and Mike for your hard work…where would we be with-

out you?

Well done and thank you to George and Tom for your terms as President

before me and for setting the bar so high. And to George and Gillian before

you for your work as Returning Officer, stopping us becoming a banana re-

public.

Good luck to Daniel in organising next term as President-Elect. I am quite

sad that my year abroad prevents me from being around for it. If you are ever

short of a speaker, your impressions of famous individuals will be sufficient!

Thank you for your care of 24s as Custodian and for being my serial propos-

er. Thank you also to my seconder Thomas and my campaign team.

I’m looking forward to working alongside all our other officers this term.

Jack, your PhD means you will be around for years to come, for better or

worse…well done on succeeding me as Treasurer and thank you for your

speaker suggestions. Ollie, I look forward to calling on you to read the

minutes of the last meeting (which never happens) and Izzy, I hope the so-

cials this term can be the best yet. Thank you to Clara for arranging sponsor-

ship and for your tireless commitment and good luck to Ellie and the other

debating officers in your competitions this term. Thank you as well to all the

other officers and committee members.

President’s Thanks

I am extremely grateful to my Presidents Committee, Harriet, George,

Tohid, Yannis, Yago and Amarvir for your creativity, thoughtfulness,

commitment and advice. You have been a massive help. In particular, thank

you to Harriet for your efforts to make the Union a diverse and equal place.

Thank you to Nick for eventually sending over the Treasurer spreadsheets.

And I can never forget everybody who voted for me for President.

Thank you to my campaign team: Hannah Speed, Clara Hodge, Ollie Lew-

is, Jack Gilmore, Eden Watkins, Tom Henderson (who has done a fantastic

job getting Hild Beders involved in the Union), Harriet Good, George

Friend, Tohid Ismail, Sam Johnson-Audini, Chris Clarke, Marcus Dell and

George Burrell.

I would like to mention my family back in Alton and in Gatehouse-of-Fleet

for their support to me, together with my housemates, who have seen less of

me than they usually would while I’ve been holed up in the Union office!

And a final thank you to our members, who make our debates, addresses

and socials what they are and who are a key factor in convincing our guests

to return to Durham!

Contacts

President: president@dus.org.uk

Secretary: info@dus.org.uk

Sponsorship: sponsorship@dus.org.uk

Debating: durhamdebate@gmail.com

Visit www.dus.org.uk

Durham Union Society

Office and Chamber

1st Floor

Pemberton Building

Palace Green

DH1 3EP

TEL:0191 384 3724

FAX: 0191 384 7060

Please feel free to get in touch

A Note On Speakers

• All of our events are preceded by a

black tie dinner with the speakers

which all members are welcome to

attend. These are held at the Royal

County Hotel and the price includes

a three-course meal with wine and

tea or coffee. Please enquire in the

office if you wish to book a place. It

would be absolutely fantastic to see

as many members on the dinners as

possible.

• Please note that the information on

speakers in this termcard is provi-

sional. The DUS reserves the right

to modify the programme.

Join online today at dus.org.uk

Why Join?

• Free entry to weekly celebrity addresses.

• Free entry to expert and celebrity debates on topical issues, eve-

ry Friday night

• Access to the Union’s private bar and event venue 24s.

• Opportunity to live and work in 24s.

• Exclusive discounts in independent shops across Durham

• Free admission to the events and facilities of the Oxford, Cam-

bridge and Edinburgh Unions.

• Opportunity to learn to debate as a novice or hone your skills

with our world class debate squad.

• The ability to get involved in the running of Durham's largest

society and a great addition to any CV

• Our members only balls and socials are amongst the best in

Durham.

• Socialise with students from different colleges and courses.

1 in 4 students are members of the Union, don’t miss out!