Events of The Society
The Union puts on a wide variety of events for its members, but is best known for its Thursday night debates and individual speaker events. In both of these, leading figures from public life are invited to discuss something of interest to the membership.
Debates in the past year have seen such figures as Andrew Mitchell, David Blunkett and Nigel Farage discussing the merits of the coalition government, Max Mosley debating whether the British press have too much freedom and Max Clifford discussing reality TV. The motion for a week's debate varies widely, and often touch on politics, science, the arts, religion, the economy and comedy. Generally, the proposition and opposition sides of a debate each have three speakers, with speeches alternating between the two sides. Before the last speech on each side, the debate is opened up to the floor, where any member can have their say and question either side. Those watching then vote by exiting the chamber through one of three doors: "Ayes", "Noes" or "Abstentions", with the result announced moments later in the bar.
Recent individual speaker events have included Ken Livingstone, former BP CEO Tony Hayward, comedienne Jo Brand, actor Bill Nighy, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, the first democratically elected President of Iraq Jalal Talabani, Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi and UN weapons inspector Hans Blix
The Union also puts on a wide range of social entertainments for its members, including yoga & pilates, comedy evenings, an annual Valentine's Ball, a summertime 'Garden Party', cocktail workshops, a weekly pub quiz and much more.
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“There is much to be said in favour of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community. By carefully chronicling the current events of contemporary life, it shows us of what very little importance such events really are. By invariably discussing the unnecessary, it makes us understand what things are requisite for culture, and what are not.”
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