CONTENTS RIGHT

Happy New Year and welcome back to Oxford. It is a tremendous privilege to be serving as your President for Hilary Term 2013! This society is only as good as the people who choose to get involved, and there has never been a more exciting time to do so.

Following extensive negotiations, I have finally signed a groundbreaking new contract with major implications for the long-term direction of the Union. Under this new arrangement, our events will be professionally filmed and broadcast around the world. We have been hosting world-class speakers and debates since 1823, and from now our newly launched YouTube platform will be showcasing these events to a global audience. Continuing in this new direction, we are also working on restructuring our website and social media strategy to make the Union more accessible and accountable to you.

Over the Christmas vacation, my team and I have put together a diverse calendar of events. Hilary’s speaker highlights include the Secretary General of NATO, Sir Paul Smith, Sir Patrick Stewart, John Bolton, David Blaine, founder of Twitter Jack Dorsey, and Julian Assange speaking via videolink from the Ecuadorean Embassy. The debates this term will give you the opportunity to listen to and argue against the likes of Bonnie Greer, Edwina Currie, Lord David Trimble, Dame Tessa Jowell, Rory Stewart and Sir Malcolm Rifkind to name but a few. Our motions include ‘This House Believes Israel is a Force for Good in the Middle East’ and ‘This House Would be Glad to Have Gay Parents’, while discussion panels will address topics as broad as science and philosophy, the City and social mobility.

In celebration of two very special anniversaries this term, I have worked to embrace modernity whilst upholding the Union’s distinguished tradition. We will be holding a celebratory debate to mark one of the most important developments in our 190-year history, the 50th anniversary of women being admitted as members. On the 80th anniversary of the most famous debate in the Union’s history, we will revisit the February evening in 1933 when Oxford students voted overwhelmingly to ‘under no circumstances fight for King and Country’.

I truly believe that the Union has something for everyone. Our term’s varied social events include everything from Chinese New Year to an acoustic music festival and a Superbowl party. At our Cirque du Soleil ball there will be fire-eaters, jugglers and contortionists. We are also proud to be hosting the annual ‘Town vs Gown’ boxing match, a production of Patrick Hamilton’s play Rope, and ‘Oxford’s Got Talent’ in association with RAG.

When I moved from Russia to the UK, I never imagined that I would be writing this letter now! The Union really is a remarkable institution, and I would like to thank all of you who have given me the opportunity to make a difference.

6 DEBATES

GAY RIGHTSThursday, 1st Week

ISRAELThursday, 3rd Week

FEMINISMThursday, 5th Week

EUROPEAN UNIONThursday, 7th Week

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10

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18

AMERICAN DREAMThursday, 2nd Week

QUEEN & COUNTRYThursday, 4th Week

BUSINESSThursday, 6th Week

COMEDY Tuesday, 5th Week

8

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20

8 DEBATES

RICHARD FAIRBRASS

Gay rights activist and lead vocalist for the band Right Said

Fred, best known for their 1991 hit ‘I’m Too Sexy’. In 2007

he was victim of a homophobic assault at a rally in Moscow.

BENJAMIN COHEN

Founder of the website Pink News and a campaigner for

gay and disabled rights. Also known for his online ventures,

he is the technology correspondent for Channel 4 News.

PHYLL OPOKU-GYIMAH

Co-founder and trustee of Black Pride UK. One of Britain’s

most active campaigners for black LGBT communities,

she appeared on The Independent’s ‘Pink List’ in 2012.

WINSTON MCKENZIE

Spokesman for the UK Independence Party and former

amateur boxing champion. He hit the headlines in November

when he described same-sex adoption as ‘child abuse’.

SCOTT LIVELY

American attorney, author, and campaigner controversially

linked to the anti-gay movement in Uganda. He has accused

gay people of being ‘agents of America’s moral decline’.

PETER D. WILLIAMS

Spokesperson for Catholic Voices and member of

the pro-life campaign group Right to Life. A former

atheist, he is now a public advocate for Catholicism.

OPPOSITION

PROPOSITION

PRECEDED BY A PERFORMANCE OF TONY KUSHNER’S ANGELS IN AMERICA

PROPOSITION

MAAJID NAWAZ

Co-founder and chairman of the Quilliam Foundation. Former

member of controversial Islamic political group Hizb ut-

Tahrir, he is now a leading critic of religious fundamentalism.

RAY MCGOVERN

CIA agent under seven US presidents for 27 years, he is an

outspoken commentator on intelligence related issues. He is

critical of recent US foreign policy and the Iraq War.

LAURENCE KOTLIKOFF

Third party US presidential candidate in the 2012 election

and a celebrated American economist. He is a proponent

of extensive tax, social security and healthcare reforms.

10 DEBATES

BONNIE GREER

One of America’s most notable playwrights, authors and

critics. Prominent commentator on American culture, she

reflects on the American Dream in her book Obama Music.

CRAIG MURRAY

Whistleblower and political activist. Removed from his post as

the UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan for revealing the country’s

human rights abuses against the British government’s wishes.

ROBERT GRIFFITHS

Current leader of the Communist Party of Britain. Founder

of the Welsh Socialist Republican Movement, he has

fought for justice and equality on a wide range of issues.

OPPOSITION

Israel

middlE eaST

This house Believes ThaT

is a Force For Good in The

PROPOSITION

RICHARD PERLE

Senior American political advisor who served as Reagan’s

Assistant Secretary of Defense. Distinguished specialist in US-

Israel relations and influential neoconservative commentator.

STEPHEN POLLARD

Editor of The Jewish Chronicle and a leading spokesman

on the Middle East. Former Chairman of the European

Institute for the Study of Contemporary Antisemitism.

LORD DAVID TRIMBLE

Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for helping secure an end to

armed conflict in Northern Ireland, he later became First

Minister. He is a co-founder of the Friends of Israel Initiative.

12 DEBATES

OPPOSITIONPETER TATCHELL

Leading British political campaigner and firm supporter of an

independent Palestinian state. He has been a vocal opponent of

Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank for four decades.

ILAN PAPPÉ

Prominent Israeli historian and socialist activist. Currently

Director of the European Centre for Palestinian Studies, he

was a leading member of the Hadash political party in Israel.

ANNA BALTZER

Award-winning author and activist for Palestinian rights.

National Organiser of the US Campaign to End the Israeli

Occupation, working to end US support of Israeli policies.

GHADA KARMI

Famously outspoken Palestinian medical doctor who has

referred to the creation of Israel as ‘the theft of a whole

country’. Frequent contributor to the Guardian and The Nation.

PROPOSITION

GARETH PORTER

One of the best-known pacifists in the United States. A

military historian, journalist and foreign policy expert,

he is known for challenging secrecy in public affairs.

BEN GRIFFIN

Former SAS trooper discharged from the Army for refusing

to return to Iraq, citing the alleged illegality of the war and

the practices of Coalition Forces. Founded Veterans for Peace.

GRAHAM SMITH

Chief Executive Officer of Republic, the leading British

organisation that campaigns to replace the monarchy with an

elected head of state. A vocal opponent of inherited privilege.

14 DEBATES

OPPOSITIONSIR MALCOLM RIFKIND

Conservative MP, former Defence and Foreign Secretary.

He is the Current Chairman of the Defence Intelligence

Committee and a firm believer in a strong British military.

RORY STEWART

Author, Conservative MP, and former Foreign Office diplomat.

He served as a senior government official in two Iraqi

provinces and completed a 32 day trek across Afghanistan.

COUNT NIKOLAI TOLSTOY

Chancellor of the International Monarchist League, historian

and author. A former Conservative, he stood against

David Cameron as the UKIP candidate for Witney in 2010.

GENERAL LORD DANNATT

Head of the British Army from 2006 to 2009. He oversaw the

military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and was awarded

the Military Cross for his actions under fire in Northern Ireland.

PROPOSITION

CAMILA BATMANGHELIDJH

Businesswoman and founder of Kids Company, a charity which

has helped over 40,000 children. Named ‘Businesswoman

of the Year’ at the 2009 Women in Public Life Awards.

MICHAEL BELOFF

Leading silk and barrister with Blackstone Chambers.

Nicknamed ‘the Bar’s Renaissance Man’, he was Oxford Union

President in 1963 when women were first admitted as members.

CINDY GALLOP

Distinguished advertising CEO and founder of web platforms

IfWeRanTheWorld and MakeLoveNotPorn. Her TED talk on

the latter was one of the most highly viewed in their history.

DAME TESSA JOWELL

Labour MP and former Minister for the Olympics. During her

time in Parliament she served as Minister for Women and

was instrumental in winning the 2012 Games for London.

16 DEBATES

OPPOSITIONEDWINA CURRIE

Former Conservative MP and Junior Minister under Thatcher.

A broadcaster and novelist, she has been described as

‘the most outspoken woman of her political generation’.

NATALIE BENNETT

Leader of the Green Party and former editor of Guardian

Weekly. She is a popular blogger and founded the Carnival of

Feminists, which highlights online work that celebrates women.

RACHEL JOHNSON

Best-selling author, editor, and freelance journalist. As

editor of The Lady she radically revamped the magazine’s

image and is regularly heard on radio and television.

LAURIE PENNY

Blogger, journalist and author. Described as ‘the loudest and

most controversial female voice on the radical left’, she is

a columnist and contributing editor for the New Statesman.

DOUG RICHARD

Entrepreneur and former ‘Dragon’ on Dragons’ Den, he has

founded and developed several companies in the technology

sector. He actively encourages startups and business education.

WILLIAM JACKSON

Managing Partner of Bridgepoint, a renowned private equity firm

which he has worked at since 1986. A director of British Land,

he also sits on the boards of Pret a Manger and Dorna Sports.

PROPOSITIONSAHAR HASHEMI

Founder of Coffee Republic, listed by The Independent as

one of the twenty most powerful women in Britain. Best-

selling author and leading advocate of entrepreneurship.

18 DEBATES

CHRIS SAUL

Senior Partner of Slaughter and May, one of the five ‘Magic

Circle’ law firms. He has worked there for over thirty

years and is noted as a leading figure in capital markets.

MARK FIELD

Conservative MP for the Cities of London and Westminster.

Before becoming a politician, he worked as a leading corporate

lawyer and a director of his own employment agency.

ROBIN GEFFEN

Founder of Neptune Investment Management and the

architect of its renowned global investment approach. Prior

to this he held numerous senior positions at leading City firms.

OPPOSITION

JAMES UFFINDELL

Successful entrepreneur and founder of the Bright Network, a

recruitment firm with a social outlook. He actively encourages

students to pursue places at top universities and companies.

PROPOSITION

ANTONY WORRALL THOMPSON

Celebrity chef, television star and radio personality. He owns

a number of award-winning restaurants, is a Eurosceptic and

actively campaigns and fundraises for various political causes.

BERNARD JENKIN

Conservative MP and Chair of the Public Administration Select

Committee. A former Shadow Secretary for both Defence

and Energy, he has publicly defied his party’s policy on the EU.

LORD WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE

UKIP hereditary peer. In 2012 he introduced the EU

Referendum Bill to the House of Lords, which calls for a

national vote on the UK’s continued membership of the EU.

BILL CASH

Described as ‘the most Eurosceptic Member of Parliament’

by Kenneth Clarke. Conservative ringleader of the Maastricht

rebellion which almost brought down Major’s government.

20 DEBATES

OPPOSITIONCHRIS BRYANT

Former Minister for Europe and Deputy Leader of the House

of Commons. Now Shadow Minister for Immigration, he is a

prominent Labour opponent of David Cameron’s EU strategy.

DIEDERIK SAMSOM

Current Dutch Labour Party (PvdA) leader and spokesman on

environmental issues. A staunch defender of the EU, he was

formerly CEO of Real Energy and a Greenpeace campaigner.

EDWARD MCMILLAN-SCOTT

Vice-President of the European Parliament, holding the

portfolio for Democracy and Human Rights. A former

Conservative, he defected to the Lib Dems over EU policy.

DORA BAKOYANNIS

Former Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mayor of Athens,

she remains the highest ranking female politician in Greek

history. She is currently President of the Democratic Alliance.

JOHN PEET

Current European editor of The Economist. He has authored

several publications including The Future of Europe, and

previously worked in the UK Treasury and Foreign Office.

22 DEBATES

24 SPEAKERS

JOHN BOLTONTuesday, 2nd Week

PAUL SMITHWednesday, 3rd Week

MICHAEL HOWARDWednesday, 4th Week

MICHAEL MORITZ Wednesday, 6th Week

DANIEL DENNETTFriday, 8th Week

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28

31

35

37

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30

32

36

40

41

JULIAN ASSANGEWednesday, 2nd Week

SHIRIN EBADIWednesday, 5th Week

DAVID BLAINE Date to be confirmed

MISS WORLDFriday, 7th Week

PATRICK STEWARTMonday, 2nd Week

ANDERS FOGH RASMUSSENDate to be confirmed

DavidDAVIS

David Davis is the Conservative MP for Haltemprice and Howden, and ran for the leadership of the party against David Cameron in 2005. In 2010 he chose not to join the Coalition Government, and has since criticised ministers on topics ranging from prison reform to tuition fees. Mr Davis is regarded as an authority on social mobility, having grown up on a London council estate.

TUESDAY, 2ND WEEK5:00PM 22ND JANUARY

2626 SPEAKERS

TimFERRISS

Author of The 4-Hour Workweek, a #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller. He followed this up with bestsellers The 4-Hour Chef and The 4-Hour Body, which he tested on himself. He is an angel investor and advisor to Facebook, Twitter, StumbleUpon and Evernote. A ‘lifestyle designer’, he believes technology can complicate life as well as simplify it.

WEDNESDAY, 1ST WEEK7:30PM 16TH JANUARY

SOCIAL MOBILITY FORUM

IN ASSOCIATION WITH OXFORD ENTREPRENEURS

JohnBOLTON

John Bolton served as Ambassador to the UN under President George W. Bush and was described by The Economist as ‘the most controversial ambassador ever sent by America to the United Nations’. During his tenure he was a vocal advocate for human rights, engineering the Security Council’s approval to send 22,500 UN peacekeepers to Darfur. He is a fierce critic of President Obama, arguing his foreign policy has endangered American sovereignty. He was one of Mitt Romney’s closest advisors during his 2012 presidential election campaign.

TUESDAY, 2ND WEEK, 7:30PM 22ND JANUARY

27

JulianASSANGE

Known worldwide as the founder and public face of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange has made headlines across the world by exposing government misconduct. He has championed the principle of freedom of information, yet some have criticised his activities as reckless and dangerous. Under Assange’s leadership, WikiLeaks has published innumerable classified diplomatic cables and played a crucial role in shaping the international political landscape. He is currently living as a fugitive in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London.

WEDNESDAY, 2ND WEEK, 7:30PM 23RD JANUARY

28 SPEAKERS

VIA EXCLUSIVEVIDEOLINK

André LeonTALLEY

André Leon Talley is former editor-at-large of Vogue. Having started work at Andy Warhol’s Interview in 1975, he became Vogue’s fashion news editor only a few years later. Talley personifies style and is one of the most authoritative voices in the industry. His counsel is frequently sought by the most fashionable figures in the world, including the Obama family. He was a judge on America’s Next Top Model alongside supermodel Tyra Banks, and is one of the most popular and charismatic figures on American television.

TUESDAY, 3RD WEEK, 7:30PM 29TH JANUARY

29

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Sir PaulSMITH

Sir Paul Smith is one of Britain’s most successful and well respected designers. Having left school at 14 in the hope of becoming a racing cyclist, he instead began a career in fashion after working in a local clothing warehouse. Sir Paul opened his first boutique in Nottingham in 1970 and quickly became renowned for his iconic British designs. With 12 collections across 75 countries, he is now one of the most distinguished trendsetters in the UK. He remains fully involved in running his business, serving as both chairman and designer.

WEDNESDAY, 3RD WEEK, 5:00PM 30TH JANUARY

30 SPEAKERS

PaulBREMER

Paul Bremer served as Iraq’s effective Head of State in his role as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority in the period following the invasion. His first acts in this position included banning Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath Party and dismantling the Iraqi army. He has held numerous positions within the US State Department, working under both Kissinger and Reagan. Coming to Oxford to mark the 10th anniversary of the invasion, he will be discussing the challenges faced in post-Saddam Iraq.

TUESDAY, 4TH WEEK, 7:30PM 5TH FEBRUARY

31

HRH BasmahBINT SAUD

HRH Princess Basmah bint Saud is a businesswoman and a member of the House of Saud, the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. She is one of few Saudis who call for liberal reforms in the Arab World, promoting universal education, constitutional reform, women’s rights, and changes to divorce laws. She is a writer, blogger, and an active member of numerous human rights campaign groups.

MONDAY, 4TH WEEK6:00PM 4TH FEBRUARY

32 SPEAKERS

ShirinEBADI

An Iranian lawyer and former judge, Shirin Ebadi was the first Muslim woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. She was presented with the award in 2003 for her work promoting democracy and human rights, particularly for women and children. She is an outspoken critic of the Iranian government, and as a lawyer she has defended political prisoners and the families of murdered protesters.

WEDNESDAY, 5TH WEEK5:30PM 13TH FEBRUARY

The Oxford Union and the Oxford Guild Business Society present a unique panel discussion with four of the highest profile figures in British business and politics. Each of them has followed a very different path to success, encompassing a diverse range of fields. Discussing their illustrious careers will be former leader of the Conservative Party Lord Michael Howard, former Chairman of Lloyds Banking Group Sir Victor Blank, BBC Dragon’s Den star Theo Paphitis and former Millwall Football Club Chairman Peter de Savary.

WEDNESDAY, 4TH WEEK, 7:30PM 6TH FEBRUARY

33

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Sir

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IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE OXFORD GUILD BUSINESS SOCIETY

34 SPEAKERS

David Blaine is one of the world’s most famous magicians, illusionists and endurance artists. Citing Houdini as his inspiration, Blaine has been buried alive, suspended in a box above the Thames, frozen in a block of ice, submerged underwater, suspended upside down and electrocuted for long periods of time, breaking numerous world records in the process. In addition to these feats, Blaine is well known for his street magic. His performances have captured the world’s imagination and attracted international media attention.

DATE AND TIME TO BE CONFIRMED

DavidBLAINE

MOTOWN

David Gest presents....

MOTOWN

For the first time ever, David Gest is bringing twelve Motown legends to Oxford to sing live the hits that made them famous. Performing with an all-star band, icons include Candi Staton performing her ‘You Got the Love’, Percy Sledge his ‘When a Man Loves a Woman’, Martha Wash of the Weather Girls her ‘Everybody Dance Now’, and Billy Paul his ‘Me and Mrs Jones’.An American media personality and close friend of the Jackson 5, Gest produced ‘Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration’ in 2001.

SATURDAY, 4TH WEEK, 5:00PM 9TH FEBRUARY

35

RaymondBLANC

Raymond Blanc, star of television shows The Restaurant and Kitchen Secrets, is one of Britain’s best-loved chefs. He owns numerous restaurants and patisseries including the celebrated Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. Its runaway success earned it two Michelin stars and national fame for Blanc, who has since authored several books and become a regular media fixture.

WEDNESDAY, 5TH WEEK7:30PM 13TH FEBRUARY

36 SPEAKERS

SinéadO’CONNOR

SATURDAY, 5TH WEEK7:00PM 16TH FEBRUARY

Singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor, best known for her worldwide chart topper Nothing Compares 2 U and album The Lion and the Cobra, has released nine solo albums and 34 singles. She will be speaking about her experiences of bipolar disorder, her public criticism of the Roman Catholic Church’s role in child abuse, and her role in supporting the causes of women’s rights and pacifism.

37

Michael Moritz is a venture capitalist based in Silicon Valley and formerly a member of Google’s board of directors. An early investor in Yahoo!, PayPal, and YouTube, he achieved the #1 position on Forbes’ Midas List of the top technology dealmakers, and has appeared in TIME magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in the world. Last year he donated a record-breaking £75 million to Oxford University to support students from low income backgrounds. He has also signed The Giving Pledge, with the aim of donating 50% of his wealth to charity.

WEDNESDAY, 6TH WEEK, 7:30PM 20TH FEBRUARY

MichaelMORITZ

38 SPEAKERS

Chris EUBANK

Chris Eubank is a retired British boxer. During his illustrious career he held world titles at both super middleweight and middleweight classes. He remained undefeated in the latter and was a world champion for over five years. Outside the ring, he is renowned for his eccentricity and recognisable dress sense.

MONDAY, 6TH WEEK5:00PM 18TH FEBRUARY

Miss WORLD

The current Miss World is Yu Wenxia. Miss World is the oldest and most prestigious international beauty award. Since its launch in 1951, the Miss World Organization has raised more than £250 million for children’s charities and its Beauty with Passion project has helped disadvantaged children all over the world.

FRIDAY, 7TH WEEK4:00PM 1ST MARCH

Ed HUSAIN

Ed Husain is a former member of Hizb ut-Tahrir and author of autobiographical work The Islamist, which details his years as a British Islamic fundamentalist. He is now a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, specialising in the Middle East, Islamism, and counter-terrorism.

7TH WEEK, DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

39

EfraimHALEVY

Efraim Halevy was director of Mossad, the Israeli intelligence service, from 1998-2002. He has advised five Israeli Prime Ministers including Ehud Barak, Benjamin Netanyahu and Ariel Sharon, and headed the National Security Council. He ran the secret negotiations which established Israel’s historic peace treaty with Jordan in 1994, and is radical in his advocacy of dialogue with Hamas and Iran.

FRIDAY, 8TH WEEK7:30PM 8TH MARCH

DanielDENNETT

One of the ‘Four Horsemen of New Atheism’ alongside Richard Dawkins, Dennett is frequently referred to as the world’s most important living cognitive scientist. He is well known for his controversial ‘mind-shifting’ theory of human consciousness and free will, which he argues are the result of physical processes in the brain. He is notably famous for approaching religion from the perspective of evolutionary biology.

FRIDAY, 8TH WEEK5:00PM 8TH MARCH

40 SPEAKERS

Has Science Killed Philosophy?

Sir Roger PENROSEInternationally renowned mathematical physicist and philosopher, Sir Roger is most noted for his work in cosmology and general relativity. He was awarded the 1988 Wolf Prize, which he shared with Professor Stephen Hawking, and is an expert on the link between physics and human consciousness.

David PAPINEAUFormer President of the British Society for the Philosophy of Science, David Papineau is a professor at King’s College London. He is a well known proponent of philosophical naturalism and realism, and his work focuses mainly on metaphysics and the philosophy of science.

Lawrence KRAUSSAuthor of many best-selling books including The Physics of Star Trek, Lawrence Krauss remains the world’s only physicist to have received awards from all three major US physics societies. He is known for his contributions to the field of theoretical physics, particularly cosmology.

THURSDAY, 8TH WEEK, 7:30PM 7TH MARCH

“How does the universe behave? What is the nature of reality? Where did all this come from? Traditionally these are questions for philosophy, but philosophy is dead.” – Stephen Hawking

41

EvgenyLEBEDEV

Evgeny Lebedev is the chairman and co-owner of The Evening Standard and The Independent, and a leading figure of the business world. Under his leadership The Evening Standard became the largest free newspaper to be distributed in the UK. Born in Russia, he has been a vocal critic of Putin’s regime and a close associate of the last head of the USSR, Mikhail Gorbachev.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

Rashid al-GHANNUSHI

Al-Ghannushi is the Islamist leader of the largest Tunisian political party. Having been sentenced to prison and tortured for his political activities in the 1980s, al-Ghannushi escaped to Europe, continuing to criticise the government of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali from abroad. He returned in 2011 as the head of Ennahda, and is hailed as its ‘intellectual leader’.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

Sir PatrickSTEWART

Best known for his iconic roles in Star Trek and X-Men, Sir Patrick is one of Britain’s most distinguished screen and stage actors. Having starred in award-winning productions of Macbeth, Othello, and Waiting for Godot, he was knighted by the Queen for his work in 2010. In addition to his illustrious career with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he has also become a star of the small screen, accruing countless major awards for his performances. He has a vast array of voice credits for video games and animated films, recently narrating Ted.

MONDAY, 2ND WEEK, 7:30PM 21ST JANUARY

42 SPEAKERS

Anders FoghRASMUSSEN

Anders Fogh Rasmussen took office as the Secretary General of NATO in 2009, overseeing one of the greatest challenges the alliance has had to face in the form of the controversial war in Afghanistan. Rasmussen served for three consecutive terms as Prime Minister of Denmark, during which time he led the country through the Muslim cartoon crisis in 2005, guided by the belief that ‘self-censorship means the end of debate’. He has held numerous top posts in Denmark’s Liberal Party and in the government since the age of 25.

DATE AND TIME TO BE CONFIRMED

43

GarethSOUTHGATE

Gareth Southgate is a former English footballer, with over 50 international caps. Having amassed over 500 league appearances during his illustrious career, he later turned his hand to management, guiding Middlesbrough to 12th place in the Premier League in his first season in charge. Since leaving the club in 2009, he has been a prominent commentator and head of Elite Development with the FA.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

44 SPEAKERS

Edgar DAVIDS

Edgar Davids is one of the most iconic football players of his generation, instantly recognisable by his signature goggles. He is one of the best midfielders ever to have played, and was listed by FIFA as one of the 100 greatest living footballers. His career has included spells at some of Europe’s most successful football clubs including both AC and Inter Milan, Juventus, Barcelona and Ajax.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

KatieMELUA

Katie Melua is a Georgian-British singer, combining folk, jazz and blues influences. In 2004, at the age of just 19, her debut album Call Off The Search topped the album charts. She repeated this feat with Piece by Piece the following year, and has now released a further three albums. She holds the Guiness World Record for playing the deepest underwater concert at 303 metres below sea level.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

RickyHATTON

Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton is a leading figure in British boxing. He has an outstanding record as a welterweight fighter, with a career record of 45 wins and just three defeats on his way to WBA, IBF and IBO titles, which established him as a legend in his native Manchester. Since retiring in 2012, he has worked as a boxing promoter, encouraging British talent in the sport.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

45

46 SPEAKERS

JackDORSEY

Jack Dorsey is the creator of Twitter. A hugely successful web developer and entrepreneur, he first had the idea while at New York University. Dropping out before graduating to launch his company, he posted the world’s first tweet ‘just setting up my twttr’ in 2006. Twitter, which has revolutionised social interaction across the globe, now boasts over 500 million registered users and 340 million daily tweets. He has recently developed Square, an innovative device which allows users to make credit card payments by mobile phone.

DATE AND TIME TO BE CONFIRMED

47

JulieMEYER

Julie Meyer is the founder and CEO of Ariadne Capital, best known for her role as a ‘Dragon’ on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den. She has been described as one of the 30 most influential businesswomen in Europe by the Wall Street Journal. Her investing career took off with the sale of her networking business First Tuesday in 2000, and since then she has built up an extensive and diverse business portfolio.

MONDAY, 8TH WEEK6:00PM 4TH MARCH

Mort Zuckerman is a Canadian-American real estate and media magnate whose personal net worth is estimated at over $2.4 billion. He is notably the CEO of Boston Properties and owner of the New York Daily News which has won ten Pulitzer Prizes. A philanthropist and social activist, Zuckerman was Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations.

DATE AND TIMETO BE CONFIRMED

MortZUCKERMAN

48 SPEAKERS

The Legacy of The Arab Spring

MONDAY, 3RD WEEK, 7:30PM 28TH JANUARY

Civil uprisings and mass protests swept the Arab world in early 2010, forcing the rulers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen from power. Two years on, there remain unanswered questions about civil resistance and state censorship. Has the Arab Spring successfully achieved what it set out to?

Said FERJANITunisian slamist and senior member of Tunisia’s government. He was a key figure in the uprising, and aims to build a democracy in Tunisia to be a model for the Arab world. He lived in exile in Britain for over 20 years after being tortured over his attempted coup.

H. A. HELLYERParticularly prominent voice of authority on Egyptian politics, Hellyer is a fellow of the Brookings Institute and a scholar on Europe and the Middle East. He focuses on majority-minority relations, security issues, and relations between the Muslim world and the West.

Tariq RAMADANA Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies who advocates the study and re-interpretation of Islamic texts, he is a prominent commentator on Islan’s relationship with the West. He was named as one of the ‘most influential intellectuals in the world’ by Prospect Magazine.

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROUND TABLE STUDIES 49

15TH & 22ND FEBRUARY 1ST & 8TH MARCH

Following last term’s hugely popular ‘In Conversation with Richard Dawkins’, Al Jazeera returns with four more ‘In Conversation with’ events. Based on the format of the talk show The Café: round table discussions between local leaders, activists and experts held in cafés around the world moderated by Al Jazeera correspondents. This series of events is a unique chance to be part of the audience of televised events on one of the world’s most influential independent broadcasters.

TUESDAY

7TH WEEK7:30PM

26TH FEBRUARY

Sustainability ForumThe journey towards

unsustainable growth.

How to minimise our impact on climate

change.

Sustainable business development.

For more information, contact Parit Wacharasindhu

treasurer@oxford-union.org

50 FORUMS

Social Mobility ForumTo what extent are increased tuiton fees a hindrance to social mobility?

Tuesday 22nd JanuarySecond Week

5:00pm

Contact Parit Wacharasindhu at treasurer@oxford-union.org for further details

David Davis MPFormer Shadow Home Secretary

Gordon Birtwistle MPParliamentary Private Secretary to Danny Alexander MP

Conor RyanDirector of Research and Communications, Sutton Trust

Jason ArthurSenior Strategy Officer, Teach First

Social Mobility ForumTo what extent are increased tuition fees a hindrance to social mobility?

Contact Parit Wacharasindhu at treasurer@oxford-union.org for further details

David Davis MP

Former Shadow Home Secretary

Jason Arthur

Senior Strategy Officer at TeachFirst

Gordon Birtwistle MP

Danny Alexander’s Parliamentary Private Secretary

Conor Ryan

Director of Research and Communications, Sutton Trust

52 SPEAKERS

SAM ADAMS

Awards

Thomas Fingar will be recognised for the role he played with the National Intelligence Estimate which helped prevent the Bush/Cheney administration from launching war against Iran in 2008.Coleen Rowley retired from the FBI, having spent twenty four years with the agency, after bravely revealing its mishandling of information relating to 9/11.Annie Machon, a former M15 agent, was forced to go into exile and hiding in Europe for many years after blowing the whistle on criminal activities in the organisation.Ann Wright was one of only three US State Department officials to resign over the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Also attending are: Jesselyn Radack, Ray McGovern and Thomas Drake.

WEDNESDAY, 2ND WEEK, 7:30PM 23RD JANUARY

The Sam Adams Associates for Integrity in Intelligence confers an award each year to a person exemplifying the courage, persistence and devotion to the truth of CIA analyst Sam Adams. Many distinguished past awardees include prominent whistleblowers and former intelligence agents.

...with a videolink appearance by Julian Assange.

54 SOCIALS

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL BALLFriday, 4th Week

ET IN ARCADIA EGOMonday, 3rd Week

SUPERBOWLSunday, 4th Week

CHINESE NEW YEARMonday, 5th Week

TASTE OF ASIATuesday, 6th Week

ACOUSTIC MUSIC FESTIVALMonday, 7th Week

OXFORD’S GOT TALENTSaturday, 6th Week

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56 SOCIALS

Wise old wine aplenty,

Golden apples and strawberries, Lyre and panpipe music,

More wine for the best-dressed Sebastian Flyte

58 SOCIALS

TASTE OF ASIA DIM SUM, BUBBLE TEA, SUSHI,

UNLIMITED ALCOHOL &

ENTERTAINMENT

£9 (Oxford Union, OUHKS & APS members)

£12 (Guests)

TUESDAY 19th FEBRUARY at 7.30pm

60 SOCIALS

Unleash your potentialWarwick Business School: a top institution for ambitious people. Whatever your first degree, you can study business at postgraduate level with WBS.

With nearly 20 courses, WBS should be your first choice.The Financial Times ranks our MSc Finance in the world’s top ten, and the UK’s top pure finance programme. It also ranks our MSc Management in the global top 50.

Our new MSc in Business enables you to convert your undergraduate degree into a highly valuable WBS Masters.

MSc Business (Behavioural Science)

MSc Business (Finance & Accounting)

MSc Business (Marketing)

Email us today for more information masters@wbs.ac.uk

wbs.ac.uk/go/oxford

62 SOCIALS

INFORMATION

64 INFORMATION

MEMBERS’ BAR

FACILITIES

LIBRARY

TREASURY

COMPETITIVE DEBATING

HOW THE UNION WORKS

COMMITTEE & STAFF

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66 INFORMATION

The bar is a unique venue in the very heart of the city, and is one of the Union’s central attractions. Boasting some of the cheapest drinks in Oxford, the bar sells pints for as little as £1.50 and is a popular and vibrant meeting place for members.

It is not only decorated with memorabilia from past guests, but current famous speakers can often be found sharing a drink with members on their visits to the society. With a members’ discount of 25% on everything, all day and every day, the bar is the ideal place for a quiet coffee, a late night pint, and everything in between. The bar also has a daytime menu of light meals and sells snacks throughout the day. Members are welcome to bring guests to enjoy all the bar has to offer. Guests can also be invited to all bar socials enjoyed by members, from pub quizzes to sports screenings.

Opening hOurs (term time)

Mon-Wed: until midnightThu-Sat: until 2am

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to email Bridget Gaughan, the House Manager, on bar@oxford-union.org

Members’ Bar

67

The Oxford Union offers more than just world class debates, internationally renowned speakers, and outstanding social events. In addition to the library and the bar, there are many other benefits available to members every day of the week.

Our very own nightclub, the Purple Turtle, is free for all members every night. With its wide range of music - from live sets to indie, drum and bass, electro, and R’n’B - the Purple Turtle promises a great night out.

For a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, you can come and have a game or two on the only full size snooker tables available in central Oxford. Snooker table hire is available all day for members at a cost of just £2.50 an hour from the General Office.

Our comfortable TV Room is equipped with a 50-inch screen, digital channels, and a DVD player for you to enjoy free of charge.

The Union boasts many spacious rooms with WiFi, including the Gladstone Room and the Old Library.

Union rooms can also be hired at a discounted rate for a wide range of events. For more information please contact Melissa Blake, the Events Manager, on events@oxford-union.org

Facilities

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68 INFORMATION

Dear Members,

As Librarian, I am responsible for the library and for arranging speaker meetings. The library is fortunate to have an historic collection, containing controversial books from the days of the Society’s founding. At this time, it offered exposure to fresh ideas, which were alien to the University authorities. We have been working hard to preserve this collection, and so too must we work to keep the mission of the Society relevant.

More than anything else, speakers remain fundamental to this, and may well be the reason many of you joined the Union in the first place. The Librarian’s office has worked tirelessly to organise a varied and exciting speaker line-up, including Raymond Blanc, Sir Paul Smith, Miss World, as well as David Gest, who is bringing a dozen legends of Soul and Motown with him. I have liaised with the speakers to find unique and fulfilling themes for their talks, but the importance of a celebrity personality itself cannot be understated.

The Christmas vacation is extremely short, which makes confirming exact dates a difficult task. As well as those speakers published in this termcard, negotiations are ongoing with Taylor Swift, Jimmy Choo, Gary Barlow, Gary Neville, Al Murray, and Jackie Chan, to name just a few. These discussions will continue throughout the term, so do look out for updates.

Our new YouTube channel will show highlights of speaker meetings, creating an archive of these memorable events, and proudly showing the world that Union membership is still worth it. There is no substitute for attending speaker events live though, and I encourage you to come to as many as possible.

I very much look forward to meeting many of you this term. Please email librarian@oxford-union.org at any time with queries and suggestions, or if you wish to meet any speakers in person.

Warm regards for Hilary and 2013!

From the Librarian

Chris StarkeySt Catherine’s CollegeLibrarian

The Oxford Union library is one of Oxford’s finest. It is the largest lending library in the University, and has a diverse range of books which reflects the many disciplines studied by its members. The library is a useful academic resource, espceially when a book cannot be acquired from college or faculty libraries. It also boasts substantial fiction and travel collections, many DVDs, and a selection of newspapers and magazines.

The collection is catalogued on SOLO, and our staff are always happy to help. The Old Library, with its Pre-Raphaelite murals and Poetry Room, is a hidden gem and a delightful place to work. The beautiful Goodman Library has longer opening hours, allowing you to work till 11pm.

The wireless facilities are also newly upgraded. Your opinions on how the library is managed are welcome, so do feel free to use the comment book or apply to join the Library Committee.

Opening hOurs (term time)

Mon-Fri: 9:30am - 7pmSat: noon to 4:30pm

LOans

Books: up to eight books for two weeksDVDs: up to five DVDs at a time, £1.50 for three days

The Library

Dear Members,

I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to what promises to be an amazing Hilary term. My team and I have worked hard over the vacation to ensure that the Union’s finances are in good shape and that you get the best value from your membership.

As Treasurer, it has been my aim to combine raising essential funds with organising a diverse range of sponsored events. Continuing from Michaelmas, we have a series of wide-ranging speaker events sponsored by TARGETjobs. This includes the football forum featuring Edgar Davids and a journalism panel of exciting figures who have careers with major national newspapers.

I have also organised three sponsored forums for this upcoming term. One of these is our annual Social Mobility Forum. The discussion will revolve around the increased tuition fees and panelists include former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis. Later in the term, we will also be hosting the AkzoNobel Forum on innovation and the Unilever Forum on sustainability.

Procuring financial benefits for members is one thing; ensuring members are aware of and capitalise on these benefits is another. Delivered with your termcard should be a ‘Treasurer’s Treats’ insert with detachable business cards, listing all the discounts available when you present your Union membership card. We have taken the time to conduct a much-needed audit of the treats but please do get in touch if you have any trouble using them.

Recently, the Union has been involved in new methods of generating revenue, such as establishing a network of alumni, restructuring our website to include a prominent donations page and the creation of our newly launched YouTube channel.

If you have any feedback, suggestions or are interested in getting involved, please email me at treasurer@oxford-union.org

All the best for 2013,

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70 INFORMATION

From the Treasurer

Parit WacharasindhuSt John’s CollegeTreasurer

COMPANY UNION OFFER LOCATION

4500 Miles from Delhi 10% off à la carte menu Park End Street

Art Café 10% off New Road

ASK Italian 20% off George Street

Bar Milano 25% off after Happy Hour Cowley Road

Bolitas 10% off Covered Market

Duke of Cambridge Happy Hour prices Sun-Thurs Little Clarendon Street

EAT Free coffee when you spend over £5 Queen Street

G&D’s Half-price coffee 8am-10am Cowley Road, St Aldate’s,Little Clarendon Street

Heroes Sandwich Bar Free cake with sandwich Ship Street

House Bar Happy Hour prices Sun-Thurs Blue Boar Street

Indulge Dessert Parlour 10% off Cowley Road

La Baguette 10% off New Inn Hall Street

The Living Room 20% off à la carte menu Oxford Castle

Makan La 10% off St Michael Street

Manos Café 10% off food Walton Street

Oxford Souvenirs 20% off Covered Market

Phoenix Cinema 2-for-1 on Tuesdays Walton Street

Pieminister Free peas with a student meal Covered Market

Queen’s Lane Coffee House 10% off (£5 minimum spend) High Street

Raoul’s 30% off 4pm-8pm Walton Street

Ricardo’s Free hot drink with a baguette Covered Market

Shakespeare’s 15% off Golden Cross

Sofi de France 10% off Covered Market

Tick Tock Café 10% off Cowley Road

Timpson 15% off Cornmarket Street

Below is a list of exclusive discounts and deals, beyond typical student offers, that your Union card provides.

Treasurer’sTreats

72 INFORMATION

036814_210x148-CambridgeSU.indd 1 14/08/2012 10:49

The Oxford Union has always been, and remains, one of the most successful debating societies in the world. Last term, Oxford debaters reached the grand final of every major tournament entered. External TournamentsThe Union sends teams and judges to competitions all over Britain and Europe almost every single week. There are always opportunities to debate for Oxford, particularly as we have a novice quota for every squad. A lack of debating experience is not a barrier to taking part. In addition, Oxford Union debaters are frequently given the opportunity to speak in international competitions across the world. This year, debaters have already been invited to speak in places such as India and Berlin, and soon we will be sending students to debate in Amsterdam and Madrid. Internal TournamentsIn addition to the amazing external opportunities, the Union runs several competitions a year – some of them for its members, and some of them to help raise money for debating.

This term we will be holding the Debater of the Year competition. This is an individuals’ competition with a very lucrative prize, and the rounds for this competition take place every Sunday at 7:30pm, immediately after our workshops.

Sunday Night WorkshopsEvery Sunday night during term, we run coaching workshops at 6:30pm in the Goodman Library. This is an opportunity for debaters of all levels to hone their debating and public speaking skills, and to be trained by some of the best debaters in the world. All are welcome, so just show up and join in.

74 INFORMATION

CompetitiveOxford Women’s OpenThis term the Union will be hosting the Oxford Women’s Open. This is a competition exclusively for female speakers and judges, and is rare in its kind in Britain. In order to run the competition we need lots of volunteers so please do look out for announcements on the debates mailing list, and feel free to come along to the competition to witness the UK’s best female debaters in action. Schools’ CompetitionsEvery year, the Oxford Union runs the Oxford Schools’ Competition. This is the largest British Parliamentary Schools’ competition in the world. Regional rounds take place throughout Hilary term, with the finals day being held in the Union on the 10th March. This competition is essential for our Union debating fundraising, and volunteering is a very rewarding experience.

In May, the Union will also host the International Competition for Young Debaters. This is a competition aimed at under-15s, and although run by a number of universities, is centrally organised through Oxford.

To be updated on competitive debating sign up to our Debate Announce Mailing List by sending a blank email to debate-announce-subscribe@maillist.ox.ac.uk. Alternatively email the Chairman of the Debates Selection Committee, Greg Farquhar, at gregory.farquhar@merton.ox.ac.uk.

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Debating

The Union is organised into committees which are designed to maximise the members’ input into the running of the Society. Attending any of these committees is a good way to get involved behind the scenes and ensure that you get the most out of your membership. These committees are open to all Oxford Union members.

76 INFORMATION

How the UnionWorks

PRESIDENT: overall responsibility for the Society and arranging debates and speakers.

LIBRARIAN: responsible for the library and arranging speakers along with the President.

TREASURER: responsible for raising sponsorship and the maintenance of the buildings.

SECRETARY: responsible for the term’s social events and minuting meetings.

STANDING COMMITTEE: assists the Officers and plans social events.

SECRETARY’S COMMITTEE: assists with the running of events and distributing of publicity.

CONSULTATIVE Committee

CHAIRMAN: JACK MOORE, CCCEvery member is automatically part of this committee. It’s your chance to ask the Officers about their work, hear updates on what’s going on, and vote on the week’s Emergency Debate motion.

Mondays, 1:15pm, Gladstone Room

DEBATES CommitteeCHAIRMAN: GREGORY FARQUHAR, CDSCMade up of Oxford’s best debaters, its primary duty is to select members to represent the Union at debating competitions. It also organises internal competitions and promotes debating in Oxford.

Sundays, 7:00pm, Gladstone Room

LIBRARY CommitteeCHAIRMAN: CHRIS STARKEY, LIBRARIANAll new library books and DVDs are chosen by this committee. Any member can apply to sit on the committee by emailing librarian@oxford-union.org.

Mondays, 2:30pm, Morris Room

STANDING CommitteeCHAIRMAN: MARIA RIOUMINE, PRESIDENTThe Union’s governing body, which makes all the major decisions about the running of the Society and oversees the work of all the other committees.

Mondays, 5:00pm, President’s Office

WINES & SPIRITS CommitteeCHAIRMAN: LIZ CULLIFORD, SECRETARYThis committee determines what alcohol the bar stocks and how much it will cost. To apply, email secretary@oxford-union.org.

Twice a term

FINANCE CommitteeCHAIRMAN: MARIA RIOUMINE, PRESIDENTThis committee is responsible for scrutinising termly, annual, and social event budgets. It reports its findings to the Standing Committee.

Mondays, 4:00pm, President’s Office

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GettingInvolved

If you are interested in becoming more involved with the Union, there are lots of options open to you. To find out more about how your Union is run, feel free to come to any of the various committees listed on the previous page.

Most of the Union’s positions, from the Secretary’s Committee to President, are elected every term. On Friday of 7th Week, members will elect the President, Librarian, and Treasurer for Michaelmas 2013 and Secretary, Standing Committee, and Secretary’s Committee for Trinity 2013.

If you are running for Secretary’s Committee you must qualify by making two debate speeches or four for any other position. After you have qualified, you then nominate for election. Nominations open at 9:30am on Friday of 5th Week and close at 3pm on Friday of 6th Week. The nomination pack, which can be obtained from the General Office, contains an explanation of what is expected of candidates, and instructions on how to nominate.

If you have any questions at all about the electoral process, please contact the Returning Officer on ro@oxford-union.org.

Many other positions in the Union are available to members without the need to stand for election and they are appointed by the President-Elect at the end of each term.

For more information on applying for an appointed position please contact the President-Elect on president-elect@oxford-union.org.

P r e s i d e n t

L i b r a r i a n

t r e a s u r e r

s e c r e ta ry

P r e s i d e n t - e L e c t

L i b r a r i a n - e L e c t

t r e a s u r e r - e L e c t

e x -P r e s i d e n t s

e x -L i b r a r i a n s

e x -s e c r e ta r i e s

e L e c t e d M e M b e r s

c h a i r M a n o f ccc h a i r M a n o f dscr e t u r n i n g o f f i c e r

s e n i o r L i b r a r i a n s e n i o r t r e a s u r e r

Maria Rioumine, Christ Church

Christopher Starkey, St Catherine’sParit Wacharasindhu, St John’sElizabeth Culliford, St Hilda’sJoseph D’Urso, NewPolina Ivanova, UniversityChristopher Frost, Oriel

James Langman, UniversityAshvir Sangha, The Queen’sIsabelle Westbury, HertfordLauren Pringle, WadhamIsabel Ernst, St Catherine’sJohn Lee, Hertford

Luke Eaton, JesusDean Palmer, JesusRajiv Dattani, St Anne’s

Jocelyn Poon, UniversityHelen Elmer, St Hilda’s

Benjamin Sullivan, Christ ChurchSachin Srivastava, JesusSamuel Perkins, ExeterAlexander Trafford, PembrokeJane Chan, Merton

Jack Moore, BrasenoseGregory Farquhar, MertonRyan Ng, Merton

Revd Dr Robert Tobin, OrielStephen Dixon, Downing (Cantab.)

s t a n d i n g c o M M i t t e e

Committee&Staff

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P r e s i d e n t ’ s a d j u ta n t

t e r M c a r d d e s i g n e r

M i n o r i t i e s r e P r e s e n tat i v e

s t r at e g y c o n s u Lta n t

a c c e s s o f f i c e r

g r a d u at e o f f i c e r s

i n t e r n at i o n a L o f f i c e r s

g u e s t L i a i s o n o f f i c e r s

P r e s s o f f i c e r s

P u b L i c i t y o f f i c e r

W e b o f f i c e r

Andrew Mason, University & SandhurstSimran Chana, MagdalenCaroline Ames, Christ ChurchTosin Oyetunji, Christ Church

Louis Trup, BrasenoseNupur Sharma, Saïd Buisness SchoolStephen Wang, LincolnMaria Wilczek, HertfordMehrunissa Sajjad, Merton

Katie Ebner-Landy, OrielJoseph Saxby, UniversityIsabelle Xavier, St Hugh’sKatherine Millican, JesusRebecca Howe, PembrokeRobert Natzler, UniversityAlexander Reut-Hobbs, NewMaxwell McGenity, WadhamSunny Jain, The Queen’s

a P P o i n t e d o f f i c i a L s

b u r s a r

h o u s e M a n ag e r

e v e n t s M a n ag e r

a c c o u n t s M a n ag e r

L i b r a r i a n - i n -c h a r g e

it o f f i c e r

a r c h i v i s t

Lindsey WarneBridget GaughanMelissa BlakeNatacha BryanSu LockleyJeremy WorthGraeme Hall

s t a f f

s e c r e t a r y ’ s c o M M i t t e e

Cai Wilshaw, St Anne’sCrawford Jamieson, TrinityCharles Malton, Christ ChurchAmelia Hamer, SomervilleSophie Bird, NewMayank Banerjee, St John’s

Risham Nadeem, UniversityMartine Wauben, PembrokePhilip Dorrell, KebleTommy Seagull, St Peter’s Rose Thomas, Brasenose

This has been one of the most amazing experiences of my life, and I am incredibly grateful to every single one of you who has helped me along the way. I am amazed by the generosity of so many of you who always went over and above anything I could ever have asked for.

UNION. Cyrus, sweetheart, I have never confided in anyone as much. You’ve always been there when I needed you, and you really did teach me more than anyone else. I am pretty certain Hans Christian Andersen had us in mind when he wrote his masterpiece. Ernst, we’ve come such a long way since the summer of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. Thank you for keeping everything in perspective and keeping me sane. I know just how much you did and I will always be grateful for it. I can’t wait to marry into your family. Ella, you are one of the kindest and most talented people I know, and I am incredibly lucky to have you as a friend. I told you Connect 4 was an innocent joke. John, I am so impressed with everything you have achieved. I was always one stage behind you, and your guidance and support were invaluable to me. I am sure that one day we will carve up Eurasia. Jocelyn, you always make me smile. We are so similar in so many ways and I hugely appreciate your friendship. We will make everything worth it, boo. Ash, you showed me what was great about this place. Thank you for giving me direction, you made this all much more worthwhile. Freeland, I will never forget that scrutiny! I really wouldn’t have kept running if it wasn’t for you, thank you for all your wisdom and advice. Westbury, your support both during and after the election was incredible. Maybe I hero worship you too much. Miles (Cotes), that tribunal was a masterpiece. Thank you for strategising and answering all my questions. Hannah, for bringing me in and teaching me what love is.

DREAMTEAM. Mason, you are exceptional. I value your friendship and your company more than you could ever know. I wouldn’t have survived this vac without you and I could never thank you enough. We make a great team and I hope I will make you proud. Now, to Cabinda... Simran, I still can’t believe how amazing everything looks. Thank you for listening to my ramblings about avant garde elegance and introducing me to the Candies.We truly were the dreamteam.

TEAM BOO. I am so proud of what we achieved. I never anticipated just how tough it would be, and I really could not have done this without every one of you. Parit, my right hand man, never forget how amazing you are. You came with me in spite of your love of FIFA and you really did keep everything together. You were there absolutely every step of the way, and I will always be there for you. Helen, whaaaat you are never ever running on, right? I told you I could be persuasive.You were the perfect balance for all the intensity, I’m sorry for pushing you so hard, but I am so happy everything worked out! Liz, I couldn’t have asked for a better Secretary. Your ball looks amazing (even without the dwarves)! Thank you for making this vac infinitely more fun and teaching me about the English language. Now, on to bigger and better things.. Polina, mini-me. I’m so glad you came to the Russia debate and decided to run (time and time again). I can’t wait for your niche term - if pinging ever gets too much, remember Jolene and I are always here for you. Charlie, you are so charming.. Team chuckles will always be my favourite. Will, thank you for being such a loyal friend. I am glad I got the chance to work with you. Ben, I’m so happy you are continuing the Christ Church dynasty. You’ve been fantastic (and consistently alpha) right from the start, I am very impressed. Sam, it’s great you loved the ‘Maria is amazing’ narrative so much! I’m really pleased you’re on my committee. Isabelle, your academic achievements scare me. You worked everything out so fast, I really did see a bit of myself in you. Kelvin, I am so sorry you had to put up with so much. Thank you for your loyalty and for not giving in to pressure. Noah, you were so hardworking, thank you for your help. Jane, et in arcadia ego. Brian, Hamaad, Jiahui, Patrick, Eve, I really enjoyed getting to know you all so much in Trinity - thank you for giving it a go!

MY COMMITTEE: The best committee I’ve ever seen. I’m extremely proud of the term we have put together - thank you for being so wonderful. Every President should be as lucky as I was to have you. Joey, it means so much

The President’sTHANKS

to me that we’ve done this together. We finally brought down the Berlin Wall and you’ve been there for me through everything despite all the ups and downs. Thank you for believing in me, I’ll never forget soyuz nerushymyi. Starkey, you’ve worked so hard, thank you for everything. I’m looking forward to the speakers! Frost, the first seccie I ever found, your advice on the Union’s budget and grasp of grammar are unparalleled. Sachin, thank you for working from 6,000 miles away, I’m looking forward to the Taste of Asia. Trafford, graphic design is a career path you should consider. I’m so pleased we have spent the vac in this vibrant and comfortable venue! Cai, I’m seriously impressed! Thank you for taking so much on, Liberia will definitely call back one day. Crawford, well done for rising to the challenge and for the long hours. Malton, I’m proud you’re continuing the Westminster & ChCh tradition. Amelia, fantastic line-up! Our free speech extravaganza turned out incredibly well - one day we will get Gina. Sophie, you really brightened up the office. Phenomenal work ethic! Please remember Malaysia is not that near Qatar. Martine, wow 23 confirmations! That is a record. I am deeply impressed! Rosie, your debate is going to be a highlight of the term. Really well done. Risham, Mason and I miss you! Mayank, for always offering your help, it’s very much appreciated. Phil, I have high hopes for our politician plot. Tommy, thank you for everything. Looking forward to getting to know you better this term.

OXFORD. Almat, your selflessness and generosity are very rare qualities. Basil, hax for life. Thank you for making committee so much more fun. Jack, thank you for being there in my many hours of need. I can’t wait for your unprecedented CCC efficiency. Seb, come back to visit Israel soon. JP, drujok, thank you for always sticking up for me. Lawson, despite your infamy, we should continue our fine dining tour. Maddy, I loved the girl power. Ollie, you deserved to go a lot further in this place. Rishi, I’m so glad we bumped into each other at that flower shop. Natzler, thank you for all the brainstorming. It’s a shame you didn’t run on, but I know you’ll be the best spin doctor. Jamie, maybe my political views will change one day. Cameron, I hope you know what a difference you made to the election. Keep grindin playa. Langman, for your last ever appearance, thank you for all the wise words. Adam, your help with debates was a life saver. Rahul, you’ve inspired my upcoming foray into the academic world. Hintze, Christ Church BNOC, I look forward to hearing more of your legendary debtae speeches. Beardsworth, you’ll always be my journohack. Siebald, you’re beautiful. Thank you for the cuddles.

Caroline, you are a truly amazing friend. Thank you so much for always being there, for adopting me into the Ames family, for teaching me how to live. I’m sorry I wasn’t there as much as I should have been, always remember how much you mean to me. Rohan, you are remarkable. I’m in awe of just how talented you are. Let’s conquer the world? Harriet, thank you for embracing shamelessness with me! Lilly, so many of my best memories at Oxford are with you, you’ve finally taught me to live for the moment. Aurora, I can’t wait for Cherry Orchard and kvas. Lucy, thank you for the philosophising, you really are so wise. Jim, broski, I’m sorry I wasn’t there enough, but now I’m free! Andy, brother, for the symposiums and machinations. Kevin, I look forward to more dreaming over dimsum. Tosin, the best strategy and PR officer imaginable. Oli, maybe Beata will like us more one day. BJ, Barbados was the best thing to happen to me this summer. Lets go back to stargaze on that flotilla, feline. Clarke, I hope I’ll be your Chancellor. Thanks for literally taking the hit. Tanya, my oldest English friend, I’m so glad we’re now at Oxford together. Tell Gill I say hi! Agata, bab you make me smile. Serge & John sorry for the Union chat throughout the years, I promise my afterparties will be nearly as good as Ash’s. Christ Church, Meg, Camilla, Rachel, Poppy, Kirstin, Hayley, Lexi, I’m so sorry I wasn’t around as much as I should have been. I love you all.

Most importantly my parents. Dad, you’ve taught me more than anyone else and I’m so grateful for all your guidance and advice. Mum, I could never thank you enough for all the sacrifices you have made, for always being there, for your unconditional love and support. I really hope I can make you proud. я вас люблю больше всего. все что я делаю - я делаю для вас.

STANDING COMMITTEE

SECRETARY’S COMMITTEE

Maria RiouminePRESIDENT

Chris FrostPolina IvanovaJoseph D’Urso

Rosie ThomasRisham Nadeem Martine Wauben Phil Dorrell Tommy Seagull

Sophie BirdCai Wilshaw Crawford Jamieson Charles Malton Amelia Hamer Mayank Banerjee

Jane ChanBen Sullivan Sachin Srivastava Sam Perkins Alex Trafford

Liz CullifordParit WacharasindhuChris Starkey

LIB

RA

RIA

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TR

EASU

RER

PRES

IDEN

T-e

lec

t

LIB

RA

RIA

N-e

lec

t

TR

EASU

RER

-ele

ct

SEC

RET

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Who’sWHO

DebatingWorkshop

DebatingWorkshop

DebatingWorkshop

DebatingWorkshop

Debating Workshop

Superbowl Social

DebatingWorkshop

DebatingWorkshop

Acoustic Music Festival

Chris EubankPatrick Hamilton’s

Rope startsJournalism Panel

Chinese New Year

Sir Patrick StewartNick Leeson

Unilever Sustainability Forum

RAG COMEDYDEBATE

Social Mobility ForumJohn Bolton

Monday TuesdaySunday

1st Week

2nd Week

3rd Week

4th Week

5th Week

6th Week

7th Week

8th Week

Middle East PanelEt in

Arcadia Ego

André Leon Talley

HRH Basmah bint SaudPaul Bremer

Town vs Gown

Taste of Asia

Julie Meyer

13

20

27

3

10

17

24

3

14

21

28

4

11

18

25

4

15

22

29

5

12

19

26

5

Sir Paul Smith

Julian Assange &Sam Adams Awards

Tim Ferriss

ameriCanDreamDeBate

GAY RIGHTS DEBATE

Efraim HalevyDaniel Dennett

Al Jazeera

Cirque du SoleilBall

Schools’ Debating Competition

ICYD Oxford Round

Oxford’s Got Talent

Patrick Hamilton’s Rope ends

Sinéad O’Connor

David Gest & Motown

Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

israeLDeBate

Queen & COuntrY DeBate

FEMINISMDEBATE

Business DeBate

eu DeBate

‘Has Science Killed Philosophy’ Forum

Lord Howard,Theo Paphitis,

Sir Victor Blank,Peter de Savary

Shirin EbadiRaymond Blanc

Al Jazeera

Michael Moritz

Miss World Al JazeeraElections

Al Jazeera

16

23

30

6

13

20

27

6

17

24

31

7

14

21

28

7

18

25

1

8

15

22

1

8

19

26

2

9

16

23

2

9