Durham Union Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 Free Speech Since 1842 |
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| Established | 1842 |
|---|---|
| Institution | Durham University |
| President | Luke Wells |
| Location | Palace Green, Durham, England |
| Members | 3000 in residence, 24000 worldwide |
| Homepage | DUS homepage |
The Durham Union Society is a debating society founded in 1842 by the students of the University of Durham. Commonly referred to as the DUS or The Durham Union, it is the university's oldest and largest society with over 3000 members. Until 1899, when the DSU was founded, the society acted as the students' union.
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[edit] History
The Union was founded in 1842. [1] [2] The first debates were held in the reading rooms of Hatfield Hall and University College. In 1872 the Society moved to what is now the Palace Green library, where the University’s first purpose-built debating chamber was established. [1] The union society acted, at this time, as the central social unit for the students of Durham University. The Durham SRC was developed in 1899 to take on this role, though the DUS has retained its social side.
To this end, the society bought 24 North Bailey as a social club (naming it the 'North Bailey Club' or, more informally '24'). [1] This contains a bar which is open to all DUS and DSU members; a snooker room; a reading room that the DUS uses for functions, such as post debate entertaining, and an en-suite guest room that can be hired out by members. [3]
In 1977 the debating chamber moved across Palace Green to the Pemberton Building, which sits in the shadow of the Cathedral. [1] The Union Society has been housed there ever since. The building and debating chamber are also used intermittently by the university for lectures and examinations.
[edit] DUS today
The Union Society still maintains its offices and debating chamber on the Palace Green World Heritage Site, as well as 24 North Bailey. It hosts weekly debates featuring prominent external speakers, as well as inviting address speakers and holding social events. Recent speakers include the actress Imelda Staunton; BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine; radio and television personality Nicholas Parsons; former Chief Inspector of Schools and current Permanent Secretary at the Department for Education and Skills, David Bell; Boris Johnson MP; film critic Barry Norman; 'Rocky Horror' writer and Crystal Maze presenter Richard O'Brien; director and food critic Michael Winner; Oscar nominated actor Patrick Stewart; and the Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Shirley Williams. [4]
The social highlight of the year is the annual Ball held in Michaelmas term. The programme for the evening varies, but usually consists of a champagne reception, dinner, music, and after dinner dancing. The 2006 ball was held in Auckland Castle. [5]
The Durham Union Society is a major force in competitive debating and regularly represents Durham at inter-varsity competitions around the UK, at the European Universities Debating Championship and World Universities Debating Championship. It hosted the European Universities Debating Championship in 2004, winning the competition the next year at University College Cork, Ireland and reaching the final in 2006 at the Berlin Debating Union. [1] The Union Society also hosts the Durham inter varsity competition in November, [6] and an Open Pairs Competition in June. Over two hundred sixth-formers compete at the Durham schools competition every March. [7]
[edit] Membership
There are two types of membership:
- Life Membership
- Annual Membership
On payment of a second annual membership fee, an annual member becomes a member for life.
Life Members of the society are given a unique number and have their names inscribed in the Life Members' Books (of which there are continuous records dating back to at least 1911)[citation needed]. The membership is drawn primarily, but not exclusively, from the University of Durham.
[edit] Administrative structure
[edit] General Committee
The main committee in the Society is the General Committee. To gain membership of the General Committee in the first instance, a member must be elected to one of the various sub-committees in the Society:[8]
- House Committee (to organise the logistics of Friday night debates. Chair - Thomas McCall (Steward and Captain of Sergeants at Arms))
- Consultative Committee (composed of College Secretaries. Chair - Stella Best (Secretary))
- Sponsorship Committee (to raise money for the Society. Chair - Ollie Hyams (Sponsorship Secretary))
- Social Committee (to organise social events. Chair - Joanna Crawford (Social Secretary))
- Debates Committee (to organise debating activities. Chair - Calum Jones (Tournament Secretary))
At the start of the academic year, elections take place for all these sub-committees by single transferable vote (STV) system.
Once a member of the General Committee, an individual can be nominated to become an officer of the Society.
There is an additional sub-committee:
- Rules Committee (to oversee elections)
However, to gain membership of this sub-committee, the candidate must already be a present or past officer or a present member of another sub-committee. The committee is chaired by the Returning Officer. All Past Presidents in residence and any Presidents-Elect are ex officio members of this committee.
[edit] Reciprocal relations
The Union's members enjoy reciprocal relations with, and use of facilities at, the Oxford Union, Cambridge Union, Edinburgh Union, the University Philosophical Society of University College Dublin (UCD Phil) and the College Historical Society of Trinity College Dublin (TCD Hist). [8]
[edit] Notable alumni
- Crispin Blunt MP (Past President, Conservative Whip and MP for Reigate)
- Richard Calland (Past President, Director of Open Democracy Advice Centre and major comentator on South African politics)
- General Sir Richard Dannatt (Past President, Chief of the General Staff).
- Mark Elliott (Past President, author of several books on Azerbaijan and travel in Asia)
- Edward Leigh MP (Past President, Conservative MP for Gainsborough and Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee)
- Gabby Logan (Past Assistant Sponsorship Secretary, ITV sports presenter & contestant on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing 2007)
- Giles Ramsay (Past President, Founding Artistic Director of the Trident Theatre)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e History Durham Union Society, Accessed October 2006
- ^ The Times Monday, Mar 18, 1912; pg. 4; Issue 39849; col G
- ^ 24 NBC Durham Union Society, Accessed October 2006
- ^ Tuesday night Addresses Durham Union Society, Accessed October 2006
- ^ Durham Union Society Msquarade Ball. Colin Cook, December 2006
- ^ Durham IV Britishdebate.com, Accessed December 2006
- ^ The Durham Union Society Schools Debating Competition 2003 Debating the motion: "This house would eat GM food" The Food Standards Agency, Accessed October 2006
- ^ a b Why Get Involved Durham Union Society, Accessed October 2006
