Durham Union
World Universities Debating Council | |
Website | dus |
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Formerly called | Durham University Union (to 1873) |
The Durham Union Society (DUS), commonly referred to as the Durham Union, is a
History
The union was founded in 1842
The society moved to a site adjacent to the university library on Palace Green in 1872.[3] However, lacking the independent funds of the Oxford and Cambridge unions or the central funding of the debating societies at the redbrick universities, it was unable to maintain its buildings, which decayed to such a state by 1896 that it was no longer possible to hold debates.[8] By this time, students' unions had begun to be established in redbrick universities such as Liverpool, and Durham University extended an offer to the union society to convert it into a students' union that would receive funding from the university. However, the union members rejected this offer and decided to remain independent, leading to the foundation of the separate Student Representative Council and continued poverty for the union society.[6]
In the late the nineteenth century debates, like the curriculum, often revolved around ecclesiastical matters. At the time, the influence of the dean and chapter governing
Political debates became more frequent in the early twentieth century. Society members almost invariably sided with the positions of the
To mark the 70th anniversary of the Durham Union, an inter-varsity debate chaired by then President
A Junior Union Society (now Newcastle University Students' Union) was established in Newcastle in 1881, and from 1914 to 1925 the Newcastle Union Society and the Durham Union Society operated as a single body, with the president being chosen alternately from the Durham and Newcastle divisions of the university. This ended after the construction of a new union building in Newcastle.[4][7]
By the university's centenary in 1932, the union has reciprocal relationships with Oxford, Cambridge, Dublin, Edinburgh and Manchester.[7] In 1936, the union moved into facilities provided by the university and, in 1977, moved to the Pemberton Building on the opposite side of Palace Green, where it remains. This was controversial as the union became dependent, unlike the Oxford and Cambridge unions, on the university for its facilities. Bertie Dockerill, an academic who has written on the history of student debating societies, emphasises that continued use of university-owned facilities:[6][16]
has remained dependent upon the University believing that they were necessary, a system of landlordism that has not served the DUS well. The Union has been forcibly removed from its original home upon the library side of Palace Green that it had been gifted by the Warden of the University in 1873 (it now houses a lavatory complex), had its artwork appropriated, its coffee shop and dining room confiscated, and enjoys neither a library nor sole usage of its debating chamber, the latter commandeered daily by the University for lectures
To get around the limitations of its premises, the society traded its ownership of 44 North Bailey opposite Hatfield College for the old site of St Aidan's Society at 24 North Bailey in 1964, following the integration of the Women's Union.[3] This allowed the union to return to its original establishment as both a debating society and a club, with the creation of the 'North Bailey Club' (informally known as '24' from the address). This contains a bar which is open to all Durham Union members; a snooker room; a reading room that the Durham Union uses for functions, such as post debate entertaining, and an en-suite guest room that can be hired out by members. Student members also have the opportunity to rent bedrooms as student accommodation.[17]
In 2010, the union was forced to cancel a debate on multiculturalism on safety grounds, after the
In 2015, the Union cancelled a speech from Tommy Robinson, reportedly after pressure from the University.[23]
In 2017, the Chinese Embassy in London attempted to block supermodel and activist
After winning a Durham Union debate in 2017, Spectator columnist James Delingpole wrote that "For a real Oxbridge education, you now have to go to Durham", claiming that Oxford and Cambridge had become "a sterile, conformist, PC monoculture of earnest state-indoctrinated Stakhanovites".[29] In contrast, Toby Young branded the union "a gang of left-wing thugs" after taking part in a debate in 2019.[30]
In a December 2020 members' referendum, Durham Union Debating, the student competitive debate wing of the Durham Union, voted to leave the Durham Union Society, and affiliate with the Durham Students' Union as the independent Durham Debating Society. In June 2022, the Durham Debating Society voted to reverse this decision and re-affiliate with the Durham Union Society, leaving the Durham Students' Union.[31]
The union today
This section needs additional citations for verification. (December 2023) |
The Durham Union still maintains its offices and debating chamber on Palace Green within the Durham Castle and Cathedral 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.
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 union also holds members only socials, with recent events including a 'Halloween Social', 'American Election Social', 'Chinese New Year Social' and 'Valentines Social'.[32]
As of 2023,[update] the Durham Union's members enjoy reciprocal relations with, and use of facilities at, the Oxford Union, Cambridge Union, Edinburgh Union, the College Historical Society of Trinity College Dublin, the Philosophical Society of University College Dublin[b] and the Philosophical Society of University College Cork.[33]
Legal status
The Durham Union is legally, a registered charity in England and Wales.[34] According to its constitution, the ownership of the society is vested in its trustees, who have ultimate authority over the society, subject to the deed of trust.
Although membership of the Durham Union is almost exclusive to students from Durham University, the Durham Union exists independently from the university and the Durham Students' Union.
Competitive debating
The union also excelled at competitive debating. Having won the European Universities Debating Championship in 2005, and more recently having teams reaching the final of the European Championship, Oxford IV, Cambridge IV and John Smith Memorial Mace and the quarter-final of the World Universities Debating Championship. It also hosted the Durham Intervarsity competition, the Durham Open and Durham Schools; the world's largest residential school's debating competition.
In the 2012 world university debate rankings, the Durham Union ranked eleventh overall and fourth among teams from the UK, behind the Cambridge Union, Oxford Union and University of London Union (now defunct).[35]
Notable members
- Mo Mowlam MP (Past Secretary, Labour Minister of State, most famous for her work on the Good Friday Agreement)
- Crispin Blunt MP (Past President, Conservative MP for Reigate & Minister of State)[36]
- General Sir Richard Dannatt (Past President, former Chief of the General Staff)[37]
- Mark Elliott (Past President, author of several books on Azerbaijan and travel in Asia)[38]
- Sir Edward Leigh MP (Past President, Conservative MP for Gainsborough and former Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee)[39]
- Gabby Logan (Past Assistant Sponsorship Secretary, BBC sports presenter & contestant on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing 2007)
- Giles Ramsay (Past President, Founding Artistic Director of the Trident Theatre)[40]
- Baroness Hayter of Kentish Town (Past Member, Former General Secretary of the Fabian Society)
- The Rt Revd Richard Blackburn (Former President; currently Bishop of Warrington in the Church of England)
- Sir Robert Buckland (Past President, Conservative MP for Swindon South & former Secretary of State for Wales)[41]
- Tracy Philipps (Past President, Commissioner in Colonial Service and conservationist)
- Tom Harwood (Past President, Journalist for Guido Fawkes and GB News)
See also
Notes
- ^ This is as given in the DUS constitution. It is not clear if this should be the Literary and Historical Society of University College Dublin or the University Philosophical Society of Trinity College Dubin
References
- ^ https://dus.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/
- ^ https://dus.org.uk/about-us/who-we-are/
- ^ a b c d "Our History". Durham Union Society. Retrieved 21 December 2023.
- ^ a b c "Durham University Records: Associations, Clubs and Societies". Durham University Library. Durham Union Society. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
- ^ a b c Taru Haapala (9 January 2017). Political Rhetoric in the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, 1830–1870. Springer. pp. 37–38, 186.
- ^ a b c d e Dockerill, Bertie (2017). "'Forgotten Voices': The Debating Societies of Durham and Liverpool, 1900–1939". In Burkett, Jodi (ed.). Students in Twentieth Century Britain and Ireland. Palgrave. pp. 101–128. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ a b c C. E. Whiting (1932). The University of Durham 1832–1932. Sheldon Press. pp. 312–313.
- ^ a b Fowler, J. T. (5 June 1912). "The Durham Union Society". Durham University Journal. 20 (10): 205. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
- ^ "Unattached Members". Durham University Calendar: 227. 1897. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ Graduates of the University. Durham: Durham University. 1948. p. 230.
- ^ Fowler, 1912, p. 206
- ^ DUS, Minute Book, 25 February 1903, University of Durham Special Collections, UND/GE1/AB2
- ^ DUS, Minute Book, 18 June 1903, University of Durham Special Collections, UND/GE1/AB2
- ^ "Durham Union Society: Visitors' Night". Durham University Journal. 20. Durham University: 201. 5 June 1912. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
- ^ Durham Union Society: Visitor's Night, p. 202
- ^ "Vice Chancellor's Convocation Address". Durham University Gazette. 1977. p. 13.
- Internet Wayback Machine). 10 January 2014. Archived from the originalon 10 January 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
- ^ Tallentire, Mark. "Student union apologises over BNP claim". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ "Student union apologises over BNP claim (From the Northern Echo)". Thenorthernecho.co.uk. 10 February 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- ^ "NUS mis-handling prompts backlash". Palatinate Newspaper. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
- ^ "NUS mis-handling prompts backlash". Palatinate.org.uk. 8 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 April 2010. Retrieved 31 May 2010.
- ^ Johnson, Daniel (28 January 2011). "60% vote to reaffiliate with NUS". Palatinate Online. Archived from the original on 3 October 2011. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ Hopkins, Steve. "Tommy Robinson Speaking Events Cancelled At Edinburgh And Durham Universities After Pegida Speech". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ Swerling, Gabriella. "Student debate will harm relations, insists China". The Times. The Times of London. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ Waterson, Jim. "The Chinese Embassy Told Durham University's Debating Society Not To Let This Former Miss World Contestant Speak At A Debate". Buzzfeed. Buzzfeed News. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- ^ Minting, Stuart. "Durham: Chinese embassy official calls for speaker to be barred from University debate". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
- National Public Radio.
- ^ Nicola Smith (10 March 2017). "Taiwan Is Desperate for Fee-Paying, Mainland Chinese Students. That Could Be Bad for Academic Freedom". Time.
- ^ Delingpole, James (25 March 2017). "For a real Oxbridge education, you now have to go to Durham". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017.
- ^ Toby Young (February 2020). "The free speech crisis at Britain's universities". The Critic.
- ^ Poppy. "Debating Society votes to leave Durham Students' Union". Palatinate. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
- ^ "Durham Union Society – Members' Socials". dus.org.uk. Retrieved 14 February 2017.
- ^ "Constitution". Durham Union Society. 18 June 2023. Schedule II – Societies Enjoying Reciprocal Relations with the Society.
- ^ "Durham Union Society". Register of charities. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "World University Debate Rankings 2012". International Debate Education Association. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
- ^ "Week One Debate". Cambridge Union Society Term Card: 13. 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ Sengupta, Kim (18 July 2009). "Soldier's soldier: General Sir Richard Dannatt". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ Willis, Harriet (18 November 2017). "In conversation with Mark Elliott: In defence of the travel guide". Palatinate. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Rt Hon Sir Edward Leigh MP". Gainsborough Conservatives. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- Internet Wayback Machine). 29 July 2019. Archived from the originalon 29 July 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Durham graduate named Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice". Durham University. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 18 March 2020.