For the final time in our 176th anniversary year, it is an honour and a privilege to welcome you to the Easter 2018 Term at the Durham Union. It is a University Term that traditionally quietens during exams, before accelerating during the celebrations afterwards. Yet, for the first time in recent years, this Union Term will not follow the same path. With debates and socials right through to the last week, I hope there is an event for all members. 

Whether international experts debating Tuition Fees, such as Professor Danny Dorling; key figures from Northern Ireland, among them Chris Hazzard MP, discussing the Good Friday Agreement; or a timely debate on the state of Israel, this Term has a debate for everyone. This is besides keynote addresses from the former CEO of Saatchi and Saatchi, Lord Adonis and the Hungarian Ambassador to name but a few of our speaker highlights.

In competitive debating, the Union retains one of the most successful debates’ training programmes, both nationally and internationally. In March our debaters were victorious at the English National Championships, whilst the A Team were most recently quarter-finalists at the World Universities Debating Championships.

Getting involved in the Durham Union is a fantastic opportunity: to advance your CV, meet like-minded students and help run one of the world’s oldest student Societies. As a member, an officer within our General Committee, or through debating, you can take charge in organising the events and participating in external competitions that drive our Union and its reputation forward.

In all, it has been a privilege to lead this Society, through a time of great change. With my Union colleagues we have led on developing a new website, uploading events to Youtube and hosting our inaugural Summer Ball, as well as our speaker events themselves. I hope that you find this Easter Term to be intellectually stimulating but, above all, great fun, and look forward to welcoming you very soon.

Very best wishes,

Ollie Lewis

Durham Union President, Easter 2018

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