A warm welcome to all our members, new and old, for Michaelmas Term! Whether you’re new to Durham or coming back after a long summer holiday, we’ve spent the last six months putting together a fantastic term for you all to enjoy.

The debates this term will be dealing with some of the most contentious issues of our time. Foreign intervention, immigration, the European Union, international aid and faith schools, will all be argued by some of the loudest voices on these issues. We intend to hear addresses from some of the finest speakers in our history, including Lord Robert Winston, Baroness Flather, and Tim Congdon CBE.

This year we intend to put on bigger social events than ever before, most of them free to our members, the highlight of the term being our annual Michaelmas Ball, hosted at Lumley Castle. And our bar, 24 North Bailey Club, will continue to provide safe haven for all to escape essay deadlines or celebrate them when they’re over.

We will continue to run debate training at Novice, Intermediate and Advanced levels, and encourage anyone who wants to get involved to do so, even if they have no previous experience. But the Union is much more than just a society for teaching members how to debate, and regardless of whether you do or don’t we look forward to seeing you all at our events!

This term we want to continue to maintain our reputation not only as the largest and most ambitious society, but also as the most open and welcoming. We want to continue to work with more groups in the University and expanding our reach to get even more people involved. It has never been easier to do so, and whether you want to enjoy our debates, learn to speak yourself, get involved in managing the society or even become and officer, or simply enjoy our socials, the Union is your society, and I hope you enjoy the coming term very much.

We all look forward to meeting you, and if there’s anything you want to know or suggest then you know where to find us!

Joe Hill - Michaelmas President 2014