A Note from the President
To fully experience Durham, a Union membership is essential.
You may or may not have already heard that the Union is the oldest and largest society at Durham University. Our historic chamber is a stone's throw from Durham Cathedral and has played host to several high-profile speakers.
The highlight of the week is Friday night, when Members meet for the weekly debate, with invited speakers battling it out to win their case at the despatch box, and plenty of opportunity for Members to contribute to the discussion. Over the years, we’ve had some fierce debates that put the Union ahead of its time.
The membership fee includes access to all of our events, with the opportunity to engage with speakers who come to give their insight. With a lifetime membership, you can dip into and participate in events throughout your time in Durham, alongside your sporting or other interests. You can benefit from events at our sister Unions in Oxford and Cambridge too.
The Union is a great social environment, giving you the opportunity to socialise across colleges, encountering people you might otherwise never have had the opportunity to meet.
By engaging in our weekly debates, hearing from a breadth of celebrities from across all walks of life, and attending exclusive networking events with top graduate employers, you’ll be improving your CV without even knowing it.
Members can also take advantage of the high-quality debate training offered by the Union, and the opportunity to travel the country (and the world) representing us in competitive debating.
Before or after Union events, you can also hang out at our very own bar at 24 North Bailey, with its unique historic charm, and splendid array of craft beers and shooters!
We'll be running things slightly differently this year, with the opportunity to engage with speakers from all over the world through livestreaming, enabling us to truly bring an international perspective to the Union in addition to speakers coming to Durham.
By meeting individuals I would otherwise never have had the opportunity to meet, and engaging with their perspectives, I have developed who I am as a person far beyond my degree allows. I cannot recommend joining the Union enough.
We look forward to seeing you along at our events.
Tristan Pahl
President, Michaelmas Term 2020
