Termcard Autumn 2015

Society of the

Year 2015

Welcome! 02

As President and Chair we would like to welcome you to a new

year with the Manchester Debating Union.

Every Thursday we have a great range of public debates to offer.

Every one of these debates has an expert panel of public

intellectuals, academics, journalists and politicians who have

given their time to put on these excellent events. No matter your

interest, there will be something in our calendar you’ll find

engaging.

Every Tuesday we run public speaking and debate training

sessions. Here you can build your confidence, learn how to

structure arguments and improve your public speaking skills. If

you find that you enjoy competitive debating you can join us and

compete in tournaments across the country and get feedback

from world class judges. There will be several novice

competitions this semester to allow you to get a taste for

competitive debating in a relaxed environment against other

beginners.

The MDU also has a great social atmosphere. We meet every

week after training and public debates. We also hold social

events throughout the year; it’s a great place to chat to like

minded individuals, have fun and make new friends.

Both of us believe that debating is one of the most valuable

things you can do with your time at university. It will make you

consider points of view you will never have had to tackle before.

It allows you to learn about subjects like philosophy, politics and

economics in an easy and engaging way. It helps your ability to

reason and explain, and turn the thoughts in your head into well

formed arguments to convince others; and more importantly, it

will help you examine and understand why you hold your own

beliefs. It is this form of questioning and learning which makes

debating an excellent addition to any degree.

The MDU has a great range of events lined up this year, there is

something for everyone. We hope that you join us for what

promises to be a great year.

Jack Mellish Chair 2015-2016

Laura Smith President 2015-2016

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Contents

02 Welcome A welcome from the Chair and President

05 Public Debates This semester’s events featuring a fantastic set of speakers

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Competitive Debating How you can get involved with Manchester Debating Union’s training program

How to Join Find out how you can become a member

Committee Our committee this year

Inclusions A welcome from our Inclusion’s Officer

Public Debates Manchester’s public debates bring together journalists, academics

and politicians to speak on everything from economics to

feminism, from foreign affairs to religion. Our public debates are

open to all students and staff at universities within Manchester,

including the University of Manchester and Manchester

Metropolitan University.

Public debates take place at 5pm in the Roscoe Building Lecture

Theatre B, every Thursday during term time. Check out our

Facebook page for the latest information on our public debates!

The format of our public debates is a seven-minute speech given

by each of the four speakers. After this the floor is opened to

questions from audience members to give you the opportunity to

question our guests. The debate ends with two minute summary

speeches.

This year has some of the best public speakers: from Peter

Tatchell to Edwina Currie. Along with representatives from the

Institute of Economic Affairs, The Bow Group and the Communist

Party. We’ll be covering topics ranging from free speech to class

solidarity; from the media to Israel. No matter your interests you

will be able to find a topic which interests you, and we encourage

you to make our public debates part of your regular university

schedule.

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This House Believes that Free Speech Must Include the Right to Offend.

Thursday 24th September 5pm – Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

The boundaries and limits of free speech are at the forefront of political

debate. Does the state best protect the vulnerable by placing limits on

offensive speech? Or will this clamp down on the criticism essential to

develop as a society? Whichever side one falls on, this is one of the most

fundamental questions to ask today. Join us for the first debate of the

academic year when the Manchester Debating Union asks - should free

speech include the right to offend?

Douglas Cochran Three times World Debating Championship Semi-

Finalist and European Debating Championship Finalist.

Kate Brooks Two time European Debating Championship Semi Finalist and one of the Top 10 speakers in Europe.

Alexander Cavell Debate Programmes Co-Ordinator for the International

Debate Education Association.

07 This House Believes that Women Are

Empowered by Breaking the System, Not Succeeding Within It.

Thursday 1st October 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

Multi-national companies are making huge efforts to highlight and

encourage women at the top of their industries. Many women at the top

of those industries encourage those following them to “lean in” - not to

give up their jobs for the sake of their families, to be ambitious. But is

women’s success in the business world a good measure to use to judge

equality – or do we need to completely re-think the way that we structure

our society? This week the Manchester Debating Unions asks -are

women empowered by breaking the system, or succeeding within it?

Jo Fidgen BBC Contributor

to Radio 4’s Analysis and the

BBC World Service

Katie Grant News Reporter and Columnist

for the Independent

Edwina Currie Author and former Conservative MP

for South Derbyshire

Dr Francesca Gains The Head of Politics at the University of

Manchester.

08 This House Believes that UKIP is a Force

for Good in British Politics Thursday 8th October 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

The UK Independence Party has shaped the debate in British politics

following its meteoric rise in popularity. Previously a niche minority party, it

is now the third largest party in British politics. Supporters say that it

represents a different voice in politics, addressing the concerns of

disenfranchised voters forgotten by the political establishment. But

detractors argue UKIP only stoke fear and separation in the political

debate. This week we ask: is UKIP a force for good in British Politics?

Steven Woolfe UKIP MEP for the North West and UKIP Migration

Spokesman.

Dr Rob Ford Author of “The Revolt on the Right.” and a Senior

Lecturer in Politics at the University of Manchester.

Representative for The Bow Group Centre-Right think tank allied with the Conservative

Party.

09 This House Believes that Capitalism is a Force for Good in the Developing World

Thursday 15th October 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

Capitalism is the economic model used by the richest countries in the world.

Supporters of the capitalist system argue that capitalism generates

economic growth by letting private investors build businesses that serve the

needs of consumers. Opponents however argue capitalism only enriches a

few, and predatory corporations exploit and drain the resources from

developing nations. Is Capitalism the path to development, or exploitation?

This week we ask- does capitalism help the developing world?

Dr Diego Zuluaga International Research Fellow at the Institute of Economic Affairs. He is also Deputy Director of

EPICENTER, a pan-European think tank network.

Representative of the Communist Party of Britain The Marxist Party of the British labour movement.

Dr Khalid Nadvi Political economist specialising in issues relating to

trade and industrial development at the University of Manchester.

This House Believes that Israel is a Force for Good in the Middle East

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Thursday 22nd October 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

No state's role in the world is more hotly contested than that of the state of

Israel. Supporters of Israel point to it as one of few democracies in a region

of autocracies, surrounded by hostile enemies. They value the need for a

state to represent Jewish people on the world stage. It’s opponents, see

Israel as an apartheid state, denying rights to its Palestinian citizens, and as

waging an illegal occupation of neighbouring territories. This week the

Manchester Debating Union asks - Is Israel a force for good in the middle

east?

Simi Ben Hur

Executive Director of Shaare Zedek UK, a charity which supports the Shaare Zedek hospital in

Jerusalem. Previously, Head of Public Affairs for the Community Security Trust working on combatting

anti-Semitism.

Peter Tatchell

British political campaigner best known for his work with LGBT social movements. Director of the Peter

Tatchell Foundation.

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This House Regrets the Decline of Class Solidarity

Thursday 12th November 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

With globalisation and the decline of Britain's industrial economy most

people no longer have an identity that is defined rigidly by class. This break

down in the class structure has certainly been beneficial in removing barriers

to social mobility. Class identity often served as a major block to the

advancement of working class people into positions of power. However, with

the decline of class identity has come the decline of the “working class

movement”. Has the end of class solidarity made people more willing to turn

on their neighbour, and more willing to demonize others than demand

justice? This week the Manchester Debating Union asks: should we regret

the decline of class solidarity?

Ben Chako

Chief Editor of the Morning Star, Britain’s last revolutionary left-wing

newspaper in wide circulation.

12 This House Believes that Science Has an

Undeserved Monopoly on the Truth Thursday 19th November 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

Science has come to be considered synonymous with truth.

But should we question that definition? Can religion and

philosophy provide truths about the world? About what is

moral? Can they answer questions which cannot be answered

through rational scientific inquiry? This week we ask- does

science have an undeserved monopoly on the truth?

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This House Believes that the Press has Failed the People

Thursday 26th November 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

The role of the press is to inform and promote conversation in the public’s

interest. By maintaining a spotlight the press can hold people in positions of

power accountable for their actions. However, mainstream media is moving

away from this role. They instead, often focus on quick attention grabbing

headlines that ignore the pressing issues and focus on scapegoating the

vulnerable. Has the press turned on the public when it should be acting in

its interest? This week we ask- has the press failed the people?

Dr Piers Robinson

Senior Politics professor at the University of Manchester whose research focuses on media and

propaganda.

14 This House Would Teach Pop &

Alternative Culture over the Classics Thursday 3rd December 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

Recent education reforms have called for the broadening of students

knowledge of classic texts in British literature such as Dickens and

Shakespeare. Does the educational establishment place too much weight

on these texts? Is there equal artistic merit to be found in a verse of rap

lyrics, or in a modern fantasy novel? This week we ask: should we teach

popular culture over the classics?

Siana Bangura

History graduate of the University of Cambridge and an experienced journalist, writer, blogger, public speaker and performer. Founder

and editor of No Fly on the WALL, a platform to discuss intersectional

feminism.

This House Blames the West for Islamic Extremism

Thursday 10th December 5pm - Roscoe Building Lecture Theatre B

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Islamic terrorism is one of the greatest threats faced by Western nations.

The West has responded to it with military action abroad and increases in

security at home. “Home-grown” terrorists joining organisations like ISIS

frequently quote Western foreign policy and a feeling of isolation caused

by the police as their primary causes of becoming radicalised. This week

we ask - is the West to blame for Islamic Extremism?

Competitive Debate Training

The Manchester Debating Union holds regular training sessions on Competitive Debating – come along to debate a variety of topics and improve your public speaking and argument-forming skills. These sessions take place in room 4.3 of the Roscoe Building at the University of Manchester. Our introduction to the competitive debating session will take place on Tuesday the 29th of September where we’ll give you a friendly introduction to competitive debating. We cater to all levels of ability and welcome new members at any point during the year – so don’t worry if you can’t make the first session! We send competitive debating teams to competitions across the country almost every weekend during term time, and you can attend as few or as many as you wish. We send all our members to competitions, whether you are experienced or a complete beginner. Attending debating competitions helps you to improve your debating skills whilst also giving you the opportunity to travel the country and world. In the last year our members have attended competitions in Paris, Vienna and Malaysia. If you have any questions about competitive debating, then please email our president at president@mdu.manchester.ac.uk

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How to join

All of our public debates are completely free to attend!

If you’re thinking about having a go at competitive debating, you

can come to two of our weekly training sessions for free to try it

out.

If you wish to purchase membership, chat to our Treasurer,

Mhairi Hindle, or email her at

treasurer@mdu.manchester.ac.uk. You can also speak to any

member of committee at our events.

Benefits of membership include:

• Access to our weekly two-hour training sessions

• Free access to participating in debating competitions as the

Manchester Debating Union (entry fees normally range from

£20-£50).

Membership costs £10 for the year or £25 for life!

Make sure you join our Facebook Group Manchester

Debating Union –MDU to stay up to date with all of our events

Also follow us on twitter at @mdunion and check out our

youtube channel for recordings of our public debates and other

events: https://www.youtube.com/user/ManchesterDebates

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18 Inclusions

You don’t need to have an expert knowledge of politics or be a very

confident speaker to start debating. The MDU training program will help you

develop these skills. Skills learnt from debating can help with interviews,

presentations and even essays!

Debating is also a great way to develop English speaking and workplace

skills. Debating tournaments have finals categories for students who do not

speak English as their first language, and our training program can help

refine your English skills.

My job as inclusions officer is to make sure everyone at university is

included in debating. If you have any suggestions, queries or comments

you can contact me at: inclusions@mdu.manchester.ac.uk or approach me

directly at a training session or on Thursdays after the public debate.

This year we are also looking at combining training sessions and events

with other societies. So if you run a society or want your society to host a

debating workshop get in touch with us.

I look forward to meeting you all!

Ria Basu.

Committee 2015/2016

The Executive

Laura Smith President

Jack Mellish Chair

Mhairi Hindle Treasurer

Hugh Phipps Externals

Katie McKellar Competitions

Ria Basu Inclusions

Sam Ward IV Convener

Ben Capener Socials

Declan Leahy Training

Becky Montacute Training

The Committee

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Cory Hooper Communications

Designed by Becky Montacute and Jack Mellish