Oxford Open Doors
Oxford Union Society
Image by Barker Evans Photography
Founded in 1823 the Union, as Macmillan said, has held ‘a special
place in the history of our nation’. Indeed students who once spoke or
held office at the Union have gone on to become Prime Ministers,
Cabinet Members and figures in the media and the arts.
It acquired its own buildings in 1853, and over the years has
accommodated all the necessities of a student society, including, at
one time or another, a restaurant, smoking room, reading room and
snooker room. Along with debating aims the Society maintains a
collection of books, journals and newspapers of interest to its
members, now housed in the Library.
The Union puts a high premium on debating skill, and a style of
speech, emphasising powers of persuasion, wit and panache. The
Union gives much importance to its principle of free speech. It has
therefore welcomed some of the most famous and controversial
figures of the last 188 years, including Malcolm X, Gerry Adams,
Richard Dawkins and Michael Jackson.
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Foundation of the Union
The Oxford Union Society was founded in 1823 as the United Debating
Society eight years after its counterpart, the Cambridge Union
Society. After problems between members, the Society was
disbanded, but was refounded as the Oxford Union Society in 1825.
They aimed to unite ‘for discussion and free inquiry.’ The first debate
was entitled ‘Was the revolution under Cromwell to be attributed to
the tyrannical conduct of Charles or to the democratic spirit of the
times?’. In 1823, this was neither current, nor controversial, as they
were still somewhat limited by the University authorities.
The Society became, however, a place where undergraduates could
meet outside the confines of their colleges, for discussion, debate and
recreation. Having met in college or the hired ‘Wyatt’s Rooms’ at 115
High Street in 1857 they had the means to build their own premises
on a site off St. Michael’s Street, where you stand today.
The buildings
The Old Library was built in 1857, and was originally the debating
chamber. The architect, Benjamin Woodward, who also built the
Oxford University Museum, invited the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood to
decorate the still bare walls. Their theme was the Arthurian legend,
and artists such as Rossetti, Morris, Burne-Jones and Prinsep all
contributed. The artists were, however, early in their careers, and
consequently, did not prepare the surfaces well. Despite various
attempts to restore them, what you see today is all that remains.
The Library is one of the largest lending libraries in Oxford and is used
by undergraduates, postgraduates and researchers. It has collections
of Classics, literature, law, history and PPE and its significant
collection of 19th century books and journals.
With debates becoming more popular, Alfred Waterhouse designed a
new Debating Chamber in 1878. Around the room are portraits and
busts of illustrious former Union members, including Benazir Bhutto,
Hilaire Belloc, Gladstone, Macmillan, Asquith and Heath.
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The Union is run by elected students. During debates the President
sits on the large central chair, with the Librarian and Treasurer either
side. The Secretary, tasked with taking minutes of the debates, sits at
the dispatch boxes. At the end of the debate, the attendees file out
under the plaques labeled ‘Ayes’ and ‘Noes’. Thus their vote is
counted, and the outcome of the debate decided, as they exit.
The Goodman Library is often used for speakers and events. Kim
Cattrall recently spoke to a packed audience about her experiences.
The library is named after Lord Goodman, former Master of University
College, and important benefactor of the Union.
The Macmillan Room was once the Union’s restaurant. It is now
used for dinners and events. It is named after Macmillan, who, during
his time as Chancellor of Oxford University championed the Society’s
cause, regarding it as a bastion of Western democracy.
The Gladstone Room’s ceiling is decorated with the crests of the
Oxford Colleges. It was once the smoking room and used to have a
balcony lined with book shelves, as pictured above.
Famous debates and speakers
The best known episode in Union history came in 1933 when the
motion ‘That this House will in no circumstances fight for its King and
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country’ was carried 275 to 153. This caused great criticism of the
Union and its members and dismay at the ‘increasing Red tendencies’.
In 1975, on the eve of the EEC referendum, the Union debated the
motion that ‘This House would say “Yes” to Europe’. The debate was
televised and the motion was carried by 493 votes to 92. The impact
of the debate gave the Union some influence in national affairs, and
may well have contributed to the “Yes” vote, when the country went
to the polls the next day.
More recently, the Union caused controversy by inviting Nick Griffin
and David Irving to speak at a debate on the subject of Free Speech.
Protesters stormed the Chamber and limited discussion to two
smaller, separate debates. The Union maintained that its members
have the right to free assembly and to offer an open forum for
speakers.
The Union also hosts frequent speaker events. Over the years
members have gathered to listen to figures of national and
international renown from the worlds of politics, film, theatre and
science. Twelve British Prime Ministers have passed through the Union
ranks. Other speakers have included Presidents Reagan, Nixon and
Carter, the Dalai Lama, Mother Theresa, Pakistani President Pervez
Musharraf, cricketer Geoffrey Boycott and Olympic rower Sir Steve
Redgrave, scientists Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking and actors
Stephen Fry, Pierce Brosnan and Dame Judi Dench.
Ronald Reagan
addresses the Chamber
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