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York Dialectic Union

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Not to be confused with University of York Students' Union.

York Dialectic Union
Formation2013
FoundersAdam Seldon and Harry Lambert (2013)[1]
Findlay Milne, Adam Moses, Josef Bräutigam, Cameron Bennett, and Henry Howard (2023)[2]
TypeUniversity debating union
HeadquartersBerrick Saul Building, University of York

The York Dialectic Union - previously known as the York Union - is the University of York’s union debating society. Originally founded in 2013, the Union is affiliated with the University of York Students' Union and membership is limited to students at the University. It hosts distinguished speakers and debates on a regular basis as well as social events and formal dinners for its members.

History

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The original York Union arose from a branch of Nouse Events (founded 2012), affiliated to the University’s venerable student paper Nouse. At this time, debates and addresses were not attended by a wide range of students, and thus a separate organisation was created with a purpose of publicising and hosting these events. This ultimately led to the founding of an independent society in the traditions of similar institutions at other universities, the York Union, in 2013.[3] The Union’s original founders were students Adam Seldon and Harry Lambert.

The Union was negatively affected by COVID-19. Due to safety restrictions, attendance and popularity decreased, with events ending in 2022.[4] Following the end of the pandemic, the union was reaffiliated with YUSU before the start of Autumn Term in 2023.[4][5] From this point onwards, the society has been known as the York Dialectic Union. The principal founders of the second incarnation were students Findlay Milne, Adam Moses, Josef Bräutigam, Cameron Bennett, and Henry Howard. The York Dialectic Union was founded with a distinct ethos of accessibility and anti-elitism, hence why their debates are not subject to formal dress requirements.[4]

Its first President under the new banner was Findlay Milne, elected in Spring 2023. During his presidency, the Union began by hosting a soldier recently returned from the Ukrainian front.[citation needed] The second President was Adam Moses. Speakers during this term included former drug kingpin Shaun Atwood, ex-jihadist Manwar Ali,[6][7] SDP leader William Clouston, Labour Party MP Rachel Maskell and former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn took part in a debate on the introduction of a wealth tax hosted in the university's Piazza Building, with spaces for non-members selling out within days.[7]

The fourth Union President was Alexandra Brates, whose term began with an address by Darren Hughes, Managing Director of the Electoral Reform Society.[8] Other events featured the then-Deputy Leader of Reform UK Ben Habib and Nick Newman, former head of Homeland Security Consulting.[9][10] The Union hosted Thomas Harrison, Keeper of Greece and Rome at the British Museum[11] as well as a debate on the controversies surrounding Just Stop Oil.[12] Brates’ presidency also included the North Yorkshire Mayoral Hustings on the 18th of April, at which the Union hosted the mayoral candidates for the 2024 York and North Yorkshire mayoral election.[13]

The fifth President, Dominic Williams, was elected in April 2024 to begin in Autumn term. His tenure saw debates on sentences for disruptive activists (featuring Hunted’s Peter Bleksley)[14] and on Western funding for Ukraine (featuring Peter Hitchens),[15] and the efficacy of faculty strikes.[citation needed] A debate on concerns about Chinese influence on UK universities was temporarily postponed by YUSU over an administrative issue, although the Union President and Head of Outreach began preparations to hold the event privately off campus. Sam Dunning, Director of UK-China Transparency, and senior journalist Howard Zhang were due to rise for the proposition, but ultimately the event was delayed due to a lack of opposition speakers and is still in development.[citation needed] Speaker addresses in Williams’ presidency included entrepreneur Liz Earle,[16] former ambassador to Iran Nicholas Hopton,[17] ex-Green Party Leader Baroness Natalie Bennett,[citation needed] and author Clare Mulley.[18]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "York Union enjoys success". University of York. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  2. ^ Brates, Alexandra. "President's Welcome". York Dialectic Term Card. No. 3. p. 3.
  3. ^ "York Union enjoys success". University of York. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Warner, Emily (24 October 2023). "York Dialectic Union: An Interview with the President". MUSE. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024.
  5. ^ Best, Dominic (14 October 2023). "Debating how to Spend a Friday Night". York Vision. Archived from the original on 10 July 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2024.
  6. ^ Couture, Daisy (14 October 2023). "'For a long time, I lived for death': York Dialectic Union Hosts Ex-Jihadist Speaker". Nouse. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  7. ^ a b Beattie-Zarb, Kaitlyn; Shaw, Eleanor (13 December 2023). "Jeremy Corbyn Takes the Stage at the University of York". York Vision. Archived from the original on 30 March 2024. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  8. ^ "An accountable second chamber: why the House of Lords needs replacing". York Dialectic Term Card. No. 3. p. 7.
  9. ^ "The extinguishing of the United Kingdom". York Dialectic Term Card. No. 3. p. 8.
  10. ^ "The Law of Unintended Consequences". York Dialectic Term Card. No. 3. p. 9.
  11. ^ Morris, Ellen (4 May 2024). "Should Museum Artefacts Always Be Returned to Their Country of Origin?". Nouse. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  12. ^ "This House Believes Just Stop Oil is On the Right Side of History". York Dialectic Term Card. No. 3. p. 19.
  13. ^ "York Mayoral Election Panel". York Dialectic Term Card. No. 3. p. 14-15.
  14. ^ @theyorkdu (12 October 2024). "This House Opposes Long Sentences for Disruptive Activists". Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ @theyorkdu (17 November 2024). "This House Would End Western Military Assistance to Ukraine". Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ @theyorkdu (5 November 2024). "Liz Earle MBE - Women in Entrepreneurship, and Wellbeing". Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ @theyorkdu (11 November 2024). "British-Iranian Relations: Challenges, Opportunities, and the Future". Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ @theyorkdu (12 October 2024). "Clare Mulley - Krystyna Skarbek: The Spy Who Loved". Retrieved 24 November 2024 – via Instagram.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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