Lindsay Lohan, Jordan Peterson, and Peyton Manning are among the speakers of an Oxford Union Trinity term card which features an array of world leaders, sportspeople, and entertainers.
Cherwell can exclusively reveal the Oxford Union’s speaker events and debate speakers for the term ahead.
The term card features the highest-ever number of BME speakers, and over 60% of guests are international.
Union President Gui Cavalcanti told Cherwell: “Since this society was founded by a group of students in 1823, the world has become substantially more interconnected, closing the gaps between us at an unprecedented rate.
“It is therefore vital for the Union, as a global platform, to capture the zeitgeist of our time, empowering its members to engage with stories and voices from every corner of the globe. These voices enable us to reflect on the progress and development achieved thus far, but also encourage us to embrace the many challenges that lie ahead.
“Beyond defending the principles of free speech, the Union has become a place where systematically oppressed voices can engage with a global audience, advocate important causes, and spark movements.
“From women’s rights in India, to Venezuela’s oppressive regime, to Uganda’s rigged elections, our Committee has worked tirelessly to ensure that the [Trinity termcard] reflect[s] upon contemporary issues of importance, and our underlying ethos of interrogating the present for a better future for all.”
The Union will host seven Thursday-night debates, which will run from weeks one to seven.
Topics range from the benefits of genetic engineering to the decline of the US as a superpower.
The final debate of term will also feature the Union’s first ever Presidential Iftar – it falls during Ramadan, and the former Crown Prince of Jordan, HRH Prince Hamzah bin Hussein OSJ, is among the speakers.
26th April
“This House Believes Oxbridge is Failing Britain”
Proposition:
Natalie Perera
Russell Hobby
Opposition:
Chris Blackhurst
Bill Rammell
3rd May
“This House Believes Genetic Engineering Undermines the Nature of Humanity”
Proposition:
Professor Joyce Harper
Kathryn Lasky
Opposition:
Dr. Rodolphe Barrangou
Dr. Carol Lynn Curchoe
Professor Donna Dickenson
10th May
“This House Believes Art is the Best Means to a Peaceful Revolution”
Proposition:
Christine Burns MBE
Deepa Mehta OC
Opposition:
Professor Stephen Duncombe
Julian Spalding
Nadia Rose
17th May
“This House Believes Britain should be Ashamed of Churchill”
Proposition:
Professor John Charmley
Sonia Purnell
Opposition:
Sir Nicholas Soames MP
Gisela Stuart
24th May
“This House Fears the Decline of the US as the Global Superpower”
Proposition:
Radoslaw Sikorski
Dr. Gideon Rose
Opposition:
Jane Harman
Matthew Barzun
31st May
“This House Believes That Austerity has been Europe’s Worst Policy of the Century”
Proposition:
Dr. Iona Petrescu
Bill Emmott
Opposition:
Maria Luis Albuquerque
Ruiari Quinn
Joaquin Alumnia
7th June
“This House Believes the Western model of Democracy is Unsuitable for the Middle East”
Proposition:
HRH Prince Hamzah bin Hussein OSJ
Deborah Jones
Sir John Jenkins KCMG LVO
Opposition:
Alberto Gonzales
Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC
Vehiel Bar
NB. this debate will feature the first ever Presidential Iftar in the Oxford Union’s history
[td_smart_list_end]
The Union’s speaker events feature a range of high-profile names, ranging from Cambridge Analytica whistleblower Christopher Wylie to New York rapper P Diddy.
Nigerian economist Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala joins fashion designer Vera Wang as two of the biggest names in business set to speak this term.
Meanwhile, on the sporting front, American football legend Peyton Manning will speak in eighth week, and joins Welsh rugby union referee Nigel Owens on the term card.
Other highlights include human rights activist Bianca Jagger, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson, and former Kenyan Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Raila Odinga.
The term card also features five events that are open to all Bod card holders, as part of the society’s ‘summer open period’.
These include speaker events in first week with Dame Inga Beale (Tuesday, 5.00pm), Lord Norman Fowler (Tuesday, 8pm), and Ben Miller (Wednesday, 8pm), and Thursday night’s Oxbridge debate.
The final event open to non-members is the homelessness panel at 5.00pm on 25th May, which features Labour MP Ben Coyle, who is a national policy and campaigns advisor on social care and tackling poverty, the chief executive of Emmaus UK, Simon Grainge, and the chief executive at Oxford Homeless Pathways, Claire Dowan.
Academics:
Thomas Piketty (25th April, 1.15pm)
Jordan Peterson (16th May, 8.00pm)
World Leaders:
Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah (9th May, time TBC)
President Viktor Yushchenko (1st June, 8.00pm)
The Rt Hon Raila Odinga (18th May, time TBC)
Entertainment:
Paul Giamatti (3rd May, 5.00pm)
Lindsay Lohan (Date TBC)
Taron Egerton (5th week, TBC)
P Diddy (Date TBC)
Business:
Vera Wang (23rd May, 8.00pm)
Dame Inga Beale (24th April, 5.00pm)
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (8th June, 5.00pm)
Sport:
Peyton Manning (15th June, time TBC)
Nigel Owens (5th week, TBC)
Kim Clijsters (2nd May, 5.00pm)
Activists:
Christopher Wylie (End of term – TBC)
Bianca Jagger (8th May, 8.00pm)
Reverend Al Sharpton (28th May, 8.00pm)
Manasi Pradham (6th June, 5.00pm)
Eva Schloss (11th June, 8.00pm)
