York Dialectic Union

York Dialectic Union

Formation	2013
Founders	Adam Seldon and Harry Lambert (2013)[1] Findlay Milne, Adam Moses, Josef Bräutigam, Cameron Bennett, and Henry Howard (2023)[2]
Type	University debating union
Headquarters	Berrick Saul Building, University of York
President	Dominic Williams, James College
Secretary	Penny McCormick, Alcuin College
Head of Outreach	Milo Morrod, Derwent College
Treasurer	India Rawlinson, Halifax College

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.

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 adversely affected by COVID-19. Due to safety restrictions, attendance and popularity decreased, with events all but coming to an end in 2022.^[4] However, following the easing of the pandemic, the idea of continuing the Union (under a slight re-brand) proved highly popular among students, and so it 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.^{[citation needed]}

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. His term saw addresses by (among others) former drug kingpin Shaun Atwood, ex-jihadist Manwar Ali,^[6][7] SDP leader William Clouston 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 Union also hosted debates on issues including the value of an arts education and whether there was still a case for Conservative government (in which Rachel Maskell MP opened for the opposition).^{[citation needed]}

The YDU’s third President was Cameron Bennett. During his tenure, the Union organised events with Oli Dugmore, editor of PoliticsJoe and LGBT rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.^{[citation needed]} Spring Term debates included the role of Socialism in UK politics, which featured Lord Peter Lilley and Morning Star editor Ben Chacko, and the question This House Would abolish the monarchy, which featured Graham Smith, CEO of Republic.^{[citation needed]}

The fourth Union President was Alexandra Brates, whose term began with an address by Darren Hughes, Managing Director of the Electoral Reform Society.^{[citation needed]} Her term also saw events with then-Deputy Leader of Reform UK Ben Habib and Nick Newman, former head of Homeland Security Consulting.^{[citation needed]} The Union hosted Thomas Harrison, Keeper of Greece and Rome at the British Museum, for a debate on whether museum artefacts should be returned to their country of origin,^[8] as well as a debate on whether Just Stop Oil are on the right side of history.^{[citation needed]} One of the larger events of Brates’ presidency was the North Yorkshire Mayoral Hustings on the 18th of April, at which the Union hosted the major candidates for the newly created ‘metro-mayor’ of North Yorkshire in the regional elections of May 2024.^{[citation needed]}

The fifth President, Dominic Williams, was elected in April 2024 to begin in Autumn term. His tenure saw a greater number of events including debates on the progress of the Labour Government, long sentences for disruptive activists (featuring Hunted’s Peter Bleksley),^{[citation needed]} Western funding for Ukraine (with Peter Hitchens opening the opposition),^{[citation needed]} 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 away from the 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,^{[citation needed]} former ambassador to Iran, Nicholas Hopton,^{[citation needed]} ex-Green Party Leader Baroness Natalie Bennett,^{[citation needed]} psychologist Neill Bartlett,^{[citation needed]} and award-winning author Clare Mulley.^{[citation needed]}

• Findlay Milne: Spring 2023
• Adam Moses: Autumn 2023
• Cameron Bennett: Spring 2024
• Alexandra Brates: Summer 2024
• Dominic Williams: Autumn 2024

• Cambridge Union
• Oxford Union
• Durham Union
• Parliamentary style debate