Teaching and research are both essential duties of Senate faculty members, and the Committee on Distinguished Teaching believes that excellence in teaching and excellence in creative and scholarly work go hand-in-hand. The Distinguished Teaching Award acknowledges the efforts of Senate faculty members who have successfully united these two roles. 

Founded as a debating society, and indeed debating remains at the core of what they do. Every Thursday evening during term the Union hosts one of its main debates. Speeches from many of these attract significant media attention worldwide.  However, nothing compares to witnessing their famous debates live; the atmosphere is always stirring as world experts argue passionately about their conflicting beliefs. During every debate, members are given a chance to have their say. Not only can students speak alongside guest speakers, but members of the audience can challenge points that have been made when the debate is opened up to the floor; the outcome of many a debate has been swung by an impassioned student speech. Results are determined by how many students walk out the door marked ‘ Ayes’ , and the door marked ‘ Noes’ , in much the same way as done at the House of Commons.  

 

Each of their main debates is preceded by an 'emergency debate'  - a smaller scale, student only affair about a particularly current topic. This provides an opportunity for our members to hone their debating skills, and speak their mind in a more relaxed environment than the forthcoming main debate.