Debating at the most niu* place in the world
前途出國外聯部總監、美國哈佛大學人類發展與心理學專業碩士 本文作者 蕭明顥
*“niu” is the Chinese pinyin for the character 牛which means “ox”. Oxford in Chinese is 牛津 which literary means “Oxford”. Colloquially, 牛 (niu) also means “awesome”
Tied to the Oxford name, but not officially part of the famous university, the Oxford Union Debating Society (commonly referred to as the Oxford Union), founded in 1823, is the second oldest University Union on the UK second to that at University of Cambridge. Located on St. Michael’s Street near a central shopping area in Oxford, one would mistake this building to be part of Oxford University and that because of its organization name, that it is only restricted to Oxford students…
Well…you are sort of right…
Entrance to the Oxford Union Debating Society from St. Michael’s Street in Oxford, England.
Photo of the main Oxford Union building (photo credit: Wikipedia.org
Steeped in traditions, the Oxford Union buildings date back around the 1880s (quite modern when you consider the age of its neighboring university) and houses a bar, dining hall (former debate chamber), snooker room, library, and an immense and traditional debate chamber (one of three in the UK). Rooms are named after previous Union debaters, such as the MacMillan Room – now used as the dining hall and pre-debate dinners – named after the UK Prime Minister Harold MacMillan and the Gladstone Room (a members lounge area) named after another one of Britain’s prime ministers, William Ewart Gladstone.
Snooker room in the Oxford Union
Photo taken in the Gladstone Room of the volumes of The Economist
The pièce de résistance is the Union’s debating chamber, where the proposition and opposition go head to head while the Oxford Union President and other leaders as well as members of the gallery (general audience) look on.
Results of the debate is democratic and voted on by the general public, in a most pragmatic way – “Yes”, then walk out the door marked with “AYES”, “No” then, well, you know the drill.
Photo: Being undecided has never been a more difficult decision.
Beyond just debate – competitively or not – the Oxford Union is also host to the world’s greatest leaders and orators ranging from the beautiful to the powerful to controversial such as The Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, former US Presidents Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Lang Lang, Malcolm X, Jon Bon Jovi, etc. But, membership is not just limited to those who are so fortunate to study at Oxford University. With a selected list, students from other institutions and area organizations are also welcome to join and many take advantage of the lifetime membership.
As you begin to leave the debating chamber whether confident in your decision or still ruminating, off to the right of the chamber wall, you see a small plaque in gold lettering with the union crest on the left and a familiar automotive company logo on the right. Commemorating the Mitsubishi Trust and Banking Corporation, it turns out that this prestigious society is not without financial troubles, and in 1989, Mitsubishi gave hefty financial support to ensure that ongoing operations of the Union. Google the details and you will find few answers; I suppose that the real reason(s) is open to debate.