A new debating society at Edinburgh University called the Edinburgh Union has been founded.
The Union will invite speakers to campus with opposing stances on controversial issues and is based on the Oxford and Cambridge Unions.
Finn Tyson, the Union’s first President, said, “The Edinburgh Union seeks to spark open dialogue in the capital, in a way that is not seen anywhere else in Scotland.”
He explains that participants will defend their stances and open themselves up to rigorous, evidence-based criticism, “all in a way that reflects the diversity and voice of Scotland’s student population.”
The Edinburgh Union will be under the umbrella of the Edinburgh Political Union (EPU) which organises events with political speakers and academics, as well as offering guidance to students within the School of Social and Political Science.
The Edinburgh Union founder claims the society aims to challenge the increasingly polarised nature of political debate, instead looking to organise debates in a constructive and structured environment.
The Union has been set up after concerns over freedom of speech have been raised at Edinburgh University through groups like Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom (EdAFAF) after its attempted screenings of gender-critical film, Adult Human Female, faced a counter-protest of over 100 people, leading to the screening being shut down on two occasions while a third went ahead.
Four years earlier, after Julie Bindel visited Edinburgh university to give a similar gender-critical talk, police investigated after she claimed a student protester “almost punched” her as she was leaving.
EdAFAF has claimed that academics should be allowed “to put forward controversial and unpopular opinions, whether or not those are deemed offensive”, and that academics have “no right to curb this exercise of academic freedom”.
The university’s then LGBTQ+ liberation officer responded: “The fact we had to protest the screening of ‘adult human female’ is appalling to me. It shows that the university continues to prioritise and give a platform to people with transphobic views under the premise of ‘academic freedom’ and ‘freedom of speech’”.
While plans to start the Union have been in the works since May, the launch has been made more poignant after recent killing of American right-wing commentator Charlie Kirk at a debate event at Utah Valley University.
The Union will host their debates at Rainy Hall in New College (Via Google Maps)
On their website, the Union claims to be an “apolitical debating society designed to champion free and open debate in Scotland”. Its first event will feature guest speakers from the SNP and Scottish Conservatives who will debate Scottish Independence.
Future events are expected to feature topics like the impact of traditional masculinity on men and society as well as debates over assisted dying.
A spokesperson from Edinburgh Union told The Tab Edinburgh: “The Edinburgh Union has been set up to provide an opportunity for all students, regardless of their academic background to have the opportunity to debate and engage with high profile public figures from across the political spectrum.
“The Union’s mission is to develop an environment where ideas can be challenged constructively and where participants feel empowered to engage in discussion. Students and staff from all of Edinburgh’s universities who wish to get involved can find out more on our Instagram and our website.
“Though the debate this coming Monday is sold out, students and staff are more than welcome to join our wait list, which again can be found over on the Instagram.”
Edinburgh University already has a Debating Society, founded in 1890, but it focuses on competitions between students, rather than inviting guest speakers.
Cyrus Braden, the president of the Edinburgh University Debates Union, told The Tab Edinburgh: “We’re confident that the new Edinburgh Union project will be a strong complement to what we’ve done for the past 135 years in the Debates Union.
“For the places where our societies overlap, like the British Parliamentary style of debating and debate-centred public events, we hope our breadth of experience in those domains will be a successful resource for their endeavours.
“We are a Union committed to arming people with the requisite skills and knowledge to become confident public speakers and engage effectively in free-speech debating, so we’re naturally excited about the development of a new platform for discussing hot-button political issues where those skills are critical.
“Our early discussions with the Political Union and the Edinburgh Union have been really productive, and we eagerly anticipate our continued partnership.”
Tom Wilmer, Secretary of the EPU said: “The Edinburgh Political Union is delighted to see the establishment of the Edinburgh Union this year. Their aim to promote high-level debate by bringing in prominent speakers, mirroring the format of the Oxford and Cambridge Unions, is an exciting first for a Scottish University.
“There has been very positive dialogue between our three societies. While each fosters political engagement in a different format, we are united in our goal to enrich political life at the University of Edinburgh.
“We look forward to continuing this collaboration and working together for years to come.”
The Telegraph also reports that the Edinburgh Union will not follow the black-tie dress code of the Oxford and Cambridge Unions. This is to foster a more “accessible and inclusive” environment.
