Durham Union Society
.jpg) Free Speech Since 1842 |
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| Established | 1842 |
|---|---|
| Institution | Durham University |
| Location |
Palace Green, Durham, England 54°46′27″N 1°34′32″W / 54.77404°N 1.57543°W |
| President | Tom Harwood |
| Type | Student Debating Union |
| Homepage | Union homepage |
This is a list of social activities at Durham University, including details of clubs, societies and other common leisure activities associated with Durham University.
Approximately 130 student clubs and organizations run on Durham's campus.
Durham has a central students's Union as well as junior common rooms (or equivalent) in each college.
The Durham Union Society is a debating society founded in 1842 by the students of the Durham University. Commonly referred to as the "DUS" or "The Durham Union", it is the university's largest society with over 3,000 members in residence. Until 1899, when the Durham Students' Union's ancestor (DSU) was founded, the society acted as the university students' union.
The Union was founded in 1842. The purpose of the Union was, and remains, a counterbalance to the collegiate system, allowing students from the University's different colleges to meet both to debate and socialise more informally. The first debates were held in the reading rooms of Hatfield Hall and University College. In 1872 the Society moved to what is now the Palace Green library, where the University’s first purpose-built debating chamber was established. The Union Society acted, at this time, as the central social unit for the students of Durham University. The Durham Students' Union's ancestor was developed in 1899 to take on this role, though the DUS has retained its social side.
To this end, the society bought the old site of St Aidan's College at 24 North Bailey to create a social club (naming it the 'North Bailey Club' or, more informally '24'). This contains a bar which is open to all DUS members; a snooker room; a reading room that the DUS uses for functions, such as post debate entertaining, and an en-suite guest room that can be hired out by members. Student members also have the opportunity to rent large bedrooms as student accommodation. 24 North Bailey is also the setting for the vast majority of the Union regular social events.
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