It’s nearly the end of term now, but there is of course no better way to spend a winter evening than watching an interesting debate. This week sees our last (moderately) serious one, with the traditional balloon debate coming up on the following week on the last Thursday of term.

THW have fair trade, not free trade
Date: Thursday 1st December
Place: ARC meeting room 2
Time: 8pm start

And as if this weren’t enough, we’ll be heading into the town centre afterwards, where the nice people at Bourbon are going to give all members a free shot of schnapps on top of their usual NUS offers (pint of Fosters £1.90, double vodka and mixer £2.50 etc etc) to provide a nice warming start to December.

Also - if you’re thinking of participating in the balloon debate in the last week, then it’s time to start thinking of a character. See the post on the forum for more explanation!

Many congratulations to Bridget and Ben for their success in the New Speakers final; and well done to all the other finalists in what turned into a challenging if slightly unusual debate! At least we’ve all learned what happens when you let someone with a sense of humour loose on an open motion…

We’re moving up to the ARC (upstairs in the Union) for next week - probably for the rest of this term - and as we’ve only been meeting at 7pm in order to get out of Roger Stevens before it shuts, we’re now moving to 8pm as originally planned. The next debate is:

THW disarm Britain’s nuclear weapons
Date: Thursday 24th November
Place: ARC meeting room 2
Time: 8pm start

Well done to all those who entered the heats of the New Speakers Competition last week. We saw several good performances, but one way or another the four best teams have been selected, and will be going head to head in the final this Thursday.

Our finest new talent will be on show at:

The New Speakers Final (motion to be announced on the night)
Date: Thursday 17th November
Place: Stylus
Time: 8pm start

Much fantastic socialising, drowning of sorrows and celebration of victory are going to follow - and with £150 prize money being given out on the night, there will definitely be some people who you can legitimately ask to buy you a drink or two. Definitely not one to miss!