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The '''Oxford Union Society''', better known as the '''Oxford Union''', is a prestigious private debating society in the city of [[Oxford]], [[United Kingdom]]. Its membership is drawn almost entirely from the [[University of Oxford]], although undergraduates at [[Oxford Brookes University]] are also permitted to join.<ref>[http://www.oxford-union.org/joining/details Oxford Union: Details of joining]</ref> Past presidents of the Oxford Union include many prominent British and foreign political figures, including former [[Prime Minister]]s [[William Gladstone]], [[Harold Macmillan]], [[Herbert Asquith]] and [[Edward Heath]]; assassinated [[Pakistan]]i leader [[Benazir Bhutto]]; and current Members of [[Parliament]] such as [[William Hague]] and [[Boris Johnson]].
==Debating==
The Union hosts regular public debates, which often feature guest speakers drawn from the worlds of [[politics]], academia, the media and the military. Any member can attend the debates. At the end of debates, it is customary to vote by "dividing the House"; members leave through two separate doors, the right hand being marked "Ayes" and the left "Noes". This is the same style of voting used in the British [[Parliament]].
Union members also participate in international competitive debating. The Oxford IV is a well-known debating contest hosted by the Union; last term the Union Treasurer, Krishna Omkar, served as co-convenor of the IV.<ref>[http://www.oxfordiv.org/main.html Oxford IV]</ref>
==Irving and Griffin controversy==
In 2007, it was announced that the Union had invited controversial speakers [[Nick Griffin]], leader of the far-right British National Party, and [[David Irving]], a historian known for his polemical views about the [[Holocaust]], to speak in a forum on [[freedom of speech]]. This attracted considerable controversy, with the president of the Oxford University Student Union<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7112480.stm Union debate row speakers arrive], BBC News, 26 November 2007</ref> and various [[left-wing]] student organisations, such as Unite Against Fascism,<ref>[http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=71105 Unite Against Fascism website]</ref> condemning the invitation. Within the Union, a poll of Union members was conducted on the issue, with members voting overwhelmingly in favour of the invitations.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7110758.stm BNP to speak to Oxford students], BBC News, 24 November 2007</ref> On the day of the debate (26 November 2007), protestors travelled from all over the country to participate in riots against the guest speakers; the demonstrators at one point breached the security cordon and broke into the main debating chamber.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,,2217589,00.html Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate], ''The Guardian'', 27 November 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article3198867.ece The uprising against facism: Students storm Oxford Union debate], ''The Independent'', 27 November 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7114343.stm
Angry scenes greet Oxford debate], BBC News, 27 November 2007</ref>
==Debating==
The Union hosts regular public debates, which often feature guest speakers drawn from the worlds of [[politics]], academia, the media and the military. Any member can attend the debates. At the end of debates, it is customary to vote by "dividing the House"; members leave through two separate doors, the right hand being marked "Ayes" and the left "Noes". This is the same style of voting used in the British [[Parliament]].
Union members also participate in international competitive debating. The Oxford IV is a well-known debating contest hosted by the Union; last term the Union Treasurer, Krishna Omkar, served as co-convenor of the IV.<ref>[http://www.oxfordiv.org/main.html Oxford IV]</ref>
==Irving and Griffin controversy==
In 2007, it was announced that the Union had invited controversial speakers [[Nick Griffin]], leader of the far-right British National Party, and [[David Irving]], a historian known for his polemical views about the [[Holocaust]], to speak in a forum on [[freedom of speech]]. This attracted considerable controversy, with the president of the Oxford University Student Union<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7112480.stm Union debate row speakers arrive], BBC News, 26 November 2007</ref> and various [[left-wing]] student organisations, such as Unite Against Fascism,<ref>[http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=71105 Unite Against Fascism website]</ref> condemning the invitation. Within the Union, a poll of Union members was conducted on the issue, with members voting overwhelmingly in favour of the invitations.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7110758.stm BNP to speak to Oxford students], BBC News, 24 November 2007</ref> On the day of the debate (26 November 2007), protestors travelled from all over the country to participate in riots against the guest speakers; the demonstrators at one point breached the security cordon and broke into the main debating chamber.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,,2217589,00.html Irving and Griffin spark fury at Oxford Union debate], ''The Guardian'', 27 November 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article3198867.ece The uprising against facism: Students storm Oxford Union debate], ''The Independent'', 27 November 2007</ref><ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/7114343.stm
Angry scenes greet Oxford debate], BBC News, 27 November 2007</ref>