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| Established | 1451 |
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| Institution | University of Glasgow |
| President | Richard Anderson |
| Location | Glasgow, Scotland, UK |
| Members | 100 |
| Affiliated to | Students' Representative Council |
| Homepage | www.gudialectic.co.uk |
The Glasgow University Dialectic Society, re-instituted in 1861, is a student society at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, committed to the promotion of debating, logic, ethics and literary discussion at the University. The Society is independent and open to all students of the University, however it maintains strong links with debating at Glasgow University Union.
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History
The date of the Society's foundation is contested; the earliest paper records of the Society are dated before 1770, and there are, moreover, mentions within the University records of a society existing and being open to students who took Logic, back when the University still resided within Glasgow Cathedral. Pope John Paul II issued a 'Papal Letter' to the Society upon his visit to Scotland in the 1980's, which recognised the Society's claim to have been established in 1451. The Society was formally re-instituted in 1861.
Notable former members of the Society include:
- Sir Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrats
- Donald Dewar, former First Minister of Scotland
- Liam Fox, Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
- Brian Gill, Lord Gill, Lord Justice Clerk
- Derry Irvine, Lord Irvine, former Lord Chancellor
- Charles Kennedy, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Rector of the University
- Andrew Neil, journalist and broadcaster
- Nicholas Parsons, actor
- John Smith, former leader of the Labour Party
Activities
The Society organises a variety of events during term-time, including weekly informal lunchtime debates at the Glasgow University Union, as well as an Annual Dinner and New Members' Dinner, a St Andrews-tide football game and a Sports Day, the Dialectic Olympics. The Society also holds events during Freshers' Week to attract new members.
Three internal competitions are organised by the Society: the Reftable, for new speakers; the Intra-Varsity, a pro-am competition; and the Roderick F. Neilson Memorial Debate, between incoming and outgoing club leaders of the GUU's Parliamentary Clubs.
The Dialectic Society, along with the Glasgow University Medico-Chirurgical Society and Glasgow University Athletic Club, worked in driving the formation of the Glasgow University Union, as well as being instrumental in establishing the Glasgow University Students' Representative Council, and remains an active contributor to the activities of both organisations. Recently, the Society has also been increasingly involved in the revival of debates at the Queen Margaret Union.
Management
The management of the Society is entrusted to a Board elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM). The Board consists of a President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Whip Secretary, Publicity Secretary, Macer, Social Convenor, three Ordinary Members and two First Year Representatives. The Convenors of Debates of the Glasgow University Union and Queen Margaret Union are also ex officio members of the Board. The President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Secretary form the Executive. The current President is Richard Anderson.
Some quirks of the electoral procedure at the AGM are that posts are filled in descending order, allowing those who failed to win more important posts to stand for others, and that candidates must leave the room while a vote is taken on them.
The Society at its AGM also elects an Honorary President, up to eight Honorary Vice-Presidents and up to four Honorary Life Members. The current Honorary President is Charles Kennedy, and Honorary Vice-Presidents include Baroness Thatcher and the Archbishop of York.
Archives
The archives of Glasgow University Dialectic Society are maintained by the Archives of the University of Glasgow (GUAS).
References
External links
