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The Oxford Union is often confused by visitors with the Oxford University Student Union, a completely separate organisation at Oxford which is the officially recognised student representative body of the University.
The Oxford Union buildings are located in Frewin Court, off Cornmarket Street and St. Michael's Street, and contain a library as well as the famous debating chamber, which has played host to such figures as the Dalai Lama, Robert Kennedy, Malcolm X, Winston Churchill, Jon Bon Jovi, Clint Eastwood, David Blaine and Kermit the Frog.
The infamous 'President's Drinks' is a weekly invitation-only drinks party that occurs after the debate on a Thursday. It has led to the Union being acussed of being cliquey and has meant many question whether the £150+ membership fee is good value for money.
The society is run by a committee of students, elected every term from the membership. The post of President of the Oxford Union is much sought-after, and is often the starting point for a successful political career (though more recently a career in management consultancy is a more typical destination). Famous past presidents include:
Other officers of the Union who have achieved political success include Harold MacmillanMaurice Harold Macmillan, 1st Earl of Stockton OM ( 10 February 1894 29 December 1986), nicknamed " Supermac" and " Mac the Knife" was a British Conservative politician and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963. Early life Macmillan was b and Roy JenkinsRoy Harris Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Hillhead ( November 11, 1920 January 5, 2003) was a British politician and a prominent Labour MP in the 1960s and 1970s and founder member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Early life Born in Abersychan, Monmouthsh.