“The best job I ever had”: undergrad Christopher George reflects on historic Cambridge Union presidency

Christopher George at the Cambridge Union (photo by William Blakesley-Herbert)

Established in 1815, the Cambridge Union is the oldest student debating society in the world and the largest student society in Cambridge. Following elections in July last year, Christopher, a 23-year-old History undergraduate, held the Presidential post across Lent Term 2023.

“It was an exceptionally busy time, but I loved it,” he said. “Throughout my Presidency, I wanted to show what the Union can be: a space built upon the belief that through the exchange of ideas progress can be made.”

As part of the role, Christopher headed up a team of over 150 students and staff, not only looking after other students, colleagues, and guests, but a Listed building, a bar, and the whole business side of the Union.

“It was difficult to balance alongside my studies,” he says, “especially when emails and messages were flying in during lectures. But by being strict on time management and building a strong team, I feel like I was able to make the most of the opportunity and I’m really proud of what we achieved.”

Debates with impact, speakers for everyone

The Union has a spectacular history of getting the world’s best speakers, from Winston Churchill to President Zelensky. Christopher was well aware that his own time at the top of the Union would also be judged on the quality of the speakers and debates. He was, however, committed to ensuring variety and inclusivity.

“We wanted to have a real range of speakers so that there was something for everyone – and I think that’s what we managed to do. We had celebrities such as the Youtuber WillNE, Olympian Bradley Wiggins, and Love Island’s Tasha Ghouri, as well as prominent political figures like John Bercow, Yanis Varoufakis and Beto O’Rourke.”

Christopher and his team also had the purposeful aim of bringing in voices championing important causes, including:

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskay – leader of the democratic opposition in Belarus

Fawzia Koofi – Afghan politician and women’s rights activist

Soma Sara – founder of Everyone’s Invited

Areeba Hamid and Will McCallum – Co-Executive Directors of GreenPeace UK

He also wanted to sure that the debates had impact: “I was absolutely wedded to the idea of having highly topical debates on contemporary issues that challenged the status quo,” he says.

Themes in his term included a debate on the future of the NHS on the night that nurses were on strike, a debate on press power and accountability the week the BBC Director General was in the news, a debate on the effectiveness of trade unions the day after one of the largest mass strikes in recent memory, and a debate on Scottish Independence in the middle of the SNP leadership contest.

“I hope people came away from these debates with new ideas and questions,” he says. “The Union should always be a space for new ideas and those who challenge the status quo - a place where disagreement is not only accepted but expected.”

Leaving a legacy

“It is hard to say how this last term will be remembered,” says Christopher, “but I hope my team and I have shown what the Union, at its best, can be: a marketplace of ideas. A space where people can challenge and be challenged. I wanted to leave the Union with this renewed sense of purpose and clear direction for the future.”

With his historic term completed, Christopher is preparing for his final exams and looking to what might come next.