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The York St John Political Union is founded on one core belief: true political understanding is forged in the fire of rigorous, respectful disagreement.
We are not an advocacy group for any single party or ideology. Our mission is to create the premier university platform for high-quality, passionate political debate between members from across the entire political spectrum.
Our aim is to move beyond the shallow soundbites and social media echo chambers that dominate modern discourse. We hope to achieve the following:
Elevate the Debate: We aim to host discussions that are informed by data, history, and philosophy, encouraging members to explore the nuances of complex issues rather than resorting to oversimplified slogans.
Challenge Assumptions: We want to create a space where everyone, regardless of their political alignment, has their fundamental beliefs critically examined and challenged. This process is how genuine intellectual growth occurs.
Foster Coexistence: We aim to prove that it is entirely possible—and indeed, necessary—for people with fundamentally opposed worldviews to share a room, engage in a heated argument, and walk away with mutual respect.
While our members may have entirely different political manifestos, the Union is brought together by a shared commitment to these core values:
Intellectual Curiosity: We value a genuine desire to learn and understand. This means not just defending your own ideas, but actively trying to understand why others hold theirs.
Courageous Candour: We value the courage to speak your mind, even when your opinion is unpopular, and the bravery to accept sharp, critical challenges to your arguments.
Respectful Rigour: We value the enforcement of our zero-tolerance policy on hate speech and personal attacks. Debate is welcome to be aggressive, but it must be directed at the argument, never the person.
Inclusivity of Ideas: We value the belief that the best debates happen when all sides—Left, Right, and Centre—are strongly and intelligently represented.
In short, we aim to be the place where passionate disagreement doesn't divide us, but unites us in the pursuit of better ideas.
Join Our Mailing List: This is the essential first step. Get the schedule, debate topics, and meeting locations sent directly to your inbox so you never miss a session. (Insert Link or Email Sign-up Here)
Committee Roles: We are actively seeking committed members for executive and supporting roles (e.g., Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer). If you want to help steer the Union, please contact Jake Latham (Chair) directly on Microsoft Teams to arrange a discussion.
Formal Communication Hub: Our official group hub for formal announcements, resource sharing, and structured discussion is Microsoft Teams. The link to join will be shared once you register your interest through the mailing list.
We look forward to having you bring your unique perspective to the table!