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Terms & Traditions

Established in 1794, the University of St Andrews Union Debating Society has a very long history, and has garnered many traditions in its time. Here is a guide to the Society's formal debates:

Lower Parliament Hall

The ancient chamber, which in 1645 was home to the Scottish Parliament, is the salubrious setting of our Wednesday night debates. It can be found on South Street next to St. Mary's Quad.

Gowns

Introduced in St Andrews to identify undergraduates in taverns and whorehouses, gowns have become a fixture in Lower Parliament Hall. They are traditionally worn by table speakers and any members of the house who so wish.

Heckling

The audience may not offer points of information during table speeches, but they are allowed to show there appreciation (or lack thereof) in traditional parliamentary fashion, with cries of "Resign!", "Shame", or "Hear, Hear".

How Much?

The Society's long-standing reputation for providing excellent value for money is reflected by the habit of the audience challenging any figure with the cry of "How much?" When the sum is repeated they answer, "That's cheap!"

Reading of the Minutes

Each debate opens with the reading of the minutes of the last debate, usually in the style of a famous personage. All too often, however, the Clerk is interrupted by some ne'er-do-well who wants to press on with the evening's debate. A vote will be taken by oral acclamation (and no one ever votes "aye"). Occasionally, the Convenor will overrule the House and will rightly be called upon to resign. If this does happen then you can find electronic copies on our minutes page, after a suitable interval to allow the Clerk to type them up (no-one has yet run on a platform of missing after debates drinks to type...)

Adjournment debates

House members may suggest adjournment debates on any topical issue, and one person may oppose. These are brief debates (three minute speeches) which serve as preliminaries to the main debate. A division will be taken after the two speeches.

Floor Speeches

Your chance to have your voice heard in the chamber. Every student is entitled to make floor speeches, and indeed, is greatly encouraged to do so. Your speech will be recorded in the historic Minute Book, (where it may never be read again, though it may reappear on The Sinner). The minutes really do go back to 1794 and can be found in the library, electronic versions of recent debates can be found on the minutes page.

The Gaudeamus

A mediaeval drinking song which as been preserved into the twenty-first century by the strenuous efforts of the Society. It is always sung at the end of a debate: the member of the house are led in song by the Serjeant-at-Arms (who supposedly knows all of the verses) as the Board processes out of the chamber. The words can be found in the evening's order paper.

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