Main Page | See live article | Alphabetical index The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to simply as the Oxford Union, is a private debating society whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford. A parallel organisation exists in Cambridge. Founded in 1823, it has gained a worldwide reputation for the cut and thrust of its debate, proving a valuable training ground for many future British prime ministers. Oxford Union Society' s Victorian (new) debating chamber The Oxford Union is often confused by visitors with the Oxford University Student Union, a completely separate organisation at Oxford which is the recognised student government of the University. The Oxford Union buildings are located in Frewin Court, off the Cornmarket, and contain a library and restaurant, 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,... and Kermit the Frog! 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. Famous past presidents include: Benazir Bhutto William Ewart Gladstone Edward Heath Official Web Site http://www.oxford-union.org/ This article is from Wikipedia. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.