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THE ALLEYNIAN 710
Union of interests
The Dulwich College Union of Societies has a long and vibrant history, as James He (Year 12) found out when he interviewed President of the Union, Chloe Wang
James He: What is the purpose of the Union?
were already running independently of each other. However, the idea did not at that point take off. In 1952, Michael Rich tried to revive the idea of a Union, but it was not actually established until 1964, when it became a powerful force, together with a committee, and with a popular master as President. Its aims were to encourage societies to experiment with new ideas, to foster the introduction of new societies, and to provide a communal fund. I was particularly interested to hear the recollections of Ian Newton OA about establishing the Union. He remembers ‘visiting the manager of Barclays in the Village on my own to ask him to open a bank account for us, and then printing membership cards (for which pupils then had to pay!). To my knowledge there was only very light input from staff in all this.’ On a personal level, one of the most rewarding aspects of being President of the Union is having the opportunity to attend a wide range of society meetings. For example, more than 10 societies were part of the 2021 Eco Week, focusing on global issues such as climate change from their own angle
Chloe Wang: The Union serves as an umbrella organisation for our societies and clubs. We provide support in a variety of ways, helping anyone who is establishing a new society or who is running weekly meetings. We also offer funding for essential equipment, as well as assisting with the organisation of whole-school collaborative events. The Union provides students with a forum within which to explore their interests, and we encourage them to start their own societies. Can you tell me a little about the history of the Union, and about which aspects have made the deepest impressions on you? If you are interested in Union history, the College Archives are a real treasure trove of information. The Keeper of the College Archives, Calista Lucy, helped me to discover the fact that the Union was in fact first proposed back in 1883, with a view to looking after the interests of the societies which
The essence of a successful society lies in its ability to create a welcoming environment “
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