AYE: Ellie Gould

Freshers are the biggest pool of potential new recruits, and revenue, for any Cambridge society, so it is not surprising that societies do everything they can to attract new members. These societies are also acutely aware of the particular psychological state of the archetypal fresher: nervous, keen to fit in and anxious to make sure they don’t miss out on something everyone else is doing.

For the Cambridge Union Society, however, the task is hindered by the £185 ‘life membership’ fee, a very hard sell to a new student with a college bill and deposit to pay.

The Union, therefore, resorts to aggressive marketing strategies to succeed in funding itself through memberships. Freshers’ Facebook groups have barely been created before a Union rep is on the case with a marketing post, trying to present their society as an unmissable part of that most enticing and illusory of things, the ‘typical’ Cambridge experience.

There are lines that must be drawn, however, between clever marketing and exaggeration of the truth. Whilst the Union is undoubtedly an esteemed institution that attracts some very impressive speakers, the way it presents itself to freshers is often misleading. To my mind, there are four major issues with their marketing strategy.

Firstly, their numbers appear to be somewhat exaggerated. The Union claims that 70 per cent of undergraduates are members, which I would question. Even if it were true, it is a far less useful figure than the percentage of undergraduates who attend Union events several times a term, a figure I would estimate to be far lower. Third year Union member Izhan Khan admits that “I got the feeling that most people ended up joining, which is why I ended up doing so.”

Secondly, much of their marketing seems to focus on the importance and reputation of their Fresher’s Ball, “the BIGGEST and ONLY fresher’s ball in Cambridge – an exclusive black tie event, attended by most fresher’s [sic] who join in October.” The tautology here is evident – if it is the only ball then of course it is the biggest – but neither of these superlatives means that it’s good. Reviews from last year (“It was worse than a college bop,” according to the Tab) do very little to justify shelling out £185. More importantly, the syntax of this sentence seems deliberately misleading: “most freshers who join in October” suggests that most freshers who join the University go to the ball, rather than most freshers who join the Union. Pumping cash out of new students by preying on their fear of missing out is not fair.

The Union also overstates its importance to social life, something they know all too well is very much on the fresher radar. “Enjoy Cambridge’s biggest social hub…,” they claim. “As a member of the Union you have access to the cheapest central student bar.” They fail to mention that the vast majority of Cambridge undergraduates would view their own college bars as their biggest social hub, not the Union. College bars are usually cheaper, too.
Most importantly, however, the Union sells itself on its high-profile speakers, knowing that they are its biggest draw for new members. Its marketing video features Stephen Fry, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Ian McKellen, but fails to mention that its small capacity means only a very small percentage of members can actually attend, and only if they queue for several hours.

The committee must be aware that the vast majority of Union members do not get good value from their £185. It would be impossible for everyone to do so given the Union’s capacity, which is perhaps why there is no option to pay termly: people would realise they weren’t getting enough out of it and stop paying. “If you use it to its full potential it’s probably very good value for money, but most people don’t,” says Pembroke student and Union member Angus Hopkinson.

What’s more, bullying nervous freshers into coughing up this sort of cash only scares those from poorer backgrounds that Cambridge might be too expensive for them. Although the Union does provide discounted rates to those in receipt of a full Maintenance Grant, those from the ‘squeezed middle’ are forced to find the cash (in their overdrafts, probably), or be made feel that they are missing out.

Freshers: societies need you and your cash more than you need them. Some people get great value from their Union membership, but many more do not. Don’t be fooled into joining just in case everyone else does: wait until you get here, give it a try, then decide for yourself whether the Union will be worth it for you.

NAY: Tim Squirrell

I’ve been involved in the Union since the beginning of my second year. For me, it has been one of the most rewarding and memorable experiences I’ve had during my time at Cambridge. Michaelmas is an exciting time for The Union, because a new intake of freshers brings in new faces - people with new ideas, interests and skills who come along to events, frequent the Union bar or help to make the Union work.

However, every year during this period there are a few people – a fairly vocal minority – who try to discourage all who will listen from joining the Union. Sometimes this is for political reasons: they don’t agree with a particular invitation we’ve made, or think the whole place is stuffy and elitist and representative of the very worst of Cambridge snobbery. More commonly, they’re people who feel they haven’t got value for money from their Union membership, and they don’t think you will either.

It’s impossible for me to respond to the arguments over the page without sounding incredibly biased. It’s likely that this will come across as a scrap between a plucky underdog journalist and a big, faceless bully-boy institution trying to quash any murmuring of dissent.

Instead of putting across the Official Union Line on whether or not membership is worth the money, then, let me give you my own thoughts on it.

I joined before term even started in my first year, and I went along to the first event I could. It was a debate involving the Cambridge Footlights and the cast of Made in Chelsea. I queued around the block, and then got turned away along with around 300 other people because the entire building was filled to capacity (around 800 people). It was obviously a disappointment, but I went back two days later for a debate about the riots, which had faded from the streets though not yet from the papers. The debate was great, the atmosphere was brilliant and afterwards I had a brief argument with Peter Hitchens because I thought I was really clever (I wasn’t) and then got drunk and went to Life with my friends.

Even before I ended up on the committee, I really enjoyed what the Union had to offer. The debates were relevant and engaging, and the prospect of making a point from the floor both excited and terrified me. I think it took me a good dozen debates before I stopped shaking at the thought of standing up in front of 400 people and telling a world-leading expert that they were talking total balls.

I started competitive debating in my second year, and reaped the benefits. It was time consuming, but as I improved I found that my ability to reason and argue in my essays was improving as well – although I now find it difficult to go a whole conversation without using the word ‘problematic’ and sounding like a total tool. The Union is one of the only debating societies in the country that can subsidise its competitive debaters, so even if you are going to competitions every weekend, it won’t break the bank. It’s also not just the world-class speakers who get sent to competitions: we make a point of selecting people who contribute the most to the society by helping out in various ways. The more you put in, the more you get out of it.

I think that’s probably a fair assessment of Union membership in general. It is totally what you make of it. You could purchase membership and let your card gather dust. Or you could get to listen to some of the most influential people in the world and ask them questions yourself. You could deliver a witty putdown to an evasive MP in a crowded chamber. You could travel around the country – and indeed the continent – for a pittance, meeting fantastic people and learning to argue with the best. You could participate in the biggest society in Cambridge, and be a part of something totally unique.

You don’t have to take my word for it. For the first two weeks of term every event at the Union is open to all, free of charge. We’ll be having three debates, some brilliant speakers and a multitude of other events, all of which you are welcome to attend. We also have better drinks deals than any other bar in Cambridge - and debate-themed cocktails. Everyone loves a debate-themed cocktail.

Tim Squirrell is the current President of the Cambridge Union Society.