The Michaelmas line up of speakers at the Cambridge Union has just been announced. Highlights include the comedian Reginald D. Hunter, civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson and A. C. Grayling, philosopher and founder of New College of the Humanities – one of the UK’s few private universities.

However the biggest name that the Union has secured is Buzz Aldrin – the second man to walk on the moon in 1969. Aldrin is no doubt a name that will draw crowds of members to the Union, but the date of his talk is yet to be released. Aldrin will be one of many “influential and inspiring speakers from all walks of life”, said a Union spokesperson.

However as is often the case at the Union, women make up far less than half of the scheduled speakers. This termcard has a higher proportion of women than most – with roughly a quarter of female speakers. Notable figures include the Olympic gymnast Beth Tweddle and Jill Abramson, executive editor at The New York Times.

The schedule of debates is a controversial one. “This House Believes Parents Have the Right to Choose the Genes of their Children” and “This House would Retroactively Strip Obama of the Nobel Peace Prize”, are both likely to provoke strong feelings on either side. “This House has No Confidence in Her Majesty’s Government” follows the defeat in the House of Commons of Prime Minister David Cameron’s motion to take action in Syria.

As usual for Michaelmas term, there are a host activities going on in Freshers’ Week to welcome new members, such as an open mic night, the CREEM ‘Freshly Baked Festival’ and the annual Freshers’ Ball October 19th.