I'm sorry that, contrary to what was printed in your term cards, President Yushenko, President d'Estaing and Jude Law will not be speaking at the Oxford Union this term.
And I'm sorry that everyone who wanted to hear Jonah Goldberg speak last week were disappointed too.
These were set to be great events and my disappointment is as great as yours that they will not now be going ahead.
But I'm particularly sorry that you - like me - had to learn this news in the Cherwell last week. If I'd known I'd have told you direct.
Unfortunately, the article was some way off in explaining what had gone on, and I was disappointed that people involved in this process weren't represented.
I want get the record straight.
a) Yuschenko, d'Estaing and Jude Law were organised in co-ordination with the Cambridge Union. This is a long-standing and two-way arrangement that means we get the best of each other's term cards and it benefits everyone.
b) I had been told by my colleagues at the Cambridge Union that everything was on track. As such they were put in the termcard when we went to press in the genuine confidence that the events would happen.
c) For a number of reasons these speakers had to cancel their appearances this term. Regrettably I was not informed of this until Cherwell journalists contacted the Cambridge Union.
I'm at a bit of a loss as to why Cambridge Union's comments were so inflammatory. There are certainly no hard feelings given that this was not much more than a breakdown in communications.
When stuff like this happens it's annoying, and it doesn't look good. It erodes trust and makes people think that the Society is behaving disingenuously, which isn't the case.
And I really hope it doesn't mar what I reckon is a stellar term at the Union - great debates, sell-out socials (it was great to see the place packed out on Tuesday for the US elections) and some really important and fruitful work on reforming our Union and ensuring that everyone can get involved.
So I ask you to take my word for it. Somewhere along the line we messed up and communications broke down. But we did not lie, we did not set out to mislead you and we did not put speakers in the term card that we weren't confident would be delivered. Once again: sorry guys.
Comments
