Download PDF - St. Catherine's College - University of Oxford
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STUDENT PERSPECTIVES<br />
the debating chamber for the very first time during<br />
my first term in <strong>Oxford</strong>. I was instantly mesmerized<br />
by this historic place that has seen so many iconic<br />
figures give testimony <strong>of</strong> their lives, careers, and <strong>of</strong>ten<br />
controversial opinions. Little did I know back then that I<br />
would have the honour <strong>of</strong> following in Benazir Bhutto’s<br />
footsteps, and become the first Union President from <strong>St</strong><br />
Catherine’s in over thirty years.<br />
Isabel with actor and<br />
comedian, Billy Nighy<br />
The <strong>Oxford</strong><br />
Union, as<br />
Macmillan said,<br />
has held ‘a<br />
special place in<br />
the history <strong>of</strong><br />
our nation’<br />
Isabel Ernst<br />
(2009, PPE) became President <strong>of</strong> the<br />
<strong>Oxford</strong> Union for Trinity Term 2012, the<br />
<strong>College</strong>’s first Union President since<br />
Benazir Bhutto in 1977.<br />
Founded in 1823 by a small group <strong>of</strong> students aiming<br />
to unite ‘for discussion and free enquiry’, the <strong>Oxford</strong><br />
Union, as Macmillan said, has since held ‘a special place<br />
in the history <strong>of</strong> our nation’. The Union is indeed a<br />
society like no other. The walls, covered with pictures <strong>of</strong><br />
Mother Theresa, the Dalai Lama, Yasser Arafat, Richard<br />
Nixon and many others, highlight that the society has<br />
long been one <strong>of</strong> the most important centres <strong>of</strong> debate<br />
in the Western world. I remember well setting foot in<br />
It seems impossible to sum up the most eventful<br />
and exciting time <strong>of</strong> my life in a few paragraphs but<br />
it is undoubtedly fair to say that getting involved in<br />
the Union was nothing short <strong>of</strong> a roller-coaster ride.<br />
Having to face elections every step <strong>of</strong> the way to the<br />
Presidency, you never know when the ride is going to<br />
be over. In order to overcome the many obstacles to<br />
get there, against fierce opposition in an environment<br />
renowned for its dirty politics, you have to really want it.<br />
Ultimately though, I always knew it would be worth it.<br />
As President, I <strong>of</strong>ten found myself in situations that at<br />
the time seemed entirely surreal. One <strong>of</strong> my favourite<br />
moments was watching a nervous Johnny Depp quickly<br />
having eight espresso shots before his speech to calm<br />
his nerves. Equally, I enjoyed talking to a US Senator<br />
about his time as a Rhodes Scholar in <strong>Oxford</strong>, and<br />
chatting to Lang Lang about his favourite UK football<br />
club.<br />
For as many enjoyable moments as there were, there<br />
were the occasional times where I got slightly worried<br />
to say the least. I will never forget sitting in a car with<br />
34/ISABEL ERNST<br />
ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2012/34