NEW: SGM to launch Sunderland Union Society, aiming to invite speakers to Wearside

Sunderland Global Media is proud to launch its newest and most exciting affiliate organization, the Sunderland Union Society (SU).

If you’ve heard of the Oxford, Durham or Cambridge Unions, you will picture the idea of a highly prestigious organization inviting famous names of all varieties, from around the world, in order to speak and debate about contemporary topics of events.

But why should something like this exist purely for a small and often wealthy cohort of privileged students? What about ordinary people? And what about places like Sunderland, far removed from these cozy elite University towns?

That’s why we’re creating the Sunderland Union Society. In order to put our city on the map, and in order to create better opportunities for local people and the region at large, this organization like its counterparts, will aim to organize a host of events and invite speakers of all kinds to our city.

In doing so, it is important to note that it will not be a University organization or a “student” thing, but this will be something for everyone, irrespective of age or background. This is not about a middle or upper class “bubble”, but about equality and more importantly, bringing people together.

Like our counterpart organizations, we will operate on a principle of free speech. In turn, an invitation to speak at a SU event does not equate to an endorsement of their views.

But of course, we’re starting with nothing. We only have one partner venue so far to host our events, and we will need to recruit an elaborate executive committee to help run things. In doing so, it’s important to understand that the SU will be non-profit.

Finally, we’d also like to note we already have one celebrity speaker lined up for Sunderland, who will be hosting an event at the Mountain Daisy next year. The specific date is unconfirmed, but watch this space.