The Literary & Scientific Society, known as the Literific, is the debating society at the Queen’s University of Belfast. The Literific was founded by E.L. Godkin in 1850, making it the oldest and first student society at Queen’s. Today it remains the paragon of free speech in Northern Ireland.
The Queen's University of Belfast Literary and Scientific Society (The Literific)
Well, my last recording for the Society before I head off to Belgium. It's been a ride folks. See you in a year!On 12 March 2019 our members gathered in the Senate Room to amend the Constitution, elect the new Council and reflect on the quality of the 170th Session. Elections start at 01:08:29.
At the beginning of April over 50 members of the society gathered in the Great Hall to send it off for the year and to discuss the issue of Europe and Brexit, the great cloud hanging over our heads. It was a right corker. Sorry if the audio's a little hazy in places. The Great Hall echoes like hell. And also sorry this is so late. Exams and every got in the way, but it's here now. My last debate as Tech Officer. Wow...I'll have the AGM up in a day or two and I'll get all mushy and sentimental then. Stay tuned.
Last week 40 Literificans gathered in the Senate room for the penultimate debate of the year. Please enjoy:"This House Regrets Internet Pornography."Tune in next week for our final debate on the EU and its policy of "ever-closer union".
Hello, all! Listen in to the twenty-third debate of our 170th Session - THB Cuba has been a Success!
So, we gathered this last week for the Annual Dufferin Competition - the internal competition where we decide the best speaker of the year! The British Parliamentary style is used, so it's a 4v4 debate, and the speakers are only told the motion 15 minutes in advance. You get to hear it though. Please enjoy:"This House Supports No Platforming"Tune in next week for our debate on the success of Cuba.
This week 40 members gathered in the Senate Room to discuss whether, should aliens ever come across us and possess the power to do so, it would be in their best interests to invade our dear earth and overthrow humanity. Please enjoy:"This House Would Invade Earth."Speeches start at 00:46:03. Don't forget to tune in next week for the AGM on Tuesday and our Annual Duffering Competition on Thursday.
Here is the recording of the twentieth Ordinary Meeting of our 170th Session: "This House Would Legalise Euthanasia"
Welcome all! This week we gathered in the Senate Room to debate whether "Diaster Tourism" - the practice of visiting places where a disaster either or happening or has happened - is worth it. Should we laud it for helping communities or regret it for monetising suffering? Please Enjoy:"This House Regrets Disaster Tourism."Speeches start at 00:49:14. Tune in next week for our debate on euthanasia.
The year is 1860 A.D. The Literific gathers to celebrate its 10th Anniversary in its usual meeting place, Kingod Manor. It's a big event. even E. L. Godkin, the founder of the society is present. It's shaping up to be a night of merriment and copious alcohol consumption.However, shortly into the proceedings of the Anniversary Gala L. E. Kingod, the host, collapses and dies. Now, it's up to Detective Hughronymous DuBois to find out who was responsible. Please enjoy: The E. L. Godkin Anniversary GalaSpeeches start at 00:37:38. Join us next week for our debate on the ethics of disaster tourism.
This week, we gathered in the Senate Room to debate the Gig Economy. For those who do not know, the gig economy refers to companies like Deliveroo and Uber. Or, for an actual definition: "labour market characterized by the prevalence of short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs." (Google) Some feel it has brought workers and consumers unprecedented freedom, while others feel they threaten to set workers back decades. Let's find out who's right.Speeches start at 00:46:32. Make sure to tune in next week to the E.L. Godkin Anniversary Gala! What is that? Tune in or better yet, come along to find out.
This week 50 members gathered in the Senate room to discuss the Great Irish Famine of 1845-49, when the potato crop failed and roughly 1,000,000 people died, with millions more emigrating. Ireland's population still hasn't recovered. In this debate, we discussed whether or not this was a natural disaster or whether it was a more malicious and negligent effort. Please enjoy:"This House Believes The Famine Was a Genocide."Speeches start at 00:41:39.Please tune in next week for our debate: "This House Regrets the Gig economy."
Hello Everyone! Welcome to the 16th Ordinary Meeting of the year. 60 members gathered in the Senate Room to discuss the issue of unforgivable sins. Please enjoy: "This House Believes Some Sins Should Not Be Forgiven"Speeches start at 00:38:35. Tune in next week for our debate: "THB the Famine was a Genocide"
Happy New Year everyone! We're back for another semester's worth of debates for you, the people. Last Thursday 45 members gathered in the senate room to discuss censorship and whether it's ever justified. Also Mr Hubble read us a very rude poem about Brexit. Please enjoy:"This House Would Censor Historical Works"Speeches start at 00:49:16.Join us again next week for a nice, spiritual debate about sins and whether we should forgive them or not.
Hello once more! Welcome to the penultimate debate of the year! This week, 45 members gathered to debate the issue of the Universal Basic Income policy which has been increasingly discussed in recent years. Please enjoy this week's motion: "This House Would Introduce a Universal Basic Income"Speeches start at 00:42:24.
Hello again to everyone!This week we gathered in the Senate Room with Queen's Computing Society, and to an audience of over 45 people we debated the issue of killer robots and whether they're good or not. Please enjoy:"This House Would Ban Autonomous Weapons"Speeches start at 00:43:23.Make sure to join us next week for a discussion of the merits of Universal Basic Income.
Hello all! This was a very special debate this week. This week we had 8 speakers, all of whom only started speaking this term, come together and debate in order to discover which of them is the best Maiden Speaker of the 170th Session. Who will live up to the name of the founder, E.L. Godkin? Now, enjoy the motion: "This House Would Separate Art From the Artist."Speeches start at 00:31:57. Join us next week for our joint debate on autonomous weapons with QCS.
Hello again! The Literific met once again this Thursday, gathering over 50 members in the Senate Room to discuss the issue of children and to what extent we hate the wee oiks. Then, we realised the Children's Commissioner for NI, Koulla Yiasouma, was our guest chair and settled on the motion:"This House Believes Children Are the Property of the State"Speeches start at 00:47:16. Join us again next week for our special Godkin debate.