Film stars, fashion icons, feminists and foodies will all be appearing at the Cambridge Union this term, in a term card encompassing topics ranging from political correctness to the future of the Labour Party.

The Cambridge Union Society’s Easter term card, released today, features actor and activist George Takei, contemporary artist and dissident Ai Weiwei, and 'the Queen of Sci-fi', Sigourney Weaver.

For the coming term, the Union’s line-up once again includes notable figures from a range of fields, including Belgian-American fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and TV chef Heston Blumenthal OBE. Continuing the theme of fashion, the Union will also be hosting The Devil Wears Prada star and Golden Globe-winning actor Stanley Tucci in late May.

It’s not all showbusiness, however. Easter term will see the Union take on a number of weightier topics and speakers, launching with a debate on political correctness, and including a talk from Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former Prime Minister of Denmark and the Secretary General of NATO until 2014. In the lead-up to the EU referendum the Union will play host to a debate over whether Britain should vote In or Out, featuring political grandees Charles Clark and Lord Paddy Ashdown.

Issues closer to home will also be discussed. In the wake of the debate over the repatriation of Jesus College's bronze cockerel, the Union will discuss the Decolonising Academia agenda with a planned forum.

Speaking to Varsity, the President of the Union, Charlotte Ivers, said that “on a personal note this term is an exciting one for the Union from a feminist perspective.” She spoke about her excitement that 4 of the 5 elected Officers for Easter 2016 are not men.

“We like to cover the issues that students are talking about,” said Ivers, “and feminist issues are a key focus around Cambridge, something which was backed up by feedback from members.”

This focus is reflected in the term card, with the Week Three debate proposing that ‘masculinity is damaging to everyone’.

Noting the difficulties faced by the Union’s first female presidents, Ivers expressed excitement about the women in leadership event, which will be held before May Week to celebrate the 30th term with a woman as President at the Union. The event will feature journalists and politicians, several of whom are previous Union presidents.

Ivers remarked: “They are really inspiring people and I am really looking forward to welcoming them to the Union.”

The women in leadership theme also extends to the speakers line-up, with Rona Fairhead CBE speaking to the Union on 16th May. Fairhead, who is an honorary fellow at St. Catharine’s, is the current chair of the BBC Trust, as well as being a board member of PepsiCo Inc. and HSBC.

The term card also features several political events, including one debate proposing “The Labour Party is over and it’s Time to go Home”, in which Ivers will argue for the opposition against journalists Dan Hodges and Toby Young. There will also be a speaker event with businessman and The Apprentice star Lord Alan Sugar, who quit the Labour Party last year.

Nick Clegg is also making a return to Cambridge, the city where he made his now-infamous tuition pledge. He will be speaking to Union members at the end of April.

Athlete, broadcaster and journalist Ade Adepitan, who led Channel 4’s coverage of the 2012 Paralympics, will also be coming to speak during May.

Outside of debates and speakers, the Union has also put on events to help members unwind during exam term, with a Puppy Therapy Session planned with the help of Guide Dogs UK.

The Union will also try to build on last term’s mental health debate with a Student Minds Forum on 6th May, which will feature input from welfare officers, student activists, and professionals.

A revived Film Night, a charity Speakeasy, and a screening of the Eurovision Final top off another packed term for the Union. Ivers expressed her hope that “members will agree with me that the events we have planned are worth missing an hour or two of work.”

“Nobody can sit in the library all day - or at least, I certainly can't - and I hope people will think that our events are worthy of taking up some of their leisure time.”