O XFORD S TUDENT
The University of Oxford’s Student Newspaper, est. 1991
Jacinda Arden amongst 2025 Honorary Degree Recipients
Oxford University has released its list of honorary degree recipients for the 2025 academic year.
The list of nine names includes individuals from a variety of fields including politics, journalism, and science. Notable names on this year’s list are Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden, Olympian runner Sir Mo Farah and BBC News presenter Clive Myrie.
The University announced in March that the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, would receive an honorary Degree of Civil Law. Ardern is also currently a distinguished fellow at the Blavatnik School of Government.
Ardern was Prime Minister
of New Zealand from 2017 to 2023 and oversaw the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Christchurch mass shootings in 2019. While Ardern’s government made some progress on issues such as affordable housing, child poverty, and climate change, analysts point more favourably to her legacy as a leader during “crisis”.
“ Beyond the race track, Sir Mo has received praise for his humanitarian work.
Sir Mo Farah is most famous for his success as a long-dis-
tance runner. He has won gold medals in the 5,000m and 10,000m races at both the London and Rio Olympics. Moreover, he broke records in 2010 when he became the first British athlete to complete the 5,000m race in under 13 minutes. Beyond the race track, Sir Mo has received praise for his humanitarian work, serving as an ambassador for organisations such as Save the Children.
Clive Myrie has worked for the BBC since the late 1980s. He is currently a leading presenter on the BBC News at 6pm and 10pm, having worked as a news presenter on the channel since 2009. Myrie also hosts the quiz show Mastermind and its celebrity special. Alongside the aforementioned individuals...
Continued on page 4
Protests at Mamata Banerjee Talk
Ekam Hothi and Yashas Ra-
Mamata Banerjee, the first female Chief Minister of West Bengal, was hosted for a discussion on Social Development – Girl, Child and Women Empowerment at Kellogg College on Thursday 27th March. The founder and leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), Banerjee was hosted alongside Professor Jonathan Michie, the President of Kellogg College, and Lord Karan Bilimoria, Bynum Tudor Fellow, the former President of
the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), and founder of Cobra Beer.
Banerjee was initially a member of the Congress Party (INC), one of India’s largest political parties; she left and founded the TMC in 1997, which became the main opposition party to the established Communist Party in West Bengal. She has continuously occupied the office of Chief Minister for more than a decade since 2011, having previously been Railway Minister (twice) and Minister of Coal and Mines.
Continued on page 4
May Morning: a history of Oxford
In the early hours of Thursday, thousands of people will gather on Magdalen Bridge for Oxford’s historic May Morning celebrations.
Last year, an estimated 14,000 people stood below Magdalen College’s Great Tower to mark the event. As someone coming from London where the occasion is never observed, celebrating May Morning in Oxford was one of my fondest
memories of my first year here. May Morning for many students – though not all – can seem very much like an endurance test in clubbing and drinking. The throngs of rowdy young merrymakers set against a Latin hymn sung from Magdalen tower at six in the morning might seem like a strange juxtaposition. However, a look back into the origins of Oxford’s May Morning reveals that things weren’t too different back then.
Magdalen Tower, May Morning. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Jacinda Arden (Government of New Zealand), Mo Farah (Citizen 59), Cliver Myrie (Roger Green)
Caitlin Clarke
makrishnan
Sofia Mollona
Hope everyone has successfully settled back into the hustle and bustle of Oxford – whether you’re a finalist or a first year with exams, or a second year soaking in your well-deserved Trinifree. I’ve always felt this weird dissonance between vacation and term time, like I’m floating in and out of fever dreams when I pass between one and the other. Over the spring vacation, I couldn’t imagine what it’d be like when term starts again. Now that I’m back in Oxford, it’s like I never left.
Trinity has always been my favourite term, and I’m convinced everyone agrees. Truly nothing beats the sun, pimms, gar-
Welcome back to Oxford! If you had them, I hope your collections went slightly better than mine.
It’s a pleasure to be one of The OxStu’s Associate Edi-
Editorial Team
Editorial Board
Yashas Ramakrishnan and Yunzhang Liang (Editors-in-Chief)
Ivett Berenyi and Ekam Hothi (Associate Editors)
Ananya Parakh and Tod Manners (Directors of Strategy)
News and Investigations
Aamna Shehzad and Canqi Li (Heads of News)
Anisha Mohammed, Caitlin Clarke, Chaewon Kang, Christine Savino, Dalia Berkani, Devika Manish Kumar, Fenja Tramsen, Iona Mandal, Maya Prakash, Will Lawrence (Section Editors)
den parties, picture-perfect picnics, and punting. It’s been an amazing few terms at the OxStu. I’ve worked with people who are so insanely talented yet so humble, and every one of you continues to inspire me every day – with your writing, the depth of your thoughts, and your unique insights and ideas. I’ve loved reading every single one of your articles in this print edition, and chasing that wonderful feeling of awe when something illuminates a corner of my mind that I never knew existed before. There is so much to learn about the world around us, and so many knowledgeable people to learn it from. I hope I never lose that sense of wonder at the world. Here’s to an amazing term ahead, and to writing, always, from the heart.
Yunzhang Liang Christ Church
tors alongside Ivett this term. Student journalism has never been so important. Over the course of this Trinity, we at the OxStu will endeavour to bring you the best of student writing, and the most pressing of university news. From theatre reviews to political opinion pieces, personal essays to sports results, profile interviews and beyond, student journalism has something for everyone. I would strongly encourage anyone reading to get involved if you’re interested –
Comment
Harry Aldridge (Deputy Editor)
Anisha Mohammed, Arun Lewis, Chaehyeon Moon, Devika Manish Kumar, Ellie Apostolidi, Iona Davies, Isheta Ahmed, Yassin Hachi (Section Editors)
Profile
Mariyah Saddique (Deputy Editor)
Cora Partridge, Iona Davies, Isobel Wanstall, Maya Prakash, Meira Lee, Sofia Mollona (Section Editors)
Features Isobel Wanstall (Deputy Editor) Chaewon Kang, Esme Thomson, Isheta Ahmed, Lola Forbes, Maya Prakash, Meira Lee, Nicole Wong,
Welcome back, to a summer term at the OxStu that’s better than ever before.
In this issue, we start strong by launching Katy Perry into orbit, Suella Braverman’s ill-fated emergence at the Union, and Mark Carney’s rise as Canada’s new PMlet’s see how long that lasts. You want range? We’ve got it.
Our Culture section opens with two pieces on modern identity: through Adolescence and Severance, more than just hit shows, these are both explorations of memory and alienation, as well as the strange sense of trying to grow up in a world that pulls you in opposite directions. From news to sport, we cov-
no matter your year of study, or level of experience. Oxford in Trinity is a tale of two cities. This past week, the temperature has been hotter here than in Greece. Some will be celebrating Trini-free, floating downstream past boathouses on punts in carefree bliss, or lying in the sun in Uni Parks. Some will be on the inexorable and torturous path to Prelims or Finals. Some will be considering rustication. In any case, enjoy the weather! I want to thank both Yashas
Sofia Mollona (Section Editors)
Culture
Christina Scote (Deputy Editor) Esme Thomson, Hannah Stewart, Iona Mandal, Jack Wharton, Meira Lee, Nicole Wong, Sam FieldGibson, Sophie Harrison (Section Editors)
OxYou
Will Lawrence (Deputy Editor) Agnes Kay, Arun Lewis, Louise Guy (Section Editors)
Identity
Iona Mandal (Deputy Editor) Agnes Kay, Hannah Stewart, Iona Davies, Isheta Ahmed (Section Editors)
er not just varsity rivalries but Transcontinental ones: from the loud responses to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s quiet diplomacy at Oxford, to Carney’s attempts to rebrand Canadian liberalism.
The Oxford Student is expanding this term—not just in pages—but in people and presence. We’re ramping up our political writing, digging into longer investigations, and making our Culture section a place where good taste goes to get challenged.
Expect new additions: speaker events with your favourite journalists, joint socials with our esteemed colleagues at the Cherwell and Isis, and yes, even a podcast if we can find a mic that works. From legal training workshops to all-day lay-ins and design sprints, we’re giving you the tools to write, report, and reshape the paper with your own voice.
Yashas Ramakrishnan Balliol College
and Yunzhang, our wonderful Editors-in-Chief, as well as Ananya and Georgie, for being so kind and helpful. This is my first term at the OxStu, and I am extremely excited to be working alongside everyone. We have a great issue this week. Do enjoy reading, and make sure to look out for us in a couple of weeks, and on our Instagram. Print editions come out every other Friday.
Ekam Hothi New College
Sport
Tod Manners (Deputy Editor)
Science
Yuhan Wang (Deputy Editor)
Nicholas Gan, Nicola Kalita, Omer Mihovic, Will Lawrence (Section Editors)
Creative
Youran Luo (Creative Director)
Bethan Wallace, Kate Bansmer, Tess Cottin (Photographers)
Luke Gillespie (Puzzles)
Section Editors: Anisha Mohammed, Caitlin Clarke, Chaewon Kang, Christine Savino, Dalia Berkani, Devika Manish Kumar, Ekam Hothi, Fenja Tramsen, Iona Mandal, Ivett Berenyi, Maya Prakash, Rachel Moskalenko Haddad, and William Lawrence
Russian Club to host the Tsar’s heirs
Oxford alumnus to be Canada’s PM
Mark Carney was elected as the new leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party on Sunday and will succeed Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada.
The Oxford Russian Club is preparing to welcome Their Highnesses Prince and Princess Rostislav of Russia to its annual charity fundraiser, The Emperor’s Birthday. The event, centred around black caviar and champagne, will take place on 16th May with the venue to be disclosed to confirmed attendees only.
In accordance with its tradition, this year’s gathering is being held in aid of two charitable causes. All proceeds beyond the costs of the event will be donated to St Gregory’s Foundation and Romanov Philanthropy.
St. Gregory’s Foundation, long-supported by His Royal Higness Prince Michael of Kent, works to assist vulnerable children and families across the Russian Federation, Georgia and Moldova. Romanov Philanthropy is a newly established charity founded by Their Highnesses Prince and Princess Rostislav, which aims to preserve traditional Russian arts and crafts, promote them internationally and support environmental conservation initiatives within Russia.
The Russian Club is no stranger to hosting royalty. Founded by Prince Felix Yu-
supov, the aristocrat best remembered as one of Rasputin’s assassins and husband to the Tsar’s niece, the club has held a unique place in Oxford’s history since its foundation in the early 20th century. It is one of the university’s oldest national societies in continuous existence and has counted amongst its past presidents Prince Nikita Alexandrovich of Russia, cousin to the last Tsar.
The club also maintains long-standing connections with the British royal family.
Prince Michael of Kent has previously attended the society’s events in recent years, with Prince Michael’s enduring support of St Gregory’s Foundation noted as a significant link between the club and charitable work in the Russian-speaking world.
In addition to the evening’s charitable purpose, this occasion holds particular significance as Her Highness Princess Rostislav is herself an alumna of the University of Oxford, having studied modern languages at St Anne’s College. Her return to the university in an official capacity adds a personal note to an event already steeped in historical connection.
Organisers have described the evening as a rare opportunity to celebrate history,
heritage and philanthropy in the company of remarkable guests.
The president of the Russian Club told The Oxford Student: “In the Russian club we are glad to preserve our rich traditions and promote the Rus-
“ The Russian Club is no stranger to hosting royalty. Founded by Prince Felix Yusupov, best remembered as one of Rasputin’s assassins… The club also maintains long-standing connections with the British royal family.
sian language and culture to the Oxford community. It is particularly rewarding to contribute to charitable efforts through events like this one, bringing distinguished guests to support meaningful causes.”
Carney received an MPhil in Economics at St Peter’s College in 1993 and a DPhil in Economics at Nuffield College in 1995. Carney was formerly the Governor of the Bank of Canada from 2008 to 2013 and Governor of the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020. Carney’s tenures at both banks were marked by several economic shocks, including the 2008 financial crisis, Brexit, and the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. He is the first Canadian prime minister to not previously have held elected office.
Speaking in Ottawa on Sunday following the Liberal Party leadership elections, where Carney won 86% of the vote, he said that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods were weakening the Canadian economy and “…attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses”, adding, “We can’t let him succeed.”
The Master of St. Peter’s College, Professor Judith Buchanan, said: “On behalf of the St Peter’s College community, I congratulate our alumnus and Honorary Fellow Dr Mark Carney (MPhil Economics, 1991, SPC) on being elected
as the next Prime Minister of Canada. His impressive record as Governor of the Bank of Canada, Governor of the Bank of England and a United Nations Special Envoy on Climate Change speaks for itself.”
“Together, we warmly wish him well as he adds the weighty role of Prime Minister of Canada to his already distinguished career.”
“ Carney said that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods were weakening the Canadian economy and “attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses”, adding, “We can’t let him succeed.”
Nuffield College provided a comment to The Oxford Student: “The Warden of Nuffield College, Professor Julia Black, was delighted to see that Honorary Fellow Mark Carney has become Canada’s next prime minister. She wishes him well in his new post.”
The prince and princess photographed with previous presidents of the club. Credit: Oxford Russian Club
PM-elect Mark Carney. Credit: Bank of England
Dalia Berkani
Devika Manish Kumar
Oxford Awards Posthumous Degree to Mākereti Papakura
by Ivett Berenyi
The University of Oxford has awarded a posthumous degree awarded to Makereti Papakura. The request submitted by the School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography was supported by St Anne’s College and the Pitt Rivers Museum.
Miss Papakura was born in New Zealand in 1873 and passed away in 1930, a few weeks before she was supposed to present her thesis. She started her studies as an anthropologist at the Pitt Rivers Museum in 1922, contributing to the institution’s collection of artefacts and academic papers over the course of her years at Oxford. Her parents continued these efforts after Miss Papakura’s death.
Her research at Pitt Rivers Museum centred around a female-centred exploration of customs among members of the Maori Te Arawa iwi [tribe] — a perspective much underrepresented in the early 20th century. Her family gave permission to a fellow Oxford anthropologist, Thomas Kenneth Penniman to publish her work, posthumously, under the title ‘The Old-Time Maori’.
Miss Papakura’s initiative introduced nuance for cultural and ethnographic studies, and continues to inspire ambitious students today who aim to broading the horizons of their own fields of research. The upcoming award ceremony offers us an opportunity to commemorate and foreground not only indigenous histories, but indigenous researchers: essential voices for the expansion of postcolonial studies and Maori ethnography.
Jacinda Arden amongst 2025 Honorary Degree recipients
Continued from page 1
For his work as a broadcaster, primarily at the BBC, Lord Bragg has previously received fellowships from BAFTA, the British Academy, and the Royal Society of Literature.
Several individuals from the humanities fields have been named as honorary degree recipients. Professor Timothy Snyder is an American historian whose work focuses on the Holocaust, as well as the history of Central Europe, the Soviet Union, and Ukraine. Professor Snyder is expected to teach at the University of Toronto in the 2025-26 academic year, where he also holds the inaugural Chair in Modern European History.
Professor Serhii Plokii, another historian recognised for his work on Eastern Europe — particularly Ukraine — will also receive an honorary degree. Spending much of his
early life in Ukraine, Professor Plokii is now director of the Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard University. He has received numerous accolades for his published works.
Irish novelist, writer, and academic Professor Colm Tóibín is also named among the recipients. His works have been shortlisted for the Booker Prize on three occasions, and he served as the Laureate for Irish Fiction from 20222024. His most popular books include The Master, The Testament of Mary, and Brooklyn — with Brooklyn being adapted into an Oscar-nominated film in 2015 starring Saoirse Ronan.
Two professors from the field of science will receive honorary Oxford University degrees in 2025. Robert S Langer is a chemical engineer, biologist, and nanotechnologist who already holds honorary doc-
torates from institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. He is a co-founder of the pharmaceutical company Moderna, now perhaps bestknown for their efforts in creating a COVID-19 vaccine.
“ Two professors from the field of science will receive honorary Oxford University degrees in 2025.
Professor Langer is named alongside biophysicist Professor Erwin Neher. Professor Neher is an Honorary Fellow of the International Union of Physiological Sciences and is recognised for his work on
cell physiology. He was jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1991 alongside Professor Bert Sakmann.
The recipients will receive their honorary degrees on Wednesday 25th June as part of the Encaenia ceremony. Staff, current or retired members of Congregation, students, university alumni, and academic visitors will be able to register for tickets on 6th May.
Protests Disrupt Mamata Banerjee
Talk at Kellogg College
Continued from page 1
Banerjee began her talk by highlighting her administration’s welfare schemes, including initiatives to support women and marginalised communities. Midway through the event, as she began discussing investment proposals in West Bengal, Dr. Rajat Banerjee (no relation to CM Banerjee), interjected, challenging her to clarify which industries were investing “crores” of rupees in the state. He was joined by seven other Indian-origin Bengali men, who shouted slogans before being firmly escorted out. One protester, identified as Jignesh Patel, later told a journalist that he had brought in three placards with the intention of countering the “creamy news that would’ve made headlines in India”.
Protesters also pointed to discrepancies in Banerjee’s
statements regarding investments, particularly the Tata Motors Nano controversy in Singur. In the mid-2000s, the West Bengal government acquired land for a Tata factory in the area, promising significant investment. However, protests from displaced farmers — many of whom were forced to vacate fertile land — were supported by Banerjee, who even went on a hunger strike for 26 days. Eventually, Tata Motors withdrew from the project, and the factory was never built.
The protest quickly escalated to chants accusing Banerjee and her party of electoral violence and corruption. One of the placards read: “2023 local elections: 60 people killed, hundreds injured in TMC-engineered election violence.” Another declared: “Meet and greet the cheaters and criminals of Bengal.”
Protesters also hurled abuse at Banerjee, accusing her of “killing Hindus” and “selling human body parts.”
As the shouting intensified, CM Banerjee responded: “Don’t do it, brother. I have special affection for you. We love all of you. But don’t try to make it into a political platform. If you want to make it a political platform, go to Bengal and tell your party to be stronger to fight against com-
munal people.”
Security officials from the University Proctor’s Office were eventually called in after repeated disruptions, and the protesters were persuaded to leave.
After calm was restored, the discussion shifted to Banerjee’s personal journey as a woman in Indian politics. Read the full article online at www.oxfordstudent.com
Colm Tóibín. Credit: mtkr
Mamata Banerjee. Credit: Salil Bera
Moosa Harraj wins MT25 Union Presidency
Devika
Manish Kumar and Harry Aldridge
Moosa Harraj has been elected Oxford Union President for Michaelmas 2025 with 833 first preferences, with runner-up Chris Collins receiving 663 first preferences.
“ Katherine Yang, Raza Nazar, and Jennifer Yang won the elections for Librarian, Treasurer, and Secretary. This means that the #Bridge slate swept the officer roles.
Katherine Yang, Raza Nazar, and Jennifer Yang won the elections for Librarian, Treasurer, and Secretary. This
Student's Column
means that the #Bridge slate swept the officer roles.
Moosa Harraj is the Union’s current Librarian and is pursuing an MPhil in Economics at Balliol College. He was running for Presidency under the #Bridge slate.
Chris Collins was the Union’s Secretary in Hilary 2024 and is a finalist reading Classics at Corpus Christi College, running under the #Rebuild slate. He previously ran for President for Michaelmas 2024 however lost to Ebrahim Osman-Mowafy despite narrowly receiving more first preferences due to ranked-choice voting.
Speaking to The Oxford Student after the results were announced, Chris Collins said:
““I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who supported us in what has been the largest election of recent times. I’m delighted to have led a wonderful team, who I believe represent the very best of this society. I love the Union, and I hope that we will be able to
move beyond the struggles of the past few months. I wish Moosa all the best for the future.”
Harraj’s campaign emphasized his experience as an elected officer who understands the “financial, organisational, or reputational” challenges facing the Union. Collins’ campaign centered on his desire to refocus the Union towards “delivering great events and debating issues that matter”, which in his view has been “become consumed by petty student politics”.
Voting was held on 7th March from from 9:30am to 8:30pm in the Union’s Goodman Library. The Union uses a single transferable voting system where Union members rank candidates for each position. Forty-two candidate were endorsing or associated with the #Bridge slate while 33 candidates aligned themselves with the #Rebuild slate. Slates are electoral pacts where candidates coordinate
Bradley Tan is a second-year PPE student at Exeter College.
on campaigns and encourage their supporters to vote for candidates on the same slate as themselves.
“
Presidential runner-up Chris Collins: “I love the Union, and I hope that we will be able to move beyond the struggles of the past few months.”
The full breakdown of results is as follows:
President-elect: Moosa Harraj (833) against Chris Collins (663)
Librarian-elect: Katherine Yang (826) against Nathanael Kennedy-Leroi (572)
Treasurer-elect: Raza Nazar (878) against Oliver “JL”
Jones-Lyons (533)
Secretary: Jennifer Yang (855) against Prajwal Pandey (548)
The six candidates elected to the Standing Committee are Brayden Lee (226), Matthew Chiu (180), Samy Medjoub (181), Akshay Pendyala (160), Chloe Pomfret (140), and Víctor Marroquín-Merino (107).
Turnout for this election was 1730 compared to 1187 in the Trinity Term 2024 elections and 1268 in the Michaelmas Term 2024 elections.
The Secretary’s Committee results are as follows: Liza Barkova (meeting quota, 79), Daniel Eldridge (97), Marissa Rimmele (77), Arjun Joshi (59), Claire Luo (65), Maya Kapila (46), Trishaad Surty (61), Milo Donovan (60), Vishnu Vadlamani (49), Simar Bajaj (67), and Katie Pannick (52). The numbers in parentheses are the number of first preference ballots each candidate received.
Confessions of a gambler
I’ll admit it- I have a problem. For almost a year there’s nothing I’ve thought about more than gambling. Whenever I sit down to do my essays, I feel compelled to check the odds every half hour. Prices and probabilities are the subject of many of my daydreams, and some of my regular dreams as well. At this point you may think I need to get professional help. Maybe I do. On the other hand, it makes me money. Every child of the sensible middle class knows gambling is bad. Hordes of young men do it anyway. In a sense, it doesn’t matter what you bet on. Roulette, poker, football games, and crypto are bets. Your dad with his long-only stock portfolio thinks he’s ‘investing’, but he’s making bets too, just in slow motion.
Most of them lose, some ruin their lives. The flip side of this is that gambling is a zero-sum game, and the money they lose has to go somewhere. Hopefully, some of it ends up in my pocket. I do my best to make that happen. Put another way, my life is about making bets that exploit the rich and stupid. It’s disgusting. But it’s fun, and I don’t want to get a job. As a humanities student, it seems my only options are to commodify myself for a finance career, or be poorer than everyone I know. Well, I choose the secret third option. How ironic that my distaste for living under capitalism can only be escaped by mastering a game that is a parody of capitalism. Money is supposed to reflect social relationships. Alice fixes Bob’s sink, and Bob owes her a favour. Instead,
Bob monetises the exchange by giving her a token that represents Alice has done something useful, allowing her to get the favour from someone else. Further abstracting the favours, we can allow them to be lent out and repaid with interest. Parents can pass favours on to their children, who pass it on to their children, and so on, so some people are born with a billion favours and some with none. Some people believe this is a good system, citing invisible hands redistributing goods efficiently, and meritocratic rewards for hard work. Others have raised objections. Yet they agree that markets are justified only by their claim to serve the common good, and that money is supposed to be a token of value. In gambling this is all thrown out the window. No gambler
pretends that they’re aiming to do anything other than enrich themselves at someone else’s expense. Money is no longer linked to real value or production, but it becomes a plaything, numbers on a screen, buttons you click to increase your highscore. Effective gamblers are desensitised: while they intensely want to win, they don’t relate the money to anything in the real world. It’s just a game, with P/L as the scoreboard. Some might argue for a distinction between gambling and trading, where trading helps to distribute capital in a way that optimises the productive capacity of society. On one hand, it’s true that markets are an information system.
Read the full article online at www.oxfordstudent.com
Students Protest Suella Braverman at the Union
Yunzhang Liang and Devika Manish Kumar
At 5pm on Monday 10th March, around 50 people gathered outside the Oxford Union to protest Suella Braverman’s appearance at the Union. Braverman was set to speak at 5pm.
At about 4:55pm, about a dozen protesters moved to block the entrance to the Oxford Union. Protesters also began gathering along St Michael’s Street. A few protesters held up a banner reading “ISRAEL KILLS OXFORD PAYS”.
At 5pm, the group of protesters began lining up along the street outside the Union, chanting “one, we are the people, two, we won’t be silenced, three, stop the bombing now now now”, “Suella Braverman we know you, you’re committing war crimes too”, “UK government shame shame, all these crimes in your name” and “Braverman you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide”. Read the full article online at www.oxfordstudent.com
Worcester’s Human Skull Chalice
Academics at Oxford’s Worcester College drank from a chalice made from a human skull that may have originated from an enslaved Caribbean woman, claims Professor Dan Hicks in a book examining the brutal colonial history of stolen human remains that is scheduled to be published in May.
The skull chalice, which was used at formal dinners until 2015, is about 225 years old and decorated with a silver rim and stand. It was originally acquired in 1884 by Victorian soldier, archeologist, and founder of Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum Augustus Pitt Rivers. In 1946, the skull was brought to Oxford by Pitt Rivers’s eugenicist grandson George Pitt-Rivers, who was also a pro-Nazi follower of British fascist Oswald Mosley during the Second World War.
After the chalice started cracking and leaking liquid contents, it was utilised to serve chocolates. The Senior
Common Room ritual was halted after fellows and guests expressed concerns about the chalice. Professor Hicks told The Guardian that he was called by the college to investigate the history of the cup in 2019.
When asked for comment, an undergraduate student at Christ Church College said:
“Drinking from a human skull
“ “Drinking from a human skull is pretty cool, but drinking from the skull of an enslaved woman is problematic, especially considering Oxford’s colonial past.”
is pretty cool, but drinking from the skull of an enslaved woman is problematic, especially considering Oxford’s colonial past.”
That said, the use of human skulls at events is not unique in British history at all. People have used human skulls for varying purposes and in various ways, complicating the already murky ethics of utilising a dead person’s remains.
According to The Guardian, Polish pianist Andre Tchaikovsky willingly donated his skull to the Royal Shakespeare Company “in the hope of achieving his acting dream”. In 2008, David Tennant became the first Hamlet in a Royal Shakespeare Company production of the eponymous play to use the skull in a live performance.
While Tchaikovsky consented to the posthumous use of his skull for art and performance, using an actual skull rather than a prop became a flashy headline for the production, what former Provost
of Worcester College Jonathan Bate called “a silly sideshow to a great theatrical event”.
“ In 2008, David Tennant became the first Hamlet in a Royal Shakeapeare Company production of the eponymous play to use Tchaikovsky’s skull, which was willingly donated, in a live performance.
In an article in The Guardian, Professor Bate argued that using Tchaikovsky’s skull un-
dercut the point of the scene in Hamlet where said character talks to the skull of a jester named Yorick: “The point of the graveyard scene is that we all come to the same end, no matter whether we are prince or fool.”
When asked about the importance of receiving consent from human skull donors, a second-year undergraduate student at St. Catherine’s College told The Oxford Student: “Drinking from skulls is just based. I can’t explain why — it is just based.”
Worcester College has stated that the claim that the skull chalice used by the college belonged to an enslaved woman “cannot be substantiated”.
Canqi Li and Aamna Shehzad
SU Conference of Common Rooms
The Oxford Student Union is piloting a new initiative called the Conference of Common Rooms (CCR).
This initiative would bring together the University’s Common Room representatives and Student Union PartTime Officers in order to have discussions on issues that are important to the wider Oxford student body.
According to the Oxford Student Union, the CCR would provide a space for “students to discuss shared interests and common purpose” and partake in “SU decision-making, representation, and policy development.”
The CCR will be chaired by a Sabbatical Officer from the Student Union. Two Deputy Chairs, one MCR representative and one JCR representative would serve as Deputy Chairs for three terms.
According to the Student Union: “Any student can at-
tend and speak at Conference of Common Room meetings, but only the members of Conference of Common Rooms can vote.”
Common Room representatives at the CCR can submit motions that are passed
“ Any student can attend and speak at the CCR meetings.
at a Common Room meeting or supported by 5 Common Room Presidents of SU Officers. Representatives can submit the motion proposal along with an Equality Impact Assessment via the Student Union website.
The CCR can vote on conference policies, where members must have full agreement on an issue students care about; conference mandates, where members vote
through a simple majority to have Student Union Officers take action on something; and accountability action, where members can hold CCR representatives or a Student Union Officer accountable for taking a position that does not align with Conference Policy or Mandates.
Representative Committees (RepComs) can also submit motions to the CCR. Repcoms meet once a term and propose policies that represent the interest of marginalised or specific student communities. The CCR will use the Class Repcom, Disabled Students’ RepCom, LGBTQ+ RepCom, International Students’ RepCom, Black and Ethnic Minorities Student RepCom, Suspended Students’ RepCom, and Women’s RepCom.
The pilot will take place across the Trinity Term, at the end of which the Transformation Committee and Trustee Board will decide whether the CCR fulfills the goals and pur-
pose of the Student Union. The Student Union will share progress updates against key performance indicators on the initiative in Week 4.
The CCR will have two meetings per term. The first meeting in Trinity Term will be on 15th May, 6pm to 8pm at H B Allen Centre. The second meeting will be held on 10th June, 6pm to 8pm.
“
After the Trinity Term pilot, the Transformation Committee and Trustee Board will decide whether the CCR fulfills the goals and purpose of the SU.
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds
quits senior government role over cuts to aid
Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East, quit her senior government role on 28 February as international development minister over Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to cut international aid in half.
Dodds is the MP for the Oxford East constituency, and as a result the MP representing St. Hilda’s College, where she read Philosophy, Politics and Economics, graduating with a first in 2001. She will remain as the MP for Oxford East - this is because she only resigned from her cabinet role, not the House of Commons.
Before the boundaries were redrawn in 2024, Dodds was the MP for the vast majority of Oxford Colleges, some nota-
ble exclusions being Somerville, Worcester, St Anne’s, St Hugh’s and Lady Margaret Hall.
“ Dodds was the MP for the vast majority of Oxford Colleges with some notable exclusions…
Dodds delayed her resignation until after Starmer had finished meeting US President Donald Trump. She said that the cuts would “lead to a UK pull-out from numerous African, Caribbe-
an and Western Balkan nations”, while Russia expands its influence in these regions.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch announced that she “backs” the Prime Minister’s decision to cut aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income (GNI). Some NGOs have argued that Starmer’s decision was a deliberate mirror of Donald Trump’s decision to freeze USAID earlier this year.
Ending her resignation letter, Dodds said to the Prime Minister: “I will continue to support you, and the change you are determined to deliver - but now I shall do so from the backbenches.”
St Hilda’s students were asked for comments. Most were supportive of her decision — one student told The Oxford Student: “I can only
Solar Maximum Promises More Aurora Sightings Across the UK
by Ivett Berenyi
In case the Aurora Boralis does not ring a bell, the spectacular Northern Lights from last May might just bring some memories back. Aside from the Oxford area, these lights stretched over Dorset, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Berkshire, according to the Daily Echo.
Sights such as Aurora Boralis achieve their effect when charged particles from the sun reach the magnetic field of the earth. A higher frequency of particles results in a higher frequency of “space weather events”. Luckily, 2025 is a year of “solar maximum”, meaning a greater chance for us to catch a glimpse of this aurora effect.
admire [her] courage, moral stance, and sense of global responsibility” and that “now is not the time to withdraw from the rest of the world but to work in collaboration with it to address the transnational problems that lie ahead”.
Earlier this month, the BBC reported on Northern Lights stretching from Scotland all the way to Devon and Cornwall. They note that “there will still be plenty of activity through 2025” but increased periods of sunshine do limit viewing opportunities at night.
The Royal Museums Greenwich recommends spectators to visit “polar regions” where aurora are concentrated: in the UK that means viewing spots up north or Cornwall and Brighton down south. It is worthwhile to search for areas with low levels of light pollution on dark and clear nights. Those particularly committed to Northern Lights sighting this year may be interested in keeping track of aura activity on AuroraWatchUK.
Aamna Shehzad
Will Lawrence
Anneliese Dodds. Credit: Richard Townshend
comment@oxfordstudent.com | Deputy Editor: Harry Aldridge
Trans rights are human rights
On Sunday 27th, Oxford saw hundreds take to the streets in protest against the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that defined the terms ‘sex’ and ‘woman’ as referring to biological sex and women. As reported, supporters of the ruling believe that it will strengthen protections around single-sex spaces, whilst critics of the ruling argue that it will result in the degradation of protections for trans people in the UK. The government has welcomed the ruling, along with subsequent decisions from the Equality and Human Rights Commission stating trans women should be banned from using women-only spaces, while ensuring that similar ‘third spaces’ are provided for trans people. It is important to note that the Court’s ruling does not, as the US Court’s would, change the law.
The Conservatives, as to be expected, do not believe that this approach is stringent enough, and are pushing for tougher restrictions on trans people for committing the inexcusable crime of existing. Clearly, the cause being promoted internationally by people with such a record on women’s rights as renowned respecter of women Donald J.Trump and his administra-
tion must be motivated by nothing but the purest and most genuine of concerns for the wellbeing of women. A damascene conversion must have enveloped the conservative movement, morphing them from the same reactionaries who opposed the advance of women’s rights from the 1960s to the 2000s, as well as gay rights and recognition of the AIDs epidemic, into socially compassionate activists, motivated by no more than genuine concern for the protection of the rights of British women. That their target happens to be a both visibly different, very small and politically underrepresented minority whom a plurality of voters find an acceptable target is a mere coincidence. The Labour government has attempted to counter this strategy nobly and morally - by retreating as fast as possible in the other direction and sacrificing trans people on the altar of ‘triangulation’. King Arthur would be inspired. Every generation faces its share of moral challenges and contentious political questions. For millennials, it was the fight for gay marriage and the Black Lives Matter campaign. For Generation X, it was Apartheid and the fight to ensure proper care and recognition for AIDs victims. But some battles remain persistent. The unending struggle for justice did not abate simply because former athletes
started complaining about ‘the woke’, or mind-melting manosphere podcasters bundled together ‘crying liberal’ compilations. And it isn’t prosecuted through softly-softly tiptoeing around the subject by obeying the niceties of convention and decorum, or through moderation, attempting to make the issue
“ The Labour government has attempted to counter this strategy nobly and morally - by retreating as fast as possible in the other direction and sacrificing trans people on the altar of ‘triangulation’
go away without truly resolving it. The flame of progress is kept alive by the unceasing efforts of the socially compassionate members of every generation deciding that they will not be the quiet abettors of prejudice and bigotry. It is kindled through the heroically and unbelievably brave actions of people like Marcy
Rheintgen, a trans woman arrested for using a women’s bathroom in the Florida capitol knowing she would be arrested. Silence is akin to acceptance. And Oxford has shown that, for at least some students, they will not stand by and facilitate this.
It’s not for me to give prescriptions to resolve the debate – enough middle-class men from the South-East of England have already attempted to shove their solutions down the throat of the public. However, in an atmosphere where those defending the rights of that tiny minority are being harassed and abused, the weight of history will fall on those who decide that now is a convenient time to rediscover bipartisanship, balance and ‘both-sideism’.
Oxford politics adores this mentality – a depoliticised politics powered by pints and profiteroles more than any semblance of pugnacious politics or, shock horror, genuine belief. Political societies facilitate alcoholism and union hacking far more than they allow for genuine discussion.
So for Oxford to show that there is some substance and soul left to the Oxford student body - a bit of belief in the inviolable value of their fellow human beings - suggests Oxford’s civil conscience hasn’t been worn out. That, in some quiet and distant corners of this University, there are peo-
ple who have not yielded to the complacent majority who would gladly clap on the first step in the erosion of LGBTQ+ rights in this country.
“ If we permit anyone to trample upon the rights of the trans community in Oxford in pursuit of reactionary ‘progress’, we aid and abet the turning back of the social clock
Because trans rights are human rights. If we permit anyone to trample upon the rights of the trans community in Oxford in pursuit of reactionary ‘progress’, we aid and abet the turning back of the social clock. We risk returning to a time when people whose identities and appearances didn’t perfectly comply with the social norms were the subjects of ostracism, bigotry and bile.
Harris’ 2024 campaign slogan put it best - We are not going back.
Section Editors: Anisha Mohammed, Arun Lewis, Chaehyeon Moon, Devika Manish Kumar, Ellie Apostolidi, Iona Davis, Isheta Ahmed, Yassin Hachi
A pro-trans protest in central London. Credit: Martin Pope/Zuma Press/Alamy
Arun Lewis
Oxford Politics: Blame the System
By Will Lawson
Oxford’s student politicians are perhaps the most habitually maligned contingent of the student body. This article is not a defence of the Oxford Union student ‘hackery’, or the often cruel, maladjusted behaviour of many involved in competition for elected positions. Instead, I argue that the structure of Oxford student politics draws out the worst in people, to the detriment of all those involved. Individual bad actors are products of a system that is inherently disputatious, cruel, combative, and rewards such behaviour.
Scarcity is the core issue from which stem all the myriad problems of Oxford politics. There are a small number of positions in the Oxford Union, and other major political societies, which provide genuine benefit to the holder. Meanwhile, a vastly larger pool of students aspire to hold those positions; a significant number are willing to make major sacrifices to do so. Many students are willing to effectively put their degrees on hold in pursuit of the Oxford Union presidency. Such behaviour indicates that
the position carries a reward vastly disproportionate to its real status: the presidency of a university debating club.
“
Scarcity is the core issue from which stem all the myriad problems
Such competition for a tiny number of positions creates a vicious cycle, attracting those who enjoy aggressive competition eo ipso. People with little genuine interest in student politics or debating – or even the private benefits of holding office – join in simply for the thrill of the game, further worsening the competition over these few roles. For example, senior figures in the Oxford Union (who have themselves been very successful in elections) have claimed that what they enjoy is not the ‘debating,’ but the ‘politics’.
This sets up the core problem of Oxford Student politics, vicious competition over a small number of positions which becomes a self-exacerbating cycle: the more com-
hacking for votes, as those who do so tend to be rewarded. This tiresome, lose-lose situation of hackery is artificial- the product of a system where electoral power lies in odd hands: of those who broadly don’t care about the election or who wins.
petitive the environment, the greater the interest it attracts. The underestimated problem of Oxford Student politics, however, is mass membership. By mass membership, I mean the phenomenon whereby politics societies have large numbers of members who are not actively engaged but are willing to vote. The Oxford Union, to use the most pertinent example, had over 1500 votes in the last election despite there being no more than 200 that could be described as ‘involved’.
This has two significant consequences. The first is the intensely disliked practice of ‘hacking’, which only occurs because there are many voters that have no clue who to vote for. The people who are never hacked in a society’s elections are those most involved, since they are presumed to have fixed preferences which hack messages will not change. Indeed, some such members, I have been told, feel slighted by how few hack messages they receive, and the implication that their vote is taken for granted. Nevertheless, the number of non-engaged members is so large that one simply cannot win a student politics election without
The second and, I believe, far worse consequence of mass membership is that it erodes the natural behavioural standards of any self-contained community. In a normal society or social group, if you are known to be a horrible person you will be ostracised and certainly won’t win internal elections. In student politics, electoral power lies outside the engaged community, and so there is little incentive to maintain any standard of decent behaviour. It is irrelevant if everyone involved in the society dislikes you with good reason, and it certainly has little bearing on your capacity to win elections. The result is both that there is no accountability for nasty behaviour, and that students are rewarded for prioritising politicking over the welfare of those who are actually involved.
The system I have described creates vicious competition for scarce positions, worsened by the absence of any self-regulating accountability. The final piece of this cruel puzzle is the abject lack of real regulation over people’s
“ The system I have described creates vicious competitiveness for scarce positions, worsened by the absence of any self-regulating accountability.
behaviour. Societies, in an attempt to ameliorate these structural flaws, have created complex and opaque judicial oversight systems intended to regulate behaviour. In reality, all the pernicious behaviours which characterised the elected side have simply spread over to these various disciplinary panels: more venues for lawfare than real oversight. The worst offenders go unpunished, decisions and punishments can seem arbitrary, endless appeals delay results indefinitely.
“ The entire structure of Oxford student politics is a disaster, entirely destrictive of the welfare of all those involved.
The entire structure of Oxford student politics is a disaster, entirely destructive of the welfare of all those involved. A vicious cycle of competition for scarce positions, the corrosive effects of mass membership, and the abject failure of judicial oversight have made student politics a very unpleasant place. It can be easy to attribute such unpleasantness to individual wrongdoings – especially when, as often is true, such wrongdoings are egregious – but we would do well to remember that all involved are, ultimately, victims of the same terrible system.
The Radcliffe Camera. Credit: Harry Aldridge
The Depressing Reality of Political Societies at Oxford
Charlie Towle is a second-year PPE Student at University College, and writes about his disappointment in the state of Oxford student politics.
For centuries Oxford has had a reputation for producing the political leaders of the future. From Peel to Thatcher, Asquith to Johnson, many prime ministers first cut their teeth in student politics here, suggesting that those involved in the political societies at Oxford today may well have a chance of ending up as cabinet members themselves. I find this to be a thoroughly depressing thought.
I was just 10 when my dad decided it was time to introduce me to politics, dragging me only somewhat willingly along to a 2015 Jeremy Corbyn leadership campaign event at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool. I’m not entirely sure what 10-year-old me was expecting to find in that hall, but it’s safe to say I was not planning on standing up for three hours, crammed into a sold-out event with no seats to spare. Surprisingly, however, I didn’t find myself complaining. Instead, I was completely caught up in the occasion – there was a sense of hope, that things may change for the better. Yes, the crowd questions may have dragged-people seemed keen to share their complete life stories, but it was clear that each person in that room had been crying out for someone with a genuine commitment and belief in
sion that I encountered a Tory in my hometown, they were happy to justify their beliefs and stay true to their principles.
It was on the back of this experience that I arrived at Oxford, having chosen to study PPE almost entirely out of a passion for politics, knowing little about the other two disciplines. I was excited to get involved in student politics and meet other people who were as committed and politically enthusiastic as myself.
time to political societies they have no fundamental agreement with.
There is absolutely space for people of different political perspectives to spar and discuss ideas- Oxford and its societies provide plenty of opportunity for that. Nevertheless, it speaks to the state of Oxford’s student politics that senior members of one political society will happily attend the events of another, supposedly antithetical, party. When each political society is effectively made up to a significant extent of the same group of people, they lose all value as separate institutions.
“ Far too many people were only interested in their future career “ A far cry from the commitment and genuine hope for a better life
change. Regardless of your opinion on Corbyn or his policies (it would be difficult to deny that his time as Labour leader was plagued with issues) there surely can be little doubt in his commitment to his principles. The only thing I had experienced in my life at all comparable was watching a football game at Anfield. That night at the Adelphi marked the start of my political journey, one that involved taking out membership of the Labour Party more than once and meeting MPs and activists in Liverpool. The people that I met all seemed to have a genuine passion and a real commitment to their beliefs. Even on the very rare occa-
You can imagine how I felt, then, when I arrived at the Oxford Labour Club (OLC) welcome drinks in freshers’ week, having bought a lifetime membership in advance, to find that many other attendees had also joined the Oxford University Conservatives Association (OUCA). These people seemed to have no affinity for the Labour movement and, bafflingly, no particularly strong convictions at all. What I found were not people committed to a set of values or a political cause, but a set of political societies in which far too many people were only interested in their future career, hedging their bets on which political party would be best positioned to advance their own standing.
While there is no doubt that the OLC has members with a genuine belief in left-wing politics, and OUCA has members who are staunch in their right-wing positions, in my experience, they were simply outnumbered by opportunists with no desire to take up any political positions beyond what was convenient. It is disheartening to see some of the same people I spoke to during freshers’ week events gain varying degrees of prominence in Oxford’s political societies. I am continually surprised that people can commit so much of their
Now, I as a second-year student, more than halfway through my degree, I haven’t attended a Labour Club event since my first year, and find myself more politically disengaged than I have been in years. It is difficult to maintain a focus on what drew me to politics – the hope that people’s lives may be improved, that someone with genuine principles could effect change.
When he was at Oxford, Boris Johnson famously became Union president by courting the support of the left-wing Limehouse Group, having previously failed to win election as a proud OUCA member. It is this blatant lack of principle and relentless ambition that continues to permeate Oxford’s student politics, and, depressingly, it seems that this is what may be required to make it to the top in Westminster. It is a far cry from the commitment and genuine hope for a better life that can be found amongst grassroots activists across the country.
The Oxford Union. Credit: Gaspard Rouffin
Profiles
“Operas did not make sense to me”
PCanqi Li talks to Jennifer Walshe about her home and music. “ For me, spending time here in the countryside is very inspiring. “ I tell my students in Freshers’ week to remember Oxford is a cosplay. of the week “ “
rofessor Jennifer Walshe has challenged norms in many ways. As an avant-garde musician, she is considered one of the most celebrated composers in contemporary classical music. Her opera “XXX_ LIVE_NUDE_GIRLS!!!”, which features a collection of barbie dolls controlled by puppeteers, was named by The Guardian in 2019 as the 25th greatest work of classical music in the 21st century. Her works have been performed at high-profile events such as the BBC Proms and London Fashion Week, and they have been featured by BBC platforms, The Telegraph, The New York Times, and many other prominent media outlets. Originally from Dublin, Professor Walshe became the first Irish artist ever to hold
the title of Professor of Composition at Oxford University. Besides composing, Professor Walshe is also an avid performer of extended vocal techniques, creating unique sounds and imitating a wide variety of noises. As a filmmaker, she has directed “An
Splitting her time between her homes in Ireland’s Roscommon and London’s Haringey, she spoke to The Oxford Student in her house “in the middle of nowhere” in Roscommon, occasionally joined by her cat Nomi.
Tell us more about your house in Roscommon.
visionary outsider artworks he had done. In fact, the opening scenes of “An Gléacht” were shot at the back of the house and the tent here. The scenes with the kidneys were shot in the studio that I’m sitting in right now. There are
Gléacht”, a motion picture describing the occult rituals – one of which features animal kidneys – of Caoimhín Breathnach, an Irish outsider artist and Walshe’s great uncle who has never existed in real life.
I bought this small house down the country about 15 years ago. For me, this landscape has been very inspiring, because it encouraged some of my projects focusing on fictional Irish music. The parallel story I tell is that it’s an old cottage and that I bought it from the family after my great uncle Caoimhín Breathnach died. I also tell people that when I moved in, the house was full of bin bags of cassette tapes and video tapes and all these strange,
still props lying around for various things.
For me, spending time here in the countryside is very inspiring not only in terms of thinking about the clean air and the beauty of nature but also understanding that it is
not as easy as that. I look out the window and there is also a telegraph pole, which is running the internet and electricity. I understand that some of the fields around here should have ancient woodland on them but they don’t, because the trees were mowed down as a result of industrial farming or British colonisation. It’s the same thing at Oxford. Every year, I tell my students in Freshers’ week that they have to remember that Oxford is also a cosplay - everybody is playing the role of a student at Oxford, and layered upon Oxford are all these stories, whether it’s Harry Potter or colonialism. It is much more interesting to see your environment this way than to just stick to a beautiful image on the surface of it.
Tell us about your child-
profile@oxfordstudent.com | Deputy Editor: Mariyah Saddique
Section Editors: Iona Davies, Meira Lee, Sofia Mollona, Cora Patridge
Professor Jennifer Walshe in an Irish Woodland. Credit: Blackie Bouffant
hood. Was there a moment when you decided you would dedicate your life to music?
No, I was always interested in making things, and I was always interested in art, music, and writing. My parents were both working class, but over the course of my childhood, we dragged ourselves up into the middle class. My parents were always enthusiastic and supportive about music and art, because that was something they would have wanted to have done when they were young. In Ireland, when you are seven and do your First Holy Communion, they give you a little bit of money - I’m not a
Catholic, by the way, but you did these rites at the time. I used that money to buy a tape recorder, and I could play tapes and record sounds on it, which I really loved. Then, I remember that I had to go to a new school, and the head nun of the school said to me, “you’re going to have recorder class”. I was really excited, because I thought we would just be recording sounds on tapes, chopping them up and sampling them. I didn’t know that what she meant was in fact the little plastic recorder instrument. [Laughs]
It was clear that I was interested in music, but it was also clear I was interested in
things that maybe weren’t the standard way of doing music, and there was no space for that at that time. So, I started playing the trumpet and the piano. I would play the trumpet in youth orchestras, and I was usually the only girl in the entire brass section. Even as a young child, I was used to adults and other kids commenting on the fact that I was a girl and that this was something notable. On the one hand, we were being told that music is this universal language that exists beyond words, visuals, and imagery, but on the other hand, I was constantly being told that it is unusual that a girl plays the
trumpet. So, even as a kid, it was really driven home to me that music is a cultural phenomenon, that we can’t just talk about music in terms of chords and pitches and rhythms – we also have to talk about how people read it and respond to it.
One thing that I think is really great about the way our faculty approaches music at Oxford is that we talk about it as something that exists within a culture. We talk about what we call “musicing” – music is something we do together as people rather than something that is just abstracted and analysed. Music is not simply about how somebody feels, it
Bake off semi-finalist Juergen
is about how they feel in reaction to all of the different things in their environment. It is a phenomenon that exists between people, and we have to deal with it both when it is positive and when it is negative.
Ananya Parakh talks to Juergen Krauss about food and reality TV
On the occasion of our annual Physics Kurti dinner, (named after Brasenose alumnus Nicholas Kurti) Juergen Krauss, muchloved semi-finalist from the Great British Bake Off 2021 attended as an honorary speaker. With a warm demeanor, and homemade German bread rolls, he won over the Brasenose cohort just like his 187k Instagram followers.
Juergen claimed that the genuine camaraderie transcended the television screen and was evident for the audience’s reaction to the show’s season. “Because of the way that bakeoff was filmed during Covid, the bakers had a much closer connection.”
The bakers would come in on Thursday through Sunday, in the span of which they would film 2 episodes, and they would take the next 3 days to plan what they would do for the future 2 episodes. If only my study schedule was this well planned! Since this was filmed during Covid, they were stuck in a bubble, in a hotel. “Nobody could get in, nobody could get out.” While the GBBO is no Big Brother, reality TV rarely doesn’t take a dramatic turn of cynicism. Juergen shed some light on the behind-the-scenes of reality TV: “We bakers got along
really well. Producers tried to spur us into some kind of competition, but we actually didn’t have that.”
They got the brief for all the bakes 9 weeks before they went into the tent. “I taught the others to make bread. I learned how to pipe roses. It was a great exchange.”
“ Baking with my mother at Christmas time was the best education.
When Jeurgen’s mother quit her job to take over the kitchen and cook warm meals for the family, Juergen began spending his weekends with her, in the kitchen. “I grew up at a time when there was no takeaway. Can you imagine that? (Nope, an eighth of my joy relies on pizza) The interesting thing is that she didn’t give me too many rules, so we could just do whatever.” He learned cooking on the fly, and formulated his own technique heuristically. “Baking with my mother during Christmas time was the best education.”
The small kitchen was at the center of their apartment where the central table would
twist and unfold. “There was a crack in the middle of the table, and there were always things falling down.” Gravity has its ways.
And perhaps this led to his love for physics. “It felt natural to me. My father was a master locksmith. He liked to construct things. He liked to work on motorbikes and things like that.” So did his grandpa. “So, when they repaired cars, I was always between their hands in the middle. When I got into physics at school, it didn’t seem to take any effort.” During his diploma, Juergen alluded to some politics in his physics group. On repeated questioning he didn’t seem to want to get into it. Evident by his kind-hearted nature, he likely wanted to let sleeping dogs rest.
Pushed by his family, Juergen first submitted a last-minute application to be on the GBBO in 2013. With a grand mustache for Movember, he didn’t enter the competition then, possibly because of the mustache or because his “heart wasn’t in it.” He took it more seriously during Covid, with encouragement from his wife.
As an avid consumer of reality cooking shows, I have always wondered how authentic their mid-show reactions
are. Had they just dropped their cake and sat on the couch to then pretend to gasp about dropping their cake? Juergen had 4-5 interviews a day: before baking, after the first bake, before judgement and after judgement. “It is TV, so they want to tell a story. It’s not necessarily a representation of the truth, it is a product.”
Someone once asked me if I’d ever go on reality TV. My answer began before the question ended: no. I’ve watched The Truman Show far too many times to be capable. Juergen had a similar fear when he first applied. Leading up to it, he was a member of a musical band with his wife. His enjoyment in being on stage, amidst the gripping
“ When you do plan your career, do not forget to have fun.
eyes of an audience, would surprise him for his self-perception of being a rather reclusive and silent person himself. Flourishing from his musical experiences, he carried his comfort onto the GBBO screen. Maybe that’s
what led to his fame and relatability. The fact that he was just as normal as a nextdoor neighbour, with the ability to maintain his authenticity in front of a national audience. “There’s always about 30 people in the tent, apart from the bakers, which you don’t see.”
The cultural diaspora that’s evident from Chicken tikka masala being Britain’s national dish stems from a feeling of missing home. Juergen started baking in England from a reminiscence of German bread that’s a mixture of rye and wheat flours (I had a chance to taste them that night and England needs more immigrants). Whether it’s vanilla, chilli, or if you’re anything like my mum, onions: there’s always an ingredient you don’t believe can be disproportionately consumed. Juergen’s favorite ingredient is much more rational - flour. “You can’t do anything without it.”
For a student’s future, Juergen advises: “When you plan your career, do not forget to have fun.”
May Morning A history of Oxford
In the early hours of Thursday, thousands of people will gather on Magdalen Bridge for Oxford’s historic May Morning celebrations. Last year, an estimated 14,000 people stood below Magdalen College’s Great Tower to mark the event. As someone coming from London where the occasion is never observed, celebrating May Morning in Oxford was one of my fondest memories of my first year here.
May Morning for many students – though not all – can seem very much like an endurance test in clubbing and drinking. The throngs of rowdy young merrymakers set against a Latin hymn sung
“ ...coming from London where the occasion is never observed, celebrating May Morning in Oxford was one of my fondest memories of my first year here.
from Magdalen tower at six in the morning might seem like a strange juxtaposition. However, a look back into the origins of Oxford’s May Morning
flutes and drums to salute the great goddess Flora and to attribute her all praise with dancing and music”.
Finally, Phyl Surman writing on May Morning in the 1920’s describes seeing undergraduate students who “leapt gaily from boat to boat resulting in the inevitable immersion of many of the participants.”
reveals that things weren’t too different back then as they are now.
Although the Hymnus Eucharisticus, which is the hymn from Magdalen, is the centrepiece of the celebrations today, it only became an established feature of Oxford’s May Morning in the 19th century. Instead, festivals in May marking the beginning of summer can be traced all the way back to the Roman Republic. During the Middle Ages, May Day celebrations took place across Northern Europe. While since the 18th century it has assimilated many Christian aspects, May Morning originally sprung out of a pagan tradition.
In 1250, the Chancellor of Oxford University banned “all dancing in masks or with disorderly noises, and all processions of men wearing wreaths and garlands made of leaves of trees or flowers or what not”. This was because the nature of the celebration was distracting and deviated too far from the established Christian Church at the time.
In 1695, the diarist Anthony Woods described townspeople in Oxford saluting Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, on May Morning: “lords and ladies, garlands, fifes,
So, Oxford records show May Day is deeply rooted in a ‘disorderly’ tradition of dancing and music. It’s not dissimilar from what we see today. While going clubbing is not the same as dancing around a Maypole, there is a continuity in the boisterous form that celebrations take. In fact, there are even records of 19th century choristers throwing down rotten eggs on spectators below. Today, the pagan, folk roots of the ceremony are strong. Morris dancing continues to be a part of the celebrations, with groups from town and gown united in coordinating the spectacle. You may also spot a Jack-In-The-Green, a
cone of green foliage with a person hiding inside, which has been part of the May Morning tradition since the 18th century. Moreover, attending the celebration by boat remains a popular option. It is also interesting to consider how the Hymnus Eucharisticus has contributed
“ While going clubbing is not the same as dancing around a Maypole, there is a continuity in the boisterous form that celebrations take.
to the meaning of May Morning. A ritualised celebratory song at sunrise takes us back to May Morning’s original purpose of commemorating the summer. After enjoying the singing, I personally plan to have breakfast at one of the many cafes which are open early for the day. Perhaps the best thing about Oxford May Morning today is precisely this culmination of various traditions and various people not only from across different colleges but also the whole of Oxford.
It is something quite special to see unruly students alongside veterans bearing May garlands come together for a joyful celebration of summer.
Deputy Editor: Isobel Wanstall
Section Editors: Esme Thomson, Isheta Ahmed, Maya Prakash, Sofia Mollona, Lola Forbes, Chaewon Kang, Meira Lee, Nicole Wong | Columnists: Charli McMackin
Magdalen Tower on May Morning. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sofia Mollona
Oxford Morris Dancers in 1958. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Jack-In-The-Green. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Maypole Dancing in Rochester, Kent. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Sorry in Advance...?
Esme Thomson examines the feminine habit of apologetic emails.
How many times have you apologised in an email to your tutor? I counted. 40. Four-ty! I don’t even think I’ve sent 40 emails in my life. But a quick dive into my Outlook revealed a fact I’d been dreading to find – I apologise in almost every single email I send. My sent inbox is littered with “sorry about the lateness” or “sorry this isn’t my best work.” Almost every single essay wrapped in a blanket of apologies or an analysis of my essay that’s somehow better than what I’m sending in.
And if it wasn’t for an observant tutor, I would’ve probably never realised. It was our last tutorial when she said “y’know, you two are very apologetic. I’ve never had a man apologise for any piece of work. They just send it in.” Me and my tute partner blinked.
My apologies, in my mind at least, were always justified. Deadlines are not my friend, grammar a nemesis (no, I do not and never will understand its and it’s) and cohesion an afterthought. Preordering remorse is also a sure way to avoid looking overconfident. Arrogance in this university is a quick route to complete ego-death. If I underplay my work, I won’t be hurt when my essay inevitably comes back covered in question marks. The pressure isn’t unwarranted – Oxford is trying to make diamonds after all.
giggle at the idea of an arrogant fresher sending in some slop about Byron experiencing ego-death on a Tuesday morning. But as I thought about it more, I think I was too harsh on this poor imaginary fresher. Was he overconfident or just confident? Maybe we were the defects. Maybe, for the first time ever, women are the problem.
Women are chronic apologisers. The stain of misogyny is encoded in every aspect of
“Men don’t do that?” It was an innocent question on my part. Don’t get me wrong, I brushed (and bruised) many male egos in the past. Trust me, they’re the only big things you should really worry about. And being in an environment like Oxford is like a petri dish for pride. I’ve even found myself smugly smiling when someone at home asks where I go to uni, only to then drop that smirk quickly when they reply: “Oh, Brookes?”.
At first, it was easy to
The Wall
Charli McMackin is an Oxford native and graduate writing about her experiences travelling around the United States.
The border is a rusted hinge that does not bend.
The border is the blood clot in the river’s vein.
The border says stop to the wind, but the wind speaks another language, and keeps going.
“The Border: a Double Sonnet”
- Alberto Ríos, 2015
In the shade of the 18-foot border wall that cleaves Tijuana from San Diego sprawl the overgrown remains of Friendship Park. The bi-national initiative was launched under the auspices of thenFirst Lady Pat Nixon, who
“ So, instead I decided I would never apologise for my writing again.
our behaviour from birth. As much as we try to push the idea away, the role of a passive, obedient woman is entrenched in society. Sure, we can wear trousers now, but we’ll say sorry to a man that walked into us. Thousands of years of men blaming women for everything has led to one very apologetic sex indeed.
announced plans on behalf of both nations to establish a space on the U.S.-Mexico border where citizens could freely interact.
Before 2009, only a single chain link fence separated the two countries. Even so, Mrs. Nixon resolute; “I hate to see a fence anywhere!” she famously declared, and opened the park – intended to mirror similar sites on the Canadian border – to rapturous applause in 1971.
As the only internationally recognised meeting place anywhere on the US-Mexico border, the narrow strip of land between the two na-
Self-criticism rears its ugly head too. Many of us now like to point to early 2000s tabloids littered with articles complaining about a pop singer’s weight and lament how cruel they were – but many of those pieces were written by women. There are much more astute feminists than me knocking about to tell you these words in a prettier way, but it’s not controversial to say women are trained to hate everything about themselves. You should hate your face so buy my slimming serum, you should hate your body so buy my vitamin supplements. We’re an easy market to sell flaws to. This self-criticism leaks into our work. I look at my acne with as much horror as a comment on an essay that simply says “incoherent”. Our bodies and our work are objects of our unmerciful gaze interchangeably, a shame that men aren’t exposed to so vividly.
We discussed this difference in detail within the four walls of a borrowed classroom.
Three intelligent women, one of them a tutor at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, the other two students, talking about how
tions rapidly became sacred ground. Families drawn apart by circumstance could talk, embrace, and reassemble their missing pieces. For several decades, things continued in this vein: there were no walls, no cameras, and no ICE.
Fifty years on, and little of the original encuentro remains. The park was officially closed to the public when the pandemic struck in 2020, but efforts to scale back visitation began long before COVID-19.
In 1994, Bill Clinton – astute to mounting fears over immigration following the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement – mandated
sorry we were for apologising all the time. If we couldn’t come up with a witty solution, who could?
So, instead I decided I would never apologise for my writing again. I am capable of bad work (I have an entire volume of first year essays if anyone’s interested) but misplaced colons aren’t harmful mistakes. You don’t have to apologise for poor grammar or a misremembered quotation. And while we’re at it, you’ve already written an essay. Don’t write another in the email to your tutor listing all the terrible things you’ve done. Send that essay like it’ll change lives, and then forget about it and go to the pub. Save your sorrys!
14 miles of new fences which sliced through the open heart of the park. Then, in 2011, a thick wire mesh was affixed to the steel posts so that contact between families on each side was limited to the caress of a fingertip. Today, even the stifled affection of a “pinkie kiss” is impossible; while the brightly-muraled Mexican side still shows signs of life, the American border is deserted, save for the US Army SUVs which silently patrol the militarised zone between the two nations.
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Credit: EURO_ELF from Pixabay
Credit: Welcome to All ! from Pixabay
We’ll Always Have Odeon...
Isobel Wanstall reminisces about Oxford’s lost Odeon cinemas.
Though it’s emphatically not true that Oxford is the hedonistic, loose and free world depicted in literature and movies such as Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn, it is absolutely true that everyone here has a vice. For some it will be the standard unholy trinity: alcohol, drugs, clubs. For others it will be the desperation for academic approval. For me it has always been the cinema.
I come from a small, run -
down town without a functioning cinema, so I always had to travel if I wanted to see a new film. So, when I came here to university, I was totally overwhelmed by the abundance of choice.
From my room it took five minutes to get to the two Odeons on George Street and Magdalen Street, a fact I took full advantage of in the week before my prelims, when I saw five films in five days to escape the hor-
So, where else to go to get my cinematic fix? Luckily, as I mentioned before, we are spoiled for choice in Oxford with three brilliant cinemas within about 40 minutes walk of one another.
Westgate’s Curzon has filled the Odeons’ shoes with a steady mix of modern crowd-pleasers – indeed, screen two was the stage for my viewing of A Minecraft Movie on opening day – as well as more independent and international features, not to mention anniversary screenings, documentaries, concert films and live theatre. Most screens have plenty of seats and legroom going spare, and their foyer/café spans two levels while maintaining a cozy atmosphere.
rors of my impending academic doom. Ill-advised? Definitely. Those were 630+ minutes I sorely needed to revise, a fact I didn’t even need hindsight to realise. But I will always treasure the memories of sneaking out the back of college that summer to marvel at Robocop, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Benediction and more on those big screens.
Odeon Magdalen Street closed in 2023, just a few months shy of the venue’s 100th anniversary. Now the credits have rolled on Odeon George Street’s time as a cinema, as it will reportedly be redeveloped into an aparthotel. One can only wonder exactly what has caused these successive tragedies. Maybe it’s all work and no play nowadays, maybe the state of modern cinema in general has declined to an irreparable state, or maybe this is the inevitable result of continually reducing the importance and funding of art in culture and schools. Who could possibly say?
Jericho’s Phoenix Picturehouse covers much the same ground as our Curzon, with perhaps slightly more focus on curating seasons either to celebrate certain prolific directors’ bodies of work – such as the current Wes Anderson screenings in anticipation
“ ...perhaps the Odeon will remain the cinemas Oxford deserves, but not the ones it needs right now.
of The Phoenician Scheme or their tribute to the late icon David Lynch – or to ‘reDiscover’ classics, this season’s programme centering New Hollywood. The two screens and small foyer may not seem like much, but the careful curation of both cinematic and confectionary delights never disappoints.
I’ve saved the best for last. In my opinion, going to The Ultimate Picture Palace in Cowley, Oxford’s only independent cinema, is pure escapism. The walk down is the perfect opportunity to get in the cinematic zone. The lack of foyer is no draw -
back, it means from the moment you enter the door you are in the presence of pure cinema. The bar is well stocked with snacks, drinks and a friendly smile. While it shows new releases slightly later than other theatres, UPP is at the forefront for consistent runs of foreign-language releases and classics; some of my favourite memories of this particular venue include catching three of Alfred Hitchcock’s all-time classics (Rear Window, Vertigo, and Shadow of a Doubt for those curious) for the very first time on the silver screen. It’s a truly special place.
I feel no article on the cinemas of Oxford would truly be complete without at least brief mention of Peter Kessler’s Movie Mondays at Magdalen College. The free screenings include classics, insightful introductions, a sense of community, and of course, popcorn.
So, while both Oxford Odeons closing within two years could be seen as a small indication of the western world’s increasing apathy towards arts and culture, all hope is not entirely lost for our city’s individual cinematic culture. An application to revive the abandoned Odeon on Magdalen Street was lodged in February, which I would love to see. Though perhaps the Odeon will remain the cinemas Oxford deserves, but not the ones it needs right now.
The abandoned Odeon on Magdalen Street. Credit: Isobel Wanstall
Credit: agoss from Pixabay
An empty cinema. Credit: Armin Forster from Pixabay
I’ve Been Watching ‘You’
Ivett Berenyi is an Associate Editor at the Oxford Student.
Spoilers ahead!
With the title ‘The Luckiest Guy in NY’, the most literary-minded fictional serial killer is back on Netflix, and back in the city where it all began. Sera Gamble’s and Greg Berlanti’s TV show adaptation of Caroline Kepnes’ novel ‘You’ premiered on 26th December 2018 exclusively on Netflix.
Initially, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) seems average: he works at Mooney’s, a second-hand bookstore, struggles with sub-par colleagues and is burdened by uninteresting costumers. However, everything changes when Beck (Elizabeth Lail) walks into his life. In a matter of days, he turns from a book enthusiast into an obsessive stalker and murderer. Gam-
ble and Berlanti use a range of techniques to present this villainous persona as an anti-hero: flashbacks detail his traumatic childhood and his overarching external narration complicates moral judgement through alienating, yet intimate perspectives. Joe’s narrative voice frames each episode, meaning viewers must navigate through not only their moral judgements, but the antihero’s stream of consciousness at all times. The intrigue is created through this seamless integration of internal monologues with disturbing actions.
In Season 5 Episode 1, Joe returns to New York City. He is married to Kate (Charlotte Richie), CEO of Lockwood Corporations, and regained custody of his son, Henry (Frankie DeMaio). Kate announces the charitable plan of diverting a quarter of the company’s annual profits towards a literacy program for
ISamuel Field-Gibson reflects on the technical nature of baking while
n the world of YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels, baking can sometimes look deceptively simple. Take Louis Gantus, a food YouTuber who posts videos of immaculate patisseries and pies, paired his catchphrase: “Once again, baking ain’t shit, I am a god, and my ego is still thriving.” His tone is obviously satirical – self-deprecating even – yet there’s an underlying suggestion that baking should be effortless if you just try hard enough. It’s easy to forget that Gantus has made over 350 baking and cooking videos. He isn’t exactly an amateur. This isn’t to criticise the joy that comes from making baking feel more accessible. Unlike cooking, where instinct and improvisation can save almost anything, baking is unforgiving. Cooking is often described as an art, but baking is pure science: a discipline of temperatures, ratios, and chemical reactions. A sauce can be adjusted
children in foster care. With the couple’s newfound celebrity status in mass media, and top-class protection covering up Joe’s and Kate’s troubled past, the protagonist has all the tools to leave his murderous self behind. He just refuses to do so.
Indeed, this period of goodness and fame is in no way undisturbed. Firstly, the setting is both familiar and alien. Joe sees Mooney’s Bookstore, once his home, now abandoned property up for sale, but most of all a memento mori of his past self. Secondly, the flashbacks of his murders prove to be nostalgic rather than haunting. Joe emphasises that he longs for his ‘true’ self, the serial killer, who, in his opinion, done the world good by ridding it from “bad people”. One of the main conflicts of the episode is the inextricability of Joe’s past and present selves. He fantasises about murdering potential
as it simmers away; a sponge cake that hasn’t risen properly is a lost cause. Small variables – the ambient heat of the kitchen, the type of butter used – can change everything.
Croissants are a good example of baking at its most brutally technical. The first time I tried my hand at them, I had seen Gantus’ video and was inspired. I followed Claire Saffitz’s recipe to the tee and thought I had a reasonable chance. In reality, they burnt in the oven and when I bit into one, there was a thick, greasy puddle of butter at the base and a giant air bubble stretching the middle. The result was more architectural folly than French patisserie. (I’m still yet to make a successful croissant, but we move.)
Even something simpler, like a cheesecake, presents its own set of challenges: overbaking is a constant risk, and the seemingly essential water bath introduces yet another potential
Reuters, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
antagonists but must resist (or at least delay) that gratification.
That fragmentation of identity is further explored by the manipulative tactics among members of the New York City elite. When the threat of Forbes’ hit piece on Kate emerges, Joe (and the viewers) realise no one can be trusted in the town, locking Joe (and us) in a constant state of suspicion and paranoia.
Joe’s narrative voice, however, keeps us inextricably tied to his perspective. The episode is already riddled with
point of failure. Enter the nobake cheesecake, often seen as fool proof and beginner-friendly. It doesn’t require an oven, but there still are some points of difficulty. The cream cheese should be room temperature and the double cream needs to be cold, else you risk curdling. Despite what baking blog keyboard warriors will tell you (yes, they really do exist), no-bake cheesecake is as valid a recipe as its baked counterpart. Personally, I’d argue it’s even better – and undeniably easier.
So here’s the recipe I use which I find gets the right sweet/tangy balance whilst minimising potential fails:
Base:
- 300g digestive biscuits, ground/crushed into crumbs - 70g brown sugar - 130g unsalted butter
Filling: - 300ml double cream, cold - 700g full fat cream cheese,
his murderous ideations, so viewers may find themselves relieved when Joe channels these energies into creative writing. We are, however, not surprised once his fictions become reality.
Besides the main plot of Joe and Kate against the world, Gamble and Berlanti introduce Bronte (Madelaine Brewer), who revives Mooney’s Bookstore. The past thus reincarnated, and the present riddled with danger, Joe’s image of goodness shatters.
room temperature
- 80g icing sugar
60g sour cream, room temperature - (1 tsp vanilla extract) - (1 tsp lemon juice)
1. Melt the butter in a pan, then take off the heat, add the biscuit crumbs and brown sugar, and mix. Pack the mixture firmly into the bottom of a cake tin using something flat like the bottom of a measuring cup. Freeze whilst making the filling.
2. Whip the cold double cream vigorously until stiff, or for about 4-5 minutes. Set aside.
3. Briefly beat the cream cheese until soft and mix in the icing sugar, sour cream, optional vanilla extract and lemon juice until fully combined.
4. Fold in the whipped double cream gently, as to not deflate the air in the cream.
5. Add the filling to the cake tin, smooth, and refrigerate for 6-8 hours or freeze for around 1 hour, before storing in the fridge.
Editor: Christina Scote
Editors: Esme Thomson, Hannah Stewart, Iona Mandal, Jack Wharton, Meira Lee, Nicole Wong, Rachel Moskalensko Haddad, Sam Field-Gibson
White linens - rah or nah?
Esme Thomson, English second-year at Keble, dives into the intersection between university-wide fashion trends and class.
Oxford is a repackaged boarding school. We live in cramped old halls, surrounded by hordes of history and prestige, packed like sardines into tiny rooms along winding corridors. We live in big circles, always facing each other in some way. And like any good boarding school, there’s a set uniform.
For summer, white, striped
nature look, there’s no doubt about it. I’m convinced there’s no Longchamps north of Cowley. Obviously, I panicked at this sight. Ditched my flares for baggy jeans, abandoned my makeup palettes in favour of mascara and brow gel, tried to do a slickback – but it just didn’t work. I exhausted my bank account rummaging around Vinted profiles, ordering Urban Out-
Alfred Harrell
or some kind of linen should be worn. During colder weather, low-waist baggy jeans are preferable. In this new year, we expect all female students will wear any one of these options: a fitted blouse, a baby-doll top, a graphic crop top or some kind of colourful jumper. Trainers, preferably filthy, are preferred. Jewellery must be something interesting; simple studs will not be tolerated. Hair must be slicked back into a bun or ponytail. Makeup must be light and natural. Female students sporting any type of colourful eyeshadow will be fined and cautioned. College puffers are not mandatory, but highly preferred. It is recommended to source uniforms from establishments such as Urban Outfitters.
Us Oxford girls have a sig-
fitters
tops and fancy lash serums. It became clear to me very quickly that looking the part would cost money I simply didn’t have. It’s times like this I realise how class barriers are still upheld. I can live
“ I can live on the same corridor, do the same class, attend the same lectures, bops, events – but her linens cost £70, and mine were £5.
on the same corridor, do the same class, attend the same lectures, bops, events – but her linens cost her £70, and mine were £5. It’s not a pur-
poseful move on the part of the girlies – but their fashion represents a financial barrier. I can be here, but I won’t look the part.
The origins of this uniform baffle me, frankly. I can’t speak on the fashion envi-
wrapped in middle-class cosplay, acting out a part no one asked of me.
Losing my personal style has been largely non consensual. It baffled me at first – how can I lose something that is intrinsically mine, my own choice, my own clothing? No one has barged into my room and demanded I stop wearing eyeliner. Don’t get me wrong, I think I might love my white linens more than anything, but everything else, even if it fits perfectly, doesn’t fit quite right. I know my urges aren’t unwarranted – it’s perfectly human to want to blend in. But I can’t help the feeling I’m dressing up to not cause alarm, like someone’s going to ring the porters at the sight of Juicy Couture.
ing your own style is one hell of a task, and never one you can truly complete. I’m still struggling to distinguish between what I like and what I should be. I love the Oxford style but it feels inauthentic and irregular on my body, as if my brain is telling me to stop pretending. Problem is, said brain is taking its sweet time deciding what I should wear instead. So for now, I’ll
“ Losing my personal style has been largely non-consensual “ I can’t help feeling I’m dressing up not to cause alarm, like someone’s going to ring the porters at the sight of Juicy Culture.
ronments inside boarding and private schools and why they encourage this uniformity amongst female graduates. Calling it posh girl fashion feels derogatory – it is impossible to say these ladies don’t look stunning. But I can’t ignore the dark side of it all. I can’t help but think how out of place I felt when I tried on my first pair of white linens. I felt like I’d submitted to pressure to look the same as the women around me, a pressure I’d never given any thought to until now. Even now, I feel like an imposter;
I have my little rebellions. My hair is never up. I have little curtain bangs that make slick-backs a logistical nightmare. My Keble puffer is starting to gather dust. I sold half my clothes this vacation, saving only the lucky. Most of it was frantically picked last year in a desperate attempt to emulate my peers. Find-
stick to my white linens – I’m still taking donations for a Longchamp, though.
Photographer:
What’s On?
The Music of Prince - New Purple Celebration. A live show in celebration of Prince’s music. Friday 2nd May 6:30pm, O2 Academy Oxford
Carmen Opera, Oxford Opera Society. A onenight only production of the comic opera by French composer George Bizet. 2nd May, 7:30pm, Sheldonian Theatre
Petr Limonov, Oxford Coffee Concerts. Part of a long-standing series, a Chopin performance with coffee available before at a local pub. Sunday 4th May 11am, Holywell Music Room.
Oxord Poetry Society, Spliced Sestina online workshop. Explore sestina, a fixed verse form of six stanzas with Sylee Gore. 6th May, online
Rehka Mistry: Rekha’s Garden and Kitchen, Trinity Talks. A horticulture talk by Rehkya Mistry, a gardener, blogger, writer, and presenter on Garden’s world. Wednesday 7th May 5:30pm, Trinity college, de Jager auditorium
Castalian String Quartet. An evening of music put on by The Cultural Programme, in association with the University of Oxford Music faculty. Friday 9th May 7:45pm, Holywell Music Room.
Town and Gown. The Bidwells Oxford 10k is the oldest run in the Town and Gown series, and raises money for people with muscular dytrophy. 11th May, University Parks
Book review: In the Jingle Jangle Jungle
Hannah Stewart is an Archaelogy and Anthropology second-year at Keble.
Ever since its release last year, I’ve been itching to get my hands on a copy of Joel Gion’s In the Jingle Jangle Jungle: Keeping Time with the Brian Jonestown Massacre. As a lover of rock autobiographies, finding a book that lives up to the absurdity of the rock ‘n’ roll mythos is always on the agenda. I’d also be lying if I didn’t admit that the Brian Jonestown Massacre is a band which I hold very near and dear to me. Despite preparing to enjoy the read from the rose-tinted perspective of somebody who is already a fan, I wasn’t prepared for how gripping this book would be. Gion’s first venture into autobiographical writing is obviously a shining success, deservedly receiving Rough Trade’s book of the year for 2024.
In the Jangle Jungle follows the Brian Jonestown Massa-
cre from the perspective of their ever-charismatic Tambourine Man, Joel Gion. The book begins in the burgeoning indie and Shoegaze scenes in early 90s San Francisco, nigh on 30 years after the psychedelic peak of the Haight-Ashbury district during the summer of love. In the Jangle Jungle illustrates that the Brian Jonestown Massacre stood on the shoulders of giants musically, and frankly, in narcotic use too. The book documents almost a decade of the cult psychedelic rock group’s antics, including their infamous on-stage altercations. Coinciding with the recording of Ondi Timoner’s masterclass rock-umentary Dig!, the book chronicles the notorious rivalry between the Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Dandy Warhols. The book draws to a close with the tour for their 1998 album ‘Strung Out in Heaven’ emphasising the band’s persisting conflicts with record labels.
The book meditates on the sen-
sationalised canon of the Brian Jonestown Massacre as an ungovernable and volatile band, shedding a new light on the inter-group dynamics. The reports of the more glamorous sides of touring, such as supporting Oasis and playing in Timothy Leary’s abandoned house, are always contrasted with less glitzy accounts. With the book following the production and album tours over the band’s first 10 years, descriptions of dumpster diving in Portland, Oregon and quick escapes from the police in 3-sizes-too-small shoes are littered throughout. Joel Gion’s dry humour and role as a percussionist positions him as a great narrator, adding an unmissable inner monologue to the events onstage and offstage. Joel Gion’s chaotic and witty storytelling lends gravity to the managerial nightmare that was the Brian Jonestown Massacre in the 90s. With drug-addled accounts of living in a San Fransiscan drug den to road-
side concussions in the desert, this book arguably deserves the moniker of the Fear and Loathing of rock autobiographies. Whether or not you are a fan of the Brian Jonestown Massacre, Gion’s writing is humorous and magnetically engaging, capturing the absurdity of life on tour while remaining down-toearth. Seemingly in accordance with his stage presence, the dry humour throughout brings an introspective charm to the mayhem of the book. The encyclopaedic knowledge of music strewn throughout in references contributes to an almost-cinematic experience. With anecdotes set to the tune of Scott Mckenzie’s ‘San Francisco’ and the Rolling Stones’ ‘You can’t always get what you want’, Gion paints a complete picture of his band’s musical madness (and greatness) in In the Jingle Jangle Jungle.
What constitutes ‘cool’ music taste?
Iona Mandal is a first-year English student at St Catz.
“listening to the same music i used to listen to when i was 14-15 is something else i’m still her i’m nothing like her anymore she knew everything she knew nothing she was so right she was so wrong” (@espresomartini, Tumblr)
As a young teenager, I remember seeing a Tumblr post which made the bold claim that the music you enjoy at the age of fourteen is the music you will like forever. I didn’t believe this at the time. Though I had just as much of the “it’s not a phase” mentality as my peers, and earnest-
ly convinced my parents that the TWICE posters on my wall would never find their way back down, it was somehow daunting that I was apparently stuck with the same musical preferences for the rest of my life.
Alas, the garish posters were eventually rolled up and began to collect dust in the depths of a drawer, and old playlists fell out of use in the oblivion of an ever-expanding musical library.
This was the age for discovery. A time of forming identities and a sense of self-image around music. I, too, fell victim to Lana Del Rey’s Tumblr “sad-girl” melancholia, SoundCloud mumble rap,
and the 2017 lo-fi bedroom pop era. Many of these genres began to be characterised by wider aesthetics: corduroy trousers, turtlenecks and chunky Fila Disruptors or online subcultures where self-destruction was romanticised through Plath quotes pasted over images of blurry cityscapes at night.
As musical scholar Jonathan Friedmann asserts in his book Musical Aesthetics: “Emotional arousals are instant aesthetic judgements. It is no accident that the perceived qualities of a piece mirror the responses induced: joyful, mournful, serene, ominous, and so forth. […] Integrating aesthetics with emotions
highlights the interconnectedness of stimulus and experience.”
It is therefore not a surprise that such elaborate identities are formed around music, particularly with an ever-increasing emphasis on commodified consumerism. ‘Coolness’ has always been manufactured in this way, whether through gatekeeping, the anti-mainstream appeal or cultural capital.
More recent online phenomena, such as the use of music-tracking apps like Airbuds and Last.fm, alongside features like Spotify Wrapped
Read the rest of the article at oxfordstudent.com
On Adolescence, incels and the manosphere Sophie Harrison discusses the cultural significance of the TV series
People often use terms like ‘harrowing’ or ‘devastating’ to describe art, but when it comes to Netflix’s Adolescence, I really mean it this time. Admittedly, the subject matter was never light to begin with. It’s about a thirteen-year-old boy who murders his classmate. That wasn’t a spoiler, I hope; it is basically the premise. And unlike a large proportion of crime shows, it is never much about the whodunnit – excluding the fact that that person is a child, which is obviously significant. It’s more about why, and even then, we don’t really know and can’t fully comprehend. But we understand enough to get that it’s scary, haunting and, worst of all, realistic. Adolescence engages with some all too contemporary concerns: hate and misogyny, social media culture and the world we leave to younger generations. I grew up watching Golden Age crime adaptations. Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Marple, or even Columbo was invariably on in the background at my grandparents’ house. So I understand the satisfaction of a neat dénouement. Yet, I can’t help feeling that detective Hercule Poirot should have been troubled and brooding a good thirty episodes earlier. When death follows everywhere you go, and you are constantly confronted with the dark side of human nature, could you really stay smiling, thanking your “little grey cells” for doing the mental aerobics once again?
Adolescence, on the other hand, does that thing that a lot of crime fiction seems to miss, which is to present the human face and fallout of crime over the clever if improbable how. It soberly plays out the way in which crime ruins the lives of everyone involved – even the perpetrator and their family.
Actor Stephen Graham (I’ve been a fan since his Line of Duty days) first conceived of
it in response to increasing knife crime among teenagers in the UK, collaborating with screenwriter Jack Thorne, with a focus on violent acts carried out by young boys against girls. The script is naturalistic, non-linear, evasive; it’s as though Thorne has inscribed real speech rather than inventing a dialogue. That’s one of the things which makes it so convincing. The acting is another. I don’t want to be one of those people who adds especially for someone so young to
“ neither the viewer nor Jamie’s father wants to believe he has done it.
the end of sentences as though young people don’t know anything and can’t be talented, but it’s true that Owen Cooper astonishes as adolescent Jamie Miller. Alongside him, Stephen Graham gives an emotionally raw rendering of struggling father Eddie Miller, while Ashley Walters embodies grim-faced police inspector Luke Bascombe: nobody relishes this job, and it won’t make things whole again, but it has to be done.
If Adolescence manages to combine stellar acting with a brilliant script, its cinematography is just as masterful. Each of the four episodes is filmed in a real-time, one-shot format, which, far from a gimmick, makes the action both more tense and real. I haven’t been so hooked by a series opening for a while. If an actor can maintain your focus as well as their own so completely for an hour at a time, I’d say that’s powerful, especially given the current shape of attention spans. Not that it’s a simple task; each episode demanded a number of takes, from two for the first to a painstaking sixteen for the
last. Perhaps it’s a silly thought, but I’ve often wondered how one-takes like this avoid capturing the camera’s reflection, say in a car window or the glass of a vending machine. It turns out every camera movement must be meticulously planned. In this case, the police station in which much of the action of the first episode unfolds was constructed specifically with the complexities of single-shot filming in mind.
The sequence in the police station is so intense and invasive that we cannot help but sympathise with the child who has to endure it. Although we’re warned that police procedure is in proportion to the magnitude of the crime, until the moment where the CCTV footage is shown, neither the viewer nor Jamie’s father wants to believe he has done it. The tragedy plays out in the quiet gestures: Eddie recoils when his son touches his arm, then embraces him. Much later, he goes into Jamie’s empty bedroom, tucks his teddy bear into bed, and apologises for failing him. This concluding moment, aside from making me stare at the wall contemplating life for a while afterwards, is a gutting reminder of lost youth; of the most vulnerable who should be protected and not have to be protected from.
Not for the first time, Adolescence made me think that being a parent must be a terrifying thing to do. Because Jamie’s father does not harm him directly, in the way of his own father who beat him; rather, it’s by doing nothing that children are put at risk now. Why does one child murder and not the other, when they have ostensibly been raised in the same way? There are no simple answers, no clear beginning or end to the cycle of violence. Perhaps it has something to do with masculinity, with Eddie’s father and his father before him, as if there were some ear-
ly domino effect that passed unseen, like nudging a stone somewhere which eventually causes an avalanche. Or perhaps it’s all a very modern concern, much to do with the computer light that shines on in Jamie’s bedroom at night, in a world where it is increasingly difficult to regulate the content to which children are exposed. Watching Adolescence made me relieved to have grown up on the cusp just before this became completely normalised. The harmful potential of social media is suggested by the questions that child psychologist Briony Ariston (Erin Doherty) puts to Jamie in the show’s much commented-on third episode. The meeting ends with an increasingly desperate, increasingly violent, Jamie asking Briony repeatedly whether she likes him. This scene is so disturbing partly because we sense that she does in fact like Jamie, and maybe we do too. Because he’s clever – but he’s also volatile, and unaware of his own troubling line of reasoning. There’s a lot of rage in him, the reflection of a deep-rooted insecurity preyed on by the manosphere. But, at heart, it is something that ev-
“ This scene is so disturbing parly because we sense she does in fact like Jamie, and maybe we do too.
Creative Commons
ery one of us can probably recognise from adolescence, the thing that creates cliques and the notion of ‘popularity’ in the first place: a desire to be liked. It’s troubling to watch it in a child as young as thirteen, who has been taught to think that their life is over, that they will never be loved or even liked, that they are ugly and an incel, and, most of all, that the only way out of all of this is violence. Adolescence has already generated many conversations since its release, notably gaining the Prime Minister’s attention and being made free to view in secondary schools across the UK. It is certainly difficult to watch and feel unmoved. While I’ve seen some criticism arguing that the story did not do enough to centre the victim, Katie Leonard – a concern actually addressed in the show itself, when DI Bascombe counters that the investigation is all about justice in her name – if we’re thinking about the potential of art as a deterrent or at least a warning, it’s arguably the perpetrators that need to be targeted the most. And if the show can spark discussion among young people, parents and the people operating social media platforms, that’s not nothing. When people say that art isn’t political, that it doesn’t have the power to cause real change, this is the kind of thing which, in my naïve hope, I’d argue actually can.
Identity
Credit: Amelia Woon
The nights of an Oxford insomni-
ac: When the dead are also restless
Georgie Allan wrote this on a night when she couldn’t sleep
It’s 2am and I can’t sleep, but that’s all right because I have a new pastime to while away the hours. Long days of binging Walking Dead spin-offs with my Dad have left me with one thing and one thing only on my mind: planning for the zombie apocalypse.
See, it’s been a couple of years since I reviewed my zombie apocalypse plans and in that time, a new probable location has been added - University College, Oxford, the place I work, eat, sleep and will most likely be at the time of an outbreak. Though the witty among you may think in my sleep deprived state I’d fit right in with the mindless hordes, on the off
chance I’m even marginally with it I must be prepared.
The first problem is dealing with the initial wave of infection and associated chaos.
“ Long days of binging Walking Dead spinoffs have left me with one thing and one thing only on my mind
We all saw how humanity reacted to the last outbreak, and though I doubt toilet roll is going to be in quite as high
demand it’s safe to assume people will react with similar hysteria. Even before face to face with a flesh eating corpse, social media would likely spread panic to the masses (along with whatever voodoo Trump happens to be recommending to combat the issue. Have we tried injecting the zombies with bleach?)
On that front I’m feeling all right. The majority of Oxford colleges, including my own, were built from stone centuries ago and have withstood the test of time. I think they would be similarly adept at repelling an onslaught of bodies, living or dead. I’m also willing to bet that butteries order enough food
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Section Editors: Willow Lock, Lucy Pollock | Columnists: Sharon Chau, Will McCaffery
ahead of time that nutrition won’t be a concern in the short run. According to google it would only be a few days at most before power became an issue so charging any portable batteries would be the number on priority, as well as securing any potential entrances with manual rather than electronic locks.
Looking past the initial wave to the long term, my college is still where I’d want to be. It’s an easily fortified position with a water supply and quad lawns which could be converted into farmland (for University college, measuring only land which is enclosed in the old college walls there is just under 3,000m2 of land according to google earth, possibly more if the flagstones were removed. This could be further increased employing vertical farming and depending on the crop planted could hypothetically support whatever group may still be alive within that same area).
Beyond the college walls, recovering the city might be possible. If we define the city to be the isolated area between the Oxford Canal, Castle Mill Stream and the Cherwell, blocking off or collapsing the bridges would leave the only vulnerability to the north which could be addressed through blockades on Woodstock and Banbury around the lower end of Summertown, as well as the B4495. Waterways such as the Cherwell might require further fortification - a river which can be punted is an easy crossing point for the undeadbut that’s an issue for later.
Unlike the American protagonists of The Walking Dead, the average Oxford student has a significantly harder time getting their
hands on a gun. Sure we could ask the rifling club, or see if the archery club might be able to help, but I think we could have a lot more fun giving Oxford’s ceremonial bedels or mace-bearers something practical to do. The university website seems unclear if we have 4 or 6 bedels but either way, they have maces, and that sounds a far more entertaining way to get rid of zombies (and sure maybe we can have a few shooters and archers watching on from these dreaming spires just in case). If all else fails (or heaven for-
“ We could have a lot more fun giving Oxford’s ceremonial bedels or mace-bearers something practical to do
bid the zombies are closer to the terrifying speed demons of World War Z than the lethargic drones of The Walking Dead) Oxford wouldn’t be the worst place to live out my final moments. I’d like to die happy, surrounded by people I love, and where better than with my friends in one of my college’s many wine-filled cellars? If I know I’m about to be killed by ravenous undead who will tear the skin from my still living body, I’d rather not face it sober, and maybe all that nervous system depression will have some effect against the parasite trying to reanimate my corpse. At the very least I know that after the party at the end of the world, if I’m not yet dead, there’s a solid nap waiting for me to sleep off the booze.
A guest in a city: a tale of rustication
Isheta Ahmed
writes about her rustication.
My rustication was far from expected, and much less smooth sailing. I began my second Hilary term in 2025 with high hopes; which term cards, horrendous essay titles, new friends and newer stresses would arise over the next eight weeks. The unfolding of a new term gave me adrenaline. I always considered Oxford a home away from home. A place free from curfews, isolation and the dull daily nothingness of my East London.
My heart was set on the stability of my beloved dorm room -- stability of my mind and my studies followed suit, in contrast to the emotional chaos of my home that I felt blessed to be able to escape from. But I was dissatisfied with my studies, and in order to feel more at peace with my future, I wanted to switch courses. That decision came with an unprompted and undesirable suspension.
“ My heart was set on the stability of my beloved dorm room -- stability of my mind and my studies followed suit, in contrast to the emotional chaos of my home.
After just a few days’ notice from my college (typical Oxford, asking more out of you than what you are capable of delivering), several boxes, laundry bags and suitcases became heavy with my belongings once again. My next move was certainly seen as unconventional to most, but to me it felt like the only right move; I booked a flight to Jordan the very next day with a friend who was on the course I was transitioning to. It overwhelmed me, facing the emptying prospect of doing nothing, whilst my friends cramped together in libraries and worked towards a certain goal. Whether I was escaping Oxford or my hometown London, I was relieved. I accomplished switching my degree in the middle of an academic year, and most students struggle to even do that. One of the first books I read during my rustication was “I saw Ramallah” by Mourid Barghouti. I sympathized with Barghouti’s exile and his attempt at finding solace in the cities he stayed in whilst he could not be in Ramallah. Amman, where I spent most of my time during my rustication, was one of those cit-
ies. After I returned from Jordan, having spent two weeks cafe hopping, socializing at bars and watching rubbish movies, I graced my London home again. In London, I was holed up in my room. Entering a stubborn state of refusing to speak unless spoken to did not help matters either. My only escape was a friend from Whitechapel, who like me often spent time at work to avoid home. We convened at her workplace -- a bubble tea shop, a welcome interruption in our lives. Ramadan came and went; I fasted, prayed and booked another flight to Jordan -- this time for one month. I missed my friends, the feeling of being busy and having a home away from home.
Just like Barghouti, I stopped at Budapest en route to Amman. Budapest was beautiful, but painful. The city’s skyline opened up to me, as well as the greenest grass I ever laid eyes on (out of my very few travels), but I had limited time to adapt to the local
“
With my Burger King in one hand, and an unstable suitcase in another, I struggled to move, but a friendly Dutch man gestured to me to sit with him. He asked me where I was going and where I had come from; my life at this point felt like an irritating metaphor.
“London to Jordan” I said. “Hungary to Spain” he replied.
behavioral customs. I stood out as a brown girl, and couldn’t blend into this faceless mass of people. The frequent trip ups and elbow shoves were new to me. Not to mention staying up for an overnight layover which creates an inevitable air of hostility in any airport.
With my Burger King in one hand, and an unstable suitcase in another, I struggled to move, but a friendly Dutch man gestured to me to sit with him. He asked me where I was going and where I had come from; my life at this point felt like an irritating metaphor. “London to Jordan” I said. “Hungary to Spain”, he replied. This started a conversation that flitted from race to religion, an admission of being a former Olympic swimmer and competing for the Netherlands, conflict to liberation, and, to top it a off, technological warfare. He offered me coffee and tea, an act that made me feel safe and stable for the first time in a while. I wondered what I did to deserve that sort of kindness from a stranger. “I hope to talk to you again”, he said with a smile before rushing to his gate. As he left, I noticed his Gant jacket; the same as my father’s.
I finally landed in Amman. I saw my friend for the first time in nine long weeks. Their house sat on a stepped incline above the all too familiar bamboo workshop. Everywhere I have lived this year was temporary, each place a momentary stop before my next destination. I tried to find anchorage, but I have only been a guest. People often ask why I chose Jordan; I think the country was embroidered into my life when I needed it. Barghouti once said: “In that room I found myself retreating to ‘there’; to that hidden place inside each one of us, the place of silence and introspection”. I flew from a sheltered cage to another city, still dependent on the kindness of others, still nodding towards a place called home.
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To marry or not to marry Dating in South Asian Culture
Ilook back to the holy month of Ramadan: my family fasts from sunrise to sunset, no food, no water, and the utmost servility to God and his teachings. One day, we decide to break the fast with my cousins at a restaurant. We set off to eat at an offbrand halal version of Nandos called Franzos. We step off the tattered and littered pavement to enter the restaurant, loud chatter and a bustling scene, brown faces, brown clothes, brown words, brown families. We sit down to break the fast and as a platter of chicken arrives and I take a sip of my off-brand cola, my cousin turns to me to ask, “X would you ever marry a white person?”. My time away from home caused me to forget the appropriate response as I replied, “Yeah, why not?”. Before she responds, I quickly realise how my blatant acceptance of a cultural taboo would elicit a strong response. I have long accepted my position as a cultural black sheep, but an outright display of everything that’s “wrong” with me is a much more sensitive manner.
I am not here to discuss the resulting conversation with my cousin, who – do not be fooled – is as close to a sister I have, but instead relation-
ships in South Asian culture. Marriage is everything and dating is forbidden; this is the golden rule to relationships in our culture and al-
“ Marriage is everything and dating is forbidden: this is the golden rule to relationships in our culture
ready the burden of relationships is a heavy one. As one may have seen or have experienced first hand, brown men and women keeping their partners hidden and living a second life, is quite commonplace.
The taboo is too strong for individuals to truly claim their partner; a quasi-side chick seems to be an appropriate term for how we treat our partners. If marriage is everything, then what will happen to those currently dating in secret when they come out of the shadows? To those brave enough and have done it, it really just depends, mainly on race and religion.
example, one may need to revert in order to begin the process of social acceptance by the family.
You may be wondering how ludicrous and unnecessary this whole debacle is, but for those in similar cultural circumstances, it makes sense to a certain extent. Our culture is not only our food or our clothes or the colour of our skin, but also the tradition we hold and have kept through thick and thin. There were plenty of opportunities to give up and try to fit in, yet the generations preceding us did not lose their sense of religion, marriage, and family even when bricks would be hurled through their win-
“ Perhaps I’m just being pessimistic, or perhaps some good advice for anyone in any troubling situation is to just try. If you believe in something, why should you sacrifice it?
tinue the trend of giving in to ensure the continuation of our culture and make our parents happy? For those that want to date and marry within the culture, this problem is not applicable, but for those who find themselves in such a predicament, a solution is needed. What that solution is, I have no idea.
As Christ once said, ‘let he
who is without sin cast the first stone’, yet I am with sin, too scared to be honest and too scared to venture untested waters like many others. As someone who is already quite isolated from the culture, it is less of an issue for when my situation causes me to become a social pariah – it is only a matter of time till I’m sent into exile. A larger dilemma arises for those who have a foothold in the culture but fall into the unfortunate circumstance of loving someone who may not be accepted. Perhaps I’m just being pessimistic. Perhaps some good advice for anyone in any troubling situation is to just try. If you believe in something, why sacrifice it? Surely there is a way to not throw the baby out with the bathwater, a way to love who you love without losing your identity. The fallout for our decisions may be minor and maybe we just overestimate how bad things can be. We won’t ever know till we try.
“ We sit down to break the fast and as a platter of chicken arrives and I take a sip of my cola, my cousin turns to me to ask “X would you ever marry a white person?”
The transition from secretly dating to marriage is much smoother when the race and religion of the person is within the boundaries of cultural requirements.
I don’t mean to cast a damper on any current relationships between a white person and a South Asian person, yet a quite unfortunate trend seems to show it may not amount to anything. It’s an almost crueller iteration of an ‘ejaculate and evacuate’ or ‘hump and dump’, where one may engage in a real relationship with another only to leave them and marry someone who fits their parents’ standards. Or in an Islamic
“ The transition from secretly dating to marriage is much smoother when the race and religion of the person is within the boundaries of cultural requirements
dows and the prospect of walking to work became too dangerous. For some, it may just be a need to please their parents and the fear of disappointing them. For others it’s the prospect of a loss in our identity, an identity that has stood the test of time and abuse.
I care for my mother, and I know her only wish for me is to be a good Muslim, to marry a good Muslim and raise a Muslim family, but how does one reconcile this with one’s individual identity? Should I and other South Asians con-
Section
science@oxfordstudent.com | Deputy Editor: Yuhan Wang
Colours Without Pigments
Nicholas Gan discusses how iridescence in nature inspires optics
Some beetles appear almost metallic, shining with vivid iridescent hues, while many butterflies dazzle with a kaleidoscope of colours on their delicate wings. At first, it may seem hard to believe, but most of these creatures don’t rely on pigments for their colours, especially their brilliant blues. Instead, they use a phenomenon called structural coloration.
To understand structural coloration, we first need to grasp how light works — and how we perceive colour. Light is made up of waves of oscillating electric and magnetic fields traveling through space. It can exist across a vast range of frequencies, from low-frequency radio waves to high-frequency gamma rays. The small slice of the spectrum that our eyes can see is known as visible light. Within this range, red light has the lowest frequency (and longest wavelength), while violet light has the highest frequency (and shortest wavelength). In simple terms, wavelength and frequency are inversely
related: as one goes up, the other goes down.
Now, coming back to structural coloration: imagine taking a transparent material and etching tiny grooves or patterns onto its surface — grooves so small that they are similar in size to the wavelength of visible light. When light hits these microscopic structures, it scatters, reflects, or interferes in complex ways. This manipulation of light at the nanoscale causes certain wavelengths to be amplified and others to cancel out, producing brilliant colours without a ny pigments at all. It’s the same principle behind the shimmering rainbow on the surface of a soap bubble or the colourful sheen on a CD.
Insects, birds, and even some spiders have evolved incredibly sophisticated nanostructures for such purposes.
Peacocks use intricate arrays of microscopic barbules on their feathers to scatter and reflect a range of dazzling colours. Jewel beetles like Chrysina resplendens have photonic crystals (periodic
nanostructures) on their exoskeleton which give them the shiny green/golden appearance. Butterflies (like those of the Morpho butterfly) have tiny layered scales that create vivid blues through constructive interference of blue light. Some spiders and tarantulas use specialized nanostructures in their hairs or exoskeletons to produce striking blues and greens without any pigments, relying purely on light interference.
Structural colours in nature tend to be blue or green because producing nanoscale structures that manipulate shorter wavelengths (higher frequency light) is easier for biological systems. By contrast, longer-wavelength colours like reds, oranges, and yellows are typically produced by pigments. Another hallmark of structural colour is its iridescence: the colour can change dramatically depending on the angle of viewing and lighting, giving surfaces a brilliant, metallic quality.
One of the most remarkable features of structural colour
is its durability. Since it arises from physical structure rather than chemical pigments, it doesn’t fade over time — a property with exciting technological applications. For instance, Colorfast fabrics could allow clothes to stay vibrant without chemical dyes. Optical security features could be embedded into banknotes and passports to prevent counterfeit technology. Eco-friendly coatings could be produced that reflect colours naturally without relying on synthetic pigments. Lastly, it could be used to make energy efficient
Immunotherapy for Allergies
Omer Mihović discusses helping
In an exciting medical breakthrough, a recent clinical trial in the UK has shown that some adults with serious peanut allergies can slowly build up a tolerance
adults build
to peanuts through careful treatment. The study, led by King’s College London and Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, brings hope to the estimated 6% of people in the UK who suffer from food allergies. One participant, Richard Lassiter, 44, from Beckenham in South London, with multiple urgent hospitalisations behind him due to allergic reactions is now able to eat 4 whole peanuts a day and describes the
materials where structural colour could be used to make lightweight, reflective building materials that stay cool and vibrant.
Beyond these, researchers are exploring the use of structural coloration in biomimetic displays, advanced optical sensors, and new lightweight materials for aerospace and electronics. As technology advances, structural colour may also find its way into automotive finishes — offering vibrant, fade-proof car paints inspired by butterfly wings and beetle shells.
Read the full article online
allergy tolerance
experience as “life-changing”.
Peanut allergy is one of the most dangerous types of food allergies. Even a tiny amount of peanut protein can trigger severe reactions, which can include swelling of the tongue or throat, difficulty breathing, and in the worst cases, life-threatening anaphylactic shock. For many years, people with peanut allergies have been told to completely avoid peanuts to
stay safe. But now, researchers are showing that things might be changing - at least for some adults.
This new research is part of the Grown-Up Peanut Immunotherapy (GUPI) trial. It looked at whether adults with peanut allergies could slowly train their immune systems to tolerate peanuts. Patients were given certain amounts of peanuts daily as a part of the trial, after confirmation of peanut allergy via a series of
Editors: Nicholas Gan, Omer Miković, Nicola Kalita, William Lawrence
(a) Blue morpho butterfly (b,c) scales under an optical microscope (d,e) nanostructures under a scanning electron microscope. Credit: Butt et al
EpiPen regularly carried around by people with peanut allergies. Credit: Wikimedia Commons
tests. The initial clinical phase involved three escalating doses of 0.8 mg, 1.5 mg, and 3 mg of peanut flour – administered to the patients 30 minutes apart under medical supervision. Subjects tolerating these doses continued a home regimen for two weeks
(equivalent to 0.5 – 1% of a peanut), returning biweekly for supervised updosing from 6 mg to 1 g of protein. Upon reaching 1 g, participants maintained this dose for at least four weeks before an exit test was performed. They were then put on a further
three-month home dosing period.
The treatment was done in a controlled and careful way. At first, all doses were given in a hospital setting so doctors could watch closely for any allergic reactions. Some participants did experience mild
side effects like stomach pain or skin rashes, but none had severe reactions during the treatment. Out of the 21 people in the trial, three dropped out because of side effects, and three left for unrelated reasons. Overall, doctors said the approach seems safe
when done under professional medical care.
Professor Stephen Till, who led the trial, said this treatment is not a cure. The participants are still technically allergic...
Read the full article online at www.oxfordstudent.com
PedroSoc: Embracing Erudition
Yuhan Wang explores the inner workings of PedroSoc
On an average week, a STEM student can pop by the Invariants to solve puzzles, attend a Jane Street social to engage in play trading or build a literal race car with Oxford University Racing. However, none of these clubs are quite like the University College Pedro Society (PedroSoc) which in the words of the eponymous founder, Pedro Lack, “is not a society that I want people to leave necessarily feeling good.”
PedroSoc started off in 2024 with a group of friends gathered around a small whiteboard engaging in conversations about mathematics. It is now a 99-member strong student seminar society who gather regularly on Monday nights at University College to talk about various topics. It has provided a space for all, the presenter and the attendee, to struggle with difficult concepts in mathematics and leave the room probably more confused, but learnt. For outsiders not part of
the society, the name may be a turnoff. Pedro is very much aware of this sentiment. However, he does not
“ It is not a society I want people to leave necessarily feeling good.
think that he was being selfish when naming the society. Unlike most things in Oxford named after rich donors who are old imperialists and slave owners, he believes that it is much nicer naming something after the person who created it and put an effort to build it up. When pressed as to whether he would mind a name change, he expressed hope that future generations can keep it “PedroSoc” and elect new “Pedros” as its future leaders. However, he understands that after he grad-
uates, there is not much he could influence. After all, as he quotes a Portuguese saying, “a king out of the throne is a dead king”.
When queried about the goal of PedroSoc, Pedro believes that it is complicated, just as how it is difficult to truly understand a person. He recognises that most students do not have many opportunities to present something academically until perhaps their master or DPhil thesis where it really matters to get everything precisely right. Therefore, he believes that he is providing an informal platform for students to not just learn how to explain things but to do it in a captivating way.
Rather than having talks which give a broad idea, talks under PedroSoc need to have a certain degree of mathematical rigour. As mentioned on their website as advice to presenters, “You should always aim to prove or ‘semi’-prove any statements in your talk.” The society rejects pseudointellectualism. They do not want listeners to leave the club feeling a vague sense that they have learnt something. Instead, listeners should bring back something tangible, an actual understanding of a topic that they were unfamiliar with, even if they leave confused and a little tired. It is for this same reason that PedroSoc hardly rewards attendance with food. There is never pizza, ice cream or alcohol, just a few bottles of Coca Cola and various sodas to keep attendees awake. This is intentionally so. Pedro does not want people to come to the talk for superficial reasons but to learn.
The club is “not a social society in the sense that our primary goal is for people to leave a bit happier than they were. We want people to leave a bit smarter than they were.” Society members may not share Pedro’s vision exactly, but they value this space for expression and learning.
“It is a very eye-opening experience.” said Shuhao Tian (a 1st year mathematician), referring to one of the talks by Prof. Nikolay Nikolov on group theory. He had also expressed that some of his friends in other colleges believe that this is an amazing opportunity for students to exchange knowledge and understand things beyond the undergraduate mathematics syllabus and wish that their own colleges have similar events. In terms of criticism, he believes that there is much variance in terms of quality of presentations, but it is understandable since it is an excellent opportunity for students to hone these skills.
Although the requirements towards presentation and mathematical rigour is often daunting, it does not mean that presenters could not have fun. Shing Fung Chan is a 2nd year mathematician who gave a talk earlier this year on a different way of constructing the Lebesgue measure. Despite finding it challenging figuring out how to effectively communicate knowledge, he found it “cool to share this overpowered way of constructing the Lebesgue measure because as we all know nuking mosquitos is fun.” The presenters often do not give the most refined presentations. However, it is these imperfections and quirks that have created many hilarious and memorable moments during weekly meetings.
PedroSoc has an exciting slate of talks lined up in the first half of trinity including a talk about the mathematics behind Blackjack.
Pedro Lack (Right) with presenter Samuel Lam (Left) after a presentation about probability. Credit: Samuel Lam
Professor Nikolay Nikolov giving a talk about group theory. Credit: Agniv Shankar
Read Rordon Gamsay’s reactions on Twitter @OxYou and the Sunday Roast on the OxStu Instagram
The OxYou
Shit We Could’ve Done If We Didn’t Launch Katy Perry
Freud didn’t live to see the post-WWII explosion in car ownership, which may be why his collected works deprive us of analysis that addresses the severe mommy issues facing drivers of oversized SUVs. Instead, we must turn to pop psychology, which gifts us the equally troubling proposition that the size of a man’s car is inversely proportional to the size of his… shall we say, amour-propre. Jeff Bezos is not, one fears, a man who exudes sex appeal (at least not to the mammalian brain); indeed, one wonders if his packaging department is a little past its prime. However, rather than following that time-honoured trajectory of dealing with such problems in a fulfilment centre, Bezos decided that the wider world needed to know about his issues. And so, rather than donating $19 billion to charity organisations as his ex-wife MacKenzie Scott did, Bezos doubled down (or up) on funding his Blue Origin aerospace programme and travelled to space in 2021. Commemorative scale replicas of the spacecraft he used are available at your nearest Ann
Summers.
What was billed as the “first ever all-female space flight” took place earlier this month (though the Soviets did it first, and went higher, so we politely pretend that didn’t happen), and featured a Dark Horse among the crew: Astro-nought Katy Perry—whom you might also have heard of for her music. Blue Origin tickets can go for nearly 30 million dollars, though celebrities and VIPs often get a free ride.
The reception to the trip has been at best Hot and Cold, and Perry over the weekend confessed she regretted making a “public spectacle” of it - a flash of self-awareness almost as brief as the 7-minute flight itself.
For that tremendous sum of money, we sent what resembled a low-concept 1980s girl band into low Earth orbit, affording Gayle King the opportunity to hear Katy Perry sing “What a Wonderful World” while looking down on the world (just from space this time).
Really, what could we have done instead?
The Eden Reforestation Project indicates reforestation costs 10–20 cents per tree, so we could have been looking at several tens of millions of trees planted.
Rordon Gamsay replies to your ethical dilemnas in the OxStu newsletter, sign up on our website
Of Beans & Bread
Over a crackling radio, lovingly maintained by St Benet’s Boat Club after OURCS (Oxford University Rowing Clubs) forgot they existed when their Hall followed their Catholic teachings and transubstantiated into bankruptcy, OxYou correspondents heard the stuttered confession of a financially-struggling first year PPEist from Merton. Beginning his mea culpa with a confession his family had previously gone to Oriel, “for the Rhodes statute,” and a blubbed, “I swear Merton’s got more than Truss,” Monting Det, Monty to ‘the chaps’, gave our reporters the story of his fiscal decline. His emulation of Merton’s favourite daughter began when he crossed Glam’s threshold for the first time and decided to try become a ‘buh-knock’ and buy his mates a round of shots. His courage withered as fast as his student finance when he saw the final price flash up, like a sick Victorian child striding into a boxing ring realising he’s going 10 rounds with pre-Jake Paul fight Mike Tyson. Realising his impending fiscal stupefaction, North London’s favourite son attempted to negotiate as only a PPEist could: hiding in
the club loo and avoiding eye contact with his mates after it became clear that the round of shots had dwindled to two and a pint of lukewarm Carlsberg. Having set a precedent, Monty stuck to Merton’s true motto - they are fighters, not quitters. He attempted to live like a young Christ Church/Union princeling, doling out drinks without a care, buying belowthe-knee jackets to ponder mysteriously in front of Spoons in, and far too many Knoops. By the end of Michaelmas, regular calls from HMRC to ensure that he truly was buying a 15th can of hairspray, in an attempt to usurp his fellow PPEist Hugh Vanker and his dad’s trust fund as to who could appear to be the bigger bore on a crewdate, going shit sconce for shit sconce. But as he attempted to laugh off a career-ending joke in Jamal’s, Master Det received a dreaded message, long feared by many students too friendly with their college bar. He’d maxed out his overdraft. In a frightened hurry, he called his bank - the Bank of Mum and Dad was unavailable, ‘discovering themselves’ and several new addictions in Bali. Read the full article online
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Arun Lewis
Image Credit: Frank Oschatz
Leonard Lawrence
sport@oxfordstudent.com
Deputy Editor: Tod Manners Section Editors: Ella Cody, Georgie Allen
The Maher Effect
Ilona Maher is supercharging attendences for women’s club rugby
Ella Cody
Despite the UK being very much known for Rugby, with Twickenham Stadium referred to as ‘the Home of Rugby’, women’s rugby at a league level has not been afforded the same stature. Even with rugby in England, where the Red Roses made their mark on the sport internationally, being ranked the number one team in the world and beating France in 2023 securing the Women’s Six Nations trophy – as well as setting an attendance record for a women’s international rugby match.
On a club level in England, there is the Allianz Premiership Women’s Rugby, a club competition for nine teams. One of those teams is the Bristol Bears who play at both Shaftesbury Park, which is their regular stadium, and Ashton Gate – with Ashton Gate allowing for bigger crowds at a capacity of 27,000, as compared to 112.
Bristol Bears have shot into the spotlight since December, with the arrival of rug-
by sportswoman, social media star, and ‘Dancing with the Stars’ runner-up Ilona Maher. The announcement of her arrival came 2nd December, and in a matter of two days Bristol Bears had to switch stadiums for their up-
“ Maher is known for both her success in rugby and her emphasis on body positivity and expression
coming fixture. The Bears v Gloucester-Hartpury fixture which was originally meant to be played at Shaftesbury Park was inundated with demand resulting in the move. This demonstrates the power of social media and the stars they have produced. Rugby player Ilona Maher has 4.8 million followers alone on Instagram, more than 5 times the amount that the Bears women have. Maher is known for both her success in rugby and her emphasis on body positivity and expression. Despite this lack
of following, the tag feature on instagram meant that those who are purely fans of Maher were able to see her move to this club, and potentially go on to explore this area of sport in England. The match was played on 5th January, and despite the Bears losing, there was a record crowd of 9,240 for a women’s game at Ashton Gate stadium. This record attendance has been accredited to the arrival of Maher, who despite not being certain to play, was able to bring the crowd. This appreciation and spotlight on women’s rugby in England can be connected with the growth of women’s sport in England as a whole. Women’s matches, whether in football or now rugby, have seen an incline in attendance adding to the recognition of these sports and it is spectacular to see. Even with this incredible turnout for Bristol Bears, Maher has been outspoken about such a rise in attendance, and for it not to be a one-off. Rather, she has emphasised the importance of people coming and loving the game, urging more people to connect with the sport.
This is because of such a focus on women’s rugby now in the UK, this popularity should not be just because of the arrival of a player like that of Ilona Maher, but rather because of the game itself, in order to maintain sustainability.
Echoing Maher, in order for women’s sport to grow sustainably we should be wary of sporadic turnouts. This is due to the fact that as fans, we want to see the game consistently grow, and for people to fall in love with whichever sport they decide, for the sport not just for the player. This has been a running theme within
“ Maher must emphasise that she is a player of the sport, not just a social media star
women’s sport, particularly with women’s football in the UK. With the likes of Leah Williamson, Mary Earps, Beth Mead and more, many people come into watching these sports as the result of a player.
Although this may be good in the short term by seeing attendances rise and the game get more attention, this is not the long-term solution to the development of women’s sport. Not only must things be done at a grassroots level to maintain support for the game, but players themselves like Maher must emphasise that they are a player of the sport, not just a social media star, so that people can come into the game for one reason – a player – but stay for the game.
Read the full article online at www.oxfordstudent.com
Tifo to Tears: Arsenal’s Psychological Hurdle Returns
It wasn’t just PSG that beat Arsenal last night — it was the weight of expectation.
The Gunners’ Champions League hopes took a hit in a 1-0 loss that felt heavier than the scoreline suggested. On a night where even the fan-designed tifo got rejected by the club in favour of a blander version, the vibes were off from the start. Arteta’s side looked rattled. Odegaard ghosted through 90 minutes while teenage sub Ethan Nwaneri created more in five. The squad, so often praised for its style and youth, looked short on leadership when it mattered. Wayne Rooney didn’t mince words: Arsenal are struggling with a “psychological fear.” It’s not a lack of talent — it’s a lack of nerve. This is a team that plays like it’s haunted by the final weeks of last season. Social media was even less forgiving. From AFTV meltdowns to Piers Morgan’s sermon, the backlash was instant.
Still, it’s not over. If Barcelona can overturn a four-goal deficit, Arsenal can recover from this. But the pressure’s back on — and the Emirates knows what that usually means.
For a club desperate to prove it belongs at Europe’s top table, the second leg isn’t just a game. It’s a test of belief.
The Boat Race results - in charts
Georgie Allan Additional reporting by Tod Manners
This first chart shows the change in (men’s) boat race winning times over the years - demonstrating a precipitous drop. Both boat races continues towith fluctuations - get ever faster and this year was no exception. The men ‘s race was the 3rd fastest ever, while the women’s was the 5th fastest since their move to the Tideway. Second, this chart shows the winning margins of the crews over the history of the men’s boat race. This chart perhaps shows
a more optimistic view for Oxford - though this year’s men’s performance is visible as the low point since 2005.
Women’s race: Cambridge win by 2 1/2 Lengths
Cambridge women claimed a 2 1/2 length victory in a time of 19:25, whilst Blondie beat Osiris by 4 lengths in a time of 19:17
Men’s race: Cambridge win by 5 1/2 lengths
Cambridge men won by 5 1/2 lengths, their biggest win in over 20 years in a time of 16:57, whilst Goldie defeated Isis by a margin of 4 1/2 lengths
Oxford see complete boatrace rout
Tod Manners discusses OUBC extending their losing run this year in a boat race marred by eligibility controversy
After an acrimonious build-up that included accusations of ‘slimy tactics’ levelled at Oxford and four Cambridge rowers disqualified, the results on the water in this year’s boat race left nothing up for debate. Oxford, for the third consecutive year, suffered defeat in both the Women’s and Men’s races. Cambridge women won by 2 ½ lengths, whilst Cambridge’s men won by 5 ½ lengths. Additionally, both the reserve and lightweight races were won by Cambridge, giving CUBC a clean sweep of the weekend. The women’s race began in chaotic fashion. An underwhelming Oxford start
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quickly devolved into furious clashing of oars, for which Oxford were repeatedly warned. Umpire Sir Matthew Pinsent was soon forced to stop the race as both crews ground to a halt. After considering disqualifying Oxford, Pinsent eventually decided to restart proceedings with Cambridge ⅓ of a length up. However, had Oxford crossed the line first, their earlier clash would have almost certainly disqualified them regardless. The women put up a brave fight from then on, but Cambridge were simply the faster crew, and pulled away slowly but steadily throughout the race.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom for the women’s crew, however. The 2 ½ length margin was a huge improvement on their crushing 7 length loss last year - potentially suggesting a crew on the up. 2 ½ lengths marked their second best result since the current run of 8 consecutive defeats began.
The men’s race, in contrast, began neck-and-neck, but soon turned into an Oxford rout. Both Oxford and Cambridge tore away from the stake boats, but while Cambridge were able to maintain their pace, a visibly less technically assured Oxford crew could not. As has become expected in the past few years
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Oxford began to look scrappier, and once Cambridge had clear water there was no looking back. The eventual margin of 5 ½ lengths is reflective of a crew that looked broken in the final quarterboth physically and mentally - as Cambridge grew in confidence and stature over the course of a race they comfortably dominated.
The Oxford men were under a new coach, the former Australia and Eton coach Mark Fangen-Hall, and while it may be too early to draw conclusions about his tenure, he certainly has his work cut out. The 5 ½ length defeat now stands as Oxford’s worst in more than 20
years. Even the disqualification of a significant portion of Cambridge’s crew in the run-up to race day seemed to make no difference for an Oxford crew that seemed simply out-matched. That said, Cambridge’s Therein lies perhaps the silver lining of the day for Oxford’s men - Cambridge fielded a crew that their coach, Rob Baker, considers to be the his ‘best crew’ ever. OUBC’s men can only hope they do not have to face such a crew again soon.
Read the full article online at www.oxfordstudent.com
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