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Hilary Term, Week 1 | Friday 19 January 2024
The
OXFORD STUDENT The University of Oxford’s Student Newspaper, Est. 1991
Rhodes Professorship of Race Relations renamed
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n the 8th of January, The Oxford University Gazette confirmed the renaming of the Rhodes Professorship of Race Relations following approval from His
Majesty’s Privy Council under the 1923 Universities of Oxford and Cambridge Act. The Chair of this professorship will now be known as the Professor of African Studies. The
Ruby Hurst
University stated that ‘the move reflected this post’s central role in building the University’s African Studies Centre’. The ASC was founded in 2004 and offers a range of post-graduate
New postgraduate medical college to be built in Warneford Gabriella Kchozyan
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Image Credit: Des Blenkinsopp
postgraduate medical college is set to be built in Warneford Park, adjacent to South Park in Headington, as part of its redevelopment plans. Through collaboration a m o n g s t t h e U n i v e r s i t y, O x ford Health NHS Foundation Trust, and philanthropic developer Ian Laing, Warneford Park will be transformed into a brain health sciences campus. Existing Warneford site build-
ings will be repurposed into a new postgraduate college to support multidisciplinary academic and clinical research. The Warneford site currently hosts the University’s Department of Psychiatry and the Oxford Centre for Human Brain Activity. Redeveloping the site includes replacing the 200-year-old Warneford Hospital with one equipped for modern medicine and technology, as well as building the Read more on page 5
Willaim Beinart (who inherited the role from Ranger) stated that ‘in his inaugural lecture, Terry noted his discomfort in bearing the title of the Chair, but then tried to address some complexities in Rhode’s legacy in Zimbabwe’. The controversy around the professorship came to a head at the beginning of 2021 following the BLM movement and, with it, the growing debate around the Cecil Rhodes statue in Oriel College. In May 2021, Oriel College published the results of its Independent Commission looking into its ties to Cecil Rhodes. The Oxford University Gazette announced in February 2021 that the ‘Social Science Division and Oxford School of Global and Area Studies’ had recommended the renaming of the professorship ‘subject to the approval’ of the Privy Council. In the midst of adding an information plaque to Oriel’s statue of Cecil Rhodes and, more recently, renaming the Sackler library, it is clear that the University is increasingly conscious about the language used to talk about, or even suggest, their financial ties to controversial figures of both distant and recent pasts.
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This is a historic moment in our journey towards transforming our city services to electric
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Image Credit: Howard Stanbury
programmes in African Studies. The centre has always been a core focus of the professorship. In an interview with The Cable, Professor Wale Adebanwi (the most recent Chair) said this involved ‘attract[ing] funding to strengthen the financial position’ of the ASC. The University commented that ‘The Rhodes Professor of Race Relations was created in 1953-1954, following a donation from the then Rhodesian Selection Trust’. The Rhodesian Selection Trust was a mining corporation that operated in what was at the time Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe). The University made clear that whilst the donors ‘requested’ the position ‘be named in memory of Cecil Rhodes’, the role ‘has never been funded by Rhodes himself or his financial legacies’. Despite this, the use of Cecil Rhodes’ name in the title unavoidably painted the role as another echo of his greater colonial legacy. The use of ‘race relations’ only furthered Read more on page 3and the colonial connotations dynamics tainting the title. Previous holders of the professorship, namely Terence Ranger, did not shy away from underlining the complications of the position. An article by
- Oxford Bus Company director Luke Marion on the delivery of new buses
2 | Editorial
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
THE EDITORIAL TEAM EDITORS IN CHIEF Tara Earley and Daisy Outram ASSOCIATE EDITORS Sami Jalil and Haochen Wang STRATEGY Rose Henderson and Milo Dennison (Directors), Charlie Bowden, Martin Alfonsin Larsen, Emily Hudson CREATIVE Elliot Francolla (Director), Blane Aitchison, Seraph Lee, Cameron Samuel Keys
NEWS Gaspard Rouffin, Audrey Davidson-Houston, Ruby Hurst, Tasneem Jodiyawalla, Gabriella Kchozyan, Valida Pau, Rebecca Whalley COMMENT Jack Arrowsmith, Thomas Cowan, Leah Gelber, Amelia Gibbins, Johannes Riese PROFILE Haochen Wang, Cora Alina Blau, Audrey DavidsonHouston, Tallulah Hawley IDENTITY Sami Jalil, Georgia Ferris, Nina Naidu PINK Etienne Baker, Elsie Haldane, Jacob Newby COLUMNISTS Blane Aitchison, Sharon Chau, Amanda Li, Nina Naidu, Jonah Poulard, Matthew Taylor FEATURES Martin Alfonsin Larsen, Nayana Juliette Syed, Purav Menon CULTURE Keng Yu Lai, Amelia Gibbins, Tallulah Hawley, Isra Khan GREEN Bridget Harrington, Ava Chan, Sabine Zednik-Hammonds SCITECH Samkeet Shah, Ava Chan, Gabriella Kchozyan OXYOU Olly DeHerrera, Zaid Magdub, Florence Purcell FOOD & DRINK Johannah Mathew, Rebecca Whalley SPORT Thomas Thornton, Purav Menon, Johannes Riese PODCAST Haochen Wang, Treya Agarwal, Matthew Holland, Kitty Vesey, Cindy Yu
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From the Editors
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t’s very thrilling to graduate from an Associate to an EiC editorial, with a few more words to play around with – they’ll inevitably be used for InDesign slander, of course, but there’s nothing new there. I wasn’t planning on applying for Editor-in-Chief until recently, when I realised how much the paper had impacted my university experience. When I joined OxStu last Hilary, I felt very lost, but a year on and things have completely flipped – I’ve made some of my closest friends here, and I’m thankful to get to see them so often (albeit it in the SU offices). I hope
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we can provide that experience for someone else, too. Thank you to the entire team for their hard work this week – it has been an absolute pleasure to put our first print edition together! My apologies (and massive thanks) go to Daisy, who has had to endure far too many hours of my voice this vac, with our daily 3-hour calls keeping our plans, and our sanity, afloat. And a shout out to Rose, Milo, and Charlie, for their unending support with the organisation of the paper and admittedly good company. Finally, thanks to Haochen and Sami for taking up the running of the podcast and the newsletter respectively; their contributions have been invaluable. I can’t wait for this term to kick off properly – stay tuned for some amazing things from OxStu.
Tara Earley
Hertford College
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ilary can often be a difficult term for Oxford students, with grim weather conditions and the academic deadlines to match. Last year I was a first-year Law student preparing for Mods and next year I’ll be a finalist coming to terms with the reality of exams, so I’m grateful for the chance to take on the role of Editor-in-Chief this year. OxStu has been a fantastic addition to my university experience, with the wonderful team and endless chances to engage with the student community via News. Controversy and chaos aside, that section gave me a
passion for student journalism and the stories we tell here that makes running the paper this term an absolute pleasure. A massive thank you goes to Tara for being such a supportive and helpful co-editorin-chief. Despite our ongoing difference of opinion on Taylor Swift, preparing for and starting this term together has been an absolute joy. Thanks also go to our new Deputy Editors who braved InDesign for the first time with more enthusiasm than I could ever expect, and of course to Rose, Milo, Charlie, and Emily for the ongoing guidance to keep us on the right path. Hilary may be difficult, but with all the excellent contributions to our prints, podcasts, and newsletters across the weeks there’s a lot to look forward to.
Daisy Outram
St Hugh's College
Editors’ Picks Comment
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joined the Oxford Student in Trinity term of 2023 as the Deputy Editor of the Identity section, and it's been such a pleasure to work with a broad range of people on some really interesting articles covering aspects of identity like learning disabilities, cultural differences, sexuality and more. I never thought I was "good enough" to take on the role of Associate Editor, but I'm now super excited to contribute to the paper in as many ways as I can. Tara and Daisy have a great vision for the paper, and alongside my fellow associate Haochen, I can't wait to see what we achieve this term!
Sami Jalil
full calendar year ago, in HT23, I “started” on the OxStu as a Features section editor where, due to an unforeseen illness and general poor time management, I barely made any contributions. Since then, I’ve tried to remedy my mistakes by writing for as many sections as I can, and safe to say, writing and editing for the OxStu has certainly been some of the highlights of my past few terms Looking forward, I hope the OxStu editorial initiation of Week 1 lay-in was enjoyable for those just joining us, and keep your eyes peeled for some great writing this term!
St Catherine's College
Pembroke College
Haochen Wang
The year of elections: A watershed moment for democracy
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Features
Pink
Saving Oxford Mutual Aid after a decade of Tory failure
Would a Labour government improve LGBTQ+ rights in the UK?
20
Sport Age of extremes? Youth and longevity in modern sport
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The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
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University spends over £2000 on Rad Cam clean-up
In your inbox
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News | 3
Rose Henderson News Editor
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his week's episode "Crankstart-ing the term" features:
Crankstart Vice-President Francesca Clifford discusses access, outreach, and mentorship provided by the scholarship programme. Our hosts highlight the social community the organisation seeks to foster via their questions
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GUEST:
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EiCs' corner: Daisy and Tara provide a behindthe-scenes view of the paper's work this week
Article spotlight: "Organic food: Fact or fad?" by Bridget Harrington
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he University of Oxford spent £2,487.36 on removing paint from the Radcliffe Camera and subsequent conservation work after the Just Stop Oil protest in October. The environmental activist group sprayed the building with its signature orange paint on the 10th October. The police arrested two activists, Daniel Knorr and Noah Crane, who had sprayed the paint and were taking part in a sit-down protest outside the library. The paint was removed using the ‘doff cleaning process’ which is a “gentle process of cleaning stone using steam”. It has a low carbon footprint, as it only requires water heated to around 150 degrees, as opposed to any harsh chemicals. At the time of the protest,
Bodleian Libraries said, “our priority at this time remains ensuring that readers have access to our collections, removing the paint and restoring the building to its previous state.” The protest was part of a series of demonstrations at universities across the country in October and November, with Leeds and Manchester also targeted. While Manchester’s cleaning costs were similar, at £1,436, the cleanup of Leeds’ Great Hall was significantly more at £15,000. The Great Hall is a Grade II listed Gothic Revival building. The Radcliffe Camera is a Grade I listed building that houses the University’s History Faculty Library. It was closed briefly after the protest, with access possible via the Bodleian Library and Gladstone Link. The University said, “The University’s Security patrols
Image Credit: Milo Dennison
continue their regular operations around iconic buildings. While there hasn’t been a specific increase in patrols, the security teams are wellinformed about the paint protest tactics employed by the JSO group, and are prepared to respond effectively to any potential security challenges.’ The University is signed up to an “Environmental Sustainability Strategy” and is aiming for net zero carbon and biodiversity net gain by 2035. It describes environmental sustainability as “one of the most important and urgent issues facing society.” However, it faced criticism from Just Stop Oil in their statement after the October protest for taking a donation from the manufacturing company Ineos, and hosting companies like Equinor, Norway’s state-owned energy company, at careers fairs.
4 | News
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Oxford becomes electric bus hub with 159 new vehicles Valida Pau News Editor
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xford is launching a new fleet of 159 electric buses on Monday, making the city one of the UK’s leading adopters of zero-emission buses. The new buses will give Oxford more electric buses per capita than major cities, including London and Glasgow. The first buses from the fleet went into service on Monday. Oxford Bus Company will provide 104 electric buses into service, and Stagecoach 55. The project costs a total of
£82.5 million. Bus companies Go-Ahead and Stagecoach, which operate the Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, and City Sightseeing Oxford, invested £43.7m. The rest of the funding came from Oxfordshire County Council’s direct contribution of £6m and a £32.8 million grant from the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme. In an arrangement between the council and operators, the city will have to reduce traffic to cut bus journey times by at least 10% compared to
2019 levels. However, bus companies regularly complain about congestion, especially due to low-traffic neighbourhoods (LTNs) and repetitive maintenance works on the city’s main roads including Woodstock, Banbury, and Cowley roads, leading to blocked bus lanes and service disruption. In November, Oxford Bus Company rolled out 21 electric buses serving Oxford Brookes University and the City Sightseeing buses also run on electricity. To power these new buses, Oxford Bus Company also set
partly or completely flooded in some areas. Whilst it appears that flooding threats and heavy rain are on the decline, the effects of the storm and the flooding continue to be revealed. Following the closure of Abingdon Road, The Oxford Mail announced the temporary closure of the Abingdon Tesco due to rain having submerged the car park. Yesterday’s flood warnings were clear that ‘property flooding is expected’ in some areas of Oxford including areas ‘between Wolvercote down to and including Radley and Jericho’. For many Oxford residents, the threat of damage to their homes is still very much alive. It is unclear what the impact of temporary measures like the sandbag collection scheme at the Redbridge Park and Ride will be. Oxford colleges have taken
lighter stances on their Instagram accounts, with St Hilda’s posting sympathy to their gardeners, Pembroke Boat Club locating their post to ‘underwater’, and LMH’s post noting the college is ‘even more river-adjacent than usual’ and also asking the question ‘does anyone have memories of the water levels being even higher?’. Whilst increased flooding does have roots in climate change, namely rising water levels and temperatures, for Oxford, it is the geographical and geological makeup of the city that has historically left it vulnerable to flooding. Oxford is situated in a narrow valley, and according to the British Geological Survey, it is this, in combination with rain and the ensuing groundwater, that becomes a problem, one exacerbated by the chance for both the Thames and the Cherwell to burst
up a charging hub at its Cowley House depot, while Stagecoach is installing charging points at their Network Oxford site. Once the whole fleet is fully operational, only zero-emission buses will be allowed in Oxford. The city has already worked on different traffic restrictions, implementing several low-traffic neighbourhoods
Image Credit: Valida Pau
Oxford flooded by Storm Henk Ruby Hurst News Editor
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arge parts of the nation have been left flooded and the emergency services stretched to their limits following Storm Henk. Oxford and Oxfordshire have been particularly affected, with severe weather warnings being issued by the Environment Agency as a result. Aerial footage by the BBC has captured the extent to which Oxford has been hit, with some areas completely submerged. Parks, roads, and rivers appear blurred together by the high water levels across the city. The Oxford City Council also posted on X yesterday, warning of the ‘serious risk of life’ posed by the footpaths near waterways. Many walkways, including Christ Church Meadow, University Parks, and the Oxford Canal, are
Image Credit: Gaspard Rouffin
and introducing several “bus gates” that block unauthorised vehicles. More traffic filters are expected to roll out by the end of 2024 to push people towards public transport. “This is a historic moment in our journey towards transforming our city services to electric,” said Luke Marion, Oxford Bus Company managing director.
their banks. The floods of 1947 are often named as the last extreme floods in Oxford. An article published in The Oxford Times in March 1947 noted how in Oxford fashion, ‘punts were used to reach isolated farms and homesteads to deliver food and other necessities’. An account from 1852 published in The Illustrated London News called ‘The Inundation of Christchurch Meadows, Oxford’, included a drawing of a flooded Christ Church Meadows followed by the statement that many witnesses had said the ‘Cherwell and Isis are, in extent more like seas than rivers’. The Environment Agency, The Oxford City Council, and other environmental bodies are currently developing what is known as The Oxford Flood Scheme. This scheme, expected to cost around £176 million, has been put forward as the solution to Oxford’s
Image Credit: Gaspard Rouffin
flooding problems. It proposes the creation of a stream, built with limited hard engineering, that would behave as a normal stream and act as a natural flood defence. The scheme should help manage Oxford’s flood risk over the next 100 years. Currently £40 million has been raised, but legal procedures and planning permission difficulties are holding it up. Whilst it may feel as though the storm is passing, The Oxford City Council posted on X that the Environment Agency has announced that the Thames and Cherwell have reached their peak and ‘may remain at this level for the next 24-48 hours’. In the coming days, students will make their journeys back to a much wetter Oxford, forced to plan their routes around road closures and more congestion than usual.
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
News | 5
Vaults & Garden Café and University New Church dispute escalates postgraduate medical college A to be built in Warneford Park Rebecca Whalley News Editor
Gabriella Kchozyan News Editor
Cont. from page 1
University college in addition to academic and commercial research laboratories. Full approval for the redevelopment project has not yet been granted. A Conditional Option Agreement (COA) and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) have been signed by the collaborating stakeholders as of the 8th of January. According to the Scoping Opinion submitted to Oxford City Council, the development scheme is divided into two phases. The first focuses on the construction of the new hospital and research facilities, while the second involves the new postgraduate college and accommodation. Construction of the new college and student accommodation is scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed within two years. While many buildings will be demolished, the new hub for research
Garden) ‘intends to vigorously defend any possession proceedings on a number of grounds.’ Pouget’s dispute of the eviction notice is supported by a petition amassing over 11,000 signatures, with a goal of 15,000. However, tensions have escalated further over the past month, with Pouget claiming that those at the church are now hindering customer access to the disabled toilet facilities. Although the facilities have been freely available to use since 2011, Pouget said that recently the PCC have insisted that a member of church staff be present to supervise the use of the toilet, or customers could use an alternative toilet inside of the church. A spokesperson for the PCC said that supervision is necessary due to fire safety and insurance reasons, but Pouget claimed this had only become apparent over the last few months. In an update to the petion from Christmas Eve, Pouget said that the access code for the disabled toilet facilities has recently been changed by church staff and not shared with those at the café. He also
said that church members of staff are not always available to provide the code, which then inconveniences his disabled customers. The update also states that solicitors instructed by the church suggested that disabled customers could instead use a toilet around 150 yards away from the church via Catte Street and the High Street. Mr Pouget said, ‘to expect anyone with mobility issues to make this journey, possibly in bad weather, is cruel and unacceptable’. Mr Pouget feels the dispute over the disabled toilet facilities have only come about because of the legal dispute, having had no access issues for the past twelve years.
Image Credit: Ron Adams
fter months of the row over an eviction notice served by University Church, the owner of the popular Vaults and Garden café, William Pouget, has said those at the church are now hindering customers’ access to the disabled toilet facilities. The café, located directly across from the Radcliffe Camera, has been a very popular spot for locals and students for over twenty years. The café also won the 2016 Oxford Restaurant Award for the most sustainable Oxfordshire restaurant, and prides itself on its commitment to social and environmental amelioration. However, in August, Pouget received a three-month eviction notice from the Parochial Church Council (PCC) of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Pouget has since disputed the notice. A county court hearing took place in November, resulting in the decision to allow the café to file for a full defence. Legal proceedings are expected to resume in March. The PCC said in a press release that they have plans to create a new social enterprise at The Old Congregation House, inside which the café is currently based. They also plan to spend £750,000 on improving accessibility, landscaping and redeveloping the café facilities. The PCC claimed that it has ‘sought to engage the current café licensee constructively about its plans for some time but has not been able to reach agreement about a way forward. The PCC will be seeking to develop a new social enterprise for the café once the works are completed.’ However, with the ‘advice of leading lawyers in both ecclesiastical and civil law’, Fresh Connection Ltd (the owner company of Vaults and
Offers were released on Tuesday 9th January this year, with this being the fourth year in a row that interviews have been conducted online. However, most admissions tests this year, apart from the Thinking Skills Assessment (TSA) and Biomedical Assessment Test (BMAT) were held online for the first time. Many students reported
issues with the online software for the English Literature Assessment Test (ELAT), Geography Admissions Test (GAT) and Mathematics Admission Test (MAT) required for Maths and Computer Science. Following this disruption, the University said that the results for the ELAT and GYAT would not be counted in the admissions process, and that Mathematics can-
didates would have the option to take a supplementary test. The University has stated that tests are only one element of the admissions process, and that candidates’ academic records and assessments are considered alongside personal circumstances to help assess their potential. It added that courses whose admissions processes were
affected by technical difficulties adjusted their requirements to ensure that no candidate was unfairly disadvantaged this year. Most applicants will find out if they have secured their offers on A-Level Results Day. This year, this will be on Thursday 15th August.
and clinical care will remain sensitive to Warneford’s cultural heritage and historic setting. The Headington site is anticipated to become a leading provider of mental health care both across Oxfordshire and the NHS, as well as a producer of world-class research and innovation. The establishment of the new college aims to support clinicians and researchers. Warneford Park has been carefully considered and examined as the location for the new University college. Located near scientific institutions such as the Big Data Institute, the transformation of Warneford presents an opportunity to foster a multidisciplinary academic environment, coordinate research efforts, and provide clinical care. Creation of the new brain sciences hub likewise marks a turning point in historically low investment in clinical brain research. Redevelopment plans are still underway.
Image Credit: Ash Shuan
Image Credit: Tony Hisgett
University makes 3800 undergraduate offers for 2025 entry Tasneem Jodiyawalla News Editor
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he University of Oxford has announced it has made around 3800 offers to students for undergraduate study for this admissions cycle (2023-2024). This is an increase of 1% compared to 2023, when around 3700 offers were made.
6 | News
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Broad Street pedestrian project to become permanent Charlie Bowden News Editor
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he experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) on Broad Street is set to become permanent following recommendations from Oxfordshire County Council officers. The council plans to introduce permanent tactile paving and dropped kerbs if the permanent TRO is approved. The decision will be made by Cllr Andrew Gant, the Cabinet Member for Transport Management, at a meeting on Thursday 14 December. The temporary TRO, part of a public realm scheme called the Broad Street Project, was approved in July 2022. The experimental period was agreed to last between autumn 2022 and spring 2024. The initiative was based on positive feedback from the transformation of part of the street into ‘Broad Meadow’ between July and October 2021. When the 18-month trial scheme was first announced, Cllr Liz Leffman, Leader of Oxfordshire Coun-
ty Council, said that the project would create “one of the city centre’s largest outdoor inclusive public spaces inviting people to meet and relax between shopping, grabbing a light meal, taking in the sights or to enjoy events that can be staged in the vibrant arts space it provides.” The experimental TRO has cost Oxfordshire County Council £500,000 to implement, supported by £85,000 of developer funding. Any funds remaining from the initial budget have been recommended to be put towards the tactile paving and dropped kerbs. The experimental TRO included a six-month consultation period to understand the impact and overall success of the scheme, including an online survey for local residents to fill out. More than 700 survey responses were received, with 60% of them stating that they ‘really liked’ or ‘generally liked’ the scheme. However, some respondents had concerns about road safety on such a busy
street, since the layout of the scheme provided minimal highway lines and signs for drivers to pay attention to. They also noted the frequency of larger vehicles such as buses and delivery vans passing through Broad Street. These concerns were shared by the University’s colleges and associated organisations on or close to Broad Street, who submitted a consolidated letter to the consultation calling
for the implementation of a traffic management plan. Some responses to the online survey contained suggestions to improve the project in the future, including planting trees in the ground instead of in wooden planters and improving the quality of the furniture to match the surrounding buildings. Both the three-month Broad Meadow scheme and the 18-month experimental TRO removed the availability of pay and display park-
in 2022 winning England’s first major women’s tournament win at the Euros. Rex Orange County, real name Alexander James O’Connor, is a 25 year old singer from Hampshire. Having recently risen to popularity, his music style has been described by critics as “a bright blend of hip-hop, jazz, and bedroom pop”. He will be speaking at the Union on Friday 8th March. Jonny Wilkinson is a former rugby player, who played for Newcastle and Toulon, and won fame at several international tour-
naments. His speaker event will take place on Tuesday 6th February. He is recognised as one of the best rugby players of all time, and scored the winning drop goal in the last seconds of the 2003 World Cup final against Australia. He was subsequently named BBC Sports Personality of the Year. Stephen Tries, a British YouTuber and comedian with over 1 million subscribers on social media, will also be speaking at the Union this term. He will be taking part as a guest speaker in the week eight
comedy debate, alongside prank duo Josh Pieters and Archie Manners. The week three chamber debate at the Union this term will be “This House has No Confidence in the United Nations”, which will feature several current and former UN officials. Speaking in proposition at this debate will be Craig Mokhiber, the former US human rights official to the United Nations, who resigned in October denouncing the UN’s response to the war in Gaza, and describing the situation as “textbook genocide”. Other speakers at this debate include Sir Geoffrey KC, a British judge currently chairing the China and Uyghurs tribunal; former UN disarmament representative Angela Kane; British diplomat Lord Hannay of Chiswick; and UK representative to the UN, James Kariuki. In week two, the Union will be hosting a “varsity debate”, opposing speakers from both Oxford and Cambridge Union, which will be debating the motion “This House Believes Money Can Buy You Happiness”. A special event about the place of religion in poli-
Image Credit: Tara Earley ing options on Broad Street. Oxford Clarion reported that Oxfordshire County Council will forgo £350,000 of annual revenue by removing the parking spaces, but plans to recoup some of those losses through event income. Feedback from the consultation, in conjunction with monitoring and analysis from County Council officers, contributed to a report which will be considered in the meeting.
Leah Williamson, Rex Orange County join Union Termcard Gaspard Rouffin Head of News
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he Oxford Student can exclusively reveal a number of extra speaker events for the Oxford Union HT24 termcard. New speakers include England Women’s Football Captain Leah Williamson, singer Rex Orange County, rugby player Jonny Wilkinson, and YouTuber and comedian Stephen Tries. Leah Williamson is an English international footballer, who plays for Arsenal as a central defender or midfielder. She captains the Lionesses, who made history
Image Credit: NATO
tics, featuring the Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral, former Green Party leader Natalie Bennett, and conservative MPs, will also be taking place in week six. Union President Hannah Edwards told The Oxford Student: “I’m so excited to finally share the Hilary 2024 termcard. As ever, the Union is at the heart of today’s important discussions, be it questioning whether we have confidence in the United Nations, or examining the UK’s immigration policies. At the same time, the Union can also be, simply, fun! I can’t wait to hear from football legend Leah Williamson, or to watch the comedy debate with Stephen Tries. I hope our members have a great term with us – stay tuned for more events coming later on!” An announcement in Cherwell earlier last week also revealed that the Union HT24 line-up included British political strategist Dominic Cummings, rapper Lil Pump, and American internet personality Gabbie Hanna, as well as debates on the Russia-Ukraine war, the values of the Labour party.
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Oxford Academics honoured in New Years Honours List Tara Earley
Editor in Chief
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everal University of Oxford members have been recognised in the 2024 New Year Honours List, which celebrates the service and achievements of outstanding people across the UK. The List includes Professor Molly Stevens, who has been appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for services to Medicine. Professor Stevens is a professor of Bionanoscience at the Department of Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics and the Institute for Biomedical Engineering. She also leads the Stevens Group, a research programme pioneering accessible healthcare technologies, and has won over 40 awards, most recently the Novo Nordisk Award in 2023. Professor Neil Mortensen has been knighted for services to Surgery. He is a Professor of Colorectal Surgery at the University of Oxford Medical School, and an Emeritus Fellow of Green Templeton College. Professor Mortensen chairs Occtopus, the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust charity, supporting breakthrough research and treatments for
colorectal diseases. He commented: “Surgeons deserve the recognition implied in this honour and I am grateful to accept it on their behalf.” Professor Roger Goodman was awarded Commander (CBE) for services to Social Science. Currently a Nissan Professor of Modern Japanese Studies, he served as Head of the University’s Social Sciences Division for ten years. In 1993, Professor Goodman became the first University Lecturer in the Social Anthropology of Japan, and in 2017 was also appointed Warden of St Antony’s College, where he completed his DPhil. Also receiving a CBE is Professor Elizabeth Robertson, Professor of Developmental Biology and research fellow at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, for services to Medical Sciences. She has worked at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, and Columbia, and was awarded the Royal Medal in 2016 for “her innovative work within the field of mouse embryology and development”. Three more academics have been appointed OBE for contributions to their fields. These are Professor Roger
Heath-Brown, Emeritus Fellow at the Mathematical Institute and Magdalen College, for services to Mathematics and Mathematical Research; Professor Julia Yeomans, Head of the Rudolf Peierls Centre for Theoretical Physics, for services to Physics; and Professor Daniela Bortoletto, Head of Particle Physics and member of the Higgs boson discovery team, for services to Particle Physics and to Gender Equality. This marks the first time a member of the University has been honoured for services to Gender Equality. Of the 1,227 people recognised in the 2024 Honours List, 588 were women, totalling 48 percent – this shows a slight decline from 2023, where women comprised 50 percent of re-
cipients. Two Member grades (MBEs) have also been awarded to University members. Alexandra Vincent, Head of Divisional Registrar and Chief Operating Officer of the Humanities Division, received an MBE for services to Research Funding. Professor Matthew Snape, previous Professor of Paediatrics and Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group, has been appointed MBE for services to Public Health. Dorothy Margaret Whittington, a volunteer at Oxford University Newcomers, has also been appointed Medallist (BEM) for services to Volunteering and Higher Education. Associated with the University, Gregory Doran, recently Artistic Director for the Royal
News | 7
Shakespeare Company, has been knighted for services to the Arts. Doran was appointed as the 30th Cameron Mackintosh Visiting Professor of Contemporary Theatre at St Catherine’s College in May 2023, and will direct a student-led production of Shakespeare’s The Two Gentlemen of Verona in Trinity 2024. These recipients join many other stars on the 2024 Honours List. Three Lionesses of the England women’s football squad have been honoured, including BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2023 Mary Earps. Other leading names on the List are Bond singer Shirley Bassey, actress Emilia Clarke, and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
Image Credit: Cameron Samuel Keys for The Oxford Student
Labour MP Nadia Whittome and drag queen River Medway headline Class Act Termcard
Daisy Outram Editor in Chief
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he Oxford Student can exclusively reveal key speakers visiting the Oxford SU Class Act Campaign in Hilary 2024, including MP Nadia Whittome and drag queen River Medway. Nadia Whittome is the MP for Nottingham East and a member of the Labour Party. Elected in 2019, she was the youngest MP in Parliament until last year. In 2023, Whittome was named Future Fighter at the annual GAY TIMES Honours. She is committed to LGBTQ+ activism and has campaigned for an all-encompassing “conversion-therapy” ban as well as supporting transgender healthcare. In education, she completed an Access to Higher Education Diploma at Nottingham College before beginning a law undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham. She has credited her interest in politics to observing the impact of
austerity in her community. River Medway is a drag queen best known for competing in the third series of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK in 2021. Her drag name pays tribute to the River Medway which flows through Medway, her home town in Kent. Medway spoke about losing her mother to COVID-19 in a prominent moment in the show, expressing that “life is too short, you have to live every single day like it’s your last”. She also joined the official RuPaul’s Drag Race UK tour in 2022. These speakers are joined by social communicator and consultant Joris Lechene and author Ione Gamble. Lechene’s cross-cultural background has contributed to his work providing intersectional training on bias and privilege. He trains people in both the public and private sector, including a number of universities. Gamble is the founding editor-in-chief of Polyester zine, an intersectional feminist arts and culture publi-
cation. She wrote the essay collection “Poor Little Sick Girls” reflecting on her experience with disability connected to the place of women in society. Class Act co-chairs Alfie Davis and Eleanor Miller told The Oxford Student: “Class Act is incredibly excited to be hosting this range of working-class icons this term! This Hilary, we’re looking to redefine what it means to be working class
in Oxford beyond the stereotype, platforming queer, PoC and disabled working-class voices. Our members will be treated to talks from some of the leading cultural and community figures of our time, whether this be in politics or drag, in television or publishing. It’s vital to us that we as disadvantaged students see our stories represented in front of us, learning from
Image Credit: Ben Seymour
i n c re d i b l e talent – all for completely free. This is just a taste of what Class Act has to offer in 2024, with many more exciting speakers and events on the horizon! Those interested in attending can join here!” Class Act is one of eight campaigns at the Student Union, and is focused on representing the interests of underprivileged students at the University.
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Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Comment
Deputy Editor: Jack Arrowsmith Section Editors: Thomas Cowan, Leah Gelber, Amelia Gibbins, Johannes Riese comment@oxfordstudent.com
Joey Barton, aggrieved entitlement, and the myth of white male privilege Image Credit: Lily O’Farrell Sam Bankole trap your d**** on people. We have to get to work before the Simps, the Feminists, the Racists and the Woke get their way. A call to action from Joey Barton – aka the “Pied Piper of disaffected football fans” – for those who really care about football to stand against the relentless crusade of discrimination in the game. The
S
“The relentless and unabating crusade of discrimination against (you guessed it!) middle aged, well-off white men.”
relentless and unabating crusade of discrimination against (you guessed it!) middle aged, welloff white men. Discrimination against the group that represents all 10 of the top 10 richest people in the world, the group that has the highest rate of employment in the UK at 83% and accordingly represents 97% of CEOs, CFOs, and chairs of FTSE 100 companies. How far from 100%, I would
be angry too! As the brother to a racist murderer, and a violent convict himself, Barton seems to be the ideal representative for what the New Statesman called “Britain’s Angry Men,” angry for the not so valid reason that they are no longer enjoying the spotlight they once did. His most notable recent call to arms was after the England Lionesses’ goalkeeper Mary Earps won BBC Sports Personality of the Year – the same year that she won The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper and a spot on the FIFA FIFPro Women’s World XI! Becoming the 3rd consecutive woman to win the award, and the 4th in the last 20 years, Barton’s fury at her winning is only understandable from the perspective of a right-wing traditionalist, who is 70 years out of fashion, and forever out of date. Whether brewing from the bleak realisation that his days on the big screen are over or an early mid-life crisis, Joey Barton has, in the eyes of many of his twitter lackeys, “decided to speak up for the majority of football fans.” Yet as a football fan myself, I can say confidently and proudly that Joey Barton
“A notable controversial figure for his whole career, it is not a complete surprise that Barton has descended into a rabid anti-woke mess, rather the surprise is the manner in which it has gained traction.” does not speak for me when he compares presenters Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward to the notorious serial killers and child abusers Rose and Fred West (and I would hope he doesn’t speak for you too). Neither does he speak for me when he sits in his living room alone, recording his TV, sitting silently and obediently when the men speak, but jumping to drown out the women with his bigoted audio descriptions such as “it’s like watching EastEnders,” “who is she,” and purposefully butchering the names of presenters in a unique yet somewhat impres-
sive combination of both his sexist and racist tendencies. A notably controversial figure for his whole career, it is not a complete surprise that Barton has descended into a rabid anti-woke mess, rather the surprise is the manner in which it has gained traction. It is clear that Barton is not alone in his corner, and sur- prisingly, it is also clear that those who agree with him do not do so because he has formed a sort of Trumpian personality cult, but because they agree with his views and the substance of what he says. Whilst speculations on Reddit are that Joey Barton may be doing this all as a grift for a new book or TV show announcement, others in this same camp are spewing this hatred without a need to grift. The Lieutenant Colonel of this camp is the entitled, blood money manbaby Elon Musk. Since his purchase of Twitter (which I still call it in conscientious objection to his imposed minimalism), the world’s richest man has shown himself to be a true advocate of free speech for all. Introducing the Twitter Blue system to boost the tweets of those who pay a subscrip-
tion, whilst also introducing ad placement and payouts based on this revenue has had the not-not intended effect of an increase in right-wing clickbait content. But increased ad revenue does not explain the daily torrent of hate-filled outlashes from Elon Musk himself. It does not explain why Mr Musk posts daily criticisms of the evil that is DEI, constantly denounces “anti-white discrimination,” fuels whataboutism of the falling birth rate of white women and rising population of nonwhite people and reposts videos of ‘immigrants streaming through the southern border,’ to prove an “invasion” into the ‘first world’ by the ‘third world’. This sentiment does not appear from nothing. Newton’s Third Law makes it clear that every action has a reaction. And
“Newton’s Third Law makes it clear that every action has a reaction. And therefore, every reaction has an action.”
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
therefore, every reaction has an action. So, what was the action? Combining all the symptoms, it seems that Joey Barton, Elon Musk, and their agreeable flocks are suffering from a chronic case of aggrieved entitlement. A concept referring to the anger and resentment from individuals of a dominant or privileged group when they feel they are losing their traditional privileges to which they believe they are entitled. There is a feeling from this group that they have suffered an injustice and been victimised by social changes that have redistributed the rights and privileges they had exclusively enjoyed for centuries. Though let me be clear, the problem is not the existence of this group, it is an ignorance of their privilege, and the dangerous victimisation mindset.
“It seems that Joey Barton, Elon Musk, and their agreeable flocks are suffering from a chronic case of aggrieved entitlement.”
From being manifested in silent grumbles, this has now grown into outspoken protest, and will only continue to grow. With seriousness, the solution to this problem is not to ignore it. It must be noted that it is not just something that will go away. In one of Barton’s most vile tweets, he recorded his young sons playing football, with a caption that when they grow older “there will be no jobs for them in the football industry because they are white, middle aged and male,” with a comment that such men are “under attack.” Whilst the majority of comments questioned his sanity, pointed out his blatant insecurity and asked if he forgot about his daughter, there were again those who agreed with his views. Whilst seemingly a mindless rant on the surface, the Medium noted it is rather “a dangerous, cunningly constructed manipulative tweet that borrows from the worst political groups in history,” using children as emotional appeal and likening it to the sort of rhetoric appealing to online extremists. Yet these extremists do not stay online, and this incel culture often spills out into the real world, with real world con-
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The heart and soul: Why we need morality in politics
sequences, seen in the high rates of femicide in the UK at over 1681 women between 2009 and 2020 . That is one thousand six
“Yet these extremists do not stay online, and this incel culture often spills out into the real world, with real world consequences.”
hundred and eighty one who had their lives stolen for reasons relating PURELY to the fact that they were born as one sex instead of another. Not to forget Jake Davidson and Elliot Rodger, mass murderers here in the UK who targeted women due to influence from this type of rhetoric. This is the same on the basis of race. I do not have to remind us all of the murder of George Floyd in 2020 dredging up unending reports of rampant racebased violence both in the US and the UK. Not to forget also the general systemic discrimination against all racial groups, with wide-ranging knock-on effects ranging from weird looks when walking into a room, to lower rates of internal job progression, to lower rates of home ownership, high child poverty and juvenile delinquency, all of which are linked by a uniting factor leading to an unending cycle.
“The next time you overhear someone spewing bigoted hatred, don’t just ignore it and avoid them.”
And so, the next time you see a tweet, TikTok or Instagram post echoing these dangerous views, don’t just scroll past it and hope that the issue will solve itself. The next time you overhear someone spewing bigoted hatred, don’t just ignore it and avoid them. But neither should we unabatedly bash them for it either, continuing the venomous cycle of cancel culture. Instead take a moment to educate them taking the time to explain the danger this mindset poses to the cohesion of our society, whether they choose to listen or not. It may not be our job, but it is our obligation.
Thomas Thornton
I
n a 1981 interview with the Times, Margaret Thatcher said of her politics, ‘Economics are the method; the object is to change the heart and soul’. Thatcherism was more than just an economic programme but a proselytising mission, and this has implications for modern readers. Since the 1990s, we have had a deep lack of moral conviction in politics, and this has cheapened our political culture. In a world where spin seems to matter more than substance, morality is the way back to the more engaged politics which we are in desperate need of. For many, this may seem antithetical to the modern idea of politics; to create a government that is neutral on what it means to live a good life. And while morality in politics has been the reserve of theocrats and bigots, there is no reason why this needs to be so.
“Since the 1990s, we have had a deep lack of moral conviction in politics, and this has cheapened our political culture.”
It would be useful to begin with why the idea of moral-
Image Credit: Houses of the Oireachtas
ity in politics rightly has such as bad reputation in the 21st century. It is true that moralists of the past such as Mary Whitehouse argued against the liberal reforms of the 1960s such as the legalisation of homosexuality and abortion. For many people like me, this has created a fear of pushing our own moral views on others, becoming just as bad as Whitehouse only from another perspective. Morality, however, cannot be separated from politics even if we wanted it to. Additionally, by rejecting a moralistic approach I believe liberals give away ground to others who do make moral appeals to voters. Jonhathan Haidt in his fantastic book, The Righteous Mind, makes a compelling case for the role of morals in politics. He compares our brain to an elephant and rider; the rider the rational part of our mind, the elephant the emotional and moral side. While the rider may like to pretend they are in charge, we all know who the boss truly is. For Haidt, this gives an understanding of politics that a purely rational explanation cannot. Liberals for decades have wondered why Conservatives or Republicans, especially from poorer backgrounds, vote for a party that penny pinches on welfare while cutting taxes for the rich. Haidt argues that this misunderstands voting; conservatives do vote
in their interests, just their moral interests. His framing of morality as the prime way in which people understand politics and voting is persuasive, asking questions about how politicians should best appeal to voters.
“...by rejecting a moralistic approach I believe liberals give away ground to others who do make moral appeals to voters.”
While I do believe politics is inherently moral, I also think that this is not necessarily a bad thing, and that we can use morality to help promote a healthier political debate. To bring this back to Thatcher, she is a good example of a ‘conviction politician’, a term she used about herself. While this can be understood as someone who stands up for their fundamental beliefs against criticism, I think it is more than this. A conviction politician is someone who links individual morality to politics. Thatcher, for example, saw privatization and the expansion of home ownership both as politically desirable, but also a moral imperative. A freer market would help to produce more independent and self-reliant people, which
10 | Comment
was the ultimate aim of her politics - to change the ‘heart and soul’. Thatcher’s morality is one of the reasons why so many love and hate her. One of her greatest opponents, Tony Benn, I think is another good example of morality in politics. For him, greater industrial democracy and economic redistribution was both a political and moral good, and so he would fit this definition of a conviction politician too. These two great conviction politicians helped to make 1980s politics what it was, with two political ideologies representing different moral visions of the country. I don’t think anyone can say the same thing today.
“...we can use morality to help promote a healthier political debate.”
For those who feel disenfranchised from politics, I think this is the solution. When I see Starmer and Sunak, the thing that strikes me most is their lack of moral vision. Both seem content to tinker with GDP, rather than address the most important issues. This is perhaps reflected in the lack of engagement with politics, with membership of both main political parties down since the 1950s, and voter turnout down from 83% in 1950 to 67% in 2019. To bring these people back to politics, we need to have a greater moral appeal.
“It will require not just political, but moral change to fully address these problems.”
In a world where issues like climate change require national and international solutions; perhaps our individualistic society cannot fully live up to this task? If not, it will require not just political, but moral change to fully address these problems. To finish, I’ll end with a quote from Robert Kennedy, who said of Gross National Product in 1968, ‘It measures neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom nor our learning, neither our compassion nor our devotion to our country, it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile’.
The year of elections: A watershed moment for democracy Johannes Riese
2
024 is the year of elections. Over forty countries will hold elections, including eight out of the ten most populous countries in the world. Two billion adults will have the opportunity to cast ballots. Everyone will rightly be fixated on the US presidential election. With an increasingly likely rerun of the 2020 election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, the stakes could not be higher for America or the world. Trump’s statements that he will act like a “dictator for a day” and invoking Hitler by referring to his political opponents as “vermin” should send shivers down the spine of anybody who believes in liberal democracy. His singular mission of retribution threatens the foundations of America’s democratic institutions. Yet the possibility of a second Trump term is far from the only election outcome that will have a profound impact on the institutions we hold sacred. Across the pond, the elections to the European Parliament will be held in June. The results will determine who occupies the most important offices in the EU and the general policy direction of the union. Current opinion polls show that Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy comfortably lead, Marine Le Pen’s Nation Rally is 10 points ahead of Macron’s party, and the Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) consistently poll over 20%. In other words, the far-right ECR and ID groups in the European Parliament are expected to be the big winners in the election. With the EU preparing for the next round of enlargement and accession talks opening with Ukraine and Moldova, fundamental institutional changes are necessary. The far-right parties present the biggest challenge, as many of them had
close links to Russia before the invasion and are Eurosceptic in nature. For instance, Le Pen took out a loan from a Russian bank, and her EU strategy has been labelled “Frexit in all but name”. Simultaneously, in response to the far-right surge, the centre-right EPP group has shifted to the right, further undermining the broad centrist consensus that typically characterises the European Parliament.
“The very institutions and principles that make such contests viable are on the ballot across the globe.”
In April or May, India is expected to hold elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu-nationalist party BJP are heavily favoured to win a third consecutive term with their own majority. The main opposition Congress party that dominated the political scene after independence seems incapable of mounting a serious challenge. Modi, the world’s most popular leader, has targeted political opponents, undermined the freedom of the press, and has consistently stoked anti-Muslim sentiments throughout his career. The Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi was convicted of defamation and sentenced to two years in prison after insulting Modi during a rally in 2023 before the Supreme Court suspended the decision. Last year, the government banned a BBC documentary that shed light on Modi’s actions during the sectarian violence during the 2002 riots in Gujarat. As a governor of the state, Modi has been accused of complicity in the violence against Muslims, a track record he has continued
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Image Credit: Government of India
as prime minister. This year marks the 30-year celebration since the end of apartheid, but the situation in South Africa is bleak. The country suffers from regular blackouts and the highest unemployment rate in the world. The late Nelson Mandela’s former party, the ANC, is mired in corruption, even including the sitting president Cyril Ramaphosa. An independent panel suggested that Ramaphosa had committed misconduct after millions of dollars were stolen from his farm without it being reported in a scandal known as Farmgate. The ANC enjoyed its own majority since the end of apartheid until the 2021 elections and their support is expected to shrink even more this time. They might be forced to join forces with the Marxist-Leninist EFF, which has long advocated for land expropriation against white farmers. The second-biggest party Democratic Alliance has called for the opposition to unite to unseat the ANC. The Mexican presidential election in June stands out as two female candidates are expected to duke it out. The popular incumbent Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) is barred by the constitution from seeking re-election. Instead, his protégée former Mexico City mayor Claudia Sheinbaum is the candidate for the governing Morena Party. The opposition parties have united under the banner Broad Front for Mexico in the hope of defeating Sheinbaum, with former senator Xochitl Gálvez as their candidate. It is up for debate to what extent Sheinbaum is expected to follow AMLO’s undemocratic policies. AMLO attempted to defund the country’s independent election watchdog, loosen limits on how public officials campaign, and transfer control of the National Guard (a fed-
eral police force) from civilians to the military. The Supreme Court has ruled each move unconstitutional, with AMLO calling the judges “rotten”. A dynasty is in the making in Indonesia in the February presidential elections. The incumbent president Joko Widodo, known as Jokowi, is barred by the constitution from seeking a new term. However, the Minister of Defence, Prabowo Subianto, is the current frontrunner and his running mate is none other than Jokowi’s eldest son Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Indonesia’s highest court gave Raka an exception to a minimum 40-year age requirement to be allowed to run for office. It may have been helpful that Jokowi’s brother-in-law is the chief justice.
“Two billion adults will have the opportunity to cast ballots...”
What is even more problematic is Subianto’s past. He had strong ties to Indonesia’s former military dictator Suharto, being formerly married to his daughter. Under the dictatorship, Subianto led the army’s special forces, and his troops conducted massacres in East Timor. Following the collapse of Suharto’s regime, Subianto was dishonourably discharged. His main opponents, the governor of Central Java Ganjar Pranowo and the governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan, have no such dark track records. This year most elections are not just about competing policy visions for what the future of a country should look like. The very institutions and principles that make such contests viable are on the ballot across the globe. 2024 will prove to be a watershed moment for democracy, not just in America.
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
HILARY
FAIR Oxford Town Hall 23rd January 10:00-16:00
Join us in the Town Hall where you will find your favourite local businesses, big brands and charities to re-introduce yourself to Oxford.
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12 | Profile
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Profile
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student Deputy Editor: Haochen Wang Section Editors: Cora Alina Blau, Audrey Davidson-Houston, Tallulah Hawley profile@oxfordstudent.com
of the week
Meet the Editors-in-Chief for HT24
Audrey Davidson-Houston
D
aisy Outram and Tara Earley are our Editorsin-Chief for Hilary Term 2024. They are both secondyears, with Daisy studying Law at St Hugh’s and Tara taking History and Politics at Hertford. This profile discusses their experiences in student journalism, their opinions on the field, and their plans for the paper this term. Audrey Davidson-Houston: Congratulations on your promotions, and all the best for the paper for the new term. What inspired you to apply for the role of Editor-in-Chief? Tara Earley: I wanted to be Editor-in-Chief firstly because I’ve had such a great experience at the paper. I’ve worked at OxStu for a year now, writing for Comment, Features, Food & Drink, and recently directing our podcast. It’s been a complete highlight of my university experience, so being EiC in that sense is selfish as I want to spend as much time working on the paper as possible! But it’s also been a really inclusive environment, and a place where I’ve made a lot of friends and gained a lot of confidence. So, I think providing a welcoming space like that for new editors, particularly freshers (as I was when I joined), is important. Daisy Outram: Being at the paper has been such a good outlet to go beyond college and subject in terms of meeting people, but when I first applied I definitely didn’t expect to get to this point. I was really inspired by working in the news team when I joined Trinity last year. Covering things like the Kathleen Stock controversy and the coronation was really engaging. The opportunity to not only reflect what’s going on in Oxford but directly interact with the student community is such a big part of it, so having a chance to lead it now is such a pleasure. ADH: Continuing on that theme, what’s been the most rewarding part of your time at the paper? TE: Starting the podcast and
seeing it succeed was a lovely project to work on. We’re currently transcribing episodes at the moment, which is a long process, but looking back on all those hours of content that people have worked hard on and can feel proud of is a great achievement. Also, partnering with the Beehive news platform was amazing, because the whole team’s hard work is being showcased in the same leagues as massive publications like the Guardian. DO: Mine is split into two separate parts. A big highlight for me is quite simply the team. It’s always such an enjoyable experience having everyone’s ideas together in that one room. Then, more personally, I found talking to people around the Stock controversy really interesting. I was proud of my piece on the SU LGBTQ+ response, given the legal research I did on the impact of the new Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act and getting a piece widely read and on the front page was hugely rewarding. ADH: So, you’ve looked at what was most rewarding in the past. Now what are you looking forward to? What’s your vision, looking into the term ahead? DO: One of Tara and I’s big aims for the term is accessibility. We are looking to get as many people involved with the paper as possible, especially now that freshers have got through Michaelmas Term. In
this respect, we are running workshops open to the entire student body so that people, who might see journalism as something too difficult to do or challenging to balance with studies, can see that if you just put yourself out there and get involved, people are always willing to help. We are also focusing more on social media, hoping to promote engagement on X and explore TikTok. TE: I completely agree, accessibility and diversity are key for us. We’re also attending the ReFreshers’ Fair at the Student Union, which will be a good opportunity to meet anyone who hasn’t had the chance to approach us yet and bring some new people and stories into the paper. ADH: You’ve mentioned, and I certainly do agree with the importance of diversification in journalism beyond just print. And since last term we have launched our rapidly developing podcast. What are your plans with continuing that? What do you think the role of social media and the digital world is within student journalism? TE: We’re looking to integrate the podcast more within Oxford. We’ve spoken to lots of our own editors thus far, and it’s been brilliant to hear about their motivations for getting involved in student journalism. But this term, we’re bringing on a wider range of guests, including academics and student
societies. We’re reviewing our social media strategies, as so much of our attention does come online. It’ll be nice to have some new dialogue on and content for TikTok and X, we’ve got our Rordan Gamsay account set up! It’s a good way to show the interactive side of journalism; it doesn’t have to be serious news reporting all the time. DO: We recently changed our social media templates which has done a great job making the way that we present articles online more sleek and professional, helping increase engagement. I really enjoyed appearing on the podcast last term to talk about editing the news section and helping others get involved in that as well. ADH: So, there’s a quite a few major student publication outlets and whether joke or not, there is some competition between all of them. Going forward into 2024, what’s your perspective on the competition between them? DO: I would say that as much as there’s some rivalry between the different student publications, it makes room for healthy competition and a lot of collaboration. We’ve got the Media Soc speaker event with journalist Rozina Breen coming up this term in collaboration with the Oxford Blue and Cherwell. Also, often when reporting on developing news stories where people get differ-
ent pieces of information, you can almost bounce back and forth to further the narrative. I think we’re all able to carve out different niches and contribute effectively to journalism. TE: I think it’s great to see what other publications can bring to the table. Every team and every editorial vision is going to have different aims and different strengths to it. But I think collaboration is so important, it’s something we’re keen to cultivate with the purpose of showing that student journalism is a very wide landscape, going beyond both our publication and our university. ADH: What advice do you have for those who want to get into the student journalism scene? TE: I would encourage people to try and set any qualms aside, and just go for it. We are looking at ways that pitchers can get in touch with us more easily, and turn the editing process into more of a conversation. It can be the case of having lots of ideas, and just no platform to channel them into - that’s what we’re here for. We’re a fantastic team of very friendly, very welcoming individuals who have a great time working together. And anything you want to write about, we can find a place for, and anything you want to write about will have an audience. DO: I can say that before I joined OxStu, I felt much less settled in Oxford than I do now. In joining the paper, you gain such a sense of community and belonging not just within the people you work with here, but in understanding the world around you. Talking to the people relevant to an article’s stories and narratives is a great way to really understand the city and university. Often, you’re already having these conversations with your friends. Talk to someone at the paper about it and get your stories published, because I think people often don’t realise what they have to contribute to student journalism. Full interview available at oxfordstudent.com
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Profile | 13
In conversation with Dr Matthew Williams Image Credit: Jesus College Haochen Wang
E
very year, the monthslong application process to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge culminate in an offer released in January, and this year was no different. On January 9, 2024, the University of Oxford released around 3,800 undergraduate offers. Social media algorithms began displaying two types of content: offer-holders delightfully sharing their joyous news, and those who had not received an offer in bygone years assuring that it’d all turn out all right. Indeed, to many aspiring applicants, an offer from an institution as prestigious as Oxford could be the culmination of years of hard work, and the lack of one, the seemingly crashing down of an empty promise. Amidst this cacophony, I sat down with Dr Matthew Williams, Access Fellow and Politics tutor at Jesus College, to learn more about the vast and challenging work that is admissions to Oxford. Many likely know Matt from his concise, to-the-point, but informationrich videos released on the Jesus College Oxford YouTube channel where he shares a variety of application tips and guides. Safe to say, I watched his videos religiously when I was applying. What do tutors look for in a successful applicant? We look for academic ability and potential as we always have. But we’re also looking to make sure that more people feel like they have the confidence and the power to apply. There are many more people who are eligible to apply than who actually do apply. So, there is a large pool of talent out there who are, for various reasons, just not choosing Oxford, and that’s a problem for us because that means we’re missing out on potentially
some amazing students. We have some amazing students, but we don’t want to be in a situation where, maybe a few years from now, a lot more people will start to think, actually, I don’t want to choose Oxford either. And it becomes more of a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy that Oxford becomes increasingly less diverse, and we lose out even more. So, in terms of what we’re looking for, it’s not changed – it’s always been academic ability and potential. And we don’t operate any biases against people who come from particular backgrounds, such as those recovering from independent schools, but we just want to make sure we’ve taken the best.
“…my role is to make clear that no, we are not just the old, historic buildings; we are not just the thousand year heritage; but we’re also, more importantly, just a group of humans that want to solve some problems.”
Oxford is intimidating, and it’s often daunting to truly believe you – as a student – belong here. What do you think the role of tutors, especially access fellows, are in terms of demystifying Oxford, such a historic and prestigious institution? I see my role as to try and humanise the place because the most powerful thing about Oxford are the human beings, the
“We’re just a group of humans trying to solve problems” humans are the most important resource. It’s a very beautiful city, there are some amazing buildings, there are some fantastic facilities, but that is not Oxford University. For me, Oxford University is this group of incredible humans that have agglomerated in this city for hundreds of years to try and solve problems. That’s Oxford University. And so, tutors are always trying to make clear that this is a human institution with a humane face to it, that’s my job as an access fellow. In a lot of people in their interactions with Oxford, they see it as a brand, which sort of dehumanises it as the University doesn’t seem to have much institutional vulnerability – there are no access points that allow people to think, well, where do I even start? “This is a thousand year old brand, how could they possibly have any interest in someone like me?” is a very common way of thinking. So my role is to make clear that no, we are not just the old, historic buildings; we are not just the thousand year heritage; but we’re also, more importantly, just a group of humans that want to solve some problems. Many of us know you, particularly, from your brilliant YouTube videos which you’ve been making for quite a while now, what incentivised you to take on such a prominent role in the social media scene for Oxford? It all started by accident, really, I didn’t have a plan to make lots of videos and reach an audience. It was really the pandemic that it all kicked off. We had a handful of videos on YouTube prior to then which were quite randomly curated, without anything particularly knitting them together. And when the pandemic struck, we were supposed to be running a summer school for access, but
it all had to be cancelled. So I just thought, well, I’ll record the sessions that we’re delivering online anyway, and just post it on YouTube, assuming that only a handful of people would watch it – probably the people that were supposed to attend the sessions – and that would be it. But it ended up gaining a lot more traction than I was anticipating, so that made me realize that there is great potential here to work with individuals that normally wouldn’t be able to access Oxford. So, I had just wanted to open-source a lot of the information that some people have ready access to – because of various privileges they have – to others who don’t. When I was going through school, I had a lot of access to privileged information, and I believe it would be fairer if more people had access to that information, and YouTube is a very good platform to proliferate information. Looking at the pandemic, it has obviously had a huge impact on education. What effects did the pandemic and its repercussions have on Oxford as an institution? I would say the repercussions not just on Oxford, but on British education, has been predictably, but disproportionately affecting people from less advantaged, less privileged backgrounds. The lost years of education and the impact on other factors of life has been more severe for those that have had fewer advantages in the first place. So, the gap – which was already quite wide in Britain – between those who are more versus those who are less advantaged, got even wider. We’ve seen that come through with school results. Aside from the brief period where the lessadvantaged students benefitted from school-assessed results, those pandemic years of lost or
”
disrupted education hit people from poorer backgrounds very hard. As an educational institution, this is a social problem that does affect us because we as tutors and admissions are just trying to make sure that we take the best students and that we have the fairest possible admissions process. And that will mean having people from very privileged backgrounds, including myself, coming to universities, but it will also mean getting people from very poor and very difficult backgrounds coming as well, because they have the ability and the talent.
“We spend on average 20 personhours on every application, so making mistakes is incredibly unusual.”
The elephant in the room, unfortunately, is rejection, and with so much competition, most students aren’t going to secure a place, and are going to be invariably disappointed at not getting in. What advice do you have for handling rejections? I do try and produce something around this time of year on rejections, just because I’m conscious of the fact that 85% of applicants won’t be admitted. So, there does seem to be this very strong sense and label of being an “Oxbridge reject”, which is a problem. I don’t know anyone who goes through life never being rejected from something. It’s just a part of the life experience. Full interview available at oxfordstudent.com
14 | Identity
Deputy Editor: Sami Jalil Section Editors: Georgia Ferris, Nina Naidu identity@oxfordstudent.com
The curse of the eldest (Asian) daughter Sharon Chau
T
aken separately, it’s not too bad to be the eldest, to be a daughter, or to be Asian. But if you combine the three to form a Holy Trinity of sorts, it is probably more of a curse than a blessing.
Growing up, I performed a variety of roles simply because I was the eldest daughter. I was the family therapist, mediating conflicts between my two parents, as well as between my parents and my younger sister. My mum would bitch about my dad, and vice versa. They’d tell me in hushed, conspirational tones not to tell the other parent or my sister, because she was too young to understand. And on the rare occasion where they had a big fight, I was the one who had to pretend everything was fine and comfort my sister.
“I was the one who had to pretend everything was fine...”
This worked the other way too - my sister would beg me to keep things from my parents, usually her spontaneous shopping sprees which are heavily frowned upon by our mum, or her risque dates with random men at university. Mum would occasionally suspect something and interrogate me, so I’ve covered my sister’s ass multiple times by feigning ignorance. On the other hand, my parents would tell me to pass on messages to my younger sister, such as ‘Work harder!’ and ‘Do not date yet! You’re too young!’. They would sweet-talk me, say-
ing that my sister looked up to me, that these mantras would be far more effective coming from me than them, and that I was the ‘mature’ one in the family. For a short while, I basked and simpered in this praise, until I realised I was being manipulated into being a third parent. I was also the secretary of the family. As my parents are not completely fluent in English, I have been filling in forms and proofreading emails since primary school. I translated the catalogue for my parents’ small business, helped them send passive-aggressive emails to whoever they were annoyed with, and even applied for American visas for the entire family, which took days off my summers and years off my life. Even now that I’m all the way across the world in the UK, I would wake up on random mornings to messages from my mum asking me to proofread the most mundane texts, or she would send things to me in Chinese and ask me to translate them into Whatsapp messages to her auntie friends. And let’s not talk about the double standards for you and your younger sibling(s). I had to beg my parents to let me stay out later than midnight - at the same age, my sister saunters back at 2 am, evidently tipsy (she has bad Asian flush) after nights out. When I had my first boyfriend, my parents expressed their disapproval in the strongest terms; when my sister got her first boyfriend, they barely batted an eyelid. There are countless other examples of me painstakingly convincing my parents to let me do something, then watching with gritted teeth my sister being allowed to do the same
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Identity
things and more. I am not alone in such experiences; many of my friends have suffered and lamented their similar plights. Why is it so particularly bad to be the eldest Asian daughter? Being the eldest child means that you carry the weight of your family’s expectations, especially if you’re the oldest among your cousins. Your entire extended family will be constantly monitoring (and gossiping about) how you’re doing. Your uncles and aunts will instruct their kids to either emulate you, or stay far away from that cousin who’s the ‘bad egg in the family’. Occupying the unfortunate position of a firstborn thus comes with the expectation of being a role model.
“...we internalise our birth order...”
As the eldest, one is also expected to take care of younger siblings - this is where the double whammy of being the eldest daughter comes in. Girls are supposed to be nurturing and display a ‘maternal instinct’, even as a child. For example, they are far more likely to be given dolls as toys and to treat taking care of them as ‘fun’. Membership of both thus doubles the ‘caretaker’ responsibility. Being Asian also comes with a whole set of additional expectations - I can only speak to the Chinese experience, but the
academic and extra-curricular pressures are intense. Once a child is born, most parents immediately engage in a rat race to send their kids to the best playgroups, the best nurseries, the best primary schools, and so on, so that they can be well-prepared for the highestranked universities and occupations. Children are sent to tons of after-school tutorial classes and interest groups every week, ranging from Olympiad maths to the most obscure instrument possible to maximise their chances of getting into an orchestra. The expectations on the eldest born are thus compounded by being Asian. One last thing about being Chinese is the language used. At home, we speak Cantonese, where I’m called 家姐 (elder sister), while my sister is called 細妹 (younger sister) - we are almost never referred to by name. It’s just a hunch, but I think being referred to in this way linguistically means that we internalise our birth order and the associated roles far more than cultures and languages which don’t do this. What are the impacts of this triple threat? The trope of the overachiever kid who is now crippled by the fear of failure and hence reluctant to try anything new definitely applies to me. I shy away from things that might show that I’m not good enough. For example, I was so deterred by a string of spring week rejections in my first year that I simply didn’t apply for anything until quite a bit later.
Image credit: Charlein Gracia
I also filled my schedule with so many things to manufacture a plausible excuse for not doing well in Prelims - I just didn’t try. In the context of romantic relationships, I am a bit of a control freak and a compulsive caretaker, while also being afraid to show vulnerability, which is not the most enticing combination. I don’t chart this entirely, or even mostly, down to my gender and birth order, but it did hav an impact on my personality.
“...let’s not talk about the double standards for you and your younger sibling(s).”
Maybe being the eldest Asian daughter is a blessing - I definitely would not have turned out the way I did if I had an older sibling, or if I were a boy. But I would wager that I would be a bit more emotionally stable and a bit less insufferably tryhard had I not been the eldest Asian daughter.
Want to write for us? Get in touch at identity@ oxfordstudent. com!
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Pink | 15
Pink
Deputy Editor: Etienne Baker Section Editors: Elsie Haldane, Jacob Newby pink@oxfordstudent.com
Would a Labour government improve LGBTQ+ rights in the UK? Etienne Baker
A
t the moment in Westminster, all eyes are on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as to when the next General Election will be. Recent polling from the end of last year suggested that 56% of the British public think that Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister, and many in government are preparing for a Labour majority in the next year. Sunak has said that he expects to call a general election “in the second half” of 2024, whilst others speculate that the election will happen as soon as May.
“the government had created an atmosphere of hostility for LGBTQ+ individuals”
If this is the case, then, what is the impact for LGBTQ+ individuals? The Conservative government, particularly under the leadership of Liz Truss and Sunak has been widely condemned by high profile LGBTQ+ individuals, charities and organisations for their treatment of queer rights. Former equalities minister Mike Freer resigned from Boris Johnson’s Cabinet in 2022, saying that the government had created “an atmosphere of hostility for LGBT people.” At the party conference, Sunak’s comments on the existence of transgender individuals were condemned by charities such as Galop and Black Lives Matter UK, whilst many other high-profile ministers made references to transgender issues. Recent policy decisions have also eroded, or halted, progress for LGBTQ+ rights. In December 2022, the Scottish government under Nicola Sturgeon passed the Gender Recognition Bill, which aimed to make the process through which people in Scotland can legally change their gender easier, including by removing the requirement for a medical diagnosis of gender
dysphoria. This reform is something that has been long called for by transgender activists and would’ve been a landmark piece of legislation for the LGBTQ+ community. However, for the first time ever, the UK government invoked Section 35 of the 1998 Scotland Act, which allows them to block the enactment of a bill. Similarly, guidance on treatment of pronouns and gender identity in school was released last month and is a major step back from the original promises of the document and uses language such as “gender identity ideology” and suggests that children feel pressured to “identify differently” by peers or social media. In a culture of increasing transphobia and policy that negatively affects the LGBTQ+ community, it is hard to imagine how a
tion supporting LGBT rights was passed following this action. Under New Labour, there was also significant progress for LGBTQ+ rights in terms of legislation. Between 1997 and 2010, the age of consent for gay individuals was moved to the same age as that of heterosexual individuals, and civil partnerships were created. The ban on LGBTQ+ people serving in the armed forces was also ended, as well as the extension of adoption rights to LGBTQ+ couples. Many though consider the legalisation of gay marriage, which occurred under the Liberal Democrat-Conservative government to be more significant. In their 2023 document on equality, they outline their ‘Equality Tree’ with five principles, one of which is banning conversion therapy comprehensively. This
an overdue, yet profound, step forward for LGBTQ+ rights. However, many other policies that campaigners are pushing for have not been mentioned by
“56% of the British public think that Keir Starmer will be the next Prime Minister”
Labour. The ‘Equality Tree’ document goes on to mention other strategies such as being ‘tough on crime’ and being an ‘international leader’, but there are no references to, for instance, reforming the gender recognition process or improving transgender health-
summer of last year, the party changed its stance away from supporting gender self-identification. On the issue of the repeal of the Scottish gender recognition bill, Labour stayed quiet, providing no comment on the ramifications of this on either devolution or its importance for ensuring transgender rights. Instead, Anneliese Dodds, the Shadow Secretary for State for Women and Equalities described it as a “cavalier”, despite the fact that the bill had undergone two public consultations and was a six year process. Despite their equalities document stating that “New Labour’s record demonstrates that Labour does not lose votes when standing up for equality”, it is clear that voting intention and remaining somewhat ‘neutral’ rather than advocating for LGBTQ+ rights is Starmer’s strategy at the moment. With the current climate of increased volatility surrounding transgender rights, this appears more like an attempt to appeal to a demographic, and raises questions for the future of LGBTQ+ rights under a Labour
“Under New Labour there was significant progress”
change of government would not be a positive change. The Labour Party, after all, has strong historical roots in minority groups and the LGBTQ+ community. The Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) alliance, where LGBT activists supported the National Union of Mineworkers during a strike under Thatcher’s government, was fundamental in forging a legacy between the LGBTQ+ community and British Labour groups. At the 1985 Labour Party conference, a resolu-
would be a massive achievement for human rights, as UN experts describe the practice as ‘torture’, yet it is still practiced in the UK, with 5% of people in a UK LGBT survey saying they had been offered it, whilst the figure was 10% for Christian respondents and 20% for Muslim respondents. Although the Conservatives promised to ban the practice 5 years ago, it has still not been enacted, and there was no reference to it in the King’s Speech. The introduction of this legislation would be
Image Credit: Graeme Maclean
care. It seems that specifically for transgender individuals Labour might not be the change that it is hoped to be. In April, Keir Starmer appeared to support the rightwing guidance on trans students, saying to the Sunday Times that he would “of course” want to know if his child had come out at school, and that the vast majority of parents would. Starmer also entertained reductive questions about biological sex, saying “for 99.9 percent of women, it is completely biological …” Over
government. Although Labour has criticised the Conservatives for instigating a ‘culture war’ to distract from their own failings, Starmer’s party shows little self-reflection on their own role within this. Perhaps, when a majority is secured by Starmer, he will be more emboldened to take a stance supporting the community. Or, perhaps, this neutrality will continue, doing little to reverse the legislative and social detriment that Conservatives have caused. Whilst an improvement from the Conservative government, the jury is still out on how much an incoming Labour government led by Starmer would actually improve LGBTQ+ rights.
16 | Columns
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Womansplaining
snmuloC
Is Saltburn a Feminist Film? Sharon Chau TW: EDs and Suicide (Spoilers ahead)
L
abelled the ‘most divisive film of the year’ by The Guardian, the deliciously sultry and luridly provocative Saltburn has enjoyed much discussion this holiday season (not least by us Oxford students clamouring to comment on how (un)realistic the depiction of our beloved university was). A searing erotic thriller evoking equal parts desire and disgust, the lascivious film features the persuasive, depraved middleclass con artist Oliver (Barry Keoghan), who ingratiates himself with a vacuous and dysfunctional blue-blooded family. I’m not here to debate the merits of the film - whether it was visually stunning (it was), whether the class commentary was done well (it wasn’t),
or whether the performative transgression was at times over-the-top (it was) - instead, I want to ask whether Saltburn is a feminist film.
‘I think that this film is extraordinarily feminist. It exists. Everything I do is feminist because it’s what I live my life by’. - Emerald Fennell
Director Emerald Fennell has argued that yes, it is. In a recent interview with TheWrap, she says, ‘I realized that being a female filmmaker is a political act…Therefore, I think that this film is extraordinarily feminist. It exists. Everything I do is feminist because it’s what I live my life by’.
This raises the question: is everything that a feminist does or produces inherently ‘feminist’? This seems inadequate; after all, a self-proclaimed feminist can do or say patently unfeminist things. Moreover, analysing works based on authorial intent has fallen out of fashion in favour of audience response and interpretation. Even if Fennell truly meant for the film to be feminist, this would be irrelevant if the audience disagreed. So beyond the identity and intentions of the director and writer, is Saltburn itself feminist? (Warning: spoilers ahead). With the main dynamic in the film being the relationship between two male characters, the women seem to be reduced to mere caricatures. Rosumund Pike’s Elspeth, although brilliantly portrayed, is a beautiful, empty-headed, cold matriarch, completely devoid of any maternal instinct: the stereotypical wealthy, va-
Matt the Obscure
cant housewife. Alison Oliver’s Venetia, on the other hand, is a complicated, lonely and vulnerable character, described by mother Elspeth as a ‘masochist [who] has an eating disorder’. Even though her character may initially seem three-dimensional, it is ultimately still an overused trope of the troubled, angsty female teenager. Hence on the metric of character depth, Saltburn isn’t particularly feminist. In addition, both aforementioned female characters are completely beguiled and manipulated by Oliver. For Venetia, this first happens in the scene where Oliver goes down on her. Taken out of context, this is probably quite feminist, as on-screen depictions of women receiving head are unfortunately rare. But within this encounter, Oliver is the one with all the power, and he exploits her vulnerability to goad her into taking her own life down the line. As for Els-
peth, she is first disarmed by Oliver’s shocking line ‘Because you’re so fucking beautiful’; eventually, she becomes so utterly bewitched that she signs over the entire family estate to him. Even though this might not necessarily be a gendered point, as Oliver did have most of the characters in the palm of his hand, he does use sex and flattery to get his way with the women in the movie. So overall, Saltburn doesn’t seem like a particularly feminist film. The female characters are mere caricatures and pathetically weak-willed, with Oliver easily gaining the upper hand just by a few carefullyplanted words. The only argument I could plausibly make for Saltburn being feminist is all the tantalising close-up shots of Jacob Elordi, and the jaw- (and pant-) dropping last scene - thank you Fennell. But beyond that, there is nothing remotely feminist about Saltburn.
Stop Telling Me I Have Imposter Syndrome Matt Taylor
T
he feeling of dislocation at the University of Oxford is familiar to most of us. Like, somehow, you’re not supposed to be here. Usually, people will call this imposter syndrome. The feeling of being unworthy of your position and persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud for lacking fundamental knowledge or skills. However, if you are like me and come from an under-represented background and (in my case)/or a low-income one, then this idea erases all the extra barriers we had to face just to get here. We need to stop letting others from better positions labelling our experiences. I would argue that what we feel isn’t imposter syndrome but intruder syndrome. We all know the classic signs of imposter syndrome, which are summed up best with the
fear of someone tapping you on the shoulder and saying, ‘Hey, we’re really sorry, but we’ve made a mistake’. It is a real thing, but honestly, this is just not how I felt. An imposter is someone who blagged their way in, maybe because they always thought it was inevitable, they would end up here. That’s not me. Intruder syndrome is entering a world you were simply never supposed to be in. You’re breaking the natural order. You have every right to be there, but something feels wrong. This nuance gets wiped away when you are told you have imposter syndrome. I’m about as far away from the ‘typical’ Oxford student as you can get. The odds of being here are slim. I grew up in the care system. Just as there is a stereotype for the Oxford student, there is also one for kids from children’s homes – that was me. I was
kicked out of mainstream education in Year 9 and left with 2 GCSEs. Statistically, I had more chance of achieving a place in the country’s prison system than this university’s college system. No matter how far away from that life I travel, that reality has never left me. This isn’t a world I’m supposed to be in. When I was allowed to enter a university building as a student for the first time, I felt like a burglar. I had somehow found a back window open into a world I didn’t have permission to be in, and I entered anyway. I didn’t feel like I was disguised as something I’m not. I was not an imposter; I was an intruder. This distinction is essential. Because to be an imposter is to throw away the 10 years of hard graft it took for me to be given a university card. I wasn’t prepared to do that. Neither should you. When
I’ve spoken to those from under-represented backgrounds at the university, it’s also a sentiment they share. We shouldn’t throw that hard work away.
“It was the colliding of my chavvy upbringing against this one that was the surprise. I haven’t quite figured out how to overcome that yet. Maybe I won’t.”
I am not the smartest in class, nor the most talented, I struggle to keep up with the
workload, and often feel way in over my head. But that’s what I expected when I applied to come here. It’s actually what I wanted. It was the colliding of my chavvy upbringing against this one that was the surprise. I haven’t quite figured out how to overcome that yet. Maybe I won’t. Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe I don’t need to. Oxford is a prestigious place filled with history. That awe can be overwhelming. Trust me. If you worked unreasonably hard to get here because coming to a university like this isn’t the done thing from your background. Don’t just throw all that effort in the bin. Don’t allow others to discount it. That’s what this mislabelling is. You’re probably feeling what I feel. A trespasser in a world you always felt was closed to you. It’s intruder syndrome.
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Columns | 17
Columns Chaos in Kyrgyzstan I’m not there yet
Jonah Poulard
W
e are back. As the title suggests, this series will detail my exploits in Bishkek, the noble capital of Kyrgyzstan. However, this first print deadline has come up before I’ve managed to get there, so I’m going to talk about Georgia instead. During my time in Yerevan, Armenia, I paid two delightful visits to Sakartvelo, as the Georgians call it. Two stints in Tbilisi and one sojourn further north in the mountains were enough to convince me that Georgia really is one of the most fabulous countries in the world. I believe I’ve already written about my first journey to Tbilisi, an ordeal involving a bus at sparrow’s fart that wouldn’t stop squeaking and a brutal hangover. It was slightly lessened, though, by my semi-hallucinatory enrapturement at the autumnal forests of Dilijan in the morning light, to the eminently suitable accompaniment of Lana del Rey. I had returned to hike two weeks later, and it was exceptional.
“Tbilisi truly is a city unlike any other.”
The second time I decided to be a bit more adventurous with it, and booked a place on the night train. If there’s a night train you can take, you should take it, I felt. So, one chill evening in Yerevan, I hastened down to the station, one of those grand Soviet-era buildings, replete with colonnades and a terrific tower, surrounded by men flogging all manner of local produce out the back of a Lada. I had opted for 2 nd class on the train, which meant a bed in a four-person kupe. My bunkmates were a very cordial couple of Yekaterinburg and an Armenian man with his son. After a half hour of pleasantries and chatting (it was already 10pm), we began the cramped dance of folding
the beds down and making them, before settling in to get some shut-eye before the inevitable rude awakening at the border. The awakening was indeed rude, as a typically gruff border guard stormed in and demanded our passports. Armed with a passport-reading gizmo and a stamp, the man formally exited us from the Republic of Armenia in a refreshingly easy process. The Georgian border, however, required us to de-train and wait in the cold by the tracks. It was a nice break from the perverse intimacy of the kupe, and they even provided dogs to help the passengers, bedraggled and half-asleep, through the wait. When I woke up, the sun was rising over Tbilisi. Tbilisi truly is a city unlike any other. The centre is an elegant blend of medieval churches and fortresses, 19 th century backstreets and squares, where seemingly every house has an adorable wooden balcony, and massive Soviet boulevards, lined by an array of brutalist and art-deco fronts. Then there’s the modern stuff too. The Friendship Bridge drapes over the river Kura like a glassy turtle, a hot air balloon type thing rises and falls over Rike Park nearby, and further along the river is the flower-like ‘House of Justice’. When looking down from Narikala Fortress, your eye falls on the centuries-old church domes and shiny, futuristic structures in turn, before finally resting on the immense, gold-domed Holy
Trinity Cathedral on the opposite hillside. Beyond being a feast for the eyes, Tbilisi is a feast for the (other) senses too. Foodwise you can’t go wrong with the varying forms of stodge on offer: khinkali, essentially doughy dumplings with meat or cheese inside, khachapuri, cheese-filled bread with a token egg on top, lobiani, sort of a flatbread filled with beans and a personal favourite. Delicious stews, flame-grilled kebabs and occasionally salads follow too. Of course, no Georgian meal is complete without a hearty amount of wine, and the local drop is good. Round it off with a couple of shots of chacha, the Caucasus’ answer to grappa, and you’ve done well.
“Mtskheta, a mere 40 minutes outside Tbilisi, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been continuously inhabited for 2500 years.”
The fun doesn’t stop at dinner though. Tbilisi is home to a host of groovy bars, where the beer is cheap but the wine is cheaper. Mozaika and Warszawa are vibey, always heaving on the weekend and play good music, although there’s also Brown’s Bar, where an angry Northern Irishman does a pub quiz every Wednesday. Tragically,
we only managed third, after a dismal showing on movie villain quotes. The club scene, however, is where Tbilisi truly sets itself apart. The city has become a bit of a techno mecca in recent years, with the cavernous Bassiani leading the way. As clubs go, it’s a pretty mental one. The club is actually situated in a network of tunnels underneath the 50,000-seater Dinamo Stadium, a drained Olympic-size swimming pool serves as the main dancefloor. It’s dark, it’s loud, it’s confusing but the drinks are competitively priced and everyone’s on a wavelength. If you’re a fan of hard techno and getting home mid-morning, it’s unmissable. I hope that’s a solid advert for Tbilisi, I really can’t recommend it enough. But there’s an equally fantastic Georgia beyond the capital too. Mtskheta, a mere 40 minutes outside Tbilisi, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and has been continuously inhabited for 2500 years. Centuries-old Svetitskhoveli Cathedral is a stunning site, abounding in history, and Jvari Monastery, perched on a nearby hilltop, supplies the best view over the town. Overall, Mtskheta is a mustdo day-trip and a terrific insight into Georgia’s rich past. Kazbegi, up in the Greater Caucasus mountains, is another top destination. I made my way up there one cold December morning, suffering through the methanic Avlabari Metro and the sweet chaos of Didube bus
station, before bagging a spot on a marshrutka. The drive there on the ‘military road’ is a gorgeous one, especially as you ascend up to the Gudauri Pass. The town itself isn’t remarkable, but it is surrounded in every direction by snowy ridges and peaks, which does lend the place a pleasant aesthetic. Mt Kazbek, over 5000m in height, towers over you at all times. It’s also where the Georgian version of Prometheus was all chained up, and Jesus’ manger was apparently stored in a cave there too. The highlight, undoubtedly, is Gergeti monastery. Hilltop church, you get the picture, but it’s an especially good one. Hopefully a photo will make it in.
“The fun doesn’t stop at dinner though. Tbilisi is home to a host of groovy bars, where the beer is cheap but the wine is cheaper.”
I’ve not had time to venture anywhere else in Georgia, but stories of Soviet sanatoria near Kutaisi, Batumi in summer, hiking in Mestia, the heart of the winemaking region Sighnaghi have all made it to my ears. I’ll certainly be back to tick those off, hopefully some of you will do the same.
18 | Columns
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Dolce Diaries
snmuloC
A Recap of my First Michaelmas Abroad Nina Naidu
I
n September 2023, I embarked on my year abroad in Italy, a journey marked by excitement and nervewracking moments. Collegio Ghislieri at the University of Pavia awaited, a fortunate opportunity through an exchange with St. Hugh’s College, sparing me the stress of finding a placement myself.
“Arriving amidst an Italian bus strike in scorching September, the town of Pavia posed a challenge.”
Arriving amidst an Italian bus strike in scorching September, the town of Pavia posed a challenge.
Dragging suitcases across rough cobblestones, I soon discovered that ubers were non-existent, and the tobacconist had sold us useless bus tickets. Perhaps he could’ve told us before buying that no buses would show up for the entire day. Amid frustration and sweat, the first Italian word I learned on arrival was sciopero or “strike”. Turns out, sciopero was a word worth remembering. The prevalence of public transportation strikes became more apparent during a three-week trip across Italy in October. Navigating delays and cancellations, the experience reached its peak when a strike disrupted my journey to the south of France, causing an eight-hour delay. It’s safe to say that I certainly did not utilise my first-class train ticket that day. Despite these challenges, it has certainly been a fulfilling experience for me so far. Ex-
In the Bar
“Becoming a recognized face at the cafe... fostered a sense of belonging in Pavia.” ploring various destinations, from Verona to Bergamo, became a regular occurrence due to the accessibility of cheap train tickets. The culinary delights of Italy, featuring pasta, pizza, and delightful desserts, left an indelible mark. Daily rituals, including €2 cappuccinos and visits to the local cat cafe in Pavia, added charm to my routine. Becoming a recognized face at the cafe, engaging in linguistically challenging conversations, and enjoying great coffee (and one time, for free!) fostered a sense of belonging in Pavia. As a pasta-lover, Italy has been a culinary bliss, al-
though I’ve recently come to find that such a thing as too much pasta does exist. Luckily, Pavia — particularly with its proximity to Milan only half an hour away — has allowed me to indulge in tasty pleasures from all across the globe, meaning that when I do consume too much spaghetti, there are always other cuisines to fall back on. Embracing the laid-back Italian lifestyle, I found joy in savouring each day. Exempt from exams and attending only lectures of interest to me, this year has become a celebration of immersion. Overcoming anxiety about speaking Italian, which I only started studying at Oxford, is a gradual process. Reluctantly accepting my inevitable mistakes somewhat liberates me from this crippling fear, although there’s always still room for improvement. Especially with the beginning of 2024, I’ve made it a New
Year’s Resolution to attempt obtaining a B2 level in Italian during my time here, hoping that eventually, I’ll get there.
“The culinary delights of Italy, featuring pasta, pizza, and delightful desserts, left an indelible mark.”
With that said, four months into living in another country, l’ve discovered the therapeutic power of a good cappuccino. Returning home for Christmas transformed me into an Italian coffee snob, unable to appreciate overpriced London coffees from corporate chains. Italy’s charm has truly welcomed me, making this adventure both challenging and surreal.
Brasenose College Amanda Li
D
ear readers, it is time for the quintessential take on the college bar. Though many a home student would probably spend all their time at every bar, I, as an American that does not drink very often, would like to provide my own take on the college bar: both your experience in college and also down the bar. I begin on home turf: the BNC bar. My first real experience in a college bar was here, a year ago, when it was absolutely a shock that someone’s college would sponsor alcoholism in the making. The bar is down in the basement of Brasenose’s main quad, with alcoves for people to play darts or foosball and plenty of room to sit. I’ve been here after most formals and before most bops, and it’s almost always packed on the
weekends, though you’ll probably find it less busy on a random Tuesday. Still, I love the bar for its vibes– the stone gives off quintessential Oxford, and the little pathways leading to other staircases adds a bit of fun for when you want to get out and explore college.
“I’m a bit disappointed that the bar didn’t feature in Saltburn...”
Alcohol wise, though, it’s great, with the normal selection being reasonably priced; our college cocktail leaves a bit to be desired though (V Cubed, or a VK with vodka.) I honestly come here more for the people than for anything special. The nonalcoholic options are typical,
as well. Yet the people are so kind: people will come up to you and say hi even if you haven’t seen each other for a while, and bringing friends makes it so easy to meet new people. They kick you out at 11, but the conversation always spills out onto New Quad after before people head on their nights out. Personally, I’m a bit disappointed that the bar didn’t feature in Saltburn (who even goes to the King’s Arms for fun anyway?), but one thing’s for certain: the college is so pretty. The best bit of it is the view of the Radcam that hits you as you walk out of the bar or Amersi, and being so close to the center of town means that you can get to Hassan’s within minutes if you’re hungry and ready to head home. Overall, I’m glad that I get to go to such a chill bar all the time, and it’s a solid start to this dive into different colleges.
Image Credit: Christine Matthews
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Columns | 19
Columns Blane’s Style Files
On Topical Trends and Timelessness
Blane Aitchison
I
f you’ve been on TikTok recently, then there’s a good chance that you’ve heard of the Clean Girl aesthetic that’s gone viral. Characterised by natural (or no) makeup, slicked back hair put into a bun or ponytail, and simple outfits and jewellery, often including light-wash jeans and hoop earrings. In the world of celebrities, this style has been championed by Hailey Bieber and Bella Hadid.
en much interest from other, more feminine, trends of recent times like Barbie-core or being coquette, although it is adjacent to microtrends like the dreaded blueberry milk nails and the even worse cinnamon cookie butter hair colour. It has been suggested by TikTokkers and fashion news outlets alike that it stems from (and in many cases appropriates) Black and Latina culture, where hoop earrings and slicked back hairstyles have always been staple looks
Image Credit: Karolina Grabowska
On the other end of the spectrum is the Indie Sleaze aesthetic, a trend that is seeing its biggest comeback since its inception in the late 2000s. Indie Sleaze is typified by dark, grungy makeup, dark colours, and clashing prints. Whereas the Clean Girl might spend hours doing her skincare and planning the perfect outfit, a lover of Indie Sleaze might just throw something on, as hastily applied eyeshadow and an ‘I don’t care’ attitude are all part of it. In terms of origins, the Indie Sleaze trend was based on a number of factors. In media, indie rock groups and electronic music groups like the Arctic Monkeys and MGMT, websites like MySpace and Tumblr, and TV shows like Skins all embodied the chaotic and carefree vibes, sounds, and styles that came to be the identifying features of Indie Sleaze. The origins of the Clean Girl trend, however, are more obscure. Despite being based on femininity, it hasn’t tak-
for young women. So what has this got to do with timelessness? The Clean Girl movement (as well as having a suggested dress code) also pervades TikTok in the form of lifestyle advice – motivation for studying, meal plans, skincare routines, and even dating advice. Regardless of how seriously you take it, the Clean Girl advice seems to attempt to ingrain a way of life (often focussing on modest femininity) into young women and
“The Clean Girl movement...also pervades TikTok in the form of lifestyle advice - motivation for studying, meal plans, skincare routines, and even dating advice.”
girls that reads as a way to avoid rebellious teen phases and the fashion and activities that might go along with it. In this sense, the Clean Girl movement does seem to promote timelessness in the clothes and lifestyle of its target audience. On the other hand, Indie Sleaze is deeply ingrained in partying, concerts, and potentially getting up to mischief. Not only does this make it more appealing to a wider audience (especially those who remember the original Indie Sleaze era in the late 200s and early 2010s), but it shies away from timelessness by promoting fun and chaos, if not only for a few years as a young adult. This experimentation lends itself to further evolution of personal style by experiencing more varied events, people, and outfits so that people can decide for themselves, rather than prescribing a more of a uniform-type wardrobe like Clean Girl content creators often do. Of course, you’re free to dress and live however you want, and there’s no reason why you can’t mix the grungy
Image Credit: Shiny Diamond
and what works for “Although trends wear you, and I think the same is here – although can inspire you important trends can inspire you to try to try new styles new styles or buy something a different brand, its or buy something from important not to let them from a different take over your life to the detriment of your own perbrand, it’s style evolution. It can important not sonal be nice to wear something look back and remember to let them take and that specific time in your life. over your life.” Even if you look back and
style of Indie Sleaze with a Clean Girl mentality, or even the rockstar lifestyle of the Indie Sleaze movement with the minimalist Clean Girl style. My advice has always been to find out what you like to
think “what on Earth was I wearing?!”, it’s important to remember that it brought you happiness in that moment, even if you’ve moved on from it since.
Image Credit: Los Muertos Crew
20 | Features
Deputy Editor: Martin Alfonsin Larsen Section Editors: Nayana Juliette Syed, Purav Menon features@oxfordstudent.com
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Features
Saving Oxford Mutual Aid after a decade of Tory failure Alfie Davis and Eleanor Miller
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he UK finds itself at a breaking point, witnessing a surge in food bank use that surpasses any previous point in British history. The Trussell Trust, which represents around half of the UK’s food banks, reports a staggering 50-fold increase in users since 2010, reaching a record 3 million individuals. But what happens when government support disappears and these organisations feeding millions can no longer afford their energy bills? For Oxford Mutual Aid, this has become a reality. As the UK faces an escalating crisis, with more people relying on food banks than ever before, the spotlight turns to the indispensable role of organisations like Oxford Mutual Aid (OMA). Born out of the Covid-19 pandemic and guided by principles of cooperation and solidarity, OMA has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable families. However, as government support for energy bills evaporates and demand surges, OMA confronts an existential threat. Every month, OMA delivers over 1000 food parcels, redistribut-
ing over 20 tonnes of surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. These parcels, a lifeline for many, can cover the majority of a household’s food intake for a week. Beyond this, OMA extends its support to include pet food and hygiene/sanitary products, directly delivered to the doors of those who need it most. Of course, not everyone is able to make the trip to the distribution centre in Cowley, so this outreach is particularly vital for working families, the clinically vulnerable, and those working long hours or unable to access childcare.
“Oxford Mutual Aid has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable families.”
OMA stands apart with its unique non-hierarchical, volunteer-led model, born from the vision of LGBTQ+ and trade union organisers. This approach consciously aims to avoid the silent power dynamics inherent in many traditional charity organisations. OMA’s decision
not to operate as a charity but as a mutual aid organisation stems from a commitment to solving problems collaboratively, with, and not merely for, the people it serves. For volunteers like ourselves, OMA forms a meaningful way to be able to give back to the local community and simultaneously take a mental break from the academic workload of Oxford. This mutual support can manifest itself in strange ways, whether that’s a breakfast of free croissants with no expiry date that we can’t give out, or 5 kilograms of near-unusable tomatoes you have to cart up Cornmarket - but make enough soup with for the next two weeks. It is networks such as these that keep our communities, that keep the city around us, running; taking the vast, excessful waste of capitalism to create a crucial support network. Despite OMA receiving significant and incredibly impactful support from a range of organisations, individuals, and city councillors, the organisation faces imminent closure. Government lockdowns have ended, and the cost of living and energy bill support chemes
Image Credit: Alfie Davis
initially implemented by the Johnson Truss governments are over, leaving OMA in severe financial uncertainty. The lack of replacement initiatives from the Tories comes at a time when the cost of living crisis is escalating, simultaneously ramping up pressure on both sides. More people need help, yet operating costs are exponentially unaffordable. Over six months of double-digit inflation has left food prices continuously rising (Data), and bill costs 59% higher than their winter 2021/22 levels (Data). OMA has already had to reduce its capacity, and with persistent excess demand, the organisation urgently needs to raise £15,000 over the next few months to continue its vital services. A decade of austerity has brought the UK to a breaking point, where millions rely on food banks, yet energy and fuel costs are soaring so high that these vital support systems are being pushed to the brink of closure. OMA’s story mirrors the larger struggle faced by community support organisations nationwide, highlighting the urgent need for assistance. Austerity, a form of class-based violence, has permeated our communities and infiltrated every facet of daily life, underscoring the profound impact of systemic economic policies on the most vulnerable members of society. Fourteen years in, most of us will have spent the majority of our lives under Tory rule - and look what we’ve gotten from it. Our communities are wrecked, life expectancy has stagnated, and over four million children live in food poverty as support continues to be slashed. As Oxford students, we are intimately connected with the ongoing challenges within the city. Being one of the UK’s priciest urban areas is a consequence of university-led gentrification - a powerful nine-billion-pound-force by colleges and departments fighting for land and accommodation. For many students, particularly those without financial privilege, this translates into non-negotiable, ever-rising rent costs and escalating expenses. Addressing these
challenges becomes even more daunting for those outside the university bubble.
“OMA forms a meaningful way to be able to give back to the local community and simultaneously take a mental break.”
Acknowledging our role within Universty’s system of elitism and gentrification that defines Oxford, it is crucial to advocate for community projects like OMA. Now more than ever, fostering student solidarity is vital. The cost of living for students and locals alike peaks, yet top university officials receive million-pound-payouts, it’s crucial to recognise how, for a lack of better wording, we’re all getting screwed over.
“For many students, particularly those without financial privilege, this translates into non-negotiable, ever-rising rent costs and escalating expenses.”
It is key to acknowledge that we, as students, hold significant power within the city. We hold it through our common rooms, as a collective and as members of the community, influencing both campus dynamics and broader societal dialogues. This is power that can allow us to bridge a vast gap between academia and the wider community. Breaking this barrier is pivotal if
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
we wish to save OMA, but also to go beyond, and continue to break down the systemic elitism which divides our city. Class Act, as a campaign branch of the Oxford Student Union, stands at the forefront of this mission. Representing socioeconomically disadvantaged students, many of our members have grown up in deprived areas, having to rely on food distribution organisations. This fight, for us, is personal. Food security is a privilege often taken for granted by many,
Features | 21
but it formulates an immediate, pressing issue that demands our attention. This month, we launched a cross-college college fundraiser with the potential to raise up to £10,000, covering two thirds of the organisation’s existing funding shortfall. Your direct involvement as students is pivotal to its success. In each College Common Room, a network of student activists will be proposing motions and coordinating fundraisers. The funds raised will directly contribute
to ensuring local people are fed and supported. But the transformation our city, and country, needs extends beyond financial redistribution. Active involvement in our surrounding community is crucial beyond student life. Volunteering offers an invaluable chance to do so, and that is why Class Act is coordinating an OMA student takeover evening on January 28th. This is an invitation for students to actively contribute to OMA’s fundraising and volunteering
efforts and to be trained as a hall volunteer. Whether through charity college bops, formal dinners, or group volunteer events, we as students, as common rooms, and as a community can break down barriers in Oxford, and foster a culture of solidarity. This campaign is not just about supporting OMA, but a broader commitment to dismantling the elitist structures we benefit from and actively working towards a more inclusive and supportive city.
It’s easy to feel hopeless for the future of national and global politics nowadays, but this campaign represents a chance to leverage our collective power and make meaningful, immediate political change on a local scale. Hope can be found everywhere, if we build it.
to kick off the new year with viral fitness crazes such as the ‘75 hard’ is rather ironic – after a night of partying, starting a health kick is understandably difficult.
ally want to get out of the new year and why this doesn’t need to come with glitter and balloons. A quiet night in will be the perfect reset for many – a chance to wind down, reflect and importantly, not allowing the inevitable passing of time from one year to occupy too much space in your mind. After all, New Year’s Eve means something different to everybody on the most personal of levels, so the way the occasion is marked should differ to find valuable meaning in moving forwards while reflecting on the past. Even before the clock strikes midnight, there is a lot to unpack. However, the toxicity of social media is certainly not the only perpetrator here. Culture that predates the social media era has shaped what we view as the purpose of the new year, and the tradition of new year’s resolutions is central to this phenomenon. New Year’s
resolutions are nothing new – the Babylonians first set this trend of making promises to the gods that they would fulfil in the hopes of a positive year to come. Since then, the annual tradition has permeated cultures and, while originating as a religious act of devotion, has emerged more recently as a personal checklist of overly ambitious self-improvement tasks.
positive impact will not be able to be ticked off a list, nor will they drastically change the way we live. Every year, there is a sense of hope that with a certain amount of inner strength and willpower, we will be able to stick to absurd resolutions, yet every year, this is tried and failed by most. By committing to tiny alterations in our day-to-day life, change will come more naturally and will be more sustainable than making impossible pledges that lead to guilt. Whether this be committing to a daily walk rather than the rigid gym routines we see all over TikTok or using your phone for thirty minutes less per day rather than cutting it out, being realistic with ourselves and being honest about what we want to get out of a fresh start may be the solution. Rather than viewing every new year as an insular and isolated event, letting go of the pressure that social media tries to impose and taking it in at your own pace and in your own style may be your personal branding for 2024.
Alfie Davis and Eleanor Miller are representatives of Oxford Class Act, an SU campaign to raise awareness around issues of class at the University of Oxford.
The hidden toxicity of New Year’s
Amelia Gibbins s 2023 draws to a close, there are mixed emotions for many – whether that is from looking back on an intense year, the daunting prospect of an unpredictable year to come, or a mix of the two, the expectation at a fresh start tends to be high. To top it all off, all of our personal feelings about the new year, and the anticipation that often accompanies it, are brought to our attention by social media. There is undoubtedly a pressure to ‘conform’ across social media all year round, but this seems to be taken to the extreme when it comes to the new year. Before the clock even strikes midnight, online discourse floods our explore pages and there is an expectation to treat New Year’s Eve as a spectacular occasion for partying, celebrating and socialising. However, the pressure
A
“The pressure to kick off the new year with viral fitness crazes is rather ironic – after a night of partying, starting a health kick is understandably difficult.”
However, don’t we have all year to do this? As we enter 2024, it is certainly time to be more honest about what we re-
Image Credit: Taryn Elliott
“New Year’s resolutions become an annual ‘tradition’ that we hyper-fixate on to then fade out when it suits”
One must understand one key difference between the resolutions of Babylonia and those of our modern world to question their effectiveness. Nowadays, we lack the accountability that the Babylonians were tied to – opening your notes app to tell your future self to eat healthily or workout twice a day is unmotivating, repetitive and impersonal. New Year’s resolutions become an annual ‘tradition’ that we hyper-fixate on to then fade out when it suits – perhaps quiet reflection may be more beneficial than we may initially believe. To be clear, this is certainly not an advocation of holding humanity to divine accountability for New Year’s resolutions, but instead, an example of why it would be beneficial to alter the way we view self-improvement. The entire ritual that surrounds the new year takes away from its supposed sense of a ‘fresh start’ – changes with any lasting
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Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
22 | Culture
Culture
Deputy Editor: Keng Yu Lai Section Editors: Amelia Gibbins, Tallulah Hawley, Isra Khan culture@oxfordstudent.com
“The books were way better” – The trend of TV series remakes Haochen Wang ood literature always seems to be able to vividly and effectively paint images, weave storylines, and cast atmospheres using only clever wordcraft. Indeed, whether it’s Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray or Rowling’s Harry Potter, the reader can always readily situate themselves within the story – the prolific destitution of Tsarist Russia, the decadence of British aristocracy, or the fantastical yet segregated social hierarchy of the Wizarding World. Ultimately, reading literature is a uniquely individual experience. So, when literature is made into films, it is faced with a problem: the balance between adoption and adaptation. Typically, films based on novels are referred to as “adaptations” – keeping the same titles, characters and storylines as their original, textual counterparts, and they generally remain reasonably accurate. Of course, there are extremities, and perhaps the best (or worst) examples were the two Percy Jackson & the Olympians films made in the 2010s: The Lightning Thief in 2010 and Sea of Monsters in 2013. For many, myself included, young adult novel series such
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as Percy Jackson and Harry Potter probably constituted much of their reading time during the early school years – after all, few wouldn’t be enthralled by the worlds of magic and fantasy lived in by characters similar to us in age. Their respective film series, however, for better or worse, irrevocably changed our perceptions of those characters. Now, you’d be hardpressed to disassociate Harry Potter from Daniel Radcliffe or Percy Jackson from its poor film series – and that is an issue: films, with its varied and concurrent mediums, and irrespective of how many separate ones there are, are powerful, impactful and monolithic; we, the audience, can’t forget the recurrent visual cues – something that texts lack – that feature in films. More significantly, perhaps, is “interpretation as adaptation” – the book-to-film process is inherently reliant on consultations between the producer, director, and original writer: an exclusive dialogue whose parochialism will be reflected upon its release. Inconspicuous this may be when everyone agrees on the film script, the obstructiveness of contracts, rights, and other commercial aspects becomes apparent
love letters from home Keng Yu Lai
one of my friends shares your birthday and it feels like a sign.
begins with a dull ache, memories like blurry photographs – phasing in and out.
then, the arrest. i wish you well, language slipping from my tongue. i can’t find the cake you like here. how can somebody so present lose their presence? did we simply get used to burning candles? someone asks me what you were like. i fall back on tangible things: the way you cooked the eggs,
the radio that you would bring around the house. grasping at permanence as if it didn’t amplify absence. i tell myself it’s been five years. i don’t know why i said that.
one of my friends shares your birthday. we split cake in a café; it feels like the holidays.
when they don’t agree. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief provides the perfect example with author Rick Riordan publicly criticising and distancing himself from the film’s script for its overt commerciality, stating that he was merely “consulted at some points, about some things.” Indeed, the lack of discussion was evident: not only was the eponymous character, Percy, a supposed 12 year old kid, portrayed by the then 18 year old Logan Lerman, but many key plot points were either missed or felt dreadfully awkward. Equally, though much better received, the Harry Potter franchise also suffered from similar issues: with the various director changes and subsequent shifting directions being perhaps best reflected by the Golden Trio’s various wacky hairdos. Of course, I don’t blame book fans in expressing their distaste and disappointment at the inconsistencies: the lack of poltergeist antics in Hogwarts, Annabeth actress Alexandra Daddario’s lack of blonde hair, or the fact that the big PercyKronos showdown came way too early. However, one must equally acknowledge that these films were not merely made to recreate, but to adapt.
Superhero, sci-fic, and fantasy movies are often accused of being “formulaic”: a seemingly unlikely, “normal” protagonist – while still trying to figure out who they are – is revealed to be the key to unlocking an ever-expanding web of conflicts, antagonisms, and manipulations, all underpinned by an even more unlikely, definitively tropical love story. Sound familiar? Of course, because they, despite the archetypes, are classic and therefore sell well. But ultimately, as with the case of the failed Percy Jackson film franchise, the overcommercialisation of a beloved story will drive its fans away. Finally, however, it seems that we have a solution: ultralong, multi-seasoned TV series that ardently follow the novel’s every move. When Max (formerly HBO Max) announced its upcoming decade-long Harry Potter series earlier this year, fans were, generally, excited, with many expressing their interest in seeing how their beloved scenes (which were cut from the movies) would be represented on their screens. J.K. Rowling, too, expressed her and Max’s commitment to the preservation of “the integrity of my books”. Now, with the recent two-episode premiere
of the new Percy Jackson & the Olympians TV series (which, unlike its film predecessor, gained generally positive and encouraging reviews from fans and critics alike), it seems that such generally more book-accurate renditions which are longerrunning, and have shorter episodes are inevitably becoming the trend, and a popular one at that. After this sprawling ramble, what do I think? I think that this might be, in the short-term, the best way to marry commercial success of the production and corporate side with fans’ happiness. However, its success might well be limited to the genres and age groups of young adult fiction where the primary target audience remains susceptible to visually impactful displays of CGI and open to archetypal and predictable plot lines. Of course, while I have no doubt that one-off adaptations of literary classics such as Pride and Prejudice or Little Women will remain well-received, productions would likely be hardpressed to dedicate millions to producing similar TV series renditions of And Quiet Flows the Don or other voluminous works. Ultimately, the principle remains: if it doesn’t make money, why do it?
Some recommendations...
Mr Bates vs the Post Office Mr Bates vs the Post Office shines a light on one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in British history, spanning over 20 years. The acclaimed ITV drama has placed pressure on the government to give justice to the victims.
The powerful stories told in the hit drama are poignant, evoking sympathy for the characters and more importantly, for the victims that inspired the drama. -- Amelia
Napoleon My current favourite film is Ridley Scott’s recently released Napoleon. It’s inaccurate, emotionless, and messy, but quite a fun and interesting watch if you ignore your inner history snob. -- Tallulah
Convenience Store Woman A captivating novel centring on a woman’s relationship with her identity and social conformity, Sayaka Murata’s Convenience Store Woman is a beautifully strange and fascinating little book. Murata’s exploration of societal norms, relationships, and work culture is bizarre, unique, and refreshing, and paired together with the simplicity and humour of its prose makes the perfect little book to pull anyone out of a reading slump. -- Isra
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Culture | 23
Danny Brown’s Quaranta Review: All ‘Grown Up’ Adam Kelly
Q
uaranta, the sixth solo full-length album from beloved Detroit rapper Danny Brown, is clear about its status as a milestone. Press play and at once chirping samples translate its obscurant title into the witheringly familiar: forty – man’s getting old. Where 2012’s XXX, the record that made Brown’s name, played off the confluence of the rapper’s age and the international signal for sexual excess, here he is ‘Celibate’, distant, eyeing the rap game with a veteran’s gaze rather than the hunger of an outside talent yet to prove himself to the masses. The result is assured yet vulnerable; a muted missive from a true great that is somehow both brief and slow. Brown holds up the contradictions of rap and fame one by one before releasing them with a shrug: ‘Ain’t My Concern’. That’s not to say there’s apa-
Image credit: Skretts
thy here – more the resignation of a man that sees his place in the wider world for what it is. As Brown concedes on the title track: ‘This rap s*** done saved my life / And f***** it up at the same time’. The wincing excess examined on his classic Atrocity Exhibition collided with the affirmation that he was ‘Lost in the streets, found on the beat’ from the 2019 track ‘Change Up’. As the record’s atmosphere threatens to cloud over, we’re launched into ‘Tantor’, Alchemist-produced single and a certified banger that introduces Brown’s ‘Mexican homie named Chinese Mike’ and leaves on a wailing Steve Carrell. Old memes that would sink any other artist melt into a tableau of avant-garde production and that inimitable squawking delivery. For every slug of selfreflection, there is the shock of soaring laughter. The record finds its frequency from here on out, oscillating between pitched up-tempo cuts and woozy, low-toned musings. The plainspoken lyricism of ‘Ain’t My Concern’ is a departure in its directness (although some may miss the leftfield wordplay that remains Brown’s baseline), while ‘Dark
Sword Angel’, despite its rolling kicks, feels like hearing him rap through the haze of a hot boxed room. These two tracks are the lowlights of the record, passing almost unnoticed before the welcome energy spike of ‘Y.B.P.’ (Young, Black, and Poor) with a gleeful turn from Bruiser Wolf, sounding like the greatest Sesame Street guest there never was.
the 2022 Nick Cage film The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. So, whilst the YouTube comment section was sceptical, critically, there was a lot of expectation hanging on King and Farnaby’s newest film. Wonka explores the professional beginnings of a young Willy Wonka, a whimsical and ambitious man (played by Timothee Chalamet) trying to make it as a chocolatier. Armed with nothing but a hatful of chocolate and a bucketload of dreams, Willy must face up against the “chocolate cartel” (consisting primarily of Paterson Joseph, Matt Lucas and Mathew Baynton), who have monopolised the chocolate market and refuse to let any newcomers in. After being locked into a contract by the devious Mrs Scrubbit (played with great glee by Olivia Colman), Willy must work with Scrubbit’s other entrapped workers, including the resourceful orphan Noddle (played by Calah Lane), to
sell Wonka’s chocolate to the masses and buy their way to a better future. A quirky cast of characters including Keegan-Michael Key’s corrupt Chief of Police (sporting uncomfortable fat jokes that feel very Dahl, but not very 2023) and Hugh Grant’s scenestealing Oompa Loompa bring further challenges to Wonka and Co.’s chocolate-making endeavours.
“The album’s back half contains its greatest triumphs and mis-steps.”
The album’s second single, ‘Jenn’s Terrific Vacation’, melds Danny’s high-toned yelps with circling, whispered questions. There’s a sense of paranoia and subconscious doubt as Kassa Overall’s production conjures the encroachment of gentrifying forces and the dispossession they bring. At the close, busy percussion falls away to reveal organ chords playing a funereal tune. On the second listen, you might realise they were there the whole time; the collapse of
black neighbourhoods written into the plan from the very beginning. The album’s back half contains its greatest triumphs and mis-steps. ‘Down Wit It’ hits with ethereal strings and neon-flecked synth, as Brown mourns the departure of his life-partner. It’s a potent dismissal of any progress narrative created by his last two LPs: 2019’s U Know What I’m Sayin?, with its hit ‘Best Life’, and this year’s raucous, peerless Scaring the H**s. A late break in Brown’s breath control, usually so flawless, makes the most affecting track on the album. ‘Celibate’ reads like a dismantling of the joyous (and concocted) sexcapades of 2019’s ‘Dirty Laundry’, instead pivoting closer to the numbness that rounds out XXX’s ‘I Will’ from a decade ago. That is until MIKE slurs his way onto the track, muddying the image as his flow slumps against the beat. The album ends with a threetrack run of Brown’s most subdued music to date. ‘Shakedown’ brings Bladee-esque vocalisations from ZeelooperZ and a woozy sunrise flow as a counterweight to its assured lyrics, while ‘Hanami’ paints the
bloom and fall of cherry blossom with its meditations on this transient life. Here is a memento mori reminiscent of Atrocity’s ‘Today’, but with fresh scope: Brown no longer fearing for his life on the streets, but wrestling with wasting it on art that fails either the market, or himself. The closer, ‘Bass Jam’, is a salve to all these anxieties. All curled photopaper and reels of tape, Brown reminisces on the classics his mother would play him before bed and the discoveries that carried him through early mornings and the school run. There’s nostalgia here so universal there’ll be few it fails to touch, so potent is the idea that in youth, music speaks for us. Signing off on forty years, Brown leaves us with a lullaby in blissed out production that cuts to his very reason for being, for persisting: the comfort of music. It’s been his solace, and even if the demands of fame continue to grate, he remains blessed, and we’re blessed he remains with us.
to make any casting director proud. It is also consistently funny, with Rowan Atkinson’s chocolate-obsessed priest and Simon Farnaby’s lovelorn security guard proving to be highlights. The film is also, it should be noted, a stealth musical. Yes, that’s right. Wonka has joined 2024’s Mean Girls in the grand tradition of concealing the fact that it’s a musical in its trailer. Presumably, this has been done because, following on from 2021’s Dear Evan Hansen and In the Heights, there seems to be a lack of appetite among moviegoers for musicals. Nevertheless, do not be fooled, there are songs in Wonka and they shouldn’t be shouty enough to put anyone off. For all those students looking to escape Oxford for the winter vacation and enjoy a bit of whimsy in Wonka, you should also probably be warned. The latter half of the film will see you overwhelmed by images of the Bridge of Sighs and the Rad
Cam, gleaming with all their loaded, potentially stress-filled associations. For a film that’s meant to be set in a magical non-descript location, there’s really no escaping those limestone streets.
Overall: 7/10
Wonka review: A sweet treat but no Paddington 2 Liz Lane
W
hen the trailer for Wonka was first released, reactions were, at best, dubious. Fondness for the old Gene Wilder interpretation and prequel/ sequel fatigue seemed to give people much to complain about online. Why had Timothee Chalamet, indie darling and superstar on the rise, decided to make a kid’s film about a character that’s already been played twice on screen? The answer, it seems, had a lot to do with Paul King. King is the director of the Paddington films and, alongside Horrible Histories’ Simon Farnaby (of Caligula fame), wrote the screenplay for Paddington 2. The latter had, at one point, achieved a 100% perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes and Chalamet himself called it a “truly nearly perfect film”. It has since achieved a near cult-like status, receiving endless praise from celebrity fans and featuring memorably in
“...do not be fooled, there are songs in Wonka and they shouldn’t be shouty enough to put anyone off.”
True to the spirit of “pure imagination”, the film is as fantastical as it is full of heart. Best described as Paddington meets Charlie and the Chocolate Factory meets every Charles Dickens character you never hope to meet, its sets are beautiful and its cast is something
“...the film is as fantastical as it is full of heart.”
Overall, Wonka is a fun, festive treat full of a sweetness that somehow never gets too sickly. It is likely to be enjoyed by all members of the family, and is a beautifully made, if, at times, slightly empty prequel. Now, is it a patch on Paddington 2? Of course not. But as Pedro Pascal’s character said in a review of it to Nicholas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent: “I cried through the entire thing. It made me want to be a better man.” And that is no easy thing to replicate.
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The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
OXFORD SU ELECTIONS The Oxford SU Leadership Elections are your chance to elect your Sabbatical Officers for the next academic year. They campaign and work to represent your academic interests and make the changes at the University you want to see Find out more about our elections, and get involved by scanning this QR code
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26 | Green
Deputy Editor: Bridget Harrington Section Editors: Ava Chan, Sabine Zednik-Hammonds green@oxfordstudent.com
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Green
Organic food: Fact or fad? Bridget Harrington f you have walked through the vegetable, meat or dairy section of any supermarket recently, no doubt you will have noticed the price distinction between ‘ordinary’ foods, and the much sought after organic produce. With waves in public health movements and an increasing awareness of our impact on the environment, organic foods are rapidly becoming a staple choice, with the US spending $56 billion on organic food in 2020. But just how different are these items? And should we be splashing the extra cash? The term organic refers to elements in the production process of the food. To be classed as organic, there must be no use of fertilisers, pesticides, or fungicides when growing crops, and livestock must be free range and not treated with any growth hormones. It also rules out any use of genetic modification of products. Whilst these measures may seem to be unequivocally good for health and the environment, the truth is much more complicated. A 2003 study found that organic corn and berries contain up to 58% more antioxidants and 52% more vitamin C compared to non-organic products. This is likely because organic
I
food cannot rely on added pesticides and fungicides for protection against disease, increasing their production of antioxidants. This makes for a healthier product to consume, seeing as antioxidants are used to help protect cells against damage, and have been shown to reduce the risk of cancer. A meta-analysis of 67 studies that compared the nutritional profile of organic meat and nonorganic meat found a consistent pattern that organic meat had lower levels of saturated fats, and higher levels of omega 3, meaning a switch to organic meat would lead to a lower risk of heart disease. However, evidence for health benefits of organic food is highly contested, with many reviews finding no such patterns. For example, an observational study in 2014 looked at 623,080 individuals eating either organic and non-organic foods, and found no difference in the risk of cancer, despite claims that the antioxidants in organic food should reduce the risk. The conflicting health claims of organic food have likely arisen due to the many factors that can affect the nutritional profile of food, such as the soil quality, precipitation level, genetics of the plant or animal, and time of year. Therefore, it is very difficult to control for all confound-
ing factors, and it is harder to draw blanket conclusions. Whilst the health impacts of organic food or highly contended, the evidence of environmental impacts is more consistent. On a small scale, switching to organic methods of producing meat, dairy and produce leads to significant increases in biodiversity. This is because organic production supports a greater range of insects and plants, seeing as they are not killed of by toxic pesticides and herbicides, meaning a greater diversity of animals are supported further up the food chain.
“...we should all be looking towards having a more plantbased diet.”
A decreased input of these chemicals also reduces the toxic agricultural runoff into nearby freshwater ecosystems. This is important, seeing as when fertilisers drain into lakes and ponds, they lead to a process known as eutrophication. This refers to rapid algal blooms which are quickly followed by areas of algae death and oxygen depletion, decreasing the ability for any other species to survive in that area. Although the reduction in
chemicals and subsequent increase in biodiversity make a strong argument for the benefits of organic food on the environment, we must look through a broader lens to see the full picture. When looking at the sustainability of producing food organically worldwide, it soon becomes apparent that this is not a feasible option. This is because the yield of organic food is about 50% lower than that of non-organic food, meaning we need to farm double the amount of land to end up with the same amount of food. Out of the habitable land on Earth, 50% is already dedicated to agriculture, and this demand for land is only going to rise with the growing human population. Moreover, as the temperature warms and patterns of precipitation become more unpredictable, climate change is rapidly rendering whole swathes of land unusable. This is particularly true for the growth of organic produce, seeing as conditions need to be more optimal to achieve the correct nutrient and microorganism profile to promote plant growth. Whilst increasing the land dedicated to farming has been an efficient way to keep pace with demand in the past, this is no longer an option. It is depleting much needed carbon sinks
due to the deforestation required to clear land, and is having catastrophic implications for biodiversity loss. Clearly, efforts now need to focus on increasing the yield of food we can produce per hectare, and organic methods are not tailored to this need. Despite the advantages that come from switching to organic methods on a small scale, the increased carbon cost that comes with it means that organic food is not sustainable worldwide. If we want to decrease the carbon cost of our diet, and indeed improve our health, we should all be looking towards having a more plant-based diet. With a wide array of micronutrients and minerals present in plants, as well as fibre and complete proteins, the health benefits of a plant-based diet are abundant. Eating foods further down the food chain also decreases the land needed to produce these foods and decreases the carbon emissions from the food production. So next time you are tossing up between the expensive organic apples or cheaper non-organic ones, ask yourself if this is in fact the most important choice to be making, or should our attention instead be turned to increasing the proportion of plants in our shopping basket?
Image Credit: Wendy Wai
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
SciTech | 27
SciTech Neoantigens - promising targets for Deputy Editor: Samkeet Shah Section Editors: Ava Chan, Gabriella Kchozyan scitech@oxfordstudent.com
cancer immunotherapy Ava Chan ancer is a condition in which cells grow and divide uncontrollably and is the second leading cause of death worldwide contributing to one in six deaths. There are over 200 different types of cancer and they can be grouped into 4 main types by the location they are found: carcinomas (skin or tissues covering internal organs and glands), sarcomas (tissues that support the body including bones, muscles and fat), leukaemias (blood cells) and lymphomas (lymphatic system). Previously, cancer treatment options were limited to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Recently, the advancement of technologies has contributed to scientific discoveries around cancer development, progression, immune evasion and crosstalk with the tumour microen-
C
vironment. New approaches of cancer therapies such as immunotherapy, which leverages the patient’s immune system in fighting cancer cells, arose from these discoveries. Studies have led to the development of several major types of immunotherapies including cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer, cytokines, and monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g. immune checkpoint inhibitors). They are thought to promote survival rate and have reduced side effects compared to traditional cancer therapies. An antigen is a molecule, allergen, or foreign particle that could bind to immune system cells or a specific antibody. Neoantigens are a type of antigen that are formed by tumour cells due to tumour-specific alterations such as mutations in the genome. They are recognized as foreign
by the immune system and trigger an immune response, have high specificity and are relatively difficult to cause central tolerance and autoimmune reaction when compared to traditional tumour-associated antigens. Tumour-associated antigens are not unique to tumour cells, whereas neoantigens are a subtype of tumour-specific antigens which only expressed in tumour cells. For neoantigen immunotherapies, synthetic neopeptides are administrated to patients to stimulate the patient’s immune cells to recognise and kill cancers. Due to the nature of neoantigens, they are highly specific, vary from individual to individual, and usually do not involve any oncogenes. Therefore, identifying neoantigens is critical for developing therapies targeting tumour cells. First, DNA or RNA is extracted
from tumour and somatic samples to identify neoantigens. This polynucleotide is sequenced to identify any mutations. Then, neopetides of appropriate lengths are designed based on these mutations. Computational tools are used for predicting the binding affinity of these neopeptides and for testing their desired response. Neoantigens have been proven to be highly immunogenic and tumour-specific and they can provide long-term immune protection against cancer by building immunological memory. Tremendous progress has been made in neoantigen-based therapies in the areas of neoantigen identification, prediction and screening. Clinical trials using neoantigen vaccines have demonstrated the expected therapeutic effect with high safety and efficacy. With technological
innovations in bioinformatic approaches and the development of sequencing technologies, neoantigen-based therapies have a positive development prospect. However, some challenges remain in optimizing the neoantigen vaccines in several aspects. For example, the time required for identifying and manufacturing neoantigen takes a minimum of 6-8 weeks, which is challenging for patients with a short treatment window. Moreover, questions such as developing neoantigen vaccines with low mutation load remain unexplored. In conclusion, the use of neoantigen vaccines has demonstrated encouraging clinical outcomes. By exploring its potential in combined therapies with checkpoint inhibitors, surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, neoantigenbased therapies hold a high potential in the treatment of cancer.
The Juno variant is a derivative of Omicron, the dominant strain that circulated in early 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, symptoms of COVID-19 have generally remained the same across different variants. Persons infected with JN.1 can expect to have symptoms such as fever, congestion, cough, body aches, and sore throat. Currently, no evidence suggests that JN.1 leads to a more severe infection. Individuals are encouraged to receive the most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine available to better defend against JN.1 and other recent variants. The Juno variant has an additional spike protein mutation that makes it easier for the virus to bypass pre-existing immunity. Older vaccines, while still providing immunity, are less equipped to deal with newer variants. Outdated vaccines, in addition to
the variant’s mutation, make the strain highly transmissible. The winter uptick in flu and COVID-19 cases placed a massive strain on the NHS. Hospitalisation rates are once again on the rise. Staffing and supply shortages have adversely impacted health care provision and indicate a need for government support. The six-day strike by junior doctors from 3 to 9 January further disrupted health care services. It will take months for
hospital operations to recover from the longest strike in NHS history. With COVID-19 cases expected to rise, the ability to support infected individuals will be challenging. Another wave of COVID-19 infections in the UK would coincide with a broader international trend. The United States and Europe have been experiencing sharp increases in positive cases, and Australia has reached record-level cases not seen in
more than a year. The JN.1 variant has spread globally, demonstrating a need to remain cautious and follow public health guidelines. While most people experience mild to moderate symptoms of the virus, vulnerable populations may experience a more severe infection. Similarly, anyone is at risk of developing Long COVID. The new variant is a reminder that although COVID-19 is no longer a global public health emergency, individuals should continue to take precautionary measures to avoid health risks to both themselves and others. Practising good hygiene and keeping informed on developments from health officials are important. As the holiday season comes to an end, everyone has a role to play in keeping themselves and others safe and healthy.
New COVID-19 variant driving winter wave of infections Gabriella Kchozyan
T
he new JN.1 strain of COVID-19, dubbed ‘Juno’, has contributed to the rapid rise of COVID-19 infections worldwide. Although winter virus figures in the UK reached highs in December and seemingly fell over Christmas and the new year, experts suggest a surge in COVID-19 cases may reappear as the holidays come to an end. According to the UK Health Security Agency and the Office for National Statistics, the prevalence of the virus appeared to be experiencing a downward trend in England and Scotland in the two weeks leading up to the 3rd of January. As more people return to school and work, infection rates are expected to increase. January’s cold temperatures will also encourage more indoor socialising, further compounding the risk of transmission.
Image Credit: Fusion Medical Animation
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Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
BIKE DOCTOR
Upcoming Dates: January 25th February 2nd Make sure your bike is safe to ride! Find out more at oxfordsu.org/whats-on The University is offering a £10 subsidy on bike helmets at the following locations; please show your University ID card at the time of purchase: The Oxford Bicycle Company Ltd, 251b Cowley Road, OX4 1XG Walton Street Cycles, 78 Walton Street, OX2 6EA
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
OXYOU Deputy Editor: Olly DeHerrera Section Editors: Florence Purcell and Zaid Magdub oxyou@oxfordstudent.com
OxYunion Term Card
HT24
Flipping through the Union Termcard had us revelling in 2016 nostalgia, and as the ever more-relevant institution of debate debauchery: we are proud to present to you the HT24 OxYunion Term Card!
Please Note: Membership fee has increased another £500 + the concession of your firstborn son (students eligible for the Crankstart scholarship can join at a reduced fee of firstborn daughter).
Week 1: Oxymoron Varsity Debate This House Believes: The Horrors are Unceasing. Guest speakers: Oxford alumnus, Wonka
Week 2: Welfare Social
Staring at the ceiling of the RadCam until our vision goes all wobbly.
Week 3: Debate
200 years of yapping? Or double it and give it to the next person?
Week 4:
Lil Pump album listening party
Week 5: Ball
Theme: 2000s Saltburn dance party! Bathwater provided.
Week 6: Debate
400 years of yapping? Or double it and give it to the next person?
Week 7: Debate
This House regrets: The Assassination of Julius Ceasar. Guest speakers: Emperor Nero, Attila the Hun, Katie Hopkins
Week 8: Election (election part not guaranteed)
OxYou | 29
30 | Food & Drink
Deputy Editor: Johannah Mathew Section Editor: Rebecca Whalley food@oxfordstudent.com
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Food & Drink
Il Corno: A Taste of Neapolitan Hospitality Johannah Mathew & Tara Earley
A
new Neapolitan, family-run Panuozzo bar named Il Corno has recently opened in the heart of the Covered Market, tucked between Gulp Fiction and The Market Tap. Co-founded and owned by DPhil graduate Fanny Clemente and her parents, Franco and Barbara, the family aim to bring authentic culinary tradition and concepts straight from Naples into Oxford’s city centre. The owners describe the store as “a home of good fortune for its guests, a space where people are protected from the misfortunes of the outside world and are given the chance to experience a positive and heartening break from their everyday life”. Upon hearing this, we knew we had to check the space out for ourselves.
“The owners describe the store as “a home of good fortune for its guests...”
Il Corno’s menu offers some of Naples’ most characteristic street foods, including the panuozzo, a warm half pizza and half panino sandwich that can be served with a variety of fillings, alongside taralli, a curled biscuit-like snack with the perfect amount of salt and crunch. There is also a fantastic selection of wines, liqueurs, coffees, and other beverages from the South of Italy. The name Il Corno pays tribute to Naples’ superstition of the corno (horn), symbolizing good fortune and offering protection against the malocchio (evil eye) of Greek and Roman mythology. It is often turned into amulets, or hung from ceilings and car rearview mirrors. In Il Corno, you can spot multicoloured, handcrafted cornos, proudly adorning the shelves. The rest of the 20-seat store’s design showcases
the “esoteric” and “effervescent” sides of Neapolitan culture and craftsmanship, with a modern and sleek palette, consisting of deep red, black, white, and “Vesuvian lava-stone” grey highlights, inspired by the bustling San Gregorio Armeno Street in downtown Naples. Il Corno’s playlist has a tailored mix of jazz and bossa nova arrangements of popular Neapolitan songs, further making a relaxing atmosphere to watch the world go by. The Clementes intend to create an atmosphere “where good food meets good luck”, not just with the store’s design or products, but also through a series of live events centred on Neapolitan culture. These may range from discussions about identity and theatre in Naples, to film showings and cultural classes, which we certainly hope to attend in the future. We were very kindly invited by Fanny and her family to attend Il Corno’s opening party in Michaelmas, where we were greeted with firm handshakes, glasses of wine, and big smiles all around: we were amazed at just how buzzing, yet cosy the entire shop seemed! Il Corno is very clearly a passion project dear to the hearts of many, evidenced by the overwhelming turnout of friends and family. It was a privilege to observe the work in action, with Fanny as the mind, Franco the hands, and Barbara the heart of the operation. Barbara is a retired lecturer from the University of Naples, and Franco specialises in Italian design and architecture. With Fanny’s research interests lying in Neapolitan culture, together they make quite the team. Platters in hand, they whirled around the bar and provided all in attendance with an incredible guest experience. We sampled both a regular and vegetarian panuozzo, featuring the Italian broccoli-like friarielli, as well as one of Il Corno’s zingy white wines, which complemented the rest of the dishes beautifully.
The panuozzi were cheesy and abundant with flavour, but there’s also the option for a Nutella filling if savoury is not your style. If that wasn’t enough, the Clementes also presented a beautiful red-cor-
no decorated birthday cake to celebrate the business’ 0th anniversary! To conclude the festivities, Fanny and her family passed round little red corno charms, allowing us to partake in a famous Neapolitan ritual. The good luck of the corno only materialises if you give it to someone else – so by extending your hand and dropping the corno into a friend’s, you guarantee them protection. As we left the store, we agreed it had been a very fortunate evening indeed.
“Il Corno’s menu offers some of Naples’ most characteristic street foods...”
A couple days later, we met back up with Fanny to discuss Il Corno’s story over limoncello. So, what was the inspiration behind Il Corno? Fanny Clemente: I just completed a PhD in Italian culture with an interest in Neapolitan culture, and I felt the need to promote the culture, not just through my academic articles. The shop’s design is inspired by my love of the culture, particularly its folklore and symbols of good luck, starting with Il Corno. The phallic shape comes from the Greek
God Priapus, the God of fertility, so it symbolises fortune and abundance. And why did you choose the Covered Market? When my parents and I first came to the Covered Market, we were immediately struck by the variety of cuisines and cultures. We thought this would be a great place to fit
Image Credit: Tara Earley
in and truly showcase Neapolitan culture. All the traders here are amazing and the atmosphere is incredible! Your Instagram has lots of fantastic behind-the-scenes content - what’s been your favourite part of setting-up? Social media management is really fun for me - and it’s not just me, it’s my partner too. It’s amazing because I can make fun of my family in the most lovely and affectionate way, but it’s also good for the business. It was great to see the exact design I had in mind for the past two years finally come to life. There were parts before the opening that were not nice to handle, but when we opened, it was a huge relief when people came and said they really loved the ambience, and the feel of Naples when you enter the shop. What would you recommend from the menu? I would definitely recommend the babà dessert. Actually, yesterday all the babà sold out, and there were five or six people after who still wanted to have some. I would also try any panuozzo with friarielli. How do the items on the menu complement each other? The drinks, wines, and coffee all come from Campagna. We have authentic expresso, limoncello, and wines, so
they’re the perfect match with the food; especially the white wines. How important are friends and family to the business? Our company is called Il Corno Family Ltd and that says it all. We are a family of four. My sister is also fully part of us, but is also a judge in Reggio Calabria, so isn’t currently with us. My auntie actually flew from Salerno and she’s here for a month and our dear friend Lily, who works with a tech company, is helping out too. Other friends also gave feedback and advice, especially from back home in Italy, so we never felt alone, even when I was alone physically a lot of the time. How is the symbolism in the restaurant relevant to Il Corno’s business? The symbol of Il Corno is very popular in Naples, but not enough around the world. It also works really well as a brand, as it’s easy to pronounce for non-Italian speakers and the red colour is vibrant, expresses a meaning of life and also is inspired by Pompeian paintings and
“Our company is called Il Corno Family Ltd and that says it all.”
frescos, as well as the devilish other world. What do you want people to take away after coming to Il Corno? There is not just one Italian cuisine and Naples has a lot to offer, not just in culinary aspects, but also in cultural aspects. We wanted to offer something authentic and refined. The culture of hospitality too is something I love being a part of. In the future, we’re planning to do culturally rooted events, where we have speakers and conversations around Italian and Neapolitan culture, such as literature, music, and theatre. I’d personally love to do a talk on queer Neapolitan culture, for example there is a historically queer identity called the femminiello. Look out for our events coming soon!
Sport | 31
The Oxford Student | Friday 19 January 2024
Sport Australian Open preview: Who will win
Deputy Editor: Thomas Thornton Section Editors: Purav Menon, Johannes Riese sport@oxfordstudent.com
this year’s first grand slam? Johannes Riese
T
he Australian Open properly kicked off the tennis season with a bang last Sunday. The fortnight of tennis promises intriguing stories on both the men’s and women’s draws. Can the younger generation dethrone Novak Djokovic at his most successful tournament? Will Iga Swiatek solidify her hold over the women’s game, or will another player rise to the occasion? The defending champion and world no.1 Djokovic headlines the men’s draw. In the first round, he survived a four-hour battle against teenage up-and-comer Dino Prižmić. It marked the longest opening-round match of his career and should help play him into form. He entered the tournament with a slight wrist injury concern, but it was a non-factor in the match. Djokovic’s quarter of the draw is packed with veteran champions like Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray. Murray and Djokovic could clash in the third round. His projected quarterfinal is a rematch of last year’s final against Stefanos Tsitsipas.
“The fortnight of tennis promises intriguing stories on both the men’s and women’s draws.”
His biggest obstacle to reaching the final is fourth seed Jannik Sinner, who he may face in the semi-finals. Sinner ended last year on a hot streak and beat Djokovic twice in two weeks. In his opener against a tricky opponent, Botic van de Zandschulp, Sinner showed some rust as he opted not to play a warm-up event. He still won the match in straight sets without any real complications – a clear sign of experience. His path towards the semi-finals looks relatively smooth until the quarterfinals, where he could face Andrey Rublev or red-hot de Minaur. The Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz leads the other half of the draw. He could potentially face Tommy Paul in the fourth
round – who beat him last year in Montreal – and Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. Alcaraz, like Sinner, chose not to play any warm-up events, so he is untested for this season. A longer offseason might prove valuable, as Alcaraz was not the same player after Wimbledon, taking many unexpected losses.
“Dimitrov has a special place in many tennis afficionados’ hearts.”
Out of the top seeds, two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev arguably faces the hardest path to reach the semi-finals, where he could meet Alcaraz. Both eighth seed Holger Rune and Grigor Dimitrov are in his section. Rune and Dimitrov are in fine form, as they faced each other in the Brisbane final the other week, with Dimitrov triumphing. Dimitrov has a special place in many tennis aficionados’ hearts. Ever the gentleman on and off the court, with a graceful game and raw athleticism, he never managed to meet people’s high expectations. His return to form is a welcome surprise, and many experts pick him as the dark horse for the tournament. The one big name missing from the draw is Rafael Nadal. The 22time major champion made his long-awaited return two weeks ago in Brisbane but suffered another injury and chose to withdraw from the tournament. On the women’s side, Swiatek landed in a tough quarter with Jelena Ostapenko and Elina Svitolina, the last two players to beat her at a major. She could also face former champion Angel Kerber in the second round and meet reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova in the quarters. Fortunately for the world no.1, she has not lost a match since September. She won all of her five singles matches at the United Cup, dropping only one set to start off the season. If she wins the Australian Open, she only needs to win Wimbledon to complete the career grand slam.
Swiatek’s biggest obstacle might be Elena Rybakina – her conqueror last year. The third seed and last year’s finalist could clash with Swiatek in the semifinals. Rybakina comes into the tournament having won a title in Auckland without dropping a set and dominating the world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka in the final. She suffered from injury woes in the second half of last season, yet her current form should make her the second favourite after Swiatek. Watch out for Emma Raducanu in Rybakina’s section, as she is playing her first Grand Slam tournament in over a year.
“...the biggest opening story of the women’s draw is the return of three former champions Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber after becoming mothers.”
The defending champion Sabalenka tops the second half of the draw. Sabalenka is an enigma in this tournament, as she has never before needed to defend a Grand Slam title. Maybe that will free her
up to play her gutsy hammering baseline tennis. Or she may show the nerves that we have grown accustomed to from her at the later stages of big tournaments. If her resounding first-round victory is anything to go by, then we are looking at the former. She has a pretty easy path to the quarterfinals, where the Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur potentially awaits. In the semi-finals, there could be a repeat of last year’s US Open final when Coco Gauff defeated Sabalenka in three sets. Gauff hopes to continue her undefeated streak in 2024 after she defended her title in Auckland earlier this year. She appeared full of confidence in her pre-tournament press conference, saying that she quickly adjusted to being a Grand Slam champion, as her goal was always to win multiple majors. Maybe the biggest opening story of the women’s draw is the return of three former champions Naomi Osaka, Caroline Wozniacki and Angelique Kerber after becoming mothers. For Osaka and Kerber, they have not played a Grand Slam tournament for over a year. Do not be surprised if Osaka makes a run, as she is only 26 and won the tournament two years ago. Only she and Swiatek have won four Grand Slam singles titles in the women’s draw. Osaka’s comeback indicates that you never know what will happen in tennis, and
Image Credit: Gracchus250
tournament for over a year. Do not be surprised if Osaka makes a run, as she is only 26 and won the tournament two years ago. Only she and Swiatwek have won four Grand Slam singles titles in the women’s draw. Osaka’s comeback indicates that you never know what will happen in tennis, and this Australian Open should not prove otherwise.
Upcoming in sport:
SUPER BOWL Feb 11 The biggest sporting event in America - to be headlined by Usher this year at half-time. Last won: Kansas City Chiefs SIX NATIONS Feb 2 - Mar 16 England’s first match of the event will take place against Italy, on February 3rd. Last won: Ireland MASTERS Apr 11 - Apr 14 Established in 1934, this golf tournament occurs annually at Augusta National Golf Club. Last won: Scottie Scheffler
32 | Sport
Friday 19 January 2024 | The Oxford Student
Sport
Age of extremes? Youth and longevity in modern sport Haochen Wang
R
ecently, darts player Luke Littler made waves and headlines by becoming the youngest player to ever reach the PDC World Darts Championship final, aged 16 years and 347 days. Despite losing to the newlycrowned world number one Luke Humphries, it is undeniable that darts has gained a star in the making. Indeed, elite and professional sport is never short of young talent: Muhammad Ali had won gold at the 1960 Summer Olympics in light heavyweight division for boxing when he was just 18; Nadia Comăneci utterly dominated gymnastics in the 1976 Summer Olympics with three gold medals and the first perfect 10.0, and, of course, few have been left unaware of Carlos Alcaraz’s meteoric rise to the acme of tennis. The Olympics, for many sports and their athletes, is the pinnacle of achievement – to compete is glorious enough, and to win? The lifelong dream. Written into the Olympic Charter (Chapter 5, Rule 42), is the statement that across the Olympics in general, there “may be no age limit for competitors in the Olympic Games other than as prescribed in the competition rules of an IF as approved by the IOC Executive Board”. Does this mean that, in theory, a 5 year old could qualify for the Olympics and go on to win? For some sports, it appears so. Indeed, in March of 2020, 11 year old Hend Zeza qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Table Tennis tournament, becoming the fifth-youngest Olympian to do so. Yet it doesn’t appear that it’s merely just an issue of athletes, on average, getting younger, but perhaps the other end of the spectrum is also growing: athletes’ careers seem to grow ever longer. I’m sure many have seen the clips of young NBA players joking with LeBron James for having played with their fathers, or of Tiger Woods competing against the very players that he had given autographs to in the noughties. Now more than ever perhaps, athletes (in most disciplines) seem to be enjoying a longer career than a few decades ago. How? “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Commu-
niter” – the Latin Olympic motto translating to “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together” – captures the essence of sport: it is, indubitably, a primarily physical thing. However, the same developments allowing younger athletes to reach truly elite levels are also prolonging older athletes careers. Look at LeBron, for example, began his NBA career 23 years ago as the first overall draft pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Standing at 6’9’’ (2.06 metres) with a seven feet (2.13 metres) wingspan, LeBron’s physicality and similarly impressive athleticism quickly propelled him to the top of basketball. Yet what became – and remains so – increasingly apparent is the vision and intelligence with which he manoeuvres the game.
“Now more than ever perhaps, athletes (in most disciplines) seem to be enjoying a longer career than a few decades ago.”
Of course, health and sport science make leaps and bounds every year – with new technologies being implemented into equipment, training, and recovery. It is easy to imagine the scope that professional sport now has to streamline youth sporting elite to the professional ranks. Particularly, two ever-present factors continue to encourage the steadily increasing length of athletes’ careers: entertainment value and the professionalisation of university sport. Look at golf, admittedly, – to my shame as a golfer – not a very magnetic sport to watch unless you’re an avid fan. Starting from its “humble” beginnings of being an archetypal pastime of the elite and upper-class, it was transformed by the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player over the latter half of the 20th-century. Since then, with generational superstars like
Tiger Woods and charismatic figures such as Seve Ballesteros, the sport has long evolved beyond its stuffy origins into a global phenomenon with around 40 million golfers in R&A affiliated markets. What comes with that? A sprawling web of industry: apparel, sponsorships, tourism, and countless others. Perhaps one of the sport’s greatest “could have been” was Francis Ouimet, with his 1913 U.S. Open win and two U.S. Amateur’s, Ouimet is one of the most accomplished amateur golfers of all time. Yet, he quickly turned to business as professional golf then was not an affordable career avenue. But now, especially with the ongoing PGA-LIV competition, golf’s profitability has been transformed. Jon Rahm’s – one of the world’s leading golfers – was offered $450 million deal to switch tours. Professional sport is no longer just about sport, it – like films, concerts, and other performances – is entertainment. Want another example? Look at WWE. Invariably, the increasingly visible trend of sport’s evolution into popular entertainment snowballs to form a mindset of “starting early to get ahead of the competition”. With sport’s inherent need for physicality and the world’s unstopping scientific developments, athletes are truly running faster, jumping
higher, and becoming stronger at a younger age. Of course, we don’t evolve that quickly, but with the development of various sporting performance schemes at schools and universities across the world, the gap between students-athletes and professional athletes is everclosing. Wealthy institutions can effortlessly invest millions into facilities, coaches, and recovery programmes. Not only that, but since 2021 July, when the NCAA had announced its permission for student athletes to profit off name, image, and likeness, the collegiate sporting industry has blurred the line between professional and student even further. More importantly, perhaps, such developments raise the question of what constitutes an athlete.
“Does this mean that, in theory, a 5 year old could qualify for the Olympics and go on to win? ”
Olivia Dunne, an All-American gymnast at Louisiana State University (LSU), was estimated by Forbes to have earned $2.3 million in 2023 (as of September 6). A former US National Team member and a current All-American, she’s certainly accomplished in gym-
nastics, but when one mentions Dunne, the words “influencer” and “TikTok” likely immediately spring to mind, raising the question of whether she’s more of an athlete or social media personnel. Indeed, while speaking on the Full Send podcast, she stated that she’d “definitely want to do something entrepreneuial…I definitely want to have my own thing one day, my own product or something,” begging the question of whether sport now, after all that’s been invested into it, has just returned to being a means to an end that is a prosperous business career? Professional sport in the 2020s is no longer a singular, physicalitybased landscape rooted in your genetics, raw talent, or luck. Of course, those elements still play a huge role in determining your success, but the likes of Luke Littler proves that there is no one recipe to success. More interestingly, sport is no longer just “sport”: it is not just loyal crowds surrounding a stadium jeering at rival teams, it is now inextricably linked with entertainment, social media, science, and business profit. That is the age of sport that the 21stcentury is in - an age of extremes bursting with talent, science, and the unending pursuit of entertainment value and magnetism.
Image Credit: Neil Tilbrook