4 | News
Lincoln college chapel defaced Dominic Enright Senior Editor
Friday 27 May 2022 | The Oxford Student
Technicality stops vote to ban slates at Oxford Union Ciaron Tobin News editor
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n Friday the 13th of May, the Chapel of Lincoln was defaced during a power cut between 1pm and 9pm. Those responsible are currently unknown to the college, and anyone who knows what happens is advised to contact the college. An email was sent out on the Monday following by the Chaplain, Dr Andrew Shamel, to the whole college, explaining the significance of these actions and why they are particularly hateful to Christians. The culprits burned out the chapel candles, which included the Paschal candle that must remain burning for the whole 40 day period of Easter. This means it should have been lit until this Friday the 7th of May, which is the Christian holiday of the ascension. On top of this, they wrote strange symbols on hymnals and service books with black makeup pens. Further, they defaced an embroidered cross on a linen, and spread charcoal into the cloths covering both the altar side table and the altar.
These actions should not only be seen as acts or vandalism, but also hold crucial symbolic meaning for Christians. For example, the altar is the location of the central Christian rite of Eucharist and so the defacing of the linen there is blasphemous. The burning out of the Paschal candle as well can be seen as symbolically aimed against Christians given the
candle should remain burning for the whole period.
The Chaplain of Lincoln College emphasised this in his email “These actions may sound trivial, and in a sense many of them are: the service books which were marked can easily be reprinted and the linens may be able to be washed. However, as Chaplain, it is important for me to share why it would be upsetting to find these objects used in the way that they were. Many of the objects used or defaced have been blessed for use in Christian worship.”
“to find them (objects defaced) abused is for some not unlike the destruction or abuse of a precious heirloom, a work of art, or a memento resonant of a loved one. For others it constitutes a direct attack on God or at the least Christian faith itself.”
He further reiterated that “it is important for the continuance of the shared life of the Chapel that members of Lincoln appreciate the importance of the space and its furnishings. While the Chapel is indeed a space open to all, regardless of faith, and a beautiful space in which to rest and contemplate, it is also a place of Christian worship, which conditions the use and meaning of many of the objects that reside within.”
If you have information, please contact the Lincoln college porters who are working on the in-
The Oxford Union President-Elect Ahmad Nawaz’s Private Business motion to ban slates has been halted after the Returning Officer deemed the motion incompatible with the technical rules of the Society. The motion in the Oxford Union would prevent candidates for different positions from joining together in slates. Like political parties, slates are groups of organised candidates who campaign and run together for elections. There are criticisms that slates make running as an individual candidate harder, since people in slates can share resources. In a surprising turn of events Mr Nawaz questioned the Returning Officer (RO) Christopher Collins, in a point of order on the reasoning behind this before the Thursday debate. Questions asked by Mr Nawaz included asking Collins ‘it is an odd coincidence that is what not until this morning, the very day of the motion to ban slates was set to be debated that his technicality was brought to your attention’. To which Collins regretted it was not brought to his attention sooner. The rule in question the RO not-
ed was that the Private Business Motion had not been submitted according to the technical rules of ‘listing Executive Seniority’, so thus did not meet the requirements to be brought before the chamber Further, Mr Nawaz questioned whether ‘Members deserve the right to democratically decide whether or not slates should be banned’. To which Collins replied that it is the role of the RO to ensure a valid motion is brought before the chamber. Unsatisfied with the Situation the President-Elect left the chamber. Mr Nawaz is determined to bring the reform back in the future and ensure the Union changes.
We have asked for a comment from Christopher Collins, the returning officer, he had this to say: “The Union’s Rules require and compel the Returning Officer to take this action against any invalidly written motion, without any room for discretion. I entirely sympathise with Mr Nawaz’s frustration and I have already offered him my assistance in ensuring that this situation does not arise again.” We have asked for a comment from Ahmad Nawaz, presidentelect, who has not yet replied. Any response recieved will be published online.
CNN video evidence found “no active combat, nor any Palestinian militants, near Abu Akleh in the moments leading up to her death”. Exeter JCR in the motion also pointed to the fact that Human Rights Watch has stated that “Palestinians face systematic discrimination merely because of their race, ethnicity, and national origin” and that Amnesty International has “declared Israel an Apartheid state.” The motion was also pushed on the basis that the situation seemed to be escalating, stating that “Israel has killed five times as many Palestinians in 2022 than it killed in the same period in 2021, including the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque that injured over 150 Palestinians.” On this basis, the JCR expressed a desire to show support and solidarity - the motion expressed that the college “should do whatever
possible to show solidarity with Palestine amidst this international crisis” and also “should similarly ensure that Palestinian students, and students who identify with the Palestinian cause in Oxford, feel adequately supported by the college.” In addition, the JCR stated its intent to contribute toward humanitarian missions in Palestine. Following these intentions, the JCR resolved to buy a Palestine flag for display in the JCR, as well as to donate £100 to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). The charity provides medical aid and aims to develop the Palestinian healthcare system long-term through focus on local capacities and skills, aiming to improve “the health and dignity of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees.” Full text of motion on page 5.
Exeter College passes motion supporting Palestine, condemning Israel Anna Davidson Senior Editor
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xeter College has recently passed an unprecedented motion condemning Israel and resolving to purchase and display a Palestinian flag in the JCR, and has moved to donate funds in support of medical aid for Palestinians. According to the motion, the JCR suggested this move in recognition of recent developments like the murder of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh at the hands of Israeli forces, which has “led to widespread outcry”. The Al-Jazeera journalist was shot fatally in the head while she reported on Israeli military operations in the West Bank. Subsequent evidence which has emerged of the incident shows journalists being shot at in spite of their press vests and without being asked to leave first, while
