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Lincoln college chapel defaced
Dominic Enright
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Senior Editor
On 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.”
Technicality stops vote to ban slates at Oxford Union
Ciaron Tobin
News editor
TThe 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 noted 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:
We have asked for a comment from Ahmad Nawaz, presidentelect, who has not yet replied.
Any response recieved will be published online.
Exeter College passes motion supporting Palestine, condemning Israel
Anna Davidson
Senior Editor
Exeter 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 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.
Motion of no confidence in SU sabbatical officer passes Cont. from page 1
Dominic Enright
Senior editor
(cont) “berated Keble JCR and the volunteer tutor for not having the required information.”
A motion regarding this was submitted to a Keble JCR meeting on Sunday of third week of Trinity, with 45 voting for, none against and five abstentions. As a result of this, the Keble JCR President was mandated to submit this motion to the Student Council meeting on Tuesday the 24th of May, where it was debated by Student Council representatives from across the University.
Having spoken to the Keble JCR President Tom Morris, he has told The Oxford Student that he “does not expect this will result in her being ousted from her position. This is since for a vote of no confidence to pass, there needs to be two votes of approval from Council, and then a Universitywide referendum”
This means it is logistically hard before the officer’s term ends this academic year, given there are only two more council meetings, and the university-wide referendum would have to be in ninth week. A university-wide referendum would need 5% of the student body to vote to be valid (1250), and then a simple majority to pass.
However, Morris told The Oxford Student that this motion “ was to draw attention to the need for professionalism in the role of Sabbatical Officer moving forward”. He also wanted to reiterate that “ there is no ill-will towards the Sabbatical Officer, and the JCR was instead opening a public conversation on their need for support from the SU”. However, after “exhausting all prior means”, he felt
obligated by the mandate of his JCR to bring forward the motion.
In her election bid, Keisha made amanifesto pledge of “closing the gap and helping all student via workshops” and these would be “provided by willing members of the faculty, graduate students or both”. The pledge was that “the workshop will take place twice at the start of term”, although there were additional workshops planned for life sciences students and medical students.
The motionof no confidence included the following statements of belief:
The performance of the Sabbatical Officer has been inappropriate for someone representing students at a university level, and has led to substantial disruption within the Keble community. Frequent attempts by Keble JCR over a period of 5 months to attempt to rectify the situation have fallen through consistently due to the disregard by Oxford SU’s Officer. This is a level of performance that is not acceptable for someone paid a year’s salary to make student’s lives easier, especially given the hostile communications the JCR has received. The lack of any apology thus far in any form only seeks to enforce the feeling of disconnect and disregard for JCR engagement from the SU.
On point 3, the salary of sabbatical officers, the role of vice President Welfare and Equal Opportunities for next year has a salary of £21,686. This differs from the volunteer tutors, Keble JCR Access officer and the Keble JCR president who were all unpaid for their work in their scheme. Indeed, in any study tutoring scheme run by the SU, there was no payment for those implementing the scheme at college level. The new sabbatical officer for welfare and equal opportunities has been elected, and is Grace Olusola.
As point 2, suggests, the Keble JCR President has told The Oxford Student of the many attempts he has made to get in contact with the sabbatical officer, and has meetings with the CEO of the Oxford SU.
While we are yet to receive minutes of the Student Council meeting, all sources of the Oxford Student at the meeting suggested that there was civil and productive discussion on Tuesday, nor any hostility from any party.
The results have been published for this motion as:
Total Votes: 36 For: 25 Against: 7 Abstain: 4
This means that the motion passed with over a two third majority. However, given the mandate needs to be given in two separate council meetings, and via a university-wide referendum, Keisha will remain as sabbatical officer.
We reached out both to the current Sabbatical officer for Welfare and Equal Opportunities and the SU President for comment on Monday the 23rd via Facebook, and then emailed on Tuesday both the Communication Manager, and SU President with the same message. This was forwarded on Wednesday to the Sabbatical Officer for Welfare and Equal Opportunities, who also is yet to respond.
This JCR notes:
· The murder of the Palestinian journalist Shireen Abu Akleh at the hands of Israeli forces has led to widespread outcry. · Human Rights Watch has stated that “Palestinians face systematic discrimination merely because of their race, ethnicity, and national origin”[1]. Amnesty International has declared Israel an Apartheid state[2]. · Israel has killed five times as many Palestinians in 2022 than it killed in the same period in 2021[3], including the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque that injured over 150 Palestinians
This JCR believes:
· Exeter College should do whatever possible to show solidarity with Palestine amidst this international crisis. · Exeter College should similarly ensure that Palestinian students, and students who identify with the Palestinian cause in Oxford, feel adequately supported by the college. · Exeter College should aim to contribute towards humanitarian missions in Palestine.
This JCR therefore resolves to:
· Buy a Palestine flag to display in the JCR. · Donate £100 to Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) Proposer : Jack Klein Seconded: Sara Pelham
New LGBTQ+ nightclub Glamorous open now Shivanii Arun News Editor
The newest LGBTQ+ nightclub, Glamorous Oxford, celebrated its opening night this week on Friday 20th May.
Already a well-established chain in Birmingham and Coventry, the company’s website describes Glamorous as ‘a blend of a modern cocktail bar and nightclub’. It offers a site for ‘after work drinks, a preclub drink or a nightcap with some friends’ and a ‘chic underground room for the ultimate party’. Excitingly, the venue also promises ‘award winning international drag artists, top UK drag artists and resident DJs’ — a welcome addition for the Oxford LGBTQ+ community.
While Plush is Oxford’s reigning LGBTQ+-oriented clubbing scene, and the Jolly Farmers a more relaxed pub-like environment, new owner Matt Eason has emphasised his hopes to integrate the fusion nightclub-bar Glamorous into the existing LGBTQ+ nightlife at Oxford rather than ‘cannibalise’ any business.
Eason told the Oxford mail: “It is about being part of the community, not coming into Oxford being like the ‘big I am’ because we have a venue in Birmingham.
If anything, Eason stresses that Glamorous’ arrival as the third new LGBTQ+ space should be viewed as an extremely positive addition, since “the more that is going on, the better for the community”.
Glamorous is situated neatly on St. Clement’s Road, in a different part of the city from Plush and the Jolly Farmers. Helpfully, the venue is only a 5 minute walk away from the city centre, and 15 minutes from the train station.
One clubber, went on the opening night on Friday, told us that “my experience of Glamourous was a mixed one: the queue was long for opening night, understandably, however waiting for forty minutes does peter out interest.
Saying that, once I got inside, the first floor could be described as a cleaner version of hanks.
With your typical cheesy tunes, glamarous is a good edition to Oxford nightlife even if it isn’t unique. It is important to have another LGBTQ+ friendly space in Oxford, since given current state of affairs, Oxford sorely needs them.”
One worry expressed to me by another club-goer was that the queue was close to the Plain roundabout which is one of the more dangerous roadways in Oxford. Hopefully, the queue was just as a result of the excitement for opening night, and the venue will not see the high demand.
6 | News
St Benet’s Hall announces that university will not renew its official licence
Cont. from page 1
(Cont.) The recent failure of St Benet’s Hall to renew its licence as a PPH at the University of Oxford, cannot hence ensure the sustenance of its Oxford-run education, offices, or accommodation facilities.
In response to the announcement, the Joint Common Room (JCR) at St Benet’s Hall has called for an Extraordinary JCR meeting to discuss the issue further. The current JCR President, Julian Danker, says that “the JCR is as surprised as anyone else to hear about this latest development. This is sad news to everyone who knows Benet’s as a lovely and unique place in Oxford. We are working as hard as we can together with the Hall and the University to ensure that students’ experience is disrupted as little as possible”.
Dominic Enright, former St Benet’s Hall JCR President, and a current member of our Senior Editorial team, says that, “Benet’s is the most unique institution at this prestigious university. To know there is a high possibility of it not having a long term future is difficult.”
Dominic continues, “while I know that my fellow students and I will find it hard, I wanted to make special mention to the staff – both academic and nonacademic, who have been at this institution for decades, and for whom this announcement will be all the harder to hear.”
Students are reassured that the PPH is determined to ensure that the quality of academic teaching and welfare will remain consistent within university standards, despite the ongoing uncertainty, and that the Hall is still willing to offer as much support wherever they can.
Members of the college are urged to get in touch with the Senior Tutor and Deputy Academic Registrar if further queries or concerns arise.
Samuel Kenny
News Reporter
Prince Charles visited Oxford on Friday to open Trinity college’s new Levine Building, costing £30 million, on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen. The Levine building is Trinity college’s first major upgrade in more than 50 years and includes a new state-of-the-art auditorium for lectures and performances. It has purpose-built teaching rooms, student bedrooms, a function room, and an informal study area with a café.
Trinity College which was founded in 1555, has a financial endowment of £164 million, and is the 11th richest Oxford college. Despite its large physical size, the college is relatively small in terms of student numbers at approximately 400, making it the 9th richest for assets per student.
Prince Charles arrived through Trinity College’s Broad Street gates in style in a blue electric Audi. The Prince of Wales apologised for being 40 minutes late after being caught in heavy traffic on the M4 and M40.
He joked “I’ve now done a comprehensive tour of Reading and Pangbourne. I feel awful that you were left waiting outside for me to arrive” ing body, students, and staff, as well as college President Dame Hilary Boulding, and Oxford University Chancellor Lord Patten.
Prince Charles told those in attendance “I can only congratulate you all on the vital work you do and the generosity of spirit that underpins it.
“And ladies and gentlemen, that same generosity has clearly infused the development of this building.
Prince Charles called the new building a “building worthy of this historic site”. He was speaking at a ceremony attended by members of the college’s govern-
Dame Hilary Boulding said it was a “huge privilege” to have the prince open the new development.
She called it a “wonderful building which will transform what we can offer our students and academics”, as well as Oxfordshire school students and the wider Oxford community”.
The building is named in remembrance of the parents of Peter Levine. The former student, who donated to the project, also met the prince during his visit.
Prince Charles made an unexpected Covid comment while opening the new building, mentioning the university’s “vital” role in creating the covid vaccine. The future King praised “the benefits that Oxford can bring in a local national and global scale”. “The impact of this work was never more apparent, I think than during the past two years when Oxford’s scientists produced a vaccine to combat covid in an extraordinary race against the clock,” he said. “The work of your academics, as we have seen, is making a real difference in people’s lives” he continued.I can only congratulate you all on the vital work you do and the generosity of spirit that underpins it.”
After visiting Trinity College, he travelled south to University College where he was greeted by Baroness Valerie Amos, the first black head of an Oxford College. Here, he met with student committee members of underrepresented backgrounds. These included students who were either recipients of the Amos Bursary, to support talents of African and Caribbean heritage, or from Opportunity Oxford, a programme to support Oxford University offer holders. In the presence of both His Royal Highness and the Baroness, students recounted their journey to the university.
After the discussion, a picture was taken with the panel and the Prince left via the now less busy M40.
Prince Charles’s visit comes at a time just as he’s taking over more responsibilities from his mother, the 96-year-old monarch. Charles only a couple of days before his visit to Oxford, performed for the first time, the sacred state opening of Parliament. However, the Queen attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show as part of her Jubilee celebrations at the weekend in her first public appearance since March.
Image credits: the Household of TRH Prince of Wales and Duchess
