Issue 8 - Trinity Term 2015

The

OxfordStudent One step ahead since 1991

Volume 73 Issue 8

Jurassic World: The legacy of a masterpiece »» OXII Page 12

Thursday 11th June 7th Week

oxfordstudent.com

Has the great detective still got it?

Should there be an age limit for pro sport?

»» OXII Page 14

»» Page 22

Zuleyka under fire for “censorship” as Oxford Union election heats up • Zuleyka Shahin’s campaign accused of deleting comments on Facebook page

NEWS TEAM

The launch of Zuleyka Shahin’s campaign for the Oxford Union Presidency sparked online controversy this week, after administrators on her Facebook campaign page appeared to delete critical comments, leading to accusations against Shahin of “censorship” and attempts to “stifle free debate”.

In addition, several students expressed outrage at transphobic comments addressed toward Shahin on the page, which were described as “disgusting” and “shameful”.

Shahin, a former Big Brother contestant, currently serves as the Union’s Treasurer, and has risen quickly through the institution’s ranks. She hopes to be elected President tomorrow on a platform of “real, lasting, structural”

change, and is standing against Librarian Stuart Webber.

One student wrote on the page: “Why have you got three people running who are going abroad next year?” This comment was reportedly deleted by page admins within a number of minutes, and the student was blocked from commenting.

Responding to the campaign name ‘Now or Never’, Pembroke student Joe Fowles wrote on the page: “It’s not really now or never, the Union famously has elections all the time.” This comment was also deleted by page admins, Fowles claims.

He told The Oxford Student: “I think it’s pretty poor form for a team that promotes themselves as the champions of transparency and openness to go about censoring »Continued on Page 3

Cornmarket “abortion is murder” preachers prompt student fury LAURA WHETHERLY & LATIFAH SAT Evangelists standing on Cornmarket Street on Saturday have angered students after preaching conservative doctrine and addressing passers-by.

Preachers were seen holding signs with slogans including “abortion is murder”, and “evolution is a lie”, as well as quoting the Bible and addressing specific passers by.

John Paul, a first-year Music student, said: “One guy picked me out when I was walking down the street and told me that I was an abomination. I wasn’t entirely sure what I’d done wrong, and to be honest,

there wasn’t much else I wanted less on a Saturday morning than to be accosted coming back from the library.

“They were really intimidating and it was just a horrible experience. Nobody should have to feel targeted when in a public place - and referring to abortion being “murder” like that was incredibly insensitive and potentially triggering.

“I can only imagine what it must be like to see something like that if you’ve been through an abortion, and might have really struggled with the decision.

“I don’t understand how hate like that is allowed to be shouted in the

city centre, particularly when the City Council are trying to regulate buskers and proposed stopping pigeon feeding. I think that there’s more important things they

“ People like this are responsible for turning others away from faith

”

could be concerned with.”

Pictures taken by students whobwitnessed the event also show a sign

also put up by St Michael’s Church, showing an image of a rainbow and saying “Local Christians say God is Love, no more hate preaching”.

Another, anonymous, first-year student said: “It was totally ridiculous. As a Christian myself, I don’t understand how yelling at people in the street and shouting doctrine (which the vast majority of Christians disagree with) is in any way helping to spread a Christian message.

“St Michael’s definitely had more of the right idea. The ultimate message in the Bible is one of love, for your neighbours as well as for God. People like this are responsible for turning others away from faith”.

According to St Michael’s, the church “opens doors every day to invite those who would benefit from a few moments of reflection and prayer”.

They also add that their “core value” is “the hospitality of Christ ”.

Saturday also saw the Oxford Pride parade, celebrating the city’s LGTBQ community. The parade began in Oxford Castle Quarter and Paradise Street. Festival goers marched from Ship Street at noon before moving through the city along Cornmarket Street and ending their parade at the festival’s main locations. The parade would therefore have passed by the preachers.

2 Editorial

11th June 2015

The OxfordStudent

This week in Oxford.

Student comment of the week

Eleanor Sharman (VERSA boss)

“Can we have a moment of silence for Cherwell’s social media presence”

Tutor comment of the week

“Good luck in your exams. If you get any less than a first you are dead to me”

Oscar Wilde

Magdalen College 1874-1878

Welcome You hold in your hands the final issue of The Oxford Student for 2014-15.

Another year is already over - we’re all finding ourselves closer to the real world, and it’s terrifyingly exciting. Looking back at MT14, it’s hard to believe that so much has happened: free speech and its place in our society seemed to have dominated the discourse of Hilary, in the wake of Marine Le Pen and the Christ Church Abortion debate, whereas this term has seen conversation about race reignited following the Union’s cocktail scandal - although this began last year with I, Too, Am Oxford and in Hilary when this paper reported on OUSU’s BME experience survey. On a more personal level, many of our readers have now completed our first year at University, as the first freshers are finishing their Prelims this week. At the other end of the scale, the finalists are all done now and are embarking into the reality of the adult world. Summer is upon us, finally, and a break from the intensity of Oxford life is long overdue.

Jan Václav Nedvídek

“I’ve decided to wear a t-shirt today, just to see what it feels like.

Let the collar-less madness begin.”

Jean Pierre:

I’ve decided to wear a t-shirt today in the hope that Oxford left will stop being really mean to me.

89/1

Elation across Oxford as Shakeel Hashim’s reign of terror and crap journalism finally ends.

1/20

Somebody to take trashing a bit too far on unsuspecting finalist.

10/1

We’ve been immensely proud of OXII this term, and would like to use this editorial to thank not just the fantastic section editors, but also those who have contributed to the paper this term and kept our content relevant to both Oxford and recent events, as well as the four incredibly talented students who have designed us

MUSIC

FASHION

DREAM WIFE, NOT YOUR TYPICAL ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL p.10 STEPFORD WIVES p.3

SCREEN

JURASSIC WORLD, THE LEGACY OF A MASTERPIECE p.12

‘To the editors of the Oxford Student’ Union Returning Officer Letters to the Editors.

Send in your letters of unwavering support to our esteemed editors at:

Nasim Asl & Luke Mintz David Barker, Kate Bickerton, Laura Hartley, Hugh McHale-Maughan, Srishti Nirula and Laura Whetherly Jasmine Cameron-Chileshe, Jennier News Editors Lee and Cason Reilly Comment Editors Polly Mason & Kathryn Welsh Naomi Southwell & Jacob Wiseman Music Editors Thomas Bannatyne & Megan Erwin Screen Editors Fashion Editors Elizabeth Evans & Charlotte Lanning Arts & Lit Editors Marcus Li & William Shaw Stage Editors William Aslet & Lucy Oliver Features Editors Ariane Laurent-Smith & Elle Tait Sports Editors Alice Richardson & Ben Sanders Editors Deputy Editors

STAFF

Oxford Union election to be conducted in harmonious and respectful manner

And the rest

such wonderful OXII covers. We’ve had some massive interviews this term, and some sections have really pushed the bar of student journalism quite high.

To round off OXII this term, however, we have interviews with some quite cool names - Music speak to female pop-trio Dream Wife on page 3 and Arts and Lit round off a term of incredibly engaging interviewees with David Prescott, CEO of Blackwells, over on page 15.

The fashion shoot this week employs a range of models, reflecting recent pushes for diversity in the industry in a lovely, natural shoot. Screen engage with two films that can be seen as pioneers of movements as they look at the impact of Jurassic Park on page 12, and explore A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, the first Iranian Vampire Western film on page 13. Features explore Buenos Aires and Jericho’s Brasserie Blanc (pages 19 and 20 respectively), whereas Comment rounds off an invigorating term of debate arguing against the proposed ban on legal highs (page 9) and examining the impact of Eurovision on Europe (page 11). Sport give us a round-up of the recent cuppers finals across the board, as well as offering insights into the sport of the summer - cricket.

With that, our time as OxStu editors is done. We hope that our readers have enjoyed the paper over the last year, and that you enjoy the summer ahead.

Yours faithfully, Returning Officer

editor@ oxfordstudent.com

odds-ford bets.

on Cornmarket Street (page 1), Labour Club debate over the future direction of their party (page 3), and the (rather unfortunate) electoral defeat meted out to a communist candidate for Balliol Ball President (page 5).

Tomorrow, Union members across Oxford will vote in hotly contested elections at the Oxford. Whether you cast your vote for Stuart Webber or Zuleyka Shahin (if you vote at all that is), we urge all our readers to remember that all Union candidates commit a great deal of emotional energy into their campaigns, and

Monsieur Jean-Pierre, Translator

we hope that this election is conducted with a general degree of respect and harmony.

This newspaper has decided not to endorse any candidate, largely because we want to retain an impartial and balanced perspective on student affairs. Our front page story this week is intended to bring to light a potentially concerning aspect of social media campaigning, which, due to last term’s rule changes is largely unprecedented within Oxford Union elections.

The story is not intended to harm or bolster any particular campaign, but merely to impartially report the facts.

In other news, you can read about student anger over offensive preaching

News

OXII

Alumnus of the week

Editorial Editors: Nasim Asl & Luke Mintz

One step ahead since 1991

Deputy News Editors Deputy Comment Editors Deputy Music Editor Deputy Screen Editor Deputy Arts & Lit Editors Deputy Stage Editor Deputy Features Editors Deputy Sports Editor Photographers

Scott Harker, Louis Mercier, and Latifah Sat Carolina Bax, Daniel Coleman and Elizabeth Webb Sean McIntyre Hector Manly Daniel Haynes, Sam Sykes and Georgia Watson Philippa Stacey Lynton Lees, Kate Plummer and Jamie Russell Taylor Yu Saskia Mondon-Ballantyne and Bethan Jones

Illustrator Chief Sub-Editor Sub-Editors

Associate Editors

Laura Mackenzie Sam Harman Jennifer Allan, Olivia Brown, Veronica Corsi, Henrietta Mosforth, James Sewry, Elizabeth La Trobe and Siddharth Venkataramakrishnan Alys Key, Sachin Croker and Jess Sinyor

Editors can be contacted at editor@oxfordstudent.com and Section Editors can be contacted through this address.

We follow the code of practices and conduct outlined by the Press Complaints Commission.

Address complaints to The Editors, 2 Worcester Street, Oxford, OX1 2BX, email: oxstucomplaints@ousu.org.

News 3

11th June 2015

Union Presidential candidate accused of “censorship” and “stifling debate” NEWS TEAM

»Continued from front page legitimate questions in this way. For me this kind of behaviour really calls into question the motives of those running the slate.”

This is the first round of Union elections in which candidates are allowed to openly campaign and form slates, with little or no restrictions.

The rule change has seen both presidential candidates launching large social media campaigns; unprecedented in recent Union history.

Somerville student Elliot HowardSpink also wrote on the campaign wall, asking why Shahin’s slate has three students who are abroad next year. This post was deleted, he claims.

Howard-Smith told The OxStu: “Whilst managing their page in this way is of course their prerogative, it is disappointing to see serious and detailed questions about campaign promises removed in this way.”

Pembroke student Natasha Fairweather also criticised the campaign’s handling of comments: “The Union is supposed to be a debating society, but instead of rationally responding to people’s criticisms and defending themselves, they have childishly censored us. The ‘Now or Never’ team claim to be the defenders of change, but instead they have resorted to playing those political games conducive to the very image that both teams strive to alter.”

Students also expressed outrage toward transphobic comments made on the page. One commenter, writing under what is believed to be a fake name, wrote: “Do we really want a certain brand of feminism being shoved down our throats … how can a man deliver on diversity just because he is dressed as a woman.

Take it to WomCam – not here.”

This comment was received negatively on the page, with the statement described as “fucking disgusting”.

Responding to complaints, Shahin told The OxStu: “Our initial policy was to have no comments so as to avoid debates which could lead to an election tribunal, as candidates are still under strict rules about what they can and can’t say. We then realised this was a problem and thought it best to engage to get across what we wanted to say despite still under the limitations posed by the rules; whether or not a fact is true, we are not allowed to say it unless it went through the scrutiny process on Sunday. Unfortunately, we have had to remove several trolling and/ or transphobic comments on our Facebook page, as is common with moderation on many other pages.

“As you can see from comments on the page, where questions are asked in good faith, we are more than happy to respond in an official capacity.”

After complaining about his comment being deleted, Oriel student

Michael Whitehorn was told by page admins to “kindly send a private message” with a “specific

FACTFILE ZULEYKA SHAHIN

enquiry”.

Members will vote tomorrow for a number of contested positions,

in one of the most widely discussed Oxford Union elections in recent years.

RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Oxford experience: TT’15: Treasurer HT’15: Guest Liaison Officer HT’15 - TT’15: OUSU Graduate Women’s Officer

Photo: Now or Never Oxford Union campaign

FACTFILE STUART WEBBER

RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Oxford experience: TT’15: Librarian HT’15: Librarian Elect MT’15: Secretary TT’14: Standing Committee HT’14: Secretary’s Committee

An exciting Union election ahead:

Zuleyka Shahin and Stuart Webber battle it out this Friday for the post of Union President.

Photo: STEP Oxford Union campaign

Union Presidential hopeful Oxford University Labour Club considers faces heat from OUSU endorsing left-wing candidate Corbyn

••Zuleyka Shahin “failed to check emails” ••Labour Society will vote today on whether to back Jeremy

and her “response was inadequate”

Corbyn’s left-leaning bid in race for Labour Party leadership

In other election news, a motion of censure was proposed against presidential hopeful Zuleyka Shahin this week, in relation to her former role as OUSU’s Graduate Women’s Officer.

According to the Council motion, proposed by members of OUSU’s Scrutiny Committee, Shahin “failed to check her emails and respond to the Scrutiny Committee until the afternoon of the final deadline, following a reminder two days earlier.”

The motion went on to describe Shahin’s reply as “short”, stating that it “offered no explanation or apology and simply said that she couldn’t answer the

NEWS TEAM

Photo: Zuleyka Shahin

questions until four days later.”

The motion continues: “This Council believes that Zuleyka Shahin’s response was inadequate and that she failed in [her] duties.”

Five other OUSU officials have also had motions of censure or no-confidence brought against them this week.

The result of the motion is unavailable at the time of print, but can now be found on The OxStu’s website.

The motions were proposed

by Benjamin Woolf and Alastair Graham, both members of OUSU’s Scrutiny Committee.

Defending his decision to bring the motions to Council, Woolf commented: “The Scrutiny Committee has a duty to hold officers to account and where those officers have failed to fulfill clear mandates as laid out by OUSU policy, a motion of censure should be put to recognise this.”

He continued: “We do not put such motions lightly and we are disappointed that we have needed to put so many to 7th week Council. However, we would like to say too that much of OUSU’s work is to a high standard and this deserves to be recognised.”

Oxford University’s Labour Club may choose to endorse MP Jeremy Corbyn for party leader at its General Meeting today.

Jeremy Corbyn recently announced his leadership candidacy, and is considered to be on the Left of the Labour Party, having voted against tuition fees and other contentious New Labour policies.

He stands against favourites Andy Burnham, Liz Kendal, and Yvette

Cooper, though some note he may struggle to attain the 35 parliamentary nominations required.

An OULC motion, proposed by members James Elliot and Michael Muir, notes that over 5,000 people have signed an online petition urging Labour MPs to support Corbyn, and that his leadership campaign has over 15,000 likes on Facebook – “more than three times as many as his nearest rival, Andy Burnham, and nearly seven times as many as Liz Kendal.”

The motion also states that “La-

bour cannot win the next election without regaining the votes of many who thought the party offered an insufficient alternative at the last election,” and that Corbyn’s candidacy “represents a strain of opinion appreciably distinct from that of other candidates.”

“ It’s now time for OULC to say #JezWeCan

St John’s student Michael Muir

”

Photo: Jeremy Corbyn Twitter

commented: “A group of us brought the motion for OULC to endorse Jeremy Corbyn because we looked at the Labour leadership election and were left profoundly dispirited by a tired Blairite consensus that didn’t seem to address the real needs of Party members and activists.

“In particular, we hope our endorsement will put pressure on Oxford East’s own Andrew Smith MP to consider nominating Mr Corbyn, who has been a tireless advocate for socialism, peace and justice in Parliament ... #JezWeCan.”

11th June 2015

4 News

"Communist ball" candidate goes down in electoral defeat

• Elections for president of the Balliol ball end in loss for the "anti-ball" candidate Xavier Cohen • Satirical attack on the "bourgeois" college ball fails to see off first year candidate Abi Williams SCOTT HARKER NEWS EDITOR

A candidate for Ball President at Balliol College who launched a tongue-incheek ‘communist’ manifesto suffered electoral defeat this week.

“ Xavier Cohen pledged to stage a

'jokes ball' following a 'Communist Revolution'

”

PPE student Xavier Cohen pledged to stage a ‘jokes ball’ following a Communist Revolution, and stood for the position in an attempt to argue that Oxford’s tradition of hosting balls, which Balliol observes annually, has strongly elitist features.

In a satirical attack on Oxford University culture, the manifesto promised to hold a ‘Bourgeois Balliol Ball’ to imitate how people of the past came together to have fun. It stated that: “We’re people from the past who endorse modes of enjoyment that

not only (A) yield their characteristic attractiveness from their elevated position within a cultural and material hierarchy that grants some millions and social worth and denies others human life on the same basis of sheer luck (or other morally arbitrary factors), but also (B) instantiate this hierarchy in the social relations between attendees, workers, and onlookers, and (C) reproduce the ideological hegemony of this hierarchy.”

The election for the position was won by Abi Williams with 73 votes, with Cohen gaining 30 votes out of the 110 cast. The vote has triggered a wider debate about whether student approval should be required before colleges organise such events.

Commenting on the content of the manifesto, Cohen stated: “I ran for ball president because I think there are quite a few ways in which balls are bad, and I find it frustrating that the JCR just assumes that we'll have one without a vote. Not so long ago, Balliol JCR didn't hold balls on political grounds, and held a much less fancy 'event' instead.”

There will now be a motion at the next Balliol JCR general meeting, that aims to bring about a mechanism for students to express their support or opposition to hosting a ball in future years, with Cohen personally favouring an event that is “cheaper and less elite” as Balliol’s principle social event of the year.

Photo: Oliver Robinson

Evacuation after chemical leak at university laboratory

• Twelve officers from Hazardous Decontamination Unit respond to incident at Clarendon Centre lab LATIFAH SAT DEPUTY NEWS EDITOR

A chemical leak broke out at the Physics’ Department Clarendon Laboratory last Wednesday evening, causing the building to be evacuated.

The laboratory in Parks Road was evacuated around 10pm after reports were made of a smell later identified as ammonia gas.

Two fire engines from Oxford

Photo: Bill Nicholls

City station, a specialist Hazardous Decontamination Unit and decontamination vehicle, and a crew of twelve firemen successfully contained the incident.

A spokesman for Oxford University stated that there were no injuries as a result of the incident, adding: "Students noticed the noxious smell and called the University's security services who immediately evacuated the building and notified the fire

service".

“The fire service responded rapidly and ensured that any gas was quickly dispersed and the equipment was made safe.The building reopened as normal this morning".

Crew manager Ben Bishop from Rewley Road fire station commented: "Accurate information was supplied to us quickly to enable us to establish a good cordon nice and early to prevent anyone from being affected."

"We are well versed with the hazards posed by this type of incident and conduct regular visits to ensure our information and plans are kept upto-date and practiced”.

On being asked about concerns about safety in the laboratory, one first year Physics student said that he is not worried about the implications of this incident: “These things are very rare, and the authorities have proper procedure to take care of it. They do check equipment regularly, so I’m really not that worried”.

The University Safety Office has published a set of safety rules for laboratories where there is a risk of chemical exposure. Rules are reviewed annually and are explained to laboratory personnel and students before they begin practical work.

Ammonia gas is produced in the human body and is commonly found in nature. It is also present in many cleaning products. In high exposures, the chemical can be very corrosive and damage cells in the body on contact.

The Clarendon Laboratory forms part of the institution's Department of Physics. It further houses the Atomic and Laser physics, condensed matter physics and Biophysics groups within the Physics Department. The original laboratory building was completed in 1872, making it the oldest purposebuilt physics laboratory in England.

History of the laboratory 1872

Laboratory is opened and named after Edward Hyde, 1st Earl of Clarendon, whose trustees paid for the building of the original laboratory

1914

pioneering work conducted by Henry Gwyn Jeffreys Moseley, which later earns the laboratory landmark status

1935

Fritz and Heinz London develop the London equations at the lab

News 5

11th June 2015

Former OUSU RO under scrutiny for association with election rigging

Oxford Unite Against Fascism condemn the Oxford Union

NEWS TEAM

NEWS TEAM

A former OUSU Returning Officer is under intense scrutiny this week after facing a motion of no-confidence at OUSU Council for alleged “association” with last year’s rigging of the NUS referendum.

Alexander Walker, a third-year Chemistry student at Wadham College, has been accused in a motion of no-confidence of “improper” and “anti-democratic behaviour” for his oversight of the May 2014 University-wide referendum on NUS affiliation.

Originally producing a ‘No’ vote, the referendum result was declared void following suspicion of vote rigging, with over 1,000 spare voter codes used to vote ‘No’.

The result of last night’s no-confidence motion can be found on The Oxford Student’s website.

Reiterating a statement made last term, when an almost identical motion was brought against him, Walker condemned the motion as a “nasty little vendetta” as well as “factually incorrect” and “totally misleading”.

The motion, proposed by OUSU VP for Graduates Jack Matthews, states that “as a minimum, Alex Walker’s actions and decisions as Returning Officer allowed for the defrauding of the electorate.”

It goes on to note that Walker generated approximately 1,400 more voter codes than there are students at the University, when common practice is to generate only 200. It also claims that, in verbal accounts made within the OUSU offices around the time of the referendum, Walker said he kept copies of the voter codes on his USB drive, which he subsequently lost.

Putting spare voter codes onto a USB drive is, the motion claims, “contrary to normal practice”.

Walker resigned as Returning Officer the day after vote rigging revelations emerged, concluding that his position was “no longer tenable”.

Walker told The Oxford Student: “[The motion] will buy Jack [Matthews] an extra few column inches to support what he is pleased to call his political career. Their motion is factually incorrect, omits vital information, is totally misleading, and most of all, just plain silly.”

He went on to say: “I’m not a particular fan of the nauseating Jack Matthews Show, and since my resignation from OUSU I have been better off for its absence. I will now, like every other student at this university, continue to ignore student politicians like Jack and get on with my life.”

The no-confidence motion was seconded

by Regent’s Park student Will Obeney.

Photo: UniteAgainstFacism

Photo: Danielle Smith

Oxford Unite Against Fascism (UAF), the local section of a national anti-fascist organisation, have called upon the Union’s President Olivia Merrett and the Standing Committee “to recognise that inviting fascists to speak is also a reflection of the institutional racism that exists within the Oxford Union.”

This move comes in the wake of the Union’s declaration last week that it is institutionally racist, in response to the “colonial comeback” debate cocktail.

The Union has previously drawn criticism from a range of groups for hosting speakers such as Nick Griffin, David Irving, Tommy Robinson. Last term, wide protests arose when Marine Le Pen, leader of France’s right-wing National Front party, delivered an address at the Union.

In a recent apology, posted on the Union’s Facebook page, the Standing Committee wrote: “The Standing Committee commits to eradicating racism and addressing the issues of institutional racism that it has recognised.”

Oxford Unite Against Fascism have said that part of a strategy to combat racism in the Union and wider society must be the refusal to grant a platform to far-right political leaders who espouse

anti-immigrant and Islamophobic views.

Kate Douglas, a representative of the group, said: “The Oxford Union has contributed to a climate where racist thugs have had the confidence to march on the streets of Oxford.”

“Fascists express the most extreme forms of racism,” Douglas continued, “and for the Union to refuse to recognise this would show the Oxford Union’s apology to be insincere and their commitment to antiracism to be a sham.”

This is not the first conflict that Oxford’s UAF chapter has sought to influence the Oxford Union’s activities. UAF were instrumental in the March protests over the Union’s giving a platform for Marine Le Pen. The UAF also helped organise the protests during the 2007 Union visit by Holocaust denier David Irving and BNP Leader Nick Griffin.

The anti-fascist group is now seeking to test the type of commitment made by the Union in its recent apology, which said: “With these commitments we join the pre-existing movement to address the pernicious problem of racism.” The language of the apology does not specify what joining these movements entails. The group’s letter to Olivia Merrett said that to implement this statement would require the Union “to not issue any further invitations to fascists to speak.”

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6 News

11th June 2015

Plush Lounge faces accusations of racism from Rhodes scholar • South African student accuses Plush of failing to serve BME student on account of his ethnicity • This is the second occasion on which the same student has been denied service at the Oxford club NEWS TEAM

An Oxford Student and Rhodes Scholar has accused staff at the Plush Lounge of refusing to serve a friend of his on account of race.

Kameel Premhid stated that his friend, Khomotso Moshikaro, a fellow Rhodes Scholar from South Africa, was not served at Plush Lounge. Premhid noted that the reason given was that Moshikaro was “too drunk” - despite being less intoxicated than a number of non-BME students who were served.

The incident took place in the early hours of 6th June.

The complaint noted: “No evidence was produced to justify said differentiation, other than the judgment of the staff. Given that the staff continued to serve other patrons, including myself, who projected outward drunkenness to a greater and/or lesser extent than my friend, why was such differentiation made?”

Premhid also said that this was the second occasion on which Moshikaro has been denied service at Plush, writing that this was evidence of “racially discriminatory policies against those discernibly identifiable as black.”

“ Plush's eagerness to deny any

culpability misses the opportunity to acknowledge the problem

”

In response to the complaint, Plush director Stuart Hayles denies the claim that the staff of the

club had acted in an inappropriate manner: “There is no exact science in determining any one person’s level of intoxication, and often, during busy periods, our servers have to make a snap decision in the short time they get between serving one customer and the next.”

In his response, Hayles also noted that while no records are kept of those individuals who are refused service, all the other customers at Plush who were denied drinks on that night were of Caucasian ethnicity.

In a statement made to The Oxford Student, Hayles emphasised the importance of diversity and inclusion for Plush, and the legal responsibility of the club in refusing service to over-intoxicated customers: “Our aim is to provide a safe and inclusive environment regardless of sexual orientation, age, gender, race or colour of skin.”

Hayles continued: “The law places requirements on both the premises management and serv-

ing staff, both of which could face criminal proceedings for failing to observe the law. Extensive training is undertaken by our staff on this subject.”

“ This was evidence of racially dis-

criminatory policies against those identifiable as black

”

Responding on Monday, Premhid

was unsatisfied with the response from Plush. He wrote: “[Plush’s] eagerness to deny any culpability perhaps misses the opportunity to acknowledge that there may be a problem and that Plush would do

well to address it.”

This is not the first time that Plush has courted controversy. The club, famous for being Oxford's only LGBTQ club and the location of many college bops, was the site of a physical and sexual assault in March 2014, after Teddy Hall student Jeanne Marie Ryan was groped and beaten by a teenager.

Ryan, who was punched in the face and then hit a further six times, set up a Just Giving page after posting a #nomakeup selfie showing her injuries. The image went viral, and Ryan raised £16,000 for Oxford Rape and Crisis Centre.

In 2012, Plush was at the centre of an acrimonious debate when many Queerfest guests who had paid for after-party tickets were denied entrance to the club after it filled up early on. In the same year, popular gay-night Poptarts moved from to Plush after increasing allegations of homophobia at its previous location, the now defunct Babylove.

Photo: Plush

OUSU considers supporting EU membership in referendum CASON REILLY NEWS EDITOR

OUSU Council have considered a motion stating that OUSU “believes that Britain should remain a member state of the European Union”.

The motion also proposed mandating OUSU officers to raise awareness of the proposed EU membership referendum, currently scheduled for 2017. Its result can be found on The Oxford Student’s website.

This motion would make it OUSU policy to state “that students benefit enormously from the funding for academic research provided by the European Union” and “that the University benefits enormously from the easy presence of students from other member states of the European Union at Oxford.”

The referendum would also mandate the VP for Charities and Community to engage in a publicawareness campaign, similar to the one undertaken by OUSU to make students aware of the need to register to vote in the run-up to the 2015

General Election.

The motion was proposed by James Blythe, OUSU VP for Academic Affairs. In a statement to The Oxford Student, he said: “During my year in office I have sat on several department reviews and budget-setting committees in the University.

“I am acutely aware of the impact on the academic mission of the University that the United Kingdom leaving the European Union would have, and I wanted to bring this to students’ attention, which is why I proposed the motion.”

However, not all students were enthralled with the motion. Jan Nedvidek, Christ Church PPEist and OUCA President-Elect, said: “‘If people want to discuss Britain’s relationship with the EU, that’s great.

But I think they should come to Port and Policy rather than OUSU Council: OUSU is meant to represent the wide student body with our diverse political opinions, not push forward one particular agenda. The position of the UK in the EU is not a topic for OUSU.”

“‘Being from the Czech Republic,” Nedvidek continued, “I have myself benefited hugely from Britain’s membership of the EU. However, I’m very much aware that different people in this country have had a different experience, and perhaps they feel that the huge number of regulations, directives and by-laws the EU keeps tying British businesses with is not really worth it.”

If Britain were to leave the EU, European students would no longer be guaranteed access to the £9000 level of tuition fees, instead being subject to standard international fees, which typically fall into the £15000 to £20000 range. The British economy as well as business regulation would also be affected by the change.

European funding for Oxford research would also be at risk. According to the University’s 2013/2014 financial statement, Oxford received over £53m in research grants and contracts from the European Commission and other EU government bodies.

OUSU has taken up a number

of political stances in recent years.

Among these are support for free education demonstrations, condemning Marine Le Pen’s Union visit.

In 2013, a motion to boycott Israel failed in OUSU council.

OUSU Council meets four times a

Photo: Jason Tester Guerrilla Futures

term to consider motions for funding and student union stances, as well as being the site of many elections for non-executive officers. Each college which is affiliated to OUSU is represented by officers of its JCR committee.

News 7

11th June 2015

Best of this week’s trashing photos

Photos, L-R: Daniella Shreir, Amber De Vere, Michael Davies

Mass rally planned at the Union

Ashmolean fights for High Street painting

Student activist group Commonwealth Students Against Colonialism have proposed a mass rally to be held at the Oxford Union on 18th June at midday.

On the event group, CSAC said: “The Oxford Union has now admitted what was long known - that it is racist from top to toe, that it perpetuates, defends and breeds racism across Europe. The Union committee must be ousted for their role in world racism, and the union must be wound up and its assets devoted to good.

“Join our demonstration to end this toxic organisation. We will not rest until the Union falls.”

Around sixty people have already stated that they will attend the event.

According to a further statement made by the group, “the union cannot be reformed, it should be brought to a quick end so that something more productive can be done with its assets”.

They also added that “the Union treasurer has given us support”.

The Ashmoleon Museum must raise £860,000 if they are to keep an early image of Oxford High Street

by JMW Turner.

The painting, which dates from 1810, has been on display at the Ashmolean Museum since 1997, on loan from the Lloyd Collection.

However, it has now been offered to the nation in order to settle a £3.5 million inheritance tax dispute with the Treasury.

An appeal by the Ashmolean has been launched in order to raise the remaining funds from public, with £800,000 already secured through grant funding.

Ashmolean director Dr Alexander Sturgis said: “The importance of keeping this beautiful painting in Oxford cannot be overstated.

“High Street, Oxford is the young Turner’s most significant townscape and the greatest painting of the city that has ever been made.”

News in brief: the best of this week’s short news stories

St. Benet’s admits women Members of St Benet’s trust unanimously voted to accept female undergraduates at St Benet’s Hall on 5th June.

Werner Jeanrod, Master of St Benet’s, has been pushing for the change since his term began three years ago, and has been realised following the acquisition of buildings to be used as accommodation for female students.

Every College and PPH in Oxford will now accept female undergraduates from October 2016, with women being able to apply from the upcoming application cycle in 2015 - 16.

St Benet’s is the final PPH to begin admitting women since the first female undergraduates were admitted to Oxford University in 1879.

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11th June 2015

The prohibition of legal highs isn't the solution

Comment

• The proposed ban on legal highs is a Puritanical

and appallingly drafted piece of drug legislation

KATHARINE LYNESS BRASENOSE COLLEGE

I

t is, sadly, blatantly clear that Theresa May’s new Psychoactive Substances bill does not aim to target harm to users, but rather their pleasure. It outlaws "any substance… which, by acting on the central nervous system, affects the person’s mental functioning or emotional state". There is no mention made anywhere in the bill of the dangers of so-called legal highs; in a somewhat disturbing move, the proposed bill identifies its targets by the psychoactive effects they generate, and not the dangers they might pose.

The vague wording of the bill, with its references to ‘emotional state’, has led some commentators to point out that almost anything we ‘consume’ or ‘ingest’ could fall under its scope in some way or another. Some possible examples could include the smell of a perfume worn by someone you love (which creates an emotional effect), flowers (because they smell nice and this makes us happy), and eye drops (by moisturising your eyes, they make you feel better and temporarily relieve allergies or itching). Of course, fairly harmless highs, which are currently still legal, such as nitrous oxide and poppers will also be banned, along with the manufactured cocaine and ecstasy substitutes that the government was presumably trying to tackle with the ban.

Putting aside the amusingly poor wording of the legislation, the Psychoactive Substances Bill is another sad indication of the incredibly poorly focused attitude that the United Kingdom takes toward drugs. Yes, drugs can cause immense harm, but the vast majority of this harm is caused by drugs which are perfectly legal, namely alcohol and tobacco, both of which are specifically exempt from the bill and both of which would unquestionably be illegal if they were discovered today. The government wants to ban laughing gas, but refuses even to introduce a minimum price for alcohol; it will throw you into jail for selling nonaddictive cannabis, but continues to allow the tobacco industry to make vast profits by encouraging millions to try and subsequently become addicted to cigarettes.

The Home Office’s own research, published in October 2014,

found that "there is no apparent correlation between the 'toughness' of a country’s approach and the prevalence of adult drug use".

Our often unjustified aversion to recreational drugs is so entrenched that it has even led to legal difficulties researching their potential medical benefits, such as the reported ability of MDMA to help with treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and the benefits that certain types of cannabis can have for those with epilepsy. Dozens of people still die every year from contaminated batches of drugs or unintentionally overdosing, simply because when the drugs trade is driven underground, people don’t really know what they’re buying.

In fact, most of the damage and deaths caused by drug use are due to the fact that, in the absence of legal regulation, there is no way of knowing the purity of the drugs you are taking; four people died in

“ If adults decide to take drugs, it is not the government's place to punish them for that decision

”

January this year from contaminated ecstasy tablets, and an accidental overdose is far easier when you don’t know the strength of what you’ve just bought. Putting aside safety concerns for a second, by driving the drugs trade under ground, the government is effectively handing control of a multibillion pound industry over to criminal gangs who have no legal incentives to ensure that their product is what they say it is, that they sell only to adults, or that their customers are informed of the risks of taking drugs.

Drug use would be far safer and, crucially, infinitely easier to control, if all drugs were declared legal, and their sale controlled by the government through the use of appropriate health warnings and age restrictions, similarly to the way in which the sale of tobacco has been controlled; rates of smoking have more than halved since the 1970s. Legalising recreational drugs doesn’t mean that they would be handed out to kids in Boots; they

could only be sold in shops which were run by the government and which would require customers to show their ID at the door, and public information campaigns could be run to warn potential users away from drugs.

If adults, fully informed of the risks and benefits of recreational drug use, decide nevertheless to take drugs in private, it is not the government’s place to punish them for that decision. State intervention in actions that purely affect ourselves smacks of overzealous paternalism and hypocrisy; David Cameron was almost expelled from Eton for smoking cannabis and has consistently refused to deny taking cocaine. If the state wants to protect us from ourselves, it might as well ban extreme sports; if it wants to reduce the damage and deaths caused by drugs, it should do more to reduce alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Taking aim at laughing gas and poppers whilst allowing alcohol abuse to continue unfettered in public and in private is spectacularly misguided, and shows once again that our drugs policy is based on emotion instead of on evidence. As David Nutt, the former government drugs advisor sacked for pointing out the horse riding is more dangerous than ecstasy, said, the proposed legislation is ‘pathetic’.

The government is not the mother of everyone in the country; if people want to take legal highs, or any other drug for that matter, they should be allowed to make that decision themselves.

Some perspective on drugs...

80,000 deaths

are attributed to tobacco use each year

8,000 deaths

are attributed to alcohol use each year

Proposed legislation:

68 deaths

were attributed by National Programme on Substance Abuse Deaths to the use of legal highs in 2012

Seemingly harmless legal highs are coming under increasing scrutiny.

Photo: Erich Ferdinand

11th June 2015

10 Comment

Our libraries are being treated as an economic luxury PETER HILL ST JOHN’S COLLEGE

T

he other week, nine Oxford academics submitted a ‘Question in Congregation’ on the cuts to the University’s libraries budget. The immediate cause of this was the recent proposal to close the Oriental Institute Library, currently in the Oriental Institute, and transfer its holdings to the Sackler Library, already under considerable pressure. This move has been criticised by both students and staff in the Oriental Institute and the Classics Faculty, and has been covered in The Oxford Student and Cherwell.

But this proposal for the Oriental Institute Library is only one part of a wider restructuring of the University’s Humanities libraries. In 2012 the History Faculty Library was closed (despite opposition by academics and students) and its contents moved to the Gladstone Link. The Taylorian’s Slavonic and Greek Library is in the process of being wound up, and its books moved into the Taylorian. What future centralisations, rationalisations and downsizings the University management may have in mind have not been disclosed. What is certain, however, is that the root cause of the closures is budgetary.

The University libraries budget, after being slashed by 10 per cent in 2010, has undergone steady cuts of 2-3 per cent each year since then. In this context, a move like the closure of the Oriental Institute Library may look like a realistic attempt to grasp the nettle: by making a substantial saving in one go, it will prevent the whittling away of services by slow increments, and save library provision for the future. But

whether this kind of strategy will in fact succeed is open to question: the University management has been known to shift the goalposts for budget targets in the past, and it may be that these moves are simply taken as evidence of further opportunities to cut back on services.

The effect of these cuts on library provision within the University should be clear: besides the obvious closures of Humanities libraries, more and more corners are being cut on a day-to-day basis, often in ways that are not obvious to library users - until a point of crisis

is reached.

Although the ordering time for Bodleian books from off-site storage remains only a day, it takes anything from a week to ten days for books, after being ordered, to find their way back onto the shelves meaning that they are unavailable during this period. This may be sustainable at this level, but if with continued cuts, and increasing reliance on off-site book storage - the backlog carries on growing, many Bodleian books will simply be unavailable when readers want them. The remaining faculty libraries – such as the Sackler – are under considerable pressure from overcrowding.

As figures provided by the Uni-

versity authorities themselves show, library provision has been decreasing while demand has in fact been rising: the libraries receive more visits than in 2010/11 and hold more books, but have less physical space, less staff, and less money. And the closures or proposed closures of the History Faculty, Taylor Slavonic and Oriental Institute Libraries amount to a still more worrying trend. We are entitled to ask where this can be expected to end: the University authorities have said little on the subject, but are Faculty libraries due to be condemned as uneconomic luxuries?

This is not, of course, an image of the University, or the Bodleian libraries, that we will find on the University website, in official prospectuses and announcements.

Only recently the University has been trumpeting the opening of the ‘new’ Weston Library (in fact the old New Bodleian refurbished with external funding, renamed, and equipped with restaurant and gift-shop). The Bodleian continues to be a key part of the ‘Oxford experience’ that the University claims to offer. Articles and press releases covering some especially newsworthy part of the libraries’ holdings appear with great regularity. Certainly one can see why the University does not wish to proclaim to potential students, staff, funders, or the general public the fact that its library services are declining, and may soon face a crisis. Yet crisis is creeping inexorably on, at the rate of two to three per cent a year.

At the same time, the group of academics asking the ‘Question in Congregation’ suggest, the cost to the University of reversing the cuts and remedying the situation would be fairly minimal. Both the University’s income and its endow-

ment fund have grown by almost a third since 2010. Somewhere out of this mass of wealth, the funds the libraries require - a mere half a per cent of the University’s income, the ‘questioners’ suggest - can surely be found.

It is to be hoped that this ‘Question’ will lead on to further questions, and even perhaps, at some stage, to answers. The University Council’s published response, in the Gazette, offers little more than a recapitulation of the budgetary situation, and no indication that they are prepared to reconsider the continuing cuts. But academics in the Classics Faculty and Oriental Institute are readying themselves for a more sustained campaign next term.

Oxford University is, of course, in a privileged position, on libraries as

ment before the poster went to print? This debacle just confirmed my suspicion that the introduction of the position might have been steered by good intentions, but has turned out to be nothing more than a marketing gimmick.

It was therefore with relief that I greeted the news that the Oxford Union acknowledges to be institutionally racist. It means that the Union has realised that it has a problem and will work hard to solve it.

I do appreciate the formal apology that was made to Esther Odejimi, the ex-BME officer who resigned after the poster debacle, and the apology made to the general public. I also welcome the decision to have members of Standing Committee have racial awareness training, to be delivered by OUSU/CRAE representatives. Nevertheless I cannot help but be sceptical about this. For my part, I can only envision two possible outcomes from this scandal.

The first possible outcome is one of doom and gloom: things will not change despite the steps that the Union has taken.

If this could happen with a BME Officer position existing in the committee, and if the person that created the poster

lacked the good judgement to realize how offensive their poster was, training and apologies might mean little.

It is unlikely that the Union will suffer from the scandal. Given the history of the Union, it’s unlikely to be long before another scandal comes around to make people forget about this one. And even if that happens, the Union will likely survive unscathed. It is globally renowned for its debates and speakers events and for being a pillar of tradition as debating societies go. Speakers are unlikely to boycott the Union, and so are students. In fact, they will all applaud the Union for their ‘courage’ to come out as institutionally racist.

Thus, the Union will make a good situation out of a terrible PR scandal.

The steps to be taken and the position of BME officer – clearly here to stay – might become tokens, trump cards to show how inclusive and great the Union is. Whether people at the echelon of the Union will change is questionable: they might see the racial awareness training as a box to tick to ascend to power.

This possible outcome could unfortunately happen. I sincerely hope that this course of action won’t occur.

The only ‘positive’ thing about this scandal is that it sparked a conversation.

That’s the first step in the direction of change. Many people I know, as BME students, have always felt uncomfortable about the Union. I had never truly figured out what they meant until now.

Some will be forever repelled by the Union, but others will see the efforts of the Union as a positive. Who knows, they might want to get involved and drive that change and lead to a more inclusive Union for all.

Despite my sceptical nature, I have no problems acknowledging that the Union took a huge risk by declaring itself institutionally racist, and I do appreciate the efforts and the steps that have been put in place so far. More needs to be done, and progress should perhaps be checked to ensure that the Union will cease to be an institutionally racist institution. If that does not happen, many will fail to believe that the Union is truly trying to change for the better.

The Union has spoken: it says that it is institutionally racist. Let’s hope they will walk the walk and let this opportunity for change be more than just words.

“

Are faculty libraries due to be condemned as uneconomic luxuries?

”

Photo: Becks

well as other matters, compared to that of other institutions across Britain: we have recently seen announcements of 25 percent cuts in adult education, and whole departments have been closing in some UK universities. But it is exactly because of its relative privilege that Oxford can and should take a stand against this race to the bottom which is devastating UK Higher and Further Education as a whole.

It is not enough to accept the approach of crisis by increments: at some point, library resources – and above all the irreplaceable specialist librarians – have, like other parts of higher education, to be defended.

Oxford’s wealth and prestige put it in a position to take a lead. It is to be hoped that students as well as academics will speak out for the future of their libraries.

What next for the institutionally racist Union?

ASTA DIABATE BRASENOSE COLLEGE

O

n seeing the poster used to advertise the Union’s ‘Colonial Comeback’ cocktail spread across the media the day after the debate, I felt two distinct emotions: disgust and disappointment.

The poster is nothing short of disgraceful; it’s insensitive and denigrates the oppression of people through the institution of colonialism. Being originally from West Africa made the poster even more personally abhorrent. How many of my ancestors had been kidnapped and dragged to unknown lands in chains? How much wealth was extracted from my ancestral land? After the disgust, the disappointment I felt was almost overwhelming.

The Black and Minority Ethnic Officer position at the Oxford Union has been added to the roster of appointed positions at the Union this Trinity term.

The position supposedly aims at making the Union more inclusive. How could this happen with a BME Officer at the Union? Why did no one made a com-

Photo: Jay Cross

Comment 11

11th June 2015

We need to change “The danger of Eurovision is that we become complacement about the level of conflict in Europe ADHD diagnoses ” Eurovision is a symbol of the greater European problem T FRANCESCA NICHOLLS EXETER COLLEGE

he problem with diagnosing a child with ADHD has been thoroughly explored recently in both the scientific forum and even on television in the Channel Four weekly program ‘Born Naughty?’ This upsurge was prompted when the ‘father’ of ADHD analysis, Dr Leon Eisenberg, claimed seven months before his death that “ADHD is a fictitious disease”. It is no wonder that many parents have become sceptical towards this specific diagnosis on their children, particularly when the founder of the disease himself worryingly labelled it a fiction.

ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is “thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects attention, concentration and impulsivity”.

This particular definition, cited from the Mental Health Foundation, begins with the rather indiscriminate noun “thought”. If this is a thought, is it accurate? Can we really provide medication to children with a “chemical imbalance” that one thinks “affects attention, concentration and impulsivity?”

“ Pharmaceutical companies play on parents’ fears

”

Similarly, the terms used to define the disorder are relatively difficult to label a child with. Many children are incapable of paying attention in lessons, for example, and are more interested in running and playing in the playground then having to read a book. Children are also much more likely to be impulsive in their actions as they are unrestrained by societal etiquette and normalities that tend to restrict us socially conditioned adults.

What I personally find difficult is the act of labelling a child with such a disorder and then consequently resorting to pharmaceutical measures to ‘cure’ this disorder. I would not deny for a moment that people do suffer from ADHD as I have friends that do and, from my own observation, it is clear how dramatically it can affect a person’s life.

Yet the act of diagnosing a child with this disorder is something I personally feel uncertain about.

Growing up I was a particularly hyperactive child, constantly fidgeting and bothering other children to the extent that, by my secondary school years, I was close to expulsion and sent to a ‘naughty school’ camp for 2 weeks. My parents could

have easily taken me, upon the advice of my teachers, to my GP and tried to diagnose me with a form of the illness.

Instead we worked together to curb my impulsivity and, despite still being hyperactive and lacking in attention towards certain things that bore me such as lectures, I am able to function with these elements of my personality. That I almost had to fight against a diagnosis, is perhaps why I feel strongly against this particular diagnosis of a child.

It is beautiful that we are all different human beings: some of us are hyperactive and some of us are shy, some of us can sit for hours and focus on an essay whilst some of us are unable to pay attention and start scrolling down Buzzfeed every 5 minutes. It is the beauty of human nature that we are all so very wonderfully different. Do we label every personality trait, therefore, and try to ‘cure’ it and normalise each other? Do we supply medicinal cures for shy people so they can become more outgoing? Do we give therapy to boring children who do not like playing ‘tag’ in the field?

Most disturbingly is the extent to which the diagnosis of ADHD is tied to pharmaceutical companies and, of course, money. This connection has certainly benefited the pockets of superior members within the psychiatric and medical world.

One study revealed that the assistant professor of Psychiatry in Harvard Medical School, for instance, received “$1 million in earnings from drug companies between 2000 and 2007”. Research by the Alan Schwartsz has analysed the extent to which, since the FDA allowed pharmaceutical companies to begin advertising in the 1990’s, there has been a significant rise in children diagnosed with ADHD with 1 in 7 high school students in the United States being told they have the condition. In these advertisements pharmaceutical companies play on parents’ fears, prompting them to take their child to the GP as, upon recognising their child has ADHD, they will become great in academic performance, sports, and become an all-round perfect child.

Pharmaceutical companies are purposefully toying with the genuine fears of parents in order to make money regardless of the health and well-being of children.

As stated prior there is no denying that ADHD is a genuine disorder that should be treated. Yet, when we look beyond our ready acceptance to believe the medical world it is easy to realise the extent to which these companies want money and make this illness a commodity in order to benefit themselves. As Dr. Daniella Drake stated: “if false diagnoses go unchecked a child’s ability to function in the world is permanently compromised.” If anything, the medical world needs to provide a more concise definition of ADHD in order to beneficially diagnose children.

LOUIS TRUPIA

BRASENOSE COLLEGE

I

t’s an understatement to say that there is conflict in Europe at the moment. Russia and Ukraine are still at loggerheads, Greece is on the brink of financial collapse, and the UK is both facing breaking away from Europe and seeing Scotland break away from it. The European peace project has been halted for the time being. So Eurovision has quite a big job on its hands with its slogan ‘Building Bridges’.

Eurovision does not seem like the most likely arena for international politics. It is known for its outlandishness, poor singing, and the coveted ‘nil points’ that we achieve far to often.

It’s not the kind of place you’ll see Angela Merkel battling it out with Tsipras. And this is what Eurovision prides itself on, bringing the continent together. If only it were a place where politics and conflict are left behind.

Of course everyone knows that countries vote for their neighbours, hence why Russia always does so well and Ireland always vote for us…oh wait. But the politics in Eurovision goes a lot deeper than geography.

Take Azerbaijan and Armenia for example; the two countries are still technically at war over the NagornoKarabakh region which they both lay claim too. Azerbaijan still threatens to take the area by force.

Eurovision has not brought good relations between the two. The two sides didn’t bond over Mans Zemerlow’s performance of ‘Heroes’. In fact, these two countries are the epitome of not building bridges. Azerbaijan has cut its national transmission of Eurovision during Armenia’s performance twice, especially when it became apparent that a 12-year-old

Thijs ter Jaar

Armenian boy had won junior Eurovision. It’s like the German team at the Christmas day football match putting a puncture in the football when they started to lose.

When Azerbaijan hosted Eurovision in 2012, Armenia pulled out due to concerns about the safety of their contestant. This year things were just as bad. Due to the transparent voting system, we can now see that both countries put each other bottom in both their public and professional vote. A few years ago, the Azerbaijan police force questioned everyone who voted for Armenia. This is clearly not building bridges.

“ Everyone knows that countries vote for their neighbours

”

This year, when Estonia only awarded Russia five points and then their live feed cut out, we all joked that Russia had turned off the power supply and that Putin was preparing to invade. Of course, this was just a joke but it reminded me that last year everyone had booed Russia whenever it won points, and now here was Russia fighting it out for first place. Had Eurovision succeeded where the EU has repeatedly failed? Alas no; most of the votes Russia won were from former Soviet countries, not Western European countries. Furthermore, it has now come out that anti-booing devices were installed to drown out negative voices in the audience. The sound of cheering was also at the ready to be played over the sound

system when the booing did commence.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that we shouldn’t forget the conflict that Europe is currently facing. Of course you can say that Eurovision doesn’t matter. But tell that to those individuals who have been taken into custody for the way they’ve voted, those who have seen their homes demolished to make way for stadiums, and the Greeks who withdrew from the competition when Turkey was included. People do feel and are affected by what happens during Eurovision.

Most importantly, I think the danger of Eurovision is that we become complacent about the level of conflict in Europe. The votes would suggest that people have forgotten the constant Russian flyovers and incursions into national waters. This programme tries to pretend that we are united and the fact is that we’re not. There is an austerity vs. anti-austerity conflict across the EU. There are people who fear Russian invasion everyday. The economic climate across Europe has gotten so bad that many countries, such as Ukraine, can’t justify spending the money on entering the competition. There are people in Greece who can’t watch Eurovision because they can’t afford to pay their electricity bills anymore.

Obviously, abandoning Eurovision is not going to solve these problems but I think the hosts of Eurovision really need to think about the importance of “building bridges”. Its something the continent so desperately needs right now and the term should not just be thrown around. We need a long term solution that can end the conflict, not just one night of dodgy key-changes.

Oh, and can we try and persuade Adele to represent the UK next year…

Ellie

Economics Student from Oxford

- Loves to ride her bicycle

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OXII Kate Bickerton

XI.VI.MM XV

MUSIC FASHION SCREEN

DREAM WIFE, NOT YOUR TYPICAL STEPFORD WIVES p.3

ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL p.10

JURASSIC WORLD, THE LEGACY OF A MASTERPIECE p.12

11th June 2015

MUSIC

Music 3

SOUTHWELL Dream Wife, not your typical stepford wives NAOMI SOMERVILLE COLLEGE

• The pop trio talk about the importance of heart shaped guitars and making sweet music with your home girls.

A

sugar-coated, glitter-covered, kitsch, cake stomped on by a holographic heel. This is one of the many highlights from the video for ‘Believe’, Dream Wife’s first single. The single and video typifies the band’s self proclaimed ‘pool side pop with a bite’, combining ethereal dreamy vocals with catchy grunge-like guitar riffs.

The band, made up of Icelandic singer Rakel and British musicians Bella and Alice, formed whilst attending art school in Brighton, with Dream Wife starting life as a performance art piece.

But then “stuff got real” with the band progressing into a formidable pop trio, recently labelled a ‘Buzz band of the week’ by NME. Chatting to them was like being invited out with the cooler older girls at school, girls that exude a carefree knowledge of all the latest bands, clothes and gigs. The details of their song writing process sounds like a night in with your favourite girl gang, “We write our songs in Bella’s bedroom. It’s under the viaduct so we see the trains passing by over the bridge. The bridge is lit up in the evenings with different colors… our very own Eiffel Tower. Usually one of us brings an idea to the table and we roll with it. Start laughing like mad when we realise we are on to something.”

Dream Wife’s dissection of

pop culture in all its forms is both witty and exciting, constantly exploring what it’s like to be a creative woman within the hallmark of popular culture. We turn to discussing some of the band’s influences and perhaps surprisingly, one of the cult figures in popular culture, David Lynch, and his return as director of the new series of the cult classic Twin Peaks. The band’s anticipation for the new series is unshakeable.

“We are so excited, however there is of course a tinge of anxiety in our hearts; it’s hard to imagine anything living up to the original series.” The band are set to take their love for Twin Peaks to a new level, “We’re very excited about performing in a Twin Peaks immersive theatre installation as Dream Wife for a few days mid June in Berlin! It’s called The Shells – Ausflug nach NeuFriedenwald. A group of London-based and Berlin-based artists are recreating the sets and making a whole world for visitors to enter.”

The trio go on to explain the influence of the cult figure on the band, “The idea of there being more than meets the eye, thematic in Lynch’s various depictions of American weirdville, is present in much of Dream Wife’s vision.” The comparison now doesn't seem as fitting, with the band later musing, “The softer pastel aesthetic of Dream Wife

is offset with our often cutting sound and lyrical content.”

This conflicting presentation of a pastel saccharine aesthetic with an often darker undertone is another key concept in the video for ‘Believe’ (directed by

“Women making

thingsandsupporting each other

”

Maisie Cousins, the London based artist known for her use of bright, saturated colours and sickly sweet, sticky imagery.)

The video offers a startling alternative to traditional presentations of women and femininity. The first half of the video sees the trio as futuristic Yé-Yé girls, the young stars of French 60’s pop. But instead of the highly contrived coupling of sex and childlike innocence that typified the Yé-Yé girls, the trio subvert the male gaze with an all-female cast and crew, the focus is shifted to a distinctly female gaze.

In the second half of the video, the band appear to be channeling Audrey Horne, (the femme fatale of Twin Peaks), the trio’s self confessed favour-

ite female character, ‘[She’s] Beautiful, powerful and seriously fucked up.” The stylistic changes, leopard print, black PVC and red lipstick signify this shift and another exploration of an aspect of female identity.

The band’s vision for the video was clear from the outset. “As Dream Wife grew, we thought Maisie’s visual aesthetic would be a match made in heaven.

We had loved Maisie’s work for a long time and were happy to see how she would interpret the track.” The band appear to have assembled something of a creative dream team to execute their vision working with Rakel Unnur, acclaimed Icelandic stylist and photographer Joanna Kiely on their photoshoots, videos and visual projects.

Working with a vast array of creative women seems to only be to the band’s benefit, allowing them to truly cultivate their aesthetic and creative vision. The band stresses the importance of this.

“Mixing of art forms is always healthy.

Many of the bands and collaborators we have recently worked with have shared this love of mixing fashion, culture, art and music. It’s an exciting time right now!”

Dream Wife seem to be at the forefront of a new generation of female creatives, a position that they can’t help but celebrate. “We are really excited by the

resurgence of zine culture. We are loving ‘Sister Zine’ and ‘Polyester’, so visually stimulating and creative! It’s great to see women making things together, and supporting each other.”

The band continue this endeavour musically, collaborating with the Manchester band PINS, who opened for Sleater-Kinney on the UK leg of their tour, “We’re collaborating a lot with PINS these days. They're rad. We’re releasing a split with them in a few days. Last weekend they came down to Brighton for Great Escape festival and we shot a music video together.

Which ended up at this crazy house party we threw with a few other bands” Dream Wife also cite, TOPS, Moon King, Realms as their favourite bands of the moment.

The band’s calendar looks set for this summer, “We’ll be playing in Ireland, Iceland and around the UK this summer. Rakel is Icelandic so it’s gonna be sweet playing a few shows there!” Talking of personal summer plans, the band are set to continue as music’s coolest girl gang, “Alice just bought a heart shaped guitar. Too many dreams are coming true, we can’t keep up.We dream of keeping doing what we are doing and doing it better. I mean what's better than making sweet music with your home girls?”

Pop's girl gang: Dreamy pop for challenging gender roles Photo: Maisie Cousins

4 Music

In Colour: Jamie Smith’s colourful pop debut

A

greeing with In Colour’s label of “debut album” is somewhat difficult, since we have already heard so much of Jamie Smith’s work – a consistent stream of EPs since 2010, various remixes of artists such as Adele, Four Tet and Radiohead, two albums with The xx, and the Gil Scott-Heron remix album We’re New Here. As a result, the record doesn’t

pointingly easy to consume.

This begs the question – what if the listener is not familiar with London’s ‘90s nightlife, let alone its underground music culture? The awkwardness of the samples fades into insignificance, rather forming an important part of the vibrant spectrum that Jamie xx creates. The brilliant ‘Sleep Sound’ jitters and rolls through samples of snatched Alicia Keys vocals and spooky harmonies from The Four Freshmen, whilst the jubilant ‘Loud Places’ floats upon the soulfulness of Idris Muhammad’s 1977 hit ‘Could Heaven Ever Be Like This’.

A culmination of Jamie xx’s work wouldn’t be complete without appearances from The xx members Romy Madley-Croft and Oliver Sim, whose presence on the record is neither overbearing nor random. Madley-Croft allows herself to be overwhelmed by

“ In

Colour is better treated as a pop album

”

arrive with the usual impact or force of a debut album. Rather, the music presents itself as a celebration of the last six years of Jamie Smith’s career, gently welding together elements of the glitchy dubstep, mellow indietronica and thumping dancefloor bangers that have come to shape his musical output.

Whilst the album does go to the extent of including both tracks from the 2014 EP Girl/Sleep Sound, the record isn’t solely introspective in this respect – as well as drawing upon and celebrating his own style, Smith looks predominantly to the culture of UK underground dance music and London nightlife. This is made evident by the opening track ‘Gosh’, an assertive track which pounds and shuf-

“The pop album

fles its way towards spacey, uplifting descants, lumped with vocal samples from BBC Radio 1’s ‘90s showcase One In The Jungle. The blurting of the MC anticipates a variety of samples and field recordings – such as in ‘Hold Tight’ – that stretch out a bashful hand towards, and awkwardly pay homage to, the rawness and grittiness of UK underground music. It’s easy to draw comparisons with Kieran Hebden (a.k.a Four Tet)’s 2013 album

Beautiful Rewind, which also paid tribute to pirate radio, winding and clattering together oldschool jungle, house and electronica.

Whilst Hebden’s record emerged as something fittingly unpolished and exhilarating, it would be fair to say that both Smith’s approach and result is hugely different - he processes and packages underground samples into a glossier and more sterile end product, one that many will find to be disap-

that the world needs right now

”

the breakbeat-inspired drum patterns of ‘Seesaw’, and to good effect, with her vocals softly contributing to the track’s plaintive, washed-out feel. Both herself and Sim then take control of tracks ‘Loud Places’ and

Return Of The Mac, Fleetwood Mac reunited

F

leetwood Mac. A recently reunited quintet beleaguered by a history of break-ups, fallouts and subversive musicality. United by their creative aspirations, they are a band which symbolises progression, endurance and longevity through their output, comprised of a contradictory array of personalities.

Time has taught many that the challenges Fleetwood Mac have faced in no way distract them from the artistic job at hand – constant touring and tempting their listeners with ever more innovative releases. For the 83rd show of their ‘On With the Show Tour’, the group holds as steadfast as the drumbeat which welcomes them on to the stage at the beginning of the evening.

The foundations of the night’s show are built from the band’s most familiar, much-loved tracks; ‘The Chain’ opening with its sturdy and hypnotic rhythm, which unravels the audience as John McVie’s infamous bass solo takes hold. The silent star of Fleetwood Mac’s line-up, he lingers beside ex-wife and re-addition to the band’s classic formula, Christine McVie, in modest revelry at the applause which greets him.

A complete entity with Christine’s homecoming following her 16-year absence, the band exude a heavenly interplay of harmonies, crying that the “chains keep us together”. The affection which

ricochets between each member suggests, however, that it is their notorious resilience which has reverted them to their finest configuration.

The most endearing moments of the concert are the subtle interactions between Nicks, McVie and Buckingham throughout the set, including one instance where Nicks plants a delicate kiss on Christine’s cheek – a sure symbol of a return to thr band’s former dynamic in this tour. A return to a form which rarely

“The

night is almost a call to arms, a summoning of sorts

her musings.

The band inhabit an atmosphere of the sublime and romantic, performing some of pop’s most magisterial delights as Christine takes the lead for ‘Everywhere’ and ‘Say You Love Me’. The lyrical intricacies and extravagant details of the stage setup engulf the audience as the band indulge in further charming interactions with each other.

The night is almost a call to arms, a summoning of sorts, with the militaristic Tusk interrogating the crowd through aggressive, unceasing drums and probing melodies. Silhouettes and illusions of ferocious creatures embellish the screen behind the band as Lindsey Buckingham eloquently summons praise from his hysteric admirers. The dissident pioneer of Fleetwood Mac, he forms the basis of its arrangement, barely leaving the stage for five minutes during the three hour spectacle. The backbone of the enterprise, it is at Buckingham’s recitation of ‘Big Love’ that the audience is finally allowed a glimpse of his solo professionalism and musical skill.

The perfect complement to Buckingham’s refined performance, Nicks reappears onstage for the haunting ‘Gold Dust Woman’: a corporate exorcism for her and audience alike, which sees a glistening backdrop envelop the stage as she writhes between mic, standing amongst the swathes of her golden shawl. Her

”

wavers, Nicks is her ever-enchanting self, embraced by black and gold lace. Singing of “crystal visions” in ‘Dreams’ and emanating the white witch’s mysticism of ‘Rhiannon’s, her ethereality consumes both herself and the crowd. In the past, Nicks has discussed her experiences of stage fright and how much she views her fear as the key to a magical performance.

The bewildering vulnerability she exhibits throughout the night undeniably confirm

Photo: Khiltscher

11th June 2015

CHARLIE LA FOSSE

SOMERVILLE COLLEGE ‘Stranger In A Room’ respectively, with the latter’s echoing, minimalist guitar work serving as a nod to 2012’s Coexist.

This brings us to the alarming single ‘I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)’. It demonstrates Smith’s versatility as a songwriter, collaborating with Jamaican dancehall artist Popcaan and Atlanta rapper Young Thug, and producing a bouncy, infectious song that artists such as Sean Kingston or Akon might be proud of. To an extent, it fits in with the idea of In Colour being an inclusive and wide-ranging album, however the disparity between lyrics such as Madley-Croft’s “I go to loud places/To search for someone/To be quiet with” and Young Thug’s “She gon’ get on top of this dick/And she gon’ squish it like squish”, is jarring rather than eclectic. Whilst tracks such as ‘Just Saying’ and ‘The Rest Is Noise’ craft beautiful layers of soft, ambient piano and hollow, whirling electronica, and remind us that Jamie xx is a hugely accomplished electronic artist, In Colour is better treated as a pop album. However, as the record’s closer ‘Girl’ explodes in a final outpouring of euphoria and melancholy, it gestures back towards a potent tension felt throughout the whole work – that between Jamie xx’s samples and his own sound. This tension produces an effect which is astonishingly soulful and expressive, and one which demonstrates that In Colour is the pop album that the world needs right now.

MOLLY MOORE

CHRIST CHURCH

On With the Show Does this tour bear any resemblance to the 1977 tour?

spiritual lyricism and emotive routines have permeated the American rock scene for decades and with each swish of fabric, it is easy to understand what makes Nicks so hopelessly captivating.

Old favourites punctuate the set list as ‘Go Your Own Way’ and ‘Don’t Stop’ close the main portion of the set and the charismatic father of Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood, has his turn in the spotlight with an overwhelming 7-minute long drum solo. His wild expressions and wails of “don’t be shy!” wrench the con-

cert into endless new directions. Longawaited, it is McVie’s ‘Songbird’ which ushers the night to a final close, an honest and confessional performance which transforms the mood in the arena into one of gentle contemplation.

Bowing and taking their leave, Mick Fleetwood is abandoned onstage to give his parting message to the raptured audience. “The Mac is back”, he declares, foreboding greater heights yet to come in Fleetwood Mac’s staggering musical journey.

Music 5

11th June 2015

Planes, trains and music devices: listening on the go

Eight till late OxStu’s 8th week Playlist

JACOB WISEMAN LINCOLN COLLEGE

I

am not a train enthusiast. I was never a member of my school’s model railway society nor am I an avid reader of Rail Magazine, but there is nothing like an iPod-accompanied train journey. The interaction between scenery, music and transport is hard to surpass. There are three essential components: device, journey and album.

Over the course of the term, a recurrent theme among our interviewees was that great albums require listening from start to finish. Jazz FM DJ David Freeman told us that Dark Side of the Moon “needs to be listened to as a whole.” Similarly, blues-rock band Vintage Trouble challenged us to “make time for music.”

The argument that an album is a complete work is central to the nostalgia of vinyl records. On Record Store Day, nostalgic enthusiasts band around ideas of the album as a lost art form. In this atmosphere it is easy to forget that portable music devices offer something different: musical interaction with physical surroundings.

Star67 Drake

It’s Too Late The Kinks

Stay Up Late Talking Heads

Late For The Train

Buzzcocks

Too Late Carole King

The Walkman revolutionised music because it allowed the listener an interactive experience with their surroundings. A music enthusiast was no longer confined to their bedroom or dodgy signal on a portable radio. Music became transportable. The iPod is an extension of this idea. The listener could go for a walk with music, lie in the sun with music and, crucially, go on a train journey with music. Music could interact with the world in the ears and eyes of an individual. It could be your own personal soundtrack and it can be incredibly uplifting.

The journey does not have to be specific. Sweeping fields or brutalist architecture – whatever takes your fancy. Even the Oxford-London journey provides a variety of views as the train sweeps through Reading and Slough. There is even the odd cow roaming about.

A personal highlight of my musiclistening train-riding career was the journey from Bergen to Oslo in Norway. The Norwegians are not keen on cutting through their fjords, so their trains wind around them with a gracefulness that never felt cumbersome or inefficient. My own personal

Double gazing Classic albums and breathtaking views

Photo: Boccaccio1

soundtrack enhanced the dramatic juxtaposition of glacial lakes and steep fjord hills.

Crucial to a good music-filled train journey is the sense that you are in transit and so not wasting time by chilling out with an iPod for a few hours. With Generation X’s insistence on constant productivity, transit is key in allowing the passenger to unwind.

The next component is the album.

On my Bergen-Oslo journey I made it through seven hours of music ranging

from John Mayer’s soft blues-rock on Contiuum to D’Angelo’s unique brand of neo-soul on Voodoo; from The Who’s powerfully adolescent Quadrophenia to Joshua Redman’s jazz grooves of Timeless Tales. Finding the time to sit down and listen to great albums such as these can be hard – especially in Oxford. But the time on a journey is ideal. Albums are often best appreciated from start to finish uninterrupted, allowing for a sense of the work as a whole. A journey forces the time for a full listening.

SONGS FOR ENDINGS PICTURES OF YOU

MOTION PICTURE SOUNTRACK

THE END

SLOW DANCING IN A BURNING ROOM

Naomi Southwell Looking through old photos of past relationships or friendships and becoming enveloped in the strange nostalgia and quiet fondness for the past they inspire this is, I would say, a universal experience and is the set-up for the song ‘Pictures Of You’ by The Cure. After a lengthy and atmospheric intro, with dreamy guitar parts that expertly weave in and out of each other, Robert Smith softly exclaims the first line with his signature quiet sadness, “I’ve been looking so long at these pictures of you/ That I almost believe that they’re real”. The pictures allow Smith to travel back in time, to the early stages of the relationship, screaming at the sky and kissing each other while the sky fell in. However, as time passes looking at the pictures, Smith’s abounding guilt begins to set in, with him desperately lamenting, “If only I’d thought of the right words/I could have held on to your heart.” This drives him to tear up the pictures, as they’ve simply become a desolate reminder of the end and what might have been: “There was nothing in the world that I ever wanted more/Than to never feel the breaking apart/All my pictures of you.”

Lucy Clarke The final song on Radiohead’s seminal Kid A opens with an organ that wouldn’t be out of place at a memorial service, though the better kind, the ones where you celebrate someone instead of just mourning them, and that sums it up. From title through to lyrics, this is a song that is about endings. Yorke asks softly ‘stop sending letters’, somehow not as gloom-laden as usual; the organ chords and vocal line shifting upwards, inexorably, in a way that promises some sort of redemption at the end: and it comes, with shivering harps and an intensification of the vocals, unearthly voices halfsinging, half-wailing behind the lead. The orchestral-sounding instrumentation matches perfectly with the yearning vocals, the melodies rising and rising, to a point of perfect, damnable crisis, before dropping out at the promise “I will see you in the next life”. There’s a theory about Kid A that says it’s about all the stages of a person’s life, and that the final song on the album is, logically, about the moment of death and – possibly – the next life. Drowned in the pure transcendence of Motion Picture Soundtracks, it’s not hard to believe.

William Shaw Well, this is cheating, isn’t it?

This is the endiest song imaginable. On The Beatles’ last album. At the end of almost a decade of earth-shattering pop.

And it’s called ‘The End’, for God’s sake. But what’s most remarkable about ‘The End’ is the extent to which it belies its own premise. It’s the end, but the moment has been prepared for. There’s a visceral sense that this may be the end, but it’s by no means the finish.

“You’re gonna be in my dreams tonight”- these songs will stay with their listeners, and, as long as they are still heard, they will never properly end. Something big and important may be ending, but that’s okay- The Beatles are ending, but there are a whole bunch of new things coming along to take their place. ‘The End’ is the perfect type of ending - which is to say, not an ending at all. Not only did the world of popular music continue producing top-quality stuff, the album itself goes on to the sweetest thirty seconds in pop, ‘Her Majesty’, and then the Beatles themselves go on to Let It Be . Because that’s the thing about endings; all they mean is that something else is starting.

Jacob Wiseman This is a sad one. It’s a break up song. One of American singersongwriter John Mayer’s finest pieces of songwriting and lyricism, it has the mournful grace of an imminent end. Mayer’s conflicted emotions go beyond the stereotypical American breakup song (see ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’). It shows Mayer at his most solemn and most scornful, juxtaposing lyrics such as “This is the deep and dying breath of/This love that we’ve been working on,” and “Go cry about it why don’t you.”

As ever, Mayer’s guitar work is outstanding. The crisp riff develops into a scorching solo. He combines emotionally held notes with soulful blues phrases to create a powerful, clean solo. This is particularly true of the live version on his album Where the Light Is but also on the song’s original album Continuum. On the latter, Mayer combines with legendary session musicians in drummer Steve Jordan (Keith Richards, Mark Ronson) and bassist Pino Palladino (The Who, D’Angelo).

The three form a tight groove, which provides an ideal platform for Mayer’s crisp guitar-work and elegant use of harmony. In all, it is a song for a sombre yet defiant end.

11th June 2015

6 Stage

STAGE

Taking a bow The cream of the Oxford comedy crop and representatives of their Cambridge rivals take their applause after an amusing evening.

Photo: Philip Babcock

The Oxford Revue and Friends at the Playhouse

A

packed Oxford Playhouse played host on Saturday night to the Oxford Revue and their friends – talented Oxonion performers, the Cambridge Footlights and the professional comedian (and Oxonian), Ivo Graham.

The night, it has to be said, did start somewhat slowly. Whilst he’s good enough to have won the ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ award at the Edinburgh festival in 2009, Graham did not seem entirely comfortable in the role of compere – a very different skillset from a regular stand-up routine. Whilst he had his moments and was not un-entertaining, improvised banter with an audience member about the Oxford Greek Play felt a little forced.

The acts that followed, however, paid testament to the creative vitality that abounds in Oxford.

After an opening song parodying cis males and Cuntry Living, there followed a very cleverly devised skit by Alex Fox. Fox played all three members of an aristocratic dynasty: the exBullingdon paterfamilias, his

cocky and entitled eldest son, and his younger brother - who has an inferiority complex as large as his brother’s ego. The piece required a lot of energy and Fox certainly had it. A highlight was the father’s uncontrollable descent into the animalistic grunting of ‘Buller, Buller, Buller’ – “it’s an ordinary club for ordinary people”, the father explains.

Despite this, the laughs came the thickest when the comedians forgot Oxford and student life.

Undoubtedly the best act of the first half was George McGoldrick whose collections of stories from unusual angles, delivered with the coolest of deadpans, elicited belly laughs from the audience.

McColdrick was clever and original, sharing with us the diary entries of a boy on the Hogwarts Express in the Philosopher’s Stone.

Initially excited, he comes close to starvation during the journey because the “special one bought all the sweeties”.

Closing the first half were the Revue’s Cantabrian counterparts, the Footlights. Sadly, it didn’t seem that they had given their

best shot. Whilst it is only fair to point out that the Tabs were neckdeep in exams last week, I couldn’t help but feel that they could have done better. Oliver Taylor and his partner felt under-rehearsed.

Their sketches contained many great – and funny - ideas, there were times when they could have done more to milk them for their full worth.

“ Moments of real tearsin-your-eyes laughter

”

Without a doubt, however, the second half in which the Revue took over from their friends, was the strongest of the two. Ivo Graham was on better form when opening, winning the audience over by buying a random member

a whole tub of Ben & Jerry’s.

The Revue were slick and professional.

Having beaten the Footlights at home at the Cambridge Union comedy debate earlier this term, they managed it again on Saturday. Funny in the tradition of Monty Python and Mitchell and Webb, their material was immaculately delivered.

Performing a collection of material from their recent successful shows, the Revue provided a fantastic introduction to what they do. Saturday was the first time that I’d seen a Revue show and I was impressed by the talent that was on display.

With an assortment of traditional sketches and musical comedy, the Revue had some moments of real tears-in-youreyes laughter. Particular favourites included Georgia Bruce’s song based on a GCSE French oral, Jack Chisnall’s cameo as a door, and a sketch in which a politician tries desperately to be ordinary but simply can’t (he clutches a pack of digestives strangely in his hand, banging it on the table for emphasis).

WILLIAM ASLET

SOMERVILLE COLLEGE Certified BNOC Will Hislop was part of a troupe without a weak link. Already mentioned is Georgia Bruce; a skit with David Meredith saw Bruce as a news anchor frequently losing connection with her reporter on the ground. Jack Chisnall – Bruce’s singing partner in Cut the Mustard – not only played a very good straight man, but his timing was also devilishly precise; Barney Fishwick delivered a brilliantly funny reading of erotic fiction – in which John Longcock, randy postman, ‘did the sex for twelve hours’.

Overall, whilst the first half did have room for improvement, the Revue alone made the evening one that was not to be missed.

Like their friends, they are an exceptionally talented group whose future appearances will no doubt be highlights in terms to come. Departing for Edinburgh over the summer, it seems hard to believe that they will not take the notoriously dour Scots by force.

The Oxford Revue and Friends were at the Playhouse on Saturday 6th June.

Stage 7

11th June 2015

Review His Dark Materials: Part 2, The Keble O’Reilly

H

is Dark Materials: Part 2 is a very long and complex play with a huge cast; this makes it very difficult to transition to the student stage. This production at the Keble O’Reilly made an admirable attempt and was largely successful in bringing Phillip Pullman’s world (back) to Oxford.

“ One of the finest sets

that the Keble O’Reilly has seen in years

”

Perhaps the most successful feature of the play was the set; including the sound and lighting.

Walking into the O’Reilly the audience is confronted with minimalist white sheets draped over varying levels. This successfully created a blank canvas which allowed the lighting, music and sound effects to transport the viewer into the many different worlds that feature in the play.

Battle scenes were framed by dynamic movement and distant gun shots; strobes were used sparingly to highlight the most horrific moments of the play. Not too much, not too little:

the perfect amount. The highlight of the stage was the centrepiece alethiometer which glowed in different places to show the audience which world the characters were in at any one moment. Ironically the alethiometer could be seen to act as a Subtle Knife to allow the audience to cut through worlds alongside characters.

Becky Lenihan and Greg Coates provided outstanding performances in the midst of the action as Lyra and Will: their chemistry on stage grew throughout and peaked at the emotionally charged climax. Robyn Murphy continued where she left off as Mrs Coulter; providing a reliable performance that naturally built on her contribution in Part One. Tom Fawcett was phenomenal, cutting between the characters of Lord Asriel and Iorek Byrnison easier than Will cut between worlds; his assertive voice rang around the theatre throughout.

Photo: Mischa Andreski

Review As You Like It, Christ Church Cathedral Garden

S

hakespeare’s As You Like It is perfectly titled for a reviewer to open with a predictable, and probably mediocre, pun. I’m loathe to do so, but with Polyptych Productions and Christ Church Dramatic Society’s performance, I really did like it.

This pastoral comedy follows the journey of its heroine Rosalind, banished from court by her uncle, and her companion Celia, disguised as a man and poor woman respectively into the Forest of Arden. With Orlando (Rosalind’s lover) close behind, they meet a variety of unforgettable characters and amidst confusion and hilarity, romance blossoms.

Christ Church Cathedral garden provided the perfect setting for the forest. The stage, naturally framed with leafy bowers, twinkled with fairy lights; the setting sun bathed the actors in a warm glow. The set was, thankfully, kept simple, allowing the natural surroundings to transport the audience into Arden.

While I appreciated the attempt to provide a rural soundtrack of acoustic folk, the music was

one of the weakest points of this performance. Some of the solos made me squirm in my seat.

The acting from the main characters, however, was in a different class. Rosalind ( Jessica Bailes) and Celia (Zoë Hare) were strong and played off one another

“ Stand-out performances ”

well: their friendship was utterly believable. Similarly Will Yeldham played Orlando with a charming youthful air.

The show was stolen by James Waddell’s embodiment of Touchstone, the court fool. Of course he milked the role for every laugh, and whilst some might have found his constant striking of poses and prancing a little grating, I felt that this was deliberate. A special mention must also go to Christian Bevan for his portrayal

SEAN MCINTYRE

SOMERVILLE COLLEGE Often in student drama the plaudits are merely offered to the leading roles but it was the refreshing unification of the cast that marked this play out as a success. At the end of the play all of the cast received their deserved applause together rather than coming out in separate groups.

This was appropriate given the fact that many of the actors who particularly excelled had not been cast into larger roles. Olly Jackson, James Soulsby and Amy Perkis all provided memorable performances playing the Gallivespians and injected some much needed comic flare into the play. Rebecca Heitlinger’s portrayal of a Harpee was initially devastatingly chilling before moving into something strangely heart-warming.

A minor criticism of the play would be the lack of emphasis placed on the reunion of Will and his father. The storyline had been building up to this moment for some time, but when the moment itself arrived it was unintentionally awkward and very rushed, rather than the emotional spectacle that was expected.

Overall, His Darker Materials: Part 2 was a solid production that boasted one of the finest sets that the Keble O’Reilly has seen in years; when this was combined with a wide range reliable acting talent, it made for an enjoyable evening.

His Dark Materials: Part 2 was at the Keble O’Reilly from Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th June.

PHILIPPA STACEY CORPUS CHRISTI

of Jacques, an unmitigated cynic and deliverer of the famous “All the world’s a stage” speech. Mysterious, snarky and unfailingly scornful, his melancholy provided a cutting contrast to the giddy delight of the other characters.

If there is a criticism to be made of this performance it would be that it was maybe a bit too twee. Perhaps it was the off-the-shoulder floaty lace dresses, garlands and braces.

I must, however, confess to stifling a chuckle at Touchstone’s costume – decked out in dungarees and a gaudy shirt, (minus the bowtie) he was a 21st century hipster’s dream. The modernisation worked particularly well with the addition of choice modern-day colloquialisms, which always won a laugh.

A picturesque setting, some standout performances and constant chuckling ensured this Christ Church garden production had all the comedy, whimsy and playfulness that made As You Like It the delight it should be.

As You Like It was at Christ Church Cathedal Garden from from Wednesday 3rd to Saturday 6th

Review Elephants, Burton Taylor Studio WILLIAM SHAW CORPUS CHRISTI

A

n intimate story about a pair of middle-class couples dripping in angst, Elephants is a witty, fast-paced play with a wonderfully bleak undertone. Everyone has secrets they’re keeping from everyone else, which bubble constantly beneath the surface, intermittently boiling over with painful (and hilarious) results. The title says it all; the play is set in one room containing a veritable stampede.

The plot is a fairly standard sitcom setup, imbued with a sense of humanity and pathos (as is standard for Oxford student theatre). Laura (Olivia Homewood) and Greg (Alex Hill) are an unhappy ex-couple, together for the evening after a period of living separately. After Greg makes a fool of himself at their son’s parents’ evening, Laura drags him home and informs him that their friends Jennifer and Todd (Maddy Walker and Anthony Maskell, the play’s writer) will be coming round, and that they must act the happy couple in order to get their son into Jennifer’s posh school. From there the play slowly builds from Laura and Greg’s passive-aggressive loathing into a maelstrom of fury, jealousy and bitterness, which leaves no-one untouched.

All the characters are horrible, twisted and spiteful to one degree or another, but in an extremely human, relatable way. If the audience occasionally winces at

the more histrionic outbursts, it is only because we recognise a bit too much of ourselves in there.

If the play has problems, they’re strictly structural; the first ten minutes or so are a bit weak, with Homewood and Hill left alone on stage to set things up. You can practically hear the grinding of gears as bits of back story slide into place, and one can’t shake the feeling that we’re just waiting around for the plot to turn up.

Once Walker and Maskell stroll on stage we’re off to the races, but a slow start does not help matters.

The cast, however, are largely impeccable. Olivia Homewood is the emotional centre of the play, and handles the transitions between passive-aggressive charmer and screaming psycho perfectly. Alex Hill is charming and funny, lending an effortless breeziness to his comic lines, while Maddy Walker does an excellent job as a prim and proper headmistress, with a similar lightness of touch. Anthony Maskell is brilliant as Todd, bringing a knack for understatement and physical comedy to what could easily have been a bog-standard straight man role.

Elephants is a solid comedy with a wonderfully morbid streak, and while Maskell’s script has a few flaws which prevent it from attaining perfection, it nonetheless makes for a very entertaining evening. Another hit to bring an excellent term of student drama to a close.

Elephants was at the BT Studio from Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th June.

What’s On

OUGSS - Trial by Jury Fri 12th - Sat 13th June, 8pm @Brasenose College Chapel

Twelfth Night Tue 16th - Thur 18th June, 7.30pm @Oriel College

Stereotypist Tue 16th - Sat 20th June, 9.30pm @The BT Studio

Yesterday - A New Musical Tue 16th - Sat 20th June, 9.30pm @The BT Studio

8 Fashion

11th June 2015

11th June 2015

Summer Stroll

Models:Chris Pike, Cynthia Otote, Imo Watson, Kenny Dada Concept and Styling: Beth Kume-Holland Photographer and Editing: Richard Wakefield Photography

Fashion 9

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t f OUSUnews

how have we done this year?

This impact report is our way of telling you what OUSU has been doing for you this academic year. The achievements you can read about here would never have been possible without the work of the numerous students and staff who get involved in what we do, whether delivering training, campaigning or attending OUSU Council. We hope that you like what we have done so far. Let us know what you think, and if you love ideas – submit them to us using our new online suggestions box: www.ousu.org

Louis Trup,

OUSU President 2014/2015

Highlights Voter Registration: ֯​֯ Helped an additional 3,500 students to register to vote

Sexual consent workshops: ֯​֯ Delivered in every JCR and 10 MCRs, reaching over 3,000 freshers; 99% found the session ‘helpful’

Academic representation: ֯​֯ Trained over 150 Course Representatives ֯​֯ Produced a Course Rep Handbook

Graduate Accommodation: ֯​֯ Saved Castle Mill, preserving essential housing for graduates and student families

Living Wage: ֯​֯ As the culmination of a 7-year campaign, got five colleges to join the University in accrediting as Living Wage employers

OUSU Student Advice Service: ֯​֯ Supported 66% more students

Fossil Fuel Divestment: ֯​֯ Got the University to pledge not to invest in coal and tar sands in the future

On Your Doorstep: ֯​֯ Petition against the City Council’s plan to criminalise rough sleeping gathered over 70,000 signatures, meaning the plan was scrapped

Referenda: ֯​֯ Achieved a turnout of 40.6% in referenda about sub fusc, gowns and elections; the highest recorded turnout in Oxford history

How we have been representing you OUSU representatives sat on nearly 100 University committees, representing students at all levels. This meant we: ֯​֯ Worked with the Sports Federation to secure £170,000 additional funding for University sports clubs ֯​֯ Worked with the Nominating Committee for the Vice-Chancellor, passing on the opinions of students and spoke to a number of candidates

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֯​֯ Gave out over £135,000 to 9 student projects through the Student IT Innovation Fund

֯​֯ We have created an Education Vision by collaborating with over 1,000 students to produce a comprehensive lobbying tool that sets out our vision for an Oxford education

֯​֯ Upheld the importance of student consultation during the proposed reorganisation of Humanities Libraries ֯​֯ Produced the Annual Quality Report, highlighting areas where the University needs to improve teaching and learning ֯​֯ Defended the importance of graduate funding in our submission to the Government on postgraduate loans

֯​֯ Ensured an additional £200m is available for the Oxford Graduate Scholarship Matched Fund

We have introduced two new members of our Part-Time Executive to support ֯​֯ Student Parents and Carers ֯​֯ Graduate LGBTQ Students

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PSST! STUDENTSplus will be coordinating another Universitywide orientation for new mature students in October 2015. This year the orientation grows to 250 students and will take place at Exam Schools.

How we have been supporting you Student Advice Service (SAS) ֯​֯ Offered drop-in sessions three times a week, making it easier to see an adviser without an appointment ֯​֯ Supported more complex cases, with Mental Health issues being mentioned in 64% of these

We have sold: over 4,000 welfare items, over 1,000 boxes of sanitary products and over 100 bike locks

֯​֯ Increased the number of students the SAS has helped by 66%, with a 185% increase in case work as opposed to enquiries

֯​֯ Built partnerships across the University in order to better support students

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Liberation OUSU’s four liberation campaigns – the Women’s Campaign, Oxford Students’ Disability Community (OSDC), the Campaign for Racial Awareness and Equality and the LGBTQ Campaign have been campaigning on issues their members care about. This has included: ֯​֯ a week of events on reproductive justice ֯​֯ a campaign challenging prejudice against bisexual people that reached the national press ֯​֯ publication of CRAE's 100 Voices report which also reached the national press ֯​֯ a huge increase in the membership of OSDC, which works to represent students with disabilities

֯​֯ We have negotiated a 10% discount on 52-week city bus passes for all students ֯​֯ We have set up a taxi scheme so that you can get home safely

֯​֯ This year Mind Your Head has held testimonial events in several colleges.

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It Happens Here OUSU’s campaign to raise awareness of sexual violence has: ֯​֯ Run a major ‘Anti-Violence Valentine’s’ conference, headlined by Staceyann Chin. ֯​֯ Collaborated with Code4Rights to create a First Response App to help survivors and supporters of survivors of sexual violence, coded by women.

How we have provided you with opportunities We have delivered training for over 400 students on: ֯​֯ how to implement the new ֯​֯ campaigning and negotiation harassment policy ֯​֯ liberation training for College reps ֯​֯ developing women in leadership roles

RAG ֯​֯ Ran 55 events to fundraise for 13 different charities ֯​֯ Raised over £80,000 ֯​֯ Provided a positive insight into the third sector for 93% of RAG committee members

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Student Media ֯​֯ Produced 24 Issues of The Oxford Student ֯​֯ Trained over 20 of our student journalists in media law, provided by the Press Association

How we have been talking to you ֯​֯ The President’s weekly email was opened by up to 43% of Oxford students; that’s 8,900 students ֯​֯ There was a 39% increase in Twitter followers ֯​֯ We produced 15 videos this year, viewed over 8,000 times ֯​֯ 11,000 Careers Guides were produced with the Careers Service and were used by 65% of finalists ֯​֯ Fresh! Magazine was sent out to over 6,000 Freshers

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We had a 54% increase in Facebook page likes

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How we helped to improve access ֯​֯ Equipped 25 students as access leaders ֯​֯ Held an African-Caribbean shadowing day in Hilary Term, attended by 30 Year 12 students ֯​֯ Hosted ask-a-grad panels in sciences to encourage applications, particularly from women

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_ ֯​֯ Organised 10 Target Schools shadowing days for over 350 school children

How we worked with the Community ֯​֯ 8 Community Wardens spent 960 hours this year knocking on doors and attending community meetings to improve town/gown relationships

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֯​֯ 21 Colleges collected for the Community Emergency Foodbank, with other collections for the British Heart Foundation and a local women’s refuge planned for the end of term ֯​֯ Supported 8 local charities ֯​֯ Hosted 75 students at a panel event discussing how students can usefully engage with Oxford’s Housing Crisis

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How we celebrated with you Student Awards – celebrating Oxford students’ excellence in the world outside academia ֯​֯ Received over 100 nominations for 8 awards ֯​֯ Hosted 150 people Teaching Awards – celebrating excellence in teaching ֯​֯ Received 538 nominations ֯​֯ 57 members of University and College staff shortlisted in four categories, including support staff

Women’s Garden Party – celebrating women at Oxford ֯​֯ Run collaboratively by 10 different women’s societies and campaigns ֯​֯ The family-friendly party was attended by over 300 students Women in Leadership Drinks – celebrating the OUSU Women’s Leadership Development Programme ֯​֯ Brought together the participants with women in leadership from across the collegiate University, including Common Room Presidents, Women’s Officers, OUSU Part-Time Executive and Sabbatical Officers

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HOW TO GET YOUR COFFEE: Fill out this voucher and hand it to one of the lovely people at The Missing Bean Café.

for our members

Oxford University student union

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Name: College: E-Mail: Signature This voucher gives me one free cup of coffee.

I'm aware that I'm only entitled to one small cup of free coffee during the promotion period! Voucher valid until: 18/06/2015.

No photocopied or digital vouchers will be accepted. This offer is subject to availability.

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Remember to show your BodCard to redeem your FREE cup of coffee!

How we will improve your experience

This year, our six sabbatical officers have interacted with the University in many ways. Drawing on your and our experiences, we have recommended to the University that:

֯​֯ Clear policies should establish standards for college life including teaching time for undergraduates, harassment, suspended status students, mental health and student welfare. The disparity in the student experience between different Colleges is the most significant challenge facing the Collegiate University ֯​֯ This should be the last time students are not formally involved in selecting the Vice-Chancellor of the University ֯​֯ Improving access to the learning and research experience at Oxford, including graduate access, must be a key priority

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֯​֯ The graduate student experience needs to improve, including more teaching opportunities for our researchers, and higher quality taught courses ֯​֯ The experience of women, LGBTQ, BME and disabled students at Oxford must improve, both inside and outside of the academic context.

Curricula reviews, better representation in senior roles, and a continuation of the focus given to harassment must be key tools in making change happen If you have an idea or there are things you want to change then head over to www.ousu.org and submit your suggestion.

Have a lovely and relaxing summer

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10 Fashion

11th June 2015

FASHION Exporting Kalifornia girls

FLORA HOLMES

LINCOLN COLLEGE

• Flora Holmes assesses the sincerity of the Kendall + Kylie for Topshop range

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his week marked the launch of Kendall and Kylie Jenner’s clothing line for Topshop. The capsule collection featured around fifteen pieces, including simple tops and t-shirts, printed dresses, jumpsuits and a pair of distressed denim shorts amongst other things. The pair have said in interviews that the collection was meant to be “beachy and easy”, reflective of their Californian background. The collection definitely achieved this aim - most items are flowing and loose fitting, definitely giving off the chilled beach vibes that Kendall and Kylie were striving for. A few slogan tees and sweatshirts were sprinkled into the mix, emblazoned with phrases such as “golden state of mind” and (a slightly pretentious)

“when in doubt, vacation” to really drive the message home. A personal favourite from the collection is a large-scale floral print overlaid on a black background which features on a playsuit, dress, shorts and Hawaiian shirt. The florals make the pieces summer-suitable whilst the black gives them an edgier feel which, to some extent, is reminiscent of the

“ I was a little underwhelmed

and disappointed when I finally got to see the collection

”

Photo: MichealGreenhill

pair’s edgy style.

Sadly, this is where the originality ends. The clothing in the collection would not look at all out of place on the main Topshop site and, unless you were told beforehand that it was ‘Kendall + Kylie at Topshop’, it would be difficult to guess which celebrity the international store had collaborated with. Take what the sisters wore to

the launch of this collection. Kylie, a big fan of the bodycon look, made an orange Topshop square neck ribbed maxi dress her own by tying a knot in the back to transform the dress into a form-fitting midi. Usually seen sporting a bodycon dress or skirt with a crop top when she’s not rocking the more grungy, gothic side of her style in ripped jeans and string vests, it was a surprise to see little of Kylie’s style represented within the collection. It would be fair to say that the collection was perhaps more tilted towards Kendall’s day-to-day look; the plain white peasant tops and ripped denim shorts are more like something she would wear. This is still a stretch of the truth, though. To the launch Kendall stuck to a monochrome palette in a printed top and sheer culottes combination. Day to day, Kendall’s fashion sense is the epitome of ‘offduty model’ as she tends to pair simple yet elegant separates together to create an effortless look. Although many of the pieces in the Topshop collection are separates, they are not particularly elegant, perhaps reflecting too rigidly the relaxed and casual goal.

Why is this a problem? Kendall and Kylie said what they wanted to achieve in the collection and they have done so. It was clearly a huge success, as it sold out within hours. Maybe there is no problem with this, but I can’t help feeling it’s all a tad disingenuous. Be-

tween them, the sisters have over fifty million instagram followers. Paparazzi follow their every move, and hoards of fans religiously watch ‘Keeping up with the Kardashians’, the reality show which the pair regularly feature in. Why did the sisters not create a collection that allowed their die-hard fans to engage with their very distinctive styles? A cynic might say that they’re just capitalising on the fact that their fans would rush out to buy whatever they promote rather than creating something that reflects their fashion sense. Even if you argue that they wanted to create nice clothes for other people, you have to ask why two women who are so unique in how

they dress would design clothes that fit the general Topshop trend. The profit potential of the clothes seems to have dominated designer meetings.

This is fine for two business-women to do, but as a fan of both Kendall and Kylie, I was definitely a little underwhelmed and disappointed when I finally got to see the collection after over a month of eager anticipation to find, after searching hard, only a few elements that reminded me of the pair’s style. All I can hope is that this is the first of many collaborations with Topshop, and, after a few more attempts, we can start to see more of the pair’s individuality begin to appear in the designs.

Photo: JC

False advertising: one size does not fit all

BETH KUME-HOLLAND PEMBROKE COLLEGE

• Beth Kume-Holland discusses the unreflective nature of plus sized clothing in today’s market

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all, short, big, small, women of all shapes and sizes work together, live together and walk down the street together, yet upon entering high street stores, some are forced to split. Judged as unable to shop together, separated by ‘petite’ and ‘plus’ sections, women are divided by these labels, by a fashion industry that depicts an inexact picture of what it means to be healthy.

The debate against the fashion industry’s choice of ‘stick-thin’

size zero models has been raging for a long while now, and the new labelled ‘plus-sized’ models are slowly being welcomed into the industry, yet why are we still trying to demarcate healthy, aspirational figures when this is something impossible to quantify into one image?

“Remove such

judgemental labels that allienate women

Photo: Pheobe Mead

”

After all, a healthy individual can look a range of different ways - in no way is shape synonymous with healthiness. A body may be judged to be aesthetically acceptable for a ‘beach body’ campaign by Protein World, but this is following the popular misguided assumption that how you look physically correlates with how healthy you are.

We need to move away from the misconception that the only way to start getting healthy is ‘weight loss’.

Type in ‘get healthy’ into Google

and we are inundated with ways to fight our impending obesity through shedding the pounds. Yet health is a state of mental and social wellbeing, not simply physical fitness.

So, why do shops need to distinguish ‘plus-sizes’ when people in these sizes can fit into the ‘healthy’ 18.5-24.9 category of the BMI? (An assessment tool that has been heavily criticised in itself.) A ‘plus-size’ man or woman can be healthier than a ‘petite’ person. For instance, somebody who has had a stable BMI of 28 for most of their life, who exercises regularly and eats a balanced diet, is likely to have a very different metabolic profile than someone with a lower BMI, who regularly overeats and leads an inactive lifestyle. Yet the former example would most likely be labelled as ‘plus-size’: PLUS Model magazine identifies how “in the fashion industry, plus-size is identified as sizes 12-24”. ‘Plus-size’ poster girl, Robyn Lawley (right), an exquisitely toned size 12, told The Daily Mail, in a recent interview, of her irritation towards the way that the fashion industry continues to see her and others as a ‘niche’ part of the business: “It’s derogatory - it’s a label. I’m a model; I don’t need plussize in front of it.” Going into the high street shop and watching my friends - a lot fitter, a lot stronger and a lot more muscly than me - be

stigmatised by the separated sections and ‘petite’ girls on the posters is simply wrong.

Of course I am not suggesting that all labelled sizes be removed and we all stand in store trying to guess whether the top will look like a sack of potatoes on us, simply that we remove such judgemental labels that serve to alienate women - and men - into brackets which are commonly judged as being indicative with healthiness.

Essentially, the ‘skinny’ vs ‘plussized’ debates are diverting attention away from what should always be the main point of focus - what is healthy. It cannot be the fashion industry’s responsibility to quantify ‘healthy’ into one image and shape, because healthy is simply not one shape. For many people, no matter how hard they try, the promoted ‘petite’ image is impossible and unnecessary to attain.

So let us move away from weight loss and towards happiness when trying to get healthy for summer.

This contentious argument may just be one voice among many - yet the more that we, the exasperated public, speak out against the industry’s differentiation of sizes, the closer we get to a day that we can walk into the shops with our friends without being forced to stop our chit chat to visit our respective sections.

Photo: Measurements and weight

11th June 2015

No end to ‘before and after’

Fashion 11

LIZZIE EVENS NEW COLLEGE

• Why Lizzie Evens thinks ‘before and after’ pictures will continue to feature in adverts

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Photo: @viviannamakeup

@viviannamakeup

This beauty guru is a feature on the blogging, YouTube scene and her social media domination is complete with a crisp and constant stream of pictures on Instagram. Whether it is pictures of her enviable make up collection, her adorable relationship or intricately staged food, she is one to follow if you’re at all inclined to the beauty world.

itness guides, mascaras, diet pills, magazines, moisturiser, beauty treatments, hair dyes and shape underwear: each of these regularly use before and after photos to advertise their services. These ‘before and after’ photos will be familiar to all of us: two images placed alongside one another inviting you to play spot the difference with the human form.

Think of how mascara is advertised.

To the left we see an open eye with bare lashes and to the right eyelashes almost miraculously lengthened, thickened and marvellously fluttery.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Bar the perils of potentially misleading advertising, such a means of promoting a product could cause little objection. It reveals the effects of the product, allowing the customer to make an informed decision regarding their purchase. Yet applying this premise to images of the body proves more problematic.

Are such images a means of motivation? Can they be credited with giving people a drive to live healthy, more active lifestyles? Saving a screenshot of such transformations give them something to aspire to, or reassure them that their aspirations are obtainable, perhaps even providing an image that they can relate too. For one documenting changes to their body from a new workout routine, such photos can prove an effective way of mapping one’s progress and is perhaps more telling than a number on the scales. However, for me, there are a multitude of issues with these images.

As an Instagram addict I am acquainted with the transformative potential of a subtle filter and flattering angle. What’s more, the amount the appearance of my body could differ from waking up to having finished a three course meal often makes me consider whether I could embody both sides of these transformations within a 24-hour period. So I am

COUNTDOWN Photo: @viviannamakeup

OxStu Fashion on Instagram @oxstufashion

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Best Dressed at The Council of Fashion Designer’s Awards 2015

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

hardest part is the maintenance of a healthy body image after a period of change.

Despite a seemingly universal acknowledgment that these images are hawking lies, I can’t see them disappearing from adverts anytime soon. Simply put, they are effective.

The image on the right of the more tanned, slimmer, more muscular and made up version of self is more attractive. This is only exceeded by the seductive notion that such a transformation obtainable solely through this diet pill/ fitness plan/ gym leggings. As a willingness to believe in these quick methods persists, so will before and after images on our Instagram feeds.

CHARLOTTE LANNING NEW COLLEGE

n June 1st the ‘Oscars of the fashion world’ took place at the Lincoln Centre in New York. The Council of Fashion Designer’s Awards honours the most coveted fashion designers and pioneers from the past year, winners included; the Olsen twins, Tom Ford and Pharrell Williams. Only the most fashionable of guests adorned the white carpet, sporting designers from Thakoon to Proenza Schouler, with some arriving on the arm of the very designer they were wearing if the designer was nominated. But like the awards themselves there can only be a few to come out on top, so here is our countdown of the best dressed:

1

Gigi Hadid

Michael Kors

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sceptical to say the least. Subtle changes such as emphasising body language, figure-hugging clothing, a fake tan or a chest wax can be used to enhance the appearance of change. A few years ago fitness blogger MelVFitness took to the web to show her dramatic ‘15 minute transformation’ to expose this troupe of the fitness industry and espoused the benefits of good lighting and slimming clothes. Yet today there are training guides that use before and after images on Instagram as their primary form of advertisement.

Though unlike the addition of a few clandestine eyelash extensions, the implications of the advertising trickery can have wider reaching effects. Firstly, the photos imply a certain speed of obtaining the results pictured, insinuating one could simply jump squat from the left to the right frame. It is convenient that gruelling workouts, walking to the gym in the rain or constant washing of kits are not selected to feature in advertisements. Handily, some depictions include a neat little date of comparison at the bottom. But there have been instances where this date has been doctored, and it encourages a trajectory of change that is simply unobtainable. It also seems strange to me that there is an implied end point to fitness when, for many, the

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he golden girl of the moment demonstrated exactly that in her sparkly Michael Kors jumpsuit.

While you may have thought that only ABBA could pull off flares and sequins, think again. But to be honest is there anything that Gigi can’t pull off?

2

Anna Wintour

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ould you believe that she’s 65?

Considering the Vogue editor is sometimes slated for her choice of attire she definitely got it right this time. While florals may not be all that ground breaking she looked comfortable and elegant, arriving with her daughter Bee Shaffer, sans sunnies and of course with her trademark bob perfectly coifed.

3

Jemima Kirke

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essa is the rogue of the Girls cast by far and in this daring red two piece it’s clear that like her character, Jemima has no qualms in drawing a bit of attention to herself, she even flashed her armpit hair to the camera.

On another note, she definitely gives the dancing girl emoji a run for her money.

11th June 2015

12 Screen

SCREEN

Photo: Universal

Jurassic World: The legacy of a masterpiece

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t was 22 years ago that the world was first wowed by Jurassic Park. It was a seminal moment in cinema history as its blend of practical and computer generated effects showed just how far film had come. Dinosaurs and monsters had existed in films for decades before, but never had they been so tangible. Steven Spielberg had once again proved himself a visionary, making the thrill ride of Jurassic Park in the same year as Schindler’s List, pushing the medium forward, and sending adults and children alike walking out of the cinema filled with glee and awe. Who can forget the first sight of the brachiosaurus plodding past a stunned Dr. Grant as John Williams’ score begins to swell? Who was not frightened as raptors prowled the kitchen? Who was not amazed as the T-rex began its rampage?

For some, the special effects have never been topped. Though we have had the stunning attempts of James Cameron in Titanic and Avatar, the photorealism of a city folding before our eyes in Inception and the motioncapture revolution led by Andy Serkis, Jurassic Park simply cannot be topped.

Crucially, Spielberg’s world does not rely on the computer alone. The herds of dinosaurs are complemented by intricately crafted animatronics which add a depth to the world. The actors aren’t interacting with a tennis ball on a stick, they are interacting with a creature, that they can see and feel.

Avatar and the Star Wars prequels

insist on placing their actors in front of green screens, which they then fill with settings and characters, and the result, at least in the latter’s case, is an uncomfortable sterilisation. Jurassic Park never has that problem.

We see that the people are living and breathing in the sets, and so we believe that the dinosaurs are too. Nowadays computers can render better-looking effects, but they aren’t always better used. Spielberg took a blossoming facet of cinema and nursed it into something game-changing.

It is a shame, then, that Jurassic Park’s legacy is split two ways. While it is extolled for its ground-breaking effects, it is lambasted for its terrible sequels. The writing and acting of the original isn’t the sharpest, but it doesn’t matter when the real stars are the dinosaurs. In The Lost World: Jurassic Park and Jurassic Park III, that card had been played, and the lacklustre scripts and half-hearted directing stick out sorely. Spielberg himself admitted to losing patience and interest with the first sequel, not returning at all for the second, and it shows. They are sorry footnotes to a cinematic turning point. In 2015, there is a return to the franchise, but the worry is that it will be more like the turn of the century dross than the 1993 wonder.

The naysayers will lament the absence of Spielberg in the director’s chair, but the misery of The Lost World shows that Spielberg’s direction doesn’t guarantee success anyway.

Other problems, however, are more concerning. Audiences are simply not impressed by CGI anymore. The return to practical effects by many filmmakers is evidence that the ubiquitous green screen is not always the best option. And cinema-goers are aware of that. Jurassic World cannot dazzle us with its visuals in the way that Jurassic Park did. It cannot make us blind to the faults elsewhere. Jurassic World has to be a more complete film in order to match the heights of its predecessor.

It needs performances and a script to back up the reliable visuals.

“ Jurassic World cannot dazzle us

with its visuals in the way that Jurassic Park did

”

Which is why the scenes that have been teased in the run-up to the film’s release have been such a let down. The first had no dinosaurs at all. It was a scene of dialogue between Chris Pratt’s Owen and the park’s operations manager Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard). Rather than being a strong

piece of writing on both sides, it betrayed a simple, outdated trope of cinema. While he is cool and channelling some Han Solo cockiness, she is icy and unimpressed. Oh, and they went on a date once. This is the scene that Joss Whedon attacked for its ‘70s era’ sexism. It was not a good start for a film that needed its dialogue and characters as much as it needed some awesome dinosaurs.

Things have got better. Pratt ought to be a strong lead, as long as his background in comedy is properly used, and the cast behind him is solid. The great casting problem is that there is no room for Jeff Goldblum’s Dr Ian Malcolm, with original park scientist Dr Henry Wu (B.D. Wong) the only character to return from the earlier films. Nonetheless, there is talent aplenty and, if the script is better than what early glimpses have led us to believe, we could have something that, in terms of sheer entertainment, could rival the original.

The formula will stay the same. The first shot of the first trailer told us that.

Judy Greer packs off a pair of children for a fun holiday on Isla Nublar and jokingly warns them to run if a dinosaur starts chasing them. We all know where this is going. Meanwhile, Bryce Dallas Howard and Irrfan Khan have been playing god and creating new dinosaurs, much to the chagrin of the level-headed, nature-respecting Pratt. There is little new here, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The basic

THOMAS BANNATYNE ST HILDA’S COLLEGE

structure of the first film was good, but it became a masterpiece through other means. If the script has the right level of energy, a strong injection of comedy and a wry, but unintrusive self-awareness, it will work. Otherwise we’ll just be watching Michael Bay does dinosaurs (real ones, not the robo-dinosaurs from Transformers: Age of Extinction). And no one wants that.

We cannot expect another feat of cinematic innovation. Technology has come a long way since the early nineties, as the computers and ‘interactive CD-ROMs’ of Jurassic Park remind us. But it hasn’t come far enough for a new Jurassic Park to blow us away.

Spielberg found the best way to show us his dinosaurs with his blend of cutting-edge CGI and animatronics. Technological advance have allowed us to explore the alien worlds of Pandora and space in Gravity, but the techniques used there couldn’t make the inhabitants of Jurassic Park any more real. So Colin Trevorrow’s film comes at a curious time. There was no clamouring for a new Jurassic Park film, and there is no new technology that would outdo the original.

It seems, first and foremost, to be a commercial endeavour, one which in its plot and style shows a great reverence to the original, but which could muddy the legacy further. Jurassic Park was a hard act to follow, and it doesn’t seem like Jurassic World will be the one to go to the next stage.

Screen 13

11th June 2015

A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night

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Girl Walks Home Alone At Night is cool. There’s no other word for it. With its lush monochrome and deadpan sense of the macabre it fits effortlessly into the hipster arthouse genre. Well, not quite effortlessly. A Girl might be just a bit too cool for its own good. It never quite overcomes its own stylishness; it’s all too self-aware of how cool it really is.

You’re never quite sure where you are in A Girl, geographically or culturally.

This is an east-meets-west, spaghetti western-meets-noirish horror from Iranian-American director Ana Lily Amirpour. The deserted, eponymously named Bad City (a not-so-subtle-nod to Frank Miller’s Sin City) forms the backdrop as prostitutes, drug dealers and vampires sulk in its shadows.

It’s oddly timeless: people in 1950s convertibles drive past languorously pumping oil fields in an industrial wasteland reminiscent of Lynch’s Eraserhead. It is deserted apart from a ditch full of unexplained corpses.

Police are notably absent; this is a lawless place reminiscent of the old Wild West and one half expects tumbleweed to scuttle past as wind whistles through the empty streets.

The characters are similarly genrehopping. Arash Marandi is the ‘Persian James Dean’, suitably quiffed and brooding, who works as a gardener but improbably has a majestic ’57 convertible, revealing aspirations beyond Bad City. He is held back by his ailing, narcissistic father, who nurses various debauched habits beyond his

means, supplied by an irredeemable drug dealer and pimp, Saeed.

After abusing a prostitute (Mozhan Marno), Saeed meets a mysterious hijab-clad woman who he brings back to his crib. A surreal scene of seduction commences amongst the animal skins and stuffed deer heads, but it soon becomes clear that he is the prey, not the predator. In a scene mirroring his earlier abuse of the prostitute, he meets his grisly demise at the hands – and fangs – of the unnamed girl.

Sheila Vand is hypnotising as the eponymous girl who walks home at night alone. Despite her slim, fragile frame and conservative hijab, it is those that she encounters that need be afraid when she embarks on her twilight wanders. This has been hailed as the first ever ‘Middle Eastern feminist vampire romance’, but the girl’s credentials as a feminist Robin Hood are never quite established. Yes, she snacks on two men that try to take advantage of a prostitute, but she also terrorises a small boy for no apparent reason and when she next gets peckish a homeless man becomes her victim. Is this then the first ever misandrist Middle Eastern heroine? Not quite. Despite her savagery towards misogynistic men (and anyone else who takes her fancy), she allows herself to be courted by Arash, and there is a beautiful role reversal where he pierces her ears with a safety pin so she can wear the earrings he has given her.

The effects used are minimal. The girl’s hijab forms a striking silhouette

MEGAN ERWIN

CORPUS CHRISTI under the streetlights and makes it appear almost as if she’s floating as it swishes silently around her ankles.

Her stark outline is almost cartoonish, reminiscent of contemporary feminist Iranian Satrapi’s illustrations of her graphic novel Persepolis. Other than the hijab, Amirpour uses nothing more than a little fake blood and increases the shutter speed when the girl attacks; Vand’s otherworldly impassivity and hypnotic gaze do all the work.

Despite her murderous nocturnal activities and dead-pan demeanour, the girl is also something of a counterculture fanatic. Beneath the stark, concrete streets of Bad City, her room could easily be that of a nineties teen riot grrrl, plastered with posters which resemble Madonna and Michael Jackson. Arash and the girl surreally bond over their shared love of Lionel Richie and when she finds a skateboard she soon adopts it for her predatory sojourns, rolling sombrely through the streets, hijab blowing in the wind.

While it is unquestionably beautiful, A Girl follows the art house tradition of sacrificing narrative for form, and mostly lets its soundtrack do the talking. However, this can be vaguely unsatisfying, particularly in the final scene when one feels that just putting on a Lionel Richie song won’t do. While cinema buffs will no doubt delight in Amirpours expansive tastes, encompassing spaghetti westerns, horror, graphic novels and Iranian New Wave, others might find it a bit too cool for school.

Photo: Kino Lorber

CORPUS CHRISTI

3

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (14th August) Kingsman: The Secret Service has pulled the rug out from under the spy genre this year, and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is bound to be looked back on in an unfavourable light after the release of Spectre, but enjoy it while you can. With a cast including Superman himself Henry Cavill, Hugh Grant and 2015’s breakout star Alicia Vikander, it is set to be a humorous mix of gun fights, car chases and dodgy Russian accents.

Photo: Entertainment Weekly

2

Magic Mike XXL (11 th July)

This may not be to everyone’s taste, but that is true of every film. If you like fun and shirtless men this is the one for you. Matthew McConaughey may have slipped away post-Oscar triumph, but everyone’s favourite Hollywood hunk Channing Tatum returns, with the likes of Joe Mangianello’s Big Dick Richie in tow. It’s not high brow by any stretch, but that’s not what we’re looking for during the holidays.

Photo: Warner Bros.

1

Minions (26th June) They’ve gone from scene-stealing supporting act to worldwide cultural phenomenon. No club initiation, bop or crewdate is complete without someone dressed as one. Now the Minions have got their own movie. Yes, this is really for the kids, but Minions have such an appeal that there are bound to be jokes hidden in there that only adults will get.

Use that as your excuse when you are sat awkwardly in the cinema.

Photo: Universal

F

MEGAN ERWIN

COUNTDOWN

TOP THREE FILMS TO WATCH DURING THE SUMMER

or those of us that are used to powering through TV series in the space of days, rather than weeks, doing it old school and watching episodes week by week can be an unfamiliar and tiresome experience. There are few series I would have the patience for other than Game of Thrones. But when it takes a month to watch four episodes (madness), and with a plot more convoluted than A Midsummer Night’s Dream, it’s easy to lose track. So, as we near the finale next week, here’s a recap of everything you need to know.

This season has seen a lot of action beyond Westeros, which has meant some sumptuous new locations, particularly the Kingdom of Dorne. The Dornish want revenge after Oberyn got his eyes gouged out last season (fair), and they conveniently have the daughter of Cersei and Jaime Lannister, Myrcella, in their clutches. So at the bidding of

the ball-busting Cersei, Jaime hotfoots it on a super secret mission to Dorne with Bronn to try and get her back. Unfortunately, Myrcella has blossomed into a bundle of raging hormones and proves hard to remove from her young Dornish lover, Trystane, and Jaime and Bronn soon find themselves in Dornish hands.

do anything remarkable, although the acquisition of Tyrion Lannister as her adviser will certainly make things more interesting. Arya is trying to become a servant of the Many Faced God at the House of Black and White in Braavos, but so far she’s been getting a bit of a rough deal, as after weeks of sweep-

Across the Narrow Sea, it’s been something of a dull season for the Queen of Dragons. Daenerys has been preoccupied with learning the difference between conquering and ruling in Mereen, and dealing with some troublesome adolescent dragons. While Daenerys is supposed to be quite literally fireproof, it feels like this season everyone has been telling us how great she is rather than showing us, as she has failed to

ing floors she’s only just been upgraded to washing corpses. This plot line has been unfolding agonisingly slowly, and the usually brilliant Maisie Williams has had little chance to shine, but having been sent on her first mission to kill a treacherous pawnbroker it may be coming to some sort of climax.

In King’s Landing, Cersei may finally have met her match in the High Sparrow, played with chilling

GAME OF THRONES

inscrutability by Jonathon Pryce.

After using him to imprison Margaery and Loras Tyrell, she finds herself in checkmate by her own pawn and locked up on charges of incest and treason. Will her and Jaime’s dark secret finally be out?

Sansa has certainly got the worst deal this season. After being tortured by Joffrey and forced to marry Tyrion, she’s been married off again, this time to the truly evil Ramsay Bolton, who reached new heights of heinousness by raping her on their wedding night.

It is Jon Snow that has seen the greatest transformation this season, and episode eight finally delivered its long-awaited climax with a terrifying battle with the White Walkers. Winter is finally coming, and as Jon Snow ‘kills the boy’ and becomes a man, he looks to be a central player in the war to come.

Death count so far: 133 (R.I.P. Ser Barristan)

14 Arts & Lit

11th June 2015

ARTS & LIT

Is art immune from the trigger?

• Thomas Munro looks at the potential impact of trigger warnings on literature • Students at Columbia University argued for TW for Ovid’s Metamorphoses

R

ecently, students at Columbia University in New York complained about the content of their course, namely Ovid’s Metamorphoses and its graphic depictions of sexual assault. Their recommendations for reform disturbed me – they proposed a rewrite of the curriculum to remove literature potentially challenging to ‘student identities’, trigger warnings on the literature, and classes for professors (the aim of which seemed to be restricting discussion on a restricted curriculum) – but initially I could not quite put my finger on what was quite so concerning to me.

Thinking about it, I realised that my problem was that the proposals threatened to remove one of literature’s greatest abilities – the power to challenge the issues facing society from a unique perspective, and provoke thought about those issues.

This is a power found from Homer through to Achebe, from the Epic of Gilgamesh through to The Waste Land. As humanity has developed over time, literature has remained a companion and mirror in which the victories and defeats, achievements and issues of society have been reflected and challenged. The proposals of the Columbia students threaten to limit the books which are permitted to be taught, hence removing the books which most explicitly and radically challenge; they risk skewing discussion with pre-made assumptions and narrowing the range of lines of enquiry which people may take. This to me seems a very harmful position to adopt, especially in the context of a

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

The ancient Latin text recently found itself at the centre of a controversy at Columbia University Photo: Classicalsteve

university where intellectual inquiry is surely to be prioritised.

Jill Filipovic, writing in the Guardian, points out a further issue: that the issues considered offensive or triggering are often those affecting marginalised groups. This, in her words, “contributes to the general perception of those groups as weak, vulnerable, and other”. Indeed, censorship of the most pressing issues in society is not of any benefit to those affected by the social or political is-

sues being discussed, but plays right into the hands of those who would choose to ignore such problems.

This is why, in the past, governments would utilise censorship to shut down literature which was in some way challenging or offensive. It is immensely surprising to me that it is now those who should be challenging and interrogating the status quo, namely intellectually engaged and inquisitive students, who are supporting such measures. The proposals of

Oberlin College in Ohio for extensive trigger warnings on Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart risks the difficult discussions about the challenging themes of colonialism in the book being avoided altogether, or at the very least, as Filipovic writes, skewing student perceptions and creating a pre-made tone for discussion of the book. This goes for any situation in which potentially difficult material is flagged up or indeed removed from the realm of intellectual discussion

Has the great detective still got what it takes?

A

lthough I was asked to write on a fictional character I secretly wish was real, I unashamedly confess that not only do I publicly hope Sherlock Holmes existed, but I often convince myself that he did in fact walk the streets of Victorian London. No other character exhibits such charisma, presence of mind and incredible genius as Holmes, making him the most enduring character of the detective genre and quintessentially British. Today his statue stands in Baker Street, and surely I can’t be the only one who forgets it’s not a memorial?

“Teenage girls should be more into boybands, or ‘cool’ characters like Alex Rider”, I was reliably informed. Instead I have been passionate about Sherlock Holmes since I was ten, when I picked up The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and was struck by how ‘real’ he seemed. Holmes was more alive to me than any other character had been, so authentic I could smell his pipe tobacco and hear the notes of the Stradivarius floating off the page. Conan Doyle’s

writing resonated with me then and continues to do so today: despite being over a century old, the cases, (and Holmes himself ) are

“ Who wouldn’t want a ‘consulting

detective’ around?

”

timeless. With his keen sense of humour, taste for adventure, and startling brilliance, Holmes stood out to me as a uniquely interesting and dynamic character from the very first page and kept me reading on. If he were alive, perhaps we might begin to unlock the enigma he poses.

Alone, Conan Doyle’s stories would have been clever, but the charismatic figure of Holmes elevates them to the legendary as he propels the plot through mystery and intrigue, before revealing the ‘obvious’ solution with a flourish

and a modest shrug. His impressive reputation is of course based upon his astonishing ability to solve perplexing crimes readers may be familiar with the frustration felt by their Watson-esque selves as they struggle to keep up.

Obscure clues are clear to him, as his vast catalogue of knowledge discerns hidden links, giving him an uncanny ability to solve ‘impossible’ cases and making him invaluable to the regular police. His modern-day counterpart, ‘Sherlock’, demonstrates how Holmes’s methodical, logical approach is still relevant, as in spite of cutting-edge technology Sherlock still wins with superior intellect.

Despite (or perhaps because of ) his unorthodox tactics, including an assortment of disguises, the infamous “Baker Street irregulars” and occasional burglaries, Holmes’s track record is far higher than that of the police today. Perhaps Scotland Yard should be inspired by his creative approach I wish he was here to lead the way.

Holmes is by no means perfect, often exposing slight arrogance or struggling to confront defeat,

although these weaknesses are important because in facing them he reveals his humanity, and by overcoming them he ultimately becomes stronger. Defeating his nemesis Moriarty at the Reichenbach Falls is both poignant and tense precisely because Holmes appears so human - and the challenges so formidable - that for a mo-

THOMAS MUNRO CORPUS CHRISTI

and inquiry altogether.

If we consider, to take a specific example, Vergil’s Aeneid, we can identify specific challenging themes in the work, namely the recurring spectre of civil war and the imperialist and jingoistic narrative. Of the first of these, Vergil tends to be critical, and highlights his message with depictions of the death of soldiers on the battlefield which are accompanied not only by pathos but vivid description of the brutality of war. To censor such descriptions or avoid discussing of them is to totally denature the power of the contemporary social criticism he provides. In the second case, censorship or avoidance of the theme or a one-sided and ahistorical analysis is a totally useless way of approaching and confronting the issues of the text. We must be willing to engage with the most troublesome aspects of works of literature in order to fully interact with and challenge the viewpoints presented within.

Ultimately the difficulty is that if issues cannot be dealt with in a safe environment, through the lens of literature with its power to confront such issues, it is very difficult to see how the issues can be dealt with in real life. By engaging with literature it is possible to confront the difficult issues of our society and discuss them through a powerful and effective medium for intellectual inquiry. If we restrict what can be read, we indirectly remove the power of writers to deal with controversial topics, and if we do that, it is hard to see what other medium will step in to replace literature as a tool for social comment.

EMMA-JANE H-G MANSFIELD COLLEGE ment the reader cannot be certain even he can emerge victorious. Holmes is able to balance his ‘machine-like brilliance’ and temper justice with mercy, preferring a sensitive approach over heavyhanded treatment when dealing with the unfortunate and vulnerable. Holmes is motivated not by material reward or recognition but the prospect of mental challenge and working for the good of his fellow men – an admirable ethos.

I believe Holmes is more valuable than ever in a world of increasingly complex and challenging crime: I not only think he could solve the recent Hatton Garden jewellery theft, but that, as in The Red Headed League, he might have made a pre-emptive strike. Who wouldn’t want a “consulting detective” around, especially one of Holmes’s calibre? As such, if any character were to walk out of a book and onto the streets, I sincerely hope they would be the streets of London, and the footfalls those of Sherlock Holmes.

Photo: stuff.co.nz

Arts & Lit 15

11th June 2015

Blackwell’s: Prescott’s our mascot Treasures MARCUS LI

MAGDALEN COLLEGE

D

avid Prescott, the CEO of Blackwell’s, one of the UK’s leading academic bookstores, takes no prisoners when it comes to his business strategies.

He talks to us the business of bookselling, and what it means in the modern world, particularly in the Oxford setting.

We started off by discussing the changing dynamics of the book industry, particularly the rise of eBooks. “You have to look at the business in two chunks. Most booksellers are in general [popular fiction] book-selling. Then, there is the other side of the market, which is academic. You have to look at them differently, because they are going through different phases at different times. Although the academic was very early to embrace digital to a point, actually it has been very

“

Five years ago, we lost 20 million pounds. […] But we have made a small profit this year which is good.

”

slow to migrate from print editions completely.”

“If you have an e-reader, well that might be fine if you are a literature student, but if you are, say, a politics student, it is not going to render well with all the tables. By the time you get to medical students, an e-reader is just not useful, because it does not represent what is in the text [images and diagrams].

Blackwell’s bookstore, Oxford 1879

The company was founded by Benjamin Henry Blackwell

1924

Basil Blackwell takes over the business

1966

The Norrington Room, named after a Trinity College president, was built beneath the college’s quod

But of course you can make a book interactive, and that is what is happening at the moment”. Especially at Oxford, where our readings lists are very much bespoke, Prescott stresses the inefficiency in digitalising a textbook that only a handful of students would use.

On the fiction side, clearly the arrival of the Kindle has been very disruptive to the market. But Prescott thinks this new technology is beginning to plateau. “We have seen in the last year or so, it has pretty much settled down. It looks as though twenty at the bottom end and thirty per cent at the top end of the market are using them. I think with the advent of the digital, a lot of people thought it would open up new markets and territories. With hindsight, it was never going to get people who have never read a book before to start reading. So you basically have people who are interested in reading beginning to read across the markets.”

According to a recent study by the Norwegian Stavanger’s University, readers are less likely to be able to recall plot events in a novel that they have read on an eBook over traditional printed copies.

Prescott attended the University of Huddersfield. Just like many of our generation today, he struggled with finding a job upon graduation. Started from the bottom of the ladder, he has worked his way up in the public sector. He previously worked at an ASDA supermarket near his hometown, Nottingham, as well as for Virgin Media. With such a modest background, this CEO appreciates the important roles each individual plays in a business hierarchy.

For this reason, Blackwell’s boasts a decentralised business structure.

Prescott places trust in his regional managers to understand their markets well enough to individually tailor their stores to the needs of their community. Even so, it has been a tough few years, but Prescott remains confident. “We have been making a loss for a long time and we are only afloat because of Toby [Blackwell’s] funding. Five years ago, we lost 20 million pounds. […] But we have made a small profit this year which is good.”

Inspired by the likes of John Lewis and Waitrose, Blackwell’s is set to introduce a co-operative model of employee relations and business structure. “In a couple of years’ time, the employees will equally own the business. In terms of taking ownership of something, all of us having a shared destiny and a shared interest in the business, that is a hugely powerful thing and I find this very motivational.”

He also mentioned how surprised he was by how strong the battle against online shopping was last Christmas, but he firmly believes that book retailers should not be beholden to the big online stores.

“Amazon can do whatever. They are not my concern. My concern is doing what we need to do, like our expertise, our booksellers, our event campaigns, theatre productions etc.

I don’t want to spend my time worrying about what others are doing.”

from afar

Photo: scewing

WILLIAM SHAW CORPUS CHRISTI

A Photo: David Prescott

“Our customers come here to find something different. If you look at our shop windows, what we display is very different to what WH Smith’s or Waterstone’s would put on their windows.”

A Guardian newspaper article at the beginning of this year has reported a worryingly sharp decline in the young generation’s fondness of reading for pleasure. Prescott argues that bookshops need to face up to their real competition. “Our competitors are as much Netflix as as Amazon. We are competing in the entertainment industry.”

Prescott engages with current

“ Amazon can do

whatever. They are not my concern.

”

trends and market demands. Last month, the Broad Street store invited Boris Johnson to speak at their book-signing event. They have also frequently hosted theatre productions such as Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the Norrington Room, which currently boasts three miles of shelf space.

I asked him what his favourite book was. “I don’t have a favourite book. I have a favourite bookseller though – Ray – who works downstairs on the ground floor. He is

like my Bible. Last year, he recommended some fantastic books to us, The Wake by Paul Kingsnorth for instance, when nobody had heard about it, a book that is written in a bastardised version of Old English.

And actually it has just won the Man Booker Prize last year”. On his humble CEO desk, his current read is a copy of Blindness by José Saramago, a Portuguese writer in translation. “I have the luxury of a 45-minute train ride so I have plenty of time to read.”

I couldn’t resist the urge to ask: so what is your library like at home?

He chuckled. “We have to prune it.

We had a local company come in to build some new shelves for us. I don’t like throwing books away, but we have no choice. But it’s not just the books though, I play the guitar, we have a piano in the living room”.

Prescott took us on a guided tour around the store including their antiquarian section, which currently holds the Fourth Folio of Shakespeare’s complete works valued at £85,000. The Blackwell family has also donated Basil Blackwell’s private library collection to the newly opened Weston Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries.

At the end of our meeting, I just had to wish the CEO of my favourite childhood retreat all the best for the future. With the dawn of modern technology, the nature of reading has changed drastically in the last decade. We have a responsibility to preserve these unique gems of our high streets that bring a more personal and engaging dimension to reading. Prescott, you are our mascot.

few months ago I was browsing the Sunday Times bestseller lists, and was shocked to discover that The Communist Manifesto was at number seven in the non-fiction chart. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, but there was no mistake; in 2015 The Communist Manifesto was still a hot enough property to trouble the Sunday Times lists. So it was an aged text, respected in its way but largely considered irrelevant in the modern world, which had managed to garner a momentary popularity to the point where it charted again; it was the political equivalent of ‘Hooked on a Feeling’.

Intrigued by this sudden surge in popularity, I was prompted to give this important political text a look.

The status of this book as being written by two Germans and simultaneously published in English, French, German, Italian and Danish makes it a more than fitting candidate for a ‘Treasures from afar’ piece, particularly as Marx and Engels deal so heavily with capitalism as a global phenomenon.

Anyway, what about the text itself, I hear you ask? Well, as a piece of writing it’s actually fairly well-done, though it gets a bit bogged down in the second half and the conclusion feels a little bit rushed. Marx and Engels’ analysis of capitalism in the first half is extraordinarily well argued, and on more or less every page I was hit by a rather depressing realisation that most of it is still spot-on a century and a half later. There are a few stylistic quirks (particularly amusing is their habit of saying “in a word”, and then providing around fifty), and the writing is so dense as to occasionally require re-reading of entire paragraphs to grasp their meaning. But on the whole The Communist Manifesto is a well-written, profoundly resonant political text. Whatever one may think of Marxism as an ideology, its historical importance makes this an invaluable read. Considerable progress has been made since Marx and Engels’ time, but this little book serves as a powerful reminder that we still have a long way to go.

SEE YOU NEXT TERM FOR YOUR CULTURE FIX

Moving out?

get rid of your stuff and do some good

help us collect:

1

Linen

For the first time, OUSU is collecting single bed linen for the Oxford Women’s Refuge, to help make women in a really tough situation more comfortable.

We’re looking to collect 150 sets of good quality single-bed linen, so if you’re moving on to bigger and better beds, show your linen some love and donate it! Collection boxes will be in participating colleges in 8th week.

2

Food

If you’ve hoarded tins and tins of food you’re never going to use, donate them to the Oxford Community Emergency Foodbank!

Alongside Just Love, Islamic Soc and Food Justice, we’ll be collecting unopened, imperishable food to donate to Oxford’s Community Emergency Foodbank. Collection boxes will be in your college lodge or common room throughout 8th week!

3

Everything else Whatever you have left over after donating your linen and food you can give to the British Heart Foundation!

Each bag filled with clothes, home accessories, DVDs, whatever else, is worth £14 to the BHF and saves 10kg of CO2.

Look out for the big red collection bins in your college during 8th week, and give generously.

C

OxfOrd University stUdent UniOn

Bike

LOCK OFFER

Get 50% off the original retail price.

As a member of Oxford University Student Union you can buy the Master Lock Gold Sold Secure D-Lock at a discounted rate.

MEMbERShip OFFER NOW:

ÂŁ15 each

Go to www.ousu.org/shopping for details on how to purchase

1974-2014

Oxstuff 15

11th June 2015

OxStuff

Come Dine With Me: OxStu at St John's College FOOD AND DRINK 5/10 Overwhelmingly average. The starter was a pâté and a few leafs; the main course was some sort of beef concoction ladled alongside potatoes. An average cake served as dessert. This wasn't anything special, and as far as formals go, it didn't really feel fancy.

There was free wine, though. A lot of it...

CONVERSATION AND COMPANY 9/10 We took to John's as an OxStu gang.

The Editors-in-Chief from MT, HT and TT enjoyed one another's company for a final time this year, before third year takes over and we become a troop of has-beens. There were a couple of other favourites with us, and the nine of us had a jolly good time.

ATMOSPHERE PRICE 7/10

To be fair, £4.50 isn't a bad deal for three courses, even if they were alright. It's an even better deal when taking into account that wine was included.

Speakeasy 11th June, 8pm Freud

PsyNApps Inaugural symposium 11th June, 4 - 8pm

5/10

I was somewhat disappointed by John's hall. Coming from one of the newer, more modern colleges, I expected much more grandeur and a distinct Hogwarts vibe. However, I prefer my own hall - its considerably larger than Johns, has much more atmosphere and elegance. John's was

small, and had a lot of portraits of old men. Moreover,there were very few people at Formal itself. Bit awkward.

POST-FORMAL 9/10

I've been told I had a great time. After we were evicted from hall, we hit the picnic benches outside the college bar, and got somewhat hooned.

The price of the drinks was decent, although there was a mishap where we were unable to order a drink that was advertised because it required a measure of a measure...or something.

Picnic benches were nice, the company was fab, and it was definitely worth the headache the next day.

TOTAL SCORE FOR ST JOHN's: 36/50

Twelfth Night Join The Oxford Student 16th-18th June, 7:30pm 9th-14th June Oriel College oxfordstudent.com/apply

Hold me close: This term's editors share a special moment

Photo: Alys Key

Ruskin Degree Show 19-22nd June, 12-6pm The Green Shed, Oxford

PICK OF THE WEEK

T.S. Eliot Theatre, Merton

KISS at The Oxford Union 13th June, 1 - 2pm The Oxford Union

The Oxford Guild presents Lynn Wyatt 15th June, 7pm Danson Room, Trinity

Law Society Trinity Ball 15th June Warwick Castle

Twelth Night 10th - 13th June, 7:30pm Wadham College Gardens

Gardens of Babylon, Oriel Commem Ball 26th June Oriel College

Alexander Darby, New College Gunter Grass Memorial Discussion Group 11th June, 5:30-6:30pm Taylorian Institute

Union Elections 12th June, 9:30-8:30pm The Oxford Union

11th June 2015

16 OxStuff

Cliterary Debate MONA LOTT

Photo: Zach Spiro

Zachary Spiro, super hack extraordinaire. After finishing his exams this week, one would have expected this former Union RO and Tab journalist to soak up a little of Oxford’s summer weather, and perhaps chill on Christ Church meadows with a glass of cool pimms in his hacky hands. But that’s not the Spiro we know and love. Immediately launching himself into the Union election, Spiro has reportedly taken the role of “campaign manager” (yes, that’s a thing in the Union now) for Zuleyka Shahin. Perhaps Spiro is vying to regain his long lost BNOC status – he is said to have turned up at the Cherwell offices last week demanding to know why he was not on their 2015 BNOC list. We commend Spiro on his commitment to student hackery, which has held firm right to the bitter end.

ZACHARY SPIRO

JAKE HURFURT It’s vaguely remarkable that Jake hasn’t appeared in Hackdaq before now; for what hasn’t this John’s PPEist tried his hand at? Having served as deputy comment editor at this esteemed institution, Jake has also tried to climb the greasy pole at OULC, spoken at the Union, and is now, by all accounts, gunning for VERSA editor. Perhaps he’s sunk under our radar because he has been so remarkably shit at all of these jobs. This would also explain why he would possibly be ambitious for one of the crappiest jobs in Oxford; who the hell would want to be VERSA editor? Nonetheless, Jake has been hacking hard for the role, even going so far as to make it his business to post really shit chat and unfunny jokes on OxStu posts in the Oxford offer holders’ group. Well done, Jake, we all laughed...

FRIEND FUCKER

H

aving sex with your friends sounds like it should be a great idea. They’re not total strangers, they’ve probably seen you naked and they have definitely seen you at your worst (and they still love you.) How wrong and misguided you are. Having sex with your friends, especially your best friend is a terrible idea. Take it from a professional, who over the course of this term has shared far too much about her sex life in this column: fucking your friends is not worth it.

Firstly, whilst you might share everything with them, you now lose that person you can bitch about your sex life with. Sure, they know everything you like in the bedroom since that long discussion you had about your sex lives during Fresher’s Week and come to your room and spoon you post coital when you’re feeling shity about a one night stand, but that doesn’t quite translate into bedroom bliss.

Secondly, you will see them again. A lot. They say that the friends you make at university are the friends you will have for life, so sleeping with potentially someone you will know forever is probably not a good move. You’ll see them tomorrow, you’ll see them graduating, you’ll be at their wedding, you might even see them have kids.

This is all compounded by those pesky things called emotions. The worst part is when one of you fancies the other. I can see the attraction of fancying your best friend. You have probably flirted around with them numerous times, had sleepy spoons together. I have the t shirt and its not worth it. Unrequited love is bad, when you might lose your platonic soul mate to is horrendous. You don’t have someone to coach you through the trials of love, and you are both constantly worried about leading the other on. Your best friend might have seen you cry your little heart out about how much you love someone, but when you are crying AT THEM about how much you love THEM… ouch.That hurts you AND your friend. And then you make them cry…

So dear reader, after my reign as sexpert extraordinaire, I leave you with this. Repeat after me: thou shalt not fornicate with thy friends.

It’s a frankly terrible idea which will eventually end in tears and heart break. Not a good idea.

W

SHOULD YOU FUCK NO YOUR YES FRIENDS?

FLOP

THE BOPPING AND FLOPPING OF OXSTU STAFF Photo: Versa

scarf a Branos or Hassan’s after a night out, so there’s no FRIEND FRATENISER need to feign refinement or be pretentious about anything.

You already know each others’ habits, foibles and choice of hat could be more Netflix binge. normal than a Essentially, you get all the smidge of sexual best bits about entering a tension among friends? new relationship – namely, We’ve all been there, ad- exciting new-partner sex, yay! miring them secretly while – and none of the awkward nursing a late night cup of ones. There’s a chance to find tea in somebody’s room or out more about a person that taking the chance to “pla- you’re already close to, while tonically” grind up against already feeling comfortable them in Park End. around them and being inAnd when the sexual vested in their life. tension finally gets Even if you don’t want a relarealised (let’s be tionship, fucking your friends honest, nor- casually is still great. Alright, mally coming so there’s room for more poafter the Park tential awkwardness, but End grind- there’s also something weirdly ing – just cathartic about seeing your because mates butt-naked. What betwe’re ter way to get to truly know Oxford someone than sleep with students them? If you’re good enough doesn’t friends, you can laugh it off at mean a later date, and it also gives that we you some excellent sconce have to material. be classy), Besides, getting together it’s great. with a friend rather than a Your stranger is just incredibly friends get practical. You know where the chance their room is, who they last to wolf-whis- got with and if they’ve been tle and Photo- recently tested for STIs (alshop your faces though that might just be my onto pictures of friends…). If you leave stuff in Jack and Rose on theirs by accident, you can text the Titanic, and you them or just pop over without get to spend even more it being weird. time with somebody who Fucking your friends is the isn’t just a romantic part- A-game of sexual relations. ner, but a genuinely good If nothing comes of it, you’ve mate. just had a good time. And if There’s no awkward something does, then you small talk or strained might have opened the door first dates. You’ve both onto one of the best relationalready seen each other ships of your life.

ANITA HEAD

BOP!

FL OP

OxStuff 17

11th June 2015

The Malcontent

O

O

BN OC BABY

xStu towers is a veritable hot-bed of romance and pagination-based sexual tension: and for Luke Mintz, that doesn’t just mean when Cherwell come to visit. Scarcely could a love story be as intimately entwined with our paper as that of our king and queen, our Alan Sugar and Richard Branson, our ‘gaffers-in-chief’.

Luke and Nasim Asl, hot and weary from a term of glorious, cutting edge and phenomenally successful editorship, finally fell, exhausted into each other’s arms. The fruit of their loins is all that one can aspire for: InDesign ready, endlessly competent on finding News-In-Briefs

and a veritable demon on social media.

With only a single serious paper left in the thickets of zines and shpapers of the Oxford Student media scene, Luke and Nas are nursing their bouncing bonny lass towards that highest of offices: the OxStu editorship. What more can an aspirant journohack hope for than a term of eight quality papers, an addiction to Express Pizza and an entirely destroyed degree. As one member of the editorial team commented, “this is the first set of collections I haven’t had a first in” (and he certainly isn’t known to Mintz his words).

h, the Union. Let me count the ways I do hate thee. For so many years, I was a loyal ‘unionist’: I protected them through the Ben Sullivan scandal, defended them to the hilt over their invitation of Marine Le Pen, and even stood firm against the waves of obsequious hacks who crashed into my lodge.

But this is it: the final straw. This election is the ugliest I have seen at Oxford.

The Union has already been at the end of its tether of how much we will put up with for the last few terms: scandal after scandal, cancelled guest after guest, and, to add insult to injury, totally, utterly shit speakers this term. The last thing they were permitted was a wildly vicious election, shrouded in secrecy and nastiness.

Sounding pretty serious for malcontent, am I not? Well, that’s because I fucking am. I am sick to death of this pissing organisation, its dreadful, endless arrogance, its overpowering sense that it is the centre of its own rule-sodden, wanky hack universe, the knowledge that every single person in that organisation fully believes themselves to be superior to all of us mere mortals, us non-secretary committee members.

What is most egregious is the selfsatisfaction of it all. The Union struts around in White Tie, congratulating itself with cocky profile pictures, grinning headshots and posh dinners. It amazes me that people don’t get angrier about it.

I doubt that we would put up with any other organisation behaving in such a manner- certainly not an undergraduate body. So it beggars belief that we tolerate the Union. Perhaps it is just because it surrounds itself with that fug of privileged elitism that we so love, sprinkled with the glitter of celebrity star dust.

Why do we still take the Union so seriously? OUSU is far less incompetent and immoral than Union, and it has been a laughing stock, the butt of all jokes for years and years. We treat it with a mixture of contempt and irrelevance: yet it does far more for us than most other organisations, and certainly far, far more than the Union.

Yet it is the Union to whom we give credence by endlessly debating and arguing about; it is the Union where all those candidates who are ‘really serious’ about politics end up; and it is the Union which is the focus of most attention.

It is not worth it. It is not worth it for a few paltry speakers a term; it is not worth it for debates that drag on endlessly; it is not worth it for a library that reeks of pretension and tradition.

The Union needs to get its shit together. It has had ample opportunity to do so over the last three years; in fact, it is hard to conceive of how it could have had more opportunities to do so recently. So many turning points, so many missed chances. So much shit. So yes, this is serious. The Union needs to grow the fuck up.

FLOP

BOP!

BOP!

From the archives We look back at yet another Union Scandal that hit the OxStu headlines...

UNION ROCKED AS

THOUSANDS GO MISSING

1st November 2007

T

he future of Union presidential front-runner Charlotte Fischer hangs in the balance tonight after it emerged that a massive sponsorship contract she signed has been left unpaid.

Fischer secured a £20,000 deal, one of the biggest brokered in recent history, with Chinese car giant Brilliance Auto.

Almost ten months after the contractual deadline, the Union has not received a penny, leaving the Union’s finances in crisis.

The cash was used to bankroll the Hollywood Glamour ball, and to sponsor a debate on China featuring the Indian High Commissioner. More was spent on social events, including a Bollywood night and speed dating.

In return the Union’s Hilary 2007 term card carried three adverts for Brilliance Auto. The contract also gave the company, which produces BMW sedans under licence for the Chinese market, the right to send up to twenty representatives to dine with the Union committee before the debate and place sands around the buildings for three days.

A Copy of the contract obtained by The Oxford Student bears the signature of Charlotte Fischer, then Union Treasurer and now the hotly tipped contender for the race to take the Union crown in the elections in seventh week. It was drawn up in the Christmas vacation and states that the money was due to be paid “no later than 14th January 2007.”

On Tuesday morning the Union’s Bursar, Lindsey Warne, confirmed that the money was still missing, “I still have no received the cash. I’m following it up as much as I can but it’s difficult dealing with different countries. I’ve had absolutely no reply yet from the Chinese.

The Union’s limited resources, and the fact that Brilliance Auto is based overseas, makes pursuing legal action against the company should the money fail to appear extremely difficult.

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Features

Features 19

11th June 2015

Buenos Aires, je t'aime: a love letter to the city

• In just two months, Buenos Aires charms with linguistic

quirks, delicious cuisine and cultural enlightenment

WILLIAM CARTER

ST ANNE'S COLLEGE

F

rom the teeming, green humidity of the northern rainforest, across the Andean highlands, down through the sprawling Pampas plains to the frosty tips of the end of the world, Argentina, geographically speaking, has it all. Whilst the whole country certainly has plenty to get excited about and cry for, it was the elegant, theatrical Paris of the South in which I was based and which has inspired my unreserved ‘Buenos Aires, je t’aime’.

It is unsurprising that Borges’ hometown would be awash with bookshops and stalls, both large chains and charming boutique finds. There are endless librerias to discover, the crown in the jewel being the awe-inspiring El Ateneo, on Avenida Santa Fé; a beautiful flagship bookstore built into an old theatre, with elegant rows of shelves as the audience and a plush reading room on stage.

My favourite, and much cheaper alternative, was the Libros del Pasaje, which combines creaky ladders with free WiFi to give an unbeatable, tucked-away atmosphere. The

“ Porteños are an extremely

friendly and welcoming group

booksellers at Plaza Italia are also well worth

”

a visit and have a great, bargain range in Spanish and English. The Museo del Libro is worth a visit, as is the central ‘Manzana de Luces’ . Literally the ‘The Apple of Light’, the working translation would be the ‘Block of Enlightenment’, the first institution in the Americas to offer a classical education, and later became the fledgling University of Buenos Aires.

The free museums here offer plenty of ways to deepen one’s knowledge of Argentine culture and history without paying a peso. In terms of art, the Museo de Bellas Artes in Recoleta is free and has plenty of Renaissance painting and also some modern pieces and installations. The Recoleta Cultural Centre has excellent comic book and contemporary photography displays. For history, the National Historical Museum is a huge, well resourced modern collection which details Argentina’s progression from late Colonial bloomer to international powerhouse in early 20th century. Slightly further out, the Human Rights Museum is

a former clandestine detention centre turned into a wonderful, vibrant space dedicated to the promotion and protection of human rights. It is also home to the impressively equipped, yet somewhat bizarre, Museo Malvinas e Islas del Atlántico Sur, dedicated to the Falklands. Whilst unwavering in its position that the islands are Argentine the museum did justly acknowledge the failings and brutality of the dictatorial regime in the events leading up to the conflict, whilst also oddly dedicating a large part of the museum to the island’s flora and fauna.

The people of Argentina, porteños, are an extremely friendly and welcoming group. I frequently had pleasant conversations with strangers on buses, usually starting with an explanation of where the bus was actually going, but then expanding into other topics, ending with the Argentine kiss and a cheerful goodbye. As well as locals, Buenos Aires, due to its good air links with Europe and North America, is often the first or last stop on backpackers’ trips. This creates a global village atmosphere and an environament of mutual support, with plenty of people to help you get your bearings and to socialise with from all over the world.

Vocab tests and grammar books do not help when getting to grips with Argentine Spanish. Called castellano, rather than español, Rioplatenese Spanish, spoken in Buenos Aires and Uruguay, is full of unique words and slang. The ubiquitous exclamations are what stand out. Nearly every sentence is preceded with the Italian sounding ‘Che’, a gender neutral equivalent of ‘dude’. Situations and new people are assessed for their ‘buena onda’; essentially good vibes, the absence of which may lead to a 'quilombo’, a disturbance or commotion that could range from a disaster to a palaver in scale. ‘Quilombos’ occur many times daily in Buenos Aires, which may lead one to cry out ‘Che, boludo!’ (literally ‘balls’) which means either ‘dickhead’ or ‘mate’.

Argentina, and Buenos Aires in particular, is a culinary powerhouse. Although more European influenced than the cuisine of the Andean or jungle regions of countries like Peru or Ecuador, Argentina’s beef products are legendary. As well as steak, the smoothest and most buttery known to man, Milanesas are a delightful flattened, elongated chicken nugget, sometimes filled with tomato sauce and eaten in a sandwich. Argentina’s pocket-sized take on the empanada is a tasty snack, smaller and deeper fried than their Peruvian or Chilean equivalents. Everyone enjoys a medialuna; the classy, mini croissants made with sweetened dough. Restaurants are reasonable and many a friend is made around the barbeque at an Argentine asado which is an all year round event.

There are a couple of less savoury culture

shocks to negotiate in Buenos Aires, which although are at first disarming soon become a routine part of the experience, especially the current economic situation. Due to complicated economic and political factors, the value of the Argentine peso has become very unstable so Argentines turned to dollars to protect their savings. The government responded by making dollars very difficult to obtain and as a result there are now two effective values to the argentine peso – the official rate which is about $1 to 9 pesos, and the ‘blue rate’ which varies but on average is about $1 to 13 pesos. ‘Blue’ because, although illegal, it is so tolerated it has become semi-official, changing or obtaining money for an economically illiterate tourist was a demanding task. The only way to change physical dollars in Argentina is by going one of the ‘cuevos’, or caves, used by every cross section of society. The Blue Market is so accepted that even national newspapers report the daily rate. If you need money on a weekend, or are fishing for a better rate, you can go to the actual black market on the street, but this carries higher risk of fraud and safety. If you run out of physical dollars, you have to pay a visit to Uruguay.

As dodgy as this sounds it was done by almost everyone, as using the ATM is like throwing away half your money.

That said, Argentina, for the reasons listed above (football, Tango and penguins to name a few) is a wonderful place to be.

ARGENTINA PROFILED:

Photo: William Carter

Photo: Jesus Alexander Reyes Sanchez

42.6 million

Population in 2014

55.8%

Individuals using the Internet in 2012

47.3%

Women in the labour workforce in 2012

77.5

Paris of the South

Average life expectancy

With friendly locals, a literary buzz and much more, there is lots to discover in Buenos Aires

1 in 30

Argentines will have cosmetic surgery

Photo: Kevin Dooley

11th June 2015

20 Features

TORTOISE HEROES Harriet

Believed to have been brought to England aboard the Beagle by Charles Darwin

Timothy

Carried as a Navy mascot; lived to be 165 years old

Jonathan

Lives on the island of St. Helena, believed to be 178-182: the oldest living animal on earth

Adwaita

Was claimed to be the oldest living animal until her death in 2006 potentially at 250

In-depth report on the tortoise race • Martha Glaser reports on this year’s tortoise fair, won

MARTHA GLASER

by Corpus Christi’s tortoise race veteran Bishop Foxe

L

ast Sunday, crowds descended upon Corpus Christi College, eager to enjoy glasses of Pimms, variable weather and, most importantly, the battle between over a dozen thickskinned reptilian competitors. They had come for the wildly anticipated annual Corpus Tortoise race, with this year’s profits going in aid of the DEC Nepal earthquake appeal.

The race, organised by Corpus’s Arthur Harris, involves a circle of lettuce, at the centre of which stands a phalanx of competitors and trainers. The first tortoise to reach the lettuce is victorious, cementing his or her position in racing history. As in previous years, a human ‘tortoise’ also joins the race, with this year’s entrant hailing from Balliol. To account for their evolutionary advantage, a handicap system requires the human tortoise to eat an entire iceberg lettuce before being able to join the race.

Behind the scenes, while getting in some last-minute training before the event, Wadham’s Archibald Manshella looked astonishingly fast (by tortoise standards).

His trainer, Ruby, tells us the key to his training regime: it apparently involves “lots of sunlight for his shell” and being outside as often as possible. Meanwhile Worcester College’s Zoom, winner in two previous years, seemed quietly confident,

BRASENOSE COLLEGE

although upon closer inspection, Zoom was actually asleep. Worcester’s other tortoise,

“ Conditions underfoot were treacherous, yet the tortoises remained undaunted

Shelly, also hoped her prowess would

”

make a lasting impression, having grown significantly since the last race. Shelly’s trainer explained that these speedy leopard tortoises can find the event overwhelming – particularly Zoom, who is allergic to lettuce – and have a game plan consisting “more or less of running and finding cover”.

Spectators clamoured to place bets on which tortoise would win, with Wadham’s Archibald Manshella and St. Peter’s Aristurtle proving the most popular with the punters. Due to wet weather earlier in the day, conditions underfoot were

Review: Brasserie Blanc, Jericho

Photo: PChamaeleoMH

treacherous for the competitors, yet the tortoises remained undaunted. As the race began, the tortoises set off at a paintdryingly fast rate, with Zoom and Foxe racing ahead of the rest. At first, it looked very much as though Zoom would reclaim his title for the third year running, but in the critical final moments, faltered – perhaps due to his allergies or from ‘shell-shock’ – and turned away from the lettuce, allowing Foxe to take the crown.

It was a proud day for Foxe’s tortoise keeper Arthur Harris. He was “absolutely thrilled” by Foxe’s win, and told our reporter that “Foxe himself is speechless”.

This result is all the more welcome because Bishop Foxe, after a string of wins in the early 2000s, was disqualified from last year’s competition for attacking another competitor. Zoom limped into second place, and in third place was yet another Corpus entrant, Harry. Fourth position was held by the steadfast Emmanuelle, from Regent’s Park. A valiant effort was also put in by Meg Peyton-Jones, Balliol’s human entrant, who was the first of her kind to successfully complete the lettuce-eating challenge. But after a dazzling comeback, Corpus seem set to dominate the event for the foreseeable future.

• Although pricey, this English-French ELLE TAIT fusion ticks all the right boxes

T

his isn’t somewhere you’d go on a whim. It’s more of a place you might go with your granny, boyfriend on an anniversary, or a rich consultant you met on Tinder. But if you do have a grandmother, boyfriend or suitable equivalent, you should give it a try.

And if your grandma’s worried that it’s a Raymond Blanc restaurant and he’s a bit fussy for his own good, you can tell her not to worry. Although the food, décor and service all gesture at an awareness of French haute cuisine, the whole experience is comfortably grounded somewhere on the English south coast.

The décor carries this impression unassumingly with largely bare, sea-on-a-cloudy-day-blue walls and elegant white tables. A touch of abstract, Matisse cutoutinspired stained glass gives a touch of Parisian flair, while a solid fireplace at the centre of the room provides the sturdy reassurance of an English country house.

It gives the room a sense of crossChannel balance which is reflected in the menu. Gravadlax and escargots sit side by side as entrées, with a number of conservative ventures into fusion food: coarsecut burger in a brioche bun, coastal cheddar cheese soufflé.

MAGDALEN COLLEGE

Light and citrusy scallops are given substance and sweetness by a rich tomato mash; bold strips of gravadlax are counterpoised by the dynamic swirl of atomised raw vegetable salad surrounding it. The flavours are subtle but assured, the presentation unpretentious, and the portions surprisingly substantial.

“ It’s the overall best-tasting food I’ve had in Oxford

”

The mains are similarly pared down but effective. Two large cuts of duck dominate one plate, with dauphinose potatoes and carrots squeezed into a corner. It all looks a little brown and stodgy, but is vindicated by the taste and quality – both cuts are tender, complex and surprisingly light, balanced by sweet and buttery dauphinoise that manages not to be too rich, and robust, earthy carrots that give

interesting textural variety.

The quail with new potatoes and spring vegetables looks more impressive but is less inspiring; although the meat is crisp and perfectly cooked, subtle but rewarding, the slightly heavy sultana pate doesn’t stand out and the spring vegetables don’t lift the dish as much as they might.

The flavours are still superb, and the amount of complexity achieved from simple ingredients is astounding.

After the richness of the mains, the lightness of the desserts comes as a relief. The pistachio soufflé arrives puffed out of its ramekin and alarmingly large, but the inside is fresh, feather-light and surprisingly refreshing. The crème brulée’s creamy vanilla custard is lifted by a tart and delicate swirl of stewed rhubarb – another subtle reminder of the firmly English heritage behind the menu.

Three courses with (excellent) wine comes to around £45 per person, but for the right occasion, the price is justified by the quality of the ingredients, the understated inventiveness of the menu, and above all, the vibrancy and depth of flavour in every dish. Overall, it’s the best-tasting food I’ve had in Oxford, and well worth experiencing once.

Photo: Brasserie Blanc

A touch of France

Oxford’s Brasserie Blanc was Raymond Blanc’s first branch

11th June 2015

Features 21

Fuel your revision with beef teriyaki JAMIE RUSSELL

WADHAM COLLEGE

Ingredients Half a leek

1 red pepper 1 clove of garlic 1 tsp. ground ginger 100g stir fry beef 2 tbsp. honey 2 tbsp. dark soy sauce 1 nest of dried egg noodles Oil

E

xam season is well under way, for some it’s already over.

For those of us still revising, though, there is the catch-22 situation of needing proper food but feeling that the time spent preparing and eating it would be better spent preparing

BBQ for a great cause ISABELLA STEEL

for the exams to come. It wouldn’t.

Focusing on cooking a meal for yourself for just a few minutes is a great way to step away from work to return later with fresh eyes. Much needed comfort, not to mention energy, is important too for getting through those long study sessions. This beef teriyaki stir fry is cheap and very quick to prepare, making for a great meal while you revise or even to prepare for someone else, if you’re lucky enough to be done with exams for this year.

LINCOLN COLLEGE

Method

1) Cut the leek and pepper lengthways into thin strips and peal and finely chop the garlic.

2) Heat a little oil in a wok or deep frying pan over a medium heat. Add the beef to the pan and cook until it is sealed; keep moving the beef around to prevent it from sticking.

3) Add the garlic, ginger, soy and honey to the pan. You may want to remove the lid from the honey and microwave it, in the jar, on full power for 10 or 20 seconds to make it easier to pour.

4) Cook the meat in the sauce until the sauce begins to bubble. Boil some water in the kettle.

5) Add the vegetables to the stir fry and, in a microwavable bowl, cover

Photo: Jamie Russell

the nest of noodles with boiling water and microwave on full power for 4 minutes. Keep the vegetables moving around the pan to ensure that they all soften.

6) Once they are cooked strain the noodles and mix them into the stir fry for a minute to coat in the sauce.

7) Serve up and enjoy!

Tips and Variations

If you prefer things a little spicier then 1 tsp. of chilli flakes can be added alongside the ginger to add a little

Manly manness: boys that row

heat.

Frying steaks or stir fry meat freezes well so a pack can be easily split up and frozen such that an easy meal is always to hand when you need one. While beef really lends itself to the heavier flavours used here, this simple sauce can be used with a range of meats, meat substitutes or vegetables.

To save time when washing up put some water and a little washing up liquid straight in to the pan once you have served your food so that the sauce doesn’t stick to the pan.

Photo: Brasenose College Boat Club

T

hanks to my objectivity as resident Not-Very-Sporty-Person, I was able to observe the phenomenon of the metamorphosis of the boys on the men’s teams into Manly Man Rowers.

The process begins harmlessly enough: in race week, the flock of Manly Manlings first schedule their daily post-rowing trips to Mission Burrito, and insist on proudly showing me the progress of their loyalty cards, complemented by boasting of completion of the Mission Burrito Challenge.

It’s almost endearing. But the symptoms multiply. The Manly Man Rowers are prone to emitting strange cries, particularly the coxes, who seem to forget that they have microphones and insist on roaring things like “set – here – row – here – KILL

- THEM – MURDER – THEM”. But the lycra one-piece suits are the worst.

These shockingly tight garments provide ample opportunity for the boys to strut around like black-and-gold-coloured peacocks, flexing their biceps and shamelessly checking on the progress of their already bulging arms in the boathouse mirrors.

Not content with this, many of them also find it necessary to strip the top half of the suit completely off after races, despite the fact that it’s actually quite cold around the time of the Christ Church Regatta (not that they feel it; they’re kept warm by an excessive sense of virility).

But the favourite behavioural pattern of the Manly Man Rower is the wounded hero impression. In Torpids this year,

Brasenose M2 managed to avoid getting bumped and staggered into the boathouse for a twenty-minute break with the air of warriors on borrowed time, about to resume battle. And in this strange war of oar, I had become nurse on standby. One of the boys heads my way, asking if he can have some of my cooling gel for his aching arms (and of course, the effect wouldn’t be the same if it were not necessary for me to rub it into his gargantuan flexed arms myself). He is followed by another, who requests the same treatment, and then by a third. As I’m in the process of rubbing down number three, our cox for the day - who just happens to be one of the College Deans – comes in with a start and asks what exactly he has just walked in on.

MARYSIA CZEPIEL

BRASENOSE COLLEGE

The display of Manly Man-ness continues into the celebratory dinner which finishes off the week of racing, with macho sconces and the public display the boys’ trainer makes of eating a ghost chilli. (He hides its effects marvellously, except for the fact that he has to ask the kitchens for several pint glasses of milk.)

Nevertheless, however amused I may be by the boys’ delusions of man-deur, I have to admit that on some level it works. They train hard because they don’t want to disappoint their fellow teammates, and their manly man-ness is expressed as something which unites them as a team, not as a rivalry between them; it is an unselfish manliness. Well, mostly. Partly they just enjoy checking themselves out.

Photo: Prostate Cancer UK

A

large-scale study conducted by YouGov in 2013 revealed that in the UK only 46 percent of people could identify where the prostate was, only 12 percent knew what the prostate did, and 63 percent had never heard of the PSA test (Prostate Specific Antigen). Given that 21 percent of the people in the UK know someone who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and that 1 in 8 men are anticipated to suffer from the disease during their lifetime, there is a clear need to increase awareness of, and research into, exactly what prostate cancer is and how it can be treated.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. The prostate gland is roughly the size and shape of a walnut but grows larger over time. This growth is natural, the danger occurring when cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way, spreading outside the prostate. There are initially few symptoms; only once the prostate has grown sufficiently large to put pressure on the urethra so tell-tale signs become evident. These include the need to urinate more frequently, difficulty in urinating, and the feeling that your bladder has not emptied fully. Other symptoms are back pain, general aches or arthritis, and can be all too easily overlooked.

Key findings from the YouGov survey also revealed groups that are at higher than average risk of prostate cancer: men over 50, African Caribbean men, and those with a family history of the disease. Being overweight is also thought to increase risk.

No-one is clear why these trends should be as they are. Indeed, many of the 42,000 men in the UK diagnosed with the disease every year, are young, fit and seemingly healthy.

Mark Kary was one such man. A much loved father, brother and uncle, he died in April 2015 aged 57, after a courageous battle with prostate cancer. He inspired all those who knew him, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro with his children right before diagnosis, and skiing up until three weeks before his death. His daughter India Kary is a fresher at Teddy Hall and a key member of the Oxford University Lacrosse Club.She is holding a fundraising event on Thursday of 8th week in honour of her father. There will be a three-legged race and a BBQ as well as other events to raise awareness and funds in aid of Guy’s Prostate. More details can be found and tickets bought on the Facebook event.

11th June 2015

22 Sport

Oxford Sport In brief...

Waterpolo Town vs Gown: With the main waterpolo season out of the way, the men’s and women’s waterpolo teams have been busy organising our cuppers matches and our annual match against the Oxford City players to keep the relationship between the students and the locals amicable.

The match was held on Monday 8th June and saw a well-fought match. The result was 8-5 to the Oxford City girls, after a very close score at half time.

Oriel Regatta: With many rowers now suffering from VIIIs withdrawal symptoms, the need to scratch that rowing itch is strong. There is no better remedy than the Oriel Regatta due to be held on Saturday 13th June. If you and either 3 or 7 other people in your college (and it has to be a mixture of both boys and girls) feel like you are in with a chance of winning yourselves a hip flask, then get involved!

Polo team victorious in Varsity: Oxford University Polo Club thrashed Cambridge in Sunday’s Varsity Polo Match, triumphing 14-2.

The match started well for OUPC, with George Pearson getting the first goal with a neckshot. This set the tone for the rest of match, as Pearson grabbed goal after goal to get the rout in motion. By the end of chukka 3, the score was 10-0 – despite a malfunctioning scoreboard, perhaps operated by an optimistic Tab, indicating that the score was actually 10-65 to Cambridge. A late flurry of goals meant that, although Oxford’s opponents managed to get onto the scoreboard, the margin of defeat was resounding.

This was Oxford’s 57th Varsity Polo victory.

Feature: Should there be an age limit for pro sport?

TAYLOR YU

DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR

Last Saturday was a big night for sports fans worldwide. In Berlin, Messi led Barcelona against Juventus in the Champions League final for a chance to claim his fourth European title in his illustrious career, one that ranks highly amongst the pantheon of great footballers that graced this planet. On the other side of the planet in Oakland, the

“ LeBron

is a towering 6 ft 9 and 280 pounds

”

Cleveland Cavaliers sought to tie the NBA finals under the guidance of LeBron James, the face of not only the franchise but the league as well.

The two athletes are perhaps two of the biggest global icons sports has to offer and on the surface they could not be more different. One hails from Rosario, Argentina; the other was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. Messi barely scrapes 5 ft 7, whilst LeBron is a towering 6 ft 9, 280-pound physical specimen. Yet, the two share two similarities that have allowed them to become who they are right now.

The first similarity is that they’re both spectacular athletes who are blessed with god-given talents and instincts for their respective games, capable of doing things that few mortals would ever dare to attempt.

This, combined with their unwavering work ethic and charisma, has catapulted them to the apex of their sports, gathering an unprecedented amount of fanfare and honors along the way.

And the other similarity? They were both allowed to demonstrate their talents from a young age.

Messi played his first game for Barcelona in the Catalan derby at age 17, whilst LeBron played his NBA debut at age 18 – something that wouldn’t be possible in 2015.

Many sports in the modern era have maintained the simple principle that if you’re good enough to

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play, you can play. This has always been the case for football - you rise through the academy ranks based on your ability rather than your age, which for most goes hand in hand, but for the select few this may not necessarily be the case. One of the more intriguing aspects about the football scene has always been the young talent that the sport has to offer, from the Class of ‘92 to more recent examples, such as Munir and Luke Shaw – they’re intriguing not only because they’re talented but because they’re demonstrating their talents on the big stage at such a young age. I would be lying to you if I said that I wasn’t at all bitter this time last year watching Januzaj start for Manchester United whilst revising for my A2 exams, knowing that he was only a year older than me.

The same would apply for tennis, golf and gymnastics, yet somehow not for basketball and American Football in the United States. Since 2004, the NBA has banned highschool graduates from submitting

“Messi played his

first game for Barcelona aged 17

” of Youthful Pros: Useful terms Messi:

5 ft 7 Born in Rosario, Argentina Played his first game for Barcelona aged just 17

LeBron James:

6 ft 9 Born in Akron, Ohio, USA Made his NBA debut aged 18

Bumps Racing:

RafaelBump: Nadal:

When your crew catches6 the ft 1 boatBorn in front, you’ve managed in Manacor, Balaeric to bump. If you’re caught by Islands, Spain the boat behind, you’ve been Turned pro in 2001 when he bumped. Ifwas youjust bump 14 everyday years old in VIIIs, you winOpen Blades.

If He won the French aged you’re bumped every19day, you in 2005

Young, wild and free Nadal’s French Open dominance began early

sport@oxfordstudent.com Photo: kowthamkumark

Photo: www.shrinktank.com

their names into the NBA draft, and instead required them to complete at least a year in college – the NFL, as an additional example, requires two. The argument is twofold – one, that the standard of college sports, which in many states is the heart and soul of the sports scene, would be raised because of the influx of talent that would have otherwise joined the professional ranks straight away; two, that this would allow athletes to at least begin the process of acquiring a college education that would serve them well after retirement, or in a more unfortunate scenario, serve as a backup option if their careers are cut short by a freak injury or other unpredictable circumstances.

For me, the first argument kind of makes sense, although its legitimacy is perhaps only limited to the States where college sports are actually a huge deal – March Madness, a moniker used for the annual NCAA Basketball tournament, draws an insane amount of viewership every single year.

“College sports are

actually a huge deal in the US

However, ”of having to the idea provide a backup plan or insurance

for teenagers seems strange, if not borderline ludicrous to me. Firstly, on a practical level, most professional contracts nowadays offer some sort of insurance anyways that would leave some room for freak injuries. But there are more fundamental objections against age restraints. For instance, an age restraint suggests that young athletes cannot make rational decisions on their own, that they are incapable of calculating the risks involved in sacrificing education for professional sports. It implies that these young athletes do not have an adequate support team that would help guide him or her through the process. Both assumptions are untrue to a great extent. Yes, we have seen a great number of young sportsmen and sportswomen flame out – for every Nadal or Sharapova we see, there’s an aspiring talent

that never quite makes it. But by introducing formal age restraints would be eliminating the possibility for many who perhaps only have one chance to make it to the pros and are ready and willing to take the leap.

You might argue that one or two years really don’t make that much of a difference, but to say that would be to brush over certain harsh realities of sports – the reality that professional sports for some is a way to feed a family, and

“ Professional sports for some

is a way to feed a family

”

that no matter how much you take care of your body it can always give up on you in a split second.

Not many people are blessed with the natural abilities and physical attributes to succeed in professional sports, and curtailing the age and time period in which they are able to demonstrate their abilities would undermine the level of talent that sports has to offer and consequently the excitement and intrigue that it generates.

The varied age requirements in US pro sport: NBA:

The NBA will not accept any applications for professional players unless those applicants have attended college (i.e.

University) for at least 1 year.

NFL:

The NFL are even more strict than the NBA and require all of their professional players to have attended college for at least 2 years.

Why?

In case of injury or sudden drop out, pro sports want their players to have a back-up plan

Sport 23

11th June 2015

An overhaul in approach needed for Liverpool • More players with medals, a less amateurish approach to transfers and

someone to take the heat off Rodgers - all required if Liverpool are to progress BEN SANDERS SPORTS EDITOR

It has been a largely miserable season for Liverpool FC. Sixth-place in the league, no trophies and – perhaps worst of all – a terrible performance in the Champions League, after such a battle to get back there in the first place. Liverpool aren’t a club in crisis, but there are several deep problems with the way the club operates at the moment. If they’re not fixed, we should expect a similarly poor campaign next year.

“ Luis

Cracking up?

Another bad start may see Rodgers sacked Photo: www.sportal.com.au

Liverpool’s season in numbers Matches

58 (up by 15)

Goals

74 (down by 36)

League points

62 (6th place - down by 22)

Suarez’s absence was not the

main problem

” Luis Suarez’s absence was not the

main problem for Liverpool this time round. Nor were Daniel Sturridge’s injuries. For proof of that, consider last season. The Uruguayan played in all of the Reds’ matches in the run-in, but Liverpool had already begun to falter before their famous home defeat against Chelsea. A 2-1 home win against Sunderland, struggling against relegation, ended with Liverpool’s hacking the ball upfield whenever it entered their half and desperately holding the ball in their opponents’ corners when possible. That was only the 31st league game of the season.

With so many matches left to play, their players should not have been so disastrously scared by the threat of

dropping points.

This mental frailty is clearly independent of Luis Suarez, and it hasn’t gone away. How do you rectify this?

One effective method would be to bring in more players with experience of winning trophies. Inexperienced players generally only play well in the biggest matches if they don’t feel like the onus is on them playing well whilst navigating treacherous, uncharted waters is a big ask. So when a squad has almost no experience of winning trophies, the onus must fall on some of the inexperienced ones.

And the team will probably play badly as a result.

The Liverpool management clearly realise the force of this reasoning – Kolo Touré, a member of Arsenal’s undefeated “Invincibles” side of 2003/04, has not just been given a new contract primarily because of his playing ability (even though he remains a competent defender). The recent acquisition of James Milner, who has won two league titles with Manchester City, may also have been motivated by the same consideration.

“Often, Liverpool

just buy the “flavour of the month”

”

But this isn’t enough. Of Liverpool’s current squad, only a handful of players have played an important role in winning trophies that are similarly demanding to the Champions League,

FA Cup or Premier League. These are Touré, Milner, Lazar Markovic (with Benfica), Mamadou Sakho (with PSG), Daniel Sturridge (with Chelsea) and Mario Balotelli (with Manchester City and Inter Milan). A squad that harbours serious hopes of success in the big competitions needs more cup-winning experience than this. Addressing that should be the primary aim of Liverpool’s transfer activity this summer.

Another aim for the Reds in the transfer market, though, should be to spend more time considering who to buy. Liverpool need a high-class striker, defensive-midfielder and goalkeeper. Too often, however, Liverpool’s “transfer committee” seems to just buy whoever happens to be the “flavour of the month” at that moment in time.

In his time at Lyon before joining Southampton, Dejan Lovren’s play had been dogged by error and nerves. Did anyone at the club take note of that? Divock Origi burst onto the scene last year at the World Cup with Belgium, but his prominence in the squad was a major surprise given his relatively humble list of personal achievements prior to this. Was the club’s decision to sign him strongly swayed by this hype? The club have recently announced that they intend to sign Danny Ings from Burnley. I wonder if this will prove to be another poor decision.

Finally – and away from the issue of transfers – Liverpool’s hierarchy needs to be reorganised. The jury is still out on Brendan Rodgers – whilst he has won the owners’ approval for another season, doubts linger over his

abilities and, if he has another terrible start next season, then it would not be surprising to see him sacked at Christmas. The common factor underlying

“Rodgers is not

good at dampening media speculation

”

most or all of his mistakes over the last year is that he has had too much to deal with. Gerrard’s departure, the Raheem Sterling controversy, often having to prepare for four different competitions (unlike last year, when the club weren’t in Europe and exited the domestic cups early) – this is a lot of stuff to manage. Frequently, Rodgers has looked almost unable to cope with the strain, prompting some foolish remarks such as a claim that the club was targeting second-place before the match against Manchester United, only for their form to collapse once again.

It seems clear, then, that the Liverpool owners need to hire a prominent media-relations official, who is tasked with dealing issues akin to the Gerrard/Sterling affairs. Rodgers is not good at dampening media speculation, nor is he able to prevent it from affecting his team whilst doing so. His burden needs to be lightened. And perhaps, while the Liverpool owners are hiring new staff, they should also hire better staff for their ‘transfer committee’ – or else the club will soon be wasting another small fortune.

For the love of test cricket

• One of our Deputy Editors stakes a claim for test match cricket

as the preferable form rather than Twenty20 cricket matches • Hugh McHale-Maughan gets nostalgic for the good old days of cricket and how the sport is so historically ingrained into our British culture, lives and way of life - (Ways of life of the privileged few like Hugh) • We celebrate the quaintness of cricket and its afternoon tea breaks

Photo: Strong Duke

»Continued from back page I am a ruralist and when I look at cricket I see an almost

“ When I look at cricket I see

an almost unconscious sense of a shared local heritage

”

unconscious sense of a shared local heritage underlying it.

Any game that still takes breaks for afternoon tea and luncheon is undeniably quaint.

But there’s something more immediate – and more universal

about cricket that attracts its hordes of devoted fans. It’s a team game, but each moment is dominated by individuals.

Victory is a collective achievement, but a batsman could scarcely be more alone than when he’s at the crease, nor the bowler than when he’s pacing out his run-up. That personal duel, fought over a 22-yard pale strip of beaten-down earth and on hundreds of occasions, defines the match. Fans find it very easy to tap into these one-on-one battles. The longer a match is, the more of these battles there are.

Moreover, when you watch test-match cricket – as opposed to cricket’s shorter forms you get a sense of the slowly unfolding shape of the match, an appreciation of the many

small turning-points on which the fate of the game is decided.

There’s a lot of complexity and nuance to a contest that can spin off in countless directions, and it’s not a coincidence that test-match cricket is perhaps the only sport you can listen to on the radio without wishing frustrated violence against the

“ You get a sense of the slowly unfolding

shape of the match

”

commentator. This subtlety of strategy the need to plan for the entire length of a match, to watch not for the exciting goals or tries

but for the holism of the match itself is almost unique amongst sports. And it’s an enthralling spectacle. It has to be preserved.

So this is a plea for the test match. This essential nature of cricket the slower, gentler pace of a contest amongst our maddeningly swift world – is crystallised in a five-day match without a limited number of overs.

Even the origin of the format’s name demonstrates this. When it was first played, test matches were a gruelling and extensive “test” of both teams’ abilities over the course of five days - a litmus test of their respective strengths.

We’re repeatedly told that, in an era of Twenty20, One-Day International and Indian Premier League cricket that these are obsolete qualities. I would

challenge anyone to have sat in the Western Terrace at Headingley last weekend and repeat that observation. We’ve just seen two exceptional tests against New Zealand, vivid contests that seesawed to and fro. Last summer, England went from the shame of an Ashes whitewash to the bliss of thrashing India. It’s simply nonsense to claim that one-day, limited-over cricket is more exciting than test matches.

How could sport have been more exciting than beating the Kiwis at Lords last month?

Test matches should remain the beating heart of cricket, and they are not dead yet. We should be grateful for that. As Faulks observed, a slowness of pace does not diminish the intensity of the contest.

SPORT e-mail/ sport@oxfordstudent.com

Feature:

Opinion:

Should there be an age limit for pro sport?

Do Liverpool need an overhaul in their approach?

»»Page 22

»»Page 23

Cuppers competitions left, right and Centre

• Mixed Netball Cuppers, Mixed Hockey Cuppers and Handball Cuppers all take place in just one weekend • Experienced players give novices a taste of their sports in a competitive environment, with positive results ALICE RICHARDSON SPORTS EDITOR

MIXED NETBALL: 31 teams entered this term's Mixed Netball Cuppers competition. The tournament was held at Lady Margaret Hall on Saturday 6th June and with great weather and a 310 netballer turn out, the day was a marked success. Three boys were allowed on the pitch for each team at any one time (rather than just one as is the norm for the Cuppers Netball League.) With the boys out in

“ The Sirens hosted the largest cuppers

competition in their history

”

force, morning and afternoon competitions were held with 15 teams competing in the morning and 16 in the afternoon. Balliol, Wadham and Queen's were the three colleges that won each of the groups in the morning session. They then played a round robin with each other and Queen's emerged victorious on goal difference so were through to the grand final at the end of the day.

During the afternoon session, Osler House, Regent's Park and New

College won the group stage. Osler House won their group, but were very closely matched against Oriel and OUANZ who were each only 1 point behind. Osler House, Regent's Park and New College then also played a round robin with each other. Regent's Park won that and so were through to play Queen's in the grand final later that day. After a very close and well-fought match, Regent's Park were crowned overall champions with an overall score of 6-3 to them.

HANDBALL: With a great turnout of 7 teams, this year saw the first Handball Cuppers tournament in Iffley Sports Hall on Saturday 6th June. This was the first stage of the competition, and in effect saw a knock-out system where each of the teams present on the day had to play two matches and depending on where they fell in comparison to everyone else, the best few teams were through to the semi-finals and the grand final which will be held on Saturday 13th June. Those unlucky teams who lost both of their matches were knocked out of the competition and their brief Handballing careers were brought to an abrupt end. With the University Handball team players running the show, the whole event was very well organised and saw novices who had never played be-

fore giving this exciting sport a go.

The Uni players treated all novices to a demonstration of a traditional

“ In the air you have to trust that

your bases will catch you

”

Handball attack set-up and talked the new players through the basic rules whilst giving hints and tips as to how to improve their play as the games progressed. Despite playing in the stuffy Iffley Sportshall, everyone enjoyed the competition and the games themselves. Luckily for

those novices, the Uni players also provided goal-keepers so no nervous novice would have to brave the position themselves.

CUPPERS RESULTS MIXED NETBALL:

Regent's Park beat Queen's 6 goals to 3 on Saturday 6th June

MIXED HOCKEY: On Sunday 7th June, the Mixed Hockey Cuppers competition continued with the first of the semi-finals seeing Magdalen facing a combined New College and Pembroke team. Magdalen struggled to hold back a very strong New College team. With no subs, Magdalen lost the game 6-1 but they put up a good fight, particularly in the June heat.

The other semi-final was between Keble and SEH/PMB. The final will take place later in term.

HANDBALL:

Regent's Park, Quidditch, Magdalen, St John's, Worcester, Corpus Christi/Hertford are all through to next week's round

MIXED HOCKEY:

New and Pembroke beat Magdalen 6 goals to 1

Handball Cuppers underway:

The first Cuppers for handball

Photo: Theresa Reiker

Photo: Kate Bolton

The peerless quality of test match cricket: a Yorkshireman's defence • Hugh McHale-Maughan explains why it's right and proper to have an appreciation for the oldest form of the sport HUGH McHALE-MAUGHAN DEPUTY EDITOR

Friends:

Hugh's huge day at Headingley Photo: Hugh McHale-Maughan

There’s a passage from Sebastian Faulks’ novel, A Possible Life, that has stuck with me ever since I read it. The context is that Geoffrey, a young British SOE agent, has been captured in France. Amidst the horrors of an Auschwitz winter, his mind wanders back to the favoured cricket pitch of his youth. “There would be picnics on rugs laid out on the grass,” Faulks writes, “Boys practising their own games with smaller bats and balls; women in floral cotton print dresses; but above all there would be the concentration of the players in the middle - the intensity of struggle that was never sensed from the boundary.”

For me, this says something both very profound and very simple – cricket is a beautiful game and has

an important place within our national cultural landscape. But test match cricket – which particularly emphasizes these qualities – is bat-

“ Cricket is beautiful sport

a and has a place amongst the best

”

tling for national attention against limited-overs cricket. It would be a tragedy if we lost it.

I love all forms of cricket. I love how arcane and archaic some of its rules are. I love the language of the game itself. Many fans enjoy confusing newcomers to the sport by giving confusing explanations of how it works - “each man that’s in

the side that’s in goes out and when he’s out he comes in and the next man goes in until he’s out”.

In particular, I love the quiet humour of Test Match Special, the reams of bizarre statistics, and the fact that most international fixtures the focus of the cricketing world are just individual series, rather than buying into the mechanical, aggregative trophy-hunting that dominates international football and rugby. It feels better when the purpose of victory is to claim victory itself, rather than progress up the league table or through to the next round of a cup.

In fact, I love the way that even the mention of cricket brings images to my mind of the late afternoons of an English summer and the lengthening shadows on the village green.

I am a ruralist, and when I look at

Continued on page 23 »