21:50 – And that’ll be all from us at Cherwell HQ as well – look out for the video and a summary article soon. Thanks for following with us this evening!
That’s all—we’re now off to film an exclusive OxPops feature on audience reactions. Thanks for following! #MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:48 – The Union provides a photo of the ending:
Speakers make their closing statements #MustRhodesFall pic.twitter.com/g7jTlyvWhJ
— Oxford Union (@OxfordUnion) January 19, 2016
21:46 – RMF aren’t giving anything away about how they feel:
That concludes the debate. #MustRhodesFall #RhodesMustFall
— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) January 19, 2016
21:45 – According to Cherwell reporters, the debate is done – they’re heading to the bar, and we will stick around for a short time to capture the mood afterwards.
21:39 – Our counterparts in Cambridge haven’t got quite such a busy evening…
Uni Tunes: Soham De https://t.co/RvMhFWl5xz pic.twitter.com/5wR8emHyNJ
— TheCambridgeStudent (@TCSNewspaper) January 19, 2016
21:36 – In other news:
Sarah Palin to endorse Donald Trump as Republican candidate for US presidency, media report https://t.co/FNaEg06hFE
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) January 19, 2016
21:35 – Not that it’s helped her case…
Qwabe agrees with Canon about not living up to Rhodes’s legacy and is met with cheers @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:32 – Canon doesn’t approve of Qwabe’s reasoning:
Canon says Qwabe is not living up to the aspirations of Rhodes when he created the scholarship @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:31 – And he concludes his defence with a flourish:
Qwabe: “we are here to take back the money… I will not be told I am a hypocrite” (loud applause) @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:29 – For those who didn’t know, Lord Curzon was (amongst other things) a prominent Edwardian Conservative and Viceroy of India. Here’s Qwabe defending himself against his personal detractors:
Qwabe: “there has been a backlash against me… People invoking disgusting language…” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:27 – Still the questions come:
Questioner points to a busy of Lord Curzon and asks “where do we draw the line” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall pic.twitter.com/b6nAxcWyKf
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:25 – More questions coming in now, here’s a response to one on the effects of the RMF debate:
Athinangamson Esther Nkopo argues that the Rhodes debate has exposed white supremacy in society @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:24 – But RMF is not convinced by his earlier point on fabrication…
How convenient. #MustRhodesFall #RhodesMustFall https://t.co/WsSiJ95Em6
— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) January 19, 2016
21:23 – Professor Biggar replies to the Hitler comparison (see quite a long way below):
Biggar: “concentration camps have nothing to do with Rhodes” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:21 – Ntokozo Qwabe doesn’t approve of Biggar’s remarks…
Qwabe: “Nigel [Biggar]this is why you should stick to theology” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:20 – But that doesn’t stop him making another bold claim:
Biggar claims some racist remarks attributed to Rhodes have been posthumously fabricated @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:19 – Professor Biggar, as he sums up his views, has an observation:
Biggar: “Defending Rhodes is not popular here” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:14 – Has Professor Beinhart (along with Indiana) found a solution?
Beinart: a room in the Ashmoleon to the one empire not represented, the British empire – featuring the statue @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:13 – Indiana Jones gives his two cents…
@miriamjerotich @RMF_Oxford even Indiana Jones agrees! #MustRhodesFall … #RhodesMustFall pic.twitter.com/bDKId3jrYJ
— Harold Ferwood (@Harold_Ferwood) January 19, 2016
21:10 – Another unequivocal statement from the floor:
A former Rhodes scholar says it’s disgraceful to defend Rhodes @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall pic.twitter.com/Li03tfrNq1
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:09 – Our fellow tweeters at RMF choose their favoured quote:
Drayton: students have a right to say #RhodesMustFall without being abused by the Chancellor. #MustRhodesFall
— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) January 19, 2016
21:07 – Qwabe, responding to another question, makes a more philosophical point:
Qwabe argues that you cannot separate the issue of exclusion from structure @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:03 – As the questions from the floor continue, one audience member says it how it is…
“I’ve heard a lot of flawed comments tonight” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall pic.twitter.com/ii7sl1rybm
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:02 – Professor Biggar continues:
Bigger: “Do we remove all statues from the period or use them as a means to engage with the past” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
21:00 – Nigel Biggar returns to the floor, now talking about what the statue represents:
Bigger says the statue is a sanctification of money over history or blood for it stands above statues of kings @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:58 – In response to a question about whether the removal would limit free speech:
Athinangamson Esther Nkopo replies that Oxford needs a more reflexive history @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:55 – Just to sum up so far, we’ve had around 10-15 mins of question and answer, during which time we’ve heard we need the statue to shout at it, and RMF are not ok with just contextualising the statue. Stay with us!
20:54 – Moving back to Qwabe
Qwabe: “we reject contextualization because it misses the issue” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:52 –
Canon: “taking the statue down says more about the removal” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:51 –
Canon replies that we need the statue to shout shame at it (brief applause) @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:49 –
Canon questioned by Webber on previously equating the removal of Rhodes to the actions of Isis
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:47 – Things seem to be getting rather heated…
Athinangamson Esther Nkopo argues that apologies for Rhodes are a denial of the suffering of his victims @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:45 – I’m guessing we won’t find out about the survey, but in other news:
Biggar: “the first black union president… was abused on the street” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:44 –
Kumi: “Those who don’t want the statue removed can go to the museum” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:43 – The moment of truth…
Cherwell survey mentioned, Webber: “should the result be respected?” pic.twitter.com/INdNJ5tCVO
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:41 – Lindsay Canon ends with clarity:
Canon: “Rhodes must not fall today” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:40 – Early contendor for our Metaphor of the Night prize:
Canon: “in Britain our statues are welded to our history” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:39 – RMF aren’t impressed…
😬😬😬😨😨😨 This is why #RhodesMustFall. #MustRhodesFall https://t.co/bveNrhaGDG
— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) January 19, 2016
20:38 –
Biggar: “if Rhodes must fall, so should Churchill” (very faint applause heard) @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:37 –
Biggar: Rhodes developed South Africa not his own prospects @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:36 – Professor Biggar starts with a bang…
Bigger:”Rhodes was not a racist” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:35 – Beinhart continues:
Beinart: “with respect to the statue…I believe the priority is not what should fall but what must rise” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:34 –
Beinart: The university has to consider from where it gets its money @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
Beinart: Oxford should become a leading center for the study of South Africa @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:33 – Now it’s Professor Beinart’s turn:
Beinart: “I consider the statue a secondary issue” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:32 –
Drayton: “we have a right and a responsibly to change Oxford” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:31 – And another!
Drayton: “‘I support Rhodes’… So said Twain” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:29 –
Athinangamson Esther Nkopo: “what does the university have to lose when it removes that statue” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:28 – Our third speaker takes the floor:
Athinangamson Esther Nkopo: this should be a debate about how Oxford wants to present itself @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:27 –
“What has to fall the most is institutional racism in Oxford”@OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:25 – Now Yasmin Kumi takes over:
Yasmin Kumi: “the debate should be about the broader issue of decolonization” #MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
“Rhodes does not deserve glorification… Yes i have compared him to Hitler” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:24 –
“Structures of exclusion persist… It’s not just about the statue” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:23 –
“We are interrogating how Oxford excludes black professors” @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:21 – Ntokozo Qwabe begins:
Ntokozo Qwabe opens: “the space (the union) is not neutral”#MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:20 – Cherwell’s Mark Barclay explains all:
Format: each speaker has 2 min 30 seconds to make an opening statement followed by discussion @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:19 – At last!
It begins #MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion pic.twitter.com/aMf7ukl0T8
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:16 – A selection of tonight’s speakers:
#MustRhodesFall ……speakers…..@OxfordUnion pic.twitter.com/GroS52fqwu
— Kal Patel (@KalPatel) January 19, 2016
20:13 – No news yet, but…
Members of the Rhodes Must Fall movement say hello #MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion pic.twitter.com/FQvwiXCKZk
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
20:06 – Cherwell reporter to John Simpson: “Are you Lord Patten of Barnes?”
John Simpson: “I’m not the chancellor, so far as I know…”
20:00 – The tweeters are ready:
Make your contribution to the debate tonight at @OxfordUnion on hashtag #MustRhodesFall. #RhodesMustFall
— Rhodes Must Fall Ox (@RMF_Oxford) January 19, 2016
19:58 – The chamber is full:
We have now reached capacity – we hope that everyone enjoys the event! Make sure to follow our Twitter feed for live updates throughout the evening @OxfordUnion ‪#MustRhodesFall‬
19:55 – Near two Cherwell reporters…
BBC World affairs editor John Simpson is in the front row @OxfordUnion #MustRhodesFall debate @TheOxfordMail
— Georgina Campbell (@OxMailGeorginaC) January 19, 2016
19:45 – In case you’d forgotten:
The crowd has been warned #MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion pic.twitter.com/QJFPaDTpPf
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
19:36 – We’re ready to go!
Half an hour to go and it’s already looking full #MustRhodesFall @OxfordUnion pic.twitter.com/0adO7AuQb8
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
19:33 – The latest from the Union:
There are still seats available but we are getting close to capacity – make sure to get here soon so you don’t miss out!
19:27 – In other news:
A YouGov poll supports the findings of Cherwell’s survey on the Cecil Rhodes statue | https://t.co/LJtAEtdOJ6
— Cherwell (@Cherwell_Online) January 19, 2016
19:21 – The next best thing is here!
Impatiently waiting for #MustRhodesFall Debate. This is one that should have been live-streamed @RMF_Oxford @OxfordUnion
— Kuukuwa Manful (@Kuukuwa_) January 19, 2016
19:13 – In case you weren’t aware…
Less than 2 hours to go! The queue is only just starting to form, and there are still at least 250 seats (a majority) available in the Chamber for those without tickets. If you do have a ticket, please make sure you have taken your seat by 7.30pm at the absolute latest, or your place will be given to someone else in the queue. Don’t miss the opportunity to have your say on this most significant of topics! ‪#MustRhodesFall‬
Wish you were at tonight’s Must Rhodes Fall debate? Couldn’t get a ticket? Cramming an essay? Enjoy the Oxford Union debate online, on Twitter and from the comfort of your own home this evening. Event starts at 8pm.
To get involved in the debate yourself, tweet us @Cherwell_Online or use the hashtag #MustRhodesFall and we’ll publish the best of the bunch on here.
