Sunday 25th January 2026

Lifestyle

In defence of the default order: The Alternative Tuck Shop

There is no place in Oxford that my muscle memory takes me to more reliably than the Alternative Tuck Shop. This happens regardless of my state – still half-asleep, perhaps slightly hungover, or already late for class.

Why you don’t need a “winter arc”

This winter, social media encourages us to embark on the journey of the "winter arc": a self-optimisation quest which leaves little room for hibernation.

The ick factor

Not all icks are created equal, and of course, they shouldn't be treated as such. Either way, they undeniably speak volumes about the person you're with.

Discovering neurodivergence: late diagnosis at Oxford

I always knew I was a bit of a peculiar child. But I was deeply surprised when a friend seeking a diagnosis herself suggested that I might be autistic.

A folly in vain

"The day proceeded as a series of endless lines parading back and forth, adorned in seemingly endless variations of every possible garment, in front of the same blank faces."

New term, new you— whatcha packing?

"Think of the people in your life and I bet you think of them in that one certain, purely them outfit."

‘Personal imprint’: an interview with the founder of Tree Artisan Café

"There is more love, more passion. With chains, whoever you are, you are a number. It is completely different to when you have a focus on the people".

Oxford in the summer

"Oxford in the summer is truly a unique experience because there are the same dreaming spires without the dreamers."

Conundrums of an ungenerous oversharer

"It’s telling that we call them ‘stories’. The word ‘story’ says it all. Because it’s true, it is a story. No one really knows why you’re telling it, and neither do you, but you tell it anyway."

Tips for being sustainable when travelling

"Travelling can leave huge footprints on the environment, so if we visit a destination abroad, we should do our bit to reduce this impact"

I finished my degree! Now what?

"Honestly, I think I just need a break from making decisions for a while."

Downpours, ‘dank beats’ and Dionysus: reviewing the Christ Church Ball

"Sadly due to the weather, the belle époque extravagance morphed into a muddy wallow in the meadow"

I Am What I Eat

One aspect of Chinese culture that I will always love and be proud of is our food

Behind the scenes of Cherpse

Cupid here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Oxford’s sleep-deprived and somewhat crazed students… And who am I? That’s one...

“I have a boyfriend”: A lie as old as time

I have a boyfriend. Why do we say it? Because of the time-honoured strange conviction that the female 'no' actually, to all intents and purposes,...

Vessel: In conversation with Grace Olusola

TW: fatphobia, eating disorders, self-harm. Vessel, the new theatrical anthology from Dawn Productions, examines our relationship with the body and food through episodic fragments....

New restaurant cooks up Keralan cuisine in Cowley

What the team at Tribe have managed to create in the space of three months is unique in absolutely every sense.  Amongst the countless...

On breakups: Dumping exes and expectations

In a perverse way, I think I was excited for my first break up. I grew up on a cultural diet of Elle Woods...

The World According to Rusty… Week 5

This mildly comedic column has been written by a drag queen agony aunt. It is not for the faint hearted and contains sensitive topics...

Wilde at heart: In Conversation with members of the Lincoln Drama Society

It’s practically a cliché to say that with such short and busy terms, there are more events happening in Oxford than any person could...

Living an exam-‘free’ Trinity

The Biology faculty decided finals in first week made sense, so now I am a free bird without many fellow free finalists to fly...

The World According to Rusty… Week 3

This mildly comedic column has been written by a drag queen agony aunt. It is not for the faint hearted and contains sensitive topics...

A love letter to Marseille

450 miles south of Paris and the same distance across the Mediterranean from Algiers, a mere afternoon’s drive to the Spanish and Italian borders,...

In Conversation with Dr Luke Evans MP

CW: eating disorders, body image issues, dysmorphia I interviewed Dr Luke Evans, the Member of Parliament for Bosworth, on a cold London morning via Zoom....

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