Thursday 22nd January 2026

Opinion

Who cares about college politics?

I’ve found myself part of a small core of my JCR who still care about JCR politics – those who fulfill a minimum requirement of simply turning up to things. Needless to say, the bar is low.

Criticisms of Oxford slang aren’t really about language

Sub fusc, college marriages, BOPs, sconcing, Prelims, the Bod: Oxford boasts a unique catalogue...

Why you should talk to your scout more

Quite apart from our academic work, students at Oxford University lead a life very...

Livin’ la vida Lidl

Though I still have reservations about milk from Lidl – I swear it tastes different – and the eggs from Aldi look to me dull and pale, I can put aside these quibbles as I admit to the allure of a £1 bag of courgettes. All this to say: Oxford’s city centre needs a discount supermarket.

There’s nothing wrong with a regional accent

Accent bias remains deeply embedded in academic institutions, where a hierarchy of accent prestige continues to shape perceptions.

Distance does make the heart grow fonder

Three months into my year studying abroad, I am reminded why I chose Oxford University in the first place.

We must separate Church and University

Financially, culturally, and quasi-judicially, the Church of England remains part of the furniture in both the city and the University.

It’s time we woke up to the failures of the NUS

The Cambridge SU's disaffiliation is a reminder that the National Union of Students is not fit for purpose

What Britain needs is meritocratic elitism

Want to tackle the issue of social mobility? Look to primary and secondary education, not Oxford University

International student levies won’t level up higher education

International students, who already pay triple what their domestic peers do, are being treated as convenient cash cows.

Oriel’s Rhodes exhibition is not enough

The exhibition's portrayal of Rhodes’ actions and the Rhodes Must Fall movement are trivialising and disrespectful.

This is Oxford’s real free speech problem

The Vice-Chancellor's Sheldonian Series reveals a university that does not want to listen to what its students have to say.

The Vice-Chancellor’s oration lacks a story

Professor Tracey's attempt to not ruffle any feathers produced a speech full of contradictions.

Take it from me, there are worse things than Oxford

If you feel things are tough for you at Oxford, try to hold on to the little moments that remind you how lucky you are to be here.

Statute XI is about power, not protection

The changes to the University's student disciplinary policy do more harm than good.

We must fight the Right’s narrative about Oxford

Media frenzies targeting our University and its students distract from the real issues facing higher education.

Student voices must be heard

Today’s youth are tomorrow’s future. It’s about time we were treated as such.

It’s time we stopped fussing over university rankings

To combine all the factors that might influence someone’s decision-making into an aggregate score obscures as much as it illuminates.  

The Greens must revive Oxford’s leftist scene

Student Greens are missing a crucial opportunity to challenge Oxford Labour Club's top spot in left wing politics at this University.

Dear summer school snobs, please pipe down

You might not like it, but in an era of rising financial pressures for the university sector, summer schools are not just harmless – they are essential.

Embracing AI undermines academia

By facilitating copious AI usage, the University fails to deliver on its centuries-long tradition of encouraging original thought. 

Let’s critique what protesters do, not who they are

I may not agree with all of their tactics, but I am grateful for those who make sure that our University is on the right side of history.

Outreach shouldn’t stop at Hadrian’s Wall

In a Britain that claims to be a “United” Kingdom, having only two-dozen Scottish state schoolers at its best university does much to foster division.

The ‘S’ in ‘STEM’ stands for superiority complex

It’s high time we stopped arguing over which is more difficult, and instead started asking what STEM and the humanities can learn from each other.

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