Opinion

In defence of consent training

CW: sexual violence It is often well-intentioned, stereotypically ‘progressive’ people who argue against the need for Freshers’ Week consent training, or at least find it obsolete. This includes even those...

The Vinted paradox: Consuming our way out of overconsumption

There are few pleasures quite like finding a jumper that sells for £70 new...

Can students still afford to choose?

There’s much about the experience of studying at Oxford that makes it truly unique...

I no longer want to be an astronaut

Just last week, OpenAI dropped 372 papers covering various well-known unsolved problems in mathematics and computer science. As someone in the unfortunate position of soon applying for a PhD in maths, it seems to be harder than ever to get one’s foot in the door. How can I, a bright-eyed but inexperienced undergraduate, compete with thousands of machines trawling through the sum of all human knowledge in parallel?

Should gay men face extra restrictions when giving blood?

Sammy Talalay looks at the recent changes to the law with regards to blood donations and the vexed balance between protecting the public and not being overly discriminatory

9/11- Ten years on

Oliver Park assesses the impact the attacks of September 11th 2001 have had, at a domestic and international level

An alternate look at Freshers’ Week

Freshers' Week in its current form gives incoming students a warped and potentially damaging perspective on university life, argues Hugh Burns

The mess at the heart of higher education

Andrew Rhodes argues that A levels are not necessarily a fair means of comparing the attainment of teenagers and that encouraging apprenticeships is the way to tackle the current crisis in Britain's higher education system.

Starkey should be challenged, not condemned

While David Starkey's comments on Newsnight were misguided, the hysterical reaction to them serves only to drive discussion about race underground and stop concerns being openly addressed, argues Oliver Park

Forgotten reforms to education

Samuel Talalay looks at the coalition's policies on secondary education which have largely slipped under the radar after the furore over university reforms

The difference between riot and wrong

At a point in time where people have a lot to be angry about, Alistair Smout mourns the English rioting's lack of purpose and direction

The consequences of E-petitions

Edward Lewis looks at the pros and cons of recent government proposals to debate E-petitions in parliament

The curse of gridlock on US politics

Oliver Park looks at why America took so long to enact a measure to raise its debt ceiling and the slow-burn consequences of the US political system

Norway: Ideology has a role to play

Alistair Smout argues that while Hugh Burns' approach is laudable, it depends on an impartiality and consistency that is not widely found in the media

A question of ideology?

The media's reaction to the tragedy in Norway has been too knee-jerk and simplistic, argues Hugh Burns

The NOTW scandal reflects badly on us all

Amelia Jenne looks at the broader implications of the fact that misbehaviour amongst the press took place for so long unabraided and doesn't like what she sees.

Like taking candy from a baby

Blame should not just be attached to hacking journalists but also to those who allowed their personal details to be accessed so easily, says Miles Lawrence

The demise of the News of the World

Oliver Park looks at the damage that the latest phone tapping allegations did to the News of the World and whether the decision to shut down the paper was correct

Kathy Peach and UN Women

Alistair Smout speaks to Kathy Peach, one of the leading lobbyists for UN Women in the UK, trying to make sure it receives the support it needs

The changing face of journalism

Helen Robb talks to Al Jazeera's Rageh Omaar about Africa, the Arab Spring and the BBC

5 Minute Tute: NHS Reform

Sir Richard Thompson, President of the Royal College of Physicians, discusses the coalition's controversial proposals for health reform

The dangers of early achievement

Child prodigies lose out on a normal, happy and fulfilling development, and are even exposed to the risks of permanent psychological damage, argues Oliver Park

Why Twitter is a serious threat to society

Hugh Burns makes the case for the value of injunctions, and argues that Twitter has deeply troubling implications for privacy

Should places at Oxford be for sale? NO

Intelligence must remain the only criterion for University entry, argues Nicole Stansfield

Follow us