Tuesday, April 1, 2025

Opinion

Protect the organ scholarship, protect Oxford’s traditions

Should the organ scholarship be abolished? At the time of writing, 23 of the 43 colleges in Oxford offer organ awards. These consist in a mixture of funding, housing...

What Tate’s case tells us about student sexual violence

The Tate brothers “have each other’s backs” and concerns about a culture of impunity are echoed here in Oxford.

Tutorials are the antidote to declining public speaking skills

We struggle in an era where much of our most important communication takes place in writing

Zumba and cinematographic innovation: The Oxford Chancellor statements you didn’t expect

As the election for Oxford University’s chancellorship closes its first round, all but five candidates will be eliminated. Here’s some highlights of candidate statements, from...

The Union needs to return to its senses

The Union has never been far from controversy, and this year is no change. Last term, questions emerged over the power of electoral officials....

For good free speech: Listen

Wherever you turn to in Oxford, the words ‘free speech’ or ‘freedom of expression’ never seem too far away. Following the disbandment of Oxford...

Interdisciplinary is the future

The University is waking up to the environmental, social, and geopolitical crises of our times – in one sense at least. The British higher...

Pensioner fuel cuts shouldn’t warm students’ hearts

Shortly after the 2024 election, the newly-elected government announced plans to means-test the Winter Fuel Allowance, a benefit previously given only to pensioners. Reactions...

Increasing tuition fees, increasing inequality

When writing this article, I logged in out of curiosity to see my student loan balance. I saw a pretty number: £44,644.18, with £1,463.44...

Margaret Casely-Hayford: Why I should be Chancellor

Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford is a lawyer and businesswoman who previously served as Chancellor of Coventry University. She is a Board member of the Co-op...

Dominic Grieve: Why I should be Chancellor

Rt Hon Dominic Grieve KC has served as Shadow Home Secretary and Attorney General for England and Wales. Being Chancellor of the University of Oxford is...

Peter Mandelson: Why I should be Chancellor

Lord Peter Mandelson has held positions including Director of Communications for the Labour Party, Secretary of State for Trade, Secretary of State for Northern...

Whose seat gets taken? Community and nostalgia on public transport

We’re on the second-to-last train back from London. It’s a rammed carriage that hums with the noise of the tracks and snatches of conversation,...

Protect the right to protest

This summer’s protests have pushed university free speech policies to their breaking point. Scenes of police being deployed at scale on college campuses across...

Unmask the shady investors

The University of Oxford’s new science and innovation district, set to open next calendar year, is a joint venture between the University and Legal...

Oxford can win on both free speech and EDI

Author note: Professor Tim Soutphommasane is the University’s Chief Diversity Officer, and was the Australian Race Discrimination Commissioner from 2013-2018.  Summers in Britain are increasingly...

What Oxford owes Oxfordshire

“Where are you living this year?” For some, this question brings back memories of scrambling to organise tenancies and coordinate renting plans. The panic of...

The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is too good an opportunity to ignore

Now is not a good time to be a nimby. With the return of compulsory housebuilding targets, it is the new government’s ambition to...

The Vice-Chancellor in review

This article is an updated version of a piece in the W0 print. Irene Tracey is used to doing uncontroversial good. She has dedicated...

We need boldness on Brexit

Each time I hear that Labour has dismissed yet another offer from EU states to establish reciprocal freedom of movement deals for young people,...

The relativity of joy in the US election

If there’s one word that Tim Walz emphasised on his first day as Kamala Harris’ running mate, it was “joy”. Since his selection, support...

Shifting gears on affirmative action

Affirmative action in America is gone, but the change in data so far doesn’t show clear racial balancing. Unlike Oxford, the American admissions system...

A glass-half-full perspective on alcohol

The sun rises in the east, all men are mortal, and students drink. Such is life, and Oxford is no exception. University life is...

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