Friday 22nd August 2025

Opinion

The Encaenia is PR without the public (or anyone else)

Wholesale reform is the last thing Encaenia needs. If only people knew what it is, it would be a well-suited PR exercise for a modern Oxford.

This is how we combat the crusade against universities

It’s easy to think of an arts degree as a fruitless pleasure. But education and academic study are intrinsically valuable.

From pensioners to students, all should fear the Palestine Action ban

If you think this is a win for one side over the other in relation to Israel’s war on Gaza, be careful what you wish for.

Trashing rules save face, not students

Trashing is banned. But what does the banning achieve except pushing students further from...

A spectre is haunting Europe

Richard Birch reflects on what the new year may hold for Paris

Celebrity deaths: an insensitive media onslaught?

Olivia Webster reflects on the tragic trend of celebrity deaths, what it says about modern culture and media coverage

I’m taking the 10% giving pledge—and you should too

Rob Pepper details his reasons for subscribing to effective altruism with the Oxford-based charity Giving What We Can

2016 is dead, long live 2017?

Julia Routledge casts her eye back on a profusion of disheartening events in a year of great change

Cocaine’s fundamental flaw

Ellie Lee sees the hypocrisy between some students' ethics and their drug use

The Rise of Evil: a user’s guide

James Lamming on the unscrupulous way to power in the 21st Century

Why Theresa May should call an election in 2017

Maxim Parr-Reid argues that an election in 2017 would benefit the incumbent Conservative Party

Labour has a long way to go, but it is far from disconnected from reality

Alfie Steer disagrees with President Obama's disheartening comments on Corbyn's party

Can Labour win the Copeland by-election?

Maxim Parr-Reid argues that Corbyn's party could be in serious danger in the upcoming by-election

The death of irony: in defence of Giles Coren

Susannah Goldsbrough takes issue with recent criticism levelled at Giles Coren

Merkel’s ‘burqa ban’ shows she’s in trouble

Myfanwy Craigie questions why Angela Merkel has turned away from her liberal routes with her recent proposal of a 'burqa ban'

The Department for Consistent Failure

Matthew Roller argues that the Department for Transport has consistently failed and, in light of the recent rail strikes, must be investigated

Prepare for more political despair in 2017

Although liberals may celebrate the end of 2016, Fred Dimbleby argues that we should prepare for another year of political despair and discord

Interview: Peter Hitchens

John Maier talks to Peter Hitchens about Theresa May, Christian Morality, and his late brother's work

An open letter to Aung San Suu Kyi

Johnny Patterson urges Aung San Suu Kyi to continue her record of supporting human rights and battling oppression when dealing with the developing situation in Rakhine State

Who is to blame for the ‘Post-Truth’ era?

Jonathan Bowering debates how modern society has moved away from truth, and why we must combat that

Labour: Richmond by-election’s biggest loser

Louis McEvoy argues the Richmond Park by-election shows Labour must adopt a clear position on Brexit

Perspectives on Gender

As part of our women's issue guest-edited by Christina Lamb, we asked Oxford women to write about their experience of gender in the University. Here are their responses.

The smell of Christmas

The discovery of molecules responsible for the smell of frankincense may revolutionise the perfume industry and save a species

One thing I’d change about Oxford… Hacking

Maxim Parr-Reid criticises the extent of hacking in Oxford

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