Friday, February 21, 2025

Opinion

Abolishing tuition fees would be a middle class cash grab

Such a move would imperil the quality of British universities, do little to make university more affordable, and be socially unjust.

‘Expolwed!’: The Oxford Union’s lazy use of AI

A betrayal of the Union’s supposed commitment to free speech, a failure of both imagination and principle.

Representation requires participation: A call to action from the SU

Engage with us, hold us accountable, and see what student representation at its best can achieve.

Why we don’t care about the Student Union controversy

We don’t care about the Student Union, and we have no incentive to.

The Queen’s Death: To Mourn Without Love

"I would like to weigh in, a year on, as the child of immigrants from within the British Empire, with some thoughts on inheritance, Britishness, and what it means to mourn."

The geopolitics of speech at the University

"Speech is not simply something that everyone has innate equal access to; it is both a right and a resource that can be controlled and bordered."

Why British politics hates the young

Time and time again, the interests of a youthful many have been neglected in favour of an elderly few. What the young need more than anything else is a growing economy; but for the old economic growth is difficult and disturbing

Protesting with Pride

For those of us protesting, the emphasis was very much on the peaceful celebration and amplification of trans voices and joy rather than the hatred and bigotry Stock and her followers thrive on. 

“That’s not misogyny, babe”. 

If I were born four hundred years ago, I’m pretty certain I would have been burnt at the stake for being a witch. Being told to “shhh” and how “scary” I looked by a man on Mayday morning at Magdalen Bridge reminded me of this fact. I forgot how ‘scary’ a woman with an opinion could be. 

The cutback and growth of Britain’s urban hedges

"There are encouraging signs that point towards the restoration of this fascinatingly ordinary part of British life"

The Case for No: Why JCRs should motion to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students

In the last 6 months, student unions from the universities of Warwick, Brighton, Queen Mary and Reading all voted to disaffiliate for essentially the same matters I am now raising for debate: how the NUS treats Jewish students.

The Crown in our republic

I support the people’s re(s)publica, not a republic of the state. The Royal Crown unites us in a manner that no elected politician can, and in so doing protects our way of life in a way that any eventual establishment of a Republic cannot.

Time to put a lid on it

Although alcohol can bring people together, it can also leave a fair number of people on the outskirts of social settings.

The College-Gap: It’s easy to criticise what you know best

"University is equally about making friends as it is learning how to live independently and, at times, be lonely. I don’t think it’s fair to blame the college-system for limiting your social network."

The quiet language revolution in Russia’s former empire

"Where Western broadcasters once used Russian versions of Ukrainian names for people, cities, and so on, they are now switching to English spellings that are more in line with the Ukrainian language."

The Monarchy: An Embodiment of Britishness?

"The survival of the monarchy is a testament to the moderation that characterises British political history, perhaps our greatest and most distinctive achievement."

Pleasure in the age of panic

"The idea that we must be damned for our enjoyment marks pleasure, and its opponent, sacrifice, as part of utilitarian philosophy."

Have you Met the King? The Met Gala and the Coronation have more in common than you might think

"Both are controversial for their unapologetic extravagance in a time when the country has the dark cloud of inflation looming over it."

The Turkish elections: Time for a new spring?

Since Erdoğan’s inauguration in March 2003, the country has slid down the democracy index as civil rights have been eroded, public institutions politicised and press freedoms curtailed.

Freedom to hate? Why the Oxford Union’s obsession with controversial speakers must end

Freedom of speech is something the Oxford Union champions. However, they often seem to breach the boundary between allowing freedom of speech and providing a platform to members of society who have rightly been banished for their views

Why an AI pause would be detrimental to humanity

"I would posit that AI poses as much a threat to human life as a parrot (perhaps even less, given it doesn’t have a beak)."

Let down?

"I won't even be leaving having experienced the full three years of my degree. I have Covid to thank for that."

The annual token black Love Island contestant

"Year after year, the black woman faces an intolerable amount of rejection."

Freedom of speech in 2023: Why the Oxford Union will never cancel controversial speakers

I don’t support young people from minority or oppressed groups having to defend their own rights in the chamber. I do, however, believe that, the Union should not rescind invites on the basis of Oxford students disagreeing with their views

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