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Headlines

Change to Rowing Clubs’ Rules of Racing for transgender athletes sparks backlash

News Sophi Hayes-Hoyle -
A change to Oxford University Rowing Clubs’ (OURCs) Rules of Racing means that only athletes assigned female at birth may now row in a Women’s boat. This applies to boats entered in both inter-collegiate and university-level competitions.  Several student boat club captains have condemned the new rule change, made on 26th April. OURC’s Captain’s Meeting minutes highlight that issues were raised about the process for verifying athletes’ gender identity, with students particularly raising privacy concerns: under the new rule, claims...

Comment

Features

Raising refugee rights: Oxford STAR and Campsfield House

Mary Huan -
“The Coalition and STAR are quite unique in the emphasis on trying to bridge the gap between students and the community”.

‘It happens here and it’s our responsibility to stop it’: Oxford’s anti-sexual violence campaign

Beatrix Arnold -
For the co-presidents of It Happens Here, Aparna and Maddie, literacy about consent and sexual violence is needed now more than ever.

The Oxford donors in the Epstein files

Beatrix Arnold and Stanley Smith -
The appearance in the 'Epstein files' of the names of a number of Oxford University's most prominent donors raises questions about the University's sources of funding.

War within earshot: A year abroad in Jordan

Sofia O'Casey -
A large part of my decision to study Arabic is owed to my father’s passing. Having now experienced life in the Middle East, including its wars, I now understand him far more than I ever could have anticipated.

The essay and its long history in Oxford

Naima Aden -
In 1811, a student at University College published a pamphlet including an essay titled ‘The Necessity of Atheism’ that he later distributed to the Heads of Oxford Colleges. The student, after disputes with the Master of University College at the time, was “sent down” on the grounds of “contumacy” (disobeying authority). This student was Percy Shelley. 

Who Owns Net Zero? Climate Action in a Collegiate University

Anish Vedantham -
Oxford University’s sustainability ambitions are increasingly visible. At the central level, strategic commitments articulate ambitious targets, governance mechanisms, and investment frameworks. In built form, newly completed University buildings such as the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities and the Life and Mind Building are presented as low-carbon exemplars of Passivhaus design and biodiversity integration.

Profiles

‘What we need is action’: Dr Lakasing on maternity care, misinformation, and the NHS crisis

Hattie Simpson -
Dr Lakasing explains what its like to work in maternity care during a time of crisis for the NHS.

‘I’m not campaigning for any particular point of view’: Sam Freedman on government, the Conservatives, and writing with his father

Melissa Eddon -
As a writer and Fellow at the Institute for Government, Freedman has the opinions of a journalist and the knowledge of a policy maker.

‘We’re hurtling into a new era’: James Marriott on books, broadsheets, and a changing Britain

Gavriella Epstein-Lightman -
The Times columnist James Marriott sees the decline in reading in Britain as part of a wider trend of rising populism and the death of liberalism.

‘My aim is to make everyone equally unhappy’: Catherine Royle on Somerville, the Foreign Office, and the importance of pragmatism

Samuel Drew -
Catherine Royle explains how a career in the Foreign Office and NATO is shaping her approach as Somerville College's principal.

Culture

The Devil is Sponsored by Dior: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’ in review

Ruya Oral -
In the world of The Devil Wears Prada 2, there is one thing that could have never existed: The Devil Wears Prada.

Hidden Gems: ‘The Storytellers’ at Worcester College

Willow Jopp -
From the first moments, The Storytellers feels unusually thoughtful, generous, and alive.

Toni Servillo shines in thoughtful assisted dying drama: ‘La Grazia’ in review

Finlo Cowley -
Does Big Tobacco sponsor Paolo Sorrentino’s films? Almost certainly not, but their money would be worse spent elsewhere.

Galliano for the masses (on the Zara sale rack)

Victoria Corfield -
The fashion world is mourning the loss of John Galliano. Not a literal death, but something closer to a fall from grace.

Life

A mini-guide to the Italian restaurants of Oxford

Cherwell Lifestyle Team -
The Cherwell Lifestyle team decided to combine  our forces and put together a mini-guide to the Italian restaurants to suit all of your needs. 

Actually, Trinifree is a state of mind

Natalie Tan -
Experiencing Trinifree with a proper “Trinittude” (Trinifree-attitude) means the chance to do things I would have considered unfathomable during the past two terms, like take a nap in the afternoon or resolve to never pull an all-nighter in order to finish an essay.

Is there such a thing as a break-up season?

Emma Baltzer -
In the warmer months we are more open to new connections and to seeing the beauty which was always there, but perhaps lay dormant or buried during the winter.

Hospitable cultures exist because women exist

Saba Ahmadzadeh Noughani -
We don't just owe the survival of our culture to women, but our very own survival. Every homemade meal, tender embrace, wiped tear, wrapped gift, handwritten card, wise word of advice, and lullaby has raised and nourished us.

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