Sunday 26th April 2026
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Book review: The University of Oxford, a History

Ben Ray
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Book review: The University of Oxford, a History

When Professor Brockliss’ hefty tome ‘The University of Oxford: a History’ fell onto my desk to review, I must admit that I was apprehensive. At nearly 900 pages and carrying the kind of weight that would make you reluctant to heave it back from the Bodleian to college, this new, complete history of the university is no shallow coffee-table read. But once you manage to struggle past its imposing exterior, this book reveals itself as surprisingly readable and absorbing. Perhaps it’s that guilty pleasure of the ‘oh, I’ve been there’ compulsion (I defy you not to immediately skip to the index to find where your college is mentioned) or perhaps it’s the simple revelation that there is so much history and so many stories embedded within this institution, but I soon became quite captivated by this thorough dissection of the university’s past.

Although the text does in certain chapters become heavy going and slightly dry, the chapters mostly flow with a sophisticated, easy going style that draws you on to the next discussion. After the initial few sections, the reader begins to adjust to the constant barrage of dates, names and situations – indeed, as the narrative of the university develops and starts to mold itself into a recognisable shape I found myself eagerly jumping chapters to follow a thread that was picked up later in the book. This stylistic engagement can come as no surprise: just a quick browse on SOLO reveals that the author, Professor LWB Brockliss, has more books and articles to his name than you could fit on a fresher’s reading list. A historian at Magdalen College, he specialises in the history of education, science and medicine, and his many years of leading tutorials is shown in the adept juggling of endless source materials to create a single, approachable volume of the university’s history.

The book’s format also reflects a concise, accessible treatment of the vast topic that is the university’s past. Split into four chronological parts, the text gives a succinct overview and analysis of the various political, social and religious influences on the university through the years – and hints at how the institution has shaped the rest of the world. Each section even finishes with a summarising conclusion, tying up the various loose ends that have been opened in the preceding few chapters. Brockliss’ herculean study is also illustrated with various images and photos from around the university, as well as by chronologies, maps and tables that help to contextualise the various debates.

At £35 in hardback, this book isn’t exactly a cheap bedtime read – more of a long term investment or summer vac project. But it’s not just the beautiful book jacket that presumably raises the cost. Brockliss’ work is crammed with fascinating discussions, debates and analyses concerning the university and its place in history – and, indeed, in the world.

Owen Smith pledges to abolish tuition fees

Stephen Hawes
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Owen Smith pledges to abolish tuition fees

Owen Smith has revealed plans to scrap tuition fees and replace them with a top-up graduate tax. In an attempt to increase his share of the youth vote in the ongoing Labour leadership contest, the MP for Pontypridd also promised guaranteed apprenticeships and more new starter homes if he were to gain power.

Speaking at Nottingham University on Saturday Mr Smith spoke of the way in which the government had ‘let down’ young people ‘time and again’. He said, ‘They have been given a rotten deal and we must turn this around’.

In Mr Smith’s plans, tuition fees would be replaced by a graduate tax, amounting to 1-2% of earning above £15,000 for a specified period after graduation. This period is likely to be around 25 years. It is also possible that graduates whose earnings are in the highest tax bracket could be taxed an addition 1-2% of their income. The plans have been criticised as being too similar to the existing earning-based repayment system.

Mr Smith has pledged to guarantee apprenticeships for people with level three qualifications. Level three qualifications are most often achieved in the form of at least two A-level passes but include other certificates including level 3 NVQs and BTEC Nationals. The apprenticeships would run for a minimum of two years, with the apprentice guaranteed the national living wage. They would receive a combination of practical training and ‘off-the-job learning’.

The new apprenticeships would be funded by increasing the levy paid by large companies for apprenticeships to 1%. It currently stands at 0.5%.

Jeremy Corbyn, the incumbent leader of the party and the only rival candidate, has also expressed support for abolishing tuition fees.

Voting has already begun in the contest, with around 650,000 people eligible to vote. The result will be announced in Liverpool on 24th September.

Meanwhile, international students are likely to face more stringent visa rules, foolowing a recent announcement from Theresa May.

According to The Times, the Prime Minister told cabinet colleagues that limits on EU migrants “are a priority” for Brexit negotiations, and “work is under way to examine how to reduce the number of international students coming to the UK”. The Prime Minister is said to want universities to “develop sustainable funding models that are not so dependent on international students”.

Pre-colonial Mexican manuscript co-discovered by Oxford scholars

Katherine Pye
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Pre-colonial Mexican manuscript co-discovered by Oxford scholars

Using cutting-edge technology, researchers from the University of Oxford and the Netherlands have uncovered a Mexican codex which has been hidden beneath a layer of plaster and chalk since the 16th century. The codex was concealed on the back of a later manuscript known as the Codex Selden, which dates from around 1560, kept in the Bodleian Library.

Codex Seden is one of less than 20 manuscripts made before the European conquest of the Americas still in existence. These scripts use codes of pictures and symbols in bright colors to recount the history of ancient cities, wars and genealogies of dynasties. According to Oxford University, this is the first time an early Mexican codex has been proven to be a palimpsest, or an older document which has been covered up and reused, obscuring the original.

Ludo Snijders from Leiden University, who conducted the research with David Howell from the Bodleian Libraries said, “After four or five years of trying different techniques, we’ve been able to reveal an abundance of images without damaging this extremely vulnerable item. We can confirm that Codex Selden is indeed a palimpsest”.

“What’s interesting is that the text we’ve found doesn’t match that of other early Mixtec manuscripts. The genealogy we see appears to be unique, which means it may prove invaluable for the interpretation of archaeological remains from southern Mexico.”

Although archeology scholars had long expected Codex Selden is a palimpsest, until very recently no technique has managed to unveil the covered manuscript in a non-invasive way. The manuscript underwent invasive tests in the 1950s when a back page was scraped back, uncovering clues that an earlier codex could lie beneath. However, ancient Mexican scrolls used organic paints to create the vibrant manuscript images, and these paints do not absorb x-rays, which meant the widely used x-ray analysis was ineffective on this artefact.

This time, scientists used ‘hyperspectral imaging’ to reveal the pictures that lay beneath, publishing their findings in the Journal of Archaeological Sciences. The hyperspectral imaging scanner was acquired two years ago when the Bodleian Libraries and Classics Faculty made a bid to the University’s Fell Fund.

Oxford classicist Dr Charles Crowther says use of the new scanner will benefit numerous humanities departments across Oxford University, allowing them to analyse previously inaccessible artifacts. He said, “Hyperspectral Imaging (HsI) is certainly the most exciting development in this field in that time. Its application to manuscripts in Oxford collections, whether carbonised Herculaneum papyri, parchment Achaemenid letters, or erased marginalia in the First Folio, has the potential to resolve details that previously have been unattainable and to bring to light significant new texts.”

The Bodlian Library is in possession of four other pre-colonial Mesoamerican codices: Codex Laud, Codex Bodley, Codex Mendoza and the Selden Roll, named after their former European owners.

University of Chicago condemns trigger warnings

Marianna Spring
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University of Chicago condemns trigger warnings

The University of Chicago has issued a letter to its incoming students outlining its opposition to “so-called ‘trigger warnings’” and safe spaces.

The letter, from the University of Chicago’s Dean of Students, John Ellison, explains to its incoming freshers that, “Members of our community are encouraged to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn, without fear of censorship. Civility and mutual respect are vital to all of us, and freedom of expression does not mean the freedom to harass or threaten others. You will find that we expect members of our community to be engaged in rigorous debate, discussion, and even disagreement. At times this may challenge you and even cause discomfort.”

“Our commitment to academic freedom means that we do not support so-called ‘trigger warnings,’ we do not cancel invited speakers because their topics might prove controversial, and we do not condone the creation of intellectual ‘safe spaces’ where individuals can retreat from ideas and perspectives at odds with their own.”

The letter comes after an increasing number of American Universities have created introduced “safe spaces”, where students can relax free from ideas that might be stressful or anxiety-inducing.

Brown University created a room last year “with cookies, colouring books, bubbles, Play-Doh, calming music, pillows, blankets and a video of frolicking puppies” because a debate on sexual assault was taking place on campus.

A survey by the National Coalition Against Censorship found that the majority of American educators questioned had at some point used trigger warnings, intended to warn and shield students from ideas that might be discomforting or trauma inducing.

“Controversial” speakers have also been cancelled across America, including Condoleezza Rice, George Will, Jason Riley and Michelle Malkin after pressure from students and faculties. This has proved a prevalent issue in the UK in light of the government programme, Prevent, aimed at tackling extremism and limiting radical speakers from attending University events.

The letter may be seen to echo Oxford’s Vice Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson in her commencement speech this year, when she stressed universities must ensure students “appreciate the value of engaging with ideas they find objectionable”.

In May, Oxford began issuing “trigger warnings” to undergraduate law students before lectures containing material deemed too “distressing”.

Third year linguist Jake Smales commented, “It’s precisely our exposure to controversial opinions which helps us to formulate our own. Being sheltered from these, or even having the option to hide away from them, is simply not a representation of how the real world works. I think it’s important that Oxford, like the University of Chicago, encourages debate and discussion rather than hindering it.”

Pembroke third year Carl Gergs commented, “This is Marine Le Pen at the Oxford Union all over again. We need to learn how to challenge these abhorrent opinions. Simply ignoring them won’t make them go away.”

Ronni Blackford, Pembroke’s equalities rep last year, commented, “I think it’s a shame that the University of Chicago has adopted such an uncompromising stance. My own experience of trigger warnings is that they allow survivors of abuse and sufferers of PTSD a chance to mentally prepare themselves for a difficult subject or to make an informed decision to remove themselves from an overwhelming situation, without halting the conversation itself. Rather than achieving the admirable aims of upholding academic discussion and combatting censorship, the University is instead failing its most vulnerable students.”

English after Brexit

Iweta Kalinowska
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English after Brexit

United Kingdom’s membership of the EU over the years

Britain’s relationship with the European Union has been a rather turbulent one from the very beginning. The Union began with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1951 which established the European Coal and Steel Community, of which the United Kingdom decided not to become a member. With changing economic and political priorities, as well as the project of a common market, the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community were established by the 1957 Treaties of Rome, which formed the basis of the EU as we have come to know it today.

With a change in attitudes towards the European Common Market, Britain first applied for membership of the Communities in 1960. However, its membership was vetoed by French President Charles de Gaulle, and it was not until 1967, with Georges Pompidou succeeding as leader that Britain would resubmit its application, finally to join the Union in 1973. Yet all was not plain sailing for Britain who, two years later, passed the Referendum Act of 1975, leading to the European Communities membership referendum. With a strong 67.2% majority vote supporting continued EEC membership, Britain would ultimately remain part of this European partnership, but would continue to be plagued by Euroscepticism for the next forty years and, in what is commonly referred to as the 2015 ‘Brexit’ referendum, has ultimately voted to leave the European Union by 51.9%.

English in the EU after Brexit

This result raises the question of the future of English following Brexit, the language which currently seems to dominate the institutions of the European Union. Though legally all the 24 official languages of the 28 member states of the EU have equal legal status, English has grown to become the most used, gradually displacing French as the European lingua franca. If Britain goes on to leave the European Union, this will create a very odd linguistic phenomenon, with a co-official language of some 5 million people (Ireland with a population of 4.6 million and Malta with 450,000), used to discuss and further the interests of 450 million European citizens.

However, following the results of the Brexit referendum, many European politicians and MEPs have questioned the status of English in the European institutions, with the mayor of Béziers, Robert Ménard claiming that it no longer has ‘any legitimacy’, and Danuta Hübner, head of the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee (AFCO) and Polish MEP proclaiming that ‘if we don’t have the U.K., we don’t have English’. She has cited the existence of a European regulation which declares that ‘every EU country has the right to notify one official language’, stating that Ireland has notified Gaelic and Malta Maltese, which would render the UK the only member state to have proclaimed English as their official language. However, this claim has been contested by other EU sources, who have cited disparity among the translations of this regulation, with the French not decidedly ruling out the possibility of more than one official language per country, contrary to the English version. Furthermore, the European Commission has released a statement to counter these claims:

‘The Council of Ministers, acting unanimously, decide on the rules governing the use of languages by the European institutions. In other words, any change to the EU Institutions’ language regime is subject to a unanimous vote of the Council, including Ireland.’

According to the Wall Street Journal, however, the European Commission has already started using French and German more often in its external communications as a symbolic transition towards a Britain-less EU following the results of the referendum.

Multilingualism in Europe

Will Brexit pave the way for a greater linguistic variety and increased multilingualism in Europe? Language groups across Ireland, Wales, and the rest of the UK have warned of the damaging consequences of Brexit on lesser-spoken languages, such as Welsh, Cornish or Gaelic. UKIP MEP Nathan Gill has countered these claims, pointing out that Welsh did not have full official status in the European Union, and claiming that “the Welsh language is safer…by us having the freedom to legislate ourselves in the Senedd or in Westminster”. Yet the groups argue that the EU plays an important role in the promotion of lesser-used languages, and ‘cultural wealth’, as opposed to the British governments which ‘throughout much of our shared history conducted aggressive language policies designed to eradicate our languages’. They go on to say that ‘being a part of a heterogeneous European Union with its robust congregation of minority and majority cultures allows for a better understanding and protection of our own languages’.

Euro-English

What about the European future of English without England? The language seems less dependent on Britain’s membership of the EU than legislation seems to suggest. In fact, a sort of Euro-English, influenced by foreign languages is already in use, particularly among members whose native language is not English. An EU report from 2013, by Jeremy Gardner, an official at the European Court of Auditors, entitled “Misused English Words and Expressions in EU Publications,” addresses dozens of incorrectly used terms, everything from “actor,” “valorize,” or ‘delay’:

“‘Delay’ is often used in the EU to mean ‘deadline’ or ‘time limit’. In English ‘delay’ always refers to something being late or taking longer than is necessary. You cannot, therefore comply with (or ‘respect’) a delay.”

Clearly the language is capable of surviving outside the zone of British influence, yet such an existence will have unparalleled consequences on the type of English spoken in the European Institutions. Euro-English is already rife with various quirks which seem to resemble the type of English spoken in India or South Africa, where a small group of native speakers is dwarfed by a far larger number of second-language speakers. While such ‘pidgin’ languages exist successfully in many parts of the world, nonetheless they are not usually used as the main legislative and communication tool for a Union of such unprecedented geographical scope and influence. They cannot be an accurate tool for political negotiations and subsequent rendition of European law. What’s more, rather than enriching the original language, placing it in the hands of non-native speakers risks the simplification of more complex linguistic features. Brexit would not be the end of English, but as Dr Ingrid Piller, Professor of Applied Linguistics at Macquarie University, suggests, it would represent ‘another nail in the coffin of native speaker supremacy,’ with native speakers choosing to give up their prime role in the story of English.

The new lingua franca

If not English, then what? As Britain was not one of the founding members of the European Communities, French was initially used as the official language. In fact, certain institutions, such as the European Court of Justice, have maintained the use of French as their working language for both historical and economic reasons. However, it is unlikely that it can be restored to its former primacy. Despite the economic and political strength of Germany, German does not look to be an obvious replacement either.

Both on a continent shaped for almost half a century by the ever-growing popularity of English as the intermediary language, and in a world where English exerts, and will continue to exert, incredible business and political influence, to move away from this for the sake of regulation seems more like an unrelenting manifestation of the validity of legislative content than a convenient and constructive decision. To forcefully eject English would be to plunge the Union into a period of costly and complicated structural revisions, in every unit and at all levels.

Furthermore, for many years now, English has not been the prerogative of the British. Over time it has become almost neutral, a tool for communicating with friends, colleagues and lovers alike. In an ideal world, the Union would have an auxiliary language, a language of no state, which belongs to no one and everyone all at once. Yet, would that really celebrate the European motto of being ‘united in diversity’? To move away from English would be to go against both heart and mind. For, though we may not be linked in legislation, we remain part of the same continent, united by the same values, and in solidarity with all those who want to partake in them, regardless of the language they speak.

Five picks for your four final days at the Fringe

Ellie Siora
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Five picks for your four final days at the Fringe

As the Edinburgh Fringe Festival rolls to a close, with performers nearing their final night, time is tight for how many of these performers one can see. With nearly 4000 shows to choose from in four days the task of choosing where to spend your precious hours is pretty monumental. So, whether you are nearing the end of your own performance up at the Fringe and want to squeeze a few more shows in between flyer-ing, or whether you have decided to come up for the final days to catch the farewell fireworks, here are a few suggestions to help you figure out what’s worth watching.

Paul Currie: ‘Ffffffmilk’ at the Hives. Every day at 19:40

The Fringe Festival is renowned for its concentration of comedic acts, where the up-and-coming rub shoulders with household names. I have no doubt that Currie is on his way from the former to the latter. Daringly original amongst a sea of stand-up, Currie’s humour is simultaneously universal whilst maintaining deep idiosyncrasies. One of the only comedians I’ve seen to never falter and fall into the easy, offensive and self-deprecating gags for laughs. He’ll make you laugh like a kid again. Truly worth a watch (and part of the pay-what-you-want festival).

Yokai: at Underbelly Cowgate. Every day at 13.30

This continental show harks back to the charming simplicity of mime and puppetry. Despite being a performance with no dialogue, the performers never fail to provoke and emotional response from the audience using a more imaginative and intimate form of communication in their performance. Not only is the execution of this piece inventive, it’s content is pertinent and thought-provoking. Exploring the presentation of tragedy, Yokai reminds us how tragedy involves real individuals and real emotions in a context where we easily forget. Constantly bombarded with international tragedies in the news, it goes unnoticed how our emotional engagement with them wanes, and the people they involve simply become puppets part of a greater plastic story. Yokai, combining puppetry with performance goes some small way towards breaking down this world view.

XX: Paradise in the Vault. Every day at 18.55

A piece of theatre that Oxford thespians should be proud of to call a product of their university. Jack Bradfield’s writing is compelling, authentic and unbelievably clever. The performers’ presentation of it does not fail to do the writing justice as the individual performances and group dynamics work flawlessly to the overall affect of the play. With its unusual premise exploring the genre of romance and love, XX ran a high risk of falling into the unfortunate combination of pretentious and boring. Yet, the company utterly escaped this pitfall, with honest material and genuinely talented actors they create an un-missable experience of a show. My favourite at the Fringe.

Pussyfooting: Paradise in the Vault. Every day at 20:10.

Another Oxford production worth seeing. Half a play, half a sleepover you’ve been invited to, Pussyfooting presents the topic of what it means to be female. A topic we can, unfortunately, so easily tune out of. I commend it for being ground-breakingly original: five girls take to the stage in such an innovative and fresh way that they successfully open up the debate whilst simultaneously making you feel like you are making new friends.

Shit-faced Shakespeare. Measure for Measure: Underbelly, George Square. Every day at 22:15

A Fringe classic but one that doesn’t lose its raucousness. Performing the Bard’s Measure for Measure, his problem play, is a particularly side-splitting choice as one cast member a night has the problem of working out what in the world their next line is on a bottle of Prosecco or two. Giving you the pleasure to watch someone make a fool of themselves at 22:15 when you yourself are, probably, shit-faced is a recommendable way to end any day at the Fringe.

Warehouse to become part of Nuffield College

Tony Diver
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Warehouse to become part of Nuffield College

The building used for former nightclub Warehouse, on Park End Street, is to become offices for the new ‘social sciences quarter’ of Nuffield College.

Warehouse, which closed without warning in January, was joined this summer by Wahoo and the Glee comedy venue as part of a spate of nightclub closures in the city. Unlike the others, there were commercial reasons for its closure, and it has stood empty for the last seven months.

Despite rumours that the building would become a youth hostel, Nuffield College has confirmed that its new purpose will be administrative and academic.

Much of the land around Park End Street and Hythe Bridge Street, which forms the nexus of Oxford nightlife for many, was acquired by Nuffield in 2015 in a deal with Christ Church. It will form part of the college’s attempt to refocus Oxford’s West End away from nightclubs and onto social sciences, in which Nuffield specialises.

Speaking to the Oxford Mail, college bursar Gwilym Hughes said “When we stripped these buildings back we found they were flexible, open spaces that will work quite well as offices.

“We would like to get the departments all under one roof, as they are all a bit scattered at the moment.

“There is some amazing work being done. We are world-leaders in social sciences so we are pleased to be able to help.

Sophie Conquest, a second-year student at Balliol, said: “The news about the closure of Warehouse and the imminent closure of Wahoo was heartbreaking. It’s no secret that Oxford doesn’t have much going for it in terms of nightlife, but when these nightclubs are both gone I worry that I’m not going to know what to do with myself after my Thursday evening deadline.

“Words cannot express the anger and disappointment I feel that future generations of Oxonians will not get to experience the euphoria of top floor Wahoo on a Friday night… or the weird faux rocks in Warehouse.”

Nuffield is set to release its full plans for the development of the area early next year.

Review: Foxtrot at the Edinburgh Fringe

Peter Thickett
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Review: Foxtrot at the Edinburgh Fringe

9/10

Foxtrot, Anthony Maskell’s latest theatrical offering, is a challenging piece of writing that negotiates the fetishisation of female lost person cases in the media. In exploring the ways in which female victimhood is constructed in mainstream culture, Maskell invites us to confront our own complicity with the destruction of the individual. The narrative is loosely based on fragments before and after a girl’s disappearance. Unnamed and constantly recharacterised by different members of the cast, she remains out of reach—the shifting representation of an aspect of her gender.

The opening scene acts as a prologue to the series of vignettes that follow. Questioning the time it takes to announce a missing person presumed dead, the scene precipitates the conclusive thought of the piece—that their ‘deaths’ are, in some way, the deaths of their identities. The multi-role cast dexterously transition between comedy and sincerity, equally coloured with an uncomfortable darkness. Maskell’s approach to difficult topics such as sexual exploration in children is handled with sensitivity and intuitiveness. The often distressing nature of some of the scenes is never gratuitous, but deeply grounded in the motivation to challenge our perceptions of selfhood.

Clever juxtapositions of realism and comic absurdity create a distinct sense of the dystopian. Maintaining a fine line between the real and the imagined, Maskell forces the audience to engage with the, at times, bewilderingly decentred narrative. The blurring of these boundaries is in many ways the piece’s most striking attribute but makes it difficult to follow the ‘story’ of the singular lost girl. However, Foxtrot is not really a story about one girl, but rather a story of a destructive culture, a culture that perpetuates restrictive, reductive gender categories. This intelligent and innovative piece of writing requires the openness of the audience to be appreciated in its full capacity; once the superficial assumptions of narrativity are broken down this production holds strong as a piece of extremely accessible and intuitive theatre. Anna Nichols Pike’s perceptive set design, a Mondrianesque set of hanging frames overlapping to create smaller subsections, aptly captures the narrative structure—one where each scene, although distinct in itself, makes up part of a greater puzzle.

Foxtrot has a tendency to leave structural devices unfinished. For example, the recurrent intermission of voicemail messages never really comes to a successful conclusion; doubtless a representation of how missing person cases rarely resolve. However, this constant negotiation between structure and meaning, whilst not straightforward, ultimately enriches this intriguing piece.

This is an accomplished piece of new writing delivered with style and finesse. I look forward to following Maskell’s work in the future.

Jonathan Evans: the Poké-MAN

Benn Sheridan
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Jonathan Evans: the Poké-MAN

A few weeks ago, my co-editor and I engaged in a debate which transcended nation, belief and politics: the merits (or otherwise) of Pokemon Go. The article prompted a furore amongst the Pokemon community, splitting traditionalists from rebellious, open-minded reformers, almost bringing battles out of the gym and into the open. In the wake of this divisive response, I was fortunate enough to interview someone whose name is whispered in awe amongst Pokemon circles: Jonathan Evans.

Jonathan is a Maths/Phil student at LMH. And whilst Andrew Triggs-Hodge and Constantin Louloudis fought battle for Oxonian gold in Rio, a prize of equal, nay, surpassing stature was being sought in the sumptuous setting of the San Francisco Marriott Marquis Hotel. Olympic Village eat your heart out. Yes, this was the Pokemon VGC World Final, and through the ranks our young hero had climbed, defeating opponent after opponent till the day of the final was reached. Though the eventual victory was not to be his (losing by the slightest of margins to Wolfe Glick), the tenacity and guile he demonstrated in his matches reveal a player of only the highest calibre.

This calibre was forged at a young age. As he explains, “I’ve been playing Pokemon since I was a kid. I played every single generation.” Battling with his older brother, he quickly outstripped his peers in acumen, till eventually, as he is quick to remind me, “if I was to play competitive Pokemon with someone who’d never played it competitively before, they’d get trashed.” This is tough talk, but as he explains the details of playing competitively, I realise that it is by no means empty: unlike normal Pokemon, “you’re playing a double battle, choosing four Pokemon from a team of six.” He glibly notes, “It’s rough.”

But it’s the two comparisons he draws that interest me the most: “It’s like poker – you make moves at the same time with imperfect knowledge of the situation. And it’s like chess – you try and have a slight advantage at the end of the game.” Or, at least, this was how he played the game – to the margins, taking slight advantages and playing till the timer was up – a strategy that only works (and which he played to near perfection throughout his time in San Francisco), he claims, if you’re “thinking three or four turns ahead of your opponent.” This is risky, edge-of-seat stuff, he implies – but stuff that an audience could enjoy just as much as the players.

And, of course, this is where Pokemon differs from other ‘E-Sports’: it doesn’t have the same fanbase as traditional, action-oriented online games do, action which I imagine – not being a gamer myself – possesses some appeal. Whilst this doesn’t affect Jonathan’s choice to play the game, “I love it regardless,” he reminds me, it does give slight cause for frustration: “I just wish more people would watch Worlds.” And this is where Pokemon Go enters the fray. “I was so happy when it came out – I saw everyone playing and I was like this is what I want for the world.” High praise indeed for Niantic’s effort… but he doesn’t stop there. “I hate it now, I hate it so much. I’m so annoyed that the gameplay’s so bad.” His main criticism is of the uncreative gym battles, seeing it as less of a game than a nostalgia trip for millenials. He does have some hope, however, admitting “yeah I see a future in it, if they improve the player interaction element, it could be great.”

Though couched in some pretty sanitary language, Jonathan’s hope is pretty emblematic of the power of Pokemon and in particular of Pokemon Go: it is a social game, which brings people together in a way like no other. As he puts it, “The social element is what keeps people coming back. Everyone really likes the people they play it with.”

Jonathan later told me that the reason he applied here to Oxford is because of the encouragement of a friend – who graduated last year – whom he met playing Pokemon. I’m not a gamer, and I don’t think I ever really will be, but this kind of story – of a game bringing people together – is not one that should be laughed off as a simple fad. So, when I said at the beginning that Pokemon was transcendent, I really (almost) meant it, after a fashion at least: maybe I should pick up my old Pokemon cards (at least a decade untouched) and give the game a fresh look, though I doubt I’ll be as avid a fan as Jonathan.

Eddie Ndopu, Oxford’s first disabled African student, might not be able to attend

Katherine Pye
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Eddie Ndopu, Oxford’s first disabled African student, might not be able to attend

Eddie Ndopu, a disability rights activist, is the first African student with a disability to be accepted into Oxford University. Beginning in Michaelmas 2016, he hopes to study for a Masters in Public Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government on a full academic scholarship; however, he still lacks the majority of the $33,000 he needs to pay the costs for an automated wheelchair and his carer, which Oxford’s scholarship does not cover.

Ndopu told The Daily Vox, “The reason why I chose this institution was because this particular programme is the only programme in the entire world that looks at public policy through a global lens.” Applying to Oxford whilst still recovering from surgery, he claims that when he received his offer he “didn’t believe it. I thought they made a mistake, but then I realised that I am an Oxford student.”

Originally from South Africa, Ndopu was diagnosed at the age of two with spinal muscular atrophy and given until the age of five to live. Now 25, he has a degree from Carleton University, Canada, where he served as a research analyst at the World Economic Forum. He was named one of the 30 greatest thinkers under 30 by Pacific Standard Magazine and was also head of the Youth Program for Africa at Amnesty International. In 2008, he was a member of the inaugural class of the African Leadership Academy.

In his own words he describes himself as, “the guy on wheels who refuses to rest until every single disabled person in the world, until every single beautifully black and brown disabled soul gets a fighting chance at living their best life.”

However, Ndopu may find himself unable to begin study in September, as the scholarship does not account for the costs of his disability needs. In response, Ndopu’s case has attracted significant attention and the campaign #OxfordEddiecated has been set up to crowdfund the $33,000 needed to cover the costs of an automated wheelchair and for a full-time carer to accompany him.

“They [Oxford] assumed that I would able-bodied, so they did not account for the 24-hour care I will need,” Ndopu told South Africa’s Mail & Guardian, “there is no visa category for a caregiver who needs to accompany an international student with a disability because this has never happened at Oxford.”

Hannah Jones, a DPhil student at Oxford writing for gal-dem online magazine, condemned the deficit in Ndopu’s scholarship. She wrote, “Eddie has highlighted an epic flaw in [Oxford’s] scholarships: an assumption that every scholar is able-bodied. Collectively, we need to wake up and create a more inclusive academia. This is our responsibility as human beings.

“Oxford University is an astronomically wealthy institution, and Eddie’s predicament is so incredibly frustrating, because the funds clearly exist and can be sourced through dialogue and organisation between the institution and the South African government.”

Oxford University has said in a statement, “We have awarded a place on our Master of Public Policy programme which is being accompanied by a full academic scholarship. The University provides high-quality support to staff and students with disabilities to meet their needs in work and study. Oxford fulfils the legal duty to make reasonable adjustments with the utmost care.

“In this case, we are also working hard to explore financial options which can sustain the type of all-round support already being funded and provided long-term to the applicant in his home country. We welcome the determined, enterprising and creative efforts being made to fulfil the opportunity to study at Oxford by the applicant and his many friends and supporters.”

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