Fruit flies think before they make decisions, according to Oxford neuroscientists.
The researchers, working at the university-based Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, trained the flies to avoid one out of two concentrations of an odour placed at either end of a small chamber. The flies then had to decide which end that was.

According to the research, published in the journal Science, when the difference in the two odours was smaller, the flies made up for this by “gathering information for longer”.

Lead author of the study, Dr. Shamik DasGupta, told Cherwell, “The time for flies to make a decision to choose an odour depends on the difficulty of the task.” These times varied from 1.5 seconds for the easier tasks and up to 3 seconds for the more difficult ones. He also explained that they, “walk inside the chamber as the chambers are too small to allow flying”.

Moreover, the researchers discovered that fruit flies with a mutation in a gene called FoxP had reduced “speed and accuracy” in making decisions. It effectively slowed down how long it took the flies to reach a state where they were ready to make a decision. Significantly, said Dr. DasGupta, “Some mutations in human FoxP homologues results in cognitive defects”, suggesting that the research could provide insight into the human brain.

According to Dr. DasGupta, “Some mechanistic aspects of decision making are possibly conserved between flies and humans”. Additionally, the same model used by the neurosci- entists to map how fruit flies make decisions, “Has successfully been used to explain human decision making.”

A study by Oxford University psychiatrists has demonstrated that some mental illnesses can reduce life expectancy more than heavy smoking. Researchers have found that serious mental illnesses reduce life expectancy by 10 to 20 years. This is approximately greater, or equal to, the number of years of life lost if a person is a heavy smoker.

The psychiatrists who conducted the study say that it demonstrates that mental health should be considered a public health priority.

It is estimated that one in four people in the UK experience some kind of mental health problem during the course of a year. In comparison, around 21% of British men and 19% women smoke cigarettes.

The study, published in the journal of World Psychiatry was conducted by reviewing the most systematic clinical studies on the mortality risk for a range of mental illnesses. Twenty review papers, with information about over 1.7 million individuals and over 250,000 deaths were used. Each illness studied showed an increased mortality risk, although the extent of this rise varied greatly. It was found that the average reduction in life expectancy in people with bipolar disorder is between nine and 20 years, while it is 10 to 20 years for schizophrenia, between nine and 24 years for drug and alcohol abuse, and around seven to 11 years for recurrent depression.

Dr Seena Fazel of the Department of Psychiatry at Oxford University commented, “Many causes of mental health problems also have physical consequences, and mental illness worsens the prognosis of a range of physical illnesses, especially heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Unfortunately, people with serious mental illnesses may not access healthcare effectively.”

Fazel believes that the reduction in life expectancy associated with mental illnesses can be reduced. “All of this can be changed. There are effective drug and psychological treatments for mental health problems.”

Tom Posa, a first year at Balliol said, “This study just confirms something everyone involved in college welfare already knows: that mental health issues can pose a massive threat to those they affect.”

Experts speaking at a recent panel discussion on stalking and harassment at the Oxford Union were surprised to find only one student in attendance.

The event, held on Tuesday, was due to feature experts on the topic, led by Jennifer Perry, who has worked on e-crime since 2005 and wrote the UK Guidelines on Digital Risks for victims of domestic violence and stalking in 2012.

Among the other speakers was Dr. Emma Short, Director at the Cyberstalking Research Centre, and Harry Fletcher, a Parliamentary campaigner and ex-Assistant General Secretary of NAPO. Alys Key, a student at Somerville who was the only person to attend the event, said in a public Facebook status, “Sadly, due to a lack of attendees (I was the only person there), the event was cancelled at the last minute.

“I managed to chat to the speakers (who were having conciliatory refreshments at the Union’s expense).

“We ended up having an in-depth discussion about the problems facing women today in Oxford and beyond.”

She told Cherwell, “I think that the low attendance was due to a combination of factors. Firstly, there’s the obvious bad press around the Union at the moment which might have led some people to think it wasn’t really an appropriate space for this discussion.

“Then there was the organisation of the event itself; I only found out about it a couple of days beforehand from a Facebook Event. Only about 20 people had clicked ‘attending’ and looking through the names it was obvious these were all Union committee members.

“There was also the Guild-Union garden party going on at the same time, and use of other rooms in the building meant the panel discussion was to be held in the TV room – somewhere I’ve never been before and which feels quite out-of-the-way.

“When I actually found the event, I was the only person there and one of the speakers told me that they were going to have to cancel.”
She added, “I don’t think the poor attendance necessarily shows anything about Oxford students’ views on sexual violence, though one does have to wonder how much the poor turnout was due to the Union’s reputation at the moment.”

A spokesperson for the Union told Cherwell, “Due to a lack of uptake, the Union decided to reschedule the event for Michaelmas 2014.

“This was agreed by all parties involved –we remain committed to offering platforms through which we can combat issues of sexual violence, both within the University and beyond.”

This comes in a week where the OUSU Women’s Campaign has urged students wearing sub fusc for exams to wear a white ribbon, pledging, “never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women, and to stand with the survivors of gender violence.”

The Oxford Chinese Students and Scholars Association (OXCSSA) has come under criticism from an anonymous whistleblower for a lack of democracy in the election of its senior members.

A translation of the Chinese language version of the society’s constitution, available on the OXCSSA website, reveals substantial differences between the Chinese and English language versions of the society constitution. In practice, the Chinese version appears to be the document by which the society is governed.

Article X of the Chinese language constitution specifies that “Ordinary members do not have the right to vote or stand for election”. The translation of a society newsletter confirmed that ordinary members, while able to attend the upcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM), are unable to run for election or vote.

An email translation suggests that the society, which has approximately 2,500 members, invited only around eighty to attend its AGM last year.

Such a state of affairs would be a potential violation of the Proctors’ rules on society affiliation, according to the pro-forma constitution for non-sport societies.

A University spokesperson confirmed, “Clubs registered with the Proctors are required to follow the rules laid out in the constitution.

The Proctors’ Office is happy to advise individual clubs on specific issues as necessary and to listen to feedback on the constitution. A review of the general oversight of clubs has been agreed and will commence shortly”.

The English language version of the OXCSSA constitution, which is understood to have been submitted to the Proctors’ Office in 2011, uses the template constitution for non-sport societies specified by the University website. In the English language version, all members of the society are eligible to vote, and are entitled to be informed of the Annual General Meeting at least two weeks in advance.

The Chinese version of the constitution also allows the President to appoint all the secretaries and the Treasurer, who in turn are allowed to vote in the society’s Presidential elections. In the University-approved English language version, Committee members are supposed to be elected at the AGM.

The Chinese language constitution also stipulates that the President of OXCSSA instead interviews candidates for positions on the Committee, which approximately eighty to ninety members sit on. Only members of the Committee are permitted to vote for the President.

The whistleblower commented, “it is so interesting that even for the Chinese people living on a western country’s soil, they are still using China’s model of ‘democracy’, by the way of cheating the University with a ‘western style’ constitution that has never been acted in accordance with.”

This is not the first time that a CSSA society has been criticized for a lack of democracy. In 2011 the Cambridge version was disaffiliated from the university after the President decided to continue for a second term without an election.

OXCSSA has been made aware of Cherwell’s investigation, but has not replied to the allegations.

A motion has passed to subsidise the purchase of Mooncups by members of Hertford JCR.

The motion stated, “Re-usable menstrual cups, such as the Mooncup, are better for the environment, pose fewer health risks and are cheaper for their users in the long run than tampons and pads.” It went on to note that JCR members might be put off from buying them due to their initial high fixed-cost, and that, “Subsidising the cost of menstrual cups would be a sustainable way for the JCR to support its female members and encourage members to consider the environmental consequences of other sanitary products.”

Ayla Ansari, who proposed the motion, said, “I proposed the motion in order to get people using Mooncups because I know that many people haven’t heard of them or might think they’re just a bit gross and excessively hippy but this really isn’t true.

They’re far, far more environmentally friendly – the average woman uses 11,000 pads or tampons in her lifetime which all go to landfill or are incinerated. One menstrual cup, on the other hand, can last for 10 years.”

She added, “Talking about menstruation shouldn’t be considered a social taboo, especially when at the same time women are expected to shell out money every month which does add up and there is no equivalent necessary expenditure for men which women do not buy.”

Kate Guariento, a member of the Hertford Feminists group, seconded the motion, and she explained why she had chosen to do so. She told Cherwell, “I decided to second the Mooncup motion because I think that more women should be encouraged to opt for sanitary products that are less harmful not only to the environment, but also to their bodies. We hoped that a JCR subsidy would encourage people who might otherwise be put off by the expensive upfront cost – about £20, though it’s far cheaper in the long run!”

However, the motion was not passed without controversy. Having originally requested full subsidy for any Mooncups bought within the JCR, it was eventually passed in an amended form which stated that members would be subsidised half the cost of any Mooncups bought, with an annual cap of £500 on JCR money spent on Mooncups.

Arguments raised against the motion included the point that if Mooncups were such good value for money, they should not have to be subsidised. Another concern was that JCR members may purchase Mooncups to try them out, then stop using them, thus wasting JCR money.

However, Josh Platt, Hertford JCR President, was pleased that the motion eventually passed. He said, “The motion to subsidise Mooncups was brought forward as a way for the JCR to show it support towards our female members and towards the environment.

“Originally, the proposers of the motion asked for a full reimbursement, but after a healthy debate in our meeting, everyone was agreed that a 50% subsidy, capped at a total cost of £500 for the year, was the fairest way to settle things. I’m glad that the JCR is now able to help women with the costs of purchasing a Mooncup and I am sure that the cap of £500 will not stop anyone who wants to take up this offer from doing so. I know that other JCRs have already passed motions to a similar effect, and I hope that many more will continue to champion green policies in any way that they see fit.”

The Mooncup, a silicone menstrual cup which can be used as an alternative to tampons and sanitary towels, is reusable and retails at between £15 to £20.

Only one percent of students give money on a weekly basis to people who are begging on the street, a new survey by OUSU has revealed.

The survey, part of OUSU’s On Your Doorstep campaign, asked 1192 students about their attitudes towards homeless people in Oxford.
Ninety-four per cent of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that homelessness was a big problem in Oxford.

However, the survey has revealed an alarming lack of awareness about what students should do if they see someone sleeping rough; ninety-four per cent of respondents said they were unsure or didn’t know who to contact if they saw someone who was sleeping rough.

OUSU advice currently states that students should contact the charity StreetLink if they see someone sleeping rough.

Accepting that there was a problem with student awareness, OUSU’s Community and Charity rep Emily Silcock told Cherwell that the survey “seems to show that homelessness is really something that students are concerned about, but we’re often not very sure what to do about it.

“The aim of OUSU’s ‘On Your Doorstep’ campaign is to allow students to become informed and act on these issues. We aim to ensure that every student in Oxford knows who to contact if they see someone rough sleeping.

“We are planning on making this information very obvious to next year’s freshers, as well as organising awareness events and hopefully getting exposure in the student press.”

Jesus college student, Aida Alonzo, agreed with the need for more student awareness ofhow to tackle homelessness, “I think it would be good to see information on how to help the homeless made accessible to students. From talking to peers and trying to get them involved in homeless action I get the sense that in a lot of cases the enthusiasm is there but students just don’t know how they should help. I myself remain unsure!”

The findings demonstrate an overwhelming discrepancy between reality and students’ perceptions of the causes of homelessness, with thirty-six per cent of students believing drug and alcohol addiction to be the highest factor in causing someone to be on the street. In reality, relationship breakdown was the most common cause at forty-one per cent, which only ten per cent of students assumed to be the largest factor.

Meanwhile, only two per cent of respondents thought that leaving prison was the most common cause of homelessness, when in reality it is responsible for a quarter of homeless people living on Oxford’s streets.

Former coordinator of the Homeless Action Group Amy Ertan told Cherwell that she is “not too surprised by these discrepancies on the believed causes of homelessness. The fact is homelessness is usually the result of several things going wrong, often out of the control of the person in question. Factors such as poor mental health and relationship isolation are huge contributors to the insecurity that can lead to someone sleeping rough or sleeping without stable housing.”

Sixty-five per cent of students thought that at least half of all homeless people were suffering from mental health problems, yet the real figure is closer to one in four. Similarly, sixty-nine per cent of respondents thought that at least half of all homeless people had some sort of addiction problem, while statistics from the charity Homeless Link claim that under two-fifths of homeless people have drug problems.

The survey also brought up the issue of giving money to people begging on the street. Forty-five per cent of respondents “never give money to people who are begging”, while thirty-five per cent were “unsure as to whether giving money directly to people who are begging is a good thing.”

Almost all of the services in Oxford currently support the campaign ‘Your Kindness Can Kill,’ which advises against giving money, food, or anything else to people who are on the streets. Homeless charity Broadway has said that the biggest thing that students could do to help people who are rough sleeping is to stop giving money to people who are begging.

St Hugh’s student Amy Ertan told Cherwell that while ‘Your Kindness Can Kill’ has great intentions, “there needs to be more emphasis on other ways to help… for example, buying a Big Issue from a registered seller is supporting a long-term solution that helps someone stand on their own two feet.”

Meanwhile, the survey suggested that more students are volunteering for homeless charities than regularly give money to people begging. Three per cent of students are said to volunteer at least “once a week”, while sixteen per cent volunteer less than once a month.

Students around Oxford have been wearing white ribbons this week to protest against violence against women.

Starting this Monday, the OUSU Women’s Campaign is encouraging students to wear white ribbons on their exam subfusc along with a carnation, and to post a selfie on Facebook with the caption, “Wearing this white ribbon, I pledge never to commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. The damage that gender-based violence can do should never be underestimated yet frequently is.”

Sarah Pine, OUSU VP for Women and one of the organisers of the campaign in Oxford, told Cherwell, “We’ve got through about 350 ribbons since Monday. Some JCR presidents have been particularly keen and have picked up lots for their finalists.”

She continued, “The feedback has been great; people seem really keen. Lots of people recognise how prevalent sexual violence is; one in four women experience sexual assault during their time at university. However, survivors can feel isolated because of the broader culture of stigma and silence around sexual violence. By wearing a ribbon, students show that they support survivors, even those who have never spoken out. The message of the white ribbon is powerful: never commit, condone or remain silent around violence against women.”

Susannah Moody, a second-year at St Anne’s supporting the campaign, explained why she is supporting the campaign, “the damage inflicted by gender-based violence often lasts long after any physical signs have faded. I’m wearing this ribbon in the hope that those who go through this know that they are not alone and that there are many out there who are working to raise awareness and are willing to listen.”

Moody’s views were echoed by Lucy McCann, an Exeter fresher who is planning to wear her ribbon during prelims, “This is an important symbolic act of solidarity on behalf of Oxford students and students elsewhere who have suffered gendered violence. “

The Oxford campaign was inspired by the ‘red tape’ protest at the University of Columbia in the US. Last week, students at Columbia wore red tape on their caps during graduation in protest against the University’s “woefully inadequate” response to sexual violence on campus.

To obtain a white ribbon, students can email Sarah Pine at women@ousu.org

Anna Bazley, a member of Standing Committee, has handed in her resignation due to “an irreconcilable conflict in personal loyalties and priorities.”

In her resignation letter sent to President Ben Sullivan, the Returning Officer and other members of Standing Committee, among others, Bazley said, “It is with regret and relief that I write to tender my resignation as a member of Standing Committee. Unfortunately, due to an irreconcilable conflict in personal loyalties and priorities, I am unable to continue in my role on committee.

“I’m sorry this communication comes at such a delicate time, but as many of you are aware this is a decision I have been contemplating for a while, and having made up my mind thought it best to inform committee as soon as possible, to ensure that my successor can have a smooth transition into their new role.”

Bazley continued, “I wish the committee and the Union all the best.”

Ben Sullivan, President of the Union, commented, “We are very sad to hear of Anna’s resignation. She made a great contribution to the Society while on Standing Committee and helped to organise an excellent debate earlier this term. We wish her all the best for the future.”