Oxford students appear largely unfazed by the revelation that some colleges have been serving halal meat without informing students.

An investigation carried out by student journalists at the Birmingham Tab last week found that out of the 35 Oxbridge colleges who responded to the survey, only two did not serve halal meat in any form. In particular, Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville College were found to be serving halal meat without labelling.

The investigation involved sending Freedom of Information requests to 126 universities, with only 25 responding. The study found that nationwide, nearly half of the universities that responded are serving halal meat without making students aware.

‘Halal’ refers to objects permissible by Islamic law, extending not only to food and drink but also to other matters of daily life. For meat to be halal, the animal must be killed using a sharp knife to make a swift, deep incision that cuts from the front of the throat, the carotid artery, windpipe, and jugular veins, whilst the slaughter is accompanied by a prayer.

European animal welfare regulations currently require all farm animals to be stunned before they are killed, but religious methods of slaughter such as halal or shechita (a similar process for the preparation of Jewish meat) are exempt. However, the Halal Food Authority permits stunning the animal before slaughter, and statistics show that 88% of Britain’s halal meat comes from animals that have been stunned.

The findings come in the wake of a media furore after it was discovered last month that unlabelled halal meat had been served in supermarkets and restaurants.

The response from Oxford students, however, has been far more subdued.

A spokesperson for Oxford Students for Animals told Cherwell, “[We] object to any methods of slaughter which cause needless suffering for animals, but we find the focus on halal strikingly narrow-minded. People would do well to reflect on the vast suffering almost all animals raised for food experience, regardless of whether they count as halal or not.”

Likewise, a first year Magdalen PPEist commented, “It does surprise me that some colleges are serving halal meat without informing students”, but added, “it would not bother me if I found out my college was doing the same.”

He continued, “Most animals slaughtered for halal meat are pre-stunned so there aren’t strong ethical objections to colleges doing this. The only real problem here, if there is one, is that students who do only eat halal meat would not know that it’s available at their college.”

In a statement to Cherwell, a spokesperson for Oxford University Islamic Society commented, “We don’t think there is any harm in making a case for clearer labeling so that consumers can make an informed choice according to their own personal preference.”

Commenting on the recent media coverage of unmarked halal meat, they continued, “We think that there is a possibility that the whole media attention has something to do with Islamophobia. The terminology used, such as ‘stealthy takeover’, ‘Islamification of food’, seems to suggest that this has something to do with a fear of the other.”

They added, “We are not saying that we should shut down any debate on how animals can be slaughtered in a more humane fashion. A debate that raises public awareness of these issues is sorely needed.

“But we get the nagging feeling that some participants in this debate are not concerned with animal rights.”

An anonymous vegetarian remarked, “I think there are a lot of double standards within the halal meat debate; people are far too ready to criticise specific, in this case religious, practices, without looking at the problematic nature of the meat industry as a whole. You’re eating dead things either way, and the pedantics of how it died are largely irrelevant.”

However, another student told Cherwell, “We have the right to know exactly where the meat that is served in colleges comes from. Then it is up to the individual to choose whether or not to eat it, according to their views.

“I think it is really important that colleges admit to serving it. Personally, if I knew that the meat being served was halal, I would avoid eating it, as I do not want to in any way support this cruelty towards animals.”

The University declined to comment.

The annual Student Experience Survey carried out by Times Higher Education has placed Oxford fourth of 111 UK universities.

The poll saw over 14,000 undergraduates quizzed on aspects such as lecture provision, societies, welfare and facilities.

It placed the University of Sheffield at the top of the table, up from its position in third last year. Sheffield’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for learning and teaching, Paul White, said, “It shows that we have a good all-round offer, excelling on both the academic and social sides”.

White cited the University’s move to provide academic skills classes and the opportunity to learn a foreign language – available across the whole university – as helping Sheffield grab the top spot.

The report on the Times Higher Education website also noted that students and staff at Sheffield hold the Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously flipping pancakes.

Second-year Sheffield student Chris Musgrave told Cherwell, “The opportunities are infinite, it’s such a welcoming environment.”

Coming joint fourth with the University of Dundee, with a score of 82.8, Oxford ranks just above Cambridge, which came a close fifth. Oxford scored highly in the academic categories, notably getting at 6.5 in the category of ‘high quality staff/lecturers’ and a 6.4 in the category of ‘helpful/interested staff’.

However, in the category of ‘fair workload’ both Oxford and Cambridge universities came at the bottom of the table. Another mutual weak point was ‘good students’ union’ with Oxford scoring a very low 4.1. Both also scored very low in the category of ‘cheap bar/shop amenities’, an understandable result given the March 2014 Lloyd’s bank report, which found that Oxford was the UK’s least affordable city.

Oxford scored very highly in the category ‘good social life’, clocking up an average six points from a seven-point scale, on par with universities such as Birmingham, Glasgow and Liverpool. Cambridge, on the other hand, came in with a shoddy 5.6 – the lowest of the twenty-five top-ranked universities. Oxford also scored very highly was in ‘good sports facilities’. Here the university scored a 5.6 compared to Cambridge’s 5.3.

A fresher studying Physical Natural Sciences at Cambridge said, “It’s not true that Cambridge students don’t have a life. I went to a JCR meeting last week. It was really good”.

The survey also asked students whether they would recommend their university to a friend. Oxford scored a reasonably high 6.4, coming in slightly lower than Cambridge and Sheffield’s 6.5.

Oxford students were eager to corroborate the survey’s findings. Second year English student Kate Guariento remarked, “I’m very pleased that the table reflects the outstanding social provision for which Oxford is famous – nay, venerated. In the words of my favourite stomping ground – let the good times roll!”

A first-year History student at Magdalen commented, “The University’s on point with the teaching, I would just say that it is the variety of cheap amenities and accommodation that is the problem. I love Oxford but it is definitely expensive.”

A first-year Law student noted, “I don’t need a survey to tell me life is better here than in Cambridge, but generally I have little to complain about except the rain.” However, an anonymous fresher at Hertford College complained, “I still have too much work.”

A spokesperson from the University of Oxford commented, “We’re always pleased to be listed highly in any table like this”.

There may be a new link between generosity and trustworthiness according to new research conducted by Oxford University.

The research looked into the signals we rely on to decide who is trustworthy, with findings showing that we tend to distrust those who are stingy with their money. The study claimed that stingy people were also more likely to lie about their generosity to present themselves in a better light.

The researchers set up an experiment in which participants played interactive games in which they had to decide who to trust, based on information about the generosity of other players in previous games.

Researcher Dr. Wojtek Przepiorka, from the Department of Sociology at the university, said, “When acts of generosity occur naturally with no concern for how they are perceived by others, they can be effective signals of trustworthiness. Charity balls are places where people can openly display their generosity, but in this case because people know they are going to be observed, this might be a strategic gesture and less telling of their true character.

“We regard acts of genuine generosity as those produced spontaneously and these are widely seen as a reliable indicator of trustworthiness, even when they are small gestures.”

Professor Diego Gambetta, an Official Fellow at Nuffield College commented, “Our experiments showed that cheating comes in clusters- a large portion of people who were mean were also prepared to lie about it, and those who lied were much more untrustworthy, as if one sin promotes another. It appears that people widely regard generosity and trustworthiness as being “cut from the same cloth” as far as human characteristics are concerned.

“However, some people display generosity when it is likely to be in their own advantage. In our experiments, we also find that those who are guilty of ‘strategic’ displays of generosity themselves are more likely to spot strategic generosity in others.”

One first year student from New College noted, “This is interesting research, though I’m not too sure how applicable it is in real life.”

Another said, “I am slightly concerned that this study has jumped to conclusions too quickly. There could be other factors that the study has failed to consider.”

A serious outbreak of mumps at Brasenose has drawn concern from students who are critical of the college and JCR’s handling of the incident.

According to the most recent university report, there are currently 20 cases of mumps at Brasenose, including at least 10 “live” cases.

On Monday, Brasenose JCR President Henry Zeffman made undergraduates aware of an outbreak of mumps at the college via e-mail. He added that unwell students had been given the option of going home or being quarantined in college for five days from the onset of symptoms.

Students living in college quarantine have reportedly been confined to their rooms and given access to a bathroom in a specific staircase. Brasenose Hall staff have been delivering them three hot meals a day, free of charge.

Despite concerns about contagious students, Brasenose JCR nevertheless held a literary character-themed bop this weekend for approximately 100 people in the college bar and the new Babylove. Zeffman told Cherwell that he and JCR Entz Rep Liam Langley had spoken to college authorities about potentially cancelling the event for medical reasons, but were given the all-clear.

“It is clearly unfortunate that there has been a small outbreak of mumps at Brasenose at a time when many people, particularly finalists,
are under considerable stress,” Zeffman told Cherwell.

“I am satisfied that College has taken the correct precautionary measures throughout. The Bop went ahead on the advice of the College authorities, who are receiving medical advice from the College Doctor and the College
Nurse.”

Nevertheless, the Brasenose bop drew national attention when an anonymous student was quoted in the Daily Mail criticising the JCR and college’s decision to continue with the event.

Speaking to the Mail, a third-year English student called the event “absolutely ridiculous”.

They told the Mail, “We got an email from the college nurse telling everyone to be wary of mumps and then two days later we had a massive party. 

“This place is like a ghost town – so many people have either gone home because they don’t want to get sick, or are lying in bed ill. This is exam season – these are the most important exams of my life, so I really don’t want to get
ill. It’s so irresponsible for the JCR not to cancel the bop on Saturday night.”

Mumps cases have also been reported at St. Hilda’s College.

Students have been encouraged to go home for five days after displaying symptoms, which develop after a two-to three-week incubation period and include high fever, joint pain, and swelling of parotid glands just below the ears.

Oxford Professor of Circadian Neuroscience, Russell Foster, has claimed that we are getting as much as two hours less sleep per night compared to sixty years ago.

In an article published by the BBC, Professor Foster and other sleep experts warned that in the modern world, too much use of gadgets late at night and reliance on caffiene to stay awake is evidence of us becoming “arrogant” in our attitude to our body clocks.

Citing teenagers as particularly bad offenders, Foster recalls meeting those who needed sleeping tablets in the evening and multiple energy drinks in the morning to function properly.

Cherwell spoke to some students with odd sleeping habits. One commented, “I was sleeping between twelve and fifteen hours a day, but this was during the day. So I’d wake up at night and generally go to bed at about 5 or 6 am. I only usually woke up if I had a tute to go to.”

Tom Nicholls, a first year physicist at Hertford, recalls having problems with sleep at the beginning of the university year. “In the earlier terms I had days when I just didn’t sleep. I even broke the forty-eight hour mark at one point.”

Alex Benn, a first year archaeology and anthropology student, cited access to technology as a cause of bad sleeping habits. He commented, “Generally, I browse the internet until I get so exhausted that I fall asleep.”

Another believed that the conundrum of balancing work and social life is the culprit. “Stuff builds up, and then also you’re so stressed that you can’t sleep. The only time you can socialise properly is 10pm onwards.”

Hertford Welfare Rep Gabriel Nicklin advised that students attempt to sleep better, especially during the exam period. He explained, “By that I mean getting into a good sleep rhythm. It may seem impossible during term time, but if I manage to get at least eight hours a night for three or four days on the trot I feel like a different person.

“Much better than sleeping for four hours for a few nights then lying in for twelve hours. If you can get into a good pattern in the run up to an exam, it will help you think more rationally and access that information you have been cramming in during revision much easier.”

Items were stolen from a student’s room in Christ Church accommodation on Monday evening.

A suspicious looking man was caught on CCTV footage walking around trying to open doors at the Blue Boar and Peck student accommodation at around 8pm on Monday.

He was reported by two junior members of the college. One of the students told Cherwell, “We saw him trying to force entry into the main doors of the first year buildings, even checking the laundry room. Two of us immediately went to inform the porters, and we trawled through the CCTV until we found him.”

The intruder was able to get into one student’s room and steal a laptop and an iPad. The student, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed that the intruder had broken in and stated that he discovered that the items were missing, “later that evening on returning to my room.”

The police have since taken someone into custody in connection with the burglary, however, the stolen items have not yet been recovered.

Christ Church Dean, the Very Rev. Christopher Lewis, commented that, “I am sorry to hear that such valuable items were stolen. It is very good to know that a suspect has been apprehended. However, students shouldn’t prop staircase doors open, or leave their rooms unlocked when they are out. We’ve got to be very careful about security within the college. We have good CCTV but people are coming and going through the entrance all the time so we need to be vigilant and that applies to everybody.”

Oxford students have voted to disaffiliate from the National Union of Students. 

The ‘No’ campaign, headed by NUS delegate and former OUCA President Jack Matthews, prevailed in this week’s affiliation referendum with 1780 votes to 1652 votes in favour of remaining affiliated. 

The elections had a 15% turnout and a 0.9% abstention rate.

‘No’ campaign leader Jack J Matthews told Cherwell, “I’m really pleased about the result. We’ve sent a really strong message to the NUS this week that there is the need for some real change in the NUS, and I really do hope they listen to us, deliver that change, speak to us, and hopefully one day we will have an NUS that Oxford will be more than happy to join once again.”

Commenting on the turnout, he continued, “I am absolutely astounded, really really pleased that Oxford students engaged with this referendum, because if we look back the turnout for this referendum rivals turnouts even for vice-Presidential elections, so I’m really pleased that we got a high turnout. Both campaigns worked really hard to turn out the vote, so I am grateful to everyone, no matter what side they are on, for being part of this process.” 

Tom Rutland, OUSU President and leader of the ‘Yes’ campaign told Cherwell, ”I’m obviously disappointed with the result, having campaigned for OUSU to stay in the NUS.  My year as President has shown me the benefits of NUS membersip, and that it  can be a real lifeline to me and the other officers, but also to Oxford students in general. I think the result is a shame, there’s some really great students campaigns still going, that this will be a brief uncoupling, and that next year we will be reaffiliated to the NUS.”

OUSU President-elect, Louis Trup, commented, “The voice of students is my priority. A majority of the student voice wanted us to disaffiliate. It may give a lot of people, especially those working in campaigns, a harder job, however, I reckon OUSU is up to the challenge. The people you have elected to serve in OUSU will still work hard for every Oxford student and we as a student body will have to step up and prove that we can have a voice at a national level. If we want to give the NUS a wakeup call, we need to show them how great we can be without them. Get involved next year to make sure this happens.”

The Sabbatical team-elect commented, “We as a sabbatical team were supporting the YES2NUS campaign, but we also passionately believe in and love Oxford. We remain completely committed to serving Oxford students to the best of our abilities. #Yes2Oxford.”

Eleanor Sharman, of the No campaign, commented, “We are delighted with the result, and I am so proud of Oxford for standing up and making itself heard. The ‘Yes’ campaign worked incredibly hard and the close result is testament to its passion and commitment. I look forward to Oxford’s development next year.”

Nathan Akehurst, who ran for OUSU presidency earlier this year told Cherwell, “I think this sends bad signals to the outside world. It’s a classic case of Oxbridge arrogance. I think Oxford will lose a lot from not being part of a national student movement. However, we’ve got to accept that this is what students wanted, there was an incredibly high turnout, and the close result is something to be proud of. It shows that both campaigns tried incredibly hard to engage students in a way that you don’t always see in student politics.”

Joe Miles, also from the ‘No’ campaign told Cherwell that the NUS had “massive problems with democracy” commenting, “I am extremely happy that we are no longer part of an institution that has shown time and time again that it is not interested in listening to us and shows no signs of doing so in the future. I thought voter apathy would lead to a Yes vote so I’m pleasantly surprised.”  

Returning Officer Alex Walker told Cherwell after the results were announced, “In my report I’ll be quite damning of them. People were breaking the rules left right and centre and there was nothing I could do about it”.

OUSU Council decided to call a all-student referendum in Hilary Term, after the defeat of a motion to hold a Special Council, to which JCRs would have sent delegates to vote on their behalf. Proponents of a Special Council had argued that given historically-low OUSU referendum turnouts, it would have been more democratic for the debate to take place in common rooms. However, OUSU Council decided that because opting for a Special Council would exclude members of disaffiliated JCRs from voting, holding an all-student referendum was the preferable option.