Wadham College knitters have worked their way through over 3kg (30 balls) of wool in four days in a bid to raise money for breast cancer. The sponsored knit was organised by Wadham SU Women’s Officers Emilie Lambert and Hayley Cowan, and over forty students are already involved. Cowan commented, “I’ve had to go and stock up supplies of knitting needles to keep up with demand.”

Everyone who is taking part in the knit has been supplied by charities with needles and wool, but supplies are running low as students have already worked their way through 3kg of wool. Knitting classes are being run in college. Knitters are being sponsored per every length of knitting (i.e. 50p/20cm), aiming for a minimum of £20 to be raised per person, with an overall target of £600.

SU President, Jahnavi Emmanuel, commented, “I think the sponsored knit is a great idea as a wayof raising both money and awareness of breast cancer. Students have responded really well to itwith lots of people going to the group knitting sessions everyday.”

Both men and women are getting involved in the knit. Cowan told Cherwell, “Considering it’s an event run by Women’s Officers, I’m pleased with the number of men involved “It’s actually getting pretty competitive between knitters. I’ve knitted just under a metre (it’s been 4 days) but when my work is done for the week I’m going to up my game.’ James Fotherby, a student taking part, said, “It is actually really easy to knit and anyone can learn in under 5 minutes.”

At the end of the two weeks money from sponsors will be collected and the knitting will be used to yarnbomb a tree in college. Wadham SU Vice President, Alexander Cibulskis, commented, “I’m not sure how we plan to get the knitting off the tree, but we won’t let that unravel our plans!”

Sponsor them here.

The college tortoise has been a ubiquitous and much loved fixture of Oxford life for decades, but last week Merton bucked the trend as its JCR voted in favour of adopting a college tapir instead.

The decision to adopt the exotic pig came after widespread disappointment at the college’s failure to acquire a tortoise. The Original General Meeting agenda outlined the situation:

“1. Since the JCR’s deeply disappointing failure to acquire a college tortoise, morale among the undergraduate student body has been decidedly low.

2. This trend can be directly attributed to the absence of cute, vaguely exotic animals in college life.

3. The tapir is the archetypal cute, vaguely exotic animal.”

The agenda also notes that “tapirs are much cooler than pelicans”. Samuel Dickinson, who proposed the motion, explained that the animal is a “cross between a pig and an ant-eater.”

The minutes from the meeting record some of the anxieties Merton undergraduates expressed about the adoption of a tapir. One member asked, “Will the tapir be on the desk in Front Quad with the monkey?” but was reassured that “it’s big enough for both.”

Another undergraduate raised the concern that the animal is “fucking ugly”. 

Despite these issues, the motion was passed and the JCR is in the process of arranging for a trip to be made to the zoo where the animal lives.

Dickinson expressed delight that his motion had been carried and explained that the idea of adopting a tapir was not as illogical as it might sound: “I happened to be flicking through the OUSU Alternative Prospectuses from 1984 and ‘85 (as you do) and saw that Merton apparently  adopted a tapir during the eighties, so there’s something of a historical connection there.”

He expressed doubt that the tapir would be able to reverse Merton’s recent slide in the Norrington table, telling Cherwell “As far as academic prowess is concerned I don’t know whether a tapir-only college would be capable of coming higher in the Norrington table than 14th.”

On the plus side he commented, “I have heard that Tengui (the Malayan tapir we’re adopting) is a big fan of non-linear mathematics and can complete the Times cryptic crossword in under five minutes.”

Despite what he described as a “broadly enthusiastic” attitude toward the tapir adoption across the JCR, he acknowledged that “it may not fill the tortoise-shaped hole in our hearts, even if it does fill the slightly smaller tapirshaped one we never realised was there.”

A third year at Merton commented, “Although the JCR toy monkey, our mascot, is a faithful friend, there’s nothing quite like a cutesy tapir. I’m all for it. I just hope the monkey doesn’t feel upset.”

Not all students shared his enthusiasm. One second year English student, who asked not be named, told Cherwell,“I’ve never heard anything so ridiculous. I mean, what even is a tapir. It’s this kind of nonsense that’s responsible for the college’s drop in the Norrington Table.” 

Radcliffe Humanities, formerly the Radcliffe Infirmary, was officially opened on Monday by the Vice-Chancellor and Head of Humanities. Two public paths through the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter have been promised, one of which is already open.

The building already houses the Humanities Divisional Office, the Faculty of Philosophy, and the Philosophy and Theology Libraries. Work on the Maths building in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter is due to finish by Michaelmas Term 2013. The project is currently on time and budget.

At the official opening of Radcliffe Humanities, Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton and Head of Humanities Professor Shearer West cut a ribbon, a flag was raised, and the replica of the 1858 fountain of Triton was turned on. The new statue cost £45,000; the original is to be housed indoors in the Observatory Quarter.

A University spokesman described the event as “well attended by those involved in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter project and other interested people.”

The spokesman added, “There will be two public walkways across the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, allowing the public easier access between Woodstock Road and Walton Street.

“There are currently no plans to use the  Radcliffe Humanities for public displays. But there will be public artworks on the R.O.Q. [Radcliffe Observatory Quarter] and a number of events and lectures in various buildings to which all will be invited.

”Mike Wigg, Head of Capital Projects at Estates Services, said, “The project has largely taken the building back to the layouts that were in place when the building was first constructed. The end wings, which were ward blocks, have been converted into open-plan office areas, so in many ways we have kept the original concept of the design.”

The Blavatnik School of Government, which currently occupies the former Philosophy Library on Merton Street, is also due to have a new building in the Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, though planning permission has not yet been granted. 

Two colleges, St Anne’s and St Catz, are in fierce competition in the upcoming ‘Movember’ to raise the most funds for charity and promote awareness for men’s health. The captains and JCR Charity Reps, Ben Rosenbaum (St Anne’s) and Danny Smith (St Catz), are encouraging their colleges to don the mo through November. The losing Charities Rep has to forfeit by keeping his moustache till Christmas. Rosenbaum added: “I’m hoping that my team aren’t going to jump at the chance to make me look stupid for two months instead of one, but if all of them start donating to the Catz team I only have myself to blame.”

The St Anne’s team currently stands at 27 members. Ben said, “Lots of people have been pretty keen to sign up, partly because plenty of St Anners think with their stomachs and everyone who raises £25 or more gets a free burger each day between 7th-20th November at Byron. I’m hoping to see a lot of moustachioed Magdalen students – they couldn’t have timed their Hall boycott any better!”

Matt Waller, second year PPEist, said, “Despite only being co-educational since 1979, I believe Anne’s has saved up enough testosterone to grow some pretty flamboyant lip hair. Surely enough to brush St Catz aside.” Joe Collin, fellow competitor and second year History student, added, “The moment I grew sideburns I thought the bullying about a lack of facial hair was no more. That wasn’t the case but I’m prepared for a month of ridicule for a good cause.”

St Anne’s are looking to get everyone involved: Rosenbaum claimed, “Girls have been signing up too as Mo Sistas, and I think a few of the porters and the kitchen staff are keen to get involved as well.”

However, Danny Smith of St Catz believes they will be tough competition. He said, “In Catz we currently have around 30 people signed up, and are still very much on the recruitment drive, hoping to have around double that participating in total. I am currently pushing for a ‘Movember’- themed Entz [bop] in fifth week, and other than that I believe that people in college will get and are getting into the spirit – it’s a good community builder as well as a great cause!” He predicts a win for Catz: “I personally have had to start already – despite being 21 years of age my facial hair growth is pretty pathetic – all the more incentive not to lose out to Ben and Anne’s!”

“It is very much a friendly rivalry and we are looking to perhaps have some joint celebration towards the end of term. The charity raises awareness and understanding about men’s health. It is crucial, and has some way to go to match comparative initiatives, such as Race for Life has done for breast cancer. Movember’s funds are strategically distributed amongst partner organisations undertaking an important and wide range of functions from direct research to improving awareness.”

Last year , Movember raised £79.3million around the world, which has been put into scientific research and into education and awareness-raising programmes. Lincoln, Brasenose, Corpus, Somerville and LMH are also joining the inter-collegiate Mo-Off.

The extensive demolition of a large part of the new Bodleian Library was revealed earlier this week as scaffolding came down from the Broad Street building site. 

The building has been undergoing reconstruction over the past two years. This new development gives an indication of the change that is taking place in the architecture of central Oxford.

The New Bodleian, constructed in the 1930’s to house a vast and varied collection of literature and manuscripts, was designed to be a fortress and was further reinforced during the bombardment of the Second World War.

While the original building adhered to the traditional Oxford quad design, the new build, dubbed the Weston Project, hopes to open up this central space and make it more publicly accessible. The glass fronted building will face out onto Broad Street and the Old Bodleian library. The project is on schedule, working towards an opening for students in Autumn 2014 with an official opening in Spring 2015. It has cost more than £80 million, coming from a wide variety of sources.

Whilst the architect acknowledged that “the existing building is in one of the most historically sensitive parts of the city” it appeared that there was need for development. New reading rooms, research facilities and exhibition space will be added. With regards to the destruction of the building, Suzanne de la Rosa, a spokesperson for the Bodleian Libraries, said,  “in order for us to have the calibre of building and the sort of spaces that were needed for users, staff and collections the interior of the building did need to be revamped. We feel the end result will be a good mix of the old and the new.”

She added that refurbishment of the New Bodleian building is part of a larger scheme to revitalize Oxford’s historic Broad Street by creating a new public square.

De la Rosa added, “The building did not meet current British standards in terms of fire protection and conservation and that needed to be addressed. But that is not the sole reason for the redevelopment. This was the impetus to get us thinking about the kind of libraries that our users and Oxford needed and that was appropriate for our collections.” 

The new Library will eventually store a large proportion of the treasures of the Bodleian, including both Shakespeare’s first folio and the remaining original Magna Cartas, alongside thousands of other precious literary artefacts. 

The development is not received enthusiastically by all students. Abdul-Rahman Jama, a third year student at Balliol College, stated, “I could not possibly care less what is happ

Students have expressed their irritation as University officials may prevent them leaving for the Varsity ski trip before the end of term. In an email to Senior Tutors, the Proctors reminded colleges of the regulations concerning leaving University before the end of full term.

According to University rules, “No student member shall participate in any sports tours, competitions, or training activities which involve overseas travel during Full Term, or the Thursday and Friday immediately preceding Full Term without the prior permission of: the Senior Tutor of that member’s college, society, Permanent Private Hall, or other designated institution; and the Proctors.”

In an email sent to Teddy Hall students, the Senior Tutor noted, “This large and heavily promoted trip has caused problems in previous years, not only in St Edmund Hall but also in the University at large. I am writing to let you know in good time that nobody from St Edmund Hall is permitted to go on this trip without the explicit permission of both their subject tutors and the Senior Tutor.”

When contacted about the issue, The Teddy Hall Senior Tutor, Professor Stuart Ferguson, explained that the problems lay in clashes with academic matters at the end of term. He commented, “This has caused problems in the past for obvious reasons – tutorials and practicals take place on Thursday afternoon and all day Friday. Some tutors are understandably not willing to move these to Hilary term etc. and often practicals cannot be missed.”

Although organisers of the trip have stressed that no coaches will depart before 6pm, Professor Ferguson still felt that this would not eradicate all problems, commenting, “Even though the departure time is now 6pm this is not necessarily OK. 6pm departure time means getting ready from around 5pm. There are tutorials/practicals and even Principal’s collections on the Friday afternoon and so we need to know that anyone leaving at 6 pm is not in fact needed for such activities – or to know in good time that they can be rearranged. That’s all there is to it.”

Although this appears to be a new introduction, a spokesperson for Oxford commented, “There is no new regulation regarding students who go on the Varsity Ski Trip. The Rules Committee Regulations (published in the Proctors’ and Assessor’s Memorandum) has a long-standing regulation requiring students who wish to take part in any overseas sports activities to obtain permission if travelling during full term or on the Thursday and Friday immediately preceding

Full Term. This year, as in previous years, students have simply been reminded of the regulations regarding travelling before the end of term.”

Students have reacted angrily to the news, believing it to be indicative of the University’s confused attitude towards students’ ability to manage their time alone. One student commented, “I thought we’re meant to be treated like responsible adults? Seriously, one night’s not exactly going to make much difference.”

Others took a similar view, with one second year worried by his personal tutor’s lack of response, believing that “the considerable angst caused to me and my friends by this long, three-week wait for permission has almost certainly had more of an adverse effect on my education than one night’s absence. £600 is a lot of money, after all.” Another second year took a simpler approach, commenting “It’s soooo annoying!”

Though most students faced little difficulty in obtaining permission, one student’s tutor expressed “disappointment that you have booked yourself on a trip which requires you to leave college before the end of term.”

A new careers advisory company has arrived in Oxford and is set to compete with the University’s own careers service.

In the past week, ‘Career Matters’ has begun to attempt to build a customer base within the University, becoming a potential rival for Oxford University’s Careers Service.

‘Career Matters’ is a private company which, for a variety of set fees, offers a number of services to students to help them with their career choice. Their initial offer has been to give two students from a college a free careers consultation before introducing their lowest priced package, £197 plus VAT, to the rest of the student body. Offering three kinds of services from a basic test and feedback session to assess your strengths and weaknesses, through to CV and interview advice, the service’s prices range from £197 to £397 plus VAT.

These prices are in stark contrast to the University’s careers service which provides a range of facilities and assistance free of charge. Director Jonathan Black told Cherwell, “We are aware of this organisation and the offer they have tried to make to students. We recognise that there are many such firms offering these paid-for services and have no intention of restraining their trade; however, we are unclear why any student would spend significant funds on a commercial service that they can access for free as part of the services they are entitled to at Oxford.” 

With services such as unlimited 1:1 guidance meetings with experienced careers advisers, training events in CV writing and interviews and a whole number of events and career fairs, some people have questioned the need for outside competition.

Helen Robb, a 3rd year PPEist, argued, “Our careers service is an invaluable resource for everyone who is studying at Oxford. I can’t see why anyone would go anywhere else.”

OUSU president David Townsend echoed this sentiment, commenting, “Students should be wary of expensive private providers, especially where there’s a much more comprehensive, free service provided by the University.

‘The University careers service is regularly utilised by the student body and its results paint a seemingly successful picture. One JCR Careers representative said, “Oxford already has a truly fantastic careers service. It’s a service that has proved invaluable to the 90% of Oxford grads who get into employment or further study within six months of completing their degree. With the legacy of recession, that’s a good statistic.’

The service is not without its flaws however, as the Careers representative added, “The problem that needs to be addressed isn’t the volume of Careers advice, but the accessibility between colleges and their utilization of the wider University service.”