Saturday, May 17, 2025
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Oxford professors join Musk and Wozniak in call for six month pause in AI development

Alexandra Hedström-Blake
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Oxford professors join Musk and Wozniak in call for six month pause in AI development

At least 13 members of Oxford University’s academic staff have now signed an open letter calling on labs developing artificial intelligence (AI) systems more powerful than GPT-4 “to immediately pause for at least 6 months”.

Currently, the letter has amassed more than 30,000 signatories, including the likes of Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and US politician Andrew Yang, but remains controversial among its supporters and critics alike.

The letter was penned by the Future of Life Institute, a non profit organisation criticised for supporting theories such as longtermism. This philosophy views longterm improvement as an essential moral priority and is supported by such academics as Oxford professor Nick Bostrom, who was criticised recently for a racist email he wrote in the 1990s and whose work is cited in the open letter. The letter raises concerns over what is viewed to be a disproportionately high rate of AI development in relation to a comparatively more limited understanding of the risks it might entail. 

The support of various Oxford academics among thousands of other signatories has been described by one academic as part of “sounding the alarm”. 

Carissa Véliz, one of the signatories of the open letter, is an Associate Professor at the Oxford Faculty of Philosophy and the Institute for Ethics in AI. The institute, launched in 2021 as a part of Oxford’s Faculty of Philosophy following a donation by Stephen A. Schwarzman, has been dedicated to exploring the ways in which the world of artificial intelligence interacts with areas such as human rights, democracy, environment, governance and human well-being. Cherwell recently spoke with the Professor about how she believed the University of Oxford specifically should – if at all – respond to the current rate of development. 

According to Véliz, while the establishment of the Institute was a “welcome development”, “we’d stand a much better chance of ensuring that AI will contribute to the wellbeing of individuals, and to values like equality, fairness, and democracy” if we “invested a fraction of what is being spent on developing AI on research on the ethics of [it’s] governance”.

When asked why she believes the focus on regulation within the artificial intelligence industry has received less attention than other fields, particular emphasis was placed on the significance of private sector monopoly.

That artificial intelligence is “mostly being developed in private companies, as opposed to public institutions or universities […] makes it harder to regulate”. According to Véliz, these challenges have been contributed to further by the lobbying power of “big tech companies”, as well as the very nature of artificial intelligence as “a very complex technology, with unforeseen applications and possible consequences”. She also added that she does not “subscribe to the longtermism movement”.

According to the Future of Humanity Institute, the six month “pause” in AI development called for hopes to mitigate these unknowns, rather than pause the development of artificial intelligence in general. 

Despite this, certain experts within the field have criticised the contents of the letter for not going far enough, furthering a cycle of “AI hype”, rather than offering concrete solutions for the threats actually posed by limited regulation. According to Arvind Narayanan, an Associate Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University, the letter “further fuels AI hype and makes it harder to tackle real, already-occurring AI harms”. 

While there are “valid long-term concerns […] they’ve been repeatedly strategically deployed to divert attention from present harms”, Narayanan tweeted on Wednesday. While he agrees that these concerns warrant attention, “collaboration and cooperation […] the hype in this letter—the exaggeration of capabilities and existential risk—is likely to lead to models being locked down even more”.

Further criticism has come from a group of researchers at the DAIR (Distributed AI Research Institute). They published a riposte to the letter, claiming that while the authors raise many legitimate concerns about AI, “these are overshadowed by fearmongering and AI hype”. The DAIR writers also criticize the longtermist philosophy behind the open letter and the lack of attention to the exploitative practices of large corporations. There are also no signatories from Open-AI, designer of Chat GPT-4, or the Open-AI spin-off Anthropic, which aims to create safer AI, as of March 29.

Oxford University’s Associate Professor in Machine Learning, Michael Osborne, is another member of the university’s teaching staff to sign the letter. Echoing fears of the impact of artificial intelligence in undermining democracy, Osborne highlighted in conversation with Cherwell that the potential threats of under-regulated AI may include “targeted propaganda, misinformation and crime”, but that the University of Oxford is currently “leading the world” in its research.

Osborne added that if regulation fails to keep up with technological developments, it “will be necessary to tackle the possible harms from these models”, particularly as technologies such as ChatGPT increasingly move into the sphere of public consumption.

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Breaking: Broad Street reopened as bomb scare understood to be false alarm

Freya Jones
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Breaking: Broad Street reopened as bomb scare understood to be false alarm

Police have reopened Broad Street after cordoning off areas of central Oxford in an incident believed to be a bomb scare this morning.

The incident was declared at 10:51 today, with the public being asked to leave the Broad Street area. Blackwell’s Bookshop was closed, along with other Broad Street businesses and the King’s Arms, while Google Maps indicated that traffic to the area was restricted.

However, the police have told pedestrians that the incident is now believed to be a false alarm and Blackwell’s tweeted at 12:02 that the police have reopened Broad Street.

Cherwell understands that those on site in Hertford College were also asked to evacuate, and the Bodleian Library and Weston Library were temporarily closed. However, the Bodleian tweeted that the Rad Cam remained open to readers.

A live stream from the Oxford Martin School monitored the situation behind the cordon as police vehicles attended the scene.

However, it is understood that the area is now safe for the public as of midday.

DJ Cuppy announces £100,000 to support African graduate students

Rebecca Powell
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<strong data-src=DJ Cuppy announces £100,000 to support African graduate students" title="DJ Cuppy announces £100,000 to support African graduate students" />

DJ and music producer Florence I. Otedola, professionally known as DJ Cuppy, has donated £100,000 to the Africa Oxford Initiative (AfOx) to support African graduate students at Oxford.

The Cuppy Africa Oxford Scholars Fund intends to support exceptional African graduates to meet unexpected financial costs and enable them to access the necessary skills, resources and networks to maximise their impact across Africa and beyond. 

In an interview with Cherwell, Cuppy explained that “the idea behind this fund is to support particularly students that are from African descent, regardless of what they’re studying, to be able to have access to resources […] It could be accommodation, it could be learning materials, it could be mental health aid, it could be anything needed to get you through outside of academia.”

Cuppy has earned a name for herself as a DJ and music producer, pioneering the genre Neo-Afrobeats. She has played at some of the world’s top nightclubs and events such as the MTV Africa Music Awards 2014 where she was the resident DJ and was recognised in 2020 in Forbes’ 30 under 30 list for her work in entertainment.

Reflecting on how her life experiences have shaped her desire to establish the fund, she notes that “I’m from Nigeria, I was born in Lagos and Nigeria is a country that historically, and socially hasn’t put women at the forefront. Men are often considered the superior gender. And it’s been very difficult because then on top of that, going into DJ-ing as a woman I’ve had to have a certain bit of confidence, a certain bit of self-belief. And I can tell you only education gave me that because knowledge is power. […]

Cuppy acknowledges her privilege as the daughter of wealthy businessman and philanthropist Femi Otedola, saying that “education is something that where I’m from isn’t easily accessible. So, I consider myself extremely, extremely privileged. […] I live by ‘onto whom much is given, much is expected’ and so because I have had the privilege of education, it’s only right that I’m able to share that as much as I can.”

She herself studied at Oxford, completing an MSc in African Studies in 2022. She remarked how “Oxford became a haven for me and an opportunity to really soak in life in a different sense” and how her student experiences have driven her to set up the Cuppy Fund. She recounts that “I had a classmate who, not because of his academic abilities, but because of lack of resources, wasn’t able to finish. That was extremely difficult to watch and unfortunately, that’s not an isolated situation. So, the fund was really to start to address this idea of the support system.”

Talking about her hopes for the fund, she explains that she hopes it can be used by its recipients for their personal development outside of their academics and to allow them to make the most of their environment. She explains that “you don’t only need to develop your brain, you need to develop your mind, you need to develop your soul. And so the impact that this has is that with the resources, students are coming out, not just a degree smarter, ‘a degree hotter’ as I said in my Instagram post. They’re coming out, you know, more rounded, more ready for the world.”

The fund is a partnership with AfOx, a cross-university platform that advocates for engagement at Oxford with Africa and facilitates research collaborations between African institutions and Oxford. They seek to increase the number of African students pursuing postgraduate degrees at Oxford, offering graduate scholarships to allow these students to realise their potential. 

Dr. Anne Makena, Co-Director of AfOx, University of Oxford, said, “We are absolutely delighted that Cuppy is so generously supporting African graduate students here at Oxford. We both share the experience of being African graduate students at Oxford and it is a great honour for AfOx to partner with Cuppy to address some of the unique challenges that African students might encounter during their time in Oxford. The Cuppy Africa Oxford Scholars Fund will help to ensure that they have access to the best possible support to navigate and succeed at Oxford, and continue on to remarkable careers as champions of development in African countries and globally.” 

Cuppy reflects that “Setting up this fund makes me prouder than my certificate itself because it’s something that can open more and more doors, not just for me, but for other people […] I’m really proud of what we’ve done. I would love to do more. And it just feels like the start of something very big. I want this to really, you know, be an example to other students that when you go through a door, you must leave it open.”

Image credit:  Florence I. ‘Cuppy’ Otedola

Just Stop Oil protesters march through Oxford

Suzanne Antelme
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Just Stop Oil protesters march through Oxford

Supporters of environmental activist group Just Stop Oil held a ‘go slow’ march in Oxford yesterday afternoon, blocking traffic in the city centre.

The march consisted of a few dozen protesters, most wearing fluorescent orange vests with Just Stop Oil’s black skull logo on the back and several carrying Just Stop Oil banners. One protester at the front with a megaphone led the group through chants including “Rishi Sunak, shame on you, your children are in danger too!” and “No new oil! No new gas! No Cumbrian coal mine!”

The march started from Oxpens Meadow at around 12:30pm and threaded through the town centre, moving up Magdalen Street, St Giles’, and Banbury Road before ending at University Parks just before 14:30pm. A long queue of cars trailed behind the march, with car horns punctuating the chants. The protesters moved aside to let some buses pass and then later did the same for a firetruck.

Just Stop Oil refers to itself as a “coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK”. The group has garnered attention and some criticism from its protest methods, which have included throwing soup over Vincent van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers painting in the National Gallery, blocking busy roads in London, and targeting oil distribution networks. 

Yesterday’s march was flanked by five police officers. The officer in charge told Cherwell that confrontation between the protesters and motorists was limited to honking. The police had not known about the march in advance, but were aware that the weekend was likely to see climate protests nationally. Cameras in the city centre had alerted them to a large group with banners, and the police then joined the protesters on Magdalen Street. The officer emphasised that the protesters were acting within their rights and compared the impact on motorists to that of a broken down vehicle or rush hour traffic.

Taking part in the march was a second year student from Lady Margaret Hall studying medicine, who told Cherwell: “Really I’m just scared and we need to do something. […] Students in Oxford have a certain amount of privilege by just being here, and we as a collective are not using this enough, are not engaging enough. Everyone says that the people around here are the future, but do we have one?”

Jessica Upton, who described herself as “Oxford resident, vet, and foster carer”, told Cherwell: “I have friends in Oxford whose homes have flooded, my child has been hospitalised […] with asthma linked to air pollution […]. Just Stop Oil’s message […] is doable and sensible and just needs political will, which needs public pressure, which needs public awareness. I’m marching today to raise that awareness and get the conversation going.”

Jessica said she was involved in Just Stop Oil action in Birmingham and London, and has been arrested several times but never charged. She thinks that people are becoming more sympathetic towards them, and “drivers less cross”. Motorists have told her to get a job or go to China, but “nothing too nasty”.

Also amongst the protestors was Oxford resident Thalia, who said she was marching because “we want people to pick a side, to pick life, they have to make a choice”. Asked about further Just Stop Oil action, she told Cherwell “sometimes we have to take a break, just like any runner does in a marathon, but we aren’t going to stop until the government agrees to stop [oil].”

Daniel Korr, another Oxford University student involved in the march, said that “I am marching today because I have no other choice. By continuing to invest in new fossil fuels the government engages in a project whose only result will be the death of millions and suffering of many more. I refuse to be complicit in this death project and therefore I must take meaningful disruptive action to try and stop this government and their plans.”

Asked how Just Stop Oil arranges action, Daniel told Cherwell there are a lot of group chats and it is “pretty decentralised, anyone can come up with something if they can get enough people to sign up”. He thought that most of Just Stop Oil’s engagement in Oxford had come from local residents rather than students, but that this might be shifting.

Daniel said that Just Stop Oil had recently hosted talks at Oxford Brookes and within the city centre, and that “a lot of people out today are from those”. They plan to host another talk in Oxford during Trinity Term.

Vac days out – A foodie’s guide to Camden

Oliver Hall
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Vac days out – A foodie’s guide to Camden

The vac is very much here and in a new series of articles, I am bringing you the top spots in the country for a day out over the Easter break. Up first is Camden Market, a food lovers’ paradise. It makes an ideal location for a day trip with friends and is super easy to get to on the tube from central London. In between the eclectic mix of trendy unique and independent shops is the best selection of street food that the UK has to offer. The problem with all that choice is that knowing where to start can be impossible. So, I set out on a quest to unpick that dilemma. Last week I tried 15 of Camden’s most popular stalls in one day to bring you the definitive list of the places to go and the dishes to order at the home of London street food.

Tsujuri — The Matcha One

Tsujuri specialises in all things matcha. Here you can get everything from ceremonial-grade matcha tea to matcha lattes, matcha soft serve, mochi, and a mix of all three in a matcha float. For me, the matcha lattes (which don’t use ceremonial matcha) were far too earthy. The matcha tea is prepared authentically with water in a bowl but fairly expensive. I would opt for the float every time — the slush keeps the sundae light, the soft serve is deliciously sweet, and the red bean paste adds a great contrast.

Matcha Tea — £5.30, Matcha Float — £8.40, Matcha Kuromitsu Latte — £6.60

Curry Up Camden — The Indian One

Don’t be fooled by the name, Curry Up Camden offers every single Indian classic that you could possibly hope for. All curries are £10.90 or less and are served with rice, bread, or chips, and starter dishes are even cheaper. The Paneer 69 lacked a bit of flavour but the Mapas Prawn Curry was divine. Cooked in coconut milk, it remains fresh and light whilst adding a kick where you need it with some chilli. My pick of the bunch though is also the chef’s favourite, the Chicken Dum Biryani. It is more expensive at £12.90 but could easily be shared between two for a light lunch. The rice here is more flavoured than the plain ones with the curries and the chicken itself is rubbed in a huge array of spices and slow-cooked for maximum flavour.

Paneer 69 — £7.90, Mapas Prawn Curry (With Rice) — £10.90, Chicken Dum Biryani — £12.90

Funky Chips — The Loaded Fries One

You might think that you have seen loaded fries before — I am telling you that you have never tried anything like the creations on offer at Funky Chips. They offer burgers too but the main attraction is the stall’s namesake. Available at several locations, the small size is hilariously big and at the base level costs just £4.80. You can then personalise to your heart’s content with tens of different meats, cheeses, and more, and that’s before you’ve picked from one of their 11 different house sauces. I got ours with chicken, halloumi, crispy onions, Pablo Escobar sauce, and Nice Thing sauce. The result was truly ridiculous. Make no mistake, this is easily shareable among three or four and if you want to leave the market alive I don’t recommend attempting the challenge alone! As an added bonus, the chips themselves are gluten-free and all students get a free drink with every order.

Funky Burger and Fries — £12.50, Small Fries — From £4.50

Keto Street — The Gluten-Free One

During lockdown, the Italian chef who runs Keto Street set about creating the ultimate gluten-free pizzas and doughnuts at home. Now, he has opened a stall in Camden with both of those and GF beer. Every dish is free of added sugars and low-carb as the name suggests. The pizzas themselves are incredibly expensive though for what they offer and although the thin crust has all the benefits of a crispy base, it might well leave you feeling shortchanged. And the doughnuts? Let’s just say that you can tell they are sugar-free…

Veggie Pizza £15, Super Hot Pizza — £16, Donuts — £4

NYCE — The Really Good Gluten-Free One

Admittedly, NYCE doesn’t offer the savoury dishes that you can get at Keto Street but if you are gluten-free, I suggest you just have a dessert for lunch kind of a day. Originally from the US, NYCE now has multiple sites across London and offers gluten-free soft serve and frozen yoghurt. The blueberry-elderflower packs an amazing punch and is perfect with the gf vegan marshmallows. For me, the PB Power bowl is the top choice. It has a high protein vanilla base, topped with granola, peanut butter, and banana (I also added a cheeky drizzle of chocolate hazelnut sauce for that added sweetness).

PB Power Bowl — £7.95, Blueberry Elderflower Softserve (With added toppings) — £7.65

The Cheese Bar — The Sit-Down Cheesy One

Ok, so pretty much everything at Camden Market seems to come loaded with cheese but The Cheese Bar is where to go if you are serious about it. Part of the Market’s ‘sit-down initiative’, it is a great place to escape to and feels like an oasis outside of hustle and bustle of the market itself. The bar area is beautifully modelled and there are several different themed deal nights, from raclette to fondue. As well as a 10% student discount, prices are more than reasonable for the ‘fancy vibe’ that you get here. Cheeseboards offer any choice of three of their British cheeses with crackers and innovative pairings (think goat’s cheese with Turkish delight) for £13.50, and the grilled cheeses are great value at all under £9. The Blue Cheese Raclette was my pick of things on offer with the crispy leeks and beef shin countering the powerful Young Buck cheese perfectly.

Cheeseboard — £13.50, Keen’s Cheddar and Montgomery’s Ogleshield Grilled Cheese — £8.50, Blue Cheese Raclette — £12.50

Pittabun — The New Indian Street food One

A popular street food in India, Pittabun is bringing stuffed pittas to the street food scene in Camden. The Pork Gyro option is akin to your classic kebab with all the flavour and a lot more freshness. The chicken thigh is by far the best choice here though — the lemon tahini dressing elevates it hugely and this is a spot you really shouldn’t miss for an alternative to the burgers on offer everywhere.

Chicken Thigh Pitta — £10.50, Pork Gyro Pitta — £9

Dez Amore — The Italian One

There is absolutely no shortage of pasta options in Camden but Dez Amore stands out for sure. They specialise in handmade pasta and burgers, both with classic Italian themes. With the pastas, that is more straightforward and everything you would expect is on offer from cacio e pepe to bolognese. The truffle tagliatelle was by far my favourite, available with fresh truffle shavings that really make the difference over the proliferation of fake truffle oils that have flooded the industry in recent years. The pasta itself is made in front of your eyes and superbly light, especially when with their homemade tomato and basil sauce. The Tuscan DOC burger is impossible to eat with any grace (see video!) but certainly represents value with Pecorino, onions, bacon, mushrooms, double patty, fried egg, and mayo.

Fresh Truffle Tagliatelle — £16.90, Tomato Caserecce — £9, Tuscan DOC Burger (Double patty) — £14.90

Bill or Beak — The Viral Chicken Burger One

This might be the messiest burger I’ve ever eaten but it was worth every single napkin required for the clean-up. The smashed patty beef burger option is ok but nothing special, if you come here you absolutely must go for the chicken. It contains their signature fried chicken, honey butter sauce, spicy mayo, pickles, and slaw. Simply put, you shouldn’t leave Camden without one of you trying it!

Smashed Patty Cheese Burger — £11, Honey Butter Fried Chicken Burger — £12

Chimney Cakes Lady — The Instagram Dessert Craze One

You might well have seen these all over your Instagram and TikTok feeds and I can tell you that they taste every bit as good as they look. Best of all, though, the team behind the scenes is more friendly than you could ever imagine. I went behind the scenes and saw the pair create their signature creations with all of the specialist equipment. After a trip to Hungary, they were created as a challenge set by the owner’s children. She managed to recreate the Transylvanian dessert they saw on their travels and now she has brought the craze to London. There are sweet and savoury choices on offer with all manner of coatings and fillings as well as smaller cones coated and then filled with vanilla cream. The biscuit cone was my favourite, coated in a mix of crushed biscoff and rich tea biscuits. The cream counter-intuitively adds a lightness to the sweetness that might overpower the larger cakes but I have to say that my cinnamon and Nutella one was pretty irresistible too!

Kebab vans to be banned from Oxford streets after 10pm

Jakub Trybull
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Kebab vans to be banned from Oxford streets after 10pm

It has been announced that Oxford kebab vans will have their operating hours restricted, effective from the 1st April 2023.

The surprise policy announcement prohibits “food service vehicles” from operating business after 10:00pm on weeknights and 10:30pm on weekends. The decision has been made in a bid to “curb food waste” and “littering”. With Oxford’s economy being primarily supplemented by tourism throughout the year, concerns have previously been raised about how “half-eaten wraps” scattered over Broad Street impact Oxford’s historic image and aesthetic.

An outraged student told Cherwell: “It’s ridiculous, where will I be able to eat after a night out? I don’t understand what ‘historic heritage’ they are trying to protect. The fluorescent lights are a greater landmark of the University than any of the dreaming spires.”

The details regarding the consequences of not complying to the new measures remain yet unclear, however it’s been advised that customers ought to stay vigilant to not be caught up in any complications.

April Fools! Did we get you?

Spoils shared at Twickenham in the historic rugby Varsity matches 

Tom Farmer
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Tom Farmer reports from the 2023 Varsity Rugby Matches

There are few institutions which are as obsessed with the past and tradition in the same way that Oxford University tends to be. Rugby has a similar tendency to dwell on the past, meaning that ensuring the annual Rugby Union Varsity fixtures are something of a match made in heaven, with the strong alumni presence being a clear testament to this.  With both the men’s and women’s fixture taking place on the same day, with this being the case for only the third time, the large crowd were in for a bumper day of rugby. 

The women’s fixture has taken place since 1988, making this the 35th Varsity, and they came up first on Saturday. South-West London was under a slightly ominous grey tint, Cambridge kicked off in their iconic yet slightly questionable mint green kit, gathered safely by Chloe-Marie Hawley in Oxford’s more palatable dark-blue strip. 

It was certainly a game of two halves. From the start, Cambridge looked by far the stronger team. With fly-half Phoebe Jackson dictating fluid play in the midfield, twinned with some huge hits from the pack in defence, Cambridge established themselves strongly in the opening encounters. This early pressure was rewarded when, after an Oxford knock-on, Cambridge No. 8 Rosemary Scowen picked-and-went from the back of the scrum. After a period of sustained pressure, scrum-half and skipper Emilia Bushrod drew first blood with a quick snipe, with a conversion sending Cambridge 7-0 up. Their opposite numbers in dark blue looked scrambling and disorganised in response to the Tabs’ seamless attacking play.

However, it didn’t take long for Oxford to strike back. Successfully blocking a Cambridge clearance, the Dark Blues pulled the ball wide and full-back Clodagh Holmes scored in the corner, her first try of the day. Yet, the Tabs clawed back a lead from when Emily Bell ripped the ball from Oxford’s Sophie Shams. After sustained pressure and a well-disguised tap-and-go penalty from Cambridge’s Jackson, prop Grace Izinyon ploughed over the line. The game was set at 12-5 to Cambridge, with half-time approaching.

The crucial action of the half, though, was yet to come. A high tackle on her opposite number earnt Cambridge winger Emily Bell a ten-minute trip to the sin-bin. Could Oxford capitalise with the extra man?

As the second half kicked off, this was answered very swiftly. After 4 minutes, expansive play from deep inside their own half led to a second Clodagh Holmes try, narrowing the score to 12-10. However, Oxford were a different team this half, utilising an off-load game that the Fijian 7s team would have been proud of. After a long period of pressure and two penalties, Oxford 9 Alex Wilkinson scored Oxford’s third try. After an impressive conversion from Iona Bennett, Oxford had the lead for the first time.

This lead kept on growing, with great footwork from Shams helping Clodagh Holmes complete her hat-trick, the whole move looking as if it had been taken straight from the training ground. 10 minutes later, Holmes added another with an incredible score. Picking up the ball in her own half, Holmes beat her opposite full-back and sprinted 40 metres to the line. With Oxford in full flow and Cambridge in disarray, the Dark Blues almost added a final flourish when fly-half Hawley picked up the ball ten metres into her own half, beat three players and touched the ball down on the line…only for the try to be disallowed. 

Despite the dream ending being denied by a video replay, the day could not have gone better for the women. Winning the second half 26-0, captain Lauren Webb and her team had successfully defended their Varsity title. Despite a strong start from Cambridge, Oxford’s fluid backs and the player of the match performance from Clodagh Holmes ensured that Oxford started the day in winning ways.

After a sausage roll, swift pint of Guinness and wonder around the beautifully brutalist concourses of England’s national rugby ground, it was time for the Oxford men’s team to try and retain their title after last year’s victory.

Oxford started strong, with centres Liam Furniss and Harry Lincoln making successful gains and testing the Tabs early doors, but to no avail. 11 minutes in, Oxford were penalised for playing on the ground and Jamie Benson kicked took full advantage, sending the Light Blues 3-0 up. This lead didn’t last long, with Oxford responding with a penalty of their own to level up the game. As the half went on, Oxford were certainly the stronger team, with winger Tom Mewes looking lively down the right side. The Dark Blues were then inches from scoring the first try of the match with flanker Jack Glover being forced into touch just short of the try line. Equally close chances for Oxford followed, but they were unable to convert these opportunities into points. 


Cambridge, less than five minutes later, showed their ability to do just that. Spotting a gap in the defence, centre Max Loveridge darted through and scored under the posts. With the simple conversion slotted easily, Cambridge were 10-3 up. Oxford responded quickly, scoring a try of their own only 4 minutes later. The lively Tom Mewes took an offload, perhaps inspired by the women’s side’s great offload game, and beat three men to score Oxford’s first try of the game. A conversion from scrum-half Vasco Faria ensured that scores would be level at half-time. In rugby, the adjective “atrittional” is often used as a synonym for “boring” and “dull”. This had certainly been the case for the first 40 minutes. In contrast, the openness of the women’s game earlier, there was little running rugby on show, with Oxford’s poor discipline (especially at the breakdown) thwarting any attempts at fast-paced attack. With the temperature beginning to drop ever-so-slightly, I was desperately hoping the game would pick up. 

Six minutes into the second half, my prayers were answered. A wriggly, weaving run from Cambridge fly-half Jamie Benson put the Light Blues back ahead. Despite a missed conversion, the Tabs had a lead of 15-10, with Oxford having started the half in a lethargic manner. With 54 minutes gone, Cambridge went down to 14 for ten minutes. Would the men be able to take advantage of the numerical overlap as the women did earlier? Apparently not so when, whilst knocking at the Cambridge door, the hands weren’t tidy enough to capitalise on the Cambridge yellow card. The tables then turned in the 64th minute, when Oxford had a man yellow-carded. Five points and a forward down, Oxford had dented their chances of victory. The last 15 minutes of the game were tense and quite exciting, a break from what had been quite a dull exhibition of rugby. Yet, as had been the story of the game, Oxford kept the ball well but couldn’t break the Cambridge defence. With one last huge hit on Oxford’s Liam Furniss, a hit which Furniss will still be feeling, the ref blew his whistle. Cambridge retained their title.

As the barbour jackets and gilets filtered out of the ground, both sets of supporters had something to cheer about. for the neutrals, there was no greater winner of the day than the self-pouring Guinness machines. 

Image Credit: Tom Farmer

Tabs sink Oxford in Boat Race clean sweep.

Zoe Abereoje
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Tabs sink Oxford in Boat Race clean sweep.

For the third time in history, Cambridge University boat club achieved a clean sweep of races, including Sunday’s boat race victories in both the men’s, women’s and respective reserve teams.

The women’s race began with an aggressive start from the Oxford side but saw Cambridge quickly take the lead. The Tabs managed to gap the other team considerably, and dominated the race throughout, winning confidently by 4 and a half lengths. The Cambridge women’s boat has enjoyed straight victories since 2016, meaning that the tabs have now stretched their historic lead to 47-30

The men’s race had a different story. Before the race even began, the Cambridge boat was clouded by rumours of a last minute rudder problem, giving them a point to prove from the offset. The race began tight, both sides equally in the running, mirroring the odds predicted beforehand. Yet an impressive tactical move by Craven Cottage, pushed the Tabs team into the lead. A fiercely fought race and a fend off by the turquoise titans against Oxford in the final few moments of the race, allowed them to take back the title lost a year ago. Stretching their historic tally to 86-81, the men’s crew confirmed the weekend as a clean sweep for Cambridge. 

Oxford put on a valiant display, consistently showing a fighting spirit to the very end even when the Tabs had run away with the win. One can only hope Oxford will be back, and with vengeance next year.

Image Credit: Zoe Abereoje

Roasting Plant and the fresh coffee revolution

Oliver Hall
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Roasting Plant and the fresh coffee revolution

Grinding your own beans at home is nothing new in the world of coffee, odd obsessives like myself have been doing it for years, but Roasting Plant takes that even further. In bringing it to the high-street it does something special and makes it available for everyone. As a result of technology that at first appears more at home in Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory than a café, every single customer can choose their bean and have it freshly roasted and ground to order with no sacrifice on time or service.

Roasting Plant was started by former Starbucks employee Mike Caswell in the United States. He spent time travelling with his former company, choosing and tasting beans and bringing them to the stores. Over the years, he identified the problem that a select group of coffee nuts have been shouting about for years: pre-roasted beans simply lost the freshness that makes a good coffee great. Alongside his passionate belief that all drinkers should be able to select from a wide variety of beans and blends to their liking, he broke away and embarked on a somewhat bonkers mission to change the world of high-street coffee. 

The result was the Javabot. This patented technology was originally developed by Caswell with a hoover in his garage but now it enables Roasting Plant to be the only company in the world that roasts its beans at every single site. When you walk into the store you are struck by the vast array of pipes and machinery. There are 16 large tubes, eight of which contain just roasted beans and eight of which contain raw beans. When required, those raw beans travel up through the tubes and across the store into the Javabot where they are roasted, cooled, and then returned back to the just-roasted containers. Customers can then take beans home from here pick-and-mix style but otherwise, the technology means that as soon as the barista selects a drink on their machine, the exact quantity of beans required is funnelled over, ground, and served. Just sitting back and watching the whole process is somewhat addictive.

The Javabot

Originally based in New York, the chain maintained its US origins before moving to the UK a few years ago and opening stores at London Bridge, High Holborn, Selfridges, South Molton, and on the Strand. The Strand location was where I went to meet manager Naomi. In a prime location for students, lawyers, and tourists alike, the store was busy but turnover strikingly fast. The automation of the whole process means that baristas are able to focus on often neglected milk perfection and customer service.

When ordering, you are greeted by a rotating projector menu of drink types and beans. These are broken down into easy-to-distinguish categories such as ‘full-bodied’ and ‘mild and sweet’. With many customers obviously unsure as to what they want to order or what bean they prefer, that previously discussed easy automation means that each barista has the time to talk you through what you might want. If you are unsure, there is also the house blend which is a simple and strong coffee designed to fit most palettes.

I must say that going into the tasting, I really wanted to not be able to tell the difference between this and the coffee I take so much care in making at home. I’m sorry to report though that Roasting Plant really is doing something special here. There is a smoothness and a freshness to the drinks that genuinely does stand out, especially over any other high street drink, and the fact that the price point is equal to or even undercuts many brands is even more striking.

Uganda filter coffee

My first drink was a filter of the Ugandan single origin. This was strong, punchy, and bitter as Naomi promised and suited me perfectly. The Ethiopian reserve was a much more neutral option as a latte and the Mexican made a notably smooth, sweet, and easy-drinking long black. The standout for me though was the decaf. Naomi described decaf drinkers as their most important customers and health problems have meant that I have recently had to significantly reduce my caffeine intake. That meant a long long journey to find acceptable decaf drinks but so often they are over-processed, excessively bitter, and sour. Here, the Colombian decaf couldn’t be more different. I tried it as a double espresso and it was by far the smoothest and lightest decaf I have tasted. If you are looking for a bitter french style blend then you might be left disappointed but the change from what has become the norm in the decaf market is more than refreshing.

Decaf espresso and Mexican latte

Freshness of coffee might be what has made Roasting Plant the brand it is but the food on offer takes on that same ethos. There are breakfast options of granola, yoghurt, pastries, and eggs as well as lunchtime soups, toasties, and savoury croissants. The Greek salad makes a great light option and the almond croissant is filled with a liquidy paste that is very different to what you might usually find (it is delightfully sweet but I’d split it if I were you!). Cookies are gluten-free but still manage to remain moist in a more than welcome break for people often restricted to the dry chocolate brownie option that has become the easy out for so many cafes across the country. The poached eggs, smoked salmon, and avocado on toast was my favourite of all the edible offerings: the avocado was fresh and plentiful and the yolk delightfully runny to make for a filling but healthy lunch or breakfast option.

Chocolate cookie, almond croissant, greek salad, chicken and bacon toasties, poached egg and salmon toast

Roasting Plant calls itself a ‘revolution’ and the ‘new wave in coffee’ and I wouldn’t blame you for being seriously sceptical of the PR branding that so many cafes and coffee companies shout about. Something is different here though — that freshness and care really do shine through and the patented technology means that there genuinely isn’t any other company in the world offering this level of dedication to coffee in all of its stores. This market is ever-changing and developing at a faster pace than most in the food industry with the UK much more open to new concepts like this than European destinations with a more established coffee culture such as Italy and Spain. The fact is that getting a coffee out in the UK costs far too much — £2.5 espressos have become the norm and the quality of coffee on the high-street has gradually collapsed. This has left to the recent huge boom in independent and specialist cafés. If you are going to pay that high price-point, Roasting Plant at least gives you the choice and flexibility to get a drink you really want. The taste and personalisation are great and the fact that the price stays more than reasonable is even better.

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