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Ethics concerns over Oxford University Press journal study based on Uyghur DNA

Cherwell News and Investigations Section Editors
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Ethics concerns over Oxford University Press journal study based on Uyghur DNA

Oxford University Press (OUP), a department of the University of Oxford, is facing scrutiny after a study published by one of its journals was flagged for using DNA collected from the Uyghur population in Xinjiang. Two further studies by Chinese researchers, published by the same journal under OUP, are also under investigation for potential violations of ethical standards. 

The three studies in question were published in Forensic Sciences Research, a journal owned by the Academy of Forensic Science, which is a part of China’s Ministry of Justice. OUP announced that it would take over the journal in August 2022, and appears to have officially run it since January 2023. OUP did not offer more information on the acquisition. 

The papers were initially flagged by Yves Moreau, a professor of engineering at KU Leuven, a Belgian University, where he has spent the past five years investigating Chinese researchers’ collection of genetic data from vulnerable groups. The papers include one published in June 2022, before the journal’s acquisition by OUP, that analysed DNA samples taken from 264 Uyghur people. 

The study states “All biological samples were taken with written informed consent” but experts maintain concerns about ethically obtaining consent. Maya Wang, an associate Asia director at Human Rights Watch, told The Guardian: “Given how coercive the overall environment has been for the Uyghurs [in China], it’s not really possible for Uyghurs to say no [to the collection of DNA].”

The study was partly supported by a research grant from Xinjiang Police College. The author of the paper, Dr Halimureti Simayijiang (a Uyghur name), is affiliated with the Xinjiang Police College and the University of Copenhagen. Another of his studies, published in 2019, was retracted after its DNA samples, also from Uyghurs, were found not to be covered by proper ethics approvals. The 2019 study’s stated purpose was to assist police in identifying suspects using genetic sequencing. 

A second study, published in December, 2023, involved 50 “bloodstain” samples taken from Xibe ethnic minority individuals. 

OUP stated: “Each of our journals has a board of editors who make independent decisions about the articles they publish, following industry standards on peer review and research ethics.” The study states that ethical approvals came from “the Ethical Committee of China Medical University”. None of the researchers was based there at the time of publication. 

A third study, also published in December 2023, also involves Xibe samples. Authors of both studies, Fei Guo and Yang Xin respectively, were both based at the Criminal Investigation Police University of China, Shenyang. 

The Forensic Sciences Research journal also published DNA profiles of the Xibe participants, likely breaching rules of consent under the UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

The OUP stated: “We agree that these articles warrant further investigation. We are undertaking that investigation at the moment.” They are not taking down the articles while the investigations are ongoing, but “will be publishing expressions of concern” alongside each of them. 

This comes after a series of similar controversies in science journals surrounding Uyghur consent. In 2021, David Curtis of University College London resigned as editor-in-chief of the journal Annals of Human Genetics after his publisher, Wiley, refused to publish an article suggesting that academic journals should take a stance against China’s human rights violations in Xinjiang. He said he could not trust claims that participants in Chinese studies had freely given their consent. 

In 2021, after Moreau raised similar concerns about Uyghur consent in papers published by the journal Molecular Genetics and Genomic Medicine, also a subsidiary of Wiley, nine members of the editorial board of the journal resigned. 

UK universities have been accused of compromising their integrity for financial benefits from cooperation with China. A July report by the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament stated that an estimated 120,000 Chinese students in the UK “are responsible for generating almost £600m [annually] – a very significant proportion of universities’ income. China is actively using this income as leverage to gain political influence and control and to direct the narrative.” 

The University and Vice-Chancellor were approached for comment but directed questions to the OUP. 

Pink Week 2024

Éilis Mathur
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Pink Week 2024

Since 2016, Oxford Pink Week has taken place every year during the last week of January. A student-run initiative supporting breast cancer charities, it raised over £25,000 in 2023 and is expected to do so again this year.  

Special events were held from 28 January to 3 February with the aim of raising awareness for breast cancer. The President of Pink Week 2024, Sam McCarthy, told Cherwell: “Pink Week provides a perfect opportunity to educate within the University.” The 2024 committee took steps toward this goal by sharing informative resources on social media and planning various events, most notably the Pink Week Ball, which raised £13,966 last year.

This year the fundraising efforts will go toward five Oxford based and national charities: OUTpatients, Breast Cancer Now, Oxford Breast Buddy Group, Black Women Rising and CoppaFeel. These charities strive to reduce the risks of diagnoses as well as to advocate and support patients. 

The Pink Week 2024 committee chose to support these charities in particular due to their work with specific groups, such as the LGBTQ+ and Black communities. Sam McCarthy told Cherwell: “it was very important to us that the charities did reflect a wide range of demographics and emphasise the notion that breast cancer doesn’t discriminate.”

The scope of events this Pink Week ranged from socials within colleges to university-wide activities. St. Hugh’s College and Hertford College, among many others, held formal dinners and Pink Week-themed bops. Many colleges also got involved with pub quizzes and bake sales. 

Oxford Pink Week 2024 also organised numerous joint events with many University societies, including Oxford Feminist Society, Oxford Taylor Swift Society and ALTS Ice Hockey Club. Gaspard Rouffin, the head of events, noted: “It’s always a bit tricky to find venues willing to support a charity with a very low budget.” However, the events included “a comedy night with the Oxford Imps, a pyjama party with SwiftSoc, a survivor’s talk with the Women’s Campaign and, of course, Tuesgays.”

The 2024 committee hoped these events would be not only fun and accessible, but also impactful to raise awareness for breast cancer. Sam McCarthy emphasised to Cherwell: “Breast cancer is an issue that is close to home and it’s something that a lot of people are affected by.” Indeed, one in seven females in the UK is diagnosed with breast cancer and around 400 men die from the disease every year. Oxford Pink Week 2024 is thus an important initiative for many people, and the fundraising efforts are set to make a difference for a worthwhile cause. 

New Kazakh language program to be offered at the University of Oxford

Angela Yu
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New Kazakh language program to be offered at the University of Oxford

On 26 January, the University of Oxford signed an agreement with the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education with plans to launch a Kazakh language program at the University.

The delegation, including Minister Sayasat Nurbek and officials of major higher education institutions in Kazakhstan, met with the Associate Professor of Comparative and International Education, Professor Maia Chankseliani.

Professor Chankseliani told Cherwell: “We explored potential collaborations aimed at supporting Kazakhstani higher education and research. Such interactions with policy-makers are essential to ensure that our research and teaching remains focused on policy impact.”

This meeting follows the release of the Oxford Qazaq Dictionary, a four-year endeavour of over 50 linguists which seeks to preserve and digitise the Kazakh language. Published in late 2023, the first edition consists of 1,300 pages with over 60,000 words. This dictionary will serve as the basis for the incorporation of Qazaq into the Oxford Global Languages platform and thus is a key to joining the global linguistic community.

Professor Chankseliani also shared that Minister Sayasat Nurbek presented a copy of the new Oxford Qazaq dictionary as a gift, while she shared one of her recent books, Building Research Capacity at Universities: Insights from Post-Soviet Countries. 

Having claimed independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the Kazakh government is looking to increase the use of its own state language. It has implemented a language policy concept between 2023-2029 which addresses boosts to the development of the Kazakh language. A draft law on media is also in the works. The Minister of Culture and Information, Aida Balayeva said: “[This law] stipulates an increase in the share of the state language in television and radio from 50% to 70%”

Ticket reselling attracts controversy as college balls sell out in seconds

Sloane Getz
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Ticket reselling attracts controversy as college balls sell out in seconds

As ball season approaches, the popularity of several commemoration balls has skyrocketed since previous years, leaving hundreds of would-be attendees scrambling for tickets and causing controversy over ticket reselling on online platforms like Oxtickets. Balls being held at Corpus Christi, St. Peters, Univ, and Pembroke have already sold out, putting thousands of students on waiting lists. 

Tickets released last Thursday for Pembroke’s Ball were particularly difficult to score. Given that the upcoming ball will be the first held at Pembroke in nearly five years, an unusually large number of would-be attendees were seeking to buy tickets, leading ball organizers to sell tickets first to current Pembroke students on 17 January before releasing tickets to alumni and students at other colleges on 25 January. According to Pembroke Ball President, Ariff Castronovo, general release tickets sold out in just twelve seconds, leaving over 1,200 people on the waiting list. This follows a pattern set by other ball releases this year. In Michaelmas, Corpus Christi students petitioned their JCR to release more Corpus-only tickets after tickets sold out in under five minutes. 

Almost immediately, online platforms like Oxtickets, a Facebook marketplace site where students buy and sell tickets to Oxford-based events, were flooded with dozens of posts looking to buy ball tickets for well above the prices set by colleges.  In response, Pembroke’s ball committee announced that given concerns about price-gouging, name transfers on non-guest tickets were not allowed, telling Cherwell: “As per our original T&Cs, name changes are only possible for guest tickets. That means that it is not possible to change the name of the principal ticket holder in a booking”.  The ball committee also clarified that reselling tickets on Oxtickets or elsewhere was a violation of the Pembroke Ball’s T&Cs and would result in the cancellation of the sold tickets. 

Castronovo expressed concerns about the fairness of reselling, stating: “I strongly believe that it is not fair for people to be able skip the queue of many hundred other would-be attendees simply because they can afford to pay more.”

Plans approved for new student accommodation on Magdalen Street

Grace Kyoko Wong
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Plans approved for new student accommodation on Magdalen Street

The Oxford City Planning Committee has approved a proposal to partially convert the iconic Oxenford House building on Magdalen Street, directly above the burger chain Five Guys, into a student accommodation block.

The upper floors of Oxenford House will be repurposed for 55 ensuite study bedrooms. The development plan includes proposed roof extensions to both the front and rear of the building, cycle racks on the ground floor, and a bin storage area in the basement.

The question of which college will eventually use the new building has not yet been decided, but private providers of student accommodation and Oxford University have entered discussions, with six colleges expressing a “strong interest” in taking out a long-term lease on the building, according to Arron Twamley from the real estate consultancy Bidwells.

At a Planning Committee meeting on 23 January, the new development was welcomed by most committee members, although some expressed concerns about the proposed waste collection arrangements. 

Alex Hollingsworth, Councillor for Carfax & Jericho Ward, said at the meeting: “You end up with a great sea of bins stuck outside in the open air [in Friars Entry], perpetually contaminated and frankly a disgraceful mess, which I hope one day will get resolved.”

While he declared his overall support for the proposal, Hollingsworth emphasised that this would be conditional upon laying out a “very robustly worded and policed” waste collection policy for the building.

Oxenford House was built in 1965 to 1966 and is considered a rare surviving example of mid-20th century architecture in the city centre. However, in recent years, the building has been mostly vacant. 

The basement of Oxenford House was converted into a restaurant in 1968, and was most recently occupied by Fever nightclub, which shut down in 2021. The second to fourth floors of the building formerly housed the British Study Centres School of English but are now unoccupied. The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, which currently occupies the building’s first floor, has secured new premises in the city following the proposed development.

New exhibition reinterpreting colonial records from Bodleian archive opens in Weston Library

Ellie Yau
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New exhibition reinterpreting colonial records from Bodleian archive opens in Weston Library

A new exhibition has opened in Weston Library’s Blackwell Hall as part of a collaboration between the Bodleian Libraries and British opera singer Peter Brathwaite. The collection aims to provide audiences with a humanising perspective on history, utilising Brathwaite’s own family history as both enslaved people and slave owners, and will be open until 7th April. 

The theme of the collection is “Mischief in the Archives,” referencing the common label “mischievous” used for enslaved individuals who attempted to resist oppression and assert their humanity. To symbolise this visually, Brathwaite created a ceremonial costume depicting the trickster god in Caribbean folklore, which represents “his own role in the story.” 

During a previous talk in November as part of the We Are Our History conversations, Brathwaite revealed that using the Bodleian’s collections, he was able to trace back his family history. He found his roots in the British-owned Codrington plantations in Barbados, where some of his ancestors were slave traders and others enslaved.

This exhibit is the culmination of that research, juxtaposing content from the Bodleian archives against artefacts from Brathwaite’s own family collection. It aims to “challenge preconceived racialised narratives the archives have long muted,” bringing to life names only remembered in colonial records and restoring a human aspect to them.

Brathwaite noted that the work was “pain-staking,” and that the “visceral violence” in the historic papers was often a struggle to handle, but it was worth it in light of the “little nuggets” he could dig out from the collections. “If you move away from the data, you can find the people behind the numbers.”

The items displayed include Barbados plantation accounts and letters from John Brathwaite, the owner of a plantation, as well as objects belonging to Addo Brathwaite, Peter’s fourth great-grandfather and freed slave originally from Ghana. According to Jasdeep Singh, who leads We Are Our History, the creation of this “counter-archive” aims to “take a fresh look at the imbalance of [the Bodleian’s] collections […] and the impact of the colonial era in the libraries.” 

Singh said, “By sharing this platform with Peter to engage critically with our collections, this display embodies our commitment through the We Are Our History Project to learn, adapt and represent overlooked stories and experiences within our archives.” 

Brathwaite is known for his work in opera, having sung for groups including the English National Opera, Danish National Opera, and Philharmonie de Paris. He also published a work titled “Rediscovering Black Portraiture” in April 2023, a collection of portrait recreations which “reclaims Black history and art.”

Eggs of butterfly thought to be almost extinct found in Oxfordshire

Martha Smith
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Eggs of butterfly thought to be almost extinct found in Oxfordshire

On 16 January, staff and volunteers from the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) discovered approximately two hundred brown hairstreak butterfly eggs. The brown hairstreak butterfly is considered to be critically endangered by ongoing habitat destruction in the United Kingdom.

Members of the BBOWT have been working to cultivate blackthorn hedges, the brown hairstreak’s preferred egg laying spot, in and around the Oxfordshire countryside. The majority of the eggs were found at Leaches Farm. The team checks the hedges for eggs at the beginning of each year. The last time they searched this location was in 2016, where they found only 32 eggs.

The discovery of the eggs can be seen as a great success for the BBOWT and a positive sign for the state of British wildlife.

Following the discovery, Senior Ecology Officer at BBOWT, Colin Williams, released a statement on the BBOWT website: “This is a really brilliant result, especially for the members of our team who spent four hours hunting for eggs in the freezing cold this week…[and also given that] we are currently living through a nature and climate crisis, and the numbers of so many of our beloved species are declining across the UK.”

Williams was keen to attribute the discovery of the eggs to the hard work of the BBOWT staff and volunteers who have been committed to the upkeep of potential butterfly habitats in the Oxfordshire area all year round.

In September, the BBOWT launched The Nature Recovery fund, which is a means of funding their ongoing commitment to protecting biodiversity in the local area. They aim to raise three million pounds in three years which, they hope, will lead to more successes. This is the trust’s biggest-ever appeal to date.

This is not the first time there have been important wildlife developments under the watch of the BBOWT. Last summer, a group of volunteers discovered 303 glow worms at Whitecross Green Wood reserve, near Bicester. At the same site, the volunteers also found a rare group of breeding southern migrant hawker dragonflies – this was the first time the species was spotted in Oxfordshire. The work of the BBOWT appears to be an effective force for good in the protection of Oxfordshire’s wilderness. 

Oxfordshire County Council to decide on expansion of Zero Emission Zone

Tom Gardner
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Oxfordshire County Council to decide on expansion of Zero Emission Zone

A decision on the expansion of the Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) is expected in the Spring at a meeting of the county council’s cabinet. Emissions charges are set to double under the proposed changes, and the zone would be expanded to include the wider city centre. 

The expansion is likely to go ahead – having been in the council’s plans for a few years – and follows the introduction of a pilot ZEZ in February 2022 covering a few streets in the centre of Oxford. 

According to a recent city council report, transport is the second largest contributor to carbon emissions in Oxford, responsible for 17% of total emissions. By expanding the ZEZ, the council hopes that expanding the ZEZ will reduce this factor.

Consultation has been ongoing with local communities, businesses, and the public to shape the changes, and Councillor Judy Roberts, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy, will hold a key role when the final decision is made. 

Under the current pilot scheme, charges – which apply from 7 am to 7 pm – vary between £2 and £10 depending on the type of vehicle. These are set to double under the proposed changes: vehicles that produce zero emissions or have special permission would remain exempt from charges. Automatic number plate recognition cameras would be used to enforce the charges.

Money raised from fines would be used to fund further infrastructure (e.g. Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points) and to improve the public transport network, aimed at helping the city progress closer towards its upcoming emissions targets.

The policy has received backlash from local residents. There are concerns that the ZEZ might increase journey lengths for citizens who can’t afford the fines and would therefore disproportionately affect poorer citizens. Taxi drivers have noted that the disruption to their routes due to the ZEZ is causing them to increase their charges. 

These proposed measures are part of a wider Oxford Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Strategy (OxEVIS) in response to the government’s “Taking Charge” guidance under which local authorities have been encouraged to “develop local EV chargepoint strategies as an immediate priority.”

The vision for the council’s strategy is to “Progress Oxford’s leadership in the transition to a sustainable, decarbonised transport system through the delivery of a fair, sustainable, accessible and equitable network of EV charging infrastructure.”

The strategy centres on reducing car ownership; other parts of the plan include the new fleet of battery-powered buses to be introduced this year. If the ZEZ is introduced, it is intended to play a key part in this reduction. Oxfordshire is also a leading council in terms of EV uptake with one in five new cars fully electric. 

If the plan goes forward, the council would offer up to 100 day passes each year which would allow local residents to pass through the traffic filters. Yet, the Oxford Business Action Group is concerned that “without extensive exemptions provided, the ZEZ charges essentially amount to a business tax” and that “the roll out will surely have a huge, negative impact on the economic activities of the city at a time when [local businesses] are already struggling.” Particular concerns from local businesses include disruption to deliveries and reduced customer footfall.

While other cities like London, Birmingham, and Bristol have already introduced low emission zones, Oxford is the first city in Britain to introduce a ZEZ. Back in August last year, plans to introduce a ZEZ in London were scrapped, with central London instead instituting an Ultra Low Emission Zone (which has fewer restrictions).

Oxford Literary Festival returns as it launches 2024 programme

Kyra Radley
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The Oxford Literary Festival is returning this year with events aimed at attracting younger festival goers and addressing the global issue of food insecurity. The event will run from 16 to 18 March and is in partnership with Oxford University, Bodleian Libraries, and Netflix. 

The festival has been running for 27 years, and it continues to host speakers and events in Oxford’s historic locations like the Sheldonian Theatre, the Weston Library, and a variety of Oxford’s colleges. The festival invites speakers of varying backgrounds and cultures to offer insight into the festival themes and debate topics – which this year are centred on issues concerning access to nutritious and affordable food.

Notable programmes fulfilling the festival’s theme include Dr. Amir Khan’s talk titled “Compassion in World Farming” and an animal rights activist Gary Fracione’s panel on the future of our food sources. 

As a literary festival, the event will also feature a wide range of authors. The Bodleian Libraries’ highest award, the Bodley medal, is set to be awarded to Ali Smith at the festival. Ann Cleeves and Val McDermid will lead a panel on crime writing, and children’s author Jacqueline Wilson will give a talk in the Sheldonian Theatre on her career.

Non-fiction authors are equally represented with Angela Saini delivering a talk on her book The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule. Amin Ghaziani will also be interviewed about his new non-fiction book Queer Nightlife – How the Closing of Gay Bars Sparked a Revolution.

Debate panels will be held, some engaging with guests and taking audience questions. These will be hosted by journalist and author Yasin Alibai-Brown with panellists Dr Liam Fox MP and journalist Hardeep Matharu. 

As well as talks and debates, the festival will offer literary tours of Oxford and special tours aimed toward families. 

Netflix is running workshops for local schools to develop their own festivals with pupils having the opportunity to meet authors and scientists. The goal in the long run will be to encourage festival attendance in a younger generation. 

The Modern Corset

Nina Naidu
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The Modern Corset

Corsets boast a captivating history spanning centuries, originally worn to sculpt the female silhouette.While the popular image often conjures a Victorian woman encased in layers, this practice predates the Victorian era by over two centuries. Beyond their practical function, corsets were revered as symbols of femininity and social status, contributing to the coveted hourglass figure and gorgeous aesthetic. 

Beneath the allure, however, lies the dreaded patriarchal lens. Corsets were intricately tied to societal expectations, urging women to adhere to idealised beauty standards. The pursuit of a miniscule waist reflected the influence of the male gaze, perpetuating perceptions of attractiveness. The tight lacing not only moulded the physical form but symbolised discipline and restraint – a manifestation of the broader patriarchal structures policing women’s roles and appearances according to societal norms. 

In recent years, the corset has experienced a remarkable resurgence, undergoing a modern twist. No longer confined to the role of shapewear, it has evolved into a statement piece, adorning outfits rather than dictating silhouettes. The revival extends beyond aesthetics, challenging conventional beauty standards and empowering individuals to reclaim their bodies on their own terms. This revival is not just a fashion trend; it’s a celebration of diversity and self-expression. 

As someone who has embraced this recent resurgence, my wardrobe now boasts an array of tight-fitting and charming pieces, perfect for nights out or sunny days. Wearing corset tops makes me feel self-assured in my body and provides a stellar excuse to show off my belly button piercing at any given point. Of course, sometimes I accidentally purchase a corset that cuts off my blood circulation, but unlike their historic counterparts, the adaptability of modern corsets – from basic whites to vibrant hues – ensures a style for everyone.

As well as the great confidence boost, another appeal of the modern corsets lies in their contemporary twist, offering a means for individuals to express their identity and break free from conventional norms. This revival serves as a testament to the growing appreciation for diverse forms of beauty, with vintage styles making a noteworthy comeback. Social media platforms play a pivotal role, creating spaces for individuals to showcase unique styles, fostering a sense of community and acceptance.

The evolution of corsets from restrictive garments to symbols of empowerment is a fascinating journey. While their historical origins may not have prioritised individual expression, modern corsets have become a fabulous tool for self-expression, particularly on those memorable nights out. 

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