Brasenose JCR decided this Sunday to make one student eat a dictionary.

The motion was written in response to a motion from Andrew Sillett, a Brasenose finalist, which complained about the poor use of grammar by the JCR committee and compelled them to buy a dictionary.

“Even an Oxford college placed at 26th on the Norrington Table should have a JCR committee vaguely cognizant of the English language. This JCR therefore proposes that the committee issue a joint apology to the JCR for the mental anguish caused by their oversights and that they purchase an Oxford English Dictionary and use it.”

This motion was passed with the amendments that Andrew Sillett should buy the dictionary and provide grammar lessons for JCR committee members.

The following emergency motion was then put forward by Ed Chalk and passed by an overwhelming majority.
“Andrew Sillett is in desperate need of a sense of perspective, tact, and the proper uses for his free time. He is in even greater need of a sense of humour. This JCR therefore proposes that having suggested that the JCR purchase an Oxford English Dictionary, Andrew be forced to eat it. He may choose any appropriate seasonings and condiments – might we suggest humility?”

After the motion had passed, Ed Chalk was asked if the motion was a joke motion which would mean the reward of a crate of beer. He replied that, if he had to choose between a crate of beer and the joy of watching Mr Sillett eat a dictionary he would sacrifice the beer.

The alleged racist heckling of Danny Ayalon at the Oxford Union last week has prompted Israel to develop a new policy on how it deals with such incidents.

Danny Ayalon, the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, addressed the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organisations on Tuesday, and said of the incident that “this type of warfare is on a global scale, which is guided by the Palestinian Authority and Islamist groups.”

Mr Ayalon commented, “We need to focus Jewish NGOs and organizations to this issue. They say ‘Free Palestine’ and try and prevent us from speaking, we say ‘Free speech’.”

He continued. “We have learned how to defend ourselves from [physical] terrorism and now we are learning how to defend ourselves from verbal terrorism.”

A Facebook group has also been set up in response to the incident. Named, “Standing against anti-Semitism in Oxford”, the group has more than 500 members.

The group’s description states, “As students, we are taking a stand against anti-Semitism. We are appalled at the behaviour of the student who screamed anti-Semitic remarks at an Oxford Union event. This is nothing to do with foreign policy or politics, but about showing our intolerance for intolerance. All racism, whoever it’s directed at, is unacceptable.”

In regards to what action Mr Ayalon will be taking, his spokesman, Ashley Perry, stated, “We are waiting to hear about the progress of the police investigations before making a decision on whether to press charges. We are looking into all possibilities and will not allow such blatant racism, intolerance and incitement to violence go unnoticed and unpunished.”

The Israeli Embassy confirmed that the police were investigating the incident after a request from several students.

This Valentine’s day, students formed a same-sex chain around the Radcliffe Camera, in celebration of friendship and gay rights.
The event was planned by OUSU and RAG as part of the Oxford-wide Queer History Month. Instead of a boy-girl line, the participants held hands in boy-boy, girl-girl formation.

The event was inspired by ‘A Day in Hand’, a national project which aims to support and encourage same sex couples to hold hands in public.

‘We thought it would be really nice to do something around the Rad Cam as it’s somewhere that’s iconic to Oxford. We’ve got loads of people here, it’s a great vibe,’ said Rachel Dedman, RAG president.

There were almost enough students to almost form a circle around the entire camera, with some non-students joining in to support the cause.
Asked what he hoped to achieve by the morning, OUSU LGBT officer Jasper Minton-Taylor said , ‘a sense of community, a sense of friendship, a sense of acceptance.’
He said it was ‘quite fun and light hearted, but also just saying it’s really fine to hold hands with a member of the same-sex, and to reaffirm that message.’
‘I think it would be amazing to make it a yearly thing,’ said Dedman.

On Sunday night two members of the public allegedly broke into Lincoln college and made their way into a Lincoln student’s room.

Students have been expressing their concern at the college’s security following the incident.

Zoe O’Shea, a Lincoln fresher, woke up at 1.30 am after she heard her door open. Expecting it to be friends, she was shocked when two strangers were standing feet from her bed.
She described them as “stinking of alcohol and cigarettes.”

O’Shea said that the man and woman claimed to be looking for ‘Susie.’ They then asked if there was a party going on where they could find some alcohol.
When she asked them to leave, the pair headed for the JCR where the Superbowl was being aired.

It is understood that the two had been seen earlier in the evening looking into the JCR from Turl Street.
When asked about the incident, Lincoln’s Junior Dean commented that this was the first he had heard about a break-in. He said that there had been no official report made regarding the incident and therefore no statement could be made.

However, O’Shea claimed that she went to a porter to report the incident, and was told that “I should have locked my door”.

“She [the porter on duty] was quite stern and unsympathetic,” she said.

Richard De Vere, a Lincoln mathematician, was watching the Superbowl when they came in, once again asking for alcohol. The pair this time claimed that they were friends of ‘Sarah’ and asked where the free drinks were.

He described the two as looking “poorly kempt” and being in their 40s. He also stated that they appeared very drunk.

Finally a student went to find a porter and the two were forced to leave the college.

James Meredith, JCR President, said, “I’m absolutely horrified by the incident, and intend to discuss it further with college authorities.”

“It is worth noting though, that I brought the fact that the security system at the bottom of staircase one wasn’t working to the attention of college last term.”

At present Lincoln uses a swipe card system at night. It is suspected that the intruders waited until someone else swiped their card, and then followed them in, otherwise known as ‘tail gating.’
Lincoln Bursar was contacted for a comment, but has not yet responded.