The lowest paid workers at Christ Church are working for as little as £5.80 an hour, the lowest fixed wage of employees at any college, according to an investigation by the Oxford Living Wage Campaign.

The Living Wage Campaign has calculated that the lowest “sustainable” wage people in Oxford can live on is £7.01 per hour, yet at least six Oxford colleges pay some of their employees less than this “living wage” sum.

The Campaign submitted Freedom of Information requests to all Oxford’s colleges, but 25 colleges have thus far failed to respond.

Three colleges have refused to disclose the information. The Campaign is appealing this decision.

From the information gathered so far, Pembroke pays the lowest wage to any employees, with two apprentice chefs currently on £5.29 an hour. The college has explained however, that the wages are at this level for a probationary period of sixth months, and are expected to rise as the chefs gain experience.

At Christ Church the lowest-paid workers at the college are on wages of £5.80 an hour, despite the fact that Christ Church is one of Oxford’s richest colleges with an endowment worth over £260 million. Campaigners staged a rally outside the college on Wednesday morning to raise awareness of the low wages. Over the next three weeks campaigners will also visit 18 Oxford colleges to collect signatures for a university-wide petition for the living wage. Christ Church were unavailable for comment on the issue.

According to the Campaign, working in accordance with the City Council, OUSU and the Rowntree Trust, at least five other colleges pay below the living wage figure, with the wages per hour of some staff standing at £6.95 in Merton, £6.83 in Queen’s, £6.79 in St Antony’s and £6.60 in Jesus .

Stephen Bush, Director of the Oxford Living Wage Campaign, condemned the attitudes of colleges towards low pay.

“These figures reflect that no college cannot afford to pay a living wage,” he said. “It is simply a matter of priorities.”

A former Oxford student jumped to his death in London because he was accused of sending a prank email, an inquest has been told.

Anjool Malde, 24, jumped from the eighth floor roof terrace of the Coq D’Argent restaurant in central London with a glass of champagne in his hand, just two days before his birthday last summer. The incident was captured on CCTV.

He had been suspended by his bosses at Deutsche Bank two days before his death.

He was accused of posting a joke message in the name of one of the bank’s clients on a financial website, stating “I’m hot, I’m hot.”

Despite denying responsibility, the message was traced to Malde’s computer.
Two other emails were traced to Malde’s work computer, which had both been sent to the bank’s client. Sent under the name of Raj Rocks, the sender offered an apology in one and mentioned “feeling suicidal”, and in the other offered £500 to charity to “make the matter go away”.

A verdict of suicide was recorded by City of London coroner Paul Matthews.
Malde, known as Jools to his friends, read Geography at St Peter’s College. He worked as an online news editor for Cherwell, and frequently wrote stories for Cherwell and The Oxford Student. He was on Standing Committee at the Union. He also moderated the University gossip website OxGoss.

After graduating in 2005 aged 20, he came second in the UK Graduate of the Year awards.

Success after university followed. Malde was the co-founder of Alpha Parties, a firm which specialised in arranging social events for graduates and young professionals.

He had invited friends to a birthday party in Spain, in his recently-purchased £300,000 penthouse apartment.

Malde attended a party the night before his death with friend Irra Khirivskaya, a model. She said that although they went, he was very withdrawn and they left early.

She said that he “didn’t much care about being in the bank”, as he told her about the disciplinary meeting he faced at work.

Miss Khirivskaya commented, “His actions can’t be explained as the actions of the Jools I know. He was someone who temporarily lost his wits.”

However, she did concede that “The efficiency of his actions, their style and precision, were all very typical of Anjool.”

A spokeswoman for Deutsche Bank, Michelle Gathercole, said that Mr Malde had not been suspended. She added: “We are deeply saddened by our colleague’s death and our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this time.”

Tabassum Rasheed, a second year PPEist interviewed by Malde last year for an Easter internship at Deutsche, described him as an “animated, friendly guy” and added, “He was really helpful and seemed genuinely interested in the lives of the people he was interviewing – not just doing it for the job.”

Those working in the area around the Coq d’Argent described a “really awful” scene after Malde’s suicide jump.

Malde was not the first person to commit suicide from the restaurant. In April 2007, Richard Ford, a City marketing executive, also jumped from the terrace, landing on top of a number 76 bus.

Eighty per cent of men and almost seventy per cent of women will be overweight by 2020 according to a study by Oxford University’s Professor Klim McPherson.

Unlike childhood obesity rates, which according to a previous study have now peaked, adult obesity is expected to continue to rise.

The study predicts that 41 per cent of men aged 20 to 65 will be obese by 2020, along with 36 per cent of women.

McPherson stated, “We are being overwhelmed by the effects of today’s ‘obesogenic’ environment, with its abundance of energy-dense food and sedentary lifestyles.” He warned, “The Government needs to redouble its efforts to tackle obesity.”

New College’s pet kitten Otis has been missing for several days, prompting great concern amongst College members.

The cat, which is six months old and marmalade, was last seen in New College eleven days ago, on Monday 8th February. Since then he has been spotted on Mansfield Road and it is thought that he may have walked towards Manor Road.

Zoe Norridge, Fellow in African and Comparative Literature, who oversees the welfare of the College pet, has encouraged the public to report any possible sightings to the New College porters.

She commented, “Otis is much missed by all the college. If you see him please do try to pick him up and give us a ring. He’s been lost for nearly two weeks now and we’re really keen to have him home.”

An Oxford University spokesperson has quashed rumours that the University is planning to launch a perfume and aftershave range.

The denial was prompted after national papers reported that perfume bottles featuring the University coat of arms were soon to be on sale. It was claimed that the University was seeking new ways to exploit the Oxford brand.
A University spokesman confirmed that the idea had appeared on a ‘mood board’ produced by Oxford Limited, which works to promote the University’s name, but stated “The University of Oxford has absolutely no plans to produce a perfume.”

“All products created by Oxford Limited are designed to be relevant to the history and accomplishments of the University of Oxford… We do not feel that a product such as perfume would be relevant.”

Communal condoms have been found vandalised in St. Edmund Hall.

The condoms, which were kept in the JCR Welfare room for members of the college, were found to have holes in them, which appeared to have been made with a sharp object.

John Pierce, a student at Teddy Hall, claimed to have discovered the vandalism when using the condoms to make jelly ice cubes. He commented, “I went to check on them and every single one of them had a sort of spurt out of the top.”

Eloise Stonborough, Teddy Hall’s JCR Welfare Officer, expressed anger at the actions.

“I am furious about this, and quite upset that there are individuals in college who, for whatever reason, have decided to put their fellow students in danger.”
She further commented, “I am really sorry for the extra worry that this idiot’s actions may have caused.”

Dani Quinn, OUSU VP for Welfare, also condemned the action. “I feel concerned for the students who might have been affected in a bad way… I don’t understand why someone would do it, and I think it’s a cruel malicious thing to do.”

Quinn advised students who were worried about STIs or pregnancy to use the available Sexual Health Services in Oxford.

She recommended the GUM Clinic in Headington and the Alec Turnbull Family Planning Clinic in Cowley as places where, “students are treated really respectfully and you can expect excellent and non-judgemental service.”
Quinn also stated that she felt Colleges should support Common Rooms in purchasing discrete ways of distributing condoms, such as dispensers, as they could not “reasonably afford to buy them themselves.”

This is not the first time that communal condoms have been vandalised. Similar actions occurred in Wadham in recent years. Condoms kept in a bowl in the Women’s Room were sabotaged, leading to the use of dispensing machines.

Stonborough sent an email to all members of Teddy Hall JCR which stated, “I don’t know who did this horrible thing… but I hope you are all aware that this is incredibly anti-social and despicable behaviour.”

The email continued, “Teddy Hall, and the University at large, not to mention the country that we live in, promotes using condoms… I hope whoever did this realises that their actions are not going to stop people having sex, but rather are going to put people who are attempting to be responsible about their bodies at unnecessary (and possibly great) risk.”

Other JCRs were also warned to be vigilant against such actions by students. Students are advised to take the time and care to check their condoms.
Most colleges provide free contraception, and colleges affiiated with OUSU can buy supplies directly from then at discount.

Oxford University has come down in favour of raising tuition fees in a report advising the government.

The report is a response to the first phase of the government-commissioned Independent Review of Higher Education Funding and Student Finance.

The University argues that fees should rise to allow universities to continue working at the level they do, and that bursaries can be used to counter potential negative effects on access.

It points out that “participation by under-represented groups has not been adversely affected” by the current fee regime.”

However, OUSU has responded to the Browne Review’s call for evidence with its own report against raising fees. They argue that research by universities, think tanks and the NUS all point to “fear of debt” putting off many potential university applicants. The report argues that this fear is likely to increase if the current cap on fees is lifted even if it comes with an increase in bursary provision.

Jonny Medland, OUSU’s VP for Access and Academic Affairs said, “The mantra of “raise fees and bursaries” ignores the fact that students will be put off by higher fees while not fully understanding improved bursary arrangements.”
The review itself, led by Lord Browne of Madingley, “is tasked with making recommendations to Government on the future of fees policy and financial support for full and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students.”
It launched in November 2009 to investigate the impact of the introduction of “variable fees” in 2006, and Oxford’s response to its first call for evidence was completed last month.

The University’s report was split into analysing the “impact of current arrangements” and looking at “issues for future policy”. Broadly speaking, the University is concerned about the costs of the current scheme to the Treasury, and would like to see fees increased in order to help maintain the quality of Oxford and other universities in the UK.

The report notes that the current arrangement of additional fees have provided much needed income for universities to counter the fall in “average public funding per student… by 40% in real terms during the 1990s.”

However, there are worries over government costs, given the current fiscal climate: “subsidy is expensive [for the Treasury] while student support is not effectively targeted at those with greatest financial need.”

The report says that in the future, “maintaining the exceptional quality of Oxford’s provision will be a formidable challenge, if fee income is capped at the current level, while public funding is cut and fundraising remains extremely challenging.”

Oxford stresses its wish for autonomy on bursary provision and other attempts to increase applications for “high performing school-age students from groups currently under-represented at Oxford.”

However, OUSU believes there is a better way than raising fees. Medland said, “A sustainable and progressive funding system should be introduced – a graduate tax [for instance] will remove the incentive for graduates to take the highest paying job they can and ensure that those who benefit the most from university will pay the most for it.”

The decision to grant Thirst Lodge a lap-dancing licence has provoked widespread protest in Oxford.

Following the motion at OUSU Council to condemn the licence, a ‘Boycott Thirst Lodge’ group was set up on Facebook. The group already has almost 800 members.

St Ebbe’s Church has organised a protest against Thirst Lodge’s licence to hold lap dancing at the venue.

The protest, which will be held at Bonn Square this Saturday, 20th February, at 2.15pm, has been backed by OUSU. OUSU President, Stefan Baskerville, circulated an email encouraging everyone to attend the protest “and stand with others in your local community.”

Lucy Bannister from St Ebbe’s Church stated that “the aim of this protest is to raise awareness of the lap dancing licence that Thirst lodge has been granted. We have found many local people are shocked at the decision by the council to award the licence to somewhere so close to the church and the centre of town.”

She further expressed hope that many people would come to the protest to show the council that the local community do not want lap dancing to take place locally.

St Ebbe’s was also involved in handing out flyers and getting shoppers to sign a petition against the licence in Oxford city centre last Saturday.

In addition to the protests, an online petition calling for the licence to be revoked was set up by the Facebook group.
The petition has been backed by OUSU who circulated a link to it in their email to all undergraduates. The petition has so far attracted over 570 signatures.

The bulk of opposition to the lap dancing licence is on the basis of research that claims to show a link between increased violence and harassment of women in areas where lap dancing clubs have opened. The petition website also claims that there is a link between lap dancing clubs and the number of reported rapes and sexual assaults in the area.

The continuing controversy over Thirst Lodge led the Oxford Union to hold an emergency debate on the issue. The debate was entitled “This House believes that how Thirst Lodge decides to do its business is none of our business” and was held before the Scotland debate on Thursday night.

The pre-trial hearing for the appeal against the decision to grant Thirst Lodge a licence for lap dancing is on the 26th of February. In the appeal the council will have to consider strength of local opposition to the plans. Those opposing the plans hope that with the awareness raised by the combination of the petition and protest the voice of the local community will be powerful enough to overturn the licence. 

The results from Cherwell’s survey on extracurricular activities show that having a commitment outside of academic studies is unlikely to have a negative impact on your degree – and could even be helpful.

Almost half of those who are involved with one extra-curricular activity said they had received a first in a University-wide or college examination. Around 40 percent of those who take part in two extra-curricular areas achieved a first. But of the students who said they ‘just studied’, only a third had got the top grade.

Students from a selection of colleges completed the survey, which asked 146 students to indicate which extracurricular commitment they were involved in (sport, drama, music, journalism, student politics, or just study), and whether they had at some point in their academic career been awarded a first in either collections, mods or prelims.
The survey also asked for the students’ subject and the amount of time they spent on each extracurricular activity.

Sport is the extracurricular of choice, with 44% of those surveyed indicating it as their main commitment. While some said they only did 2 to 4 hours of sport a week, others doing sport at a Blues level have indicated over 20 hours of training and practice time.

Sonia Bracegirdle, President of the Oxford University Women’s Boat Club says that the club “trains about 11 times a week, totalling about 22 hrs of actual training, with probably about another 2 – 5 hrs of travelling time on top of that.”

However she also says that “rowing did help me to organise my time better – because I knew I only had a certain amount of time between sessions each day, it meant that I had to be very efficient.”

Alice Gardner, President of the Taekwon-do Club as well as Atalanta’s, the elite sportswomen society says, “I sometimes have to remind myself that I am here to do a degree as well.”

She said that “training for any Blues sport is tiring, especially Varsity term, and my tutors have unfortunately picked up on this. The amount you are expected to train can interfere with work, but it is possible to do.”

She stresses however that “the key is organisation and self discipline which in turn proves to be an essential skill when it comes to revision” and that “training is time away from the academic pressures of the library, and it also provides a great outlet for stress.”

Music is the second most popular extracurricular, as 20% of the students surveyed indicated it as their main non-academic activity.

Of the rest of those surveyed, 14% indicated that they just study. 10% said they do theatre, followed by another 8% involved in student politics. Journalism came last with only 4%. However, many students said it required more than 12 hours of commitment per week.

Henry Clarke Price, former Cherwell editor, comments that “If some tutors had their way, we’d be working nine-to-five every day in the library. And clearly, editing a student newspaper and its website wasn’t great for my degree at the time.”

But Clarke Price says that it was thanks to this commitment that he was able to get his job as a trainee journalist at the BBC in Paris on his year abroad. He also claims that “the extra-curricular stuff definitely forced me to be more efficient with my workload, which has been really useful in the run-up to exams.”

“I’d hate the idea of going through university only doing academic work, although I guess Finals will be the litmus test,” he said.

From the replies to the survey, students who read Mathematics and PPE are more heavily involved in sport than those doing other subjects.

For drama, perhaps unsurprisingly, most involvement came from those who study Modern Languages, History and English Literature.

Drama appears to be the most time-consuming extracurricular commitment, with students spending on average 16.8 hours a week on rehearsals, and indicating a wide range of time commitment, from 4 to 40 hours a week.

This is potentially a motivating factor for thesps to be more focused on their academic work, explains Jack Blackburn, second-year Philosophy and Theology student at Regent’s Park. “The one thing that people who do drama fear is being told that we can’t act anymore by our tutors. So, there is an incentive to work for everyone, though some don’t worry about it as much as others.”

Maximus Marenbon, Cherwell Stage Editor, thinks it is “ultimately a question of focus. Students with the potential to get a first might choose to focus on drama instead and put up with a 2.1. But in some subjects, tutors actively encourage drama for academic benefit: the English tutor of a friend of mine goes to see all her plays.”

Almost as time-consuming as theatre is student politics, with those surveyed indicating an average of 13.7 hours spent on JCR, OUSU or student political party commitments. Barry Wright, ex-JCR President of St Hughs says that a taking on a commitment of the sort involves “largely unpredictable aspects.”

“I found it best to just do my work as soon as it was set, to avoid any potential stress later if something big came up. Even so, the time I had to spend on work was reduced, and sometimes the quality suffered – in part due to fatigue.

“I don’t feel that it adversely affected my results, but I know some other people went the other way, and found themselves working late nights and sometimes struggling to stay on top of work,” he said.

The results of the survey also show that students who have achieved a first at some point in their degree and those who achieve lower marks, spend the same amount of time on their extracurriculars.

The replies collected from the survey also show that most students spend between 2 to 10 hours a week on their extracurricular activities. 24% of the people surveyed indicated that they spend 2 to 6 hours a week on non-academic commitments and 22% said that they spend between 7 and 10. Another 21% estimated that they spend between 11 and 19 hours on extracurriculars.

Most of the students indicated that they have one extracurricular activity, followed by a quarter of those surveyed doing two. 14% said that they do not have any non-academic commitments, and only 5% said that they have three or more.

Out of the students that only take on one extracurricular commitment, 45.6% said they got a first at some point in their academic career in college or university-wide examinations. A close 42.3% of students doing two extracurriculars also said they had been awarded a first, however only a third of the students with only academic commitments said they had been awarded a First.

A porter was found floating unconscious in the lake at the bottom of Worcester grounds on Sunday evening.

The porter was discovered by third year students who had heard shouts coming from the lake.

They immediately alerted the Porters’ Lodge and the emergency services. Police, an emergency response car, an ambulance, and two fire engines arrived at the scene within minutes.

The incident took place on Sunday evening, at around 10.30pm. All the students who were present at the scene live in the Sainsbury building, a third year flat on Worcester grounds that is closest to the lake.

Whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive, another porter from the lodge attempted to rescue his colleague from the lake.

Although the unconscious porter was near the edge of the water and close to the banks of the lake, his colleague was unable to move him as he was too heavy. Mud also slowed down the effort.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service received a call at 10.42pm to the grounds of Worcester College.

Two fire engines and a rescue boat were sent to the scene. The porter, aged around sixty, was recovered from the lake, and left in the care of the Ambulance Services.

Having rescued the porter, the fire services called the police, who arrived at Worcester grounds soon after.

South Central Ambulance Service confirmed, “We sent three resources to Worcester grounds: an emergency response car, an ambulance and an officer. The man was recovered from the lake- he was not conscious when we arrived at the scene, but by the time we arrived at the John Radcliffe Hospital, he was conscious and breathing”.

A spokesperson from Thames Valley Police said “It is not confirmed how the porter came to be in the lake. However, we did not feel there were suspicious circumstances surrounding the event, and we do not believe there was a third party involved. We are not investigating the matter.”

Mr Stephen Dyer, Domestic Bursar of Worcester College issued a statement, confirming that: “A man was rescued from Worcester College Pond at around 10:45pm. The emergency services attended and he was taken away by ambulance to the John Radcliffe Hospital where he is now reported to be doing well and is expected to make a full recovery.”