Oxford is to receive a donation of £5 million to strengthen its global health research networks with Asia, and with China in particular.
The donation from the Li Ka Shing Foundation will fund a series of partnerships, teaching and research projects that will see centres in China, Vietnam and Thailand become full partners in the University’s Asia Research Network.
Sir Ka Shing set up the foundation in 1980 to support activities in education, and medicine and healthcare. The Li Ka Shing-University of Oxford Global Health Programme will help develop the best responses to these global health challenges.
The donation will fund training in infectious disease research at Shantou University, and a number of medical students from Shantou University will be able to travel to Oxford for further medical training. There will also be opportunities for clinical scientists to undertake graduate degrees with the University of Oxford.

Andrew Smith retained his seat in Oxford West in last week’s general election, beating the Liberal Democrat Steve Goddard by 4,581 votes.
The Liberal Democrat Dr Evan Harris lost his seat, which he has held for the last 13 years, to Nicola Blackwood of the Conservative Party in Oxford West and Abingdon.
Steven Goddard reflected on his loss to incumbent Andrew Smith, saying, “Well, I wish that my campaign had had access to the national injections of cash and resources that my opponent had from big business and the unions!”
The Conservatives gained 97 seats nationally, not enough to secure a majority. Instead a coalition has been formed with the Liberal Democrats after several days of post-election deal-making. Oxford East saw a swing on 4.1% from the Lib Dems to Labour.
The Green Party lost votes from 2005 in this seat, but UKIP and the Socialist Equality Party both gained votes. In Oxford West and Abingdon there was a swing of 6.9% from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives.

This week has witnessed a surge in violent attacks and incidents across the city centre. Three separate events sparked fears that aggressive acts are becoming more commonplace in Oxford.
Blayne Ridgeway, a 22 year-old father, was stabbed in the heart at 3am outside the Que Pasa restaurant in Oxford city centre, at the top of Castle Street last Saturday morning. He died shortly afterwards at the John Radcliffe Hospital. A 16 year old teenager appeared at the Oxford Youth Court on Wednesday.
Thames Valley Police are also trying to trace a man who helped a teenager after she was sexually assaulted in Oxford city centre Thursday morning. An eighteen year old woman was walking along Magdalen Street East, near to the bus stops by Broad Street, when she was grabbed by an unknown man.
The woman screamed and a member of public intervened and the attacker ran away. The attacker was is in his twenties, with a pink or light red top and dark hair. A 25-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the incident and is being questioned by police.
Yet another investigation was launched on Wednesday, when a dead body was found in the River Isis at Folly Bridge. The body was identified as that of a male. He had been seen in town approximately an hour before his body was discovered.
The body was spotted by a member of the public in a blocked-off inlet of the River just behind Folly Bridge.
Police, fire crews and the ambulance service were present at the incident earlier on today.
Cherwell reporters on the scene spoke to Detective Inspector Morton who said, “We are treating this as an unexplained death. At the moment, we are looking at all the eventualities, which could include murder, accident or suicide. “
Will Harboard, a former Lincoln student who now works behind the bar at the Head of the River pub, said “I’m really surprised this happened just down the road from a police station. It’s pretty shocking.”
The body was found opposite Hertford accomodation. Harboard said, “There was a big group of Hertford students in the pub earlier who were talking about it. They did not believe that there was a dead body in the river, they thought someone had made it up”.
Sam Hawkins, a second year Hertford student, lives in Western Road, just next to where the body was found. He told Cherwell he was “astounded” to hear that dead body had been found so close to his house, and that it was “very unsavoury”.
“Someone was stabbed in central Oxford a few days ago, making this the second violent incident in a week. This is not a laughing matter, I feel very unsafe.”
Police are appealing for witnesses

The Oxford Hub, the organization that acts as the focal point for the university’s charitable activities and volunteering, is seeking to acquire property on Turl Street to be used as its central venue.
The building will be used to “house a cafe-bar-restaurant, hold events, incubate projects, provide training for volunteers, be a venue for like-minded charitably-inclined people to hang out, and a place where students can come to find out more about the issues that really matter to the local, national and international communities.”
Although Hannah MacDiarmid, OxHub President, sent out a message earlier in the week saying that the charity group is planning on buying the new venue, it has now been confirmed that they are looking to obtain the lease instead.
If OxHub is successful in its bid, the first floor of the venue will be dedicated to catering facilities, providing “high quality, ethically produced, affordable food.”
There are plans to include breakfast service, lunch, café service and evening dining and drinking. The rest of the venue space is to be used as “overspill for the cafe, providing informal workspace during the day” which would transition into a lounge bar in the evening.
O’Boyle is hoping that the revenue from these catering facilities “would generate the necessary funds” to pay for the lease.
“We really do think this will raise awareness of the Hub’s work and hope it will significantly improve town-gown relations by increasing the number of student volunteers involved with our projects and therefore making a positive contribution to the local community.
“We’re very excited about the venture so are doing all we can to put a winning bid together.”
Students have also expressed their enthusiasm for the idea. Claire Wright, a second-year student at Univ believes that this is “the most exciting Oxford project I’ve heard of yet.”
A microwebsite has been set up in order to promote the project, as well as a facebook group.

The victim of violent assault and theft was left lying on the ground at the St Hugh’s Ball in the early hours of last Sunday morning. The attacker, who was wearing a top hat, is believed to have been dressed as a juggler.

The sequence of events leading up to the assault begun in jest, but took an ominous turn when the student, who wished to remain anonymous, was hit so forcefully that she was knocked to the ground. Following this, her phone was allegedly snatched by the same stranger who had just hit her.

The student explained what happened: “We were standing near to the stranger and my friends thought it would be funny to take his top hat. It was done instantaneously, in a jovial manner.

“As soon as my friends had ran away with the hat, the man aggressively turned on me. I told him I did not know who the other girls were who had taken his hat. I just said this because I was scared of his aggressive manner.”

It was after this that the alleged assault took place. The student said, “I was holding my phone in my hand and he tried to wrestle it from me. Suddenly I felt some kind of hit, which knocked me to the ground. I was completely in shock as he ran off with my phone. By the time I had picked myself up, he had gone.”

The assault took place at around 2.30am in the main marquee, while the Queen tribute band was playing. After the assault, the student was taken by the security guard to receive first aid. She has subsequently reported the incident to the police who are treating it as “snatch theft”.

It is believed that the stranger was much too old to be a student. The victim of the assault recalled that her assailant had a shaved head with stubble, and was of particularly small stature.

The other distinguishing feature about the stranger was his large top hat. The ball committee are currently in possession of this hat, which they are treating as a vital piece of evidence in their search for the stranger.

The hat was handed to Eleanor Hale, President of the Ball Committee, at the end of the evening. Hale said, “I think it is really unlikely for the mugger to have been another student. He may have been a gatecrasher, but the fact that he had a hat – the one that the juggler was wearing – means he may well have been one of the jugglers.”

The student had been working at the St Hugh’s Ball as an assistant supervisor at the main stage until 11pm. Jeff Pole was in charge of the staff on the night, and has been involved in identifying the culprit. He said, “Quite a few people on the ball committee think it could be a juggler. We want to track down who the culprit was, and we are definitely going to follow this up.”

Zoe Burges, who was in charge of entertainment on the ball committee, urged caution in jumping to conclusions. She said, “The hat is very similar to that of our entertainment people. The problem is that anyone could have been wearing the hat – an audience member perhaps.”
She confirmed that the committee had been in contact with various entertainment companies in an attempt to identify the mystery attacker.

A spokesperson from Thames Valley Police said, “The incident was reported to us on Monday the 10th April. We were notified of an incident which occurred on Sunday 9th April at 2.30am at St Hugh’s College on St Margarets Road.

“The offender became aggressive and is believed to have hit the aggrieved, knocking her to the ground, and taking her mobile phone. We are treating the incident as robbery, specifically as snatch theft.

“We certainly will be launching an investigation into finding the culprit, and we will pursue all avenues of enquiry.”

Speaking of the ball in general, Eleanor Hale said, “Everything went really well, there was a really positive atmosphere. There was a bit of jostling at the tea party, and a few people were ejected due to drunkenness, but this violent mugging was a completely isolated incident.”

A student from Christ Church suffered injuries and temporary memory loss after being mugged on his way back to college after a night out at The Bridge last week.

Benjamin Anderson, an finalist Engineer, was attacked as he was walking past Hythe Bridge in the early hours of Friday 7th May.

“I was walking alone back to college after leaving The Bridge. The only thing I recall is the flash of a face, and I don’t remember anything until I was back at the porters’ lodge at my college,” said Anderson.

“I then spent the night at the A&E Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital until about 9am, where I had CT scans and an x-ray.”

Thames Valley Police confirmed that the incident took place at around 2am. A spokesperson said, “A man was assaulted near Hythe Bridge as he was walking towards George Street from Park End Street.

“The victim had his phone and wallet stolen, and suffered a temporary memory loss. He sustained cuts to his face, swelling to his eye area and has a chipped tooth.”

Thames Valley Police are still looking for witnesses to help identify the assailant. Anderson “recalls that the attacker was a white male, about 6 feet tall and had short hair.” Anderson said that he cannot remember exactly what the man looked like, and that the police are currently looking at CCTV footage in order to try and identify him.

“It’s all a bit hazy, the only thing I remember is him moving.”

Anderson said that he was “not traumatized, but definitely pissed off. This is not something I would have expected to happen to me, having been in Oxford for three years. It’s not like you shouldn’t go out at all, but it is important to keep your wits about you.”

Following the incident, Ian Watson, the Christ Church Junior Censor, circulated an e-mail to students, suggesting precautions in order to avoid being attacked when out at night.

The e-mail read: “Some of you will already know that another Junior Member of Christ Church was attacked last night, on leaving The Bridge in the early hours.

Although, fortunately, his injuries are less serious than they at first seemed, the attack seems to be have been vicious.”

After highlighting the need to be careful when out late at night, and saying that it is better to leave in groups rather than alone, the e-mail warned that “size matters, but in a perverse way.”

Watson said, “Across the country, large males are the most likely group to be attacked, because they seem worthy targets to inebriated male assailants (by far the most common category).

“It’s no use thinking that if you are large and sporty you will be able to defend yourself. You won’t, because the attack will probably be over before you have time to react. Oxford is still not Detroit, but there is a need for great care nonetheless.”

One student told Cherwell, “I never think twice about walking home alone at night. I always think of Oxford as such a safe place, regardless of the time of day”.

Dani Quinn, OUSU Vice President for Welfare, circulated a message to JCRs urging caution to students. “Students are one of the most likely groups to fall victim to crime. It’s easy to avoid trouble if you know what you’re doing. Don’t be a statistic: take basic steps to avoid a bad ending to a great night.”

The University’s £200m plans to develop the Radcliffe Infirmary site look set to be approved after a favourable planning officers’ report to the city councillors.
The Press Office confirmed that they would be applying for planning permission this month. Work could then begin on the 10 acre site at the end of this year, and would be completed by 2013. 
The plans are to create a Humanities building with an underground library and a 5 storey Maths department at the former hospital. The listed Infirmary building on Woodstock Road will be used for offices; the listed chapel for meetings, exhibitions and performances, while the former outpatients building will form a new home for the Ruskin School of Art. Two pedestrian and cycle routes would be created linking Woodstock Road and Walton Street.
The University has agreed to construct a new building to replace the Jericho Health Centre.
A spokesman said that the planned development was “very much in the Oxford tradition”, with areas of lawn planned for the north of the site, near the Observatory Gardens of Green-Templeton College.
The site represents the last remaining large plot of land available for development in the historic heart of the city.
It was excavated over the summer by a team of archaeologists from the Museum of London, and evidence of human occupation from the Neolithic/Bronze Age periods was discovered.
Professor Anthony Monaco, chairman of the Oxford’s Radcliffe Observatory Quarter board, said, “This offers state-of-the-art teaching space, while offering new avenues through the site, exciting courtyards, gardens and squares, all with views of the Radcliffe Observatory.”
Opinion among students has been generally favourable. Oliver Cox, a student at University College, said that “I think it’s great that such a historic building is being reincorporated into the University community.”

A Cherwell investigation has found that the drop-out rate for disabled students from Oxford has become disproportionately high.
Disabled provision at certain colleges is also still remarkably poor.
In the 2008-2009 academic year, 18 of 114 total undergraduate student withdrawals were made by disabled students, as well as 9 of 170 graduate withdrawals.
This puts the level of disabled undergraduate withdrawals at 16% of the total, even though disabled students make up only around 4% of the student body.
This high rate of withdrawal is a marked increase on the previous year. In 2007-2008, disabled students comprised only around 7% of both undergraduate and graduate withdrawals.
Zoe Hallam, an undergraduate at St. John’s College who suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, said, “I’m very surprised at the withdrawal rate, as I’ve always found the support here excellent. Oxford is really good for disabled provision.
“However the majority of disabled students suffer from learning-related disabilities. The high academic pressure here probably makes it harder for those who find work difficult anyway. It’s hard to imagine how they would cope.”
The most visible impact of a lack of provision is for students with physical or sensory disabilities, for whom there are more activities out of reach and complications to overcome due to accessibility. Several colleges still do not have the facilities required by these students, and the drop-out rate indicates that Oxford may not be making enough provision for them.
Nikki Emerson, a disabled student at Magdalen College, told Cherwell of mixed experience at Oxford.
One tutor went out of his way to move a lecture out of the Physiology lecture theatre so that he could hold a tutorial with Nikki there, because he was not sure that any other room would have suitable access.
However, Nikki said that getting around Oxford is difficult for students in wheelchairs. “Cobbles are rubbish, there are no drop kerbs, and often roadworks run across the entire pavement. Getting around the city can be an absolute nightmare.”
Nikki also pointed out that Vincent’s and the Oxford Union do not have lifts, making access to any floor other than the ground floor impossible for her and other students with mobility difficulties.
However, it is not possible to install lifts into these listed buildings.
In the 2006-2007 academic year, 1,079 Oxford students declared a disability, with the number rising to 1,223 for 2007-2008 and again to 1,273 for 2008-2009.
Currently, there are 56 students who are wheelchair users or have other mobility difficulties, 41 students who are deaf or have hearing impairments, and 53 who are blind or partially sighted.
However, a high proportion of disabilities affecting students are unseen: last year at Oxford there were 616 students with dyslexia, 177 with an illness such as epilepsy or diabetes, 95 with mental health problems, and 39 on the autistic spectrum or diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Oxford gives overall ratings across the colleges for access for disabled students.
According to the most recent ratings on a scale of five stars, the most accessible colleges are Kellogg with five stars, St. Anne’s and St. Catherine’s with four and a half stars, and Wadham with four stars.
On the other side of the coin, the least accessible colleges are Harris Manchester, Green Templeton, and All Souls with one and a half stars, and Brasenose with only one.
Currently there is no way for a wheelchair user to access Brasenose’s dining hall, College bar, or library as there are only stairs and no ramps. There are ramps leading into the JCR and from the lodge into the Old Quad, but little else.
However, Brasenose is embarking on a renovation scheme entitled ‘Project Q’, which aims to create more accessible facilities and open up access to its food, drink and books for disabled students.
The JCR President at Mansfield College, Andrew Campbell, said “Currently at Mansfield we have no wheelchair users, however there is a potential fresher arriving next year who is. This means that we do not have any permanent ramps into and out of college, however we do have temporary ones which can be used when necessary.
“We also have chairlifts to reach the dining hall, and a disability room with ground floor access and an easy access shower. Personnel-wise we have a disability officer who is present at Governing Body and Welfare committee to speak in the interests of those who have difficulty accessing college.”
Very few colleges have disability representatives in their JCRs, and even fewer have a disability officer.
At St. Anne’s, there is a full-time Student Disability Officer, Zoe Sparrowhawk, who works with the Senior Tutor, College Secretary, Tutors, doctors and the University Disability Office and is available to speak to at any stage of studies about any queries or concerns. She also helps to organise any special arrangements disabled students may require for exams.
But Mansfield and St. Anne’s are exceptional colleges with regards to the employment of officers and the accessibility of their facilities.
Emily Crawford, a current disabled student, says in the OUSU Alternative prospectus that Oxford “is still a place in transition in terms of providing access to people with disabilities.”
Zoe Hallam said the only major problem she has encountered as a student with a disability was the information she received when applying to Oxford. She says she had to spend several days scouting colleges to see whether they would suit her requirements.
All colleges have at least one disabled parking space, with the exception of Brasenose, Lincoln, St. Cross, St. Hugh’s, and Wadham.
Merton has 17 disabled-access rooms for students, Balliol has 7, and Brasenose and St. Anne’s both have 6. Those with the least are Exeter, Kellogg, Lincoln, Nuffield, and Green Templeton.
One positive point is that disabled students in 2008, who comprised 4% of the applicant pool, had a success rate in gaining a place comparable to that of the general student population. They were admitted at a rate of 23.5% as compared to a general rate of 24.7%. In the two years prior, the numbers were similar, with disabled students comprising 4.4% of the 2007 applicant pool admitted at a rate of 25.4% as compared to the overall 23%, and in 2006 comprising 3.9% of the applicant pool and in fact gaining admission at a higher rate of 28% than the average of 25.3%.
Danielle Fraser-Solomon, chair of the OUSU Campaign for Students with Disabilities, says “My main advice to prospective students has always been that having a disability should not prevent anyone from applying, and I then advise students who have been accepted to ask for advice and support from the Disability Advisory Service.
“The Disability Advisory Service provides a lot of support, but many students are unaware of what they are entitled to, which is something that I’m trying to change.”
They are currently working on a poster campaign to inform students about provisions such as free bus passes and the Disabled Students’ Allowance. Awareness does seem to be on the increase – according to University statistics, the number of students who receive a Disabled Students’ Allowance has risen over the past three years, from 329 during 2006-2007, 373 in 2007-2008, and 440 in 2008-2009.
When asked what might be most helpful in terms of improving both awareness and accessibility, Fraser-Solomon thought that “the addition of the position of ‘SWD officer’ to more JCR and MCR executive committees, to help raise disability related issues on a college level” would be most useful.