Oxford's oldest student newspaper

Independent since 1920

Blog Page 2196

Off-syllabus material in Medicine exam

By
Liz Bennett
-

 

 

Second year medical exams have been surrounded by controversy again this year, after complaints that unhelpful phrasing, obscure content and inclusion of material not on the syllabus made them even more difficult.
The exams, known as 1st BM Part 2, take place after the end of Hilary, and candidates are due to receive their results this week.

The controversial questions, which appeared in the multiple choice section of the paper, asked the student to identify the incorrect or least likely answer rather than the correct one.

One second year medic, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “This made it incredibly easy to misread almost every question.’ Another pointed out that ‘the point of the examination [is] to test our core medical knowledge, not our grammar!”

A further objection was at the alleged inclusion of ‘extension’ material in the multiple choice sections. These are only meant to test a tightly-specified syllabus of ‘core’ knowledge, and typically carry a pass mark of 80% for each question.

Yet students claim that a significant amount of extension material was included in the examinations.

One question in particular, covering the mechanisms of diuretic drugs, asked for information that candidates claim was specifically excluded from the syllabus.

The University Press Office responded to the allegations, saying that if students were concerned, “There is a procedure for them to raise these concerns with the Proctors through their colleges. None of the First BM Part 2 candidates has done so.”

However at least two students, including Richard Rosch, a Magdalen second year, have instead contacted the Medical Sciences Teaching Centre directly.

The senior clerical officer, Ashley Morely, said that their complaints “may be reviewed during the post examination meeting.”

Last year students were unhappy about the content on the multiple choice sections, especially in the general pathology and microbiology paper. “Some of the questions [in this paper] were unbelievably obscure,” said one third year. “I remember everyone was very angry.”

 A summary of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) report for that year admits “general unhappiness” about the issue.

The examiners defended their position, claiming that while some of the “distracter answers” may have been off-syllabus, this was not the case for any correct answers.

However the examiners’ report for the 2007 papers shows that they lowered the pass mark for a large number of questions in the pathology paper, judging that it was too high for eight out of the sixteen questions.

Video: Kitchen fire closes Wagamama

By
Henry Clarke Price
-

 
 
 
The city centre has been hit by its second fire in two days, after a kitchen blaze caused extensive damage to Wagamama in the early hours of Friday morning.

Fire crews were called at 5.40am and Market Street cordoned off after delivery men saw smoke in the building.  Five engines attended, as well as a specialist rescue unit who helped gain access to the restaurant.
 
Incident Commander Paul Molloy said that there was extensive damage to the kitchen area and smoke damage to the rest of the building.  “Things were complicated by the fact that the fire was in a concealed space,” he said.
 
“Now we just want to make sure that everything is safe.”
 
The fire is believed to be accidental and unrelated to a blaze that damaged the facade of Schuh on Magdalen Street yesterday .  There were no injuries in either incident.
 
Wagamama opened in September and is not expected to be back in action until the end of the month.

Grads charged with espionage

By
Rob Pomfret
-

 

Photo: Matthew Preston

 

Two Oxford graduates are facing jail sentences after being charged with industrial espionage by Russian security services.{nomultithumb}

Alexander Zaslavsky, 33, and IIya Zaslavsky, 29, were charged on March 20 after allegedly attempting to obtain classified information from a Russian employee of a “national hydrocarbon institution.”
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), whose predecessor was the KGB, said the accused “were illegally collecting classified commercial information for a number of foreign oil and gas companies to gain advantages over Russian competitors.”

The case is connected to an investigation by the Russian Government into the Russian-British oil firm TNK-BP, whose premises were raided on March 19. FSB said, “The search produced material evidence of industrial espionage . . . and business cards of representatives of foreign defence departments and the Central Intelligence Agency”.

If found guilty of industrial espionage, the Oxford-educated brothers face up to three years in jail. However, because the charges involve strategic natural resources, which may be classed as state secrets, the men could be charged with espionage and face a longer jail sentence of up to 20 years. 

Both men have been released on bail on orders not to leave Russia.

Alexander Zaslavsky, who works as an independent energy consultant, studied at University College, before moving on to both Nuffield and Magdalen.

A friend of Alexander Zaslavsky’s who also attended Oxford, told The Moscow Times that: “Sasha was a brilliant student. For his degree [in PPE] he got one of the best grades in the University.”

Ilya Zaslavsky, a manager in TNK-BP’s international affairs office, completed his undergraduate degree at Worcester before also studying at University College.  

Jane Vicat, a secretary at the College, said “[IIya’s] tutors are aware of what has happened, are concerned about it and are following the matter closely.”

The tutors declined to comment on the matter.

A friend described IIya as “a bright, young guy,” The Moscow Times reported. IIya refers to himself on Facebook as the “First Oil Poet of the Russian Federation.”

The FSB had claimed that the brothers were members of the British Council, which was forced out of Moscow earlier this year. However, a spokesperson for the Council stressed that neither brother was a member, or ever has been.
Alexander Zaslavsky is, however, the head of the British Council’s British Alumni Club (BAC.)

The club was set up in 1998 as a networking forum for Russian professionals who have been educated in the UK. The groups maintain about 1,800 members across Russia. It has faced a campaign of intimidation by Kremlin-backed youth groups.

A British Council spokesperson added that, “The members of the British Alumni Club are valued contacts of the British Council and so we are obviously concerned by these reports.”

Alexander and IIya both won British Council grants to study at Wellington College and at Oxford University.
Russian government officials have opposed scholarships awarded to Russian students for study in Britain. They have said that they believe the grants are part of an MI6 recruitment strategy.

IIya has been critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin. He is a member of a Facebook group which lambasts Mr Putin whilst last year he heavily criticised the outgoing president on a radio programme.

Several individuals have already been detained for insulting the President as part of an apparent clampdown on freedom of speech.

Investors also fear that the raid on TNK-BP suggests the Kremlin is plotting to seize one of the few remaining sizeable oil and gas assets not currently under state control. TNK-BP is a 50-50 British-Russian venture, and sits uncomfortably with the current majority state control of the Russian energy business.

“TNK-BP is a commercial organization engaged in normal legitimate commercial activity,” TNK-BP said in a statement.

“We are a Russian company and we work successfully on a fair commercial basis with many other Russian companies, both state and privately owned,” it continued.

“We do not condone illegal activity nor do we rely on unfair competitive practices.”

The arrests threaten to further damage Anglo-Russian relations. Hostility between London and Moscow has been evident since the latter refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoi following the death of Alexander Litvinenko by radioactive poisoning in November 2006. London has similarly refused to extradite Boris Berezovsky, whilst both countries expelled embassy officials last summer.

Covered Market businesses fear closure

By
Natasha Vashisht
-

 

Photo: Daniel Rolle

 

 

Covered Market shopkeepers have expressed anger with the Council’s decision to raise rent prices, fearing that it will force local businesses to shut down. 

The Council is bringing in the changes on a case-by-case basis, following its five-year rent review.  Currently four shops have been faced with substantially higher rent charges after hearings. The Cake Shop will have to pay 51% more for its lease, after managing to convince an arbitrator to negotiate down the figure from the original 170%. 

Sally Davis, the Director of The Cake Shop in the Covered Market, said, “We will struggle but we will carry on. None of us are big businesses, we are all from family-run backgrounds.”

She added, “It will kill the market, I’m sure it will. If a lot of the bigger family businesses go because of the rent, only big franchises will be able to afford it. Because we’re crafty and creative, I think. Ultimately we will survive because it’s my livelihood and we’ll diversify but we may have to take more corporate orders.”

The Covered Market Association currently represents the businesses within the compound, and is planning to step up its publicity campaign, ‘Save the Covered Market’. George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, visited some of the affected shops in the market to show his support during a visit to Oxford on 15 April. 

Richard Alden, President of the Covered Market Association and owner of Haymond’s Fishmongers, stressed the need for continued support for the campaign. He said, “The businesses require positive momentum to maximise the presence of the Covered Market.”

Shops like Ben’s Cookies and Moo-Moos, which are smaller in size, are also facing significant rent increases: the former may be charged approximately 30% more. However some have complained that the rent increases are unlikely to be matched by improved maintenance or better advertising for the compound. Davis complained, “It’s archaic, there are over 100 light fixtures that have no light bulbs in them.”

The owners of Moo-Moos, said, “It’s inevitable it was going to happen but it seems unfair, given the state of the market. Basically, if they continue with these increases there won’t be any individual shops left, it will all be Topshop and Zara.” 

A spokesperson for Oxford City Council said, “Both parties freely entered into the contract,  which included a rent review at five year intervals. We have gone to the Arbitrator who will ultimately decide the level of rent…given the circumstances.”

Additional reporting by Daniel Rolle

Boxers’ Beatles photo stolen

By
Sarah Fleming
-

 

A prized picture of The Beatles was stolen from the Vincents’ Club after the Varsity Boxing Match this Easter.
The match, which took place on 6 March, was the 101st Varsity Match. Oxford won with a resounding victory of 7-2, having won all of the first five bouts, meaning that they had secured a win by the half time interval.

Stuart Garman, the Oxford Amateur Boxing Club’s President, said, “The photograph is of the Beatles standing at the Vincent’s Club bar, and is a valued part of the Club’s heritage.

“The photograph was stolen on the night of our 101st Varsity boxing match, which was a particularly busy night in Vincent’s; full of many current members, ex-boxing Blues – and a sizeable group of Cambridge Hawkes members.”
The 12” by 12” photograph shows the Beatles with Jeffrey Archer on 5 March 1964, nearly 44 years before it was stolen from the Vincent’s Bar from which it was taken.

The police were alerted to the theft at the time but as there was not substantial evidence for them to follow the thiefs, they are not investigating it.

Oxford police spokesman, Toby Shergold, said, “A theft of a photo from Vincent’s club was reported to us. Police are not currently investigating the incident, because there’s no evidence for us to go on.”

He added, “We have spoken to witnesses and looked for forensic evidence. There is no CCTV and there are no leads, but the case isn’t closed, so if anyone passes us any information on the suspects or the whereabouts of the photo, we will look into it.”

Garman added, “Whilst I would avoid pointing the finger at anyone, I would like to think that no member of Oxford University who was present that night would have taken the picture. It is a shame from the perspective of OUABC that the theft marred what was otherwise a hugely successful evening, both in terms of our Varsity victory and the hospitality of Vincent’s Club afterwards.”

The Vincent’s Club Ex-President, Robert Payne, who was in office at the time, said, “We have reported the theft to the police but have no leads on its whereabouts.”

Cambridge University’s Amateur Boxing Club was unavailable for comment.
 

 

Fire on Magdalen Street

By
Henry Clarke Price
-

 
 
 
Five shops in central Oxford were evacuated and Magdalen Street cordoned off while fire crews tackled a blaze in Schuh around 6pm on Thursday.

Six fire engines, a hydraulic platform and two support units attended the incident which closed Debenham’s, JJB Sports, Borders and Sainsbury’s Local.
 

The fire caused damage to the facade and display area of the shoe shop.  Police blocked off the end of Broad Street, causing bus services to be curtailed or diverted.

By 8pm, the cordon area had been reduced.  However, Sainsbury’s Local was off-limits to the public.

A fire officer at the scene described the blaze as "not small".  Although the exact cause is not yet known, he suggested that a discarded cigarette on the street may be to blame.
 
There are no reported injuries.
 

Varsity: Heartbreak at Craven Cottage

By
Jack Pitt-Brooke
-

 

The highest scoring Varsity match since 1960 ended in bitter defeat for the Dark Blues, as their rowing counterparts claimed victory downriver. Two late goals ended Oxford’s hopes of winning a game that started full of promise.  After going behind and then equalising three times, they were two minutes away from extra time when a defensive mix up gifted Cambridge the lead.  A fourth equaliser was beyond even tenacious Oxford, and as they pushed men forward Cambridge scored their fifth in the last minute.

The opening few minutes were open, with chances at both ends.  Tom Wherry headed a corner narrowly wide, while at the other end Cambridge centre forward Matt Stock was well tackled by Toby Hodgson having outmuscled Paul Rainford.  Stock was a constant threat, and scored the first of his four goals after twelve minutes.  A Cambridge free-kick from out wide was headed back across goal, and while Oxford stood and watched, Stock turned the ball in at the far post.

Despite Stock’s menace, Oxford were increasingly confident on the ball as the first half progressed.  The two wide men, Homer Sullivan and James Kelly linked well with Alex Toogood as an equaliser looked increasingly likely.  It came after thirty-three minutes, when Sullivan cut in from the right wing and powered the ball past Cambridge goalkeeper James Dean.

The sloppiness which was to afflict Oxford all afternoon showed itself again minutes before the interval.  An almost unopposed Cambridge counterattack culminated in Matt Stock’s second goal as he lobbed the onrushing David Robinson.

Undeservedly trailing at half time, a re-energised Oxford team equalised seconds after the restart.  Sullivan broke down the right, playing in Toogood, whose shot was turned in by Kelly at the far post.  The momentum was lost, however, just three minutes later. The onset of rain during the interval dampened the pitch, and a hopeful pass skidded past Oxford’s defence.  Matt Stock picked up the ball in the right hand channel and slotted past Robinson for his hat-trick.

As the weather deteriorated, so did the quality of football.  For the next twenty minutes torrential rain prevented any good passing from either side. Oxford replaced Niko de Walden and Cameron Knight with James Howell and Sam Hall.

With twenty minutes remaining, the rain relented and the two substitutes almost combined to score: Hall put Howell through but the shot was well saved by Dean.  Two minutes later the combination was more successful: Howell this time squaring to Alex Toogood who converted Oxford’s third equaliser of the afternoon.

An increasingly stretched match saw chances at both ends.  Howell, bringing the best out of Toogood, went close, as did Cambridge substitutes Matt Amos and Mark Baxter.  With three minutes left, an Alex Toogood header could have won the match, but produced a full length save.  It seemed as though the CB Fry Trophy would be decided by penalties for a second successive year.    

Agonisingly for Oxford, Cambridge scored with their next attack. Out of nowhere, Stock was through on goal, leaving the Oxford back four standing.  With characteristic composure, he slid the ball past Robinson for his, and Cambridge’s, fourth. Oxford pushed bravely for yet another equaliser: but Baxter’s cross was headed in by Amos, to seal Cambridge’s third successive Varsity win.

Rugby: SEH v Keble

By
Phil Satterthwaite
-

EYEWITNESS: Phil Satterthwaite gives a first-hand account of the final

 

After two tough leagues, we knew that we had to step up in Cuppers and earn the reputation that previous Hall sides had built up. The team was finally beginning to gel, building in confidence with each game. As I had said in the Cup Final programme, beating Univ under the floodlights of Iffley Road was a real turning point. However, as much as the win installed a new sense of belief within the Hall side, there was always a danger that we could lose focus after a game worthy of being a final in itself. In a rematch against a very strong Keble side, anything less than the albeit clichéd ‘game of our lives’ would have resulted in yet another Cuppers upset for us.

 

In similar fashion to the 2007 final, we ran out on to the pitch as underdogs. Even with both sides suffering injuries to key players, there still seemed to be the feeling around the University that Keble were going to win. I will never forget looking around the changing room that evening, and seeing twenty-one other guys who begged to differ.

 The start we’d envisaged didn’t materialise, and we let Keble score the first points of the match. On a plus note, it was apparent from the start that Keble were going to play their usual pattern of rugby – relying on their tight pack of forwards to try and dominate the Hall eight, whilst scoring push-over tries.

Matters up front didn’t improve when our no. 8 Chris Davies had to leave the field after taking a big hit from a Keble flanker. Nevertheless, we managed to retain our composure throughout the first half, going into the tunnel marginally ahead at half time.
The second half began very much like the first, with Keble scoring the first points. From then on, the match became even more open, as both teams alternately troubled the scoreboard for the remaining 40 minutes.

Thanks to the handling and power of our backline, we managed to retain a lead amongst all the tries and penalties being converted. Credit must also be given to our pack, which under some relentless pressure early on, managed to provide quick ball for our backs. By now we had stamped our authority over the flow of play, and if we had proceeded to lose the game, we would have had to live with the knowledge we’d let the game slip away from our grasp.

 The sound of the final whistle was immediately drowned out by our cries of victory and relief. Within minutes I had a bottle of champagne in one hand, and a can of Blackthorn cider in the other. Looking back, we all had one of those moments where what we achieved hadn’t quite sunk in yet. After some time however, as the Hall supporters invaded the pitch, we started to realise that we had once more reached the peak of college rugby. Lifting the trophy was the proudest moment of my rugby life so far. I can speak on behalf of the team when I say that winning Cuppers meant everything to us.

 We were proud to see a number of Aularians in the stands, and we thank them, along with all those who sent us good luck messages. In my time at Teddy Hall, there has always been an underlying rivalry between Keble and ourselves. At the same time, I doubt there are two college teams who have greater mutual respect, and a lot of credit must be given to Keble for an epic cup final.

Lastly, can I say thank you to each player involved in Teddy Hall rugby. You have all contributed to the big ‘30’ in terms of all-time Cuppers victories. Here’s to number thirty-one next season…

Football: SEH v Worcester

By
Nik Baker
-

Worcester finally regained the Cuppers trophy for the first time since 1950 as an Alex Toogood goal three minutes from the end of extra time ended Teddy Hall’s heroic resistance.

The Worcester juggernaut came into the match feeling justifiably confident of completing the league and cup double. But the favourites tag seemed to weigh heavily upon them, while Teddy Hall rose to the occasion, which led to an intriguing, if not entirely enthralling, contest.

 The Teddy Hall back four would have been expecting a busy afternoon from the Blues strikeforce of Niko de Walden and Alex Toogood, and were surely delighted to discover that de Walden had failed a late fitness test, leaving Toogood as the main threat. John Waldron led his back four superbly, with Caspar Le Fanu, in particular, excelling against the leading scorer in University football. When the defence was eventually breached, Hall were lucky to have Nicola Ielpo, declared fit despite strained ligaments in his right knee, between the sticks. That he was named man-of-the-match was not only indicative of his fine performance, but also of the fact that Worcester did the majority of the pressing.

However, the longer the match went on the more Teddy Hall came into the match, and the traditional ‘big man, little man’ combo of Wilfred Frost and Charlie Talbot-Smith combined admirably despite often finding themselves isolated from the rest of the team. Their two best chances within the ninety minutes fell to the duo either side of half time, but Blues keeper David Robinson produced two fine saves of his own.

 As the match headed into extra time, the tension appeared to be affecting Worcester, and Talbot Smith had a glorious chance to give Teddy Hall the lead after a Frost flick-on from a long throw: his instinctive header from point-blank range flew narrowly wide. With Ielpo still proving equal to anything Worcester could create, Talbot-Smith brought down a long-ball and struck a speculative effort from 30 yards. It seemed to catch Robinson  off-guard, taking an awkward bounce over the keeper’s dive, before creeping agonisingly wide of the left-hand post, to the relief of Worcester.

 This moment proved pivotal in the match as the resulting goal kick was flicked on and knocked over the top for Toogood to chase. The Blues striker did not disappoint, hitting the ball  with the outside of his foot across the keeper. It took a bounce, clipped the inside of the post and nestled in the back of the net. The ensuing celebrations reflected relief as much as elation as Toogood led his team past both sets of fans in the stand. The contrasting emotions were evident. With just three minutes to go the match was as good as won.

 As the final whistle blew, the Worcester celebrations could begin, and after a wait of fifty-eight years, captain Danny Plaxton finally took the cup back into Worcester’s possession.

Cricket preview

By
Kristian Walsh
-

Summer: a time when strawberries substitute steak pies and Bovril is placed on the top shelf, awaiting the autumn. As the remaining muddy blades of grass wither and the final whistle blows on competitive football in Oxford for another year, the whir of the cricket roller’s motor sounds in the sunshine in preparation for the new cricket season.

Whilst never able to reach the level of anticipation the newly-formed Indian Premier League has gained, Oxford’s league has still gathered a deluge of interest as it enters its eighteenth year. Given the excitement surrounding the new season, it is fitting that the opening day pits two title favourites head-to-head as current champions Balliol hope to build upon last year’s unbeaten league season when they travel to New. This early-season clash will surely set a standard which the other twenty-seven teams in the OICCL will strive to achieve throughout the season. New College captain Alex Asher appears confident of breaking Balliol’s dominance, claiming that his squad “could have achieved more”, despite a highly impressive third-placed finish and a quarter final berth in Cuppers. Despite the loss of Danny Bamford and Chris Leeming, leading run-scorers Sam Tomlin and Tom Howell remain at the crease. Those two, along with Keith Davies and Rinchan Mirza in a quick bowling attack, leave their captain with a genuine cause for optimism in the coming season.

 

 

It should never be forgotten that cricket is a game of emotion. The delight of a fine catch standing at backward point or the disgust of succumbing to a bouncer is demonstrated voraciously. It is no surprise therefore that New’s sense of optimism is contrasted with Pembroke’s relief of simply still playing first division cricket this season. Having endured a torrid season which included the loss of their captain, Pembroke steered clear of relegation with two sensational wins in their last two matches. Their miraculous survival allows new captain Bobby Butcher hope that newcomers James Finch and Rod Shepherd will bowl well in order for his side to “cement Pembroke’s reputation as one of the university’s strongest cricket colleges”, and bring some much needed stability to the club.

Like Pembroke, many clubs have a target which they feel is achievable. Newly promoted  Merton/Mansfield, fresh from their unbeaten season in Division 2, believe they could achieve two titles in two years. Their performance could depend on the form of star all-rounder Miles Tomkins, who scored a vast amount of runs in Division 2 and will hope to recreate this form against better opposition. However, the prospect of better opposition doesn’t worry their captain, Greg Betts, who claims that “we definitely have the players to challenge for the title and it’s a case of playing to our ability. It’ll be a step up from the level of opposition last year but I think we should be aiming to be one of the top teams this year.”

Merton/Mansfield’s confidence of succeeding in Division 1 should provide enthusiasm from teams not playing in the top division. Despite the loss of three key players, Magdalen will look to the majestic Dave Winterton to provide the runs to steer the club into the upper elechlons of the league. Losing Cuppers finalists, St Catherine’s, will endeavour to translate their cup form into the league format, whilst Somerville captain Tom Deegan could possibly break college tradition by selecting England Women’s U-21 wicketkeeper Sophie Le Marchand for the club. The resolute Mancunian captain hopes that Le Marchand, along with bowler Nick Thomas and opening batsman James Cox, are auspicious inclusions to the squad, stating that he believes Somerville have a “realistic chance of a good Cuppers run”.

Although most of the captains will disagree with their counterparts’ apprisals of the season ahead, one thing which elicits agreement is the hope for summer sunshine. A mammoth thirty-three league matches fell victim of bad weather last season, including a potential relegation decider between Hertford and Wadham. 

All evidence points to a fantastic season of cricket. The teams are in place and ready; the Groundsmen have spent hours with the gentle murmur of the cricket roller and the Bovril is firmly lodged at the rear of the cupboard. All that is required now is the sunshine. Although that can’t be guaranteed, the vehemence of the desire to win from the cricketers can be, which will provide a flurry of fours, a stack of sixes and extravagant entertainment for the next nine weeks.

1...2,1952,1962,197...2,443Page 2,196 of 2,443

Explore

Follow us

Oxford Student Publications Limited © 2024 - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy