Like many Americans, I am an undecided voter. Not in the way you think, though. I’ve made up my mind about whom to vote for , and mailed in my ballot earlier this week. My mixed feelings are more general, about the direction our politics is taking, the way my generation is voting, and whether Web 2.0 is good, bad or irrelevant for the electoral game.

The Internet is a major subject of spin and everything I hear about it, I try to take with a grain of salt. But it certainly seemed plausible to me that the changes in technology would have a dramatic impact on the way we choose political leaders. So I bought much of the hype about Web 2.0 politics.

In an early post on this blog (see “Web 2.0 and electoral politics) I wrote about how the Internet demands new levels of authenticity from politicians because it’s easier for voters to cut through media spin with a quick Google search. In a column for the Brown Daily Herald , I examined the impact of the Web 2.0 generation’s values on the party system: the generation of linkability is a lot less loyal to party and more interested in the moderates and mavericks who can bridge divisions. The recent successes of Barack Obama and John McCain seem to confirm that thesis.

My insights carry across the Atlantic, I believe—compare David Cameron to Gordon Brown and you’ll get a sense of the political generation gap; then take a guess which of the two has a snazzy blog to reach young voters.

As a technology enthusiast, I should be excited about all this movement towards authenticity and away from blind partisanship, whatever my personal candidate preferences. But a few elements of the current U.S. electoral campaign have me questioning myself. First there’s the business of Internet fundraising, which has kept candidates with minimal support (like extremist Ron Paul) electorally viable. Secondly, there’s the silliness and lack of substance in the recent YouTube! debates , where voters were allowed to submit questions to candidates online but chose not to probe the hard policy topics. Thirdly, there’s the fact that when traditional candidates try the Web tactic (Hillary Clinton’s has multiple times ), the attempt falls flat among young voters. Does that mean only young candidates can connect to young voters, online or off? I hope not.

So I’m appealing to you—what are the implications of technology in politics, and should I be stoked or scared?

Rachel Fraser and Sarah Karacs investigate Teddy Hall guests and discover that tensions break out as worlds collide.

Oxford University agreed to return four sets of human remains currently held in the University Museum of Natural History back to New Zealand. This is the first time the University decided to return human remains to the same community of origin.

The official claims request was made by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa in January 2007, and asked for the Maori and Moriori remains acquired by Oxford during the 19th century. The remains include two Maori skulls, a Maori half pelvis and a female Moriori skull from Chatham Island. Te Papa began their repatriation initiative in the summer of 2005 as part of the New Zealand Government’s policy.

The repatriation reflects the University’s new claims procedure established in 2006. The procedure requires assessment of the significance of the remains for education and research when considering repatriation requests. The University is also required to ensure that remains are returned safely to the appropriate community when claims are approved.

Results of the University’s inaugural claims request confirmed that the remains were from New Zealand and concluded that the items are not unique items, of no particular use in study of relevant fields.

Director of the Oxford University Musem of Natural History Professor Jim Kennedy said, “This is the first time that the University’s procedure for repatriation has been used. It has enabled us to balance our duty of care for these items, the requirements of science and the sensitivities and beliefs of the claimant community.”

"It has been a pleasure working with Te Papa, who have provided us with extensive information and background material that enabled us to move through this process relatively swiftly and reach a decision,” he added.

The human remains will in due course be returned to Te Papa first, which will then repatriate the items to the relevant Maori and Moriori tribal groups.

The ultimate student challenge: to live for a week on a budget of £10. Can it be done? Our anonymous investigator finds out.

Sunday: Have resolved not to tell anyone about this project, so cancel pub lunch and head to Sainsburys to stock up on their Basics range. I buy 39p white slice, some butter, and a carton of orange juice. The bare essentials would normally include 20 Lucky Strikes, but I forgo these in favour of a night out. I spend just £1.63, and slouch home, disconsolate at heaving left behind the delicious Duchy Originals pumpkin seed loaf, Tiptree plum jam, and vast array of crisps, olives, grapes, stilton and Bombay gin which usually supplement my cupboard. I am starving by 4pm, but hold out until Informal, gorging myself on bread rolls and asking for seconds at dessert. This is the best way to do it.

Monday: Having not bought any tea, I have a cup of hot water. Not the same. The lack of caffeine kick nearly drives me insane by midday, and I nearly get to the front of the queue at Starbucks, fantasising about a Venti Cappucino with hazelnut syrup before remembering my higher purpose. Storm out nearly in tears and bump into Big Issue seller. Glare at him and stalk off. He’s certainly not eating into my budget. Guilt catches me after ten paces and fork out £1.50 for a copy. The price has gone up, and I’ve got £7 to last me the rest of the week. After Formal hall, everyone pre-drinks for Thirst Lodge, but I claim essay crisis. I sulk in my room all night, and am rudely awoken at 3am by my drunken friends arriving back, screeching and cackling with inebriated enthusiasm.

Tuesday: No caffeine. I compensate with 4 slices of toast for breakfast, which only makes me sleepy in the morning lectures, although I am thankfully full up until 3, when another 2 slices, ever so thinly spread, of course, keep me going until supper. It’s Ace of Clubs at Imperial tonight, but I feign a bout of food poisoning from lunch. ‘Did you eat in hall?’, someone asks. I claim to have gone to Café Rouge, far enough away from college, and blame the eggs Benedict.

Wednesday: Can’t do this any longer. The cheap toast, the rubbish margarine, the accursed hot water. The monotony is driving me into insomnia. I walk down the High Street, reading the menus at Quod and The Grand Café, once my favourite haunts, and see the happy faces inside, well fed. I feel like Oliver Twist. I work again tonight, thankfully there’s no big club night, but everyone heads to the college bar. Essay crisis can work again; excuses are best alternated.

Thursday: More optimistic for some reason, although absent myself from the endless debate of Bridge, Cellar or Filth. It’s like a law court, and the defence speeches are admirable, ranging through entrance fees, drinks prices, availability of drugs, proximity to college and likelihood of pulling. Predictably, the college splits into opposing factions, each trying to entice the other over. But by 10pm, it’s split more or less evenly.

Friday: I’ve started to feel healthier. Maybe the lack of alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes is helping. I splash out on chips at lunch, which I split the cost of with a friend, and enjoy a chip butty in my room. £6.50 for my night out. Have resolved not to borrow money, but after eating very little at supper, I head to Sainsburys, and buy a £3 bottle of wine. £3.50 will not get me into Filth. I drink the entire bottle myself whilst in a friend’s room, then receive several gin and tonics from various helpful people. Someone suggests a Sambuca shots competition, and I nearly win before a sudden whiff of the shot glass reminds me of a truly horrible incident aged 13 at the local rugby club. I bow out gracefully and we shortly head to Filth. I leave my coat behind, unable to pay to check it, but thankfully I’m blind drunk and don’t notice the cold. After a long queue, I negotiate desperately with a girl who seems unable to understand why I don’t have the extra £1.50. Perhaps my forlorn expression has a touch of emaciation by now, or perhaps I’m too incoherent in my drunken state, but she lets me in, and I spend a happy 3 hours dancing wildly, unaware of anyone around me, and embarrassing myself enough to merit a whole album devoted to me on Facebook the next morning. I stagger back, propped up by friends, and am forced into bed, although make several attempts to break free.

Saturday: I have never felt more ill, more ugly, or more unhappy with the world. I eat 6 slices of toast, and amazingly hold them down with 2 litres of water. All my money is gone, but I sit in the Turf drinking soda water with friends, which I discover is a wonderful hangover cure, although I’m desperate for some aspirin. Thankfully, a friend takes pity and gives me 3 Advil, which knock me out until supper. I shovel some more food down to fend off the final hangover hunger pangs, and attempt a bit more works. But the verbs swim around on the page, and my head is too woolly to take anything in. I have an early night, but go to sleep rather happy at the thought of having twice as much money next week. A bottle of Veuve Cliquot is definitely an essential for the shop. I rather think I’ve earned it.

Recent research has criticised Oxford’s access policy for lagging behind Labour’s targets for the proportion of state-school students admitted. But should the government be allowed to set quotas that might compromise Oxford’s academic integrity?

Oxford is a university of world renown in some part because it takes ‘the brightest and the best’ applicants. And many it has to, in order to strengthen its reputation as one of the best universities in the world, and to compete internationally with far richer Ivy League universities. But the 7% of students from private schools make up around half of Oxford’s annual intake. This suggests, somewhat crudely, that you are seven times more likely to win a place at Oxford if you go to private school.

The social argument against this is that wealthier parents can effectively ‘buy’ an advantage for their child in the highly competitive Oxford admissions process. However, there are concerns that Oxford is being pressured into compromising its selection process in favour of state-school students for the sake of political correctness. Although the University has frequently defended accusations from either side, the pressure is mounting for the University to become more heterogeneous – and the numbers from state schools are dropping.

Although an equal ratio between state and private schools may not be socially representative, it might at least create a cohesive environment. A first-year, who attended his local grammar school, argued that “those from public schools are far more networked socially, whilst those from state schools are generally more localised and insular. It was therefore intimidating knowing very few people and seeing all these Freshers who knew each other from socials and affiliations between their schools.” Indeed, the students from private schools tend to be the first to throw themselves into Oxford’s many societies, perhaps because they are more used to doing so. The financial divide between private and state schools prevents the latter from offering enhanced extra-curricular activities and preparation for Oxbridge entrance, which arguably prepares candidates who are more confident and articulate: qualities almost as important as academic aptitude. These, after all, are the characteristics which help an applicant’s aptitude to shine more brightly at interview.

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) will publish a study on Oxbridge state school admissions in a year's time. Preliminary figures published recently by the IPPR claim that "Oxford and Cambridge will not meet their benchmark for increasing the proportion of students from the state sector until 2016". The government has set a target of 62% state-school students by 2010. However, the analysis offered by IPPR is misleading. The pool of applicants from which Oxford (and Cambridge) recruit their students does not simply equate to the number of students who receive 3 As at A-level. Like the recent Sutton Trust report, the fundamental flaw in the IPPR’s analysis is to assume that all students gaining 3 As want to do a subject offered by the University of Oxford – which is not the case. Nor do they all have the right combination of A-level subjects to gain entry even if they are interested in one of the courses on offer. The analysis also falls down in assuming that 3 A grades alone equates to a potential Oxford place. Oxford admissions tutors assess potential through aptitude tests, GCSEs, written work and at least two interviews per candidate, as well as A-levels. 10 per cent of all A-level students gain 3 As; Oxford University only has places for the top one per cent.

Mike Nicholson, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Oxford University, said: “Oxford strives to ensure that we recruit the most able students, regardless of their background. We cannot address inequalities in the school system alone, but we work closely with schools and work very hard towards raising aspirations and attainment among students. Our widening participation and schools liaison team, which has recently increased, supported 700 school visits last year, reaching 20,000 students through that means alone.” James Lamming, Vice-President (Access) of the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU), added that “Our efforts aim to ensure that every student is aware of the real opportunities on offer at Oxford, and not just the myths propagated by the media”. But it is the University too which perpetuates its myths. The grandeur, the ritualistic traditions, and the prestige of Oxford might be something to which such non-traditional applicants may aspire, but are also intimidating and discouraging to others. Such aspects of the University create a sense of haughty elitism. It is all very well to have a smiling mix of ethnically diverse students throughout the prospectus, but there is much work still to be done by Oxford in order to widen participation.

Oxford’s progress towards diversity is impeded not only by the University’s image, one self-perpetuated and further exaggerated by the media, but also by the criticism against which it constantly has to defend itself – from Labour and institutes like IPPR. This leads the University towards a choice between protecting its academic integrity or yielding to current political pressure. It is a choice that no University should have to make – and one which Oxford would never have to face if the government and the University sought to co-operate to face not only the problem of Oxford’s antiquated image, but also of the wider social issues that hold back Oxford’s diversity.

See pictures here!
Trinity…

 …or Worcester? 

A female Oxford student was robbed and chased at knife-point in the early hours of Tuesday morning on Marston Road. The Oriel student was listening to her iPod as she walked along Marston Road just after midnight, unaware that a a man was following her on a bicycle. The man grabbed her and threatened her with a 12-inch knife but the student resisted and both she and her attacker fell to the ground. A passer-by tried to help her run away but the man chased them both, brandishing the knife. The pair escaped after flagging down a passing car.The incident, which took place near the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, was reported to the police immediately. Detective Constable Ian Spencer, of Thames Valley Police, said, “I am appealing for any witnesses to this upsetting incident to come forward as they may have vital information. It is possible that the attacker was injured and I would ask friends or relatives to be aware and to come forward to help us stop any more frightening attacks.”The attacker is described as being a male of Asian or Latin-American appearance and in his late twenties. He is between 5ft 6ins and 5ft 9ins and of medium build. He has a rounded face and was wearing a dark jacket with a hooded top underneath on the night of the attack.In an email to Oriel students the College’s Dean, James Methven, said, “The student in question is shaken but not hurt.” Methven advised students to be cautious when walking alone after dark. He said, “Will everybody please take a moment to think about habitual safety out on the streets at night. It would be foolish to create a disproportionate sense of fear on the part of students, but, equally, it would be irresponsible not to remind people to watch out.”Tom Callard, Oriel JCR president said that he believed the girl was now ok and that he was impressed with the College’s quick response. He said, “I hope Oriel students continue to feel safe in Oxford, and I am sure with the support of the College and JCR they can. It is always a shock when something like this happens, but if it makes us all become a little safer then we could avoid anything more serious happening in the future.” In response to the attack, the JCR has purchased rape alarms which are to be made available to all students.Louise Randall, OUSU officer for Welfare and Opportunities said, “This vicious attack further emphasises the importance of students taking care of their personal safety, particularly at night. Whenever possible students should always avoid walking alone, and make sure that they are fully alert by not listening to iPods or using mobile phones.”She said that schemes such as the Safety Bus or Walk Safe are provided by OUSU to ensure that students are always able to get home safely, and encouraged students to make use of them. OUSU also provide JCRs with alarms to be handed out to students. Many colleges also provide taxi funds. She added, “All these schemes are futile… unless students use them. Don’t take the risk.”A spokesperson for Oxford University said, “We take the safety and security of all our students extremely seriously. We would ask students to look out for each other, especially for friends who may be travelling home late at night. While all incidents of this kind should be reported directly to the police, the University offers a range of services to support those who have been the victims of crime.”by Nadya Thorman

Oxford University is one of the most generous investors in student bursaries, spending over £1.8m a year, according to new figures.The statistics, gathered by the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) for the academic year 2006-7, reveal that Oxford is spending significantly more than most other UK universities.On average, higher education institutions spent a quarter of their additional income on supporting students. In contrast Oxford spent 35.2%, a total of £1,867,000. This equated to one in five new students receiving a bursary.Students have praised the University for its Oxford Opportunity Bursary scheme, which aims to aid students from underprivileged backgrounds.One student who benefits from the scheme said that she would not have been able to attend Oxford without the additional money.Rachael Featherstone, a mathematician at New College, said, “The Oxford Opportunity Bursary has enabled me to attend Oxford University without getting into financial difficulty (excluding the usual debt that most students accumulate). “I found out about the Oxford Opportunity Bursary whilst researching how much university life would cost.“The scheme made studying at Oxford a possibility for me and thus it did influence my decision to study here,” she added.Paul Clark, Head of Student Funding and Access at Oxford University, stressed the importance of such financial support. Clark said, “We strongly believe that no student should be deterred from studying at Oxford for financial reasons. We did everything we could to publicise our bursaries, through poster and advertising campaigns, targeted emails and a dedicated website. In addition we have substantially increased our resources for widening participation and outreach activities.”OUSU Vice-President for Access and Academic Affairs, James Lamming, also commended the University’s work. He said, “I am pleased to see the University has invested sums above the national average  in their efforts attracting the brightest and best students, which helps demonstrate that studying at Oxford depends on your brain and not your background.”Lamming added, “The bursaries are very important in ensuring that your financial situation does not influence where you study, and are a vital tool for encouraging students from poorer backgrounds to apply to Oxford and for supporting these students whilst they are studying.”by Katherine Hall 

The University has failed to block animal rights activists from protesting outside graduation ceremonies after a High Court judge threw out its request for a restraining order.Lawyers acting for the University had tried to create an exclusion zone around the Sheldonian Theatre, arguing that protesters ruined the “peace and quiet” of the ceremonies.However Mr Justice Treacy refuted the claim during the sitting last week, saying that there was no evidence that the protests posed a threat to students.The University was successful in securing an extension of the injunction restraining protest around the new animal testing laboratory. The exclusion zone was expanded by a further 100 metres down Mansfield Road, taking it just past Mansfield College.Mr Justice Treacy said that he was satisfied that once the laboratory was operational, staff and students needed protection from the threats of activists.In the past, animal rights groups have threatened violent attacks against the University.
The judge said, “Unless protected, I am satisfied to a high degree of probability that intimidatory conduct would result from the unrestrained gathering of protesters.”A spokesperson for the University said that extending the exclusion zone around the laboratory was necessary.They said, “We are pleased that the court recognised the need to extend the exclusion zone slightly.
“As an institution deeply committed to freedom of speech, we respect people’s right to protest and to make their views heard within the law.However, we will protect our staff and our students and those working with us from harassment and intimidation while going about their lawful business.“The University remains firmly committed to the completion of a new facility to rehouse animals used in potentially life-saving research. The safety of staff, students and others remains the number one priority.” The new extension comes into effect immediately and covers Speak Campaigns, the Animal Liberation Front, and the Save Newchurch Guinea Pigs Campaign.The injunction also states that protesters should not picket or demonstrate within 100 yards of the residence of any protected person, anywhere in the country. Furthermore, it makes it illegal for a campaigner to try to identify any vehicle entering or leaving the exclusion zone.
The laboratory is expected to come into operation before a full trial examines the University’s concerns at Easter.by Omotola Akerele

The owner of The Bridge nightclub has refuted rumours that the club is to close.

 

Responding to claims made in the Oxford Student, Simon Walker, one of the owners of The Bridge, has made it clear that the club is extremely unlikely to close any time in the next five years. 

 

In an article published yesterday entitled ‘Bridge and Risa to close’ the Oxford Student suggested that five nightclubs, located on a patch of central Oxford land, would be demolished.

 

It alleged that Christ Church had hatched a plan with Oxford City Council that would see The Bridge, Anuba, Bar Risa, Thirst and Ocean and Collins bulldozed, along with a number of other buildings.

 

However, Bridge co-owner Simon Walker told Cherwell that the plan would not be happening any time soon.

 

Walker said, “Our lease is for another three and a half years on this site, so it won’t close in the time of any current students in Oxford. It’s indicated that we will then be given a yearly licence, which will allow us to operate year on year.

 

“We’re perfectly comfortable with our lease,” he added.

 

Balreick Srai, owner of student club night promotions company Rock Oxford also said that the club would not be closing soon.

 

“I don’t think it’s going to be in the timescale of any Oxford students,” he said.

 

Walker also pointed to the recent lease extension secured by another building on the same piece of land. “Another premises has just been given a two-year extension on a new lease which now takes it through to the middle of 2013.

 

“Assuming Christ Church honours this lease – and I’m sure they honour all leases – they’re not going to knock down that block and they’re therefore not going to knock us down either.”

 

The Oxford Student has suggested that Christ Church could terminate the leases early if it could agree compensation with the tenants. However, Walker strongly refuted this, saying that such a move would be “very unusual” and “very difficult.”

 

“Once a lease is signed it is very difficult to offer a great deal of compensation to end the lease early,” he added.

 

In the unlikely event that the nightclubs are forced to close in 2013 Walker stated that the Bridge would, in all likelihood, relocate. He said, “We certainly intend to have a Bridge nightclub in Oxford for many years to come.”

 

Balreick said that he couldn’t see the Bridge or other nightclubs simply closing. “I’m pretty sure people would try to find alternative venues. I can’t see that not happening,” he said.

 

One Oxford club promoter said that, as the commercial rents currently earn Christ Church considerable sums, there is no real impetus for them to seek to end the leases early.