‘I’m talking about love, mate! True fucking love!’ So says Lambert unconvincingly in Pinter’s play Celebrations. The play revolves around three couples and a wedding anniversary, but as far as I can see the play doesn’t have an ounce of either love or celebration. I must confess, I did not enjoy watching Celebrations. The actors play their parts excellently and with polish,    but Pinter’s play itself is deliberately awful: full of repetitive dialogue, a smarmy script, awkward silences and cringeworthy characters. And cringe I did. This is a difficult piece of theatre to watch; how does one identify with a play which goes about destroying any sympathy between the characters? The married couples are obnoxious; they swear, they insult each other, they make dark allusions to past affairs. They are full of vulgar, pointless remarks, delivered excellently by a very well-versed cast. The sisters Prue and Julie are excellently acted by Beth Williams and Cathy Thomas. The couples celebrating an anniversary speak in a chav dialect that would challenge any Oxford student with a plummy accent. Vulgar humour frequently bubbles to the surface of the script, and the contrast between deadpan delivery of lines and hysterical laughter is often excellent. The skilled direction also rings true, with the actors bringing Pinter’s often ambiguous, difficult lines to life.However the cast sometimes overplayed their lines, creating a grotesque rather than wry take on their characters. A little too much false laughter and loudmouthed behaviour tips the couples from chavs on a night out to the Beckhams on one of their bad days. Having ripped apart any feelings of kindness or well-wishing, the couples then toast each other. The clink of glass upon glass and the ‘Cheers!’ that follows rings hollow in the audience’s ears. Despite the actors’ incredible performances and polish, this is a hollow play, which gives its audience little cause to celebrate.By Elen Griffiths

Krishna Omkar has been blocked from having his proposed changes to Union rules debated in the chamber.

Returning Officer Cameron Penny believes that the proposals, which would see the ex-Treasurer’s life ban from standing in Union elections overturned, are a deliberate attempt to modify the judgement of the tribunal which convicted him. Rule 33(c)(x) forbids the discussion of the actions of an election tribunal.

Omkar claimed that he had been threatened with ejection from the chamber if he brought his proposals up on Thursday night.

Jason Keen has been referred to a Junior Disciplinary Committee for discussing Omkar’s case with the press.

Ben Tansey and Mike Dowling were confirmed to stand in the Union elections for the Trinity term Presidency, taking place today.

Pembroke JCR has voted to scrap funding for an overseas scholarship in favour of greater funding to encourage state-school access.

The JCR Access Fund will now receive the same level of funding as the Entz Fund.

Chris Bennetts, Pembroke JCR President, said, “I’m delighted that the JCR voted so overwhelmingly to adopt the changes; widening access is such an important issue at Pembroke, and across Oxford, and I’m hopeful that the new fund will allow the JCR to make a genuine difference in this area.”

“Last term, we voted to create a new ‘access rep’ position on the JCR committee. This was part of the JCR’s emphasis on promoting the broadening of access and admissions.

“We felt it was vital that the new access rep had a budget in order to do their job effectively,” Bennetts added.

To allow for the changes the Overseas Scholar fund, which provides funding for the college to recruit an international student who otherwise would not be able to study at Oxford, has been withdrawn.
Bennetts defended the move, adding that, “I think the JCR’s money will be better spent on an access budget, which could potentially help hundreds of prospective students, rather than sustaining the overseas scholar fund which, whilst laudable, is a drain on the JCR’s resources.”

Coralie Young, the Pembroke Access Rep, said, “The college currently has quite a low state school: private school ratio, and the JCR are keen to improve this.

“The college itself has undertaken a new access initiative in Hackney, and we would hope to further this, and build up links with schools in other deprived areas.

“Plans for the money include organising school visits (sixth formers coming to Pembroke, as well as current students speaking at local schools during the holidays.)

“Pembroke is quite a small college that many people don’t really hear much about, and is therefore often over-looked by potential applicants. By visiting schools to speak, and inviting sixth formers here, we hope to be able to dispel many of the myths surrounding an Oxford application at the same time as promoting Pembroke as state-school friendly,” she continued.

James Lamming, OUSU’s Vice President  for Access and Academic Affairs, said that he supported the access drive.

He said, “Students are the best ambassadors in the University, and their efforts in publicising their experiences are vital in tackling the myths many hold about Oxford. 

“It is vital that students work in partnership with the University to best use all our resources to tackle access: it remains a problem too great for any one group to solve alone.”
by Rom Pomfret, Deputy News Editor

Remember when you were 15? (By which of course I mean remember when I was 15, and assume it was the same for everybody else) Girls were attractive but unattainable, but music offered a ready substitute. Bands were like crushes: you’d listen obsessively, day in, day out and interact with them emotionally in a way that a teenager can’t do with, like, people. And you had to be near them, pogoing like a loon in the pit at the front, drenched in sweat, but savouring every down-stroke pummelling your chest cavity. We grow up, though. Those relationship things start happening and at gigs we are to be found beside the mixing desk, earplugs in and arms folded. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to feel 15 again, be it the heady rush of a silly crush or the sweat and deafness when ‘going the front.’ And to fully appreciate British Sea Power live, the latter is almost obligatory. Only almost, as the band often combine two traits bordering on the mutually exclusive: an almost faux-naïf approach cribbed from punk; and the depth provided by an almost whimsical penchant for the literary and the historical. Hence, the incongruous sight of people moshing to a song about the Velvet Revolution. That tension is perhaps what makes their gigs so entertaining, as they walk the tightrope between pretension and populism. New album Do You like Rock Music? gets a fair workout, with all tracks bar the crystalline ‘No Need to Cry’ being aired. It takes a few songs for both band and crowd to really get going though, perhaps a consequence of drummer Wood’s injury, Brakes’ Tom White taking over kit duties. Old chestnut ‘Remember Me’ gives an inkling of what is to come and, after the pretty interlude of ‘The Great Skua’, the band launch breathlessly into a succession of fast-paced numbers. ‘Atom’, ‘How Can I Find My Way Home?’, ‘Please Stand Up’ (the only two tracks aired off the seemingly maligned Open Season), ‘A Trip Out’ and ‘No Lucifer’ race by with barely a pause. The latter seems already to have taken the status of ‘crowd favourite’, its terrace chant refrain providing the perfect opportunity for crowd interaction (those less familiar with Do You Like…? given a handy clue by the bizarrely costumed man covered in ‘Easy’ signs). The encore finally sees BSP fall off the tightrope: after a swooning ‘Carrion’, the band stomps through 10 minutes of noise and feedback. Guitarist Noble wisely decides against a long-range stage dive, instead rugby-tackling Bizarrely Costumed Man, who is now on guitar, while Yan mumbles and screams childishly into the microphone. Still, you’ve got to feel young again sometimes. by Robin Whelan

Where oh where would we be without The Pencil Skirt? How to look smart in a work environment without succumbing to The Trouser Suit? How to look sexy without flashing acres of flesh? And how to look ladylike? This wardrobe staple had its roots in the ‘hobble’ skirt. Initially designed to impede the wearer so much that they were forced to ‘hobble’, it was the contemporary equivalent of last season’s ‘turban’ look: doomed in fashion reality (and quelle surprise, designed by a man, Paul Poiret). The first trendsetter for this look was Katharine Wright, sister of the Wright brothers, who tied a rope around her skirts to stop them flapping about in her brothers’ new airborne invention – practical beginnings for a popular style considering women were still hoiking themselves in with corsets. Pencil skirts returned with a vengeance during the late 1940s and ‘50s: they were considered the ‘practical’ option in a world without trousers. So where does this leave the current pencil-skirt wearer? She is a woman (probably), and proud of it – this is not a style that allows for half measures. She does not cycle (for how does one get one’s legs over the saddle?) and is hopefully wearing heels (never wear flats with a pencil skirt unless you want to look like an overweight hobbit). A bit of Googling also alerted me to its pre-eminence in the fetish market. Nice.
Despite this, the pencil skirt is swiftly becoming a byword for high-powered office-wear: this is a lot of effort to go to on a regular basis. But why should this style be restricted to the imaginary fashionista I just described? This is actually the most flattering style of skirt for any shape, guaranteed to accentuate curves for those lucky enough to have them, and create a voluptuous illusion for those who don’t. Pencil skirts tap into a million male fantasies.It seems the designers agree. Hundreds of models minced down the a/w runways in high-waisted, calf-skimming skirts, and looked damned good for it too. Who are we to question Yves Saint Laurent or Hermès? Patents, jewel colours, slight fetish undertones – a pencil skirt will work all these trends and give maximum impact. Even this season’s make-up evokes the pencil skirt and all that comes with it, so shift the Ugg boots, slick on some red lipstick, and be a lady.
By Josie Thaddeus-Johns

Class war has broken out at St Edmund Hall after complaints from students forced the eviction of a pair of non-student guests.

Oxford residents AJ Dolan, 18, and Adam Morrison, 19, were left with nowhere to live after being ejected from their previous accommodation, and were offered lodging by Andrea Young, a first-year Law student, in her room at Teddy Hall.

Last Thursday they were asked to leave after complaints by her fellow undergraduates. Some students said that they felt intimidated by the presence of the Oxford locals, claiming they shouted and, allegedly, spat at them. The pair deny this.

Young does not believe that the students had any reason to complain. The College could not confirm who had filed the complaint . Young has said that she believes that it was made by two public school students who she feels intended to provoke conflict.

Young said, “There have always been underlying [social] tensions, to be honest with you, and this is basically what has brought this to the surface. There are people, definitely not everyone, who keep to their specific friend groups and give short answers when friendly efforts were made to approach them.”

Young defended her friends and her decision to let them stay with her. She said, “I think this is the whole point, in that the intimidation towards them was completely unfounded. It was not like they were walking around in college. They stayed in my room most of the time. If college students saw random people walking around in college, then I would understand the fear but that most certainly was not the case.” Dolan stayed a total of two weeks and Morrison for five days.

Dolan said he felt that his and Morrison’s eviction was purely an act of prejudice by certain “posh” students against those of “the lower class.”

“We would walk into hall and we could feel all eyes on us, because of they way we dress and the way we talk,” he said.

But he added that, despite initially feeling intimidated, he found that he got on well with most of the students who made the effort to talk to him.

“The people who did make the effort to get to know me were really cool,” he said. “It’s just those who refused to even talk to me that were instantly prejudiced against me for being poor. A couple of times I would try to say hi to people and they wouldn’t say it back.”

Dolan and Morrison said they felt that, overall, students seemed “very spoilt.” Dolan said, “They [Oxford students] have no idea. No idea what life is like at all. They absolutely get everything handed to them on a plate and they don’t have to do anything. All they have to do is study.”

“Basically, they don’t understand what hard life is. They don’t know what it’s like to be homeless, to not have money, and to sleep on the streets,” said Morrison.

Some Teddy Hall students were very accepting of the pair. “They were really chilled and easy to talk to,” said Jane Rudderham, a good friend and neighbour of Andrea.

But Katie Inzani, a Teddy Hall first year reading Material Science, said that she did not expect the incident to change Oxford’s class-oriented culture. “This simply validated such a culture existing,” she said.

Anthony Boutall, a student who lives one floor below Young, said, “While the College law must be upheld, there is no need to make classist stereotypes on either side, or to subscribe to a heinous hypocrisy which allows some to act in certain ways but forbids others from doing so on the basis of social background. In truth, AJ and Adam were less intimidating to the majority of Teddy Hall students than others who choose to get blind drunk, play loud music, and cause general disgruntlement within college.”

But he added, “I am certainly not a class warrior, and if the College has said that it is in breach of the rules to have semi-permanent occupants of other peoples’ rooms, then that must be respected.”
Dolan has temporarily moved to his mother’s home in south Oxford until he finds his own place to live.by Sangwon Yoon, Reporter

Oxford University’s support for ethical trade gained ground this week after Hertford announced that it had officially become a Fairtrade College.

It is the third Oxford college to be given Fairtrade status from the Fairtrade Foundation, after Linacre and Wadham. Motions of support for Fairtrade were passed by Hertford JCR, MCR and the governing body. The announcement is the culmination of a four-year project by Hertford members to win the status.

The motion passed stated “That many colleges are currently working towards Fairtrade college status and that if two-thirds of colleges become Fairtrade colleges, Oxford becomes an official ‘Fairtrade university’.”

The JCR resolved to ensure that “Fairtrade products…be  available at all catering outlets in college and that JCR members should be informed of the benefits of Fairtrade.”

Mike Prater, the Hertford College JCR Fairtrade representative explained, “Fairtrade products guarantee developing country farmers a fair wage and ensure good standards of social welfare and environmental sustainability are upheld. We hope that Hertford getting Fairtrade status will act as a catalyst to encourage other Colleges to switch to Fairtrade.”

In order to become a Fairtrade college, the Foundation sets five criteria. These include ensuring that Fairtrade products are stocked at all catering outlets around College as well as creating a Fairtrade steering group.

 To meet these criteria, Hertford sells Fairtrade tea, coffee, Divine chocolate and bananas in Hall and the JCR has since October 2006 sold Fairtrade Hertford Hoodies.

The College also takes part in the Valentine’s Day Fairtrade chocolate delivery service whilst members have promoted Fairtrade products through food and wine tasting events.

The first meeting of Hertford’s steering group occurred in Michaelmas term, with  Hertford’s Home Bursar Jo Roadknight and Bob Hart, the Hertford Catering Manager, in attendance. The Committee noted that Fairtrade products should be purchased even if they are marginally more expensive than non-Fairtrade products.

Melissa Boulter, who seconded the Fairtrade motion, said, “I am really proud that Hertford has gained Fairtrade status and that our college has come together around something so positive. It is a small step towards a more equitable society.

“It would be brilliant to see other colleges follow us and make a commitment to Fairtrade, through stocking more Fairtrade products and raising its awareness, so that more of the producers of the products we buy in the University can get a fairer wage.”
by Rob Pomfret, Deputy News Editor

What do you get when you achieve a perfect balance between aggression and control, between bluff and power, between swallow-dives to the floor and leaps to the net? Indoor volleyball, that’s what. On Saturday 9th February the Varsity Volleyball matches will be held. I could rhapsodise about the elegance of a quick attack, the satisfaction of setting up a stuff block, the exhilaration of seeing the defender fling themselves forward to pick up a ball, but why bother? Go and watch one of the most exciting sporting events of the year. The men’s dark blue side has a tough task ahead of them, having been beaten by Cambridge twice this year. However, it’s noticeable that when the Tabs are feeling threatened, they lose their nerve and roll easy shots into court. If Oxford can apply some early pressure, the blood will be in the water. According to captain Billy Hwang, “Sure, Cambridge have a good team, but they’re mentally weak. We can take them”. For the women, Oxford has one of the strongest teams we’ve ever seen. Their defence is rock-solid, led by Hannah Ruddick (playing for team GB) while their offence benefits from some highly experienced players. Watch out for waif-like captain Jana Orszaghova, who employs a vicious line-shot. Middle Rebekka Ott has been selected for English Unis, so keep an eye on her too. Volleyball may be a minority sport in the UK, but the Oxford club is doing its best to change that. They run a popular indoor league and a second team which is open to all students. Last year they won the Outreach club award and they’ve just received Clubmark accreditation. They’ve moved on from Deloitte as main sponsor and established ties with volleyball-mad Russia through sponsorship from Delight 2000. Recognising the massive over-crowding at Iffley, the club recently signed a contract with an Oxford school to supply coaching and equipment in return for hall rental. Finally, the club wants to build on a third-place finish at last year’s student beach cup, by working to build a beach volleyball court. If you’re going to come watch the game, here’s a few tips. A point can be won when either serving or receiving. To win, a team has to win three sets, but the fifth set is to 15 rather than 25 points. Every once in a while the referee will stop play and hold up his palm or two fingers. That means a player didn’t get a clean contact with the ball. They’ve either held and thrown it (open palm) or touched it twice (two fingers). The referee is helped by the second ref who checks for net-touches (any nettouch means a point to the opposition) and the line-judges (flag up if the ball went out, down if it went in). On both teams there’ll be one person with a different-coloured shirt. They’re the libero or defensive specialist (like Hannah), who replaces a tall gangly person good at hitting with a fast person who’s good at scooping up balls from all over the court. Each team is divided into three front-court and three back-court players, who rotate round when the team wins the service. If a player is back-court and they want to attack, they have to jump three metres away from the net. That doesn’t stop back-court specialist Darek Nehrebecki. You’ll see the middle attack run a bluff, trying to pull the blockers with him. Then, as the blockers return to earth, the ball goes out to Darek who’ll drill the ball through the resulting gap. Poetry in action. That’s what volleyball is all about.by Paul Swift

Wadham students have been offered the chance to live in Balliol-owned accommodation next year while renovation work is carried out in college.

Housing on Jowett Walk will provide for 21 Wadhamites and will be subsidised by  the College so that students will rent rooms for the same price as those living in.

The news was welcomed by students who had feared being moved to the Merifield annexe, located in Summertown. SU President Leonora Sagan said, “I am delighted with the new proposal and it was myself, my Treasurer and Housing officers who proposed it to College. We have already had so many volunteers we’ve had to do application forms.”

She went on to add, “The proximity [of Jowett Walk] also means that those who wish to can still have meals in College anyway, and will be centrally located.”

Housing officers Sally Caswell and Beth Doran expressed their approval at the new proposal, saying, “We are extremely pleased with this situation. The complex allows students to live close to their friends and so enjoy what might be their last year with their friends.” The site is said to offer students a good deal as it is self-catered and a short distance from the College library.

The College originally sent a JCR email asking for 13 volunteers to move to the Summertown annexe because of planned renovation work on the front quad. As the annexe is approximately a 30-minute walk from the centre of Oxford, students were reluctant to give up a guaranteed place in College and feared being forced out.

James Coe, Wadham SU Treasuer, explained, “The Balliol JCR president made us aware that rooms in Jowett Walk were available but the cost looked too high for our students. We therefore looked into seeing if the College could afford to subsidise the rooms so students would not be losing out and have somewhere they wanted to live… Although I was a little surprised how readily they took up this solution I expected a compromise along these lines could be reached.”

He added, “The overwhelming opinion is that those who were to be forced to give up their guaranteed year in College now have an attractive convenient place to live while doing their finals. I think the students are happy and the College is happy, so it is win-win.”

Balliol JCR President Adam Smith said, “I discussed the issue with our Domestic Bursar who had already received an approach from Wadham concerning the rooms. Balliol JCR is glad to help in any way possible.  I am pleased that a solution has been reached.”
by Katherine Hall, Deputy News Editor

How many members do you have?
Excluding new players, we have 11 each session – we’re looking for more.

Who does the Octopush Club represent and why should we sign up?
We represent the Octopush (think Underwater Hockey) players of Oxford! A brief description: wearing snorkelling kit, dive down and push/flick a weighted puck into goals at the opposite ends of a swimming pool. This is the ultimate 3D game, with skills, fitness, tactics and teamwork to distinguish you as a good player. The water is a great leveller so anyone can play. We’ve got kit you can borrow, and there are social events too!

Why do you think the Octopush Club is important?
It’s promoting a different approach to water and is far more satisfying than just swimming lanes. The University has a very large range of sports and I’m pleased to be running a club diversifying that. Oh and we couldn’t play if there wasn’t a club.

As a member of the Octopush Club, what has been your most memorable experience so far?
Probably running the club as its new president – but the ‘07 University Nationals will also stay with me; it was very well organised and our team managed 6th out of 10.

So what does the Octopush Club have planned for 2008?
There’s this year’s University Nationals in 6th week, and hopefully expanding the club. We’d like to get some new goals too!

Tell us something you didn’t / couldn’t say at fresher’s fair?
Your first session is now free to try!

When do you meet and how can we get involved?
Our main club sessions are on Sundays at Ferry Sports Centre, 5.45-7.30pm Check out www.users.ox.ac.uk/~octopush for more info, or email [email protected]

Interview by Louise Collin