Sara-Christine Gemson encourages students to stand up for what they believe inAt the end of September, the eyes of the world were riveted to the brilliantly coloured monks of Burma, risking their lives by protesting to obtain some basic rights from a brutally oppressive regime. Here in Britain, we no longer need to fight for these rights. The rights to protest, to be politically active and to express ourselves freely are taken as part of the natural order of things.  But to what extent do students at Oxford actually exercise them?It’s easy to discover the activist scene in Oxford, through mailing lists, posters, Facebook groups and web sites. An even better source is the newly launched organisation OxHub, which brings together different organisations involved in local and international development. OxHub’s goal is to provide resources to facilitate the work of existing student-run charities, whilst also encouraging new students to get involved. As Adam O’Boyle, the manager of OxHub, explains, “The Oxford prospectus says Oxford is a great place for students to get an education, and to get involved in sport and arts. We would like to add charity work to that list.”  The idea for OxHub came from a similar organisation already in existence at Cambridge University. In the decentralised context of the collegiate system, there is a pressing need to provide a focal point for the activism and charity work that takes places. Ritu Patwari, the president of the University of Oxford’s Amnesty International group, asserts the need for OxHub. “The decentralised college environment is a big factor. It means that it’s very difficult to get people involved in student activism.”    This obstacle is only one of many. While the proliferation of posters, the well populated mailing lists, Facebook groups, and the professionally designed web sites may give the impression of a politically active and involved student population, the reality is quite different. Speaking to the heads of different groups, the same refrain is always repeated. Mark Darby, president of the Oxford Aegis Society, a group that campaigns against genocide, summarises the state of student participation: “People might be interested or aware, but not many are willing to make the extra effort to campaign or get involved.” Ritu adds that “Especially at Oxford, people are willing to discuss things theoretically, but they don’t do anything practical about it.”  It can be disappointing to discover that the expectations and the publicity misrepresent the true state of activism at Oxford. Hizami Mohdiskandar came to the University from Malaysia to study law. He has been involved in a number of politically active societies, most notably as the president of the Free Burma Society. However, his experience so far has not lived up to his expectations. “When I came here I thought ‘this is Oxford, everyone is going to be political; everyone is going to care about causes. JCRs are going to be passing political motions all the time.’ Of course, this isn’t the case.” For some, it’s not just a lack of action but actual uninterest. Aisling MacSweeney is the secretary of the Palestine Society. “The disappointing thing is that the vast majority of students remain quite apathetic and even prefer not to take a political opinion.”There are various explanations for the lack of student involvement, the most likely being the lack of time. Mandisa Mbali, co-chair of Stop Aids, is sympathetic to those who cry off political activism due to time constraints. “There are a lot of people who want to support causes but with the pressures of the eight week term at Oxford, some simply don’t have the time.” In some cases, the lack of involvement is a more strategic calculation; a fear of having your name tied to a specific cause. Ritu has come across this problem many times. “People can be really interested in issues and they’ll discuss them and they’ll even come to events. But when you ask them to sign a letter, they’ll say ‘I don’t want to sign my name’ or ‘I don’t want to give my address.’ It’s good that people won’t just sign anything, but when people agree that something is wrong but they aren’t willing to put their names down, I think it’s odd.” Alternatively, they’re scared of upsetting potential employers. Mark faced this problem trying to get students to sign the UBS petition, which aims to push UBS to stop underwriting PetroChina’s investments in Darfur. Some students won’t sign because they are worried that it might affect their future careers in investment banking.  Socially, there may also be a certain stigma attached to being politically active. Aisling has faced hostility from other students for her activism. “I often find quite a negative attitude towards activism – like somehow I feel I have to explain myself to people for being involved in issues where there might be disagreement.” Adam also identifies a lack of mentoring on the part of professors at Oxford. “Tutors often don’t take a paternal role in politicising students. Their aim is to give us a well-rounded education but not necessarily to push us…to be socially conscious.”

More generally, there seems to be an increasing hesitation on the part of JCRs and MCRs to go beyond welfare issues by passing motions on politically sensitive causes. Officially, OUSU encourages them to take a stance. Claire Addison, the Vice President for Charities and Communities, gives OUSU’s position. “JCRs and MCRs are independent and it’s up to the individual members of common rooms to decide which policies are adopted. However, OUSU wishes to encourage debate and dialogue on all issues that are being discussed by the Student Union and so it would often be appropriate to discuss political motions in order for their representatives at OUSU Council to be properly representative of their common room’s student body.” However, during a JCR meeting at Pembroke at the end of October, there was debate over the legitimacy of passing motions on non-student related issues.Geoff Cameron is president of the Oxford University Baha’i Society, and is currently campaigning for the rights of Baha’is in Iran who are being denied access to higher education. He disagrees with categorically refusing to discuss any matters not directly related to student welfare. “I understand that JCRs and MCRs want to be focused on matters that concern students. But students, particularly at a university like Oxford, are not only concerned with themselves. They have an interest in the world. And student bodies, as collective organisations, can also exercise some power by expressing their views on international issues.” Mandisa echoes the importance of JCRs and MCRs in this role, arguing that there is no better place than Oxford to become politically active.  ‘We have all the resources of Oxford at our disposal so I think we should debate issues. Not to do so is to abdicate moral responsibility as intellectuals and as students. You can’t see the University as a sort of degree sausage factory.”This lack of involvement is a source of concern to many of the activists. Adam is particularly concerned about the future. “If students aren’t politicised now, they never will be. You can’t wait ten years from now to get involved. At that point, people will be entrenched in their lifestyles; change will be too hard then. The more it’s delayed, the less likely it’s going to happen.” Hizami also worries about future generations. “If we don’t create an activist environment now, then the students who follow us won’t do it either. And there won’t be an activist core growing up. In many ways, the world needs activists now even more than in the seventies.” Making the current generation conscious of social and political problems is especially pertinent in a university where many are likely to go on to “great things.” The Oxford Aegis Society branch was started by the national organisation two years ago because they recognised the importance of reaching future leaders while young. Mark explains the importance of raising awareness with Oxford students. “They are going to be in positions of power twenty years down the line…hopefully they’ll remember to do the right thing.”  However, while those involved agree that the situation isn’t ideal, they say they still have it easier than their counterparts at most other universities. Mark points out that Oxford’s eclectic mix of student bodies means that there are at least some people interested in even the lesser known causes. “You can have an obscure event like a film on the Guatemalan conflict in Spanish here and people will come. In another city you’d only get one person showing up. It’s easier to find a niche here.” The impression that students are becoming less involved and more apathetic is perhaps a false one. For certain causes, there may even be an increase in interest and involvement in the last few decades. This is what Paul Martin, a lecturer in politics and a student here in the early nineties, has observed. “I don’t honestly see a massive change overall. I do think that there are a lot more students involved in international politics issues nowadays – I’ve taught a lot of undergraduates who’ve been involved in the anti-war movement, the Palestine solidarity campaign, and so on.” Claire also mentions considerable success for campaigns promoting the anti-Trident movement, and highlighting the Darfur crisis. She explains that it’s important to look at student activism from a broader perspective. “These things tend to go in cycles. Activism takes many shapes and forms and right now the trend seems to be for very specific issues, running individual campaigns and particularly events.”The motivating factor behind the first step into campaigning varies from one activist to another. Geoff’s motivation is deeply personal. “I’m a Baha’i so I happen to know about the situation of the Baha’is. As a student and a member of the University, I feel I have a moral obligation to let others know about the situation affecting my co-religionists.” Aisling’s involvement dates back to her pre-Oxford days. “I originally got involved in campaigning for Palestine when I was at school. I started off in the anti-war movement, but it didn’t take me long to realise that the Israel/Palestine conflict was at the heart of the so-called “divide” between Islam and the West. I realised that without a just resolution for Palestine, there would never be an end to the “war on terror” or the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, and peace would never be achievable.”For some, it was a slippery slope into activism. They showed up to a meeting and gradually got more involved. Ritu started out in a minimally committed position, then found herself helping out other committee members, participating in different events, and before she knew it, she was president of the Amnesty society. Others were guided into activism. Adam was lucky enough to have a few mentors who put him on the right path. “I was made to realise that in the long run my time and skills were more valuable than my money, which was was a substantial factor in shaping plans for my career.”To talk to these student activists is to be swept up in their passion, their energy, and their firm belief that they can change the world. Hizami is unshakable in his belief in the power of the individual. “One person goes out there, learns about something, talks to someone else, changes someone’s mind. That person goes out and does the same thing. That’s how change happens.” Having seen first-hand the difference that aid activism has made in her native South Africa, Mandisa can’t help but be motivated to keep fighting for her cause. “You can see change and it makes you think ‘Wow! I’m actually not powerless!’ As an ordinary citizen, working with other ordinary citizens, we can actually change things from the bottom up. That’s the real meaning of democracy and that’s why I wish more people would get involved in activism.” Geoff thinks that Oxford students are in a particularly influential place. “When student bodies or colleges or the University itself issues statements that are very clear-cut morally and ethically, I think people are more likely to listen because of the international stature of the University. The connections it maintains throughout the world via its students makes Oxford an international institution with international responsibilities.” Those responsibilities apply to its students as much as to its staff. These three years are the best chance you’ll have to make a difference. Get involved.

Flood warning on the River Thames running through Oxford remains in place alongside two other flood warnings on the Rivers Thames and Ray running through Oxfordshire. Only one village in west Oxfordshire has been flooded so far but the possibility of flooding of roads and homes in Oxford is still at large.

“We have had little or no rain overnight but it has started raining again now and will continue through the day,” said Rob Alexander, spokesman for the Environment Agency. “The River Thames is still rising and this will affect all the watercourses running through Oxford.

With the River Thames expected to rise over 10 cm by the end of day, Oxford’s emergency planners say they are “planning for the worst but hoping for the best,” after having undergone extensive flood damages last summer.

Oxford City Council has installed a water pump and a JCB digger at PC World on Botley Road and has also delivered sandbags to various locations in the city. Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service has firefighters out in most areas of risk.

Oxfordshire’s assistant chief fire officer David Etheridge told BBC Oxford, “We have to accept that flooding is part of everyday winter life now.” He also advised residents affected by floods last July, to lift furniture from the ground and sandbag “external openings” such as front and rear doors.

A vote on whether to approve the OUSU admissions policy will be held at the council meeting on Friday.The admissions policy document was drawn up last term by OUSU Access and Admissions Officer James Lamming, in coordination with JCRs. There have been debates on the policy in JCRs across the University, and representatives from affiliated colleges will vote on it at the OUSU council on Friday.Among other things the new admissions policy recommends that applicants to Oxford are selected on the basis of their academic potential, but that their school’s overall results (“educational context”) should be taken into account when evaluating their A-level grades. It also recommends that tutors minimise the use of subject tests and stop using submitted essays in the admissions process, since these measures are likely to be perceived as an “additional hurdle to applying to Oxford.”The policy document will be discussed and possibly amended at the Council on Friday, before becoming official OUSU policy. Once this happens, James Lamming will use it as the basis for his discussions with collegiate admissions committees. He said, “It can be a very strong argument to say, this is perceived as being unfair by students who’ve been there and done it, so you need to take it into account.”Several colleges have already debated the policy in the last week, including Merton and Magdalen.
Merton Affiliated Organisations rep Josh Monahan said, “There is no doubt that the university needs to take into account the views of undergraduates when deciding undergraduate admissions policy.”Diana Walford, Warden of Mansfield College and Chairman of the Admissions Executive and Admissions Committee, said, “We work very closely with the student body on access issues […] The collegiate University and OUSU are in agreement over the aims of widening participation to attract the best students irrespective of their background.”Not all students’ views will be represented by the final document, however, but only those whose college is affiliated to OUSU. James Lamming noted, “Disaffiliated colleges are welcome to discuss amendments, but they don’t have a vote. I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t listen to their views. So the policy will reflect the views only of affiliated colleges, but I will be minded of the views of all students.”Sometimes, though, the admissions policy goes out the window. One Magdalen student said, “I’m sure the only reason I got in was because my tutor fancied me.”by Jack Farchy 

The Teddy Hall summer ball has been cancelled amidst ongoing disputes between the JCR and the college.The decision to cancel the ball for a second year in a row has prompted anger amongst students, with the college authorities accused of being “unacceptable.” A ‘Summer Event’ at the college is expected to be organised instead.The head of the Teddy Hall ball committee, Jonathan Taylor, resigned after college authorities refused to accept a capacity for the ball of 650 people.Taylor commented “The last Teddy Hall Ball (in 2006) was deemed a huge success by those who went to it. Unfortunately the college deemed it a complete disaster (largely because an SCR window was broken.) The Dean then wrote a report recommending that the college should have no bops or balls for 2 years – hence no ball in 2008.”“This year the college have re-introduced bops and agreed to consider a proposal for a ball…[Last term] they suggested that the capacity should be reduced from 850 in 2006 to 400 in 2008. Obviously this prompted long discussions.”Last Wednesday he informed the JCR President that he would not be prepared to organise a ball for any fewer than 650. The President offered 700 and then 650 which were both rejected.” Hence the capacity fell below my limit and prompted my resignation”, said Taylor.Emily-Kate Morton, JCR Women’s Officer, explained the JCR’s new plans, saying that the committee were “looking to draw up a new, smaller proposal, which will be more of a Summer Extravaganza, rather than a ball. This proposal goes to the governing body on Thursday, and after that we will know if we are going ahead with any sort of summer event.”However, some Teddy Hall students have reacted angrily. A Teddy Hall second year, who wishes to remain anonymous, said “Everybody is rather annoyed.”The student explained that Taylor had resigned “because the college governing body were being unacceptable…The governing body was putting a limit of the number of people…which the ball committee believed to be too little, as there would not be enough people there to make it any good. Meetings ensued between the governing body and the ball committee, but the governing body wouldn’t budge.” St Edmund Hall authorities declined to comment.by Rob Pomfret 

Oxford University has refused to follow Cambridge and the London School of Economics in drawing up so-called ‘blacklists’ for ‘soft’ A levels such as media studies and dance. Cambridge University recommends that applicants do not take more than one subject from a list of 20 A levels, including accounting and tourism. The London School of Economics similarly runs a list of 14 “non-preferred subjects”, such as law. Oxford breaks A levels into three categories for a particular course: essential, recommended and helpful, but does not ‘blacklist’ any subjects. An Oxford University spokesperson explained that, “There is no list of A levels which says if you study these A levels you can’t study at Oxford but there is a recommended list. If people apply for courses where they haven’t got the recommended A levels it is harder to compete.” The Russell Group of top UK universities has been critical of so-called ‘soft subjects’, and has suggested that pupils at state schools taking a large number of them at A level are put at a disadvantage.Dr Wendy Piatt, Director General of the Russell Group, stated on the group’s website, “It is difficult for admissions tutors to choose between such excellent candidates. Students must not disadvantage themselves by choosing a combination of subjects at A Level which will not equip them as well as other subjects to excel on their chosen course, or which do not demonstrate as effectively as others their aptitude for a particular subject.“Clearly if pupils from certain state schools are increasingly taking a combination of subjects which put them at a disadvantage in competing for a course at a Russell Group university, the task of widening participation in our universities becomes even more difficult,” she added. Russell Group research found that 93% of media studies candidates were from non-selective state schools even though such schools only account for 74% of A levels in total, leading to suggestions that comprehensives are using such subjects to boost pupils’ grades.A statement on the Oxford University Admissions Department website said that admission was more focused on academic potential than subject choice.“Providing that any specific subject requirements have been met, all A levels are approved for admissions purposes, with the exception of General Studies.“Providing that you meet any specific requirements for your course, we recommend you to take those subjects that interest you most and in which you feel you have the ability to do best. Apart from the specific requirements shown, tutors are much more interested in candidates’ overall academic ability, and their potential and motivation for the course at Oxford, than the particular programmes which have been followed at school.”by Rob Pomfret

Dark and unsettling, Alice Lacey’s production of Caryl Churchill’s play is a triumph from start to finish. Despite a very drawn out freezeframe at the beginning (with the actors looking as bored as you feel) the play soon picks up and proves to be riveting. Violent and shocking, the play portrays a girl whose life is plagued by violence, at war and at home. The staging of Churchill’s excellent play is helped in no small measure by fantastic performances from the cast and a subtle and understated soundtrack.From the first scene the audience is thrown into a terrifying and totalitarian world but provided with little explanation as to how it came about. At first, this appears to be an oversight on the part of the playwright, but as the actions progresses it becomes clear that you are supposed to understand as little about the situation the characters live in as they do. The plot follows the life of Joan and her experiences as she grows up. Setting the ominous tone that pervades the entire production, the audience first meets her as a young child, unable to sleep after being sent away to an isolated country house and hearing inexplicable disembodied screams from her bedroom window. Particularly worthy of mention is the parade of the prisoners, where the grotesque contrast of men trudging to their deaths with their garish headgear has all the visual appeal of a car crash, but at the same time is strangely mesmerising.The staging gives the production a claustrophobic feeling. Actors frequently come right up to the audience and bring them more directly into the characters’ world of violence and desctruction. By the end, we feel as frightened as they do. Although perhaps not a play to see if you’re feeling fragile, this is definitely not one to be missed for those of you who like your theatre slick, thought-provoking, and ever- so-slightly nightmare inducing.By Sarah Davies 

Tom Richards’s production of Edward II, by Christopher Marlowe, is complete with smoky night clubs, the sweet-sour smell of weed, star-cross’d lovers, and violence. Like Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo and Juliet, the production has moved an Elizabethan play into a modern gangster setting. Edward II highlights the correspondance between the power game in Marlowe’s early modern court and the one-upmanship in the mafia world, adding in political controversy from Edward’s homoerotic affairs. However, exciting as this premise is, the actual execution of the play falls slightly short of expectation.The play explores the complications that love causes in a political context. Ben Galpin captures Edward’s anguish as a young man yearning, but is not so convincing when playing Edward as king. Krishna Omkar is convincing in the role of Gaveston styled as Edward’s melancholic lover. Arabella Lawson as Queen Isabella plays a bitter, desperate wife fallen from her husband’s favour, but the political intrigue surrounding her, including a connection to the IRA (a modern equivalent of Marlowe’s French intrigue) is not quite convincing. They portray passion, yet the shades of passions are rarely identified and distinguished.The staging of Elizabethan drama in a modern-styled production is problematic and aspects borrowed from both periods are never quite brought together. The actors change awkwardly between their dual identities, never quite sure whether they are playing nobles or gangsters. This is a production which overwhelms and excites the viewer with its modern adaptation of a Marlowe play, yet it has not quite fulfilled that potential. Just as Edward in the play could personally testify, it is never easy to balance politics and love in life; in theatre, the same applies. By Chen-yi Liu