A Senior Tribunal has overruled the “students for
students” refer­endum, proposed by Charlie Steel two weeks ago, which was due
to be put to the student vote at the same time as Thursday’s OUSU election. The
referendum asked for the OUSU constitution to be amended to prevent OUSU from
having policies “on issues which do not directly affect Oxford students”. The
OUSU president, Emma Nor­ris, stated that OUSU “officers have been subject to…
late night phone calls, threats of legal action against individuals, slander
and childish public insults” as part of the contro­versy surrounding the
referendum. As
a result, the tribunal (com­posed of senior members of the University)
pronounced on Mon­day that it is preventing the ref­erendum from going ahead. 500
signatures of University stu­dents needed to be presented to OUSU before 12pm a
fortnight be­fore the elections to ratify the motion. OUSU dismissed the
petition, which had 511 signatories, because it was handed in one hour and
forty min­utes after the deadline. A junior tri­bunal later overruled the
decision of the Returning Officer, and the details of the referendum were
published, along with adverts for the Yes and No campaigns, in last week’s
OxStu. Controversy
followed as there were claims that the wording of the referendum, which can be
altered at the discretion of the president and Returning Officer, changed its
substance. Charlie steel, the referendum’s organiser and a member of OUSU’s
part-time exec, said, “it was outrageous. It completely reversed the point of
the referendum in the first place.” Steel
submitted an amendment to OUSU council last Friday, but it was “shot down”. The
Yes campaign team, including and those who submitted the motion, then decided
that because the referendum had been so “perverted”, they would actively
campaign against its being passed. The
OUSU Returning Officer, Daryl Leeworthy, then took the case to Senior Tribunal which
up­held the original complaint that the motion had been submitted af­ter the
deadline and cancelled the referendum. The Senior Tribunal ruled on Monday that
“the Return­ing Officer was right to apply to the referendum the noon
deadline”. Norris
told Cherwell, “am bring­ing a motion to OUSU Council in 7th Week asking
for the referen­dum to be held next term. It is a discussion which ought to be
had.” She believes that the referendum will “help the Student Union en­gage in
discussion about its aims”. She
added, “The way certain indi­viduals have behaved throughout the election
period has been deplorable. Gossip forums and papers have been rife with
misleading information.“I’m
not interested in fighting and name-calling: running cam­paigns and services
that matter to students is achieved through discussion and commitment, not
self-important showdowns.” Steel
said he was not consider­ing appealing the decision of the Senior Tribunal although
he was “disappointed” by it. He claims that the handling of the issue was not
“fair” or “democratic” and that he was “hindered at every possible corner in
tabling this referendum.” He further told Cherwell that the event “shows
how much OUSU resists change and won’t even let change be discussed.” He described
OUSU as projecting a “very insu­lar” image, battling for “its own agenda.” But
he concluded that sup­port among students for the refer­endum was strong
(having obtained 511 signatures in support) and that the “war will be won” next
term.ARCHIVE: 6th week MT 2005

The majority of Oxford students are in favour of the University
carrying out research on animals. A Cherwell opinion poll consulted students
from a range of subjects and colleges across the University. Almost 86% were in
favour of the using animals for research, 11.4% were not and 2.9% said they did
not know. Student opinion on the animal research facility on South Parks Road showed a similar pattern
of results: 84.8% said that the building should be completed, 10.4% that it
should not and 4.8% that they did not know. A spokeswoman said that the University
welcomed the findings of the survey “as a demonstration that students are
thinking carefully about the issue of animal research.” She added, “While there
was no directconsultation with students on the
[animal research] policy, many of those involved in drawing up the policy
teach, and research alongside, student members. Surveys and articles in the
student media are one way of the University continuing a dialogue on this
important issue with its student members.”The survey has prompted reactions
from both sides of the animal research debate. Adolfo Sansolini, the Chief Executive
of the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection said, “We are
disappointed to see that the brightest stars of tomorrow, students at Oxford University,
according to this poll are still wedded to the animal model despite evidence
that it is failing, irrelevant and outmoded.” Edward Higbee, a student at St Edmund
Hall, told Cherwell, “Of course the University should
continue to carry out animal research. First, because it is essential for
medical progress, and second, because we cannot allow ourselves to be
threatened by the terrorists who burnt the boathouses and damaged University property.”Of 1,100 students contacted by Cherwell, 210 took part in the survey.
This is the first time that Oxford
University students have
had the opportunity for their views on the University’s animal research policy
to be heard. Just over one in ten students said they were against animal
research at Oxford Matthew Treece, a student at Keble, said, “I for one do not
believe for a second that most animal experiments are anywhere near to being
necessary… The University is up its own arse, and thinks it can dictate to its
lowly undergraduates what they will and will not think, which is really rather
shocking.” A spokeswoman for the Research Defence
Society, Barbara Davies, said, “Oxford University has a proud tradition in
medical research which spans the development of penicillin in 1940 right up to
the surgical technique of deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease sixty
years later: both these developments depended crucially on animals. The new
research centre will not only further such research, but will provide top class
facilities for the animals, an aspect that the animal rights extremists
apparently choose to ignore.”The University predicts that 98%
of the animals housed in the new animal research facility on South Parks Road will be rodents and
fish. In addition, there may also be some amphibians, ferrets, rabbits and,
most controversially, primates. The new building will bring about the closure
of several animal facilities currently dispersed throughout the science area. At
the moment the construction of the biomedical research building has stalled
because of the activities of animal rights protesters. A University spokeswoman
said, “The University remains totally committed to this project, but for
security reasons we are unable to discuss when work will resume.”Responses to the survey varied
widely. Some were flippant: “All animals die. So what?” Others were philosophical:
“Kantianism for human beings – Utilitarianism for animals!”One respondent commented that the
questions used in the survey were worded too narrowly. Though the survey
contained no mention of them, a large proportion of students responded with
strong views about animal rights extremists. Many said that the arson of the
Longbridges boathouses by the Animal Liberation Front had only served to
increase their support for the University’s animal research policy.ARCHIVE: 6th week MT 2005

Exeter
College became the love capi­tal of Oxford on Saturday
morning when a number of the college’s Freshers got married to one another.The
ceremony was conducted by ‘Father’ Chris Beaumont and ‘Father’ Henry Taysom,
both of whom are priests of the Universal Life Church of California, as well as
being stu­dents at the College.They
received their calling into the priesthood via the ‘instant ordi­nation’ link
on the church’s website just under two weeks ago. Saturday’s wedding service,
which saw more than thirty couples tie the knot, is their first since joining
the ‘clergy’. Each couple will receive a certificate which officially registers
their mar­riage in the church. Father
Beaumont said, “If we had been in California
all we would need to do is to obtain the consent of the state senator, and the
marriage would have actually been legally binding!”The
University Life Church of California is well established in the USA. The church
is said to take a lib­eral stance on such issues as same sex marriages and
bigamy.However,
while the exchanged matrimonial vows might be legally binding in the newly
wedded Exonians are only bound to remain together as college parents to their
college children – that is, the Freshers arriving next year.Father Taysom stated, “The honey­moon starts now. I should
therefore expect all husbands to be fulfilling their matrimonial duty of
playing with their wives. ARCHIVE: 6th week MT 2005

Jeremy Paxman, veteran
presenter of BBC’s Newsnight and an eminent, if abrasive, character among the
media’s great and good, has warned Oxford
students away from a media career in the introduction to the latest univer­sity
career guide.In
his email to the publication, Paxman branded the media as “un­derpaid and
oversubscribed” and ad­vised those thinking about a career in the industry to
do something “worth­while” with their lives. He warns that otherwise, they may
find they have “no career prospects beyond the age of forty.”The
guide, written by both Ox­ford and Cambridge student unions,
asked Paxman to contribute to its section on careers in the media. His
vitriolic response said that he could see “absolutely no point at all” in a
handbook that gives any prominence to a career in the media. He claimed that
television is dominated by “su­perannuated Marxists” and that “some newspapers
are no better”. “For
heaven’s sake,” the graduate and honorary Fellow of Oxford’s St Edmund Hall
contin­ued, “steer the students of Oxbridge away from the media: there are far
too many people clamouring to get in. If they’re successful, most will find
themselves producing garbage for cynics who think the only way to advance is to
pander to the lowest common denominator.”Paxman’s
comments then appeared in the foreword of the twenty-sixth annual edition of
the publication, which was distributed to undergradu­ates last week.The
guide’s editors, Katrina Beech­ley and James Pallister, said that the aim of
the handbook is to provide “a broad overview of each of the sectors” for
students who may be “insecure and anxious about the future”. Mark Calvert,
editor of Five News, re­sponded to his comments, saying, “you are good at what
you do, you can have a long and fulfilling career.” He also pointed out that
“it’s a bit rich that he said there were no career pros­pects beyond the age of
forty – here’s a man in his fifties still at the top of his game.” A
number of Oxford
graduates pursue careers in the media, with lat­est figures showing that 3%
enter the media as their first destination after graduation, and many more
entering the industry after some form of fur­ther study. Jonathon
Theodore, Cherwell Dep­uty Editor, who is considering a career in media,
commented “it is a shame that this single opinion has become representative for
an entire publica­tion. Whilst a student interested in the media like myself
appreciates the frank honesty of a highly informed source like Jeremy I really
hope it won’t put people off.”When
asked whether he had been perturbed by the foreward, he re­sponded “if anything,
it has made me want it even more as now realise just how hard will have to
fight to beat off the competition, and that will have to be prepared to take
the rough with the smooth in this career.”The
foreword to last year’s guide was written by Prime Minister, and Oxford graduate, Tony
Blair. The guide is produced in association with the careers departments of
both Universities, as well as the Student Unions.ARCHIVE: 6th week MT 2005

Magdalen
Bridge faces closure on May Day next
year after mounting pressure by Thames
Valley police to prevent
a repeat occurrence of this year’s celebra­tions, when forty people were
injured. Some
eight thousand people gathered on Magdalen
Bridge on May eve and
more than a hundred people jumped 25ft from the bridge into the river, which
was less than 3ft deep in some places. Talks have been taking place between the
police, the university and other local authorities to help avoid a repeat of
these injuries. A
motion brought before the county council in June was defeated by 41 votes to
22, however documents released to The times this week have shown that a series
of debates are ongoing between local authorities, with the police sup­porting
closure. The chief constable of police, peter Neyroud, said he “would rather
answer angry letters about clo­sure than face a court proceeding after the
incident.” Superintendent
Jim Trotman, area Commander for Oxford,
told Cherwell "We want everyone to have a safe event but the
jumping conflicts with [that]. I cannot see any other safe course of action
than to shut the bridge." He added, "we don’t want to be killjoys but
it’s about public safety and last year was unacceptable." Trotman noted
the "impact of fifty or sixty injuries on the emergency services’ ability
to deal with other incidents in the county." A
spokesperson from Oxfordshire county council said, “The county Council has
powers to close a bridge if it is assessed that there would be a dangerous
crush or if too many people were on the bridge. However there needs to be a
common view on the way forward." Matt
Sellwood, a Green party Councillor for Holywell ward, which includes Magdalen Bridge, said, “I do not believe that the
bridge should be closed on May Day. I would certainly encourage all students
not to jump… but I think that it is perfectly possible to preserve this
traditional ceremony while still preventing people from jumping.” A
spokesperson for Oxford
University said, “There
have been no decisions at this point about next year. The issue is under
discussion with all representatives from the police, council, university,
Magdalen college, security, ambulance and fire services.”ARCHIVE: 6th week MT 2005

Mansfield
students have expressed anger after it was revealed that their college has
agreed to host conference guests in a new accommodation block during term time.
It was felt that the JCR was not consulted on the decision, and had thought
that students would be able to move into the new accommodation next term. JCR
Vice president Andy Mitchell told a JCR meeting last Sunday, “College plans to
book [the new accommodation] out exclusively to conferences in Hilary term, and
almost exclusively in trinity term.” Mitchell
claims that a “verbal agree­ment” had been arranged with the College that
students would be able to occupy the twenty-four new rooms in the Garden Building
accommodation block when it was completed. JCR president Ed Mayne described the
news as a “breakdown of communications” and said that decisions had been made
“over our heads.” Mayne
added, “it’s fine conferences being here when we’re not, but this sets a
dangerous precedent for conferences being here at the same time as students.”
Mansfield Bursar Steve waterman defended the decision saying that the
conferences were necessary as “for very strong financial reasons the building
would need to generate income” until it is used by students next Michaelmas. Part
of the students’ anger at the deci­sion was caused by their participation in a
fund-raising telephone campaign to finance the new building. a number of
students felt that these jobs had been taken, and donations asked for, on a
false premise. Waterman
said in response to the allegations, “The telethon callers were fully briefed
that the new building would be used for income generating purposes, until the
beginning of the new academic year." First
year Alex craven, who had been promised a new room for the next two terms,
said, “I had been told by Andy that i would be able to move into the Garden Building
in Hilary term. I brought the issue up when i met the Principal at the start of
this term, and she gave the impression that there would be no problems.” Waterman
denies the verbal agree­ment and said, “it did not occur to me that there would
be any strong wish on the part of students who had already got college accommodation
elsewhere to want to move part way through the year.” he added that it would
not be feasible to break contracts for off-site accommodation mid-way through
the year. Waterman
dismissed the fears, saying, “The new building is separate and has its own key
arrangements. There will be the usual Junior dean and porter presence.”
waterman refuted concerns that the conference guests would have preferential
access to student facilities. Mansfield principal Diana
Walford, said of students being mislead about be­ing allocated new rooms, “I
tend to talk enthusiastically about the new building, which is immediately
opposite my study windows, because that’s the way I feel about it. I am sure,
in due time, that is how the entire student body will come to feel about this
splendid new addition to our student facilities. ARCHIVE: 6th week MT 2005

There are some subjects, writer John le Carré once said, “that can only be tackled in fiction”. It is curious, then, that Fernando Meirelles’ film adatation of one of le Carré’s most recent novels is so rooted in fact. The plot is, of course, entirely imaginary. After the horrific murder of his wife Tessa, British diplomat Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes) continues her fatal investigation of a pharmaceutical company’s sinister dealings in NorthernKenya. In the process, he unearths secrets not only of illegal drug-testing, but about the mysterious life his wife lead. Yet, as always with le Carré, this fictitious scenery is a backdrop to contemporary political comment. The film is directed more to modern pharmaceutical companies (sustained, in le Carré’s words, by “huge wealth, pathological secrecy, corruption and greed”) than it is to our imaginations.The style in which The Constant Gardener is shot is as different to Meirelles’ most well-known film, City of God (2002), as could be. An adrenaline-fuelled chase through the street-life of Rio de Janeiro’s slums, City of God raced along at an intoxicatinglyvisceral speed. The Constant Gardener, by contrast, takes a more thoughtful pace, with narrative and characters alike teased out subtly and slowly. This gives us plenty of time to mull over what we’re witnessing. The downside is that it takes a long while to feel involved in the story enough to enjoy it.Ralph Fiennes is excellent in the lead role, the lines of his face speakinga jaded melancholy and pain at the death of his wife that he himself never vocalises. Throughout the film, his quest to uncover the truth about the pharmaceutical company is interspersed with flashbacks from his married life. Tessa Quayle (another quietly gripping performance from Rachel Weisz) was as passionate and full of life as her husband is restrained and, well, British. Justin discovers through his investigations not only horrific inhumanities but the love that his wife held for him, which he had doubted for a long while. The finesse with which Meirelles brings out this retrospective examination of a relationship is the best element of the film.Another high point is Bill Nighy’s dubious government official, Sir BernardPellegrin. “Some rocks are better left unturned,” he warns Justin over a fillet mignon, a sinister smirk lying underneath his charming politician’s smile. As Justin moves between exotic Kenya and drab London, the tension and paranoia build, culminating in death threats left him in his hotel rooms. The arresting thrills of this are set nicely against the more contemplativeside of the film, examining the complexities of morality and relationships.In one scene, Justin and a white friend rush towards an aeroplane, their only means of escape from a Kenyan village under attack. With them runs a terrified local black child. When they reach the plane she is not allowed on board with them, left to be raped and beaten because those are “the rules”. The film is packed with such injustices,yet ultimately they are so diluted through the slow pace and frequent digressions into flashback that their full emotional weight is never felt. The Constant Gardener is as well-constructed as it is beautifully shot, the rich tones of Africa captured with breathtaking vitality. This movie is as enjoyable as it is thought-provoking and intelligent. But when the screen went black and the credits rolled, it didn’t leave me half as outraged as I felt I should have been.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005