I knew being at Oxford was like living in a bubble when, in five weeks, the only live football match I’d seen was Balliol v Worcester. Stuck in my high-security college, I’ve had to turn to the newspapers, the internet and the occasional viewing of Match of the As Chelsea march on, barely looking over their shoulder to catch a glimpse of their retinue (not that they’d be able to see anyone at that distance), Arsenal proceed to lock themselves inside their sole style of play that brings about any effect.I’m not the first one to say Arsenal need to vary their style if dominance domestically and in Eeurope can be achieved. But what they really need to do is not just try and perfect the present team, but have a whole new outlook. Arsenal need to resort to imitation.Eeuro 2004, Liverpool in their Eeuropean Cup win and Porto a season ago. Martin Samuel, the Times columnist, was on the right track when he wrote earlier this season that Arsenal’s 2003-4 side, who went the full Premiership campaign without defeat, were not just great but inimitable. Only Wenger could have moulded the team that could play in the blistering style they did.Chelsea, Samuel added, are only half of that: they are great – the best in last season, I believe – but they are not inimitable. Arsenal’s style was unique; Chelsea just churn out the same old stuff we saw done by Greece when they won Except Chelsea are better at it, and that’s why they win.In the current climate, Chelsea et al are the models. If a team wins something they’ve probably employed that style. Copying it effectively leads to success.But mimicking the top-level style is not something any old team can do well. In January 2004, Liverpool beat minnows Yeovil Town in the FA Cup third round, initially struggling as Yeovil’s tight defence frustrated them, but eventually clearing up with a comfortable 2-0 victory.The following morning, Simon Barnes, another Times columnist, (you think I have time to read two newspapers?) remarked that Yeovil had shot themselves in the foot. They had tried to imitate Gérard Houllier’s team by playing the civilised style that Premiership teams go for. They tried to pass, and defend with tactical precision, and keep to a system, and attack with caution, and all the things José Mourinho probably tells Chelsea to do. But they weren’t good enough at it, so they lost. Years ago, noted Barnes, Yeovil – – the kings of cup upsets – would have abandoned any tactics or discipline and gone all out to overwhelm Liverpool with passion and hard work and the help of an intimidating set of drunken fans. Instead, Yeovil played like a modern Premiership team, the fans sat and sang “Yeovil till I die” in the sweetest voice they could, and everyone wondered why they barely came close. In a battle between two identical systems, class will inevitably prevail.Currently, Arsenal can only beat the best if they are on form on the day. To achieve bigger things at home and in Europe, Arsenal need to imitate the imitable Chelsea. But unlike Yeovil that Sunday afternoon, Arsenal have the class to live up to the system. Eeven with Patrick Vieira gone they have enough quality players to form a system to compete on equal terms with Chelsea. Arsenal must stop wondering why their system is failing and start adapting to the present. If Chelsea’s bubble is going to burst, Arsenal have to get out of their own.Day to keep up with the world of football. Otherwise, escaping the vacuum is not easy. And it seems that my team are suffering from a similar problem. Arsenal have started the season – in fact, continued from where they were in May – in a bubble that seems to have been cutting them off from their rivals.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

Oxford 14Tonga 34Oxford came off worse in a match of brutal intensity against the touring Tonga national side. Though they remained competitive throughout the match, they conceded a disappointing six tries to lose by 14-34. 34-14 is a convincing defeat, but Oxford did not play badly. They were simply overpowered at the end by the sheer physicality of a Tonga side famous for its size, power and aggression even on the international scene. Almost to a man, the Blues were smaller than their opposite numbers; they lost over ten stone to the Tongans just in the front row! While their energy lasted, Oxford were impressive both in the pack and behind the scrum. The defensive gaps of the previous week were sealed, and Tom Tomblestone led the side in attack with two outstanding tries.The game started badly for the Blues with the poor conditions making handling difficult. Peter Jenkins made a mazy run toward his own tryline and Matt Sherman’s attempt to clear the ball was charged down. The Blues reacted slowly to a short period of pressure, which allowed Vaea Poteki to waltz over the line unopposed after Tonga created a large overlap with only three minutes gone.After this early shock Oxford began to assert themselves. The lineouts were solid and the good work upfront paid off when it allowed Tombleson to score a magnificent solo try. The ball was passed down the line to Tombleson who raced his opposite number to the line, diving into the corner. Whittingham knocked over a fantastic conversion and Oxford took a deserved 7-5 lead.Tonga’s game plan was clearly to use their power advantage to decisive effect. However, Oxford’s forwards excelled themselves, sucking up punishing bursts around the fringes and drives down the middle. For a while, the game descended into a stalemate. Only when half time approached did the match get going again. After the Blues had been denied a dangerous attacking position through Ross Lavery by a poor bounce off a grubber kick, Finau combined with Teviat Tiueti to score a breakaway try, converted for a 12-7 half time lead.In the second half Tonga’s sustained pressure began to tell. Finau burst through with such momentum that Oxford could barely catch him, let alone stop him. However, he was forced off after his second try, giving the Blues some much needed respite. Tombleson struck back immediately with another solo try, his jerky running leave Poteki watching from the ground as Tombleson sprinted to the line. Whittingham made another excellent conversion and with 25 minutes to go, the game looked even. However, Tonga now stepped up a gear. Vliiami Maasi was driven over the line in a thundering drive, Rodney Mahe scored after Tonga had been camping on the line and Eelisi Vunipola broke through with six minutes to go. There was one last opportunity for Tombleson to show off, and his run past three men lit up a poor last 20 minutes for the Blues.Tonga play a class of forceful rugby Oxford are unlikely to encounter again. Coach Steve Hill was proud that they “stood up to the physical side of the game”. With the final run in to Varsity now begins with a fixture against Major Stanley’s XV, and Oxford are ready to pounce.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

Oxford Men 85Cambridge Men 96Oxford Women 92 Cambridge Women 98The Freshers’ individual performances suggested promise for the upcoming year. Oxford dominated the distance events with David Woods and Ian Kimpton making it a one-two in the 800m, before Kimpton went on to convincingly take the 1500m. Richard Franzese left the field trailing in the 3000m race, ably supported by Mike O’Neil in second. A similar picture emerged in the women’s distance competitions, with Rachel Ward dominating the 3000m and 1500m competitions.This year has seen an influx of women sprinters and they did not fail to deliver, with victories for Frances Smithson, Natalie McManus and Caitlin Hanley in the 100m, 200m, and 400m respectively.Unfortunately the male sprinters could not follow their example, failing to register any victories, though Mark Ponsford made up for his disappointment in the sprints by taking victory in the high jump.Oxford showed greater depth in the field than in previous years, with wins for Nathan Fleming in both the javelin and discus. Frances Smithson stormed to victory in the triple and high jumps, and was just pipped in the long jump by team-mate Stephanie Madgett.Ddespite some encouraging performances in Freshers’ Cuppers, Oxford were again left trailing in the first varsity athletics meet of the year. However, the Tabs should not start celebrating a repeat of last year’s overall victory too soon; significantly fewer points separated the teams this time and, bearing in mind Oxford’s record at the main Varsity event, it bodes well for a change in fortune for the Dark Blues.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

St Peter’s 8St Edmund Hall 15St Edmund Hall claimed an attritional, nerve-wrecked title decider against St Peter’s to regain the college rugby title from their old rivals. Hall handed Peter’s their first defeat in the league for over a year thanks to an inspired charge-down and gather by Freddie Lait, producing the decisive try deep into injury time.The match was set up as a perfect title decider. St Peter’s were unbeaten, and victory would have meant their third successive league season and title. Hall had lost to St Catherine’s, but they had piled up such huge scores against exeter, Queen’s and Corpus/Somerville that any win would give them them the title on points difference. Mathematically, Catz, the term’s surprise package, were also in with a chance, but this required well over a one hundred point win over Exeter which was never likely. No amount of hyperbole can express the elation and despair at the end of this game. Just like the Cuppers final in May, Peter’s had a trophy they looked to have at least one hand on for most of the match snatched away from them in the last moments by a brilliant piece of Hall skill. The pressure of the match and the fiercely windy conditions meant neither team hit their peak until the closing stages, but, despite its close-fought nature, Peter’s had long periods of attacking possession, with the ball barely leaving the Hall half for the first twenty minutes. Poor handling and a shocking number of turnovers at the scrum saw many attacking opportunities frittered away.Peter’s started the match in brutally aggressive fashion. The ball barely left the pack as they tried to pummel Hall into submission. The fact that Teddy Hall only gave away one penalty in front of the posts bears testament to their discipline. When that chance did arise, Rob Unwin made no mistake and the ball sailed over for three points. Yet for all their pressure, they went in behind at half time. With half an hour gone, Peter’s’ Michael Botcherby spilled the ball and Hall pounced. The ball shot down the line and winger Dave Saleh did the honours, sprinting to the corner. As the game grew scrappy, Hall were able to guard a 5-3 lead to half time. After the break, Peter’s were again on top. Though the Hall back row created some field position for their team with a succession for turnovers, the pattern of the previous half soon returned. At last, however, Peter’s managed to recycle a series of phases, releasing ed Botcherby for a replica of Saleh’s try in the corner. The wind made the conversion all but impossible, but Peter’s led 8-5. The try rallied Peter’s into action. Alan edington went on the charge, and Hall looked in trouble, Michael Botcherby’s surge for the line barely held up. But Hall showed their class, raising their game in search of a winning score. Peter’s soaked up all that was thrown at them but in injury time, dan Lowther’s clearance was charged down by Lait. The ball bounced favourably into his hands and he placed the ball under the posts to the delight of Hall’s fans. Rob Yates, on superb form with the boot all day, converted to leave Peter’s needing a try to regain the lead. The fans thought the game was over, but referee Kevin duffy had been stopping his watch with such frequency that 18 minutes of injury time ran just in the second half. Hall guarded their lead in the best possible way, attacking the Peter’s half and sealing victory with another Yates penalty after Peter’s handled in the ruck. Peter’s captain Dave Poraj-Wilczynski summed up the Peter’s performance: "We played well in parts." But they lacked the killer edge, whereas Hall, as captain Robbie Newman said, "did all the things we set out to do". Hall deserved their title both on the day and through the season, oozing class against all opponents. Looking ahead to next season, they will once again be favourites. But with Peter’s likely seething to have let this title slip through their fingers, and Catz looking to build on a promising season in which they were the only side to beat Hall, they are likely to be pushed all the way again.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

Professor Alan Ryan,
Warden of New College, criticised league tables in a recent opinion piece for
the Times Higher education Supplement, say­ing that the “problem with league
tables is that they ignore the fact that institutions are of different sizes
and have different strengths.”Ryan
told Cherwell that university league tables are “all pretty much
nonsense”, and that “apples and pears” do not belong in the same table. Writing
in THeS last week, he points out that “excellent means ‘excellent at’ and that
‘at’ matters. What are you good at? is the ques­tion to ask.”Commenting
on the suggestion by Estelle Morris, former Secretary of State for Education and
Skills, that Sunderland University was doing research of the same kind as Cambridge, Ryan writes in THES: “If it does, somebody is
wasting a lot of money in the Fens. It may
well be true that the research Sunderland does
is exactly what the people it is done for need, just as it may well be true
that their teaching is just what their students need.” He
went on to say that, “In which case, the folk in Sunderland
are excellent at what they are doing. Full stop, no league tables. Does anyone
really want a table comparing violin­ists and tennis players?”This
year Oxford University published its first officially
endorsed ‘Norrington Table’, ranking colleges by Finals performance. The table
had previously been compiled by a number of newspapers from undergraduate
degree results posted outside Examination Schools. The University decided to
publish its own official results “in the interests of fairness” but maintained
that such college listings were “not very significant”.When
asked his thoughts on the Norrington Table, Professor Ryan said that “from top
to bottom” there was “scarcely any gap” between Oxford colleges. A
spokesperson for the University said of league tables: “We treat them with a
certain amount of caution. There are many different ways of measuring
individual aspects of an institution’s performance, and even more ways of
bringing these together in ‘league tables.’” When asked about the University’s
use of the Norrington Table, the spokes­person stated “Ranking colleges on the
basis of degree results is not very significant, as the numbers involved per
college are small, and the results are dependent on the performance of a
particular group of students in a particular year, rather than on the college
itself.”ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

Francis Alfred Lepper,
emeritus Fellow in Ancient History at Corpus
Christi, has died aged 92. Lepper
is remembered for his contribution to the study of the Ro­man emperor Trajan
and also for his extensive involvement in College life. During his time at
Corpus, Lepper served as dean, Senior Tutor, Senior Fellow and Vice President
(1953-55, 1973-75, 1978-80).His
published works includes Trajan’s Column (1989) and Trajan’s Parthian War
(1948). Lepper also wrote an Aristophanic play, The Bees, to celebrate Corpus’
450th anniversary. As editor of the College journal The Pelican Record (1952
and 1963), he famously wrote a ‘scholarly’ review of the Oxford telephone directory, follow­ing the
stipulation to write on a book related to Corpus or the University.Lepper
was praised as an outstanding tutor and lecturer and, in the words of a former
student, knew “that lectures had to contain material not found in books”. His
commitment to his students extended beyond mere aca­demic rigour as he generously
used his contacts as an ex-New College student to arrange regular reading week
trips to a chalet in the Alps.He
also always invited finalists to join him for a walk along the Thames the week before their exams. His en­thusiasm and
sense of fun meant the phrase “Steady, Lepper!” was fondly attached to him by
his wife Elizabeth and his students.He
is remembered as a formidable member of the College who insisted on gowns in
tutorials and, on one occasion in the Fifties, his actions prompted students to
burn an effigy of him after he allegedly hid behind the dustbins to catch
latecomers climbing over the walls. The
son of a Church of Ireland priest, he went to school in England before gaining a scholarship to study
Clas­sics at New College in 1932. He was awarded a double
first and became a lecturer at Corpus in 1937 and Fellow in 1939. During the
war he worked in Bletchley
Park analysing messages
passing between German Luftwaffe, the details of which have only emerged since
his death because of his contin­ued allegiance to the Official Secrets Act. He
died in his home in Trewol­lock, Cornwall
and is survived by a son and daughter.A
spokesperson for Corpus Christi
College said of Lepper:
“He was a dedicated scholar and a much loved tutor for many generations of
Corpus classicists.” A memorial service is planned to be held at Corpus on 28
January.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

Three Oxford residents have been found guilty of
stabbing to death Brookes student Arash Ghorani-Zarin. Chomir
Ali, a Bangladeshi waiter, and his two sons Mujibar Rahman (19), and Mamnoor
Rahman (16), committed murder after Ali’s daughter Manna Begum fell pregnant
with the victim’s child. Nineteen year old Arash Ghorani-Zarin was found dead
in his car on Rose Hill with 46 stab wounds on 20 November last year. The
relationship angered Manna’s father Ali as she had been arranged to marry
someone else. The
jury at Oxford Crown Court took four and a half days to reach a decision and
there were loud cheers in the court as the verdicts were read out. The judge,
Mr Justice Gross, said the defendants would incur life imprison­ment but
sentencing was adjourned while a pre-sentence report on the youngest defendant,
just fifteen at the time of murder and deemed by his lawyer to be “in denial”,
was prepared. Detective
Chief Inspector Steve Tolmie of Thames Valley Police’s Major Crime Team said,
“The murder of Arash Ghorbani-Zarin was a horrific, violent attack on an
innocent young man who had a lot to live for. No one has the right to take away
someone’s life, for whatever reason.”The
Oxford Brookes Student Union President, John Lucas, said he was "up­set"
by what had happened but stated, "The University has an independent Advice
Centre, a Counselling and Advisory Service, and an ecumenical Chaplaincy, all
of whom work on an appointment or drop-in based system. They are all open to
all students, of all faiths."Imran
Haq, who sits on the ISoc Committee, said there is a framework within Shariah,
or Islamic religious law, which delineates exactly how to deal with such a
situation in a proper manner which is fair and just for all concerned, and that
such practices as “honour killings” are “categorically forbidden”. He added,
“Such indi­viduals are nothing but straightforward murderers, and this concept
of ‘honour killing’ is nothing but a guise, allowing religion or culture to be
used as a means for justification.”ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

Channel 4 has revealed details of a documentary that will chronicle Tony Blair’s time as the singer in a student band he fronted while studying Law at St John’sThe hour long ’rockumentary’, entitled “Tony Blair Rock Star” will portray Blair as a fame-seeking wannabe rock star. In one scene the future Prime Minister, played by ac­tor Christian Brassington, is depicted sporting leopardskin Y-fronts and very little else. The programme is a mix of documentary and
reconstruction, featuring interviews with the band’s Oxford friends and groupies.A spokesman from Channel 4 said that although the documentary had not been filmed on location in Oxford, Blair will be shown practising guitar in his room at St John’s through the “magic of television”. Blair’s Oxford band, Ugly Rumours, will also feature.The band only played a handful of gigs, including one at St John’s itself. In March 2003 Blair admitted in an inter­view that he had harboured real hopes of becoming a professional musician, saying “It wasn’t just a mere dalliance – it was a bit more than that for me.”Indie Music Society President Mark Taylor believes that the Oxford student music scene is not a natural proving ground for future statesmen, com­menting, “Political apathy grips the [student music] scene – certainly the days of Ugly Rumours are long gone.” He added, “John Colgan, the drum­mer [from a band named] November, is OULD Treasurer, he’s the most likely person from the current Oxford student music scene to climb the greasy pole.”The Oxford University Labour Club matched IMSoc’s sentiments. While their members are reportedly interested in music, none look set to follow Blair’s career path to the premiership via rock-stardom. Jack Graves, OULC co-chair, added, “The PM has set a high bar in terms of musical talent, although Ugly Rumours was more a case of ‘hair today, gone tomorrow’. I hope OULC can follow the PM’s lead in going forward not back to being more musically gifted in the coming years.ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

St Anne’s football team
has been banned from holding any team socials after an incident involving two
mem­bers of the team and the College’s deputy dean. On Friday 28 October,
several members of the football team returned to the College after their termly
social and one member of the group argued with the Deputy Dean, Susan James,
while another member of the team was verbally abusive towards her. The team had
been at an Indian restaurant and did not all return to College together.In
an email to the members of the football team the dean of St Anne’s, Professor
Peter Ireland, said that he was “appalled at the behaviour of two members of
the club”, and that he had also “seriously considered banning the football team
from representing col­lege. If there are any further complaints about the
behaviour of the football team I will discuss this option with the Principal.”
Football team socials have been banned for events organised both on and off the
St Anne’s College site until the further notice. Profes­sor Ireland added in
his email, “The individual who has argued with the Deputy Dean has had the
decency to step forward. The individual who verbally abused the Dean has not
done so… I will consider lifting the ban if the latter identifies himself.”Richard
Curran, the Captain of the football team, said, “St Anne’s football club deeply
regrets the incident and has cooperated as fully as possible with the decanal
staff to reach a satisfactory conclusion.” He added, “The club feels that any
punishments should remain between the decanal staff and and the individuals
involved.”Professor
Ireland told Cherwell that an incident had taken place “where a number of
students had conducted themselves in a manner that was in violation of College
regulations. Those involved have been punished. The College will not tolerate
abusive behaviour.”So
far the St Anne’s football club’s three teams are still competing in the
University’s JCR leagues. Curran added, “It would be pointless for me to
speculate whether further action will occur.”ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005

OUSU Social Justice Committee
organised a walk around Oxford
on Wednesday afternoon to raise awareness about investment issues. Organisers
estimated that between 50 and 100 people joined the walk at various points.One of the organisers, Richard
Ollerhead, commented “There was a really good turnout… we got a really good
response from people in colleges, many genuinely shocked about where their
college had its money.”Campaigners have already amassed
a petition of 800 names calling for Oxford
to adopt a Socially Responsible Investment policy. A recent survey by the
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) revealed that Oxford has 1,357,123 shares in the arms
trade. St John’s College
was ranked as the second highest investor in the arms trade of all Oxbridge
colleges, one of seven Oxford
colleges in the top ten. In a survey carried out at St John’s, 75% of College members were found
to be opposed to arms trade investment. Balliol College
came fifth in the survey, and is amongst several JCRs to have already passed
motions demanding ethical investment. Anna Wolmuth, Balliol’s Mike
Woodin Rep responsible for ethical investment said “last term the Governing
Body voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a Socially Responsible
Investment policy, to be drawn up in consultation with the JCR, MCR and SCR.” The march coincides with the
announcement on Tuesday that Oxford
has entered into a patnership with QinetiQ, who specialise in defence and
security. A University statement argues that “The University is concerned to
uphold the highest ethical standards when considering all new research
collaborations, and the agreement with QinetiQ is no exception.” It adds that “Previous
collaborations between QinetiQ and Oxford
have included developing better diagnostics for dyslexia and translating the
ability of a Namibian beetle to collect water droplets on its back into a
marketable system for harvesting water in the desert.”Emma Norris, OUSU President, said the partnership: “It’s
just another example of the University’s deeply disappointing behaviour when it
comes to ethical investment. QinetiQ is heavily involved in defence
technology… Where will this end? Oxford
University should not be
financially endorsing companies and people who make money from warfare and
exploitation.”ARCHIVE: 5th week MT 2005