Pressure is growing for more fair university admissions
procedures. Recently, calls for reform have intensified after
research showed pupils of independent schools are up to five
times more likely to achieve the highest marks in their exams
than their state school peers. The findings, reported in last week’s Cherwell, come as
AQA, the UK’s largest exam board, has warned against
proposals for creating a new A-level A* grade to pick out the
very top pupils. A higher exam grade would increase the gap
between the public and private sectors in education even further. Currently, in physics, the proportion of independent school
pupils achieving top A level grades is double those in the state
system. However unbalanced this figure is, an even more
concerning 1.6% of comprehensive school pupils taking the A level
gained enough marks for the equivalent of the proposed A* grade,
compared to the 9% who would have qualified from independent
schools. John Dunford, the general secretary of the Secondary Heads
Association, also rejected the ‘super-grade’ option,
declaring that releasing A level marks would achieve the same end
as introducing a new mark. Oxford University say their admission requirements “are
sufficient in determining suitable candidates.”ARCHIVE: 0th week TT 2004 

Last week Susan Kennedy got a makeover. Unfortunately the
revamping of the Neighbours star’s look did not live up to
our expectations – she merely invested in a few more
teacherly silk scarves, a long beaded necklace and got her hair
blow-dried by Lynne. But in the world of Neighbours it worked and
now take a look at her. Karl noticed her in the pub and now she
gets invited round for dinner with strange friends from the
tennis club. And an eligible bachelor even hit on her. Soon
Harold, who inspired Susan to change her image by calling her a
frump at the coffee shop, will be “copping a perv” on
her and she will have had total success. I love a good makeover. It’s the classic super-hero
storyline: the downtrodden, undesirable person takes off their
glasses and puts on some lycra to reveal an amazing body and
smouldering eyes. The secret to a good makeover is to look completely hideous
beforehand. This will throw any slight improvement into dramatic
relief. Beautiful people masquerading as mingers guarantee
brilliant transformations for the crucial ‘before” and
‘after’ photos. In magazines the ‘before’
photo always features the subject looking vacant, cross-eyed and
miserable with massive bags under their eyes. In the ‘after’ photo they are all smiley and
bright-eyed, their life changed forever; no one is out of their
league now. So, inspired by the Australian soap and full of hope
and merriment on this sunny afternoon in the summertime, I got
one boy and one girl and gave them both a makeover. Mo, 20, wanted a smarter look as he has been wearing a pair of
trainers with a massive hole in the bottom for about a year. He
says, “Sometimes I would step in a puddle and then have wet
feet for days.” He also hates every t-shirt he owns:
“They all make my head look massive.” Mo’s
transformation merely involved him putting on another t-shirt and
some new jeans. As I say, the secret to gaining sex appeal in the
makeover is little more than taking off the glasses. Anna, 18, wanted a more sophisticated style, as she thinks she
looks about 12 years old and claims, “Last week the waiter
in a restaurant mistook me for a child and gave me the
children’s menu and crayons.” Anna put on her least
flattering t-shirt, which she made in an art lesson at school
when she was really 12. The next thing she knew, she was in a
dress and heels in a meadow, spring had sprung, the sun was
setting and go on then, she says, “Ki-iss Me”. The
effects of the makeover won’t last long and I can’t say
what hope the future holds for Susan, Anna and Mo. Fashion is
short-lived. The sun will go down. Turn around and your head
might still be massive. You might get given the crayons again.
Karl might still shag Izzy. Never mind; for now, chuck out the
‘before’ and savour the ‘after’.ARCHIVE: 0th week TT 2004 

Colin Blakemore has withdrawn his threat to resign from the Medical Research Council over his exclusion from the New Year Honours list. Papers leaked to The Sunday Times revealed that he had been passed over for recognition because of his vocal support for animal testing.The Magdalen College professor told the BBC that he felt the omission sent out “a terrible message” in implying that animal testing was wrong and that scientists conducting such experiments could “damage their reputation in the eyes of the government.”Blakemore’s absence from the Honours list pleased animal activists, who for many years have campaigned against his work. “We are delighted if Colin Blakemore being denied this honour is the start of the government listening to public views,” the British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection said.
Archive: oth week HT 2004

Mona Lisa Smile explores the life of progressive teacher Katherine Watson (Julia Roberts) as she starts her new job as an art history teacher in a 1950s girls college. The film hangs on the ensuing clash between her own liberal views of what women should be, and what she sees as the stale academia and social convention which limits the potential of the students she teaches.

The film falls flat on several counts, one of which is the character Watson. There is no attempt to hide her faults but there simply isn’t enough charisma in Roberts’ performance to convince us that we can ignore them.

The result is that the denouement of the film is nowhere near as hopeful or emotional as it should be, and the overall message is exposed as weak. This story has been done before, and better

The unveiling of the government’s controversial plans for funding higher education has infuriated the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU), but has been welcomed by senior University officials. Under the new policy, the poorest students would receive living grants and a reduction in fees. Higher Education institutions meanwhile, would be free to set their own fees, up to a maximum of £3,000 per year. The proposal coincides with the release of OUSU’s ‘Alternative Future of Higher Education’ paper.Tony Blair faces considerable opposition from his own party, and the opposition. Labour MP Eric Illsley is leading the calls for Blair’s resignation over the issue. Former Conservative Party Chairman, and Oxford University Chancellor Chris Patten, however, is supportive of the plans, “If this government fails, then I’d be very worried about the future of universities in this country,” he told Cherwell.Patten’s comments have infuriated the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU), which has consistently campaigned for free higher education, and for fairer reform of university funding. Helena Puig Larrauri, OUSU President, told Cherwell, “There is another alternative for funding Higher Education that is both viable and a better way to make access to university fair.”OUSU’s White Paper, released last week, concludes that raising income tax for the country’s highest earners would provide the funds both to cover the current fee deficit. The paper also proposes grants of £5000 per year for every student.OUSU’s Access and Academic Affairs Officer, Louise McMullan, also expressed grave concerns about the government’s plans, “Grants may soften the blow but they will never persuade students from the poorest background to overcome their fear of debt.”Emma Norris, who works on the OUSU Finance and Funding Committee, added, “The current proposals still mean you’re in a worse position. That is why we are going to lobby MPs at the House of Commons on 21st of this month.”Questioned on OUSU’s proposal, Patten admitted that it was a “highly understandable point of view”, but he still confirmed his support for top-up fees. “My starting point is that all universities face a serious crisis,” he explained, “and there is no obvious evidence that we can resolve it by increasing taxation.” Eric Illsley publicly congratulated OUSU, stating that he was “impressed” with the OUSU paper and expressed his support for the campaign.
The University’s Vice Chancellor Colin Lucas, who has been a prominent advocate for top-up fees in the national press, welcomed the bill. He expressed doubts, however, over whether the introduction of top-up fees would secure the University’s financial future, “the University and its Colleges still face a significant shortfall in the amount it costs to provide the high quality teaching and research for which we are internationally renowned.” Lucas also backed the controversial introduction of differential fees, “We welcome the fact that individual institutions – which are best placed to assess the needs of their students – will be given the freedom to provide a financial support package to meet the particular requirements of their student body.”Oxford University Registrar, David Holmes, cautiously welcomed the plans: “The package is a welcome step towards providing poorer students with essential financial support.”The vote in the House of Commons is set to take place on January 27, presenting a tough test for Prime Minister Tony Blair. Over 150 labour back benchers have signed an Early Day Motion pledging to oppose the Government’s initial proposals which contravene Labour’s 2001 election manifesto.Archive: 0th week HT 2004

Anti-OUSU sentiment has excited calls for JCR disaffiliation, culminating in a botched St Peter’s referendum on the issue which could have seen a rejection of OUSU membership. St. Peter’s student Matt Richardson, a staunch supporter of a college breakaway from OUSU, maintains that the referendum was “a farce from the beginning”. An appeal was lodged against his system of  proxy voting – previously validated by the JCR Executive – by the Returning Officer five minutes before the referendum was due to close, nullifying the vote. The ballot box remains with Master John Barron, uncounted. During the course of this dispute, the Master, who had been brought in as an arbitrator, declared that the JCR Constitution had in fact never been ratified, rendering the referendum void and the JCR without constitution.The JCR President, Rosalind Morgan, stated that, “A written complaint was brought by a member of the JCR and it was unanimously upheld.” Greg Stafford, a fellow anti-OUSU campaigner of  Richardson’s, was “disappointed” at the JCR Executive’s behaviour, claiming that the vote would have been largely in their favour.Richardson and Stafford had sought to block the annual statutory reaffiliation motion – arguing that OUSU “is not representative of the needs and views of St Peter’s”. The referendum has been rescheduled for this term. Stafford is convinced that they can “win again”.Oriel is the only college JCR to have successfully disaffiliated from OUSU, back in 2001. There was “overcharging” said Marcus Little Johns, former JCR President. There have also been rumblings of dissension amongst Merton and Magdalen. Worcester threatened to quit OUSU in June of last year following proposals to increase subscriptions. The student union later backed down to explore other means of making savings.
Archive: 0th week HT 2004