Saturday 6th June 2026
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Oxford launches initiative to measure national cohesion and belonging

Daniela Braw-Smith
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Oxford launches initiative to measure national cohesion and belonging

The University of Oxford has launched ‘The National Conversation’, a new initiative to understand the public attitudes towards community, division, and Britain at large. 

The project, led by researchers from Oxford Population Health’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and Nuffield College, will collect data through a ten-minute survey, interactive mapping, postcode-based questions, and voice notes in what is expected to become one of the largest ongoing efforts to map the public’s shared vision for the future of Britain.

The survey will ask contributors questions such as “What unites us?”, “What divides us?”, and “What does it mean to be British (and English, Irish, Scottish, or Welsh)?”, with the findings directly informing the work of the national Independent Commission on Community Cohesion (ICCC). The National Conversation project also includes facilitating ‘Group Conversations’, in which groups of up to ten people “ready for a conversation” participate in guided discussions on the themes of the survey. Oxford researchers and members of the commission have all pointed to recent riots, attacks against migrant communities, and increased political polarisation as evidence of the current “critical moment for Britain’s social fabric”, necessitating the initiative.

The National Conversation has been backed by a wide variety of groups across the UK, including the NHS, TikTok, the UK Muslim Network, and the Church Urban Fund. The ICCC is also comprised of a diverse coalition of stakeholders. Led by former Cabinet Minister Sir Sajid Javid and honorary Nuffield fellow and former Labour MP Jon Cruddas, the commission also includes Oxford Theology Regius Professor Luke Bretherton; Dame Sara Khan (former counter-extremism commissioner); Dr Chaand Nagpaul (former Chair of the British Medical Association); and Tim Montgomerie (conservative political commentator and defector to Reform UK).

After the survey concludes in August, the results will be used to establish a new long-term “social barometer” to track feelings of cohesion and division over time, with particular attention to trust in institutions, the impact of media narratives, and changing perceptions of local and national identity.

The women who turned the tide

Aishia Simmons
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The women who turned the tide

Summer 2024

Annie Anezakis has just been elected OUBC Women’s President, Lilli Freischem is celebrating Osiris’ Boat Race win, and Esther Briz Zamorano is racing in the Paris Olympics.

Two years later, a dream comes true for all three women as they turn the tide for the first time in a decade.

Spring 2026

When I spoke with Annie last year, she’d admitted that I was the first person she had opened up to about the women’s loss. It had been a hard race to lose, her third loss, the women’s eighth in a row. She wouldn’t return the following year; it was time to take a break and focus on her degree.

Having rowed myself (very casually for my college boat club), I was not at all surprised to hear that Annie had not only trialled, but made the Blue Boat once again. There’s something intoxicating about rowing that, once you’ve had a taste, never lets you go.

What made you change your mind about doing another Boat Race this year?

Anezakis: For one, having a few months out of the sport and away from the team made me miss it so much, especially my teammates, who are like my family in Oxford. The other reason was our post-race debrief, discussing what went well and what didn’t in the previous season. During that chat, we were throwing around ideas of what we could do differently this year. Alan (the head coach) threw out a couple names, and I just got the sense that this was the year they were going to win it, and I want to be there for that. That was the moment that I knew I was going to be doing it again.

Annie has been rowing for most of her life, having started in high school in Melbourne. Though she was “really bad” at the sport, and didn’t quite enjoy it until her last year. As a former swimmer, she loved being part of a team – she must have been doing something right, as she got recruited to Princeton in her last year of high school.

What was the rowing culture/community like at Princeton?

Anezakis: It’s different [compared to Oxford] because you have so many opponents, and you have many more races leading up to the National Championships. I never felt the same pressure there. I never felt like I was only ever a winner or a loser: there was always a second place.

After her overseas adventure was interrupted by Covid, Annie wasn’t ready to go home just yet. Coming to Oxford for a Master’s, she had hopeful visions of rowing with Osiris. A year later, she would exceed any expectations and race her first Boat Race in the stern pair of the Blue Boat. Returning to Oxford for her graduation ceremony, Annie realised she wasn’t quite ready to let go of the Dark Blues and her dream of winning the Boat Race.

To what extent did you follow rowing around the world, and to what extent did it follow you?

Anezakis: It opened the doors and made me realise what’s possible. I’ve always been quite academic and always wanted to do medicine, but if it hadn’t been for rowing, I wouldn’t have made the steps to leave home and go to such big academic institutions. It put the idea in my head, when it otherwise wouldn’t have been. It was more of a pipe dream that came true. I haven’t really sought out opportunities in rowing; they’ve been more incidental to the other things I’ve aimed for. Honestly, I’ve pursued the academic options more, and rowing has been a very nice thing to complement that.

Despite sharing many similarities with Annie’s journey to the Boat Race, Esther has very much followed rowing, wherever it may take her.

Esther learned how to row in Zaragoza, Spain, at just ten years old. It wasn’t a major sport, it wasn’t offered at her school, and it was mainly targeted toward boys. Though it was relatively cheap and therefore accessible, the conditions were basic, and the equipment left a lot to be desired. And yet, similarly to Annie, it was a community that she loved being a part of, and so she stuck with it.

After the Junior World Champs, she was scouted by an Ivy League in the States and left home on a full ride to Stanford. She describes sport there as being a massive part of the community, not just because of the athletes, but because of the support the crews received. Surrounded by so many hardworking people, she found it easy to push herself. Even in high school, she had a goal to row in the Olympics. A long shot? Tough and tiring? Maybe. But certainly not impossible.

Have you always had this kind of drive in you?

Zamorano: I’ve always had a good schedule. In high school, I learned not to procrastinate, to do homework before meeting friends. If there’s a possibility of achieving a goal, I will do anything to get there.

And so, after four years of rowing at Stanford, Esther started training with the Spanish national team for two years. In the summer of 2024, she rowed in her first Olympic Games in a coxless pair. One goal crossed off the list and LA 2028 still four years away, this was the perfect time to chase down another dream of hers. From watching highlights of the Boat Race as a teenager, in awe of the intensity of the historic event, Ester decided to apply for an MBA at Oxford. She was one step closer to the Boat Race.

Lilli, originally from Cologne, didn’t learn to row until she joined the Edinburgh University Boat Club’s novice programme, initially learning to scull, then moving on to eights. She spent a year rowing with the seniors at Edinburgh before coming to Oxford and racing for Osiris in 2023, and again in 2024, where they were the only Oxford crew to win against the Light Blues. Lilli made the Blue Boat the next year, as her sister Mia, two years her junior, raced for the Cambridge reserve crew for the first time. Unlike Esther, Lilli never dreamed of winning the Boat Race. She merely hoped “they wouldn’t send [her] away”. 

Lilli and Mia played on the same football teams growing up, before, for the sake of killing time during the pandemic, stumbled across what would become a newfound passion: rowing. This was to be their first sporting clash other than ‘family friendlies’. As it was Lilli’s last year at Oxford, whoever won the race was also to win “ultimate bragging rights”.

This is how the two made headlines in 2026 as they became the first sisters in 22 years to race against each other. On the men’s side, however, sibling rivalries are less unusual: brothers racing each other has long been a recurring feature of the Boat Race. That is not entirely coincidental. In Oxford’s 2026 men’s Blue Boat, six of the nine athletes were privately educated, reflecting rowing’s longstanding association with Britain’s fee-paying schools. Rowing – like many elite sports – developed historically as an overwhelmingly male and upper-class pursuit. The men’s Boat Race predates the women’s by almost a century, first being raced in 1829, the women’s first in 1927. For decades, Oxbridge admissions were themselves heavily dominated by private-school alumni, while independent schools possessed the funding, facilities, and coaching structures needed to sustain rowing programmes that most state schools simply could not offer. Although those dynamics have not disappeared from the women’s side, the shorter and less entrenched history of women’s rowing at the elite level has arguably opened the door to a broader range of backgrounds and pathways into the sport, as seen in the diverse backgrounds of the women’s boat.

This diversity is something not only accepted, but actively praised by both Annie and Esther.

So many different backgrounds are represented in the women’s squad; how does this affect the team dynamic?

Zamorano: It’s such an eclectic mix of people who come to form a very tight-knit community. Everyone has a unique rowing history, not just in experience, but in age, too. It can be harder to row together here: no two people in the squad study the same thing at the same level, and ultimately, everyone is here to do their degree first and foremost. But having people with more experience means we can uplift people who haven’t rowed for that long, and they learn how to row better much faster. At the same time, I’ve developed so much over the past year, I’ve learned so much from the younger rowers. It’s easy to make a boat go fast with someone who’s faster than you – making a boat go fast with someone slower than you makes you a better rower immediately.

Anezakis: It’s one of the coolest things about the Boat Race. As much as it’s a massive opportunity, it comes with its own challenge. Trying to integrate so many different opinions and trying to blend everyone’s unique experiences isn’t always easy, but I think it’s one of Oxford’s greatest strengths. You’ve got to think about how we can keep pushing those with more experience without losing those who have come up through the development squad. Our assistant coach, James, has been pushing an insane summer development squad – the gap between people who have learned to row at college, and those who learned to row at school becomes smaller and smaller each year.

How do you think the college rowing community fits into the bigger picture of rowing at Oxford?

Anezakis: It’s such a special thing that is so rare to find. Without college rowing, we wouldn’t have the foundation of OUBC that we do now. The college rowers form the bulk of OUBC; people who learn to row at college, come up through “dev squad”, and stay on for a few years really push the top end of the squad up. There is a sense that the whole rowing community at Oxford wants to see OUBC do well, whether that’s people doing dev squad, trialling and just missing out on a seat in the boat, or college rowers. We felt all of the support really strongly this year.

How have you experienced the Boat Race and Oxford as an Olympian?

Zamorano: There is such a special spirit to the Boat Race. The rivers are crowded and everyone cheers for you. For a day, you’re kind of like a superstar. I’m so honoured and blessed to be a part of the Blues alumni now, and I really hope to be involved in the future – and to make it easier for everyone who comes after me.

It’s so easy to believe that the squad is a place of joy and connection, full of hardworking and passionate athletes. Annie, who radiates sunshine whenever I talk to her, glows with pride as she describes the squad as her family. Esther, who meets my slightly nervous questions with effortless kindness, is consistently bursting with praise for her teammates and coaches.

The warmth within the squad seems inseparable from the diversity of experiences that shape it. Women who learned to row in Spanish clubs, Australian schools, or university novice programs all pull together in the same boat. Whether the Boat Race was a dream, a goal, or something that was discovered along the way, it’s a life-changing experience that is opening up to people who once had no chance of being there.

It was about time the tide turned, and I couldn’t imagine a better crew to lift the trophy.

Physics teaching to relocate amid asbestos concerns

Oskar Doepke
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Physics teaching to relocate amid asbestos concerns

The University of Oxford is relocating its undergraduate physics practical teaching from the Denys Wilkinson Building amid concerns about the presence of asbestos at the ageing site.

From Michaelmas this year, some practical teaching labs will move to the former Biochemistry and Biological Sciences Teaching Centre, with the remainder moving by Michaelmas 2027. The Biochemistry and Biological Sciences Teaching Centre will be adapted for physics practical teaching. Around 600 undergraduates currently take part in compulsory practical coursework in the Denys Wilkinson Building across the first three years of Oxford’s physics degrees. 

A University spokesperson told Cherwell that the decision to relocate had been taken proactively “to avoid the risk of a sudden building failure causing disruption later”. The spokesperson added that the Denys Wilkinson Building, built in 1967,  “is being carefully managed through the later years of its usable life”, adding that the building “has some legacy issues, including asbestos”.  

‘Asbestos’ refers to several naturally occurring fibrous minerals that are resistant to heat, water, and chemicals and have been widely used in construction in the past. Asbestos is classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation and has been banned in the UK since 1999.

A 2025 investigation by Confront Powers revealed that the University of Oxford breached asbestos management regulations, failing to audit buildings or complete asbestos management plans. The investigation found that the University identified 4,609 asbestos-containing materials across its buildings, with 21 buildings classified as “high risk”. 

The University spokesperson told Cherwell that the asbestos “is being managed safely, in line with regulations, and we are confident this means no building users have been put at any risk”, with regular air monitoring providing “an ongoing assurance” to the University. The spokesperson added that the relocation from the Denys Wilkinson Building “will allow teaching to continue without disruption while we address the building’s longer-term issues”. 

Oxford and Ohio Universities receive £9.24 million in funding for research into rare blood cancers

Melissa Eddon
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Oxford and Ohio Universities receive £9.24 million in funding for research into rare blood cancers

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre has received a share of a £9.24 million investment for their research into chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The donation, split with the University of Ohio’s Seidman Cancer Centre, was given by philanthropists Susan ‘Dee’ Haslam, who was diagnosed with CLL in 2021, and her husband, Jimmy Haslam. 

The Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre functions as a transatlantic collaboration between the University of Oxford and the Harrington Disease Institute, one of the University of Ohio’s teaching and research hospitals. The centre focuses on formulating treatments and cures for rare diseases, and has devised 214 medicines since 2012. 

In a statement, Ms Haslam said, “We hope to increase knowledge of CLL, generate new treatments and give others the confidence and information they need to navigate the disease”. 

David Cameron, former British Prime Minister and Chair of the Oxford-Harrington Rare Disease Centre Advisory Council, said in a statement: “I am delighted to see this generous support, which can help unlock meaningful advances in areas long overlooked and urgently in need of attention. This investment highlights the importance of international collaboration in accelerating progress for people affected by rare conditions.” 

A rare type of blood cancer, CLL is a slow-moving disease that typically impacts blood and bone marrow. Abnormal white blood cells develop within the marrow, impacting its ability to make healthy blood cells. Often these abnormal cells move into the blood stream, and build up in the lymph nodes and spleen. 

There are around 10 cases of CLL diagnosed in the UK every day, and around 60 a day in the US. 

Scientists are uncertain as to the cause of the cancer, but many have theorised that there is some hereditary element. Whilst there is currently no cure, symptoms can be managed through treatments such as chemotherapy, targeted medicines, radiotherapy, and sometimes surgery.  The donation will provide the funding to push new therapeutics into clinical trials. 

Sexual harassment more widespread at selective universities

Barnaby Carter
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Sexual harassment more widespread at selective universities

Research recently published as part of the 2025 Office for Students (OFS) sexual misconduct survey has found that sexual harassment is nearly twice as common at more selective universities. The survey found that sexual harassment was reported by 35% of students at ‘high tariff’ universities, in comparison to 17% at ‘low tariff’ universities.‘Tariffs’ are measures of how selective a university’s admissions process is, with Russell Group universities making up most of the ‘high tariff’ institutions – including Oxford and Cambridge. 

The study found that, across all universities, nearly a quarter of students have experienced sexual harassment, with sexually suggestive staring and unwanted sexual comments being the most commonly reported. Female students also reported substantially higher levels of sexual harassment and sexual violence than male students across all universities. LGBTQIA+ students also reported a higher prevalence of sexual harassment and violence, along with less confidence in the reporting and support systems available. 

Over 42% of students with a mental health condition also reported having experienced harassment. Students studying certain subjects were also found to have experienced harassment at a level disproportionate to the average, with 42.4% of language and area students reporting some form of sexual harassment, along with 41.3% of veterinary studies and 40.3% of medicine and dentistry students. 

The survey also found that 14.1% of the overall student body had experienced sexual assault. Patterns within different sub-sections of the student population found in sexual harassment data generally replicated into sexual assault data, with the most affected group being students with a mental health condition. 

The University of Oxford has been accused of systemically mishandling sexual misconduct cases, and has previously faced controversy for using anonymity orders to stop the media reporting on cases of sexual harassment – specifically in the case of Professor Soumittra Dutta, the former Dean of the Saïd Business School. Dutta was found by an inquiry to have sexually harassed a female academic and stepped down from his position. The University of Oxford used and later withdrew a request for anonymity in the employment tribunal. 

A recent Bloomberg investigation also examined the mishandling of sexual harassment complaints at the University of Oxford. The investigation alleged that the University continually mishandled sexual harassment complaints about senior male academics, taking place over 9 months of research and interviewing over 50 people. The report described the University of Oxford as an environment in which sexual harassment allegations were dealt with slowly and ineffectively, with University staff stating that the public status of academics appeared to be prioritised over student welfare. The report also touched on individual colleges, where people from New College told reporters that several academics had a reputation for predatory behaviour towards more junior women. 

In 2023, the ongoing project ‘OUR SPACE’ (Oxford Understanding Relationships, Sex, Power, Abuse, and Consent Experiences) found that 50% of students have experienced sexual harassment during their time at Oxford, of which 18% who had experienced sexual violence.

A spokesperson for the University told Cherwell: “The University is developing a bespoke, in-house online training programme to strengthen how Oxford prevents and responds to harassment and sexual misconduct. This will replace the existing Consent for Students course and complement the in-person healthy relationships and consent training delivered by student facilitators. 

“There has been a significant expansion of prevention and training activity across the collegiate university, including an almost 80% increase in the number of college staff trained in 2024/25, which has supported greater awareness, including of the routes through which students can seek support, as well as proactive referrals. The Sexual Harassment and Violence Support Service continues to expand the in-person Healthy Relationships and Consent Workshop programme, delivering the programme across 18 colleges this academic year (up from 15 colleges in 2024/25), with 118 student facilitators, and trained around 2,000 students.”

The OFS sexual misconduct survey strongly emphasised that finding the causes of these variations in the data was beyond the scope of the present analysis”, calling for “additional qualitative or longitudinal evidence”. The OFS also published condition E6 of the regulations for institutions of higher education on 1st August 2025, which “‘sets out requirements for universities and colleges to have a comprehensive source of information setting out its policies and procedures on incidents of harassment and sexual misconduct”’. 

The OFS told Cherwell that they “would encourage all institutions to learn from their own data”, and that they would “publish institutional level data from the 2025 and 2027 surveys together, to support transparency and strengthen the evidence base across the sector”.

The OFS used a direct survey system to generate prevalence estimates independent of institutional reporting systems”. They also separately researched students’ experiences of their respective universities’ reporting and support systems, publishing the analysis. It was found that out of those affected by sexual harassment and violence, only 12% had made a formal report to their university. 

Summer VIIIs roundup: day two

Tim Herd
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Summer VIIIs roundup: day two

Early divisions started strong, with many boats that bumped yesterday continuing on the same trajectory towards ‘blades’ at the end of the week, for which they need to bump each day. 

One of the day’s biggest wins was for Queens M2, who bumped up to first in Division V, becoming the ‘sandwich boat’. This means that they would row in Division IV as well on the same day to allow promotion and relegation between the divisions. To secure a place in Division IV for Friday, they needed to bump again. This was not an easy task, having just raced in the previous division. Incredibly, Queen’s M2 was able to achieve an overbump, as crews in front of them had already bumped and stopped racing. They now sit tenth in Division IV, but will be looking to continue improving throughout the week. To add a cherry on top of an already large cake, Division IV is the lowest fixed division, meaning that, if Queen’s stay there for the rest of the week, they will automatically qualify for Summer Eights next year. 

On the women’s side, there were fewer overbumps than yesterday, as nerves began to settle and matchups got slightly more even. However, Oriel W3 demanded attention as they were able to achieve an overbump on Mansfield W2. 

It’s always impressive when a second boat can bump a first boat; Univ W2 did exactly that, bumping Trinity W1 and evidencing the sheer strength of their programme. This was also shown through the sheer number of Univ crews taking to the water this week. 

In the higher men’s divisions, St Anne’s, St Hilda’s, Exeter, and Worcester’s first boats continued an upwards trajectory, all bumping for the second day in a row. They will all hope to climb further this week, aiming for blades – an impressive feat from any college’s top boat. 

On the women’s side, the top boats from St Hugh’s, St Catz, Somerville, and St Anne’s all bumped again. These crews are all on course for blades, and ones to watch on Friday and Saturday. 

Crews in Division I on the men’s and women’s side were eager to show what they could do after yesterday’s racing was cancelled.

The men’s top division was a site of much change as only two out of the thirteen boats rowed over. One of the most notable bumps was from Oriel on Wolfson. This happened just as the crews were coming out of ‘The Gut’ – the narrow and curved part of the river, between Donnington Bridge and Longbridges. This meant spectators on Boathouse Island got a nice view of the events. The two top-dogs on the river, a bump on Wolfson means that Oriel now sits in headship position. Oriel, hungry for headship this year, will be thrilled to have taken it on the first day of Division I racing. They will be hoping to hold Wolfson off, who will undoubtedly come out all guns blazing over the next two days.

On the women’s side, in the top division only 4 of 13 boats rowed over. One of these boats was Pembroke, which remained in the top spot. Univ will be looking to challenge them tomorrow, as they were able to bump up into second place on the river today.

Nerves in the top divisions were definitely still a factor, especially after yesterday’s cancellation. After another significant rejig today, crews in the top division will need to keep their composure for the races over the coming days. 

The racing action all builds towards an inevitable crescendo: Saturday, the final day of racing. As crews get more used to the course, competition and the racing format, races may become tighter, and faster. With the weather set to remain positive over the next two days, there is rarely a better time to row.

Oxford on-screen: Historical atmosphere and fantasy worlds

Siena Tracey
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Oxford on-screen: Historical atmosphere and fantasy worlds

There are many questions you inevitably get asked when you tell someone you go to Oxford, ranging from the extent of the workload, the quality of the nightlife, and whether everyone you’ve met actually went to private school.

“Is it just like Hogwarts?” is a more outlandish query, and yet I’ve found it to be one that is just as common. On more than one occasion, I have been asked how much Oxford really resembles this fictional setting of the Harry Potter movies. Although much of the childhood nostalgia for this series has been soured by its author’s political output on social media, it remains widely popular, and many of its fans associate its magical school with the city and the University of Oxford.

The fact that parts of the Harry Potter movies were filmed in Oxford is a fun piece of trivia that has become common knowledge, and is frankly difficult to ignore when the city centre is replete with tourist shops full of merchandise – including a rather off-putting sculpture of Dobby in the window of one on Broad Street – not to mention the tourists themselves, often decked out head-to-toe in the Hogwarts uniform, sporting cloaks, ties, and wands.

Even my own college, Wadham, which makes no appearance in the Harry Potter films and sports architecture probably too Jacobean to truly embody Hogwarts’ medieval allure, is frequently bombarded with tourists in such elaborate fancy dress.

A range of locations in Oxford appear in these movies, and in slightly different ways. While the Divinity School and the Duke Humfrey’s Library provided actual filming locations for the Hogwarts Infirmary and Library, respectively, Christ Church’s Hall acted as the main inspiration for the Great Hall seen on-screen. Moreover, Christ Church was not the only college to make it into the films; a scene in the fourth instalment in the franchise was famously filmed in New College’s courtyard.

Aspects of a film, such as the script, the acting, or the music, are more conventional areas of focus for analysis than filming location, and yet the latter contributes much to a film’s atmosphere, especially when the setting is fictional. In the case of the Harry Potter series, Oxford’s medieval architecture affords the fantastical Hogwarts with a sense of mystery and romance that enhances the magical atmosphere. The authenticity of these historic buildings makes the setting more immersive; you really get the sense that this is an ancient castle with years of history and many secrets to explore.

And yet old buildings do not only evoke feelings of magic and excitement, a fact shown by another movie that makes use of Oxford as a filming location.

Another Country (1984) centres around Guy Bennett – based on Guy Burgess, a member of the Cambridge Five – a Soviet double agent whose experience at a British public school in the 1930s, as a young gay man dealing with romance, conflict, and persecution, lays the groundwork for his eventual defection.

Here, the filming location does something slightly different. The medieval architecture confers a sense of prestige associated with a long history, imbuing the public-school setting with institutional power and reinforcing Bennett’s lack of belonging. Confronted with a set that harks back to medieval days, the audience is reminded of the historic and traditional nature of the world Bennett inhabits, highlighting even more how he does not fit into it.

One of the film’s opening scenes perfectly captures the importance of the filming location; at a Remembrance Day service, the schoolboys stand in orderly formation, chorusing out a hymn with expressionless faces. While Bennett sings along, he stares longingly at another student, eventually stopping singing completely as they engage in prolonged eye contact. The romantic undertones of such an interaction hint at same-sex affection; that it is romantic is seemingly confirmed by the frequent cuts to another scene, in which a teacher discovers two other students engaged in clandestine same-sex relations.

The quadrangle in front of the Bodleian Library acts as a backdrop to all of this, only amplifying the sense of transgression in the face of custom and convention. An expression of same-sex attraction, already subversive, becomes even more significant when juxtaposed with a background that carries with it all these implications of history and tradition and conservatism.

The prestige of Oxford as a backdrop also emphasises the power of the public-school institution, adding to the picture of an illustrious educational establishment possessing significant authority. As the narrative unfolds, it becomes clear that Bennett’s sexuality cannot be reconciled with the world he lives in unless it is concealed or repressed. The powerful institution suppresses his attempts to carve out a space for himself as a gay man, and he is left with no choice but to look for belonging elsewhere, which he does by defecting to the Soviet Union.

The relationship between film and filming location does not only work one way. If the prevalence of Hogwarts comparisons and wand-brandishing tourists tells us anything, it is that popular perceptions of both the city and the university have been powerfully influenced by the Harry Potter franchise.

While Oxford as a filming location generally improves a movie – it helps to build atmosphere, establish an immersive setting, and enrich the narrative – the impact that movies have on attitudes towards Oxford can be less positive. In one sense, the association with a fantasy setting evokes a sense of magic, which makes Oxford feel even more charming. Nonetheless, constant references to a children’s franchise can feel a little juvenile and out of touch.

After all, these associations contribute to a view of Oxford that is more fantasy than reality, and it is important not to put Oxford on a pedestal, and lose sight of the fact that it is a university like any other. Ideally, we should strike a balance; an awareness of the reality of life at Oxford can co-exist with an appreciation of its grand architecture and historical atmosphere.

Still, in spite of my reservations about grown adults’ fanaticism for a story meant for children, I’m inclined to think that these associations are largely harmless. If students choose to apply to a university because it reminds them of a nostalgic film favourite, or if tourists want to pose in front of the Radcliffe Camera dressed in full wizarding gear, it simply reflects how the influence of film means Oxford has become something different for some.

Oxford reviews policies following EHRC transgender guidance changes

Hattie Simpson
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Oxford reviews policies following EHRC transgender guidance changes

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) published its updated draft Code of Practice on Thursday, 21st May, prompting responses from across the University over the potential impact on transgender students and staff. The EHRC is a national public body established by the 2006 Equality Act, which acts as the independent equality and human rights regulator.

The 340-page document follows last year’s Supreme Court ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers, which ruled that the terms “sex”, “woman”, and “man” in the Equality Act 2010 refer to “biological sex”. The draft guidance states that “a trans man with a GRC [Gender Recognition Certificate] is a woman and a trans woman with a GRC is a man”. 

The updated Code also states that if a service provider “allows trans people to use the service intended for the opposite sex, the service will no longer be a separate or single-sex service under the Equality Act 2010”. The guidance adds that organisations should consider whether “women’s safety, privacy and/or dignity would be at risk” from allowing trans men into “single-sex” spaces.

The publication of the Code has raised questions for universities over how facilities such as accommodation, toilets, and changing rooms may be managed once the guidance is formally approved. In a statement shared online, the University of Oxford confirmed it was reviewing its policies and practices in light of both the Supreme Court ruling and the EHRC’s updated guidance. The University added that the review includes “existing facilities across our estate”.

In a statement to Cherwell, a University spokesperson said: “The University is reviewing the updated Code carefully to ensure we conduct our activities within the parameters of the law, and in accordance with our values. We also note that a Code of Practice for employment is still to be released.

“Oxford remains committed to being an inclusive university where everyone belongs and is supported to succeed. We will continue to work to maintain an environment in which the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of all members of our community are respected, including all members of our LGBTQ+ community.”

The Oxford Student Union (SU) also shared a statement online, saying the updated guidance had “significant implications for LGBTI+ people, particularly those who are TNBI+”. Reaffirming commitments made in its recently updated Trans, Non-Binary, Gender Diverse and Intersex Inclusion policy, the SU stated that it remains committed to “protecting the rights, safety, dignity, and health and wellbeing” of TNBI+ students across the University.

The SU added that it was reviewing the guidance “to better understand how this may impact TNBI+ students” and would provide updates on any actions it planned to take. When approached for comment by Cherwell, the SU referred back to its existing public statement.

Somerville College has also published its own independent statement – the only college to have currently done so – titled “Including the Excluded”. In the statement, it said that “trans rights and women’s rights [are] not in opposition to each other, but as part of the same struggle for dignity, equality and human rights”. The college added that it would “never tolerate harassment, bullying or discriminatory behaviour towards anyone”, noting that discrimination against transgender people remains prohibited under the Equality Act 2010.

The President of Oxford University’s LGBTQ+ Society told Cherwell that the updated Code reflected “the product of years of hateful campaigning from anti-trans organisations”, and cautioned against over-reliance on legal reform, writing that “our current Government does not care about trans people beyond our use as a distraction from other issues”. She added that “liberation is the goal, and legal changes can only ever be a part of that”, concluding that “having a vibrant and thriving trans community… in spite of current national politics – will always be more important to me”.

The publication of the Code comes shortly after controversy surrounding a change to Oxford University Rowing Clubs’ (OURCs) Rules of Racing, which now state that only athletes assigned female at birth may compete in women’s boats. The rule change has prompted backlash from across student boat clubs, with concerns raised over both privacy and enforcement. LGBTQ+ Soc President made clear to Cherwell that they do not view these changes and the updated Code of Practice as “unrelated events”.

Oxford for Trans Rights has arranged a “March for Trans Rights” for Saturday, 30th May at Bonn Square in response to the EHRC guidance.

The rise of Stats.fm: Music as a signal of identity

Suzi Sharp
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The rise of Stats.fm: Music as a signal of identity

It used to be hard to tell what music someone listened to. There were no public Spotify playlists, no Stats.fm top tracks to brag about, and no songs attached to your termly Instagram dump. Today, however, music taste can become an inextricable part of how your identity is perceived. With unprecedented access to data on our own habits, and those of others, we can tie our music consumption ever more tightly to our own personal brand. This has led to an experience of music-listening which is mediated by the public perception of precisely what music one listens to and what it says about them, in ways which have arisen alongside an individualistic shift in the personal branding zeitgeist.  

It is easier than ever to track your listening. With the advent of automatic tracking software such as Stats.fm and its more manual predecessor Last.fm, we no longer have to painstakingly keep a spreadsheet to know exactly what we listen to at every hour of the day. In fact, streaming platforms such as Spotify have even started handing us generalisations of what we listen to per hour, with ‘Daylists’. These consist of the music you most frequently turn to at that specific time each week, updated every few hours and accompanied by a few handy adjectives. My personal favourite title has been ‘Instrumental ballroom dancing this Thursday afternoon’, but, crucially, in Spanish. Daylists, notably, are made using AI to gauge these preferences, perhaps making them the epitome of this algorithm-led listening, creating pseudo-echo chambers of taste.   

This monitoring ability also comes hand in hand with an ease of discovery which would have previously been unthinkable. Rather than reliance on local record/CD shops – which would stock new releases, the well-known classics, and some local talent – or even the radio, offering similar coverage, with streaming, algorithmic listening is now in full swing. This means that consuming an artist’s entire discography is no longer something which requires effort, simply hit play on their artist page on the streaming platform of your choice. Additionally, once an algorithm works out that you’re enjoying a certain song, it can feed you more just like it with precisely zero labour on your part. The time between encountering a genre for the very first time and being a relative expert on it can now be cut down to a matter of hours, and you can now have statistical proof of your endeavours, too. 

Simultaneously, sharing your listening habits is now a very commonplace activity, largely through social media. Without even touching on the recent controversy over artists hiring marketing agencies to – allegedly – fabricate online fandoms for themselves, music is a core part of most social platforms today. Scrolling through somebody’s Instagram page, or their story highlights, now serves as a run-down of what they want you to know about their music taste (as well as obviously what they want you to know about their life). A real on-the-nose example is the annual swathes of Spotify Wrapped graphics – a full year of your listening neatly packaged for exhibition. Personal consumption has never been so public. This is in stark contrast to a time when one had to go out of their way to share these things: band merch, badges, physical copies of music all required active effort to acquire and show off. Today, the equivalent is three taps on a screen and a 30-second listen-through of the clip to make sure it’s communicating the right vibe. 

This has all come together to produce a world in which your music consumption is a core part of your personal branding, your aesthetic, what would be on a Pinterest mood-board titled [your name]-core. In other words, music has become another consumable good mediating your personal identity. It’s another element used to express Who You Are™, insofar as this is your publicly available self, visible by others. There is now a break between authentic self-expression and one’s ‘music taste’: we are all pretending to not know that when we’re listening there’s a non-zero chance that this particular song-rotation will be made public in some form or another. While I’m sure some people do manage to marry the two, and are wholly unashamed of every song they’ve ever streamed, or who simply do not partake in the stat-posting and musical accompaniment to photo dumps, I think it is worth acknowledging that our relationship with music is changing. It is far harder to maintain a separation between your taste, your identity, and how you are thought of by others.  

Never before has it been this easy, or quick, to completely change your go-to music selection with the help of streaming platform discovery functions, nor have we ever had the tools to see and share our habits at the level of detail we do now. This has contributed to everyone knowing far more about each other’s tastes than they used to, and the culture of sharing your interests to be cool online has reinforced this. In essence, choosing what to listen to at any given time is, for many, no longer a decision based purely on the feelings of the moment, but is instead mediated by the knowledge that they are not alone in witnessing this choice.

Summer VIIIs roundup: day one

Arun Lewis
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Summer VIIIs roundup: day one

It’s one of the hottest Mays in recorded history. Crews are wearing layers of factor 50, racedesk is wilting under the heat, and the greatest danger to passersby on the towpath isn’t bankriders, but dehydration: Summer Eights has begun.

Compared to the late Torpheads, the weather for this Summer Eights promises an entirely different setting. With the Isis down to steady green flag levels – where it’s safe to navigate for all crews – and with sun predicted for the entire week, rowers and viewers need not fear unexpected downpours. A drop in the heat from 29 degrees average on Thursday to 23 degrees on Friday and Saturday, students can be pleased to know that conditions will be significantly cooler, bringing an easier watching and racing experience, especially for the more popular days. 

In the men’s divisions, there were relatively few dramatic changes from the starting to the finishing order, with the vast majority of crews either rowing over or managing to bump the crew ahead/be bumped from the crew behind. However, two particularly radical results are of note: New College M3 deserves plaudits for achieving an overbump on Jesus College, knocking them down into division VI and leapfrogging St Edmund Hall M3 and Green Templeton’s M2. New M3 up three places, overbumping on Jesus College’s M2 to send them down into Div VI. Somerville M2 overbumping on Pembroke M3 to place them at the bottom of Div VI. Given this was the first day of VIII’s, we can expect many of the lower crews, particularly the Beer Boats, to improve in form over the course of the racing week.

In the women’s divisions, there were some more dramatic changes in the finishing order. With Green Templeton College W3 catching Magdalen W4, Worcester W4 overbumped on Anne’s W3 to take 82nd place from them, consigning them to the bottom of the running order. 

Two of University College women’s lower boats also had some exceptional results, with W4 achieving a handy 4 crew overbump to demote Pembroke W3 down to division VI and to sit in the same division as the college’s third crew – for the time being. Univ’s W3 managed to overbump Lady Margaret Hall, Mansfield, St Catz, Queens and Peters W2 to jump all the way to the top of division VI, becoming the sandwich boat for division V. A later bump which would have placed them into division V was reversed after it was revealed that Balliol W2’s cox had conceded unusually early out of fear of being actually bumped by St Hilda’s W2, leaving Univ to chase them down but receiving no bump. More impressively, in two of the higher divisions, division IV and III, there were overbumps and large leaps in position here, too, where the contest is likely to be more even and such dramatic results thus unlikely. Brasenose W2 overbumped Regents W1, Lincoln W2 and Worcester W2 to haul themselves towards the middle of Division IV, leaving St John’s W2 facing a lonely row to the coxing stone. Moreover, Catz’ W1 pulled off an audacious bump into division III, leapfrogging Queens and Peters W1. 


Considering the proliferation of gambling and betting apps, it’d be folly to round off today’s account without consideration of Bump’s trader, which every good Oxford rower should have. The most bought crews – i.e. those expected to advance the most over eights – on the men’s side were Hilda’s, Hertford, and Worcester M1’s, and on the women’s side St Catz and Balliol’s W1, and also Univ W3. Speaking of Univ, they have entered the most crews this year at a whopping 9 – 5 men’s boats, and 4 women’s crews – only two short of the all-time record set by Oriel in 1990, when more colleges entered, on average, far more crews.

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