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What’s in a (mispronounced) name?

Emma Heagney
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What’s in a (mispronounced) name?

When you read the byline for this article, how did you pronounce my surname? Chances are, you worked through it phonetically, elongating the vowels as you went along. It’s well-intentioned, but categorically incorrect. Should it irk me as much as it does? Perhaps not – after all, ‘we’re in England, we speak English’ – but it does truly grind my gears to feel so detached from my own surname. It sometimes feels as though I have a double life: the name which connects me to my family, and the name I’m known by to doctors, colleagues, and even my college tutors. If you also find yourself in the ‘difficult-to-pronounce-name’ club, you might feel the same as I do.

When I matriculated in 2023, I felt the same mix of thrill and nerves as any fresher does. The imposter syndrome was slowly settling in, and I was eager to hear my name read loud and clear at my college’s traditional admissions ceremony. As the Dean waded through the alphabet, beckoning forth each anxious fresher, I reflected on my journey to Oxford: the first from my school to attend such a prestigious institution, the child of working-class parents, descended from recent economic migrants. I quite literally could not believe I was there, and my belief remained suspended as the Dean confidently called upon the Other Me. Such a pivotal moment found its place in the pattern of misunderstandings I am so used to.

Everyday occurrences are lifetime occurrences, and these uncomfortable situations are just that. Sporadic trips to the doctor are where the Other Me is most present, with my ears attuned to listen out for her name, rather than my own. It is somewhat demoralising to mentally assent to this name, telling the doctor, the barista, the panel interviewing me for a graduate job, that “yes, this is she”. Hearing my tutors mispronounce my name hits the hardest – they know my thoughts, inside and out, how my mind works, the embarrassing mistakes I make in my essays, but do they truly know me? The simple facts of my life, my identity? They are hardly at fault for making such a minor error, but I once again feel stuck, too stubborn not to let it affect me, but too afraid of being seen as pedantic that I rarely choose to correct them.

For the first twenty-odd years of my life, the spectre of the Other Me was little more than a minor inconvenience. But as I continue to mature and develop a professional career, my name has come to represent much more than the string of syllables I answer to. Greater opportunities often mean greater disclaimers – when I spoke at a conference last year, I had to awkwardly ask the host to pronounce my name correctly. This approach has the warning label that I might offend someone for possibly thinking them too stupid to pronounce it, but I also risk not being introduced by my actual name. Particularly in the journalism industry, having byline recognition is ever-important for building a reputation. Nevertheless, I am still overwhelmingly met with a chuckle and “I definitely would have pronounced it the Other Way”.

Growing up also means thinking about my future and all the things that come with it: career, children, and marriage. Do I change my name? Do I get rid of these insecurities once and for all? For the vast majority of human history, this would not even be a question, and my family name would pass from my father’s to my husband’s. In many ways, it is a privilege that I have the choice to be able to cherish the name I grew up with, warts and all.

But warts, they still are. The story is a common one: a non-English name, brought to England by those once under British rule, mispronounced by many, but representing the few who keep our history alive. While I complain endlessly about the problems brought on by my name, my grievances do not stretch far beyond the conceptual, and as a white woman, I certainly do not experience the racism and xenophobia that other people with the same problem often do. But the sentiment nevertheless remains, that our family names hold meaning, not only because we share them with those we love, but because they represent entire histories and peoples. Mine, in particular, is a rarity – I have never met anyone with this name that I am not related to.

Changing my name is not on the cards, at least for the foreseeable future. On the one hand, I am swayed by the desire to change and therefore be seen and understood on my own terms, as myself, but on the other hand, I would not have it any other way. For all its downsides, this lifetime occurrence is my lifetime occurrence, and it would not be my name if I didn’t have to spell it out every time I said it to someone new. ‘Being me’ means having this name, and I will make peace with it being unique, even if it means being a ‘Heegney’ instead of a ‘Heagney’.

Visual politics in Oxford’s streets

Jiayue Shi
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Visual politics in Oxford’s streets

One of the most enduring images of grassroots politics is the pamphlet and the pamphleteer: the putting up of flyers, the taking over of public surfaces, the giddy circulation of agitational print, the vexation of the powers that be. “Is not all the controversy, whose slaves the poor shall be?” demanded a Leveller pamphlet in 1648, during the English Civil War. If, in the past, such material emerged from societies of lettered men and small printers, today Oxford residents walking down Cowley Road or George Street will easily find entire ecosystems of posters covering abandoned shops, construction hoardings, and disused telephone booths. They call out to passersby to campaign for affordable rent, attend an internationalist feminist protest, organise against animal abuse, or, provocatively, to smash the Epstein class. The peeling leaflets reveal older ones underneath. Lampposts and bus stops throughout town have an impressive past (and present) life in stickers. The distribution of print as a means of political communication remains as strategic and ungovernable as it has historically been.

It is just as well that street posters appear and crumble away through storied cycles of their own; yet much of mass organising today has migrated online, and finds its widest reach and most calculable impact there. It leaves the impression that physical media is somehow marginal, or touchingly quaint. Who takes notice of these posters? How do they speak to us, or fail to? In practice, different causes and their aesthetics find themselves fighting for space, literally, on Oxford’s streets. Paper is ephemeral; flyering is decentralised; anyone can as freely put one poster up as tear down another. This quiet, tactile, relentless agency shapes what our streets look like all the time. Street posters form a living, changing map of the communities and persuasions that inhabit a town.

You might begin to plot that map at the closed Debenhams in Oxford city centre. It is a hotspot for flyering of all kinds, due to the significant foot traffic the intersection receives. In May, the shop’s exterior displayed Stand Up to Racism’s “Oppose Tommy Robinson” posters – one of them already half-ripped – under which lay Together Alliance’s older, anti-far-right protest posters from March. Later that month, these remnants were also pasted over by the Oxford Renters Union’s newest campaign leaflets, to be found on various deserted shop windows and scaffolding sites elsewhere in town as well. The Union tells Cherwell that these leaflets are a crucial link between the Union and anyone struggling in a housing system that, year by year, increasingly disadvantages the socioeconomically vulnerable.

Those current leaflets all concern the Union’s resisting rent increases campaign, part of a broader national campaign demanding an end to unaffordable housing. They all display a QR code that takes you directly to the Union’s home page. In it, one finds the pledge to challenge the next rent increase at the First-tier Tribunal, as well as information on renters’ rights, legal recourse for when a landlord hikes up the rent, and exactly how much money one could save by making an appeal at a rent tribunal, even if the appeal fails. A mass campaign at a tribunal could delay verdicts, thereby extending the rent freeze period, and possibly help lower the fair market rate for everyone. For many, the public flyer provides an entry point to all of this.

Union spokesperson Maisie Wilson told Cherwell: “Leaflets and posters help us reach people who don’t have easy access to social media – which will be more and more people if we don’t fight the housing crisis. 

“When we’ve leafleted about events, many people, especially older people, have said how glad they are that we leafleted: they wouldn’t have known about it otherwise as they don’t have an online presence. Our Union is for everyone who rents, not just those who are tech savvy!”

Oxford City Council reported in March 2026 that the number of Oxford households requiring temporary accommodation had more than doubled over the past several years. Homeless Oxfordshire drew attention to the fact that, in 2024-25, the number of Oxford households owed a prevention duty (meaning they faced imminent eviction) had risen by 111%. The rising threat of homelessness comes from the nationwide cost-of-living crisis, rapidly increasing local private rents, and the shortage of affordable social and private housing in Oxford and its environs. Excluding London, Oxford consistently yields the highest average rent in the UK. The average monthly private rent in Oxford increased by 6.6% in the twelve months leading up to May this year, and had, in August 2025, reached a staggering 11.7%.

Those struggling to keep a roof over their head, or to accommodate a family, hardly have the luxury of spending hours on the internet untangling policy documents to figure out what rights they are entitled to and how to uphold them, or seeking resources for collective advocacy for affordable rent. The visibility and simplicity of Union flyers lining a city’s main streets make such resources patently more accessible, and offer up the plain fact that a struggling renter is not alone. Wilson also states that the Union would like to further increase their accessibility by producing leaflets and posters in other languages. Immigrant households are, after all, more likely to be in the private rent sector due to lower home-ownership, and were the head of 22% of households assessed to be homeless or at risk of homelessness in the 2023-24 financial year.

“Grassroots activism is still vital in political organising, and it is very important that this is seen to be taking place within people’s own communities rather than exclusively online”, the non-profit animal rights organisation Animal Aid told Cherwell, echoing the Union. “And physical media is vital for this.”

Indeed, there is an entire repertoire of visual strategies surrounding the work of being seen, and of being seen in community. With the survival of the Ultimate Picture Palace at risk due to Oriel College’s graduate accommodation plans, a notable number of shops in Cowley have put up “Save the UPP” flyers on their doors and shop windows. A bold icon of the deeply beloved local independent cinema is depicted against a simple green, pink or red background, and one only needs to take a walk in the area to feel the solidarity. Oxford Stand Up to Racism and Animal Aid both supply leaflets to groups and individuals to use as they choose, with the former stating that, aside from putting up posters in city streets for the general public to see, “flyering from campaign stalls and distributing posters for workplaces are also important to involve people in collective activity”.

Joseph Miller, the director of PauseAI UK, a volunteer-led movement dedicated to incentivising governments to regulate frontier AI development, similarly says that flyering is “a good activity in itself, for the community to work on, for people to get to know each other and contribute in a useful way”. These posters visualise the identity and stated goals of a cause as much as mutual recognition between its people.

Thought also goes into where the flyers go up, or, more precisely, where they are allowed to. The latter-day pamphleteer in this country deals less with persecution of free speech than with the fine tangles of public property. Flyposting on public property is not permitted and could lead to legal ramifications; Oxford City Council investigates resident reports, submitted via FixMyStreet, of unauthorised posters, stickers, and advertisements, then works to remove them from street furniture within seven working days. Flyposting on private property, such as empty shops, is the responsibility of the property owner. The reactive nature of anti-flyposting law enforcement means that pockets of the flyer landscape could get systemically rubbed out every once in a while, or, alternatively, preserved for an impressive duration if no one is offended enough by the sight to report it. Organisations tend to post on surfaces that are highly visible in high-footfall areas, and whose legal ownership isn’t quite so straightforward or sacrosanct in practice.

“We mostly just find those spots where you can put wheatpaste on a surface and then stick up the poster and not have it be in anybody’s way”, says Miller. “So these are places like electrical boxes…or building sites where there are lots of people passing by.” 

Quantity, however, might matter more than the exact location: “Often just having it in lots of different places is more important than where it is, because people might not notice it the first time or the second time, but the third time they see it, they’ll actually look at it.”

After all, we, the passersby, are vital participants in this politics of looking and seeing. The posters, small or large, plain or strikingly designed, each in their own way call for our attention and reaction. Often they persuade the viewer to take practical steps: to sign a petition, attend an event, participate in a boycott, seek help, or make contact with an organisation. When asked how PauseAI links bottom-up involvement to its lobbying of national or even global institutions, Miller explains that their flyers and events encourage people to show up at protests, sign open letters, or email their local MPs for support on such issues as PauseAI’s ongoing AI liability campaign. The campaign pushes for the UK Parliament to introduce legislation holding AI companies accountable when their models enable critical harm, such as security breaches of national infrastructure and biosecurity threats.

Regarding the people that tend to respond to PauseAI’s projects, Miller observes that “our biggest demographic is people who work in AI themselves, people who are experts in technology in some way”. The tech industry in London has provided a large inflow into the movement, as has climate change activist circles, and academic populations in cities such as Leicester and Oxford itself. There may be a limit to how far posters can induce someone to reconsider an opinion or notice something they previously hadn’t, if they don’t go out of their way to look at them. What the posters are best at, perhaps, is inspiring action in towns already politically amenable to what the posters call for, and in people for whom AI, or rent, or Oxford Union platforming, or the far right, is already a pertinent issue.

Still, leaflets and posters might simply seek to educate. According to Miller, PauseAI is interested in raising awareness of AI’s risks, including deskilling workers, facilitating cyberattacks and other safety hazards, and enabling an “extreme concentration of power to a small number of tech companies”. This may be done through talks and discussion groups advertised by flyers, or information shared by the flyers themselves.

Likewise, Animal Aid told Cherwell that their leaflets “may simply exist to inform the public about an issue”. On their anti-horseracing leaflets that have appeared on High Street, most of the space is taken up by information on the British horseracing industry, whose profit-driven exploitation of racehorses is well documented. “Around 200 horses are killed each year on British racecourses”, the pamphlet reads. When their racing careers are over, large numbers of thoroughbreds “are sent to the slaughterhouse…either unwanted or broken down through injuries”. It also tells the story of the racehorse Underwriter, who, upon his retirement, was sent to a sale and to almost certain death, until the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk rescued him by bidding directly against the slaughterhouse. “Many horses are not so lucky”, the text reminds us. The bottom of the sheet shows Animal Aid’s contacts, and the option to donate to a sanctuary.

There is a simple humility to these walls of paper-and-print, which speak of affairs vast and small to whoever might listen, emerging and dwindling wherever there is street activity. Among the hundreds of other things that constitute life in Oxford, the streets themselves tell us what manner of a place it is we inhabit, and how we move through and belong to it. They are a palimpsest of how people make their demands known, and where we finally pick up on what others have been saying, perhaps for a very long time.

Journey to decentre of the earth: Wilful ignorance of men

Nora Miles
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Journey to decentre of the earth: Wilful ignorance of men

When I went back to my high school last year to talk to prospective applicants, the number one thing I was asked was: “Are all your conversations, like, really smart?” And I felt a slight sense of shame to admit that they weren’t. I recognise that it’s pretentious to want to discuss philosophy at brunch or the political and economic state of the world right now in the queue for the club, but I do sometimes lament the extent to which my conversations are filled with gossip – and it’s almost always gossip about boys. 

So a few weeks ago, when I came across creator cc’s thoughts on TikTok, who had captioned her video: “POV: trying to make plans with the friend that decentered men”, I stopped and paid attention. It featured a presentation of successive, slightly outlandish activities. “Sorry, I can’t hang out today”, she announces: “I’m working a NASCAR race.” Or she would be studying Spanish in Mexico, or being a seatfiller at the VMAs, or doing a matcha workshop, or going to the outdoor library, or working as a TV extra. 

Carmin is not the first to use the term ‘decentering men’, and as an amateur internet sociologist, I will take it upon myself to try to define it for you. As I understand it, to decentre men is to construct an ascetic resistance to the parameters of your own thoughts. To recognise a masochistic obsession with the male gender, and to focus on yourself, with force. To denounce men is not to completely reject romance, or develop cynicism regarding love; it is simply to carve out time where those things don’t consume you. To resist the temptation to obsess over being perceived. To reclaim solitude, or time with friends, as a space for reflection, and not for courtroom-grade crush interaction cross-analysis. 

Far be it from my job to tell you how to live your life, but in my opinion, such a mindset can hardly be a bad thing. I was lucky enough to be able to talk to the account owner, Carmin, about her content, and we discussed the benefits of taking time for yourself in this way (though, perhaps, less extravagantly) in order to reinforce your sense of self outside of your relationships with men: “A lot of people are afraid to spend time by themselves but, because of that, they’re missing out on things that would have otherwise in some capacity, and the majority of us have concrete plans for the future, or at the very least a concrete desire to do something meaningful, whatever that may look like. been great experiences.” 

I pointed out that almost all of the activities which she showcases on her account involve taking part in some kind of in-person activity. Carmin believes that this is key to widening your outlook: “There’s no substitute for putting yourself out there and trying new things IRL”. Here, then, is a tangible step to be able to take in Oxford. Although Carmin definitely takes the cake when it comes to adventure, there’s so much that you can do in Oxford on your own to try to tap into your own sense of independent free spiritedness. 

“It’s like you’re charging different parts of yourself, when I’m by myself I can have that time to reflect.” When considering this more closely, the challenge then is not to not let men invade these reflective spaces. Even taking a walk has been appropriated through a lens of desirability. Your ‘hot girl walks’ score negatively on the Bechdel test, and you should be honest with yourself about it. Social life has become cloaked in this strange level of self-denial. You’re not going to the club ‘to dance with your friends’ if you spend the whole time constantly looking over your shoulder at the men around you, and that’s ok! But so is a night in where no one desires you. 

Although the term ‘decentering’ is a modern one, or one that seems to have gained popularity on digital platforms at least, it has roots in centuries’ worth of feminist ideology. The problem that this phenomenon seems to attempt to tackle is similar to the one that De Beauvoir identified in 1949: “Defined to the sphere of the relative, destined to the male since her infancy, accustomed to seeing him as a sovereign whom she cannot hope to equal, the woman, who has not stifled her claim to be human, will dream of overcoming herself by uniting with one of these sovereign beings” (translation my own). 

Betty Friedan continued this feminist psychoanalysis by trying to draw attention to “the problem with no name” – an inexpressible dissatisfaction with a life lived revolving around men. But when I picked up a copy of The Feminine Mystique, I was struck by how different the modern picture really is. Friedan explains that when she interviewed seniors at Smith Women’s College (at some point before 1963), she observed that “many of us could not see ourselves beyond the age of twenty-one”. I don’t think this is true today. I think almost every woman at Oxford does want to use her education in some capacity, and the majority of us have concrete plans for the future, or at the very least a concrete desire to do something meaningful, whatever that may look like. 

The problem no longer lies in the disruption of aspirations, but in the suppression of the means to achieve them. The obfuscation of the end goal and the onset of a certain kind of oxymoronic mania sees a brilliant woman concern herself with whether or not her tits look good while she sits in the library, pushing the limits of her field. We are not Friedan’s prospective trapped housewives. The modern “feminine mystique” is such that women need to be simultaneously ambitious and desirable, that we pursue greatness but without relinquishing the need to be looked at while doing it.

Oxford is a city filled with the smartest girls hand-picked from all around the world for their genius, and who pursued their best interest so ferociously that they managed to gain admission through sheer hard work. 

The women of Oxford conduct ground breaking research, translate in and out of dozens of languages, and consider books in ways that no one ever has before. We wake up at 6am to play sports, we volunteer to give back to the city, we write, we dance, and we sing. Are you really going to look me in the eye and tell me that the floppy-haired boy in hall is the most important thing in the world to you right now? 

How Student Founders Choose Their First Office or Retail Space

External Contributor
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Moving out of a dorm room or campus incubator into an actual commercial lease is one of the earliest, and honestly one of the trickiest, strategic bets a student-run startup ever makes. This guide walks through it step by step – from figuring out if you’re even ready, all the way to what to watch for buried in the fine print of a lease.

Step 1: Figure Out If You’re Actually Ready

Signs you’ve outgrown home or campus operations

A lot of student ventures start somewhere unglamorous – a dorm room, a home office, a shared desk at a campus incubator. That’s fine, honestly. It’s how you validate an idea without burning cash on rent before you know if anyone wants what you’re selling. But a few signs tend to show up when it’s genuinely time to move on: a team that needs regular in-person collaboration, growing client meetings, inventory that’s quietly taken over multiple rooms, or foot traffic outpacing whatever space is currently available. Student entrepreneurship isn’t some fringe activity anymore, either – GEM data shows 18 to 24 year olds in the US are now tied with 25 to 34 year olds as the most entrepreneurially active age group, with youth early-stage activity up 2.5x over the past decade. GUESSS’s global student entrepreneurship survey found that among students already founding a venture, 43.7% have written a full business plan, which says something about how many ventures reach that point where informal space just stops working.

Take an online retailer, for example – once inventory occupies multiple rooms of an apartment, that’s usually the tell. A software startup might hit the wall sooner, once confidential meetings or frequent team syncs become genuinely awkward in a shared co-working lounge with strangers walking past every five minutes.

When waiting makes sense

Not every startup benefits from leasing right away, and this part gets skipped over a lot, oddly enough. Businesses running mostly online, with remote teams or unpredictable revenue, can preserve real capital just by staying in coworking spaces a bit longer than feels comfortable. Delaying a lease buys flexibility while the product gets refined and demand gets validated, without locking into an occupancy obligation before it’s actually needed. There’s no prize for signing a lease early.

Match the space to the business model

What kind of space actually gets needed depends entirely on the business itself – there’s no universal answer here. Consulting firms want meeting rooms and professional polish; retailers care about visibility and product displays. Manufacturers, food businesses, and logistics companies often need specialized facilities from day one, no way around it. The goal isn’t leasing space for the sake of having an address. It is to choose commercial space that actually supports daily operations and leaves room for where the business is headed next, not just where it happens to be right now. Understanding what to evaluate before signing a lease – from location and layout to future scalability – can make that decision much easier.

Step 2: Pick the Right Type of Space

Traditional office space

Traditional offices suit businesses built around collaboration or confidential client work, like software companies, accounting firms, legal practices, consulting businesses, and marketing agencies. Longer lease terms can offer more stability too, particularly for companies with predictable staffing needs that aren’t going to double overnight and blow up the whole plan.

Retail space

For customer-facing businesses, location is often the whole game, and there is not really a workaround for that. Retail properties get evaluated on visibility, pedestrian traffic, accessibility, parking, and who else is nearby. A great storefront helps enhance customer experience, sure, but the less glamorous stuff – storage, deliveries, layout – matters just as much even though it’s a lot less exciting to think about when you’re touring a space for the first time.

Flexible offices and co-working

Plenty of early-stage startups keep choosing flexible space simply because it avoids long-term commitment while still offering professional amenities like furnished workspaces and meeting rooms. And honestly, this whole sector has picked up serious momentum this year. The global flexible workspace market sits around $29 billion in 2026, growing 14% annually, and industry commentary now describes flex space as “the default conversation” for tenants of nearly every size, not just startups dabbling in their first lease. In India specifically, co-working operators leased 8.6 million square feet in just the first half of 2026 alone – a 32% jump year-over-year – now capturing nearly a quarter of all new office space taken up nationally. Yes, monthly costs look higher on a per-square-foot basis, and that math bothers some founders at first glance. But the ability to scale quickly tends to be worth it during periods of uncertain growth, and the broader market seems to agree: lease terms are shortening everywhere, with 5- and 10-year deals giving way to 1- to 3-year agreements as more companies, not just students, start prioritising adaptability over commitment.

Step 3: Build a Realistic Budget Before Searching

Calculate total occupancy costs

Rent is only one component of the overall cost of leasing commercial property, which is the part that catches a lot of first-timers off guard. Founders should also budget for utilities, internet, insurance, maintenance obligations, security deposits, furniture, equipment installation, signage, parking, and any applicable common area maintenance charges. Understanding total occupancy costs upfront prevents unpleasant surprises after signing a lease – and by then, it’s usually too late to renegotiate.

Protect cash flow

Young businesses should ensure occupancy costs remain sustainable relative to projected revenue, not hopeful revenue – there’s a real difference between those two numbers, and founders who confuse them tend to regret it. Maintaining adequate cash reserves provides flexibility to manage seasonal fluctuations, unexpected expenses, or slower-than-anticipated growth. A conservative approach here often supports stronger long-term stability than maximising office size early, even though the bigger space always looks tempting during a walkthrough.

Plan for growth without overspending

Choosing space that accommodates realistic expansion is important, but excessive square footage just creates unnecessary financial pressure without actually helping much. Leasing only what’s needed today, while preserving room for future expansion, usually strikes the best balance between flexibility and cost control.

Step 4: Evaluate Locations Like an Experienced Investor

Understand your customer

A good location begins with understanding the people being served – local demographics, accessibility, visibility, transportation options, and general convenience. Retail businesses often prioritise customer traffic; service providers may care more about parking or proximity to business districts. It really depends who’s walking through the door.

Analyse the local business environment

Neighbouring businesses can significantly influence commercial performance, more than people expect going in. Complementary retailers, restaurants, and professional services may increase customer activity, while excessive direct competition might need a closer look before committing. Growing neighbourhoods with planned development often offer stronger long-term opportunities than mature markets that have already hit their ceiling.

Think beyond today’s needs

Commercial property decisions should support future operations as well as current requirements. Hiring plans, delivery access, employee commuting patterns, logistics, parking, and transportation infrastructure all deserve a seat at the table before signing anything. It’s genuinely easy to plan only for today’s five-person team and forget about the fifteen-person team that shows up six months later.

Step 5: Understand Commercial Lease Terms Before Signing

Lease length and renewal options

Lease duration influences both flexibility and financial commitment. Shorter leases provide greater adaptability, while longer agreements may offer stability and potentially more favourable rental terms. Renewal options should be reviewed carefully too, so they actually line up with anticipated growth rather than working against it.

Rent structure and additional costs

Commercial leases vary a lot more than most people expect walking in. Under a gross lease, many operating expenses are generally included within the rent. Modified gross leases split certain costs between landlord and tenant, while triple net (NNN) leases typically require tenants to pay base rent plus specified operating expenses on top. Understanding these differences is really the only way to compare properties on total cost rather than just the advertised rental number, which can be misleading on its own.

Negotiable lease provisions

Many commercial lease provisions are negotiable, more than founders often realise. Tenant improvement allowances, expansion rights, renewal options, signage rights, and early termination provisions may significantly influence long-term flexibility. Carefully reviewing lease terms before signing helps avoid unexpected obligations that surface later.

Step 6: Avoid the Common Mistakes

Leasing too much space

New businesses often overestimate future staffing or inventory requirements – it’s a natural instinct to plan big. Excess square footage increases rent, utilities, maintenance, and furnishing costs without necessarily improving productivity at all. Starting with appropriately sized space usually provides stronger financial flexibility down the line.

Choosing prestige over practicality

A prestigious address may enhance image, but it doesn’t automatically improve business performance, no matter how good it looks on a pitch deck. Convenient access, functional layouts, and operational efficiency often deliver more long-term value than a prestigious location alone. Commercial space should support business objectives, not just project status to whoever’s watching.

Ignoring future flexibility

Business needs rarely stay static, and pretending otherwise is a common trap. Companies that overlook expansion rights or adaptable lease structures may face expensive relocations as staffing or customer demand evolves. Planning for flexibility from the beginning reduces disruption later – a lesson the broader flex-space industry has clearly taken to heart too, given how fast shorter, more adaptable leases have become the norm in 2026.

Step 7: Run the Search Process Properly

Define business requirements

Before touring anything, write out a checklist covering square footage, layout, budget, customer access, parking, tech needs, storage, accessibility, and anticipated growth. Having objective criteria makes property comparisons a lot more consistent than just going with a gut feeling after one visit.

Compare multiple properties

Evaluating several commercial properties reveals valuable insight into local pricing, amenities, lease structures, and neighborhood differences. Comparing multiple options using the same criteria usually leads to better decisions than just committing to the first suitable spot that comes along. Documenting strengths and weaknesses for each helps simplify the final call.

Complete due diligence before signing

Before executing any lease, founders should inspect the property thoroughly, estimate total occupancy costs, review lease terms, confirm zoning compatibility, understand maintenance responsibilities, and evaluate future expansion opportunities.

Following a structured process like this reduces risk and helps make sure the selected property supports both current operations and whatever comes next.

The Takeaway

Selecting a first commercial space is a lot more than finding somewhere to work: it’s a strategic milestone that shapes customer experience, employee productivity, operational efficiency, and financial performance for years afterward. Successful student entrepreneurs take the time to honestly evaluate whether they’re ready, choose property matching their actual operating model, build realistic budgets, understand lease structures, and prioritise flexibility alongside affordability.

The strongest real estate decisions come from disciplined planning, not excitement about finally having a “real” address. Businesses that align property selection with long-term strategy and financial capacity tend to grow more sustainably while taking on less unnecessary risk. And given how much the flex-space market has grown just this year, with lease terms shortening across the board to match, student founders are honestly stepping into one of the more forgiving leasing environments in recent memory. The ideal first space isn’t the biggest or the flashiest one – it’s just the one that gives the business room to grow into whatever it’s actually becoming.




A solo diner’s paradise: Rincha Café review

Prity Laloux
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A solo diner’s paradise: Rincha Café review

As the sun shone over Oxford and my collections drew ever closer, I decided I needed a change of scenery from the panicked atmosphere of my college hall. So, I headed to Rincha Café to sample some Thai specialities and catch up on reading. I was excited to try this casual, sunlit spot, open continuously from 10:30am-8pm, so I could enjoy delicious food while watching the sun set over Oxford. 

I often approach solo dining with a bit of apprehension. I always worry that I will be the only solo diner in the restaurant, or that everyone else is judging my attempt at reading while slurping down noodles. Fortunately, Rincha Café appeased these fears immediately. As I walked in, armed with my Plato and performative wired earbuds, I was greeted by smooth jazz, a wealth of individual seating, and many students with open laptops and noise cancelling headphones. I had found the perfect place for my solo dinner. 

My fears abated, I took my seat across from another reader, and set out to decide on my meal. This was no easy feat, considering the sheer number of options on the menu. In the end, I decided to try the Thai pork meatballs as a starter, the chicken mixed dry noodles as a main, and the mango sticky rice (obviously) as a dessert. I placed my order at the counter, and the food arrived only minutes later, served by friendly and welcoming staff. 

The skewers were a lovely balance of sweet, spicy, and savoury, with the tamarind sauce providing a tangy contrast to the pork meatballs. I will say that the flavour of the pork is quite pronounced, so I would skip the dish if strong meat flavours are not to your taste. The portion was generous, with three skewers that had four meatballs each, but not so large that I did not want to eat my main. 

While I had set out to have a semi productive dinner, this task was made tricky by the delicious chicken noodles I was served next. This dish commanded my full attention. The moment it was set down at my table (almost as soon as I had finished my starter), the peppery smell of the sauce had me salivating. The bowl was loaded, to say the least. Thin rice noodles coated in a sweet and peppery sauce, a pile of minced chicken, three generous chicken meatballs, a handful of soybean sprouts, and coriander to top it off made me question whether I had over ordered. My book lay forgotten beside me as I focused on constructing the perfect bite. The different elements provided a satisfying balance of chewy, spicy, savoury, and fresh. I must admit that I was almost defeated by the sheer amount of ground chicken in my bowl, which might not be a problem for protein-lovers. 

Next came the star of the show, the love of my life: mango sticky rice. This mini dish came in a small plastic cup, the perfect portion size after my previous two courses. There was definitely more mango than sticky rice, but when the mango is perfectly ripe, that can never be a complaint. The sticky rice itself was warm with a pleasant coconut flavour, yet not overly sweet. The perfect end to the meal. 

While the prices certainly do not make it an everyday treat, considering its location and the fact that it is an independent business, I felt they were fair. In a city where everything can feel rushed and overwhelming, the calm setting and friendly service at Rincha Café are a welcome addition to the hustle and bustle of Broad Street

A day at the races: Corpus Christi 2026 Tortoise Fair

Abigail Christie
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A day at the races: Corpus Christi 2026 Tortoise Fair

Oxford is full of weird and wonderful traditions, and the Corpus Christi tortoise race certainly takes the cake for the latter. What likely began as an informal competition between Corpus students some 100-150 years ago, has now blossomed into a day-long affair of tortoise-related festivities and slow-speed racing, attracting hundreds of spectators from across the University and the wider public. Tickets quickly sold out for what can only be described as the highlight of the Trinity social calendar, with numbers capped at 725. Having won the 2025 tortoise race, and despite a few hiccups in previous years, Corpus’ own tortoise Foxe was favoured to win this year. 

I was lucky enough to be able to sit down and chat with Vivi, Corpus’ JCR tortoise-keeper (custos testudinum), in the week leading up to the race. I began by asking what exactly the role entailed, and the position turned out to be more varied than I expected. Vivi told me: “You [get] a big book of standing orders, and most of it is about organising the tortoise fair. But you also have to say that you will sign your life away for Foxe’s wellbeing. […If] the building was on fire, and I could either save Foxe or […] myself, I do have to say that I will go and save Foxe”. 

Vivi described admin, and event-planning, as a large part of the role, with some aspects being fairly time-consuming: “I got into the position on the Saturday of week eight in Michaelmas and then started working immediately. It’s a lot of ordering merch, and I’ve got volunteers in from the charity that we supported [RSPCA Oxfordshire]. You have to work out training for people, how many tickets you’re selling, and where you’re selling them. There were lots of emails in college about what’s going on, and lots of health and safety meetings”.

On the day, occasional spells of June sunshine accompanied the thoughtfully curated schedule of events. Entering through Corpus’ front quad, the RSPCA stall, and tables of tortoise merch greeted incoming visitors, with displays ranging from tote bags and t-shirts to tortoise plushies and face-paint. The wafting scent of the barbecue encouraged foot traffic to move through the college, before visitors arrived in the gardens, where live music, tortoise figurine painting, and dancing were all taking place. The joint efforts of Vivi, volunteers from Corpus and RSPCA Oxfordshire, and the wider college community certainly paid off – almost everywhere you looked, there seemed to be a beaming face sporting a tortoise t-shirt or holding a tortoise plush. 

Aside from the actual tortoise race, the event of the day that attracted the most spectators was the human tortoise race. As a fresher, I remember learning there was a vacancy in my college’s JCR for the position of Tortoise-Keeper. I was (understandably) very excited at the prospect of looking after a tortoise, only to be met with the mildly terrifying reality that my college did not, in fact, have a pet tortoise, and the Tortoise-Keeper was actually required to don a costume and attend all tortoise-related events as if they were one. Needless to say, I did not apply and, to the best of my knowledge, the position remains empty. 

But there was a very different atmosphere on the day: at 2.45pm, the Tortoise-Keeper announced the human tortoise race, and encouraged any volunteers from the crowd to step up. The two individuals dressed as respective halves of a tortoise were the first to enter, followed by an enthusiastic group of people happily exercising their free will. The contestants were required to eat a head of lettuce as messily as possible, and then crawl to the finish line. A humorous array of crawls across the grass ensued, with Corpus bringing victory home. 

Although 2026 marks the 52nd tortoise race, its documented history is not exactly linear, with it having only become a consistent annual event in the last few years. When speaking to Vivi about its history, they referenced a document known as the Illustrious History of Tortoises, which has been passed on from predecessors. “I think there was a year in the 70s when Blue Peter entered a tortoise, and I think that same year they painted designs onto the top of the tortoises so you could see where they were from. It’s been relatively recently that it’s turned into a sort of fair event. It used to be just an inter-college thing and now it’s more open to the public to raise more money for charity”. 

As the afternoon progressed, crowds started to gather around the hexagonal race track for the event everyone had been waiting for: the tortoise race. The growing anticipation drew spectators in surprisingly early, with people sitting down at the track for over an hour before the race began in order to secure an unobstructed view. Tortoise enthusiasts of all ages rallied together at the fence-posts, keen for the race to begin. There were five competitors for the 2026 race: Foxe (Corpus), Bernard (Corpus), Kale (Nuffield), Truffle (Regent’s Park), and Wendy (Balliol). Excitement only intensified at the sight of the Tortoise-Keeper laying down a ring of lettuce for the tortoises to race towards. From where I was sitting, a firm fanbase had their hearts set on Wendy as the winner, despite her being the smallest and the youngest (at only three years old). Wendy had been socialising with her tortoise-keeper throughout the day, winning the hearts of everyone she crawled by, with her pancake-shaped shell. 

After a best-of-three race was declared, the tortoises each started their crawls towards victory. Truffle and Kale were unperturbed by the pressure of winning, and the cheering of the crowds, each taking the distance to the lettuce in their own stride. Wendy, being the smallest by far, still gave it her all and made a beeline for the lettuce as fast as her little legs would allow. Foxe seemed less concerned this year with winning glory, and more focused on trying to bite Wendy. Speaking to Vivi about Foxe’s personality, I learnt that he seems to have a penchant for biting and a long history of grumpiness. Nevertheless, victory was still brought home to Corpus by Bernard, who reached the lettuce to a chorus of victorious celebration. 

The painstaking thought and effort put into the organisation of the tortoise fair, and the dutiful care taken of Foxe by the Tortoise-Keeper and his caregivers in the lodge, embody how Oxford’s communities are more than meets the eye. Animals, though a minority at the University, tend to shine light where it is needed the most. Discussing their importance, Vivi summarised it best: “Animals really help it feel like somewhere you live, rather than just somewhere you work.” 

How Does A Custom Paint By Number Kit Turn Photos Into Artwork?

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Have you ever seen a special picture and wished you could make that memory into a beautiful picture? Most individuals have the thought of turning their favourite images into their own pieces of art, yet feel confused as they are not aware of how to draw or paint. Others have trouble with colour selection, drawing the right shapes, and making their image appear as a real artwork.  

A custom paint by number kit makes this possible by transforming your photo into a guided painting design that is easy to follow. Instead of starting with a blank canvas, you get a clear layout that shows you where each color belongs. This allows you to enjoy creating artwork while keeping the details and emotions of your original photo.   

From uploading your favourite photo to adding the final brushstroke, here’s how the entire transformation comes together.

Transform A Photo into Custom Paint by Numbers Design

When you choose a custom paint by number kit, your favourite photo begins its journey from a simple image into a painting design. The initial step is to prepare your photo so that the significant information is visible and that the photo is made to fit into a paint-by-numbers format. This helps create a strong base for your artwork.   

Your photo is carefully converted into a numbered outline that shows different areas of the image. Rather than having to sketch the picture yourself, you are given a ready-made design that emphasises the shapes, features, and key elements of your photo. This simplifies the artwork to recreate.   

The transformation process aims at retaining the identity of your image but making it easier to paint. Details such as faces, pets, objects, and background are well-organised in a way that they can be identified. When done right, your picture is turned into a detailed painting blueprint.

Match Colours and Break Image into Paintable Sections

Once your photo becomes a painting blueprint, the next step is organising colours and dividing the image into smaller sections. Each part of the design receives a number that connects with a specific paint colour. This creates a simple roadmap that helps you understand how the image will be recreated. 

The colours are selected to represent the different shades and details found in your original photo. Light areas, darker tones, and small changes in colour work together to create a more realistic appearance. Because every shade has a place, you can follow the design without guessing. 

Breaking the image into smaller sections also makes the artwork easier to approach. A detailed photo may look complicated at first, but dividing it into numbered areas makes the process more manageable. Each section plays a role in bringing the complete picture together.

Use Numbered Guides to Recreate Every Detail

After the design and colours are prepared, the numbered guide helps you start creating your artwork. The numbers on the canvas correspond to a particular paint colour, and they indicate where to apply each shade precisely. With this basic system, you can concentrate on a single section of an image at a time.   

You do not have to learn some complicated painting techniques or how to make shapes out of nothing. Instead, you can match the numbers with the colours and slowly fill each section. As you go on, small segments start joining up to create the image you chose. 

The numbered guide gives you confidence throughout the painting process because every step is clearly planned. Whether you are painting a family photo, a pet portrait, or a favourite place, the guide helps you recreate the important details. You can enjoy the creative experience without feeling pressured.

Build Layers That Bring Original Photo to Life

As you add more paint to the canvas, you begin to see your photo appear in a completely new form. Each layer of colour adds more depth, detail, and structure to the artwork. The simple numbered sections gradually combine to create a complete painted image. 

You may notice a person’s features becoming clearer, a pet’s details starting to show, or a landscape gaining more shape and dimension. Different shades work together to create contrast and make the artwork feel closer to the original photo. This is the stage where your painting starts to feel truly personal. 

The layering process also allows you to enjoy the progress along the way. Instead of only focusing on the finished result, you can appreciate how every painted section contributes to the final artwork. With each layer, your canvas moves closer to becoming a reflection of your chosen memory.

Turn Finished Painting into Lasting Personalised Keepsake

Once the final sections are painted, your photo has transformed into a handmade artwork created through your own effort. The finished canvas is not just a copy of your original image; it represents the time, care, and creativity you invested in the process. This personal connection makes the artwork feel unique. 

A completed painting can become a meaningful addition to your home or a thoughtful gift for someone special. Whether it captures a family moment, a beloved pet, or a memorable place, the artwork carries a story that goes beyond the image itself. It becomes something you can appreciate for years. 

The journey from photo to painting gives you a different way to preserve memories. You begin with a digital picture and finish with a handmade creation that reflects your personal involvement. This transformation is what makes a custom paint by numbers experience so memorable.

Conclusion

A custom paint by numbers kit gives you a simple way to turn your favourite photos into artwork without needing professional painting skills. Your photo becomes a guided design, your colours create the details, and your effort brings the finished canvas to life. 

Instead of keeping special memories only as digital images, you can transform them into something you can touch, display, and enjoy. With the right guidance and a little creativity, you can create a personalized artwork that holds both the story of your photo and the experience of making it. 

The Growing Demand for Affordable Medical Alert in Canada

External Contributor
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Aging can raise a lot of new issues about personal safety. Even a simple slip, a sudden health problem, or being alone can become an emergency if help is not provided immediately.  

Meanwhile, numerous families are concerned about their elderly relatives, particularly when they are unable to be with them full-time. Consequently, most Canadian homes have made it a priority to find a viable means of staying safe without compromising independence.  

Luckily, medical alert systems provide a good solution. They offer rapid access to emergency help and enable people to have independent lives both at home and on the move. Even better, more affordable alternatives have made these systems available to a greater number of individuals in Canada.  

So, why is the demand continuing to grow?  

The Aging Population Is Increasing the Need for Everyday Safety

The aging population in Canada is one of the reasons why more people require affordable medical alert in Canada. Most elderly people desire to be independent, but wish to have prompt assistance in the event of an emergency.  

Actual risks at home can be falls, mobility problems, and chronic illnesses. A medical alert system can be used to contact trained responders quickly, potentially shortening response time in an emergency.  

Such systems are also easy to operate. They are convenient for seniors with various needs and levels of comfort due to clear buttons, voice communication, and reliable connections. Those convenience features are important when time is of the essence. It provides families with greater assurance of daily safety.

Affordable Pricing Makes Medical Alert Systems Accessible to More Households

Price has been a traditional obstacle to many families thinking about personal emergency response systems. However, affordable pricing options have changed that. Nowadays, there are numerous providers that provide more flexible monthly plans without big initial investments or long-term contracts.  

This low cost ensures that more older people can enjoy the security technology without needlessly putting extra strain on family finances. Families are able to select a plan that suits them and still obtain necessary emergency monitoring services.  

Also, competitive prices have made more Canadians compare the available prices. Instead of medical alert systems being considered as a luxury, they are increasingly being viewed as an investment in long-term health and safety.

Desire to Age Safely at Home Is Stronger Than Ever

Most seniors desire to stay in what is familiar to them as long as they can. By being at home, they can continue doing things their way, maintain their independence and keep in touch with their communities. Consequently, aging in place has become an increasingly popular option in Canada.  

Medical alert systems facilitate this objective by offering instant access to help in the event of an emergency. It is possible to call for assistance for a fall, acute illness, or other medical issue, by pressing a button. 

Moreover, home and mobile medical alarms can help users monitor their protection at home and even outside. This mobility allows the elderly to keep doing things they love on a daily basis with more confidence and less fear of being left alone in case of an emergency. 

Faster Access to Emergency Assistance Improves Health Outcomes

In a medical emergency, every minute counts. Timely access to professional help may minimise complications and enhance recovery, especially when it comes to falls, strokes, or heart-related diseases. 

Medical alert systems are created to reduce the time lag between an emergency and help provision. Users can now instantly access trained monitoring professionals through their devices rather than having to look up a phone or wait until someone has noticed that something is amiss.  

Two-way communication can also be provided in many systems, providing emergency responders with an opportunity to evaluate the situation and organise suitable help. This direct relationship assists in getting the appropriate support to the user as fast as possible.

Modern Features Like Fall Detection and GPS Provide Greater Peace of Mind

Today’s medical alert systems offer much more than a basic emergency button. Advanced features have improved both convenience and safety, making these devices more valuable for seniors and their families. 

For example, automatic fall detection can send an alert even if the user is unable to press the emergency button. This feature is particularly helpful for individuals with mobility limitations or health conditions that may prevent them from calling for help. 

Similarly, GPS-enabled devices provide protection beyond the home by allowing emergency responders to locate users when assistance is needed outdoors. Combined with 24/7 monitoring and two-way communication, these features create a more comprehensive safety solution that supports independent living while offering reassurance to family members and caregivers.

Conclusion

The growing demand for affordable medical alert systems in Canada reflects changing lifestyles, an aging population, and a stronger focus on independent living. More Canadians are recognizing that these devices offer practical support without adding unnecessary complexity or financial strain.  

From faster emergency response to advanced features like fall detection and GPS, medical alert systems continue to improve everyday safety for seniors. As technology becomes more accessible and affordable, choosing a reliable medical alert system is becoming an important step toward maintaining independence while ensuring help is always within reach when it matters most.

What Should You Look For When Buying Patriotic T-Shirts

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You see a shirt on the web that is called patriotic, and it seems so nice in the photos. It comes a week later, but something is wrong. The stars are lame. The red looks more pink after one wash. The material is delicate, almost transparent in the daylight. Sound familiar? This is the same disappointment many shoppers have, since most of these listings do not tell you what it is about a patriotic American T-shirt that makes it worth purchasing.  

The good news is it does not require much effort to identify quality as soon as one knows what to look for. Even minor details such as the fabric, printing, correctness of the design, and sourcing can make a difference between a shirt that takes years to wear and one that goes to the donation pile after one season.  

It is useful to take a break before placing an extra shirt in the cart. There are five things to check in the first place.

Start With the Fabric: Comfort Should Never Be an Afterthought

First of all, look at what actually makes patriotic clothing. This one fact determines the quality of a shirt in terms of its feel, fit, and wearability during months of usage. A shirt may bear the most outrageous design in the world. Nevertheless, when the cloth is scratchy, thin or shrinkable, it ceases to be worn after weeks.  

Look for medium-weight cotton or a cotton-poly blend. Pure cotton is breathable, though it may shrink when it is not pre-shrunk. Blends, on the other hand, are more inclined to maintain shape with repeated washing. This lines up with recent research from Cotton Incorporated’s 2025 Global Lifestyle Monitor Survey, which found that consumers rate cotton clothing highest for comfort, softness, and overall quality compared to synthetic alternatives. Such comfort usually determines the number of times a shirt is actually worn.

Check How the Design Was Printed, Not Just How It Looks

An eye-catching design won’t stand the test of time when it cracks or peels after a few washings, and, therefore, the printing technique is as important as the art. Before buying, check these details: 

  • Screen printing: The solid-colour patriotic design should be bold, as the thicker ink does not fade or crack. 
  • Digital printing: Perfect for heavy, multi-colour graphics, but may be washed off more quickly. 
  • Stretch test: Easily stretch the printed area. A good print must be able to bend and come back to shape without breaking or peeling off. 
  • Print texture: Sometimes slightly raised prints are features that show that the screen printing has been well held together so that it can endure regular use and frequent laundry.

Look for Authentic, Respectful Design Details

Patriotic symbols are not meaningless, and thus design is as important as quality. A shirt that has the wrong colours of the flag, does not have the right proportions, or has a generic artwork logo can be more of a novelty than the actual tribute. Before buying, look for these signs: 

  • Proper flag description: Verify the colours and proportions. 
  • Clarity of product images: Zoom in to make the artwork clear and defined. 
  • Balanced layout: Graphics must not be left randomly in the position. 
  • Bright, rich colors: Do not use faded, blurred or washed-out colors. 

These are basic checks that can assist you in picking a patriotic T-shirt that looks real, depicts quality workmanship and will be appealing to look at even after a long time.

Consider Where the Shirt Is Actually Made

Sourcing is a statement of values of a brand, and it is worth paying more attention to before purchasing. Numerous patriotic clothing retailers are owned by veterans, and purchasing from them helps sustain a section of American entrepreneurship that is steadily expanding. Veterans were the majority owners of more than 1.6 million U.S. businesses employing nearly 3.3 million workers, according to the latest data reported by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  

Such an effect is not just a statistic, but real employment and real communities that are attached to the shirt that one puts on. Ownership is frequently referenced on the about page of a brand or the description of its product, so it can be quickly read before making a purchase.  

Knowing where a shirt comes from is important, but that’s only part of the story. The second course of action is to know whether the materials themselves are of acceptable quality and sustainability standards.

Check for Fabric Certifications and Sourcing Transparency

Close attention should also be paid to fabric certifications, as they are not only a good indication of marketing language. Certified organic cotton, Fairtrade, or other such certifications are typically indicative of improved agricultural methods and, in many cases, superior fibre quality in general.  

This is more crucial than one might think, as cotton sourcing transparency has been a larger discussion throughout the apparel world. According to a recent report by Solidaridad Network, there are still a lot of big brands that do not provide full material breakdowns and therefore the brands that do provide such information would shine among the others. A few reviews can also reassure whether the certification claims of a brand hold up in real washing and wear.  

A few signs of a transparent brand:  

  • Certifications are displayed on the product page.  
  • Certain fibre content rather than ambiguous words such as premium fabric.   
  • Ready to discuss sourcing upon request.  
  • Such transparency is typically associated with enhanced quality control throughout.

Wrapping It Up

After all of these areas are checked, purchasing a patriotic T-shirt turns into much less of a guessing game and much more of a sure thing.  

An excellent patriotic T-shirt is reduced to a combination of small details that can be verified: high-quality material, reliable printing, a correct design, considerate sourcing, and true claims of materials. All these do not need specialist knowledge; all one has to do is slow down and take a minute before clicking on buy. An extra minute to compare details is well worth it long after checkout.  

The following time the urge to shop patriotic shirts arises, going through these five points will be like a mental checklist. It rescues another failed buy and, more to the point, results in a shirt that does feel good to put on: one that retains its colour, shape, and meaning through many washes.

What does Pride mean to you? A reflection on identity

Kristof Sitanyi
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What does Pride mean to you? A reflection on identity

The Oxford Union recently hosted a divisive debate featuring Tommy Robinson, Laurence Fox, and other controversial figures. The city centre turned into an epicentre of polarisation, hatred and anger, with outraged protesters and counter-protesters creating sites of tension in our public spaces. Yet less than two weeks before these same streets were the centre stage of a celebration of love, connection, and humanity. 

It was the first Pride Parade I had ever attended, and I was pleasantly surprised when offered to carry the Oxford University LGBTQ+ Society’s banner. I was so excited to connect with the rest of the group through our shared enthusiasm and experiences. Eagerly, I contacted many other queer friends to join. Their responses would soon shock me.

No one in my friend group and broader network actively despised this event. Yet a plethora had emphatically rejected my invitation to march, and not for the commonly cited reason of scheduling, essay deadlines, or fearing that they would run into their ex-Hinge or Grindr date. Responses described either a general anxiety that the celebration had lost its purpose (‘it’s never really about Pride anymore’), or a feeling that one’s identity could not be adequately described by the labels.

Admittedly, my initial reaction was one of surprise, with a mild hint of disdain. Why in a world where anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is on the rise in many supposedly accepting countries, such as the US or the UK, were we not eager to stand together? Yet my arrogant ignorance quickly turned into realisations of biases caused by my own experience.

As a queer Hungarian, Pride is not just a celebration; it is a protest, a rallying cry, and a force of nature. When the Parade was banned in 2025 through the far-right Orbán regime, it still took place in Budapest, and attendance was so overwhelming (numbering up to 200,000 in a country of less than 10 million) that police refused to proceed with investigations into participants. I grew up watching the degradation of my rights, and it filled me with motivation to never surrender to the prejudices of others.

This same passion created revolutionary changes in our society. Earlier this year, Orbán’s government was ousted, and Hungary transitioned from a far-right autocracy to a centre-right administration, a seemingly minor change that will nonetheless carry significant implications. The events of Budapest Pride 2025 likely played a role in motivating anti-government action. We fought for our rights despite the odds. Why does this impassioned mindset fail to manifest in those who refused to march with me?

For me, there appear to be two problems that mirror the responses I received from my friends: these are the complacency of those in Western Europe, and our imposition of identity on queer individuals in other cultures. 

Firstly, in Western Europe and North America, there appears to be a sense of indifference to the whole event, as if our rights are already won, and there is nothing further to be done. I find this perspective rather problematic.

What does it mean to have rights? In a superficial sense, we have achieved equality with regard to marriage, adoption, and dignity in healthcare. However, have we obtained a fundamental queering of societies? Reflecting on when I had to hide the pride outfit I bought in my bag at Westgate for fear of abuse, or when I was harassed by a straight man who thought my gay identity made me his property, it is clear that there is still work to be done.

Rights are never fixed; they are broken down and reconstructed according to the demands and opinions of society. Already, support for same-sex marriage has fallen 6% in the US since 2023. Companies have dramatically downscaled their support during June, with Target in the US being a noteworthy example. Pride reminds us that the rights we have won are not inalienable. Mass apathy promotes societal woes.

Whilst I could effectively counter this critique, the feeling that some experienced about not being adequately represented at the Parade stumped me. I soon realised the problem; many of my friends do not come from a European or American background, yet the origins of modern LGBTQ+ rights originated in Stonewall in 1969. Imposing our Western European and North American queer identities on the rest of the world, letting ourselves speak for them, mirrors neo-colonial sentiments.

I realised that questions of representation were not unique to conversations in Oxford. A prominent issue in North America concerns Native American two-spirit individuals. One carries both male and female spirits regardless of their gender, affecting how they present and the relationships they form. Pride events such as those in Toronto failed to provide communities for these identities, leaving them subject to harassment and discrimination. 

These discussions reveal that our views on Pride are shaped by both personal experience and societal labels. While these can foster belonging, they have also excluded and ‘othered’ many people. This does not mean abandoning Pride. Instead, we must not be complacent and ensure the event gives a voice to those whose identities do not fit European or American labels.

Next year, I will fly the flag above my head proudly. It is not the symbol of a country, but a community, one that has no borders. And as I walked through the street, I felt at home in my heart. I hope that one day everyone can share this feeling.

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