Tuesday 14th October 2025
Blog Page 524

Cherpse! Jaya and Raphael

Cherwell Life
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Cherpse! Jaya and Raphael

Jaya Rana, Hertford, English, First year

We met under the Bridge of Sighs and walked around Oxford for a bit before deciding to go to Missing Bean – but as there were no seats we ended up going to George Street Social.

First impressions?
He seemed really nice – he was very friendly and very talkative which was lovely, plus he had a really cool dress sense. On the walk there we chatted about how we’ve found first year, and asked about each other’s colleges.

Did it meet up to your expectations?
I didn’t really go in with any expectations as it was very last minute so yeah I’d say it did! I just thought it would be fun to meet new people, and Raphael was nice, so yeah, I’d say it did.

What was the highlight:
I don’t know if there was one specific highlight, although if I had to say one thing in particular, it was interesting finding out more about German culture, and what life at Oxford is like for an international student.

What was the most embarrassing moment:
Probably the fact that I struggled to navigate the way to Missing Bean after living in Oxford for two terms now.

Describe the date in 3 words:
Short, friendly, sweet

Is a second date on the cards:
He seems lovely, but probably not, as I think it’s more of a friends thing

Raphael Decker, St Hugh’s, E&M, First year

Due to some interesting circumstances in the arranging of our date, we ended up meeting at the Bridge of Sighs at 10:15am, not the best time for a date in my opinion, as it required getting up at a reasonable time. After a brief walk through the city to find a café that wasn’t completely packed, we ended up at George Street Central for a fairly good coffee and an equally enjoyable conversation. Topics ranged from the usual introduction to our respective extracurriculars and oxford’s architecture. All in I had a fairly good and time and it seemed like she did too, although I didn’t see many sparks flying.

First impressions?
She was there early and seemed very friendly.

Did it meet up to your expectations?
I had no expectations going into it, so I’ll say yes

What was the highlight?
It didn’t really have particular highlight to me, though the overall quality of the chat was fairly good.

What was the most embarrassing moment?
Other than the few seconds of awkward silence near the end, not much.

Describe the date in three words:
Coffee, friendly, chill

Is a second date on the cards?
Maybe?

Get Withs and Guilty Feminists

Isobel Merriman
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Get Withs and Guilty Feminists

So here I am, tackling this morally ambiguous minefield head on with an investigation into ‘get withs’ and whether or not they really are feminist. Dear reader, I have no high-ground here. Once or twice I’ve found myself engaging in a ballsy display of PDA on a club dancefloor and whilst I’ve never profoundly regretted it, I’ve never been a huge fan either (sorry boys).

This hasn’t always been deliberate. Between the institutionalised racism and the blatant misogyny, I’m pleased we’ve left the 1950s in the past. But I really wish we’d held onto the whole dancing thing. These days if you’re dancing opposite someone, you’re overthinking how much eye contact is normal and when you should make it, desperately trying to coordinate your limbs in a way that isn’t embarrassing for all involved. All whilst an ever changing playlist of unhelpful hits sabotages you at every turn. You don’t so much dance with someone, as face off across a dancefloor, playing an elaborate game of ‘chicken’ and attempting to read their mind. What happened to hands looped around a neck and a little side to side swaying? Instead, this move now seems to be the universal code for a kiss – only I didn’t get the memo. Accidental initiation aside, I normally leave feeling at best ambivalent and at worst slightly disappointed, whatever the quality of the kiss. ( I do tend to worry about my technique after I’ve had a couple of shots… boys, I’m sorry?)

I am one of the last hopeless romantics but somewhere between being out of conversation starters to bellow across a dancefloor, flattered, or frankly just feeling the inevitable oncoming, I’ve more than once given into a kiss. There have never been fireworks (sorry again, boys) and despite the enthusiastic approval I get from friends, it always leaves me feeling a little bit flat. I want a kiss to come with electric anticipation; maybe after a date the moment before we say goodbye, when it’s inevitable in a way that doesn’t invoke mild dread – so why have I settled for less?

This is where my feminism kicks in and I blame the patriarchy for my problems. I can be insecure. I don’t love how my hair looks in a ponytail and sometimes I worry I’m a bit too prim and proper on a night out. So, if a guy is coming onto me and my hair’s in a ponytail or I’m feeling a little bit out of my depth, it’s easy to be flattered. Attraction fundamentally boils down to confusing chemicals and a very human desire for intimacy and often, validation. This doesn’t make it intrinsically wrong but I know I’m not ‘getting with’ for the right reasons – I’m relying on a guy’s apparent attraction to me as a way to boost my own self-esteem. It’s a bit too 1950s for my liking and I don’t want to define myself in the male gaze. But it’s always nice to be wanted. Not to mention, in a culture that often promotes promiscuity, the approval I get from friends after lip-locking with a cute guy becomes a badge of honour. Who knew kissing someone with a symmetrical face could earn you so much respect?

Now consider the claim that ‘get withs’ are a way for empowered women to reclaim their sexual autonomy. Whilst I’ll be the first in line to support women owning their sexuality – as the orgasm gap persists and overt female desire is often fetishized or shamed – is this really the way to do it? Surely noncommittal intimacy isn’t the ultimate way to establish our power over the patriarchy? It seems like an overly literal interpretation of “make love, not war”. We don’t need ‘get withs’ to get our message across. If you want to stick it to The Man, then by all means go for it – but will The Man really get the message from a cheeky snog? Sure, reclaim your right to your own pleasure and if that means a ‘get with’ then go for it, but don’t find yourself leaning in because it’s inevitable, or flattering and then attempt to justify it later with a feminist angle. You are worth so much more. Part of the feminist movement is encouraging women to recognise their self-worth and not settle for anything less than exactly what they want. Your self-worth should never have to come from someone else or be compromised for someone else.

This isn’t just a heterosexual issue. It’s always good to establish an equal power balance in any sexual situation and you should never feel less than 100% comfortable trusting someone else with your body. Anyone who gets to kiss you should feel really lucky, not just pleased their gamble of buying you that drink paid off, or relieved that you broke the awkward-bopping, out-of-things-to-say silence.

If you really like the person you’re dancing across from give them your number and hang out another time, preferably somewhere you don’t have to make conversation at a shrill yell. Their lips will still be there later and half the fun lies in the anticipation. Kissing can be completely magical and perfectly good fun on a dancefloor, but don’t bother if you aren’t totally into it. Put those lips to work on the lyrics of that Lizzo song instead. I promise it doesn’t make you boring. We need the endorphins that come from a killer bop, friends who occasionally elbow us in the face on the dance floor and a jumper for the smoking area far more than we need kisses on a night out. Whilst ‘get with’ culture is standard for our generation and I love that we are shaking off the shame that’s previously been associated with accepting our sexual selves, that doesn’t mean it’s a requirement for a successful night out. I can’t be the only one who’s kissed someone for all the wrong reasons and yes, it isn’t the end of the world, but “I might as well” isn’t what happily ever afters or feminist principles are built on. We can do better.

Towards a Contested Convention?

Spencer Cohen
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Towards a Contested Convention?

Almost every election cycle, pundits fret over the possibility of a contested convention as soon as primary races get heated. Now, however, more than ever before, this looks a real possibility – with an extensive field still in contention dividing up the delegates, a frontrunner who is perpetually in conflict with the party’s establishment, and the stakes higher than ever, the Democratic Convention in Milwaukee, set to take place place from July 13ththrough July 16th, might just be the first contested one since 1952.

Here is your definitive guide to understanding how Democrats might nominate their general election candidate. 

What is a Contested Convention? 

The American presidential primary is an indirect election. When a candidate competes in state caucuses and primaries, they are not competing for votes directly, but for delegateswho will then vote for them at the convention. The method for allocating these delegates varies from state to state, but generally a candidate must reach a viability threshold of 15% statewide or in a specific congressional district to receive any delegates. From there, the number of delegates is determined by their performance, with different states and congressional districts awarding different numbers of delegates depending on size, population, and likelihood to vote for a Democrat in the general election.

By the end of the primary, 3 979 delegates will have been awarded in total, with a candidate needing a majority – 1 991 – to win the nomination.

In the first round of voting, delegates are bound to vote for the candidate that won them in the state contests. However, if no candidate reaches the magic majority of delegates, the convention moves to a second round of voting. This round is different for two reasons. First, various party elites and elected officials whose votes carry extra weight – known as superdelegates– are able to participate in the second ballot of voting.  Before a 2018 DNC rules change, superdelegates could vote in the first round of voting, but many on the left – including the Sanders campaign – saw this as an unfair influence of the establishment over people, so the rule was changed. Second – a candidate can choose to pledge their delegates to another candidate to give them an edge or a majority (often in exchange for a political, personnel, or policy guarantee). 

So, a “brokered convention” is a convention that reaches a second round of voting because a candidate fails to reach a majority in the first round, but is resolved easily in the second round, with the result a foregone conclusion. For example, Elizabeth Warren could pledge her delegates to Bernie Sanders and give him a majority. Or, Joe Biden could win a large majority of superdelegate and moderate candidate support in the second round and unite a majority of the party. 

A “contested convention”, by contrast, is a convention where no candidate reaches a majority in the first round, but the result of the second round of voting is truly in doubt. This could mean candidates fail to create majority coalitions around them in the second round, that they are unable to cut deals with other candidates, or that the party remains too divided to choose.

Will there be a Contested Convention?

FiveThirtyEight has a model that calculates the odds of no candidate reaching a majority at 65% – the most likely outcome according to their forecast by far. 

This likelihood skyrocketed after Biden’s large and broad win in South Carolina. While Bernie is expected to better on Super Tuesday than Biden, Amy Klobuchar and Pete Buttigieg dropping out of the race, and their pending endorsements, will undoubtedly tighten the race. 

Another factor that affects the probability of a contested convention is the size of the field – if Elizabeth Warren and Mike Bloomberg stay in much longer than Super Tuesday, they will likely wrack up a considerable number of delegates, but without a real path to the nomination. Both have suffered polling dips since the end of the early primaries, but will likely compete for delegates around the country. They could further divide and dilute the delegate race and make it harder for Bernie or Biden to garner a majority. 

Moreover, with the primary race become more expensive and geographically much larger, candidates’ ability to fund themselves and sustain their campaigns will remain crucial considerations in understanding the ch         ances of a contested convention. Financial reports from just a few days ago show that Biden has only 7M$ left in the bank, and more difficulty with his fund-raising apparatus. Bernie has 17M$ and a money-raising machine. If Biden is out-raised and out-spent by Bernie, it remains unclear whether Biden might be able to sustain a challenge to Bernie until June. If Biden continues to accept PAC support and keep up financially, he will be a threat and will increase the likelihood of a contested convention. And of course, Mike Bloomberg’s Super Tuesday showing will indicate much about his ability to compete from a delegate perspective – if he does well, that is another division factor of delegates. 

What will happen at a Contested Convention?

Above all else, the answer to this question depends on how large the leading candidate’s (likely Bernie) plurality is. There is much historical precedent to suggest that if Bernie has a large lead over whoever finishes second (likely Biden) but just fails to reach a majority, smaller candidates and super delegates will coalesce around him to give him a majority. Conversely, if two candidates (likely Bernie and Biden) are close and both relatively far from a majority the outcome is entirely more uncertain. 

The role party elites, or superdelegates, will play is crucial to this equation: whether they defy popular will and back a candidate who failed to win a plurality, or whether they coalesce around the plurality winner is unkown but fundamental to understanding what might happen. Of course, this is complicated by Bernie’s difficult relationship with the Democratic establishment, as shown by the New York Timesreport on how difficult it will be for Bernie to assemble a coalition of party elites. 

Candidates seem to be preparing for this potential situation. Other reports from Politicohave already shown that other candidates like Mike Bloomberg expect to exploit this weakness of Bernie’s at a potential contested convention. Elizabeth Warren has positioned herself as a unifier between progressive and establishment Democrats, and Joe Biden has been flexing his establishment support more and more. 

If Biden is very close to Sanders, his longstanding relationships in the Democratic Party might poise him to close his delegate gap on Sanders. Bernie’s ability to broker deals on politics, personnel, and policy might become essential here: will he join forces with Elizabeth Warren and nominate her for Vice-President? Will he be willing to drop some of his most unpopular policies for his platform in exchange for superdelegate support? Will he agree to take PAC money and endorse all Democratic Party candidates down the ballot? 

Nevertheless, all party elites and actors at the convention are operating under severe constraints. The specter of the “rigged primary” looms large over Milwaukee, especially from the Sanders camp if they win a plurality and doesn’t get the nomination.  Moreover, the democratic implications of superdelegates overturning the primary results would create a narrative that might be difficult to overcome – so it doesn’t seem especially likely that a contested convention results in a surprise. 

What does this mean for the Democratic Party?

Then Convention being in June, should there be a contested convention, Democrats would only give their nominee 6 months to compete in the general election, all while Trump has spent over 45M$ in digital advertising alone since 2018. This would mean that the candidate would have a very small amount of time to plug this gap, and would make the Democrats’ task undoubtedly more difficult.

This convention would also be a very public airing of dirty laundry. It would exacerbate the “anti-establishment” feelings on one side, and the “anti-progressive” feelings on the other. It could divide the Democrats in a way to depress base turnout in the election. This would also probably be exploited by President Trump, who has shown a keenness to get involved and exacerbate intra-party fights happening in the Democratic Party. The contest between Bernie and Biden is problem that cuts at the heart of the struggle for the Democratic Party’ soul. This battle would not be a pretty one to watch at a contested convention. 

Finally, should a contested convention nominate a candidate who goes on to lose the general election, there would be a serious distrust of the DNC and the establishment that might just tear the whole infrastructure of the Democratic Party down. This would be seriously damaging to the Party as an institution around the country, and would likely create reputational damage that would jeopardize not just the Party’s chances at the Presidency, but also thousands of Senate, House, Governor, and State Legislature seats. 

Brits 2020: Where performance met politics

Tumi Olufawo
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Brits 2020: Where performance met politics

This year’s Brit awards took place on the 18th of February, and did not disappoint as a night of celebration of British culture, entertainment and amazing performance. Perhaps the most stand-out part of this year’s awards show however, was the sheer diversity present in the nominees, winners and performers on the stage.

The Brits took place in the O2 Arena in London, and the winners in each category were largely unsurprising. Lewis Capaldi took home both Best New Artist and Song of the Year for ‘Someone You Loved’. Mabel was awarded Female Solo Artist, thirty years on from the time that her mother Neneh Cherry took home the same award. All the artists and guests were in high spirits, from drinking on the podium as Lewis Capaldi did, to downing a glass of neat tequila in the audience in the case of Lizzo. The show was a celebration of British music and culture and a pleasure to watch, anchored by host Jack Whitehall.

Despite the show being an entertaining night, full of the best live performance the country has to offer, the most significant take-away from this year’s Brits was the artists’ use of the platform they were given as a means of political speech. A lack of diversity and representation has been a major issue in many awards shows in the past, and the Brits are no exception. The awards show came under fire in 2016, when it was announced that almost all of the nominees in the British categories were white; provoking the hashtag #BritsSoWhite. This was especially disappointing as it followed 2015: a pivotal year for the UK grime scene, one that is pioneered by predominantly black men and women. Since then, it seems as if the organisers have taken an active effort to recognise and reward the achievements of a diverse range of performers. 

Many artists made use of their short opportunity on stage to call out the faults of the British government. In his acceptance speech for International Male Solo Artist, Tyler the Creator called out ex-PM Theresa May for banning him from the UK for using ‘hate’ speech, not dissimilar to what has been freely said by high-profile white artists such as Eminem. However, perhaps the most poignant speech of the night was made by Dave, a twenty-one year old rapper who took home the award for Best New Album for Psychodrama. Dave chose to perform his song, ‘Black’, written both to highlight the struggles that come with being a black person in our society, and what black people have been able to achieve despite this. In an extra verse written especially for this performance, Dave called out the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, labelling him a ‘real racist,’ and highlighting that even if racism is less of a problem in Britain than other places, this does not erase the fact that it is a very real and present struggle – especially in the current political climate. Dave also used this as an opportunity to bring necessary attention to the victims of the Grenfell Fire who are still waiting for housing, and as a tribute those who sadly lost their lives in the London Bridge terror attacks last year. 

The extremely well-spoken South London native’s performance was met with a mixed response. Many praised his lyricism and use of his platform to spread a meaningful message, whilst others reprimanded him for judging Boris Johnson without knowing him personally. Whether we agree with Dave or not, it is undeniable that his performance marked a monumental moment for Black Britons everywhere. The demand for creativity from more than just white people in a way legitimised his voice, and he used it to present issues close to the heart of many Black Britons – rather than just an opportunity to self promote.

However, it does seem prudent to not be too quick in applauding this change in attitudes towards representation and diversity at the Brits. This wariness is raised simply by looking at its problematic history. Views spiked after Skepta’s performance in 2017 with a stage full of black men in hoodies, which many reported as being ‘outrageous.’ Would the British public have had the same reaction had it been a stage of white men? Unlikely. It is hard not to wonder whether those at the Brits truly see the importance of recognising these artists, or are simply trying to increase their views with provocative performances they know will ignite conversation. Either way, it is clear that diverse artists have been able to pave the way for themselves in an environment which has historically regarded them with apprehension, and we really do love to see it. 

Review: That Reminds Me (2019)

Lucy Tiraham
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Review: That Reminds Me (2019)

Fragmentary, authentic and poetic – Derek Owusu’s latest publication, That Reminds Me, succeeds in its painfully honest exploration of a young Ghanaian boy’s journey into adulthood. 

When plucked out of the security of his foster home, eight-year-old ‘K’, Owusu’s protagonist, must forge new relationships with his biological family in a lonely, metropolitan sphere. Reading the dust-jacket protecting the memoirs contained in this hardback semi-biography reveals that, in just 113 pages, Owusu will question “identity, belonging, addiction, sexuality, violence, family and religion”. 

Integral to Owusu’s story is its indefinability. As readers we are inclined to compartmentalise, to secure a text to a genre, form, or literary tradition. In the critical reception of Owusu’s piece thus far, the terms ‘novel-in-verse’, ‘semi-biography’ and ‘rhythmic prose’ have all been posited. Whilst these terms are helpful, I admire Owusu for his ability to defy such classifications. 

Split into five poignant sections (Awareness, Reflection, Change, Construction and Acceptance), That Reminds Me shows the vitality to be found in momentary flashbacks, whether about significant milestones or mundane everyday experiences. The mention of chocolate cornflake cakes, messages on MSN, getting the annual MOT, Nokia mobiles, Cornettos or the application of Deep Heat makes the novel simultaneously personal and widely relatable.  

The most appealing aspect of Owusu’s narrative is the mosaic-style structure constituted by snippets of K’s memories. K is not on a journey with a destination of unity in mind. Owusu portrays a character who learns to become comfortable in brokenness, and, more importantly, acknowledges brokenness as an inherent facet of the human condition. There are moments where it is difficult to ascertain whether the words on the page are descriptions of reality or K’s imagination ­­– but this is precisely the point. In only ever giving us limited insights into K’s experiences, we arguably learn more about him than if we were reading an extensive description conventional to the bildungsroman novel. 

Each section is signposted by a pencil illustration of a spider’s web. As the narrative progresses, the web develops. In the last section, the spider sits proudly in the middle of the web, surrounded by his intricate creation. The spider’s web becomes emblematic of the narrative web Owusu so delicately offers us. Fragile, awe-inspiring and complex: I could not pick a more apt image for K. Along with the illustrations, the insightful snippets make this novel feel more like a diary you are reading in secret, an opportunity one should feel privileged to have. 

Inscribed in the paratext of the novel is an author’s note:

“This is the story of K. If you believe your life to be as fictitious as K’s, if you find yourself within the pages of this book, then you are holding the pen and not me”

Encapsulated in K’s story is an applicability almost inescapable. This is a story about being human as much as it is about race. When asked by researchers at Penguin Books for the best piece of writing advice he had ever received, Owusu answered with, “For goodness sake, just write in your own voice, Derek!” I can only commend Owusu for not only fulfilling this advice but capturing the voices of other underrepresented people in contemporary literature. I sincerely believe this book has an accessibility inviting to all readers. 

In regard to Derek Owusu himself, I thank him for defying form, for giving readers ‘K’ and for, most admirably, allowing us to ‘hold the pen’. 

Pembroke tutor guilty of possession of child pornography

Cherwell
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Pembroke tutor guilty of possession of child pornography

TW: Child Pornography, sexual abuse

Philosophy tutor Peter King entered a guilty plea on Thursday, charged with possession of child pornography.

Previously a Stipendiary Lecturer at Pembroke, King has since been suspended from his position.

A spokesperson for the college told Cherwell: “Pembroke was made aware of the police investigation and charges against Peter King only the day before his court appearance.

He was immediately suspended from his employment, pending disciplinary proceedings.

The College moved swiftly to put in place welfare and counselling arrangements for students and staff, and alternative teaching arrangements and academic support for all affected students.”

According to The Guardian, Oxford Crown Court confirmed that King has pleaded guilty to three counts of producing indecent photos of a child between 2010 and 2018. Production is understood to mean generating copies of digital media.

King will be sentenced on March 19th.

Philosophy students, and all members of Pembroke’s JCR and MCR, were informed of the matter in an email this week, in which the college stated King was “expected to plead guilty”.

It is understood that members of staff were unaware of the investigation into Dr King until his court appearance.

As well as removing King’s staff page and Oxford email address, Pembroke College has offered welfare support to all students, saying they shall provide “fast-track access to the University Counselling Service”.

Students who did not study philosophy were told of “a serious situation involving one of the Philosophy tutors” the same day, but not of the details of the case.

An email sent out on Thursday read: “We have written today to students of Philosophy regarding a serious situation involving one of the Philosophy tutors. We appreciate that the nature of the charges against him may cause distress to individuals and we want to reach out to anyone who may be particularly affected.”

King described his research as relating to “both metaethics and practical ethics”, and in 2008 published a paper entitled “No Plaything: Ethical Issues Concerning Child Pornography”.

In the paper, published in the journal Ethical Theory and Moral Practice, he argues for the existence of a “morally neutral” form of child pornography, which “if it reduces the market for abusive material… might even be morally good”.

Despite terming this hypothetical content “genuinely possible”, King concludes that “child-pornography is morally wrong.”

The paper begins “Academic discussion of pornography is generally restricted to issues arising from the depiction of adults.”

“I argue that child-pornography is a more complex matter, and that generally accepted moral judgements concerning pornography in general have to be revised when children are involved.”

“I look at the question of harm to the children involved, the consumers, and society in general, at the question of blame, and at the possibility of a morally acceptable form of child-pornography.

“My approach involves an objectivist metaethics and a utilitarian view of practical ethics, and I bring out the advantages of these theories to the consideration of moral issues such as this one.”

King, having completed his Masters and Doctoral qualifications at Brasenose College, went on to teach at Christ Church and Somerville, before joining Pembroke College.

Oxford University did not offer additional comment, but did clarify to Cherwell that Dr King was not employed by the university and held no duties at a faculty level.

King’s defence lawyer declined comment to The Guardian.

Pembroke College has been home to scholars for over 396 years.

The college currently houses 375 undergraduates, as well as visiting students on study abroad programs from US and Chinese universities, in addition to more than 283 postgraduates.

Trinity Hall Cambridge embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations

Rachel Cordery
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Trinity Hall Cambridge embroiled in sexual misconduct allegations

TW: Sexual Assault

Dr Jeremy Morris, the head of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, has stepped back from his duties after accusations of mishandling sexual misconduct allegations came to light.

The Rev Canon Morris “voluntarily stepped back from duties as Master of Trinity Hall, pending the Col- lege’s further consideration of recent events,” according to a statement on the college’s website.

Alongside Morris, Dr William O’Reilly has also withdrawn from his college duties pending further investigation. Dr O’Reilly is a University Senior Lecturer in Early Modern His- tory and a Fellow at Trinity Hall.

An investigation by Tortoise Media revealed that O’Reilly oversaw a disciplinary process involving multiple reports of sexual assault by a male student, who O’Reilly allegedly had a “close relationship” with during his time as Acting Senior Tutor at Trinity Hall, according to Varsity, Cambridge University’s student newspaper.

Published last week, the investigation also detailed an allegation against O’Reilly of sexually assaulting another male student. Dr O’Reilly declined to comment.

Ella Hill, a reporter at Tortoise, told Cherwell: “We’ve been concerned about campus safety for a while. At a Tortoise ThinkIn last year, we heard several stories of people who had experienced sexual violence on campus and been failed by their university. In part, those discussions led us to the Trinity Hall story.”

“Trinity Hall is a case study – not an exception. There are serious concerns about how universities across the sector address such allegations.”

Trinity Hall announced further resignations on Tuesday. The college announced that Vice-Master, Nick Bampos, will offer his resignation to the Governing Body next week.

Bampos’ resignation comes one day after the women, who brought forward the cases of misconduct, released a statement.

In a statement, the women said: “We have been moved and encouraged by the response from the student and alumni community. Thank you for fighting on our behalf, and for continuing to work so hard to make Trinity Hall a safer place.”

The women go on to offer four guidelines for what should happen next, including the resignation of Dr Jeremy Morris, the implementation of new leadership that “can command confidence of the student body”, and a disciplinary inquiry into Dr O’Reilly.

The women also called for the college to seek external investigation into the handling of sexual misconduct cases.

They added: “Our experience is not exceptional, and we stand in solidarity with all survivors of sexual misconduct – including those whose cases have been mishandled by institutions they trusted to treat them fairly and sensitively.”

The resignations follow mounting pressure from students and alumni.

In an open letter to the Heads of Houses of the constituent colleges of Cambridge University, the University’s Women’s Campaign wrote: “An investigation published in Tortoise this week has revealed that senior leadership at Trinity Hall made a series of decisions amounting to a complete failure to adequately deal with complaints of sexual misconduct and support survivors. The allegations that have been made reveal that the college leadership closed ranks to protect senior members of staff, and attempted to stifle student complaints and staff who supported them.

“We believe that the Trinity Hall case shines a light on a broader issue in the collegiate university, and forces us to seriously question the ability of any college to adequately handle sexual misconduct cases. Even if a college has a policy which represents good practice on paper, when complaints are administered by untrained individuals embedded in a close knit community, there is no guarantee that the policy will be properly followed. Individuals at Trinity Hall continuously prioritised collegiate relationships and college reputation over their duty of care to students. Senior members of staff had too much discretionary power and made a series of indefensible decisions which betrayed a complete disregard for the welfare of students. There has now been a breakdown of trust between Trinity Hall students and college leadership and welfare services.

“There is no reason to believe that Trinity Hall is worse equipped than any other college to handle these cases. We only know an unusual amount about the series of events at Trinity Hall because the college has come under focused scrutiny and has been the subject of investigative journalism. The reality is that cases such as these are not limited to Trinity Hall. Every college will struggle with conflicts of interest within a relatively small environment, as well as a lack of proper training and expertise. Every year, the Women’s Campaign hears from students who found their case quietly dropped or came up against members of college staff who lacked the knowledge or inclination to support them.

“It is clear that colleges are inadequately equipped to handle cases of sexual misconduct. We call on colleges to recognise this fact and commit to one centralised disciplinary procedure for cases of sexual misconduct.”

“The Women’s Campaign will continue to hold the University to account for its handling of sexual misconduct, and to call for further reform from the university disciplinary procedure. Ultimately we hope for one system that students can have faith in, and that the colleges will demonstrate their commitment to student safety over collegiate autonomy.”

The open letter has been signed by 44 groups and organisations, as well as over 830 students, staff and alumni.

A spokesperson for Trinity Hall told Cherwell: “As has been reported, the College has set up a panel of unconflicted Fellows to co-ordinate its response to the issues raised in recent media coverage. The panel will be submitting an interim report to an additional meeting of the Col- lege’s Governing Body in the week commencing 2nd March.”

Trinity Hall has previously come under pressure after an academic was accused of sexually harassing ten students last year.

Dr Peter Hutchinson later resigned from Trinity Hall in November 2019 after over 1,300 staff and students protested that he had been allowed to keep his post.

In response to the Tortoise investigation, the Master of Trinity Hall released a statement on the college’s website before his decision to step back.

The statement said: “We understand that any allegations of this kind at our College will be a matter of deep concern to everyone in our community, and we take them extremely seriously. There is no place for misconduct or inappropriate behaviour of any kind at Trinity Hall, and we are highly aware how important it is to deal with any issues which may arise in a clear and appropriate manner. The safety and welfare of students and staff at the College is a priority for us, and a natural expectation of anyone who comes to study and work here.”

“We will do everything we can to ensure people raising such issues feel safe and supported. The College has its own mental health team, and significant pastoral and tutorial support, in addition to the provision made by the University of Cambridge for all its students and staff.”

“We are aware that many of our students, staff and alumni have expressed important views on these topics in recent times, for which we are grateful, and hope that they will continue to engage with us in the future. We in turn are committed to listening and learning from previous instances of dealing with often challenging matters in the most rigorous manner possible.”

In light of this, Cambridge’s Office for Students is holding a consultation on sexual misconduct and harassment.

Dr Jeremy Morris has been Master of Trinity Hall since 2014.

Calls for Oxford University to scrap £75 postgraduate application fee

Matthew Schaffel
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Calls for Oxford University to scrap £75 postgraduate application fee

There have been calls for Oxford University to scrap the £75 application fee currently charged to students applying for postgraduate courses.

In a resolution now set to be debated on 10th March at the Sheldonian Theatre, PhD student Benjamin Fernando and researcher Mike Cassidy have outlined their plans to scrap the fee.

The University has so far stood firm in opposing the move and maintaining the benefits provided from bringing in over £2 million per year from the fee.

Benjamin Fernando told Cherwell: “The University requiring candidates to pay this fee is clearly elitist and exclusionary, and serves to work against the University’s commitment to advancing access at a graduate level.”

The researcher Mike Cassidy, who worked alongside Fernando in bring- ing this motion to the University congregation, said: “The other motivation for our resolution is that we fear Oxford will raise the fees…and that soon charging for postgraduate applications in other universities will be the norm, looking to Oxbridge for justification. If Oxford votes to abolish these fees, it sets a great example to those other [application fee-charging] universities.”

These views are also shared by Chris Lintott, a Professor of Astrophysics, who said: “I would hear every year from people who couldn’t find the £75. I certainly couldn’t have found that sort of money when I was applying! It also adds to the perception that Oxford is a place for the rich.”

Mr Lintott also warned that “Unless they [the reforms to the application fee] are as liberal as possible (Harvard offers a fee waiver more or less to anyone who asks) there will still be people who are prevented from applying because of the fee”.

The Oxford Student Union has also supported the move, with Ray Williams, current Vice-President for Access and Academic Affairs, saying: “Our position is that the University should do away with the application fee or, at minimum, vastly expand the fee waiver program.”

This was following a vote in support of the resolution during 3rd Week at the Student Council, in which 90% of those in attendance backed it.

A spokesperson for the University said: “Oxford is one of a growing number of institutions that charges a fee at the point of application for graduate study, towards the cost of the systems, staff and other resources that support its admissions process for over 30,000 prospective applicants every year”.

They added: “The University has agreed a Strategic Plan priority to increase the number of graduate scholarships it will offer over the next five years, and is committed to meeting this target.”

The spokesperson also made reference to the expansion of its UNIQ+ postgraduate application programme, which is “a paid research internship programme for students from under-represented backgrounds who might not otherwise consider postgraduate study at Oxford,” and includes an application fee waiver as part of the programme.

Essi Kessler, the HCR (Hulme Common Room) President at Brase- nose College, added that “the money collected from the Application fee for postgraduates is invested in access schemes such as the UNIQ summer school.”

Kessler also made reference to how it would be “highly desirable to reduce the amount of the application fee to bring it down to a more moderate amount”.

Keen Oxford launch #Share One World campaign

Aishah Wilson
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Keen Oxford launch #Share One World campaign

The Charity Keen, based at the St Clements Centre in Oxford, has introduced their #Share One World campaign in which they are pledging for inclusion and spreading the message that everyone has a responsibility to make society fully inclusive.

Founded in 1984, Keen is a charity that provides sessions and projects that incorporates their fundamental belief that everyone should have an equal opportunity to be included in community based social and recreational activities, for example those who are disabled or those with other needs not catered for. 

They run a range of sessions ranging from Allsorts (a session full of sports games), to Zig Zag (a creative play, arts and drama workshop), to Keen Teens (a project club for young people aged 10-19).

Their #Share One World campaign asks people to pledge their promise to make society more inclusive, and includes numerous ways on their website to make a difference, listing activities such as learning more about inclusion and encouraging school children to organise inclusive events in collaboration with special schools.

On their website, they said: “Inclusion isn’t something that one person is responsible for or can achieve on their own. Everyone has a responsibility to help make our society fully inclusive!” 

You can get involved by making the pledge to make your society more inclusive at: https://www.keenuk.org/sow

Dinah Rose QC appointed as new Magdalen president

Imogen Duke
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Dinah Rose QC appointed as new Magdalen president

Dinah Rose QC has been appointed the new President of Magdalen College. She will succeed Professor Sir David Clary FRS in September 2020.

She will be the first woman to hold this position, and the 43rd President of Magdalen College since its foundation in 1458.

Dinah Rose is a barrister and member of Blackstone Chambers. She has been involved in many of the leading cases in public law, human rights, employment law, and competition law.

Rose studied Modern History at Magdalen College, graduating in 1987. She was called to the bar in 1989 and appointed as Queen’s Counsel in 2006.

She was named Barrister of the Year in The Lawyer Awards 2009 and was appointed a Deputy Judge of the High Court in 2016. Rose has represented Julian Assange in front of the supreme court, and Rupert Murdoch’s News International in phone hacking trials.

Dinah Rose said in a statement from Magdalen College: “It is a great pleasure and privilege to be returning to Magdalen, where I spent three happy and unforgettable years as a student. I look forward to fostering a diverse and welcoming community of scholars, where lively debate, and mutual respect and support encourage our students to fulfil their enormous potential, personally as well as academically. Magdalen has in recent years made very substantial progress in broadening access to the unmatched opportunities which it offers. I am determined to do all in my power to ensure that Magdalen is as accessible and inclusive as it is exceptional.”

Magdalen College said: “Magdalen College is delighted to announce the appointment of Dinah Rose QC as its next President. She will take up office in September 2020 as successor to Professor Sir David Clary FRS, who will have completed 15 years of distinguished service as President of the College.”

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