Friday 25th July 2025
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Predicting the most unpredictable Oscars ceremony in years

Jonnie Barrow
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Predicting the most unpredictable Oscars ceremony in years

It’s my favourite time of the year: Oscars season! This year’s awards season has been fascinating. In a post-Weinstein environment of #MeToo and people begging Oprah to run for president, the Oscars themselves have been quietly revolutionary. The fifth ever woman, African American and Hispanic directors (Greta Gerwig, Jordan Peele and Guillermo Del Toro, respectively) have been nominated for Best Director; the first woman EVER has been nominated for Best Cinematography (Rachel Morrison, for her stellar work on Mudbound); and the Academy have rarely nominated so many genre films (e.g. Get Out, The Shape of Water, Dunkirk) for Best Picture.

As I write this sentence, voting is still underway to decide who this year’s winners will be, so hold onto your crystal balls as we wildly speculate exactly how the Oscars will (probably) get it right or wrong this year.

Best Picture
Should win: Get Out
Will win: Lady Bird

While every other category has a first-past-the-post voting system, Best Picture has a long and complicated preferential system which favours films everybody likes rather than films that a few people really love. Get Out has taken more creative risks and captured the zeitgeist better than perhaps any other film from last year, creating iconic images that have changed the way films can talk about race in a post-Obama America (never mind The Sunken Place, the image of Rose eating Fruit Loops and milk separately has stuck with me since February last year). Lady Bird is a film that nobody really dislikes, and could very well be a surprise winner, but this is certainly not a category anyone can call with any certainty due to the collective strength of most of the nominees.

Best Director
Should win: Paul Thomas Anderson for Phantom Thread
Will win: Literally anyone else

I’m still hurting that Denis Villeneuve wasn’t nominated for Blade Runner 2049, but P.T. Anderson’s direction in Phantom Thread is nothing short of masterful. It’s also far too subtle to get much notice in a hotly contested category full of incredibly deserving nominees – from the incredible technical skill of Christopher Nolan in putting together Dunkirk, to the heartfelt honesty of the direction of Greta Gerwig for Lady Bird or Guillermo Del Toro (many people’s favourite to win) for The Shape of Water.

Best Actor
Should win: Timothée Chalamet for Call Me By Your Name/ Daniel Kaluuya for Get Out/Daniel Day-Lewis for Phantom Thread
Will win: Gary Oldman for Darkest Hour

The Academy love to give Oscars which act as “Lifetime Achievement Awards”, and it’s certainly Gary Oldman’s turn for one after his shouty, transformational turn as Winston Churchill – but it’s also the safest “Oscar-bait” performance in a truly exceptional field this year. Daniel Day-Lewis is, as usual, delightfully brilliant in Phantom Thread, but Daniel Kaluuya and Timothée Chalamet are two young actors who delivered exceptionally brave and affecting performances which deserve as much recognition as possible.

Best Actress
Should win: Sally Hawkins for The Shape of Water
Will win: Frances McDormand for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Sally Hawkins’ mute performance in The Shape of Water is extraordinary, but Frances McDormand’s searing turn in Three Billboards is a little more showy and a lot more fun. This year’s category is filled with strong female characters that all, in their own way, speak truth to power, so any of the nominees would be at least a politically correct choice to win – I’d even argue there’s an outside chance that Margot Robbie could sneak in to take the trophy for her raw, affecting lead role in I, Tonya.

Best Supporting Actor
Should win: Sam Rockwell for Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Will win: Sam Rockwell

This ought to be one of the closest categories this year, as every single nominee has showcased tremendous work – from Christopher Plummer stepping in to replace Kevin Spacey at the last minute and instantly acting as if the role of J. Paul Getty had only ever been his from the start, to Richard Jenkins’ funny, heartwarming and desperately sad turn in The Shape of Water. But Sam Rockwell’s performance in Three Billboards is spellbindingly brilliant – it’s the easiest win of the year.

Best Supporting Actress
Should win: Laurie Metcalf for Lady Bird
Will win: Alison Janney for I, Tonya

Do you remember when J.K. Simmons won his Oscar for being a volcano of rage in Whiplash? Yeah, Alison Janney has this one in the bag. It’s a terrible shame for Laurie Metcalf, whose subtle, brilliant work as Lady Bird’s mother grounds the film perfectly.

Best Original Screenplay
Should win: The Big Sick
Will win: Lady Bird/Get Out

The Big Sick is only nominated in this category and absolutely deserves the win, crafting one of the most beautifully-written rom-coms in years (not to mention perhaps the only 9/11 joke that made me cry with laughter). But the voters love to reward new talent, and Get Out and Lady Bird are astonishingly confident screenplays from two of the most exciting younger writers working in Hollywood today.

Best Adapted Screenplay
Should win: Call Me By Your Name
Will win: Call Me By Your Name

It was one of the best films of last year, with easily the best screenplay that’s received a nomination. It would be historic if Logan or even Mudbound won, but if Call Me By Your Name doesn’t win, I will riot.

More than any other year in recent memory, it feels like the Academy has truly nominated the best of the best in every category. Sure, there are snubs in a few categories – Jennifer Lawrence’s performance in mother! easily deserves a nomination, and Holly Hunter’s role in The Big Sick probably deserved more awards attention. But this is one of the strongest collections of nominees for years; unless the Academy give every award to Darkest Hour, this will no doubt be one of the more memorable and relevant Oscars ceremonies ever.

Oriel take headships in truncated Torpids

Matthew Roller
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Oriel take headships in truncated Torpids

Oriel claimed the headship in both the men’s and the women’s division of Torpids this afternoon.

After Thursday and Friday’s racing was called off due to extreme weather conditions, last year’s heads – Pembroke M1 and Oriel W1 – went into the second and final day of the competition in the lead.

And after the women’s boat successfully sealed their headship by rowing over, Oriel’s men’s boat bumped Pembroke in front of the Pembroke boathouse to seal a double victory.

Oxford University Rowing Clubs (OURCs) and its senior umpires made a unanimous decision to call off Thursday’s racing due to freezing temperatures and unsafe conditions.

Senior umpire David Locke told college captains: “We are concerned that… any incidents that occur may be made too severe too quickly for our mitigation measures to be effective enough. The towpath is likely to be very difficult to keep safe tomorrow.

“We cannot remember conditions as bad as this for Torpids.”

After a similarly cold and snowy day on Thursday, the decision was then made to call off Friday’s racing as well.

Conditions were brutal for Wednesday’s racing. Photo: © Greg Blatchford/yewneek.com

However, after hundreds of rowers lent OURCs a hand yesterday afternoon by clearing snow and ice from the towpath, Locke announced that Saturday’s racing would go ahead.

“Saturday of Torpids will run, but with half divisions (so top half of Div 3 upwards) and with some other important restrictions. Most notably this includes a ban on umpire/coach cycling as per Saturday of Eights and X/S [status] coxes only,” he said.

It meant that for rowers in divisions four and below, there would be no chance to build on or make amends for results on Wednesday.

Before the all-important final races of the day, several crews managed to bump for the second time in the competition.

These included Merton W1, St Hilda’s W1, Catz W1, Hugh’s M1 and Queen’s M1 in division three, while Brasenose W1, Wolfson W2, LMH W1, St. Anne’s W1, Corpus Christi M1, and Exeter M1 did the same in division two.

In the top divisions, Green Templeton W1, New College W1, Magdalen W1, Wolfson W1, Keble W1, Pembroke W1, Teddy Hall M1, Jesus M1, Wolfson M1, and Christ Church M1 also completed the same feat.

Exeter’s men were the most successful crew across the two days of racing, as they climbed five places.

But it was Oriel’s winning bump that stole the show.

The result extended the college’s huge lead in the rankings for most headships. Oriel now have 36 Torpids headships between the two boats, while Brasenose, in second place, have just 22.

As is tradition, a boat will be burned in the college’s first quad after the Boat Club’s dinner this evening.

In May last year, Keble College’s JCR voted against burning boats in the event of a victory in Summer Eights. However, the vote ended up being irrelevant, as Christ Church men and Wadham women took the headships.

Balliol introduces Oxford’s first homelessness representative

Jack Hunter
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Balliol introduces Oxford’s first homelessness representative

Balliol has voted to elect an Oxford JCR’s first homelessness officer to “empower homeless people” in the city.

The new officer will be mandated to collect food, sanitary items, and other donations for a local volunteer group, Turl Street Homeless Action, and publicise volunteering opportunities.

It follows the City Council’s decision to extend the severe weather emergency protocal (SWEP) for rough sleepers because of sub-zero temperatures.

Proposers of the idea, backed by the Oxford SU campaign On Your Doorstep, said the new position would also “create uninterrupted pressure on college governing bodies” to improve their support for the homeless.

The motion, proposed by third-year Simran Uppal, read: “This JCR believes that it has a duty towards its local community, especially when it is in crisis (and) we should do as much as we can to empower and help homeless people.”

Following Balliol’s decision, students at Wadham also passed a motion at its first reading to create a homelessness officer, though their responsibilities may be added to the mandates of existing officers.

Ray Williams, who seconded the Wadham motion, said: “At the last Oxford SU elections there was disagreement over whether homelessness and the inequality in our city was a “student issue”. Motions like this are going around JCRs across Oxford because it 100 per cent is.”

Although many colleges have charities or communities officers, this is the first time an Oxford college will have a position solely dedicated homelessness.

On Your Doorstep is hoping to expand the scheme to other JCRs. Alex Kumar, an On Your Doorstep activist, said: “This country is in the midst of a crisis of homelessness and rough sleeping, and Oxford’s most vulnerable are suffering deeply.

“As members of the University and Colleges that dominate this city, we have a responsibility to those who make their beds on our streets and even on our very doorsteps.

“I hope that JCRs and MCRs across Oxford will take inspiration from this.

“We can only fight this crisis if enough of us are prepared to take a stand.”

Mansfield JCR condemns New over ‘ivory tower’

Jeremiah O'Mahony
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Mansfield JCR condemns New over ‘ivory tower’

Students at Mansfield College have lodged a formal objection to New College’s building plans.

It follows an objection by Mansfield College staff, which called the plans “a vanity project.”

The complaint, addressed to Oxford City Council, expressed Mansfield JCR’s concern that the new “Warham Tower,” part of New College’s building plans, would impact on Mansfield’s privacy.

The letter reads: “Mansfield College JCR believe that the proposed development would constitute an unjust and unreasonable infringement on our privacy, and deplore the disregard New College has had in this respect.”

At its closest point, the tower would be two meters away from the boundary of Mansfield, and would have windows overlooking Mansfield’s grounds.

The letter is signed by Mansfield JCR president Daria Lysyakova.

She told Cherwell: “The majority of the undergraduate students at Mansfield live on the college’s principal site. Not only will they suffer from the noise of the con- struction, but there are also future repercussions.

“As described in detail in our letter submitted to the City Council, we believe that the development is unreasonable in terms of size and scale.

“This will significantly reduce the amenity of the residential buildings in Mansfield and constitutes a significant impact on the privacy of students living on site.”

Lysyakova previously called the proposed building a “literal ivory tower.”

The objection states that the building would violate section A3.26 of the Sites and Housing Plan, which states that “there should be at least 20 metres distance between directly facing windows to habitable rooms in separate dwellings (this guidance will be applied flexibly where only student accommodation rooms are affected).”

The proposed building’s windows would be only about ten metres away from two Mansfield student accommodations, the John Marsh Building and the Mansfield College Garden Building.

New College has said the building would be “peripheral to [Mans- field] College.”

The Mansfield JCR president asked Harris Manchester JCR and MCR presidents to also submit an objection, but they declined.

The Harris Manchester MCR President declined to comment.

Mansfield JCR’s objection comes as Mansfield English tutor, Dr Ros Ballaster lodged her own individual complaint.

She predicted “immense disruption to teaching and living in our buildings while construction is under way over a series of years.”

Ballaster also wrote: “To provide you with a sense of the likely experience of Mansfield College residents and staff, I direct planners to the account of Jeremy Bentham’s design of the ‘panopticon’ in Michel Foucault’s work Discipline and Punish: a large central tower overlooks every room in a prison in which the inhabitants must assume they are under constant surveillance.”

Mansfield students join the Oxford Preservation Trust and numerous Oxford locals in objecting to New’s plans.

New College told Cherwell: “Inevitably, not everyone will agree or support proposed change, but we are confident that we have been reasonable and proportionate, having regard to appropriate planning policies and guidelines.

“We have also listened carefully to the Oxford Design Review Panel and the scheme has been enhanced through that process.

“It is vital we are able to house more of our students so we may play our part in relieving housing pressure within Oxford.

“If we are granted planning approval, it is our intention to implement the scheme.”

Mansfield’s JCR president said: “We believe that having students from another college being able to see clearly into all of the rooms facing the boundary is completely unreasonable and violates the privacy of Mansfield students.

“This is one of the major design flaws of the proposed development which was voiced to representatives from New College on numerous occasions.”

She added: “In submitting their own objection the JCR were hoping to both help college, and voice their own frustration at the development plan.

“Before submission, the letter was reviewed by the JCR bench, sent out to the entire JCR and voted on. 97.6 per cent of students supported its submission and the vote had a very high turn out (possibly the highest I have seen this year).

“Students were also encouraged to submit their own objections.”

Horvath scrapes victory at the Union, while his ‘Ignite’ slate bag top jobs

Susannah Goldsbrough and Ethan Croft
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Horvath scrapes victory at the Union, while his ‘Ignite’ slate bag top jobs

Stephen Horvath has been elected President of the Oxford Union, after beating rival Molly Greenwood by 73 votes. His term will commence in Michaelmas 2018.

Horvath’s ‘Ignite’ slate won all four senior officer positions, in the first contested Union election for five terms. Greenwood’s ‘Reform’ slate took none of the top positions.

The biggest margin of victory was for Genevieve Athis, who was elected Librarian by a 365 vote majority over the ‘Reform’ candidate Alex Bruce.

In the race for Treasurer, James Lamming defeated Charles Wang by a mere 25 votes.

Shanuk Mediwaka was elected Secretary with 623 votes, beating Harry Webster’s 490.

Horvath told Cherwell: “I’m absolutely delighted that our officers were all elected, and I can’t thank enough everyone who voted – it means so much to all of us.

“Unfortunately, some of our candidates for committee did not make it in the end, which is such a shame.

“I’d like to thank Molly and the Reform team for running a great campaign – without a doubt, contested elections motivate people to push even harder.

“I’m incredibly excited for the two terms ahead, and I know the #IGNITE team are looking forward to organising some great events and helping to modernise the Union.”

Greenwood told Cherwell: “I would like to thank Stephen for the way he conducted this election – I heard horror stories of previous contested where candidates wouldn’t talk to one another and the office was tense.

“But Stephen was professional and principled at all times. He won a fair fight, and he deserves the result – I’m really pleased for him.”

Three of ‘Ignite’’s four candidates were elected to the Standing Committee, including Cecilia Zhao and Brendan McGrath who received the largest number of votes. One of Reform’s three candidates were elected to Standing.

Just five of ‘Ignite’’s eleven candidates were elected to the Secretary’s Committee, and three of ‘Reform’’s six candidates.

Musty Kamal, who was elected to Standing Committee unattached to a slate, told Cherwell: “I was running from the smallest college in Oxford (I think that’s correct), without a slate. I’d like to thank everyone who supported us in the snow and torrential conditions! It was a very heartwarming day to see people turnout in the numbers they did. Congratulations to everyone elected and I hope it’s a successful trinity.”

Ray Williams, also elected to Standing Committee unattached to a slate, said: “Not being on a slate makes running that much harder and more stressful but I do hope that seeing a more broad range of candidates elected encourages more to give it a try. I think there’s a real problem that people who would be good for the Union don’t put themselves out there because they think they have no chance and I hope this election helps to change that.

“I’m so grateful to my friends who supported and argued for Emily and I and to all the people who came out to vote despite the icy conditions. I ran in this election to make some simple but important changes and I don’t want to let down anyone who took a chance on my less than conventional candidacy. Now I’m going to do my best to fight for the reforms that I hope will make the Union a fairer and more just institution.”

Pre-election analysis by Cherwell revealed that more than 60 per cent of candidates running at all levels were privately educated, whilst more than 70 per cent were male.

County Council bans pro-EU bus from Broad Street

Libby Cherry
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County Council bans pro-EU bus from Broad Street

Oxfordshire County Council has banned a national “Brexit Facts” bus from parking in Broad Street, claiming it “could not permit political advertising.”

The Council later retracted this reason as “incorrect”, after seeking legal advice, but upheld the ban on the grounds of parking restrictions.

In an email to Oxford for Europe, seen by Cherwell, the County Council said: “The event would involve parking a bus on double-yellow lines and include an area for guest speakers and an audience in the road.

“It is due to the impact on traffic management and safety that the decision has been taken not to grant the request to lift the parking restrictions.”

The double-yellow lines in question are three metres in length.

Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Layla Moran MP tweeted: “The bus should be allowed and when it does I will be there.

“During elections Tory and Lib Dem buses visit the county. The Leave bus during the referendum criss-crossed the country spreading fake news. Politically motivated move from Tory council?”

Oxford for Europe said: “We are not a party-political organization; the purpose of the Brexit Facts Bus is to draw impartially sourced facts about Brexit to public attention so as to invite reflection and discussion. Parking regulations are not properly used as a tool to suppress political free speech.

“No other council is known to have behaved in this way in 33 cities and towns where the bus is stopping.

“The County Council’s decision, which we are advised might well merit a judicial review, smacks of a will to curtail democratic dissent and debate that is reminiscent of the dogmatic and dictatorial attitudes currently driving Brexit.”

The City Council remained supportive of the Bus and Oxford for Europe throughout the dispute.

Bob Price, former leader of the City Council, founded the Oxford Europe Association to support EU27 citizens and to “affirm Oxford’s identity as a Europe-friendly city”.

City Councillor and Oxford Europe Association secretary, John Tanner said: “This is an extraordinary attack on free speech by Oxfordshire County Council and I hope they will think again. Whatever people’s views about Europe it is vital they can be aired in public.

“To ban an information bus from parking in Broad Street for half an hour is just silly.”

The “Brexit Facts” bus had been visiting Oxford as part of its eight day tour, during which it had made 33 stops in towns and cities across Britain.

Patrick Stewart, the Star Trek actor, and Layla Moran MP both spoke at the Oxford event.
The aim of the campaign was to parody and correct Vote Leave’s own “campaign-winning red bus.”

The side of the Facts Bus was emblazoned with the figure £3,200 million. This is the estimated weekly cost of leaving the EU if the UK left without a trade deal.

Patrick Stewart said at the event: “When the UK and Ireland were brought in as members [to the EU] I felt, for the fi rst time in my life, that what had happened in 1914-18 and 1939-45 could never happen again and at last collaborative, collective cooperation would assure benefits for everyone.”

“I want to urge that we think again, now that we are learning the real cost of Brexit.

“Some time ago another independent economic think tank reported that it could be 20 years before the economy of the UK would stabilise after Brexit. Millions like me will be saying to themselves; ‘Well, that will not be in my lifetime.”

Layla Moran in her speech also called for “a first referendum on the facts, now that we finally know what is going to happen”

She said: “Since I was elected in June, I kind of feel that I’ve had the front row to seat to a car crash.”

The two figures were also joined by Oxford student and a co-founder of the national student Remain movement Our Future Our Choice (OFOC), Will Dry.

Dry said: “I’m really, really sorry but I voted Leave. I voted Leave because I thought it meant more trade with the rest of the world, more money for the NHS and it meant a fairer, better Britain.

“It’s become clear to me over the course of the last few years that everything they campaigned on, or nearly everything they campaigned on, was a complete lie and turned out to be completely wrong.

“I’m now campaigning with all my heart and soul to turn it around to try and rectify the mistake I made.

“The youth of today, although they might be too busy writing essays at the moment, are absolutely behind you.”

Oxfordshire County Council told Cherwell: “A request came to officers relating to the lifting of a parking restriction in a busy part of our road network. The original reason given for refusal by the officer – the political advertising point – was wrong and it has been reviewed following legal advice.

“The request relates to the parking of a bus in a restricted area which is the subject of a Traffic Regulation Order imposed to manage traffic safely and efficiently. The council’s view is that this request does not fall into the very limited exceptions that would be used to lift those restrictions.

The event would involve parking a bus on double-yellow lines and include an area for guest speakers and an audience in the road.”

Academics slam VC over strike intervention

Greg Ritchie
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Academics slam VC over strike intervention

Vice chancellor Louise Richardson has been criticised by senior academics for “basically threatening to shut down the debate” on the controversial reforms of the University Super-annuation Scheme (USS).

They contend that by affirming her opposition to an early discussion on whether to reverse Oxford’s contribution to a Universities UK (UUK) consultation, she is “shutting down the chance to reverse Oxford’s position, which was used by UUK to break up current pensions arrangements of lecturers across the country”.

It comes as strikes continue to disrupt academic teaching and administration at the University, with the walkouts escalating to four days during 8th week.

In an email sent to members of Congregation – Oxford’s policy-setting body made up of all permanent academic staff – the vice chancellor acknowledged how the pension dispute had caused “so much disquiet, distress, and division in our community over the past several days.”

However, she made clear that she did not want a debate on Oxford’s position on the pension reforms to happen this month, as demanded by around 150 academics.

She said that “a number of colleagues have drafted a resolution asking me to suspend the regulations and allow for a meeting of Congregation next Tuesday without the normal notice period.

“Our regulations allow for 20 members of Congregation to submit a resolution to suspend regulations and for that resolution to be negated by 20 members of Congregation standing, once the resolution has been read at the meeting.

“Personally, I don’t think the authors have made a convincing case for having the debate on pensions now, but that is for Congregation to decide.”

This soon met opposition from various academics, who had been pushing for a change in Oxford’s position towards the controversial pension reforms.

Dr Kate Tunstall, a fellow at Worcester College, told Cherwell: “The Vice-Chancellor explains to us that 20 people – we don’t know who – can just stand up at the start of the meeting and reject the first motion, signed in less than two days by 79 members of Congregation, and close down the meeting.

“She [Richardson] adds, ‘but this is for Congregation to decide’. Twenty people blocking a democratic debate of Congregation can be called many things, but democracy is not one of them.”

Resolution organisers said that signatures to the resolutions now number 149, and they are still coming in at a fast pace, especially since the mention of 20 individuals potentially blocking the vote to reverse the pensions position of Oxford.

They are now asking Council to ensure that the names of any such individuals seeking to block the motion should be publicly known, recorded, and published in the Gazette – the weekly term-time magazine recording the internal affairs of the University.

Dr Stuart White, a politics fellow at Jesus College, told Cherwell: “There is a great deal of concern within the University at the University’s position on USS pensions and the lack of
appropriate discussion and consultation in formulating it.

“It is very important that Congregation have the opportunity to restore the voice of university staff on these matters, which are at the centre of what is a national dispute.”

He added: “It is great to see that yesterday Oxford SU voted unanimously to support the resolutions that have been submitted to Congregation.”

In the email, Richardson stressed: “I would like to make clear, however, that I am committed to free and full debate on the issue of the pension changes, and so is Council.

“On 19 March a 64 day national consultation period will open. At that time individual members of USS will be able to go onto the USS website and model the impact of the changes on them personally.

“During this period we will hold a minimum of 12 open meetings across the University to explain the pension changes and to listen to members’ views on the subject.”

She added: “There will be ample opportunity for Congregation to debate the proposed pension changes during Trinity term and before the consultation closes on 22 May.”

The statement was her first on the pension dispute since the strikes began, during which time many other vice chancellors, including Cambridge’s, have made public statements urging a return to talks.

This prompted the “#JeezLouise” hashtag to gain popularity with Oxford students and academics frustrated at her lack of support for the strike.

Reform but still no change

Fred Dimbleby
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Reform but still no change

The Oxford Union building at Frewin Court has a dark feeling about it. The tall and unsightly buildings are a useful symbol for wider truth about the Union: it is all show and no delivery. The debates that take place within its chambers do not cause any change, nor do they do not open up any new avenues. The old and the has-beens shout at each other performing intellectualism while moving no discussion forward in any way.

The worst feature of the Union is its election cycle. This year they may be contested for the first time in five terms, but neither candidate promises any real change. At a recent hustings debate, this was exemplified. The two presidential candidates spent the whole half-hour debate throwing meaningless jargon at each other, and leaving the sparse audience underwhelmed by their supposed choice in the election. At one point, one of the candidates went as far as saying that they wouldn’t invite war criminals to Union debates – what an admirable stand to take!

The two ‘slates’ – a synonym for a well-connected bunch of people who all gang up together –  have called themselves have similarly inspiring names. ‘Ignite’, the establishment group – if that is a possibility within this election – sounds like an off-brand Innocent smoothie. The other ‘outsider’ group – which is about as much of an underdog as Jacob Rees Mogg is – have tried to go with a Clintonesque branding. They may have just the same amount of success as their inspiration. They have also tried to acronymise their title with little success. Yet more meaningless phrases are represented in the terms: renew, engage, fairness, opportunity, represent, membership. They would not be out of place in a business pitch from The Office. They have also made a valiant effort to include that underrepresented minority of Oxford students, the illiterate, by phonetically spelling out their key terms in their profile pictures.

The problems with the Union go deeper than a bad choice of campaign titles. Whilst there are two slates this year, there is little competing policy. Those involved are those who inhabit the closed and secretive corridors of Oxford. One of Greenwood’s slate is the president-elect of the University’s Conservative Association, which has received some deservedly negative coverage of late. And, as our front page shows today, the slate make up is decidedly white, rich, and male.

Despite being a society that claims to uphold the values of free speech, the Union makes a deliberate effort to restrict the freedom of the press. A quick look at its excessively long rulebook brings you to Rule 33, Section 3 (oh yes, the rules have subsections). The rule states that, as a student journalist, I cannot endorse a candidate for any position in the Union in this article, without risking my Union membership. To take that to its logical end –  the outgoing Cherwell editor who is a Union member could not have printed an endorsement on her front page without risking access to a society she paid a large sum of money to join. That’s the Union try to impose editorial control on an independent newspaper.

Let’s get something clear: neither she nor I care nearly enough to endorse anyone for any position in the society. But the idea that this society will not allow the paper to print what we want is scary. These people will, for good reason or bad, go on to be some of our leaders in the future. That they don’t understand such a fundamental principle as free speech is a worrying vision of what that future may look like. Put simply, we cannot respect the institution as long as the same people continue to run it, generation after generation, without fresh perspective.

So, members of the Union, it is time to make a stand. I am going to blow caution to the wind, break the Union rules, and back a candidate. For this election, turn up to those archaic buildings and vote for a new exciting candidate. A candidate with a real vision for the future of the institution. In this election, Union members, vote RON. Let’s cause electoral confusion on a scale never experienced. Vote RON at all levels – it is the only slate that will represent the views of the vast majority of the membership.

Let’s, together, shake up this institution and make a real change: for this is the only hope we have to ignite reform within the Oxford Union.

 

Student tory resigns after bigoted online rant

Libby Cherry
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Student tory resigns after bigoted online rant

An Oxford University Conservative Association (OUCA) member has been excluded from his election slate, and has resigned from the Association, after posting inflammatory statements on Facebook.

The candidate said his co-runners on the slate would lead “a return to strong moral Christian leadership in an OUCA free of women, immigrants, homosexuals, transsexuals, left-pinkos, Protestants, cultural relativists, and of course the bloody Freemasons!”

The member described the rest of the slate members respectively as “the ethnic one”, “the Anglo-catholic one”, and “the female one”.

A further post explained how he intended to “rectify” OUCA whom he claimed “aren’t right-wing enough”, “aren’t arrogant enough”, “aren’t rich enough”, and “aren’t sexy enough”.

The student told Cherwell: “I would like to apologise unreservedly for my appalling comments and I take full responsibility for any offence caused. I am not misogynistic, homophobic, or bigoted. I merely intended to poke fun at OUCA and several members in it who are.

“However I understand that through my ghastly choice of words I have not only given the impression that I am but also upset many members of OUCA and the University.

“I have recently been suffering from poor mental health. Although this does not excuse what I said, I believe it did have a role in my poor decision.”

In a statement to Cherwell, President of OUCA Timothy Doyle said the individual’s “post was disgraceful. The sentiments he expressed have no place whatsoever in the
Association.

“He is no longer a Member of the Association, and I have banned him from attending any of our events in future.”

A spokeperson for Oxford SU told Cherwell: “Oxford SU is extremely disappointed by any reports of clubs or societies using offensive language. We believe that all students should feel welcomed and safe when a member of a society. Any behaviour that does not meet those standards is unacceptable.”

A representative for the slate told Cherwell in a statement: “Immediately we were made aware of the post, the rest of the slate disassociated themselves from the student and his comments, which we found to be disgusting and unrepresentative of the slate and OUCA overall.

“This post was neither authorised nor at all condoned by any other member on the slate, and we thoroughly condemn the content and values expressed in it.

“The post was in violation of OUCA electoral rules and a disciplinary complaint has been filed by a senior slate member. Our vision for OUCA bore no resemblance to what the post suggested, and was based around building a fun, professional and inclusive society to further the conservative cause.”

First contested Union election in 5 terms

Oscar Baker and Greg Ritchie
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First contested Union election in 5 terms

The Oxford Union presidential election is contested for the first time in five terms, but candidates remain disproportionately male and privately educated.

More than 60 per cent of candidates running at all levels have been privately educated, whilst more than 70 per cent are male.

Members go to the polls to choose between Molly Greenwood, leading the ‘Reform’ slate, and Stephen Horvath, presidential candidate for the ‘Ignite’ group.

Almost 79 per cent of Horvath’s slate are privately educated, while 64 per cent of ‘Reform’ candidates have received private education. In total, 20 of the 41 candidates are privately-educated men.

Only 50 per cent of the eight candidates not attached to either slate have been privately educated, significantly lower than the ‘Reform’ or ‘Ignite’ percentages.

Just over 46 per cent of all candidates are BME. However, 75 per cent of candidates who are not attached to a slate are BME people.

In addition, only three of the 19 candidates for Standing Committee level and higher are female.

In ‘Ignite’, 63.2 per cent of members are male, while 71.4 per cent of ‘Reform’ candidates are male. 87.5 per cent of unattached candidates are male.

‘Reform’ presidential candidate Molly Greenwood told Cherwell: “The gender disparity in the Union and especially among the slates is very concerning to me, and I have attempted to combat it at every stage by trying to get women involved with this election.

“I was conscious that the candidates were majority male, and it is a difficult issue to address in practice due to the restriction that the women I was able to approach decided not to run when it was discussed with them on this occasion.

“I do hope, however, that this election will spark a greater culture of contestation and as a result, more women will feel that it is their time to get involved. I would really like to see that come out of this election.”

Speaking about access at the Union, Greenwood noted: “To the best of my knowledge, only six of the fourteen members of the slate were fully privately educated, one of whom was on a bursary at the school they attended.

“In regard to schooling, I believe a large part of an access problem in the Union comes down to perception – the perception that everyone else went to old and famous schools and therefore will already know everyone else.

“I hope the fact that people on my slate do not fall into this category will go some way to changing that belief.”

The other candidate for president, Stephen Horvath, told Cherwell: “Five out of our eleven candidates for secretary’s committee are female, and that reflects our commitment to recruiting more women to get involved in the Union, and our hope that more women will be able to run for senior positions in future terms.

“When selecting candidates for the senior positions, the fact that the junior roles on this term’s committee were primarily occupied by men was a significant factor.

“Despite having three sitting female officers, there were very few female members of secretary’s committee – which creates a sort of funneling problem for those looking to build a team.”

Horvath also noted that he has analysed “the inequality of invitations sent over summer” and enforced a “gender invitation quota” this term.

He added that the ‘Ignite’ candidate for Librarian, Genevieve Athis, organised the panel on abortion rights.

Speaking about access, Horvath told Cherwell: “We’ve got a record of doing access work: I’ve done more access workshops than any other presidential candidate, Genevieve is the Christ Church Access Rep, and Shanuk is a law access mentor.

“We absolutely believe the Union needs to expand its access programmes: we want to lower nomination fees for candidates to stand in elections, and we want to introduce discounted tickets to socials for access members – ensuring that access members can get the most out of their membership.”

Emily Charley, a candidate for Secretaries Committee and the only woman not attached to ‘Ignite’ or ‘Reform’ told Cherwell: “Feminism is often misinterpreted, and our society in turn ridicules female independence. I think it is this issue which regretfully discourages women from standing in Union elections in general and particularly off-slate.

“Running for Union can be a stressful experience for everyone and the lack of support can be daunting; I should know, I’m running with only one other person. Women lacking
confidence to stand is not unique to the Union, and I would suggest that all societies should rally more to support female independence.”

Some candidates have come together in a third group, ‘Unafraid’. This includes Musty Kamal, who is running for standing committee.

He told Cherwell: “‘Unafraid’ is a slogan because we are unafraid to stand up for diversity and inclusivity, but also because members of our team have come under quite a lot of pressure to be against the two main slates.

“[We] wanted to show that the Union and Oxford can represent people from a variety of backgrounds and we are unafraid to do that. I’m hoping for a fair and well fought
election.”

Last term, Cherwell revealed that just one of the senior positions within the Union, defined as Standing Committee level or higher, attended a state comprehensive school.

All officer positions for the Union are contested in Friday’s election. There are 22 candidates for the eleven positions on the Secretary’s Committee, the most junior elected positions at the Union.

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