Friday 8th May 2026
Blog Page 839

UCU Strike: Pensions vote blocked at University governing body

Jack Hunter
-
1
UCU Strike: Pensions vote blocked at University governing body

Oxford dons have vowed “we’re not done” after some members of university management successfully blocked a vote on pensions at Congregation today.

A resolution to reverse Oxford’s position on the USS pensions scheme was narrowly defeated in a meeting of Congregation, Oxford’s governing body, as the required threshold of 20 members stood up and suspended the debate.

The move was met with anger by the majority of staff attending the meeting at the Sheldonian. A group of around 20 left the meeting in protest, with one saying “it’s a disgrace”.

Congregation took place amid a demonstration of around 150 students and trade unionists in front of the Clarendon Building. During the meeting, the demonstrators chanted “let them vote”, “do not stand”, and “sit back down” in an effort to sway the decision.

In an unprecedented move, after the decision to suspend the meeting, dons in attendance held a symbolic vote in support of the resolution outside in the Old Bodleian library quad. The resolution passed by 418 votes to two.

Proposers of the resolution then read out speeches on the steps of the Clarendon.

Professor of Modern History, Robert Gildea, told the crowd: “The administration has expanded exponentially and at the top has developed an administrative centralisation verging on administrative despotism.

“VCs no longer come from colleges but some global bank of VCs who seem to have been specially trained in the Dark Arts they need to do their job.

“And what is that job? It seems that it is to sell the university brand and defend their own interests while holding down academic pay, casualising academic labour, and axing academic pensions.”

He added: “The debate on pensions is also a debate on restoring academic democracy, restoring academic community, restoring academic honour and restoring goodwill.”

Balliol College fellow, Sudhir Hazareesingh, said: “I think everybody not only in this university but in all other universities, have been been shocked by Oxford’s leadership on this.”

Numerous figures in attendance at the meeting claimed the 20-member threshold to block the debate had only been narrowly met after several recounts.

The move followed interventions by Richardson and department heads to encourage the meeting to be suspended until the start of Trinity term.

Administrative officials argued this would allow the debate to take place after the consultation period on the USS had ended, and members could have “cleared their diaries”.

In her latest email, Richardson told Congregation members she had been “disheartened these past few days by the tenor of some of the debate” over strike action.

President of Oxford UCU, Garrick Taylor, told Cherwell: “Oxford UCU are hugely disappointed that management blocked the debate and vote in this way.

“This shows the gulf that has now opened between academic and academic-related staff at Oxford and senior management.

“As the unofficial vote outside showed, had the resolution been heard, it would have clearly carried.

“I’ve already had attendees express that because of management’s actions at congregation they are now going to join the strike.

“Members are angry, very angry. Oxford changing its view towards risk could have helped the industrial dispute come to a quick end, and we could have all gone back to work.

“The amount of student support for staff today was incredible, and shows the solidarity between staff and students is as strong as ever.”

In a statement, Oxford SU said: “Oxford SU is extremely disappointed that the motion on the future of the USS pension scheme was not heard at Congregation today.

“It is also disappointing that the Vice-Chancellor herself was not present to hear the voices of staff and students at today’s meeting.”

Oxford SU President, Kate Cole, said: “A small selection of the management of our University successfully organised to block our democracy, and as a result a group of members of the supreme body of this University were not allowed to have their voices heard.

“Student observers may have been barred from the room against precedent, but they showed their support in their hundreds on the steps of the Clarendon building, and they have been showing their support on the picket lines every morning.

“The student voice on this issue is loud and clear – we stand in full solidarity with UCU.”

Oxford SU also noted they would be writing to the vice chancellor to express their disappointment.

The University of Oxford did not comment further on today’s events.

Oxford pays tribute to Sir Roger Bannister

Oscar Baker
-
1
Oxford pays tribute to Sir Roger Bannister

Figures from across the Oxford community have paid tribute to Sir Roger Bannister, who passed away last Saturday aged 88.

Sir Roger, an Oxford undergraduate, was the first athletics runner to complete a mile in under four minutes, which he achieved at Iffley Road in 1954.

A gold medal winner at the 1954 Commonwealth Games, Bannister later became an Oxford academic neurologist, and Master of Pembroke College.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011.

The University’s vice chancellor, Louise Richardson, said: “Roger Bannister epitomised what it means to be a living legend.

“He was a regular presence at university events and remained committed to Oxford University to the end, engaging with students, challenging academics, and inspiring all of us.”

Oxford University Athletics Club President, Miles Weatherseed, told Cherwell the club was “deeply saddened” to learn of the death of a “club legend”.

He said: “Nearly anyone who has ever set foot on an athletics track is aware of his groundbreaking achievements back in 1954.

“What took place on a windy cinder track at Iffley Road rightly stunned the world and heralded the start of an era of new possibilities in middle distance running.

“There are barely any from whom a young athlete can draw so much inspiration.

“The likes of Sir Mo Farah or Dame Jessica Ennis-Hill, although still hugely inspiring, are far harder to relate to than a keen young Oxford medic, running for the pure enjoyment of it back in the 1950s.

“The spirit of amateurism and the task of balancing his studies with his running are a far cry from the hugely commercialised and professional setup one sees in athletics these days.

“The thoughts of everyone at the Oxford University Athletic Club are with his family and close friends at this difficult time.

“We are sincerely grateful for all that he did for his university, his sport and his country, and he will be remembered forever as one of the true greats.”

Sir Roger matriculated in Physiological Sciences at Exeter College in 1946, soon becoming President of the Athletics Club. He later became an Honorary Fellow of the College.

Rector of Exeter College, Professor Sir Rick Trainor, told Cherwell: “Exeter is very proud to have been Sir Roger’s undergraduate college.

“We at Exeter will miss him deeply, not least at the annual welcoming party each October for our new visiting students at which (with his wife Moyra and his fellow Exeter alumnus the author Philip Pullman) he spoke each year.”

Sir Roger served as Master of Pembroke College between 1985 and 1993.

A spokesperson for the College told Cherwell: “The Pembroke community is saddened by the death of former Master and Honorary Fellow, Sir Roger Bannister.

“[He] took a deep interest in each student and their successes. He sustained that interest and remained a frequent visitor to College events right up until the end.

“Sir Roger’s legacy will live on in College, through the Sir Roger Bannister Scholarship and the Bannister Medical Scholarship which are awarded annually. In addition to this portrait, many of Sir Roger’s athletics trophies are displayed in the College Hall.

“His memory will continue to inspire future generations of Pembroke students.”

Bannister was Chairman of the Sports Council (now Sports England) and was knighted for services to sport in 1975.

He published more than 80 academic medical papers, mostly relating to the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular physiology and multiple system atrophy.

In 2012, Sir Roger carried the Olympic flame in the Oxford University track stadium, which is named after him.

Lord Patten, Chancellor of Oxford University, said: “My wife and I were very sad to hear about Roger Bannister’s death.

“He was not just one of the great athletes of the last century but a superb doctor and servant of Oxford University.

“He was a man of great distinction and honour in every sense.

“We will miss him enormously.”

Sir Roger’s family said in a statement that he had “died peacefully in Oxford on 3 March, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them.

“He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends.”

Dons set for showdown with vice chancellor over pensions dispute

Jack Hunter
-
2
Dons set for showdown with vice chancellor over pensions dispute

Oxford’s striking lecturers are set for a showdown with the vice chancellor, Louise Richardson, this afternoon in an increasingly bitter dispute over pensions, with some accusing her of appearing “patronising and dismissive of staff concerns”.

Congregation, the university’s governing body, will meet at 2pm today in an attempt from around 150 dons to reverse Oxford’s position on the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) that has triggered university staff across the country to go on strike.

But dons have accused senior university administrators of attempting to “block” the debate by encouraging a required 20 members of the Congregation to stand and cancel the meeting.

Emails, seen by Cherwell, show how some faculty heads have sent staff a message from the proctors presenting arguments in favour of suspending the debate.

An email from Helen McShane, interim Deputy Head of the Nuffield Department of Medicine, sets out the “advantages to postponing this debate until the Tuesday of Week 1 of Trinity Term.”

The proctors argue suspending the debate would allow it to be held after the consultation period the USS has opened, would mean members could see the outcome of ongoing negotiations, and “allows more people to reorganise their working diaries to attend such debates.”

“It is clear that this is a very important issue for us all to engage in, and as members of congregation I urge you to do so,” the email says.

UCU organisers claim “word for word copies” of such arguments have been sent by other departments.

The President of Oxford UCU, Garrick Taylor, told Cherwell: “I think rather than expending all this effort on trying to make sure the resolution isn’t heard at a stage where meaningful change can be made to the proposal currently backed by USS, senior management should engage in debate on March 6th in congregation about why it should change its position towards the proposed pension changes and be prepared to have a vote at that time, in order to give staff the best chance of keeping their defined benefit pension.”

Louise Richardson has also faced criticism for her attempts to encourage Congregation members to block the debate on Tuesday. Academics have accused her of a “patronising and dismissive” tone in her second email to Congregation members encouraging them to suspend the debate.

“I fully understand the depth of feeling on this issue but I have to say that I have been disheartened these past few days by the tenor of some of the debate,” Richardson wrote.

“As a university we take pride in our defence of freedom of speech, in reasoned argument, and evidence based decisions. If we are to impart these qualities to our students, we should, at a minimum, practice them among ourselves.

“Whatever the decision on the procedural resolution tomorrow, an open discussion will take place. I hope that when it does, we will all remember our responsibility to model to our students how to respond to views they find objectionable and to express our disagreements in a spirit of ‘robust civility.’”

Some staff hit back on social media, describing the email as a “blatant appeal to the free speech brigade”.

Jonathan Healey, a history fellow at Kellogg, said the email “Feels like we’re all getting a telling off from the headmistress!”

Taylor said: “I’ve already had complaints that staff have found this and the previous email patronising and dismissive of staff concerns.”

A demonstration will be held outside the Sheldonian to support the vote reversing Oxford’s position on the USS. “With this vote at Congregation, we hope to reaffirm the common purposes of our University, and universities across the country,” organisers said in a statement.

They added: “It also provides a moment to come together to celebrate Oxford’s most valued and ancient tradition of liberty.”

Diversity at Men’s Fashion Week

Rebecca Gregory
-
0
Diversity at Men’s Fashion Week

Diversity is a word that has plagued the fashion industry for a long time. This entails a lack of diversity in models, designers, and even the clothes themselves. To diversify fashion would be to break down societal expectations of what certain ‘types’ of people ought to wear. Yet the world of fashion has often been criticised for endorsing stereotypes and not recognising its role as a vehicle for social change. But this year’s London Fashion Week Men’s saw designers diversify their clothing and models. Unbeknownst to the majority of the public, this event took place in January 2018, and despite major brands such as Burberry no longer showing at event, many young and talented designers showcased their collections, which in many cases, were more diverse than ever.

What could say diversity more than a plus-sized male model wearing a t-shirt with the writing, ‘WE DO BIG SIZES!’? Indeed, this is exactly what Rottingdean Bazaar did, part of the MAN show, a project established by Topman and Fashion East. Likewise, the ultimate fashion model, Naomi Campbell, found herself in cardboard cut-out form, being carried down the runway by a plus-sized male model in an off-the-shoulder t-shirt dress. Other designers also used diverse models, including Wales Bonner, who, herself of mixed heritage, celebrated different backgrounds in her models. Furthermore, Art School, also part of the MAN project, used non-binary models, which raised questions concerning gender specific clothing, making indistinct the line between male and female.

Diversity was not limited to the choice of models, rather, the clothing was also varied. Glaswegian designer Charles Jeffrey presented his LOVERBOY collection, in which he represented his heritage through a tartan suit, worn by a model in a yellow short-haired wig, as well as putting another model in a tartan skirt. Other male models wore dresses and jumpsuits: an evident blurring of gendered clothing.

But what effect will this have, if any? 20 years after David Beckham was slated for wearing a sarong out in public during the World Cup in France, he now claims that the world has changed, and in an interview with The Telegraph, asserted that his masculinity would not be questioned by wearing a sarong. Indeed, The Telegraph quoted him as having made the bold statement that: “Today no-one bats an eyelid if a guy wears a sarong in the street.” Perhaps the diversity that we have seen at London Fashion Week Men’s would suggest that he is right, but would this really extend beyond the fashion world? Would it truly be the case that “no-one bats an eyelid”? Would the world of Twitter remain silent on the matter? This seems hard to believe.

Even at London Fashion Week Men’s, diversity was not a closed matter. The majority of brands did still use ‘typical models’, of usual size, age, and look. For example, a brand relaunched in part by David Beckham, Kent & Curwen, although using models of different races, nonetheless stuck to models of similar build. So brands such as Rottingdean Bazaar should be praised but it would be an exaggeration to say that they are necessarily representative.

Of course, it cannot be denied that clothing in the fashion world and on the catwalks is less gender specific, but will this go into the public domain? The fact that Topman, a mass-market brand, who can reach a large proportion of the general public, is collaborating in the MAN project suggests a positive progression towards diverse clothing in the stores, but this does not appear to be materialising. When online shopping on men’s websites, you cannot look through a vast array of skirts or dresses, indeed to find even one would be a shock. What is more, many styles that are acceptable on the catwalk are mocked in everyday life, for example, handbags are often the source of many jokes about ‘man bags’. A few shops have started endorsing plus-sized models, but even then, they are the minority and many of the models used are not what we would usually class as ‘plus-sized’. A case in point would be the controversy of Calvin Klein’s ‘plus-sized model’ a couple of years ago. Although the brand never called her plus-sized, she was hailed by many as Calvin Klein’s first plus-sized model, provoking the world of social media to react with anger at the use of a size 10/12 model to bring ‘diversity’ into the brand. What is more, many high street shops for plus-sized women start from a size 12, and although this is clearly to widen their consumer market, it still raises the question of what the high street sees as plus-sized.

It will be interesting to see if London Fashion Week in February will follow suit and also celebrate more diverse models and clothing. Yet it is hard to believe that even if it is more diverse, this will materialise in stores. High street fashion seemingly is dictated by the norms of society, and until we have a more open society, contrary to what David Beckham argues, many of the fashions at London Fashion Week Men’s will be reserved solely for the catwalk. Of course, the catwalks do also play they role in dictating what high street fashion stores sell, but they are unlikely to be sufficient on their own. For the fashion on the catwalks to filter down to high street stores, it requires a change in society’s mindset, which can be done in part through high-end designers, but perhaps also other fashion figures, such as bloggers. Still, the steps made towards diversity at London Fashion Week Men’s, in combination with the innovative style presented, can only be praised.

Oxlove to sell stash

Barney Pite
-
0
Oxlove to sell stash

The Facebook crushes page ‘Oxlove’ is preparing to launch a line of merchandise.

The admins of Oxlove, who also administrate the confessions page ‘Oxfess’, are intending to release hoodies and t-shirts in the near future.

“The hoodie will have an Oxlove logo with an optional slogan of ‘send me an Oxlove’” the administrator told Cherwell. “We might run a competition to come up with some nice texts.”

Oxlove and Oxfess are staples of the online Oxford community. They both receive between 150 and 200 submissions per day and have a post reach of between 100,000 and 200,000 views per week.

Oxlove claims this is more than Versa and the Oxford Student combined.

The Administrator, who would like to remain anonymous, was optimistic about sales prospects: “The people we chatted to about this thought it was a great idea. It’d just be great to wear ironically.”

One first year chemist was less enthusiastic about the idea: “It’s unnecessary. And also a waste of resources.

“Oxlove is a trend that’ll soon be forgotten. I wouldn’t buy any.”

A candidate for the Oxford Union Standing Committee, Maxim Parr-Reid, mentioned that he “owns Hassan’s stash” under the manifesto heading of “dedication.”

He told Cherwell: “I’d say in relation to Oxlove stash, that more stash can only be a good thing – spread the love.”

A first year Magdalen student, Nick Brown, who reportedly has 22 oxloves to date, told Cherwell:

“Stash is cool and all that but it only works when it’s good stash – I can never wear my Union stash around college, for example.

“If I were a blue I would wear my stash every day but I’m just not sure Oxlove stash would be worth it, especially since everybody thinks I wrote my own Oxloves.

“It would just be embarrassing to be honest.”

A Corpus Christi fresher, George Taylor, told Cherwell: “The Oxlove stash excites me because it shows my appreciation for an Oxford institution, and connects me to it.

“Knowing which people enjoy the page, evidenced with them wearing the stash, should make it easier for them to connect via the page, which is after all the point of Oxlove.”

Oxlove will join other staple Oxford institutions such as Ahmed’s and Hassan’s Kebab Vans in selling hoodies.

Oxford ranked sixth best in the world in new university rankings

Libby Cherry
-
0
Oxford ranked sixth best in the world in new university rankings

Oxford has been ranked the sixth best university in the world, and the second in the UK behind Cambridge.

The QS global ranking also placed the University first in the world for Geography, English Language and Literature, Archaeology, Anatomy, and Physiology, and the broader subject area of Arts and Humanities. It also placed Oxford eighth for graduate employability.

The Head of the School of Geography and the Environment, Professor Heather Viles, told

Cherwell: “As Head of School, I am delighted that we have maintained our position as top geography department in the QS global rankings.

“We are a large, vibrant andcaring department with excellent undergraduate and graduate students and incredible, highly supportive staff.

“We work hard to provide the very best teaching and to facilitate world-class research and scholarship.

“We hope that maintaining our position in these rankings will help us to continue to attract the best students and faculty.”

Co-Presidents of the Oxford Archaeology Society told Cherwell: “Archaeology is a fantastic degree to study at Oxford. It’s also highly enjoyable for other students or associated disciplines too.

“For our society, we’ve seen many people come to our lectures and our talks who don’t necessarily study the academic discipline but are interested in what it entails and its importance to present policy issues and research questions.

“On the whole, however, it is no surprise that archaeology at Oxford has been placed at the higher end of the table.

“With dedicated staff, a fantastic institute conducting research and enthusiastic students, the discipline continues to thrive.”

The President of the English Society said: “I’m very pleased to see that Oxford’s English teaching has been ranked number one in the world, and I can see why.

“I think the historic literary culture of Oxford has a lot to dowith the prestige of the University’s English Faculty, but also the sheer quality of academia that has come from (and still continues to come from) this institution is incredibly unique.”

However, some Oxford faculties fared worse in the rankings. Art and Design, formerly ranked eleventh in the world, dropped to thirty-sixth, while Engineering dropped from thirteenth to sixteenth.

A divine display from the Saints as Anne’s dominate the Hassan’s Cup

Jack Allsopp and Cal Flintoff
-
0
A divine display from the Saints as Anne’s dominate the Hassan’s Cup

After agony and ecstasy in equal measure in the knockout rounds, the inaugural Hassan’s Cup came to its conclusion last Friday.

In the women’s competition, the Saints (Anne’s and John’s) faced off against Jesus, whilst the men’s tie saw St. Anne’s take on St. John’s. In the women’s game, despite the ball itself being in terrible condition, both sides set out to play freeflowing football, which made for an entertaining first half: Saints went into the interval a goal to the good.

Yet soon after the restart, the game was level, as Blues centre-half Lucy Harper scored a screamer. Picking the ball up 35 yards from goal, she lifted the ball over the Saints keeper, breaking the back of the net in the process, and squared things up.

Indeed, Harper grew into the game and began bossing things for her side. The head-to-head battle between her and Blues team-mate Claudia Hill looked to define the game.

The winner came deep into the second half, as a tangle of legs in the box led to a Saints forward hitting the deck. Step forward Rebecca North, whose confident penalty beat Emily Barker low to her left-hand side.

This only served to open up an already frenetic, high-energy encounter, with both teams transitioning rapidly from end-to-end. Jesus looked just as likely to get the all-important fourth goal as their opponents, as both sides bombed forwards.

The best chance in the latter stages of the game fell to North, who was released by a excellent ball over the top from Claudia Hill, which almost resulted in an own goal as the ball ricocheted off several Jesus defenders in the box.

Despite missing this chance, North was the match winner. Her goal ultimately proved decisive, and sealed a big win for the Saints.

Earlier, in the men’s competition, St Anne’s produced a gallant performance and a lesson in rear-guard to triumph in the battle of the Saints to seal their first-ever college football trophy.

The Mint Green Army flew out of the traps and were the hungrier side in the early stages, preventing St John’s from settling into their possession-based football. They harried the loose ball with fervour as they looked to press high and counter with pace.

Their endeavour soon paid off as Matt Fanning bagged a crucial goal. A mix-up in the John’s engine room allowed Paugam into acres of open space, cutting in from the left and darting across the outstretched leg of Phil Thumfart.

The ball fizzed away as Paugam went down, and the referee awarded a free-kick 20 yards from goal. Fanning stepped up and belted the ball into the top-right corner emphatically: it was a moment of magic that carried his side to glory.

Anne’s receded into their own half and relinquished possession almost entirely as St John’s began to grow into the game, with captain Ben Briggs igniting the response from the back, and Alex Wilson setting the tone in the midfield.

The restart brought more of the same, and much more of the ball for John’s danger man Kanyinsola Akinwuntan. But still John’s could not break the deadlock, lacking killer incision in the final third, and finding Anne’s bodies all too willingly on the line for attempts from further.

As the final minutes began to die, John’s set-piece whirred into motion for the first time, but somehow two golden opportunities stayed out; the second – a header from just yards out – would be the final kick of the game.

Lady Bird paints a perfect picture of female adolescence

Anna Myrmus
-
0
Lady Bird paints a perfect picture of female adolescence

As the lights came down in the cinema, I suddenly became aware of the spectacular burden I had placed on Lady Bird. To say I was excited to see this film would be a colossal understatement. A female coming-of-age drama, written and directed by Greta Gerwig, who previously helped bring the exquisite Frances Ha to life, Lady Bird has a lot to live up to.

And yet, Lady Bird somehow managed to surpass all of my expectations.

The film follows Christine ‘Lady Bird’ McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) in her senior year of high school. Gerwig weaves individual moments into an all-encompassing tapestry of impeccably written, yet seemingly effortless storytelling. Her ability to capture human emotions is shockingly profound. It is so acutely moving that I’ve been reeling for days, unable to think of enough superlatives to fill this review.

Female coming-of-age dramas are as rare on the page as they are on the screen, and depictions of girls growing up are often romantic comedies, focused on their evolution in the context of teenage boys.

Gerwig, however, makes it clear that the boy Lady Bird loses her virginity to is nothing compared to her best friend, or her parents, for whom her love is everlasting. These are the relationships that define you, not the guy you used to think was cool.

It’s glaringly obvious that Lady Bird is written by a woman, because the women in it are real people, vivid and complex, with their own hopes and aspirations, not reduced to martyrs for male pain.

Lady Bird paints a picture of female adolescence which girls can recognise themselves in. Ambitious yet insecure, considerate yet selfish, Lady Bird embodies the teenage girl’s every contradiction.

But it is not only in its characterisation of the protagonist that Lady Bird flourishes. Every frame drips with compassion; each character it touches reveals some extraordinary or agonizing piece of themselves – the pretentious rich boy whose dad has cancer, or the drama teacher whose son died. Each morsel makes them sparkle, until the whole screen is positively glowing with empathy.

Most importantly, Lady Bird is a love letter to mothers from their daughters, offering an unparalleled, agonizing view of a beautifully complex relationship. Laurie Metcalf’s turn as Lady Bird’s stubborn, devoted mother is masterful. There are moments of dialogue within the film which echo, word-for-word, conversations I have had with my own mother. The friction between them, which can only come from a place of love, is captured so immaculately that it becomes completely mesmerising.

In one of the most touching scenes of the film, Lady Bird is dropped at the airport by her parents as she leaves for college. Her mother, blinded by pride, refuses to get out of the car to say goodbye. As she drives off, she suddenly realises it’s her last chance to tell her daughter how she really feels before Lady Bird is halfway across the country. At that moment, crying uncontrollably, I turned to my mother sitting next to me, whose eyes were also brimming with tears.

The mother-daughter relationship has long been cast aside in film, but Gerwig proves that there is a world of stories waiting to be told, and that female relationships are just as engaging as male ones.

Lady Bird’s final year of school is all about realisation. She finally understands the immense sacrifice her parents have made for her. She sees who truly cares about her in beautiful clarity. Though she spends most of the film bemoaning her hometown’s dullness, it seems just as Christine understands how beautiful Sacramento, really is, she has to leave.

I want to say that Lady Bird’s status as a modern masterpiece is unassailable. Its wide critical acclaim would support such a bold statement. But I wonder if perhaps I am just so overwhelmed by finally seeing my own life experiences and family on screen, in all their brilliance, that I cannot help but fall in love with Lady Bird.

All the class without the cash

Julia Alsop
-
0
All the without the cash

Student dining is so unpredictable. Hall is reliably a cheap option, but the timing isn’t always convenient (why are you always shut when I’m at my hungriest?), and sometimes you just will not want whatever the option is (seriously, why is there only the veggie option left?). Dining out all the time is too expensive for your small student budget, even if it is always the most enticing option (save it for when nothing will assuage your cravings but that big, juicy Byron burger). Cooking may be limited – albeit never an impossibility if you can be creative enough with your resources – if you don’t have a kitchen, or time-consuming and not necessarily what you want to be doing when you’re starving and have an imminent essay deadline (carbs, please).

Now, dinner parties may sound like something totally at odds with student life. Perhaps it’s something you associate more with a smiling bunch of 30-somethings (at youngest), each guest bringing a bottle-of-something, sitting around a candlelit family dining table, tasting the distinguished host’s homemade bruschetta – they got the recipe from a darling restaurant in rural Tuscany. Your student kitchen, shared between far too many people, may not be, ostensibly, the most attractive location for a dinner party. But trust me, it’s not just possible, but it’s actually a really fun and delicious way to unwind with your friends. Depending on how you run it, it may even be less work and significantly less stressful than that time you decided to cook a Christmas dinner in 8th week Michaelmas.

Before even considering food, the drinks and decoration to create the right vibe is important. Décor can be super simple – buying a cheap and plain tablecloth, a small vase of flowers, and some candles (fake, of course, unless you live out – you don’t want to risk destroying your college). Voila – it already looks far more put together (just make sure you don’t destroy your, admittedly low effort, work by leaving out filthy, week-old plates). Drinks can be equally easy. It may be particularly nice to prepare an a drink first.

Aperitif is basically French for preing, right? This can be as simple as serving a shot of gin over ice, and mixing it with lemonade and a dash of flavoured syrup or cordial. If you have the options, serve them in pretty glasses, but realistically you’re probably just going to be using whatever is clean. Beyond this, get everyone to chip in to buy a few bottles of wine to go with your dinner. Feel free to pretend that you understand wine pairings, but obviously just go with the second cheapest bottle of wine you can find (obviously so much classier than getting the cheapest, I know you’ve done this too).

When it comes to the actual meal you have a few options, depending on how much you trust your friends’ cooking abilities. If you’re a control freak in the kitchen (definitely me), and your friends are the type who love food but also seem to eat a disproportionate amount of frozen food, then by all means go all out and make the meal yourself. Although, student budgets being what they are, you may want to have it such that everyone pitches in a bit of cash first and then you buy ingredients based on the budget. There are plenty of things you can make deliciously and cheaply – from a homemade bruschetta or soup starter, to a simple one-tray oven meal from the main, all the way to a dessert that is literally just crushed Maltesers with vanilla ice cream (Jamie Oliver recipe no less, and actually delicious).

Another option, if you have a group of friends happy to pitch in, is a potluck. Make a Facebook thread, and get everyone to add a dish they plan to bring along and have a little buffet – make sure that you have a good mix of sweet and savory options. This is a really easy way to try all your friends’ best dish, and fun way to get an indulgent and varied meal (you’re hardly about to prepare ten different meal constituents yourself are you?).

When you’re in the middle of a bitterly cold Hilary Term, spending some quality time with your friends, getting well-fed and well-boozed, whilst spending an evening forgetting about essay deadlines, may be just what you need.

Oxford overpower Leicester in table tennis semi-final

Alison Cheung and Kritica Dwivedi
-
0
Oxford overpower Leicester in table tennis semi-final

The Oxford women’s table tennis team booked their place in the final of this year’s Bucs Midlands Conference Cup by seeing off determined opposition in Leicester last Wednesday.

Having received a bye to the quarter-finals by finishing second in their Bucs league, only to be awarded a walkover win against Anglia Ruskin, Oxford went into the semi-finals still waiting for their first taste of table tennis in the tournament.

Despite not having home advantage, the team expected to make a good account of themselves, sending their strongest squad in the form of captain Alison Cheung and second seed Katrin Harter.

Complicated travel arrangements meant that the squad arrived in Leicester an hour earlier than expected, but any suggestion that this would affect them psychologically was quickly put to bed by their early performances.

They started the day with great flair, as Harter dominated her first singles match with a killer forehand smash that proved too strong for her opponent to defend. Harter convincingly won three straight games to hand Oxford a comprehensive 3-0 victory in the match, giving away only seven points in the process.

The first game of Cheung’s first singles match was a more tightly fought affair, although she managed to maintain the edge over her opponent to secure a 12-10 victory.

Her opponent’s topspin serve had initially proved challenging, but Cheung was able to assert her superiority once she came to grips with the move, winning the next two games relatively easily by a margin of 11-8.

This meant that both members of the Oxford squad had won their best-of-three matches in the minimum number of games.

The players then swapped opponents for the next round of singles matches, but this did not impede Oxford’s momentum. Cheung used a backspin serve to get the better of her new opponent in the first game, which was decisively won 11-2.

In the second game, her opponent was well-served by a backhand block against Cheung’s aggressive forehand, making for a much tighter competition.

Ultimately, however, Cheung’s stamina outlasted that of her opponent, and her constant pressure eventually took its toll on her opponent’s defence, leading to another match victory for Oxford.

With three wins from their first three matches, Oxford were already sure of a place in the cup final by the time Harter and her opponent faced off in the final singles match of the day.

Her opponent’s signature topspin serve was too strong for Harter at first, resulting in a rare game loss for Oxford by ten points to twelve. However, coached by her captain, Harter regained her rhythm and made a confident return in the second game, utilising her signature forehand smash to win 11-5.

With one win apiece, the rest of the match was played with a tension that belied its status as a dead rubber, and Harter besieged her opponent’s consistently resolute defence before
eventually winning the match with two further victories to make it 3-1.

This gave Oxford a clean sweep of singles matches, but they were forced to concede their doubles match for fear of missing their train home.

Despite this somewhat anticlimactic ending, the day had produced some exciting and tenacious table tennis, and Oxford had done what they had to do in terms of getting to the final.

The team will be hoping that the momentum carried over from their semi-final, as well as home advantage, will help to deliver them to victory against Derby when the final is played on 7th March.

1...838839840...2,584Page 839 of 2,584

Support Student Journalism

Cherwell is Oxford’s oldest independent newspaper, established in 1920. We are entirely student-run. By supporting us, you will contribute to keeping our paper in print and online. Every donation makes a difference.

Donate

Explore

Follow us

More

Oxford Student Publications Limited © 2025 - All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy

Website by Jamie Ashley