Wednesday 16th July 2025
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Stella McCartney AW17 is sophisticated, bold and beautiful

Francesca Salisbury
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Stella McCartney AW17 is sophisticated, bold and beautiful

It may seem outrageously early to already be thinking about Autumn/Winter style, but just as the first glimmers of sun start to hit our dreaming spires, the catwalks are already teeming with warm coats and woolly jumpers. One that stands out is Stella McCartney’s AW17 Ready to Wear collection for women. It is strong, sharp and exudes confidence.

Three key trends can be identified from the catwalk: the first is the almost excessive use of tweed, hound’s-tooth and plaid prints. Though stereotypically masculine, conjuring images of old-fashioned countryside hunting parties, McCartney combines this material with sleek tailoring and structured lines to create a distinctly modern and sophisticated vibe.

Asos
Asos
Zara

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a more explicitly city-girl feel, effortless head-to-toe monochrome is McCartney’s go-to. Luxurious high-neck jumpers tucked into flowing wide-legged trousers are paired with matching suit jackets in rich navies and soft greys. Finally, McCartney builds on a trend that has already exploded for Spring/Summer—embellished lace. Featured mainly in black and white pieces, the detail of these embellishments is exquisite, with the light and airy material creating a striking contrast to the heavier tweed fabrics. This is a collection that exudes poise and sophistication, something that high-street brands have already started to pick up on.

Zara

For those who don’t wish to break the bank, high-street shops have some equally beautiful alternatives. H&M is showcasing an array of gorgeous hound’s-tooth prints, ASOS and New Look are the places to go for monochromatic basics, and Topshop has gone to town with lace and mesh. Up-to-date as ever, Zara is the high street brand to turn to for those who really wish to emulate McCartney’s AW style. The ‘Embroidered Tulle T-Shirt’ is a standout piece (see right) which comes in both black and white, and for a more colourful version, the ‘Embroidered Tulle Top’ comes in a delicate blush pink. Alongside these more delicate pieces, there is an array of check-patterned items, ranging from trousers and blazers to dresses and skirts.

Though summer may be around the corner, this season’s catwalks show us it’s never too early to think about AW style, especially with so many exciting trends in store…

C+: Migrant rights in Oxford

Emma Christie
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C+: Migrant rights in Oxford

This article originally appeared as part of a C+ investigation into Race at Oxford. Other articles include a discussion of C+ poll responses, the “whiteness” of the curriculum, and the university’s record on race and access. 

To some degree, we are all aware of the facts around global migration. The number of displaced people worldwide hit a record high in 2015, and has shown few signs of attenuating. But recent statistics remain deeply unsettling. Currently, 65.3 million globally have been forcibly displaced. Of these, 21.3 million are recognised as refugees, and of these refugees, 107,000 have been resettled. This is a paltry number by any measure.

As I write this, US president Donald Trump continues to pass Executive Order after Executive Order in defiance of the country’s status as signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol. These have criminalised overnight the very existence of immigrant, Muslim, or dual-nationality Americans. They also ban all refugee admissions to the US for 120 days.

In Oxford, students and residents have taken notice of these disturbing developments. Recent months have witnessed the founding of a number of new initiatives designed to provide aid and assistance to refugees and migrants both globally and locally. But the Trump presidency and its acts of illegal discrimination—which have received support from European quarters, and which exemplify wider anti-refugee sentiment that has been brewing for several years—have made it all the more evident that we all need to think harder about how we as individuals can fight it.

The several student-led activist groups in Oxford, which organise protests and events, are an excellent place to begin this process. Oxford Migrant Solidarity organise monthly transport to Campsfield House, an immigration detention centre in Oxfordshire. Not only do OMS partake in action to shut down the detention centre—which is on record for the wrongful detention of minors and alleged violent mistreatment of its detainees—but they also spend time with detainees themselves, providing access to legal advisors and a human connection that acts against deeply isolating living conditions. Visits take place on a weekly basis. OMS can be contacted via their Facebook page, and have endorsed several protests against Trump’s immigration bans which will take place in central Oxford.

Bridges Not Walls, an international movement which dropped banners from bridges all over the world in protest on 20 January to oppose anti-immigration rhetoric, has also been active in Oxford, dropping their own banners from the Bridge of Sighs and other landmarks. This is only one of numerous protests happening over the coming weeks.

Elli Siora, a student activist involved in organising Oxford’s Safe Passage protests, outlines the aim of her project as one of many: “To bring together two well-intentioned axes of student activism. On one side,” she says, “there are the profile pictures, the article sharing and the conversations—all in an effort to raise awareness. On the other, there are the on-ground student volunteers. The Safe Passage march on 27 January last year hoped to unite these two forms of activism, creating a real experience of solidarity.”

Clearly, the xenophobic rhetoric and action that increasingly reveals itself in mainstream politics has generated rightful anger among students and local activists, and has given their causes greater momentum. These grassroots movements mentioned provide an ideal opportunity for all those who feel the need to make their voices heard to get involved.

Other initiatives in Oxford are geared not only toward putting pressure on complicit governments, but on revising the way we think about migration as Europeans and as witnesses to the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. Theophilus Kwek, former president of the Oxford University Poetry Society and MSc candidate in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies, describes new seminar series ‘Words of Welcome’, a fortnightly event at the Refugee Studies Centre, as an effort to showcase and connect with the work of refugee and migrant poets and those who write on themes of “home, dislocation and refuge”. “So much of the paranoia that shapes our policies is attributable to a poverty of imagination,” he explains. “It’s difficult to imagine ourselves in others’ places, especially where there is need and vulnerability. We also find it difficult to imagine ourselves as our own best selves: kind, sacrificial, or welcoming. Literature helps us do that. It restores honesty and possibility to an act of imagination that should be the most natural thing in the world.”

The Oxford-based Journal of Interrupted Studies similarly focuses on sharing intellectual and cultural experience, publishing the works of displaced academics who, for reasons including their individual legal status and pervasive Eurocentrism in academic publishing, cannot publish in mainstream journals.

My most recent project with the Journal, Interruptions: New Perspectives on Migration, is an online forum that caters specifically to those directly or indirectly affected by migration—refugees, activists, migration scholars, among others—and in which they can express their experience on their own terms. The idea is to create a space unfettered by a Western-centric perspective, where those who speak from lived experience lead the conversation. Submissions are open to all those who feel they might have something to contribute to this new discourse, and can be in any form or genre.

Clearly, opportunities to get involved in Oxford’s discussion around migration and migrants’ rights abound. But we still have a long way to go. Now more than ever, it’s crucial that we take advantage of burgeoning discussion and action and develop it into something that will reach policy-making circles. Currently live on Interruptions is a letter addressed to Oxfordshire MPs, which you can sign and send to demand that they challenge Theresa May’s reluctance to disavow Trump’s executive orders, as well as those have proposed similar policies for the UK.

Protests won’t make an impact unless attendance is at a maximum. Individually, we need to continue to engage with the intellectual legacy of this humanitarian crisis, and with the work of the scholars and creatives who are among the displaced. Oxford’s current dialogue around migration is strong, but there’s always more to learn.

Update (17/03/2017): This article erroneously omitted the work of Oxford Students Refugee Campaign (OxSRC), a two-year old project using student donations (with pledges as high as £300,000 and counting) via opt out battel donations in over 45 common rooms. OxSRC have created a scholarship fund and claim that they are very likely to have the first student funded scholars at Oxford this Michaelmas. 

Welsh students set for Jesus College summer school

Theo Davies-Lewis
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Welsh students set for Jesus College summer school

High-achieving Welsh teenagers are to be given the opportunity to sample life at Oxford University through a four-day summer school at Jesus College.

In collaboration with the Welsh Government, sixth-formers who are part of the Seren network will be invited to apply for a place at a four-day summer school at Jesus.

Established by the Welsh Government two years ago, the Seren network addresses the decline of Welsh students applying to the UK’s top universities, including, but not limited to, Oxford and Cambridge.

Paul Murphy, the Welsh Government Oxbridge Ambassador for Wales, has been widely credited with drawing attention to the issue of the number of Welsh applicants to top universities.

His report on the issue uncovered that, between 2008–2012, Welsh applicants to Cambridge had a 22.6 per cent success rate, while the figure for the UK overall was 27 per cent. As well as this, Welsh applicants to Oxford had a 17.3 per cent success rate, compared with 23.6 per cent for rest of the country.

Oxford’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach, Dr Samina Khan, told Cherwell: “The University worked closely with Paul Murphy on his report and I am delighted the recommendations from the report are bearing fruit.

“We know summer schools are an excellent way of boosting students’ confidence and [getting them to] believe Oxford is for me. It is excellent that more Welsh students will have this opportunity.”

Elin Havard, President of the Oxford Welsh Society, told Cherwell: “It’s heartening that the University continues to actively encourage talented young people to learn more about the opportunities it could offer them.

“Experiences like the summer school are exactly what it takes to give some Welsh students who fully deserve a place at Oxford the confidence they need to apply for one.”

Speaking to Cherwell, Jesus College JCR President, Rosie Morgan, said: “The JCR is thrilled by any opportunity to increase access, both at a College and University level, and as such is really pleased that Jesus are offering this new initiative to further engage with Welsh students.”

Speaking exclusively to Cherwell, Lizzie Shelmerdine, President of Oxford First-Generation Students, said: “The fact that Oxford University accepts more students per year from Eton than it does from the entirety of Wales speaks volumes about the need for more outreach work in these areas.

“Many first-generation students have found summer schools incredibly inspiring, and enabled them to see Oxford as accessible rather than unattainable.

“I wholly expect the attendees of this summer school will have much the same experience, and hope that it will inspire many to consider applying.”

Elan Llwyd, a second year History student, said: “As a Welsh student as well as St Anne’s JCR Access Rep, I think this is a very admirable initiative by Jesus College.

“Summer schools are a great way of building confidence and can be pivotal in the students’ decisions about applying to Oxford. I hope that the students who attend will be able to explore student life at Jesus as well as Oxford as a whole.”

Tomos Sion, a first year History and Politics student at Brasenose, said: “It is encouraging to see Jesus College extending a helping hand to engage Welsh students and broaden their horizons beyond their typical university choices.

“Oxford is for anyone from any background and in Wales it does not seem to be on most school’s radar which is disappointing.

“In the future it would be great to see other colleges especially St.Peter’s who cover North Wales to make a greater effort to encourage Welsh students to apply.”

Despite being described as the ‘major’ Welsh College at Oxford, its founding charter contains no provision that the majority of its students should be Welsh. Nonetheless, between its founding by Welshman Dr Hugh Price in 1571 and 1915, an almost unbroken succession of 24 Principals of Jesus came from Wales or were of Welsh descent, and most College Fellows, until the reforms of 1859 and later, were also Welsh. 15 per cent of Jesus’ undergraduates are Welsh.

Lois Llywelyn Williams, studying French at Jesus, said: “As a Welsh student at Jesus myself, I am delighted to hear that a summer school will be held especially for prospective Welsh students.

“It is of utmost importance that gifted students do feel as if Oxford is accessible to them, and I believe that holding the summer school will contribute immensely to the aim of encouraging more Welsh students to apply to and benefit from education at competitive universities.”

This move follows that of the University to launch a summer school targeting prospective applicants from “white British socio-economically disadvantaged areas”, announced earlier this month.

Somerville to build accommodation on historical site

Lucy Enderby
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Somerville to build accommodation on historical site

Somerville College’s plans to build 110 student rooms in Jericho have been approved, despite concerns that the Walton Street site contains archaeological remains.

It is thought that remains from the Siege of Oxford, an confrontation from the English Civil Wars, could be beneath the site. Based on Bernard De Gomme’s 1644 map, the site runs through Royalist Civil War defences.

The report written by the planning team also stated that: “The site is located within an extensive landscape of late Neolithic-early Bronze Age funerary monuments.” As a result, extra care is to be taken to ensure the archaeological site is not damaged during the demolition.

Oxford City Council ruled at the planning meeting yesterday evening that the archaeological impacts of the development would be dealt with by imposing two conditions:

“The first requiring a demolition statement to ensure that the demolition works are undertaken in a way that avoids unnecessary below ground impacts to archaeological remains, and another that secures a written scheme of investigation to be carried out.”

In response, Richard Peats of the Historic England Commission was generally satisfied with the proposal, which he said was “carefully considered and high quality”.  However, he did say that there was “room for refinement in the way in which the proposed Shaw Lefevre Building addresses the Vaughan building and Little Clarendon Street.”

Somerville’s bursar, Andrew Parker said: “We are grateful to the planning team for their careful and thoughtful consideration of our scheme and are pleased they are recommending its approval.”

The plans were also approved by the Jericho Community Association, Oxford Civic Society and Oxford Preservation Trust. However, the Oxfordshire Architectural and Historical Society raised a number of concerns with the approved plans.

They commented on the inadequacy of the provision for the existing buildings on the site, such as the former sanatorium, of which they said: “No attempt seems to have been made to understand the history of this unusual building.

“Although it has been converted into flats, some work should be done to record its history and original arrangement – it seems very much part of the college’s history, and it would be unfortunate if it were lost without a record being made.”

 

My town and my gown: between Slough and Oxford

Jack Allsopp
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My town and my gown: between Slough and Oxford

Superficially, to those who are not as intimately acquainted with both places as myself, Slough and Oxford might not seem all that different. To a Northerner, Welshmen, or Scot, they are perhaps indistinct epitomes of southern privilege and prosperity. However, having been to secondary school in the former, and now attending university in the latter, I can confirm that this is very much not the case.

Only a 45 minute train journey (if you successfully avoid the dastardly local stopping service) separates the cities, but I am consistently stunned by the differences between Slough, whose name can also mean ‘ditch’ or a ‘low and boggy area’, and Oxford, whose name can refer to a kind of expensive shoe. On second thoughts, perhaps I really shouldn’t be all that surprised.

The contrast between the green outdoor spaces in Oxford and Slough are a useful illustration of the fundamental differences between the two cities. Each afternoon for most of my time at school, I would walk through Kedermister Park to my bus stop. You would regularly hear of, if not see, muggings occur here, with tougher kids from other schools often pinching phones from scared younger children, sometimes with a threat of a knife to boot. Nitrous oxide canisters poked out of the grass, and we often had to dodge drunks staggering past us both morning and evening. Unsurprisingly, we were strongly encouraged never to walk through the park alone by teachers and parents.

By way of comparison, my time at Merton College means I am well acquainted with Christ Church meadow. Here I often see tourists punting down the river, grinning at one another, and snapping photos. I see students with earphones in, pounding down the path in attempts to counter the grease of the previous night’s Hassan’s. Then of course there is the Oxford couple: smitten students holding hands and chattering away, sporting pea coats and Chelsea boots, and utterly oblivious to the outside world. This atmosphere, this feel, could not differ more dramatically from what I was used to at Slough.

To give another example, at lunchtime when attending school in Slough, my friends and I would regularly wander down the local parade of shops to sample some of the culinary wares that Trelawney Avenue had to offer. Of course, the selection was dominated by non-English options: the Polski Sklep was rarely frequented but did provide me on occasion with good popcorn, bread and chocolate; Pizza Bien’s greasy brown paper bags filled with cheesy treats also failed to tickle my fancy, though was a firm favourite amongst my friends. I much preferred the local corner shop run by an amiable Sikh family, who would invariably convince me to part with 50p for a can of Rubicon or grape soda.

Whilst this may seem like multiculturalism at its finest – and perhaps it was – the recent Panorama documentary about racial integration in Slough made me think otherwise. Indeed, I did not feel like much of a trailblazer for ethnic diversity, shuffling down Trelawney Avenue with my friends who were, almost without exception, Indian.

By contrast, I feel as though my selection of eateries has become rather classier since becoming a member of Oxford University last October. Like any good middle-class student here, I have the perennial argument with my friends about which is the best sandwich shop in Oxford. This is as good a time as any to plug my favourite option (no, I am not getting paid to do this, though if they want to give me free panino, then I would happily acquiesce), Sofi de France. As my friends and I weigh up the relative benefits and shortcomings of the baps supplied by Taylors, versus the slightly pricier but utterly superior ciabatta options at Sofi de France, versus the cheaper and definitely-not-as-good selection at the Oxford Sandwich shop (who even goes that far back in the covered market?), I often reflect on how different this is to the 50p Rubicon can and chips which were staples in my diet less than 12 months ago.

Yet, in a way, Oxford has offered me a different sort of multiculturalism to Slough, but one that is no less interesting and eye-opening. Deep into a hungover Rad Cam session a few months ago, I made my customary trip to Sofi de France and began chatting with the owner and his wife: it turns out he is a Moroccan immigrant, and she is from Brazil. Not only did this give me the smug satisfaction of becoming one of their ‘regular’ customers (an achievement I am still proud of to this day), but it also made me realise that in fact Oxford was perhaps not so different from Slough after all. Yes, at secondary school I was surrounded by teenagers whose parents all came from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, while at Oxford I am one brown face in a sea of white. Both of my homes away from home are, in their own ways, culturally homogenous. However, in both Slough and Oxford, if you can muster the courage to leave the library and stretch ones legs in the city itself, you can see diversity all around, from the Polski Sklep on Trelawney Avenue, to Sofi de France in the Covered Market.

Perhaps Oxford and Slough are not so different after all. Or perhaps I’m just being whimsical, in drawing parallels between the city where I study today, and which I openly and dearly love, and the town where I used to attend secondary school, a town which I used to criticise, but for which I occasionally and secretly feel pangs of nostalgia and longing.

Although just a train ride away, Slough’s rough and slightly scary charm still holds a place in my heart, and I find comfort in thinking that it’s not so different to this city called Oxford, which I now call home.

Circa Waves – Different Creatures review

Matthew Roller
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Circa Waves – Different Creatures review

When they burst onto the scene in 2015 with their debut LP Young Chasers, Circa Waves epitomised the BBC Radio 1 rock band. Their breakthrough single, ‘T-Shirt Weather’, featured a catchy chorus, coupled with some upbeat but inane lyrics, and seemed to be the perfect song for a mid-afternoon slot at a festival when nobody is overly focused on the music. To quote NME, “it was perfectly enjoyable [but] it wasn’t the kind of album you clutch tight when everything around you is going to shit.”

But the gap that once existed in the industry for a skinny jean-clad indie rock band has long since been filled, and the Scouse rockers’ second album clearly had to be something different to their debut.

The good news for their fans is that Different Creatures is a very listenable album. Circa Waves opt for a sound that is more Editors than Catfish and the Bottlemen, with heavier, denser guitar riffs. The lead single, ‘Wake Up’, packs a punch that was nowhere to be seen two years ago. Meanwhile, ‘Out On My Own’ powerfully deals with the issues of anxiety and the pressures of masculinity which moves the album in a surprising direction.

Unfortunately, despite the promise of the first few tracks, the album slips back into the band’s former vacuousness with the album’s title track. Frontman Kieran Shudall suggested when making the album that he wanted to produce something with more meaning and depth than Young Chasers. However, his suggestion that “If I was you, and you were me /We would be different creatures,” followed by a bizarre reference to Theresa May’s attitude towards Syrian refugees demonstrates not only an over-enthusiasm to turn indie rock into something political, but the fatuous nature of the title track.

Following on from that, ‘Love’s Run Out’ sits somewhere between a tear-drawing, Kodaline-esque break-up song and a middle-of-the-road, middle-of-the-album track, although Shudall’s parting comment “she text me during that” [sic] manages to make the band endearing. Just like how the album is no masterpiece yet somehow refreshing and enjoyable, the band seem likeable despite their tendency to embody cliché.

Circa Waves want to headline massive festivals, sell out huge arenas and release best-selling albums. While this follow-up suggests they are some way off their eventual goal, there are signs of progress: if they can convince their predominantly teenage fans that their inane lyrics are somehow filled with meaning, they will be making steps on the right track.

Battling uncertainty with uncertainty is reckless: Indy Ref Two must wait

Emma Leech
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Battling uncertainty with uncertainty is reckless: Indy Ref Two must wait

It’s hard to disagree that Nicola Sturgeon has just made the most strategically-sound political move seen since that day which I am reluctant to call “Britain’s independence day”. Here in Scotland, she is a force to be reckoned with, and a vocal one at that. As the political climate turns to tempest, she has consistently said everything that the liberal left have wanted to hear. Hitting her keyboard a flurry of anti-Trump and pro-immigration tweets are lauded with likes and retweets. “This,” people think, “is the leader for us. The believer and doer we need amidst the wet blankets and no-shows of other political parties.”

While Britain’s leaders were still looking at their shoes and mumbling “Brexit means Brexit”, Sturgeon had drawn up Scotland’s plan for the implementation of Article 50. She is a strong opposition. But isn’t that all she is? It is easy to say all the right things when you’re not sitting in the hot seat.

Now, she has finally made a definitive move. Amidst Brexit confusion, unstable global politics, and a struggling Scottish economy, the SNP believe it is the time to jump ship to avoid, as Deputy Leader Angus Robertson put it, having to “sit in the back of the Tory Brexit bus… and see the Prime Minister drive us off a Brexit cliff”. It seems they would rather have us take a detour and turn off another cliff into that same void of uncertainty.

Sturgeon’s main reasoning seems to be that the government’s reluctance to compromise on hard Brexit shows their disinterest in listening to the views of the Scottish people. But with half of Scots surveyed declaring their opposition to another referendum, and just over a third in favour, it is hard not to question Sturgeon’s apparent selective hearing.

There is no evidence to suggest that Scotland is in a stronger place three years later to start forging her own independent path. Making a decision now is reckless — no one truly knows the effect Brexit will have. Assuming that independence will save Scotland from losing her ties to the EU is naïve, even factually wrong. The EU have stated, as they did in 2014, that Scotland will have to reapply for membership. But if Scotland were allowed to join it would only bolster the hopes of Catalonian separatists, something Spain will never allow to happen.

Not only would Scotland be likely lose EU membership, we would also renounce our influence on the UK’s veto vote in the UN, thus giving up much of our global power. Economically, Scotland would be left with the largest deficit of the EU, given that it consistently out-spends the rest of the UK whilst receiving significantly in taxes less per head. And if abstract numbers aren’t your thing, take Aberdeen, the oil capital of Europe. With oil now half the price used in the SNP’s 2014 calculations it is no longer the stable financial powerhouse on which we could once depend.

With anti-Brexit feeling high, Sturgeon is attempting to ride the wave of discontent, pushing us towards her ultimate goal. However, to jump from Brexit Britain to independence is to jump from a burning ship to a tattered and unstable lifeboat.

Battling uncertainty with uncertainty is reckless. If Sturgeon must continue with this independence rhetoric I implore her to wait until the water settles.  

Oxford announce crews for the Boat Races

Theo Davies-Lewis
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Oxford announce crews for the Boat Races

Oxford University Boat Club have announced their Men and Women’s crews ahead of next month’s Cancer Research UK Boat Races.

The men will hope they can respond to their defeat to Cambridge in last year’s race, which they lost by two-and-a-half lengths. This year, the Dark Blues will be the lighter crew, and give way 25.9kg to the Light Blues for the 162nd running of the event.

The crew includes President Michael DiSanto, who is seated at six for the race on Sunday, April 2.

DiSanto also featured in Oxford’s victorious 2014 and 2015 crews, and is studying for an MSc in Psychiatry at Trinity College, having completed his undergraduate studies in Psychology and Economics at Harvard University, where he was a former Captain of Harvard University Boat Club.

Elsewhere in the boat, there is a collection of former Abingdon School pupils – including Oliver Cook, Jamie Cook and Vassilis Ragoussis.

DiSanto, who achieved fourth place as a part of the men’s eight for the United States of America at the Rio Olympics, told The Oxford Times that Oxford have already put last year’s loss behind them.

He said: “There are only two guys from the team last year. It’s about finding our own identity.

“That loss is something that can galvanise the crew by all means, but it would be wrong to force last year’s race on the current crew. It’s about this year and what we’re about.”

Despite the men losing in 2016, the women are hoping for a fifth successive win.

Weighing in 31.2kg lighter than Cambridge, the crew are bound to be confident following their 24-length victory last year, with the Cambridge boat close to sinking.

However, there will be disappointment that President Isabell von Loga misses out due to a shoulder injury, with Alice Roberts being seated at two.

The women’s crews are made up of a diverse set of rowers, with eight nationalities represented across the two boats. Oxford have athletes from Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, America and the UK, while Cambridge boast Irish, Canadian, American, New Zealand, French, Australian and British rowers.

While Cambridge have some experienced Boat Race rowers in their crew, Oxford have a completely fresh team for the 2017 race. However, the Dark Blues have experienced international rowers in their squad. Harriet Austin, for example, competed internationally for her home country of New Zealand in the women’s eight back in 2010, whilst Flo Pickles represented Great Britain at the U23 World Championships last summer.

At 34, Emily Cameron is the oldest athlete in this year’s Boat Races across all four crews and has a long history of international representation for Canada.

Also speaking to The Oxford Times, Head Coach Ali Williams described the training that has gone into preparing for the race.

Williams commented: “We’ve taken a lot of time to educate the crew on the race.

“They know how to push themselves, but they needed an understanding because racing on the Tideway is a whole different beast.

“It’s a long race, there’s a lot of changes, so hopefully they will be able to handle any situation better than Cambridge.”

Oxford trail Cambridge by just two races in the overall head-to-head, but Oxford have enjoyed considerable success in recent years, winning ten of the last fifteen races. Oxford also trail Cambridge in the reserve boats races, but the Oxford reserve crew have enjoyed greater success recently, winning six of the last seven races.

Details about both Oxford and Cambridge crews can be found at http://theboatraces.org/

Men’s Boat: Bow: William Warr (94.2kg), 2: Matthew O’Leary (74.8kg), 3: Oliver Cook (91.7kg), 4: Joshua Bugaski (99.3kg), 5: Olivier Siegelaar (101.2kg), 6: Michael DiSanto (89.9kg), 7: James Cook (84kg), Stroke: Vassilis Ragoussis (86.6kg), Cox: Sam Collier (55kg)

Women’s Boat: Bow: Flo Pickles (60kg), 2: Alice Roberts (67.5kg), 3: Rebecca Esselstein (70.8kg), 4: Rebecca Te Water Naude (67.2kg), 5: Harriet Austin (76.5kg), 6: Chloe Laverack (75.3kg), 7: Emily Cameron (76kg), Stroke: Jenna Hebert (67.1kg), Cox: Eleanor Shearer (48kg)

Open House squatters evicted from second University building

Theo Davies-Lewis
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Open House squatters evicted from second University building

Twenty members of the Osney Open House group who have been forced to leave a second University building have been offered shelter at a church in East Oxford, it has been revealed.

Members of the Osney House Group—previously known as Iffley Open House—have received support from around 200 volunteers, activists and Oxford University students over the last few months.

The group claimed squatters’ rights at the Old Power Station in Osney two weeks ago.

However, following a court hearing last week, the group were served an Interim Possession Order (IPO) which stated they had to vacate the Old Power Station by 4pm on Monday (13th March).

The Old Power Station is owned by the University of Oxford, and there are proposals for the Saïd Business School to lease the building from the University to help meet its requirements for more teaching space.

The Business School have said that any redevelopment plans “will provide further teaching space for our post-graduate and executive business participants”, particularly those who join the School for short executive education programmes. In addition, it says that the redevelopment would ensure there are “catering and facilities for that group and some high quality residential rooms for those who need to stay overnight”.

Speaking to the BBC on the difficulties the group have faced over the last few months, volunteer Miranda Shaw said: “One good thing is that it has created enough of a stir that there are big conversations happening.

“We will be coming together in the coming weeks to meet churches, councils, the university, service providers and police. There is the intention to find creative solutions.”

Another volunteer and group spokesman, who asked to remain anonymous, told The Oxford Times: “We have managed to squirrel away lots of residents’ items among volunteers’ houses and garages.

“This is the official end of the Open House project but we are continuing our support with the residents through casework, trying to help them get jobs and getting their paperwork in place.”

Before moving into the Old Power Station, the group were squatting in a former VW showroom in Iffley Road, owned by Wadham College.

Since New Year’s Eve the group had being using the building to house up to 20 homeless people. They had been providing cooked meals and washing facilities, as well as skills to help the residents find new work.

Oxford University students, including the ‘Hertford for the Homeless’ campaign, worked alongside local volunteers to aid the homeless residents. However, the leaseholders of the ground floor of the building—The Midcounties Cooperative—issued a possession order to have the squatters evicted at the end of February, sparking demonstrations from activists.

Members of Open House will continue talks with Oxford City Council and Oxford University about long-term solutions to the city’s homelessness crisis.

Several College heads missed off Brexit open letter

Emma Leech
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Several College heads missed off Brexit open letter

Several College heads have been missed off an open letter regarding Brexit which was printed in The Times this morning, despite having agreed to, or desired to, be included.

The letter, signed by the heads of 35 Oxford Colleges and Permanent Private Halls, urged MPs to guarantee the right of European Union citizens to reside in the UK after the Brexit process is complete, ahead of a key parliamentary vote on Article 50.

Notable absentees from the original list of signatories were heads from Christ Church, Corpus Christi, Lincoln, Mansfield, and St. Peter’s.

However, Cherwell has since learnt that some of those College heads have expressed a desire to have been included, or that they had signed the letter but were not recorded.

Professor Steven Cowley, President of Corpus Christi College told Cherwell: “I did sign but it was not recorded. I am entirely in agreement with the contents of the letter.”

The Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church, confirmed that he signed the letter on 10 March 2017. Speaking exclusively to Cherwell he said: “I did happily sign this letter, so am not sure why I am not listed.”

Helena Kennedy QC, principal of Mansfield College, told Cherwell: “There was no decision not to sign. I was in Iran on official business. Mansfield and I agree entirely with the letter.

She continued: “As a member of the House of Lords, I was a leading advocate of the amendments.”

When asked if it was a “cock-up”, a University press representative replied: “It looks very much that way, yes.”

It is not known whether the mistake was made by the University or The Times.

However, speaking exclusively to Cherwell, Mark Damazer CBE, Master of St. Peter’s College, confirmed that the omission of his name from the list was deliberate.

He said: “I am on the BBC Trust and its editorial committee until 3 April. As such I cannot compromise the BBC’s impartiality.”

Professor Henry Woudhuysen, Rector of Lincoln College, also confirmed that the omission of his name was deliberate.

He told Cherwell: “I can confirm that my name was not erroneously missed off the list of signatories to The Times letter.”

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