Wednesday 16th July 2025
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Unlikely champions and unbelievable success: Cherwell’s top sporting moments

Karl Frey
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Unlikely champions and unbelievable success: Cherwell’s top sporting moments

If we can thank 2016 for anything, it is some spectacular moments in sport. As the world bemoans the celebrity deaths, wars and political upheaval that have punctuated this turbulent year, let us also remember the brilliant and unlikely that we have encountered in the world of sport. It was in the arena of sport that we arguably witnessed the triumph of kindness, passion and determination, which seemed so absent from the wider world. Here are Cherwell’s top five sporting moments of 2016:

1) Leicester City wins the British Premier League

By far the most memorable moment of in the world of British football this year was Leicester City’s Premier League win. On Monday the 2nd of May 2016, a Tottenham 2-2 draw away at Chelsea confirmed that Leicester City had won the Barclays Premier League title in one of the greatest sporting stories of all time. Despite an excellent start to the 2015/2016 campaign, the Foxes have remained underdogs for the majority of the season. Football fans across the country were convinced that they didn’t have the squad depth or quality of football to remain at the top of the table; nonetheless Ranieri’s men never stopped to impress. In December 2015, Jamie Vardy received his award for consecutive Premier League goals. The striker scored in 11 straight games to break the record previously held by Manchester United’s Ruud Van Nistelrooy. An outstanding season also earned Riyad Mahrez the PFA Player of the Year award. Leicester City’s 2015/16 side cost an aggregate of £54.4 million with substitute Leonardo Ulloa being their most expensive signing (£10m). The other three teams that made the top four in the 15/16 season, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City, had squads costing of £161.1 million, £251.9 million and £418.8 million, respectively: clearly money isn’t everything in football. Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City have cemented their place in Premier League history.

2) Euros 2016 – Portugal win, Wales reach semi-finals and Iceland Vikings conquer Europe

Second only to Leicester’s Premier League success, comes a nerve racking and eventful European Championship hosted by France. Will Grigg was on fire, Zaza’s ball yet to land, and Vicente del Bosque was fired as Spain failed to impress again. France’s Griezmann proved to be unstoppable against the German giants. Wales beat Belgium to reach the semi finals and the Viking war chant echoed in the streets of Paris.

The most striking story of the 2016 Euros was that of the Icelandic football team. In the month of July, 27,000 Icelandic fans, or roughly 8 per cent of the nation’s population, made their way to Saint-Etienne for the group stage game against Portugal. With the now world renown Viking war chant as their trademark, the Icelandic players and fans gave it their all for their tiny nation’s proud name. Iceland’s goalkeeper works as a music video director and one of their coaches is a dentist. Nonetheless, the Vikings humiliated England in the last 16 stage with a 2-1 victory, which marked an end to Roy Hodgson’s disappointing managerial career. Iceland were then defeated by the hosts in the quarterfinals.

After Iceland’s inspirational run came the final held between France and Portugal at the Stade de France, Saint Dennis on 10 July. Portuguese captain Cristiano Ronaldo tearfully abandoned the pitch with an ankle injury in the first half and handed over leadership responsibilities to former Manchester United winger Luis Nani. A goalless draw took the game to extra-time and Portuguese substitute Edér found the back of the net with a powerful 25-yard strike to earn his country the victory. 

Relive the drama of the final (with Titanic music):

3) Rio Olympics- records smashed, sacrifices made and success for Oxford

In August 2016, Rio de Janeiro became the first South American city to ever host the Summer Olympic Games. The lead-up to the Games was defined by controversies including a Zika virus outbreak, a doping scandal involving Russian athletes and instabilities in Brazil’s federal government. Despite this, Rio de Janeiro came to life like never seen before and the Olympics were jammed-packed with sporting talent and memorable moments.

Two Oxford graduates, Constantine Louloudis and Tom Mitchell won medals in rowing and rugby 7s respectively. Louloudis – who is a graduate in classics from Trinity College – earned gold with the Great British 4 man rowing team. Mitchell led the Great British rugby team to the Olympic final, where the Fijians proved to be superior.

One of the moments that marked the Olympics, was Bahamian runner Shaunae Miller’s dive across the finish line to beat the seven times gold medallist Alison Felix in the women’s 400m race. In a different manner, British runner Mo Farah also found himself lying on the running tracks after being knocked down at the start of the 10000m race. Regardless of the fall, Farah still managed to defend his title.

There were some firsts. On the 12th of August, Fiji erupted with celebrations as its 7s rugby team won the country’s first ever gold medal, beating Great Britain in the final by an astonishing 43-7. On the following day, Monica Puig of Puerto Rico proudly wove her country’s flag after winning the gold medal match in the women’s tennis competition. This too, was Puerto Rico’s first ever-gold medal.

On the other end of the spectrum, Michael Phelps became the most decorated Olympic athlete ever; leading the USA to victory in the 400m Medley race, he retired with his 23rd gold medal. No other Olympic athlete has ever exceeded 9 gold medals. However, for many, the sensation of Rio Olympics was US gymnast Simone Biles. Winning gold for all-round individual and team performances, the 19 year old has already been described as one of the best Olympic gymnasts ever. She also earned a gold medal for the Vault and a Bronze medal for the Beam events.

4) Kris Jenkins sinks a championship-winning buzzer 3 pointer

On the 4th of April 2016, the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball final was held between the Vilanova Wildcats and the University of North Carolina (UNC). Kris Jenkins sunk a championship-winning buzzer 3 pointer to earn the Vilanova’s the title, in what is referred to as “The Perfect Ending”.

UNC had recovered from a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes to tie the game with 4.7 seconds left, leaving the Wildcats one last chance to clinch a victory before overtime. Four-year team captain Ryan Arcidiacono dribbled down court and passed the ball back to assist Jenkins’ game-winning shot. Coach Jay Wright credits the play to the “Wildcat minute”, where the team practices late-game scenarios at every practice. The game has been called one of the greatest in the history of NCAA Tournament Championships.

5) Chicago Cubs win the World Series Championship

On the 2nd of November 2016, after 108 years of waiting, the Chicago Cubs ended the longest drought in American sporting history. The Cubs won the 2016 World Series with a wild 8-7 victory over the Indians at Progressive Field. The triumph completed their climb back from a 3-1 Series deficit to claim their first championship since 1908, breaking ‘The Curse of the Billy Goat’.

This curse was supposedly placed on the Chicago Cubs by the owner of Billy Goat Tavern, William Sianis. The odour of his pet goat Murphy was bothering other fans and so Sianis was asked to leave Wrigley Field, the Cubs’ home ballpark, during game 4 of the 1945 World Series. Unhappy with his dismissal, Sianis declared, “Them Cubs, they ain’t gonna win no more!”. The Cubs lost the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers, and did not win a World Series championship again until 2016.

You bet Chicago Cubs fans won’t mess with the Billy Goat Tavern again.

Windy colours

Emma Leech
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Windy colours

“My ancestors were Portuguese painters,” Henry tells me in his thick Liverpudlian accent as he helps me carry a metre-long painted canvas back to my college. The bus shelter in which he lives is, by night, filled with a sleeping bag and tarpaulin as he tries to keep out the often harsh Oxford weather. By day, however, he clears this away to make a temporary art studio. The bench becomes both seat and easel and Henry is surrounded by various off-cuts of wood, packs of paints and a collection of his own works, all of which are for sale.

I walk past Henry every day on the way to my classes, looking at his works: an assortment of Oxford landscapes, religious motifs, and more abstract paintings. It might be overly generous to suggest that these are gallery-ready works of art, if there is such a thing, as many of them look unfinished or contain obvious mistakes. But they all have a certain colourful appeal against the stark greyness of Woodstock Road.

There is a great deal of variety when it comes to the theme or subject of his paintings. Amongst small skylines and vases of flowers stands a five foot tall painting of a clown, but in each he uses colour with such assertion that they all stand alone as impressive pieces.

Henry’s experimentation is clear as this ever-changing street gallery evolves in terms of skill and medium. Over a short few months, he moves from wood to canvas to even painting the Radcliffe Camera on a violin. His brushstrokes seem more deliberate and his use of colour becomes bolder, with skies of red and navy, and bright orange buildings.

The first painting to catch my eye was a long, landscape piece of wood painted completely black with a white streak breaking the darkness across the middle. It reminded me of home, of looking out at night on Aberdeen beach, the white horses of the breaking waves just visible in the pitch black of a summer after dark. However, and to my disappointment and surprise, a few days’ hesitation before I went to buy the painting was enough for it to be snapped up by someone else, whom I later discovered to be a friend in college. The speed of the turnover of paintings amazed me and so I was hastier when another one sparked my interest.

This time, the painting was of the Radcliffe Camera and was on a large canvas. The building stands in the middle, made of rough strokes of deep pink. Around it, other Oxford buildings form a backdrop but the perspective sets them slightly behind and the use of warm colour on the library brings it forward so that the eye is drawn to the building itself and then up to the spike on top.

From there, the sky opens up, with swirls of red, blue, and green which make it look at once stormy and summery. It was this unusual mix of colour in the sky that pushed me to approach Henry and ask to buy it. He told me that it was his mother’s dying wish for him to paint and we chatted about our shared roots in Liverpool.

More of a perfectionist than an art connoisseur, there were parts of the painting that I thought would bother me. Almost immediately after handing over my cash I was struck with the momentary regret of buying an unashamedly amateurish painting. Despite some poorly veiled looks of distaste from my friends, however, the painting (and its imperfections) has nothing but grown on me. The warm depiction of my adopted home brightens my dreary college room and reminds me of my favourite Oxford moments, when the skies are candyfloss blue and pink in the sunset.

Oxford Students outspend Cambridge counterparts by thousands of pounds

Benn Sheridan
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Oxford Students outspend Cambridge counterparts by thousands of pounds

A student at Oxford will spend, on average, £24,760 per year to live and study in the city, compared to the average Cambridge student’s £20,266, according to a recent study by price comparison website GoCompare.com.

Though both universities charge the same fees for tuition, and students at both spend the same on books and academic equipment (£14 monthly), Oxford students spend significantly more on accommodation and socialising.

Oxford students are caught out by hefty student housing prices, which average out at £568 per month for those living in College, and £563 per month for those living out. The average Cambridge student will, by contrast, pay just £433 per month when living in college, and £498 per month when out.

The study also found that Oxford students spend nearly twice as much on their social life (£182 per month) as Cambridge students (£95 per month).

Along with socialising, Oxford students also spend £182 per month on clothes. This is a full six times as much as Cambridge students, who spend just £30 per month.

The study also ranked UK universities by cost. Whilst Cambridge came in 38th place, Oxford and Oxford Brookes were the only non-London universities in the top ten, coming 7th and 10th respectively.

Earlier this year, Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) succeeded in preventing the University from raising tuition fees for the 2015 intake from £9000.

The 2016 intake are, like students at a majority of Russell Group universities, to be charged the maximum permitted by the government, £9250.

The University and OUSU have been contacted for comment.

An Indian Christmas feast

Gitanjali Sharma
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An Indian Christmas feast

Spending the holidays in India, especially at this time of year, is a real treat: the warm sunshine, the comforting faces of familiar friends and relatives and of course (most importantly) the mouth-watering, and indescribably delicious food being served at the table.

This Christmas, our dinner was a fusion of cuisines from across the country, reflecting both our family’s own traditions and the influences from wider Indian culture. We enjoyed some traditional southern Indian dishes, such as chicken biryani and, one of my favourites, baingan bharta (mashed aubergine curry). There were also nods to North Indian influences in the Punjabi chole masala (chickpeas) and gajar ka halwa, a carrot pudding served with ice cream.

Our Christmas meal captured in microcosm the huge diversity and range of Indian cooking, inevitable in such a vast, ever-growing nation, with 29 completely different states that all have their own culinary particularities. There is a still a very strong affiliation to Christmas in the country and over the years Christians from every state have added their own unique flavours to the festivities.

These are only a small selection of dishes that feature in Indian homes during the festive season. In Goa, there is a throwback to rich Portuguese roots and beef, the most loved meat, is the star of their stir fries, cutlets, and croquettes, which accompany quintessentially Portuguese-inspired dishes like chicken xacuti (with white poppy seeds, grated coconut and dried red chillies), pork vindaloo or pork sorpotel curry.

In the south of Andhra Pradesh hot spices and hearty meals dominate, with some families preparing a handi (a large bowl) of mutton biryani the traditional Deccani way. While in Kerala, Malayi Christians begin Christmas feasting in the morning with piping hot palappams (soft pancakes made with rice flour and coconut milk) and meen moilee (a mildly flavoured coconut fish curry).

In the North East there are many tribes, each with their own cooking style, but most swear by the duck curry and steamed rice combination, where the exclusive use of roasted chilli powder and lack of masala differentiates it from other Indian curries.

There are also many Christmas sweets and goodies, mainly originating from Goa, traditionally called ‘kuswar’. These range from delicious dense fruitcakes and rose cookies to kulkuls, (semolina based dough balls made with cardamom and dusted with icing sugar). Traditional deserts like gulab jamun (a milk sweet drenched in syrup) and kheer (rice pudding with saffron and raisins), alongside jaggery (concentrated date sugar)-based sweets are also a must.

When comparing this with British Christmas traditions, on one hand, Anglo-Indian Christmas meals aren’t too dissimilar from back home and are teasingly English at heart—a roast turkey or duck is marinated overnight, and then roasted with a myriad of herbs and spices like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves. Its stuffing consists of boiled veg and mashed potatoes and side dishes include cranberry sauce, pork chops, and good old Brussels sprouts.

However, many Indian Christmas meals also differ from their British counterpart: meat is less of a centrepiece, and there is a larger focus on other elements of the meal with perhaps more to excite vegetarians. Although Christmas dinners can differ somewhat in the UK, with the eternal debate on the inclusion of Yorkshire puddings, in India there is a greater celebration of this variety.

But the main aspect of it all is of course the same—a plethora of delicious food for family and friends to enjoy.

Post-Christmas ennui: cultural picks for when the inertia sets in

Priya Khaira-Hanks
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Post-Christmas ennui: cultural picks for when the inertia sets in

Album: Solange’s A Seat at the Table

As you become one with your sofa, Solange’s slow, dreamy vocals and gradually building soundscapes will sooth you as you sink further into your festive stupor. However, her lyrics might not be quite such a salve, as she offers her unflinching commentary on race and femininity, conveyed through deceptively delicate melodies. Re-engage your Baileys-soaked brain whilst avoiding anything too aurally jarring—her refreshingly caustic exposé of white privilege comes via a sound smooth as honey. The accompanying music videos are perfect for when the tinsel-and-Santa-hat aesthetic is beginning to grate, as her clean lines, artful colour palette and striking juxtapositions are worlds away from onesies and yet another novelty Christmas jumper.

Book: The Muse by Jessie Burton

The Oxford graduate’s second novel is as good as, or perhaps even surpasses, her debut, The Miniaturist. The story flits between 1930s Spain on the brink of the Revolution, and the bohemian art-world of 1960s London, and accomplishes the rare feat of being both intensely readable and intellectually challenging. Highlights include compelling fictional paintings you wish you could see realised, the atmospheric portrayal of winter in southern Spain and a cameo from Peggy Guggenheim. When all you’ve read for the last three days is the Christmas Radio Times, this is an excellent novel to ease you back into your Vacation reading list.

Film: Moana

What better way to escape the grey gloom of a British Christmas than to travel with Disney to a magical, animated Polynesian island, where the chief’s daughter Moana is raring to escape small-island life and save the world. It seizes upon the best elements of Pocahontas and Frozen—cute animal sidekicks, soaring ballads about teenage angst—whilst omitting the bad—an abhorrent colonialist message, the irritating snowman. Moana escapes the curse of an unnecessary romantic storyline, the downfall of many a good Disney film, and, as if that wasn’t enough, features Jermaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords as a very glamorous crab.

TV drama: Stranger Things

Utterly consumable without leaving a bitter taste in your mouth, this 8-part Netflix series is sci-fi gold.  A homage to 1980s pop culture and early Steven Spielberg movies, badly-cut denim and dubious hairstyles abound—but don’t let that put you off. The Duffer brothers have created a world that seems at once familiar and fresh, injecting familiar tropes and iconography with new life. It’s the kind of addictive television that makes you want to cancel plans to rush home and watch it—and, appropriately for the post-Christmas slump, you will never look at broken fairy-lights in the same way again.

TV comedy: Fleabag

Natasha Burton has already perfectly summed up the filthy, perceptive power of Fleabag for Cherwell, but the box set is still on iPlayer for those who haven’t yet abandoned themselves to its glorious cynicism and moral depravity. After the over-indulgence and familial strife of Christmas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s paean to selfishness couldn’t be more appealing. However, there is real emotion at the heart of this razor-sharp sitcom, which features joyous performances from Olivia Coleman as a stepmother dripping in smug satisfaction and Hugh Dennis as a grizzled and pathetic businessman. If you have been badly behaved this Christmas, take solace in Fleabag.

The Oxford Alternotives’ Christmas release: a mingling of warmth and humour

Natalia Bus
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The Oxford Alternotives’ Christmas release: a mingling of warmth and humour

The Oxford Alternotives, Oxford’s longest established mixed a capella group, warmed the hearts of many an a capella fan last week with their cover of The Beach Boys’ ‘God Only Knows’ released alongside their festive ‘Love Altually’ video. The video features a collection of favourite scenes from the undeniable Christmas classic and marks the group’s first charity release, with all proceeds going to UNHCR’s Christmas Syrian Appeal.

The group’s choice of song, despite featuring poignantly in the film itself, is perhaps not an obviously Christmassy one. However, it ties in perfectly with the message of unity and care for your loved ones, sentiments which play a vital part in every home this time of year. The vocal arrangement throughout the cover bolsters this, with each line of the track being sung by a different solitary voice, all coming together for the chorus in soothing, yet powerful harmonies.

Alice Robinson, a veteran member of the Alternotives told Cherwell that the video took around two weeks to film and that “a particular highlight was waking up bright and early to get to Port Meadow by 8am and film the ‘Aurelia’ scenes. We forced Imogen [Mechie] to jump into the river in nothing but underwear in minus temperatures. Sadly, those scenes didn’t make the final cut, much to her annoyance.”

The video, however, is much more than just a piece of wonderfully light-hearted fun. The group is hoping that their effort will raise awareness for UNHCR’s ‘Nobody Left Outside’ campaign. The ultimate goal of the organisation is to raise enough money to help shelter the two million people forced to flee their homes as a result of the ongoing Syria crisis. UNHCR are a highly effective United Nations organisation established in 1949 as a vehicle to protect and support refugees from all corners of the world.

Stressing the message of love and inclusion behind the Christmas cover, Rosie Richards, currently one of the co-presidents of The Alternotives told Cherwell, “We had so much fun filming the video and it brought us a hell of a lot closer as a group and we are lucky enough to be in a position where we could mess around and have fun with it. But we also wanted to ensure that it wasn’t just a good experience for us but could make a difference for those who aren’t as lucky. In the words of Hugh Grant, we wanted to show that ‘love actually is all around’.”

Watch the video here.

What’s in Cherwell’s (Film and TV) stocking?

Tesni Jones
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What’s in Cherwell’s (Film and TV) stocking?

Bored of the reruns of It’s a Wonderful Life and know all the lines from Elf off by heart? Take inspiration for an alternate Christmas day from these less traditionally festive Christmas films.

Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone – U

Perhaps it’s the ugly jumpers, perhaps it’s the scene with Ron and Harry playing chess which reminds us of Christmas games with the family, or perhaps it’s the image of Hagrid dragging a Christmas tree around a snowy Hogwarts which is cemented in the psyche of all young adults come Christmas time. The first Harry Potter outing is definitely a discerning choice for opening the presents under the tree.

Paddington – PG

Featuring a Christmas tree in the last scene, Paddington is a wonderful film regarding events throughout 2016.  It perfectly encapsulates fears of immigration, the breaking up of family due to tensions between parents and children, and shows the danger of wanting power, all through a cuddly bear having adventures in London. Perfectly suited for the midmorning Christmas Crossword when you’re reflecting on the year’s events.

Iron Man 3 – 12

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the horrifically awful cracker jokes and disappointing ‘banter’ from your younger brother. Similarly, Iron Man 3 is included on this list as a film (again set at Christmas time), which was once good but now is happily forgotten amongst the much better Marvel films. Perfect to watch whilst cooking your Christmas dinner, i.e. when you are half distracted from the plot holes.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang – 15

Shane Black’s murder mystery is set at Christmas in Los Angeles. This cult classic, loved a lot by a few, is your Christmas afternoon traditional game of charades, where your indie cousins who inevitably love it force it upon the younger generations. This quirky noir film is a must watch for those who have not seen it, with the added bonus that you can call it an education in film, making you that annoying hipster once everyone’s returned from the Christmas vac.

Die Hard – 18

Christmas Eve. Alan Rickman. Violence. Guns. Sassy Dialogue. The only film to watch once the younger siblings go to bed. Make it even more interesting by introducing a fun drinking game, a sip of prosecco for every bullet fired and a small Christmas port every time the camera focuses on Bruce Willis’ disgusting feet.

‘Love Actually’ ten years on: irrelevant ephemera or pertinent modern fairy-tale?

Manish Binukrishnan
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‘Love Actually’ ten years on: irrelevant ephemera or pertinent modern fairy-tale?

Coming to Oxford without having watched Love Actually, I felt trapped in a serious social paradigm. Having only just caught up on seven series of Game of Thrones in hope of boosting my small talk repertoire, I was dismayed to see that it wouldn’t be enough. Thankfully, I was given respite by the multiple Michaelmas viewings of Love Actually, and no one was able to discover my secret. Indeed, whilst the secret is now out, I write this in the hope that exam stress and high levels of alcohol consumption will help obfuscate this glaring tragedy from my peers come Hilary term.

Nonetheless, watching Love Actually ten years too late does offer a unique perspective. For example, since their performances in the film, many of the core actors have diversified their roles. Whilst those who watched Love Actually at its release (which was probably none of us) may have envisaged Liam Neeson as a surly heartthrob, after watching Taken 1,2,3 and 50 other carbon copies, it was somewhat jarring for me to see him change his weapon of choice from a pistol to a phone and defend his child, not from the threat of criminals, but the perils of love.

However, whilst I may have felt some initial confusion at Liam Neeson’s appearance, this was by far outweighed by my pleasure at seeing different actors coming together for the rom-com. I’m used to Alan Rickman killing Dumbledore, Thomas Brodie-Sangster solemnly guiding Bran Stark, and Chiwetel Ejelfor tackling far more serious subject matter. Viewing them all together with their inter-weaving storylines brings a sense of relatability to the concept of love, and reinforces the film’s idyllic charm.

Such motifs are further highlighted by the various narratives which help to illustrate the universality of romance and its problems. Seeing Hugh Grant’s charming and affable Prime Minister tackle his own romantic complications truly brings it home that anyone can find love. As someone whose previous rom-com repertoire was exclusively comprised of Mean Girls, I certainly could have done with taking lessons from Thomas Brodie-Sangster’s character (Sam) before I spent five weeks flailing around in Michaelmas Term.

In my opinion, the film also stands out for its wit. Being the jaded film critic that I am now with my vast 18 years of experience, by not relying too heavily on contextual jokes it enables even a quasi-millennial like myself to empathise with timeless jokes like “the first lobster” in the Nativity play and our relatable friend the “cock-blocktopus”. These comedic moments help transcend age groups and tie together multiple generations who have all had to suffer through tragedies like this.

Of course, the film does have its flaws, and no amount of timelessness will fully obscure them. A lot of moments feel a little far-fetched, whether it’s Colin Firth’s Jamie simply asking a girl to marry him outright, or Sam somehow managing to evade countless airport security and so on. However, to be brutally honest, at a time like Christmas, as I try and put off worries about collections, my career and basically everything in life, it’s nice to suspend some belief and watch an uplifting modern fairy-tale like Love Actually. Whilst I don’t think I’ll be buying multiple copies anytime soon, I look forward to a lifetime of Love Actually themed Buzzfeed quizzes incorrectly diagnosing me on the basis of irrelevant facts.

Nativity in art: El Greco, La Tour and Spitzweg

Ewan Davis
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Nativity in art: El Greco, La Tour and Spitzweg

Following on from last weeks entry, this week we take a look at 16th, 17th and 19th century European depictions of Christ’s birth.

Adoration of the Magi and The Adoration of the Shepherds, El Greco 1568 and 1614

el-greco

In the case of El Greco, the nativity offers us a fixed subject, through which we can see a transformation in style. Being such an important and famous religious story, the Nativity is often painted several times by many painters. El Greco painted an ‘Adoration of the Magi’ scene in 1568, and then later completed an ‘Adoration of the Shepherds’ scene.

The first of these, now residing in Mexico City’s Soumaya Musuem, is much more conventional, with clear inspirations taken from El Greco’s Cretan early years, but already beginning to take inspirations from the western works that he would have seen on moving to Italy in 1567. The Kings around Jesus, and Mary herself are relatively accurately proportioned,  with their poses being natural, or at least make sense perspectiveadoracion_de_los_reyes_magos1ly. The almost unidentifiable animals in the background of the scene, (perhaps horses, perhaps camels) begin to give a hint at the bizarre and extremely distinctive style he would later adopt.

The second possesses a style  much more recognisably that of El Greco’s. Influenced by the Mannerist artists he surrounded himself with on moving to Italy, his exaggerated forms, although stationary, appear to dance due to the intense attention El Greco pays to sculpting muscle and limb.The bold colours are amplified by the dark backgrounds, with general contrast being used to create a drama, accentuated by the dramatic light appearing to emanate from the Christ Child Himself. The painting itself is a smaller version of one that El Greco painted to be placed above his own tomb, showing the importance the image held for him.

Nativity, Georges de La Tour 1644

georges_de_la_tour_001Like El Greco, La Tour painted several nativity scenes, each in his instantly recognisable style. One of the first examples is the ‘Nativity’ (1644), an intimate and realistic depiction of Jesus in his manger, surrounded by those who assembled at his birth. The shadows and highlights are realistically rendered with the intensity typical of the Baroque. The colours, like Greco’s, are rich but act in a way that creates a warmth rather than a active vibrancy. The only light source in the painting is admitted from a candle almost entirely concealed by a hand, so it initially appears the source of light is Christ himself. This seems to be La Tour allowing the picture to possess both a realism, and religious symbolism. He uses the same technique in a painting also featuring Christ, a year later, ‘The New Born Christ’ (1645-48).

Flight to Egypt, Carl Spitzweg 1875-1879

die_flucht_nach_aegypten_spitzweg

Painted between 1875 and 1879 Spitzweg depicts the flight Joseph and Mary made with the newly born Christ, to Egypt. He was most well known as a painter of ‘genre’ scenes, scenes that focused on the everyday life of ordinary people. However, he was also a Romanticist combining dramatic landscapes with the small lives of the average people he depicted. This painting is typical in all these respects, reducing Jesus and his family to the bottom third of the canvas, with the rest being taken up by the dramatic cliffs on either side of them. There is no heralding of angels, no halos, but instead three apparently mortal beings surrounded by what appears to be inhospitable nature. This paradoxically gives the ordinarily-depicted family, a power and importance, as they have the means and bravery to journey through such a landscape.

Jewish Society refutes claim Oxford University ‘no-go zone’ for Jewish students

Jack Hunter
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Jewish Society refutes claim Oxford University ‘no-go zone’ for Jewish students

Oxford University Jewish society has rejected claims made by Baroness Deech that the prevalence of anti-Semitism is transforming some of the UK’s leading universities into no-go zones for Jewish student.

However, they did thank the former Principal of St Anne’s College for her support regarding the University’s handling of alleged anti-Semitism in Oxford University Labour Club (OULC).

Deech, who was a former proctor at Oxford University and the independent adjudicator for higher education before retiring in 2008, told the Daily Telegraph that institutions may be failing to combat hatred against Jews because they are “afraid of offending” their potential benefactors from Gulf states.

Oxford University Jewish Society said: “We believe that the University of Oxford is far from a no-go zone for Jewish students. We have a large, growing and active Jewish society, with regular educational events, orthodox and progressive services and weekly Friday night services and dinners, which have occasionally had as many as 130 people in attendance.

“To call Oxford University a ‘no go zone for Jewish students’ would be totally untrue, given our vibrant and thriving Jewish student life on campus, and we would always encourage Jewish students to apply here.”

In the same interview Deech also accused Oxford University of “kicking out into the long grass” complaints about anti-Semitism within the Oxford University Labour Club (OULC).

Earlier this year OULC’s co-chair, Alex Chalmers, resigned in protest at members who he claimed had “some kind of problem with Jews” and sympathised with terrorist groups like Hamas.

His resignation sparked an intervention from the Universities Minister Jo Johnson who urged the proctors to investigate allegations of anti-Semitism.

Deech claimed that the University had failed to act on the issue, despite proctors having been handed a dossier containing the testimonies of several members of OULC, including allegations that members frequently used the term “zio” and other cases of anti-semitic behaviour.

She commented: “Those students never got a proper reply. It is very disappointing, the university said they noted the Baroness Royall report [into anti-Semitism]. But they haven’t actually done anything. They have not opened an investigation into any individuals.

“I find it personally very difficult, I’ve been at Oxford for 45 years or something, and I owe my career to Oxford, but I can’t believe that my own university is not setting up an investigation and being pro-active about this.”

In May, Baroness Royall’s inquiry into anti-semitism in OULC found no evidence of “institutional anti-semitism” in the club, but reported individual incidents of cultural discrimination.

The Oxford Jewish Society welcomed Baroness Deech’s comments concerning failures of the University in dealing with allegations of anti-Semitism. In a public statement, they said: “We expected more from the university and the proctors in support of Jewish students. We too are concerned that, nearly a year afterwards, little to no action has been taken, and we thank Baroness Deech for her support in this regard.”

Oxford University said it was “surprised and disappointed” by Baroness Deech’s remarks, and insisted that it was committed to tackling harassment and discrimination in the University.

In a statement, the University said: “A representative of the University met personally with Lady Deech to brief her on the background to the issues she has raised (…) as a result of it, Lady Deech is fully aware that when people come forward to the University with a complaint that they have been a victim of anti-Semitic behaviour we will investigate it fully. Where offences are found to have been committed, they are considered grounds for severe disciplinary action.”

OULC told Cherwell: “OULC has put in place the measures recommended by Baroness Royall’s report and has conducted a review of the complaints procedure within the club. Our actions, as a student organisation, are constrained by existing university and party disciplinary procedures, which we cannot comment upon. OULC condemns all forms of racism and discrimination, and seeks to be as inclusive a club as possible.”

In her interview with the Daily Telegraph, Baroness Deech referred specifically to SOAS, Manchester, Southampton and Exeter whilst claiming that the UK’s leading universities have become unwelcoming to Jewish students.

She said: “Amongst Jewish students, there is gradually a feeling that there are certain universities that you should avoid, definitely SOAS, Manchester I think is now not so popular because of things that have happened there, Southampton, Exeter and so on.”

Spokespersons and Jewish societies from each of the universities in question have since released statements strongly denying the claims.

SOAS said it “does not permit the expression of anti-Semitic or other views that are illegal or incite racial hatred”.

Meanwhile a spokesperson for Exeter University told the MailOnline: “It is untrue to say that the University of Exeter is not a welcoming place for Jewish students. The University of Exeter is an inclusive and friendly environment where all students are welcomed from all backgrounds.

“Anti-Semitic and racist behaviour in any form is not tolerated by the University. Exeter University not only has a thriving Jewish society, but teaches Jewish studies, the history of the holocaust and has a Jewish chaplain, as part of its multi-faith team.”

In a statement, a spokesperson for Southampton University said that the University is “home to a supportive, friendly and inclusive community that welcomes staff, students, alumni, collaborators and visitors from a wide variety of backgrounds”.

OULC and SOAS have been contacted for comment.

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