War Renaissance
The Oriel-Pembroke 'Cat-War' has taken yet another turn this week, as attempts to establish a peace-treaty and later cease-fire have both failed, leaving the dispute to continue, and the whereabouts of Molly still in question.
The sudden turn of events come just a week after JCR Presidents pledged to "call it a day", after events got out of hand.
Despite widely held beliefs last week that the war had been finally "ditched" by the forces, attempts last Tuesday by Oriel to ratify the armistice through the 'Treaty of Oriel' were abruptly rejected by Pembroke, who reacted by sending a cease-fire proposal.
The increasingly volatile relations of colleges in the University, heightened by the "horrific breach of gentlemanly warfare" on Keble last week, as set out in the Pembroke cease-fire proposals, now threaten the University-wide armistice and has cast aside the possibilities of future peace. Further tensions have also mounted with the attempted formation of NOTO, the North Oxford Treaty Organisation, by Lady Margaret Hall, who also entered the war this week against St. Peter's, despite LMH JCR President Jin-Yu Cheong affirming that "nothing much came of that."
The Treaty of Oriel, which asks that "Pembroke accepts the responsibility...of the war", inciting the donation of ten copies of the Oxford Student to Oriel, with the acceptance of "Molly's right to wander whenever she pleases" was received unfavourably by Pembroke. In response to the failed attempt, Pembroke, who in a final "non-aggressive" attempt to calm the situation, offered to "cease all hostlities" until Torpids of next week, and affirm the return of Molly to her "rightful home".
However, these terms were also rejected, with Darryl Brundle, Secretary for Inter-Collegiate Relations at Oriel, claiming that "The lions of Oriel will not lie down and be told what to do by some pink pirates." Whilst admitting that the war was showing no signs of "coming to as quick an ending as it first appeared."
Wadham also entered the war last week, having allied with Pembroke, also refusing to end the war, and continuing hostilities with Oriel and its allies "until such time as there is a commonly agreed arbitrated peace-treaty", as set out in the Pembroke cease-fire terms.
However, the interests of students on a university-wide level seems to be waning, with Alexandra Belcher, JCR President of St. Peter's, confirming that "student involvement is limited," putting pressure on the central forces to once again attempt peace.
21st Feb 2002