Letters to the Editors
Dear Editors,
You state in your editorial 'Life and Death' that "retaining the advertising ban [on Life] would have little or no immediate effect upon the lives of students". I disagree. Any decision taken by OUSU regarding the advertising ban on Life has immediate and direct impact on the lives of students. OxStu believes that "repealing it could place vulnerable students at risk".
Retaining the ban also has a direct impact on these 'vulnerable students', ensuring that they remain unaware of all the services available to them in Oxford.
Sarah Taylor St Hilda's
Dear Editors,
Both the pro-life letters printed in your 30th May issue use the misleading misnomer "pro-abortion." The very idea of anybody cheerfully and even from principle advocating abortion simply shows how both correspondents misrepresent the issue. Choice means, tautologically enough, choice, not a counsellor salivating down the phone line at the chance to cause another pregnancy to be terminated. Such a picture is grossly unfair and rather sick. Moreover, if Marie Stopes are "broadly pro-abortion", then why do they provide funding for post-natal care and training of birth attendants? If Brook also fall into this camp, why do they provide fertility advice for those having trouble conceiving? Because, surprisingly, they are not pro-abortion, per se, but pro-choice: pro-the-OPTION-of-abortion. Yes, of course they also campaign on abortion law, but then that's (sorry to keep reiterating) the point of choice: two sides.
Chris Stokes St.Peter's
Dear Sir or Madam [oh for crying out loud. We just bloody well give up - Eds],
May I take this opportunity to congratulate your Sports Editor [or indeed both of them - Ed] on the witty, informative and unbiased articles which appear weekly in the OxStu. I only wish that the same could be said for the Cherwell. Gareth Platt, the Cherwell Sports Editor, seems to think that he can exploit his position and use the paper as a medium for obtaining personal revenge.
Last week he hit me just where he knew it would hurt - publicly mocking my croquet skills. He felt no need to stop there, calling me "...Hertford's butch thespian." I have every confidence that OxStu writers would never regress to such childish taunts.
Gaz, get over it. It was just one night - and anyway - your mum came on to me.
Aidan Elliott Hertford
To the heavenly priestesses of the Temple of OxStu: The defenders of truth and beauty in today's news [wow. That's more like it - Eds],
The similarities between the real world and the political dreamscape that is Oxford are ever amusing, but never more so than in OUCA. Recent events are somewhat unnerving, especially considering the apparent ineptitude of those who could be our future leaders. To be fair to Mr Gardiner, I cannot imagine that booking rooms would be much of a problem once he rises to the giddy heights of Westminster, and he may be forgiven for overlooking minor details with his mind so firmly set on higher things. One could argue though that our friendly dictator's quest would proceed more rapidly if his chosen navigator in life paid a little more attention to the route.
I would ask Miss Wentz what her aspirations are regarding her own future career. If she has no immediate plans, might I suggest that Florida is currently advertising for an organiser for the next Presidential elections?
[disappointingly unhumorous tirade about Tories' commendable lack of recent electoral success]
Yours, An amused but concerned onlooker
(If you are interested, here's the rundown of number of letters printed)
1= Life and its advertising (5) 1= Israel/Palestine conflict (5) 1= America (5) 4= The monarchy (3) 4= OUCA (3) 4= College funding (3) 7 Green Party policy (2) 'Daft' letters (5) 'Ironic' letters (3) Sacha Ismail letters (2) Letters we made up (2) (honest!)
The author of the best letter will receive a pair of free tickets to see the film of their choice at the Phoenix.
Letters may be edited. Please keep length to a minimum.
13th Jun 2002