Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991.
Days off are few and far between at Oxford, so seize them while you may. Although it may seem tempting to catch up on the last few weeks’ worth of lost sleep, the rare and elusive ‘free time’ is something to take full advantage of as you reach your 8th week deadlines. There is […]
Continue ReadingI am sitting in a room of four disgusting walls and a low claustrophobic ceiling; there is sweat dripping from every possible corner, there is groaning and you have to move fast to dodge the quick, jerky movements of flailing limbs. The sounds of clanging and bashing are inescapable, as is the obscene taste in […]
Continue ReadingTucked away in the residential backstreets of Jericho, away from the bright lights and cocktail bars that line Walton Street, lies an unassuming watering hole surrounded by equally unassuming houses. But to judge the Old Bookbinders by its environs would be a gross error, as stepping through the small green door, one is greeted […]
Continue ReadingMany Northerners bemoan the dearth of good Indian eateries in Oxford, but this is a claim that’s certainly unfounded: one need only sally forth down Walton Street to find The Standard, an understated and perhaps undervalued establishment opposite the Phoenix Picturehouse. Greeted by the place’s enthusiastic manager, Kawsar, we are shown to a cosy […]
Continue ReadingThis year’s homage to St Valentine presented us with the usual parade of sentimentalism and saccharine paraphernalia in high streets. Whether or not you were celebrating, it’s worth bearing in mind that a small proportion of Oxford, and the wider global community, felt a greater level of indifference than you. For those that identify […]
Continue ReadingAquarius: January 20th – February 18th It’s a week since Valentine’s day, and the roses are beginning to wilt. This has two consequences: first, many a bedroom is littered with rather sad looking decaying floral matter; second, it has become quite apparent who is single, and who admired/taken. Use this information to your advantage this […]
Continue ReadingGoing to see the Oxford Imps at the Wheatsheaf, we didn’t really know what to expect. Their reputation precedes them; often cited as Oxford’s first improvisational comedy troupe, they have been performing since 2004, with their shows (based entirely on suggestions shouted out by the audience) constantly greeted with rave reviews. The Imps were […]
Continue ReadingImagine a scholar’s life before the Internet. They probably had to leave their rooms to avoid achieving things and their lives must have been heartbreakingly bereft of adorable cat pictures. Procrastination is now a thing of utmost ease, but the online world is not merely a space to order pizza and watch videos of […]
Continue ReadingWith an exuberant flourish, a flock of garish, glossy flyers wind their way into your pidge throughout the year, each purporting to purvey the best that a bountiful budget can produce. Each year an exponential growth of adverts for college and society balls assaults you from every which way. From the termly Union balls […]
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Image Description Tabasum Wolayat (by Anthony Chiorazzi) In the flickering candle light of her home, 13-year-old Tabasum Wolayat stared at something that was illegal for a woman to own: an Oxford Dictionary. The Taliban was now in control of Kabul, Afghanistan, the city Wolayat lived in with her parents and five sisters. The year was […]
Continue ReadingTurl Street has turned the notorious 5th week from a mundane week of depression to a stimulating week of pleasure, laughter and excitement. Turl Street Arts Festival (TSAF) is an annual festival jointly held by the three colleges of Turl Street, Exeter, Jesus and Lincoln. This year it runs from 7th-17th February. The events […]
Continue ReadingAquarius: January 20th – February 18th Update your pulling tactics. I’m afraid the unconcealed lechery that has worked for you in the past will begin to get stale. That, and your dance moves. Oh, and your way with words. In fact, just take out an afternoon to re-think your life. Pisces: February 19th – […]
Continue ReadingWelcome to Blenheim Palace. The gold letters on the gates shine in the pale afternoon sun as I walk by. There’s a field to my right, sheaves of wheat waving in the slight breeze and the woods stand to my left, gesturing at me with their twiggy fingers. The leaves have not come back […]
Continue Reading“Is this a dagger I see before me? I’d rather it was a pint.” You cannot fail to notice the words of Oxford’s greatest beer swiller Endeavour Morse immortalised above the bar at this charming backstreet local. It was on a cold night in 1987 that millions were offered a glimpse of Jericho’s famous […]
Continue ReadingYou may be sickeningly loved up this February 14th, or you may be still riding solo and heading to Bridge in search of true love/a mediocre one-night stand. Perhaps you just don’t care, and are more excited about your hot date with the library. But what is Valentine’s Day actually all about? Although today’s […]
Continue ReadingHilary 2k13 has reached 6th week and I am surely not the only one to have noticed the shocking lack of pink or red legwear floating around Oxford. It seems, rather sadly, that student flirtation with bright and subjectively offensive colours of trouser is suffering a bit of a lull at present. Could this […]
Continue ReadingAs any self-respecting epicure knows, Saturday is Treat Day. But what of up this harsh, unforgiving week? Well, as the Bible tells us, Jesus came down to Earth and saw that the people were depressed following the inevitable disappointment of Monday, and so he invented … Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday – or Pancake Day, […]
Continue ReadingThis week brings the annual RAG Blind Date where all you lonesome singles can get matched up with someone else inside the bubble who shares your pain and all for a good cause. But how best to manage the unique social experience that is the Blind Date? Here are a few top tips to make […]
Continue ReadingPicture the scene: It’s 6pm on a Friday, you’ve managed to hand your essay in on time and the weekend stretches out in front of you. But instead of treating yourself to a well-deserved nap or night out, you’ve got other things on your mind; meetings with clients, business plans and marketing strategies. For […]
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