Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991.
As summer approaches, talk of getting that ‘beach body’ abounds, and fasting, gym gains, and carb-free diets are brandished as trophies in the quest to achieve this ideal body. So what? – some might ask. Nothing wrong with getting in shape for the summer, or finally mustering the motivation to shed those extra pounds. It […]
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According to a recent health notice, students at various colleges in Oxford have been diagnosed with scabies. The NHS warns that it is a highly contagious disease which can spread from one person to another through prolonged, direct physical contact. A health notice sent to students at Magdalen College states: “Please remind other students or […]
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Over 32 JCR Presidents have put their name to a letter to Vice-Chancellor Louise Richardson expressing “deep concern” regarding the University’s mental health provisions. The letter claims that “UK students are in the midst of a mental health crisis”, citing figures which suggest that 78% of students believe they have suffered from mental health problems […]
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Image Credit: Erica Yokoyama Life in Oxford can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially towards the end of the term with impeding essays due and upcoming exams tying us to the desk. For anyone who needs an hour break from their nerve-racking days, Oxford SU has graced us with what some might describe as a puppy miracle […]
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Picture credit: C. S. Goldsmith and A. Balish, CDC- Description: Influenza Virus If you don’t know what flu feels like then you are one lucky son of a gun. You might say: “Oh but I have had the flu and it wasn’t so bad!” If by that statement, you mean you have had the sniffles and […]
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One of the many joys of becoming a member of the Baha’i Faith is the opportunity I’ve had to experience the benefits of sunrise-to-sunset fasting. In addition to its spiritual benefits (allowing us to cultivate self-discipline, and to make more time for quiet meditation), fasting has been shown to contribute to physical good health. According […]
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On Saturday 21st April, the Oxford Academy opened its doors to FitFest, Oxfordshire’s largest fitness and wellness festival. The event featured a range of fitness classes, talks from wellbeing and motivational experts, and a range of cooking demos for healthy eating. Naturally, as a foodie, I was at the front of the audience for everything […]
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Over the last few weeks, politicians have been criss-crossing the country, campaigning for votes in the hope of securing electoral victory. Once again, young people have been singled out as a powerful yet relatively disengaged demographic. With this in mind, it is striking that politicians have not done more to attract younger voters by proposing […]
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Dear Editor, I am responding to the article ‘Oxford must improve its approach to mental health’ [28th November]. I am someone with a central diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, which is arguably the most difficult to treat of all mental disorders. I can empathise with the author’s frustration at the mental health services provided by […]
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The Oxfordshire Guardian has reported that Oxford University drop-outs resulting from physical and mental health issues are the highest among English, law, and Post-Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) students. The findings were revealed through a recent investigation instigated via a Freedom of Information request by the Guardian. According to the report, 11% of all students […]
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Trial seeks to test efficacy of weight-sensitive treatment during pregnancy 49 pregnant Oxfordshire women recently participated in a clinical trial on the efficacy of weight-sensitive treatment during pregnancy. In the UK, overweight and obesity are very prevalent among women of childbearing age. Being obese while pregnant can cause harm both to the mother and the newborn child. […]
Continue ReadingA campaign to find a bone marrow donor for a 24 year-old student has become one of the largest ever of its kind and attracted support from the Prime Minister. Match4Lara is a campaign founded to find a bone marrow donor for Lara Casalotti, a student from North London who was diagnosed with Acute Myleoid […]
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The BMA’s reasons for promising to take industrial action on 13th and 28th January, as well as 10th February, betray the crux of the conflict between itself and the Government. It’s really about pay and working conditions; patients are of secondary concern. In the BMA’s summary of its position as of 4th January, the ‘areas […]
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The beating drum of the relentless march of time is constant and relentless. So being hungover every other day doesn’t help me maximise what little time I have before my next essay deadline, before I leave Oxford, before I die. In fact in relation to the last point, the cause of a hangover will actually […]
Continue ReadingThe 22 November this year will mark the beginning of the UK Disability History Month. Although already five years in the running, Disability History Month is yet to make it onto regular school curricula, or even the latest university reading lists which the initiative affects. And its effects are far reaching indeed – whether you […]
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Thanks to my objectivity as resident Not-Very-Sporty-Person, I was able to observe the phenomenon of the metamorphosis of the boys on the men’s teams into Manly Man Rowers. The process begins harmlessly enough: in race week, the flock of Manly Manlings first schedule their daily post-rowing trips to Mission Burrito, and insist on proudly showing […]
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I was a carer the year before I came to Oxford. My mum had a mixture of physical and mental health problems, and I looked after her. There was not a moment that I didn’t want to do it, but there were many moments when it felt endless, when I felt trapped and completely lost. […]
Continue ReadingLast year was not great for the NHS. Between the Mid Staffordshire Trust Inquiry and managerial scandals at hospitals across the country, a fresh start is badly needed. Unfortunately, 2015 hasn’t offered this – instead 15 A&E departments have already declared ‘major incident’ status as they struggle to accommodate patient numbers. With the General Election […]
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Need to detox after your Christmas mince pie and brandy butter binge? For a New Year’s cleanse both inside and out, these products should help give you a new lease of life so you can start 2015 feeling fresher, happier, and healthier. The ‘magic’ of Christmas is over, but here are a few lotions and […]
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