FEATURED
5th Week Blues: Inevitable or Avoidable?
“Is it inescapable that there will come a point in the term where we face burnout and exhaustion? Or do we simply feel it because we hear so often that, by the mid-term period, this is what we are meant to feel?” Image by Isobel Jessop, used with permission.
WHAT’S NEW
Borders and Belonging: The Obsession With The “Oxford Accent”
“Linguistic diversity is beautiful and should be celebrated in all professional and academic spaces. We all wish to live in a society and study at a university where every voice…
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Should we really be turning Trump into a meme?
The meme account Saint Hoax describes “humour as a Trojan horse for fascism”. This is a provocative claim, but one worth considering in the age of arguably our first ‘meme…
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Little Shop of Horrors at the Keble O’Reilly: Reviewed
“Bringing such a cult classic as this onto the student stage is no “little” feat. ” Rohit Ghosh reviews Little Shop of Horrors at the Keble O’Reilly Theatre, staged by…
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Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor Arrested on Suspicion of Misconduct in Public Office
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was arrested by Thames Valley Police this morning on 19 February. In a statement made by the Thames Valley Police at 10:03, it was confirmed…
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Review: 47°C: Climate Change Science on Film
Morstang’s project, at the intersection of creativity and academia, reminds us that meaningful scientific communication cannot solely rely on data, but needs to make the consequences of climate change impossible…
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Friday Night Dinner: A Home Away From Home
“Assuming the average UK life expectancy of 83 years, I can expect to experience around 4,000 Fridays before I die.” Katherine Van Wyk explores the comfort which Friday Night Dinner…
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Oxford
Oxford Student Union Election Results Announced for 2026
Voting in the Oxford Student Union elections has finished following three days of online ballots open to all matriculated students. The elections, held between 9 and 12 February, saw students vote for four full-time sabbatical officers alongside several part-time roles and student trustee positions, which will collectively shape the Student Union’s direction in the coming…
Wild Swimming Society Fundraiser Reveals Major Issues with Oxford’s Water Quality
In the UK, February consistently sees some of the coldest temperatures. At this time of year, we usually stay inside, wrapped up in blankets with hot drinks and light entertainment. However, while most of us have been layering clothes and trying to keep warm, a few brave others have approached this wintry month differently; one…
The Sheldonian Series: A Discussion of Activism – Palestine Action, Public Protest, and Democracy
Hilary term’s instalment in the Sheldonian Series convened on 4 February, discussing ‘The Power of Activism’. The series is the Vice-Chancellor’s initiative, gathering a panel of differing voices aimed at promoting dialogue on the “big issues of the day”, and representing the University of Oxford’s commitment to “free and inclusive speech”. Speaking at Wednesday’s event,…
opinion
One step forward, two steps back: on Trinity Hall’s controversial call
Photos taken by Gabrielle Killick, used with permission On Wednesday 7 January, The Guardian reported on Cambridge University College Trinity Hall’s policy to target elite private schools as part of their admissions outreach strategy. The decision was met with a backlash; a wave of anger and frustration was felt across the student and academic body,…
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In defence of college food
College meals at Oxford and Cambridge certainly aren’t regarded as the pinnacle of gastronomic excellence. In fact, they have a pretty appalling reputation for being bland, sloppy, and depressing — enough to make Marco Pierre White shudder. This is a reputation that has persisted for generations and I, for one, think it is unjustified. Oxford…
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Someone’s Faith is Not Your Costume: An Agnostic’s Defence of Religious Seriousness
The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views, positions, or editorial policies of the paper, its editors, or its staff. The paper does not endorse any opinions or conclusions presented herein. Instagram has a wide variety of functions these days. From the…
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Is it Time to Start Writing Starmer’s Political Obituary?
Sir Anthony Seldon has become very used to this sight by now. Cabinet briefings, outspoken party grandees, and agitated backbenchers are all signs that have often pre-empted the fall of a government. The renowned historian has produced acclaimed accounts of the premierships of every prime minister since John Major, and he is well…
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Closer to Doomsday than Ever Before: What’s Brought Us to the Brink?
On 27 January 2026, the Doomsday Clock moved closer to midnight than it ever had before. With only 85 seconds until the stroke of midnight (down from 89 seconds last year), what does this mean for humanity? The clock was designed in 1947 by artist Martyl Langsdorf in response to the nuclear arms…
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Outside OX1 Week 4: Canada, Japan, Armenia and Azerbaijan
Welcome back to another issue of Outside OX1! I hope everyone celebrated a lovely Valentine’s, Palentine’s or Galentine’s Day. It is easy to fall under the spell of February, donning those rose-tinted glasses, viewing the world with just a bit more love. I certainly have, as I dabbled in writing a romantic poem…
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COLUMNS
Risk Appetite: On the Cinematic Dining Experience
“While watching a film, you laugh with others; you cringe with others. In a sense, even the imperfections remind me of being at home, reacting to scenes happening on the occasionally-laggy TV while we’re having dinner around the dining table.” In the newest ‘Risk Appetite’ article, Valerie Wu reviews her experience at ‘Taste Film’ and…
Second Draft: Sardines, Low Ceilings, and Knitting
“I’m fortunate that life in Oxford is particularly spontaneous and varied. You can go from having no plans to suddenly finding yourself drinking port next to a framed letter from C. S. Lewis. Or being dripped on in a cowboy hat.” In the latest installment of ‘Second Draft’, Eleanor Davies discusses new year’s resolutions, changes…
Lady Grinning Soul: Who Backs the Bands? Ireland’s BIA Scheme
“Art sectors have become unrecognisable in the past half-decade with the reinvigoration of DIY production, but also with the widespread closures of live music venues and general dematerialisation of the music industry.” In the latest installment of Lady Grinning Soul, Julia Blackmon discusses Ireland’s BIA scheme, how stipends can fund creativity, and interviews Dublin-based band…
CULTURES
Speed Dating and Hinge Hating: An Exploration of Dating Culture in Oxford
“The atmosphere at New College’s MCR event, while not without nerves, was lively, exciting, and daring.” Tallulah Stephens Skeete explores the Oxford speed dating scene and how it compares to…
Tick Tick… BOOM! at the Michael Pilch Studio: Reviewed
“Sheets of music are suspended dreams, spinning on threads around a solitary piano, or spangling walls and columns. Then: darkness. Backlight. The ticking begins.” Violet Wan reviews Tick, Tick… BOOM!…
You Got Me at the Burton Taylor Studio: Reviewed
“Before You Got Me, I never appreciated how unnerving it is to walk into a completely silent set.” Rohit Ghosh reviews You Got Me at the Burton Taylor Studio, staged…
LIfestyle
Telltaylor: By a Lancashire Farm Shop, I Sat Down and Wept
“I was always a muse, a magician’s trick, bending my own image to enhance his own. He seemed to compliment me only if the words fit his rhyme scheme.” Alicia Taylor…
Telltaylor: Everything I Learnt From A Mackerel Fillet
“I suddenly became afraid of forgetting the year which may turn out to be the most important of my life.” In the debut article of her column, Alicia Taylor gives…
Proust’s Madeleine: The Hidden Power of Food.
“We have always known that food is a lot more than its taste, texture, and nutritional value. Every meal is an intense social and sensory experience that serves to nourish…
Identity
Cultural Unmasking – Bestride Two Cultures, At Home in None
Arun Lewis explores the experience of cultural unmasking when faced with the difficulty of reconciling two different parts of your identity. Image by Arun Lewis, used with permission.
From the Inside Out: My Disability
Avani Rao reflects on how chronic back pain has affected her time at Oxford, and the stigma that is attached to people with disabilities, particularly those that are “invisible”. Image…
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