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May 2024 Local Elections: what students should know
With the local elections happening today, it may seem daunting to know what students are voting for and where. The Blue has contacted candidates to ascertain what they think the biggest problems facing Oxford are and what students should know about their campaign. Photo by Reading Tom
WHAT’S NEW
Things in Jars
“…at no point in the poem is this animal not a freak being used as entertainment. It may not be in a jar yet, but Gildin’s poem means that it…
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Love Letters: Collections
“I wish I could make this a love letter to collections. I can’t… So instead, it is a love letter to normality.” Lucy Pollock takes a look at the stresses…
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Nancy Pelosi at Oxford Speaks
Pelosi spent much of her speech stressing to the audience “her belief in the importance of democracy and its virtues.” Ila Banerji reports on Nancy Pelosi’s recent talk at Oxford…
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Student Cooking Hacks: The Victorinox Tomato Slicer
‘A sharp knife is an essential for any kitchen and such a pleasure to use, but which type should you get?’ Elliot Koubis gives us the best student culinary hacks…
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Oxford Desi Ball 2024: The Start of Something New!
“For the inaugural occasion, Oxford students will be attending this vibrant spirit of South-Asian unity and celebration on the 26th of April 2024.” Vidushi Chugh reports on The Oxford Desi…
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What happened at the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix?
Nora Miles discusses the events of the second Grand Prix of the season, featuring a young Brit bursting onto the scene.
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Oxford
Joris Lechêne in discussion with Class Act
Class Act, an Oxford University Student Union campaign supporting students from working class, low income, first generation, and state comprehensive backgrounds, as well as care leavers and estranged students, invited Joris Lechêne to speak about the imperialism, classism, and social divisions of Oxford. Lechêne is a social media influencer, with over 300,000 followers on his…
The niche, the funny, the outrageous: Halfway Hall 2024 in review
“The awards given this year by colleges such as Worcester, Balliol and Teddy Hall have ranged from heart-warming expressions of peers’ admiration for one another to more divisive acknowledgements of students’ sexual or drinking behaviour.” Lottie Newell reports how the recent Halfway Hall celebrations were not without contention as several colleges had to revise and…
The Oxford School of Climate Change Summary: 2
“Following on from last week’s discussions on the interplay between global biodiversity and climate change, this session introduced us to the quantifications of human and natural influences on climate change” Zariel Konadu summarises this week’s teaching at the Oxford School of Climate Change Image by Freya Aylmore
opinion
Dividing 7 by 2: A (dubious) mathematical argument for a 4-day week
“There are better ways of defining productivity than pure profit calculations on a spreadsheet.” Thomas Britton makes his argument in favour of the 4-day work week, from calendars old and new to the pitfalls of modern work culture.
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The Lettuce Lady: My Favourite Comedian?
‘On Friday of 7th week, the fateful day arrived: the day Liz Truss came to give her first ever speech at Oxford University since her graduation….’ Jeannie McGuinness comments on Liz Truss’ appearance at last terms’ OUCA event.
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Beyond the Bill: Who Pays and Why it Doesn’t Really Matter
‘After days of sending teasing and flirty messages, you find yourself on a long-awaited first date with that charming someone… The question looms: who’s paying?’
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Global Affairs
India’s upcoming election – democracy or façade?
Very soon 1.4 billion Indians will be coming to the polls, expected to be held in April and May 2024. It will be the largest democratic experiment ever seen. For the past ten years, Narendra Modi of the incumbent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has led India as the prime minister – and he…
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Outside OX1 Week 7 – Ghana passes anti-LGBTQ+ bill, France enshrines abortion, and controversy in Pakistan
A note from the editor Ghana has passed a strict bill which criminalizes the promotion and support of LGBTQ+ activities, restricting the rights of LGBTQ+ community. This is in addition to the criminalization of same-sex intercourse, which has been passed down from the British Penal Code. On another discussion of rights, France became…
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Pathways to Power: 2024 – From Russia with Love: Putin Marches towards an inevitable fifth term
A note from the editor The Global Affairs section welcomes you to Pathways to Power: 2024! 2024 is a big year for elections, as around 49% of the world population will have the chance to cast a ballot in a national election. That is more voters than any other year in history. Every election…
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COLUMNS
Taking Stock: Between Diasporas, Shopping for Dessert
I have moved six times in five years between three countries, and every time I have had to rip up and lay down roots. As someone who is half-Greek, a big part of this process involves sourcing the ingredients to make Greek food at my new home. Often, this involves finding the closest Turkish shop.…
Love Letters: Ode to Oxford
“1/52th of my life, and yet I came to think of Oxford, and my college, as “home” within about two weeks of being here. It is more home than anywhere else I have ever lived, because it’s a home I’ve made for myself.” Lucy Pollock writes an Ode to Oxford: its libraries, community, and freedom…
Sublime Drizzlings: Vacation Fear and Trembling
“I know, when I return home for Easter properly, I will miss my friends. I will miss the buzz, Oxford’s insatiable buzz, of magazines made, jazz music played, bars drunk in.” Chloe Smith explores the malady of vacation dread – what causes it, what its symptoms are, and how it can be cured. Illustration by…
CULTURES
Babette’s Feast – Welcome to the Dinner Party to End All Dinner Parties
“Regardless of how you feel about it, it’s sensuous, indulgent, and delicate, charged with passion” Olivia Cavigioli discusses the Danish film, Babette’s Feast. CC Image by Polina Kovaleva via Pexels
Texting: the Death of Modern Communication
“Texting is the worst way to communicate. There, I’ve said it.” Joel Fernandez discusses the perks and problems of texting in the modern age. Image “man holding his phone while…
Review: Student Bands Big Slice and Last Orders Rock The Jericho Tavern
“I am eager to give a sizeable seal of approval to this particular Jericho Tavern binaural bonanza” Niamh Stansfield reviews the Jericho Tavern gig of Big Slice and Last Orders.…
LIfestyle
The Ultimate Cinnamon Bun Taste Test
‘On February 25th 2024, a group of experts assembled to empirically conclude, once and for all, where Oxford’s best cinnamon bun could be found.’
From Pin to Plate: the Top Eats on my Google Maps Wishlist in London
I am proud to say that my Google Maps list contains 210 of the best restaurants in London and I am going to share some of the best contenders with…
Identity
Beauty Sick: on ‘Glow Up’ Culture and the Paradox of Aspirational Beauty
“To transform yourself, then, begins from the outside in and not the inside out. But what happens to the past self, the uglier, younger self, that you leave behind?” Renée…
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button: a Quarter-Life and Epistemological Crisis
“Nothingness is an ongoing abyss, and it is only with more wisdom that I wander further and further into its clutches.” Naomi Finapiri takes us lyrically through her quarter-life crisis.
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We are the Oxford Blue, an Oxford University award-winning online newspaper. | A new voice for a new decade. | Est. 2020. We want journalism to be an inclusive space, open to all, no experience needed. If you are interested in writing, reading, editing, illustrating, or want to learn more, please get in touch.