An 82 year old woman has taken a diploma in Local English History from Oxford University.

Margaret Broadbent told the Continuing Education department, “In May 2009 I had to give up driving because of vision problems so I decided that I needed a new focus for my life. For the previous few years I had taken the Department’s weekly courses in various subjects, including Literature and History, and had always enjoyed them. I had often wondered about doing a Certificate or Diploma course, and I thought I’d give it a try. I was aged 80 when I applied to do the Undergraduate Diploma in English Local History.”

She said the main surprise she had experienced during the course had been the enormous amount of help she received because of her visual disability. Encouraged by her tutor, she went to see the Student Advisor at the start of her second year because she was aware of increasing visual difficulty and concerned that she might not be able to finish the course.

The Advisor told her to apply for a disability grant to purchase suitable equipment. She assisted Broadbent with filling in forms. To Broadbent’s surprise, her application was accepted by Student Finance England and, after assessment, she was provided with computer equipment to help with writing assignments and accessing online resources.

Broadbent said that she enjoyed the lectures and meeting other students, and found the tutorials very valuable. She also claimed that the library staff had been extraordinarily helpful and made her feel very privileged to be able to use the Bodleian and sit in the Radcliffe Camera. Broadbent found writing the assignments the most challenging, especially in her second year as both her vision and her memory had deteriorated slightly.

She said, “The course was very interesting and I’m really glad I did it. There’s a great deal of help available from all sides: the excellent tutor, the Student Advisor and the library staff. And Rewley House is a very friendly, welcoming place to study.”

http://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/

Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am has been criticised for travelling to a climate change meeting in Oxford in a private helicopter.

The 37 year old pop star’s 286 mile round trip is estimated to have used about 72 gallons of fuel, emitting three quarters of a tonne of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The judge on ‘The Voice’ tweeted pictures of his “hip.hop.copter” upon landing in Oxford University Parks.

The Black Eyed Peas star later spoke at the Radcliffe Observatory Weather Centre as a guest speaker alongside Dr Myles Allen, Professor of Geosystem Science at Oxford University’s School of Geography and Environment and the Department of Physics. The talk focused on the use of creative technology to understand climate change.

Will.i.am called for clarity during the hour long event, slamming public confusion over environmental issues.

The star argued, “[Climate change] should be the thing that we all should be worried and concerned about as humans on this planet – how we affect the planet, our consumption, and how we treat the place that we live in.’

“So you would think that it would be the most important thing. But it is confusing that it is not. If you ask a random person walking down the street how important climate change [is], they have been given five different versions of why it is not even an issue. That’s confusing. Who is causing the confusion and why isn’t it a priority?’

Will.i.am, who is Director of Creative Technology at Intel, came to Oxford to promote the computer giant’s ‘Progress Thru Processors’ initiative, which enables computer users to donate their processing power while their computers are idle. In talks with Dr Allen, the musician discussed ‘weatherathome’, an initiative examining the effects of climate change around the world.

Dr Allen defended Will.i.am against accusations of hypocrisy, praising the singer’s environmental knowledge. He said, “It was inspiring to see that Will was so enthusiastic and well informed about how we are trying to use computer technology to improve our understanding about our climate futures.”

“A better understanding of the problems is probably more important than whether Will flies a helicopter from London to Oxford.”

Will.i.am has previously voiced his support for environmental causes, encouraging the use of technology to slow climate change. In his 2009 song ‘Take our Planet Back’, he asked, “If we’re so technological / Why’re we still burnin’ oil? / Cause I got a car you plug into the wall.”

Vicky Clayton, New College’s Environment and Ethics Rep-Elect said, ‘Of course arriving in a helicopter (and tweeting pictures of the ‘hip.hop.copter’) does not send the right message at all and Will.i.am should practise what he preaches but it’s a shame that all that will be remembered about such a great discussion of the role of technology in climate change is a guest speaker’s hypocrisy.’

The star later flew to Taunton to carry the Olympic torch as it travels around Britain before the Games. He tweeted, ‘It’s nuts here in taurnton [sic]…so much excitement…’

A prominent Cambridge academic has expressed concern at changes being made to Oxford’s Bodleian Library once plans to merge the History Faculty Library with the Radcliffe Camera go ahead.

In a letter to The Times, Gillian R. Evans, Professor Emeritus of Medieval Theology and Intellectual History at the University of Cambridge, complained that greater student numbers in the Library will “destroy the old atmosphere” as they “listen to music, text, and chatter uninhibitedly”. She also claimed that students damage precious texts as laxer rules let in “chocolate brownies, hand cream, even burgers and chips”.

Professor Evans, who studied at Oxford and now lives in the city, was also alarmed at the speed of the move, protesting, “No consideration has been given to the balance between student and research needs.

“I have been watching people from management going around with tape measures just calculating shelf-space. It is disdainful to treat this as an issue about which there is no need to ask readers.”

Defending the plans, Oxford Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Walmsley and Bodley’s Librarian Dr Sarah Thomas responded, “We do not allow food and drink anywhere near manuscripts: anyone who somehow managed to sneak a “burger and chips” into the Bodleian would be stopped by staff before they could even remove the wrapper.”

However, Professor Evans claimed this was “simply not true”, telling Cherwell, “I am in the reading rooms almost every day, but there are no checks of incoming bags. Only outgoing bags in the Camera, which are not checked in the Bodleian.”

An ex-Bodleian librarian commented, “As a librarian, I can assure you that inappropriate library behaviour is actually a constant problem and often feels like a losing battle.”

Tiago Viula de Faria, a D.Phil. history candidate at St John’s, said, “Common sense rules simply must be followed — no chatting, no sticky fingers, no roller skating.”

Oxford University has confirmed that Burmese pro-democracy politician and Nobel Peace Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi is to collect an honorary degree at the Encaenia ceremony on 20th June, during her first trip abroad in 24 years.

Suu Kyi was invited by Prime Minister David Cameron to visit her “beloved Oxford” when he travelled to Burma in April. In the joint press conference, responding to the PM’s invitation, Suu Kyi said, “Two years ago I would have said thank you for the invitation, but sorry. Now I am able to say ‘perhaps’ and that is great progress.”

A spokesperson for the University said, “The University offered Aung San Suu Kyi an honorary doctorate in civil law in 1993, an award which is yet to be conferred for obvious reasons. We look forward to doing so as soon as she is able to visit Oxford.”

Suu Kyi has been unable to travel abroad until now due to being under house arrest for 15 of the past 22 years, and the fear that if she left Burma the military government would prevent her from returning. She even stayed in Burma when her husband Michael Aris, who died in 1999, was terminally ill with cancer.

A spokesperson for Number 10 Downing Street, told Cherwell that the visit is “testament to the progress being made in Burma, and the efforts of President Sein.” They confirmed that Suu Kyi will visit from 18th June for a week and will address both Houses of Parliament.She will also collect her Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on 16th June, which was received by her family on her behalf in 1991.

Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton said, ‘We are delighted that Daw Suu is finally able to return to the University and are looking forward greatly to what will be a very special occasion.’

Andrew Dilnot, Principal of St Hugh’s, where Suu Kyi studied PPE from 1964 to 1967 and is now an honorary fellow, told Cherwell, “We at St Hugh’s are delighted that the University expects to confer an honorary doctorate in civil law on Aung San Suu Kyi during her visit to the UK in June, and very excited by the prospect of welcoming her.”

Nora Godkin and Ebba Lekvall, co-Presidents of Oxford Burma Alliance, said, ‘It is our hope that [the visit of Daw Suu] will serve to make Oxford students, and the British general public, more interested in Burma issues.’

Students from Brasenose voted on Monday for a motion to turn the college into a ‘constitutional monarchy’ under the rule of a bust of the previous JCR President, Paul Gladwell. The motion will be voted on at a future date, before ratification makes it constitutional.

According to the motion proposed by Alex Sayers, there were “insufficient checks and balances” within the JCR constitution, and the bust of Paul Gladwell is “most revered”. The motion said that the bust’s “position as de facto figurehead of the JCR ought to be recognised” by investing “all executive power” in the bust, whose wishes will be interpreted by the JCR President.

The proposal also claimed the plan will “engender a renewed feeling of pride amongst the student body, it will increase BNC’s standing within the University; and it will provide an additional check on the feckless and irresponsible spending of the JCR.”

Sources told Cherwell that the proposal “passed by a landslide”, despite concern over how to overthrow the bust if it became tyrannical, as it would be impossible to behead it.

If the motion passes, the JCR President will now be formally styled as “President of Brasenose College JCR, Interpreter of the Will of the Bust”, and must swear fealty to the bust. All motions will pass or fail according to previous procedure “unless the Bust signals its disapproval”.

Jack Moore, a Brasenose student, praised the motion, saying, “I think this is an excellent idea. In the year of the jubilee, it seems especially appropriate to bring constitutional monarchy under the bust to the Brasenose JCR.”

Brasenose PPEist Eylon Aslan-Levy noted that the JCR as a whole was more cautious, commenting, “People were sceptical at first, but when it became clear that the JCR President would have to present this constitutional amendment to [the] governing body, it was a done deal.”

At the same meeting another proposed motion, noting both the absence of orange-haired people in the JCR Committee and the “very distinctive” eyebrows of OUSU and Careers Rep Pablo Zendjas-Medina, suggested mandating him to dye his eyebrows orange.

Brasenose student Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi commented, “The fact that the JCR essentially wants to confer an honorific on a fetish object proves it does not have much better to do with its time. In truth, however, I am not worried about the possibility of the Bust ruling as a dictator: in fact, it would be a great thing.

“The reality show known to some as the ‘Arab Spring’ just shows that liberal democracy is nothing more than an instrument of chaos and more chaos.

“Being a student of Classics with Oriental Studies (having completed Honour Moderations in Classics last term with the second highest overall mark in the University), I know perfectly well how one-man rule is essential for achieving stability.”

The bust was purchased for £500 in 2011 following a JCR motion. The subsequent contribution of £4,000 towards the loss made by the 2011 college ball has prompted more than one motion to control JCR spending.

12 months ago, Gladwell apologised for the purchase of the bust, given the state of JCR finances, “It was a poor use of money and not the best of ideas.” A repeal of the motion that created the bust noted, “The whole affair has been very damaging to the reputation of Brasenose.”

Oxford’s residents and students are being encouraged to “Tweet and Eat” as bananas are placed around Oxford’s landmarks as part of Oxfam’s new Control Arms Campaign.

The bananas, bearing the hashtag #armstreaty, are being distributed by the Oxford Students’ Oxfam Group (OSOG) in the hope that passers-by will tweet a picture of the fruit and sign an online petition. The project aims to highlight that the legislation regulating the trade of arms is currently less stringent than that of bananas. It hopes to put pressure on governments to ensure that the new Arms Trade Treaty, to be formed by the UN in July, is as stringent as possible. The banana saturation will also see bananas placed in finalists’ survival packs.

Phil Coales, President of Oxford Students Oxfam Group, explained, “The Arms Trade Treaty is the culmination of the seven year long Control Arms Campaign. Oxfam see that there is only one chance to get it right. OSOG are campaigning for a strong, bulletproof treaty, which binds all its signatories not to allow the transfer of arms, including ammunition, to areas in which they are likely to be used to violate human rights, to perpetrate war crimes, or to increase poverty.”

Chris Garrand, a member of OSOG involved in the campaign, said, “We want that treaty to be the toughest it can possibly be. Oxfam have taken the staggering fact that arms can currently be traded more easily than bananas and created a quirky, fun campaign to raise awareness and get people involved.”

A Wadham student has stepped down from running for LGBTQSoc President following heated Facebook exchanges in the run up to the election.

The presidential election has been surrounded by controversy, in large part owing to statements made by the student, and his campaign ideas.

Society members took particular issue with his transphobic language after he posted on Facebook, “I’ve had a lot of guys in me, but never a t*****”. The word  is extremely offensive to trans* people. He also suggested separating the society “into an LGB society for sexuality based welfare and social events, and a Trans* society for gender based socials/welfare”.

Following a number of heated exchanges in which other Facebook users reacted with outrage to such comments, he eventually posted, “I have well and truly had enough of LGBTQ society student politics. I will not be standing for election this Sunday. Good luck to whoever gets to clean up this mess, but there’s no honour in the position.”

In an attempt to justify his comments regarding the trans* community, he said, “The UK’s largest gay rights activist charity, Stonewall, are ‘working for equality and justice for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals’. Trans* issues are different and more complex, warranting separate representation within the university. Identifying as LGB does not mean association with a political movement or alliance with transgender people.

‘All of the Facebook arguments have centred around language use and its policing, I am frustrated [by] the trans* community’s continued victimisation of LGB students who are perceived to be offensive. Focus should be about where offence is intentional as opposed to indulgent language games. Rather than scapegoating its members, the society should acknowledge the LGB students it has alienated.”

He continued, “I advocate legal rights of transgender people and support through the transition process.”

The student added, “The continued vitriol of a relatively small number of people has led LGBTQ Society to be seen as the great tranny freak show. I have no desire to be President of a society of outcasts, because the infighting has eroded all of my passion for the community.

“We should be proud of who we are, that means less elections more erections. How many letters should the acronym have? Easy – call it FreakSoc, you’ll attract the same bunch.”

Bramham’s former opponent, and now sole candidate for President, Simone Webb responded, “I absolutely oppose what [the student] has been saying. My strongest objections are against his wish to see trans* people essentially removed from the society. He rejects the idea that the society should play a welfare role, and has made it clear that he sees the concept of a safe space for LGBTQ people as “bigoted” and “militant”.

“I believe he has been transphobic, but even were he not, he holds views which I believe made it clear that he should not become president. In my manifesto, I have emphasised the dual role the society plays as a space for welfare and socialising: I very firmly believe that one cannot be had without the other.”

She added, “I think, in the light of the comments which [he] made, he was right to stand down, and I appreciate the courage it took to do this. However, I am worried about the Presidential election going uncontested, as this fear was among the reasons I originally stood.”

Society member Eli Keran agreed, commenting, “Along with everyone else who’s been vocal on the issue so far, I wholeheartedly oppose what [he] has been saying. Gender and sexuality are very closely related issues in society, and to suggest kicking all the trans* people out of the society is abhorrent.”

However, one Facebook user unrelated to events came to his defence, stating, “I did not know that either ‘tranny’ or ‘fraped’ would be considered offensive. And I am quite shocked to find out from Simone that the term ‘gay marriage’ is not one that should be used.

‘Perhaps you can call me a Neanderthal for this, but it is true. Had I used the word ‘tranny’ believing it to be an acceptable word, or, at least, not believing it was an offensive term, then I would feel I was harshly treated if I had received a similar reaction to that provided by some on this thread.”

Trinity student David Simmons conceded, “At the start of the discussion, many of [his] comments were not transphobic but merely ignorant of issues surrounding trans* people. Many do not realise that “tranny” is perceived in a pejorative sense. Similarly, without further consideration, the issues surrounding gender identity and those surrounding sexual orientation may seem distinct.

However, he added, “what has annoyed so many people is [his] inability to respond to people’s later criticism and offence.”

Merton student Peter Berry disagreed, commenting, “I think it would be highly unfair to describe [him] as transphobic. I think highlighting that gender issues and sexuality issues need different treatment is important, and there will always be problems when you try to treat them as one issue. On the other hand, the issues are so closely interwoven that it would be ridiculous to try to separate them into two societies.

“[He] does definitely need to be more aware of how he can inadvertently cause offence. The society is at risk, however, of becoming over-sensitive to small matters of language.”

Jess Pumphrey, OUSU LGBTQ Officer, said, “These discussions have shown that there are many LGB people in the society who are not trans* but who wish the society to cater to trans* students and understand that it is inappropriate, immature and dangerous to throw around transphobic slurs, as this trivialises transphobia and gives it a false legitimacy that endangers trans* students.”

Magdalen College JCR has passed a motion to spend £2,200 on a Diamond Jubilee Garden Party and to mandate three JCR members to organise the event which will include “cucumber sandwiches, Pimm’s, grilled beef, beer, and ice cream.” The total budget for the party is £2,500, of which £300 will come from battel charges.

Despite the motion passing with a vote of 46 in favour, 17 opposed, and 11 abstaining, some members of the JCR have expressed concern over the royal dimension to the party and the large budget allocated.

Cameron J. Quinn, a member of the Magdalen JCR committee, told Cherwell, “I think the JCR shouldn’t be funding something which amounts to an ideological statement in favour of the monarchy and in terms of JCR budgetary priorities, I think providing £2,200 for what is essentially a piss-up in celebration of class privilege is an obscene sum and a poor idea.”

Hamish Hunter, one of the students responsible for the motion and mandated to organise the party, refuted these claims, stating, “The rarity of the event was raised at the meeting and it was generally thought that it was worth celebrating the landmark in style. There was recognition that the Diamond Jubilee was a very special event and the Magdalen JCR should join the national and college celebrations.”

However, Ryan Kahn, a second year Student Community Warden, criticised the plans and suggested that the Magdalen JCR should “put the funds and their efforts into one of the many street fairs that will spring up in Oxford over the Jubilee weekend, instead of spending ridiculous amounts of money on an exclusive Garden Party that will only benefit themselves.”

One student from Magdalen, who wished to remain anonymous, made the claim that those who proposed the motion “packed out the General Meeting with friends to help it pass”. 

He cited the relative ease with which the motion succeeded, despite lengthy debates over budget allocations in the past, and revealed to Cherwell that during the meeting, “rather than accepting an amendment from the JCR President to lower the amount requested to £1,500, [it was] simply proposed that they move to a vote”, resulting in the immediate passing of the motion. He added, “3/5 of the people there left the meeting after the motion passed, leading the independent chair to feel the need to count in order to make sure the meeting was still quorate.”

In response to claims that students sympathetic to the motion had been encouraged to attend the General Meeting, Hunter admitted that the event had had a high turnout and responded, “Many people at Magdalen supported the motion on the basis that it would be a chance for the JCR to come together in a summer celebration with relatively little cost to the attendee (there will be a £2 charge).”

Hunter also defended the allocation of funds, stating, “The question of ‘good use of JCR funds’ was, as you might imagine, robustly discussed at the General Meeting on Sunday. It was thought by many that Magdalen JCR takes part in, and funds, a good deal of charitable projects and that, considering the JCR’s constitutional objective to ‘[provide] recreational and leisure time activities in the interests of their social welfare’, this kind of celebration was appropriate to what the JCR is about.

“It must also be noted that the funding for this garden party is coming out of a fund specifically designated for allocation by the General Meeting.” The fund in question is set at £9,000 per term and has been used in the past to fund an arts magazine and to replace the JCR croquet set.

Ben Hudson, a Classics and English student at Regent’s, called the party “an absolute bargain at £2,200 when you take into account the Royal Family’s cost of about £185 million per year.” He added, “I’m sure the scouts on substandard wages will enjoy clearing up after the sumptuous party to celebrate Elizabeth Windsor’s knack for not dying.

“No doubt great fun will be had by all over the Jubilee holiday and it will all be explained away by the claim that it’s a fair price to pay for all the tourism the Royal Family are bringing in, despite the fact that Buckingham Palace raises almost no money, Windsor Castle isn’t even the biggest tourist attraction in Windsor, and the Tower of London has historical appeal that would only be increased if we beheaded the whole bloody lot of them there.”