Oxford University could soon be in serious conflict with the
colleges over its future. University authorities are planning
radical changes to ensure that Oxford’s status as a
world-class institution is secure. Part of the plan is to make the University run more like an
efficient business. Several policies suggest that Oxford is keen
to keep up with its rivals, particularly the leading American
universities, by centralising the administration system. In
practical terms, authority will move away from colleges to the
central University offices. The change is likely to cause friction between the University
and the colleges, which all have a proud tradition of
independence and are expected to fight attempts at change. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Bill Macmillan’s plans for the next
16 years include a policy to expand the number of graduates by
1.9% each year. Admitting more graduates to the university is
often a lucrative means of fund raising, especially if the
University’s reputation continues to secure the attention of
overseas students. It remains to be seen if the it will consult all its students
before adopting such a radical approach, and, if the changes are
controversial, what action the student body will take. The University and various colleges declined to comment.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

The Balliol Summer Event took place last Saturday, but the
traditional Oxford black tie was conspicuously lacking. Balliol’s answer to the college ball attracted 600
people, but no dress code at all. The evening was an opportunity
for Balliol to showcase its distinct identity, and its
informality has been described as “typically lefty.” The main attraction was the presence of DJ Yoda, who is well
known in British hip-hop. DJ Yoda, having attended several Oxford
college black tie occasions, described the Balliol Summer Event
as a “ghetto ball”.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

Oxford’s postal workers are to vote on Sunday whether or
not to enact another series of walkouts which will paralyse the
mail network in the city. The news comes shortly after unofficial
strikes left Oxford without post for almost a week. The new threats of disruption come in response to the leaking
of confidential witness statements which were part of an inquiry
into the previous strikes. The Communication Workers Union claims
the statements ended up with a group of alleged bullies and that
workers fear further harassment and intimidation unless something
is done. The previous strike was also justified along these
“health and safety” grounds. The previous unofficial strike caused widespread disruption to
businesses as a huge backlog of undelivered mail piled up. The
city council estimated the economic costs to local businesses at
over £500,000. Pensioners and Businesses are once again expected
to be among the hardest hit by industrial action. Students will also be affected, with some claiming to have
given up on Royal Mail altogether. David Adams told Cherwell that
“I’m shifting to pigeons” whilst the Lincoln Ball
Committee decided to deliver all the tickets to last
Saturday’s ball in person rather than chance the vagaries of
the postal system.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

The pro-Moscow President of Chechnya, Akhmad Kadyrov, has been
killed in a bomb explosion. The President was attending a ceremony commemorating Russian
victory in World War II in a stadium on Sunday morning, when the
bomb, planted under seats near the VIP box, exploded. Five others
also died and more than 50 people were injured. Mr Kadyrov was a former rebel and supreme mufti (Muslim
religious leader) of Chechnya. In the mid-1990s he called for a
holy war against Russia and led a division of guerillas. However,
when Vladimir Putin became President in 1999 he changed his
position to supporting Russia. This won him power, but also
engendered resentment among many Chechens, including former
President (and current rebel leader), Aslan Maskhadov. Maskhadov
has denied responsibility for the bombing. After three years as interim President sponsored by the Moscow
government, Mr Kadyrov was made President last October, when an
election considered by the EU and others to have been suspicious
awarded him 81% of the vote. As both interim and permanent President, Mr Kadyrov continued
to build a private army. Despite being viewed by many as a
Russian puppet, he was often deeply critical of Russian actions
in Chechnya. Fresh Presidential elections will take place in September.
Until then, Prime Minister Sergei Abramov will function as
President. Mr Kadyrov’s son Ramzan, the head of his private
army, has been made deputy leader, prompting suggestions that the
Russian government are grooming him to succeed his father. An
additional 1,000 troops will be sent to Chechnya by the Russian
government.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

After a month of polling, voting has finally closed in
India’s general election. It was predicted that the Prime
Minister’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had failed to secure
an overall majority. In the world’s largest democracy, over 600 million adults
had the right to vote in the election, in which over forty
parties were represented. The BJP had been widely expected to win
the election relatively easily. Their main threat was the
Congress Alliance, which governed India for its first 50 years of
independence, led by Sonia Gandhi. Two Communist parties have
also polled well. The main issue in the election has been the economy. The BJP
had to abandon their ‘India Shining’ slogan in the
campaign following harsh criticism. The party needs to gain 272
seats for an overall majority in Parliament. Current polls
indicate that it has won between 240 and 280 seats. Turnout was
less than 60%.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

Give George Bush credit. You might think the day he
acknowledges environmental and climate change will be the day he
can heat up one of those killer pretzels of his simply by the
power of the sun’s rays. However, the earth’s not the
only thing to have been feeling the heat – the environmental
record of the former oil man has become an electoral issue. And,
as with so many other issues, the Bush team has done a brilliant
job of obfuscating the facts. Bush was recently in Florida’s Everglades to tout his
“commitment to conserving Florida’s natural
beauty.” His administration has backed an $8bn conservation
project in the swing state that handed him the presidency. Though
the photo-op was a curious one – Bush was actually shown
cutting down trees – the Florida project is brilliant
electoral politics and helps to distract from the fact that he
approved the scrapping of a mandated clean-up of 161 mercury-
polluted streams, rivers and lakes in Florida alone. Meanwhile, John Kerry has run a disastrous campaign, allowing
the Republicans to brand him a flip-flopper on issues with which
he should be pounding Bush. To the delight of the Bushies, Kerry
denied owning an SUV only for reporters to point to his Audi
Quattro which Kerry explained away by weakly saying that it
belonged to his wife. Similarly, it seems incredible but Kerry’s war record
– a major asset in this Khaki election – has also been
successfully trashed. Republicans have questioned whether Kerry,
still walking around with Vietnamese shrapnel lodged in his body,
deserved his Purple Heart for bravery because he had not been
sufficiently wounded. The sheer audacity of the Bush team needs
little explanation; most went out of their way to avoid combat. It’s been an awful few months for Bush but he is still
neck and neck with his opponent, who has allowed himself to be
defined in the worst possible terms. The smearing of Kerry and
his record is crass and dishonest but, by George, it’s
working.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

Sip
102 Walton Street
(01865) 311322 Going to Sip is a bit like being a child at a grown-up,
middleclass dinner party. It’s full of old people talking
about their jobs in the media, and how their roof extension is
coming along. You feel compelled to order the banana and honey
milkshake (which is amazing), don’t know what to say to
anyone and quite want to go to bed, or do something naughty, like
steal one of the stylish ashtrays. Sip is one of the many bar/restaurants lurking around Oxford.
Upon entering you are met with a white haze of minimalist light
and glass. There is a massive projector on the wall, which shows
films without sound. When I went they were showing Leon, which
was strangely hypnotic and annoying. The drinks are expensive, but delicious, with a variety of
cocktails; I recommend the Peach Bellini. The only students to be
found at the Sip bar are American millionnaires, on an exchange
from Harvard. The music might be described as
contemporary-minimalist-chillout. The restaurant is the best thing about Sip, provided you have
a minimalist appetite and a massive wallet. The food is listed
under four categories: “From the Air”, “From the
Land” (get the tempura chicken), “From the Water”
and “From Heaven”. The food arrives on dolly-sized
dishes, containing a portion of approximately 2.5 bites. You might find yourself transforming horribly into a spoiled
brat, and consider stealing your friend’s food. It tastes
exquisite, but I would advise you to eat before you go to the
restaurant at Sip, or you might find yourself ruining the whole
gastronomic experience, and stuffing your face with fish and
chips from this rather dear establishment’s next door
neighbour, Posh Fish, on your way home.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

Baby Bar
30 Walton St
(01865) 515910 Baby Bar is one of those amazing places where you arrange to
meet a friend for coffee in the afternoon, and find yourself
emerging several hours later, having whiled away the hours in an
excellent atmosphere accompanied by delicious cocktails and
fantastic food, lulled by laid back yet upbeat music. Baby offers
a huge selection of tempting cocktails – there is always at
least one house special. As ever, it is not just the drinks you
are paying for, but the surroundings, and baby is one of the best
bars/restaurants in Oxford in terms of ambience and staff –
it is relaxed, unpretentious and has excellent service, as well
as benefiting from a terrace overlooking Walton street. It is
idyllic to sit on an early summer’s evening with cocktail in
hand, watching the world go by. Baby serves delicious food – it is testament to the
tantalising nature of the menu that we went in for a drink, had a
glance at the menu, and could not resist what was on offer. It is
just the right size, with enough choice to please everyone, but
not so much that you are overwhelmed; overall it fits in with the
ethos of bar baby – simple, classic food with a modern
twist. I had spaghetti with grilled gambas prawns in a lime coriander
and chilli sauce, and my friend had steak with mashed potato
– both were excellent. Other delights on offer include tuna
rostis with mango salsa, lamb, fish of the day, pizza, as well as
various salads, side dishes, starters, puddings, and there is
even a children’s menu and breakfast. It is quite expensive at £10- £14 for a main meal, and about
£5-£6 for breakfast, but definitely worth it for a special
occasion. Overall Baby Bar definitely needs to be visited, and
having been there once there is every chance that you will become
a regular part of the clientele, enticed back by the excellent
food, cocktails, atmosphere and service.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004 

If you read last week’s article, those glorious hats
should now be adorning your rain-drenched hair. Do not think,
however, that just because it is cold, and you have a big bright
hat on, you can hide away from having a suitable top. Tops are one of the hardest things to get right. The colours,
the shapes, the sizes – there is so much that can go wrong
– and so little that ever goes completely right. Boys: It is important not to assume that
every t-shirt that looks like your size is your size. Having
found the appropriate chest size, look at the length. With your
arms in the air, the t-shirt should just reach the top of your
waistband (assuming you aren’t wearing your trousers half
way down your bum, or around your rib cage). The colour really can be anything you like, but originality is
key, so try your best. As it is chilly, a nice jumper always
looks good. Preferably vnecked, and non-stripey. Stripes are
everywhere, as Gap goes on sale. Shirts look good, but I am not a fan of the ‘I look smart
casual, because I have a smart shirt but haven’t tucked it
in’. I think there is definite evidence to show that tucked
in shirts, pulled out (so it doesn’t look like a skin tight
body warmer) look very good. With rolled up sleeves, they
definitely suit those of you with boatie hats, or fedoras (I like
to think I can advise the minority too). Girls: Watch out for the size. Your breasts,
and for that matter your bra, are very important here. If you are
going to wear a tight top, don’t wear a ruffled bra, and
make sure your bra fits – no one wants to see back spillage.
If you have big breasts DO NOT be overly summery, i.e., avoid too
much ornamentation and busy patterns. Halter necks can look good,
but if you have big breasts, do some damage limitation. If you are less well-endowed in the chest area, then you can
get away with anything – I think loose tie halter necks look
especially good. Colour, shape, design – paying more
definitely means getting more. Even if two t-shirts look the
same, always get the more expensive one – it will have
subtle tailoring that makes the top look like it fits. Beware of
the mass produced t-shirts – vintage style is only vintage
if it isn’t worn by anybody else. I also offer a caveat about strapless bras. They have a
tendency to pre-occupy the wearer, causing them to
‘hoist’ at every opportunity. Also, they tend to pull
your breasts down, making them look saggy. Two essential
accessories: double-sided sellotape – keep those boob tubes
over your breasts. And duct tape: keep those breasts in check (I
have not tested the duct tape advice – it seems intrusive
and painful. I just stick to bras). And if you are going to wear spaghetti tops, white bras with
black tops are not attractive. Be subtle – yes, the boys do
look at your breasts, regardless of what you wear, or how you
wear it.ARCHIVE: 2nd week TT 2004