During fifth week, Hertford College hosted its annual Hertford Equalities Week.

With an aim to encourage the Oxford community to consider ways in which inequalities and injustice can be combated at Oxford, it is an opportunity to discuss topics including diversity, social equality, justice and activism.

Fenella Sentance, Hertford’s JCR equal opportunities representative, planned the week in collaboration with other Hertford students, resulting in a fully student-organised event.

Sentance said that the goal of Equalities Week is to ensure women*, black and minority ethnic (BME), working class, LGBTQ+ and disabled students at Hertford have an opportunity and space to share and focus on their experiences.

Sentance told Cherwell: “The main goal was to focus on those communities – their experiences and concerns. Everyone in college has been enthusiastic [and] supportive, which has been really nice.”

In discussing the importance of hosting an Equalities Week, Sentance highlighted the necessity of the Oxford community confronting its systematic inequalities.

She said: “It’s really important that Oxford faces head on the systemic issues it has concerning access and inequality, and I hope this is some kind of part of that.I’m hoping the week will encourage people to think about these issues on a day to day basis and do their best to counteract them.”

Oxford has been criticised recently for racial profiling of students by porters and for failing to treat disabled students fairly.

By hosting events such as EqualiTEAs, a women*’s night at the Hertford bar and an Equalities formal, Sentance hopes Equalities Week will foster a greater sense of community across Hertford College and a greater awareness of everyday activism in which one may participate.

Sentance said: “I’d like women*, people of colour, LGBTQ+, working- class and disabled students at Hertford to feel recognised and listened to – and to feel that they have a community of people supporting them.”

On the importance of Equalities Week and her admiration of the work Sentance has done, second-year Hertford student Ashley Singh discussed the way in which people must interact to fight for acceptance, inclusion and equality.

Singh told Cherwell: “We all experience life differently – I don’t simply mean that we have different experiences but also that no person thinks in the same way as another. Due to these differences, it is vital to listen to one another because it is vital to try to understand. It is not enough to believe and say that we care. Be curious, learn more and love people. Champion those people who experience injustices.

“To do so, we must participate, avoid being a bystander, even (or perhaps most importantly) in everyday life. Validate people – your peers, your mentors, the people who serve you, the people who rarely feel valued. Fight ignorance – the rights given to all people (freedom, safety, equality) protected by law are not just given. They are duties for us all.” There was a women*’s meeting and box decorating event on Tuesday in the JCR. On Wednesday, there was an Equalities Week formal hall to celebrate diversity and inclusion at the College. The formal hall hosted speeches about equality and diversity on campus.

Hertford hosted an Equality and the Arts Panel Thursday to discuss activism, diversity and the arts with poets Will Harris, Rachel Long and Jay Hulme.

Hertford Equalities Week will wrap up Sunday, Nov. 17 with a talk from public engagement walking tour company Uncomfortable Oxford at 5:30 p.m in the Hertford Old Library.

Aiming to make Oxford a more progressive and inclusive institution, the group encourages public discussion of Oxford’s “uncomfortable” history, especially regarding its imperialist past.

In a letter to the government, the Oxfordshire County Council announced that they would not support the construction of a major road between Oxford and Cambridge.

The motion sent to the government explained that an Expressway would be environmentally harmful.

Labour councillor John Sanders said the planned Expressway “flies in the face of Oxfordshire’s commitment to reduce the use of the car.”

The need to reduce car use to tackle the climate emergency was a key factor in the decision.

The council said it would still sup- port plans to boost jobs, housing and infrastructure in the county, namely through the Oxford to Cambridge Arc and England’s Economic Heart- land.

Bob Johnston, a Lib Dem councillor, said the council should reject the project because of its aim to become carbon neutral. The project would have a “huge carbon footprint” regardless of the chosen route.

This move follows on from the council’s commitment to place the climate crisis at the heart of all their decisions.

The motion explained that the rejection of an Expressway was also on the understanding that work on the East West Rail Link would be sped up.

It said: “The development of the railway line will ensure the delivery of the growth and housing required, without the environmental impact of a road cutting across the centre of rural England.”

A planned route for the expressway was to be published before the end of this year, but the general election has delayed it.

Oxford University held its annual ‘Wellbeing Week’ from 11 to 15 November, opening up dialogue around wellbeing and welfare to support students’ mental health during 5th week.

Often cited by students as one of the hardest weeks of term, the week induces the phenomenon referred to as “fifth week blues.”

Events included an overview of the university and student union support services, branded ‘Welcome to Worcester Street,’ as well as a presentation on the newStudent Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy.

There were also more relaxed events such as opportunities to get active with Oxford University Sport, and a wellbeing dog walk.

The events were run by the Oxford Mindfulness Centre (OMC) as part of the project to raise awareness about wellbeing in the university.

In outlining the importance of the events during wellbeing week, Oli Bazin, an associate at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, stated: “The importance of mental health and well-being is widely acknowledged in the Higher Education setting, where student life can bring a host of personal and emotional challenges alongside academic demands.”

Bazin highlighted mindfulness as a large part of wellbeing, saying, “Mindfulness is a well- researched, non-religious and effective means of alleviating stress, anxiety and depression, and promoting well-being.”

The OMC has been running mindfulness courses for students since 2011.

Students also underlined the importance of the week. Luke Knight, a first-year physics undergraduate at Lady Margaret Hall, said: “Wellbeing week is definitely what I need right now. It’s nice to know that fifth week blues sets in for everyone and that support is on hand. I like how it’s uni-wide, not just in college, too.”

Meanwhile, additional wellbeing events will also take place across Colleges and Departments. Students at St Hilda’s college can take part in several events ranging from welfare teas to mental health workshops, tackling issues such as imposter syndrome and anxiety.

In many colleges, including St Hilda’s, events are student lead by the JCR and its welfare reps. Student welfare rep Amber Korde commented: “Having a welfare structure within colleges is extremely important to student wellbeing as well as their success here.

“Oxford can be a tough environment at times so having a support network in place, from welfare officers to junior deans, is such an important thing. Student welfare is, and always should be, something that we think about throughout the year but events like welfare week give us a chance to really emphasise the importance of looking after ourselves and each other.”

Wellbeing week comes as part of the University and Student Union’s ‘Wellbeing at Oxford Campaign,’ which aims to raise awareness about student wellbeing and take an institution-wide approach to welfare.

In 2018 the campaign launched a “strategic plan” to invest considerable resources into welfare. Wellbeing week forms a part of this increased focus on mental health, with events open to all students running throughout the week.

In the Student Wellbeing and Mental Health Strategy, the university says: “We are adopting an holistic approach to student wellbeing and mental health covering all aspects of the student experience. Providing the right support is a key strand to our work, but so is prevention and building resilience. We will review course design, promote and embed inclusive practice, and help students to develop the life skills which will help them to thrive.”

In the strategy, Education Pro-Vice-Chancellor Martin Williams states: “Oxford’s strategy forms part of a wider focus on mental health and wellbeing across the higher education sector. We are proud to have been involved in sector-wide discussions for several years and will continue to do so in the future.

Highlighting the university’s commitment change, he said: “Everyone at Oxford has a role to play in student mental health and wellbeing, and this strategy signals the start of a longer journey towards achieving our vision for the collegiate University.”

The Oxford Homeless Project celebrated its fourth anniversary on Monday (November 11) at the Asian Cultural Centre in Cowley.

The Muslim community project, led by Shabnam Sabir and Tayyaba Hameed, is dedicated to providing fortnightly meals for the homeless, as well as other necessities such as sleeping bags, clothing, tents, and haircuts. Food donated by the community is served every other Monday lunchtime at the Asian Cultural Centre.

Sabir founded the enterprise in 2015 after her experience serving dishes to the homeless during Ramadan. Sabir and and her friends gathered at Gloucester Green in the evening when breaking their daily fast, inviting homeless people from across the city to celebrate Iftar.

Following this, Sabir was inspired to do even more to help those without a roof over their heads, and decided to gather a group of volunteers to create a long-term project. Since its formation, the project has served home-cooked meals to the homeless every two weeks. The project continues to be run by volunteers and has now amassed more than four thousand likes on its Facebook page.

Sabir told Cherwell: “It’s always very humbling to know the city of Oxford has no shortage of care or compassion. Whilst such a service shouldn’t be needed we believe it’s important for our guests to know they’re not alone and the community does care.”

Over a hundred people attended the anniversary lunch, from families and residents to college and university students. Children from St. Francis Primary School helped to decorate tables and creating posters with messages of solidarity for the event, while a group of pupils gave a choir performance. Students from EMBS Community College also got involved, cooking, serving and setting up, with volunteers also sharing pizza round at the event.

The event was also attended by Lord Mayor of Oxford, Craig Simmons, as well as Labour and Cooperative politician Anneliese Dodds, who has served as the MPfor Oxford East since the 2017 election.

Sabir added: “We are here not only to give rough sleepers a hot meal; anyone in need is welcome to a community style lunch. We want to ensure going forward that people always have a place they can eat and feel welcome.”

Discussing the future of homelessness activism in the city in a statement ahead of their anniversary, the project said: “Whilst we still feel worried about our friends we do however feel things will be better for our rough sleepers this year. We do feel Oxford City Council have made some exceptional progress in tackling and addressing homelessness in Oxford.”

More candidates announced

Rosie Sourbut, former Oxford University Labour Club co-chair and current student, has announced she is running as the Labour candidate in Oxford West and Abingdon.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Ms Sourbut Said, “I’m really excited to announce that I’m standing to be your Labour MP for Oxford West and Abingdon. I can’t wait to fight for a Labourgovernmentandthechange we need in the wonderful area I’m proud to call home.

“A Labour government means better pay, affordable housing and investment in public services.

“It means a Green New Deal, a referendum with the option to Remain, and equal pay for women by 2030. It means halving foodbank use in a year, ending the need for foodbanks in three, and stopping the Tories from pursuing their damaging Brexit and eroding workers’ rights.”

The Conservative Party have now announced the second of their Oxford candidates, as Oxford East will be contested by former Amersham councillor Louise Staite.

Ms Staite released a statement on Facebook announcing her candidacy, saying, “I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to represent the people of Oxford. I love this city, having studied here at Oxford Brookes, and am thrilled to be here campaigning to be your next MP.

“I know that residents want good schools, investment in the NHS, more police on the streets and a strong economy and only Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party can deliver that.”

Meanwhile, the Green Party have also announced their candidate in Oxford East this week, as councilor and UCU delegate David Williams gets the nod.

In a statement announcing his candidacy on the Green Party, Oxford’s website, Mr. Williams said, “Having first been elected as a councillor in 2006, I’m known in East Oxford for my tireless campaigning on the NHS, the environment, and against austerity.

“As my track record shows – in 2016 I opposed the massive cuts that Tory, Labour and Lib Dems voted through the County Council and I have also opposed the disastrous Oxford to Cambridge Expressway from the start.

“I’m a firm believer in a cleaner, brighter future through investment in renewable energy, public transport and free education.”

Williams’ announcement comes a week after the Green Party announced they would not be running in Oxford West and Abingdon as part of the ‘Unite to Remain’ agreement between various pro-Remain parties across the country.

Williams has been a councilor for over 30 years, and has led the Green Party in the Oxford City Council and the Oxfordshire County Council.

He also ran for the Green Party leadership in 2016.

Where should you vote?

As tactical voting makes the news, many students are deciding whether to vote at university or at home. Oxford students are divided across two constituencies – Oxford East, and Oxford West and Abingdon.

Oxford East is held by Anneliese Dodds MP, Labour, by 23,284 votes, compared to this relatively comfortable majority, Layla Moran in Oxford West will have to defend a majority of only 816, just 1.4% of the electorate.

Given that, see above for a list of the colleges in Oxford East, and Oxford West and Abingdon predictable. It has generally bounced between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Moran’s win in 2017 ended 7 years of Conservative control.

For further context, Oxford East is a historically Labour seat, last held by another party in 1983 when it was narrowly won by the Conservative Party.

Things are more complicated in Oxford West and Abingdon, which has traditionally been much less predictable.

It has generally bounced between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Moran’s win in 2017 ended 7 years of Conservative control of the seat.

Throughout the 2000s, the Liberal Democrats largely retained the seat. In general, if the Conservatives win a majority in the Commons, they win Oxford West. The one exception to this rule came in 2010, when Conservative Nicola Blackwood won the seat by a mere 176 votes, representing a majority of 0.3%.

Cherwell hosts hustings 

Cherwell are hosting election hustings with many of the candidates, including the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, Layla Moran, the Labour MP for Ox- ford East and Shadow Minister for the Treasury, Anneliese Dodds, the Conservative candidate for Oxford West and Abingdon, James Fredrickson and the Green candidate for Oxford East, David Williams.

Each of the candidates will be given 4 minutes to make a state- ment, before taking questions.

The event will be held on 26 th November at St Michael Church, on Cornmarket Street.

The Oxford Climate Justice Campaign (OCJC) has launched a petition demanding Oxford University and affiliates such as The Careers Service end the “hosting and promoting of recruitment events and job opportunities for fossil fuel companies”.

The petition, which has amassed over 150 signatures, accuses the University of “lending legitimacy to the notion that these climate-destroying corporations have any place in a sustainable and just future.’’

The Campaign claims the presence of fossil fuel companies at careers and freshers’ fairs, networking events and panel talks are examples of the University ignoring both its responsibility as an “institution of knowledge” to act on scientific evidence and its commitment to students.

The Climate Justice Campaign is a part of the Fossil Free movement, a global campaign that operates within multiple communities to “build a future free from the injustice of climate change, and free from the profiteering fossil fuel industry that drives it.”

Divestment from fossil fuels is central to the OCJC’s project.

While pushing for increased transparency, they call for the University’s fossil fuel investments to go through a “negative screening process” and encourage investment into “fossil free” alternatives.

OCJC recently disrupted a Glencore recruitment event, branding the Swiss mining company “climate criminals”, and continues to target divestment within specific JCRs, passing nine motions last Hilary Term.

OCJC coordinator Pascale Gourdeau told Cherwell: “Fossil fuel companies such as BP are directly responsible for the suffering and destruction caused by climate change, particularly in vulnerable communities across the global South.

“Their attempts to recruit young minds are a flagrant refusal to acknowledge their own unsus- tainable role in our society. Their tactic to silently cancel recruitment events should not go unnoticed. This is why we are calling on the university to officially exclude fossil fuel companies from recruitment events and careers fairs. These companies are not serious about the climate crisis, and don’t deserve a place on campus.”

The University defends its current stance on divestment, pointing to its informative body, the Oxford Energy Network which works to “tackle the social, economic and political challenges of sustainable energy for all”, and to its Environmental Sustainability Policy which has diminished the university’s carbon footprint since 2008.

Yet, the Climate Justice Campaign has called their attempts to divest “watered-down”.

A representative from the Oxford Careers Service told the Cherwell: “The Careers Service offers an impartial service which allows students to make informed choices about their futures through access to employers and professional networks. We are actively exploring ways to help students make more informed decisions about organisations’ approaches to sustainability. For example, we are currently working with experts at the Smith School, the Said Business School, and the Oxford Martin School, as well as with the Oxford SU, to develop a tool that would allow students to access recruiters’ sustainability credentials at Careers Fairs and other events – helping them to make more informed choices.

“We also encourage employ- ers to demonstrate other ethical credentials such as membership of Stonewall, B-Corp, Living Wage Foundation, Mindful Employer, and ECU Race Charter; and do not promote unpaid internships or paid-for internships. The University is currently developing an ambitious Sustainability Policy, which will shape the activities of the Careers Service and the wider University in the longer term.”

OCJC is a student-led campaign founded on the conviction that Oxford University should use its enormous financial and cultural influence for environmental justice in a changing climate.

The OCJC website says: “We are part of the fast-growing, international Fossil Free movement, which works to cut support of the fossil fuel industry in major institutions.”

Oxford University has launched an inquiry into an alleged incidence of racism committed by a porter at St John’s College. When visiting the college, a black alumnus was asked if he used to “rob” the college during his time as a student.

Returning to the College on 5th November, the graduate had attempted to tour his former place of study before encountering the porter.

Tweeting a day after the incident took place, he wrote: “Ey I went to my old college in Oxford yesterday to look round again. At the door I explained to the porter that I used to go there & he replied ‘What did you do, clean the windows? Rob it?’”

Following this, he filed a complaint with the college, prompting the opening of an investigation by the university.

In a statement released in response to these events on 7th November, the college said: “St John’s College is committed to ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of a diverse college community where there is no place for discrimination of any kind.

“We are aware of a Twitter post about discriminatory language reportedly used by a member of staff towards a visitor. We are investigating this incident as a matter of urgency and will take action as appropriate.” The result of the investigation is as yet unknown.

The tweet has been shared multiple times, with considerable support being shown for the graduate in response to the porter’s comments.

Allegations of racism committed by porters in Oxford have not been rare over the last few years, with an investigation by Cherwell in 2018 uncovering at least 14 testimonies from students of colour which suggested they had been unfairly targeted by porters, being asked for identity or to justify the purpose of their visit, whilst white students were not submitted to the same process.

Increasing and disproportionate complaints of black students being questioned upon entering college grounds prompted the Students’ Union last year to express the view that all porters should be given unconscious bias training in order to prevent potentially discriminatory behaviour.

Bans of “unacceptable behaviours” by the Oxford City Council in February 2016, which garnered controversy for their ‘demonisation’ of homeless people, have not been renewed.

A public consultation has been launched instead, which will gather opinion about behaviours people consider to be unacceptable in the city centre. This will create a new set of rules to be released in 2020.

The City Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) from 2016 aimed to deter anti-social behaviour. It outlawed eight activities in public spaces, including “aggressive begging”, “inappropriate use of public toilets”, and drinking alcohol.

Opponents told the Oxford Mail that the PSPO could “criminalise” and “demonise” rough sleepers. This controversy led to Oxford City Council releasing a statement that defended the PSPO, saying that there were no “homeless fines”.

This is in the context of widespread backlash against PSPOs in 60 local authorities. A landmark high court case is currently determining whether fines for begging from PSPOs unfairly target home- less people.

Over three years, the PSPO was used by the council to give almost 1000 warnings. However, only five £100 fixed penalty notices were given out, four of which were to people selling goods without permission. “Advice” was given to people begging 96 times, but no one was fined or prosecuted.

A spokesperson for the council said: “The impact of the Order is still being felt and many of the anti-social behaviours have not returned.

“There is, for example, a reduction in people aggressively beg- ging, Oxford no longer gets large numbers of street peddlers during St Giles’ Fun Fair, and busking is largely self-regulating through the current voluntary Code of Conduct, which is to be reviewed in 2020.”

The new consultation is a part of the City Centre Vision for 2020. The consultation will run until January. It is an online quiz which asks residents and visitors about problems such as dog control, littering, begging, graffiti, and threatening behaviour.

The Oxford City Council has already held focus groups of residents, business owners, and people accessing homeless services, which informed the questions on the quiz.

A spokesperson for the City Council said: “The resident group raised concerns about pickpocketing, bicycle thefts, drunk and rowdy behaviour in Park End Street and George Street, and tourist coaches sitting with their engines running; the business group raised concerns about rogue tour guides, pick pocketing, drunk and rowdy behaviour in George Street, and noisy street entertainers.

“The main concern of people accessing homelessness services in the city was safety. They said that they did not perceive the city centre streets to be a safe place to sleep, and felt particularly threatened by those leaving the pubs under the influence of alcohol who can abuse them, damage their property or physically assault them.”

Councillor Mary Clarkson, Cabinet Member for Culture and City Centre said: “Over the coming months we will be consulting residents on the future of every aspect of the city centre, but we are starting with the behaviours that people think are acceptable and unacceptable. So whether you are a local resident, a city centre business owner, or just a visitor to our beautiful city centre, please take part in the consultation.”

This is a welcome change for Councillor Shaista Aziz, co-founder of the Labour Homelessness Campaign, who told Cherwell: “As more councils consult on the PSPOs, with the intention of gaining the power to criminalise behaviour that is not normally criminal, many on the streets believe these powers penalise them further for being homeless. I welcome the fact that PSPOs won’t be renewed in the city centre and I’m very pleased that the council is acknowledging the intense vulnerability people rough sleeping in Oxford face to being victims of abuse and violence.”