Alex Kohnert argues for the University of Sheffield’s Forge Press that the Islamophobia and racism surrounding the Woolwich attacks is unwarranted:

Before I begin, let me make one thing clear- the events in Woolwich on Wednesday were absolutely sickening and indefensible.

For anyone who doesn’t follow the news closely, two men attacked and killed another in South East London. The victim is reported to be a soldier from a nearby barracks, and according to some media outlets had been beheaded by his attackers. A truly brutal assault by anyone’s standards, and a crime that is punishable by a lifetime served in prison. The condemnation of these acts has been widespread and firm, and to this end the country appears to be in agreement. However, after the news had broke, and condemnations had been scripted by political advisors and delivered to camera, people began to move on to the next stage of dealing with an event like this. Much like with the reaction to the Boston Marathon bombings of April 15 2013, a distinct vocal group put the blame squarely at the door of one group- Muslims.

Now the attackers in question have been filmed talking about their motives, in which they cite their religion as part of the reason for their actions. That is the operative word however– it was the actions of two men, and two men alone.

Full article here.

A household name both sides of the Atlantic, Damian Lewis came to international prominence starring in Band of Brothers, furthering his reputation in The Forsyte Saga, Life and numerous stage plays. 

A consummate actor of theatre, film and television, his recent triumph in Homeland won him a Golden Globe and an Emmy. In a great scoop for Epigram, he granted me an exclusive interview. I tried to uncover a few pearls of wisdom from the most exciting British actor of the moment.

For many students staring nervously into the precipice of recession unemployment, Damian Lewis’ characters seem unrealistically cool and successful. Decisive and worldly, these soldiers, cops, business executives and assassins don’t rely on others. I asked him what advice he would offer graduates making their way in the world. But his own life wisdom is refreshingly clear. ‘Work hard, play hard,’ he summarises deftly. ‘Understand what makes you happy and do it.’

Such an approach has clearly served him well: he has dined with the U.S. President and been directed by Steven Spielberg. But his drive is evident. ‘I still think I’m trying to make it. A bit like chasing one’s tail. Not healthy, but part of the condition…’

Full article here.

Christ Church JCR has passed a motion deliberately flouting College rules, to ensure the LGBTQ flag is displayed at the college.

The motion notes that the JCR will pay for LGBTQ flags for any student who wants to fly one from their bedroom window. It will also pay for any potential fines resulting from this rule-breaking.

The action has been described by one student as “civil disobedience in the name of gay rights”.

The original motion was for the College to fly the LGBTQ flag on its flag pole for the Oxford Pride Parade on 8th June. However, since the relevant authorities refused to do so, the proposers added the radical back-up plan which is now being put into place…

Full story here.

Gabriel Dorey

Everyone must have some degree of respect for the phoenix-like rise of UKIP from the ashes of political obscurity. Not too long ago, to brand them ‘a bunch of fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists’ would not be far from the national view.

However, there currently appears to be an amalgamation of many discounted voters, united by disgust of the political class, who look to UKIP as the only party that can claim to speak for the man on the street, and work itself to the grind to implement what it truly believes to be right. This political shift, not just consigned to Tory exiles, is also welcomed by a portion of Labour and Liberal Democrat voters, those who view Clegg and Milliband as inept and without any personal creed. These votes are out of contempt for the state, not love of Nigel Farage’s policies, content to be devalued with nihilistic pleasure. Look at it this way: voting for UKIP is the political equivalent of being part of the cool kids’ group; brandishing a pint and a ciggy in one hand whilst flicking off the nerds of the establishment with the other.

Seeing Ken Clarke hysterically denounce UKIP as ‘clowns’ makes the Conservatives come across as panicked and spiteful, only fuelling Farage’s sure-footed march. Cameron’s pragmatism has been met with nationwide displeasure at fragile economic growth, increases in energy bills, and a faltering stance on immigration – with around 1m eastern Europeans coming in under an EU directive (general unemployment is at a rate of 8.4 per cent, including 1m youths). Commenting on Suarez’s latest antics and gaming on angry birds can’t save him now…

Full article here.

Alex Finnis

Several colleges have been left thousands of pounds out of pocket because of unpaid sponsorship money from Tokyo nightclub, with YUSU President Kallum Taylor hinting that Tokyo’s official club night status is not necessarily safe for next year.

Vanbrugh claim to be owed around £4000 by the popular nightspot, whilst Halifax say they are around £3000 down and Derwent claim they are £1000 in the red.

Alcuin Chair Joshua Lee, meanwhile, says that his college has been “significantly overcharged” and that they are awaiting a refund, whilst Langwith have had issues regarding sports kit sponsorship and are reluctant to work with Tokyo again in the future.

The shortage in cash comes at a particularly difficult time for the colleges as they begin to plan next year’s Freshers’ Week – the biggest week in the academic calendar for every JCRC.

There are now fears amongst some of the colleges that planning could be significantly affected if the money is not paid in soon. However, the issue has now been dragging on since the autumn term, and Tokyo claim that Halifax are in fact the only college to whom any money is owed at all…

Full story here.

Jane Chan

There can be few more glamorous workplaces, I have always thought, than the buildings of Oxford University Press on Walton Street, with the grand Neoclassical entrance and fountain in the courtyard. You can even go on a jaunt to Freud across the road for a drink. As John Simpson, editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, led me through the winding corridors, I caught a glimpse of a sepia photograph on the wall of the old press: bespectacled gentlemen looking back from a room supported by Ionic pillars, which now houses the exhibits of the Museum of the History of Science.

Yet at the end of the corridor was a great, brightly lit room with transparent partitions, behind one of which was John’s office. He now works almost solely on his computer, which contains a database of the dictionary: gone are the days when he started his career by shuffling index cards.

In fact, technology revolutionised the OED. When John joined the OED after seeing an advert recruiting an editorial assistant, there was little hope for the four-volume supplement he was working on. “When it was completed it wasn’t clear whether the office would just shut down. It didn’t seem to be much of a future contributing more and more supplement to a Victorian dictionary. It was only in the 1980s, just as we were getting to the end of this four-volume supplement, that people started to have the idea that maybe they could put things on to a computer, and that seemed to give the dictionary a future.” …

Full article here.

-     84 cases of plagiarism in 2011/12

-     Georgraphy subject with most offences

-     52.8 per cent of cases this academic year from international students

Statistics obtained by Exeposé have shown that while the number of plagiarism cases at Exeter has generally decreased, the proportion of plagiarism cases involving international students has risen dramatically this academic year.

The facts, obtained using the Freedom of Information Act, cover the period from the start of the 2008/09 academic year to March 2013. There have been 53 cases of plagiarism so far this year, and 28 of those have been attributed to international students, 52.8 per cent of the total. In 2008/09, 31 of 92 plagiarism offences were caused by international students, a percentage of 33.7 per cent…

Full story here.

James Greenhalgh

Local MP Greg Mulholland has apologised after describing one of his student constituents as a “little shit” after being challenged over his position on gay marriage.

Responding to a constituent who questioned the MPs support of gay marriage, Mulholland tweeted that “I am very glad I have never met you Jonathan as you are a disingenuous, manipulative, illiberal little shit”.

Tweeting to the LibDem MP, Leeds Uni student @Jonathan_Pryor said that “after abstaining, voting for a wrecking amendment, then trying to abolish marriage, i’m glad @GregMulholland1 finally voted the right way”.

Later, the LibDem MP clarified his use of language, appearing not to fully withdraw the comment, saying “I shouldn’t have called him little that was wrong whether he is or not. The rest, true.”

The tweet in question followed last night’s landmark vote in the House of Commons, where MPs passed the final stage of the marriage (same sex couples) bill before going to the House of Lords for final approval.

Full story here.

Mark Lomasney

In a recent talk with secondary school students, Robert Winston said he deliberately doesn’t employ students with a first claiming “I would rather have young people around me who developed other interests at university and didn’t focus entirely on getting that first”. Unsurprisingly this has provoked a mixed response with the real world closing in on many of us as and the fear about jobs, or rather lack of jobs, setting in.

For those students who have slogged through the never-ending cycle of essays and exams at the expense of a social life and other interests, Winston’s comment must seem somewhat of a slap in the face for all their hard work. But for those who dabble in extra-curricular activities (be their nights spent at Corp or the Media Hub) then Winston’s point must seem uniquely refreshing.

In an education system where results are the be all and end all of success, it seems to me reassuring that someone out there does care about more than whether my last exam (which I’ve already forgot everything from) was a 75 or a 62. Nevertheless, universities are first and foremost academic institutions, so was Winston right to condemn those who put academic rigour over other interests?

Full article here.

Anna Leszkiewicz 

You don’t need to spend long talk­ing to Morpurgo to realise how em­phatically he believes in the possibil­ity of creating a fairer, and kinder, society; and, as a former primary school teacher, he grounds much of this belief in the “proper” education of children. I ask him how much he thinks his books can help to create this “more civilised and equitable society” — aren’t they, essentially, for fun?

“Of course it’s entertaining, oth­erwise they’re not going to turn the page. That’s really important. But the crucial thing is that when they turn the page they’re gaining all the time in knowledge and understand­ing. That’s the whole point of read­ing. That’s the whole point of going to the theatre. It’s broadening the scope of our imagination.

“The most important thing I think you get from reading when you’re young — and it’s a cornerstone of our existence — is you learn empathy. You learn about other people. So if you’re a boy, and you are reading a story which is told from a girl’s point of view, you really do gain something. If you are white, and you’re reading a story about a black community… all that is really very important, be­cause we’re now in this world where everyone is moving closer and closer together all the time.” …

Full article here.