Student news

If you're staying in Oxford over the vacation, remember you can visit the University's gardens, libraries and museums for free.

Dear students,

Congratulations on reaching the end of Trinity term and this academic year.

I know what a busy and demanding time it’s been, especially if you have been sitting exams. Thank you for Celebrating SMART this term, and well done for all your hard work and contributions to another fantastic year at Oxford.

Exeter: RePlateOx 

At Oxford, the juxtaposition between excess and need is impossible to ignore. Inside college halls, formal dinners lit by candlelight are a daily occurrence, yet just outside, people are regularly seen begging for food. For many students, this contradiction is deeply personal. We have witnessed it ourselves firsthand: while volunteering with Turl Street Homeless Action, handing out meals with NishkamSWAT, or simply walking home from hall after seeing plates of food go untouched. 

I’ve worked as a Student Adviser in Oxford SU part time since July 2024 and full time since October 2024. A large part of my role involves giving students independent 1:1 support through any collegiate university process, from responding to a misconduct allegation to submitting a mitigating circumstances application.

I am a DPhil student in the Education Department at Oxford researching students’ LGBTQ+ experiences at English universities from the 1970s onwards. I have spent the past three years studying this and see great value in understanding and sharing queer histories. There are many reasons for this - a pertinent one is that recognising the existence of lives outside of cis- and heteronormativity in the past can remind us that we are not alone even when we continue to face adversity in different ways. Therefore, ‘LGBT+ History Month’ is an exciting time for me.

The journey so far

My story is not the most dramatic. I was born in the UK and grew up in a small town called Wickford in Essex. After completing my A-levels I was successful in obtaining a place at King’s College London to study towards an undergraduate BSc Biochemistry degree. 

In light of recent developments, including the Supreme Court ruling about the legal definition of a woman in the Equality Act, the University of Oxford is carefully reviewing our policies and practices concerning transgender inclusion and equality. The University does this regularly to ensure they remain compliant with the law and reflect good practice.