Oxford Happenings
University of Oxford Alumni Weekend - 25-27 September 2009
In 2009, the Oxford Alumni Weekend will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the former women’s colleges being granted the status of full colleges of the University. To the prominent feminist and author, Vera Brittain (Somerville, 1914), the admission of women to the ancient universities ‘represented the quintessence of the whole movement for women’s emancipation, the contest for the equal citizenship of the mind’. The programme will feature a breadth of talks and panel discussions by leading alumni and academics in a range of fields, focusing particularly on the contributions of Oxford women. The weekend will also be playing tribute in 2009 to the International Year of Astronomy, using this global initiative to give visibility to some of Oxford’s most important scientific success stories. To find out more about the Alumni Weekend and how to register, please go to http://www.alumniweekend.ox.ac.uk.
Bon Voyage Weekend Redux - June 22, 2008
The 2008 Going Down Dinner capped off the Oxford experience for many departing 2006 Scholars, but they were unwilling to fly home without saying a proper goodbye to their classmates staying behind to finish their DPhils. Thus was born the “Bon Voyage Weekend Redux,” a farewell party and barbeque that sought to reunite the original group of Scholars that met for the first time in Washington, DC in September 2006. The event was a high-spirited affair in the gardens of Balliol’s Holywell Manor, with Ben Bengfort manning the grill (husband of Jaci Bengfort, North Dakota and Wolfson 2006) alongside mounds of Ben’s Cookies. After a couple hours of mingling, chatting, and photo-taking, the group came together for a group picture, a series of farewell speeches, and finally some tearful hugs and goodbyes.
30th Anniversary of Women Rhodes Scholars - May 2008
In May 2008, the Rhodes House hosted the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Women Rhodes Scholars (RW30). Women Scholars from all over the world converged at Oxford for the weekend’s events, which included plenary sessions reflecting on the responsibilities of the Scholarship and panel discussions organized by profession that were led by leaders in law, non-profit, public policy, business, science, and the creative arts. Olympic skier and businesswoman Bonnie St. John (California and Trinity, ' 86) [pictured] delivered a dynamic Saturday keynote in the Sheldonian Theatre, and lawyer Karen Stevenson (Maryland and Magdalen, ’79) followed with a poignant speech on Sunday at the special “Focus on Black Women” event. A formal dinner at Rhodes House along with multiple informal networking socials provided many opportunities for alumni to connect with each other and with the current scholars. To read session recaps and reflections, and view profiles and interviews, please visit the RW30 blog at www.RW30.wordpress.com.
World’s Fight Club - May 27, 2008
Initially created by the Rhodes Class of 2005 in their first year at Oxford, the World’s Fight Club is a Rhodes community seminar series in which Rhodes Scholars give talks about their various interests and passions. Whether it’s a discussion of a Scholar’s academic research, humanitarian project, or travel experiences, a World’s Fight Club night offers a social event where Rhodes Scholars can engage and connect with one another’s intellectual interests. Noorain Khan (Michigan and St. Antony’s 2006) revived the Club in Michaelmas Term 2007, hosting a talk on the British civil rights movement by Nick Juravich (Illinois and Christ Church 2006) in her living room. The Club meetings continued biweekly during term , moving to a seminar room in Magdalen and finally to the Rhodes House common room for a final potluck [pictured].
Rhodes Trust Trustee receives knighthood
Professor John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine, University of Oxford, and President, Academy of Medical Sciences, received knighthood during December 2007 for services to medicine. For biographical information, see http://www.ukbiobank.ac.uk/about/team/directors.php.
Rhodes Scholars Attend Seminar in Israel - March 2008
For each of the past several years, a delegation of American Rhodes Scholars has been invited to spend a week in Israel to learn first-hand about its history, culture, and conflict. The trip is sponsored and run by Project Interchange. On this year’s trip, fourteen American Rhodes Scholars took part in long days of seminars, sightseeing, and bus rides that zigzagged up and down the country. The trip included visits to the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum in Jerusalem, the Dome of the Rock, a settlement in the West Bank, and the only remaining border crossing between Israel and the Gaza strip. The group climbed Masada in the Judean Desert to watch the sun rise, swam in the Dead Sea, and took part in a traditional Shabbat dinner.
An Environmentally Conscious Rhodes Ball - May 10, 2008
This year’s Rhodes Ball was Oxford’s first “Sustainaball.” Spearheaded by Katharine Wilkinson (Tennessee and Trinity 2006) [pictured], the sustainable ball featured “green” printing of invitations and programs with soy ink on 100% recycled paper, green Web hosting, locally sourced and organic food and spirits, low-waste practices (like decorating with edible potted plants and projections onto Milner Hall’s walls), energy conservation measures, and carbon offsets. The evening began with mojitos and canapés in the Rhodes House gardens, before guests were called in for dinner and a virtual toast from inventor and entrepreneur Dean Kamen. After feasting on either guinea fowl or a vegetarian entrée of Ms. Wilkinson’s own design, ball-goers enjoyed a dessert and cheese buffet, an open bar, and a live band performing on a marquee in the gardens.
Provost of Yale nominated as next Vice-Chancellor
Professor Andrew Hamilton, BSc, MSc, PhD, FRS, currently the Provost of Yale University, has been nominated as the next Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. Professor Hamilton has been Provost of Yale since 2004 and combines his wide-ranging administrative duties with a distinguished teaching and research career. In addition to serving as Provost, he is Benjamin Silliman Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. His nomination as Vice-Chancellor, which is subject to approval by the University’s Congregation (or 'parliament of dons'), will begin on 1 October 2009, following Dr John Hood’s five-year term of office. Click here for full press release.
Rhodes Scholar Named Oxford's First Dean of Law
Professor Timothy Endicott (Ontario and Corpus Christi 1983), has been appointed as Oxford’s first Dean of the Faculty of Law, effective October 1, 2007. Professor Endicott began teaching at Oxford in 1994, holding positions at Jesus, St. Anne’s, St. Catherine’s and Balliol colleges. He was named Professor of Legal Philosophy in 2006. He came to Oxford from Harvard College and completed a MPhil in Comparative Philology, to return to Oxford three years hence for a DPhil in Legal Philosophy. Oxford’s law program was ranked first in the UK by The Guardian in 2008.
Green and Templeton Colleges to Merge
In the first such act in modern history, Green and Templeton colleges will merge to create a new college for graduate students. Both colleges are known for their excellence in specialized fields. Green is a center for innovation in the medical and life sciences. Templeton has established itself as a center for management and business studies in the university. The new Green Templeton College, as it will be known, will be home to 480 students and 80 fellows and will keep Green's current grounds at the Radcliffe Observatory location.
Magdalen, Teddy Hall Retain Headships
Teddy Hall and Magdalen triumphed in Eights yet again this year, narrowly edging out challenges by Christ Church and Pembroke to keep the headships. Not since 1895 had the Magdalen men captured four straight titles. It was the second consecutive title for the Teddy Hall women. The most spectacular rise came from the Balliol women, climbing seven spots with a rare over bump on St. Hilda’s on the final day of racing. Click here for full results.
Merton Tops Norrington Table Again
Merton College topped the Norrington Table for the sixth straight year. The annual ranking of college performance in undergraduate final examinations dates to the 1960s when Sir Arthur Norrington, head of Trinity College, established the system. Attention to the rankings has grown within the University and amongst the media in recent years, sparking many within the University to question whether the system accurately captures college performance. Click here for full ranking.
A Free Ride in Oxford?
In an effort to reduce congestion and emissions in the city centre, Oxford University will soon make a trial ride on a “pick up and pedal” cycling program. Staff can leave their cars behind and pick up free bikes at depots in Headington and the city centre. The trial run of tour de Oxford is scheduled to start this winter. For people preferring to have someone else do the pedaling, Balliol student Ted Maxwell has imported rickshaws to taxi ball-goers and tourists from spire to spire. No free ride here though – in May 2007 the Oxford City Council denied Mr Maxwell a taxi license.
