All members of Univ were invited to attend a private view and conversation with Daisy Harcourt (1990, Fine Art) and Dr Laura Varnam, Lecturer in Old and Middle English Literature, on Thursday 18 April 2024 at the Town House, Spitalfields, London. The event was organised by members of the Univ in the Arts Committee: Ali Mercer, Philippa Malicka, Jonathan Hourigan, Chris Birkett, Caroline Marriage, Mary Orsak and Ruqayah Juyel alongside Martha Cass in the Development Office. Read more…

In the 1960s, radical activists worldwide challenged societal norms, opposing the Vietnam War and championing figures like Che Guevara. However, these protests varied across regions, occurring amidst Cold War divisions and in both colonial powers and newly independent nations. While Western counter-cultural movements differed from African student activism, which often protested post-colonial politics while aiding infrastructure development. In this 775 Univ Online Talk, Dr Natalya Benkhaled-Vince explored these events, focusing on students from Algeria and including examples from Tunisia and Senegal. Watch the recorded lecture here…

Holly James Johnston (2019, DPhil English) is leading a course at the V&A entitled “The Queer History of Art”. Every week in this six-week course, people will encounter art, objects, architecture, and design that tell stories about gender and sexuality in the past. Read more…

A few weeks and many training sessions into term, we reached Eights Week — the highlight of most student rowers’ Trinity terms! Read more…

Dr Natalya Benkhaled-Vince, Sanderson Tutorial Fellow in Modern History, is co-organising an international conference “Africans and war in Vietnam: Global protest, liberation politics and transnational soldiers”, to be held at the Rothermere American Institute in Oxford, 26 to 27 June 2024. Read more…

Historically, Oxford Colleges appeared to show little interest in celebrating anniversaries. There is no mention of any such events at Univ until the “Millenary Dinner” of June 1872, which celebrated the mythical 1000^th anniversary of our foundation by King Alfred – and, to judge from some of the speeches given that night, the celebrations were somewhat tongue-in-cheek. By 1899, William of Durham’s claim to be our true Founder was generally accepted, but our predecessors did not see fit to mark the 650^th anniversary of William’s benefaction in that year. Read more…

This year is of course a huge anniversary for the College, what with us celebrating 775 years of Univ. But 2024 also marks 225 years since the birth of artist and critic John Ruskin. Ruskin was closely associated with Oxford during his life; he was an undergraduate at Christ Church from 1836 – 1842 and, 27 years after graduating, was appointed as the first Slade Professor of Fine Art in 1869.  Many buildings in the city still bear his name. One such is the Ruskin School of Art, Univ’s neighbour on the High Street since 1975. Read more…

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Old Members and friends, and their guests gathered for the annual luncheon of the William of Durham Club on 18 May 2024, an occasion at which we recognise those members of Univ who have pledged a legacy to the College, and those who are considering this special form of giving. Read more…

On Thursday, 30 May, Old Members and their guests attended alumni drinks with the Master, Baroness Valerie Amos LG CH PC in the bar at the Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, College Green, Bristol. Read more…

Nick Schlee (1952, English) has an exhibition of oil paintings and drawings entitled “Looking at Water” at River & Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames until 31 July. Read more…

Univ is delighted to report that the following alumni were recognised in the King’s Birthday Year Honours announced earlier this month. Read more…

Dr Kenneth Clarke (2003, English) has been promoted to Professor in the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York, and from July will become the Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies. Read more…

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Activity on-site at Univ North is moving forward at a dynamic pace and the Univ North vision can be seen coming to life in real-time. Read more…

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In May 2024, I travelled to Manitoba, Canada, for the GAC-MAC-PEG conference. I specifically attended the PEG component, which was the 11th international pegmatite symposium, the only conference of its kind globally. At this conference I presented on my research and attended a field trip to various lithium deposits around the region. Read more… 

The Association of Breast Surgery Conference is an annual conference aimed at breast surgeons, trainees and those interested in a career in breast surgery, to present their research and discuss developing and important topics. This year the conference was held on the 13 and 14 May 2024, in Bournemouth. Read more…

At the start of January 2024, I attended the Volcanic and Magmatic Studies Group (VMSG) conference in Bristol. On the Wednesday morning I attended a data visualisation workshop which covered how to improve science communication through better figure making. We looked at what makes a good figure, accessibility of figures (e.g. colour schemes chosen), resources available, etc. Read more…

Izzy (Music) reviewed Music: A Very Short Introduction by Nicholas Cook.

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Kenneth Clarke (2003) has just published Dante’s Divine Comedy: A Reading Guide with Cambridge University Press. He has also been promoted to Professor, in the Department of English and Related Literature at the University of York, and from July will become the Director of the Centre for Medieval Studies.