Editing University of Oxford (section)

== Student life ==

=== Traditions ===
{{See also|Academic dress of the University of Oxford}}
[[File:Toby Virno sub fusc.JPG|thumb|upright|An undergraduate student at the University of Oxford in [[subfusc]] for matriculation]]

[[Academic dress]] is required for examinations, matriculation, disciplinary hearings, and when visiting university officers. A referendum held among the Oxford student body in 2015 showed 76% against making it voluntary in examinations – 8,671 students voted, with the 40.2% turnout the highest ever for a UK student union referendum.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Doody and Robinson|title=Students vote overwhelmingly to retain subfusc|url=http://www.cherwell.org/news/topstories/2015/05/22/students-vote-overwhelmingly-to-retain-subfusc|website=Cherwell|date=22 May 2015|publisher=OSPL|access-date=22 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523132145/http://www.cherwell.org/news/topstories/2015/05/22/students-vote-overwhelmingly-to-retain-subfusc|archive-date=23 May 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> This was widely interpreted by students as being a vote not so much on making [[subfusc]] voluntary, but rather, in effect, on abolishing it by default, in that if a minority of people came to exams without subfusc, the rest would soon follow.<ref>See, for instance, {{cite web|url=http://oxfordstudent.com/ht2006wk1/News/end_of_an_era%3A_subfusc_could_be_sent_down |title=End of an era: subfusc could be sent down – oxfordstudent.com |access-date=27 March 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060308222153/http://oxfordstudent.com/ht2006wk1/News/end_of_an_era%3A_subfusc_could_be_sent_down |archive-date=8 March 2006 }}</ref> In July 2012 the regulations regarding academic dress were modified to be more inclusive to [[transgender]] people.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.govtoday.co.uk/education/40-higher-education/12099-support-for-transgender-students-taking-oxford-university-exams |title=Support for transgender students taking Oxford University exams |access-date=29 July 2012 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910005933/http://www.govtoday.co.uk/education/40-higher-education/12099-support-for-transgender-students-taking-oxford-university-exams |archive-date=10 September 2012 }}</ref>

'Trashing' is a tradition of spraying those who just finished their last examination of the year with alcohol, flour and confetti. The sprayed student stays in the academic dress worn to the exam. The custom began in the 1970s when friends of students taking their finals waited outside Oxford's [[Examination Schools]] where exams for most degrees are taken.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clement |first=Mia |date=14 May 2021 |title=Who are we really trashing? |url=https://www.cherwell.org/2021/05/14/who-are-we-really-trashing/ |access-date=18 April 2023 |website=Cherwell |language=en-GB |archive-date=18 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418141730/https://www.cherwell.org/2021/05/14/who-are-we-really-trashing/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Other traditions and customs vary by college. For example, some colleges have [[formal hall]] six times a week, but in others this only happens occasionally, or even not at all. ''Balls'' are major events held by colleges; the largest, held triennially in ninth week of Trinity Term, are called [[commemoration ball]]s; the dress code is usually [[white tie]]. Many other colleges hold smaller events during the year that they call summer balls or parties. <!-- Ought here to explain Matriculation, make reference to [[May Morning]], and briefly mention Merton's time ceremony, Corpus' tortoise race, etc -->

=== Clubs and societies ===
{{See also|Category:Clubs and societies of the University of Oxford}}
[[File:UnionBuildingsDebateChamber.jpg|thumb|The [[Oxford Union]]'s debating chamber]]
[[File:Eights 2005.JPG|thumb|Rowing at [[Eights Week]], an annual intercollegiate [[bumps race]]]]
The [[Oxford Union]] (not to be confused with the [[Oxford University Student Union]]) is an independent debating society which hosts weekly debates and high-profile speakers. Party political groups include [[Oxford University Conservative Association]] and [[Oxford University Labour Club]]. Most academic areas have student societies of some form, for example the [[Oxford University Scientific Society|Scientific Society]].

There are two weekly student newspapers: the independent ''[[Cherwell (newspaper)|Cherwell]]'' and OUSU's ''[[The Oxford Student]]''. Other publications include the [[Isis magazine|''Isis'' magazine]], the satirical ''[[The Oxymoron|Oxymoron]]'', the graduate ''[[The Oxonian Review of Books|Oxonian Review]]'', the ''Oxford Political Review'',<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/article/call-for-submissions | title=Call for submissions | access-date=7 October 2022 | archive-date=7 October 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007085440/https://www.socsci.ox.ac.uk/article/call-for-submissions | url-status=live }}</ref> and the online only newspaper ''The Oxford Blue''. The [[Campus radio|student radio]] station is [[Oxide Radio]].

Sport is played between college teams, in tournaments known as [[cuppers]] (the term is also used for some non-sporting competitions). In particular, much attention is given to the termly intercollegiate rowing regattas: Christ Church Regatta, [[Torpids]], and [[Summer Eights]]. In addition, there are higher standard [[:Category:Oxford student sports clubs|university wide teams]]. Significant focus is given to annual [[List of British and Irish varsity matches|varsity]] matches played against Cambridge, the most famous of which is [[The Boat Race]], watched by a TV audience of between five and ten million viewers. A [[Blue (university sport)|blue]] is an award given to those who compete at the university team level in certain sports.

Music, drama, and other arts societies exist both at the collegiate level and as university-wide groups, such as the [[Oxford University Dramatic Society]] and the [[Oxford Revue]]. Most colleges have chapel choirs. The Oxford Imps, a comedy improvisation troupe, perform weekly at The Jericho Tavern during term time.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oxfordimps.com/shows |title=Shows and Workshops |publisher=The Oxford Imps |access-date=9 October 2023 |archive-date=15 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015104737/https://www.oxfordimps.com/shows |url-status=live }}</ref>

Private members' clubs for students include [[Vincent's Club]] (primarily for sportspeople)<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 December 2009 |title='Once a member, always a member' |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4789606.once-member-always-member/ |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=Oxford Mail |language=en |archive-date=14 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240614141839/https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/4789606.once-member-always-member/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[The Gridiron Club (Oxford University)|The Gridiron Club]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=27 August 2017 |title=A GQ student guide to Oxford University |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/insiders-guide-to-oxford-university |access-date=27 October 2023 |website=British GQ |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231006171353/https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/insiders-guide-to-oxford-university |url-status=live }}</ref> A number of invitation-only student [[List of University of Oxford dining clubs|dining clubs]] also exist, including the [[Bullingdon Club]].

=== Student union and common rooms ===

The [[Oxford University Student Union]], formerly better known by its acronym OUSU and now rebranded as Oxford SU,<ref name="OxfordSU">{{cite news |url=http://cherwell.org/2017/08/17/dnp-ousu-is-dead-long-live-the-oxford-su/ |title="Oxford SU" to replace OUSU brand |work=[[Cherwell (newspaper)|Cherwell]] |date=17 August 2017 |access-date=26 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026222839/http://cherwell.org/2017/08/17/dnp-ousu-is-dead-long-live-the-oxford-su/ |archive-date=26 October 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> exists to represent students in the university's decision-making, to act as the voice for students in the national higher education policy debate, and to provide direct services to the student body. Reflecting the collegiate nature of the University of Oxford itself, OUSU is both an association of Oxford's more than 21,000 individual students and a federation of the affiliated college common rooms, and other affiliated organisations that represent subsets of the undergraduate and graduate students.

The importance of collegiate life is such that for many students their college JCR (Junior Common Room, for undergraduates) or MCR (Middle Common Room, for graduates) is seen as more important than OUSU. JCRs and MCRs each have a committee, with a president and other elected students representing their peers to college authorities. Additionally, they organise events and often have significant budgets to spend as they wish (money coming from their colleges and sometimes other sources such as student-run bars).