Oxford Union alumni will descend on city to try to oust president-elect

[BonfireLady]

Well, that's quite a turn up for the free speech books!

When the president-elect of the Oxford Union debating society hit the headlines with his awful celebration of a violent assassination, I hoped that he would be declared unfit to run it. Yes, I support free speech, including the right to offend. However, he is president-elect of a debating society and is simply not fit for the role if he's advocating assassination in place of debate. Charlie Kirk was killed while debating. Specifically while answering a question about trans(-identifying) people, by a young man who is/was in a romantic relationship with a (transwo)man.

It seems like this university is waking up to the idea that critical thinking is a good thing. Please keep thinking Oxford Union...... 🤞

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/10/14/oxford-union-alumni-descend-city-oust-president-elect/

He's written quite a lengthy statement and this was included:

When a national columnist explicitly calls for you to be shot, and your family receives threats, it creates an environment where reasoned debate cannot exist.

Obviously it's appalling that his family received threats but which national columnist explicitly called for him to be shot? Does anyone know? That sounds rather far-fetched and I would hope that this isn't what happened.

Edited for clarity.

... and uncategorically deny.

Perhaps Freudian slips...😂😂😂

The use of equivocally made me laugh too

However, I've only heard about these things secondhand. I don't know where people are getting this information.

My (very humble & personal) opinion is that Oxford & Cambridge have had their day. My eldest did A levels last year - 3 of their friends went to the effort of getting Oxbridge offers and turned them down in favour of Edinburgh, St Andrews & Durham. Their main points of view were that courses on offer weren’t at the standard of the unis they chose, they wanted a more full uni experience (8 week terms just seem a waste) and they felt, when visiting, that there were too many students who weren’t in touch with any semblance of the real world. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out over they next few years…

The image of the statement I posted was from George's Instagram account. The account seemed genuine.

And ties with quotes reported in the Cherwell.

From his LinkedIn. Also seems genuine. Spot the SPAG errors.

The use of equivocally made me laugh too

To be fair, it was honest of him to describe his statements as equivocal.

@Blinkingbother don't think anyone should accept Oxbridge just because they got in. And I agree r.e. 8 week terms.

That said Edinburgh, Durham and St. Andrew's are notorious for class and regional snobbery. Edinburgh has been in the news quite a bit.

It was one of the reasons I picked Oxford TBF (and tutorial system). Long time ago but I had a couple of friends elsewhere who dropped out as so unhappy socially.

Probably if I could go back in time though I'd apply to American universities as even as an international student there's full scholarships.

To be as fair as possible, I’m wondering if he’s dyslexic. That would explain the sub standard offer, the awful spelling and the inability to proof read.

That said, he’s really coming across as incredibly self centred. No comprehension of why Oxford alumni might be furious about what he’s doing to their University’s reputation. No understanding that he might be affecting other students job prospects. The ‘precocious but no staying power’ kind of student.

Nowadays with dyslexia you would use one of many readily available spell checkers surely? Or AI?

I am in Yorkshire and with very few exceptions the kids with A star predictions I know aren’t applying to Oxbridge, which they perceive as snobbish and anti-northern, they are applying to northern universities particularly Durham. (I find it a bit strange they are choosing Durham on that basis but whatever.)

Even if he's dyslexic, he should be clever enough to realise that means he should get someone else to proofread his public statements!

@SundayAfternoonTea thank you

My best friend is dyslexic - this prompted me to look up how long spellchecking software has been in use. It seems Microsoft Word has had it since 1995.

I think what's more likely is that for a long time now, schools haven't particularly cared about SPAG. I did my postgrad more than 20 years ago and was advised to avoid top line punctuation in the exams. My tutor felt that there was a very high risk that those marking papers would be unaware of correct usage themselves.

(To be honest, my experience of doing a post grad was horrendous. Fortunately, I did it in evening classes so it didn't interfere with full-time earning).

I frequently see errors from CEOs and the like.

You may have a point here, lot of academically able children do not want to apply to oxbridge. Main reason is that they want a full university and Oxbridge does not provide this experience.

If you are a POC, London universities are the preferred ones.

I think what's more likely is that for a long time now, schools haven't particularly cared about SPAG. I did my postgrad more than 20 years ago and was advised to avoid top line punctuation in the exams. My tutor felt that there was a very high risk that those marking papers would be unaware of correct usage themselves.

Literacy is deteriorating across the board, it's certainly not an Oxbridge specific issue.

https://substack.com/home/post/p-173338158

'in late 2024 the OECD published a report which found that literacy levels were “declining or stagnating” in most developed countries'

https://www.oecd.org/en/about/news/press-releases/2024/12/adult-skills-in-literacy-and-numeracy-declining-or-stagnating-in-most-oecd-countries.html

'As literacy proficiency has declined more strongly among men than women, gender gaps have narrowed in many countries. On the other hand, men continue to outperform women in numeracy and adaptive problem solving. '

I'm so illiterate that I have no idea what 'top line punctuation' is, never mind why I shouldn't do it.

He is a bit Trumpish.

When are they likely to announce the results of the appeal? It doesn't seem like he is going to stand down without as much fuss as possible.

Maybe it fits his iconoclastic plan. He could put it on linkedin.

Though as pp says, he has more to lose than some of the others egging him on.

I teach first years in HE at a small, not high-ranking university. Both my children are dyslexic and I know how hard they have had to work to overcome it, so I have a lot of sympathy for students with dyslexia and provide lots of support for them.
None of my dyslexic students would think that written communication of that poor quality was acceptable in any circumstances. As pp have mentioned, there are many ways nowadays to ensure that writing is of an acceptable standard.

I work in publishing and I have no idea either. Whatever it is, I'm probably doing it when I shouldn't, or not doing it when I should.

He just ran for it to subvert it anyway.

Text from his friend (about running for the presidency)

"If you hate it then you should run for it"

Abaraonye:

"real lol that's what I did"

If you hate it then you should run for it

If that doesn't encapsulate what's wrong with the left.... 😳

Maugham does know how to pick them.