Dreaming Spires

October 31, 2021 – It’s been an amazing first month in Oxford. There’s so much to report on I may have to split it between two posts! Here are some highlights of the past few weeks.

The university’s stunning architecture looms over you while walking around the city. Nowhere is more iconic than the Radcliffe Camera, perhaps the most recognizable of the Bodlein Libraries. Opened in 1749, many describe it as the most magnificent structure in all of Oxford.

Another one of my favorite places in Oxford is the Oxford Union (different from the Oxford University Student Union). The Union is a private debating society whose membership is mostly drawn from the University. Since it is an independent entity from Oxford University, it has a lot of freedom regarding what topics can be discussed and what speakers can be invited. The Union has hosted many high-profile speakers, including Richard Nixon’s first public appearance after his resignation and O. J. Simpson’s first speaking engagement following his trial. Other notable speakers throughout the Union’s nearly two-decade history include Bill Clinton, Mother Teresa, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, Jon Stewart, Albert Einstein, Winston Churchill, and Benazir Bhutto (herself a former President of the Oxford Union). Every Thursday during term time, the Union hosts a debate where students and experts speak for or against the motion before the house. At the end of debate, members vote on the given motion by walking through doors labeled “Ayes” or “Noes”.

I’ve also started rowing for the St. Antony’s College Boat Club, an activity I quite enjoy. The river is such a beautiful place in the evenings when the sun begins to set. Rowing is also something that pulls me away from doing work, allowing me to focus on something else, even if it is just for an hour or two.

Another post to follow shortly! Thanks for reading!

-Matt