The Bright Blue Freshers Guide can be found by clicking here.
When I e-mailed George Owers, President of Cambridge Universities Labour Club, this summer to ask if he would contribute to our Freshers’ Guide, I explained my purposes in including plugs for rival political societies to him. Student politics suffers from a reputation for cattiness, partisanship, nitpicking and two-way snobbery. One of my aims in editing the “Bright Blue Freshers’ Guide”, was to attempt to break down this stereotype by showing that in reality rival student political groups are more interested in mature debate than tribal mudslinging. It appears that Mr Owers has a rather different agenda.
Another purpose of the Guide was, quite simply, to provide useful information in an entertaining manner. The official freshers’ guide is excellent but rather dry. In direct opposition to Mr Owers’ charges of exclusive ‘elitism’, if he had read the formal wear and money-saving tips he ought to have noticed that the point of these sections was to make traditional, mythological aspects of Cambridge life more accessible to students of all backgrounds.
Cultural attacks are a silly distraction from debate about policy and ideology. Dressing up is fun. Eating and drinking nice things is also fun. So when Mr Owers criticises CUCA for recommending these activities, I wonder whether it’s because he disapproves of students having fun whatsoever, or because he disapproves of their doing things he happens not to enjoy himself.
Students are learners. We do not know very much about the world yet. That’s why I believe “student politics” should be about listening, not shouting – hence CUCA’s many socials. Mr Owers’ unjustified vehemence does great damage to the outside appearance of student politics, and deters more students from getting involved in any political societies, including the Labour club.
It saddens me that CUCA has begun the term with an attempt to break down barriers while the Labour Club President seems determined to re-imagine them as quickly and forcefully as possible. What is worse, I should imagine that Mr Owers’ objections had not even occurred to most of the BBFG’s readership, but that now they will look again for traces of supposed exclusivity, and a bad taste will be left in their mouth. Well, they can wash it out with some free Gin and Tonic at Caius’ Bateman Room at 8pm on Friday the 9th, or very cheaply at our Port and Cheese parties with some yummy tawny.
CULC’s beer and sandwiches parties cost the exactly same as CUCA’s port and cheese parties. Maybe that’s why no one goes to the CULC version. He’s just angry that CUCA is so much better value for money.
Indeed, it’s disheartening to believe that someone would make such a personal (and untrue) attack on fellow students in order make a century-old class-war political point.
Also, surely true elitism would expect one to fork out for Dom rather than Prosecco (currently only £5 in sainsbury’s), and would assume that men already knew how to tie a bow tie?
“While Samantha Cameron wore a £65 dress from Marks & Spencer, Sarah Brown wore a £600 Erdem dress and £350 Jimmy Choos. In the context of a global recession where ordinary working people are losing their jobs and homes, Labour are clearly most interested in flaunting their wealth and privilege. She should not parade an outfit that costs more than many British workers make in a month. Frankly it makes me sick.”
Absolute rubbish. If you put out leaflets saying “Save water, Drink Champagne” you deserve all the abuse you get.
I also can’t believe that David Cameron was that happy with you criticisms of his behaviour at conference that appeared in the Daily Mail.
You need to decide if you are a social club or a political party before the National Conservative party disowns you.
We’re certainly not a political party. And the Daily Mail seriously misquoted me, but I don’t think this story merits any more attention so I’m not writing in to complain. I have as much right to criticise Mr Cameron as any other party member, although I’m certainly not petty enough to criticise him for receiving a free drink. I meant to criticise him for telling his MPs not to drink champagne, but have since discovered that that was Eric Pickles’ bad idea, not Cameron’s. Apologies.
“Save Water, Drink Champagne” is so obviously absurd that no-one accepted into Cambridge could possibly take it to be actual advice. Apparently it was too catchy, though…
Your lot will be first to be hung when the revolution comes, Hugh.