Oxford Rugby Team Forced to Attend “Cultural Diversity” Seminar

Wow. Wouldn’t it be hi-larious if you played for Oxford University’s under-21 rugby team and went to a society dinner dressed as a Hasidic Jew with a bag full of monopoly money? One student did. In fact by all accounts, so did the entire first 15.

Billed in mid-November this year as a “bring a fit Jew party”, the event was just one of a number of shindigs organised by the U21 team, that have elsewhere included a “Safari Bop,” in which attendees blacked up like Al Jolson. Whatever next, eh? A bar mitzvah ceremony sponsored by Pork Farms? Just thank your lucky stars Prince Harry wasn’t invited in on their fancy dress shenanigans.

Yesterday, following an investigation by the university’s administration, the team were ordered to attend a “cultural diversity” lecture as punishment for the gaffe. Rumours that academics at the School of Geographical Sciences are taking time out from their essay marking schedules to petition for full suspensions remain unconfirmed, however.

In a statement given afterwards, Oxford skipper, Phil Boon, was reserved about the debacle: “I can understand why it might have offended some people, but it would have been an awesome social.”

News of the seminar was broadcast far and wide. Girls were invited, even Jewish ones. Unfortunately, members of Oxford’s Student Union council weren’t up for the gig, suggesting the rugby team might have been better advised to run a “bring a fit girl party” instead. 

Their advice fell on cauliflower ears though, and the affair hasn’t done much to help Oxford University escape its reputation for naughtiness. End of term frolics and May Day diving aside, the pub-smashing malarkey of its most infamous “dining” society, The Bullingdon Club, has also drawn fire in recent years.

In 2004 four of its members (that have previously included Tory big-wigs David Cameron and Boris Johnson) were arrested after a ruckus broke out at a 15^th Century pub near Oxford. Naturally the owner was reimbursed for any damage…

Still, the university can’t be held entirely responsible for the misdeeds of a handful of its students. Sending the lads to face the wrath of a greying sociology lecturer hardly seems fair though – shouldn’t the crime fit the punishment?

Posted by Huw Nesbitt in Other | December 14, 2008 4:07PM |