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Oxford or Cambridge - Which is a more conservative university?

Vazzyb

as in...the political party or not? I dont mean the political party as such, no

If you meant Conservative Party, I'd have agreed, as OUCA is so large. However I wouldn't think of Oxford as more right-wing politically. Perhaps it's more conservative in the way it works, with congregation being a prime example, though I assume that wasn't what you meant by this either?

They're both more similar than different, politically and stylistically, though. They both elect Lib Dems by a large margin, they both focus on academics above all else (though more at Cambridge than Oxford, in my experience), they're both cumbersome, ancient organisations and they both have a lot (relative to other universities) of posh, rich and right-wing students.

Reply 21

Drogue

19

u_dun_noe

Bullingdon Club speaks for itself.

And the Pitt Club doesn't? The Bullingdon club has less than 10 members, so probably isn't a great barometer.

Reply 22

u_dun_noe

2

Drogue

And the Pitt Club doesn't? The Bullingdon club has less than 10 members, so probably isn't a great barometer.

Fair doos.
But it does amaze me that we see two of the Bullingdon members sitting next to each other, on comfortable green leather seats every Wednesday, trying to be the next leaders of this country.

But I would admit, it isn't a great barometer. It's just my opinion that Oxford's more Conservative than Cambridge.

Reply 23

Picnic1

19

Drogue

they both have a lot (relative to other universities) of posh, rich and right-wing students.

Do they really or is it a myth? EVERY student that I saw at both places looked like they didn't have 2 ha'pennies to rub together or were happy to wear clothes that were moderately fashionable 3 years ago. At Cambridge, the done thing is to invest in the most tatty looking bicycle. There certainly wasn't a sense that most were especially posh - maybe they were hiding it too well?

At Durham, by comparison, there seems to be more Jack Wills types as well as students, especially girls, who dress in tasteful expensive looking clothes. They are not ashamed to look a bit posh. This certainly doesn't seem to be as evident at Oxbridge.

Reply 24

BJack

19

Picnic1

Do they really or is it a myth?

Yes, they really do.

EVERY student that I saw at both places looked like they didn't have 2 ha'pennies to rub together or were happy to look like they were clothes that were moderately fashionable 3 years ago. At Cambridge, the done thing is to invest in the most tatty looking bicycle. There certainly wasn't a sense that most were especially posh - maybe they were hiding it too well?

You can't really judge how posh people are by how fashion-conscious they are or how old their bike is.

At Durham, by comparison, there seems to be more Jack Wils types as well as students, especially girls, who dress in tasteful expensive looking clothes. They are not ashamed to look a bit posh. This certainly doesn't seem to be as evident at Oxbridge.

Jack Wills isn't posh.

Reply 25

Chibelta

10

Copacetic

It's a stupid question and could only really be answered by carrying out an extensive survey of all the students. Up until that point the answers are based on guesswork

Isn't that apparent of every discussion/opinion thread on TSR? Obviously quite a lot of things can be sought out and answered if there are proper ways of researching them, like this discussion.

Surely the OP could just have been interested in finding out what a few teenagers think...? I'm sure he knows that there are others ways to find answers.

Reply 26

Drogue

19

Picnic1

Do they really or is it a myth? EVERY student that I saw at both places looked like they didn't have 2 ha'pennies to rub together or were happy to wear clothes that were moderately fashionable 3 years ago. At Cambridge, the done thing is to invest in the most tatty looking bicycle. There certainly wasn't a sense that most were especially posh - maybe they were hiding it too well?

At Durham, by comparison, there seems to be more Jack Wills types as well as students, especially girls, who dress in tasteful expensive looking clothes. They are not ashamed to look a bit posh. This certainly doesn't seem to be as evident at Oxbridge.

Relative to other universities, I'd say so. Oxford University Conservative Association is the biggest student political organisation in Europe, as an example. Tatty bicycles don't get stolen in a city where bicycle theft is prevalent, and Oxford has a pretty well used Jack Wills shop, too. Though I've never been to Durham, so may be mistaken in that comparison, but base my comparison more on the 10-20 universities I've some experience of.

Reply 27

Craghyrax

17

Well Cambridge certainly has too many tories, but I wouldn't know if Oxford were any better.

Reply 28

7589200

OP

18

Thanks for voting everyone :smile:

Reply 29

hobnob

14

Over 43% voted for the 'whatever'-option - not exactly a very clear outcome, is it? :dontknow:

OP

lol, no - it isn't.

hobnob

Over 43% voted for the 'whatever'-option - not exactly a very clear outcome, is it? :dontknow:

It's somewhat ironic that the majority of people who voted stated that they weren't voting.

Reply 32

Teebs

16

phalanges

It's somewhat ironic that the majority of people who voted stated that they weren't voting.

43% would be a plurality, not a majority :p:

Reply 33

Phalanges

18

Teebs

43% would be a plurality, not a majority :p:

Damn fancy words making me look bad. :huff:

Reply 34

Mook

9

Wow, something that happened 800 odd years ago ... I bet that really has an impact on the current student body.

In all seriousness, anyone who tries to definitively answer this kind of question isn't going to get anywhere. As has already been pointed out, what is seen as 'conservative' by some doesn't necessarily apply universally, and just because a college or group is outwardly 'conservative' in some respects that does not mean it is in others.
E.g. I go to a stereotypically 'conservative' Oxford college but in reality this just means we have formal hall more often than some, get our money's worth out of silly gowns and indulge in a couple of light-hearted (if rather odd) traditions. Politically/socially the current study body is by no means Conservative/conservative, and in fact being the former will earn you a hefty amount of (generally) jovial stick.

So basically this is another pointless thread that's just going to wind people up. Well done.

(edited 2 years ago)

Reply 35

Teebs

16

Mook

Snip.

One which was very pleasantly fading away too, until 24 minutes ago.

Reply 36

Mook

9

Teebs

One which was very pleasantly fading away too, until 24 minutes ago.

Oh ****. Sorry :facepalm:

I'm normally OK at checking posting dates.

Reply 37

7589200

OP

18

oxford west....conservative?
cambridge...liberal democrats?

ah.

Reply 38

hobnob

14

Vazzyb

oxford west....conservative?
cambridge...liberal democrats?

ah.

Sorry for being a bit thick, but what exactly is the point you're trying to make there? :confused:

Reply 39

Drogue

19

Vazzyb

oxford west....conservative?
cambridge...liberal democrats?

ah.

Most of the university is in Oxford East, which is Labour, not Oxford West. Oxford West happens to be mostly a very wealthy suburban area.

Moreover, this is an issue of silly electoral boundares: Oxford has two seats, one Tory and one Labour. Yet if you look at Oxford as a whole, more people voted Lib Dem than either those two. Lib Dems came a close second in both seats, whereas the Tories had very few votes in Oxford East (where the university is) and Labour had very few votes in Oxford West.

All your comment shows is that you like talking about things you don't know quite enough about to draw the correct conclusion :wink:

Oxford or Cambridge - Which is a more conservative university?

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