Many people would think that having a degree conferred by England's Oxford university on their CV would be a mark of excellence. Oxford is supposed to be one of the great universities of the world but it seems that the leisure time activities of it's students is raising intellectual eyebrows !
Oxford has a " Drinking Society " and one of it's many colleges has organized a " Fox Hunt ". St Hugh's College - which was founded in 1886 - and has a star studded alumni which includes Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi - is the sponsor for this event. Were it to be held here in Australia, it would probably be labelled a " pub crawl ".
The idea is for the men to dress in the traditional red hunting jackets and the girls to wear very short skirts and sport " Fox ears ". The " hunt " takes place through the streets of Oxford and the " Foxes " are required to visit each of ten nominated pubs - and they must consume a nominated drink in every such establishment.
The purpose of the hunt is for the Foxes to avoid the hunters and use their wiles to safely reach each pub and consume the nominated drink while avoiding being caught and " mauled " by the hunters.
So far it has created a bad press and raised the ire of those with a " traditionalist " turn of mind. It is likely that this event will be " frowned upon " by the university elders, but it seems to be enthusiastically accepted by most of the student body. There seems no shortage of entrants of either gender.
It is said that imitation is the greatest accolade of a worthy new idea and it remains to be seen if this event will become a feature of student life at Universities here in Australia.
Our farmers got saddled with foxes causing stock depredation when some early settler imported foxes from the old country with the aim of establishing fox hunting in the Antipodes. It never caught on - and consequently we have been spared the sight of horses and hounds following this very English pastime here.
The "human " aspect of this hunt is entirely different. No doubt the report of this activity from Oxford will be given due consideration by Australian students !
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