[HDNG]INTRODUCTION:[EHDNG][PARA][BULL] The College is part of University of Oxford and students are [PARA]entitled to use its facilities.[EBOLD][PARA]Oriel students are the kings of the river. They've got 20 years as [PARA]rowing champs under their belt already. [ITAL] Students like to be flat [PARA]out on the river and sports field or letting off steam afterwards in [PARA]the bar, which is one of the liveliest in Oxford (but unwelcoming [PARA]to non-Oriel students). They work hard as well as play hard.[EITAL] One[PARA]of the oldest and smallest Colleges, Oriel is 300 yards from [PARA]Carfax and [ITAL]despite the popular stereotype, it's no more of a [PARA]public school stronghold than the rest of Oxford. Its quiet and [PARA]closed quads and tight, friendly communal spirit can be [PARA]suffocating. If students need to escape, they get into University [PARA]level activities[EITAL]. Oriel only went mixed in 1985 and [ITAL]is still getting [PARA]used to it.[EITAL] There is an [ITAL]excellent [EITAL]choir (which has produced a CD)[PARA]and a [ITAL]famed [EITAL]drama society.[PARA][PARA]Outdoor summer Shakespeare extravaganza; student bands and[PARA]bops in the bar (cap 160); regular cabaret; ball every 3 years. [ITAL][PARA]Political debating society thrives[EITAL] and attracts big names; various [PARA]news sheets and College mags; library (100,000 books); Anglican[PARA]chapel. 61/2 acres of playing fields 1 mile off site; ideally [PARA]positioned for the river. All 1st and 2nd years live in, 2/3 of [PARA]finalists; students eat in the dining hall; [ITAL]moderate [EITAL]food. Nurse. [PARA]Scholarships, book and travel grants and lots of prizes.[HDNG]FAMOUS ALUMNI:[EHDNG][PARA]Beau Brummel (dandy); Cardinal Newman; Sir Walter Raleigh; [PARA]Cecil Rhodes ([ITAL]dodgy[EITAL] imperialist).
