Oxonian Society

The Oxonian Society was founded in 2001 in New York by "Joseph Pascal of Long Island, who received his M.B.A. at Oxford; English-born Louise Bagshawe, who earned her undergraduate degree at Oxford and is a New York-based writer (her Web site says her latest book, Sparkles, is a 'sweeping Kane and Abel-esque novel set in Paris, Chicago, London, L.A., and Communist-era Russia - there are even some scenes in Finland and Estonia!'), and fellow Oxford graduate Princess Badiya el Hassan of Jordan. The club is loosely modeled on the Oxford Union, a private debate club at Oxford University that is known for its theatrical stodginess and swarming with aspiring members of Parliament. Membership to the Oxonian Society costs $100, and a bit less if you've already ponied up $15 for [a] mixer," Lauren Mechling wrote in the September 28, 2005, New York Sun. [1]

The Oxonian Society is not "legally connected in any way with Oxford University itself" or "connected with any other alumni societies of Oxford or its colleges, but is completely independent." [2]

The Society is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit organization "dedicated to provocative discussion and debate about important topics of the day -- in the tradition of the Oxford Union and other great educational institutions of the world. The Society is open to all who share the desire to continue the stimulating, intellectual, educational, and cultural environment fostered at Oxford and the world's other great universities. Speakers and presenters include leading government, political, cultural, business, military, and religious leaders," according to the organization's website.

Oxonian Membership

Lloyd Grove wrote in the September 22, 2005, New York Daily News: "Oxford circus: The Oxonian Society - to whom Sharon Stone will speak in November - wants you to know that it is not, repeat, not, restricted to Oxford University grads, or even folks who wear oxford shoes. 'It is open to anyone, nonelitist, and is made of Ivy League, Oxford, Cambridge, Stanford, MIT and anyone from the public,' Oxonian president Joseph Pascal E-mailed me yesterday."

• Madeleine Albright, Former U.S. Secretary of State
• Ralph Fiennes, Actor, played in English Patient, Schlinder's List, Constant Gardner, and Harry Potter.
• Roger Moore, Actor, played the James Bond character
• Oliver Stone, Won three Oscars, director of Wall Street, Born on the Fourth of July, Platoon, JFK, Nixon, The Doors, World Trade Center
• Mia Farrow, Film and stage actor
• William S. Cohen, Former U.S. Senator and Secretary of Defense under Bill Clinton
• Peter Pace, Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Honorary Board

• Her Royal Highness Princess Badiya el Hassan of Jordan, Patron
• Joseph Pascal, Chairman, President and Co-founder
• Margaret Chai Maloney, Hon. Secretary
• Louise Bagshawe, President Emerita and Co-founder
• The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
• Sir Howard Stringer, Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation
• General (ret.) Pete Dawkins
• R. James Woolsey, Jr., former Director of the CIA
• Sean Maloney, Intel Corporation

Governing Committee

• Mykolas Rambus, CIO, W. P. Carey & Co. LLC [3]

Contact Information

Website: http://www.oxoniansociety.com/

External links

• "Unknown Author", "An Oxonian in N.Y.," The Oxford Student, November 22, 2001: "To fill this gap, and to ensure that my Oxford-related social life is more than the entertaining email string I am now on, myself and many distinguished Oxford graduates founded the Oxonian Society for members of the university living in North America; non-members of the University can still join as Friends, and attend events, but not vote. We are putting on speaker meetings, private tours of museums and film screenings in New York. Coming up for the new year we have a pretty decent termcard; dinners, cocktail parties, and speaker meetings from Queen Noor of Jordan, William Hague, Gordon Brown, Senior White House Adviser, Earl Spencer, and, as the infomercials say, many more."
• "The Stump. Draft Dodging," The New Yorker, September 8, 2003 (posted); September 15, 2003 (issue).
• Katherine Lim, "Sex and the Union," The Oxford Student, February 26, 2004.
• Jessica Bruder, "Oxford Uproar," New York Observer (limelike.com), June 6, 2005.
• Elle Perry, "Oxonian Society not exclusively Oxonians," Cherwell Online, June 10, 2005.
• Lauren Mechling, "Oxonian: For Princesses, Politicos, Perhaps Oxford Grads," New York Sun, September 28, 2005.
• Sarah Baxter, "Oxford socialite linked to Iraq propaganda row," Times Online (UK), December 11, 2005. re Christian Bailey.