The Sheepshagger
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The Sheepshagger is a termly low-budget gossip rag produced by undergraduates at Jesus College, Oxford. It is of intentionally dubious quality and veracity, and is traditionally produced in one night before publication on the last Friday of term. The title of the magazine refers to the perceived status of Jesus College as the Welsh College, and negative stereotypes associated with the Welsh.
It was founded in 1988 by second year undergraduates Julian Fletcher (who continued to be a contributing editor until 1993) and Julian Smith. This was in response to the closure of the previous gossip rag, The Gospel Truth, by its founder and editor Claire Middleton on her departure from college.
It is traditionally published by a team of second-year undergraduates, who in turn nominate a team in the following year. The identity of the editors tends to be an open secret (and for the past decade has been freely acknowledged) in order that students can submit gossip concerning their colleagues. The current editors include Thomas Chambers, Stephen Jenkins, James Warner and Paolo Wyatt. The subject matter largely concerns the various faux pas of members of the student body during the preceding term, often parodying current news stories or features in the mainstream media. Although an appearance in the Sheepshagger is usually the result of an embarrassing incident, there is a certain notoriety attached to such an appearance.
Popular rumour holds that there is a complete archive of editions stretching back many years in the College library; given the number of politicians Jesus has produced, this archive of youthful indiscretions is very valuable. Ffion Hague is known to have appeared in at least one edition.
Old covers of the Shagger adorned the walls in the old College bar, before the bar was moved to its present location. A few remain on display, although less prominently.
