The dominance of religion in Oxford persisted through to the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with Benjamin Jowett, a Master of Balliol college, warning one nineteenth century atheist that he would be sent down if he did not believe in God by the following morning. The popular image of Oxford students dates back largely to the Edwardian era when the social life of titled and privileged young men featured in a number of popular novels, notably 'Brideshead Revisited'. Although the antics of a privileged minority attract the attention of the tabloid press, undergraduate life today is not, in general, one long round of wild parties, drink and drugs - although the cheap college bars ensure that 'getting drunk' remains popular. A waste paper basket outside the door is the usual sign to a scout that the occupant of a room does not wish to be disturbed. Incidentally, Oxford is generally considered to be the most under-sexed university in the country.
Nothing is private in the close confines of college.
It is also true that Oxford remains a very religious university, with the Inter-Collegiate Christian Union, a large and active body. The rousing evangelical sermons at St Aldate's always draw large congregations, but all tastes are catered for, and there is generally a good turnout for the annual sermon on 'Pride' at the University Church which is incomprehensible to most since it is preached in Latin. The same outfit is required for examinations, taken at the purpose-built Examination Schools in the High Street. Candidates are reputed to be able to send for cakes and ale as sustenance, but such requests are usually turned down on the grounds that the candidate is improperly dressed - lacking details such as shoes with buckles or a dress sword. It is not unusual for students to be warned that the hue of their suit is too light for regulations.