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An Oxford college has had to issue a swift apology after an invitation to the college society dinner seemed to imply that only men were welcome.

On 27 July, Jamie Dundas, president of the New College Society, invited ¡°old members¡± to its annual general meeting and London dinner, to be held in November.

This is due to take place at the Savile Club, celebrated for ¡°its informality and friendliness¡±, the literary greats who used to be members and a ¡°spectacular ballroom¡­in Louis XVI style¡±. Yet its current membership is men-only, and the dress code for the event was given as ¡°collared shirt and jacket (ties are not mandatory)¡±.

The following day, Jonathan Rubery, communications and events manager at New College, sent a hasty follow-up message, seen by Times Higher Education, ¡°apologis[ing] because the tone of the [earlier] email implied that women were not welcome at this event¡± and "regret[ting] any disappointment caused by the venue choice¡±.

¡°Old members¡± were therefore assured that ¡°the intention was certainly not to exclude anyone¡±, that ¡°women are welcome to attend¡± ¨C and that the dress code should have been described as ¡°lounge suits¡±.

New College elected its first female fellow in 1974, and the first female undergraduates were admitted in 1979, according to the college¡¯s website.?

matthew.reisz@tesglobal.com