Issue 724/ 9 Nov 2021 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 724 9 NOV 2021 exepose.com @Exepose

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“We are far from perfect”: Cardens responds to housing criticism

Rees-Mogg “proud” of our colonial past, applauded by audience at EUCA event Megan Ballantyne News Editor

M Image: Geograph

Cassia Grace Deputy Editor

ARDENS estate agents have received persistent criticism for poor management of their rented student properties, with several students coming forward with their accounts. Exeposé spoke to students about their experiences with Cardens, all of which have asked to remain anonymous. Frequent criticism seemed to be the alleged poor and unclean condition of the houses. One student responded that, “they showed up at our house for a viewing unannounced and we had to let them in… my boyfriend was with Cardens 2018/2019. They had such a bad mould issue, and the electrics were off and the fire alarm would get set off whenever the oven was switched on and they never did anything about it. When they were going to leave, Cardens demanded the house got professionally cleaned otherwise they wouldn’t get their deposits, even though the house wasn’t professionally cleaned when they moved in. They had to threaten legally and pull-out terms from the contract to avoid it.

Horrible experiences all around”. Another response stated that, “the main problem is just the time it takes for anything to get fixed, they’re truly awful”. They included a further description of the condition of the house: “Our tap was leaking about 40 litres of water a day and it took over a month before it was fixed. In September I requested new curtains as mine had mould on them, they still haven’t arrived. My felt headboard had layers of embedded hair and a jizz splatter on it upon moving in and my flatmate arrived to men’s dirty pants in her chest of drawers. Plus, mouse poo everywhere. Mould on walls all been painted over.” They added that they “hope it maybe changes something with their awful company”. Other issues that Cardens supposedly failed to fix included one renter telling Exeposé that “my housemate’s bed was broken when we moved in, and they took two to three weeks to replace it and he was left sleeping on a mattress on the floor. Also, one of our lounge floorboards fell through in March and it never got fixed”. Students also spoke about being mischarged or quoted for the price of their houses. One such person stated that, “the

advert for the flat for this current year said that the flat cost £160pppw bills included, whereas after doing the maths, it has turned out to be £176pppw”. They also added that “two of the toilets were broken, most of the paint is flaking off of the wall and there is mould growing in the living room. Also, one of the windows is broken”. A different response described how “for the first few months we ended up paying double what our actual electricity bills were because they failed to update the machine”, agreeing with other responders that they had “mould covering the walls” and also “slugs in the cupboards” There have also been allegations that Cardens uses false advertising, with one such person explaining that “we this year were sold a property that was completely misadvertised, so last summer (2020) the property was completely re-vamped, yet they were still using old images to advertise the property”. They further stated that Cardens “refused to take any blame” and that “the whole team there talk to you like children”. Continued page 3

P Jacob Rees-Mogg was applauded for stating at an Exeter University Conservative Association and Guild approved event on Friday 22 October that he was “proud,” of Britain’s colonial past. This came alongside Rees-Mogg’s decision to not to comment on an audience member’s use of ‘LGBT’ as an insult. The incident occurred after ReesMogg took a series of questions from the audience. When asked about this year’s government report on systematic racism, which found that the UK was not an “institutionally racist country,” Rees-Mogg expressed support for the report, saying, “I think it’s very important to be clear that the report didn’t say there’s no racism in the UK, but that it wasn’t institutional, and I think that’s right.” He celebrated the “progress” that institutions had made over his lifetime as evidence of this. Rees-Mogg continued his response to this question by stating that he believed it was important to not put people in “pigeon holes,” of race or social status. ‘It’s really useful to have the information… rather than just adopting the left-wing mantra that it’s all about our colonial past, which it isn’t - and anyway of which I’m quite proud.” This comment elicited loud table thumping and applause from the front few rows, where members of EUCA committee were sat. Another audience member accused Jacob Rees-Mogg and the Con-

COP26 and climate change Pages 4 & 5

Image: Wikimedia commons

servative Party of allowing, “the total deterioration of democracy under this government,” because of its imposition of national lockdowns during the Coronavirus pandemic. The audience member argued that the government had imposed, “illogical, unfounded, unsupported lockdowns, which have decimated this country, decimated our economy, over what? A flu with a 99.97 per cent survival rate. How is this government conservative?” Jacob Rees-Mogg responded. “I think those criticisms are really important. I won’t begin to pretend to this audience that I was banging the drum for the restrictions that we imposed. That’s what I said about Dominic Cummings and the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was always saying: “do I have to do this? Can I not protect people’s freedoms?” The same audience member also accused the current Conservative Party of “pursuing this LGBT, woke narrative. What are you? Because you’re not Conservative.” Rees-Mogg commented “It is the first time I’ve ever been accused of following a woke narrative” which elicited laughter from the audience. He failed to respond to the use of LGBT as part of this criticism of his Government. Rees-Mogg has previously controversially stated that he disagrees with same-sex marriage in an ITV interview in 2017, where he said: “I’m a Catholic, I take the teaching of the Catholic Church seriously. Marriage is a sacrament and the view of what marriage is is taken by the Church, not Parliament.” Continued page 3

EXEPOSÉ Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ

Editors

Print: Bridie Adams & Oliver Leader de Saxe Online: Millie Betts & Anna Wilmot Deputies: Lucy Aylmer, Cassia Grace & Chloe Pumares editors@exepose.com Social Media Executive Emily Im News Editors Print: Megan Ballantyne Online: Meg Allan & Orla Mackinnon news@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: Cassia Grace Online: Rachael Powell & Eirwen Abberley Watton comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Bridie Adams and Cassia Grace Online: Issac Bettridge Foreign Correspondents Co-ordinator:s: Ryan Gerrett & Elen Johnston features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Bridie Adams Online: Katie Edgar & Sophie Porteous lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Ella Minty Online: Clemence Smith artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Harry Hawkins & Loti Bend Online: Tom Bosher music@exepose.com

Editorial

OW time has flown! We're already over half way through the term, and into our fifth issue of the year. As you might know, we have recently announced the results of our autumn by-election and will be introducing new Editors from next issue onwards. The senior team have enjoyed standing in as guest editors whilst positions have been vacant, but will be delighted to get to know and work with a new set of talented students. We can't wait to get their training underway and to share their first Exeposé editorial work with our readers. For now, we've got plenty of content for you to get your teeth into. As well as reporting on student dissatisfaction with letting agent Cardens (front page), we also have a News spread dedicated to COP26 (page 4-5). In Comment, we have an article about the relationship between fast food and food poisoning (page 9), and in Features we discuss the various local support networks that are available to survivors of sexual violence (page 13). Just in case you had already started thinking about 'the C word' (or hating on those who have), we

Print: Archie Lockyer & Francesca Sylph screen@exepose.com

Print: Chloe Pumares & Oliver Leader de Saxe Science Editors Print: Ellen Rogers Online: Daisy Scott & Imogen Poyntz-Wright sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Oscar Young Online: Floris de Bruin & Henry Hood sport@exepose.com Copy Editors Danni Darrah, Sophy Cullington, Clemence Smith Proofers Bridie Adams, Oliver Leader de Saxe, Lucy Aylmer, Cassia Grace, Chloe Pumares, Danni Darrah, Evan Thomas, Kate Hall, Ana Anajuba, Nancy Stitt, Joshua Hughes, Oliver Lamb, Katie Jones

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editors@exepose.com The opinions expressed in Exeposé are not necessarily those of the Exeposé Editors nor the University of Exeter Students’ Guild. While every care is taken to ensure that the information in this publication is correct and accurate, the Publisher can accept no liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result of using the information printed. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss or damage to artwork or material submitted. The contents of this, unless stated otherwise, are copyright of the Publisher. Reproduction in any form requires the prior consent of the Publisher.

have included a Lifestyle debate on whether or not the time has come to deck the halls and roast the turkey (page 16). If you want some short story recommendations, head to Arts + Lit (page 18), and if you're interested to hear our Music Editor's thoughts on Coldplay's sustainable tour, check out page 20. Screen discusses the recent death of Halyna Hutchins (page 22) and Tech has a brilliant piece on the danger of automation taking people's jobs (page 25), as well as an interview with Nutmeg (page 24). As always, Science has some fascinating content, this issue focuses on topics such as why leaves change colour in autumn (page 28) and whether music has health benefits (page 29). In Sport, we look at famous rivalries (page 30) and report on Cardiff Met and Exeter's recent match at Sandy Park (back page). With all this wonderful content, you can just sit back, relax and enjoy! Ollie & Bridie

2020 Best Publication 2021 Best Publication in the South West

NEWS Driver of University sponsored bus attacked PAGE 3

FEATURES Afghanistan: A moral dilemma PAGE 12

ARTS + LIT

Art and Robotics: The Debate PAGE 18

SCIENCE Music can heal your heart PAGE 28 Images (top to bottom): David Wikicommons, Openclipart, bcogwene Pixabay, OpenClipArt-Vectors Pixabay

University news home and abroad

Screen Editors

Tech Editor

SPA AWARDS

Some students released from prison in Myanmar tortured

HE Myanmar armed forces recently announced that over 5600 political prisoners, including students, would be set free. They formerly faced trials and were jailed for opposing the Myanmar coup d’état earlier this year. However more than 100 prisoners have been re-arrested, many of them still in jail. Some of the students affected have reported being tortured whilst in jail. A member of University Students’ Union Alumni Force told BBC Burmese: “During the interrogation, they beat me until they got the information they wanted. They […] threw stones at me. They threatened me with guns. I also had to take a shower with toilet water.” As stated by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), over 1000 individuals have been killed by the junta after the military seizure of power.

USA experiences biggest drop in college enrolment in 50 years

HE year 2021 has been a worse year for American community colleges than expected, with enrolment down by 50 per cent. Doug Shapiro, from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Centre, states, "American colleges and universities are experiencing the largest drop in enrolment in half a century". This is even worse than expected as a recession typically results in more applications to community college. This fall in numbers has raised concerns both about the impact COVID-19 has had on those of college age, and their ability to gain the skills needed for employment, as well as for the impact on smaller colleges and the feasibility of them keeping their doors open. An effort to reengage students has started, highlighted by Miller from Cuyahoga Community College, which has involved attempts to get students to re-enrol and committing to at least 50 per cent in person capacity.

American University of Afghanistan shifts campus to Qatar

HE American University of Afghanistan (AUAF) campus will be relocated to Doha in Qatar. The University is unable to keep operating at its home campus in Kabul in the wake of the Taliban taking control of Afghanistan. The Qatar Foundation and the Qatar Fund for Development signed an agreement with the private University at a grand ceremony in Washington DC. In attendance was former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former First Lady Laura Bush and the Qatari ambassador to the US Sheikh Meshaal bin Hamad Al Thani. Al Thani said the deal would allow Afghan students to continue their education without “barriers and fear.”

Images (L to R): WikimediaCommons , WikimediaCommons

Jump in UK teens from disadvantaged backgrounds applying to competitive courses

RECENT study found the number of teens from poorer backgrounds applying for competitive courses such as medicine and those at Oxford and Cambridge has gone up by 8 per cent. As well as applications increasing, the number of students from state schools who have gotten into Oxford has also increased a lot in recent years, from 53.9 per cent of the intake in 2010 to 62.4 per cent in 2019. This is compared to a 1 per cent increase in applications from those from the most privileged backgrounds. The head of UCAS stated that the increase in disadvantaged students applying for top universities would “put a squeeze on available places”.

By Bridie Adams, Victoria Shipp, Megan Ballantyne & Connor Goddard

9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

3 NEWS

“We hope it changes something with their awful company” Continued from front page...

XEPOSÉ also received several positive comments about people’s experiences with Cardens. One such person stated that “they’ve actually been very quick, their reputation was bad so we were nervous, but they’ve been generally helpful. Sometimes they’re slow but if we call them, they help”. Another student described their experience with Cardens as “faultless”, saying that it “perplexes me the amount of negative experiences I hear about with Cardens.” Cardens responded to these accusations with the following statement: “Students@Cardens have been letting and managing student accommodation in Exeter for around thirty years. At present we house around 1,800 Exeter students. The properties we let and manage are not purpose-built apartment blocks, but in most cases terraced houses built around

100-150 years ago, some of which are better maintained by our client landlords than others. These are the types of house that students want to live in, not because anyone associated with Cardens chooses it to be that way, but because students make their own choices. We are the “go between” landlord and tenant. All Cardens houses have an HMO Licence (where appropriate) , A Gas Safety Certificate renewed annually, A PAT Test renewed annually, A Five yearly EICR, An Energy Performance Certificate and a Fire Risk Assessment . Where there are issues, and in the age of property students choose to rent there will be from time to time, we work closely with The Environmental Health Department at Exeter City Council to resolve them. Our role is to balance the needs of landlord and tenant, bearing in mind that it is our landlords who ultimately make the majority of decisions on how their money is spent”. They also spoke of the

difficulties that COVID-19 had brought the company: “Over the past two years we have all faced up to the challenges that COVID-19 has provided, in the case of our business we have been unable to visit properties for long periods and for much of that time we have worked with a team reduced in number by the knock-on effects of COVID-19. Ironically, many of those absences have been caused by our team doing their best to maintain service standards to landlord and tenant alike. I can hold up my hand and say that we are far from perfect, I can also say that we are aware of those imperfections and continue to work to be better in all areas. Social media provides all with an opportunity to share their views with others instantly, but for a balanced view one should maybe consider that during the period of your complaints, we housed over 3,600 students. I know there are more than the four tenants you mention who have been dissatis-

fied with our service in one way, shape or form, during that period, similarly there will be more than the one you mention whose experience of renting through Cardens has been wholly acceptable.” The statement also encouraged renters to reach out with any issues: “We aren’t perfect, we continue to try to be better. If you are a Cardens tenant with an unresolved issue you can email joncarden@cardensestateagents.co.uk and I will endeavour to assist.” The Guild responded to us with the following recommendation: “We would encourage any student who may be having issues or problems with their accommodation to contact the Guild’s Advice Service for independent advice and support, visit exeterguild.com/advice for more information.” They also confirmed that they do not currently “promote or endorse Cardens... as we don’t with many providers.”

“It is the first time I have ever been accused of following a woke narrative” Continued from front page...

hen asked about the looming impact of climate change by an audience member, Rees-Mogg stated that he wasn’t a fan of “hair shirt greenery.” “Why? Because voters won’t vote for it, and if they won’t vote for it, it won’t happen. You have to work with the grain of human nature, and I have to be able to say to you as voters that what I propose will improve your standard of living, not make it worse. “I think it’s practical to aim for net zero in 2050, it’s not practical to aim for it tomorrow… We have done extraordinarily well. Since 1990 the UK has reduced emissions by 44 per cent but grown

the economy by 78 per cent. [COP26] is a way of engaging the whole world. And that is important because other parts of the world are less involved than we are. But actually, it’s all going to be about technology, and can we get the right technology so we can improve your standard of living? And I think we are very close to the answer which I think is hydrogen. We have a great lead in some renewable technologies.” Rees-Mogg is a backbench MP and has been Leader of the House of Commons since 2019. He was previously touted to run for the Conservative Party Leadership in 2018, and in this year he was regularly voted the most popular Conservative MP in monthly surveys of Conser-

vative party members. He is also infamous for comments made about Grenfell Tower victims in 2019, which Grime artist Stormzy said implied, “those who lost their lives weren’t smart enough to escape.”

I think it’s practical to aim for net zero in 2050, it’s not practical to aim for it tomorrow Jacob Rees-Mogg

A spokesman for the Conservative Association said: “The Exeter University Conservative Association exists to provide our mem-

bers, and other interested students, with the opportunity to meet and question influential political figures from across the political spectrum. So far this year we have hosted Jacob Rees-Mogg, Ann Widdecombe, and Calvin Robinson presenting a real range of views from across the Conservative party and beyond. “As a broad church association, EUCA neither endorse or refute the views presented by those speaking with us. The same is true of both our members and committee, who had the opinion to challenge the views of our speaker and one another. “Our speaker events are open to all members of the university community.”

Driver of University sponsored bus attacked Oliver Leader De Saxe Editor

BUS driver working the University Night Bus circular to campus was taken to hospital following an unprovoked attack on the high street in the early hours of Saturday morning. According to a witness who was on the bus at the time of the attack, the battery of the bus went flat around 01:45AM, which forced the bus driver and the witness to wait for a controller to bring a booster battery. Whilst waiting outside the bus, the witness stated a hooded white man whom he believed “was not a University student” approached on the right of the street and punched the bus driver before fleeing the scene. Immediately following the attack, the bus driver allegedly stated “he couldn’t see”; his nose was also disjointed at the bridge and bleeding. After the attack, the witness called emergency services. They also claimed they were waiting for the call receiver for around ten minutes. In the interim, the controller flagged down a police car which allowed them to make a statement. Talking to someone familiar with the Night Bus service, they stated that they had concerns about the efficiency of the service and how this potentially puts drivers in danger. “If more people were using the bus service then it would be safer. Most of the time the buses are empty because it might not suit the needs of students.” They went on to state that they believed the route could be improved by the University and Stagecoach, claiming that it doesn’t necessarily benefit students living in certain areas

like Mount Pleasant or Pennsylvania Road. They also believe the service could be better advertised by the University. Exeposé was also told how the driver working the Night Bus circular route is the only bus driver working on the high street after midnight, meaning the only support a bus driver can receive will be from the bus depot itself. A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police told Exeposé: “Police are investigating an unprovoked assault on a bus driver in Exeter which left him with serious injuries. The victim was stood at the bus stop outside the Build a Bear store in the high street when the incident happened around 2AM on Saturday 30 October. “A man approached and punched him once in the face. The victim sustained a broken nose and fractured eye socket which required hospital treatment. “Police officers attended and carried out an area search for suspect who left in the direction of Bedford Square. He was not located. “Officers are appealing for witnesses and seeking a suspect who is described as white, in his late teens or early 20s, just under six ft tall and wearing all black clothing and hoody. Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by telephone 101, quoting crime reference CR/094619/21”. The Night Bus service was established with Stagecoach for the academic year 2021/22 to support students returning from the city centre. Due to the University subsidising the service to ensure student affordability, the single fare is only £2. The service runs between 20:55PM to 04:24AM every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Images: Guild

Image: David, Wikicommons

D 9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

University of Exeter students and representatives attend COP26 in Glasgow Lucy Aylmer Deputy Editor

OP26 is the 26th United Nations Conference on Climate Change and is currently being held in Glasgow. The University of Exeter will be in attendance, “helping to address the urgent issue of climate change by engaging with an ecosystem of disciplines, voices and solutions”. The University is a world-leader in environmental sustainability and climate change research and is helping to identify how the UK’s 2050 net zero climate change goal can be achieved. Exeposé reached out to Tim Lenton, Director of the Global Systems Institute at Exeter University for a comment. Lenton stated that “it’s great to see a big group from the University of Exeter at COP26” and “there’s been huge interest in our work on climate tipping points and on the positive social tipping points that

can accelerate climate action”. Lenton hosted a talk on climate tipping points earlier on in the week and has cautioned that the earth is a “system losing resilience, losing its ability to recover from perturbations, before it loses stability altogether”. Lily Margaroli, President of the Students Guild will is also in attendance along with five Exeter students. Margaroli has been documenting her experience of COP26 on her Instagram stories @exepresident in which she has announced her excitement “to meet lots of other people who are passionate about taking action against climate change!” and that “there are lots of networking events for young people” and that she is “hoping to learn a lot from these and bring back some of the initiatives…to Exeter”. The University of Exeter has granted a selection of students with Blue Zone passes which provides access to all the talks, events and exhibi-

tion areas as well as access to the Scottish Events Campus which is where the COP26 negotiations will take place. Emma de Saram, a thirdyear history student who has been selected to attend COP26 with Exeter University, told Exeposé that “COP26 is important to me because it is the last chance for humanity [to combat climate change] with 200 world leaders coming together to hopefully keep global warming below 1.5 degrees”. Emma also stated that COP26 is reflective of “all the hard work that mainly young people have been doing” and that “every little thing you do all adds up and it’s where the fruits of our labour will be shown”. When asked how she thought the Government should respond to climate change, Emma cited “responding to climate change with radical policies that focus not just on cutting carbon emissions but transitioning to a sustainable economy…this looks

like nationalising the rail, improving public transport and increasing minimum wage so that people have more time to engage in climate change projects”. Stevie Preece, the President of the Falmouth and Exeter Penryn Student Union who is also attendng COP26, told Exeposé: “To be here at the COP26 conference is an experience I am incredibly grateful for. Immersing myself in heated discussions and learning from the research of international climate scientists has enriched my knowledge of the climate crisis to a critically alarming level. We need to act right now because it’s already happening and will only get worse.” Image: Lily Maragaroli

Guild President shares her experiences of COP26 News Team

XEPOSÉ reached out to Lily Margaroli for her to share her experiences of the conference and what she hopes to do with this experience back in Exeter. É: Which events have you been to so far and what were the main takeaway points? L: I have been to three events focused on Young Climate Changemakers (one of these was a press conference), ‘Which Investment Approach Has The Most Impact: Divesting, Engaging or Activism’ hosted by the Financial Times, ‘One and Global Goals: A Marshall Plan for People and Planet Starts with Africa’s Green Recovery’, and ‘High Impact. Low Likelihood Events and Decision Making under Deep Uncertainty’ – Professor Tim Lenton from our University was a panel member of this event! I also was present at a demonstration delivered by the indigenous communities that are present at COP26. My main take-aways have been that embedding climate awareness into our

educational system is going to be a key way of ensuring the longevity and impact of our fight against climate change. In younger years this can be things like exposing children to the natural world around them so that they have an appreciation of it, and thus feel a sense of pride and duty to protect it. Further on in life, in university settings for example, this can include a climate and environmental lens being put on modules and courses across all disciplines – because ultimately climate change will impact every aspect of life. I felt very lucky to witness the speeches from the indigenous leaders, this really highlighted the importance of including those voices in the negotiation process. Across a lot of events, especially those with youth leaders, the importance of having a diverse range of speakers has been highlighted, and I really agree with this - everyone needs to be involved and invited into this conversation. Additionally I have learnt a lot about how these sorts of events

Image: DonkeyHotey, Flickr

work, they are quite chaotic, there is press everywhere and lots of rushing around – I feel really privileged to have this opportunity! É: Which events are you most looking forward to at COP26, and why? L: I am really excited to attend a few more of the events where University of Exeter academics are present, it’s amazing to see them on the world stage! I’m also attending the New York Times Climate Hub which has a circular economy café, lots of talks about how food can be more sustainable, and also a panel discussion on the intersection of gender and climate change.

É: How will you use this platform to make a difference? L: Once I have finished at COP26 I will take some time to reflect on what I have learnt – and I hope to bring this back to Exeter and continue conversations within our own community about what steps we can take to truly be stewards of the natural world around us. In Exeter we are

so lucky with all the nature that exists on our campus – so as students we should be leading the way in protecting this! I also hope that my online content is giving people an insight into what these conferences are like from the inside.

9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

BBC Radio Devon: Young people’s climate change debate Lucy Aylmer Deputy Editor

N Thursday 4 November, the BBC teamed up with Exeter College to host a young people’s climate change debate to be broadcasted on BBC Radio Devon. A selection of students from Exeter College, University of Exeter and Devon Youth Parliament were invited to attend and ask the panel of politicians’ questions concerning climate change. The panel was geographically and politically varied and included: Luke Pollard, Labour MP and Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, John Hart the Conservative Leader of the Devon Council, Steve Darling the Liberal Democrat Leader of the Torbay Council and Professor Juliet Osborne, Chair in Applied Ecology at the University of Exeter. Presenter Michael Chequer opened the debate by asking the panelists how politicians can reassure young people about climate change. Pollard stated that young people have “every right to be angry” about climate change and that bold and decisive action is required. He further stated that government should start listening to young people and act on it. Hart claimed to be “listening to the people of Devon” by citing the Council’s commitments to be carbon neutral by 2030.

Darling concurred with this federal approach to climate change and stated that local policies would provide better and more informed solutions. In contrast, Osborne stated that it wasn’t just the government’s responsibility to manage climate change, but that large corporations need to enact change for there to be sizeable impact. She further elaborated that there needs “to be a collaborative effort” between governments and businesses. When asked about the thorny issue of single-use plastics, both Hart and Pollard agreed that there needs to be tougher legislation to phase it out and greater pressures on supermarkets to “price it out of the equation” in the same way that plastic bags were. Pollard also mentioned that COVID-19 has “seen an explosion of single-use plastics” and that there needs to be vigorous taxation to ensure “we get the scale of change we need”. Darling argued that personal choice and localised consumption was key to phasing out single-use plastics. From here arose the heated question of whether the UK is doing enough to tackle climate change globally. Hart kept his response simple by elaborating on Devon Council’s commitments and progress. These included purchasing land to plant trees to offset carbon emissions and changing most streetlights to LED which “has reduced our use of carbon by 70,000 tonnes a year”. Chequer then prompted a response from Osborne who stated that climate

change “ w a s easier for us to think about it in our own nation” but that fundamentally “the response has to be global”. Osborne stated that collaborative research must take place to drive technological innovation to help tackle climate change. Chequer then asked the audience to elaborate on what they, as young people, were doing to encourage friends and family to tackle the climate change crisis. Responses were varied with some changes involving breaking bad habits such as purchasing plastic bags on weekly food shops, to students encouraging their families to reduce their meat consumption. In addition, one student

Image: Lucy Aylmer

from Exeter College explained how she convinced her parents to convert to using renewable energy sources to power their domestic supply of electricity. Students also criticised the government for an inadequate curriculum that excludes discussions around climate change, and that there is still ongoing pressure for students to pursue economic wealth over environmental health. In response, Darling said that whilst this is an issue that needs to be addressed, there is a limit to what local government can achieve here and that changes “need to come from the top”. Pollard agreed that there were gaps in the national curriculum and that there needs to be a better application of knowl-

edge to ensure that jobs are “using nature-based solutions”. When asked about the actions of Extinction Rebellion, both Hart and Pollard condemned the groups’ approach to climate change action with Hart stating that the protests should not disrupt society. Pollard, a self-proclaimed “greenie” stated that whilst he agrees with their message, he does not support the protests. Darling expressed greater sympathy for protestors and stated that the protests come from a place of desperation and that due to the climate change emergency that is facing humanity, action needs to be radical to reflect that. The question was then rebounded to the audience in which there was a 50/50 split in support for Extinction Rebellion. Overall, the debate was a lively affair and a great opportunity for young people to articulate their concerns about climate change to an engaged and enthusiastic audience.

Image: DonkeyHotey, Flickr

NEWS

9 NOV 2021| EXEPOSÉ

New Latino and Caribbean bar Bomba coming to Exeter Quay Chloe Pumares Deputy Editor

IERKELLER, a bar on the quayside is making some changes; a new Latino and Caribbean bar called Bomba is the latest addition. Planning to be open all-year round, seven nights a week from 5PM on weekdays and all-day on the weekend. Due to problems with refurbishment it will be another four to six weeks before Bomba will be able to open. Hoping to make better use of the space they are given, the new bar will be situated in the main area upstairs. Not only will the new venue serve drinks but will also be offering Jerk BBQ food prepared onsite by experienced chefs. Owner, Brian Phillips, whose speciality is jerk BBQ as a chef, travelled the Carib-

bean working in restaurants there. This is his idea based on a bar that he would like to visit himself. During lockdown he had plenty of time to think about the best layout for the building. Recently experiencing a full refurbishment throughout. Labelled as a bar, live music venue, dance club and nightclub on Facebook, the basement level which has hosted Move for years will now open from September until May, Monday to Thursday 10PM until 2AM and Fridays and Saturdays 10PM to 3AM. Planning to open and close the summer with Ibiza parties. Between May and September the famous Bierkeller nights will be hosted in the basement. With additional entertainment in the form of stage performances and traditional Bavarian fun.

Queen Diambi of Congo meets climate leaders in Exeter Rhys Wallis Second Year, PPE

T the end of October, the University of Exeter played host to a meeting between plastic-free ocean leaders and Queen Diambi Kabatusuila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, who hopes to use the event as a way to launch a collaborative project. This project would be focussed on clearing up oceans and rivers around the world, and Queen Diambi told the panel about how the rivers in which she swam as a child were now “really polluted”. Meeting with researchers at Exeter University, along with business leaders and those involved in the climate community groups, the ruler of the Bakwa Lutu people said the problem in the waters is “not just plastic”; she

cited pollution of both a chemical and biological nature as also causing harm “to not only the environment, but also to the people”. Queen Diambi was reportedly inspired to come to Devon after hearing what Chris Marrow of the Devon Business Council had to say on plastic waste. Mr Marrow was awarded with the Order of the Leopard for his services to Africa and the African people in recognition of his comments, and those words hooked the African leader. Vice Chancellor Lisa Roberts was reported to be “proud” of the role played by Exeter University in hosting the African monarch, and all participants were positive about collaborating and cooperating together in the future at the end of the event.

USS Pensions Officer for UCU speaks out Chloe Pumares Deputy Editor

NE of our Deputy Editors for Exeposé sat down with the USS (Universities Superannuation Scheme) Pension Officer for Union and University College Union (UCU). É: So if you could just give a brief overview about what you do here at the University of Exeter? BC: I am Dr Barrie Cooper, I am an associate Professor in Mathematics, a Postgraduate Taught Director and an Educational Scholarship member of staff. I’m also Director of Digitally Enhanced Learning in the College of Engineering, Maths and Sciences which means I had a great deal of responsibility with what happened last year during the Coronavirus pandemic and the response to it. From the Union’s point of view I am USS Pensions Officer and a past branch President. É: How did you come to be a part of the UCU? BC: As long as I’ve been a member of staff I’ve been a member of UCU, I feel very strongly that in order to protect the staff and student experience we need to come together as a collective and that’s what the union does perfectly. We know that if we leave it to the employer wages fall, worker’s conditions get worse, pensions get slashed and you need to come together as a team to challenge these things and fight for fairness. É: What led you to the role of USS Pension Officer, why did you want to become so involved in the UCU? BC: I saw it as an opportunity to give staff voice, where sometimes they feel they are ignored. Opportunity to influence policy and practice, so when I saw things that weren’t right on behalf of members and all staff I could try and make a difference. É: If you could give a brief overview about what the UCU are balloting for? BC: So there are two national disputes, there is a dispute around pensions, for the last ten years or so we have seen repeated cuts to our pensions because the model they are using is completely broken. Every three years there is an evaluation and every three years they say there is no money, and try to increase our contributions or reduce our benefits. Unfortunely we are in that position again, not only are they using a broken model but decided to conduct the evaluation while the economy was collapsing during the Coronavirus pandemic. They made a poor

decision to judge the value of the scheme at that specific point. The other dispute is called Four Fights. It’s on pay; we have seen pay cut in real terms in the last decade, now a new member of staff is earning 20 per cent less than ten years ago. We are also seeing workloads increase, so for less pay we are given heavier workloads. We worked tirelessly over the last year, during the lockdown, to ensure as good an experience as possible was given to students. The third element is on casualisation; there are far too many staff who are employed on casualisation contracts rather than fixed contracts, it means that they didn’t get all the safeguards you would expect when employed. We have had some PhD students here at the University of Exeter for the first half of this term teaching without a contract, because the University has not got around to issuing one. We want to stamp that out. The fourth element is on equality, there are still massive gaps for different genders, disabled staff compared to non-disabled staff, and all staff across different ethnicities. The University have to report the gender pay gap, but we want to go beyond that and take accountability. These low percentages are not badges of honour, we need to expose them and take action. É: Did negotiations take place before the decision to launch a ballot was made? Are these on a local or national level? BC: So, most of the negotiations are held nationally, pension negotiations and pay negotiations. Balloting for industrial action is always a last resort when we can’t make any more progress with negotiations. In the case of pension changes to our benefits and to the scheme, changes are being forced through without the agreement of the UCU trustees on the USS board. We have gone past the period for negotiations, the aim of industrial action is always to bring negotiators back to the table and find a settlement, but we are not being taken seriously. They are pushing through things without our agreement. With pay, the offer yet again is far below inflation which means a real terms cut, I am really concerned about the future of the profession, with new academics starting on wages 20 per cent lower than those ten years ago. There are things that happen at local level, we have been working with the university over casualisation. Local level discussion and agreements are great but we also need to see national level action so it’s not just at the behest of some better employers to implement some of this stuff. É: How does the UCU make the decision to create a ballot for members across the UK

Images (L TO R): Courtesy of UCU website

to vote? Is it up to individual institutions to opt in on whether to have the opportunity to vote? BC: Every institution branch that is eligible will have the opportunity to vote. Not every member of UCU will be in the USS pension scheme, many newer universities are in the teachers pension scheme. So they might only be balloted on the fourth fights rather than the pensions dispute. É: Were you involved in the last strikes that took place at Exeter in 2019? Were you on the committee? BC: Yes, I was on the committee as representative of the College of Engineering, Maths and Sciences. I took part in the strike action. I think it is vitally important to show how seriously we take those issues. But also to disrupt the business of the University, it’s only this way we can put enough pressure for a return to negotiations. It’s important for students to be aware of these issues as well, I would love for it not to get to industrial action. Students can stand with the staff, it’s not staff vs student. We need to close these issues in terms of equality. I think this is something students are really passionate about, especially intergenerational equality. Action together can prevent industrial action that might come along. É: What was promised after the strikes last year? Anything that hasn’t been delivered? BC: In 2019 we managed to fight off a closure to the ‘defined benefit’ USS scheme. They were going to change to an entirely ‘defined contribution’ scheme which means you don’t know what you get paid. ‘Defined benefit’ is where you pay in and the university pay in, 10 percent is paid by staff and 20 percent by the university, then what you get paid at the end is dependent on the average salary of your career and number of years you’ve been employed. You know exactly how much you are getting. With a ‘defined contribution’ scheme you pay in but you have no idea what you get out at the end. It is subject to the fluctuation of the market, you are worried at every stage, can I afford to retire, will this money last me? So we fended that off in 2019. One of the employers committed to look at the models being used, there were some working groups doing that but no significant changes have been implemented. They are using the same models, which means it looks like there is not enough money when in fact there is plenty to cover the cost of the scheme. Continues on next page...

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9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

“ I think it takes staff for granted if I’m honest...” there. And now to come and pick this fight instead of rewarding their staff. Last year staff agreed, because we knew finances were in a difficult situation, to freeze promotion, to freeze any pay rises we would be entitled to through progression. We did that in an act of solidarity with the University. Finances ended up being alright and the University was able to pay back the increments. Yet it seems the UCEA are taking that for granted and have picked this fight as a time where it will be disruptive for students. É: Speaking of students, what advice would you give to them in regards to how best to support their staff ? What is the best way students can get involved and show they agree with the demands of UCU? BC: It’s always best to be well informed about the situation, I have given my arguments but there will be other points of view you need to find out. Tell your staff that you support them, it makes such a difference to know, every staff is agonising over the impact the strikes would have on their students. They are in this profession because they love teaching, they love working with students, they love that environment. I think the way we can avoid industrial action or bring it to a close quickly is if students become organised and are vocal about their support. So demonstrations, writing to the VC and senior members of staff, be very vocal about this, it is a joint issue. Students I’m sure want staff who are not stressed in terms of

Continued from previous page...

: HOW do you feel that the current balloting is about the same issues as the last one? Do you feel that the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) have let you down with an offer of a 1.5 per cent or, for lower-paid staff, 3.6 per cent pay increase? BC: I think it takes staff for granted if I’m honest. That is on top of a zero per cent increase last year. 1.5 per cent is way below inflation which is nearly at three per cent and we have seen this year after year. I think there has been one year in the past decade where we have had an inflationary pay rise. And this affects the lowest paid members of staff most of all. É: Chief Executive of UCEA Raj Jethwa said, “We are disappointed that UCU is encouraging its members to ballot for action which is specifically designed to disrupt teaching and learning for students who have endured so much recent upheaval”. What is your opinion on that? Do you think students would be unfairly affected if a strike was to go ahead? BC: I don’t think anyone wants industrial action to go ahead. We can turn that around and say how unfair it is for the UCEA to make such a paltry offer on top of the zero per cent pay rise last year, on top of all the hard work staff did, not the senior management, in order to make sure the learning experience was

too much workload and are not having to live in tents. You might have seen the article in The Guardian, one of our members of staff before she worked here was living in a tent, she was at one point our Anti-Casualisation Officer. She was teaching whilst living in a tent at a different university. This is not in students’ interest. We just need to get employers negotiating again. É: What would you like to see the Guild do in support? Do you feel supported? BC: I think at the moment they are just waiting to see what is going to happen. Four/five years ago there was really strong student support which made a massive difference. A few years ago it was a bit more equivocal. If students feel strongly about this then talk to your Guild Officers and put through motions that can become policy. Think about how to do that at an individual and collective level. É: When do you find out the results of the vote? BC: Midday today (Thursday 4 November 2021) the ballot closes. It comes fairly quickly, we might be notified by the end of the week but I don’t know for certain. We have called a branch meeting for Wednesday next week, when hopefully we should discuss the results of the vote. É: Has a course of action already been decided or is it decided once the decision to act has been made by members? BC: Once we get the results of the

ballot, nationally there will be a discussion involving all the branches and the executive committees to decide what to do now. It may well be different action in different branches. It is possible there will be strikes before Christmas, if we were to vote in favour of strike action. Also there will be discussions nationally and with the branches as to what the action will look like. At any time the employers can come to us and discuss negotiations again, the industrial action can be called off at any time. Employers can pick up the phone and say they are prepared to meet our demands. The big question is not whether staff will vote in favour or not but whether enough members will vote. It needs to be 50 per cent plus one. É: Do you know the percentage of University staff who are members of the UCU? BC: From the top of my head there’s around 1,200 members in this branch [note: in the recent ballots there were 1,005 members who were eligible to vote in the USS pension scheme ballot according to the vote report issued] and not every member of staff is eligible. Some might be dual students and staff such as PhD students. We have other unions, we have Unite and Unison who look after different areas of staff such as administration and maintenance. É: Finally, is there anything you’d like to say before we finish? BC: I find it really interesting that the people who say we can’t afford a good pension, we can’t afford to have

free university tuition, we can’t afford to buy houses because prices are too high and salaries are too low. They were the ones benefitting when things were the other way round. The ones now making the decision had better pensions, salaries much higher than they are now, free university education. This is an intergenerational thing, I’m worried that if we lose these pensions what is going to happen to the next generation? There are all sorts of things we can fight together on, it seems totally unfair that we are being told we can’t afford that, also we have messed up the climate and you have to deal with that.

Image: Courtesy of UCU website

UCU have voted nationally for industrial action Chloe Pumares Deputy Editor

VERALL 76 per cent of members of the UCU in 68 UK universities have backed strike action over cuts to pensions while 88 per cent voted in favour of action short of strike. The law requires 50 per cent plus one member to take part in the vote and nationally the turnout was 53 per cent. The result was delivered within a ballot window of just three weeks having opened on Monday 18 October and closed on Thursday 4 November 2021 .This comes after the University employer body Universities UK (UUK) voted to push through pension cuts in August. Results of the Four Fights ballot are expected late Friday 5 November. After this result is received the union will meet Friday 12 November to decide what to do next, communicating with branches over what

steps to take. One of the key decisions to be made is whether a second ballot should take place in certain branches. The ballots this year follow on from the strikes that took place last year as the UUK wanted a cut of 35 per cent to a members annual pension and guaranteed lump sum. Alternative proposals suggested by the UCU regarding the USS Pensions were refused. The Four Fights dispute builds on previous strike action. Pay has fallen by 17.6 per cent for university staff between 2009 and 2019 despite tuition fees increasing. The latest offer made by the University and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) was 1.5 per cent. According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency of 22,810 professors in the UK, only 27 per cent were women and one per cent were Black. The gender pay gap sits at 16 per cent while the pay gap between Black and white staff members is currently 17 per cent. The disability pay gap is at nine per cent. In response the UCU call for a £2.5k pay increase to

end inequality and injustice. A report of the voting has shown that the University of Exeter had a turnout of only 47 per cent with 72.8 per cent voting yes for industrial action consisting of strikes and 85.8 per cent for industrial action short of a strike. UCU general secretary Jo Grady said: ‘These results are a clear mandate for strike action over pension cuts and should be heard loud and clear by university employers. It is now in the gift of employers to avoid strike action, which is the outcome staff want as well.’ A comment from the Guild is as follows: “Exeter Students’ Guild is shaped by you, our students. As with the previous industrial action in 2019/20, we want you to have your say and help shape any stance we take. If industrial action was to take place, we will do our utmost to ensure that students are supported, and we’ll work collaboratively with UCU and the University to ensure students’ questions and concerns are raised and considered in all discussions.”

Image: Courtesy of UCU website

A spokesperson for Exeter UCU: ‘Members of the University of Exeter UCU have clearly shown their support for the national dispute over changes to USS pensions. Of the votes cast, 72.8 per cent of members support strike action and 85.8 per cent support action short of a strike. Due to falling just short of a 50 per cent turnout of voters, anti-trade union legislation prevents our members from taking part in any national industrial action without a further ballot. The results achieved so far in the incredibly short window of three weeks are an amazing achievement. For comparison, the USS and Four Fights ballots in 2019 lasted eight weeks. We will be meeting with members to discuss options and will take part fully in national conversations as to how to progress the dispute. The University of Exeter UCU firmly opposes the changes being proposed and imposed on us in respect of our pensions. We await the result of the Four Fights ballot on pay, casualisation, workload and equality.

9 NOV 2021| EXEPOSÉ

Comment

GUEST COMMENT EDITOR:

Cassia Grace

Who really benefits?

Evan Thomas GDL Student

NEMPLOYED, lazy and selfish. Sometimes faking a disability. Often immigrants who don’t speak English. A master con artist and Daily Mail’s villain-ofthe-week; this is the caricature of the benefits cheat. It’s a compelling narrative, but not one that particularly manifests itself into reality. For the 2021 financial year, the DWP estimates that Universal Credit was overpaid at a rate of 3.9 per cent and underpaid at 1.2 per cent. Your perception may be that the system is working well. The underpayment is low and the overpayment, while also being low, is slightly higher; an acceptable side effect when it comes to lifting people out of poverty. Perhaps you sing its praises, like previous Conservative leader and creator of Universal Credit, Iain Duncan Smith. It simplified the cumbersome legacy benefits by combining the six previous payments into one monthly package. This simplification would make it easier for claimants to navigate the application process and the increased efficiency would ensure the much-needed payments were delivered as quickly as possible. It was a great pitch. The host of problems its developed has made Universal Credit quite the let-down for millions of families. Under the legacy benefit system, the Government aimed to ensure payment was received within

two weeks of the claim. Universal Credit payments, on the other hand, were designed to simulate a monthly salary. What this has led to is an inbuilt wait of at least five weeks before claimants receive their cash. Some, shockingly, can wait more than double this time. While much of this delay is down to administrative errors, the incredibly complicated application process isn’t helping. At odds with the simplification that was promised, Citizens Advice reported in 2018 that well over a third of applicants found it hard to provide evidence for their health conditions, housing situation and childcare. This forces them into food banks, causes their rent to enter arrears and aggravates existing debt problems.

Humiliating and often physically painful assessments remain in place This is especially true for sick and disabled people. While Duncan Smith’s proposed delegated legislation may have initially failed in its pursuit to make it harder for disabled people to qualify, humiliating and often physically painful assessments remain in place. Many of those disabled people still on legacy benefits will also soon experience new financial strain as they are involuntarily migrated onto the new system, with disability premiums removed. Despite its issues, Universal Credit acts as a lifeline to many, both in and out of work, struggling to make ends

meet. Now that the UK is returning to “normality” the uplift introduced during the pandemic has ceased. It’s an effective £20 cut per week.

These freeloaders don’t have to con a system that’s already perfectly designed for them The projected consequences are devastating. Even the right-wing Legatum Institute has released research showing that, without the protection the extra £20 per week offers, 840,000 will be forced into poverty. Particularly distressingly, this includes 290,000 children. The uproar over the cut encompasses other Conservatives too. Our pal Duncan Smith argued that this “will affect the worst-off in society” and encouraged his Tory peers to keep the uplift in place. He criticised the Government’s keenness for a return to pre-COVID spending and instead encouraged his colleagues to “treat this like war debt”. This attempt is likely in vain. Johnson, Sunak and the other Cabinet ghouls’ apathy, when pressed on this looming poverty, is indicative of where their priorities lie. They don’t even have to get their hands dirty by overemphasising the plague of fraudulent moochers; the media already does it for them. Instead, they can take the high road, insisting that we all have to band together to keep the nation’s coffers suitably topped up.

This same eagerness to balance the budget doesn’t seem to extend to those committing benefit fraud on a scale that puts the street scroungers to shame. Whether it’s handing out PPE contracts to companies co-owned by Tory donors or allowing the top five tech giants to avoid £1.3 billion in tax, these freeloaders don’t have to con a system that’s already perfectly designed for their exploits.

Whether increasing child poverty is an intended side-effect of the levelling up agenda or not, its existence is profoundly disturbing. If you’ve never had to rely on Universal Credit, don’t be distracted by the picture painted. The misdirected scrutiny that’s applied to the most vulnerable in Britain allows the true benefit frauds to pull off the ultimate scam.

Image: Flickr, Unsplash

In defence of meat Charles Harrison

N response to the previously published article in favour of banning meat: While the science on banning red meat may at first appear clear, in actual fact the percentages, when taken together, are underwhelming. In their arguments, they have pointed out that that animal agriculture contributes to 14.5 per cent of global greenhouse emissions of which red meat is responsible for 41 per cent. This means that globally red meat is

only responsible for 5.9 per cent of greenhouse emissions. Of that 5.9 per cent the amount contributed by the twenty-seven thousand odd of us here at the University would be so infinitesimally small that I won’t begin trying to estimate. Wouldn’t our efforts be better placed in, say, campaigning for the dissolution of Carnival’s luxury fleet of cruise ships (which alone contribute more by the way of sulphur dioxide emissions than the entirety of Europe’s 260 million cars), than by trying to restrict people’s diets? Moreover, if banning lamb and beef (like Cambridge) leads to a 33 per

cent reduction of carbon emissions per kg of food and given that food and drink at this University is five per cent of our total carbon emissions, then (leaving aside drink and assuming food takes up the entirety of that five per cent) banning lamb and beef would only reduce the University’s carbon emissions by 1.65 per cent. Now there is more to consider when people call on banning red meat than just emission reductions. For starters what do we do with all the livestock? Do we kill them all (to the horror of vegetarians) and have a national meat feast (to the even greater

horror of vegetarians)? Even slowly phasing them out of our diet and letting their number dwindle has issues. For starters farmers (as illustrated over the summer with Clarkson’s Farm) are already on the breadline and banning red meat would likely push many of them into the red. Secondly, what happens to all the local butchers across the country? Their profits aren’t just hit, they are completely obliterated! Bye bye Mr Meat. Finally, there is the question of what to do with all the land where livestock is kept – the majority of which is unviable for growing plants. We can’t simply grow

more plants to substitute the extra food demand due the infertility of the land and shipping the additional food in via boats, trains and planes doesn’t seem a much more environmentally, let alone financially, conscious solution.

We can’t simply grow more plants to substitute food demand Should we ban red meat on campus? I believe our efforts can better be focused elsewhere and meat eaters left be.

9 NOV 2021| EXEPOSÉ

COMMENT

The fast way to food poisoning Chloe Pumares Deputy Editor

T was a nice and sunny Sunday morning when I awoke to severe abdominal pain. After a call to 111 I was told to go to A&E. This is the last thing I expected to happen when I first made the call, but a few hours later I found myself in the emergency room at Royal Exeter and Devon Hospital awaiting blood test results. They told me I had an infection, but had to do some further tests to tell me what type. A week later I found out what the offender that caused so much pain was: E-coli.

I found out what the offender that caused so much pain was: E-coli If you don’t know about E-coli, it is a food poisoning most commonly caused by contaminated

food, like ground beef, or water. I had Public Health England on my case after the diagnosis, having to fill out an hours long questionnaire to figure out where I could possibly have caught this strain of E-coli. I have a feeling I know which fast food restaurant poisoned me, but feel it is not the best idea to name drop, just in case.

I have a feeling I know which fast food restaurant poisioned me Fast food does provide a cheaper alternative to formal restaurants. However, it does seem that such places are often the worst offenders in cases of food poisoning, likely due to the fast turnaround customers have come to expect. This inevitably leads to carelessness, which can have dire consequences. Working in a fast food restaurant myself, I see the effects that speed can have on quality; consumers can sometimes get the wrong order, or

the food may not exactly match the standard expected, simply so food can be delivered as quickly as possible. While I understand that is the remit of a fast food restaurant, it is also indicative of our expectations as a society; we expect things to happen immediately, the consequence of a life where almost everything is a mere tap away.

mistakes they might make, from anything as minor as getting your order wrong, to something as major as food poisoning. Because trust me, the week spent with symptoms is worse than waiting several extra minutes for food.

So perhaps next time you are in your favourite fast food restaurant, looking at your watch and becoming impatient that your food is taking longer than a whole five minutes, think about the workers making your food. The quicker they work the more

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Let down by your doctor?

Paris Gill Second year English

Images: Rian Ramirez, unsplash

VER the past 20 months, the NHS has been stretched to its maximum capacity to tackle COVID-19, and the general public have shown their gratitude from weekly claps to corporations giving NHS workers discounts and advertisements. However, it must also be acknowledged that a key fault of the NHS is the endless wait-times. It brings the system to a grinding halt, putting patients in danger of not receiving adequate treatment and jeopardising the efficiency of the NHS. In the May of this year, I fell down the stairs in my university accommodation and subsequently badly bruised my hip and ribs. As this was during exam season, I didn’t have the time nor energy to make my injury a massive priority. Instead, after an abysmal phone call with my local GP, I gave up on seeking any real treatment or GP’s advice, opting for a ten-minute online consultation only. The phone call had stated that unless it was an emergency, there were no available appointments for the next three weeks.

The online consultation told me that my bruise would fade in around two months and to take mild painkillers for any aching. What I didn’t realise, due to the frightening bruise on my hip, was that my ribs had also been badly damaged. This was something I only noticed three weeks later when I started to suddenly be in acute pain when breathing. But due to the previous message that there were no available appointments unless of emergency, I didn’t feel it urgent enough to seek out an in-person GP appointment and left it at that. Yet when I saw a professional over the summer, I was told I was incredibly lucky not to have pierced my diaphragm in the accident and my ribs were now permanently dislocated. Lesson learnt I suppose. However, with the NHS guidance not to seek an in-person appointment unless absolutely urgent, the lack of attention I should have received could have resulted in a dangerous injury that neither I nor the online GP spotted. We then have to ask the question as to whether these online appointments are really equal substitutes to in-person consultations, or whether they’re just as harmful as not seeking thorough

medical advice? We can blame this on COVID-19 right now, as it must be acknowledged that social distancing is a key part in the shift to online consultations and plays its part arguably well in reducing infection rates rather than being in doctor’s surgeries. However, wait-times in both doctor’s surgeries and A&E’s have always been an issue, far before COVID-19. In the early 2000s, the Labour government introduced the “Fourhour standard”, where the waiting time started from the time that the patient arrived in A&E and stopped when they left the department either to be admitted, transferred to another provider, or discharged. However, this was relaxed in 2010, and in May of this year it was announced that in a “basket of measures” being introduced to the NHS, this would increase to six-eight hours, labelled the “average wait-time”. Waiting six to eight hours as an average cannot be acceptable for the general public to endure, yet there seems to be no solution to this issue. The ‘basket of measures’ is being introduced to take pressure off the NHS, so for now at least, it seems endless wait-times may be incurable.

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9 NOV 2021| EXEPOSÉ

Features

Afghanistan: a moral dilemma

Fred Butler discusses the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan

MERICA’S invasion of Afghanistan to seek and destroy AlQaeda and the Taliban quickly evolved into an attempt to establish democracy and western ideals. A pro-western government was appointed, modern infrastructure including new schools and hospitals were built, and women – having previously been confined to their homes by the Taliban - were allowed to go to college and join the workforce. An Afghan army was trained by US troops and between 2002 and 2017 they were supplied with an estimated $28 billion in modern weaponry and technology. Most importantly, the oppressive regime of the Taliban was halted which brought peace and prosperity to thousands of Afghan citizens. Yet corruption was rife in Afghanistan and the newly appointed govern-

ment proved inadequate to meet the basic needs of its people. The Taliban quickly re-emerged, and over the course of the 20-year war the United States lost over 2400 military personnel and expended $2 trillion. The newly trained and weaponised Afghan army suffered from high levels of casualty rates and desertion. Many Afghans still live in poverty and despite $24 billion spent on economic development their economy is weak. Following the US troop withdrawals, the Taliban spread through Afghanistan, with Kabul falling on 15 August, just ten days after the Taliban captured their first provincial capital. Afghan forces collapsed and President Ashraf Ghani fled the country. Chaos ensued. Stampeding crowds swarmed Kabul airport in their attempts to board evacuation planes

bound for the very country that had left them so perilous. People were shot and beaten on the streets they lived on, and merciless manhunts were carried out. Humanity thrives on hope, and to view tragedy as unavoidable is to give up on that hope. That is perhaps what triggered the landslide of misfortunes afflicting Afghanistan. The question that has to be asked in evaluating the morality of the complete withdrawal of the US is not whether the war was sustainable in the long run, but instead if there was an alternative solution – a middle ground – that serves both sides. There are those, including high ranking defence officials in the US government, that seem to think so. So consumed by domestic self-interest, the US has lost sight of the bigger picture – the fight for a better world for all.

Building credit at University

Bridie Adams, Editor, discusses all things credit scores

AKING care of your credit scores is important, but as a student you may not have given it a lot of thought yet. But I have some great news for you: it doesn’t take too long to boost up your scores if you’re starting from zero. Here are some crucial aspects of building and keeping your credit scores high. Credit reports A credit report is a statement that has details about your credit activity and financial circumstances such as the status of your accounts. Your credit scores are calculated depending on the details in your credit report. There are three credit agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion (formerly Callcredit). Experts recommend keeping an eye on all three, but if you’re strapped for time, I would particularly recommend Experian as it is the largest of these companies, holding the most data. Experian calculates its scores with 0 on one end of the scale and 999 on the other; it normally considers a “Good” or “Fair” score for students - or anybody - to be a score of 700 or greater. Looking at your credit reports will not influence your rating (you won’t incur hard inquiries - when you gain access to your own credit report, it’s a soft inquiry which wouldn’t lower your rating as it’s not a scoring element), but it is a good idea to make sure data is correct and complete. You should check up on your credit reports on a minimum

of one occasion a year, mainly prior to applying for a job or a rental property.

it score is by becoming an authorised user on a friend or relative’s credit card.

Credit utilisation rate (CUR) Credit scores examine your balance-to-limit ratio, or utilisation rate, weighing your balances up against the limits on your accounts. Your utilisation rate - the chunk of your credit limit that you’re making use of - is the most important measure in determining your credit scores. Since an excessive utilisation rate could suggest problems with settling bills promptly, a lower total credit utilisation rate is best. A rule of thumb is that you don’t want your CUR to exceed 30 per cent. Experian suggests paying off bank card balances in their entirety, even if you’re not able to get totally “back to zero”. The best trick is to keep cards open after paying down outstanding payments, lower balances by paying more every month (or consider refinancing debt with a personal loan) and put in an application for a higher credit limit.

Good credit doesn’t come about by chance and is frequently the consequence of making intelligent decisions. Habits like paying your bills on schedule can help you achieve and keep higher credit scores - and obtain the rewards that come with them. It will take months of credit activity to get sufficient history for a credit score, but it’s worth doing in the long run. If you have any money worries, you can contact the Students Guild Advice team at advice@exeterguild.com, which is on hand “to help you navigate the twists and turns of your financial life”.

Credit cards Credit cards can provide you with flexibility for your spending. They can also help you out with clearing payments, building a good credit history profile, earning rewards and budgeting - which will all be useful later in life. Some credit cards are even designed specifically for students. Student credit cards are unsecured, meaning they don’t need a down payment. One more effortless way to raise your cred-

Image: Unsplash, 30daysreplay Germany

FEATURES EDITORS:

Bridie Adams and Cassia Grace

The human rights issue of shackling Rory Hanson outlines the problem of shackling

HE practise of shackling is a lesser-known human rights issue which refers to the forced incarceration of those with psychosocial disorders both in the home and institutionally. Desperation and poor knowledge of mental health disorders often mean families of people with such disorders can see no other way of preventing their ill family member harming themselves or others than shackling. This practise varies in situation; cases range from subjects being chained together in mental hospitals to being caged in a corner of their home. A Human Rights Watch article in 2020 described various accounts of this, including a man with a psychosocial disability who was contained for 37 years in a desert cave in Wadi Al-Sabab, Saudi Arabia. People are routinely subjected to treatment that worsens their condition, often being forced to defecate, urinate and sleep in the same radius.

In Indonesia, shackling was banned as early as 1977 The reasons for this practise routinely occurring globally stem primarily from attitudes towards psychological disorders. In many societies, issues such as schizophrenia and anxiety are viewed as shameful and something not to be shown to others, with many local cultures such as those in Northern Nigeria believing that such disorders are spiritual issues. Widespread misinformation about mental health issues causes incorrect treatment for them, with many families turning to witch doctors and local healers to ‘cure’ their relative before seeking medical help. Secondly, as mental health issues often fail to enter the medical agenda, provision for these in a medical professional sphere is often minimal, costly and limited to major cities, meaning low to middle-income families cannot afford to travel and pay for care there. In Indonesia, shackling was banned in law as early as 1977, but the secrecy under which it is done means its extent is difficult to ascertain. Legally, shackling violates many

of the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) such as the right not to be arbitrarily contained, rights to dignity and freedom from degradation, and rights to a standard of living adequate for health and wellbeing. The practise of shackling violates the most fundamental and basic human rights. However, this issue receives relatively little attention and is widely not known about as it often happens behind closed doors and governments often care less about the mentally ill.

Shackling violates the most fundamental and basic human rights Indonesia is a country whose name is mentioned consistently in conversations about shackling, as it faces serious problems involving the prevalence of shackling and attitudes towards mental illness. There has been a reduction in shackling there with figures falling from 18,800 people with psychosocial disabilities shackled in 2016 to 12,800 in 2018, according to Indonesian Government data. The Government has also made promising steps in incorporating mental health provision and care into community healthcare. However, this is limited in remote areas of the country. Indonesia has also embarked upon the ‘Healthy Indonesia Program with Family Approach’ which aims to raise awareness of mental health issues and provide care knowledge for families. As of September 2018, this has reached 25 per cent of the Indonesian population, which, although encouraging, shows that progress still needs to be made. Global awareness of this widespread practice is limited. Many people remain incarcerated in conditions worse than those experienced by prisoners, not because they have committed any crime, but because as a result of their experiences, they have befallen psychosocial disorders. To find out more about the issue of shackling, follow the studentled human rights activism group @shackled_minds on Instagram.

9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

13 FEATURES

Local support services for sexual assault survivors Bridie Adams, Editor, looks into what support is available for students who have survived sexual violence TRIGGER WARNING: Rape and sexual violence

S women, we are told to cover up when we go out, not to walk home alone, to avoid unlit roads and to hold our keys like claws. We’re always hearing about what we can do to ‘prevent’ sexual assault, which often perpetuates victim blaming. For example, many survivors cite “What were you wearing?” as one of the first questions they receive after reporting an incident. The myth that women have the power to protect themselves from violence leads to many feeling that it could never happen to them. This is dangerous, suggesting that sexual assault only happens to those who aren’t cautious enough, rather than exposing the reality that it can happen to anyone. In fact, according to the Metropolitan Police, most rapists share a family, close circle of friends, home or workplace with their victims. This victim-blaming culture preoccupies so much widespread attention that aftercare following sexual abuse is rarely discussed in comparison to so-called ‘preventative measures’. Until recently, I wouldn’t have had a clue where to go for help if I were to become a victim myself. Everyone is encouraged to report sexual assault to the police as soon as possible, but what about the resulting psychological damage of the abuse? How can you get spe-

Image: Sadie Pitcher & Sebastian Williams

cialist mental health support quickly and effectively, without having to join a never-ending waiting list for shockingly underfunded NHS therapy? And what about other forms of aftercare like STI testing and emergency contraception? Keen to find out about local specialist support from the police, the University and other organisations, I took to social media to ask whether any students would be comfortable sharing their stories with me. I received an overwhelming response; my inbox filled up with messages thanking me for raising awareness and offering to anonymously discuss personal experiences. Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) are accessible to every survivor of sexual violence. One student said that, in their experience, “The people in the SARC clinic were amazing.” They explained that they saw a forensic nurse at the clinic, and were given a jab and a morning after pill. They also said, “They referred me to an ISVA who is like a well being officer for sexual violence victims.” ISVAs (independent sexual violence advisers) can provide specialist support and help survivors access other support services they require. They may signpost survivors to GPs, nurses, free organisations (such as Women’s Aid), sexual health centres, contraception centres or the police. A student told me that

after they were raped, they had overthe-phone therapy. They said, “There is a lot of support out there. I think the social climate with a lot of violence across the UK is encouraging others to come forward. Making people aware of the support available is the best option.” Just because help is out there, it doesn’t mean that survivors will always feel comfortable asking for it. There are many reasons why a survivor might not want to talk about their experience, from not feeling ready, to anxiety about not being taken seriously. Some people would rather process trauma independently or in a more informal setting. Sit Down N Shut Up is a local movement with the aim of tackling sexual assault and “Representing marginalised voices and creating initiatives to spark real and positive change” (according to the movement’s Instagram bio). The same student described the protests led by the movement as an environment in which they were able to meet “like minded” individuals in a safe space. SAFE is a Students’ Guild-affiliated society that provides access to peer support networks for survivors, another more informal setting for conversation around sexual violence.

Students who seek welfare support will be seen by one of the team as soon as possible

Marion Ouja, the Guild's Vice President Liberation and Equality, also said: "We are collaborating and working alongside both students and the University to improve student safety at Exeter. We hosted a Let's Talk: Nights Out edition last week as an open forum to discuss how students could feel safer during a night out and will be publishing actions from student feedback soon. We strongly encourage for you to get involved and reach out to myself or the other Full-Time Officers with any thoughts or views about what change you'd like to see both on campus and in the community." In addition, the Guild advice service is “committed to improving the University experience for students” by providing welfare support for a range of issues. The University itself also offers sup-

port for survivors of sexual violence. When asked about what kind of support is available and how students can access it, a University of Exeter spokesperson said: "Welfare consultants are available to support students who are victims of recent or historical sexual violence. They are available seven days a week, and can be contacted via welfare@exeter.ac.uk or https://www. exeter.ac.uk/students/wellbeing/. "Students who seek welfare support will be seen by one of the team as soon as possible, to discuss the support available to them and to help so they are able to make informed choices about their wellbeing needs, as well as to consider formal reporting to the police or University. Any decisions are student led, recognising that this can be an extremely stressful and daunting time. "An individual plan of support can be created with the student and could include support from Wellbeing Services and external services such as Devon Rape Crisis who now also work in partnership with Welfare Services. "This support is available for those students whether they choose to report a sexual assault to the police or not. It is also available for those who are affected by sexual violence within their community, whether recent or historic. "The welfare team can arrange transport to a SARC (Sexual Assault Referral Centre), police station or hospital if appropriate. They can also review individual safety arrangements on campus, help signpost to academic support (including mitigation) and inform other University staff about your situation on your behalf if given consent." Several students shared positive experiences of the University’s support, with one stating, “I had an amazingly supportive experience with the University team. “I was given a welfare consultant that talked to me throughout the whole process of filing a case with the University, they scheduled weekly meetings and debrief meetings after interviews, they attended the interviews with me and were present when the outcome of the case was released, they also offered me ongoing support after the case closed. “The process was very long and I had access to welfare throughout the whole time and even over the summer. “The cases team were very informative throughout the whole process and emailed me every step of the way asking if I had any questions/if I was unsure of anything that was happening. They checked on me to see if I was accessing welfare and they called me with big news rather than telling

me over emails so that they could help me deal with whatever news it was. “I couldn’t have been happier with the support and appreciated it so much. I was shocked at the response but very satisfied with the outcome. “The University was very professional and listened to everything I and other people had to say.”

I had an amazingly supportive experience with the University Another student expressed gratitude for the University’s support and explained that they continue to access wellbeing services following their experience of sexual assault, finding it very helpful. They said, “The support is actually really good. You can get emergency appointments. On campus they don’t force you or even encourage you to report anything formally. You have a drop in assessment then a psychological assessment but it’s basically just a very relaxed conversation.” Another survivor described staff at the University as caring, and said, “they are really trying to help me get better.” The University offered the student a small number of therapy sessions and signposted them to the free support provided by Devon Rape Crisis and Sexual Abuse Service. Another support network is friends and family. For those who haven’t experienced sexual assault, it may be hard to know what to say if someone confides in you, but often just lending an ear is the best way to help a survivor. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), some reassuring phrases you can use during dialogue surrounding sexual assault are “It’s not your fault” and “You are not alone.” Every survivor’s healing process is different and there is no ‘right’ way to cope. If you want to reach out, there are countless services for you to approach. And if you don’t feel ready to seek support yet, that’s okay too. Sexual abuse helplines Rape Crisis 0808 802 9999 Victim Support 08 08 16 89 111 Support for Survivors 0115 962 2722 Respond 0207 383 0700 The Dash Charity 0175 354 9865

LIFESTYLE

TECH

ARTS + LIT

MUSIC

STUDY BREAK

SCREEN

Image: Anarul Islam, Pixabay Image: Steve Collis Wikicommons

IS IT BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS?

Image: Kevin Dooley, Flickr

FROM THE WEST END TO PHONE SCREENS

Image: Wikicommons

THE EVOLUTION OF THE CAPED CRUSADER Image: Wikicommons Image: Marco Verch Flickr

PUNK FOR GOOD

AUTOMATIC FAIL

16 - 17 LIFESTYLE EDITOR Bridie Adams

STUDY BREAK

Image: The Blue Diamond Gallery

18 - 19

20 - 21

22 - 23

24 - 25

ARTS + LIT EDITOR Ella Minty

MUSIC EDITORS Charlotte Bend Harry Hawkins

SCREEN EDITORS Archie Lockyer Francesca Sylph

TECH EDITOR Chloe Pumares Ollie Leader de Saxe

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Matthew and George 26 OCT 21 | EXEPOSÉ

lifestyle Is it beginning to look a lot like Christmas? Lifestyle writers debate whether or not November is too early to start getting into the festive spirit

HRISTMAS Day itself is a wholeheartedly underwhelming affair, riddled with the pressure to be perfect and ultimately dwindling into mountains of Quality Streets. Alternatively, one can peak early with too much champagne by lunch and miss out on the evening altogether, jumping straight to the superiority of Boxing Day leftovers. It is the anticipation for Christmas that is truly joyful, steeped in nostalgia and far too much mulled wine.

PEAK EARLY WITH TOO MUCH CHAMPAGNE BY LUNCH AND MISS OUT ON THE EVENING ALTOGETHER At primary school, the final week of term before Christmas was objectively the best time of the year. From stilted nativity plays to spending a full school day watching Christmas films (my class made it a tradition to watch all five Home Alone films annually) I have more fond memories of those sugar-fuelled days than any other period from that age. The festive period is crammed with worthy social events. Frankly, every party is made better by Christmas lights, Wham! and mince pies, and with the Christmas spirit of caring and giving in the air, December becomes the month in which most of us make the effort to finally have that long put off get-together.

There is also an economically positive fac- T'S not like I’m opposed to Christmas, before anytor to celebrating Christmas as early as pos- one starts convulsing. I’m not some puritanical sible. By removing the judgement surround- old gammon sitting in the corner, moaning about ing playing Mariah Carey whilst still in fancy how all we used to get was oranges in our stockdress for Halloween, an injection of holiday ings and how we used to walk three million miles spending could be spread across a longer to school. Hell, I enjoy pigs in blankets as much as period and help support independent the next two-timing vegetarian after all. But businesses into the new year. when Christmas trees are being sold in the Christmas truly is a feeling, same aisle as Halloween vampire teeth, one instantly evoked by the Coca then you must realise that society is teeCola advert and the smell of fresh tering on the verge of complete collapse. pine needles and cinnamon. Pouring molten wax into my earholes For the Grinches amongst to avoid the incessant novelty songs that us who reject the Christmas spirit eerily haunt public spaces like the world’s until they are at risk of roasting most punchable ghost isn’t fun for me. their turkeys in January, their Having to figure out where SainsScrooge outlook is uninbury’s keeps the beans now beterestingly unfestive. cause it had to make space After all, the rest for a shelf of chocolate of us are far too in the shape of busy rewatchSanta’s ballsack ing Love Actuisn’t either. I can ally to be desuffer this level of terred from our inconvenience for preemptive Christa month in the name of keepmas shenanigans. ing the little sprogs entertained. But extending Georgia the torture out Balmer for three solid months is, for all intents and purposes, an act of war on

AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL THIS EROSION EARLIER INTO THE YEAR IS SIMPLY A MATTER OF MONEY

DECEMBER ALONE IS SIMPLY NOT LONG ENOUGH Amongst the Christmas parties, holiday dinners, and last-minute gift shopping, there is very little time for normal life responsibilities. December alone is simply not long enough to house Christmas. Why cram the full festive period into a single month? The only logical way to truly celebrate Christmas is to embrace its magic from early November. This way we can enjoy twinkling Christmas trees, Christmas music, and that almost tangible sense of excited anticipation that is invoked by a single sleighbell, without the stress, and inevitable lurgy, that December brings.

people with good taste. Worst of all, though, is how all of this is a total bastardisation of what Christmas should be about. Christmas has, for me, always been about giving, about selflessness. It’s a time for memories to be made, for people to come together and reunite, for familIes to curl up around an open fire watching a crappy film, to have a break from the nightmare shadow realm we reside within. At the very least, it’s about how a little brat was plopped out in a barn in Bethlehem as a stark warning about undercutting public healthcare services. You know what it shouldn’t be about? Things. Stuff. The meaningless act of giving simply because you hope you’ll get something, anything, in return. With each passing year, Christmas has become less a celebration of coming together in the bleak midwinter, more a smorgasbord of brands and gluttonous excess, of tacky symbols and gimmicks and endless, tiring consumerism, all in the name of what exactly? Bankrupting yourself each year for overpriced garbage isn’t so you can put yourself in the ‘festive spirit’, whatever that means; it’s because a shit-eating marketing executive needs to buy himself another yacht. At the end of the day, all this erosion earlier into the year is simply a matter of money. With each unholy, unseasonal screech from a Spotify playlist with more sleighbells in it than Siberia, with each early nibble of a limited-edition chocolate bar made from authentic reindeer blood, with every single snowman decoration glaring at you desperately walking off the Halloween hangover, you realise for a season about being selfless, all these impromptu celebrations do is feed the greed.

Image: Free SVG

The result: it’s no longer special. It’s just another corporate holiday, another manufactured product, except this time just smothered in cranberry sauce and regret. I’m not opposed to these indulgences. But those limited-edition chocolate bars would taste far sweeter if we only tasted them a few weeks each year. Those snowmen would be cuter if they hadn’t transformed themselves into my sleep paralysis demon by bonfire night. Even those goddamn songs would be a little bearable if I only had to endure them for a few days sozzled on bucks fizz. So, this year, put away the tinsel. Let us enjoy Christmas the way it was intended: together, in December, wondering who did the brussels sprout fart. Oliver Leader de Saxe, Editor

EDITOR: Bridie Adams

exhibit | lifestyle

9 nov 2021 |

#TouchLookCheck Bridie Adams, Editor, explains the signs of breast cancer and how to self-examine

REQUENTLY looking at your boobs for lumps and changes can help with noticing breast cancer ahead of time, when it is more likely to respond well to treatment. In 2005, Touch Look Check (TLC) was born to present women with an understandable, straightforward message to examine their boobs, in addition to details about the signs and manifestation of breast cancers. There’s no right or wrong method of inspecting your boobs. However, it’s crucial to know how they normally look and feel. This will help you become conscious of any changes. Hormone variation (such as pregnancy or breastfeeding) and even age bring about perfectly normal changes in sensation such as irritation and soreness. Get used to your boobs at varying times in your menstrual cycle. For instance, some women have soft and bumpy boobs, mainly close to the underarm region, around the time of their period. The menopause will have an effect as well. In particular, there are a number of

things that can change the feel of your nipples. Occasionally these are non-permanent, such as a response to chilly temperature. However, breast cancer cases can happen at any time in a woman’s life, therefore it is crucial that no matter your age, you look over your boobs routinely so that you can detect any changes. Each and every person will have their own method of touching and looking for changes such as lumps or thickenings, but in general looking at your boobs is not difficult (you do not require any training). Boobs come in all differ-

ation. Most lumps will be totally normal. For information about non-cancerous changes to the breasts, see the NHS’ benign breast conditions online leaflets. If you observe a benign change in the look of your boobs, you can still chat with a doctor about cosmetic surgery that uses implantation or injections to make the breasts become visibly fuller, or to move the nipples. A specialist can also recommend treatments and home remedies for stretch marks. However, these types of treatments are usually unavailable on the NHS so you would probably need to go down a private route. Women over the age of 50 are invited

to routine breast mammogram screenings. Breast cancer is mostly expected to be smallscale and respond extremely well to medicine so often there is no need to surgically remove the tissue. The NHS says mammograms are the most reliable way of detecting breast cancer sooner but, like other tests, they’re not 100 per cent reliable. Ultrasound is often the initial or only imaging inspection used to assess a lump in women who are under 30 years old or are expecting a baby or breastfeeding. As the NHS says, “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, so it’s important for everyone to look after their breasts by being breast aware.”

TOUCH your boobs and each armpit. A great deal of women discover that the easiest way to feel their boobs is when their skin is damp and slippery, therefore they like to carry out this stage of their examination in the shower, by running a soapy palm over each breast. Each breast has 15 to 20 sections, or lobes, that border the nipple like spokes on a wheel. At the end of each lobe are ‘bulbs’ that create milk. To keep the examination consistent, begin at your nipple and work your way out, to your bone, in a spiral shape. A malignant lump may feel round, mushy, and soft and can come about in any place in the breast. In some cases, the lump can even be sore. It’s not just lumps that you should be looking for, but also dimpling, scrunching, or swelling of the skin, a nipple that has changed location or an inversion of the nipple (the nipple may have forced its way inside as an alternative to sticking out), leaking, redness, tenderness or inflammation.

ent shapes and sizes. Being breast aware is a key part of breast healthiness and means becoming acquainted with your boobs so you are aware of what to expect during your self-examinations. If you become aware of any changes, describe them to your doctor, who will pay attention and deal with the situ-

LOOK

in the mirror with your arms by your side, on your hips and also with them lifted up over the head. Does anything at all look different to you?

CHECK any recently developed or unexpected changes with a doctor at once. This is

mostly important if you observe big lumps in your armpit that don’t go away after six weeks. A swollen lymph node in the armpit will normally be enlarged, feel like little, hard lumps, and may be tender, especially if you touch it. Breast cysts may be found in one or both breasts and are smooth, flexible, circular or egg-shaped sacs that have flat sides. A doctor can assess the breast lump or symptoms, inspect the affected breast or breasts, and keep an eye on it for you. Image: Wikimedia Commons

The night we met... Lifestyle writers share their personal love stories

took a chance on meeting a handsome guy in London and we painted the town red. Laughing until our cheeks hurt, meeting interesting people, sharing intimate secrets in dark corners and confessing guilty pleasures sitting on Southbank. Kissing under the city lights, sharing cocktails and new foods. A day and a night of blissful heaven. Call me cliché but I simply wasn’t ready. We parted ways, but stayed in each others heads knowing — hoping — that couldn’t have been it. Two years later, his name showed up on my screen and I knew our story was just beginning. Danni Darrah

N true 21st century style, we got to know each other through a dating app. His first message was making fun of me for reading Twilight at age 20, which he lived to regret when I made sure our first online date during lockdown was watching the full Twilight Saga on Netflix Party (he’s now a fully paid-up member of Team Edward!) Our first real-life meet was in Greenwich Park: we accidentally-on-purpose spent the whole day together and had our first kiss in a hailstorm — quite the serendipitous rom-com moment. We’ve been inseparable ever since! Sienna White Images (L-R): Danni Darrah, Sienna White

arts

+ lit

Short story favourites Arts + Lit writers talk about their favourite short stories

Henry Hood, Online Sports Editor

pro

jec

RGENTINE writer Jorge Luis Borges once said that you cannot write a great novel until you’ve mastered the short story, and Latin American short stories, as almost a literary hallmark of the continent, often provide a brief shot of sunshine-washed magic. Colombian great Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s short stories often revolve around staunch, weathered, masculine figures (The Colonel, The Patriarch and The President to name a few), but Light Is Like Water focuses on little boys, a story firmly rooted in the domestic. Light Is Like Water is beautiful and dark all at once: its ambiguous ending can be sad or splendid depending on personal imagination, and it has the dreamy quality of a bedtime story. The plot follows a pair of young brothers from the Colombian coast, who miss the ocean now that they live in the notoriously inland Spanish capital, Madrid. Their parents promise them a present of their choice if they score top grades in their class (which they do), and they ask for a rowboat with all of the bells and whistles that a seafarer could desire. The story harbours a deep childlike innocence and shows curiosity and discovery, reward and corresponding greed, fantasy and escapism, for child and adult alike. Garcia Marquez devotees will see that it includes some of his favourite themes and images — sea power and the cultural milieu of urban residential streets. If you want a read with the comforting fabric of a children’s tale, embroidered with a smattering of adult lived experience, you can’t go far wrong with this. Garcia Marquez’s journalistic background informs the narrative without a doubt: economical with words without scrimping on meanings, such versatility proving that short stories are the perfect literary nuggets for people who want to read more often, but don’t have the time. Light Is Like Water is the perfect read in a spare moment, lasting only as long as a cup of coffee. e:

HE best short stories make you think about someIRST published in Dostoyevsky’s magazine Epoch, Lady thing you usually never would. Certainly, the best ones Macbeth of Mtsensk is, in the words of Hugh McLean, make you feel like it was time well spent reading them. ‘one of the most highly condensed and highly charged Philip K. Dick’s The Eyes Have It is one that’s stuck in my pieces in Leskov’s whole corpus’. With Leskov being such a mind for a long time now. I first found it on a rathprolific journalist, novelist, political activist and the wrter sweet podcast series on Spotify called er of a 36-volume opus, this is quite a claim to make. ‘LitReading’, where a man named Don McYet, in my opinion, it’s entirely justified. A work by a Donald narrates famous short stories. If writer historically overshadowed by his contemporaries, you’re into your short fiction or need somethe tale depicts a young woman whose monotonous life thing new to listen to it’s well worth a go. as the wife of an older man is turned around by a forceThe story is effectively one long, ful, almost elemental lust for a handsome but fickle and corny dad joke about the quirks of Engselfish philanderer. Echoes of Flaubert’s Madame Bovary Image: nounproject lish phrases. It only takes 5 minutes to read. seep into the narrative with its intense exploration of 19th It’s a quintessentially British story and a stark and witty concentury sexual politics, and the titular allusion to one of Shaketrast from Dick’s more popular fiction. His most famous novels speare’s most murderous and envy-ridden characters, makes it a Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (adapted into the famous labyrinth of literary ideas and a venerable work of Russian literature. film Blade Runner) and A Scanner Darkly are far more sophisticatOne is perpetually reminded of its distinctive individuality in ed than this short story and don’t feature this level of humour. Russian writing through Leskov’s unmistakeable stylistic terseness Perhaps a short story by Chekhov or Woolf will move and complete narrative authority. His first significant champion, Boyou more; literarily speaking, The Eyes Have It is no match. ris Eikhenbaum, wrote in the 1920s that Leskov equalled DostoyevsOther more renowned short fiction may make some proky, Turgenev and Tolstoy “not by resembling them, but by being found statement on life as a whole or evoke some deep totally unlike them”. Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk sweeps the reader emotion from just a few words. But sometimes an inaway in disgust and reflection with its capricious narrative of credibly poor joke that makes you smile is worth more. murder, deceit and concupiscence, all in 40 pages, demonIn the few phrases Philip K. Dick uses, he evokes an emostrating the power and complexity that can be achieved tion effectively: laughter. And that alone makes it a great in the under-appreciated short story format. I believe that short story worth reading. For me this story holds a place the negative attitude historically towards short stories has in my heart more than any other short story; it’s like a dog’s hampered Leskov’s recognition as an extraordinary writer. old smelly blanket that they adore and refuse to give up. If we change this attitude, we may discover Sure, Virginia Woolf or Katherine Mansfield or any other faother unique, Shostakovich worthy masterpieces such mous writer probably have written ‘better’ pieces of ficas Leskov’s Lady Macbeth, hiding behind the veil of histion but I will always say this quirky story is my favourite. tory and ready to re-enter the popular imagination.

Gabriel Garcia Marquez Light Is Like Water

Nikolai Leskov Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk

Philip K. Dick The Eyes Have It

Joshua Smith

Cleo Gravett

Art and robotics: the debate N

Siobhan Bahl discusses whether art should be created by robots

O matter our opinions and fears over the involvement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in human existence, it is now a plain and simple fact that AI has become integrated into our society. As technological advancements leap and bound forward, AI’s capacity to replicate what has historically been seen as intimately human action expands. However, the rise of AI has prompted debate: what is the human role if so much can be replicated by technology? Maybe art is our last fort of safety, an expressive process that requires a sense of self, perspective and connection with the subject of the piece. Ai-Da, the world’s first ultra-realistic robot artist, hit the headlines recently after being detained by Egyptian security forces on her

way to open her latest exhibition. Named after the computing pioneer Ada Lovelace, AiDa was built in a multi-million-pound project in 2019. But to what extent is she an artist in her own right? Or rather, is she in herself a piece of artwork, the extended tool of Aidan Meller, the man behind the machine? In May, Ai-Da released a set of self portraits which prompted debates over identity and creativity. As Meller commented: “She has no consciousness, she is a machine”. Yet here she is, programmed to create what has long been thought of as one of the most conscious acts of expression: a self-portrait. It has been dubbed the “self-portrait with no self” by Meller. If there is no self, then can we say that Ai-Da’s art is truly her own? Or does her art

belong to the person who programmed her algorithmic system? And, if we can say that AI works are their own, what does that mean for the idea of personhood? Although Ai-Da may not yet be at the stage of creating true autonomous feelings and conveying them on canvas, she represents the possibility that human personhood could be replicated. How unique will humans be if we can be replicated and mechanically reproduced with automated rapidity? What is particularly unnerving is that Ai-Da represents a not so inconceivable future of cyborghuman reality. In many ways she is a constantly unfurling piece of artwork, and her presence, movements and the reactions she generates force us to question what our increasing

bond with technology means for humanity. For Meller, Ai-Da primarily is meant to encourage public discussion on the rising use and abuse of technology. In many ways then her detainment in Egypt signifies Meller’s success. Ai-Da was detained because she is technological; the information she holds and her ability to penetrate through borders made authorities worry that she was part of a complex espionage plot. People have come to accept that artificial intelligence penetrates everyday life, but it seems when crossed with art, a form of self-expression which is deeply personal, there is debate on whether robots should be creating art or just sticking to making our lives easier in this technological age.

exhibit | arts + lit

9 NOV 2021 | 19

EDITOR: Ella Minty

From the West End to phone screens Katie Jones explores the relatively new concept of streaming theatre online

HEATRE by its very nature is exclusionary — to be in “the room where it happens’” in the words of Aaron Burr from Hamilton Hamilton,, you need to live near theatres and have the means to afford the ever-rising price of a ticket. For years fans have called for greater accessibility and theatres have required innovation to remain afloat. The arts industry was the first to shut down in 2020 due to COVID-19 and was one of the last to reopen. In that time, when theatre doors were closed, theatre became widely available at home.

theatre. If a theatre fan has the means to see a show live, they will choose that over a filmed production every time. However, filmed productions provide

Must Go On proved a popular hub of weekly musical content, as did the National Theatre at Home; Home; this event, where families watched musicals and plays weekly as they were

FILMED PRODUCTIONS PROVIDE THE BENEFIT OF WIDENING THE POSSIBLE AUDIENCE

NOTHING WILL COMPARE TO THE ATMOSPHERE OF LIVE THEATRE Producers had been hesitant to release filmed versions of their shows, undergoing fears that if audiences could buy a DVD, they would never fork out the money to see a show live. Releases of shows such as Billy Elliot, Rent and Newsies had been reserved for after the shows have ended their runs. This fear is perhaps unfounded; anyone who has had the chance to sit in a West End or Broadway audience can attest that nothing will compare to the atmosphere of live

It was planned to debut on Broadway in March 2020, but instead a filmed version was released straight to Netflix. Whilst Diana Diana,, as a musical, leaves much to be desired, the release was very successful and will hopefully pave the way for more shows to be released similarly. Netflix continues its foray into musical theatre with the addition of the 25th anniversary production of Miss Saigon which begins streaming in mid-November.

the benefit of widening released, created new the possible audience. Over theatre fans who now Image: PxFuel the pandemic, producers tapped into wanted to experience theatre live. their pre-filmed pool of shows for the greater When Hamilton came to Disney+ on 4 good and many were streamed on YouTube. July 2020, it was a major event. The release Andrew Lloyd Webber’s venture The Show of Diana on Netflix was a further innovation.

Widespread streaming releases may also help tackle a major taboo in the theatre community — bootlegs, which are illegally filmed recordings of shows by an audience member. Consequently, they are often poor quality, yet fans find a love of theatre through watching bootlegs. If producers want to get serious about tackling bootlegging, streaming releases of their shows is the way forward. People who love theatre want to see theatre, and the easier it is to do that, the better.

Defined by death: the female writer Carys Williams discusses how the circumstances in which female writers die often defines their work

ROM Sylvia Plath to Charlotte Perkins Gilman, certain female writers throughout history have become synonymous with ideas of suicide and depression. All too often what female authors have produced during their lifetime is overshadowed by the circumstances of their deaths. When listening to Plath reciting her poem ‘Lady Lazarus’, it is hard not to contextualise the words chosen while also knowing about her lifelong struggle with mental illness. The post-humous popularity and success her poems and novel achieved have given Sylvia Plath a mythical status. Is this because her suicide potentially made it easier for people to romanticise her and apply the idea of the ‘tortured soul’? Or could it be that when the genius behind a successful novel and poetry collection is dead, the romanticisation of them by modern society is inevitable? The Brontë family is an example of this: famous for their novels and their immeasurable talent, the siblings are known world over. Readers obsess over the imagery of Anne, Emily and Charlotte writing their novels in a moodylooking parsonage in the vicinity of the

Yorkshire Moors. The gothic quality combined with tragic events within their own lives mean that the Brontës themselves become a story, independent of what they have created.

THEIR NAMES REMAIN SHROUDED IN IDEAS OF DEPRESSION AND DESPAIR Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf both suffered personal trauma and the tragic circumstances of their lives exacerbate the tragedy of their deaths. It is the idea of what they could have gone on to write if their inner struggle wasn’t so all-encompassing. It is human nature to want to delve into the psyche of people who had so many idiosyncrasies but also so much talent; if you read about an author enough, emotionally connecting to their life story is inevitable and subconsciously their personality and struggles become glamourised. As any bookworm will know, it is normal to view a favourite author’s

work, and subsequently their biographical circumstances, with rose-tinted glasses. In the case of Plath, her own struggle with depression is evident in the character of Esther Greenwood in The Bell Jar, and in many of her poems. Her poems about death and bodies may not have taken on the same poignancy for modern readers if Plath’s own story had had a different ending. Similarly, Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway has an added sadness because while reading about the shell-shocked Septimus Smith, the reader is moved to consider Woolf’s own suffering and her suicide. Reading the work of Plath, Woolf and Gilman nowadays, it is important to contemplate the times they were living in. There was a huge stigma surrounding mental illness and there was no open dialogue on the topic like there is today. The fact that feelings could not be openly talked about, along with the limitations placed on women by society, would have increased the loneliness and internal struggles these writers faced. In The Yellow Wallpaper, the narrator’s emotional reality is questioned by those around her and it adds a more despairing and tragic

undercurrent to the story. Looking back at the past from the modern perspective, the lack of treatment options Woolf, Gilman and Plath had access to is shocking. The way mental illness was perceived in the past during their lifetimes is in itself a type of tragedy. In that respect, when thinking of these writers it is hard to state that they had mental health issues without also acknowledging the lack of mental health support there was at the time. Their suicides have an added poignancy as the reader wonders that if things had been different, would their lives have ended differently? Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath and Charlotte Perkins Gilman are still celebrated today for their works, but their names remain shrouded in ideas of depression and despair. Do you think that the attitudes of the past can taint an author’s image in the present, or is it that their deaths were so tragic that the sorrow sticks in people’s minds alongside what they created? Can there ever be one definitive reason as to why certain authors are associated with certain things? These questions remain to be answered.

MUSIC

Pedal to the metal

Charlotte Bend, Music Editor, discusses Coldplay's attempt to be more sustainble with their performances

N 17 October, the very first Earthshot Prize awards ceremony took place. Hosted by Clara Amfo and Dermot O’Leary at Alexandra Palace in London, the event was introduced by Prince William who launched the prize alongside The Royal Foundation in October 2020. Of course, what would a British environmental prize be without Britain foremost national treasure, Sir David Attenborough? Attenborough spoke about the prize itself, why it is so important for future generations and his optimism for our ability to face future environmental challenges. This prize is not only the most prestigious environmental prize, it also offers a solution to the climate crisis that we now face, thereby offering some hope to those who are experiencing ‘climate-anxiety’. It attempts to show the incredible ability of our generation to repair the environment, inspiring others to get involved rather than be scared away by the immense, overwhelming sense of doom that often takes over narratives seen in the press.

THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL PRIZE, IT ALSO OFFERS A SOLUTION TO THE CLIMATE CRISIIS The prize itself culminated in five awards for: protecting nature, cleaning our air, reviving our oceans, building a wastefree world and fixing out climate. This simple approach ensures ambitious goals can be obtained with each category covering a wide range of needs. Whilst introducing the prize, Prince William told viewers that “we don’t need a Moonshot, we need E a r t h shots” as the prize took influence from the Apollo moon landings, named Moonshot, which was significant in advancing technology. The winners were announced with an impressive line-up of presenters, the highlights being The Duchess of Cambridge,

Emma Thompson, Emma Watson and David Oyelowo. Remarkably, none of the stars flew to attend and everyone was asked to consider the environment when choosing their outfits. Whilst each winner is awarded one million in funding to further their innovations in the hope of protecting our planet. The winners were selected due to their ability to have the greatest impact on the urgent environmental challenges our planet is facing. We will continue to see this annual prize until 2030 in the hope of supporting ground-breaking work that has the ability to have an immense enviro n m e n t a l impact.

Whilst the ceremony saw performances from a series of renowned artists including Ed Sheeran, KSI, Yemi Alade and Shawn Mendes. There was only one performance that stood out. With their dedication to sustainability extending to the energy powering their performance, Coldplay’s act was powered by sixty cyclists on stage. Their performance started with Chris Martin thanking the cyclists for making their act possible. With various psychedelic style bright lights around the darkened room, the bikes’ wheels lit up as they spun adding to the clubbing aesthetic. BTS were featured on projectors which lit up their image onto the background of Alexandra Palace. With the sixty cyclists clapping to the beat as the band rocked on stage, the atmosphere seemed vibrant and fun, even through a television screen. In typical Coldplay style, it seemed a performance with the people rather than simply for the people. This is only the beginning for Coldplay’s sustainability pledge as they have recently announced that their 2022 world tour, Music Of The Spheres, will have a net-zero carbon footprint. They have even released a sustainability twelve-point plan including powering their shows through bicycles and electricity-producing dancefloors. This incredible idea of using kinetic energy of those attending their performances to power the electricity needed for the show is one which should be taken up by other bands as it is such an important move towards sustainability. Coldplay’s pledge goes further than this too, promising to build sets from bamboo, planting a tree for every ticket sold and using oil that would otherwise go to waste from restaurants and businesses in the area that they are playing in. Yet it’s not all hopeful. Chris Martin has admitted to the BBC that the band “don’t have an argument against” the touring emissions which derive from travelling. Whilst admitting the band are prepared for the backlash they may receive, he said that the band wants to tour and so they have de-

cided to do it in the “cleanest way possible”. Following an interview in 2019 where Chris discussed a self-imposed tour ban for the band until they could come up with more sustainable solutions, he was soon contacted by businesses wanting to help them achieve their aims. Fast-forward a few years and the band now have two people working full-time to help them become more sustainable. The result being the twelvepoint plan that has recently been released.

A PERFORMANCE WITH THE PEOPLE RATHER THAN SIMPLY FOR THE PEOPLE They are not the first band to aspire for a net-zero tour. Radiohead and Massive Attack have both managed to create events with as little carbon footprint as possible. Whilst the likes of Billie Eilish and The Dave Matthews Band have previously planned tours before 2020, with sustainability in mind, yet COVID-19 prevented their tours from continuing. Whilst some may view Coldplay’s sudden environmental concerns as tokenistic, history tells us that music often echoes progress for social change. Coldplay’s actions for an eco-friendly tour may urge other bands to do the same, pressuring the music industry into becoming more sustainable. Let’s hope that Coldplay’s new tour starts a domino effect, ensuring that a new expectation for bands and their ability to be as sustainable as possible is set.

USING KINETIC ENERGY OF THOSE ATTENDING THEIR PERFORMANCES TO POWER THE ELECTRICITY NEEDED FOR THE SHOW In light of COP26, it is clear that action must be taken to protect this planet from climate change, and that these changes are needed urgently. Coldplay’s step towards a more environmentally friendly tour is a significant turning point in the music industry’s ability to affect global sustainability issues. Images (L-R): Wikimedia Commons,, Wikimedia Commons, iStock

exhibit | music

9 NOVEMBER 2021 | 21

EDITORS: Charlotte Bend and Harry Hawkins

Punk for good? Harry Hawkins, Print Music Editor, reflects on the Cavern's Red Cross Charity gig on 28 October

N a blustery, rain-soaked night in that strange period pre-Halloween but post-enjoyable weather in Exeter, the prospect of going into a nice warm (likely sweaty) venue and taking in some live music is very alluring. Whilst huge headliners can’t always be expected right in the middle of Exeter, there are plenty of venues which showcase local and smaller scale acts, and Cavern is no exception. Going to the Red Cross Charity gig made me really appreciate the importance of having local music connections, and blew me away with how much variety and musicality was on show. After more than a year of bands being unable to play, seeing them come back to venues for a good cause and a love of music was a reassuring experience. This was made better by being hosted by Exeter's Freakscene – one of the Cavern’s ways of hosting unique and interesting DIY gigs in Exeter, even bringing Fugazi to Exeter Lemongrove in the early 2000s.

LOCAL RELEASES The Issues — 'Charlie's a Dickhead' — a riotously fun single about people you can't stand

Fifty First State — Plastic — Stompy riffs and energetic drums drive this blistering 18-minute album.

EXETER CANNOT BE UNDERESTIMATED AS A HUB FOR BANDS ON THE RISE Proceedings started off upbeat with the charming harmonies and guitar patterns of the Falmouth folk duo Horses in Disguise. Like all of the bands that played that night, they had a connection to Exeter (Cavern was their first gig!), and presented their set as a development of their songs, from their first ideas to some latest offerings – such as songs they recorded with Falmouth's Speedboat Sessions during lockdown. Although their acoustic guitars would have you believe they are only folk music based, they have a strong affinity with punk scenes and are huge fans of hardcore and indie. They are also no strangers to charity with their music, having been part of the We Shall Overcome events, which are a national cause making practical change to combat the effects of austerity. Kicking things up to a raucous boil were The Issues, who have kept a lot of pep in their step as one of the more energetic student bands. Despite (and perhaps be-

Image: Michael Mamertz

cause of ) some line-up changes, their mix of 2000s indie cheekiness with classic punk tendencies and rhythms makes their songs very infectious — see the pace set by two of their recent songs 'Charlie is a Dickhead' and 'My sister was a punk'. They can also seriously jam out, with some fun bits of guitar soloing and some terrific drum grooves. A cover of an early Sports Team fave 'Kutcher' fit like a glove into their set — remind yourself that Sports Team were in a similar position to The Issues as a campus-based band not too long ago, and it may be a portent of tunes to come.

ENORMOUS RIFFS THAT SOUND LIKE THE DEMON CHILD OF ROYAL BLOOD AND IDLES Bristol’s Gimic soon arrived to rumble the stage, armed to the teeth with pummelling riffs and two Rorys. With one of the members being an Exeter native and having played their first gigs at Cavern, they

Image: 51st State

made a natural fit on stage and have played with local groups like 51st State before. Self-described as a fusion of rock'n'roll bass, funky drumming and shrieking, they created a totally different and more macabre atmosphere than any of the other groups, with some incredible bursts of rage and virtuous drum and guitar work that would hardly make you think that the band had only formed a short while before lockdown last year. Songs from their Bandcamp demo (aptly named DEMO) exploded and dissolved in real time, with powerful hardcore beats transitioning into crushing breakdowns — the weight of every note pressing like gravity. They could still be pretty melodic though, with the vocalist alternating between screams to compete with squalling lead guitar but also holding some memorable tunes to compete with the chaos. To cap the night off, 51st State fired on all cylinders with nearly an hour of punk odyssey that is in connection with its loudmouthed roots but also manages to infuse it with spacy dub vibes — all this while being a drums and bass-only power duo. When it came to songs, they spanned the whole gambit. Songs about a gargoyle smoking a pipe, or the never-ending flux between credit/debt (all too close to home for some of us students)? Check. Enormous riffs that sound like the demon child of Royal Blood and IDLES? Check out 'Fear' and 'Beasts & Slaves'. Moshing was enjoyed all around, with the deft breakbeat punk backed by vocals from both members. To see the whole assortment was like a chronology of punk music in the truest, freest sense — from the quietest to the loudest, whispers and roars. To see so many musicians so eager to play just for the joy of live music speaks volumes as to Exeter’s underrated position as a hub of bands on the rise — and now more than ever is a great time to support the huge community of UK groups who are keen to play but nonetheless scuppered by difficulties in procuring visas for abroad, as well as a chronic underfunding of the arts.

GIMIC— DEMO — The atmosphere on this EP intoxicates and really pulls in for heavy hits like "Frat House Jesus"

Horses in Disguise EP — a brief but briliant EP with some classic folk songwork and bittersweet lyrics

Image credits (top to bottom): DLH Records, Grow Your Own Records, Thrash and Trash Recordings, 1422099 Records

screen

What happened to Halyna Hutchins? Catherine Nock reports on the tragic death of Rust’s cinematographer and discusses safety on film sets

N October 21, the camera crew for Rust walked off set hours before shooting in protest over working conditions — with grievances including safety, long hours and accommodation. Roughly six hours later, acclaimed actor Alec Baldwin is handed a ‘cold gun’, preparing to rehearse a scene. As he removes it from the holster and aims it at the camera, to simulate firing at the audience, a bullet flies from the barrel, past the camera operator, and strikes director of photography Halyna Hutchins. The same bullet also injures director Joel Souza, who is crouched behind her. Hutchins falls to the ground, saying she can’t feel her legs, as shocked colleagues apply pressure to the wound to stem the bleeding; however, despite their best efforts, Halyna would tragically lose her life later that day on the flight to University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. The gun was not cold. Halyna Hutchins — dubbed a “rising star” (ABC News) — was a vibrant, up-and-coming cinematographer and journalist from Ukraine. A graduate of the American Film Institute Conservatory, she has worked on over thirty films, short films and TV miniseries. Hutch-

ins herself was deeply upset by the walkout of the camera crew — an event which was somewhat prescient of the tragedy that would occur later that day.

COMPLACENCY IS THE WORD USED TO SUMMARISE THE ATTITUDE TOWARDS WEAPONS ON SET As in any work environment, the personal safety of all employees is a fundamental, basic standard. However, on Rust’s set near Santa Fe, safety protocols were clearly not followed. A stunt double for Baldwin had already mistakenly fired a gun before this incident, and crew members were concerned that accidents such as these prompted no formal investigation, stating that “all they wanted to do was rush, rush, rush” (LA Times). Was this incident sparked by a push for quick production, or is it indicative of a deeper issue within the film industry?

‘Complacency’ is the word used to summarise the attitude towards weapons on set. The investigation suggests an element of de-sensitisation surrounding gun usage. Five hundred rounds of ammunition were identified on set (a combination of blanks, dummy rounds and potentially live rounds). Several industry specialists have come forward since the affidavit revealed this information to insist that no live ammunition should have been available. Following the accidental gun shots, a colleague texted the unit production manager, describing conditions as “super unsafe” (LA Times) — a direct sign that colleagues felt endangered by their immediate work environment.

GUNS ARE VOLATILE, DESTRUCTIVE WEAPONS AND FILM SETS HAVE A DUTY TO Besides the gun itself, bullets must also be checked to ensure they are dummy rounds.

Armourers are the staff who handle the prop weapon use on set; Rust’s armourer was Hannah Gutierrez Reed. During lunch, the filming guns were locked in a safe in a prop truck. Prop master Sarah Zachry took the guns from the safe and handed them to Gutierrez, who placed them on a cart; then Dave Halls, assistant director, gave one to Baldwin. He did not fully check the weapon to confirm there were no live rounds. Rust Movie Productions has halted shooting to conduct an internal review of its procedures — a crucial reminder for all film sets. The tragedy highlights the very fine line between the fiction of film and the reality of the weapons used to portray this fiction. No prop gun should ever be ‘live’, and Baldwin has spoken out in favour of limiting the use of firearms on set. It also gravely cautions against the sacrifices of rushing production, engendering negligence. Actor Ian Hudson described armourer Gutierrez as “pressed for time” (ABC News). Live guns are always volatile; destructive weapons on film sets have a duty to remain cautious of their very real potential to kill.

The best (and the worst) of both worlds Exeposé Screen Writers discuss the best and worse cases of musicians-turned-actors

T’S no secret that many a musician has made the often less-than-successful transition from recording studio to the big screen, but arguably in the case of Jennifer Lopez, it’s a progression we as audiences can welcome. Admittedly, the films themselves do not do particularly well. But we don’t watch J-Lo for her witty one-liners or compelling plot lines. It’s that ditsy, girl-about-town act that she does so well, far more convincingly than the likes of Cameron Diaz. There’s something so natural about her that’s a far cry from super yachts and tasseled leotards. She is transformed when she acts, as all good actresses should be. Sure, she still has that Hollywood veneer about her: that perfect, sun-kissed sheen that only exists in the movies. But, arguably, her cinematic presence has an authenticity, almost a shyness to it, that lacks arrogance and is really quite refreshing. Maybe she doesn’t ooze originality or raw talent, but she brings to her roles a realism and a relatability. She represents both our dream version of what the everyday woman might look like, without being dishearteningly out of reach, and she brings enough humility to movies such as Maid in Manhattan and The Backup Plan that we root for her character throughout, even after we lose interest in the movie itself.

JENNIFER LOPEZ

Eleanor Bartlett

HIS ‘Starr’s performance will leave you anything but over the moon. The former Beatles drummer is undeniably a talented musician, behind classics like ‘Octopus’ Garden’ and vocalist for the beloved ‘Yellow Submarine’, but his work on the silver screen leaves much to be desired. The drummer appeared in minor film roles such as in Candy (1968), The Magic Christian (1969), Blindman (1971) and Son of Dracula (1974) which, while star-studded, have not stood the test of time or inspired their audiences greatly. Starring in the slapstick feature The Caveman in 1981, it was thankfully Ringo’s first and last leading actor role in a major motion picture. Released the year after The Empire Strikes Back, it would seem the funniest elements of the film are the abominable special effects and pantomime dramatics, which have, nonetheless, made the film a cult classic. To describe the script as garbled gibberish is no slight or exaggeration, as the script comprises only their names and an emulation of the most primitive speech. Starr has however found ample opportunity to use his distinctive voice on the small screen, becoming everyone’s favourite narrator on the island of Sodor as narrator of Thomas the Tank Engine in 1984. Perhaps Ringo’s vocal talents are best appreciated when he’s safely behind the camera lens… Gwenllian Page-Gibby

RINGO STARR

TEFANI Germanotta, better known by her stage name, Lady Gaga, has taken the leap from studio to screen and landed on her feet. Gaga is known for her outrageous onstage persona and she has harnessed that performative talent on screen. Her first appearance not as herself in television was as The Countess in American Horror Story, for which she won a Golden Globe. But it was her cinematic debut that marked her worldwide as “one hell of an actress” (Rolling Stone). Following in the footsteps of Barbra Streisand, she was cast in A Star is Born for her voice. What was unexpected by many, due to her public image as a ‘Fame Monster’ in a meat dress, was her real and raw portrayal of Ally which had us crying along with her in this heart-breaking film. Now, she is moving away from musicals and is taking on the role of real-life character Patrizia Reggiani in House of Gucci which premieres this year. She will also star in the action film Bullet Train which is to come out in 2022. It will be interesting to see how she takes on the challenge of playing the scandalous Italian Reggiani, but from what we’ve seen so far, it will be something to look forward to.

LADY GAGA

Images (L-R): Jennifer Lopez in Maid in Manhattan, Columbia Pictures, IMDb. Ringo Starr in The Caveman, Turman-Foster Company, IMDb. Lady Gaga in A Star is Born, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, IMDb.

Maddie Luke

exhibit

EDITORS: Archie Lockyer and Francesca Sylph

screen

23 NOV 2021

Score Spotlight: Phantom Thread T

Archie Lockyer, Screen Editor, talks about Jonny Greenwood’s masterful music

HE tale of Reynold Woodcock, the perfectionist artist, controlling to the point of obsession dressmaker. And his romantic connection to his bold, daring, conniving muse, Alma is a story beautifully woven with Jonny Greenwood’s lavish, often haunting score. Phantom Thread simply does not function as the masterpiece it is, without the central cog that is Jonny Greenwood. Greenwood is able to express the melancholic intensity that is felt throughout the film. The use of strings to embody the character of Reynold Woodcock, strongly identifying the character with this highstrung formality. Whilst simultaneously using piano amongst others to show this deep passion and romance and surreal synergy within the film between Woodcock and Alma bringing to life this fascinating, beautiful juxtaposition for the listener. Yet Greenwood does not stop at merely with this intoxicating combination of the formal with the romantic. Rather, adding this impatient dread into the mix, sudden stops and starts in “Boletus Felleus” and “Never Cursed” add to this hurtling train of tension on the fate of their romance when it comes into conflict with the domineering, exacting artist within Woodcock. To me, Greenwood captures the insanity, the often times bewildering to the outsider connection that the two have, incorporating all facets even the darker elements of Phantom Thread perfectly. This is further shown through the evolution of the main theme of the film, embodying the evolution of Woodcock from the singular violin reflecting his own self-interest to an

entire orchestra showing his newfound devotion and care for Alma. Greenwood does not merely use music to reflect a mood or environment but rather to bring about a catharsis on characters and how they change on screen. Yet Greenwood does not do so in an overt or definite way. Greenwood treats the characters in a very human way purely through the perspective of music, as identified through “Phantom Thread IV”, the final version of the main theme

which still Image:IMDB incorporates the singular violin suggesting that Woodcock whilst still having this stern orderliness, also contends with this symphony of romance in his life. Greenwood does not solely use this for the development of Woodcock however. “Alma” fantastically shows the complex nature of the muse as much as the artist, depicting her not as just as this one dimensional being to be “brought to life” by our problematic protagonist. Rather, than

merely piano, Greenwood brings in a plethora of different instruments, giving the piece this mysterious sense of complexity. Perhaps this is to suggest this secret that Woodcock sees in Alma, but rather I believe Greenwood is suggesting that Alma is not merely as a muse through the lens of Woodcock, but rather as a character with her own agenda, desires and flaws. Whilst Greenwood captures the characters, their development and their journey purely through music. This

does not stop him from giving us gorgeous pieces such as “House of Woodcock” that exemplify the fashion house’s systematic yet entrancing precision in designing dresses, allowing us to ingratiate ourselves within Woodcock’s sterile world. Within the conflict that Paul Thomas Anderson creates, between the desire for perfection in a vocation and how this can hinder any relation to other things important in life, most prominently, love. Both romantically and familial. Is a battle that I find permanently enchanting. When we as people watch or write, or design, particularly with a great deal of knowledge on the subject, we tend to forget about other things that are important in our lives. We do not solely revolve around vocations but people. Reynold Woodcock, represents this obsession taken to it’s natural extreme, someone who believes their vocation should be the centre of reality and everyone should merely bend to it’s (or his) whim. Greenwood successfully captures the essence of this conflict and Woodcock’s inevitable shift through Alma’s intervention with such grace, such subtlety whilst still managing to convey the setting of 1950’s London with such vigour that merely listening to the score brings back visual bliss of Fitzrovia.

Image Source: IMDB

British Indie Spotlight Gwenllian Page-Gibby discusses the Welsh Oscar Nominated Hedd Wynn

HILE many of us have flocked to see the next new blockbusters in the cinema, sadly not everyone will have heard of this Welsh gem. The chronically underrated Hedd Wyn is a masterpiece, criminally overlooked in popular culture, despite being one of the most highly regarded films written in a Celtic language. Be prepared for heartbreak as you embark upon this emotional journey about Welsh-medium poet Elis Humphrey Evans and his struggle to remain a conscientious objector during World War one. The name of the biopic, Hedd Wyn means ‘blessed peace’ and was the nom de plume of the pacifist farming poet from North Wales. The young writer was killed on the first day of the battle of Passchendaele in Ypres, putting an end to a bard’s life who had so much potential. Hedd Wyn posthumously won the 1917 National Eisteddfod’s grand poetry prize ‘the chair’ with his

poem ‘Yr Arwr’ (The hero), but the ‘black chair’ has of course remained empty; a symbolic image of life lost in the great war. The ‘chair’ of the National Eisteddfod is one of Wales’ most prestigious prizes, awarded to the most talented metred poet. In my opinion, this biopic is the perfect way to dip your toes into Welsh culture and the tantalising depths of Welsh language cinema. Despite the language barrier, the audience truly resonates with the story of this young man, struck down in his prime. Despite its lack of notoriety, the picture won the Royal Television Society’s Award for Best Single Drama, Celtic Film Festival’s Spirit of the Festival Award (1993), First Prize at the Belgium Film Festival (1994) and many more. The film was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 1993, making it the first UK film in history to do so. If it’s good enough for the Oscars, then it’s good enough for us!

Archie Locker, Screen Editor discusses Dennis Kelly’s Utopia

HEN we think of British television we may jump to classics like Doctor Who or Peaky Blinders, yet none hold a flame to Dennis Kelly’s Utopia. Running between 2013 and 2014 before being unjustifably cancelled by Channel 4 follows a group who uncover a secret organisation known as ‘The Network’ that has working outside the bounds of government for decades run by the mysterious Mr Rabbit. Kelly started Utopia with the vision of making something ‘distinctivally British’, a tv show that neither takes influence Europe or ‘across the pond’. With the gourgeously flourescent visuals juxtaposed by the sheer brutality of the violence shown in the screen conducted by The Network and our protoganists makes for outstandingly surreal and eclectic viewing. The narrative is one that draws in the viewer, giving us the perfect blend of exploring con-

temnporary issues such as the climate crisis as well as forcing us to question our own moral or ethical values including whether the ends justify the means. Linking with the visually draw dropping scenes is the fantastic music by Cristobal Tapia De Veer whose future work would include Humans and HBO’s Aloha which continues his fascinating yet uncomfortable use of sounds such as heavy breathing to create a symphony of tension within the show. In my opinion, there is a TV Industry before and after Utopia with Kelly’s inspired narrative and direction walking so that other shows like Sam Esmail’s Mr Robot could run. With the both striking directly at capitalism and the effects that it can have both physically on the planet as well as the psyches of those living on it.

Imag

TECH

Nutmeg: the UK’s largest digitial wealth manager Lucy Aylmer, Deputy Editor, sits down with Kat Mann from Nutmeg to discuss the company and student investment

OUNDED in 2011 by Nick Hungerford and William Todd, investment management firm Nutmeg has emerged as the largest digital wealth managers in the UK with over 150k clients. Lucy Aylmer sat down with Kat Mann, head of PR and savings and investment specialists, to talk more about the company and student investing. É: Could you tell us a bit about Nutmeg? K: Nutmeg was founded in 2012 as the first digital wealth manager in the UK. Traditionally in the UK, the wealth management market was the preserve of the wealthy. Nutmeg aims to overcome this by making wealth management accessible to many more people through using technology and cutting out complex jargon. Our services can be accessed through the web or by using our app. É As one of the largest digital wealth managers in the UK, how does Nutmeg optimise technology to improve customer investment experience? By having an app and online log in, we can sense changes in behaviour. For example, when there is volatility in the markets, people are more likely to check in on their investments. We can use the data to establish the number of times customers check in on their account and implement prompt cards to improve customer experience based on the data accrued.

to asset then I am fine with it. Equally, I could win big in the first race and have a good day. É: Digital investments are increasing exponentially, could you explain how Nutmeg plans to path a future for itself in this increasingly popular market space? K: We’ve seen really rapid growth in the past 18 months. We believe this is because we have a lot of tools and assistance on our website to help you understand how much money should be

people — particularly your generation, are really switched on when it comes to finance. Whether you are investing for your children, putting money into a lifetime ISA for a first-time home or thinking about retirement, we can help you achieve those goals through the support of people and technology. And that’s what it is about. É: Who are Nutmeg’s target customers? K: It is really varied; 60 per cent of our customer base have had prior investing

RISK IS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS BUT ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR HIGHER RETURNS

NUTMEG AIMS TO [MAKE] WEALTH MANAGEMENT ACCESSIBLE TO MANY MORE PEOPLE É: What are Nutmeg’s views on cryptocurrency? K: We don’t invest in crypto assets. There are quite a few red flags with crypto. They’re unregulated, volatile and high risk. This is because the advertising that comes along with it lacks the scrutiny that regulated assets have. Also, their anonymity makes it difficult to track who has what and make them much more susceptible to fraud. If you want to use crypto, that’s fine — but use it as your play money. I consider crypto investing the same way I might with going to the races or placing a bet: if I am happy to lose all of what I put in a cryp-

the fact that Nutmeg uses a robo-adviser to provide financial guidance? K: We don’t like the robo-advisor term because it’s misleading. Firstly, there are no robots. Secondly, Nutmeg can be used without a financial advice package. Instead, Nutmeg asks users a series of questions to assess your attitude towards risk and profiles you accordingly. This service can be used via website or the app which is custom built by Nutmeg and based on an algorithm. These portfolios are then monitored by our investment managers who keep an eye on the markets, budgets earning seasons, inflation and Bank of England announcements. This is different to a traditional DIY trading system as you don’t get that assistance.

Image: courtesy of Nutmeg

invested per month and what the impact of changing direct debits is on investments. Plus, the ability to do things remotely when you can’t go in and sit next to somebody has had a profound impact on our user rates. É: Nutmeg has been described as democratising finance, could you explain this concept further? K: We want to give everyone access to a service and experience that was previously unattainable. Typically, people used to follow similar investment paths to their parents, but nowadays young

experience. The service we offer appeals to a broad range of customers who don’t want to pay more than necessary, like technology and enjoy having more control over their investments. We also have more female investors in relation to the rest of the market. We believe this is because we don’t use unnecessary jargon and you can invest at your own pace with the assurance that there is a human element if you need to speak to someone. É : How can users be assured that your service is safe and dependable given

É: And finally, what advice would you give to students who are keen to start investing? K: Aim to have a clear idea of what your goal is. Beyond that, give it a purpose and name such as paying off your student debt or trying to get onto the property ladder. Secondly, have a clear time frame. If you need the money within three years, you are better off having a cash account as markets are subject to volatility. If the time frame exceeds three years, then investing is probably right for you. I would also advise that you know how comfortable you are with risk. Risk is the potential for losses but also the potential for higher returns. Do fluctuations in the short-term bother you? At the start of last year, the stock markets absolutely tanked. Global stock markets were down by around 30 per cent from the start of the year. Had you remained invested throughout last year and effectively done nothing, you would’ve ended up in the green and finished the year with more money than you had started. That is why it is important to understand how you feel about market volatility. My fourth tip would be is getting into a good habit through consistent investing. It means that you think about investing in the same way you would paying your weekly rent or buying food.

exhibit |

TECH

9 NOV 2021 | 25

EDITOR: Chloe Pumares and Oliver Leader De Saxe

Automatic Fail

Cassia Grace, Deputy Editor, discusses the issues with replacing man with machines

Image: Pxfuel

HEN you think of robots and AI, you often think of some futuristic scenario. From I-robot to I am mother, and all the other ‘i’ films in between, the rise of robots has been spun as some apocalyptic nightmare. In reality, it seems unlikely that this will ever be the case. Instead, robots seem likely to come in the form of automation; a much more subtle and less violent development in technology. But is it less dangerous? According to the World Economic Forum 2020, half of all work tasks are at risk of automation by 2025. No matter what career path you choose when you leave the hallowed halls of Exeter, you are likely to see automation impact your life. Already, the Brookings Institution estimates that more than 25 per cent of jobs in the US are being disrupted by automation. With those kind of statistics being published on a regular basis, ‘automation anxiety’ is starting to creep into the general subconscious. Fear of redundancy is on the rise. Even jobs such as McDonalds are moving towards a robotic revolution, with their partnership with IBM looking towards an automated drive-through experience; early tests in Chicago stores show that they can handle orders with 80 per cent accuracy. Maybe it is not so much a case of redundancy but instead a case of adapting to survive. Admittedly certain roles may be left by

the wayside but new jobs will also emerge. For all the technological developments of the past few years, teaching robots how to emulate emotion has still not made its mark; it turns out that Aristotle was right when he said that what separates man from animals is the ability to reason. Microwork is how AI learns to replicate human behaviour. When you click that ‘I’m not a robot’ button and then stress over whether that corner of the traffic light counts as its own square, you are witnessing the product of human labour. Not of course labour in the traditional, 'dyingin-the-coal-mines' sense, but instead someone who can work from home and is hired to input data and click a few buttons. They give AI the information needed to function and interact with us. Examples of this include Amazon’s Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourcing website that allows businesses to hire “crowdsourcers” for jobs that computers currently can’t do. Of course, menial jobs such as this one provide the chance of casual employment for those otherwise unable to find jobs. Microwork is especially popular in the Global South, with people from Venezuela and Kenya being paid more for microwork than if they belonged to a more recognised profession such as dentistry. It also adds to the push to ‘give work, not aid’ (the ethics of which is a debate best saved for another day). As with all things, there is a darker side

to microwork. In his book Work Without the Worker: Labour in the Age of Platform Capitalism, Jones refers to digilabour as the “processes of sluggish growth, proletarianism and declining labour demand”. Certainly, it does place those already in a vulnerable position at the mercy of unreliable corporations. According to the International Labour Organisation, 15 per cent of tasks go unpaid and tasks take only seconds to complete, meaning that the average $4.70 an hour which microworkers in North America receive requires multiple assignments to achieve.

PLACES THOSE ALREADY IN A VULERABLE POSITION AT THE MERCY OF UNRELIABLE CORPORATIONS So, as we roll towards the end of our degree, desperately looking for jobs, it’s not just our fellow graduates that we need to look out for, its also the encroachment of automation into our lives and workplaces. When they steal our jobs they may not know the first law of robotics to “never harm a human being”, and the corporations running them certainly won’t teach them.

Streaming: the future of gaming? I

Chloe Pumares, Deputy Editor, delves into whether streaming video games is the next big thing

MAGINE a world where you can game anytime, anywhere. Not restricted by consoles or the number of games you have, basically a library with what feels like an unlimited number of games; that is what is being proposed with the possibility of streaming. One company has already took the plunge into this new form of gaming. Can you guess which one has deep enough pockets to take risks and enter previously untested fields? Think of a company which has tried and failed numerous times to create gaming products. If you guessed Google you would be right. The creation of Google Stadia, a platform which aims to make your favourite games instantly available. Google Stadia launched 19 November 2019 and offers on-the-go streaming on a range of

devices, from smartphones to PC’s as well as having a built-in YouTube Gaming live-streaming. It costs about £9.99 a month, very similar to other streaming platforms such as Netflix and Amazon Prime. Although you still need to buy either a Google Stadia controller for £59 or alternatively use an Xbox One controller or PS4’s DualShock4 gamepad. Games are mainly from third parties, with only a few exclusive games on offer Yet, it's not quite Netflix’s answer to gaming that it was made out to be. Despite paying a fee for access to Google Stadia, further payment is required for the games themselves, with little to no subsidisation. It almost defeats the point of a streaming service, why would you pay for an all-you-can-eat-buffet only to then pay for each individual dish anyway. This is one of the

many potential problems that may have affected the success of Google Stadia, as the streaming of games has yet to really hit the mainstream. Another flaw in Google’s plan is whether this streaming platform is something gamers even desire. Many seem happy to sit in their rooms, in the comfort of their own home and play whatever they have access to. For those who want to game on-the-go there are consoles for that such as the Nintendo Switch, which has a multitude of games you can purchase. So a streaming platform for video games seems almost redundant. Aside from that, there are many other problems which have and will continue to plague video game streaming websites. Being heavily dependent on your internet connection, if you live in the middle of nowhere with shoddy Wi-Fi and spotty

connection then paying to play on a streaming service is likely not the best idea. When using iOS, you can only ‘cast’ games to the Chromecast Ultra; hardly music to iPhone users ears. Ultimately it seems that until gamers call for streaming platforms and actively seek them out, they are almost pointless to create. Platforms such as Netflix, and consequently Google Stadia, are only good when a big crowd are drawn to them and they can afford to introduce better content for their growing audience. Gaming companies may one day pull out of Google Stadia unless video game streaming starts to pick up real steam. I think the vital lesson here is just because Google can doesn’t mean they should.

Images L to R: Clovis CheminotPixabay, Pxfuel, Ubahnverleih Wikicommons

study break | 09 NOV 2021

exhibit | 26

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Across

Down

1 4 6 8 9 10 11 13 15 16 17 19 22 23 24 25

Young (cow, say) (4) Head covering (3) Boast - bird (4) Get closer to (4,2) Warmest season (6) Neighbouring (6) Bitter - tart (4) At any time (4) On strike (3) Large plant with a trunk (4) Stone (4) Placard (6) Films - movies (6) Motor (6) Bung (4) 24 hours (3)

2 Once more (5) 3 Amusement park (7) 4 Manual (8) 5 Examination (4) 6 Funny (5) 7 Late (library book, say) (7) 12 Plan (8) 14 Sensation of dizziness - to give (anagram) (7) 16 This evening (7) 18 Verify (5) 20 Chain of mountains (5) 21 Musical group (4)

River in NE England (4)

Trivia corner

1. HOW MUCH WERE BRITS EXPECTED TO HAVE SPENT ON PUMPKINS THIS YEAR FOR HALLOWEEN? 2. HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE GUNPOWDER PLOT? 3. WHAT IS THE MOST POPULAR SANDWICH FILLING IN THE UK? 4. HOW MANY WORDS ARE IN THE BIBLE?

ANSWERS

5.IN WHICH YEAR WERE PRINGLES INVENTED? Down: 2 Again, 3 Funfair, 4 Handbook, 5 Test, 6 Comic, 7 Overdue, 12 Strategy, 14 Vertigo, 16 Tonight, 18 Check, 20 Range, 21 Band.

6. HOW MANY ASTEROIDS ARE IN THE ASTEROID BELT?

Across: 1 Calf, 4 Hat, 6 Crow, 8 Gain on, 9 Summer, 10 Nearby, 11 Acid, 13 Ever, 15 Out, 16 Tree, 17 Rock, 19 Banner, 22 Cinema, 23 Engine, 24 Cork, 25 Day, 26 Tees. million asteroids Trivia: 1. £25.1 million 2. 13 3. Plain Cheese 4. 3,116,480 5. 1986 6. Between 1.1 and 1.9

LIFESTYLE

ARTS+LIT

MUSIC

SCREEN

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Science

9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

SCIENCE EDITOR: Ellen Rogers

The new age of science communication Katie Jones discusses how TikTok is revolutionising science communication

INCE 2019, TikTok has blown up – and now has over one billion active monthly users. What started as an app for lip-syncing tweens is now home to literally anything you can think of. This ability to reach such a wide audience is being utilised by all who want to teach the masses about their favourite subject: science. Science communication is an often-overlooked aspect of the scientific world, even though communicators are needed to engage the layman in scientific research and breakthroughs. Traditionally, this was done through old media such as television and radio. The content is longform and in-depth with minimal interactivity and aims to inform the public of current scientific research and encourage them to adopt a scientific mindset. This role has been reimagined and revamped in the age of social media, with various platforms allowing researchers to share their work with huge audiences and communicate with other communicators. TikTok, in turn, has become a platform for clickbait and exaggerated headlines — and is massively im-

proving public engagement with the scientific community. TikTok has unique features that lend themselves well to science communication. Its highly responsive algorithm funnels users into niche corners of the platform at tremendous speed. Users need only watch one science-focused video for TikTok to feed them many similar videos. The discovery process on TikTok fosters a core science-loving community and helps push scientific content to peripheral users who otherwise would not seek out scientific news.

Its highly responsive algorithm funnels users into niche corners TikTok is also very interactive, with the stitch function encouraging interactivity and questions from uninformed audiences. Science communicators treat users’ questions as a jumping-off point for a topic to talk and explain in more detail. Science communicators are then focused on answering the musings of users,

encouraging inquiry and discussion. Their audience feels directly involved in the content. The third benefit is TikTok’s format: short-form video. Captioned videos are both accessible and engaging, allowing massive audiences to get involved in a conversation. Video provides the opportunity to see creators’ faces, demonstrations and explanatory graphics, making the science more entertaining and memorable. TikTok hosts various kinds of science communicators — including academics (such as professors/researchers) who are experts in their field that use TikTok to share their work with a broader audience. Dr Rick (@rickyrick.phd) shares his life as a Biomedical Sciences PhD student and Sinead Bovell (@sineadbovell) talks about her work in Artificial Intelligence. Another group consists of enthusiasts simply sharing their love of their scientific field. To the audience, these creators are relatable as they create a space in which science can be discussed casually and in a friendly manner — it’s like hanging out with a friend who wants to share a cool new

fact they just learned. Examples of these creators include self-professed “Math queen” Kyne (@onlinekyne) and astrophysicist Kirsten Banks (@ astrokirsten).

Science can be discussed casually.... it’s like hanging out with a friend Finally are the career social media science communicators, who view their science communication through a professional lens. Many science TikTokers began on other platforms such as YouTube. Some of the biggest are NileRed (@nilered), Hank Green (@ hankgreen1, @scishow) and Forrest Valkai (@renegadescienceteacher). However, TikTok science communication is not flawless. Like many forms of science communication, the field is often dominated by white men, despite the volume of skilled and knowledgeable women and people of colour in the scientific community – and thus white, male scientists are often called unnecessarily to ‘factcheck’ the content of other creators.

Another issue with TikTok is how creators are unable to post clickable links to sources in a video’s descriptions, the comments, or on their profile. This allows people to spread misinformation and counteract the work of genuine creators, as they cannot be easily fact-checked within the app. For similar reasons, conspiracy theorists are often popular on the platform. However, the algorithm creates echochambers, in which users are unlikely to see alternative viewpoints and thus will accept conspiracy as fact. Despite these flaws, the future of TikTok as a science communication platform looks bright. One new feature allows users to see popular duets and videos which may help combat misinformation. TikTok is also increasing collaboration and interactivity between science communicators and the general public, lowering barriers to entry into science. Hopefully, all of this will lead to increased diversity among science communicators and across scientific fields, and increased participation of the public with all aspects of science in the modern day.

Autumn in transition

Bridie Adams, Editor, discusses the science behind autumn’s colour-changing leaves

S a result of chemical reactions induced by changes in light levels and temperature, autumn is the time when deciduous trees shed their leaves. However, prior to the drop, the leaves famously change — from summery green shades to rich autumnal colours. The classic autumn palette contains bright yellows, oranges, reds and golden browns, and is a beloved site to many as the weather gets colder. When there is a lot of sunlight, most leaves are green due to the presence of the greencoloured photopigment chlorophyll within them. As summer ends, daylight hours become shorter and there is less light to be absorbed by the leaves. This acts as a signal for plants to prepare for winter and to therefore decrease production of chlorophyll. When daylight hours

(and therefore rates of photosynthesis) decrease, chlorophyll becomes chemically unstable and breaks down. The gradual degradation of chlorophyll allows yellow pigments already present in the leaf to give leaves a yellowish hue without any energetic or metabolic cost. However, the pigments responsible for leaves turning red are energetically costly to produce, and thus must be newly synthesised each autumn. The gradual death of leaves can also trigger the production of chemicals called anthocyanins (also found in the epidermis of apples) from sugars. Anthocyanins, when present in high quantities, give leaves a red colour and contribute to the distinctive colours associated with autumn. As rates of photosynthesis (and, subsequently, the amount of energy

produced by the leaves) decrease, the tree begins to break down and utilise its nutrient stores by drawing sugars and minerals from the leaves. Next, a solidified layer of cells forms at the base of each leaf — resulting in the tree becoming independent of photosynthesis for energy. The tree directs its nutrients into its roots for reabsorption and use in the springtime. Various ecological and climatic conditions can impact the colour of autumn foliage each year. Mild meteorological conditions, including cold air and soil temperatures, often result in the most vibrant colours, and particularly high levels of red pigments/ leaves. Soil water content can also impact the expression of different pigments — low water content (often due to high salinity or low rainfall) usually

results in more red leaves emerging, whilst extreme droughts can cause leaves to appear yellow — but the response of a tree’s leaves will vary by species and environment. For the most vibrant colours, a delicate balance of nutrient levels must be reached — if nutrient levels are too high (due to fertiliser application or runoff) or too low (due to infection, extreme climates, or transplant shock), leaves will often yellow and wither early as the tree’s health suffers. Premature frosts can also trigger the dropping of leaves before they even have the chance to change colour. Therefore, a mild autumn, with little frost and a healthy amount of rain, is what leads to the autumn colours so many of us love. Image: Unsplash - Yoksel

SCIENCE

EXEPOSÉ | 9 NOV 2021

Music can literally heal your heart Bridie Adams, Editor, discusses the idea of “musical prescriptions”

ISTENING to music is a favourite pastime for many of us, but can it prevent or treat problems like heart disease? The scientific community is aware that it can change respiratory rate, heartbeat and blood pressure (take note if you’re a trained musician!), but new research has revealed other ways that music can improve our health. Researchers at Dartmouth College have found that music increases blood flow, lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol and increases adrenaline and serotonin levels.

Music increases blood flow, lowers cortisol levels, and increases adrenaline and serotonin If played in the background whilst studying, music can upgrade intellectual performance by helping you to maintain focus and keeping you entertained — even when your revision might be dull. So the next time you find yourself with an important job to tackle, think about switching on music in the background to in-

crease your concentration. The effects of music are wide-ranging - whilst it can energise us, it can also help ease the mind. In 2015, researchers at Shanghai University ascertained that relaxing music can be used to lessen tiredness and improve muscle endurance. More importantly at the moment, music can help protect you against the upcoming nasty winter viruses! This is because, according to the American Psycological Association, music increases production of both the antibody immunoglobulin A and natural killer cells (the cells that attack germs and microbes invading the body) — so if you’re a music lover, you may well have a rock-solid immune system. Although a Spotify Premium subscription is almost certainly less effective in preventing COVID-19 than getting jabbed and wearing a mask, it can’t do any harm, right?

There are also many psychological advantages associated with listening to music. For a long time, it has been believed to ease anxiety, and is used by many as a productive coping method. A lot of students listen to music to help combat mental health issues and generate motivation. This is most likely because music can stimulate the body to produce more feel-good hormones, such as oxytocin. Clinical and therapeutic music interventions can aid with communication and articulation; help people to delve into their thoughts and emotion; alleviate depression; and expand people’s ability to look after their mental health. In addition, musical therapy can assist with pain relief for those with persistent physical ailments, and ac-

cording to Scientific American, it may be effective when it comes to heart conditions and diseases. Industrial progress in biofeedback sensors means that physical parameters like heartbeat and pulse can be used to lead music interventions in cardiorespiratory treatment — introducing the idea of a “musical prescription”.

Heartbeat and pulse can be used to lead music interventions in cardiorespiratory treatment Music can assist us in understanding our feelings in a dynamic and proactive way and is undeniably a popular mode of entertainment. It lifts our mood, builds focus, adds to team spirit, and, in general, helps us to experience cheerful emotions. It can improve memory and enhance sleep quality. Music might not quite exceed the power of medicine when it comes to problems like heart disease, but it may be able to help — and can certainly make you smile.

Image: Unsplash - Felicia Buitenwerf

Tuskless elephants

Catherine Nock discusses how elephants are losing their tusks in response to poaching

N the forests and savannahs of Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park — a sprawling, diverse wilderness covering over 4000 square kilometres — researchers are observing natural selection in action. African savannah elephants living in the park have begun to lose their tusks: one of the long term ecological effects of a conflict that ended nearly three decades ago.

One of the long term ecological effects of a conflict that ended Elephants are considered one of Africa’s ‘Big Five’, a former hunting term assigning trophy-status to Africa’s biggest mammals. During the Mozambique Civil War (19771992), demand for ivory rose drastically to finance both sides of the conflict, leading to a shocking reduction in the populations of large herbivores of more than 90 per cent.

Poaching tusked elephants for ivory applied an intense selection pressure on the elephant population, meaning elephants with a rare tuskless mutation were more likely to survive and pass on their genes. The rapid population decline may explain the speed with which the tuskless phenotype was expressed. The tuskless trait went from an uncommon genetic mutation to an advantageous, even crucial, phenotype for survival. Importantly, all tuskless elephants are born female: no tuskless males exist in the park. This is because the dominant X-chromosome trait is lethal to males, preventing proper development in the womb - accordingly, 65.7 per cent of the offspring of tuskless mothers were female, posing a clear risk for future populations. The loss of tusks is a significant anatomical change affecting both elephants and their habitat. Primarily, tuskless elephants have different eating habits, which could influence the surrounding ecosystem.

65.7% of the offspring of tuskless mothers were female, posing a clear risk for future populatons Evolutionary biologist Shane Campbell-Staton highlights that elephant tusks are “not just ornamental”, but that they are crucial tools for digging for water and tearing tree bark for food. Additionally, since tusklessness is a heritable trait, meaning that it can be passed on from parents to offspring, it may persist for many future generations. The phenotypic changes seen in Mozambique’s elephants and the consequences for the ecosystems within which they reside stand as another potent reminder of the devastating impacts of human activities on our natural world - and should trigger reflection and action to improve in the future. Image: Flickr: - Sheldrickfalls

9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT

Greatest Sporting Rivalries

Rhys Wallis looks at his list of the best and most fierce rivalries in sport

T takes two to tango, and there is nothing better than watching two teams – or sometimes individuals – locked in a furious tangle across the seasons, embroiling fans, players, coaching staff and the media: and here are some of the best rivalries to create those situations.

You just cant ignore the titanic rivalry between Exeter City and Plymouth

idea. Also scraping their way into the list for some honourable mentions are three matches in leagues which we in England deride as lower quality, but whose rivalries light up the football scene — sometimes quite literally. I am talking about the Old Firm Derby North of the Border, and Galatasaray v Fenerbache in the Turkish SúperLig (even though the Tel Aviv derby and the Prague derby did leave me plenty to think about) really gave their respective

of the haka, opposing the insidious hatred of the painful political past of South Africa was where much of this rivalry began, and we may never really see the rivalry settled; the teams are just too good and will go through a titfor-tat you win one, we win one period. Other nods have to go to the entirety of the Home

corners in the English summertime, or Joe Root guiding a beautiful cover drive will not be beaten in a cricketing context, even if it means we have to sit through Steve Smith doing the same, or Pat Cummins just destroying a shoddy England test middle order: but what is a rivalry without a bogeyman? I did mention that this one was just to start us off, so here is the real big one in Cricket, and no surprises here — it’s India v Pakistan. This one can get bru-

We’ll kick this article off with a rivalry we were all expecting to see in this list. As you may know, I’m a big lover of football, and in the beautiful game, you just can’t ignore the titanic rivalry between Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle. I am, of course, kidding; whilst there is a rivalry here, it pales in comparison to my real first choice: Manchester United v Liverpool. Whilst in recent times it may have turned into less of a rivalry and more of a barometer by which we can see how good Liverpool are this year, the fans don’t see it that way, and the clubs certainly don’t. Even in the dark and barren years for either club, the fans were always up and ready for the match, and the chants were volatile. United have the lead in league titles on this one, but recent history suggests the Reds from Merseyside are best placed to add to their trophy collections – much to the ire of their Manchester adversaries.

The times where competitors can look into each other's eyes and hate each other In the world of football, there are a litany of rivalries, and whilst I’m only putting one straight into the list, an honourable mention has to go to El Clasico, even though it isn’t the same as it was during the Messi-Ronaldo era. The clubs, fans and even respective regional governments see this game as a marquee way of saying ‘we’re better than you are’. Think of the pig’s head thrown at Luis Figo if you want to see what the levels of animosity can reach in this game.. or Ramos gouging Puyol’s eye… or Ramos trying to slap Messi…. You know, you get the

police forces something to worry about, such is the ferocity of the rivalry. The third match — given how much South America where love their football — it’s no surprise to see the sheer spectacle of Boca Juniors v River Plate. I know what some of you are thinking — so far through this list, all he’s mentioned is football! Well fear not, here comes the smorgasbord of sporting rivalries from outside the world’s most popular game, and we start with Rugby Union, and international Rugby Union no less. The Springboks vs the All Blacks is a rivalry which has spanned over 100 tests, and over 100 years, with their first faceoff in 1921. Both sides now have three World Cups to their name. The power and historic significance

Image: Jan S0L0

Nations rivalries, although all of these are some way off the animosity seen in football, as there is nothing better to brighten up a February than lifting the triple crown. To switch up the sport again, we will head to my second love – cricket. Let’s start with something for the purists, a battle that has been raging since the 19th Century, a battle England seem intent to lose most times: the Ashes. Taking the Barmy Army Down Under is always quite something, with them belting out Jerusalem and telling Mitchell Johnson that his bowling is.. less than superior? Watching Jimmy Anderson swing the ball round

tal, but most of the time it is just the most wildly passionate endeavour that I can think of in Cricket. Each side has their talisman, be it Kohli or Babar, and each side fundamentally hates it when the others win! Pakistan just about seem to have the edge in the short form right now, but in the long game, India have no parallel. Recently, this rivalry was played out again in the ICC Cricket T20 World Cup, with Pakistan steaming past the Indian team in the group stage, but there is still a chance of them facing off in the final — if India get their act into gear. So we have seen some team sports, some intense rivalries there to be sure, but now it’s time to turn attention to the man-on-man face-offs, the times where competitors can look into each

other’s eyes and hate each other. The pinnacle here is in boxing: how can you compete with the personal level of rivalry when you’re punching each other in the face? This sport is completely dominated by the rivalry of two of the greatest of all time — including, in my opinion — the greatest: Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Ali had the better of Frazier, winning twice out of their three meetings in the 70s, but Frazier handed the champ his first ever defeat in their first bout to really kick off this rivalry. Ali can claim bragging rights here, and despite a fractious in-ring and in-career relationship, the two put their differences aside post-retirement, as so many great rivals and good people do. One rivalry which was unable to reconcile after their careers, but which burned with a glorious brightness for the years it was able to be fought was that between Alain Prost and Ayrton Senna. The inter and intra-team battles between the drivers became famous in the F1 World, with Prost even inserting a clause into his 1993 contract stating Senna could never become his teammate. There were tactical crashes, there were heated bust ups and there were seven world championships between them. The narrative of their rivalry will never be paralleled, but dare we hope for something similar: Max and Lewis?

Regional governments see this game as a marquee way of saying 'we're better than you are' To bring in one final sport and change it up a bit, it is the turn of Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, two titans of tennis. Both players walked away from their careers with 18 Grand Slam titles, and in a total of 80 meetings, the score was 43-37 to Navratilova. Evert dominated on clay, Navratilova on grass, Evert at the beginning of their rivalry, Navratilova towards the end. To pick the better would be cynical, just as it would be between Federer and Nadal nowadays (so I’ll choose Djokovic to cause a scene), but it was the greatest tennis rivalry of all time, and one of the often-forgotten ones to boot. So that brings to an end my journey through rivalries in the world of sport: which ones did I miss out?

SPORT

9 NOV 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

Olay! Olay! Ole?

Stanley Murphy Johns questions whether the Manchester Utd manager will have his job much longer

Y the time this article is released, Manchester United will have played Manchester City, and the never-ending circus will have rolled on to its next stop, but for now Man United’s past 4 results; 3-2 win, 5-0 loss, 3-0 win, 2-2 draw, do their very best to confirm that Man United games are indeed scripted. How else could one club incur so much drama on a weekly basis? As a United fan, this seemingly endless swing from spectacular comeback to devastating defeat is extremely taxing to watch, but also creates magical moments which I will absolutely remember for a long time. Gary Neville has repeated many times ‘this team exists in moments’, and never has that been more accurate than in the past two weeks. So, in this article I want to unpack whether that is what we are now, is our main function to provide occasional brilliance surrounded by dismal performances just so that the incredible moments feel even better? If that is what my team is now, then Ole is the right man for the job. He’s a likable yet bland club legend, and his winner in the 1999 Champions League final will carry him through each bump in the road, allowing him to continue his every high and every low without being displaced. However, if my team would like to compete for footballing

prizes rather than a BAFTA for the best sporting TV, then they need a real change. Without a shadow of a doubt we have good players, too many attacking options to fathom and a defence which on paper should be one of the best in the Premier League, so why do we concede goals every game, and why are we seemingly unable to deconstruct teams with our attacking prowess? At a certain point the blame has to shift from the players to the manager and their coaching staff, and I think we have certainly arrived at that stage. Ole Gunnar Solskjær must be commended on the ethos he has reinstalled in United as a club, but must be criticised for their lack of ethos on the pitch. In many a game against a mid-table side, it feels as though Ole simply picked 11 names out of a hat and went ‘go on, go and play’ — the switching between the double CDM partnership of McFred, the attempted axis of Fred, Pogba, and Fernandes, and the occasional choice all four of those players at once would perhaps suggest that the midfield is the issue. So against Tottenham last weekend, Ole said to himself ‘the midfield can’t be a problem…if it just doesn’t exist, picking a formation which is perhaps best described as 7-3. His absence of tactical knowhow is not unsurprising, this is his third job in management and his other

two were not exactly equivalent experiences, but then he comes up with these strange outlying results which keep him employed. I want this article to provide my opinion on whether Ole will stay or go but annoyingly I still don’t know where I stand. If Manchester United were any other club in world football, a different manager would now be employed, but at United you can follow the logic behind his continued existence in the club. By all possible metrics, we should lose against City on Saturday, but I hon-

estly think that we will probably win. Ole’s job will be secure for a few more weeks, in which we will lose repeatedly and then we will pull of another ridiculous result. Whether I like it or not, that seems to be what we are now. Looking back though, we could lose every game this season and I would still prefer him to Mourinho, and if that doesn’t explain everything you could possibly need to know about why Ole has not yet been sacked then I don’t know what will.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Braves the World Series

Oscar Young, Sports editor, looks at the fairytale playoff run from the Atlanta Braves

ASEBALL is not exactly a well-followed sport on this side of the Atlantic, but there is always one moment a year that is worth noticing. This week, my team, the Atlanta Braves, won the best-of-seven World Series, baseball’s equivalent of the NFL’s Super Bowl, over the Houston Astros. They closed out the final game winning 7-0 in game 6, to take the series 4-2 and deliver the city’s

Image: Arturo Pardavila III

first sporting championship in 26 years. This was a story of an underdog, having just about survived throughout a season where they encountered seemingly every obstacle and bump in the road you could in the sport. Back on the 11 July, while treading water with a 4444 record, their best player Ronald Acuña Jr. was lost for the season with a torn ACL. They lost arguably their best pitcher a month earlier,

and one of their star new outfielders from the previous season was arrested and has not seen the field since. Not exactly a recipe for success. It was at the moment of Acuña Jr.’s injury that the Braves were given a 12 per cent chance of making the playoffs, and a 0.5 per cent chance of winning the World Series. Despite this, they ploughed on. At the Trade Deadline they added four new outfielders who would go on to be instrumental in the team’s playoff run. They slowly rose through their division rankings and won their division in the final week of the regular season to secure their playoff spot. In the playoffs, the Braves seemingly caught fire, entering the underdog in each of their series against the Milwaukee Brewers and the Los Angeles Dodgers, yet dispatching both with relative ease. I might add that the Dodgers were and might still be seen as the best overall team in base-

ball, along with being the clear-cut favourite to have won this year.

This was the story of an underdog, having just about survived throughout a season where they encountered seemingly every obstacle The final obstacle to overcome was the Houston Astros, who along with the Dodgers have had a strong claim for the title of best team in the sport over the past five years — once again putting the Braves in the underdog role heading into this series. They have also been embroiled in a cheating scandal over the past few years, when it emerged that they stole signs en route to their 2017 World Series win. The trend for this series, however, was set from the first at-bat in last week’s game 1. Jorge Soler stepped up to the plate and hit a towering home run off the Astro’s Framber Valdez. Soler would go on to win World Series MVP for his efforts, which also included another home run in the decisive game 6 to bookend the series — this one leaving the ballpark as a whole.

Sport

9 NOV 2021| EXEPOSÉ

SPORTS EDITOR: Oscar Young

Cardiff Met their Match at Sandy Park Image: Mike Powell

Rhys Wallis 2nd Year PPE

T was a game of two halves at the annual Varsity match last Wednesday. Exeter started slowly and were unable to get out of their half for the majority of the first 15 minutes. Cardiff Met put the pressure on, and it told on the Exeter defence, who were scruffy at the breakdown, conceding penalty after penalty, really stunting the development of the game. These penalties would invite Cardiff Met’s number 10, Brad Roderick-Evans to punish the Exeter team from the kicking tee, slotting two penalties over the posts from over 40 metres out to put the visitors six points up before Exeter had even had a realistic chance. This first chance of the match would be telling, however, after brilliant work from Exeter’s openside flanker Oliver White at the breakdown there was a change in possession. From there, it was a welldictated line break from skipper and scrum half, William Yarnell which allowed Eddie Bullock to cross the white line making it a one point game. Unfortunately, Josh Barton was unable to make it the full complement of points from the tee for Exeter, so the score stayed at 5-6, but the momentum seemed to be shifting. That was until Cardiff Met

brought their game back to the match, forcing errors again and again as penalties pushed the Exeter line closer and closer to the try line. After one offence too many, Arthur Thomas was sent to the bin, and then with 14 men on the field, Exeter couldn’t stop the Met players diving underneath the posts. The Met crowd went wild – then it was the turn of the Exeter fans to show their appreciation for the refereeing team spotting the forward pass – no try, the score remained 6-5 to Met. After this scare for the hosts, the game opened out with two line breaks in as many minutes before once again, the referee was reaching for his whistle – penalty to Met, and RoderickEvans made it three from three, to set Cardiff Met 9-5 up, with 28 on the clock. After five minutes of solid defensive rugby from both teams, it was the turn of Barton to pass 50 points in this BUCS Season, as he scored his first penalty of the day – nine-eight to the visitors with five left in the half.

It was a game of two halves at the annual Varsity match The remainder of the first half contained few actions of note, save from White and McCraig for Exeter, and the full back, Silvester for Cardiff Met. Silvester was nearly flawless in the first half, but would make

two key errors when on line breaks which could have turned into more, impairing his performance. Maring the entire Met half was an injury to their captain and hooker, Nelson, forced off before the 40th minute. That was how it went into the half, with one point in it, Cardiff the better team, but Exeter not out of it. The crowd were in good voice for the half time entertainment, although Snappy was rather worse for wear, but he gave it a commendable effort.

The second half was a completely different game

The second half was a completely different game. Where the first half was tight and tactical, seeing penalty after penalty, the second half opened up and went end to end.It only took eight minutes of the second half for the second try of the match to be scored – and it went the way of Exeter, who deserved it for their pressure. Clearly on the receiving end of some level of hairdryer treatment at the half, the pressure from McCraig, Yarnell, White and Jenkins told when the ball found its way to Barton-Bayfield who gained possession on the wing to dive into the corner, making it 13-9 and giving Exeter the lead for the first time in the match.

Barton missed his conversion from a tight angle; but the game was now on. Roderick-Evans was then given the chance to tighten the match up again, and to make it four from four, from just outside the 22, but to the shock of most of the Met fans, the ball was sent wide thanks to the wind and a bit of a hook. Exeter had the opposition a little rattled, and tried to make the pressure pay, but were unable to do so. The momentum swung again – but it wouldn’t last. Once again, Cardiff Met were across the white line, this time with the ball in the hands of Roma Zheng – who had been electric on the wing – after a wonderful lob pass from Roderick-Evans – but the pass was forward. Cardiff couldn’t make the pressure pay, and that pendulum swung back towards the Exeter team in humorous fashion. It was a comedy of errors from the Met back line, first Lloyd, then Rigg, gifting the ball to Barton-Bayfield one more time to go underneath the posts. White was on fire with turnovers all second half, stunting any burgeoning momentum from the Met side, and any final vestiges of a battle from the burgundy and black boys was vanquished with a solo effort from Jack Potter, who lit up the afterburners and landed another try underneath the posts, which Barton converted, to make the score a humiliating 27-9.

For more coverage of Exeter sport, head to @Exeposésport

19 unanswered points from the hosts had put this game out of reach for the visitors, and even with the try from Roma Zheng – who finally put Met over the line without it being disallowed in the 80th minute – the score line of 27-14 reflected far more on the first half than the second half.

Exeter had the opposition a little rattled and tried to make the pressure pay A bitty and frustrating first half, which left Exeter on the back foot, was outshone by a thrilling display from Exeter in the second, leaving Met for dead. In the second half, they were on it from the first second. Barton was popping over kicks for fun, and Barton-Bayfield and Bullock were making defensive players panic every time they got near. Yarnell’s quarterback-like style helped massively, but the team really pulled together to pounce on CMU’s errors and pull ahead by quite some way. Refereeing decisions will likely be pointed to by CMU as a cause for their loss, some interesting calls in the scrum made by the officials, and also three disallowed CMU tries, but they never turned up in the second half, only adding their points in the 80th minute, and the loss was deserved.

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