Issue 734 - 21 Sept 2022

FR

The South West’s Best Student Publication

EE

ISSUE 734 21 SEP 2022 exepose.com @exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Image: Rawpixel

In Conversation: We sit down with Guild President Lily Margaroli to discuss the upcoming year

Features: Assistant Editor of The Spectator Isabel Hardman talks honorary degrees and Exeter

Music: Music writers give their concert experiences

Page 5

Page 10

Page 24

Image: Ianthebush, Flickr

EXEPOSÉ Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ Editors Print: Megan Ballantyne & Joshua Hughes Online: Ana Anajuba & Clemence Smith Deputies: Livvy Mason-Myhill editors@exepose.com Executives Social Media: Nancy Stitt Finance: Oscar Young Events: Georgia Balmer Chief Photographers Rachel Cunningham Kieran Moore News Editors Print: Amy Rushton Online: Megan Haynes & Isabella Ankerson news@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Oliver Lamb & Austin Taylor Online: Catherine Stone & Maggie John International: Maeve Fitzpatrick & Ryan Gerrett features@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: Anabel Costa-Ferreira & Connor Goddard Online: Izzy Langguth & Kristen Taylor comment@exepose.com Satire Editor Print: Cleo Gravett Online: Archie Lockyer Lifestyle Editors Print: Pippa Bourne & Gracie Moore Online: Ruth Hetherington & Charlie Nadin lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Ella Minty & Joshua Smith Online: Gwenllian Page-Gibby

Editorial

W

E want to give everyone a warm welcome to Exeter. For some it will be the first time arriving at a new and possibly daunting place, but we want to reassure you we were all, at one point, in your position. It may appear a lot has changed over the summer to those returning (notably the particularly turquoise feel campus now has). But with the return of students, the city is about to once again burst into life with clubs, seminar rooms and halls all ready to be packed with students. New society committees have been busy preparing countless events and activities over the summer.

In our first edition this year there really is something for everyone. We have a wide range of interviews with journalists, musicians and even the Guild President herself ! Elsewhere Tech gives a good guide on getting to grips with the online side of Exeter showcasing the basics and also some interesting features (page 31). Sport gives an overview of the local teams and also looks back on the success of the Lionesses emphatic Euros win.

Comment focuses on the important debate: clubbing or house parties (page 14) while Features looks at the shortage of university places (page 8). Satire gives a comical perspective on Jamie Oliver's approach to healthy eating (page 15) and Lifestyle

artsandlit@exepose.com

Print: Megan Ballantyne, Joshua Hughes & Livvy Online: Mahnoor Imam & Lauren Jones music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Pollyanna Roberts Online: Matthew Bowden & Harvey Isitt screen@exepose.com Tech Editor Print: Harry Hawkins Science Editors Print: Daniel Pain & Hayley Power Online: Daisy Scott & Imogen Poyntz-Wright sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Rob Worthington Online: Oliver Rickwood & Archie Rucker sport@exepose.com Proofers Joshua Hughes, Livvy Mason-Myhill, Megan Ballantyne

@exepose @exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exeposeexeter Advertising

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.

provides some helpful advice for those in first year (page 18). Arts + Lit writers delve into some of their favourite reads (page 21) and others showcase their poetic talent (page 22).

From an unexploded WW2 bomb to remote learning, Exeter has been no stranger to adversity over the past few years yet now, at the beginning of a new one, fresh challenges await students and staff. The cost of living crisis will serve to make the lives of students exceptionally difficult.

The strain on students will likely go as far as dictating their social agenda and work life and will ultimately alter the experience of many at university.

We realise that now more than ever, the media must stand up for those that need a voice and those that are struggling. Rest assured that during this crisis, Exeposé will always be quick to highlight the tools necessary to combat this crisis and also hold those to account that have the power to effect meaningful change.

We hope everyone has a fantastic Freshers' Week and wish everyone the best of luck with the year.

2020 Best Publication 2022 Best Publication in the South West

ARTS + LIT Book-dentity PAGE 21

LIFESTYLE Foodie freshers PAGE 19

MUSIC Interview: The Amazons PAGE 23

SCIENCE Hangovers: Inevitable?

PAGE 34

Josh and Megan

Images (top to bottom): Free SVG, Wikimedia Commons Lauren Topor, Wikimedia Commons, Pixabay

University news home and abroad

Music Editors Mason-Myhill

SPA AWARDS

Japanese universities open doors to Ukranian students

J

APAN is joining countries around the world who have accepted Ukrainian students by proving scholarships for those fleeing the current conflict. Supported by both government and private funds, universities across Japan have announced plans to provide financial aid and access to international exchange programs for students previously employed in higher education in Ukraine. The move is welcomed by Ukrainian officials, who have supported such programs in a push to maintain and support Ukrainian talent. There are hopes too of strengthening the Japanese curriculum, with Hirohisa Miyamoto, head of Tohoku University’s international exchange programme, commenting that the move will strengthen “discussion and exchange” surrounding the experience of war. In total 31 Japanese universities are offering placements, with many covering travel, accommodation and living expenses. Whilst such a response is perceived as unusually strong for Japanese higher education bodies, the effort is being matched elsewhere in Asia, with Taiwan and South Korea both opening scholarships for Ukrainian applicants.

Image, Tedeytan Wikimedia Commons

LGBTQ club must be recognised at Yeshiva University

F

OLLOWING a lawsuit filed by a group of students and alumni last year, a state judge decided in their favour on June 14, stating that because Yeshiva University is not a religious school, it must abide by the law and recognise the LGBTQ club. For years, Yeshiva University students in New York have fought to have their school recognise an LGBTQ student group, rejecting the administration’s claim that the school was immune from the city’s human rights laws since it was a Modern Orthodox Jewish institution. Before she graduated in January, Bina Davidson served as the co-president of the YU Pride Alliance. She expressed her and other students' joy at the decision. However, their triumph might not last long. Yeshiva administrators vowed to appeal; the school's name is taken from a type of traditional Jewish religious institution that can be found all over the world.

Additionally, they stated that they will urge the courts to postpone the judgement.

Student loan interest in England capped at 7.3 per cent

A

FTER reports by the Institute of Fiscal Studies predicted that the rate on repayments for student loans were to rise from the current interest rate of 4.5 per cent to 12 per cent, the government has now announced that it will be capped at 7.3 per cent. Whilst Michelle Donelan, the Minister for Higher Education, stated that this would allow “peace of minds for graduates”, Larissa Kennedy, President of the National Union of Students in the UK, maintained that the gap was “still cruelly high”.

According to the BBC, she added that the government “should introduce rent protections […] and announce a costof-living payment for all students”. A senior research economist at the IFS, Ben Waltman, suggested that this is likely to have “little or no effect on their repayments” as most will “likely never pay off their loans in full, so the interest rate never effects their repayments”

International students who fled Ukraine told to leave Germany

M

ANY international students who fled Ukraine due to the ongoing conflict and sought refuge in Germany are having their applications for a residence permit rejected. As a result of this, they are being asked to leave Germany. Ukrainian nationals who sought refuge in Germany are allowed to complete their studies, but non-Ukrainian nationals, around 3000 of which fled to Germany, have been required to apply for a residence permit in order to stay there beyond the deadline of 31st August 2022.

Following this, a group of higher education and refuge support organisations such as World University Service have initiated an appeal to Germany’s Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, and Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark- Watzinger, to do more to support the international students in Germany. The appeal also welcomes efforts made by individual German states that are pressing for reforms to the regulations for refugees, stressing the importance of the plight of the working people who fled Ukraine, and that Germany should help them as well.

By Amy Rushton, Livvy Mason-Myhill, Ana Anajuba and Ayusha Pandey

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

3 NEWS

Exeter students to host ‘Exevision Song Contest’

The Ram Bar served 39,116 portions of curly fries last year Megan Ballantyne Editor

A

N Exeposé investigation has found that The Ram sold 39,116 meals containing curly fries in the last 2021/22 academic year. The University of Exeter reported to Exeposé that

the number of individual portions of curly fries sold was 9460, and that 29,656 meals sold by the Ram were ‘upgraded’ to curly fries in the last year. Therefore, if sold at their usual full price of £2.25, the Ram would have earned £21,285 from the 9460 individual portions of curly fries in the last year, and £8896.80 from 30p meal ‘upgrades’

Image: Flickr, Pointnshoot,

to curly fries from normal fries.

Students told Exeposé that they considered the Ram’s curly fries a ‘staple food on campus,’ and 'loads better than the regular ones.'

The Ram is located in Devonshire House on Streatham Campus and is open 12:00-23:00 on weekdays, 16:00-23:00 on weekends.

Joshua Hughes Editor

A

GROUP of students have come together in order to put on ‘Exevision’, an Exeter equivalent of the hugely popular Eurovision Song Contest.

With the success of the British team last year featuring Sam Ryder combined with the inability of eventual winners Ukraine to host the competition as a result of the ongoing conflict, the UK will host the contest next year.

Speaking on the project, President Mathias La Pira stated that he loves “the principle of bringing together several countries and cultures towards the same idea: sharing, celebrating or even going through different emotions when listening to all the songs.” With the Eurovision Song Contest being so popular and his passion for singing as well as music, it stood out to him that the contest would work well in Exeter. La Pira further stated that “many of us at the University have a certain passion for singing (there are some very talented people).

We are also a very international University with many societies that allow us to discover all the cultures of the world.”

Putting the committee together for ‘Exevision’ came “naturally” with “the students coming to offer themselves quite quickly”. La Pira further stated that he is “so happy with the team surrounding me: we're going to organize a sensational event”.

Although the concept of the competition appears to mirror the Eurovision Song Contest, he is unable to reveal all the details now but he did emphasise that people should “follow our social media (mainly Instagram) so you don't miss anything”. With the anticipation of Eurovision arriving in the UK, the Exeter equivalent looks to be launching at the perfect time. To find out more about the project and how to get involved you can go to the Exevision Instagram: @exev ision _ song _contest _.

Image: Exevision Instagram

Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé InfoExeposé Info

What’s on this week?

Exeposé has an exciting set of Freshers’ events for you guys to sink your teeth into! If you’ve got any questions, please feel free to pop into the Xmedia office in DH2, send us a message on our Instagram @exepose or email us editors@exepose.com.

We hope you enjoyed our Reporter Workshop on Tuesday, and that you are looking forward to our Exhibit Workshop on Wednesday afternoon. We’ll be outside the Xmedia Office in DH2 during the Freshers’ Fair on Friday, and you’ll be able to find us in the office all of the next week, so just give us a knock if you have any questions.

If you’re already feeling the urge to write, we have our print content calls for our next issue coming out this week on Facebook.

If you’re still unsure about joining the society and would like to write a trial article, just let us know by either coming to talk to us at the Freshers’ Fair, in the Xmedia office or by popping us a message on our

social media accounts!

After learning everything you possibly can about how to be a budding journalist at our workshops, unwind at our freshers’ socials at the end of this week. On Thursday we have our Xmedia social at Castle Bar, starting at 8pm. The theme is ‘Dress as your Society,’ so we would like those interested in Exeposé to dress in green, Xpression in red, XTV in black and Razz in pink! If you’re unsure or are interested in a few of the societies, you dress in white!

Then to unwind at the end of Freshers’ Week we have a chill Sunday brunch at Puerto Lounge at 1pm, which will take you to the lovely quay area in Exeter. Here you’ll be able to catch up with our committee and members and ask them any further questions you have!

Our editors will be in the Xmedia office in DH2 or out and about around campus all week, so please don’t hesitate to stop by and say hi!

How to write for us!

Join Exeposé here!

This is the number one question we get asked! First off, you need a membership — if you’re on the fence about whether you want to write for us, non-members can write a trial article during the first few weeks of term.

Once you’ve got your membership, we put out our ‘content calls’ onto our members’ Facebook groups (search up ‘Exeposé Members 2022-2023’) — so these contain the different articles our editors would like written each week. Soon after you sign up to the society you will receive a welcome email which will provide you with links to these groups, which you can request to join. We’re also very open to writers’ pitches!

Then whenever you see a content call pop up on your feed, and an article you’d like to write catches your eye, you comment below and take the article.

We hope to see your brilliant articles here very soon!

Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé Info Exeposé InfoExeposé Info

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

4 NEWS

Only 19 per cent of Exeter students attempted consent training module Megan Ballantyne Editor

A

N Exeposé investigation has found that only 19% of registered University of Exeter students completed or attempted the University of Exeter’s e-module for consent in the 2021/22 academic year.

Exeposé were informed by the University of Exeter that in response to these completion rates the Gender Safety Group have decided to embed this as part of Student Registration for the start of the 2022/23 academic year, in the hopes of this encouraging a higher completion rate.

This module was originally brought in at the start of the 2021/22 academic year.

In University of Exeter emails throughout the year, the University stated that students would be ‘expected to’ complete this module before the end of the year.

A Freedom of Information request made by Exeposé to the University found that there were 5016 attempts at the consent training module for the 26483 users registered for the 2021/22 year.

There were 5016 attempts at the training for the 26483 users who were registered for the 2021/22 year

One student reacting to this completion rate told Exeposé that they were surprised, as they "had been under the impression that the module was compulsory."

Another stated they "did not know that the module existed."

This module was introduced within a wave of other student safety measures announced by the University at the start of the 2021/22 academic year, in consultation with Devon and Cornwall Police, Exeter City Council and Devon Rape Crisis.

These included improvements to on-campus lighting and the introduction of a £25k fund for student-led initiatives to support gender safety. These measures were brought in following a student anti-sexual assault protest in March 2021. This protest was held after three men were arrested following two separate reports of sexual assault on campus in March 2021 and the Everyone’s Invited harassment report, in which the University of Exeter received the highest number of sexual harassment reports of any UK university, with 65 anonymous reports of harassment.

A university spokesperson told Exeposé: “We want to set clear and effective guidelines and expectations around appropriate behaviour and student safety in line with our values of inclusion and respect. We work hand in hand with our students’ unions in

Devon and Cornwall, community groups and local statutory agencies and we follow and input sector and government guidance.

Addressing issues surrounding gender-based violence and harassment and consent are key priorities for the University and are reviewed regularly. We would like input from and communication with our students to ensure we can be as protective and empowering as possible with clear prevention strategies and initiatives. Students are now requested to complete this e-training module as part of the standard online registration process this year which will mean the uptake numbers will increase considerably. However, we are aware that, when dealing with issues such as this, some students may be triggered as a result of previous personal experiences; an opt-out is available in these circumstances.

This e-training module is one aspect of our extensive work focussed on improving student safety led by the University Gender Safety Group, in conjunction with the Students’ Guild and key external partners across our Devon and Cornwall communities, and through the Community Safety Partnership.

These include the launch of a Bystander Intervention training programme for all students, the introduction of a new night bus to support students returning from the city,

and improved lighting, CCTV, creation of a safe space in the city centre through the Home Office Safer Streets funding scheme.

This e-training module is one aspect of our extensive work focussed on improving student safety With our student representatives we will continue to monitor and review the effectiveness of this work. We welcome all suggestions for improvements.”

Emma de Saram, Guild VP of Liberation and Equality, told Exeposé: " We strongly encourage all students to take part in consent training, this is one important way for ensuring a safe campus for our community. These consent trainings fit into a wider piece of work around making our campuses a safer place for all.

We would encourage anyone interested to sign up to the ‘ExeChange the Norm’ programme which is available to all Exeter students across all campuses.

This programme is comprised of four training sessions that target Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) priorities around gendered harms and racist harms through bystander intervention. These sessions can be booked through Handshake and will be promoted during Freshers’ Week."

Image: Pixabay

Exeter Catacombs to host musical performances for the first time in 185 years Amy Rushton News Editor

Image: Catacombs, Chris Allen, Wikicommons

P

OP up performances in the form of songs, stories, pictures and music are to be held at Exeter Catacombs this month.

A feature of Heritage Open Days, a national scheme celebrating the history of hidden spaces across England, the performances will chronicle the history of Exeter Catacombs, usually accessible only to those taking a Red Coat Guided Tour.

Built within St Bartholomew’s Cemetery against the city wall, the catacombs were a failed experiment, designed to provide solutions to both the ongoing cholera epidemic and grave robbing but ultimately only ever housing fourteen people.

Now, the performances promise to bring the dead back to life through tales of soldiers, bishops, stolen skeletons and even celebrity organists. The performances — titled ‘Dead Famous in Exeter’ — are available to book for free. Heritage Open Days states that the event will be “light-hearted but informative” and, since it will be the first musical performance there since 1837, promise “an all new cast”.

They are one of many Heritage Open Day events occurring across Exeter and Devon, which offers the opportunity to explore some heritage sites for free on certain dates this month, aiming to provide new experiences and culture.

5 NEWS

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

In Conversation:

Lily Margaroli, Guild President Megan Ballantyne Editor

W

E spoke to Lily Margaroli, Guild President for the second year running, about what she learned from her first year in the role, how she hopes to improve Guild visibility and how she plans to help students through the cost of living crisis... É: What made you decide to run to be Guild President for a second year?

LM: Well, in my first year I learned so much that I wanted to not lose all the benefits of that learning. Towards the second part of my first year, I felt like I really understood my role, and how the University worked – it’s a huge organisation and there’s always more to learn, but the second half of my first year I felt like I was a much more effective president of the Guild, so I wanted to really utilise all that learning and put that into a second year as President. A lot of the things I did in my first year were around making the Guild work well as an organisation, so boring things about our processes and policies really needed to be sorted out, so now that a lot of that groundwork is in place, this year we’ll be able to do a lot more exciting stuff around engaging with students and really making sure we are the best student union possible for our students, and that every student loves Exeter. That’s ultimately what we all want to do, we want to make sure that every student loves their time at Exeter. É: What is your proudest achievement from last year?

LM: It’s a really great question, and I do have to rack my brain a bit to think about just one or two things. I think one of the things I’m really proud of is how we worked together as an officer team, and we really had a united front and had sort of joint priorities and I think that made us work a lot more effectively to students because we weren’t working as four individual representatives, we worked as a collective. Some of the more specific things I suppose was increasing the Hardship Fund, which was a quick, last minute increase due to the increase in fuel costs, so I was really proud of the ability to turn that around really quickly.

That was a short-term achievement but it has turned into a much longer term piece of work around how we can increase hardship funding in the long run and how we’re dealing with the cost of living crisis. And then another piece of work that I was really proud of was the LGBTQ+ history month campaigns which we ran, and that sort of highlighting and celebration of our community. Even though that doesn’t necessarily impact all of our students, for the students that it does touch it can make a really big difference, so I was really proud of that. É: What was the biggest challenge you faced?

LM: I think the biggest challenge I faced in my first year was the desire to do so much and having lots of ideas, but there were only so many hours in the day and there’s only so much you can do. I think if you try to do everything you end up doing lots of campaigns in a little way, whereas whats more effective is choosing a few things to prioritise and working on them really well. Another big challenge was engaging really effectively with students because I think you come into the

role as officer and suddenly there are lots of projects and lots of things that you need to do and then it can become very difficult to be amongst students and talk to students just because of the pressures on your time so I found that difficult to balance, but that’s going to be an area that I’m really going to work on this year, and make sure that I’m really coming to students and really proactive in that engagement. É: What do you think the biggest challenge will be for you this year then?

LM: Yeah, so I think the biggest challenge, that students are going to face this year will be the cost of living crisis, so that’s really going to impact students.

We won’t really see that come into fruition until it gets a bit colder until winter hits and people start turning on their heating and using their tumble driers. It will disproportionately effect our students who are more marginalised anyway, whether through financial means, maybe that’s because of funding systems, and if they’re international students they may not get the same loans, that home students get, or because they don’t’ get as much financial support from family and friends. So because that’s one of the biggest challenges we’re going to be facing we have set up lots of working groups and project groups to really figure out exactly how students are going to be impacted by this, which students are going to be impacted, and what we can do really actively to support everyone who needs that support. É: Are there any specific measure you’re looking at in order to address the rising cost of living for students?

LM: So there’s three key areas which all of our work is falling into in terms of the cost of living area at the moment. One of those areas of work is working with the University on things like the Hardship Fund – so how students access that pot of money, making sure that’s communicated really clearly and is as accesible as possible to as many students as possible. We’ll also be working on practical steps to help students. We want to make it very clear that its not students fault that the cost of living crisis is happening, and it shouldn’t be anyone’s responsibility to fix the cost of living crisis themselves, its really the responsiblitty of the government to sort this out. But we can all take practical steps to save a bit of money, so we want to help students with this – things about how can you live in a bit more of a cost effective way, so some more light touch things about budgeting, how to cook healthy, nourishing meals for less money. And also we’ll be working on putting more free, low cost, fun social events on for students, so that’s not an area where students have to be spending loads of money. And the final thing is that we’ll be working on lobbying the government, so lobbying on a national level, to make sure students are getting as much support as they can from the government, and make sure that the government is aware of how the cost of living crisis is effecting students in a unique way. É: So just to clarify, will there be a further increase to the Hardship Fund this year?

LM: So I’m not able to give exact figures because I’m not fully aware, but when that policy was put forward last year to increase the Hardship Fund it was a specific sort of block amount which was just looking to help out students impacted by that increase in fuel cost

– that was in conjunction with a further increase for this full academic year for the Hardhsip Fund, which is in line with us as a university just generally increasing the support that we’re able to give students who are impacted by financial measures, but also to deal with the increasing difficulty that’s going to be faced. So in short, yes there is a further increase to the hardship funding coming this year. É: So during the election period last year a lot of candidates discussed the need for more accessible, simple channels of communication between the Guild and the student body – how are you going to make sure that students know about the Guild and its resources?

LM: So that’s a massive priority as well, it was highlighted through the election process but also sort of throughout the year, and its something that the new officers coming in have also highlighted. We are going through a digital rebrand at the moment, so our website is being updated (https://www.exeterguild. com/) so that will make things easier to navigate. We have also recruited new team members who are going to be helping us in terms of our social media, and a lot of those people will be students working part time, so that’s absolutely perfect – students know how to talk to students so they’re going to really help with that.

And we’ll be continuing to run physical events where students can just pop in and chat to us. A couple of other things we’re doing is looking at how we can run surveys more effectively, so instead of doing surveys of the whole student body, we’re looking at running focus groups for students impacted by a particular issue and then paying them to interact with our channels, so we can get really good feedback from students about what kind of change they want. And we’ll be looking at having a specific focus group of students who meet with us regularly about our communication and about our digital presence. Whilst its all well and good to speak to all students all the time, actually having a small group of students who are focussed on that, who are diverse and represent all students, will be really effective for us to actually make changes and make sure we’re engaging with students as effectively as possible. É: On a lighter note, what are you most excited about for Freshers Week?

LM: Really excited for Freshers Week this year, last year we had Freshers back slightly more normal, but there were lots of mitigating factors which had to be put in place. We’re still doing things now to make sure everyone feels as safe as possible, and we’ll be doing things like making sure we do have online events and hybrid events for people who for whatever reason don’t want to come into campus, whether that’s just personal preference or because of health related anxiety. So we’ll be making sure that things are as accessible as possible. We also learned so much from last year’s Freshers Week, and we have put all of that into this year’s programme of events. So we really want to make sure that students feel like they know Exeter, feel like they belong so we’re putting on lots of events around community cafés, for students who fall into all manner of groups – so that might be from mature students community café to LGBTQ+ community café, so just so that they have a network and meet other people who

Image: University of Exeter Students’ Guild

are experiencing similar things.

We’re putting on lots of our ‘give it a go’ events.

So those are free events that arent necessarily directly related to a society. Again students can come along to those for free and meet other people, or they’re very low cost, some of those are related to trips as well, so we’ll be going down to Exmouth maybe not in Freshers Week but I saw in term 1 there will be another trip to the Eden project, so lots of ways for people to get to know Exeter and the local area. And also I’m really excited to support lots of our student societies and student groups put on so many amazing events, because I’m always impressed by how much work our societies, like yourself, put into Freshers Week to welcome students and make sure everyone has a great time! É: What is a hidden gem in or around Exeter which you would recommend to Freshers?

LM: I’ve got a few! ! If you’re a Streatham based student, then visit St Lukes, it’s a really lovely campus and there’s a lovely quad and the Crosskeys Café. On Streatham one of the highlights to me is the outdoor swimming pool. It’s not open in the winter but it will be open for a bit in September so definitely visit that – and my favourite place in Exeter is the Quay – I love going down for a walk along the Quay, there are some lovely coffee shops down there. It’s just so calm and really not far from town. Its not really a hidden gem since everyone knows about it, but it took me quite a while to actually get down there in my first year of university! É: Thanks for talking to us! Anything else you would like to say to our readers?

LM: This is going out in the Freshers Edition isn’t it? I would just say to incoming students that in Freshers Week and your first term of university, hopefully you will have a great time, but its not the be all and end all of your time at Exeter. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself for it to be the most fun, wild time of your life because for some people it will be and for others it won’t be. For me, when I was a Fresher I went out about one night a week and that was fine, that was just what I wanted to do, other people in my flat went out every night, and that’s also fine. Some people didn’t go out at all. In my first week I didn’t get as involved in societies as I did for the rest of my three years because I was a bit nervous, so try and get involved with as much as you can! Whatever you do just know that you have three years, you’ll have a great time, the Guild and lots of other people are here to support you so give it your best shot!

21 SEP 2022| EXEPOSÉ

8

Features

FEATURES EDITORS:

Oliver Lamb and Austin Taylor

The fight for university places

Gillian Allison Gracias looks at this year’s shortage of university places

T

ALENTED UK students stand to miss out on their courses of choice in the coming academic year. UCAS has reported that 20% of students will not get into their preferred choice of university come A-Level results day in August.

This comes amidst a record number of deferrals following the pandemic and its effect on university teaching.

Adding to the strain on university places is grade inflation, an ongoing trend (and one also exacerbated by the pandemic), whilst the availability of school-leaver jobs has not kept pace with a larger cohort of school-leavers.

All of this has resulted in a huge increase in competition for university places, with stories of students waiting far longer in the application cycle than usual to hear back from top universities, and many being rejected outright, despite having surpassed the required actual and predicted grades.

In fact, school-leavers are expected to face the toughest fight for university places in living memory.

Lee Elliot Major, professor of Social

Mobility at the University of Exeter, believes this coming year will mark the start of a “new tougher era” that could impact students for the next ten years.

This is despite the number of EU applicants falling by 50% post-Brexit.

Professor Ian Fusell of the University of Exeter’s medical school has said that the medical school has the capacity for extra students this upcoming year, but only if there is new funding.

In 2021, the University of Exeter was among other top universities that provided bursaries and incentives to defer.

Since the government had a cap on the number of places on medical courses, the University of Exeter offered a £10,000 cash bursary and free accommodation to medical students who delayed starting their courses until September 2022. However, this cap has since been removed, after applications for medical courses

rose by 20%, allowing hundreds more students to apply. This has made it

Image: Ben Birchall, PA Images

more challenging for school-leaver applicants to secure a spot.

Adding to the scarcity of university places is grade inflation. Education experts predict that the continued inflation of A-Level grades will result in leading universities having to set entrance tests to ensure places are allocated fairly. However, until that comes into place, many students will be left frustrated and devastated by rejection.

The number of school-leavers has, furthermore, increased, whilst the availability of apprenticeships and school-leaver jobs has not done so at the same pace. This year, UCAS reported a 5% surge in applications along with the 6,000 more applicants who hold deferred places, making acquiring any university place highly competitive. Not only is the bar much higher, but the increase in the number of applicants has made entry into a top university a much more competitive process than it has been in previous years.

Entry into a top university [is] a much more competitive process Students, this year, have been made to feel that their A*s are less valuable, Stephen Morgan, a Labour MP has pointed out. “Children’s aspirations are an afterthought for this government”, he said, suggesting that the concerns of students have taken a backseat, after ministers were urged to work with universities to set out a plan last summer to deal with the increased intake. A spokesperson from UCAS has assured students that the government is working closely with the higher education sector to ensure that students are able to progress to high-quality courses. This will not be much consolation, however, for the students (many of whom are from disadvantaged backgrounds) who have been rejected from their top choice universities, despite having surpassed the required grades.

Students and the cost of living crisis

T

Amy Rushton, News Editor, discusses how the cost of living crisis is affecting students

HE student lifestyle has long been associated with lack of money and a tight budget, but the current cost-of-living crisis is pushing students to the brink. Whilst students have always been mocked for spending more on alcohol than groceries – masking the very real concerns students from lower-income backgrounds have always had – high rates of inflation and soaring prices mean financial struggle is becoming a nationwide problem engulfing the majority of the student population.

The UCAS Freshers’ Report 2022 revealed that student spending across the nation has risen. Average spending per week rose from £214 in 2019 to £235 in 2021. With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine worsening an already drastic cost-of-living crisis, everyday expenses such as energy bills and groceries are set to rise further, beyond even some of the more generous student budgets.

According to research by Student Beans, four in five students have been affected by the rising cost of food, whilst 58 per cent have noticed rising energy bills. This puts pressure on student budgets, with the average maintenance loan becoming increasingly incapable of covering the cost of living.

The National Union of Students (NUS) has reported that one in four students have less than £50 a month to live off,

resulting in many having to seek aid elsewhere. According to estimates by the NUS, two in three students have sought financial assistance, with many resorting to credit schemes and five per cent even having to visit food banks.

There is support available – Exeter is one of many universities which offer bursary schemes and other forms of financial aid for struggling students – but there is increasing concern that this may not be enough. In the NUS’s January report, over half of those surveyed believed their student loan or bursary did not cover the cost of living, and the crisis has only deepened since then.

health of students already a key concern, this could have devastating effects on their wellbeing, with financial stress and the removal of key avenues of support such as socialising, adding to the burden of university work.

Whilst universities are providing some support – students affected can contact Exeter’s wellbeing services for advice – with continuing financial pressure this may not be enough. NUS President Larissa Kennedy commented: “Thousands of students are already be-

ing forced to choose between heating and eating”, adding that “the Government needs to act to support the most vulnerable”. Whilst the government has introduced measures to aid households — for instance, the £400 energy bill grant — many of these are of less benefit to students than to the general population, as students tend to have a high number of people per household and so will receive a smaller proportion.

The government is doing little to aid students, and many proposed reforms

— such as limited access to student loans for those who fail English and Maths GCSE — instead threaten to further the crisis for students. This is particularly damaging to students from lower-income backgrounds, many of whom are considering dropping out, or else choosing not to enter university, due to the financial burden. It’s clear that without government support, the lasting impact of this cost-ofliving crisis could push poor students out of higher education altogether.

Four in five students have been affected by the rising cost of food Alongside seeking financial aid, students have been forced to make cutbacks which affect their studies, physical health and mental wellbeing.

According to Student Beans, 71 per cent of students surveyed missed out on socialising, and 49 per cent skipped meals, in order to save money. Save the Student’s recent survey revealed that one in ten students described keeping up with rent as a “constant struggle”, demonstrating the intense pressure added by the crisis. With the mental

Image: Alisdare Hickson, Wikimedia Commons

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

9 FEATURES

Away from the front line, but still in the firing line Benedict Thompson explores the experiences of Ukrainian and Russian students in the UK

T

HEY may be away from the front line, but Ukrainian and Russian students studying in the UK have had their lives turned upside down.

Ukrainians have been left devastated by the invasion of their homeland, while Russians are fearful of being cast out by their peers.

Like many Ukrainians studying in the UK, Oleg Girnyk, a second-year medical student at the University of Exeter, worries about his future. The uncertainty of not knowing when the war might end looms oppressively.

The uncertainty of not knowing when the war might end looms oppressively Girnyk’s family are in Kyiv and are unable to escape. “We all have family and friends in Ukraine, predominantly in Kyiv, who are bombarded with ballistic rockets daily”, Girnyk told me.

There has also been a financial toll on students. Martial law has forced the Ukrainian National Bank to restrict digital money transfers. Ukrainians are assuming that this will be in place for the long term, hitting students like Girnyk the hardest.

“I have limitations in my fund. I would usually be supported by my family while I am out here studying, but now Ukraine have limited international bank transfers going out of the country”, Girnyk said. “To compensate, I have taken up a job as a Ukrainian-English interpreter”.

The Department of Education has decided to make funding available for universities to help Ukrainian and Russian nationals. £4 million is being distributed by the Office for Students which will then be distributed via financial schemes.

Former Further and Higher Education Minister Michelle Donelan said: “We are also extending access to HE student support, home fee status, tuition fee caps, Advanced Learner Loans and FE19+ funding”. This applies to students who are on one of the Home Office’s three schemes for Ukrainians.

University of Exeter Vice Chancellor, Lisa Roberts, said, “Students who are experiencing unexpected financial hardship as a result of the conflict or who are unable to access funds because their bank

accounts have been frozen are encouraged to apply for support from our Hardship Support Fund”. She added: “We will keep in direct contact with our Ukrainian colleagues and students to share information and offer support on this and other issues”.

So far, 44 UK universities including St Andrews, Edinburgh, Bristol and Warwick are twinning with Ukrainian higher education institutions to help Ukrainian students catch up on lost learning.

The Ukraine Extension Scheme has also been introduced by the Home Office which means that Ukrainian students will automatically qualify to extend their stay in the UK by three years.

In different ways, Russian students in the UK have also been affected by the invasion. Some Conservative MPs have called for the children of Russians connected to the Kremlin who are studying in British public schools to be “sent home to Russia”. Sir Roger Gale MP has expressed his desire for all Russian people in the UK to be expelled and “sent back home”.

With growing judgement of innocent Russian students in the country, there have been increasingly loud calls for UK institutions to provide support for them.

This comes after Russian students in the UK have reported feeling “extremely distressed” and “wanting to disappear”.

Russian students in the UK have reported “wanting to disappear” Universities UK said: “While our primary focus is on what we can do to support Ukrainian staff and students currently in the UK and those who arrive here fleeing the conflict, we are also mindful of the position of Russian staff and students, many of whom oppose this conflict”.

They added: “Many Russian students, academics and researchers, at great personal peril, have publicly criticised this invasion”.

Colin Riordan, Vice Chancellor of Cardiff University, has expressed his university’s tolerance for all students affected by the conflict. “The actions of governments, and indeed the rights and wrongs of any conflict, are not ascribable to the citizens of particular countries merely on the grounds of their citizenship or affiliation”, he said in a letter to students earlier this year.

Image: Kwh1050, Wikimedia Commons

The youth of today and yesterday: a history of student activism Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor, assesses the impact of student protests through the years

Image: Celette, Wikimedia Commons

S

TUDENT activism goes back decades, with young people being a key driving force for social change. University campuses have therefore become hotbeds of the so-called culture war. Thousands of student protests, many of them prochoice, have recently occurred in the US and even across the world regarding the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling. This decision means that millions of women’s legal rights to abortion in various US states will be taken away. The protests for abortion rights and the rights of women go back to the 1960s and 1970s with the rise of second-wave feminism.

Young people being a key driving force for social change In fact, the University of Exeter itself has a history of student activism.

A particular example of this was when Conservative politician Enoch Powell was invited to speak at the university in 1968. Just six months prior to his address at the university, Powell gave the contentious “Rivers of Blood” speech, in which he criticised Commonwealth immigration and anti-discrimination laws in the UK. As a result, the majority of the student population did not welcome Powell to campus. After rising volumes of heckling and violent outbursts from students, Powell eventually vacated the stage and abandoned his talk. Argu-

ments also arose between groups of students during Powell’s talk, evolving into a debate between students who backed Powell’s right to present his viewpoint and other students whose rights many thought Powell was attempting to undercut by his position on immigration.

The student activism at Exeter University against Powell’s talk on campus was during 1968, famously known as the year of student political protests across the US and Europe. This period was known for its socio-political youth rebellions, with television becoming a main source of information for young people, encouraging them to witness the tense political atmosphere of the 1960s.

The student protests that occurred at the University of Paris in 1968 focused partly on demonstrating against the Vietnam War and partly on demanding to be able to spend the night in each other’s dorm rooms, going against the patriarchal society led by President Charles de Gaulle. These student demonstrations in France set student activism into motion across the world. The issues that have been protested in the past that concern matters such as war, racial injustice and the rights of women are still central to student activists today. Student activists now use social media to express their views, using hashtags such as #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter to gain significant momentum across the globe.

Demonstrations can be sparked by local as well as international issues with pro-choice student protests regarding

abortion occurring at the University of Exeter in October 2021. Many students protested for the disaffiliation of Exeter Students for Life, a pro-life society at the university. The protests were sparked by a petition which gained over 8,000 signatures as well as two open letters that called for the Exeter Students for Life society to be struck down and condemned the Student Guild for affiliating the society. Despite the efforts of pro-choice students on campus, the Guild stated that they had a legal obligation to ensure there is freedom of speech at the university, therefore they could not disaffiliate the Exeter Students for Life society. Yet, the Guild also explained that students still had the right to express their views. Although the protesters did not achieve their goals, they were able to use their activism to get their messages and views across.

They were able to use their activism to get their messages and views across With these historical protests in mind, student activism is still crucial now for students to elevate their voices, to spread awareness about issues, whether they be political, social, or economic, and to educate their audiences.

The fact that students are continually embracing and raising consciousness about a problem enables everyone to understand that it affects not only present adults but also future generations.

In Conversation:

Isabel Hardman, Assistant Editor of The Spectator

Image: Wikicommons, Policy Exchange

Livvy Mason-Myhill Deputy Editor

O

N Tuesday 12 July, Assistant Editor of The Spectator and past alumnus of Exeter University, Isabel Hardman, received an honorary degree from the University of Exeter. Our Deputy Editor, Livvy Mason-Myhill, virtually sat down with Isabel to discuss her feelings towards her honorary degree, her past experiences studying at the University of Exeter and her successful career as a political journalist... É: Congratulations on your honorary degree! How did the university contact you about being awarded an honorary degree and how did you initially react?

IH: They sent me a letter which because of Covid and since I had a baby during Covid I didn’t pick up until a year after it was sent. So, I came back to my office after Covid and went through my post and thought “ooo there’s a letter from the University of

Exeter, I wonder what’s that about”. I opened it and thought “oh my goodness!”. I was really touched actually and really quite sort of proud of myself. I loved being at Exeter and it was lovely to have that sort of recognition of I guess the things that have happened in my career since I studied there. It was also selfishly an opportunity to come back to Exeter especially as my life doesn’t really take me to the Southwest anymore. On a really basic level, I was really excited to come back to campus, and it was a real honour, especially getting to do the graduation ceremony which was a big moment. É: How did you feel recieving your honorary degree and how did it feel to return back to Exeter?

IH: It was so wonderful coming back to campus! In fact, I had my husband and little boy with me. We were trying to get to campus and the campus bus wasn’t working. The bus deposited us at Duryard which was my old halls, and I was in Moberly when I was a fresher. Even though it was quite inconvenient because obviously you have

to walk up the hill and we weren’t actually anywhere near the Great Hall, it was still lovely to go back and see my old haunts. Just remembering how happy I was there and what a stimulating time it was. I dragged my poor husband through Reed Hall which was a place I spent a lot of time sitting in the gardens of. In terms of the degree ceremony, it was very strange because I looked back at the end of the day, I logged in on my Facebook and the Facebook memories popped up and it was actually on the same date that I graduated back in 2007 so it was 12th July 2007.

It wasn’t designed or planned by anyone, it’s just how it happened but that was quite lovely. It just took me back to when I was 21 in my BA robes and going up onto the stage and being much scruffier than any graduates today who all looked so glamorous. You can sort of taste the feelings of a graduation day as its this whole motion of three years of not just work but also growing up and friendships and the start of a new era. I could just remember how I felt on that day and how the other

graduates were feeling as well as I was in the hall. It such a strange happy, but slightly surreal day and that’s how it felt for me getting an honorary doctorate as well which again was a huge honour. É: Speaking of Exeter, how was your experience of studying at the University of Exeter?

IH: It was great! I genuinely really, really enjoyed my time at the university. There were some modules that I did that I found really interesting but I genuinely into what I was studying. I found it very good to specialise. I did a module on post-colonial feminist literature which I studied as much as I obviously could and creative writing which was another thing that I did a lot of. The school of creative writing is brilliant. I just really enjoyed it and I found it really fun. I’m still close to the friends that I made. In terms of the degree, I was really committed to it and I just loved it. I also loved doing my dissertation as well. É: By any chance did you ever have any experiences on working on Exeposé whilst you were at university?

IH: Yes, I was the Print News Editor for Exeposé. I started writing fashion pieces as I originally wanted to be a fashion journalist which my friends find hilarious now. Then I realised I was going to get more by-lines doing news, so I decided to sign up to do news and then actually really loved it. Then my friends and I ran to be the news editors and we didn’t expect to get it and we managed to talk our way into it. Again, I really enjoyed it. It’s great preparation for a career in journalism.

You get to cover university coverage like guild meetings. I did have some really fun and satisfying stories. There was one where I heard that the DebSoc president had been ousted in what they called ‘the Night of the Long Knives’ as it was about this Stalinist coup at the heart of DebSoc which was quite entertaining. That alongside other stories I found quite satisfying to cover in a very sort of campus way. It was very good preparation for my career. Both in terms of the skills that I learnt and of the realities of journalism. I had no illusions when I went into journalism.

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

11 FEATURES É: : I believe you worked as a freelance journalist for The Observer whilst you were studying at Exeter. How did that come about?

IH: I applied for work experience and was basically always emailing people for work experience and generally getting rejected. I aimed for a smaller desk, so this was the personal finance section. That’s a mistake a lot of people make which is that they get in touch with the news editors at place like The Times and they just aren’t going to have time to read their emails. Whereas the smaller desks do have a little bite more space. I was just fortunate that they took an interest in me rather than parking me in a corner and saying that they had work experience person in. Seeing it from the other side, I am actually grateful now because it is actually a lot of work having a work experience person with you in terms of that you have to keep thinking of stuff for them to do. At The Observer, they kept giving me stuff to do, asked me to stay and second week and then offered me a paid job which is what I then did in my holidays to pay my student rent which was great!

You come across people in your career who are just so excited to develop new journalists rather than seeing them as an inconvenience or a threat. They are rare people but I’m to lucky to have come across a few of those people. É: What lead you down the path towards the field of journalism, especially political journalism?

IH: Journalism I guess two things: I’ve always wanted to write, it has always been a bit of a compulsion for me, and I enjoy sharing with people things I know and have discovered; explaining things to other people. Also, I’m a very nosy person and I like to know what’s going on. My husband never stops laughing or rolling his eyes at me because I never stop asking questions. I’m just naturally very curious. I basically always wanted to be a journalist. I wanted to be a fashion journalist when I was a teenager, mainly because I thought news was more of a man’s world thing and I wasn’t actually that interested in politics as a teenager. I read the newspaper and knew what was going on in the government, but I thought politics and political journalism were for people who were not at all like me. More for people who were generally hottempered young men who were either members of Conservative Society or quite angry socialists. I just didn’t really see myself joining political societies on campus as it wasn’t really my bag. So, I then got more into the idea that there was something I could do to improve the world, to sort of make a difference.

I did sort of toy with teaching for a little bit whilst I was at university and was on a teacher training course. Then I just realised that firstly, I would have been a terrible teacher and secondly, you can really expose bad things about the world through journalism. Even if you are a very small part of it, you can make a change and see a change through your writing. One of the things that really changed my mind was when I was at The Observer and wrote a piece that they had on the cover of their personal

finance section which was about cancer suffers losing their homes. One of the points that was made in this piece was that the cost of prescriptions for outpatient cancer sufferers had become a real burden. A few years later, cancer prescriptions became free for outpatients in England. My piece wasn’t the piece that made that happen, but it was sort of one grain in a big sand dune of pieces that had exposed this as being unfair. I thought that actually this is a really good way of spending your life really. Don’t get me wrong I also absolutely love the pieces of gossip and hearing who hates who. But I do like to think for the past 13 years of being a full-time journalist, I’ve written pieces that have highlighted wrongdoings in terms of policy, whether it’s in government or in the housing sector or in the NHS. That’s something I’m really proud that I’m able to do, it’s something I don’t think I’ll ever tire of and there’s always stuff going on. In terms of sort of politics, I got more into that later.

My first job was as a housing journalist, and I got more interested in writing a policy. Policy and politics should be the same thing, but often they aren’t.

You basically end up writing who’s in whose gang but that was what got me into politics, writing about social policy.

I’m just naturally very curious. I basically always wanted to be a journalist. É: What would you advice be for students wanting to go into journalism?

IH: Definitely join Exeposé! You learn a lot. You learn about the upsides; you learn about the skills that are right for journalism. If you hate phoning people, if you don’t really care about stuff and you can’t really get a story out of something that you probably find boring, then journalism probably isn’t for you. Apply for work experience everywhere, but don’t expect to be on the comment pages of The Times. Aim for your local paper, the trade publications in particular. My first job was on a trade publication covering housing and while no one outside of the housing world had heard of it, it gave me a specialism which I still have, and I still understand the housing sector. It was a smaller team which meant that the news editors actually paid attention to me and taught me how to work a patch. I would recommend going to journalism college after university and doing a post grad.

It doesn’t have to be one of the expensive ones. Going for prestigious ones are great but also hugely expensive.

When I look at my peers who did more prestigious post grads and compared it to my peers who didn’t, I don’t think it makes that much difference in terms of your longer-term career trajectory. I did an NCTJ approved course down in Portsmouth and that absolutely taught me everything I needed. It gave me my shorthand; my law and you need those things to be a safe news reporter and the hard work. They are nothing like a university course and they make you versatile in the way that trying to get a job without that training is a bit harder.

Image: Flickr, Policy Exchange

É: What has been your proudest achievement whilst being a journalist?

IH: I think probably my first book is the thing I’m proudest of. It got a lot of interest, it sold nicely, and I’ve just written an updated version that will be coming out in a few weeks time which is a really nice place to get to with a book. It got reviewed very nicely and I’m still really proud of it as a piece of work as it underlines the problems that we still see today in politics. It was first published in 2018 and I found it satisfying yet depressing giving the subject matter that people often say, “you should read Isabel’s book to understand why we get these politicians today” and that’s sort of become part of a conversation. That’s the dream isn’t it right? I always wanted to write a book and I’m lucky that that one did well. I’ve just finished my third book and I’ve hopefully got a few more in the tank over the next few years. I’d say that’s probably my proudest thing. There were lots of other things like stories that weren’t of big consequence, but I worked really hard on to get someone to give me something, to tell me something. Just the sort of contact work you do as a political journalist. A lot of it is getting to know people over years and getting them to trust you and I’m always really proud when someone trusted me with something as I’ve put legwork into that. É: What was your favourite political story that you have been able to uncover and write about?

IH: There were a couple of little ones where I’ve sort of leaked things that parties didn’t want me to know which again weren’t a massive consequence.

Right at the start of my time at The Spectator, I knew there was a presentation going around that the Lib Dems had had where their person in charge of campaigning had done a presentation saying “you don’t know who your voters are, you don’t have any data on your voters, you’re going to lose this many seats at the next election” and this was in 2012 heading towards the 2015 election. They highlighted that they were screwed basically. I knew this presentation existed and what I had to do was to get hold of someone who would send it to me so I could publish a story on it. It took a lot of work in terms of getting

people to trust me and lots of lunches and long coffees to get people who I thought would be a good source to sort of trust that I wouldn’t screw them over. One day, I was actually covering the Lib Dems conference and an unrecognisable email appeared in my inbox that morning and it was the presentation that someone had sent to me. So, I wrote a piece on it and the Lib Dems went into meltdown about it. They were saying that “this was all wrong” but what then happened in 2015 was what this presentation had predicted so there was a sort of longtails to that. But really what I was proud of there was again just working with sources and having this goal that I could see which probably took three of four months to get it so that was something I was proud of. It was a little story but sometimes it’s the little ones that you work really hard on that you end up being proud of. There were lots of others where I’m just sort of pleased that I got that line in the piece or something like that.

... What I was proud of was again working with sources and having this goal I could see... É: How do you find voting during a general election? Especially since you are constantly involved with reporting politics and the many dramas and unfulfilled promises of politicians.

IH: I don’t find it easier than anyone else. Partly because you have a professional reaction to things which is often to say, “that is completely mad, that’s ridiculous” but not to then think “but how does this change my vote” and then you sort of inch towards the election or the referendum or whatever.

You start to think “Argh actually I’ve got to go the polling station as well”. I don’t think knowing more of it and seeing it in closer detail necessarily helps.

It can sometimes make you feel sort of that you don’t want to vote for any of them. I do always vote though. But sometimes it’s very easy as you might have some sort of existential threat.

But in other elections it’s much harder. É: Obviously during the sum-

mer many political events occurred including the Cabinet crumbling, Boris Johnson resigning as Prime Minister and the Conservative election for a new party leader and Prime Minister. How did it feel to be reporting on that?

IH: I’ve been quite busy. I’ve been very fortunate in that the time that I’ve been a political journalist has just been eventful in a way that those who were covering the middle of the New Labour years or the 1980s didn’t have level of political change that we have now. I’m about to start covering my fourth Prime Minister and I’ve only been a political journalist and been in the lobby since 2011. So, it’s definitely not been quiet at any stage. In fact, we kept saying that this year is going to be quieter and then something else has happened, but I’ve stopped saying that now as it’s becoming dangerous. But these are the sort of days I live for. When the cabinet was crumbling and getting resignations its thrilling to be part of the coverage of that and to have people calling you up telling you what’s happening at two in the morning. Being in parliament when someone resigns, the atmosphere becomes electric. Everyone starts whizzing around like bees. If I disliked doing that then I’d be in the wrong job, it’s amazing to be a part of that. É: With your new book, Fighting for Life: The Twelve Battles that Made Our NHS, and the Struggle for Its Future that centres around the NHS coming out soon, could you tell us what we can expect to read?

IH: It’s coming out the year of the 75th anniversary of the NHS which will be next July. It covers the sort of 12 battles that shaped the national health service and the time prior to its creation to the present day. It covers Covid obviously and going back looking at the social evolution in the 1960s and how that impacted the health service as well as how the health service dealt with that. Also, how the modern hospitals are dealt and how mental health treatment has or hasn’t evolved under the NHS. It looks at whether the NHS is going to provide another 25 or even 75 years given the pressures that are on it especially seeing how much our health landscape has changed since 1948.

Comment

21 SEP 2022| EXEPOSÉ

13

COMMENT EDITORS CONNOR GODDARD & ANABEL COSTA-FERREIRA

Should we be giving celebrities honorary degrees?

Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor, discusses why honorary degrees can be an inspiring form of encouragement

D

URING graduation season this summer, famous Grime star Stormzy received an honorary doctorate degree from the University of Exeter. The degree recognised the artist’s “outstanding achievement in the field of higher education, philanthropy and widening participation”.

This is following Stormzy’s #Merky Foundation that was set up in 2020 alongside his pledges of millions to tackle racial inequality and to support justice reform and black empowerment in the UK. Stormzy stated during his graduation speech: “I feel extremely blessed and grateful to be up here receiving this honorary degree”.

I feel extremely blessed and grateful to be up here

Dolly Alderton, a Sunday Times journalist and award-winning author, also received an honorary doctorate during the summer from the University of Exeter, stating that “it feels like what I was destined for”.

Many question, however, whether celebrities should be given honorary degrees. It could be suggested that celebrities may not deserve these honours from universities, considering they did not have to study for as long as most students. Similarly, these celebrities did not have to pay the large tuition fees to go to university or even have to study anything altogether. Celebrities earning these degrees are the select few who do not have to complete several years of study or ever have to experience working on an essay in the library until three in the morning.

Therefore, it is understandable that some may feel frustrated that all

a celebrity has to do to earn their degree is turn up to the graduation ceremony, shake a few hands and give a short speech.

Despite these negative aspects of the honorary degree schemes set up by universities, celebrities have rightfully earned these honorary degrees through their dedication to their career and their contributions to society. Furthermore, these celebrities hold the power to encourage university students to work hard in life to achieve their goals. The honorary degree schemes prove how one does not have to follow a conventional pathway in life to achieve something great.

Also, universities can utilise giving celebrities honorary degrees as it makes them more recognisable as an institution. These celebrities help to inspire many students graduating with their captivating speeches during graduation ceremonies. During her graduation

speech at the University of Exeter, Alderton gave students an important message: “Stories matter, writers matter, art matters, ideas matter.

It heals us, it helps us empathise, it helps us understand each other. Stories change the world”.

My personal favourite celebrity who has recently received an honorary doctorate degree was Taylor Swift, who received the degree from New York Univerisity in May. Swift earned her degree through her significant contribution to the music industry, impacting an entire generation. Her speech at the graduation ceremony was praised by many who were at the ceremony as well as those who watched it on social media. She encouraged students to “Never be ashamed of trying. Effortlessness is a myth”.

As someone who is a huge fan of Taylor Swift, I found her advice from her graduation speech to be deeply relatable and comforting.

Therefore, celebrities receiving honorary degrees can become beacons of encouragement for students, motivating them to achieve their goals through hard work and dedication in whatever field they may find themselves in the future.

Image: Frank Schwichtenberg, Wikimedia Commons

Uni societies: Grounding or garbage?

U

Pollyanna Roberts, Screen Editor, discusses how societies saved her first year at university

NIVERSITY societies are not only incredibly important, but are also powerful tools that can be used to enhance your Exeter Uni experience.

I can safely say that if I hadn’t joined any societies at university, my first year Exeter experience would have been completely different, and I doubt I would’ve had as many nights I can’t quite remember…

opportunity to make friends and have some fun, and, while I’m not the sportiest person in the world, I decided to give boxing a go.

Three terms later I’ve made some amazing friends, had hilarious nights out and can impress people

with my incredible boxing skills.

Without boxing, I would have missed out on so many cool experiences.

My sister, an Exeter alum, has spent many a dinnertime conversation expressing how her time playing Hockey at Exeter University has

My experience would have been completely different In all honesty, the weeks before starting in September, I was writing down lists of societies I was interested in, devising plans of how I could be in more than one place at a time. There were so many options and, with the recent introduction of lots of new societies, who knows what is around the corner for the upcoming year. When someone talks of societies, most people think of sports, like rugby and hockey, whose members dominate TP Wednesdays. Sport societies were sold to me as the prime

Image: University of Exeter

formed some of her best memories, and has offered her the opportunity to even travel around the country.

While I am by no means at that level when it comes to boxing, any boxers willing to test their skill have termly opportunities to fight in front of a real audience. Exebox is one of the events that proved to be a highlight of my first year.

However, if sports are not for you, do not be alarmed, there are an abundance of things to sink your teeth into. Whether you’re a film buff, a lover of languages or a natural-born writer (hint hint, join Exeposé), you will not be disappointed. Most societies have regular events and even competitions that you can get stuck into. In term 3, my friend was actualising her directing potential by making a short film with the society XTV, and another has had many an opportunity to dress up for her fortnightly PolSoc adventures.

It’s not just the sports that have all the fun! Even if you cannot fully commit, it’s worth becoming a member of the societies you’re interested in and to take part when you can. All degree subjects have

accompanying societies, which are not only beneficial to meet more people on your course, but can also offer help and support in those more stressful times of the year (plus, the society balls are not to be missed!).

Societies can also offer help and support in those more stressful times of the year Moving to university is undoubtedly a terrifying time, but the best advice I can give when it comes to societies is to try everything that interests you.

Utilise your early weeks to try out freshers events, which all societies will run. See what you enjoy, see what you don’t, and then take the plunge and go for it. You’ll make friends and you’ll have fun. Your degree, while incredibly important, is only part of the experience.

The worst thing you could do is let your fear stop you from taking part. Societies made my first year, and they can make yours too.

14

21 SEP 2022| EXEPOSÉ

COMMENT

The humble house party or the exciting night out?

Comment Editors debate how freshers should make the most of their week of freedom

Clubbing fever in freshers — time to venture out?

A

WEEK to remember- or perhaps a week to forget. The build-up and anticipation for fresher’s week is over, as we welcome a whole new cohort of students ready for the new and exciting prospect of university.

Now whilst I look back on my fresher’s week with happy memories, I would hesitate to say it was the best week of the year, whilst it is great to have an amazing time, do not feel like you have done something wrong if it is not all you hoped it would be.

I would hesitate to say it was the best week Often the preconception of your first week makes it harder for it to live up to the expectations set. Typically (for those keener to socialise) this is a week of daily nights out and this tends to take one of two forms; the trip to a club in town or a flat party. Whilst the latter is also a great option, I would suggest the trip to town is the perfect option. Not only does it offer you the chance to enjoy your new freedom of living with other students, but it gives you the chance to get a feel for the place you’re about to call home for the next few years.

The numerous events offered by clubs and bars in this week allow you to find your favourite events you will now know to book on FIXR, trust me they go faster than you would think...While the house-

T

party option may seem more social at first, the clubbing option gives you the chance to break from the typical what course/where are you from conversation with some loud music and if anything, the twenty-something minutes it takes to walk there give you plenty of time to accomplish both.

House parties — the easier way to socialise?

O club or not to club? That is the question on many freshers’ minds. In fact for many people it’s THE question before moving to university. Going to a place you’ve never been Image: Pterre, Wikimedia Commons to, in a city you don’t know, with people you don’t know can be a very daunting prospect.

That’s why I think flat parties can be a much better way to ease yourself into the big change that is university life. My freshers week was forcibly confined to kitchens and living rooms due to lockdown measures, and despite all of our complaining about it at the time, I think that flat parties allowed me to bond with my flatmates and other new friends much more than I would have been able to in TP or Fever.

The clubbing option gives you the chance to break Take this week as an opportunity to get used to your surroundings and meet new people — and if the big night out is something you choose to do, make sure to have fun and of course stay safe.

Image: pxhere

Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Comment Editor

Flat parties allowed me to bond with my flatmates

that you should grab all the opportunities you can to make friends at university, so I would tell any fresher to go on any nights out they’ve been asked on. But, flat parties can be a great icebreaker and an easy way to get to know people, especially in the first few days In my opinion, flat parties are a great way to get grounded at university, in my second year I’ve loved going out clubbing and seeing people that I know, but the reason I know many of those people I speak to is because of the flat parties I attended in my first year.

Flat parties are a great way to get grounded at university In September of 2021 it almost felt like I had an obligation to go clubbing as they hadn’t been open for such a long time and I hadn’t yet experienced them, but as the year went on I went to some really fun house parties and caught up with people that I hadn’t seen in a long time. It’s very easy to feel pushed into clubbing at university, but there are lots of other ways you can have fun nights without being labelled as boring or out of touch.

Connor Goddard, Comment Editor

That being said, I also think

Working whilst at uni.

W

Ana Anajuba, Online Editor, discusses her experiences of having a job whilst at university

ITH the cost of living seeming to increase exponentially and the student loans feeling like less and less, more students are contemplating getting a student job to balance the budget. Whether to supplement the amount needed for rent or just as extra spending money, students jobs could be the way to go.

Most employers will understand the responsibility of university and work with you in balancing your educational requirements and your work shifts. However, many people do not consider that university is already a full-time job. Students may only attend lectures and seminars for a few hours

a week (nothing like the 9-3 shift that primary school students have) but the self-studying, meetings and society extra-curriculars that seem necessary to even get an unpaid internship all add up. Before you know it, you encounter the stress of a likely customer service job and managing the newfound workload of higher education.

It was a definite learning curve for me.

The onslaught of constant work needed alongside the duties of work made the beginning of my second year (when I could actually get a job and things were not all locked down) infinitely more stressful than it would have been otherwise. Yet I still have

the relief that having a little bit extra cash gave me. I could deal with surprise expenses like medication, treat myself and take little trips or just rest easy knowing that I could afford my rent for the next few months. It also taught me the value of saving. Every ten pounds spent was two hours of my time that I could and would never get back. Gone were the days of Market Place lunches. I am not ashamed to say I quit my first job fairly soon: working in a night club to get back home at four in the morning then waking up at 8am for a seminar was never fun.

So, it was back to the drawing board.

The best thing you can do is make

a quality CV. Never lie but accentuate your strengths and achievements then add to it everytime you move on from a job. Indeed and LinkedIn will be your best of friends but for a stu-

dent job I would recommend Indeed.

I would always advise to apply for jobs early, preferably before the beginning of the academic year but now is always a second best time to try.

Image: Paul O’Mara, flickr

21 SEP 2022| EXEPOSÉ

15

Satire Freshers’ Fair: The hoarding olympics

T

HE return of the Freshers Fair at Exeter will see the new batch of silly freshers competing to gather the largest yield of whatever free rubbish they can get their hands on from societies they most likely will never join.

Collecting tote bags is the main event for all the quirky girls who are ‘not like other girls’, with many having skipped their daily hour of queuing in the Pret queue to partake in the tote bag bazaar. Prices are expected to rise on Overheard for the resale of branded rubbish from the fair as freshers become harshly acquainted with the results of spending all of their student loan in their first week at university.

SATIRE EDITOR:

Cleo Gravett

Oliver Jamie throws in the towel on project to make Exeter students eat healthier

Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor

Location, Location, Nocation...

F

RESHERS have been informed that they should have begun looking for second year housing when they were in primary school. The Student Advisory Department (SAD) has released new data showing that with every 24 hours that pass, the likelihood of students finding an affordable place to live with flatmates who are not completely horrible decreases by five per cent.

“With the cost-of-living crisis, the housing crisis and the absolute apathy of the current government, the best thing we can ask students to do is go back in time and look for housing” the SAD spokesperson, Mike Hunt (no relation to Jeremy Hunt MP) has stated. However, some maintain that suitable housing can be easily found, where students are prepared to put in the effort.

When approached for comment, landlord Richard “Dick” Mount (owner of local Dicks Mount Cottage) responded, “Look, it’s not my fault that houses are expensive. Students should just do what I did — buy a house with a small loan from my parents, say around a million pounds. It’s really not that hard.”

Image credits: Wikimedia Commons, Karl Gabor (Jamie Oliver), Rawpixel (horns)

Cleo Gravett Satire Editor

E

VER since his chain went into a well-publicised fraught administration in 2019, rumour has it that Oliver Jamie has been going back to his roots, and continuing the ‘Feed Me Better’ campaign first televised in Jamie’s School Dinners, challenging the food given to schoolchildren and making it healthier.

Oliver was spotted on the University of Exeter Streatham campus at the end of the summer, survey-

ing the on-campus food outlets and interviewing a mixture of students, both freshers and veterans alike, on their lifestyle habits. Our roving reporter Tallulah Twizlah, on a stakeout in the bushes, reported that after the cameras wrapped filming on one such conversation, Oliver was seen collapsing to his knees behind the Old Library for a vape and a cry.

Oliver was seen... behind the Old Library for a vape and a cry

Now he has come forward for an interview with the mainstream press to recount the particular difficulties he faced in his mission.

“I’ve given up on Exeter students.” Oliver sobbed into the microphone at a press conference held in Victoria in London, at the former flagship site of Jamie’s Italian. “Never have I faced a challenge as big as this. How am I supposed to make a healthy option of kebabs and VKs? Forum Kitchen and Marketplace are unsalvageable, I looked on the ingredients list of a meal deal sandwich and there was just a question mark!”

How am I supposed to make a healthy option of kebabs and VKs? Oliver then took a short break from the press conference in order to stress-eat an entire Mint Vienetta.

Returning to the microphone with chocolate flakes smeared around his mouth, he closed his speech by announcing “In retrospect, I should have known that I was no match for an institution where the chancellor once spent £6,000 on biscuits”.

Ana Anajuba, Online Editor

97 per cent of students are from “Near”

A

RECENT study into banal Freshers Week getting-to-know-you conversations has confirmed that 97 per cent of British students studying in the UK are from “Near”.

Analysis of over 300,000 hours of fresher’s chat transcripts has found out that by these records, “Near” is the most populous settlement of the UK, followed closely by “Near-London”. In fact, the only students who seemed to live outside of these major areas seemed to be Geography students, perhaps due to their trend of describing their hometowns using exact coordinates.

When pressed for further comment, two inhabitants of “Near-London” clarified themselves to be living in Hastings and Peterborough respectively.

Cleo Gravett, Satire Editor

NEWSFLASH: Back in your uncles day, horrific society initiations were “character building” Megan Ballantyne Editor

W

HILE the University of Exeter currently condemns torturing freshers in a series of bizarre initiations, instead suggesting that second-years, third-years and beyond simply “be nice to them”, completely unprompted and wildly inappropriate tales from your grumpy uncle suggest that wasn’t

always the case. Back in the day when he was part of an anonymous AU sports club, their stance on initiations was ‘go ahead.’

“Societies were encouraged to be meaner to freshers, in fact.

After all, it’s not like we had anything in common with them! Sure, we were all in their position just a couple of years before, but it was different then, we treated older students with respect. Students are snowflakes nowadays!

They need a bit of toughening

up. Back in your grandfather’s day, the toughest initiation for students was a World War — drinking a pint of piss is child’s play, it’s ‘character building.’”

Drinking a pint of piss is child’s play, its ‘character building’ Perhaps your grumpy uncle has a point. Since we were all traumatised as ‘silly freshers’, Exeposé has decided that, in the in-

terest of parity, we need to keep making freshers’ lives miserable.

We need to keep making freshers’ lives miserable Exeposé’s new initiations now state that every new member must transcribe a 9 hour Guild President interview, and construct an email to the Vice-Chancellor that her team will actually reply to. An impossible task — so get writing!

LIFESTYLE

MUSIC

TECH

STUDY BREAK

ARTS + LIT

SCREEN

LIFESTYLE

TECH

ARTS + LIT

MUSIC

STUDY BREAK

SCREEN

ROOM BUDDIES: WHAT TO EXPECT IN HALLS

Image: University of Exeter

19

DEVON PAST AND PRESENT

22

Image: Picryl

THE BIGGER PICTURE Image: Tony Hisgett, Flickr

27 23

INTERVIEW: THE AMAZONS Image: Martin Schumann, Wikimedia Commons

GAMES TO BOND OVER Image: Jorge Franganillo, Flickr

31

STUDY BREAK

32

Image: The Blue Diamond Gallery

18 - 19

21 - 22

23 - 24

26 - 27

30 - 31

32

LIFESTYLE EDITOR Pippa Bourne Gracie Moore

ARTS + LIT EDITORS Ella Minty Joshua Smith

MUSIC EDITORS Megan Ballantyne Joshua Hughes Livvy Mason-Myhill

SCREEN EDITOR Pollyanna Roberts

TECH EDITOR Harry Hawkins

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Matthew and George

lifestyle Fresher fear

Lifestyle writers discuss their trepidation during Freshers' Week

S

TARTING university isn’t the easiest process. Being away from the familiar and having to dive headfirst into the pool of the unknown is no easy feat. Having to say goodbye to my Mum was one of the hardest things I had to do.

Despite the initial fear I felt surrounding university, I was still very excited for a fresh start and to begin my time at Exeter.

One of the main aspects of university that I was terrified for was whether I would be able to make friends.

I actually met most of my current friends later in the year rather than in Freshers week. Making friends at university is much easier as you are all in the same boat, all wanting to meet as many people as possible. Many of my friends are from my accommodation, course and societies that I’m involved in. I was fortunate enough to have many of my friends from sixth form also starting their first year at Exeter with me, so I was able to become friends with their friends.

One piece of advice I wish I had received would be to talk to as many people as possible as you never know, you might just meet your best friend. Also, feelings of homesickness are completely normal, so make sure you take time to call your family or partake in regular self-care routines. Finally, you do not have to go out every single night or feel pressured to drink alcohol if you don’t want to. You can have just as much fun on your own, spending a quiet evening in your room watching a comfort film.

Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor

F

I

RESHERS' Week is a crazy time. Going into a flat full of WAS told by my favourite teacher in Year 13, “university will people you don’t know, going out clubbing for the first be the best experience; you will meet so many people and time and exploring a brand new world of people and acmake friends for life”, just before going to university in Septivities. I feel that the biggest fear in freshers is not meeting tember 2021, a familiar expectation placed upon many freshers. that ‘perfect’ group of friends that everyone idealHowever, this also applies a lot of undue pressure. As well ises over the summer before the start of term. as new ways of living, studying and learning, there is ofA myth that must be put to rest is that ten an expectation to settle in straight away and make you meet your closest friends in the first those patented “friends for life” within days. This week – this is simply not the case. Meetwas the source of much trepidation for me; having people at university is one of those ing had the comfort of a secondary school friendthings that happens naturally, for some, ship group for seven years, I was very aware that in a very short space of time, and for othI hadn’t had to make friends since the age of 11. ers, over a longer period. If you feel you Fast-forward a year, and I cannot imagine life are struggling to mingle with people, my without Exeter and the people I met in first year. It best recommendation is to keep calm and was not all plain-sailing, and university life is not always Image: Picpedia, Nick Youngson have patience. Whether in a society you don’t the glamourous image of aesthetic library study sessions, discover until halfway through the term or an clubbing and flat parties. This is particularly true of Freshers event that isn’t happening until the very end of the year, Week – it can be a lot of fun, filled with society tasters and nights meeting people and creating friendships because you want out, but first year is not defined by the first week. I was still makto rather than feeling obligated to tend to last a lot longer. ing new friends by June, and societies I joined later in the year beSo, if you move in and feel a pit of nervousness in your stomcame more important than those hastily joined at the Freshers Fair. ach don’t worry. On the whole, everyone is feeling the same as University is regarded as some of the best years of you and ultimately the more people you meet, the more likely your life for a reason. Even if it takes time to adjust, first you are to connect with those that may become lifelong friends. year experiences soon become nostalgic memories, and you wonder what all that freshers' fear was about.

Joshua Hughes, Editor Harry Craig

Sex-Exeter: rite of passage or just another way to feel left out?

F

Sienna Fox-White talks about her thoughts on hook-up culture

RESHERS week: it’s a plunge into the deep end of university life, often defined by burgeoning friendships, drunken nights out and, for many, one-night stands that require a great deal more drinking to try and forget. In an average first year flat, it isn't uncommon for occupants to have had a sexual encounter with another new student during Fresher’s Week — or, at the very least, a drunken kiss (sometimes with someone else from that same flat!)

It’s hardly surprising: combine thousands of teenagers, a brand-new social environment, and a party atmosphere, and casual sex is one of the obvious outcomes. It can be an incredibly freeing time, for some, the first opportunity to discover who they are and what they

want sexually. The Facebook page ‘Sexeter’, along with hundreds of other equivalents at different universities, is a place for people to share their humorous sexual experiences and often make proclamations of unrequited desire. Their very existence cements the pedestal that sex is placed on in the student community.

But as these kinds of shenanigans are used as a bonding tool for hungover debriefs in the kitchen, what about the people who haven’t taken part? You may hear about them less, but they are many: some in newly long-distance relationships, some who have cultural objections, and many who simply can’t or don’t want to. Freshers’ Week can be overwhelming and exhausting at the best of times, with everyone

hoping that they’ll find people they like and be liked by. In an article from The Huffington Post, one student was quoted as saying ‘During freshers' I was consistently regarded to be a bit of a party pooper. The boys in my halls just thought I was a killjoy because I didn't drink very much… and I didn't want to sleep with any of them’.

It’s not a stretch of the imagination, then, that some people might feel pressured to partake in hook-up culture, as a way of fitting in and feeling ‘normal’. The unpleasant and infamous concept of ‘sharking’ takes full advantage of this specific brand of insecurity and desire to fit in. It involves older students who deliberately try to sexually engage with new students, often because of their assumed innocence and

naivete. Whilst everyone is over the age of consent, it can still leave a bad taste in the mouth to realise it has happened to you or someone you know — it’s a form of taking advantage that is often treated like a game by some students.

Joining university will always be a time of nervousness, excitement, and desire to have new experiences, that often shapes the way you begin the rest of your life. In an (almost) post-pandemic world, navigating this new social scene may well be more difficult than ever for students who have spent their last academic years in isolation. However, as we all re-learn our attitudes to dating, sex and romance, it’s more important than ever that students consider all aspects of hook-up culture, even its dark side.

Image: Pixabay

exhibit | lifestyle

EDITORS: Gracie Moore and Pippa Bourne

21 SEP 2022 | 19

Foodie freshers Ana Anajuba, Online Editor, and Clémence Smith, Online Editor, share their go-to takeaway spots

T

Unit 1 Food Truck

HE taste of good food after a night out has got to be one of the top ten senses between petrichor (the smell of rain on wet soil) and cosycore (the feeling of being warm and snuggled in blankets whilst it snows outside).

A foodie destination is often my key motivation from escaping the structure of my indoor introverted existence and going to a place with loud music I usually do not like and expensive alcohol I am forced to buy. Yet, even if you like the hellish experience of clubbing (I say this because I am a third year) you will still love to experience the beauty of the Unit 1 cheesy chips — and other things — van. With deliciously filling food sure to satiate your hunger and low, low, low prices sure to not break the bank, the van has always been my go-to.

students and pump out burgers like they are about to be banned. I have seen the absolute diabolical scenes at 2am as students pour out of the club and queue in front of the van like the 5000 listeners of Jesus. I have bore witness to the despair on students’ faces as they realise on some pitiful night that for whatever reason, the van is simply not there.

As for me, I plan my night around it and look forward to entering the breech once more.

Cheesy Tuesday and cheesy chips anyone?

Ana Anajuba, Online Editor

H

Red Panda

AVE you ever bitten into a fluffy cloud stuffed with a succulent and tender filling? Have you ever consistently craved something so much that you’re secretly grateful that it isn’t available on Deliveroo, lest you go bankrupt?

Red Panda is, to my mind, the best lunch spot in Exeter.

RED PANDA IS, TO MY MIND, THE BEST LUNCH SPOT IN EXETER

IF THERE WAS ONE THING I WOULD CHANGE ABOUT MY TIME AT EXETER SO FAR, IT'S THAT I DIDN'T GO SOONER! so far, it’s that I didn’t go there sooner!

They offer a range of different bao buns for £4.80 each, which are Chinese steamed buns filled with pork belly, chicken satay or teriyaki tofu. But if baos aren’t your thing, you can choose from of a selection of rice and salad boxes as well. Each dish is topped with their signature mouth-watering chilli crisp that you can buy in jars to spice up your own meals. Although Red Panda only offers takeaway, a bao is the perfect treat to pick up on your way back from campus or to enjoy on Cathedral Green.

YOU WILL... LOVE TO EXPERIENCE THE BEAUTY OF THE UNIT 1 CHEESY CHIPS It helps that they are located right next to Unit 1 and on the way to campus accommodation. It also helps that the staff are lovely people who can somehow translate the slurred drunken musings of numerous

Besides, it has already established itself as a student cult-favourite. Tucked away on Gandy Street, I had walked past it many times before I finally decided to taste their food at the end of my second year. If there is one thing I would want to change about my time at Exeter

Clémence Smith, Online Editor Image: Wikimedia Commons, Krista

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Lauren Topor

Room buddies: What to expect living in halls Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor, discusses her experiences with living in halls

T

HE concept of living in a student accomodation with complete strangers is certainly daunting. Yet, it can also be exciting, with the opportunity to meet new people and make friends.. I was looking forward to mingling with people who studied different courses to me or were from different parts of the country.

My experience with my flatmates was definitely interesting. I've come to realise that flatmates are a bit like marmite, you either love them or hate them. It took me a few months to realise that my flatmates weren't my kind of people, which is a totally normal feeling! Its not always the case that your flatmates will end up becoming your best friends.

FLATMATES ARE A BIT LIKE MARMITE, YOU EITHER LOVE THEM OR HATE THEM It was especially awkward in my first year flat as there was the common occurance of a flatcest relationship (the couple still being together now). It was definitely awkward for me to live with two people who were in a very

lovey dovey flatcest relationship, especially unpopular aspect of halls would of course be the one time I nearly walked in on them hav- the extortionate prices of Circuit laundry. Not ing sex in the kitchen (yikes!). Luckily, I found only does it cost a fortune, most of the time people in my accomodation during Freshers the laudry room would be metaphorical miles week who studied the same course as me away from your flat. Therefore, I would recand we agreed to walk to lectures together. ommend bringing a drying rack or do what I did which was lug all of my washI'm still really good friends with ing with me whenever I went those people today and I'm home and wash it there. so glad that I met them!

Flat parties also Although there have their own are many benefits pros and cons list. to living in halls, a One pro being negative aspect that you could from my experimeet lots of ence would be new people, having to live most of whom with messy would be exflatmates. tremely drunk.

Sticky tables Another benefit and maggots being that flat will become a parties were a lot normality after less intimidating living in halls for a than going out clubfew months. My adImage: University of Exeter bing. You actually had the vice would be to organopportunity to talk to people ise a cleaning and bin rota as and they are a great icebreaker, soon as possible to ensure minimum gross encounters with bin juice. Another especially during Freshers week. However,

a con would be the clean up after the party which was always a hassle. Also, the noise of other people's flat parties aren't exactly encouraged when you are trying to go to sleep.

FLAT PARTIES WERE A LOT LESS INTIMIDATING THAN GOING OUT CLUBBING Overall, I think everyone has their own unique experiences with living in halls. Some of my friends absolutely loved living in halls and they became extremely close with thier flatmates. I personally didn't enjoy living with my flatmates yet, I did enjoy meeting people in my accomodation. Its the first time that you are living away from home so don't be concerned if you are not finding it easy.

It's a huge adjustment, going from living with your parents in your hometown to living with complete strangers in a new area. My advice would be to try to enjoy living in halls as much as you can, and try to make as many friends as possible. After all, you only get to live in halls for your first year and time at university goes by in a flash, so enjoy it whilst it lasts.

arts

+ lit

Degreeable reads Arts and Lit writers discuss their favourite books from their degrees Los Cachorros by Vargas Llosa- A Spanish text

S

TUDYING the “Making of Modern Latin America” module as part of my Spanish degree not only offered a plethora of texts and visual culture to consume but also opened me up to complex themes which plague Latin America — themes that we often don’t address enough here in the Western World. One text that resonated with me was the Peruvian novella Los Cachorros in which a young boy is castrated during an attack by a dog, Im meaning the rest of his life is presented as the torturous rebuilding of his ag e: Fre masculinity as it is forcibly removed from him during his formative years. eS VG The heartache, claustrophobia, fear and desperation culminate in this gripping story and, as a woman, allow me to step outside my own experiences and view society’s expectations of men from their perspective too.

Cuéllar (the protagonist) experiences exclusion and bullying at the hands of his “friends” simply because he doesn’t anatomically match the expectations of men.

It would be easy for a reader to put these experiences down to “Life in 1950s Lima” but the truth is, both men and women are victims of the patriarchy, albeit to different extents, and it was interesting for me to delve into how this pressure impacts men as I had already experienced it from a woman’s perspective.

Along with this, Los Cachorros neatly presents the “coming of age” theme too, something which is directly relevant to many of us. Cuéllar struggles with his identity, feelings of depression and his friend groups which accurately reflect the life of a teenager, making you feel as if you’re not alone in how you feel. The author, Vargas Llosa, has encapsulated the minds of teenagers worldwide with the portrayal of Cuéllar’s trauma, making it a novella that can be enjoyed and understood by anyone and everyone (it might just have to be translated from Spanish first!).

Gracie Moore, Lifestyle Editor

I

Gender Trouble by Judith Butler - An English text

REMEMBER in the first year of studying English at Exeter, one of the required readings on my ‘Approaches to Criticism’ course was the introduction to Gender Trouble. It was a relatively accessible text, as academic readings go of course, and the central argument of the text, that gender is performed, and the fact that it is performed dismantles a whole series of binary assumptions underpinning how gender works, is so simple that I wondered why I had not thought about it in this way before.

Butler’s discussion of how drag performance offers an effective critique of gender essentialism was particularly fascinating to me. She suggests that drag, rather than simply mocking or offering hyper-performative images of a particular gender, rather mocks the very notion of a binary of gender itself. In the face of gender being so easily and effectively performed and parodied in drag, the argument that there is a fundamental biological foundation for what are clearly revealed to be socially performed gendered attributes, becomes completely unfeasible. As Butler says “If gender attributes, however, are not expressive but performative, then these attributes effectively constitute the identity they are said to express or reveal.”

Butler goes on to suggest that the arguments made by gender essentialists that gender is innate, not performed, is an act of concealment which protects the values of patriarchal society, by encouraging us to conform to supposedly ‘natural’ traits rather than express ourselves as we prefer.

By showing that gender is performance, she makes it clear that trans and non-binary individuals are not in violation of some set binary of gender, as gender essentialists suggest, but simply engage with ‘gender performance’ as a way to reflect their individual identity, as we all do. Butler’s ‘gender as performance’ argument, in its infinite revelations, also debunks the idea of heterosexuality as ‘natural’ and ‘compulsory’ since it is underpinned by the false notion of supposedly fixed gender binaries which must inform sexuality and sexual orientation.

Therefore, Butler makes clear in this text that the performative nature of gender, once understood, can be used to serve you how you would like — as a performance of who you are rather than as a necessary act of social conformity. Ultimately, Gender Trouble also helped me see that academic writing, done well, can offer us a new take on the ideas we think we are already totally familiar with.

Megan Ballantyne, Editor

Book-dentity: Can you know someone through their books?

W

Carys Williams discusses how books represent people’s personalities

HETHER you’re the kind of person who explores the bookshelves in your Airbnb in an attempt to decode your host’s psyche or you just enjoy searching bookshelves, there’s no denying that the books we own can sometimes reveal things about our personalities and what makes us tick as people. From the titles themselves to the way the books are organised, a person’s bookshelf can give us many clues about who they are.

THERE’S NO DENYING THAT BOOKS WE OWN CAN REVEAL THINGS ABOUT US For example, if someone has row upon row of pastel paperbacks which pack a fluffy punch, then it could be safe to assume that they are a raging optimist who loves a happy ending. That, or they’ve just been through a break up. Sometimes people gravitate towards reading as a form of comfort and escapism and some books, especially those of the romance variety, can be relied upon for their warm and cosy feelings both towards other people and the world. On the other hand, if your friend’s bookshelf is full of gothic worlds, such as those

depicted in Rebecca or Wuthering Heights, they may enjoy reading about immoral and emotionally complex characters instead.

Being presented with a fictional world where bad things happen can be just as helpful as reading about a perfect one, because people can gain comfort from the fact that the fictional characters have flaws too and their own demons to face.

From a personal perspective, when I first considered the concept of having a ‘book-dentity’, I couldn’t see any similarities between myself and the books I naturally gravitate towards. However, Image: Fr ee SVG upon closer inspection, it’s worth noting that my favourite books are often about people, notably women, trying to take control of their own lives.

They don’t always succeed but they have the courage to try. My great grandmother had a similar story, one that I have always

been told. Forced to be a servant at a young age, she had to watch her two brothers receive a university education while having a father who did not believe in educating women. Due to this, she was determined that her own daughters would receive the education that she had missed out on.

One of my favourite books, The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, discusses women and the words associated with them, and their place in society. I wonder if the novel would speak to me in the same way if I did not know of the struggles some women in my family had to face, not even 100 years ago, simply due to being women.

Furthermore, even though certain books can shape us and shine a light on who we are as people no matter when we read them, some are infamously popular with specific age groups. Many people remember the books that they

loved as children or teenagers and it is quite common to see novels such as The Perks of Being A Wallflower and The Fault in Our Stars being loved by teenagers to the point where they almost become a symbol of that age group. In this sense, sometimes the age of a person can be gleaned from the titles on their shelves, and sometimes even what social media platforms they use. If you see any Colleen Hoover, chances are they’re a regular TikTok user.

MANY PEOPLE REMEMBER THE BOOKS THEY LOVED AS CHILDREN Although some books can be directly linked to a person’s identity, not all of the clues can be found in the titles themselves.

There can be more subtle clues, such as the organisation of the books, that tell you a lot about a person. If books are ordered A-Z, perhaps the person is methodical.

If books are shelved according to colour, maybe they are very tidy and visual as a person. It’s possible that you can know someone through their books, but also through their way of organising their books.

exhibit | arts + lit

EDITORS: Ella Minty & Joshua Smith

21 SEP 2022 | 22

Devon: Past and present Joshua Smith, Arts and Lit Editor, writes about artists of Devon

Y

Sir Joshua Reynolds

M

Naomi Frears / Susan Derges / Bryony Gillard

OU may think as you gaze out at the rolling hills of Devon that it must be painted, or at Y grandmother would always say that whenever she went out with her walking group, she least written about, and something familiar strikes you, almost as if you have seen these would seek to find ‘medieval views’, that have been visually undisturbed by anything since same scenes before. This may well be just reverie, a memory of previous impressions Chaucer laid eyes upon them. As a child I was fascinated by this idea, but growing up, even of the subtle loveliness the British countryside has made upon your thoughts, or, if you are in the past ten years, I have noticed dramatic changes in our landscape. Just like Joshua Reynolds, I as obsessed with Hardy and Eliot as I am, and Middlemarch in particular, you may realise that would love to see the world as it naturally is, but I realise sadly how impossible that may be. Therefore, this is a scene which is very much alive in the British imagination, from the landscape instead of wallowing, we must celebrate ourselves and our presence in the landscape, man is to the portrait. This is down to Sir Joshua Reynolds, possibly the most brilliant and now as much part of nature and its movements as the grass growing and winds blowing. famous artist of the age of Johnson. He was born, you may be surprised to hear, in I turn to artists such as Naomi Frears, who explores through the medium of video, Plympton, Devon, and since childhood, he was inspired by the same rolling hills man and nature intertwining. In her two part video, men falling, commissioned by you see in front of you when you venture out into the county for the first time. As the Phoenix gallery in Exeter, we see surfers falling in different ways into the sea to the artist matured, he never quite let go of these impressions of countryside life the hum of a John Cage-like composition, merging the physicality of man with the the county left on him, even as he became the celebrity portraitist in London’s force of nature, one at the mercy of the other. I then notice that these surfers must most fashionable circles, the life and times of Devonshire would be the guiding be familiar with the seaweed and coral which lurks under the surface, as explored light from his youth. Key to his development was his apprenticeship to Thomas

by Susan Derges in her Tide Pools series. The work divinely captures the vibrancy of Hudson, while the paintings of William Gandy, not to be confused with Henry the life which goes on entirely at the mercy of the sea, but is nevertheless threatened by Image: Picryl Gandy, the mayor of Exeter who gives his name to the famous alley, provided further our harmful activities on land. Bryony Gillard, another artist from the South West, constantly inspiration. It was a mixture of these two painters and the trips to see Hogarth in London which uses the landscape around us to inform her work, from exploring the links between seaweed and fused to create the grandiloquent, yet subtle, work he is most famous for. Next year marks three- gender to prints about the interconnectivity of the bodies’ separate parts. Each of these artists make hundred years since his birth, and thus, what better time to hark back your mind to the master me believe that the world around us is as much controlled by its own force as by our free will, and of British painting and evaluate your peers in the same witty way his subjects were regarded. we must celebrate our presence like each of these artists, and use it as a canvas for our enquiries.

Art for everyone Joshua Smith, Arts and Lit Editor, writes about his favourite arts venue in Exeter

D

ESPITE the constant failings my quiz team and I have in the ‘guess the song from the intro’ round of the Phoenix’s weekly quiz, it never fails to be a fun event to distract us from our studies at one of the city’s most exciting cultural venues. Beyond the Thursday quiz, they host regular indie film screenings, last year they had gems such as the second part of Joanna Hoggs

wonderful film The Souvenir as well as the weird and wonderful World of Cow by Andrea Arnold showing alongside bigger hits such as Liquorice Pizza. They also host poetry festivals and art exhibitions on a regular basis which easily satisfy the appetite of any contemporary art fan. In terms of art, they are enthusiastically involved in supporting the careers of young artists, by providing them with tools and space

to develop their talents through their Creative Hub. Throughout the year they also host a range of competitions for poetry and art, exciting for students who are just beginning to find their feet in either area. The Phoenix is also the place to be in Exeter for indie bands, with Ocean Alley and This is the Kit having performed this year already, they always have the pick of the mix of wonderful music to enjoy

in a medium size but intimate space. Their programme is always bursting at the seams with a wide variety of cultural and artistic events, but even when there is nothing on, it’s a wonderful place to sit and work or hang out with your friends, their courtyard making this all the more tempting in the warmer months. So go on, grab yourself a famous Devon Red, and head down to the Phoenix.

Poetry Corner Benedict Anderson writes ‘A New Beginning’, a poem about starting university and all of the tumultuous feelings that come along with it

Ana Anajuba, Online Editor, writes a poem titled ‘On New Places and Old’ about the relationship between places past and present

The train leaving from London I hear the bell ring in the grey, damp air Marking the beginning of my new life Through the countryside Glistening yellow fields A canvas of thick oil paint I am in a hurry We have to go faster don’t we?

I reach my corridor, through the swing doors Still, sturdy, time stops Anyone could be here Unpacking my suitcases eagerly Surrounded by the smell of furniture polish Opening the window

A walk in an unfamiliar land coloured with the steps of unknown, Up a great Hill that leads to the world Down footpaths that lead to a home Around the bends and by a creek Past the domain of a Queen

As my home and life are set adrift I arrive in Exeter I am letting myself go!

Stuffed with fresh air and acres of fields Blazing with euphoria as the sun glistens

The changing canvas now up right Filling the space with multitudes of unexplored land I turn away I must go out!

In this mysterious world compounded with gin and new faces

Ride a Long Beast with light in its eyes That once blew steam from its mouth The conductor that cajoles and creates will Lead you to a magical Place

I can feel the heavy concrete above my head Looking down the hill The silhouettes of people’s shadows

Look past to see the vast expanse A Town encased by the wilds

The subdued roars and crashes of waves Salty winds and water that chases Footprints embedded in the sand and cleansed Like dreams and hopes and tears Greedy birds that swoop and dive

Painted against the clear blue sky Unknown, known, forgotten A cycle begins to shine Unseen, seen, unforgotten Carved into the beating heart of time Rotten, inorganic waste that forms to every step Sights sure seen and ignored again And again and again and again I ride the Beast back And tell tales of winged vultures that encircled and swooped Of beating heats and vast expanse Of warriors defending their little land Of castles and towers built in a day and washed away Tell tales of old places – and new

MUSIC Interview: The Amazons "Truly uplifiting music acknowledges the dark in life"

Mahnoor Imam, Online Music Editor, interviews frontrunner of The Amazons, Matt Thomson

W

ITH contemporary indie-rock sound that’s complete with euphoric hooks and catchy choruses, The Amazons released their new album, How Will I Know if Heaven Will Find Me? on September 9th. Frontrunner of the band, Matt Thomson kindly spoke to me about gigs, musical inspirations and the importance of catching the signature uplifting sound in their band. É: What was your favourite gig that you’ve ever performed at?

MT: “I would say the most beautiful venue and the most unique, wonderful atmosphere was a recent show we played with Greta Van Fleet on a tour we did around Europe this summer. We went to the south of France to this little town south of Lyon called Vienne and they have this Roman amphitheatre that artists play at. It was mid-summer and the sun was going down, it was dusk and we played this show. It wasn’t our crowd but it such a celebratory atmosphere because everyone was happy to be there. The stars aligned with that one”.

“When it comes to our own shows, playing Brixton academy and having our bands all in one place before the pandemic — that was also special”. É: Is there any gig you’re looking forward to performing in the future?

MT: “Yes! To play the Roundhouse in London is going to be special. We’ve always seen great gigs there so to tick this off the list would be amazing. To actually go back to the States and play our own headline shows there — that would be really fun and really special. It’s a slightly different scale over there cause we’re just starting out. It would be late October, November when we’re in Chicago and we’re going to Canada for the first time, playing in Toronto so if there’s any snow, I’m excited for that!"

TO PLAY THE ROUNDHOUSE IS GOING TO BE SPECIAL É: There definitely will be snow up to 8 feet! Tell me about the artistic vision behind choosing the name of your upcoming album, How Will I Know if Heaven Will Find Me? MT: “I’d say writing songs is simple and naming albums is hard. I think our drummer Joe was like, "Why don't we call it How Will I Know if Heaven Will Find Me"? That’s the open-

ing lyric of the chorus of ‘How Will I Know’. It kind of just made sense. It was something that obviously touched him in the music and a line that really resonated with him. Pulling that out and naming the album made the story make sense and it makes a lot of the songs makes them more cohesive and collective. It’s my favourite title that we’ve come up with.” É: Is that the synergy of the band as well — everyone contributes to the writing and song production process together?

MT: “Definitely! We’ve known each other so long now. I would say I write a lot of the songs in terms of lyrics and melody but I wouldn’t be

Image: Chris Devers, Wikimedia Commons

able to do it alone — no way! Everyone’s contributions are too intrinsic to what The Amazons are and what our sound is. The process of writing 'How Will I Know' was me writing a drum, guitar and bass part and showing the boys and them doing something a little different and me getting angry but then realising that its actually better and it makes us better.

Gives us so many more dimensions and more depth when people don’t do exactly what I say otherwise it would be one-dimensional and boring. That’s what being in a band is aboutthere is gonna be conflict and friction but ultimately that’s what makes it a living breathing thing. É: Is there any song — or part of a song that you’ve been really proud of?

MT: “Yes! Emphatically yes. I think the sec-

ond half of 'Say It Again' from the middle 8 solo onward to the end of the song, I think that’s the best thing we’ve ever done. Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps. When I listen to it, I’m like, “wow we did that, that’s so cool!”. It invokes such a feeling that isn’t traditionally The Amazons and yet we did it and its really cool and the band will never be the same again!”

er and more alive. It gives you energy — not in the way that a drop of bass give you an energy but soul energy. That’s how I feel when I listen to every artist from Coldplay or Rolling Stones.

They just make me feel alive. They make me feel uplifted- they uplift me. I truly think that truly uplifting music acknowledges the darkness in life otherwise you just have fake happy smiles — big teethy grins. That’s not uplifting YET WE DID IT AND ITS — uplifting is when life sucks right now but it’s REALLY COOL going to be okay, you know what I mean?”

“Whether it’s 'Give Me Shelter' or 'Jumpin’ É: How would you describe your band’s Jack Flash' by the Rolling Stones or 'Fix You' by sound?

Coldplay, they evoke a similar spirit. I feel like that is something productive and good. It’s something I feel like we as The Amazons can contribute to.” É: The song 'Say it Again' had very much of a 2000s vibe — is that something you chose to incorporate in your music or did it happen organically?

MT: “It came from rediscovering Sheryl Crow and her self-titled album that she put out in ’96 and a Madonna record, Ray of Light. These are albums that my dad played in the family car on road-trips or holidays. Everything we’ve spoken about music so far — these records have that.”

“I had the idea of an acoustic riff that I brought to Maggie Rogers — who has been a friend of the band for a long time now — and posing a question of where I should take this. If you listen to the chorus, it’s got Maggie’s DNA all over it and her coming up with that melody opened up all these possibilities Image: Martin Schumann, Wikimedia Commons and ideas for the rest of the song. If you’ve heard Maggie’s new record, she’s in a similar place with that earMT: “It changes all the time! You’ve got the ly mid-90s type sound. I’d like to make more story of a band that are trying to find their True songs like that!”.

North — they’re trying to find their direction which I don’t think is a bad thing. It might be WITH THAT EARLY MID-90S a bad thing for the industry who are trying to TYPE SOUND. I'D LIKE TO MAKE market you but for our own personal creative MORE SONGS LIKE THAT journeys, I'm okay with not necessarily finding our sound on the first couple of records. I’m okay with us growing into our own skin, getIf you’re a fan of nostalgia that makes you ting better at our craft and working it all out reminisce of bands you listened to when you as we go along. I think that’s a narrative that were younger, you’ll love what The Amazons should be promoted more rather than bands have to offer in their latest album. With just getting it right on the first album, having huge enough of a twist that makes them their own commercial success from a first record and unique, creative product, How Will I Know If then that’s it.”

Heaven Will Find Me? exercises that signature “This album and its kind of feeling that you sound that’s sure to evoke the soul-uplifting get from 'Say it Again' or the feeling that you energy instilled within the record. get from other songs — you feel like you’re tall-

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

EDITORS: Megan Ballantyne, Joshua Hughes and Livvy Mason-Myhill

exhibit | music

21 SEP 2022 | 24

The concert experience Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor, and Harry Hawkins, Tech Editor, talk about concerts they attended during the summer

Love on Tour — Harry Styles

M

Y experience of going to two shows of Harry Styles' Love on Tour certainly met and even exceded my expectations. I was fortunate enough to manage to get tickets to both of Harry Styles' Wembley concerts. There was certainly stress surrounding my friends and I getting tickets on Ticketmaster months before the concert, yet I'm so glad that we went. To also find out that Mitski was going to be Harry's supporting act also added to the excitement of the concert (even if we all knew we would be in tears with her sad indie ballads). When I found out that Harry would be releasing his third album, Harry's House, in May and therefore would be mainly performing his new songs for his Europe tour, I was looking for-

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Lily Redman

ward to it, yet at the same time dissapointed that he wouldn't be playing songs from Fine Line.

The first night we went, we had seated tickets, which made it a lot less stressful for us. Unlike those who had been waiting in the queue for standing since the early morning, my friends and I had plenty of time to get to Wembley Arena and not worry about rushing. Of course all of us were equipt with our feather boas, the well-known uniform of Harry Styles fans, paired with sequins and cowboy hats. The seats we had were definitely worth the money, as although it felt like we were far away from the stage, we had a really great view. We even were able to spot the people who were dressed as Tellytubbies in the rear pitch who became viral on TikTok. Both nights I saw her set, Mitski's performance was powerful. Performing songs from her new album, Laurel Hill such as 'Working for the Knife' and 'Should've Been Me' as well as some of her well known songs such as 'Washing Machine Heart' and my personal favourite 'First Love / Late Spring'. Her dancing that was deeply mocked by people on social media for being "scary" and "traumatising" was far from it in my opinion. The way she expresses to her audience how the songs flow through her and how they affect her emotions was mesmerising in the most magical way.

It was obvious when Harry was about to come on stage by the amount of ecstatic screams from people in the audience as the little bluebird swirled around the stage screen. When he

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Myrtoulina

came on stage with his adorable dugarees with red hearts, the whole crowd went into a frenzy.

A special moment was when Harry showed his amazement of how many people were singing his songs with him and it was dubbed as his 'I've made it' moment, transforming from that boy who was once in a famous boyband to a big time solo artist.

The best moment of the first night at Wembley was without a doubt his performance of 'Sign of the Times' in the pouring rain, accompanied by fireworks. It truly was one of the most beautiful moments and I am so grateful I got to experience that live.

As for night 2, my experience with standing was so much more fun. Despite not having the best view being in the rear pitch, I was able to move and dance around, feathers floatingaround in the process. It was especially great when 'Canyon Moon' and 'Treat People With Kindness' was performed, in which everyone instantly created conga lines and wormed their

way across the whole of the rear pitch. The emotional experience of Harry's performance of 'Matilda' brought a tear to my eye, as we watched him watch a balloon being released by someone in the arena. Another of my favourite moments was when the entire audience screamed "LEAVE AMERICA!" during 'As it Was', in an attempt to convince Harry to ditch his life in America and his somewhat obsession with giving Americans 40 tour dates to the UK's mere five shows.

Overall, my experience of Love on Tour was one I will never forget. Both nights were memorable. But if you ever find yourself lucky enough to get Harry Styles concert tickets, I would reccommend getting standing tickets, in order to experience the sheer happiness and fun of dancing around to his songs with your friends. I do still wish he performed my favourite song of his, 'Fine Line', but I'll forgive him because his is brilliant.

Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor

Daddy's Home Tour — St Vincent

A

S life-affirming as great gigs are, live performances can occasionally not measure up to your expectations. Perhaps there were sound problems, or the musicians don’t play to a suitable venue or crowd.

Even not measuring up to the standard of the pitch-perfect studio tracks you’ve grown fond of. This gamble can become doubly true when going to a gig where you don’t know the artist!

Before I went to see St Vincent in the De la Warr Pavilion, I was feeling some of these anxieties, mostly because I had never properly got into her music before. Truthfully, I got tickets a few days before because it was so local to me, and I was intrigued by watching St Vincent’s bombastic performance at Glastonbury on TV the pre-

vious weekend, where singer Annie Clarke and her band exuded rockstar excess. Skimming through some of her back catalogue, a task now made easier than ever on streaming, I was only more confused as to what I would hear. St Vincent has recently been touring on last years’ funky and sleazy album Daddy’s Home, but has tried her hand at synthpop, funk rock, disco, chamber pop and much else. None of this is to mention her one-of-a-kind guitar playing, which can be gnarly and jagged yet extremely catchy.

So it was a surprise to see St Vincent (real name Annie Clarke) and her band arrive on stage with some of the usual instrumentation (bass, drums, keys) but with acoustic guitars in place of her signature electric guitar. (It turned out that this change was not intentional but caused by Brexit and COVID-19 com-

over the lush piano tones of her keyboardist. It was transportive to a New Orleans club, and an experience that felt electric after full band songs – though still delivered with a sense of humour.

A similar effect was achieved in the encore, where Annie returned to deliver acoustic solo pieces that left everyone in stunned silence.

This gig was quite a one-off, despite being a product of some of the struggles that have left musicians coming to the UK in a bind. It stands as my favourite gig I’ve been to for ages, and has reminded me that sometimes it’s worth giving artists you’ve never listened to before a try. You may be in for a pleasant surprise!

Harry Hawkins, Tech Editor

Image: Flickr, David Lee

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Justin Higuchi

plicating the band’s ability to transport their gear.) Likewise, the band were not dressed for a rock stage but a jazz club, with the blonde bobs and bright jackets of Glasto nowhere to be seen – in the words of Annie Clarke, “like Clapton Unplugged without the racism.”

The set’s vibe was immediately set with ‘Digital Witness’, whose insistent funk placed a strong focus on St Vincent and the 3 fantastic backing singers. Inside the De La Warr, an arts centre known more for abstract paintings and theatre showings, the loungey stylings fitted perfectly. She still managed to bring some grit and gnarl in her vocal performances – a highlight was during the handkerchief-waving ‘Pay Your Way in Pain’, where she leaned into the crowd and let out a bluesy yowl.

Playing with acoustic guitars seems like a small difference, but it really left more space and made the gig feel much more intimate, with heavier focus on the intricacies of every musician’s performance.

This kind of ‘unplugged’ performance can prove a testing ground for the strength of a band’s songs. Not every song can work without the brave face of rockstardom, but St Vincent proved that all of their repertoire stood up to the scrutiny. Every song had a marked simmer, the sharp hooks of tunes like ‘Cheerleader’ and ‘Los Ageless’ still in place but imparted with a retro edge.

An unexpected set of highlights was a short series of ‘songs rejected from the 'American Songbook’. Annie Clark showcased her ability to croon

screen

Back to school

W

Jade Williams discusses her favourite films that will get you pumped for the beginning of term

HEN summer comes to its dreaded end, a new season is forced upon us. That’s right, it’s back to school season! Those lovely long summer nights turn into late nights in the library, lectures and coursework. It’s all just around the corner…

People will start getting ready with new stationary, outfits, and books. But, what better way to prepare for the new school year than with iconic films that will, without a doubt, get you in that back to school spirit, or at least close to it. Here is a list of my absolute favourite back to school films.

First, and probably one of my favourite films ever, Legally Blonde. Elle Woods, played by the iconic Reese Witherspoon, is a young woman madly in love with Warner (a walking red flag), her boyfriend. Warner breaks up with Elle, and she is left heartbroken. But to win Warner back, she applies to Harvard Law School (“what like it’s hard?”). She is accepted but struggles with her classes and friends at the start. Nevertheless, she is determined to be considered for Professor Callahan’s internship and works hard to get there. She gets the internship and has to overcome all sorts of stereotypes but, in the end, comes out on top when she proves her client isn’t guilty in a murder trial. Overall, this movie is one of the

best to get in that back to school mode. We get to see the conventional moving to university moment (in her case, a somewhat ‘extra’ move-in day), the first day of classes and the countless hours of hard work in the library and around campus. The iconic montage of her working to be considered for an internship, without a doubt, makes me feel 100 times more motivated.

Another one of my favourite films is Clueless. Although not necessarily a back to school film, it’s set in a typical American high school.

Clueless is about Cher, a privileged high schooler, and the trials and tribulations she

experiences as a teenager: learning to drive, boys, friends, and teachers. This classic 90s film follows Cher and her best friend Dionne (both “named after great singers of the past who now do infomercials”) in befriending the new girl, Tai, and teaching her how to be ‘popular’.

We see the three girls go through heartbreak, fall-outs, bad grades and dealing with teachers – all things associated with the high school experience. Yet through all this, my absolute favourite thing about Clueless is the costume design. The endless fashion this film inspires has undoubtedly influenced some of the outfits I try to put together to feel slightly more

Image: Flickr, Brett Levin

Comfort me

snazzy and academic on campus. Nothing can top this classic high school film – ugh! As if!

MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE THING ABOUT CLUELESS IS THE COSTUME DESIGN And last but certainly not least, Life of the Party is one of the funniest back to school films I have seen. Life of the Party is about Deanne (Melissa McCarthy) wanting to go back to university to complete her degree after her divorce from her husband. She does this but gets to share the university experience with her daughter. We see her navigate her way through some classic university experiences: weird new roommates, hookups, drunken nights and making new friends, all while trying to get a degree. Filled with uncontrollable laughter, this film offers a fun take on the back to school period but reinvents it with the surreal twist that your mum is having this experience at the same time!

These are some of my favourite films that never fail to get me excited about going back to school. I highly recommend watching any of these for a movie night just before your first day at university.

Screen writers discuss their go-to films and shows they rely on to feel comforted

M

FUTURAMA

OVING to university can feel, in the first few weeks, like landing on a different planet — what with entirely new responsibilities and freedoms, whilst also being so far away from many of the places and people you may have known for all your life. Perhaps that is why Futurama’s cosmic comedy can so closely relate to the feeling of stepping onto the otherworldly campus environment. To judge it from the side-lines, Futurama’s premise might seem very unstable. Comparisons with creator Matt Groening’s first, and more popular, The Simpsons, are inevitable. Where the former relies on a relatively consistent (if enormous) cast inside a typical suburban town, Futurama’s possibilities are literally universal, with each episode having the potential to zigzag between one galaxy to the next. Combine this with nerdier humour, and Futurama has never exactly crested the cultural relevance The Simpsons had in its heyday.

However, for all its praise, The Simpsons has always felt like it lacked characters who were in the transitional stage of early adulthood, not to mention anyone going to university. This is where Futurama steps in, as its casting provides a perfect setting. Many of the main cast — all employees in a less than prestigious delivery company — can appear very similar to characters you might meet on campus. See their employer, or the surprisingly fun bureaucrat Hermes! Additionally, many of the anxieties felt by people at university can be seen through the eyes of delivery-boy Fry, who finds himself in an unfamiliar world away from everyone he has ever known. The rest of the core cast at first amplify this alienation as a diverse and confusing bunch, with robotic drunk and crab doctors.

But by sticking alongside them, whilst they traverse the universe, they are allowed to grow. At its best, Futurama is at once sharp, sensitive, and stupidly funny, and nearly every episode explores a new, fascinating premise that the sci-fi setting can bring out.

Harry Hawkins, Tech Editor

W

GILMORE GIRLS

H

HEATHERS

HENEVER I feel stressed or homesick, I always enjoy EATHERS is not a quintessential comfort film: packed with returning to the fictional town of Stars Hollow, imdark humour and tinged with elements of horror, it is likemersing myself in the quintessentially autumnal feel ly not to be on anyone’s top ten films for rainy days. Yet, of Gilmore Girls. The show follows mother-daughter duo Loanyone who knows me is unlikely to be surprised by this. I have relai and Rory Gilmore as they navigate through their coffeea penchant for both ‘chick flicks’ and the gothic – a film that is a filled lives. We see Rory grow up, from joining Chilton school mixture of both is my go-to for when I am feeling out of sorts. A to finishing Yale University, her jump from school to univermodern-day cult classic, the film deals with the terrors that come sity being a deeply relatable experience for many students. with high school and the feelings of loneliness as I found Rory’s character particularly relatable, minus the well as big issues like homophobia and suicide. extremely messy parts of her life later on in the show.

Wrapped in a boldly toxic bow of a Like Rory, I myself have an obsession with reading relationship in the form of J.D. and Veas many books as I can get my hands on and a seronica, it is one of my favourite films rious addiction to coffee. My passion for journalto watch on Valentine’s Day alongside ism is also reflected in the characterisation of others like Jennifer’s Body. For me, the Rory, with me being on the print senior team of term ‘comfort film’ does not necessarExeposé and having the constant urge to write ily mean one that ends happily, but one as many articles for the paper as possible. Therethat makes me laugh – and the abrupt fore, I found the show to be a great comfort as I tragicomic tone of Heathers certainly found it both extremely relatable to my own life, does that. It depicts the complexities of as well as an escape from the stresses of university. friendships, the highs and lows of life and Image: Flickr Being away from the comforts of my quiet village, bethe mysteries that come with finding oneself. ing away from my mother, who I share a close relationship with As a fresher, you may go through some big ups like Lorelai and Rory, and having to dive headfirst into university was and downs: making and losing friends, discovering new things not easy. Yet, watching Rory’s transition from school to university about yourself and finding out new things about the world. made me realise that these feelings of homesickness were normal.

A film about a psychotic killer and his antiheroic girlfriend After watching the show, I had the desire to make my whole personmay not be your cup of tea but for my night-in it pairs perality Gilmore Girls related. Listening to ‘There She Goes’ by The Las fectly with a nice berry sorbet, a good glass of non-alcoholic every time I walked to campus, grabbing a coffee from the recently wine and a packet of onion rings. Comfort is whatever you deceased Costa outlet on campus and wearing turtlenecks and make of it – it just so happens that for me, comfort is watchconverse became my everyday routine. With Autumn just around ing a bunch of 80s teens ruin each other’s lives (and deaths). the corner, I know I will return to the comforts of Gilmore Girls.

Ana Anajuba, Online Editor Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor

21 SEP 2022 | 27

EDITOR: POLLYANNA ROBERTS

exhibit | screen

Long-distance relationships

B

Cleo Gravett, Satire Editor, discusses long-distance relations in film

ASED on a novel of the same name by Irish author Colm Tóibín, the 2015 film Brooklyn follows Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), a young Irish woman in the 1950s who leaves her mother and sister behind in order to find a life for herself in the melting pot of Brooklyn, New York.

It is loving, heartbreaking, atmospheric, and my most cherished comfort film. Brooklyn is chock full of depictions of long-distance relationships — that of Eilis and her beloved sister Rose, Eilis and her best friend Nancy, and even Eilis and her adorable Italian-American husband Tony, whom she leaves behind in NYC when an emergency calls her back to Ireland.

rip through Eilis over her first winter away are agonising to watch, and I empathised greatly with her upon viewing the film after leaving home for university, and then again after re-

is like most sicknesses — it’ll make you feel wretched, then it’ll move on to someone else”.

Brooklyn takes great care in depicting the recovery process of such sickness — by spring, Eilis has settled into stateside living, and the places she yearns for change, because she herself has changed. Even time itself begins to change for her as letters “take a long time at first, then no time at all”.

THE PLACES SHE YEARNS FOR CHANGE, BECAUSE SHE HERSELF HAS CHANGED

IT IS LOVING, HEARTBREAKING, ATMOSPHERIC AND IS MY MOST CHERISHED COMFORT FILM Brooklyn focuses on the relationships between places of belonging, between worlds rather than individuals — but it chooses to channel this through the prisms of home, family, and love: New York vs Enniscorthy, independence vs filial piety, charming dreamer Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen) versus handsome heir Jim Farrell (Domhnall Gleeson).

The sudden stabs of homesickness that

turning to the UK from my year abroad. The visceral portrayal of homesickness in the film facilitates a humdinger of an allegory from Jim Broadbent’s Father Flood: “homesickness

When you’re a student, even if you’re only a few hours away from home, it can feel like you’re on a different planet. But this scary new world soon adapts to fit you, and you it, as Eilis herself finds.

Themes of family also take a starring role in Brooklyn — from the sister and mother Eilis leaves behind, to the surprising sisterhood she finds in Mrs Kehoe’s (Julie Walters) boarding house, to the hypothetical family she imagines with Tony. Ultimately the film shows how Eilis realises that she holds the power to choose her own family, and how she learns to relinquish the guilt she feels for leaving a predictable life back in Ireland that she knows suits some (like her best friend Nancy), but is not a fit for her.

Image: IMDb

Image: Travis Olbrich, Flickr

The bigger picture Joshua Hughes, Editor, discusses which Exeter cinema is for you

A

LARGE air conditioned room, snacks, comfy seats, a great sound system and a massive screen – in theory, watching a film in the cinema should be a wonderful experience. However, as most things in life do, experiences vary from cinema to auditorium. To give some insight on the different options available in Exeter I have looked at and considered the merits of some of the cinemas in Exeter and also where some fall short.

When searching online for ‘what’s on’, it is difficult to ignore the larger chains, and the Vue and Odeon in Exeter do little to contradict this stereotype.

The Odeon is a big cinema, equipped with three smaller screens and one massive auditorium (which can hold upwards of 500 people).

It will always have availability and be showing most, if not all of the recent releases. Where the cracks begin to appear, however, is in value for money. On my most recent visit, I sat in a restricted view standard seat which cost around £8. What is meant to be the preferable way to watch a film turned out to be just a large

Image: Tony Hisgett, Flickr

room with some uncomfortable seats. While not my worst cinema experience, it’s up there and I would recommend avoiding the Odeon.

The Vue in Exeter is starkly contrasted to the Odeon. Well-priced, spacious and situated in a convenient location, the Vue is certainly my favourite cinema in Exeter (and probably the world). I’ve always looked forward to visiting the cinema, which boasts entire screens equipped with reclining seats. What’s more the cinema offers a wide range of snacks (and beer might I add) that really make it worth opting for. While the seat price is not drastically lower than the Odeon at £7.99, you are certainly getting better value for your money.

WELL-PRICED, SPACIOUS AND SITUATED IN A CONVENIENT LOCATION There are also other options apart from the Vue and Odeon. The Exeter Picturehouse has a lot of good things going for it and provides a unique cinema experience that you wouldn’t encounter at the others listed above. The Exeter Phoenix similarly is a good alternative to a chain cinema and shows a great variety of independent films.

And finally, if you’re really into film, the Campus Cinema is a great place to go and watch a movie — conveniently placed and wellpriced, I would definitely recommend it.

Image: Image: Google Maps

LIFESTYLE

MUSIC

TECH

STUDY BREAK

ARTS + LIT

SCREEN

TECH

A fresher’s guide to iExeter and beyond Megan Ballantyne, Editor, gives an overview of websites which will help you in your studies

E

VERYONE knows that starting university is a bewildering time. And not only do you need to adjust to living with new people, and working out all the different societies you want to join, there are a million different bits of tech which the university uses which you have to figure out. So we’ve put together a guide to help you navigate all the different Exeter websites to give you at least a flying chance! iexeter (https://i.exeter.ac.uk/campusm/home): This is a good page to have saved to your bookmarks bar. From here, you can access most of the sites mentioned here.

There’s also an app version if you want to have these sites accessible on your phone too.

Timetable (https://mytimetable.exeter. ac.uk): This will have your university contact hours loaded onto it. If you click on an item in your calendar, it should come up with the member of staff leading the session, and the room you need to go to. It can be good to double check this, because sometimes your rooms will change last minute. If you have an online session you can typically join via here — the session should state at the top that it will be conducted digitally/remotely.

SRS (https://srs.exeter.ac.uk/urd/sits. urd/run/siw_lgn): The SRS, Student Record and Registration, has two main uses.

One is registering for the university, which

you have to do every year. The deadline this year is 7th October, so do this as soon as possible so it’s out of the way.

The second main thing you use this for is selecting your modules at the start of the year.

The module selection process can be a little confusing, so make sure you read through the instructions carefully to avoid dissapointment. And for module changes you’ll normally need to go via your department instead.

Attendance (access only via tab in iExeter): Most sessions will have an attendance code you will need to fill in here. It will show your sessions for the day, so you select the session you’re in and enter the code the session leader gives you.

ELE (under ‘Teaching and learning tools’) (https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/): ELE is the virtual learning environment. Each of your modules will have an ELE page which will typically include tabs on required reading, tabs for each week of your course so you can keep up with content and expectations for each week, and guides to the assessment schedule you can expect from a module. You may also have quizzes on an ELE page and it can also be used as a platform for sharing and receiving feedback on weekly work.

Bart submissions (https://bart.exeter.

ac.uk/BART2008student/index.php): You will most likely use BART to submit the majority of your assessments, particularly if you do an essay-based subject. Typically the deadline for assessments is set at midday, so this is something to watch out for.

Careerzone (http://www.exeter.ac.uk/ careers/): The Careerzone is where you can find out everything related to careers, from part time job listings in Exeter to help you through your studies to internships relevant to your course. A particularly popular and interesting scheme is the Professional Pathways Scheme, which connects you with industry experts who train you in their field, and which culminates in a 35 hour paid internship for this employer.

Mail (https://outlook. live.com/): Your Exeter email is more useful to keep track of than you might think. The Guild and university both send updates emails, which are useful to keep up with to let you know about important events coming up, reminders about admin you need to stay on top of, and how to access their resources.

You’ll also be expected to communicate with teaching staff via this email, so its best to check it regularly, at least every couple of days.

Xmedia (ww.exepose. com): This is us of course!

We have our website which has loads more articles you

App-lied knowledge

can read from Exeposé to keep up to date with everything going on around Exeter and on campus. Also check out the website for our lovely friends over at Xpression radio (www. xpression.fm).

Exeter Students Guild (https://www.exeterguild.com/): From the Guild website, you can look through a list of all the Guild societies (Athletics Union societies aren’t here, you’ll need to visit http://sport.exeter. ac.uk/studentsport) and control your memberships.

FIXR (https://fixr. co): If you want to buy tickets to society events, you’ll need to use FIXR. It’s a relatively easy to use platform, which generates you a qr code ticket. You’ll also likely use this for club tickets for popular nights like TP Wednesdays.

Study Space Booking (https://libguides. exeter.ac.uk/studyspaces/bookable): You might not need this at the moment, but when deadlines start to approach you may want to book a group study space if you’re working on a grup project or if you and your friends have all gotten behind on work. The most popular of these is Laura Piper, on the bottom floor of the library. which has comfy booths for you to set up base for the day. Just remember to check in within the first half an hour of your booking so it doesn’t delete itself. You can also book study rooms on campus via this website.

Images: Iexeter, University of Exeter

Tech writers recommend some programs, extensions and apps that can aid your study

A

S a final-year student with ADHD, I have tried could save money and opt for this Chrome extenmany apps and programmes to help me sion that requires no monthly subscription. It deorganise my studies. I want to help tects what text to read aloud on web pages increddirect you to a few that have actually helped ibly well. If you use any of these, please use this one. me study throughout my degree.

Miro: an online whiteboard platform Pomofocus: this is an online that allows you to use sticky notes timer based on the Pomodoro and agile workflows. If you are a Technique. The time managevisual thinker, you will love Miro. ment method involves workNotion: a project manageing in 25 minute intervals ment and note-taking softwith 5 minute breaks. It is ware. I love its templates, available on desktop and but my favourite feature is mobile browsers. My fathe toggle option. Toggles vourite feature is the abilallow students to hide text, ity to list tasks, estimate allowing you to use the the number of pomodoros note page like flashcards. it will take to complete Google Calendar: I them, and check them off. would not underestimate Grammarly: I would be how useful Google Calendar surprised if you haven’t seen a can be as a student. It is a simple Grammarly advert. It is great for yet perfect organisational tool for Images: Pxhere spellchecking, and if you decide to get planning your day. I am not very organpremium, it can help you structure your writised, but I love that it lets you set reminders ing. I may have used Grammarly to write this article. and alarms, which is ideal for my forgetful ADHD brain.

Read Aloud: A Text to Speech Voice Reader.

You’ve probably heard of Speechify. However, you Elen Johnston

N

OTE making and planning is a component of For example, the LaTex language can be used university work that, whilst being dull as ditch in Obsidian to display mathematical type with ease. water, can become crucial in the heat of exam Images, URLs and video can also be linked inside inor essay season. And with many courses having individual notes, whilst all the notes are stored as plain terlinked topics, it can feel tempting to try text files, meaning that all your written ideas methods that may have worked in are easily convertible if you want to your GCSEs like mind mapping. This put them into different documents. is not a bad idea in theory, but For even more capability, the with the scope of knowledge Obsidian program can be altered you need to take in during a with plugins which can add module it can feel daunting. further functionality. Some of If an online method of them appear very technical, storing and linking notes but others have clear and sounds appealing, you could brilliant uses, like converting do worse than to try a noteall of your notes into a testtaking software. I personally able online flashcard set, or have picked up Obsidian as it adding Pomodoro features. is a free program. The ease of As these kinds of prousing these programs to keep grams work the best once coherent collections of notes alyou’re a bit more familiar lows processes that could be timewith them, I would highly recImages: Pxhere wasting in paper (think rearranging notes, comend that you try to pick them or colour coding) to become trivial. This is useful up as soon as possible if you are consideralone, but this is just the tip of the iceberg of Obsiding using them to organise your study resources. ian’s capabilities, with many guides and tutorials online on how to use the program even more powerfully.

Harry Hawkins, Tech Editor

exhibit | TECH

EDITOR: Harry Hawkins

19 SEP 2022 | 31

GTA VI: A new era?

A

Joshua Hughes, Editor, discusses anticipated release of the new game

FTER years of anticipation, news has finally broken of the development of GTA VI. According to a report by Bloomberg, the new game is due to have a female lead signalling that Rockstar has done away with its ‘Frat-Boy’ culture.

The news of the development of the game leads one to think back to the groundbreaking release of GTA V which seems like an eternity ago. GTA V set a story with three characters, each storyline overlapping, which, combined with the vast map and new features was a massive step up from its predecessor, GTA IV. The excitement of this game and the anticipation surrounding the release created an aura which arguably hasn’t worn off.

Since 2013 however, much has changed.

Along with the report surrounding the development of the game, the Bloomberg piece was quick to underline the significant events which have taken place in the period between the two games. The position of the police in America has altered notably in the wake of the killing of George Floyd,

prompting an online game mode of ‘Cops ‘n’ Crooks’ due to be released to be shelved by executives. Executives have moved further to reduce the offensive nature of GTA V over time with the removal of transphobic jokes. On the other side of Rockstar, staff spoke out in 2018 about the working environment in the Rockstar offices prompting the company to attempt to reinvent itself.

REPORTS SUGGEST THAT GTA VI WILL HAVE A FEMALE PROTAGONIST FOR THE FIRST TIME

of the release of GTA V and as it has been highlighted, a lot has happened in that period. In terms of gaming, Rockstar has gone from strength to strength. With GTA V and the subsequent release of GTA V online, the developer has solidified its position as a household name. The release of Red Dead Redemption II and the new technology employed by Rockstar are other indicators of

what they are capable of and increases the anticipation for fans of the GTA franchise.

Whether or not the game is able to effectively adapt to the changing nature of society is yet to be seen. The release of Red Dead Redemption II conveniently being set in the 1800s makes it difficult to assess whether or not the ‘new’ culture at Rockstar has allowed this to happen.

Image: red, HDwalpapers.net

Reports suggest that GTA VI will have a female protagonist for the first time. The woman, who is Latina, will be part of what has been described a ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ style story suggesting an equal male-female pairing of storylines.

Next year will be the 10 year anniversary

Games to bond over

V

Harry Hawkins, Tech Editor, discusses the best games to play with housemates or friends

IDEOGAMES can be often maligned as reclusive affairs, sometimes requiring fancy consoles or a massive time commitment to even be able to play many acclaimed titles (those largely being single player experiences, or highly competitive online multiplay.)

However, there are plenty of games that you could bond over with new housemates or friends. Here's a selection of some of the best, regardless of what platform you have.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF GAMES YOU COULD BOND OVER WITH NEW HOUSEMATES PCs and Laptops: Personal is in the name of PCs, so there aren't as many games built for entertaining a crowd. However,

Image: Jorge Franganillo, Flickr

depending on the number of USB ports, a HMDI cable and some cheapo consoles, you could play a variety of games with great 'co-op' modes. If you want wholesome cartoon violence, there's the hyperactive arcade RPG Castle Crashers, which delivers stupidly fun and frenetic action whilst having a ridiculous storyline to boot. For more patient audiences, puzzler games like Portal 2 can provide a cerebral (yet frustrating) experience for 2 players.

The best thing with these PC games is that they are cheap to set up if you already have a laptop or PC that meets the specs, and both games can easily be handled by even low-end modern standards.

Nintendo (Wii/ Switch): I've never owned a Wii or Switch myself, yet these two humble consoles have provided me with some of my best gaming memories. This alone is enough proof of how many of their

games are built to be shared, mainly due to their more mobile controls.

Just Dance and Wii/Switch Sports make great use of this and can be played at any point in a party.

For a more sit-down yet competitive experience, Mario Party and Mario Kart can become white-knuckle tense despite their cutesy graphics - try not to make too many enemies!

Mobile: There Image are a few different gamescredit: that Mohamed Hassan, are explicitly designed for PxHere parties — like virtual cards, Heads Up! and more. But my favourite mobile game to play with friends is any of the Jackbox Party Packs — a sort of ridiculous gameshow.

These games are also available on a PC (and will require one to be the gameshow 'host'), but you can use your phones to respond to the game’s prompts. The variety and ingenuity of the mini games are brilliant — I particularly love the ninja T shirt design and the robot rap battle.

They can really get you thinking creatively and bring out everyone’s sense of humour very well, unlike most other videogames. If anything, they are more like a prompt game a la Cards of Humanity, with less of a focus on obscenity.

Xbox and PlayStation: Going to be honest, I've lumped these to-

Image: AsmodeanUnderscore , Wikimedia Commons

gether as I've never owned one. Whilst FIFA or Destiny have their charms, the most fun I've had on a PlayStation is when a friend brought a PS2 to the house along with a tub of old games to go with. Whilst it was a mixed bag, the fun was just trying to figure out how the games worked and laughing at what now look like outdated graphics.

For proper noughties classics, Tony Hawk and Guitar Hero both have multiplayer modes as well as banging soundtracks.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF GAMES YOU COULD BOND OVER WITH NEW HOUSEMATES Of course, another thing to mention is that some of these games will have cross-platform functionality. This can allow larger groups and more access, especially for games like Minecraft’s Bedrock Edition or Fortnite’s battle royale mode.

study break | 19 SEP 2022

exhibit | 32

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

Across

SUDOKU

Down

1 Initial (5) 4 Brainteaser (6) 8 Word formed from the letters of another (7) 9 Earlier (5) 10 Lock opener (3) 11 Document tax - dump at sty (8) (5,4) 13 Arrive casually late (4,2) 15 Gentle wind (6) 18 Know again - congeries (8) (9) 19 Finish - object (3) 20 Steam bath (5) 22 First-year university student (7) 23 Line of text at the top of a page (6) 24 Written composition (5)

1 Wing forward in rugby - Falkner?

(8) (7) 2 Prepared (5) 3 Heavy defeat (9) 4 South American treeless plain - map sap (8) (6) 5 Fastening device (3) 6 Spare time (7) 7 Overcast - dull (4) 12 Keep going (9) 14 Tutorial - lesson (7) 16 Quite old (7) 17 Disagree (with) (6) 18 Get up - stand up (4) 19 Habitual character - those (8) (5) 21 Assistance (3)

ANSWERS

TRIVIA CORNER

1. Which Famous band frontman went to Exeter?

2. Which coffee shop in The Forum was recently replaced by Starbucks?

3. What are the three campuses of Exeter?

4. What is the name of the campus cat?

5. What’s the name of the local professional rugby team in Exeter?

6. Where is the Xmedia suite located?

Down: 1 Flanker, 2 Ready, 3 Thrashing, 4 Pampas, 5 Zip, 6 Leisure, 7 Grey, 12 Persevere, 14 Lecture, 16 Elderly, 17 Differ, 18 Rise, 19 Ethos, 21 Aid. Trivia: 1. Tom York (Radiohead) 2. Costa 3. Streatham, St. Lukes and Penryn 4. Napoleon 5. Exeter Chiefs 6. Devonshire House Across: 1 First, 4 Puzzle, 8 Anagram, 9 Prior, 10 Key, 11 Stamp duty, 13 Roll in, 15 Breeze, 18 Recognise, 19 End, 20 Sauna, 22 Fresher, 23 Header, 24 Essay.

LIFESTYLE

MUSIC

TECH

STUDY BREAK

ARTS + LIT

SCREEN

Science

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

34

SCIENCE EDITORS:

Daniel Pain and Hayley Power

Hangovers: Inevitable?

Sonny Welch gives his view on new research into hangover cures

D

ESPITE the euphoric highs and social lubricant that alcohol provides, some are tentative to limit their alcoholic intake due to fears of a violent hangover the next morning. However, a recent study has examined some potential ‘cures’ that may not rid you entirely of pain — but could minimise it.

The study evaluated different substances to assess their viability as medications. The frontrunner in this department was clove extract, a medicine most commonly applied for the eugenol (clove oil) it contains. This provides pain-relief and can help relieve inflammation. With this, the tests unveiled that “Participants taking a clove extract pill while drinking had, on average, a hangover symptom score of 19 per cent compared with 43 per cent for those who took a placebo pill”, (100 per cent being the worst hangover known to mankind and zero per cent being feeling no effect).

Clove extract... provides pain relief and can help relieve inflammation

However, as highlighted in an article from The Guardian, scientists found that of the 23 remedies tested, all of them “had low-quality evidence for how well they worked”, and with the clove extract, for instance, the study involved just 16 participants, so its validity is uncertain.

If this scientific study tells us one thing, it’s that there are no proven ways to completely cure a hangover. Dr. Emmert Roberts claims “The most sensible thing to do is either to abstain from alcohol or drink in moderation,” but if you find yourself falling into the freshers’ trap of excess drinking, this advice simply won’t do. While buying clove extract may be a wise idea, it also costs money. Instead, drinking a lot of water before bed will majorly reduce your hangover the next day, because “alcohol causes the body to produce more urine, resulting in a fluid loss. The ethanol-induced dehydration is responsible for some of the most horrible hangover symptoms. Drinking

a glass of water before bed is one of the best ways of preventing these effects.”

Another popular choice is the raw

egg. Although this may sound like an incredibly unscientific method of reducing a hangover, raw eggs are a great hangover food. This is because they contain cysteine, an amino acid that helps to break down acetaldehyde, the toxic chemical that your body produces when you drink alcohol. The one drawback of a raw egg is that the taste or even sight of a raw egg may make you feel unwell. The very idea of eating is a conundrum in itself, while some react positively to a cooked breakfast in the morning, the very idea of a piece of toast can have serious implications for others (resulting in an unexpected trip to the laundry).

The very idea of eating is a conundrum in itself ... a piece of toast

Image: Pixabay

We have seen the major ways to tackle a hangover that have some sort of scientific evidence behind them, but what about those that

don’t? Methods such as ‘hair of the dog’, which involves drinking more alcohol when you feel hungover to relieve symptoms, are often frowned upon for promoting ‘excessive drinking’. The ‘hair of the dog’ can temporarily make you feel better by boosting endorphins and slowing the creation of toxic compounds, but the hangover will return when you stop drinking.

Nevertheless, it allows you to schedule your hangover more effectively.

The ‘hair of the dog’ can temporarily make you feel better... but the hangover will All in all, hangovers are something you will inexorably have to face in life if you choose to drink. They can be used as ice breakers, particularly in Freshers week when you may not know how to engage in small talk, the shared headaches and dry mouths can give you and your flatmates something to bond over and laugh about. So don’t stress too much over how much vodka you pour, the pain won’t last forever.

Image: Pixabay

Silent mutations once assumed benign now thought harmful Daniel Pain, Science Editor, reveals new insights into mutations that may cause more damage than previously thought

D

NA is made of nucleic acids — A, G, C, T. When three of these nucleic acids are grouped together, they are called a codon. Each codon codes for a different amino acid (of which there are 20) and these then go on to form different proteins via their assembly in certain orders. A point mutation is where a single nucleic acid is ‘misspelt’.

This can result in changes to amino acid sequence, however around a quarter to a third of the time they cause no change in the amino acid sequence. This is known as a silent or synonymous mutation.

As might be expected, if the amino acid sequence is identical, the protein formed will be identical to intended protein. It’s the protein not the DNA that performs the intended function in the

cell so why should a change in the DNA cause a problem? Well, this was the logic that governed past thinking into silent mutations but has recently come into question after the results of a study exploring this. “Synonymous mutations have been generally thought to be benign.

We now show that this belief is false,” is the conclusion made by Jianzhi “George” Zhang, a senior author of the study.

Synonymous mutations have been generally thought to be benign. We now show that this belief is false The study investigated the ‘fitness’ of

more than 8,000 mutant strains of yeast which were formed using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. They edited 21 chosen genes, so each contain a synonymous, nonsynonymous (causing change in protein sequence) or nonsense (an early termination of the protein sequence) mutation. The effects of the mutations were measured using their reproductive speed. If the mutant reproduced faster compared to an unaltered control strain, the mutation had conveyed a beneficial advantage. Once analysed, of the synonymous mutations, an astounding 75.9 per cent resulted in deleterious changes and only 1.3 per cent were advantageous.

This result came as a massive surprise, as these mutations were previously thought to have very little impact on the organism.

The team behind the study also probed into the possible mechanism causing this astonishing result. Lead author, Xukang Shen, stated that “both synonymous and nonsynonymous mutations alter the level of gene expression,” and the extent of gene expression effects the overall fitness of the organism.

The team are still waiting to see the effects of synonymous mutations in other organisms, to assess its universal applicability. But if the results of this come back positive, their work goes to highlight the need to identify pathogenic synonymous mutations. Which could in turn strengthening our ability to treat diseases, hopefully all the way up to humans.

Image: Pixabay

Image: Pixabay

EXEPOSÉ | 21 SEP 2022

SCIENCE

35

Wild Oysters Project: ‘Ocean Superheroes’ saving our seas Henry Moreau-Smith travels to Conwy Bay to discover how the Wild Oysters Project is restoring Britain’s oceans

A

CONSERVATION project is working to restore oyster populations throughout Britain’s coastal waters.

Over the summer Exeposé were invited to Conwy Bay, to observe the Wild Oysters Project’s conservation efforts. Oyster populations have drastically declined by over 95 per cent since the 1800s due to overfishing, habitat loss, pollution and the spreading of disease. However, over the past two years The Wild Oysters Project has established itself at three sites across England, Scotland and Wales, having received funding from the Postcode Dream Trust. It aims to help release millions of larvae into estuaries through the use of oyster nurseries, in the hopes that they will settle and produce biogenic reefs to create habitats for other species, as well as to help clean up coastal waters.

Oyster populations have drastically declined by over 95% since the 1800s The designs of the nurseries were based upon prior oyster conservation projects and the combined experience of Zoological Society London, the Blue Marine Foundation and British Marine. They consist of cages suspended under the pontoons of local marinas, each containing 27 mature

oysters. Both staff and volunteers are responsible for monitoring the health of the oysters and checking for the production of larvae in the summer months, as well as the abundance of other species that use the nurseries for habitat. So far, the project reports that its oyster nurseries have successfully released over one billion larvae into their local ecosystems. Prior to oyster reintroduction, a baseline survey was carried out at each of the locations to measure for a change in biodiversity. Within just two years, 42 different species have been observed including a large number of crabs, shrimp, sponges and juvenile fish. The hope is that as more of these oysters settle throughout Britain, other species will return to our coast.

Oysters feed by filtering out algae and food particles from seawater, opening and closing to allow water to flow over their gills. Whilst feeding they are also cleaning the seawater, with a single oyster being able to filter approximately 200 litres in a single day, which is about the size of the average bathtub. This also helps to bolster biodiversity, by improving coastal conditions to better

suit more sensitive species.

Exeposé were lucky enough to speak to University of Exeter graduate Céline Gamble who is currently working on the North Wales project at Conwy Bay, about the impact oysters have on other coastal habitats. She told us that oyster habitats can benefit other marine habitants by filtering out pollutants, and that “there’s some really sensitive species of seagrass that having the right balance of nutrients is necessary to their survival”. 48 per cent of seagrass habitat has been lost since the 1930s and not only does it provide a key habitat for many marine species, but seagrass is a major store of blue carbon, capturing carbon 35 times faster than tropical rainforests.

Therefore, by restoring native oyster populations we would see an increase in seawater filtration, which would allow other coastal habitats to thrive and could possibly lead to a reduction in the rate of global warming Aside from creating sustainable oyster populations around Britain, another key aim of the project is to educate young people and to give them a better understanding of the marine environment and it’s health.

Across the 3 sites, the staff have managed to reach over 10,000 students and taught them about the importance of preserving marine habitat. Using the oyster nurseries as educational tools has allowed for the students to interact with the marine habitat, which has traditionally been very hard with marine conservation. The project is also largely comprised of volunteering work, with over 70 volunteers

across Britain working both on site and remotely as interns. If the project is successful, the oyster populations should become self-sustaining by next summer, and the project will have inspired thousands of young people to protect our coastal waters.

To find out more about the project, including how to volunteer visit: https://wild-oysters.org

Images: Henry Moreau-Smith

Image: Pxhere

Lighting the way

I

Ellen Rogers explores the future of treating cancer with photoimmunotherapy

NNOVATIVE research led by scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research, London and published in BMC Medicine, has recently announced the success of a newly developed light-based cancer “photoimmunotherapy” in treating an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma.

the motor cortex, which is involved in the planning and control of voluntary movements), it is crucial that surgeons can remove as many cancerous cells as possible without causing any damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This often means that surgeons are forced to leave some cancer cells behind — leav-

to highlight and remove microscopic regions of brain cancer. Furthermore, once as many cancer cells as possible have been safely removed, the surgeons can target the remaining cells with a near-infrared laser. This near-infrared light triggers an anti-tumour effect in cancerous cells, killing any left behind after the surgery.

However, this new study... use[s] this technique to kill cancer cells as well

Image: Tony Monblat, Flickr

The recently published technique builds on Fluorescence Guided Surgery (FGS), an approach which involves conjugating fluorescent compounds to proteins specifically found on the surface of cancer cells. Then, under certain lighting or imaging conditions, the cancer cells ‘glow,’ making it much easier for surgeons to visualise and remove the entire tumour. As brain tumours are often remarkably close to regions of the brain responsible for vital processes (such as

ing the patient at risk of a recurrence.

However, this new study has managed to use this technique to kill cancer cells as well! Researchers added affibodies – tiny, engineered proteins that tightly bind to specific cell receptors – that bind to the epidermal growth factor receptor (or EGFR), which is commonly mutated in glioblastoma cells. These affibodies are combined with IR700, a fluorescent molecule that glows under specific wavelengths of light, allowing surgeons

This multidisciplinary and international collaboration – including researchers from Imperial College London, the Medical University of Silesia in Poland, and the Swedish company Affibody AP – has brought together experts in life sciences, physical sciences, engineering, and oncology to develop new cancer therapies. In this case, it has identified a treatment that is both highly selective (and, hopefully, safe) and capable of immediate cancer cell killing. Even more excitingly, however, is the potential for this treatment to help prime and prepare the patient’s immune system against cancerous cells.

This means that our immune systems

are more likely to readily attack and kill cancer cells, reducing the chance of a patient’s cancer returning in the future.

Whilst this paper only covered the success of this “near-infrared photoimmunotherapy” in mice models, other applications of this therapy are already being tested: a global phase III clinical trial testing the efficacy of this treatment in human head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is currently underway, and other trials are testing it in patients with the childhood cancer neuroblastoma. Dr Charles Evan, research information manager at Cancer Research UK, is optimistic, explaining that “photoimmunotherapies could help us to target the cancer cells that can’t be removed during surgery, which may help people live longer after their treatment.”

Photoimmunotherapies could help... people live longer after their treatment Whilst there are still improvements to be made and trials to be run, the future looks bright for this therapy, both for glioblastoma and other cancers.

Image: Jensflorian, Wikimedia Commons

38

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

Lionesses' roaring win: leaving a legacy

T

Ozzy Bonnin reflects on the importance of England's EURO 2022 win for women's football

HE England Lionesses’ roaring victory of the Euro’s 2022 final was truly monumental. It was the most widely watched Women’s Euro game in history. The winning spirit leaves a legacy of change for women in sport.

Wembley stadium welcomed 87,192 fans, achieving the highest attendance of any European Championship final – men’s or women’s.

The BBC reported the womens game to be the most watched programme in the country so far, with a peak television audience of 17.4 million people. The success also generated a further 5.9 million streams online.

This widespread audience engagement demonstrates the increase of public support for women’s football in the UK. Crucially, it provides an opportunity for young woman to see representation and engage in a historically male dominated sport. This Euro’s victory was a landmark for all fans to acknowledge the power and technique of women in football.

Bright-eyed with trophy in hand, England Captain Leah Williamson stated “The legacy of this tournament is the change in society.” The win has enacted development from the FA and sponsors in regards to women’s football. It

Image: Getty Images

truly constitutes a win for recognition of technical success for female athletes.

The successful players of today are paving the way for the women of tomorrow. The Football Association have recognised this through their aims: for 75 per cent of schools to provide access to girls’ football and 75 per cent of grassroots clubs to have at least one girls’ team. These missions are fundamental to growing the network of girls in football.

The Lionesses continue to be key role models for the next generation. They demonstrate that victory is always possible and inspire change despite stereotypes. Indeed, women’s football historically was frowned upon and understated as ‘weaker’ than mens. It was even banned by the Football Association, restricting any chance of it progressing. Yet in 2022, the Lionesses have proven despite doubts their talent through their skilful technique, rapid passing, and excellent goals (particularly Russo’s back heel wonder). We can additionally see this reflected in the media analysis focusing more deeply on technical discussion and thus shifting away from personal or gender based reports.

Moreover, the European Championship win has made the Women’s SuperLeague an attractive and increasingly lu-

crative team for sponsorship. The hosts already saw a prolific rise in sponsors this year generating momentum for the final. Advertised throughout social media, global brands such as Visa and Heineken displayed their alliance and as a byproduct of their investment, improved their brand image. Following the victory, a rise in funding and sponsorship will be extremely likely. This projection has already been realised by Barcelona’s interest in buying Lucy Bronze from Manchester City after the successful game.

Lioness manager Wiegman is due thanks for her sharp, tactical training.

Since Wiegman took charge last September, England have played 20 times with no defeats, 18 wins, 106 goals scored and only five conceded. She has empowered the Lionesses and encouraged their passion to shine through. This communicates a strong message to all female footballers: keep that zest and feisty spirit. The sisterhood and solidarity displayed by the Lionesses highlights the significance of teamwork and collective resilience. We can all learn from them.

Overall the Lionesses have made the nation proud and are roaring their defiance to all those who believed their game would never catch on.

Image: Liondartois, Wikimedia Commons

How could EURO 2022 impact university sport?

H

Megan Ballantyne, Editor, talks to Eve Calder from EULFC about the Lionesses' summer success

ERE's Eve's opinion on how she believes the EURO 2022 success could influence Exeter University's Ladies Football Club this year: É: Hi there! What’s your role in Exeter University Ladies Football Club?

EC: I am the Vice Club Captain of the Exeter University Ladies Football Club. É: How did you first get into football?

EC: My mum signed me up for the football club at my primary school and I was hooked and never looked back! É: Growing up, who were

your role models in the game?

EC: Growing up womens football definitely wasn’t covered as much so my role models were players like Didier Drogba, Eden Hazard and Frank Lampard - I'm a big Chelsea fan. Now, I would say my role models are Leah Williamson, Sam Kerr, Tobin Heath and Christen Press. É: What’s your favourite thing about your club?

EC: My favourite thing about EULFC is how welcoming everyone is. I don’t think we are yet to have someone who doesn’t

have a huge smile on their face everyday! É: Your favourite match from last year?

EC: My favourite match from last year was our game against Bristol because I hadn’t played for a few weeks and came back scoring three goals! We all had the best time playing and it was a lovely memory. É: What does the Lionesses’ win, and the general increase in publicity for the women’s game in the run up to this win, mean to you and your team?

EC: The Lionesses' winning is monuImage: EULFC

mental for women’s football. I don’t think I could put into words how much this win meant to everyone in EULFC and women’s football in general. The public support and media coverage shows how much people now want to support womens football, and its great to see it get the attention it deserves. É: What would this representation have meant to you when you were younger?

EC: Something like this win would have given me so much more hope and confidence to do something more with football.

I grew up playing with boys and never imagined I could play professionally so having that would have definitely motivated me to push myself to pursue football more. É: What’s one thing you think still needs to change in regards to the women’s game?

EC: I think this win needs to not just been seen as a one off thing. The country needs to continue to talk about womens football at the same level they do for mens football and with the same optimism and passion. There needs to be greater access to watch women’s football because the games are hard to find on TV. I think the Euros did so well in terms of public support because it was aired on the BBC

which anyone can access for free. So yeah I think the biggest change needs to be accessibility and this continuous optimism surrounding women’s football. É: What do you think the Uni versity could do to further support and promote your team, and women’s sport as a whole in Exeter?

EC: I think the University could advertise our club much more than they currently do on their social media platforms. I think this needs to be widespread across all women's sports team within the University.

Mostly, I think women's teams need to be heard more and given the space to grow their clubs and get their sport out there. É: If people want to play for you guys, or go along and support your games, what should they do?

EC: Anyone interested in football should firstly follow our main Instagram page @eulfc1 as this is where they can find out all the information they will possibly need for everything going on! The next thing to do would be to come to our taster sessions during freshers and meet us all and see if football is something you want to play. Then from there you can purchase a membership and just have the best year at university and meet some incredible people!

21 SEP 2022 | EXEPOSÉ

E

39

University sport — tread carefully

Rob Worthington, Sport Editor, introduces freshers to the world of Exeter sport

VERYONE you speak to at Exeter will tell you how fantastic the sporting opportunities are at the University. Any student can sign up to play as many sports as they wish and once you find yourself immersed in a society, it’s great.

But there’s a catch. Well, not just one catch, quite a few really. It really depends on what sort of level of sport you want to play at university.

If you’re anything like I was, you arrive at university seeking to play sport competitively as you may have done at school. Getting into these competitive teams is more difficult than you would imagine.

Take football, for example. EUAFC is one of the University’s biggest sports clubs and it correctly has a very good reputation around campus. But it isn’t easy for the guys who run the club to pick out the very best fresher footballers.

You turn up to a trial at the beginning of the year, typically one hour long, and there you have your chance to impress. So, say you’re a very good footballer but have an off day, you don’t get selected, and you then have a decision to make.

Do you accept the opportunity to play social football on a Sunday?

Maybe join a six-a-side team? Or do you make the decision to walk away from football at university?

It’s a horrible conundrum to have to face so early in your university life but it’s the reality of seeking to play a major university sport competitively. If you don’t get in, you’re left in the wilderness.

And then you’re presented with the issue of cost. No sports clubs are free, you have to pay to join them.

So, say you’re a new student looking to play sport competitively at university and you fail to get into

a team through trials, what then?

Do you pay the usually extortionate fee to join the society and hope some way down the line you’re given a chance to impress?

Or do you give up on playing the sport you love most at university?

It’s not really a decision you should have to make as a fresher, but it’s one you shouldn’t be afraid to confront as closing the door on one sport could open the door to another which you never envisaged yourself giving a go.

And that’s probably the best thing about sport at Exeter.

There is so much to choose from.

Name the sport, Exeter has a club for it. From Korfball to Surfing to Ultimate Frisbee to Karate. Exeter has it all.

So, if you do struggle to settle within the society of the sport you’ve always enjoyed most, don’t be afraid to try something new.

After all, that is what univer-

sity is all about. Trying new things.

If there’s anything I can say about my first year at Exeter it is that it was completely alien to me. And even though I settled quickly at university, I sort of wish I tried even more new things than I did looking back.

If you went to a school like mine, you really had no option but to play a specific set of sports. Football, rugby, and cricket for me. Lacrosse, hockey, and rounders for my sisters. At university, you’re completely freed from those shackles.

This isn’t to say you need to discard your favourite sport and you must try something new. The university possesses excellent facilities for major sports and if you’re lucky enough to get into a competitive team, playing a major sport is a brilliant experience.

And if you really are desperate to play a major sport, the best piece of advice I can give you is to abso-

lutely throw yourself into the society of your chosen sport.. From trials, to socials, to events. Do it all.

But if you’re happy to walk away from the sport you pictured yourself playing at university, make sure to broaden your horizons.

Play that lesser-known sport which has always sparked your curiosity. Who knows, you could be very good at it.

And due to the smaller size of the society, you’re bound to be handed more opportunities to gain access to all the society has to offer and likely get more value for your money.

So, Freshers, tread carefully as you walk into the wonderful world of sport at Exeter. But don’t worry, whatever sport you choose to throw yourself into, you’ll love it.

Oh, and if you’d like to get involved with writing about sport at university, Exeposé is the answer to your prayers. Feel free to get in touch!

Exeter Chiefs — season preview

T

HE 2022-23 Premiership season is just getting started and with a new set of players, coaches and crises the narrative is set up to be one of the most intriguing seasons yet. Exeter Chiefs will hope to quickly put to bed the disappointment of last season which began with an away loss to current champions, Leicester Tigers. First and foremost, the rebranding of the club (seemingly in fashion this year with the University following suit) will provide a useful fresh start for players and coaches alike. Gone are the symbols of Native American Warriors which drew criticism from the National Congress of American Indians leaving the club with a new logo and overall “visual identity” (Guardian). It seems unlikely that the new logo, inspired by the Dumnonii tribe who were based in the SouthWest during the iron age, will affect much on the field (other than boosting the ego of Jack Nowell who bears a striking resemblance to the figure).

While it appears that much has been occurring in the visual brand of the club, a lot has been at play from a rugby perspective with the goal of keeping the Chiefs competitive and up to date with the trends of the game.

For most teams, a seventh place finish would be considered an average season, but for Exeter, who hadn’t finished outside the top four since 2015, it sent a clear message that change was required. A massive overhaul in players with Sam Nixon, Sam Skinner, Jonny Hill, Tom O’Flaherty, Sam HidalgoClyne, Don Armand, Will Witty and

Joshua Hughes, Editor, takes a look at the season ahead of Exeter Chiefs Sean Lonsdale all departing at the conclusion of last season will leave a void for new leaders and voices to rise.

Alongside the quality and experience of players such as Joe and Sam Simmonds, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Stu-

Scott Sio, will give Chiefs fans reason to be excited when watching the team this season. Elsewhere, Ruben Van Heerden, Jack Dunne, Aidon Davis, Rory O’Loughlin and Solomone Kata will further bolster the squad. The

giving the squad greater flexibility.

Pirates have signed former EURFC player Arthur Relton who made three appearances for the Chiefs before signing. The strong performances of Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-

Image: Derek Harper

art Hogg, a host of new signings have been brought in to usher in fresh perspectives and abilities. The significant signing of Australian international,

club’s strong relationship with RFU Championship side Cornish Pirates will also allow players to be sent on loan and also recruited mid-season,

Dickie over the summer in Australia will further encourage fans and with the World Cup selection approaching, all players will be out to impress.

Coachingwise, a major change to the structure of the staff will see Ali Hepher step up to take charge of the matchday running of side with Director of Rugby Rob Baxter taking a more hands-off role. Little reason has been given to suggest why this change has been made although Baxter, who has been head coach at Chiefs since 2009, could possibly have done so as a result of the fact he has been in the position for so long. Another contributing factor to Baxter’s role changing is the impressive rise of Heineken Cup winner Hepher who has worked at Chiefs alongside Baxter since 2009. Hepher initially took charge of the attack and has since assumed the position of head coach in 2017.

Chiefs start the season with a familiar foe, Leicester at home, the reverse of last season. This will not be an easy start, but this provides the perfect test for the new players and the new coaching set up. Chiefs can be content with the fact that only two of their players (Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Nowell) were involved in Australia meaning that they will be the only ones having to sit out until the third round as per the mandatory 10 week rest period agreed between the RFU and the Premiership clubs.

While much of club’s evolution has appeared to be focused on the branding side which has cost them up to £1M (Telegraph), it is clear that when the club run out this season the real change will be far more evident (and no, I am of course not referring to the new stadium songs which have been trialled).

21 SEP 2022| EXEPOSÉ

40

Sport

SPORT EDITOR:

Rob Worthington

Exeter City: Your New City, Your New Home

Photo: Peter Hughes, Flickr

Tom Picillo

S

O, you’ve arrived in Exeter, your new home for the next few years.

You’ve probably been hearing about the nightlife, the stunning countryside, and the best places to eat. This is all great and I’m sure you’ll enjoy those experiences here in the city, but for myself and many others the place that makes my city my home is St James Park, the home of Exeter City Football Club.

Now I must think to myself, how can I express my love of this club to all of you reading this. On paper it seems an easy task for an avid supporter who has attended games home and away over seven years. In truth, this might be more challenging. I know many of you reading this will already support a football club. You probably support one of the ‘Big Six’ and I’m not asking you to drop your support for your Premier League team, or for international students your club from your native country. What I do suggest is that you might well find yourself at home after a visit to St James Park. Let me tell you why.

The first and by far the most common claim I hear from fans of Premier League clubs is that the quality of football is substandard, a bit rich coming from Manchester United supporters but I’ll try to tackle your argument. The Grecians, as you will grow to know them as, are a front-footed, exciting, team that builds from the back and strikes in attack. Matt Taylor’s exciting brand of football, whereby the Grecians tend to start in a 3-4-2-1 formation is similar to the system Thomas Tuchel plays

at Chelsea. Exeter, newly promoted to League One for the first time in a decade, stock talent in abundance with the likes of Jevani Brown, Sam Nombe and Tim Dieng providing the flair which launched them back to the third tier. The attacking wing backs of Josh Key and Jack Sparkes provide width in attack whilst maintaining surety in defence. The wide central defenders, most often Pierce Sweeney and Alex Hartridge are comfortable carrying the ball and building attacks from the back, whilst the possession-based approach means controlled build-up play through the lines. With the Grecians scoring a whopping 16 goals from their opening five games, it’s safe to say that Matt Taylor’s side knows where the back of the net is.

On a matchday, St James Park is an epicentre of emotion. The Big Bank, the largest active standing terrace in England, holds nearly 4000 home supporters on a sold out matchday. As you ascend up the steps to the summit of the Bank, you’ll find yourself immersed in the banging of the drum and the chanting of songs whilst bouncing in chorus to spur the Grecians on. Each player has their own unique song, a ballad specific to them giving them the support needed to go to battle on the hallowed turf of St James Park. At Exeter City Football Club, the Big Bank really is the twelfth man. At the time of writing, the regularly packed out stand has assisted in giving the Grecians the best home form in League One this season - only going to prove how much the eleven on the pitch value the support of the home faithful.

St James Park is unique in its support

Twitter: @exepose

of its team during difficult periods. Last season, during a match against Harrogate Town, the Grecians found themselves trailing 3-1 with just 20 minutes left on the clock. The Big Bank, not deterred, found its voice to inspire Matt Taylor’s men on the field. A sense of hope echoed from the thousands in attendance into the minds of the players - the pendulum swung in favour of the Grecians. Jonathan Grounds got a goal back, hope materialised but the Grecians still found themselves in a losing position. St James Park grew further inspiration - a deafening noise resonated from the three stands housing buoyant City supporters. Timothee Dieng, with a trademark header, would level up the scoring to send Exeter into ecstasy. Surely not another? By this point, supporters had gone doolally, craving that winning goal.

When Jack Sparkes received the ball on the edge of the box in the 95th minute, every supporter stood to their feet. His fakeshot sent one defender to the floor. “Go on! Go on!” the Big Bank hollered from behind the goal. Sparkes’ trivela shot rippled into the back of the net and St James Park went berserk! The Grecians, resilient as always, salvaged three points from being 3-1 down to win the game 4-3 - character, passion, and devotion personified.

Exeter City Football Club supporters are some of the most dedicated you’ll find around the country. Fanatics from around the city, and indeed the county, gather in their thousands to share their love for their gold-standard family and community football club. In fact, Exeter City is supporter owned, one of just a few clubs in

Instagram: @exepose

the Football League who can say “We own our football club”. This unique position means the club finances aren’t used to line the pockets of a fat cat, rather the funds are reinvested into the playing squad, facilities, community, and perhaps most importantly the academy - a programme which has produced elite players including Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa and Ethan Ampadu of Chelsea, plus a particularly large contingent of the current first team squad including the club captain Matt Jay. These academy graduates form a critical segment of the club’s identity. This meant that when last season’s promotion-deciding match against Barrow was played at St James Park, the game meant as much to the players as it did to the supporters, and it was only fitting that Matt Jay, who joined the club as a boy, would score the goal to send the Grecians back to League One for the first time in a decade.

The City supporters don’t just support their team at home in Exeter. The Grecians’ away following has earned plaudits from fans around the country. Whether they’re making the short trip to Bristol Rovers on a Saturday afternoon, or the long journey to Derby County on a Tuesday night, the Grecians travel in their numbers to support their team and outsing the home supporters. Away days with the boys or the girls have been some of my favourite experiences following Exeter City Football Club. Whether it was a playoff final at Wembley Stadium, or a trip to Sixfields, Northampton, the city boys always make all the noise everywhere they go. Exeter will play some sleeping giants this season,

with the likes of Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Portsmouth displaced in the third tier for the 2022/23 campaign.

Pride Park, Hillsborough and Fratton Park are all iconic venues in English football and the Grecians will be sure to take a fair following to these classic football grounds.

Of course this piece wouldn’t be finished until I mention the Grecian’s longstanding rivalry with Plymouth Argyle - The Devon Derby. In a 2019 survey, the Devon Derby was ranked the second most fierce rivalry in English football, only Southampton vs Portsmouth was deemed more fierce by football supporters. The Derby always entices a sell-out crowd at both St James Park and Home Park, with rival supporters creating a deafening atmosphere in a hope to claim bragging rights come the end of ninety minutes. Last time the Grecians faced off against the Pilgrims, City embarrassed Argyle by obliterating them 4-0 at St James Park. Exeter haven’t lost to Plymouth since 2017, and Devon has been red and white for nearly three years now. All is to play for when the two sides meet home and away this season.

So that’s my take on why you should head on down to St James Park this season. The Grecians are back in action at the end of Freshers’ Week on Saturday 24th September where they face Forest Green Rovers away from home and live on Sky Sports. They return to St James Park for matchday twelve of the EFL League One season when they host fellow West Country side Bristol Rovers. I found my love at St James Park, perhaps you could too.

Facebook: Exepose