Issue 713 // 26 Oct 2020 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 713 26 OCT 2020 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Student confessed to University over neo-Nazi posts, abuse victim not told

EXCLUSIVE Pete Syme Deputy Editor

N Exeter student admitted to the University that they were responsible for “at least one” of the neo-Nazi ExeHonestly posts made in November 2019, Exeposé can reveal. Obtained through a Freedom of Information request, the police incident log

from 6 November also explains that the submissions “appear to come from three different accounts.” UniTruths, who hosted the confessions page, claim that “No personal identifying details are taken or held by the site” but these have been redacted in the report under GDPR legislation. PhD student Neha was closely involved in the investigation after the posts were connected to a series of extreme racist and sexually abusive emails she re-

SCIENCE

Black heroes and heroines of science PAGe 28

Image: NASA, flickr

ceived, as well as acts of stalking and assault; detailed in her Medium article ‘This is what unpalatable student activism costs’. She had previously been called a racial slur in another post on ExeHonestly, while the page’s administrators signalled her to blame for its shutdown, leading to the Students’ Guild to denounce them for “targeting individual students who first called out the hate speech.” An email sent to Neha by senior management three days after the police noted a

student had confessed said: “it is possible Image: Kamila Bell [the police] may identify names.” It added that if she was “able to log a formal complaint,” then the University would be in a position to deploy disciplinary procedures “if they are students.” A University of Exeter spokesperson would not confirm whether or not the student had faced any disciplinary action, saying “A student did admit to posting an extremist message on ExeHonestly. This information was passed to the police and

FEATURES The misconceptions of living with OCD PAGe 9

relevant authorities and we followed the University’s disciplinary process. We cannot share further confidential information about the individual. “We are committed to taking all steps necessary to tackle extremism and becoming an anti-racist university.” Following 2018’s Bracton Law Society scandal (BLS), in which students exchanged racist messages in a WhatsApp group chat, the University did announce

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

LIFESTYLE

Redefining “safe sex” during COVID-19

Image: Pixabay

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News Editors Print: Emily Im & Chloe Pumares Online: Elen Johnson & Ella Shadwell news@exepose.com

Beyond Exeter Editor Print: Sumiah Elbortoukaly

Lifestyle Editors Print: Ceri Jackson & Georgia Shepherd Online: Freya Insoll & Elinor Jones lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Will Evans & Amelia Gregory Online: Lucy Aylmer & Anna Wilmot artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Bridie Adams & Ollie Leader de Saxe Online: Tom Bosher & Holly Lamb music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Olivia Garrett & Francesca Sylph Online: Olivia Gomez & Jim Norman screen@exepose.com Science Editors Online: Isabel Murray & Vincent Plant sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Joel Edwards & Nick Powell Online: Harry Scott-Munro sport@exepose.com Chief Photographer photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Danni Darrah, David Fallshaw, Emily Mason Proofers Kamila Bell, Bryony Gooch, Pee Syme, Richard Ainslie, Danni Darrah, Blood, Sweat & Tears

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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.

Isolating students pay University £15 a day for food packages PAGE 3

FEATURES The Abraham Accords and their consequences PAGE 10

AMPLIFY Reflecting on Black History Month PAGE 14 Image: cfcunofficial

Features Editors Print: Bethany Collins & Joe Newell Online: Simon Eidesvik & Becca Wells Foreign Correspondents Co-ordinator:s: Ross Chatwell & Catherine Lloyd features@exepose.com

(page 29). Join us in Music for an interview with the manager of Cavern for the reality of running a music venue during COVID restrictions (page 21). Over in Features, read of the difficult reality of living with OCD and the many misconceptions of the disorder (page 9). Sport chronicles the epic win of the Exeter Chiefs in the European Champions Cup (page 32). And if you're in need of a steamy read, Lifestyle confess some rogue sexscapades for your secondhand embarrassment. You can also take the chance to read about COVID-safe sex positions, if you're feeling resourceful (page 14). As always, there is plenty to read in this issue of Exeposé. And if you missed a chance to buy membership during Freshers' Week, know that it is always on sale! News flash: memberships for all societies are available throughout the year. So, again, don't worry if you missed out during Freshers' Week. Exeposé always has and always will welcome new writers, proofers and general members. We are a student group that requires you to have absolutely no prior experience, just a passion for all things journalism or a love of creativity. We welcome everyone. All you need is curiosity and a drive for giving things a go. But for now, take it easy. Carry on reading. Good things come your way. Kamila & Bryony

Image: Taymaz Valley

Comment Editors Print: Isaac Bettridge & Cassia Grace Online: Gaia Neiman & Jennifer Medlicott comment@exepose.com

EAREST Reader, it feels as though it has been forever since our last correspondence. Granted, it has only been a month. But time does not fly when the University soft lockdown limits society activities! We don't know about you, but we would quite like to speak to people outside of our households. Preferably not via seminar breakout rooms or over Messenger. That being said, we would also like to not catch COVID-19 if possible. Well, we suppose this is how "The New Normal" affects us. It hits our social lives hard. Perhaps it feels as though nothing has happened since you last picked up a copy of Exeposé. As though we are stuck in a rut. Yet our editors have been sourcing top quality content to prove just what can happen with a bit of time apart. So read on, Reader. Prepare yourselves for... Breaking News: this issue, we give you the exclusive on the developments relating to the old confessions page ExeHonestly. While Comment look into the struggles of international students , both in the UK and abroad (page 6). Screen gives a history of Black British cinema in honour of Black History Month (page 25). Arts + Lit get spooky with some scary book recommendations to see you through Halloween (page 17). Struggling to appease the Arts vs Science debate in your mind? Skip forward to Science to learn about the Medical Humanities and how it can be applied to the current global pandemic

NEWS

Image: The White House

Editors Print: Kamila Bell & Bryony Gooch Online: Madeleine Baker & Ria Kalsi Deputy: Richard Ainslie & Pete Syme editors@exepose.com

Editorial

Image: Anna shvets, pexels

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Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ

SPORT

The recent heroism of Marcus Rashford PAGE 30

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Worldwide university news Canadian universities' Gender Pay Gap Remains

IVE decades on from the Royal Commission on the Status of Women report highlighting significant gender pay disparities within Canadian universities, this gap has not seen any significant reduction. This is despite Pay Equity laws being introduced into every Canadian Province. The report from 1970 showed a 20 per cent Gender Pay Gap between male and female professors. The average male professors’ wage at the time was (in constant dollars) CA$91,648 compared to that of the average female professors’ wage of CA$73,757. Some universities have even reported a recent growth in their gender pay gaps. A spokesperson from Simon Fraser University in British Columbia explained that in 2004, their Gender Pay Gap was close to zero. However, by 2014 the gap was calculated at CA$2,400, which resulted in the institution using salary adjustments.

Hackers steal money from Swiss Universities

NIDENTIFIED cybercriminals have taken a six-figure sum from employees at three top universities in Switzerland, including the University of Basel. They used data obtained via phishing to access the universities’ system and alter the beneficiaries’ accounts in order to direct wage payments elsewhere. According to the Basel public prosecutor’s office, some of the money landed in foreign accounts. Umbrella organisation, Swissuniversities, has emailed other universities to warn them about the issue. SonntagsZeitung reports that the University of Zurich managed to avoid the attack after employees recognised the phishing attempt.

India’s UGC declare 24 Universities Fake

HE University Grants Commission of India has declared that 24 universities operating from across the country are fake and have no right to award degrees. Under Indian law, only universities established by a state act or act of parliament can award valid degrees. The 24 universities in question were operating as "self-styled, unrecognised" institutions, and deceiving students that their degrees had authority. The list included institutions such as the United Nations University and the Indian Institute of Science and Engineering. Fake universities create problems for employers, who can be tricked by false qualifications, and for immigration sys tems where they are often involved in visa scams.

Uganda demand harsher penalties

CTIVISTS in Uganda are calling for more stringent sexual harassment laws at institutions of higher education after a former administrator at Makerere University assaulted a student but was sentenced to two years in prison and fined US$1,080. “Somehow I felt he was getting off easily,” the victim said. “Yes, the magistrate had convicted him. But two years or a fine wasn’t punishment enough. He paid it immediately.” The call for tougher laws and harsher punishments has been supported by women’s rights activists throughout the country to stop lecturers and administrators taking advantage of their students. Stories by, Kamila Bell, Emily Im, Richard Ainslie and Pete Syme

Images (LtoR): Mohammad Shahhosseini, Start Up Stock Photos

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

Exeter students charged £210 for food packages during isolation Chloe Pumares News Editor

N early October, Exeter entered into the top ten COVID hotspots in the UK, meaning many students entered into self-isolation. During their two-week isolation period, food packages organised by the University were on offer, at £15 per day, which one student called “extortionate.” At £15 per day, food packages from the University would cost £210 for the 14-day period they would have to spend in quarantine, which for many students would be out of their budget. There have also been reports of catered students being delivered cold dinner leftovers for breakfast. Although students learned that they could order from supermarkets and have it delivered up to their accommodation rooms. On the University website they state that you can “order essential grocery items for delivery from the University Market Place and order food

and drinks for takeaway or delivery via our University outlet Isca Eats.” They also note that those in catered halls are receiving lunch meals which would not usually be included in their provision. Exeter are not the only University to face backlash regarding the price of their food packages. Essex University were originally charging £220 for the two weeks before reducing it to £100 after complaints. There has not only been backlash surrounding price but also the contents of the food packages. One 18-year-old student at Durham, when talking to Radio 4, said that the food boxes were filled with junk food and a lot of dry food. It was so bad that they were “going to bed with stomach pains because of hunger.” However, there are also some universities, such as Lancashire Edge Hill, that are not charging for providing food and toliteries, with Vice Chancellor John Cater saying that anyone isolating can get free food.

2,300 studying remotely for term one Kamila Bell Editor

VER 2,000 Exeter students are carrying out full remote study for term one, the University has told Exeposé. Across all year groups, including undergraduate and postgraduate study, the University has approved a total of 2,300 applications to undertake term one completely remotely. The University noted that “the majority [of the figure] are international students.” A University spokesperson said “we know that most students want as much teaching on campus as possible but we

also know that some may not be able to attend campus for health, personal or logistical reasons related to COVID-19.” They are also offering remote learning for students having to undertake periods of self isolation or those waiting for COVID-19 test results. Project Enhance is supporting the creation and maintenance of the University’s blended learning approach. The University’s website explains “this will be essential for the University in the academic year 2020/21 and will enhance the learning experience of oncampus and remote learners in 2020/21 and for years to come.”

Image: Sebastiaan ter Burg

Image: StartUpStockPhotos, Pixabay

Exeter fall short in tense University Challenge contest Pete Syme Deputy Editor

FTER losing to Glasgow 200-145 in the first round, Exeter’s Univers ity Challenge team came close to succeeding as one of the highest-scoring losers but fell short by five points in a tense match against Imperial College London. Team members Edward Parker, Alfie Riden, Matthew Williams and captain Cleo Gravett competed in the first match to be played with COVID-secure measures. They were separated by perspex screens, while also wearing earpieces to hear each other. We spoke to Cleo about the experience, who told us: “It has been a pleasure to represent the University and all we really wanted was to make Exe proud! We trained hard, but the experience was super fun.” She called the loss “frustrating” because “it didn’t feel like we’d earned the loss by not being as good as the other team — it

could have gone either way, and both teams knew it.” Imperial captain Michael Kohn gave his team the edge after buzzing quickly on the popular music round, on which Cleo said: “It was painful to listen to ABBA for about a fortnight afterwards (which was tough), but it wasn’t so bad to lose to the current trophy holders!”

“As a team who were all undergraduates, with no institutional help and no competitive quizzing experience (bar the odd pub quiz), we did quite well in comparison to other institutions who had had a lot more support.” Trials for the next season of the show will be held by ExeQuiz in the near future, and Cleo added: “I wish all the best to next year’s Exeter team.”

Image: Cleo Garrett

Image: Sebastiaan ter Burg

Senior Maths Lecturer passes away Bryony Gooch Editor

TUDENTS from the College of Engineering, Maths and Physics received an email disclosing that Dr Robin Chapman has passed away. Dr Chapman was a Senior Lecturer in the Maths department with interests including number theory, algebra, combinatorics and problem solving. He was on the editorial boards of the Journal of Combinatorics and Number Theory and the Online Journal of Analytic Combinatorics. In 2005, he made an appearance on Mastermind making it to the final where his specialist subject was the Science Fiction Novels of Philip K. Dick. A University of Exeter spokesperson said “We are deeply saddened that Dr Robin Chapman, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, died unexpectedly last weekend. "This is a terrible loss for the colleagues and students who knew Robin, and for our University community. "Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.”

Students turned away from Exeter’s Walk-in Centre Chloe Pumares News Editor

T was revealed by the University of Exeter Students Facebook page on 15 October that students were being turned away from the NHS Walkin Centre on Sidwell Street. Guild President Sunday Blake responded to the post made by the University stating that she called the Devon Clinical Comissioning Group and asked them to issue a new county policy after the management said that it was likely a misunderstanding. It is believed to have been because of the COVID risk amongst the student population. Sunday had this to say about resolving the problem: “I was shocked to hear that students had been turned

away from the NHS Walk-in centre. I acted quickly because I believe access to healthcare is a right and wanted to ensure it was being upheld for our students. “Thankfully, the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust responded quickly to my concerns, have offered their sincere apologies, and fully briefed all staff that students will be seen at the centre. “I would like to thank the students who contacted me about this as it meant the misunderstanding could be corrected and students able to receive the healthcare they need. “We encourage students to continue reaching out to us with any feedback or issues that affects their student experience so that we can ensure your student voice is heard and acted on.”

Students with disabilities seeking more support from Wellbeing

Emily Im News Editor

ORE students with disabilities are asking for support from the University’s Wellbeing Service. While the overall demand for support during this period is high and at a similar level to last year, more students with disabilities are enquiring about Individual Learning Plans.

However, Exeter’s Student Nightline have received fewer calls compared to this time last year. Exeposé spoke to Co-Presidents, Nanoko Forest and Lily Marigold who said that 33 per cent of calls are COVID-related. Friendship and housemate issues are most commonly being mentioned. The Co-Presidents believe the reduction in calls could be because it is harder for Nightline to raise awareness

of their service when everything is online. Alternatively, they think people may be more comfortable with reaching out to family or friends. Nightline ran an email service during the UK’s first lockdown, which was used frequently at first but the number of emails decreased overtime. A University spokesperson said, “Supporting wellbeing through our curriculum and learning community is a critical part of our education and

overall strategy. We know that this is very challenging time for all students and their mental health and we have invested in additional support out of hours, for those needing crisis or emergency help and for those away from home for the first time living in halls. “We provide online and telephone support, face-to-face appointments and students are very welcome to access the on-campus Wellbeing team.

We have also teamed up with Togetherall which provides safe, anonymous online support 24/7 for all our students around the world.”

If these issues affect you, you can get in touch with: www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing Nightline: 01392 724000

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

Guild society memberships fall by 35 per cent

“Astounded and sickened by the opacity”

Bryony Gooch Editor

HE Students’ Guild has seen a 35 per cent decrease in society membership since this time last year. The organisation revealed to Exeposé that during Freshers there were 5,617 memberships to societies, clarifying this does not necessarily mean “individual students. This number double counts students who are members to two societies. The Guild also revealed that the most popular society was the Law Society, with 401 members. Of this the Law Society told us: “We are delighted to hear we have the largest society membership, despite current circumstances. It shows that our hard work is really paying off and it is fantastic to see students engaging with what we are doing.”

The most popular society was the Law Society, with 401 members VP Activities Liv Harvey commented on the decrease in membership, stating: “Understandably society memberships are down due to oncampus activity being severely limited. “Obviously, there are a lot of limitations around virtual events beyond quizzes, meet and greets and so on. Despite this, our societies are doing a fantastic job of offering a variety of amazing digital events and activities to give students an opportunity to get involved.

Memberships are down due to on campus activity being seriously limited.

Liv Harvey, VP Activities

“We are supporting societies as much as we can to get new members as we know societies are such a valuable way to make new friends and settle into University life. “We are also working with the University on initiatives and developments to help put our society communities at the forefront of campaigns such as Get Connected and community building within our Colleges.”

CONTINUED FROM FRONT that some had been suspended or expelled. They did not answer why the student body was not made aware of the confession. The University’s disciplinary procedure explains that, while statements and documentation will be circulated among the Major Disciplinary Board and the student, “later circulation may be allowed at the discretion of the chair.” They also note that they “may recommend to the Guild the imposition of a ban from specific Guild outlets and/or Guild commercial activities.” “An officer of the Students’ Guild or Athletic Union President” would also sit on the Disciplinary Board.

We hope on this occasion that the right action was taken A Guild spokesperson

A Guild spokesperson said: “The University doesn’t disclose disciplinary issues or cases with the Guild, as per the normal process, so we were not aware of this individual case. “We hope on this occasion that the right action was taken, and where the University is made aware of hate crime or harassment including racism within the student community, that they take appropriate action in the future too. “The Guild takes a zero-tolerance stance on hate crime in our community.” After finding out about the student’s admission, Neha said: “The degrees of dishonesty apparent here seem almost farcical. Needless to say, I am simultaneously astounded and sickened by the opacity of a system claiming to be transparent. “The student who posted the dogwhistle remains anonymous thanks to the University - the student who called it out has been splashed front and centre. “I was constantly led by the University to believe that the perpetrators of these postings would be connected to the racialised, sexualised abuses, stalking and harass-

ment I had undergone through the year. I believed them. “That the University knew who one of these perpetrators were all along whilst encouraging me to file this complaint and that report, is utterly disgraceful.

The student who posted the dogwhistle remains anonymous thanks to the University

Neha .

“I got an email from a member of senior management, three days after the police report implied a confession from a culprit, insinuating that I should file a formal complaint against the ‘anonymous’ ExeHonestly posters as that would be the only way the University could engage its disciplinary procedures. I feel used and clearly have been taken on a donkey ride across the year. “I remember during the BLS issue, the University promised and delivered transparency on sanctions for racism. Is this change of heart now due to fears of a witch hunt against a perpetrator? That fallacy then, is heartbreaking.” The case was referred to the Counter Terrorism Police South West Prevent Team due to the “worrying extreme rightwing ideology present”, and the report concludes that the University “will be legally bound to pass the details of the student to [them] for their enquiries” under the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act of 2015. A Devon & Cornwall Police spokesperson said: “detectives with the Force’s Prevent team worked with the University’s safeguarding team to identify the author of one of the offending posts who subsequently apologised for his actions in a statement, confirming that he deleted his post very soon after posting it.” However, the structure of the confessions page means that only administrators are able to delete posts, and were left up for several hours. The statement continues: “It is under-

stood that the Facebook page was deleted soon after the incident. “The matter was left in the hands of University safeguarding officials.” In a July interview with the Tell A Friend podcast, former Vice-Chancellor Sir Steve Smith answered a question about racism at Exeter by explaining how the University contacted Facebook’s management to try to get “certain pages banned”, and had “spent a fortune in finances” in an attempt to identify the people behind “one particular incident recently.” He continued: “We would have acted immediately to expel those people if we’d found out - we did not find out, and could not find out, who those individuals were.” A University spokesperson denied that this Facebook page was ExeHonestly, saying: “The case our former Vice-Chancellor refers to in an interview is different and relates to extremist and abusive messages to an individual. We did not find the perpetrators in that case.” It is unclear which Facebook page he may then be referring to.

The case our former Vice-Chancellor refers to in an interview is different

A University spokesperson

One of the posts made last November read: “People’s favourite number? Mine’s 1488.” The number is a reference to a white supremacist slogan coined by convicted felon David Lane, a founding member of neo-fascist terrorist organisation The Order. A similar “confession” congratulated the Exeter Chiefs for winning “14-88”, and was approved by moderators despite the real score being 20-24. Another post claims to offer “a bag of sweeties on Forum Hill” if users can answer the riddle “What accounts for 13 per cent, yet 52 per cent?” The number is described by the Anti-Defamation League as referencing “racist propaganda claims

by white supremacists.” The incident made national news in the BBC and Independent, as the University reported the page to the police.

The matter was left in the hands of University safeguarding officials

Devon & Cornwall Police spokesperson

ExeHonestly’s administrators claimed that “if we were aware of [the posts’] true meaning, they would have not been posted” while also arguing that the page was “well regarded by the local community for providing mental health support.” The University responded: “A ten second internet search would have indicated that the latest posts were offensive to everyone in our community.” Students’ Guild Officers also rejected their explanation, saying “The idea that a platform which allowed fascist opinions to be posted can claim to be an important service for all students’ mental health is problematic.” Exefess was set up by a different group less than 24 hours later, and did not respond to Exeposé when asked if they would accept the offer of diversity training from the Guild. That page was then also reported to the police in February 2020 for hate speech directed at candidates after the Guild elections. Its sister page, Sexefess, recently posted sexually violent threats to specific committee members of a society. The pages initialise people’s names to maintain plausible deniability against public threats, but many of its subjects are still identifiable.

If these issues affect you, you can get in touch with: www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing www.exeter.ac.uk/speakout Exeter TALKWORKS: 0300 555 3344

26 OCT 2020| EXEPOSÉ

Comment

COMMENT EDITORS:

Isaac Bettridge Cassia Grace

International students: alone across the sea?

Clémence Smith 1st Year English

HE thing I least expected about starting university was the culture shock. Despite living abroad, I have always kept my finger on the pulse of England’s popular culture. I thought, somewhat naïvely, that my move would be a straightforward geographical shift. Being an international student, albeit a half English one, is more challenging than I anticipated. Starting university is stressful all around and living hundreds of miles away from home during a pandemic certainly doesn’t make it easier. Many international students have deferred this year, highlighting how tough moving to the UK is under current conditions. A visit home seems impossible, as volatile restrictions make it difficult to organise travel plans. Quarantine regulations upon arrival in the UK and a possible Christmas student lockdown adds another layer of anxiety. Leaving home without knowing when you’ll be back is a daunting prospect. A third-year Erasmus student told me that she worries about catching COVID and falling seriously

ill whilst she is so far away from her family. When asked why she decided to move here anyway, she said: “This opportunity is too good to miss! I am keen on developing my English skills and don’t want to live with regrets.” She added, “my personal tutor has been very supportive, and I appreciate how seriously the university takes the spread of coronavirus.”

A visit home seems impossible due to restrictions

Loneliness is somewhat taboo, as students feel pressure to make their university experience “the best years of their life,” yet at the moment it is a very real danger. It is more important than ever then, for international students to feel integrated and meet people that they can rely on. One of the best aspects of university is the diversity of the student community and learning about different cultures. However, the cancellation of most events means that freshers are missing out on this experience. Unfortunately, it could take months for life to get back to normal. In the meantime, Zoom events can provide some light-hearted distraction,

but nurturing a friendship over the internet is tiring. Digitisation can ensure harmonious teaching, but I believe that it strips away the crucial social aspect of seminars and lectures. There is no shared sensory experience; body language is irrelevant, especially when the Wi-Fi starts buffering or cameras are off. With an increasing amount of on-campus contact hours being put online, it seems as if our whole lives revolve around our laptops. Separating work from relaxation is something I have especially struggled with this year.

can tell from talking to older students that the atmosphere is far less vibrant and bustling without international students. For the moment, I am finding comfort in the experiences I share with other foreign students. If need be, please contact student wellbeing services or call the Exeter nightline, as I am sure they will be more than happy to offer you some advice, or listen if you have anything you want to get off your chest.

I am finding comfort in the experiences I share with other foreign students

Image: Students Guild

Ruby Jones VP Welfare & Diversity

According to HESA, there were 6,330 international students at Exeter in the 2018-2019 academic year. Although figures for this year aren’t likely to come out any time soon, a stroll in the forum suffices to notice the unusual stillness of what would usually be the hub of student life. Walking around campus is an uncanny experience; coronavirus being almost invisible until, upon further inspection, the one-way signs and masked faces come into focus. I

Image: pexels.com

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The blame game?

Olivia Garrett Screen Editor

OURSE, comfort and a social life: these are the core promises a university makes to those bright-eyed 18-year olds just coming out of the zombification process that is A-levels. All yours for the bargain price of £9k a year (text books not included). Yet where are these first years now? Trapped, and staring at an uncomfortable close-up of a lecturer’s face, either nursing a hangover from the intense 10pm sesh the night before or having to self-isolate with their still-new housemates. Again, for the bargain price of £9k a year (textbooks not included). Across the country, students are being pushed into increasingly uncomfortable situations. From Manchester students having security placed outside their halls and not being allowed to talk to journalists, to ministers publicly speculating about whether

we should be allowed to go home for Christmas. In York, self-isolating students were even told to wait in their accommodation for an extra minute in the event of fire (funnily enough this instruction was hastily retracted). Here, those stuck inside have recieved little advice or support from the University. Whilst universities have insisted that students’ health, both physical and mental, is a top priority, many students have felt that they have been left to fester and have consistently compared their situation to imprisonment. And if this isn’t enough, every time a breakage of rules occurs the news and local

press make sweeping statements about the irresponsible and reckless nature of every student on the face of the Earth. The fact that 80 per cent of COVID cases in Devon are within the University is worrying but not completely unexpected. When you pack hundreds of people into a Lafrowda sized block the spread is somewhat inevitable. Freshers from years past can attest to how flu rips through the acco mmo dati o n in these autumn months, but coronavirus is far more severe and dangerous. However, given that transmission to the wider community has been so low and the fact that Image: pexels the cases in the

The Guild ON MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT IN ISOLATION

university have dropped sharply in the last week (less than 100 for the first time in a fortnight) is a testament to the care and diligence of the students here. Not in fact the heartless thugs that we have been made out to be! This vilifying of students comes

Students are being pushed into increasingly uncomfortable situations

after the months of Summer schemes such as ‘Eat Out to Help Out’, all attempting to get people, in particular young people, out and active in the community. This blame game is just another piece of evidence of the hypocrisy that has run deep throughout this Government’s COVID proceedings. Let us hope that the heat comes off of us students before it gets to Christmas and that the country finds someone else to guilt-trip.

HIS is an incredibly difficult time to be a student, regardless of whether you’ve just started your time in Exeter or have been here for a couple of years. If you’re struggling, remember, that’s absolutely okay - we’re in a global pandemic after all! Looking after your wellbeing is absolutely essential, and there is support and resources available to help you. I’d definitely recommend looking at the Togetherall App, which is a great app to support your mental health. Nightline are also ready to support you, even if it’s just to have a chat never underestimate the power of getting something off your chest and talking it through. I’d also suggest getting involved with our Get Connected campaign. We’ve launched this campaign to help you meet people, do things with friends and hopefully find some positivity. There are fun events running for you to get involved with, but there’s also the pen pal scheme which we hope will allow people to make new connections and help each other. I know it’s been a frustrating start to the year and I wish things could be more “normal” (whatever that is!), but we’ve got an amazing community here at Exeter and I’m sure we can get through this together. Stay safe!

COMMENT

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

The North remembers James Dolman 3rd Year English

N yet another COVID-19 related Government disaster, relations between Westminster and the North have been described as being at “at rock bottom” follow-

ing criticism that the North is being unfairly treated, with their sanctions being considered harsher compared to the restrictions implemented in the South. With many Northern leaders rejecting the Government’s new Tier 2 and 3 restrictions, as well as the new furlough scheme, criticising it as in-

Image: AD_Images, Pixabay

effective, there is a very genuine risk of thousands face of being plunged into severe financial hardship over the winter. As the newly dubbed “King of the North”, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham warns, in spite of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s wage support package, the NorthSouth divide would bet set to “widen”, as he went on to criticise the Government about a lack of lockdown warning, poor communication and inadequate financial support for people and businesses across the North. Throughout the pandemic, the sharp divide in the country has been illuminated on a national scale, further exacerbating the sharp, societal gulf between the North and the South. Public Health England have made it clear that individuals and families living in economically deprived areas have not only a higher rate of being diagnosed with COVID-19, but also dying from it. This is certainly backed up by the Office for National Statistics’ own data, with their figures suggesting that those living in the country’s poorest areas, the majority of

which are located in the North, are twice as likely to die from the virus when compared to a less economically deprived area, with the majority of these areas, unsurprisingly, being located in the South. The latest example of this economic fracturing is Andy Burnham asking the government for a £65 milion fnancial aid package, which he states is the, “bare minimum to prevent a winter of real hardship”, with the government only offering a third of that, with talks ultimately ending with the government walking away from negotiations.

Seemingly the final nail in the coffin for many Northern cities

However, short-sighted decisions from Westminster, in combination with the Governments’ seemingly Southern- oriented attitude, have certainly been a major contribution to the shutting down of the North. With the Government giving the green light for university students to return last month undoubtedly driving the number of cases in the North, with districts in Birming-

ham, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield and Manchester having the lowest average age in the entire country, potentially due to their huge student populations, this Government decision to send students back is seemingly the final nail in the coffin for many Northern cities.

Local constituencies know the needs of their constituents Ultimately, local constituencies know the needs of their constituents, and should be given the power to care for the health of their people however they deem necessary, without having to go through the red tape of decisions be centralised in the capital. The combination of historic conservative austerity, huge economic disparities between the North and the South, and a Government intent on demonising local councils for standing up for the wellbeing of their constituents, rather than providing them with the financial aid they evidently need has led to the North-South divide being even more harshly defined.

Blended learning: has it been torn to shreds? ready a daunting prospect what with getting to grips with a new city and living sway from home. Yet when faced with a digital Fresher’s week combined with hefty fines for attempting to socialise it is no surprise student’s mental health has taken a large hit. Additionally, it has become increasingly difficult to access the facilities our £9,000 tution fee is paying for with restricted access to both the library and study spaces on campus. With the University imposing even tighter regulations on students last month some have taken to social media to voice their concerns with one Facebook petition calling the university out for “threatening to curtail our liberties whilst all the while taking our money.”

Emma Newson 1st Year Politics

HE big question on everyone’s minds when returning to Exeter this year was just how different our university experience was going to be? Would we, as the University promised, be offered an adequate education through a blended learning scheme? Is online learning a substitute for in-person? As the term rolls on it appears this is not the case. With many of us faced with only one hour (or less) of contact time a week and a majority of lectures prerecorded it seems the concept of blended learning has been lost. It is easy to feel cheated out of our education when it consists of impersonal Zoom meetings rather than lectures and awkward breakout rooms in place of seminars. Speaking with freshers it is clearto see that online learning is isolating and prevents any form of peer to peer learning. They complain of being “stuck in their rooms all day” with little to no interaction with people on their course. Beginning university is al-

trapped between a rock and a hard place with the need to balance the risk of the virus and delivering a good education. The revamp of the ELE page to include all the materials needed for courses was a crucial step taken by the University to recognise the quality of an online system that would need to be provided. Furthermore, the vast array of social distancing measures im-

plemented around the University have ensured a safer environment to learn, helping to calm concerns around visiting campus.

The largest conglomeration of students to be found is in the queue for Pret!

students “campus has become a ghost town.” In fact, the largest conglomeration of students to be found anywhere is in the queue for Pret! Whilst online learning is certainly simpler – one has to only open their laptop rather than walk up the numerous hills Exeter has to offer - it is difficult to argue convenience makes up for the total loss of social interaction felt by all.

However, to some second-year

Students are being pushed into increasingly uncomfortable situations In spite of the online learning system being far from popular with students these problems are not local to Exeter but exist nationwide. The University seems to be

Image: Pixabay

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26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES EDITORS: Bethany Collins Joe Newell

We need to talk about OCD

Nick Powell, Sport Editor, explores the misconceptions surrounding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

FORTNIGHT ago marked International Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Awareness Week. This week serves as a chance for those with OCD to reflect and come together, and hopefully improve the incredibly misinformed understanding of what this illness really is. So often, it is wrongly seen as a mildly irritating problem certain people have which requires them to be clean, neat and organised. Indeed this could even be seen as desirable, people who sort things out, have everything in check, are well groomed; whatever it is, it couldn’t be further from the truth. The reality is that this is one of the most debilitating, frustrating and utterly unscrupulous mental illnesses in the world. If you were to personify it, it would be a ruthless dictator or an abusive partner, one that never believed it was wrong, as it relentlessly tries to convince you that the worst case scenario will play out before your eyes, and the only way you can deal with it is to constantly do what it tells you.

It is one of the most debilitating, frustrating and utterly unscrupulous mental illnesses in the world These might be visible compulsions, washing your hands repeatedly, checking a car door, perhaps a front door, for minutes, maybe even hours on end. I have been victim to this, leaving the house on time before arriving 30 minutes late because I was checking the door, or cleaning the screen of my phone so many times that its been damaged.

1.2% of the UK population are estimated to experience OCD. Source: OCDUK

What dogs me even more, however, is my personal form of OCD known as “Pure-O”. Though compulsions can’t be seen, you are plagued by irrational worries that you must entirely disprove, such as if you beat a team at a sport a member of the opposition team might take their own life, as if that would ever cause such a horrific thing to occur. In Pure-O cases, you fight your brain to see the truth, desperately chase facts to present your case, think that with every bit of reassurance, every ounce of logic you will somehow defeat this unwavering enemy. Except you can’t, because, as OCD therapist Robert Bray puts it, it’s “like looking for a key to a lock that doesn’t even exist.” Indeed, even if the lock does exist, as you go to put the key in, it changes shape, just enough to make the lock ineffective. However, not quite enough to make you feel it is not worth fighting to try and make the lock fit again. T h e s e battles can go on for anywhere between seconds and months. In some cases you will find a piece of information that immediately reassures you, in others, you will never, ever stop doubting. It can be there when you’re working, when you’re exercising, relaxing, or out with friends. Disrupting you, begging for your attention, stopping you from being able to simply live out the joys that make life worth living. It is when life is difficult that OCD becomes quieter. There is a kind of bizarre relief when a deadline is fast approaching, a friend has a genuine problem or you’re faced with a disappointment; you begin to focus on the thing that matters and OCD somehow fades into obscurity. At least for a while.

And even if that worry or sadness is taxing on the mind, at least it is a pure emotion, fuelled by real, rational difficulties. Problems that can be gotten over, that can be dealt with. The battle is on the outside.

It’s like looking for a key to a lock that doesn’t exist

Once you’ve dealt with it, that’s it. With OCD, you are just waiting for the next unsolvable puzzle to appear, and eventually wrap your head around it.

Image: Wikimedia Commons

These inexorable, un-winnable mental battles can range from being mildly annoying to completely unbearable. Just how many times they have spoiled moments that should have been positive in my life is something I avoid reflecting on, for fear of making myself feel even worse. While it has only rarely been brutal enough to have a really bad effect on the essential things in my life, like university work, this is the reality for many which is underestimated by people, and this needs to change. An OCD study carried out across

sufferers’ lifetimes by psychiatrists the Skoog brothers, found that less than half of people will ever show any sort of tangible recovery from OCD in their lifetimes, and just one in five will make a complete recovery. A further third will somewhat improve their relationship with the illness, but that leaves over one in six who will make no kind of improvement whatsoever, and that’s only including those who survived to complete the 47-year analysis. In a separate study, Kumar et al found that well over a third of living sufferers have seriously contemplated suicide, and 11 per cent have attempted it. If the percentage of people who commit suicide is 1.5 per cent, and OCD sufferers are widely accepted to be ten times more likely than the average person to commit suicide, the number of people with OCD who will take this step is a terrifying prospect. There are two main approaches for dealing with OCD, but both have the same central goal. You come to the point where you don’t have 100 per cent certainty, you never will, but you look at the thing that is causing you so much fear, so much terror, and it no longer causes anxiety.

Battles can go on for anywhere between seconds and months In one approach, which I have attempted, you simply “starve the monster”. You tell yourself that this is an assumption you have plucked from thin air that pays no attention to reality, either lived or “out there”. Yet when you think about something long enough, it can be so hard to simply, let go. Even if you

OCD is most prevalent in adulthood but can begin as early as puberty. Source: NHS UK

know it is completely irrational, and not your true belief in a situation, it becomes a truth of its own and in this approach, you need rock solid discipline. In the other, you accept the reality could be a reality, though unlikely, and you come to terms with the fact that nothing has the right to cause you chronic anxiety. Once again, your discipline cannot fall short. It is incredibly difficult to get proper, effective treatment for OCD. I have been fortunate enough to receive treatment from an excellent therapist who practices the first approach and though I still struggle today, I am improving bit by bit, but it is not easy. Raising awareness is the first step to improving the understanding – and hopefully the lives – of people who have OCD.

É If these issues affect you, you can get in touch with: Reed Mews Student Health Centre: 01392 676606 Exeter Nightline: 01392 724000 Samaritans UK: 116 123 The Mix: 0808 808 4994 YoungMinds Crisis Messenger: text YM to 85258 Campaign Against Living Miserably: 0800 58 58 58

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

Peace in the Middle East?

Alejandra Tapia examines the Abraham Accords and their wider implications

AST month, two historic accords took place at the heart of Middle Eastern affairs. Appealing to the common ancestry between three conflicted groups in the area, the accords between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Bahrain have been named the Abraham Accords. These accords are ground-breaking insofar as they involve two Arab countries recognising Israel’s right to exist as a state. This legitimisation made official through the accords will in practice lead to open diplomatic relations, the setting up of embassies in each other’s countries and a wideopen door to many economically attractive business deals. Commentators are selling these accords as a big step towards peace and stability in the region. However, it is worth noting that none of the parties involved are currently, or have recently been in conflict with each other. The Abraham Accords are a normalisation of diplomatic relations between countries

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on opposing ideological and strategic sides in a very convulse region. They are by no means a peace accord. In this way, the UAE and Bahrain join the two Muslim-majority countries that have diplomatic relations with Israel - Jordan and Egypt. Signed in 1994 and 1979 respectively, the treaties that normalised relations between Jordan and Egypt and Israel signified the end of ongoing conflicts and were the result of long struggles and peace talks.

The significance of those treaties to the daily lives of Palestinians and

the regional geopolitical situation was much larger than the predicted impact of the Abraham Accords. The UAE and Bahrain have not been in direct conflict with Israel for the past two decades. On the contrary, the UAE and Israel have been on friendly terms for the past decade, with both of them advocating for a firmer hand on Iran during the Obama administration. In relation to Palestine, the UAE has assured the Palestinian people that these accords have been signed in exchange for a halt to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s plans for annexation of the West Bank. However, as is expected, none of this is specifically stated in the signed documents. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas has managed to unite all Palestinian political factions with a common sentiment of betrayal regarding the actions of the UAE and Bahrain. A historic meeting bringing together Hamas and Fatah in Ramallah has taken place as a

result. In the midst of a very strained relationship between the Palestinian Authority and the USA after Trump’s unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and the annexation plans, this could be the drop that fills the glass and unites a very factioned Palestinian political landscape.

Regarding potential shifts in the regional power balance, all the eyes are on Iran

However, Hamas radical antagonism to Israel and violent position might be too much for Abbas to get behind. Indeed, Hamas responded with rocket fire from the Gaza strip into Israel causing air strikes from the Israeli side in response. Prospects for peace and stability in the region do not seem to be on the horizon. Regarding the geopolitical situation and potential shifts in the regional power balance, all the eyes are on Iran. As was expected, the Islamic regime has

blatantly opposed the deal. The question is whether this will cause any change in foreign policy, particularly relating to the ongoing proxy wars Tehran is fighting in Syria and Yemen. Although an alliance between Gulf states and Israel seems most threatening to Iran’s regime, these accords cannot be interpreted so radically as of yet. Furthermore, the Islamic regime does not play a major role in any of these countries. Tehran’s main interests, aside from conflict in Syria and Yemen, are the Shia militias it controls, notably Hezbollah in Lebanon, but also in Iraq, especially given the rising instability in Iran’s neighbouring country. It is unlikely that the Abraham Accords will cause significant change in the geopolitics of the Middle East, but it does show a shift in foreign policy conduct. Abu Dhabi might play a mediating role between Israel and other Arab countries, leading to further solidification of diplomatic relations and generally a shift towards peaceful solutions.

Conflict in the Caucasus Jacob Evans discusses the contested history of Nagorno-Karabakh and the current conflict

T least 500 people have been killed as tensions flare in the disputed region of NagornoKarabakh. On the 27 September major conflict started between Armenia and Azerbaijan within the region, leading to hundreds of fatalities and the displacement of up to 70,000 people. While the former Soviet Republics are rarely in mainstream news, there is a complicated and ultimately sorrowful history between them, culminating in the current state of affairs. Nagorno-Karabakh is a mountainous region in the south Caucasus. It is internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan, but has been inhabited by an overwhelming majority of ethnic Armenians who claim to be governed by the de facto state of Artsakh. Thus, the ethnic Armenians reject the Azerbaijani ruling. This dispute stems far back into the twentieth century. In 1918 both Armenia and Azerbaijan became independent from the Russian Empire, but within a few years both were back under a shared ruling, this time within the Soviet Union. Nagorno-Karabakh became an autonomous region within the Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan, but like all the satellite states, Azerbaijan was ultimately governed by Moscow. As the USSR crumbled the region fell back into Azerbaijan control.

Interestingly, 1988 saw the NagornoKarabakh legislature vote to join the Armenian Republic, though this was vehemently opposed by both the Soviet Azerbaijani and USSR governments. Once the break-up of the Soviet Union began, Yerevan (Armenia’s capital) supported separatists who seized Nagorno-Karabakh along with seven other adjacent Azerbaijani districts, which now constitute the de facto Republic of Artsakh. Al-Jazeera reports that this process, which began in 1991, saw at least 30,000 killed and half a million Azerbaijanis driven from their homes. This was stated by Armenia as creating a “buffer-zone” and liberating the area, but this supposed liberation facilitated the settlement of 17,000 Armenians into the captured territories who show no sign of giving them back. An internationally brokered peace deal was struck in 1994, but since then there has been continual aggressions at the borders which culminated in the final week of September 2020. Following an alleged Azerbaijani offensive, Armenia declared martial law and both sides engaged in frontline combat as well as long range drone strikes and missile warfare. Sourcing information about the conflict, such as death tolls, is heavily reliant on official statements of the belligerents, so must be viewed with

caution. As has become prevalent in modern war, propaganda and video footage play a significant role, with nations seeking to dictate the narrative with evidence of destruction and gains. But according to Thomas de Waal, writer for The Guardian who has covered the region for over 20 years, Azerbaijani forces launched artillery and aerial strikes against civilian settlements in Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan meanwhile has stated that their agression was a retaliation to Armenian attacks on Azerbaijan border settlements. On the face of it, one can view this war as one-sided - Azerbaijan has recently garnered huge oil wealth and has spent more on their national defence than Armenia’s total budget (Al-Jazeera). Azerbaijan also has the backing of Turkey, a nation who quickly condemned Armenia and thus far has provided joint military exercises with 11,000 of their troops to Azerbaijan. Armenia meanwhile has suffered greatly in the past, with the Armenian genocide conducted by the Ottoman Empire - which saw almost 1.5 million killed - still resonant; as Prime Minister Pashinyan told the BBC, if Azerbaijan succeeds, another genocide might occur. Despite limited financial resources, Armenia has

maintained its borders amidst skirmishes over the last 30 years. Of course, a treaty framework with Russia has been in place should Armenia be attacked; in an interview with the BBC, Mr Pashinyan went on to state “Russia shall uphold their security commitments” and that he has spoken directly to Mr Putin. Hence this battle, with all the drones, missiles and gunfire is of greater geopolitical magnitude than first perceived. Both of these imposing powers have influence in these regions, and despite Armenian faith in Russian support, critics feel they may just be a pawn in a larger geopolitical game. The same applies for Turkey, whilst Iran (who themselves have a large Azerbaijan community) watches quietly. T h i s conflict is far m o r e than patriotism b e t we e n the two neighbours, b u t is entirely a

geopolitical war. Coupled with regional oil reserves, the vested interests of neighbouring nations Russia, Turkey and Iran might mean an escalation of this conflict will have worldwide ramifications. With reports of internationally banned cluster bombs being used, alongside the UAV’s and drones, the conflict has the potential to become a humanitarian crisis. Previous peace plans have been far too dismissive of society, and have awarded substantial power to Moscow. To satisfy both Armenia and Azerbaijan and extinguish any long-term bids for regional power from their imposing neighbours, a multilateral peace deal is necessary. A century ago, Lenin and Ataturk divided this region and created settlements to suit their own motives. Now, after decades of change, history may look to repeat itself.

Images: TOP - Flikr; BOTTOM - David Stanley, Flikr (https://www.flickr. com/photos/79721788@N00/37563522512)

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EXEPOSÉ | 26 OCT 2020

EDITOR: Ria Kalsi

A new reflection on allyship Ria Kalsi Online Editor

Image: Taymaz Valley

E are nearing the end of Black History Month 2020. This year, the importance of the month has taken on new, deserved levels of appreciation. However, the distinction of what this month means, both independently and in conjunction with the Civil Rights movement, has been something at the brim of my mind. Anti-racism should be at the forefront of our decisions and actions, every day, in every environment. We should be practicing it, being authentic allies. Though the meaning of this month – appreciation, celebration, recognition of Black History cannot be swept away with white guilt and dwindled into a reminder to ‘do better’. Black narratives and history should not be exclusively synonymous with racism – there’s so much more we can learn from this month. I have seen such a range of content produced but more often than

not, it’s at two ends of a spectrum. Either the content is dry and performative or it’s pushing more anti-racism efforts than celebrating the history. Rather, some of the best content I have seen not only shows up for social injustice but also celebrates history. It’s about what we can learn from Black figures and history to better ourselves and continue our efforts. At the beginning of the month, Ex-

eter’s African Caribbean Society held an Instagram Live ‘Braid with Me’ which I watched and absolutely loved. Not only was it informative of the history, the discussion of cultural appropriation between Georgia, Zarah and Hiba was incredibly personal and revealing and gave me a new perspective into the topic. (The energy the girls had in the live was also amazing and I’d recommend people to watch it)

As allies, we need to keep working on finding that balance between appreciating Black History, heritage and culture as it’s own beautiful thing whilst recognising where that stands as in conjunction with racism on every level. Recognising and appreciating the achievements of those who have been trailblazers whilst facing racism on individual to institutional levels. The rise of the Civil Rights movement this year was one of the first moments of global recognition to dismantle racism at every level and be an ally. And I think what’s key to take from this month is that, much like anti-racism, celebrating Black history shouldn’t be momentary or performative – it needs to go beyond this month. Whether it’s sharing the stories of Black history on your platforms, reading and educating white-washed history for yourself and others, broadening your intake of media or products to Black creators and owners. There’s a way to show up in the present and recognise the past.

Exeter’s Black History Month Bryony Gooch Editor

S October comes to an end, it is important to reflect on the different ways people in Exeter chose to celebrate Black History Month. Across the University, societies of the Guild and student body, a myriad of digital events took place looking into Black culture, important Black figures in history, and important political issues facing Black people. In light of the important events surrounding Black Lives Matter, there was a sense of urgency not to tokenise or oversimplify Blackness. There was some controversy surrounding the launch of Black History Month in Exeter, as their launch event appeared to be hosted by non-Black people. One figure on Twitter noted “this would have been a good opportunity to highlight Black people and their voices at the University. Or could you note find any Black people amongst your senior management?” The University responded, noting this would be an opportunity to introduce Senior Lecturer Oli Young

who was coordinating Black History Month for the Business School. Indeed, under Young’s curation, the Business School has hosted a number of events in honour of Black History Month. ‘The Making of 100 Great Black Britons’, hosted by Dr Patrick Vernon OBE, honoured the achievements of Black Britons and acknowledged how the Black British community was excluded from mainstream

ideas of “Britishness” within the education system and media. And indeed, every day of this month on Twitter, the Business School has spotlighted a key Black Briton to be remembered, from Skepta to Vanessa Kingori. On 14 October they also held an event ‘Making your way as a Black entrepreneur’, chaired by broadcaster and journalist Brenda Emmanus. A panel of Black entrepreneurs spoke of their experiences of success from their respective fields. Meanwhile, Exeter Guild worked closely with African Caribbean Society, starting the month with an insight into experiences of Black culture. African Caribbean Society held three events on Instagram.. Both ‘Braid With Me’ and ‘Trim With Me’ looked into the significance and difImage: Tom Øverlie ferent experiences

of hair in Black culture, while ‘Cook With Me’ celebrated West African and Caribbean cuisines. Wider discussions of race and racism took place in a collaborative event with Rethinking Society on ‘Modern Racism and Cultural Appropriation in the UK’. The Guild are rounding off the month on 26 October with a digital seminar from TEDx speaker and Wellbeing coach Toluwa on self-worth for BAME students and the meaning of allyship. The recently founded BIPOC society will be running an event on the Black Attainment Gap on 27 October with doctoral researcher Lateesha Osbourne, and Exeter student and Guardian columnist Emmanuel Onapa. The events of Black History Month in Exeter show a spectrum of approaches to celebrating and remembering Black History and Blackness. The University’s events have celebrated Black British success, while the student body have highlighted a variety of both personal and structural experiences to be remembered when considering Blackness. And a key aspect of Black History is acknowledging a variety of experiences.

Images, top to bottom: Donna Robertson, Hill123, Parlophone Records

Resources for Black History Month

Podcast: About Race - Reni EddoLodge

Book: The Black Jacobins CLR James

Music: Hoodies All Summer Kano

lifestyle

What sex ed didn’t teach you

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CELEBRATING BLACK CREATIVES

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LIFESTYLE EDITORS Ceri Jackson Georgia Shepherd

ARTS + LIT EDITORS William Evans Amelia Gregory

MUSIC EDITORS Bridie Adams Ollie Leader de Saxe

SCREEN EDITORS Olivia Garrett Francesca Sylph

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Matthew and Richard 26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

l i f e s How t ysexled efailed me

Your kinky COVID self-care Amelia Lumme provides key tips for exploring the world of kinks and fetishes

both mentally and physically. It's essential to E'VE all seen those kinky confess on find what you spiritually connect with, instead Sexefess. Kinks are sexual acts or deof forcing yourself into hardcore actions at the sires that are seen as unconventional, beginning. 2) At the end of the day, this is and whilst this entails a range of things, about pleasure! If you choose to expeople may think of them as dirty plore with a partner (or partners), or taboo. communicate with each other However, the world of kink and set boundaries. 3) Aftermay not be as uncommon as care is important! Check-in you think - roughly 50 per with each other and talk cent of adults are "kinky" about what did and didn't according to a study by the work for you. And if you're Journal of Sex Research in going solo, still check in with 2016. We are living in a lonely yourself. time - with the COVID-19 panRemember, no one can do it demic making us spend most of right for the first time, so do not force our days at home; this is the perfect Image: Dainis Graveris expectations onto yourself or your partner. time to learn more about yourself and to The world of kinks & fetishes is vast and full of tap into your deepest desires. pleasurable possibilities. All you have to do Research shows that people who act upon is open your eyes (or maybe blindfold them!) their fantasies & fetishes tend to be healthier Whether you're a seasoned kinkster, you're just and suppressing your sexual desires can lead to starting your kink journey, or are proudly "vapsychological damage. If you're ready to start nilla," if you wish to find more useful exploring, here are some tips from us at Unresource for the kinkier side of sex tangle: 1) focus on what makes you feel good,

Milie Jackson explores the limitations of the UK's sex ed system

Y induction into the world of sex education began on a Tuesday afternoon, surrounded by a haze of Lynx Africa and pubescent adolescents sweaty from lunchtime football practice. Minutes into the lesson, someone lobbed a pair of rubber testicles at me, laughing as they smacked across my face. Unsurprisingly, it all went downhill from there. The true failing of our sex education comes from the fact that we are British. With this Britishness comes the pinched lips, the prudishness of older generations, the lack of sexual freedom, and most essentially, the unwillingness to be frank and explicit when it comes to teaching the younger generation about sex. Scare tactics seem to be the preferred method of education – I was faced with a series of revolting photographs of STIs and STDs at the worse stages, leering blue dildos and slimy condoms. At some point, I just

stopped listening. At fifteen I was disgusted by sex; far from ready to learn about it. The issue was that our sex education was sporadic – once or twice a year, so if you were ill, you missed a lesson on consent, on sexual assault; online dating safety. There were gaping holes in what we were actually taught – my school didn’t teach us about consent, about gay and lesbian sex, or female pleasure. It isn’t mandatory for schools to teach about LGBTQ+ sexualities. When institutional education fails you, the internet is the next best thing. Porn becomes the expectation of sex, Cosmopolitan articles teach you how to give blowjobs, lesbians are asked how they have sex (imagine asking a heterosexual person that same question). Stories from university friends and one-night stands became my education, and that just isn’t good enough. The syllabus needs to be standardised, expanded, and modernised, before the next generation suffers. Images: Charles Deluvio

Reclaiming female pleasure Ceri Jackson, Lifestyle Editor, explores the stigmatising of female masturbation and why it needs to go

EMALE masturbation. I dread to think how many of you cringed even at the sight of that phrase, but for many that is the natural reaction. But why is that? I think back to when I first heard of the seemingly mythological idea of female masturbation, and that was a few years after I first suffered the dreadful experience of British sex education. Funnily enough, the first time I heard the words, they were presented as a dirty idea. In the form of typical playground gossip in Year Eight, I remember a girl saying “Did you hear [...] saying she masturbates! How disgusting! Why would you ever admit to that?”. Immediately, without even fully understanding what it meant, female

pleasure was something I believed to be disgusting. Reflecting on the traumatic experience that was sex education, much of the stigmatisation around female pleasure seemingly originates from here. Like most UK schools, we attempted putting a condom on a poor abused banana and were forced to look at horrendous Google images of STIs, with the only message being “if you have sex you will die” (thank you Mean Girls). After this, we were split into two genders – immediately a divide is put between the sexual experiences of boys and girls, as well as the possibility to discuss sex for those who do not fit our heteronormative style of education. As girls, we were bombarded with information about our periods, different forms of contraceptive we as women should take responsibility to use (heaven forbid a man should have the same obligation), and childbirth. The concept of pleasure was not dared to be uttered once. When we finally went back to a style of education that did not resemble that of the Victorian period, my male peers giggled about learning about masturbation. At the time, 11-year-old me did not question this separation, but on reflection this is an incredibly toxic method of education. Immediately, we were all indoctrinated with

gender stereotypes – women have children, men have pleasure. Surely, for gender equality both within life and the bedroom, we need to fully understand the intricacies of sex for all genders. If boys were taught about periods, surely the idea of them being disgusting would vanish. If girls were introduced to the idea of pleasure and the ways to explore it, then female masturbation would not be demonised. Only when I started university, did I hear people talking openly about female pleasure, but stigmatisation still remained present. Far too many times have I heard girls say that their boyfriends are offended by the thought of them pleasuring themselves or using sex toys. This simply highlights the toxic masculinity and gender roles that remain in our society, the fact that female masturbation actually makes men feel emasculated is absurd. Not only can self-pleasure help with confidence and self-love, it can also help you understand what works best for you – in turn benefitting your sexual partner. Furthermore, mastur-

bation can help with easing period cramps and aids relaxation – which I’m sure is something every girl needs, particularly at this strange time. The only way we can destigmatise female pleasure, is by talking about it more openly. I have seen a growth in the number of influencers and companies now openly promoting female masturbation. Some of the biggest retailers like ASOS and Boots, now have sections on their websites specifically dedicated to sex toys. I urge anyone reading this article to openly start talking about masturbation and pleasure, be it with a friend, flatmate or partner. If Timothée Chalamet can defile a peach, then you should not be ashamed of your own pleasure. Images (L-R): Charles Deluvio, Taras Chernus

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lifestyle

EDITORS: Ceri Jackson and Georgia Shepherd

"COVID-SECURE" SEX? Bridie Adams, Music Editor, discusses avoiding the virus in the bedroom

ing a condom is important regardless of O most people, sex is important. Many the pandemic for sexual health reasons and of us have a deep-seated need for intipreventing the spread of STIs, so this isn’t macy and sex which, of course, hasn’t a huge change from regular recommended magically disappeared during the pandemic. safe sex practices. However, the pandemic is Though it’s safest to either stick to mastura reason to be extra cautious. bation or to have sex with someone in your Masturbation is also always an option if household, it’s inevitable that some people you don’t think the risk of spreading or exwill venture away from home to meet other posing yourself to COVID-19 is worth it. You sexual partners. The big question is: is there could invest in new sex toys or find someone a safe way of hooking up without spreading who’s down to have phone or cam sex incoronavirus? The answer is debatable. stead of physical contact. This definiteThough sexual health charly seems like a more sensible way ity the Terrence Triggins Trust of getting pleasure than having have suggested ways of to wear a face mask and have having Covid secure sex, sex only in doggy style. like avoiding kissing, The important thing to oral sex and face-toremember is that facingface sex positions and away sex positions like wearing a face mask, doggy and reverse cowgirl how realistic are these probably won’t be much guidelines – and how less risky than missionary or likely are people to actuother face-to-face positions. ally stick to this? If you’re having physical contact, Masks aren’t actually the Image: we vibe wow tech there’s likely to be a risk. biggest turn on, and neither is the The bottom line is just use your common detached feeling of not being to make any sense. If you or your partner have COVID-19 eye contact with your partner, kiss them or symptoms or feel unwell, just don’t have sex. perform any kind of oral sex. Though there If you can, try to limit your number of new are methods of foreplay that don’t involve sexual partners. Of course, it’s also safer to oral, it’s a huge part of sex for most people stick to those within your household when and undoubtedly people will struggle to it comes to sexual partners, so if you happen avoid it. to have a crush on a housemate, now might The virus has been found in semen, be the perfect opportunity to make a move! which makes condoms, according to the Terrence Triggins Trust, essential – especially when it comes to Blow Jobs. Obviously, us-

CONDOMS "UNPACKED"

E'VE all been there, your significant other whispers “you’ve got a condom?”, and a shiver runs up your spine. Condoms, awkward and slippery in nature, are also known as rubbers, Johnnies, as well as numerous other bizarre slang terms. Although renowned sex expert Jay Cartwright from The Inbetweeners vows against them as a "guaranteed hard-on killer", condoms are a straight-forward and effective way of preventing unwanted pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections. As ever in the age of mass of consumption, we have plenty to choose from regarding the male contraception. Most condoms are either made of natural latex or polyurethane (synthetic), the elasticity of the former have made them the most popular, though a key drawback of latex is that they can get damaged when in contact with oil-based lu-

26 OCT 2020 |

bricants. The condom market is dominated by one brand, Durex, who offer a variety of packages for your package (they even have a quiz on their website to find the most appropriate products for you). If the act of sexual intercourse wasn’t pleasure enough, they can be enhanced the by the use of the ribbed/studded varieties as well as a multitude of exciting flavours. Thin feel ones do exactly what it says on the tin, while extra safe are for those wanting more protection. I hope this article has shed some light and provided valuable guidance on the extensive world of the condom. So the next time your significant other brings it up, it's less “oh” and more “Oooooh!” Senthur Shanmugarasa

ADVICE TO MY YOUNGER-SELF

Y relationship with sex, self-worth and pleasure has been a challenging one, but three years after starting university and embracing my sexual freedom, I am starting to gain a better understanding of why this is. Here is my advice to a younger self. Firstly, you do not need to conform to any set path, any image or expectations of others. Your sex life should be yours to own and not be judged on the basis of a prescribed route or norm it could take nor should it be up for other people’s entertainment. Secondly, although the idea of having

sex with someone you "love" is drilled into us from an early age, in real life this is not always the case. The notion that sex equals love is outdated, and by separating these concepts, and noting that they coexist only sometimes is key and the most important feeling is safety. Finally, it can be easy to not acknowledge your sexual experiences or dampen these if they don’t suit other people’s ideals. Accepting your experiences for what they are can help future pleasure much more than feelings of guilt and shame and can help you to understand your needs. Elinor Rose, Online Lifestyle Editor

SEX CONFESSIONS! a famous walk of shame

N an eventful Wednesday night in my first year, I got dressed up for a decade themed social with Freshers asked to go in 90s clothes. In my mind this meant Spice Girls, given I was only one when the 90s ended, and took inspiration from them as my friends used glitter, hair dye and dark eye shadow to transport fashion back 25 years. Dressed in a sparkly vest and baggy jeans, I was ready to go, armed with "one for the road". The social was pretty standard, drinking games, chatting to friends, extortionate prices for cider, but with drunken flirting with a guy turning into a decision to "go back to his" as his halls were closer to town than mine. As far as the sex goes it was average – not the best but not the worst – and all in all a good evening. Being the conscientious student I was, however, just before leaving Timepiece I handed my friend my keys to grab my lab book, coat and goggles ahead of our

practical the next morning as she lived in my block and would be there the next day. Pretty clear-headed thinking if you ask me. However, despite my strategic planning the previous night on the TP dancefloor, I had made a fundamental error: I didn’t have any spare clothes. Waking up at hungover at 8am ahead of my 8.30am lecture and 9.30am lab session I wouldn’t have made it to my accommodation and back in time for uni without potentially missing the start of the practical. Instead, unashamed of my clothing situation I proudly walked into the Forum, meeting my friends as if I’d been there all along. For the most part I’m sure I could have disguised myself under my coat and no one would have ever known. Except for the distinct and dramatic change from any other day: red hair, mascara all down my face and the added extra of a highly sequined festival bum bag, completing my '90s look.

A rogue tinder date experience?

IKE so many anecdotes of freakish fornication, this one begins on Tinder. You’re a few drinks in and then, before you know it, you’ve managed to secure an unmistakeable invite to Netflix and chill. Night one was more cringeworthy cuddling than anything titillating, but after clearing things up with one of the most depraved conversations I’ve had, our second time went a bit better. “I could tie you up and fuck you?” got my blood rushing, but it wasn’t exactly possible given that there was no rope, and nothing to tie it to. There was some more initial awkwardness, like asking her not to be so loud

(the fake pornographic screams are just unsettling), but after we ironed out the kinks, it was a fun opportunity to try new things. A few slaps to the face here, some toe sucking there, and I suddenly felt like a more interesting person. But, eventually, you tire of the cold journeys home and really feel the walk of shame. After all, we barely know each other, and the thrill has died down. It can be unsettling to think about all the things you’ve done with someone when you never even knew their last name, but it can still be an important milestone in your personal development. Image: @charlesdeluvio

arts + lit

Black History Month Favourites Exeposé editors discuss their favourite Black artists and authors in celebration of Black History Month

HE first time that I saw Kara Walker’s work was at the Tate Modern early in 2020 when I arrived to see an exhibition by a different artist and was greeted by her room-filling installation in the gallery’s iconic Turbine Hall. Fons Americanus is a 40 foot tall fountain parodying the Victoria memorial in front of Buckingham Palace and its celebration of British colonialism. Walker’s fountain is an epic reconsideration of Britain’s and Africa’s shared histories and is truly something to behold in person. William Evans, Arts and Lit Editor

KARA WALKER

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE Image: Mike Von / Unsplash Artwork: Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled

LAUDIA Rankine does a lot of work in both poetry and criticism, founding the Racial Imaginary Institute in 2017 to examine race as a construct. In her multi-award winning poetry anthology, Citizen, Rankine makes overt the micro-aggressions that people of colour face on a daily basis and articulates how this can come from anywhere whether it be from a colleague, a stranger or even a friend. I like it because its multitextuality in that Rankine describes it as an American lyric but it also includes images of artworks and films directed by her husband that can be watched alongside it. Issy Murray, Online Science Editor

first read Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s work in my first year at Exeter when I studied Purple Hibiscus in my Academic English module and I loved it. After this I found myself ordering most of her books, reading her famous essay ‘We Should All Be Feminists’ and listening to her TedTalks. Her writings are educational and eye opening and I would highly recommend them to anyone interested. Amelia Gregory, Arts and Lit Editor

Image: Image: William William Evans Evans Artwork: Artwork:Kara Kara Walker, Walker, Fons Fons Americanus Americanus

CLAUDIA RANKINE

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

ean Michel-Basquiat had a unique start in the art world; first finding fame as part of graffiti duo SAMO, he ascended from homeless high school dropout to a $110m artist. With pieces referencing the likes of Haitian Revolution leader Touissant Louverture, he often focussed on race relations and the slave trade. His neo-expressionist style is among those often disparaged as “scribbles”, but his accomplishments in depicting colonialism and class struggle before his tragic death from heroin overdose at 27 places him as one of the most highly-regarded artists. Pete Syme, Deputy Editor

Literature for the lonesome

Clemence Smith shares how literature is a tool to stave off solitariness at university during the Covid-19 pandemic

EELING isolated is an inevitable consequence of the storm the pandemic has kicked up. A lack of daily routine has suddenly left us with a lot of free time to fill. Scrolling through Tik Tok for hours on end is tempting, but I think that lockdown has sparked a new wave of enthusiasm for the arts. Reading, in particular, is a hobby that many have recently rediscovered.

IN THE SECLUDED WORLD OF FICTION, OUR IMAGINATION BLOSSOMS I get it; picking up a novel can seem strenuous and boring. It is worth remembering, however, that books are a beloved form of entertainment for a reason. Novels are fully immersive, unlike films and TV series that – in my opinion – only scratch the surface of our creativity. Learning about

different cultures is enlightening, but also a vital source of distraction. I like to think of literature as a laboratory; in the secluded world of fiction, our imagination blossoms as we explore our wildest ideas without fear of judgement. This type of intellectual stimulation is what drives Harry Potter’s rampant success. The reader is immediately engrossed by the numerous plot twists, brilliant characters, and uncanny world. As well as being enjoyable, literature provides more tangible support for those who feel lonely. Reading about other people’s experiences can help us unpick and come to grips with our own circumstances. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami is a novel that many students will relate to. Despite having been published over 30 years ago, the main character’s struggles are still very relevant today. Toru Watanabe struggles with feelings of alienation, as he endures numerous changes. Like many of

us, he yearns to go back to when his life seemed free from worry. The delicate, raw, and honest writing style highlights how fragile our emotions are when confronted with loneliness. Norwegian Wood is comforting for those struggling to navigate our pandemic-ridden world, as it tentatively illustrates human resilience in an endearing and encouraging way. Turning the last page of a book doesn’t have to mark the end of your time spent with literature. Finding someone to discuss your reading with is an enjoyable way of connecting with like-minded people. Mulling over a striking paragraph or sequence of dialogue can be surprisingly illuminating. If you’re feeling adventurous, why not search for literary podcasts, audiobooks, or theatre adaptations? Before you know it, you’ll be halfway down the rabbit hole of literature, and books won’t seem so dull after all.

Image: Dave Photoz / Unsplash

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arts + lit

26 OCT 2020 |

EDITORS: Amelia Gregory and William Evans

RAMM reopening

Arts + Lit writers discuss their favourite exhibits at Exeter’s RAMM

OR several months of second-year, I volunteered at the RAMM museum helping eager young children and reluctant parents to try on African masks. If you’ve ever had to handle large numbers of young children, you’ll know that they can be both delightful and hellish, all in the space of two minutes. Like those low-budget horror movies that are so poorly made that they are great fun to watch, young kids exist in a strange superposition of good/

FOR IN HIS OWN ENCLAVE ON THE FAR WALL, SITS A GIANT RED STATUE OF THE BUDDHA

bad. In particularly bad moments, say for example when some three-year-old would try to eat the ceremonial Nigerian antelope mask, I would look to the other side of the gallery for inspiration and guidance. For in his own enclave on the far wall, sits a giant red lacquer statue of the Buddha. With one hand raised to call the earth to witness his enlightenment, his face a picture of serenity, he would always fill me with calm resolution. It is a beautiful piece of art; exquisitely carved, rich in colour, and distinctly human. Now that the RAMM is reopening, I encourage you to take a seat on the stool in front of him, to work, think or meditate. He is the museum’s greatest piece, and their greatest therapist. Richard Ainslie, Deputy Editor

N 24 October RAMM will be opening its doors again to the public. The museum is a cornerstone of cultural life in Exeter, and despite it keeping active over lockdown through projects such as RAMM Online, ‘Roaming with RAMM’ and Lockdown Legends, it will be special to enter the pink foyer and see the extensive collection once more in person. As a frequent visitor to, and volunteer at RAMM, it is hard to choose a specific favourite exhibit. Among my favourites is the ‘Ancient Worlds’ gallery, where within the Egyptian afterlife section there is the mummy, coffin and cartonage of Shep-en-Mut. Also, the ‘Making History’ collections on the ground floor are a wealth of local history, filled with so many artefacts, one is sure to catch your eye. And no

visit can be complete without a trip upstairs to see a RAMM staple, Gerald the Giraffe. While museums come under more scrutiny in wake of post-colonialist research and Black Lives Matter, a museum that emphasises the colonial past of its objects, and has recently announced that they will be returning the Crowfoot regalia to the Siksika nation as part of ongoing reparations, is one to support. Jo Leyland

NO VISIT CAN BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A TRIP TO SEE A RAMM STAPLE, GERALD THE GIRAFFE

What’s in a cover?

Livia Cockerall discusses the importance that book covers play in literature

MAGINE walking into a bookshop. Walking towards the shelf, looking up and seeing that every book looks the same – a blank cover with the title and author written in the same font. A wave of overwhelm strikes, where do you begin? The phrase goes “don’t judge a book by its cover”, but in a shop filled with so many books, what other option do you have? Obviously, in the modern world the internet offers a solu-

IMAGINE WALKING INTO A BOOK SHOP AND SEEING THAT EVERY BOOK LOOKS THE SAME

tion in its provision of descriptions and reviews, but when you are simply browsing for a new fictional venture, book covers become your signposts. The cover creates a sense of intrigue, it suggests the genre and themes of the story whether this be romance, fantasy or sci-fi. However, the purpose of a cover is not only to aid the reader, it is a form of commercial art with the intention to advertise and this is where

judging a book by its cover can cause a level of difficulty. Take Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby. The plethora of book cover designs I have seen for this novel is astonishing and each one offers an alternative angle from which the story is being sold. A romance, a political allegory of America, an account of the Roaring Twenties. Each cover attracts a different readership. In spite of its commercial nature, the cover of a book can hold great significance to the reader

Halloween reads

and what this book means to them. Roald Dahl books played a great role in my reading habits as a child, and I for one cannot think of these books without picturing Quentin Blake’s cover designs of Matilda sat on a stack of books or Charlie holding his golden ticket. For me, the cover of these books themselves offer as much nostalgia as the stories.

THE COVER CREATES A SENSE OF INTRIGUE, IT SUGGESTS THE GENRE AND THEMES OF THE STORY Image: Vincent Albanese / Flickr

Paige Insalaco gives us her book recommendations for this spooky season

EING the first opportunity in the year for some festivity, it’s no surprise that October is one of the highlights of the year for me. To help get that festive feeling even though Halloween will be looking different this year, I’ve collated a list of books perfect for Spooktober whether you’re looking for scary or cosy. Practical Magic - Alice Hoffman Although the movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman is often a Spooktober staple, I rarely hear anyone talking about the book. Practical Magic follows two magical sisters ostracised in their tiny New England community. Brought together by tragedy, the two sisters find themselves swept up in magic once again. For a wholesome magical story this October with strong familial elements, Practical Magic is perfect.

(TW) The Year of the Witching - Alexis Henderson The feminist story of the year! The Year of the Witching combines the mistrust of women with a deep exploration of religion to curate the perfect spooky read. The book definitely deals with some darker themes and there are instances of abuse, both physical and sexual, in this book so be wary of that, but the juxtaposition of dark magic against extreme religious devotion serves to make a comment on society whilst also getting you in that Halloween mood.

THE FEMINIST STORY OF THE YEAR! The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman For a more family friendly option, The Graveyard Book follows Nobody Owens ‘Bod’ as he’s raised by ghosts in a cemetery and

is led on a journey to save his home. For full immersion and cosy content, I particularly recommend the audiobook of this one.

IT’ S A BOOK CLUB ... THAT SLAYS VAMPIRES. NEED I SAY MORE? (TW) The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires - Grady Hendrix It’s a book club…that slays vampires. Need I say more? When a mysterious man moves into town, Patricia Campbell and her book club of bored housewives find themselves trying to get to the bottom of a mystery involving missing children. This book is pure horror and has trigger warnings so do be prepared for this one. Image: RachelBostwick pixabay.com

music

That's a WAP

Issy Murray, Online Science Editor, discusses female sexuality and the controversy surrounding 'WAP'

ARDI B and Megan Thee Stallion’s new smash hit ‘WAP’ (which, as Ben Shapiro so delicately puts it, stands for wet ass p-word) has had an undoubtedly polarising effect on people. Some have heralded the unashamedly explicit song and music video as an iconic moment of female empowerment; others have condemned it as unadulterated porn which should have no place in mainstream pop culture. But does it have to be either? The most acute response to the song, perhaps unsurprisingly, sprung from one specific group of people: men – more specifically still: conservative men. One Republican, James P. Bradley, who felt the need to clarify he had heard the song “accidentally”, took to Twitter to voice his complaints. He wrote: “Cardi B & Megan Thee Stallion are what happens when children are raised without God and without a strong father figure.” While this may at first glance

just seem like a wild aspersion, it raises a troubling hypocrisy which is being overlooked. Bradley’s comment suggests that a lack of male presence in Cardi and Megan’s lives has led them down a road of expressing their sexuality openly, but if we look at the music industry we can see endless amounts of male artists who use female sexuality explicitly in their work – far too many, in fact, to even begin to list here. This makes clear that certain men are only comfortable with female sexuality when it remains under their power and exists for their advantage, while raising questions about why no male artists seem to face the same repercussions for referring to topics like this in their music. It appears that when women refer to their own bodies, it’s horrifying to some because it threatens to expose how uncomfortable or unfamiliar they are with the realities of feminine sensuality. Shapiro needed no help in supporting this concept as he admitted his wife, who is a doctor, says that having a wet vagina is a medical condition. If females represent their bodies differently to men, the risk is that some of the masculine power in shaming and labelling women as "whores" will be dislodged. Conservative men aren’t the only ones who have fallen into the exhaustingly expected trap of policing female sexuality though. Adding to the tone-deaf reactions to ‘WAP’ was Russell Brand. Brand published a video entitled ‘WAP: Feminist Masterpiece or Porn?' in which he rules “Is it equality if the template has been established by the former dominator? The answer is no.” The inadequacy of this statement is manifold. Leaving the fact Brand isn’t exactly qualified to rule on what is

or is not feminism aside, the suggestion that making female sexuality explicit is a “template” (also implying there is not infinite variety within this category) is to suggest that there is no difference between female and male presentations of female sexuality. It is to reduce female pleasure to a myth, forged by men, and ignore the fact that it’s a reality that women are allowed to own and express in whichever way they please. Brand is quick to adhere to the notion that female sexuality is some-

EVERYTHING WOMEN SEEM TO PRODUCE HAS TO BE UNPICKED AND CRITICISED thing entirely subject to male perspectives. It is also a problematic response in its reduction of female art such as ‘WAP’ to one of only two categories: feminist masterpiece or porn, notably contrasting the two, whilst not allowing for any overlap. Why is it that female art is always subject to this sort of line of questioning? Everything women seem to produce has to be unpicked, overanalysed, criticised, and defended with such vigour that the entertainment that each piece may have had the ability to bring is destroyed. Why can’t we leave ‘WAP’ at what it is superficially - an upbeat song with a refreshingly open attitude towards sexuality? The answer to this lies in the same shifting of blame that exists in the interrogation of victims of sexual harassment and assault, the question "what was she wearing?" springs to mind. Women

are constantly held under the thick lens of scrutiny and unfairly held accountable for their sexualisation, whether this was intended (as in the instance of ‘WAP’) or not (as in the instance of assault). While some men are taught it’s acceptable for them to be as sexually open as they want, making their desires known even in aggressive ways like catcalling, women are taught to hide theirs. On top of this, it’s often ignored that sexualisation requires a sexualising gaze. In other words, no one is able to sexualise themselves without another being willing to view the first in a sexual way. Although ‘WAP’ is perhaps more complicated than the simple labels it’s currently being burdened with, it has sparked a lot of debate among the public which might lead to female sexuality being a better understood and more widely accepted topic, rather than its current status as a taboo. Hopefully, in the future women will be

A brief history of Black artists

Below, left to right: Atlantic, World-Telegram staff photographer, A. Vente, Yves Lorson, InShappoWeTrust

Exeposé Music celebrate the lives and legacies of some of the most important Black artists and musicians Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential figures in jazz as we know it. Armstrong not only revived mainstream jazz, but he famously cancelled a musical tour on behalf of the State Department in protest of treatment of Black people in the South. His cultural impact can also be found in the Harlem Renaissance.

Aretha Franklin, known as the "Queen of Soul", changed the soundscape of the United States with her mezzo-soprano voice. But she was also a prominent Civil Rights activist, whose music soundtracked the Civil Rights

Jimi Hendrix was the first musician to use phasing effects in his recording, he “pioneered the use of the instrument as an electronic sound source.” As the world’s highest-paid performer, he headlined 1969’s Woodstock Festival. In the words of Chuck Philips, “his achievement was to reclaim title to a musical form pioneered by Black innovators.”

Named for an indigenous Peruvian revolutionary by parents who were active in the Black Panther Party, Tupac Amaru Shakur was perhaps destined to be a leader. He also spent time with his local Young Communist League, and his social conscious permeates his lyrics. Black Power is evident in ‘White Manz World’: “Help me raise my Black nation, reparations are due”.

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EDITORS: Bridie Adams and Oliver Leader de Saxe

music

26 OCT 2020

How Cavern's coping Oliver Leader de Saxe, Music Editor, interviews the manager of Cavern about the pandemic's impact on small venues.

N the midst of the pandemic, live music venues have been hit hard. I asked Dave Goodchild, the manager of Cavern, to shed some light on what this means for one of Exeter's favourite venues. Oliver Leader de Saxe: Could you tell us about yourself and about Cavern’s history? I first started putting on shows in Exeter when I was doing my Fine Art degree, in the mid-80s. We were in bands, and there was a huge cultural vacuum in the city at that time. Our idea was to bring bands to Exeter from around the world and we had great shows. We started doing shows in the Cavern in 1991 and have since put on tens of thousands of bands like The Gossip, Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, Muse, Biffy Clyro, The 1975, George Ezra, Bastille, etc. OLdS: What were some of the biggest administrative and financial impacts that the sudden change created by the pandemic brought? Like for everyone else, lockdown was a bit of a culture shock, but funnily enough we experienced something very similar in 2016, when the Cavern burnt to the ground in Fresher's Week so maybe the psychological impact Image: Derek Harper wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Financially, our biggest problem was rent - £1,200 a week. We did what we could to raise money through fun-

draising and merchandise. I'm glad we managed to hold things together. Many businesses haven't been able to. OLdS: Can you tell us a bit about the Save Our Venues campaign and the Independent Music Venues Trust? The Save Our Venues campaign coordinated our Crowd Funder, including providing the Save Our Venues T-shirts. This was the work of Mark Davyd, Beverley Whittrick and Clara Cullen (who used to come down the Cavern a lot a few years back). One of the greatest results they’ve had is getting small venues their share of the Culture Recovery Fund. OLdS: Do you think Cavern’s temporary closure impacted artists, musicians and those involved in the industry in Exeter? I think there could be a long-term impact for cultural workers, but not just because of the Cavern’s closure. The problem is that everything has closed so any selfemployed workers (including technicians and artists, as well as

musicians and actors) have really struggled. I think a few months out of action might have been okay, but now it looks like it's going to be more like a year. This will have a detrimental effect on people currently working in this area. Long-term though, if we bleed to death, new people will eventually take over. This is how we started the Cavern after the financial collapse in the 90s. OLdS: How have things been working since Cavern reopened as a bar? Frankly, the bar is just a way to open for a few days and give people work. It’s not something we want to do long-term. We’re a live music venue, and that’s all we really want to do. I don’t know anything about real ales and cocktails, all of that, and Pippa who runs the venue with me, she’s never even had a drink so she’s even worse than me. OLdS: With Unit 1, Fever and Timepiece reopening in a limited capacity, are there any plans to bring back club nights or DJs for socially distanced, sit-down nights out? We are going to hunker down until restrictions are lifted. I hate the idea of socially distanced shows - it's almost an oxymoron to me, and I believe any short-term advantage we might get from thirty people sitting down watching a band playing under 85 decibels would be negated by long-term damage to new audiences’ impressions of what constitutes a live show. I think there will be no proper shows or club nights until March/April to be honest. Also, there is a killer virus out there, and I certainly don’t want to be responsible for killing a load of people just because I can’t wait to put on bands for a few months. OLdS: Do you think there’s any truth to Rishi Sunak’s suggestion that musicians and

other artists should consider retraining and getting different jobs due to the pandemic, or is this just a case of another politician making light of artists and their work? Some bands and artists have always had a day job, that’s where the phrase "don’t give up the day job" comes from! But if working in the cultural industry is your profession then it would be crazy to consider re-training. Better to sign on for a few months and wait for things to start up properly again. Regarding the politics of it, I think art and music is always an easy target because of the way the general public perceive it. They take for granted where the imagery that surrounds them comes from. Think about it: the first thing you hear from your parents when you do an arts degree is “but are there any jobs at the end of it?” They don’t get that everything that makes up their environment has been constructed by artists of one kind or another. OLdS: What do you think the future looks like for venues and the hospitality sector as a whole? Firstly, I believe the really late licenses will never come back. I think the police will argue that alcohol related crime has dropped off the scale since bars have had to close early, and then suggest 1am closing. I think that the 10pm curfew we’ve currently got is as much about social control than COVID numbers they don’t want to pour alcohol down the throats of people who are already agitated and angry. As I said, I also believe the "old guard" of the hospitality sector, like me, might be killed off by the economic aftermath of coronavirus. This will clear the way for a new generation to take over, so it won’t be like there is no culture, just something different.

Best night out: Unit 1 or Timepiece? Exeposé Music Writers defend their favourite clubs in Exeter.

Y attachment to Unit 1 is, I freely admit, mostly sentimental, as it was there that my university experience truly began - it hosted my first night out of Freshers’ Week, where I set a strong precedent by getting outlandishly drunk and making friends with a lot of people I never saw again. I’ll freely admit that most of the criticisms levelled at it are undoubtedly true - the music is cheesy, the dancefloor is too small and the toilets are an as yet unidentified circle of hell. Yet despite all of this, it has a certain charm to it- I spent many nights there with my friends in first year, and I’ve come to cherish those memo-

ries ever since our viral purgatory began in March. As for the music, I won’t pretend to like the ABBA or the Disney, but on the nights when the DJ gets the right idea and throws on the '70s and '80s stuff, you know you’re in for a great night. Especially if you've had enough to drink, Unit 1 can offer a memorable night out for anyone who has a weakness for throwback hits and the cheesiest tracks out there. Timepiece might offer a bit more variation music-wise, but you really can't go wrong with a classic trip to Unit. Isaac Bettridge, Comment Editor

HEN it comes to music, the clue is in the name with Unit 1. There is one room, and one genre of music each night. In order to escape that High School Musical song at the end of Cheesies, or the overplayed DnB remixes during a Quids In, your only option is waiting it out in the smoking area. Timepiece, however, serves up options. Out on a Wednesday night and you want to hear 'WAP'? Head to bottom floor, where you don’t even have to pay for the pleasure of dancing sweatily to the current chart bops. Perhaps you’re more interested

in some throwback bangers to accompany your three tropical VKs. Check out the middle floor, with its range of tunes from indie to house and everything in between. Then, the cherry on the three-tiered cake: Top-top. Hip-Hop, Grime, Rap and RnB soundtrack the crowd of sports societies in their ones and die-hard TP fans wrestling for drinks at the tiny bar. The stairs may be lethal, but the musical range of Timepiece comes out trumps when compared to the limits of Unit 1. Katie Fox

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Fall favourites

Exeposé Screen writers discuss their favoruite TV shows to dive into this autumn

S the nights grow colder, deadlines dare to loom and the great central heating debate gets, well, heated, nothing is more needed than a new season of The Great British Bake Off. It shouldn’t be so addictive. Noel Fielding hasn’t eaten a carb since the ‘90s, Prue Leith’s sexual innuendos are stomach-turning, and the move to Channel Four still makes me uncomfortable. The show should be boring, and yet, there is something joyous about seeing grown men cry over soggy bottoms. It doesn’t matter that the last time you baked a cake you set the fire-alarm off or that you’ve never heard of a Paris-Brest, once a week we’re all allowed to escape into a world of kind-spirited jokes, pastel workbenches and genuinely nice people. It may not be revolutionary TV, but Bake-off is like a warm, familiar hug, and on a cold, dark winter day, I wouldn’t want anything else. Georigia Balmer

Great british bake off

FANTASTIC season of black comedy and satire that not only continues to mock the superhero genre but moves it’s target even further to America as a nation. The Boys Season two, provides at once tremendous acting from all it’s cast (Anthony Starr as the psychotic Homelander being the true scene stealer), as well as a fascinating inspection of populism and race within America. The inclusion of the character of Stormfront in particular providing the show with both new levels of nuance as well as Tarantino-style gore. The Boys is so unique in its frantic and zany tone that I would wholeheartedly recommend it to both those who are sick of seeing a superhero film in the cinema every month as well as those who adore caped crusaders, as it provides both laughs and chills in its depiction of a world propounded by “superheroes” who aren’t as heroic as they first seem. Archie Lockyer

THE bOYS

ESPITE n o t being remotely American, every year in the run up to 31 October my Nana appears at our doorstep with a pumpkin and the video edition of It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! We never carve the pumpkin like a regular family, but make delicious thick soup and then settle in front of the TV with steaming bowls. The opening strains of the “Peanuts” theme tune immediately plunge you into the widely beloved universe of Charlie Brown and Lucy. We chortle at the time-honoured tradition of Snoopy versus the Red Baron; Lucy enticing Charlie to kick the football (“C’mon, I’ll hold the ball and you’ll kick it.”) only to see him fly into the air when she pulls it away yet again. We smile ruefully as the programme shrinks into a pinpoint, Linus vowing that the Great Pumpkin will visit his patch next year. Perhaps one year it will, but until then I will keep watching. Tabitha Hannam

ITH tighter COVID restrictions and the chill of Winter looming, Netflix’s new series, Emily in Paris, promptly breezes in, ready to inject frivolous fun back into our lives. Ten short episodes follow the titular Emily (energetically played by Lily Collins) on her mission to bring an American perspective to a luxury marketing firm in Paris. With relatively low stakes and formulaic dialogue, there is little in the way of substance. Instead the show chooses to cram in as many French clichés, suitors and pastries as possible. But sometimes that’s just what the moment calls for. The series is much like the croissant Emily picks up in episode one, what with its indulgent scenery, flaky plotline and ability to fulfil all of your jetset cravings. So if you’re up for letting your brain switch to auto-pilot for a while as you take in an idealistic Parisian skyline, you are sure to have a fabulous time! Available now on Netflix! Sophie Wingrove

Emily in PARIS

Gilmore Guys

it’s the great pumpkin charlie brown

Images top to bottom: Leaves- AnnalizeArt, Pixabay, The BoysIMDb, Emily in Paris- IMDb, Charlie Brown- IMDb, Cake- Karly Gomez, Unsplash, Gilmore Girls images- IMDb

On the twentieth anniversary of Gilmore Girls Exeposé Screen writers debate which boyfriend is best

ATCHING the show at thirteen I was a die-hard Jess fanatic. I felt he was perfect for Rory with every fibre of my being. However, after rewatching the show it has become clear that my mission in life is to guide the ill-informed masses. The only person Rory should be sharing obscene amounts of Chinese food with is Logan Huntzberger. I understand the hate. Logan represents everything Lorelai tried to protect Rory from. He is a spoilt trust fund baby with a disregard for others and confidence that most would describe as cocky. However, with the hindsight of age and wisdom, it’s painfully clear that this description fits Rory too. Where they differ, is Logan’s self-awareness. He knows who he is, and was never anything but completely honest about it. Whilst sweet labrador Dean whined about having to stay loyal to his wife and sensitive, compassionate Jess didn’t have the emotional maturity to communicate his feelings, Logan gave Rory exactly what he promised. Logan held Rory accountable to her privilege, whilst giving her the courage to break free from the strict life plan she set herself. Logan knew who Rory was before she did, and unlike the others, he allowed her to be it. That is why Logan was Rory’s perfect match. Georgia Balmer

LOGAN

ESS Mariano, the leather jacket wearing rebel with a permanent book in his back pocket, is the only one for Rory Gilmore. Rory and Jess both go through so much over the course of the show, with various parallels woven into the character’s stories. Of course, Jess hasn’t always been perfect, none of the men Rory dated have been. Then again, Rory hasn’t been. However, through it all and despite the mistakes, they both managed to grow as people. Rory believed in Jess when no one else would and Jess was the only one to get through to Rory about Yale when no one else could. To quote Lorelai, “That doesn’t mean nothing. That means something.” They both helped each other at multiple points including when Jess wrote a book, having finally worked on himself enough to be the person Rory always knew he could be. Then, when he returned in the revival he encouraged Rory to write a book of her own. They encourage one another and despite everything are always there to help the other grow. That is why it is no surprise that even the showrunner decided to heavily hint that these two were meant to be, setting up a full circle narrative with Logan as Christopher and Jess as Luke in the revival A Year in the Life.

JESS

Sofia Fahrion

HEN my friends ask me the critical question of which Gilmore Girls team I support, I’m usually faced with the response of “Ew?” and “Why?” when I reply Dean. The most severely underrated of Rory’s boyfriends, I am here to tell you why team Dean Forester (yes, he does have a last name) is the way forward. First and foremost, was Dean not just the perfect first boyfriend? Does no one remember when he accompanied Rory to her cotillion, despite having to wear those atrocious white gloves? What about how happy he was to relax with Lorelai? There aren’t many 16-year-old boys that enjoy eating pizza and having movie night with their girlfriend’s mums. Let’s not forget how hard Dean grinded at Doose’s Market? Not many of us could put up with a boss as irritating as Taylor. I know what you may be thinking, ‘Dean cheated on his wife with Rory!’, but so did Logan! As a wise woman once said, ‘Everybody makes mistakes.’ I’ll say it once and I’ll say it again, Dean Forrester was not only the perfect first love but the perfect forever man for Rory Gilmore.

DEAN

Anna Craig

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EDITORS: Olivia Garrett and Francesca Sylph

Creepy clichés

26 OCT 2020

Amber Hogan criticises current clichés and troublesome tropes in the horror genre

HE horror genre is saturated with tropes. lainy with gender nonconformity. Not sure These familiar little patterns and how to convey corruption or wrongreoccurring themes seem ness? Well, the Hollywood fix-it was to make up the bulk of plots at to unleash onto its favourite evil times, and although that isn’t playing ground: a trans body. necessarily a good or bad Then there were the racially thing, there is certainty an motivated tropes. The cliché added element of inevitaaboriginal “Medicine Man” bility that leads plots down with insight to evil that shocks cliché roads. Over time, Holthe cast, or the haunted Indian lywood horror movies have burial ground that villainises reflected the current fears and the slaughtered minorities, not prejudices of its audiences, and this the ones that killed them. NonImage: IMDb has resulted in some unpleasant tropes Western religions and spiritual practices that modern audiences would, and do, take iswere clumped together under the notion of sue with. ‘evil voodoo,’ a motivation for curses and sacFor example, the vilification of gender rifices in a blatant racist pattern. nonconforming bodies. Back before gender expression was a mainstream discourse, there ITS AIMLESS INCLUSION was a notion that if a mind was perverted, the AS AN EXTRA FACET OF best way to manifest this physically and scare your audience was to pair it with a nonconEVIL IS EXPLOITATIVE forming body. Thanks to movies such as Psycho, Silence of the Lambs and Sleepaway Camp, Dating back to the Production Code, there was a distressing trend of aligning vilwomen are often killed in horror for having

(and possibly even daring to enjoy) sexual relations. There is still a preoccupation with killing women when they’re nude because that seems to be the only female state of vulnerability that Hollywood could come up with without daring to properly humanise their female victims. Misogynistic tropes have carried themselves forward into modern film clichés, and perhaps one of the most unsettling examples is the common exploitation of rape on screen. This doesn’t just affect female characters; male assault is played off as “Don’t Drop the Soap” prison jokes. For the female “final girl”, sexual assault is an inevitable suffering she must experience to prove she has really been put through it. That or it’s a plot device (see Irreversible, a movie driven by a graphic 10-minute rape scene). Don’t Breathe started off atmospheric and promising, and then they threw sexual violence in there because…? Yes, sexual violence will undoubtedly elicit a response from the audience, but its aimless inclusion as an extra facet of evil is exploitative. Another current cliché is mental illness as an evil trait. Split, for example, using multiple

personality disorder as the villainous backbone. Are we to think that if only Kevin was a “normal” minded man, then he wouldn’t be so evil? The line between scary and tragic is traipsed over with a shocking absence of empathy.

AN ALMOST INVASIVE UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR AUDIENCE IS PART OF WHAT MAKES GREAT HORROR A proper fear-inducing movie does not rely on human tragedy to elicit emotion. Instead, it uses cinematic techniques and skills. When horror cinema reflects true fears and anxieties, they are often ones that audiences didn’t know they had until they were confronted with it. The Babadook, Parasite, Coraline… these films don’t use cheap exploitation tactics, but show an almost invasive understanding of their audience, and that’s part of what makes for great horror.

Horror heroines: “hell is a teenage girl” Francesca Sylph, Screen Editor, discusses her favourite leading ladies in horror

POOKY season is upon us and there is cause they look good in eyeliner. nothing scarier than a teenage girl, espeFrom one man-eater (and I mean that litcially a recently possessed high school erally) to another, my second favourite female cheerleader who specialises in killing her cannibal (yes, there is a list) has to be Justine male classmates (although, to quote from Raw. Julia Ducournau’s directorial said smirking succubus: “I go both debut follows Justine, a 16-yearways”). Jennifer Check is evil, old vet student and vegetarian, not just “high school evil” as she attempts to navigate but genuinely evil (even beher unconventional coming fore the whole, you know, of age. During some inkilling boys thing). While tense hazing rituals, Justine some may see Jennifer’s is forced to eat raw meat Body as a trashy experifor the first time, resulting ment in horror-comedy, I in an all-consuming craving see it as nothing less than a for human flesh. Despite the cinematic masterpiece. Truly, deeply disturbing and gruewhere is Megan Fox’s Oscar? She some gore, Raw is the profoundly Image: IMDb deserves it solely for her deadpan delivpersonal story of a teenage girl coming ery of “I don’t like boxing movies” in response into herself and her sexuality. All Justine wants to a Rocky Horror Picture Show invitation. This (in addition to some raw flesh, of course) is film is potentially the most quotable movie to be loved, understood and accepted. Now, of all time (sorry, Mean Girls). If Jennifer’s Body I know this year’s freshers experience wasn’t taught me anything, it’s to never trust a guy too great, but at least you weren’t forced to in an indie band. Yes, they might not all be eat a raw rabbit kidney which turned you into Satanists, but that doesn’t mean you should a cannibal. Things could always be worse! follow them on a cross-country tour just bePark Chan-wook is a twisted genius and

his leading ladies are always to-die-for touching on Winona Ryder’s most iconic (again, I mean that literally). His role: Veronica Sawyer. The 1980s English-language debut Stoker cult classic Heathers is the perfect follows India (Mia Wasikowska) mix of dark comedy, teenage after the death of her father. angst, iconic fashion and the When her mysterious Uncle occasional murder. In order to Charlie, who she never knew escape the toxic trio of Heathexisted, comes to live with er’s (Duke, McNamara and her and her unstable mother Chandler) that is destroying her (Nicole Kidman), India becomes good-girl reputation, Veronica increasingly infatuated with the Sawyer teams up with the socioImage: IMDb charming stranger. As she begins to pathic new kid in order to kill their popususpect him of ulterior motives, she simullar classmates. Heathers has some of the most taneously comes to accept the insanity that quotable lines in cinematic history, from “Well, runs deep in her own blood. There is somefuck me gently with a chainsaw. Do I look like thing incredibly therapeutic about watching Mother Teresa?” to “Chaos is what killed the a young woman go insane and take revenge dinosaurs, darling.” While the musical spin-off on a creepy older man. If you’re looking for the will always have a place in my heart (‘Candy perfect “She Did That!” moment, then look no Store’ is constantly stuck in my head), it’s the further. It’s like Gone Girl but for goths. 1988 film that I find myself returning to every October. Spooky season doesn’t really begin until I’m wrapped up in a blanket with a IT’S LIKE GONE GIRL steaming mug of tea hearing Winona Ryder BUT FOR GOTHS confess: “Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit Greeting and salutations! There is no way now has a body count.” I could talk about “horror heroines” without

Screen EDITORS’ PICKS: Halloween edition OLIVIA GARRETT

Francesca Sylph

OLIVIA Gomez

Print Editor

Online Editor

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Thoroughbreds (2017)

The Blair Witch Project (1999)

Us (2019)

“What else could it be for all the horror lightweights out there? Perfectly cast, wacky fun wit, all topped off with an unmatchale musical number by Bette Midler.”

“What is scarier than suburban Connecticut? Probably privileged teenage girls with a penchant for murder. A sickeningly fun time that is destined for cult classic status.”

“A cult classic, in my opinion. As the first film to popularise the mix of documentary and horror genres, it is equal parts psychological and supernatural horror.”

jim norman “Jordan Peele proves that he is one of the best directors working today. Wholly chilling with a brilliant ending, Us is one of those rare horror gems that gets better with every watch.”

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EDITORS: Olivia Garrett and Francesca Sylph

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BHM: essential documentaries

13TH

Emma Newson

HE National G e o g r a p h i c documentary LA 92 depicts how on the 3rd of March 1991, unarmed Rodney King was pulled over and hit fifty-six times by four white police officers. Unlike the other fifty-five reports of police brutality that week in LA, this was caught on video. Despite this, in April 1992 the four officers were found ‘not guilty’. On 16 March fifteen-year-old Latasha Harlins was shot dead by a store clerk; the murder of a Black child only punishable by a small fine and community service. As a result, South Central LA tore itself apart in anguish, five days of America’s worst rioting ensued. The film focuses on the persistent injustice for the Black community and the brutality they endure under the systems which are supposed to protect them. The film shows the fallout of this anger, the insanity of the riots and its complete destruction. It asks difficult questions about the nature of law enforcement and justice in the Black community, and subsequently the explosive anger at its continuous misuse; the film refers to the 1965 Watts riots at the beginning and end of this film and establishes the infinity of these themes in America. A powerful and poignant documentary that leaves you asking: “What shall it avail our nation if we can place a man on the moon, but cannot cure the sickness in our cities?”

la 92

BLACK FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT: LADJ LY

HILST critics the around the world are now aware of the endless directorial talent of French filmmaker Ladj Ly, wider audiences, particularly those outside of the francophone sphere, have yet to truly appreciate the raw intensity of his oeuvre. This justified attention came after his debut feature film, Les Misérables (2019), which scooped up the Jury Prize at Cannes, and an Oscar nomination for Best International Feature Film in the same year. Starting his career making short films and documentaries in and around his neighbourhood, Montfermeil, he developed a reputation for wielding his camera like a weapon against the oppression and police brutality that pervaded the banlieues of Paris. These experiences can be explicitly seen in Les Misérables, as he weaves together moments from his life which simultaneously feel too painful to be real, and yet can be seen reflected in newsreels from all over the world to this day. Whilst the film has no central protagonist, moving between the viewpoints of the police, the local government and the area’s children, it is clear from the outset that Ladj Ly wishes for the audience to side with the disenfranchised youth. Les Misérables is also unique in Ly’s choice to have first-time actors from the area play the youth roles, adding to the sense that the film was a passion project for the district as a whole; an element which shines through in many of the performances. The power of Ladj Ly as a writer and director can be summed up with the knowledge that this was the film which compelled President Macron to sit up and take action to improve the lives of the citizens of Montfermeil. And like the Hugo classic from which the film takes its name, Ly’s work strives to prove to a global audience that for many, the misery of the past never left. Victoria Mann Image : Hayat Life

A history of Black British cinema

Exeposé Screen Writers write about two documentaries that capture the importance of Black History Month

N the wake of the George Floyd movement and with Black History Month now upon us, it has become more important than ever to educate, discuss and take action on the racial inequality that still permeates every level of society. The incendiary Netflix documentary 13th, directed by Ava Duvernay, does just this; offering a brutal analysis of race and the criminal justice system in the US. The film focuses on the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865 and its subsequent loophole converting slavery from a legal business model into an equally legal method of punishing criminals. Scholars, activists and politicians alike examine the link between the abolition of slavery and mass incarceration. 13th thus takes us on a journey from the re-imprisonment of newly emancipated slaves, through segregation and Reagan’s ‘War on Drugs’, to arrive at the exploitation by businesses of cheap prison labour. Punctuated with disturbing black and white footage of mobs of white men attacking African Americans and ending with iPhone videos caught of police brutality, the documentary is brought chillingly up to date. A savage awakening to the discrimination still present, this film is one of the most important watches of this month.

26 OCT 2020

Niamh Walsh looks back at the history of Black British cinema

S the majority of us are already incredibly aware, there is a significant absence of Black presence on-screen. Whether that’s behind the camera or front and centre, the film industry has notably excluded and minimised Blackness. Stories of the Black experience are reduced to white saviour narratives about slavery, or the tiresome battle for civil rights - with a lack of focus on anything in between. Whilst the film industry is working towards change, it is still a prominent issue that Black British voices are not being heard. And so, in honour of Black History Month (and just generally because I believe they’re all fantastic films that should be watched) in this article I’m going to share with you my top four Black British films within the last 50 years.

STORIES OF THE BLACK EXPERIENCE ARE REDUCED TO WHITE SAVIOUR NARRATIVES

Beginning with the film that catapulted Black British cinema into the mainstream as well as being the first ever feature film to be directed by a black director in the UK, Pressure (1976) focused on the story of a teenager who leaves school with good qualifications but struggles to find a job. The film is a subtle commentary on how prominent the roles of racism and classism play in British society, presenting a much more relatable image of the Black experience for Black British people in ‘70s England. Second on the list is Burning an Illusion (1981). The film was directed by Menelik Shabazz, often dubbed the Godfather of Black British film, and centres on a young Britishborn Black woman. This London-based film was one of the first with a Black woman as the leading character and was a refreshing and reanimating tale of the search for female autonomy that was not defined by race but as a working woman navigating a new relationship. The next film is probably the most wellknown on the list due to its unusual setting for the story taking place. Belle (2013), directed by Amma Asante, combines the typical British Jane Austen-esque period piece with British colonialism; exploring its impacts

through the story of a Black mixed-raced woman living in an aristocratic home. Inspired by the first European painting to depict a Black subject on an equal eyeline to a white subject, this is a fabulous film that examines the history of British colonialism through the eyes of a mixed-race woman. Finally, the most recent film on this list: A Moving Image (2016) - directed by the talented Shola Amoo - is an award-winning film about gentrification in Brixton, that incorporates fiction and documentary. The story follows Nina, a young artist returning to her community after a long absence. She is soon confronted by how much London has changed and chooses to make art to respond to the gentrification of Brixton. Her exploration leads her to discuss how her and her friends may be complicit in this cultural change. The film is an honest investigation of this current debate and, growing up and being from South London myself, it was an interesting and provoking watch.

A REFRESHING AND REANIMATING TALE OF THE SEARCH FOR FEMALE AUTONOMY THAT WAS NOT DEFINED BY RACE

Hopefully in the years to come, British cinema will continue to offer more opportunities to Black directors, writers, actors etc. so more films can be produced that provide British audiences the chance to explore stories of migration, community and the struggle against inequality – but also an opportunity to celebrate vivid Black British life and culture on screen. Images: IMDb

study break

| 26 OCT 2020

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STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

Across

1 4 8 9 10 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 24 25

SUDOKU

Down

Leave out (4) 2 Citrus fruit preserve (9) Hear aged (anagram) - hats or caps, say (8) 3 This evening (7) Unbroken mustang - nor cob (anagram) (6) 4 Powerful weapon (1-4) Tricky question (6) 5 Entice - draw (7) Branch of mathematics (7) 6 Turf - informant (slang) (5) Sharp-tasting (4) 7 Cutting tool (3) Portable computer (6) 12 Restless - tent duels (anagram) (9) Desire for drink (6) 14 Ferocious South American fish (7) Relish - enthusiasm (4) 16 Slanted letters (7) In good spirits - at drain (anagram) (7) 18 Browned bread (5) Get - acquire (6) 20 Garden plant - ID, say? (anagram) (5) Frozen spike of water (6) 22 Cricketer’s club (3) Sculpture - trusty AA (anagram) (8) Fizzy water (4)

Trivia corner - Halloween

1. Which halloween radio drama caused mass panic in 1938? 2. What was bram stoker’s original name for dracula? 3. phasmophobia is a fear of what? 4. who directed the classic slasher movie halloween?

ANSWERS

5. Which famous magician died on halloween? Carpenter 5. Harry Houdini 6. Halloween!

6. according to the film’s director, is the nightmare before christmas a christmas or halloween film?

Trivia: 1. War of the worlds 2. Count Wampyr 3. Ghosts 4. John Axe, 12 Unsettled, 14 Piranha, 16 Italics, 18 Toast, 20 Daisy, 22 Bat. Down: 2 Marmalade, 3 Tonight, 4 H-bomb, 5 Attract, 6 Grass, 7 24 Statuary, 25 Soda. Sour, 13 Laptop, 15 Thirst, 17 Zest, 19 Radiant, 21 Obtain, 23 Icicle, Across: 1 Omit, 4 Headgear, 8 Bronco, 9 Teaser, 10 Algebra, 11

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Science

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

Celebrating Black scientists

SCIENCE EDITORS: ISABEL MURRAY VINCENT PLANT

Exeposé Science writers explore Black heroes and heroines in the field of science

ANY historical scientific contributions by Black people remain unheard of, or greatly underrepresented. In terms of evolutionary biology, one of the most prominent cases of this is John Edmonstone, a formerly enslaved man who taught Charles Darwin taxidermy. Why is this such a big deal? Darwin used taxidermy to preserve the birds he captured on the Galapagos

Islands in the 1830s, which later inspired him to propose the theory of natural selection – the basis of evolution. Little has been recorded about John Edmonstone’s life. He was likely born in French Guyana, South America, where he was enslaved on a timber plantation owned by Charles Edmonstone. While he was here, a friend of Charles’ taught him how to preserve bird skins. In 1817, he travelled to Scotland with Charles, where slaves were banned. He would have instantly become a free man on

NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON

WAS once, while visiting Venice, queuing for a back-alley opera, which is exactly as weird as it sounds. Essentially, men in tight pants and women being squeezed in two by a corset sing loud opera at you in a room the size of an average student kitchen. While the opera disappointed, the audience

crossing the border. By 1824, he was using his taxidermy skills to work for the University of Edinburgh’s zoological museum. The following year, he met Darwin, who at that time was about to quit studying medicine. Darwin wrote of John; “[He] gained his livelihood by stuffing birds, which he did excellently… and I used often to sit with him, for he was a very pleasant and intelligent man.” Due to Darwin’s passion for nature, it is believed the two discussed the natural history of South America, of which John knew about first-hand.

The effects of this on young Darwin can only be speculated. John’s stories of South America must have been inspiring. Additionally, it is known that Darwin held clear abolitionist views – were his interactions with John the root of this? John Edmonstone’s story has started to spread, and I hope that this, along with stories of other historical Black people’s contributions to science, inspire more to be uncovered.

did not. In front of me in the queue was Neil deGrasse Tyson – TV host, director of the Hayden planetarium, and world-renowned populariser of science. Tyson has spread the scientific word further than any other, from series on National Geographic, all the way to the Hot Ones YouTube channel, and a feature on The Big Bang Theory. He talks about science the way Joey Tribbiani talks about sandwiches:

with all consuming passion and deep devotion. Even the most sceptical arts student would want to know more about neutron stars after hearing him speak. That night in Venice, he talked with me about dark matter, relativity and the possibility of quantum gravity. As I was about to go to uni to study physics, it was like guidance counselling from God himself. And in a field where the work of Black scientists of-

came the first Black woman in space, orbiting the Earth for a total of eight days. She is truly a master of trade in many fields, not just that of science. In honour of her many lifetime achievements, Jemison was awarded a range of accolades, which included several honorary doctorates. While it is important to celebrate the ground-breaking achievements of Black people in science

both past and present, it is also important to remember that the lack of diversity in science is a result of more than just under reporting. Following the historic flight, Jemison noted that society should recognise how much women and members of all minority groups can contribute when given the opportunities.

Rebekah White

Image: Bruce F Press

MAE CAROL JEMISON

AE Carol Jemison is most notably recognised for being the first Black woman to travel into space. Jemison, born in 1956, is an American engineer, physician and astronaut. Upon completion of her Chemical Engineering degree at the University of Stanford, she went on to study

Medicine at Cornell. But Jemison didn’t stop here. She went on to spend two years with the Peace Corps in Sierra Leone and Liberia as a medical officer. Once again, Jemison sought her next challenge. Following her return to the US she decided on a career change and joined the NASA astronaut training program. On 12 September 1992, Mae Carol Jemison, aboard the Endeavour on mission STS47, be-

ten goes unappreciated and unnoticed, his voice is one of the loudest and most familiar. He has reached the top of his field, and achieved both academic and viral fame, off the back of skill, ceaseless enthusiasm, and hard work, making him an inspiration for budding scientists everywhere. But especially for young Black scientists, who now know that success in science is open to all. Richard Ainslie, Deputy Editor

Kamila Bell, Editor

Is being first really the best?

Image: Pritchett, Robert Taylor

Image: NASA

JOHN EDMONSTONE

Isabel Murray, Online Science Editor, discusses why racing for first place is a key aspect of science

EIL Armstrong’s inspiring quote “one giant leap for mankind” may be famous, but it overlooks that the moon landing was not just an achievement for the entire human race, but a more specific accomplishment for America. This highlights a trend in national scientific progress: that it is propelled by a need to be the first, the best, and the brightest. The instance of the Apollo programme demonstrates how political pressures can influence and accelerate scientific innovations. The contemporary rivalry of the Cold War resulted in a fierce competition between the US and the Soviet Union, which pushed the two countries to enter a technological one-up-

manship. This was particularly noticeable in the example of the space race. Though the Soviet Union initially seemed ahead of the US, being the first to send respectively a satellite, a dog, and then a human into space, it was the US who managed to plant their flag on the moon’s surface. This isn’t the only occasion that politics and the drive to be dominant has proven to precipitate key scientific revolutions. This same motivation can be found in such projects as Alan Turing’s Enigma machine, or any race for arms like the current nuclear weapons crisis (again the Cold War had a role to play in the development of atomic bombs). It certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed that national dissonances like wars seem to be the per-

fect breeding ground for new scientific advancements, and this begs the question – is this the best way to promote science? Does it not weaponise the subject?

This competitive drive might not be the healthiest way to conduct science Prestige is another element that has to be considered when thinking about why scientific enterprise is so often concerned with establishing the country which produces it as being ‘the best’. A country which can come up with fresh, pioneering science can substanti-

ate claims of being forward-thinking. This links to issues of funding, which arise due to an abundance of ideas compared to money available, which also relates to commercial competition and the race to market in order to make the biggest profit. On a more practical level, there are also differences in international regulations to overcome, but in our global age, with pharmaceutical companies that span over many countries, this seems to be surmountable. While this competitive drive might not seem the healthiest way to conduct science, what’s produced is arguably still beneficial for everyone. It could, for example, lead to cures being found faster and hence, more lives being saved. How-

ever, there is a dangerous alternative to this, one where science being rushed creates risk. For instance, Russia’s announcement that it had developed a successful COVID-19 vaccine in such a short time frame sparked much criticism, with experts claiming that a vaccine that isn’t as effective as it should be could cause more damage than good. It might seem necessary to distance science from competition, to have science come first over profit or personal gain, but perhaps competition as fierce as that which you will encounter in the scientific field stop us from becoming complacent, and innovation often comes out of adversity.

SCIENCE

EXEPOSÉ | 26 OCT 2020

An interview with Professor Laura Salisbury Bryony Gooch, Editor, speaks to Professor Laura Salisbury about medical humanities, our ideas of time and her research over lockdown

FTEN enough, science and the humanities have been pitted against one another as competing ideas. Yet if we move past this two-cultures debate, it becomes clear that both can help one another. An example of this is looking into the medical humanities, which brings together science and the humanities with many real life applications. To look into this more, I spoke to Laura Salisbury, Professor in Modern Literature and the Medical Humanities, about her latest research relating to, rather topically, what it means to wait in the middle of a pandemic.

É Bryony Gooch: What is the medical humanities? The Medical Humanities is a way of bringing work in disciplines like English Literature, History, Art History, and philosophy together with medical perspectives. It could be something as simple as helping doctors to understand the value of humanities perspectives for their practice. So, for example, if you’re in the middle of a pandemic, it might be important to know how pandemics have played out in the past. How do pandemics start? How do diseases spread? What do people feel about them? How do they end? We know quite a bit from medical history about how these things have played out in the past. This can be important in understanding how people feel about our current situation. I think there is a general acceptance of the idea that medicine is much an art as it is a science. If art might be to do with

various kinds of communication, perhaps art might help give doctors some new perspectives about how to speak to patients in ways they can make sense of and make use of. Doctors don’t necessarily want to use biomedical ideas in the clinical setting. They might want to think philosophically with their patients; they might want to think through how literature helps us make meaningful narratives out of our experience. So, if you have a diagnosis of cancer then your experience of that isn’t just biomedical. It’s important to understand the biomedical elements of whatever diagnosis you’ve been given, but it’s also important to understand the psychosocial elements – how one can make sense of that experience? And the intersection of medicine with humanities enables us to start to make sense, in a more holistic way, of people’s experience of the world and the experience of medical matters. BG: In first year, I remember you lectured in neuroscience as a critical approach to literature. It shocked me that something understood as quite a clinical science, but also something that is developing as an idea and is always changing, could be applied to literature. But how do you find neuroscience can intersect with literature? I think there are numerous different ways. There are people who are more squarely what would be called “cognitive literary studies” than I am. Those people would be interested in how we perceive, what the cognitive science behind how we read for

example. And there is a lot of interesting work being done in that area. My interest is more historical, in how ideas around what it means to have a mind for example emerge and intersect. How the scientific elements intersect with literary, cultural artistic development. What it means to have a mind, to think, feel and perceive.

For me, bringing those things together gives me a richer sense of the history of ideas Prof. Laura Salisbury

For me, bringing those things together gives me a richer sense of the history of ideas. Because while neuroscience frames itself as science, and about the discovery of objective facts, facts aren’t simply objective. We have different ways of looking at the world, and certain lenses that render certain things visible at some points, and not visible at other points. That’s not to say we live in a sort of relativist world where anything can mean anything and there are no truths. There certainly are scientific facts about how brains operate, but these are also historically produced. Our current obsession with neuroscience, which is important and makes a lot of sense – what gets lost if we only have a neuroscientific way of looking at the world? What happens if we start to look at criminal behaviour as the product of people’s neurobiology rather than social circumstances? You can see there would be a real political element to that. So, I think something like the medical humanities allows us to ask questions across these disciplines. To say “okay, this neuroscientific element in understanding literature and how minds work is really important. But we have to think it through alongside politics, philosophy, and history. How do we get to this view of the mind?” BG: I’ve been reading your latest work: Containment, Delay and Mitigation: Waiting in Care in the Time of the Pandemic. How did you come to this research in the midst of the current pandemic? I’ve been working two and a half years into a five-year project on what it means to wait. What does it mean to wait in and for healthcare in particular? I work really closely with my colleague at the University of London, Lisa Baraitzer, who specialises in psychosocial studies and is a psychoanalyst, and Lisa and I

in 2016 put together this application to the Wellcome to say we struggle to think about waiting beyond the hospital waiting list. And they tend to get kicked around like a political football to say “waiting lists are too long, we need to shorten them”. And we’re not saying waiting lists are good, sometimes that sort of waiting is abandonment, neglect, more to do with service inefficiency. All of that is true. But if we only ever understand waiting as something that should be contracted, or got rid of, we won’t really understand something important or significant about treatment. Because treatment takes time – every doctor knows that. You go to your GP for example and say “I’ve got this whatever.” The doctor tells you to see how it goes and come back in two weeks. It’s very easy to think you’re being fobbed off and you’re not being taken seriously. But what the doctor is actually using is a practice they call “watchful waiting”. So it needs time. Maybe it’s going to turn out to be nothing, maybe it will be something. But you’ll only know if you give it some time. So that waiting at that point isn’t actually being cast adrift by the doctor, it’s being carefully thought about but you need time to take its course. Another example is end of life care. It’s notoriously difficult for doctors and healthcare professionals to know when people are going to die. They can sort of say from their experience “it’s probably going to be a few weeks,” sometimes it’s a day, other times it is four months. There’s this element of waiting that we can’t control.

Waiting can be full of pleasure if there is a hope or anticipation of something good Prof. Laura Salisbury

One of the things I’ve been doing is bringing my literary experiences and expertise around waiting – I’m a Samuel Beckett specialist so Waiting For Godot is a big one for me. Why is waiting so hard? What happens when people wait? How can waiting become more bearable? One of the things we’re learning through the project is waiting becomes more bearable when it’s kind of contained. When it’s held together. When you know someone’s looking after you and you haven’t been cut adrift. When you’re waiting, you don’t know what the future holds, but someone is waiting with you and looking after you. Certainly in relation to the pandemic. I think one of the things Lisa and I were trying to say in our article – written between March and May when we were in lock-

down – is it’s really tempting to think “we can’t wait, we must do something.” That urge to “do”, which is sometimes a way of getting away from how difficult it is to wait. But in order for us to wait together, as the Government was asking us to do, and is indeed asking us to do now, we need to feel looked after. We need to make sure we have got systems of mutual support in place so people don’t feel cut adrift in their waiting.

Sometimes you feel swept away towards a future you don't want Prof. Laura Salisbury

BG: Your research looks into what it means to wait. This year, the idea of time has become quite a strange idea. Some aspects feel like they go at breakneck speed, like the spread of the virus. But also time in itself for people who have been in lockdown has felt slow moving. How do you think your research can help us to understand our idea of time better? How can it make sense of this strange time period? I think the key research finding, that we probably knew before we started, is that waiting is hard. Waiting is not easy. Waiting can be full of pleasure if there is a hope or anticipation of something good being delivered. We watch and wait thinking “okay is the graph going up?”, or the waiting at the moment where the endgame is unclear. We’re being told we need to wait; some students have been told you have to stay in your halls of residence and wait it out even if you’re not in quarantine. That’s very hard when it’s not clear what the timeframe is going to be and when it is unclear when things will come to an end. That’s one of the things our search has shown is that when the idea of what you're waiting for becomes quite hard to grasp, what is important is the quality of how we wait together. And I think some of that is being in contact and allowing oneself to be in contact with the complex qualities of time itself. That time does seem to pool or gather in a kind of heap, rather than flow. If our experiences of time flowing and we’re sort of in sync with it as if it is taking us on to a future we can imagine, that’s an easy and comfortable experience. Sometimes you feel swept away towards a future you don’t want to meet, and that’s anxiety, I guess. I suppose what we have been saying is time gets made between people. And if we can hold to waiting with each other, and finding solidarity in that, that might help. Images (left to right): Lukas Blazek, Unsplash; Ryan McGuire, Pixabay

SPORT

26 OCT 2020| EXEPOSÉ

Black sporting heroes: past and present

Ben Davis looks at his Black sporting heroes while Michael Galley looks at the recent heroism of Marcus Rashford

T times of racial discrimination, Jack Johnson and Bill Russell’s careers proved that your skin colour should not be a barrier to success, inspiring many on the way. These two men are not the only athletes to change the landscape of the sporting world, however they provide an interesting insight into the world of black sporting heroes. The African-American boxer Jack Johnson was once considered the most famous black man on Earth during the early 1900s. Johnson was the first African-American World Heavyweight Boxing champion, a title he held between 1908 and 1915. The son of former slaves, Johnson grew up in Texas, and was an active boxer at the height of the Jim Crow era. Johnson was a role model for many black Americans who encountered racial discrimination daily. In 1910 Johnson fought and beat the former undefeated heavyweight champion James J. Jefferies who came out of retirement to face Johnson. After his victory, Johnson inspired race riots in over twenty-five states. Many black Americans saw this as a victory for racial advancement causing spontaneous gatherings and parties.

Jack Johnson was once considered the most famous black man on Earth For many African-Americans, it wasn’t just Johnson’s 71 professional victories which brought joy, it was what he

stood for. At a time when black people were seen as inferior, Johnson was willing to go the distance to break down the colour barrier. Johnson was inducted into the 1954 The Ring Magazine Boxing Hall of Fame and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1993. Muhammed Ali often mentioned how he was inspired by Johnson and identified with him as they both were ostracized by America during their careers. 50 years on, NBA star Bill Russell played for the Boston Celtics from 1956 to 1969 winning eleven championships. He was named an NBA All-Star twelve times and became the first black coach in a North American professional sport. He was the first black NBA player to reach superstar status leading the way for the likes of Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Russell also actively participated in the Civil Rights Movement joining the 1963 March on Washington and supported Ali’s refusal to be drafted for the Vietnam War.

He was the first black NBA player to reach superstar status During childhood Russell witnessed racial abuse towards his parents which forced them into government housing projects. As a player the abuse continued. During the 1958 offseason, Russell was denied rooms by hotel owners in

segregated North Carolina and in 1961 he was refused service at a Kentucky restaurant. Russell refused to play and flew home causing controversy. In 2009, the NBA renamed the MVP award to recognise his impact on the game. Russell (right) was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his accomplishments both on and off the court.

Both these athletes were pioneers and role models for the black community Both these athletes were pioneers and role models for the black community. Throughout history the sporting world has done a lot for combatting racial prejudices, however there is still more to be done, but with an influx of role models leading the line the future looks bright.

O one is more of a role model than Marcus Rashford (below) who has become notable recently for his work off the pitch more than on, which is impressive given his 40 England caps and over 70 Premier League goals. Rashford’s work in combatting food poverty in the UK has earned him the spotlight as a black sporting hero, and indeed a British one too, with the Manchester United forward being rewarded with an MBE earlier this month.

Rashford has a strong record of advocating for the support of underprivileged children. At the beginning of the lockdown in March, Rashford partnered with the charity FareShare to provide more than 3.7 million meals per week to those most in need. In June, when the government ended their food voucher system, Rashford wrote an open-letter urging them to reverse this decision which had left 1.3 million British schoolchildren at risk of going hungry. The result of Rashford’s campaign was a complete government U-turn on the issue, instead setting up a £120 million ‘COVID Summer Food Fund’. Rashford’s’ letter reflected on his own family’s reliance on free school meals, food banks and soup kitchens, and challenged the government: ‘can we not all agree that no child should be going to bed hungry?’

Rashford showed the importance of celebrities using their platform for good Rashford’s work has highlighted the concerning levels of child food pov-

Image (top to bottom): Kip Koech (flickr), Kirill Venediktov (soccer.ru)

erty in the UK; according to recent statistics an estimated 2.4 million Britons live in food insecure households. Food poverty in the UK is emblematic of the greater problem of systemic racism, with BAME households in the UK being twice as likely to live in poverty as white households. These same communities have been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus pandemic due to range of factors including social and economic inequalities, racism, discrimination and occupational risk. In pioneering the campaign to extend free school meals, Rashford showed the importance and power of celebrities using their platform for good, and single-handedly challenged the popular misconception of Premier League footballers as greedy and selfinterested. The positive news coverage of Rashford’s efforts were a welcomebreak from the frequent media bias against and negative representation of black footballers in general, a predisposition that has previously been challenged by Rashford’s England colleague, Raheem Sterling. Rashford is not done with holding the government to account. He continues his campaign to end child food poverty; starting a petition to expand access to free school meals, which has received almost 300,000 signatures in less than a week and has the backing of the Labour Party who have urged Downing Street to ensure children do not go hungry over school holidays. Through his efforts to challenge social injustice in the UK, hold the government to account, and look out for the most vulnerable in our society, Rashford has united (excuse the pun) and earnt the respect of not just football fans but the nation as a whole, and shown himself to be someone that all youngsters should wish to emulate.

SPORT

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

Transfer window triumph?

Jack Holmes looks at another action packed summer transfer window

ITH the transfer window closing on the 5 October, which Premier League Club has done the best business? Two teams have impressed the most this silly season: Everton and Chelsea. The blue half of Merseyside have dramatically overhauled their first XI, with a new look midfield, a new goalkeeper to challenge the increasingly error-prone Pickford and centre half cover in the shape of Ben Godfrey. Nevertheless, it is the signing of James Rodriguez from Real Madrid that has stolen the spotlight and deservedly so. The Colombian midfielder comes into a Toffees side that was severely lacking creativity. Gylfi Sigurdsson, Everton’s most creative midfielder last season, created 1.8 goal scoring chances per 90 minutes in the Premier League, James is already creating 3.3. He also gives Ancelotti some flexibility being adept on the right of a front three. Still, the reason James has this freedom to create, is in part due to the other two midfielders Allan and Abdoulaye Doucouré. Allan provides stability to this

Everton team by screening the back four, while Doucouré plays a box to box role, getting forward to create 1.8 chances a game while still getting back to produce respectable defensive numbers. Overall, Everton have managed to completely revitalise a significant weakness in their side without breaking the bank.

James has stolen the spotlight in the Toffee's midfield

Image: Pixabay

Chelsea on the other hand have blown every other team completely out of the water by spending an eye watering £222 million. Timo Werner is the standout arrival to Stanford Bridge as his goal scoring record in Germany

was exemplary while Tammy Abraham found it hard to maintain his early form towards the end of last season. Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chillwell also look to be solid additions to the squad, while Kai Havertz looked like a future superstar during his time with Bayer Leverkusen. It might be a struggle for the young German to adapt to the Premier League straight away, but I have no doubt he will be one of the world’s best within a few years. Finally, the purchase of Edouard Mendy from Stade Rennais could solve Chelsea’s biggest problem, Kepa Arrizabalaga. Last season the Spaniard ranked near the very bottom of the league in nearly every goalkeeping statistic, whereas Mendy had the second highest save percentage in Ligue 1. Only time will tell whether the Blues can form a coherent team out of all these new faces. Honourable mentions go to Tottenham and Aston Villa for some intelligent acquisitions in the window. Spurs' capture of Sergio Reguilon and Matt Doherty instantly improve their fullback options, positions where

they have been lacking quality for a couple of years now. The signing of PierreEmile Hojbjerg smacks of a Mourinho influenced purchase, with the hardworking, if somewhat unspectacular Dane sure to fit right into Mourinho’s well drilled system. Finally, the resigning of Gareth Bale is a statement. It remains to be seen whether he can find his form again in London, but he will at least provide cover for an increasingly over worked Harry Kane. Villa have made several smart acquisitions over the summer, notably goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, Chelsea outcast Ross Barkley and striker Ollie Watkins. These three players markedly improve three positions for the Villains, and I expect them to be regular starters. To top this off the board have managed to get talismanic captain, Jack Grealish to sign a new long-term contract which could prove to be a lucrative move from the Birmingham side. At the end of the day it’s a fool’s errand to try and predict football, but these are the sides I see benefitting most from a strong transfer window.

A game of four quarters

Joel Edwards, Sport Editor, looks the first quarter of the NFL season

N 4 February 2018, following a number of well placed advertisements during and after Match of the Day, I decided to take the plunge and watch Super Bowl LII. With no experience other than memories of my aunt complaining how long my uncle would stay up watching American Football games, I decided to embark on an adventure; a journey that would keep me up and enthralled until 14 minutes past three on the morning of Monday 5th. A gripping game followed and ultimately resulted in an underdog victory that frankly meant little to me at the time but for which my appreciation in the time that has passed since. The Philadelphia Eagles, without starting quarterback Carson Wentz, beat defending champions, the heavily favoured Brady and Belichick powered Patriots.

just over a quarter of the regular season played, it feels like the right time to give a quick round up of the action so far including the star teams and players to watch. No doubt the biggest offseason move prior to the start of the season was Tom Brady’s move to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Insisting that his ex-Patriot pal Rob Gronkowski come out of retirement to trade to the Bucs with him, this move has provided a chance to see whether the unprecedented recent success of the Patriots has been down to Brady or Head Coach Bill Belichick. The first quarter of the season would suggest that Brady was on the right end of the deal with the Buccaneers possessing a 4-2 record, with a flawless 3-0 at Home, placing them first in the NFC South.

........The Eagles showed how exciting American Football can be The underdogs showed how exciting American football can be! Two and a half years have flown by since that fateful night and my enthusiasm for the sport has only grown. With

Image: Pixabay

The Patriots, on the other hand, find themselves languishing in third in the AFC East with a disappointing 2-3 record, with Cam Newton yet to hit the heights expected of him following his arrival from the Carolina Panthers. Time will tell who has the last laugh out of Brady and Belichick, but the first quarter of the game of quarters would point towards the Buccaneers new number 12. Three teams have maintained a 100 per cent record at the time of writing; the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Seattle Seahawks have all played five and won five (the Steelers and Titans are due to face off on 25 October which promises to be a mighty clash). Offensively, it is the Seahawks who I would argue to be team of the quarter with Quarterback Russell Wilson the offensive player to watch. With the team leading the NFL in points per game, DK Metcalf catching the joint third most touchdowns and Wilson holding the highest Passer Rating and most passing touchdowns, the Seahawks promise an exciting attacking watch every game they play. Defensively, it comes as no surprise that another of the teams with a 100 per cent record (for now) should be the front runners, with the Pittsburgh Steelers having the star defensive team in the regular seasons first six rounds. Averaging the

third least points conceded a game and second lowest net yards per game, expect some serious Steelers stability when their opponents have the ball. However, the star defensive player of the first six rounds has not played in the black and gold of Pittsburgh but rather the royal blue and sol of the LA Rams. The King of Sacks Aaron Donald has helped the Rams to a respectable 4-2 record, with the former two time defensive MVP continuing his defensive dominance with a league high 7.5 sacks.

The King of Sacks Aaron Donald is having another great year As someone who is still getting their head around some of the finer points of the game, I would like to take this chance to apologise to any of the seasoned fans who will no doubt know vastly more than I do. However, for those of you who are currently flirting, or have done in the past, with the idea of watching American Football and may just watch this season unfold, I hope this brief recap will allow you to jump in and enjoy the exciting season that is starting to take shape.

Training returns for indoor sports Nick Powell Sport Editor

HE University’s sporting clubs were provided with a muchneeded boost this week after it was announced that indoor sports would be allowed to reintroduce training sessions. Previous restrictions, which had seen a complete ban of any sessions involving these clubs, had been introduced on the 24th September amid growing concern over the rise in cases seen across the country, and particularly within the University.

Soon after the announcement several clubs began re-advertising But after “working hard with the Uni and Public Health Devon”, Athletic Union (AU) President Ben Hart was “delighted to announce that we will be able to restart indoor activity” from last Monday in an email to AU Members. Soon after the announcement, several indoor sporting clubs began re-advertising and promoting membership sales, increasing their social media presence in with several clubs announcing new training sessions almost immediately via Instagram.

It was likely felt interest in sporting clubs would have dwindled With BUCS seasons likely to begin in late January, there remained plenty of time for clubs to prepare their players for the start of the season, but it was likely felt that interest in joining sporting clubs would have dwindled the longer the break went on.

Infection in the general Exeter public has been very low Though transmission among students remains high, infection in the general Exeter public has been very low and to try and keep this trend going the announcement came with fresh restrictions requested by Public Health England “that all fixtures against community teams [be] cancelled for the next two weekends, after which [the AU] will review the situation.” Hart acknowledged “the situation has been frustrating and seeing local clubs and other University’s [sic] playing sport from an Exeter perspective, is far from heartwarming”, but after Captains of outdoor clubs had been able to have full access to train since the start of the year this appears a sensible compromise.

Sport

26 OCT 2020 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT EDITORS: Nick Powell Joel Edwards

Chiefs of Europe

Exeter Chiefs make history to lift European Champions Cup

Image: Haydn Thomas

Heineken Champions Cup Exeter Chiefs ........................... 31 Racing 92

.......................... 27 Ashton Gate

Harry Scott-Munro Online Sport Editor

HERE was something of a joyous symmetry to it all. Back in the city where Exeter Chiefs reached the promised land of the Premiership ten years ago, they achieved the holy grail, securing their first European Champions Cup against Racing 92, in a pulsating final for the ages. Within the sea of empty seats that surrounded them, Chiefs made a blistering start. Just six minutes into the

match, the forward pack showed why they are arguably the most feared in Europe, Luke Cowan-Dickie dotting down from the back of the maul. It was to get even better for Rob Baxter’s men on 15 minutes, the forwards again going to work, newly crowned European Player of the Year Sam Simmonds crashing over for his eighth try of the European campaign. Racing were not going to lie down easily though. This was their third European final in five seasons, without ever securing that elusive first title. Their response was as clinical as it was classy, the mercurial Finn Russell conjuring a stunning pass to allow Simon Zebo to race over the line. They would score their second on 31 minutes, Argentine Juan Imhoff scoring after sell-

ing a dummy off the base of a ruck that left Jonny Gray clutching at thin air. With the scores precariously poised, the Chiefs were to have the last say in the first 40 as Harry Williams crashed over with the half ’s last act to open up a 21-12 advantage.

If Chiefs hearts weren’t already in their mouths at that point, they were minutes later Racing started the second half with the bit between their teeth, reducing the deficit to four points with Zebo’s second score, only for them to inflict

self-imposed destruction on themselves two minutes later. For all Finn Russell’s genius, there are times when he can perhaps be too extravagant with ball in hand. His lofted pass out to Virimi Vakatawa was plucked expertly from the air by Jack Nowell, his offload allowing Henry Slade to run in under the posts. Racing were to respond again though, Camille Chat producing a near carbon copy of Cowan-Dickie’s early effort to reduce the gap again. A 65th minute penalty from Maxime Machenaud reduced the gap to a solitary point as the game reached a titanic conclusion. If Chiefs’ hearts weren’t already in their mouths at that point, they certainly were minutes later as Racing ham-

mered the Chiefs line, Thomas Francis seeing yellow for a deliberate knock-on. Inexplicably, they opted to go for the corner rather than a shot at goal before Sam Hidalgo-Clyne secured a penalty for the Chiefs to ease the nerves. With play in the final minute, Exeter secured a penalty which Joe Simmonds duly dispatched. Despite initial confusion over whether time was up, Nigel Owens confirmed it indeed was, sparking jubilant scenes from those in Chiefs colours. The image of Rob Baxter gazing adoringly at his players as they celebrated with the trophy will live long in the memory. This was a historical day for the club, that can only be hoped signals the start of a period of continued success for Exeter Chiefs.

For as-it-happened tweets from The Final, head to @exeposesportCONTINUED ON PAGE 31