Issue 740 - 25 Jan 2023

INCE the results of the inquest into the death of Exeter student, Harry Armstrong-Evans, Exeposé have worked to promote the

petition launched by his parents and raise awareness of student suicide. The petition argues for the implementation of ‘Harry’s Law’, which urges universities to record and publish their annual suicide statistics, and would make it mandatory for coroners to inform universities when a student enrolled in their institution dies by suicide.

Over the course of Exeposé’s coverage, we have covered the results of the inquest into Harry’s death, which found the University “failed in their safe-

guarding duties”. Exeposé’ also interviewed Harry’s parents, Alice and Rupert Armstrong Evans. This was extremely important as it gave them the opportunity to share their story and get their message out to the student community.

Exeposé are now launching the ‘Student Papers for Harry’s Law’ campaign, alongside, at the time of writing, 21 other student publications from across the country. This campaign will seek to promote the petition set up by Alice and Rupert and also raise awareness about

student suicide across our publications.

Exeposé would encourage all our readers to sign the petition for ‘Harry’s Law.’ Universities need to know about student suicides and be held accountable for them. At the moment, student suicide prevention strategies across the UK are not informed by accurate records of actual student suicides, meaning universities don’t have the information they need to prevent these tragedies.

Megan Ballantyne and Joshua Hughes Editors

Editors

Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ

Print: Megan Ballantyne & Joshua Hughes

Online: Ana Anajuba & Clemence Smith

Print Deputies: Oliver Lamb, Livvy Mason-Myhill, Pollyanna Roberts

Online Deputies: Isabella Ankerson, Daisy Scott editors@exepose.com

Executives

Social Media: Nancy Stitt Events: Georgia Balmer Admin: Lauren Walsh

Chief Photographers

Rachel Cunningham Kieran Moore

News Editors

Print: Charlie Gershinson & Amy Rushton Online: Megan Haynes & Amelie Thompson news@exepose.com

Features Editors

Print: Austin Taylor & Benedict Thompson Online: Catherine Stone & Maggie John features@exepose.com

International Editors

Print: Agata Koralewska Online: Maeve Fitzpatrick & Ryan Gerrett

Comment Editors

Print: Anabel Costa-Ferreira & Connor Goddard Online: Jamie Speka & Kristen Taylor comment@exepose.com

Satire Editor

Print: Cleo Gravett Online: Archie Lockyer & Joseph Vinton

Lifestyle Editors

Print: Pippa Bourne & Gracie Moore Online: Ruth Hetherington & Charlie Nadin lifestyle@exepose.com

Arts + Lit Editors

Print: Ella Minty & Joshua Smith Online: Manon Martini & Gwenllian Page-Gibby artsandlit@exepose.com

Music Editors

Print: Harry Craig & Jake Avery Online: Mahnoor Imam & Lauren Jones music@exepose.com

Screen Editors

Print: Annabelle Law & Madison Sohngen Online: Matthew Bowden & Harvey Isitt screen@exepose.com

Tech Editor

Print: Ewan Edwards Online: Charlie Oldroyd

Science Editors

Print: Daniel Pain & Hayley Power Online: Esther Humphries & Imogen Poyntz-Wright sciandtech@exepose.com

Sport Editors

Print: Toby Brisley & Rob Worthington

Online: Oliver Rickwood & Archie Rucker sport@exepose.com

HI everyone, and welcome back to Exeter. We hope the first term went okay and that everyone is excited to be back.

Although it looks like a long stretch of work ahead, day by day the sun is setting later, the days are getting longer, and the weather is possibly getting better (don’t quote us on this one).

It’s been a great few weeks back for Exeposé and we are happy to launch the ‘Harry’s Law’ campaign alongside 21 other student publications. We would like to thank all those that have contributed to the campaign and have helped us get to this point. We would also like to thank Alice and Rupert Armstrong Evans for their continued support of the work we are doing and hope that it will lead to greater traction for their petition.

In News this week we cover the recently announced 18 days of strike action by the UCU and also feature an interview with a previously incarcerated Just Stop Oil protestor and Exeter student. We also cover Veganuary and look at a new study being conducted by the University on Motor Neurone Disease.

Elsewhere, in Features we sat down with Andy Slaughter MP for Hammersmith to talk about the Labour Party and Keir Starmer (page 9). International offers some advice to students about to embark on a year abroad (page 10) while Comment debates the pros and cons of New

Year’s resolutions (page 13) and Satire takes on the University’s controversial new deal with Shell (page 14).

Exhibit kicks off in Lifestyle with a new year’s wardrobe revolution (page 17) and some existential literature for the January Blues in Arts + Lit (page 18). Music provides a detailed review of The 1975 (page 20) and also provides a 2023 hotlist, which details some of the most exciting up-and-coming artists to look out for in 2023 (page 21).

Screen discusses Netflix’s new methods of maintaining viewership (page 22) and also gives two writers’ perspectives on Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (page 23). Tech looks at the Twitter saga, as well as the implications of Chat GPT (page 24).

Science looks at the impact of parasites on wolfpacks (page 28) and also outlines the recent discovery of the world’s first swimming dinosaur (page 29).

Lastly, Sport covers the current state of women’s football (page 30) while also looking at the 2022 Darts Championship (page 31) and the departure of Matt Jay from Exeter City (page 32).

It’s been a busy first few weeks of term and it looks like this trend will continue. Whether you’re an exhausted third year or chilled out first year, we hope you enjoy reading this week, and of course, wish you all the best of luck on the term ahead.

and Megan

University news home and abroad

TALIBAN suppression of women’s education in Afghanistan escalated further last month with a ban on women attending university.

The decision was announced on 20 December, when the country’s higher education minister authorised an indefinite suspension of female higher education. He claimed this decision was to prevent interaction between genders, and in response to female students not adhering to the strict dress code.

Dozens of women took to the streets to express their discontent, gathering outside Kabul University chanting, “education is our right, universities should be opened.” Security forces responded violently.

The international community has condemned the decision. The United Nations called it “a new low”, and the US warned of “consequences for the Taliban.” They were joined by others, including the Malala Fund, in demanding the reversal of the ban.

The ban further restricts women’s freedoms in Afghanistan, which have come under attack since the Taliban takeover in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US-led troops. Girls’ high schools were closed last March, and in November women were banned from Kabul’s parks and gyms.

FLORIDA and its Governor, Ron DeSantis, have proposed and implemented extremely conservative laws.

His newest action includes intervening in the education system by appointing several new board members for Sarasota's New College of Florida, all of whom are conservative. The reason given is that the college diverted from learning by focusing on “trendy, truthrelative concepts”.

The most prominent new board member is Christopher Rufo, previously Dean of the conserva tive Hillsdale College in Michigan, and a prominent fighter in the so-called culture wars.

This includes activism against transgender and racial issues, as well as supporting the Governor in the controversial “Don’t Say Gay Bill”, which stirs fear in the majorly left-leaning student body of the Liberal Arts college.

DESPITE the end of covid restrictions, many educational institutions have remained tied to the methods of the pandemic. While at one stage all courses were forced to cope with online teaching, data collected from 50 universities showed 28 per cent of courses have continued to be taught in a hybrid manner. In isolation this statistic seems low but is a drastic increase when compared to 4.1 per cent in 201819. While some students appreciate the continued flexibility, opinions remain divided, with some feeling they are overpaying for “a glorified streaming service”. Potential issues have arisen from hybrid learning as some students claim their courses were not advertised as such prior to starting their degree and others that online lectures were simply too busy to join. Student opinions remain mixed; however, what remains the priority is for universities to “continue to listen to and communicate clearly with students on how course learning is delivered”.

ANEW study from Ulster University and Atlantic Technological University suggests that a student’s risk of mental ill-health, drug or alcohol abuse could be linked to their choice of degree. The researchers created questionnaires which explored various facets of mental health and mental health support. The findings suggest that many students begin university with mental health problems, but that some courses were more likely to attract those who are susceptible to mental health problems. The paper highlighted those who study humanities and social work as being more predisposed to suffer from mental health illnesses. The study suggests that those studying life and health sciences had the lowest rate of psychological problems but that there is a big differentiation between disciplines showing the complexity of the tapestry of student mental health. According to the researchers, these findings show the need for improved mental health services and preventative measures. The researchers suggest wellbeing initiatives and mental health support should be more tailored to the subject that a student is taking to improve outcomes.

Josh

By Harry Craig, Carden Cappi, Anabel Costa-Ferreira and Eleanor Burkey

Taliban closes universities to women DeSantis' conservative overhaul in Florida universities

Hybrid teaching still in place nationwide Student mental health risk linked to area of study

Exeter UCU express “disappointment” in Exeter Vice-Chancellor in lead up to 18 days of strike action

Megan Ballantyne Editor

AWAVE of University and College Union (UCU) strikes are set to take place at Exeter and across the country throughout February and March, with the UCU declaring the first day of staff strikes as Wednesday 1st February. In the lead up to this extended period of action, Exeter UCU have expressed their “disappointment” in Vice-Chancellor Lisa Roberts for not meeting with Exeter UCU leaders or declaring a public position on these strikes. This next wave of strike action comes less than three months after

three days of national UCU strikes took place in November 2022. It will see an estimated 70 000 staff from 150 UK universities walk out of their jobs .

Exeter UCU spoke to Exeposé about their motivations to strike, stating: “UCU’s decision to call a further 18 days of strikes was the result of our employers’ continued unwillingness to address the various issues that have been negatively impacting our working conditions and our mental health, and the quality of the education we deliver to students. Even the recent pay proposal presented to the union’s negotiators will still leave us earning less in real terms than we earned two decades ago. This is not sustainable and is

leading colleagues into debt and poor mental health due to lower real-terms income and impossible workloads”

In response to this first wave of strikes and the threat of further strike action, the UCU were offered a five per cent pay rise by negotiators. Local and national UCU leaders, however, still argue that this is not enough to make up for the decrease in real times pay they have experienced over recent years. Exeter UCU have suggested that the decrease in real times pay over the last nine years amounts to a nearly 25 per cent drop. In response to these concerns around pensions, pay and working conditions, a University of Exeter spokesperson said: “We remain committed to being a great employer and to providing everyone who works here with an affordable and sustainable pension scheme, as well as fair pay and working conditions.”

Exeter UCU also expressed disappointment that although “the management team at Exeter seems to privately understand our position,” Exeter UCU were “yet to meet with Vice-Chancellor Lisa Roberts to discuss the situation.”

Exeter UCU went on to criticise the Vice Chancellor further for not publicly stating her position on the strikes, stating: “We are also disappointed that the Vice-Chancellor has not taken a public position on the matter. Our disappointment is furthered by the knowledge that the Vice-Chancellor has a strong position both in the Russell Group and in Universities UK.”

When Exeter UCU were asked about students’ who have told Exeposé they have sympathy with the strikers, but are nonetheless worried about their studies in the face of further action, Exeter UCU stated, “We are not giving you the quality of education you deserve. The only thing we ask is that we are provided with the right conditions to give you the best education possible. This is something that, we’re sure, students also want. We invite students to lobby the university to push for a just resolution of this dispute.”

community updated as the situation progresses and have developed a Frequently Asked Questions page so we can seek to answer any queries our students may have — we will keep this page updated throughout this period. We would remind student that the University and its campuses will be open and available throughout this period, and also highlight the resources that are available to support our students, if needed. This includes our self-help tools, SilverCloud and our Wellbeing Services at both the Exeter and Cornwall campuses.

Exeter UCU

A spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: “Providing our students with an excellent educational experience is our highest priority and we are continuing to work closely with the Students’ Guild and Students’ Union to carefully manage the impact this period of further strike action may have on our University community, and to ensure any measures we put in place to protect our students’ experience and academic outcomes are the right ones for our students and their course.

A response group is working with Faculties and Professional Services and alongside representatives of the Students’ Guild and the Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union, focussed on minimising disruption for students. We will keep our University

As a University, we remain committed to being a great employer and to providing everyone who works here with an affordable and sustainable pension scheme, as well as fair pay and working conditions, as demonstrated by the recent decision to make positive changes to the pay scales of colleagues on grades B-F across the University.”

A spokesperson for the Students’ Guild said: “For the strike action days in November 2022, we held an all-student poll to gauge how students were feeling towards the strikes. The number of respondents was low and not representative of the student body, so we took the stance of supporting all students and their variety of views on the strikes.

With the announcement of the 18 days of strike action, we will again be polling our students to inform our stance and actions. The Guild is student-led so we will ensure that students feel heard, supported and represented.”

University of Exeter leads the way in ALS Research

molecular markers of ALS.

Charlie Gershinson News Editor

FORMER Penzance football player and manager Dean Mooney of Penzance, Cornwall is one of several participants in a year-long study concerning ALS (or motor neurone disease) which is being run by the University of Exeter.

The study is being led by the University of Exeter’s worldleading Neurodegeneration Imaging Group and Professor Marios Politis. The research carried out will include cuttingedge PET and MRI scans in the London-based Invicro Imaging Centre on the Hammersmith Hospital Campus. Researchers are aiming to identify and track the operations of disease in people living with ALS compared with healthy volunteers, to evaluate

The study is being run in cooperation between the University and the MIND MAPS programme, a “pre-competitive collaborative programme” between Invicro, a world-renowned imaging company, leading UK academic research centres and pharmaceutical collaborators such as Biogen and Pfizer.

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to damage to motor neurones across the body. As the disease progresses, it weakens a person’s ability to operate their body willingly as they first notice muscle weakness but progress to losing the ability to walk, speak, swallow and eventually breathe.

One of those affected by

ALS and participating in the study is Mooney, 52. Dean’s first symptoms included a stiffness in his left hand and a minor tremor in his arm. He initially dismissed the symptoms, but a neurologist would diagnose him with ALS in 2020.

Hearing about the Exeter research, Dean felt he had to sign up, saying “There’s a lot of talk in the media about a potential treatment for motor neurone disease. Let’s be real — it probably won’t benefit me in my lifetime, but if I can spare anyone else having to go through this, I’ll do whatever it takes to help get that research over the line.”

After retiring from football, Dean used his dentistry degree to work as the Principal Dentist at the Bay Dental Practice in Penzance. He leads an active lifestyle, regularly sailing and even continued running until Christmas

2021. Professor Politis said: “I’d like to extend our extreme gratitude to Dean, and other volunteers who are helping us to find answers and treatments for this cruel disease. Our findings will provide understanding related to the cause of the disease and help to track its progression over time. Most importantly the findings will help with the discovery of new targets for the development of treatments for motor neurone disease.”

Our findings will provide understanding related to the cause of [ALS]

Professor Marios Politis

When Exeposé reached out for comment, Professor Politis said: “Our team is world-leading on cutting-edge brain imaging, which is helping us make great strides in understanding diseases such as

MND. It’s a terrible disease, and we’re so grateful to the participants who have come forward. We need even more people, to help us understand the cause of the disease and help to track its progression over time. Most importantly the findings will help with the discovery of new targets for the development of treatments for motor neurone disease.”

Dean and Professor Politis are still encouraging those with ALS to come forward to aid the study, so long as they are between 25-85 years of age, able to give informed consent, can complete visual and auditory assessments and have no history of other significant neurological or psychological disorders. Volunteers will be compensated, with all necessary travel and accommodation paid for and a sum of £100 per visit up to £800.

We are not giving you the quality of education you deserve

Images: Kieran Moore

Exeter student spends over a month in prison after Just Stop Oil protest

Ana Anajuba and Amy Rushton Online Editor and News Editor

DURING the Just Stop Oil protests in November last year, Paul Bell, an Exeter PhD student, was arrested after scaling a gantry on the M25. After spending over a month in HMP Chelmsford prison, they were recently released and are now awaiting trial. Exeposé interviewed Bell, also known as Pasha, about the experience.

É: Could you talk us through exactly what happened during the protest?

PB: I took part in direct action as a supporter of Just Stop Oil. The demand of JSO is that the government halts all new oil and gas licensing in the United Kingdom, so there is no new oil or gas extraction. As part of the protest, I climbed a gantry over the M25, one of the busiest motorways in Europe and that caused the police to shut down my section of the motorway and that led to my arrest and subsequent incarceration. I went to court and was charged with public nuisance, which you will be hearing a lot more about due to the Police Crime and Sentencing Bill. I was refused bail and remanded in prison, so I was sent to HMP Chelmsford without trial for a month and a half.

É: Did they give a specific reason for denying bail?

PB: I really wasn’t expecting to be remanded, it was quite a shock, but the logic they used was I had other court cases going on for other forms of direct action and they thought I was likely to do it again. It felt like a politicised move trying to get peaceful protestors off the street.

É: Being arrested is not something most students have experience of, could you talk us through the process?

PB: You’re arrested by a police officer and you usually are released with police bail, or released under investigation. What can also happen is you get charged and they send you to court at the next possible opportunity. I attended court by a video link, you can request any solicitor you want and can then discuss the case. I chose to self-represent in court and pled not guilty to the charge of public nuisance and the court remanded me, which is rare in protest cases.

É: You mentioned the controversial new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 which restricts protests and makes public nuisance a statutory offence. Do you think that has affected what happened to you?

PB: Absolutely, previously public nuisance was part of common law rather than a statutory offence, and that change was caused by numerous protests the Government wanted to shut down.

É: What would you say to people who might want to get involved but are concerned about the possibilities of having a criminal record?

PB: First of all, I would like to touch on the climate crisis. We have seen 40-degree heat in the UK, wildfires, floods in Pakistan: climate change is here — and it is awful. As students we have power, so we must exercise that power. I would implore everyone who is interested to step up into activism, there is the Shell Out campaign in Exeter which would be great to get involved in and if you are interested in direct action then, of course, Just Stop Oil as well.

like a terrible experience, could you tell us about that experience and the process going forwards?

PB: Prison is difficult, but its doable. It’s not like the movies, there are tensions and difficulties but also real moments of joy and love. I also received lots of support whilst I was in prison from people who heard what happened, but also from prison guards and fellow inmates. Going forwards, I have an ankle tag and curfew, and have to attend prison three times a week. I’m hoping to get my bail conditions adjusted because my trial is not until March 2024, which goes to show how broken the public justice system is.

É: Have you received any communication from the University?

PB: Yes the Guild reached out and offered support, as did my PhD supervisor. I’m yet to understand the full consequences with regard to my course, but I’m still currently doing it.

É: What are the potential consequences if you’re found guilty?

PB: There are people who have pled guilty for the M25 cases already and received a sentence of nine months, which was reduced to six months as they pled early, and they will only serve half. Three months

is quite serious for a protest, but that’s probably what I’ll be looking at if I’m found guilty. They will take my time on remand into account.

University of Exeter students donate over £45,000 to British Heart Foundation

Continued from front page...

Commenting on ‘Harry’s Law,’ a spokesperson from the University of Exeter said: “We are deeply saddened by Harry’s death and the family’s loss. We are acutely aware of the current mental health challenges for young people and have invested significantly in student welfare and wellbeing support in recent years, and continually review and improve the wellbeing support provided. The University has carefully considered and responded to the Coroner’s detailed conclusions from this case and is committed to enhance our support and operations further,

É: If you have only ever seen prison on television it seems

specifically in those areas recommended by the Coroner. We have also welcomed and support the Universities UK guidance on suicide prevention and have already implemented a significant number of their recommendations.”

A spokesperson from the Students’ Guild gave the following statement: “We understand the pressures that students face, academically, socially, financially and the need to have services that properly support our student community. Our Advice team work hard to support students in a number of different areas. Mental health, wellbeing and support is one of the Officers’ and Guild’s collective priorities for the year and we will

É: Many members of the public had responded negatively to the Just Stop Oil protests, how would you respond to those negative reactions?

PB: If people talk to me about it who are upset or were affected by my actions, its important to realise that they didn’t ask to be there and they need to be treated with respect and compassion. Just Stop Oil are inherently non-violent, bit even beyond that its important to be kind and understand where people are coming from. As a whole, people wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t so important- climate change is an existential threat and so it is necessary to take action in the loudest possible way. I’ve been surprised by the extent of support I’ve received, especially in prison.

UNIVERSITY of Exeter students have donated £45,000 to the British Heart Foundation through its Moving On project.

The Moving On project collected donated unwanted items from students leaving their university accommodations. This year students donated over 2,200 bags of unwanted items from student halls. raising £30,000 and an additional 1,100 bags from private accommodations. The project runs from May until September each year. In total the students raised £46,648 through the Moving On project.

Tim Reeves, University Accountant Executive at British Heart Foundation said: “We are really grateful for the continuing support at Exeter University and the number of bags donated last year exceeded all our expectations. Each year, using these donations, BHF shops and stores raise millions to help the BHF fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases, and we couldn’t do this without the continued support of students, like those in Exeter.”

Nigel Morris, Strategic Waste & Resources Manager at the University of Exeter, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support the British Heart Foundation once again through our Moving On project, and I want to thank our students for their many donations. This project is vital in helping us to support those in need, contributing to the funding of vital research and is aligned to the principles of the circular economy, reducing waste and working towards our journey to environmental net gain and net zero.”

Elen Johnston

“The University has carefully considered and responded to the coroner’s detailed conclusions”

I would implore everyone who is interested to step up into activism

Paul Bell

Image: Roger A Smith, Wikimedia Commons

Image: Just Stop Oil

Three months is quite serious for a protest, but that’s probably what I’ll be looking at if I’m found guilty

Paul Bell

Oliver Lamb Deputy Editor

University launches pilot scheme tutoring disadvantaged students Date announced for Exeter Pride 2023

UNIVERSITY of Exeter undergraduates are tutoring disadvantaged schoolchildren as part of a pilot scheme intended to help make up for the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteers, having received training, work once a week with groups of up to three. In return they receive a credit towards their degree. Paid compensation is an alternative that is likely to be trialled.

Pupils’ attainment will be measured before and after the tutoring. The programme is currently restricted to boosting literacy among 11- and 12-year-olds at St James secondary school, but

is likely to expand and encompass more subjects. It is hoped that other universities will replicate it. This would help universities meet government expectations for them to work with local schools to raise attainment, especially among disadvantaged pupils.

is separate from the NTP, it will ameliorate one of the latter’s weaknesses, according to Lee Elliot Major, Professor of Social Mobility at Exeter.

In a statement given to Exeposé he said: “Whilst a range of tutoring interventions already exist, the tutoring landscape is fragmented, with variable quality and patchy coverage across the country. We believe a universityled tutoring service could embed tutoring for poorer pupils within the education system.

the scheme alongside St James’ headteacher Lindsay Skinner.

Sophie Errington, who was a tutor last term, said that she enjoyed the experience so much that she is considering a career in teaching. “It’s been so good to interact with these kids,” she said. “Seeing them grow in confidence has been really, really good. It’s also been really good for my English.”

Gracie Moore Lifestyle Editor

Livvy Mason-Myhill and Pollyanna Roberts Deputy Editors

THIS month, Exeposé have been investigating student opinions on veganism in light of ‘Veganuary’ taking place throughout the month of January. Veganuary is an initiative set up as a non-profit organisation with the aim of encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. Exeter Students’ Guild have been working with Guild VP Liberation and Equality Emma de Saram, to arrange a series of different events for students to get involved in this Veganuary. One event the Guild ran for Veganuary was a trip to the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary where students learned how to make a selection of different vegan recipes.

Emma de Saram also wrote a blog post for the Guild website about the ‘Top 5 Places to Eat in Exeter as a Vegan,’ and wrote a statement on her Instagram about the positive effect veganism has had on her life.

Even participating in something as simple as ‘meatless Mondays’ would have an impact on the environment

When Exeposé reached out to Exeter students via journo request, a majority of students expressed that they found that vegan products were accessible at the University, with multiple respondents drawing attention to the ‘£2 meals’ served in Devonshire House Monday to Friday following a successful campaign

The attainment gap between affluent and less affluent pupils has widened since the pandemic. The National Tutoring Programme delivered two million governmentsubsidised tutoring courses last year, as pledged, but struggled to reach disadvantaged pupils.

Although the Exeter scheme

The supply of tutors is a major challenge, particularly in ‘coldspot’ areas of the country.

A university-led tutoring service, supported by further education colleges could provide a consistent supply of undergraduate and other student tutors at scale to local schools.” Major developed

Exeter does Veganuary

from de Saram. These meals are always vegetarian, and there is always as least one vegan option. As well as this, the Market Place, Forum Kitchen, and the Ram all have a range of vegan products, which are sold at similar price-points to the non-vegan options, making them also accessible for students. Camper Coffee in particular offers a wide range of non-dairy milks; Exeter caters well for those seeking a nondairy and/or non-meat lifestyle.

While vegan products are regularly available across Streatham Campus, multiple respondents suggested to Exeposé that the University was not doing enough to promote Veganuary. Students expressed that they had not seen much promotion of the initiative across campus, or a particular emphasis placed on vegan food during the month, citing examples from the end of last term, when promoters from Love Raw, a vegan chocolate company, came on campus and handed out free samples in the Forum, which created buzz and exactment around vegan chocolate, and suggesting that more of these simple drop ins could have helped to encourage interest in Veganuary.

When students were asked whether they thought that partaking in Veganuary may lead them to eat more vegan food or even adopt a totally vegan lifestyle in the future, the responses were mixed. Several students commented that they did not think that they would continue with a vegan lifestyle after Veganuary. One student expressed how they would possibly stick to a vegan lifestyle, as they “found it easy,

affordable and tasty!” Some students suggested that there were a couple of non-vegan foods they would find it particularly difficult to give up in the long-term, with one stating: “I would always consider going vegan but unfortunately I don’t think I could give up dairy successfully” and explaining that they “just wanted to try it,” but that “the adverse effects on health for me would not be worth it in my personal circumstances.” Other students encouraged maintaining a vegan lifestyle after completing Veganuary, commenting that “it would definitely make me rethink my meals and try new things, and even eat less meat by trying substitutes.”

Students who spoke to Exeposé saw Veganuary in an overall positive light, with one student stating that they believe “having a vegan lifestyle may be most costly for students,” however, also explaining that “the sustainability for the environment is huge and by implementing plant-based foods into your diet, in a cost-effective way, it will benefit the climate crisis

The minister for skills, apprenticeships and higher education, Robert Halfon, said: “This is a fantastic initiative, and I am hugely grateful to the University of Exeter for their proactive support to help catch up children in their community. Tutoring is a key component to our catch-up strategy, and this is a great example of how students can help to play their part.”

FOLLOWING its successful return last year post-pandemic, it has been confirmed that Exeter Pride will take place on Saturday May 13th this year.

Exeter Pride is one of the South West’s biggest celebrations of the LGBT+ community and one of the country’s biggest Pride events, so there are expected to be lots of attendees. In fact, the committee are currently looking for more people with the skills and time to support the organisation and the planning of Pride 2023.

If anything like last year, attendees can expect a march in which a giant rainbow flag is carried through the city centre, followed by stalls and live music in Northernhay Gardens. It is predicted to be busy and vibrant, becoming a major part of the city landscape for the weekend.

Tamsin Scott, chair of Exeter’s Pride Committee said: “We’re so grateful to everybody who joined us for our big comeback last year, and bowled over by the overwhelmingly positive feedback from the community, including a lot of people attending for the first time. Here’s to another spectacular year!”

and environment.” Other students agreed that there were benefits with continuing a vegan lifestyle after Veganuary, as they believed it would “benefit us in terms of health.”

A spokesperson for the University stated that they would be holding a variety of vegan food promotions to celebrate Veganuary across its campuses. They elaborated that this array of options included: “Vegan ‘special’ hot boxes in both La Touche and Cross Keys, 10 per cent reductions on the vegan Proper Cornish range in the Market Place, price reduction on selected dishes in iSCA EATS and the Ram Bar, and Vegan Buddha Bowls in Forum Kitchen until 20th January”. The University went on to say that they regularly review their food and drinks provisions across their campuses in order to ensure that “the needs and requirements for students, staff and visitors alike are met. The University has a good vegan food offer throughout the year with all outlets feature vegan dishes on menus as standard.”

If interested in joining the Pride committee, Devon Live currently has a link on their website for the form which is required to become a voluntary worker for the event.

This would help universities meet government expectations for them to work with local schools

Image: Ella Olsson, Wikimedia Commons

Palestinian groups “horrified” by new Guild Israeli and Zionist Society

Rushton and Megan Ballantyne Editor

ANEW Guild-affiliated Israeli and Zionist Society has received a negative response from local Exeter Palestinian groups. The new society, which claims they aim to “promote the ideals of the state of Israel, through dialogue, cultural activities and engaging talks,” prompted a Facebook post from Palestine Solidarity Campaign Exeter, a local campaigning group, which stated they were “shocked and horrified” at the establishment of the new society, stating that “there had always been a Friends of Israel Society, but this is ramping it up somewhat.” Speaking to Exeposé , the group argued that “Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have all condemned Israel as practicing apartheid against the Palestinians,” and questioned why therefore the group was welcomed onto campus by the Students’ Guild.

A spokesperson for the Israeli and Zionist society told

Exeposé they were “surprised and saddened that the set up of our society resulted in such reactions. The society is based on a Zionist ideal, the belief of a Jewish state in our ancestral homeland. This does not mean we deny Palestinians the right to self-determination, and we truly wish to be able to work together in mutual respect, while assuring them that our goals are not jeopardising theirs.”

way Israel is perceived among Exeter University’s students and give a voice to people who feel they have none.

The multi-facetted culture of Israel is often reduced to the ongoing conflict in the region. Therefore, we wish to represent the many other sides of this beautiful country.”

Guild is to facilitate these groups, including when these views may be challenging or emotive.

We are committed to the principle that both debate and deliberation should not be suppressed, and we encourage and support our members to engage, within the law, in both

a constructive and responsible manner to contest any ideas they oppose openly and vigorously.

We have reached out to the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign Exeter and others who have expressed their dissatisfaction, to invite them in to discuss this further with us.”

The society was affiliated by the Guild after 22 students voted in favour of its establishment, meeting the minimum requirement of 20 students.

A spokesperson for the Israeli and Zionist Society stated, “[our] first goal is to provide representation of Zionist ideas and values, which are often misconceptualised by students in general. This non-partisan group aims at reshaping the

The society has the support of StandWithUs UK, an international organisation which states it aims to to educate people around the world about Israel. Their UK Executive Director Isaac Zarfati, speaking to the Jewish chronicle, said “I am proud of our students who have worked tirelessly on campus to bring the voice of truth about Israel to their peers.”

A Students’ Guild spokesperson gave the following statement: “Any Guild member (which is any student at University of Exeter) can apply to start a new society, and there is criteria set for this. The consideration of free speech enables students to establish groups with a diverse range of views where they can question, challenge, and explore these views. The role of Exeter

Students’ Guild announces changes to Officer roles

Ballantyne Editor

EXETER Students’ Guild are introducing a new Guild Officer position in the upcoming Guild elections, as part of a series of changes which the Students’ Guild have made to the roles and titles of Guild Officers.

The Guild will be electing six positions this year, compared to the five positions open in the 2022

elections. Guild representatives will now be 'Officers' not 'Vice Presidents' under the changes. While the positions of Guild President, Education Officer, and Sports President remain the same, the positions of VP Liberation and Equality and VP Opportunities have been replaced with a ‘Communities and Equality Officer,' a ‘Societies and Employability Officer,' and a ‘Student Living Officer.’ The position of Sports President is elected through the

Guild election process, but the Sports President is affiliated with the Athletics Union and is therefore not a Guild Officer.

The Students’ Guild explained these changes, telling

Exepose: “Last year’s democratic review consulted students and trustees on how Exeter’s student body could better be represented through the paid Full-Time Officers. This has resulted in the creation of a new Student Living Officer role, and some changes to the remits of the other FTO roles. The changes have been made to ensure students are better represented in key areas including housing, student safety and sustainability amongst others.”

The Students' Guild have once again chosen to not require candidates to provide manifestos in this year’s elections, a change first implemented in last years' elections, and which was criticised by students last year, when students told Exeposé , they worried this would turn the elections into a “personality contest,” and would give an unfair advantage to returning officers. Speaking on the decision to run elections without manifestos for a second year in a row, the Students’ Guild told Exeposé : “For this election, we have again asked candidates to provide a personal statement focusing on the skills and values that they will bring to the roles, rather

than a manifesto. For Officers to be student led, being reactive to student priorities and needs as they arise, is a better model for making sure the student voice

is heard than static manifestos.”

The run up to the Exeter Students’ Guild elections has already is already underway, with nominations for the elections open until 6th February. Voting will open on February 22nd. A spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: “The University and the Guild work closely to provide meaningful action and change to ensure students have the best possible environment to thrive. The Guild Officers play an integral role in raising, supporting and championing key issues within the student community, and these elections give an important opportunity for students to choose their representatives going forward.”

The Students’ Guild have once again chosen to not require candidates to provide manifestos in this year’s elections

Amy

The society is based on a Zionist ideal, the belief of a Jewish state in our ancestral homeland Israeli and Zionist Society

Megan

Image: Exeter Students’ Guild

The Guild will be electing six positions this year, compared to the five positions open in the 2022 elections

FEATURES EDITORS: Benedict Thompson and Austin Taylor

The problem of university funding

Ewan Edwards, Tech Editor, discusses university funding struggles as tuition fees remain unchanged

AMID the of the cost-of-living crisis, universities are facing a squeeze in their funding. The problem is a double-edged sword; tuition fees have been capped at £9,250 since 2012 in England and any increase would face backlash from students who already feel the burden of taking on this level of debt at such a young age, but on its own domestic tuition fee payments are not enough to fund universities in the UK.

Inflation, which feels like it has plagued all parts of life over the last 12 months, is at the root of the problem, as tuition fees have not risen with it. Money does not go as far but standards of research and education are expected to stay the same. On top of this, international research partnerships have been impacted by Brexit

for the worse. These partnerships are vital to sustaining funding and promoting the attractiveness of univer sities to investors. Exeter launched the £1.9 million Joint Centre for Environmental Sustainabil ity and Resilience with the Chinese University of Hong Kong unimpact ed by Brexit, but any joint venture like this with a European institute would have caused financial damage from 2020. Universities across the UK are now increasingly reliant upon external funding and philanthropy. Hugh Brady, President of Impe rial College London, has warned of the dangers of “becoming dependent” on phil anthropic donations. There is no guarantee that this money will keep coming in, and, whilst those universi -

ties in the Russell Group have benefitted from donations, they can- not afford

to become dependent. If money were withdrawn, the recipient university could be plunged into debt, threatening the research and educational capacity of the institute. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi has donated in excess of £5 million to the University of Exeter funding the Arab and Islamic Studies building, but no private company would be reliant on inconsistent donations for funding. Whilst the University of Exeter is fortunate to be looked upon as a worthwhile investment from philanthropists or alumni, not all universities may have the same privilege. The UK is globally renowned for its education system and its universities; in the University of Exeter’s 2021/2022 financial review, over a third of tuition fees were taken from international

China abandons zero-Covid

CHINA has reported 60,000 Coronavirus-related deaths in just over a month. This comes as the country ends its strict zero-Covid policy.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic in early 2020, the Chinese government has been draconian in its attempts to control the virus — often no matter the cost to the Chinese people and economy. Using a mix of technology, mass mobilisation and repression, Chinese premier Xi Jinping has led the way towards a zero-tolerance policy for Covid, including strict lockdowns wherever any cases of Covid arise.

Now, with the Omicron variant spreading like wildfire in China, the government has opted for a new strategy: abandon zero-Covid and instead present Omicron as less severe compared to earlier variants like the Delta variant, which poses less of a risk for public health. Sun Chunlan, Vice-Premier and Covid chief, has declared that China has “withstood the test” of Covid and is now in a “new situation”.

Despite this optimistic outlook by the state, foreign epidemiologists have instead warned that China is ill-prepared for its first mass wave of Covid infections. Professor Linda Bauld of Edinburgh University, who aided the UK’s

Covid strategy, has said “China has to find a way out of this. So, I think it’s quite helpful for them to be able to argue that the virus has evolved in some way that makes it easier to open up. With Omicron, certainly from the studies [so far], there may be some small reduction in disease severity but not a huge one.”

China is facing a triple threat, which will likely mean the Omicron wave will be more severe than political leaders hope. Unlike much of the rest of the world, the Chinese public do not have a high level of natural immunity from previous Covid infections. Only two million cases of Covid had been registered by the Chinese government prior to the latest wave, compared to the UK’s 22 million confirmed cases.

group being most vulnerable to the Omicron variant. Lastly, Covid served to expose the weakness of the Chinese health system. Many foreign observers are concerned that the early scenes in Wuhan could be repeated, as the healthcare in China has only been weakened further under the strain of treating Covid patients.

Many are pointing to the Spring outbreak in Hong Kong for signs of how a nationwide wave could proceed. Even with a superior healthcare system to the mainland, Hong Kong suffered greatly, with a death rate under Omicron that was similar to the death rate during the first wave of Covid in the UK, according to Julian Tang, a clinical virologist at Leicester University.

The Chinese government is now launching a vaccination drive geared towards older citizens, many of whom made up the 60,000 victim count over the past month. However, China is only using domestic vaccines, which are less effective than the mRNA alternatives produced by Pfizer and Moderna.

economy will grow at a slower rate than its neighbours. There have also been protests across China, a rare occurrence in a nation which has an iron grip on

students. This helps the universities’ funding squeeze as international students pay higher fees, but increased reliance on international students put universities at risk should Britain lose its global prestige. The UK has been facing a shift in the last 75 years from global superpower to an increasingly poorly defined role — particularly following debate surrounding the Brexit referendum in 2016. More recently, the country has suffered the embarrassment of having four prime ministers in four years, leading to increased concerns over its national prestige.

Increased reliance on international students puts universities at risk

Universities across the UK will have no choice but to look into more consistent and sustainable forms of funding for the future. Tuition fees from domestic students are not enough and the stream of international students may not last forever.

its media and has harsh punishments for dissent. Only time will tell how effective China’s new Covid policy will be and what long-term effects it will have.

Chinese citizens also have low vaccination and booster rates, particularly among the over-80s. Only 40 per cent have had a booster shot, despite this age

The Chinese government’s approach to Covid thus far has led to wider consequences than just public health. The World Bank has forecast that China’s

Charlie Gershinson, News

Editor,

looks at

the ramifications of an end to China’s longtime Covid policy

The Omicron wave will be more severe than political leaders hope

Domestic tuition fee payments are not enough to fund universities

Univesity of Exeter Arabic and Islamic Studies Building. Image: Pierre Terre, Wikimedia Commons.

Image: Ptrump16, Wikimedia Commons.

In

conversation with Andy Slaughter

tory, and the way that campaign was conducted, Brexit was a big factor. And I think that although that was not quite the same as having a second referendum, it would be quite difficult now to reverse the outcome. The public did vote for Brexit, and they then voted for a party with a big majority which had a very clear Brexit program. I think you must have a clear mandate to have that other referendum now. Remain would have to be ahead in the polls for a long period of time, and then you can probably say that opinion polls would allow us to have another think about this. We have to follow the leadership of the public.

can see exactly the same issue with the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in 2020, which happened because of the neglect by the social landlord since the conditions in their property were so bad. So it is not just to do with fire safety, although that is extremely important, but also to do with heat proofing, housing conditions and overcrowding. Across the ball, we have failed on social housing. Of course there are lots of other problems such as health and education, but in terms of neglect, this has gone on for over a 30-year period, and social housing has just gone off the government’s radar.

É: Does Labour have a viable plan to solve the housing crisis? Would Labour keep the Right to Acquire Scheme to help people buy their homes?

É: But wouldn’t a second referendum contradict Keir Starmer’s position to commit to Brexit?

ANDY Slaughter serves as the Shadow Solicitor General for England and Wales. Slaughter read English at the University of Exeter from 1979-82 before entering politics as an MP in 1997. He has previously held roles under Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jeremy Corbyn. Benedict Thompson, Features Editor, spoke to Slaughter about the current political climate and the Labour Party’s message.

É: Polls have placed Labour on 45 per cent whilst the Conservatives are on 29 per cent. What is on your mind about Keir Starmer?

AS: That is a very significant lead. It is a reflection I think of both the fact that people are very fed up with the way that the Conservative Party have behaved for reasons I think we all know. But also that people feel comfortable about voting for Labour. I don’t think people have reservations about Labour, they clearly view us as the better option. Keir Starmer is in large part responsible for that because what the Labour Party has done comes from the leader for understandable reasons. I’ve known Keir Starmer for a very long time when I was just starting up in law about 30 years ago. So I have no problem with Keir at all. I supported him in the leadership, and I know he is up for the job. It is an incredibly difficult job, but he has got the skills and temperament to be Prime Minister. It is a process of getting to know you [Starmer], and I think that is what he has been getting through, but it has taken longer than it normally would because of the pandemic so he has not been exposed to much in that way. I think now people can see that Keir is somebody that would not just make a good PM but is someone that we need in the current crisis.

É: Is it time for a general election?

AS: I’m going to say yes to that because we are 20 per cent ahead in the polls and every party wants to be in power, nobody wants to be in opposition. The argument against it, which is what the Conservatives are clinging onto, is that we have a parliamentary system where we have fixed term elections every five years. I think we are in very exceptional times now because we have had so many changes in government without a general election and the Conservative government is not on the same footing as it was when it was elected. They do not have the same legitimacy you would expect a government with such continuity to have and it does seem to have lost its way. You can see that the government do not really have the confidence or the concentration on the job that they are supposed to do. So I think a general election is probably the only option.

É: In 2018 you stated, “I am firmly signed up to support a People’s Vote with the option of remaining in the EU”. Is that still your position?

AS: Not exactly, but only because time has moved on. There was a strong feeling at that time but clearly not strong enough because Brexit was such a momentous decision with consequences. You’ve got the four per cent decrease in GDP. It was worth checking with the public if the Brexit vote was right given a lot of disinformation that there had been. Whatever you say about the 2019 general election vic-

AS: I don’t think there is going to be a second referendum in the foreseeable future. Certainly not in the next government. Looking beyond that, looking beyond the next ten years in the future, it depends on a lot of factors. The main one would be if there was a clear poll lead for one, that would be a basis for having one. You can draw parallels to Scottish independence in that way.

É: If there was one single issue that Labour should be talking about more, what would that issue be?

AS: It is difficult to talk about things other than the economic crisis at the moment because it is so severe. And what is exceptional about it is that you can argue whether the government has caused the economic crisis, or you can argue whether they responded well to the crisis. You can say that as much about the 2008 financial crash and the current cost-of-living crisis. But I think what is unique about this government is that it has provenly made things worse. It has taken action which has deepened the crisis. And so, for that reason, we have to focus on what steps we now need to take to protect people, particularly people who are most vulnerable to the cost-of-living crisis.

É: Are there still lessons to be learnt about protection in social housing following the Grenfell Tower incident in 2017?

AS: Grenfell is literally just up the road from me, so I have lived with the consequences of the incident. I’ve been quite involved in the Grenfell campaign. But social housing, and housing generally, has consistently been the biggest issue over the time I have been in politics because it is such a difficult problem. Grenfell wasn’t the start of the issue but was the most dramatic example of neglect and not treating people in social housing with decency and listening to them. You

AS: Lots of governments have fiddled around with the housing system at different times, so the situation is quite complicated. Housing is unaffordable for most people. Private renting is also unaffordable to many people. If you are a housing association tenant, which is about half of all social housing, you don’t have an automatic right to buy your home. That is something which the Conservatives keep threatening to change. If they don’t, it is because they know that will make the housing crisis much worse because it will take a whole huge chunk of affordable property out of the market and make it unaffordable. Home ownership will put less pressure on social housing, but if you are going to take an existing social housing unit, you have got to replace it, but this has not happened, and that is why the Right to Acquire scheme has failed. Even with a 50-70 per cent discount, a lot of people simply can’t afford to buy their homes.

É: Hundreds of NHS bureaucrats are earning more than £100,000 a year while 14 per cent of nurses are using food banks? Does Labour have a plan to protect NHS workers?

AS: The deterioration of the NHS has really happened since 2010. There are hundreds of thousands of vacancies, and that is partly because of poor wages for people on the front line. But if you have a healthcare system which employs just over a million people, then you are inevitably going to have high paying jobs..

É: UK care homes are still stopping family reunions after Covid-19, leaving a devastating impact on the elderly and their loved ones. Do you support the Resident’s Relative’s Association and the John’s Campaign to ‘End Isolation In Care’ to ensure visiting rights in law?

AS: The way that care homes were treated was probably the worst thing that came out of Covid because you had a lot of people dying since they were being discharged from hospitals into care homes with Covid when they then spread the disease. And then the reaction to that was to effectively iso-

late them and close care homes and in the same process trapping Covid inside. You were then effectively shutting the door on the residents. You had those terrible scenes of people then not being able to visit their relatives before they died. I hope lessons can be learnt from that. In Hammersmith, we had a very robust response because the people who were policing the care homes were the local authorities. Most care homes are private, for example Chiswick Nursing Centre, very few are run by the state. But the state still has to draw the policing. The NHS were being instructed by the government to free up beds. The reason why I think that is relevant here is that although it sounds very attractive to say that the relatives should have the last say, the fact that the councils do that is, in the end, to save a lot of lives. The problem which caused everything, the deaths and the inhumanity of the separation of people, was the fact that both clinical and managerial decisions were not made correctly.

É: What is your single biggest worry about Rishi Sunak as PM? AS: It was a cruel but fairly good joke when Keir Starmer said in Sunak’s first PMQs that Sunak had lost an election who herself became second to a lettuce. There is an element in truth in that. That even the Conservative Party itself had rejected Rishi Sunak as leader and then because of the way things went they had to turn to him a few months later. Everybody deserves a chance so we will see what he does but it is not a good start. Firstly, because he is the third PM in six months, and secondly because he hasn’t been elected by the public and he hasn’t made a good first impression. Partly because, and this may suggest because he has no alternative, he has reappointed people who are seen to be some of the worst failures in the previous government. People including Suella Braverman, Dominic Raab and Gavin Williamson. Two of them have already gone. Now some people say that he had effectively no choice because they could blackmail Sunak into giving them those jobs. That shows he is in a very weak position or that he has very bad judgement because clearly those people should not be in government. I can’t think of a worse start. Even Liz Truss had a better start. It doesn’t look good for him.

É: Do you have any advice to students who are interested in pursuing a career in politics?

AS: Everybody finds their own way. Students should try and approach politics from their own lives and things that have happened to them.

Benedict Thompson, Features Editor, talks to Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith, about the current political climate, Labour’s vision and domestic affairs

Remain would have to be ahead in the polls for a long period of time

You were then effectively shutting the door on the residents

People are very fed up with the way that the Conservative Party have behaved

Image: David Woolfall, Wikimedia Commons

Sweden’s help for Ukraine

What I wish I knew before my year abroad

Esther Humphries, Online Science Editor, gives advice on preparing for a year abroad

SINCE Putin launched his barbaric invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, there have been various international responses. Europe, the US and the UK have been united in condemnation of the invasion and each has moved heaven and earth to provide military equipment, financial aid and refuge. However, the most surprising help for Ukraine has been provided by both Sweden and Finland, countries who have for decades profited from their neutrality in world affairs. Since the invasion, both countries have applied for NATO membership and aligned their military aid to that of the West. To end 2022, in a not so neutral move, Sweden provided a military package worth some $287 million from helmets to rocket-propelled grenades. The substantial package not only affirms Sweden’s strong support for Ukrainian victory in the face of Russian aggression, it also proves the country’s desire to be a more prominent player in international affairs.

tage in isolating Russia’s access to the Baltic Sea from St Petersburg. The Leningrad Naval Base which is positioned in the Baltic Sea will become less sustainable if surrounded by allied European countries: favourable for NATO and not for Russia and its cronies. This move to be a member has all come since the invasion of Ukraine, displaying the unexpected resolve of the Swedes. Their response has not just been effective in providing aid but also operates as a greater symbol of defiance in the wake of one man’s tyrannical waging of war against a sovereign state.

Victory for Ukraine is not yet assured; the brutal campaign of Putin rages on despite victories in Kherson and swathes of other territory. Military aid and resources will still be essential if there is any hope of ending the conflict. Sweden has pledged another $59 million of aid already for 2023; their resolve and support for Ukraine is remarkable in both its nature and the fact that it has not been picked up by much of the media that covers the European support for Ukraine.

THE year abroad can come with many challenges. Adapting to a new culture and language whilst balancing study or work commitments is not easy, especially when shadowed by feelings of homesickness, loneliness or insecurity. There is plenty of practical advice that I could share. Above all, start on the admin as soon as you can — there can be a lot, it can feel overwhelming and often, in my experience, the bureaucracy can be very slow. But there are also many things I have learnt about both myself and the experience since embarking on my year abroad. It is not helpful to compare your experience to others. Battling comparison is not exclusive to the year abroad: it is something that many people struggle with throughout university. However, the temptation to compare your experiences with other people on your course or your social media feed may be maximised by the year abroad. I have learnt that the year abroad is an individual journey; no one will be the same as another. But what matters is what you get out of it. This will be different for every person; perhaps you meet lifelong friends, perhaps you finally feel confident speaking your second or third language, or perhaps you simply realise that you are more of a somebody.

Give yourself time to settle in. My year abroad has taught me the true meaning of culture shock. For me, it was not sudden or abrasive, but rather the gradual and consistent unfamiliarity of living in another country. This is not necessarily a negative thing; I enjoy learning about different aspects of a new culture, but it can be tiring and it can take some time for you to feel really at home in your new environment. If you feel unsettled or even homesick in your first few weeks, this is completely understandable but it does not have to define your whole year abroad experience.

The two Nordic countries are positioned to be accepted to the NATO membership this year which would turn the Baltic Sea into a ‘NATO lake’. This gives a strategic advan-

New Year’s traditions

Try not to focus on the ‘what ifs’. It is pointless to think about all the ‘what ifs’ of the year abroad experience. What if I had studied instead of worked? What if I lived in a different city? What if I had chosen to live with a host family? The truth is that the year abroad will fly by. You have a limited time to experience something that many others never do — living, working and studying in another country and culture. Wherever you find yourself and whatever you end up doing, try to make the experience your own without considering what could have been.

International writers explore the most unique New Year’s Eve traditions of Romania and Spain

ONE of the most extraordinary festivities connected to the New Year is the Romanian tradition of celebrating through dressing up as bears. That unique custom has its roots in pre-Christian rituals, and it has been preserved well. It is rooted in the idea that seeing a bear in someone’s garden signifies good luck and prosperity as well as protection from evil spirits. The parade is accompanied by various folk costumes, traditional songs and dances. Bears are not the only animals that are witnessed: there are also horses and other creatures (folk and imaginary). Romanians highlight how important it is to preserve their centuries-old culture; New Year’s Eve for them is not only watching the fireworks and dancing the night away, but also an appreciation of tradition and teaching their children about the heritage of their country. Some circulate around houses, wishing their neighbours a good year, singing songs, with children reciting a traditional poem, “Plugusorul” (the small plow), with wishes of fruitful fields in the upcoming year. One other tradition that is worth mentioning is the onion calendar. Romanian families cut an onion into 12 equal pieces and add some salt. The water quantity that appears on the slices predicts the rainfall for each time of the year. It is evident that Romania celebrates its folk beliefs with a great passion.

Agata Koralewska International Editor

LIKE in most countries, as the clock approaches midnight on New Year’s Eve, Spanish people gather around TV screens or in the main ‘plazas’ to ring in the new year. However, with a twist: they are probably clutching twelve green grapes (or doce uvas). The aim is to eat a grape for each twelve strikes of the clock which can prove difficult, but if completed successfully, each grape represents luck within each month of the New Year. Also food-related, many Spanish people eat lentils and ham for lunch on New Year’s Eve, as lentils are said to represent coins and therefore wealth in the coming year. Another tradition in Spain relates to setting off on the right foot. Literally! Many Spaniards believe that the first step you should take after the chimes of New Year should be on your right foot in order to not cause bad luck. For some, this first step is counted as the first step outside the house on New Year’s Day and for others it relates to the the first step back into the house after a night of celebrating with friends or family. Whichever it is, perhaps we should hop around on our right feet for the preceding few days so as to not risk the bad luck.

Gracie Moore Lifestyle Editor

Ewan Edwards, Tech Editor, evaluates how Sweden abandoned its neutrality in international affairs to help Ukraine

Image: Jurta, Wikimedia Commons

It is not helpful to compare your experience to others

Image: Billy Hicks, Wikimedia Commons

Give yourself time to settle in

Sweden and Finland, countries who have for decades profited from their neutrality

CONNOR GODDARD & ANABEL COSTA-FERREIRA

Maths & English until 18: Would it have helped you?

GCSE students who thought they saw the end of maths will have to think again. The Prime Minister recently set out the government’s plans to enhance numeracy skills in England through a new “baccalaureate” scheme, requiring students to study Maths up until the age of 18. A-Levels would not be the only route; students would also be provided with alternatives that are yet to be revealed. The announcement

was made in a speech by Rishi Sunak in which he set out his plans for the year ahead, including tackling the struggling economy and NHS, as well as immigration.

Whilst the timing of the announcement is rather ill-suited considering waves of strikes taking place amongst workers within the railway, NHS and education sectors, this is not a new move for the Conservatives. Since the days of Michael Gove as Education Minister

the party has expressed their desire for such numeracy levels to be improved; according to government statistics, approximately eight million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary school children. Which prompts the question, will extending the period of time that young people must study Maths truly solve the issue?

many jobs, is a post-GCSE level really necessary for all jobs? The implementation of Maths in the post-16 curriculum runs the risk of further disillusioning the students who want the time to explore other subjects that they are keen to pursue in the future. As such, these other subjects are also merited: where would we be without sciences or languages, for example?

THE overall concept of Refreshers week sounds interesting and exciting and brings on a whole new range of activities for both first-year students and those above. These “refreshed” society events and stalls, aimed at those who missed out the first time around or those who want to rekindle their love for something, may seem like a good idea at first glance but their time placement creates some issues in their appeal, reception and attendance. Refreshers week, alongside the newly launched, ‘Love Exeter’ week, is set to take place from the 16th-22nd January, with a range of events from different societies, but how popular will it really be?

for other students to get involved. From round two of the Freshers Fair to a range of screenings and ‘get to know each other’ activities, the involved societies of this week have gone above and beyond in organising engaging events for all. Despite this inclusivity, ‘Love Exeter’ is due to take place just after and during January exams for many students, leaving a

If Maths is a topic that some have struggled with throughout their whole school career, myself being one of them, will an extra two years make it any clearer? For myself, I doubt that it would have. I worked hard to pass my Maths GCSE and get all of the basic skills that I needed, so as to progress to study what I am truly passionate about. Whilst maths is undoubtedly a fundamental skill required in

The balance of time for students following a baccalaureate system would very likely change following this implementation. It is currently very difficult for 16-18year-olds undertaking A-Levels to hold jobs, volunteer or partake in important extracurricular activities, let alone manage more elements on top of this. Moreover, the government seems to ignore the fact that key life skills are absent from our education system, such as how to manage money and pay taxes, for example. Let alone the minimal discussions around discrimination, such as racism and sexism, that are pivotal in

developing a more equal society. Perhaps a more systematic revision is needed. It is commonplace to dismiss ourselves for being bad at Maths, but would we do this so easily for our literacy skills? Such hopelessness around the topic seems to indicate that our current curriculum needs improving first, so as to give students the confidence in using Maths in a future career.

The general demographic of ‘Love Exeter’ is first-year students, but there are many opportunities

significant absence of a range of potential attendees. Though there is the chance that those having exams can use the week’s events as down-time and a break from neverending revision, most will not take up this offer, as their degrees are significantly more important. Moreover, the events are either during the day, when students will be attending classes or working in the

library, or during the evening, when many will either want to continue their studies or be at home, relaxing alone. Consequently, there will most likely be a strong lack of older students, and maybe first-years too. From the beginning of term, the majority of first-year students are set to have summative module exams, whether they’re online or in-person. Therefore, much like

If Maths is to be compulsory until 18, reform to its teaching and the training and hiring of more teachers is first necessary. Once this groundwork is set, and the system is made more comprehensive, perhaps then all students can be granted the same amount of choice over their academic futures, as opposed to being stuck in a floundering system until 18.

other year groups, most first-year students will be focused on their exams instead of ‘Love Exeter’. Unlike its September counterpart, this Refreshers week may be slightly unsuccessful in its turn out.

As well as the dreaded January exams, many may not attend due to a general unawareness of ‘Love Exeter’ itself. The week appears to have slipped under the radar for many students and with Fixr being the main site for University events, there currently appears to be a lack of socials on the website itself, aside from the official ‘Love Exeter’ postings. Though all the events are listed on the Students’ Guild’s own website, the week remains unknown to many students, which could impact its reception unless more postings are made about the week.

Overall, the potential lack of attendees and appeal to all years diminishes ‘Love Exeter’ to an event consisting of only free tote bags and pens, rather than an opportunity for all year groups to come together and unite in their joint interests of particular societies.

Perhaps a more systematic revision is needed

Annabel Jeffery discusses the government’s recent strategy to better young people’s education Lisette Reed

The events’ time placement creates some issues in their appeal and potentially attendance

Eight million adults in England have the numeracy skills of primary school children

Why I will be making New Year’s resolutions...

Gracie Moore, Lifestyle Editor, discusses the benefits of making goals this new year

IRREFUTABLY, New Year’s resolutions can cause yearly undue stress upon people. Many set unrealistic expectations upon themselves: goals that simply aren’t achievable within the space of the year. It’s the lack of awareness of this that causes us to resent the idea of a “new year, new me.” However, undoubtedly, if one was to sit down and contemplate specific,

measurable and achievable goals for the coming year, the resolution becomes a source of motivation and completely shifts the mindset of being unrealistic and toxic. With no goals in life, we have no goalposts to reach and no small wins to celebrate.

Growth is the ultimate goal for most people, an abstract concept that often comes in the form of very, VERY small progress. Despite

this, progress is still progress and setting these minor goals and then achieving them overall improves motivation and mental health. Rather than setting goals for difficult and lengthy processes (such as becoming fluent in a language you are a mere beginner in or cutting considerable time from your 400 metre personal best), smaller and more frequent

goals actually help reach this end goal faster. Also, showing personal growth comes in the form of reducing or completely cutting out toxic personality traits that might be hindering progress. Overall, setting personal goals like this can improve your connections to others and make you a happier person.

As an example of this kind of goal, at the beginning of 2022, I vowed to live by the phrase “Life is too short”. I told myself this would mean I would take every opportunity possible (both in my academic and personal life), work hard to get what I want and never be too shy or nervous to go for what I believed I deserved. After setting myself this goal (which I believe I achieved), I have become a much more confident and outgoing individual, attracting the correct kinds of people and opportunities.

Also, showing personal growth comes in the form of reducing or completely cutting out toxic personality traits

Goals like these are perfect for feeling accomplished at the end of the year as you can look back and see a large change from the year before (for the better). Of course, the problem with this is that it isn’t always measurable and therefore, you may feel at the end of the year as if you could have done more. The resolutions are not the problem here and it is important to note that the voice telling you you’re not doing enough will always be there but sometimes we have to ignore it even when it feels wrong to.

The problem with this is that it isn’t always measurable

Generally, New Year’s resolutions (when set properly) are a very efficient way to have a trajectory for the year as well as allowing yourself to assess the achievements accomplished by the end of the year compared to the start. The only thing that needs to be remembered is that any small progress is a win and that only you have the power to decide on your goals.

Why I won’t be making New Year’s resolutions...

MANY people like to start off the New Year by ‘turning over a new leaf’ and setting resolutions about how they want to improve themselves and their lives. But are New Year’s resolutions all that important, and are they worth making?

Firstly, resolutions can be made at any time of year, you should not limit yourself to only improving your life at one point in the year. The New Year itself is an arbitrary date, and the decision to make a resolution is arguably caused by existential crises around the holiday season. During this time it is easy to get caught up in it all and only later does the reality of balancing resolutions, like going to the gym, with work and so on, set in.

it

Furthermore, New Year’s resolutions just pile on extra unnecessary pressure, at a time when you are likely already worrying about whether you are where you want to be in life etc. Why not

wait until you feel you can manage an extra commitment in your life?

You are also often bombarded by emails from brands, adverts on TV and social media posts at this time of year, all piling on pressure to get you to set and achieve new resolutions, especially if it involves buying product X from their trusted brand. This pressure and obsession is arguably not

healthy and could be damaging for some people’s mental health.

If anything, it is more painless to set goals outside of New Year’s, as then it is much easier to avoid comparing yourself to others, instead of everyone doing it at the same time at New Year’s. There will always be someone who is putting in more work towards their resolution than you, or whose

resolution is more ambitious than yours, and this can be disheartening and often leads to people giving up. These comparisons are made worse by many people sharing their progress on resolutions like gym-going, dieting, running marathons, etc. on social media, all of which can make you feel worse about your own resolutions.

Lastly, many people do not even

keep their New Year’s resolutions. A recent YouGov survey found that only 28 per cent of people who made resolutions at the beginning of 2022 kept all of them. 53 per cent of people who made resolutions said that they managed to keep some but not all of them, and 17 per cent said that they didn’t keep any of their resolutions.

53 per cent of people who made resolutions said that they managed to keep some

So, while New Year’s resolutions can be useful for some people, and the idea of setting resolutions and goals isn’t a bad one, the dangers (such as the extra pressure of comparing yourself to others) of doing it at New Year are so high that it is potentially more harmful than beneficial. If you are going to set yourself goals and resolutions, set smaller goals, and do them for yourself, not social media. And why not mix it up a bit and pick a random date?

Lauren Walsh, Administrative Executive, discusses the problematic nature of making resolutions

Image: Pixabay, Stockvault Image: Pexels Image

Image: Marco Verch, ccnul fotos

is easy to get caught up in it all

Satire

Running Up That Hill (A Deal with Shell)

Harry Craig Music Editor

THE University of Exeter has defended its recently announced partnership with Shell on altruistic grounds, claiming it aims to create technology that sequesters carbon dioxide emitted by exhausted students trekking up Cardiac Hill.

The research partnership with one of the world’s biggest greenhouse gas emitters had been heavily criticised for contradicting the University’s climate pledges. However, a spokesperson claimed that the project was actually aimed at reducing carbon emissions by combatting Devon’s biggest CO2 producer — freshers walking up Cardiac Hill.

Devon’s biggest CO2 producer — freshers walking up Cardiac Hill.

Although all students produce carbon dioxide when walking up the hill, freshers are the most egregious emitters, primarily because their ridiculously high alcohol consumption means their breath can contain up to five times more carbon dioxide than the average person. A 2021 report raised concerns that this would be the biggest obstacle to the University’s goal of achieving net zero by 2030.

The project has also caused massive opposition from residents of Birks Grange Village, located just next to Cardiac Hill, on safety grounds.

Guild Officer candidates eyeing prime ministerial job

IF the beginning of term two paired with exams isn’t enough excitement for you, the Guild elections process is beginning again! Typically intense, we lament the pending panpipes and nightmareinducing mascots roaming the floor of the Forum while flyers are shoved under our noses. “Vote for me now! So I can see you’ve done it!”

Typically intense, we lament the pending panpipes and nightmare-inducing mascots

Some may say the enthusiasm for the Guild elections would set the upcoming candidates in good stead to don a suit and take a seat in the lush

paradise that is 10 Downing Street. As many are aware, the prime ministers are currently coming and leaving faster than an EURFC lad, so who better to fit the bill than these bright-eyed candidates, still with a shred of will left in them? Perhaps £150,000 a year would get them up and ready to take on more than just the Guild presidency; after all, these student loans aren’t going to pay themselves off.

With the Guild presidency race predicted to be fierce, dishy Rishi had better clutch that red budget box like his life depends on it if he doesn’t want a proletarian Exeter alumnus stealing his spot.

Gracie Moore, Lifestyle Editor

One disgruntled student claimed that the pressurised tanks that would store the sequestered carbon dioxide risked creating an explosion “worse than the World War II bomb” that was detonated nearby in 2021. An explosion is considered most likely in hot weather which, ironically, would be a greater risk amidst climate change-induced heatwaves.

Worse than the World War II bomb-

Meanwhile, activists from Just Stop Oil were forced to halt their planned protest on Cardiac Hill after discovering that the glue they used to stick themselves to the hill’s steep path wasn’t strong enough, and caused them to slip downhill.

Cleo Gravett

Billionaire Exeter landlord runs for

student

housing officer in Guild Elections

IN a move he says is “definitely not performative or a blatant moneygrab” an infamous Exeter student housing boss has decided to run for the new Guild position of ‘Housing Officer’ in the upcoming Guild elections. Speaking to Exeposé, he claimed that he wanted students to see a “different side of him.”

“I know some students have the impression I’m a money-hungry landlord who charges them extortionate rents for tiny rooms, but I’m so much more than that.”

In a move which literally no one asked for, and which some students are calling “a bigger embarrassment than Matt Hancock going on I’m a Celeb”, the billionaire is seeking to rebrand himself as a champion of the student body. His personal statement describes him as an “outgoing individual who wants to make change at the University.” The state-

ment did not reveal whether the intended change was a negative or positive one.

He went on to say: “There are so many different levels we can relate on. I sell houses infested with mould, you live in them. If you’re someone who tries to sell TP Wednesday tickets worth £2 for £200 you’ve basically got my business model down to a T!”

Although a little richer than your average candidate, the Guild has emphasised that he has the same chances as all the other candidates, and that there is no foul play involved. But the final line of his personal statement does read: “If you live in one of my houses and don’t vote for me, don’t bother calling about that mysterious rat infestation you get in a couple of weeks — we won’t pick up!”

Megan Ballantyne, Editor

Consternation among students as single-use cutlery banned

Oliver Lamb Deputy Editor

CONFUSION and consternation have reigned among the nation’s students since a ban on single-use cutlery and crockery was announced earlier this month. One discombobulated undergraduate was Harry Smithereen, who spoke to Exeposé “It’s really confusing,” he said, sit-

ting in his kitchen as an acrid cloud of mould hung over the mountain of dirty dishes by the sink. Pressed on what he meant, he explained that he uses all of his tableware once only.

“Use them multiple times?!” he spluttered, when this was suggested to him. “Don’t be silly. You leave your dirty plates by the sink and use a new one the next day, or reuse a dirty one if you can’t be bothered. Everyone I know does that. And now we’re all

wondering what we’re going to use if single-use cutlery and crockery is banned. Do we eat out of our hands?”

takes 200 years to decompose. But Harry’s dishes are made of china, so they could be piled up in his kitchen for a lot longer than that.

Announcing the ban, environment secretary Thérèse Coffey said that a single-use plastic fork

The ban will reportedly cover plates, bowls and trays used in restaurants, cafés or takeaways, but not in supermarkets and shops. Perhaps, then, Harry and his fellow students could eat straight from shop shelves. “It would certainly save time,” Harry agrees.

You leave your dirty plates by the sink and use a new one the next day.

Images: Joshua Hughes, University of Exeter

lifestyle

How to beat the January blues

Elen Johnston covers her tips on beating the common seasonal sadness

RETURNING to university after the holidays can be difficult. January has the cold of winter without the warmth of December’s festivities. With daylightsaving still shortening the evenings and exams looming, January can be a hard month. January begins with exams and deadlines that many of us have tried to put aside while celebrating the holidays, and it can feel like everything is catching up with us. With saying goodbye to family and friends we spent the holidays with, January can feel bleak. Therefore, it can be essential to develop some coping strategies. When it’s cold and raining outside, it can feel like you don’t want to go outside at all. While this is understandable, it’s important to get outside if you can. I try to keep an eye on the weather and find breaks between the rain to go for short walks. During your breaks try and do things you look forward to even if that’s watching your favourite rom-com. Exam season can make us feel guilty for

taking breaks. I know the feeling but sometimes we can find ourselves not being productive and spending our time panicking. When it gets to this point, it can help to take short breaks and step away from your laptop, hydrate, eat some food, and do some self-care. I find that exercise helps my mental health. I love to cycle, but the bad weather can dampen our outdoor exercise plans. But, it can be fun to try out new exercise routines. The thing about exercise is while it’s good for us in many ways, it’s important that you enjoy it. I recommend dance workout routines: there are some great ones on YouTube such as Taylor Swift dance workout routines.

it’s difficult to exercise, hydrate, eat, and do things we enjoy. If you’re struggling please reach out to the following services:

• You can self-refer to TalkWorks to access NHS CBT therapy.

• The University offers ‘on the day’ drop-in wellbeing appointments bookable at 9:15-3:30pm by calling 01392 724381.

• If you have a diagnosed mental health condition or disability you may be eligible to access a weekly mental health tutor through your public funding body.

• You can also contact Wellbeing at well being@exeter.ac.uk.

• Exeter Student Nightline is a confidential listening and information service run by students.

• There is also an Education Welfare Team live chat available every weekday from 12:30pm to 2pm.

The truth is, sometimes when we are struggling with our mental health,

• Samaritans is available 24/7 by calling 116 123 for free.

NOT one year has gone by without my New Year's resolutions becoming as ephemeral as Liz Truss being PM. But this year, I wanted to approach 1st January differently. Instead of fooling myself with negativesounding goals, such as losing weight, going to the gym or banning chocolate, I decided to have a more positive mindset.

This year’s resolution is to have a healthy body and healthy mind. I am not going to do this by starting a keto diet or forcing myself into the weights section of the gym with all the intimidating guys; I am going to take things slowly. This means actually paying attention to the little victories.

Yesterday, I went for a run down on the River Exe; it was only short and I was (embarrassingly) as red as a beetroot when I got back, but the Fitbit that I was gifted for Christmas flashed up with “Nicely done!” — my own personal cheerleader! I wrote this down in my new ‘One line a day’ journal and felt a sense of pride for my small achievement.

This is how I am going to keep going with my resolution, not by putting myself

down because I have eaten one calorie too many, but by taking each day as it comes. Little changes, for instance making sure I do my 250 steps every hour or giving myself 15 minutes every day to read a book, have already made a massive difference to my physical and mental health; they go hand in hand.

It has only been two weeks, and Rome wasn’t built in a day, but with the right attitude and supportive people around me I feel more determined than ever for 2023.

Emily Roughton

IBEGIN this article with an apology — for being that insufferable friend who inevitably talks about their New Year’s resolutions at any possible point throughout January. Nonetheless, the clichés about 'new year, new start' can so often prove to be true. Making changes to your lifestyle and attitude can be so much easier as we turn a new page in the calendar and reflect on the year that has passed.

For me, this opportunity to reset couldn’t have come at a better time, and by December I was eager to start a new year with a set of resolutions. For me in 2023, this is not necessarily about anything material, like learning a language or starting a new hobby, but instead about changing my mindset.

Learning to prioritise oneself without being deemed ‘selfish’ can be a tricky balance to strike, and certainly something I have found difficult. I struggle to reject social plans, even when I don’t really want to be there — the sort of FOMO I’m sure many of us can relate to. After all, how many times have I been out clubbing to avoid feeling like I was missing out, despite knowing at heart I

would much rather be sat in bed with some cheesy chips? If my resolution goes to plan, hopefully there will be far more cheesy chip nights in, than messy TP nights out in 2023.

Linked to this change in mindset is a resolution to accept one of life’s hardest to swallow truths: not everyone will like you. On the reverse, however, will be dozens of people who do, and sacrificing the latter for the former is not worth it. Being comfortable with this fact is not always easy to come to terms with, but I hope 2023 will make it worth it!

Harry Craig, Music Editor

Image: Krista, Wikimedia Commons

Image: Hindrik Sijens, Flickr

New year, new wardrobe?

Lisette Reed gives a helpful insight into some returning fashion trends in the new season

WHILST 2022 was a year of early 2000s y2k fashion repeats, with clothes such as low-rise jeans re-emerging, 2023 is set to be a year full of vibrant, yet classic statement pieces, with some ‘90s fan favourites making a comeback, earning them a well-deserved place as wardrobe staples.

Sustainability is essential so there’s no wonder that modern fashion is being strongly influenced by previous trends. The pattern of re-surfacing fashion is clear to see when looking back at past years, but who can fault it? For different reasons, these pieces will forever be iconic and with the stigma attached to charity shopping diminishing, all trend followers are able to achieve their desired looks for affordable prices, with original designs, while being environmentally friendly.

One particular wardrobe essential for 2023 is any form of maxi clothing — whether it’s a maxi skirt or dress, this item has been waiting in the back of your wardrobe for its comeback and the time is now. This 1990s statement piece is incredibly flexible as it can be paired with anything to heighten it or to make it a casual dayto-day outfit. Moreover, due to its long length, it can be worn in all seasons as your legs will always be shielded from the cold. Though the maxi dress has also been popular in some way or another, the iconic ‘90s maxi dress, with thin straps, is re-emerging once more. With ‘90s 'It' girls, such as Kate Moss wearing the piece, it will become a staple of the 2023 'It' girls' wardrobe.

Another ‘90s staple re-surfacing in this new

season is bomber jackets, specifically the classic ‘90s Britpop bomber jackets originally popularised by both Blur and Oasis. Stylish but also warm, these jackets are accessible to everyone as all British charity shops sell them in the men’s coat section. Furthermore, many fashion trends of recent years have included some kind of eccentric, incredibly impractical feature, for example parachute pants with straps, whilst also being particularly unsustainable and expensive. This classic statement piece with its cropped style paired with the forever trending baggy jeans secures a fashionable yet comfortable fit for all wearers.

On top of this, wide-webbed crochet has come back into style, in all forms. One key example of trending crochet is crocheted tops and cardigans. Whilst these are pretty and delicate and can be styled in a range of ways, they are also incredibly cheap to make — all you need is a crochet hook, wool and some patience. Though crocheting your own clothes may not appeal to all, the beauty of crochet is that anyone can do it and therefore there are many small businesses who sell them for much less than fast fashion brands, saving you money. Bright and vibrant pieces are very trendy currently and allow the wearer to create an outfit around the crochet itself.

2023’s recycling of trends allows us to be environmentally conscious and sustainable in our fashion choices — and you can never go wrong with the originals.

Veganuary: Debunking the myths

gives us her thoughts and advice on taking part in Veganuary

DURING all other months of the year, vegans tend to get a bad reputation for being in-your-face and smarmy in their decision to eliminate animal products from their diet and lifestyle. But in the month of January, many seem to follow in their footsteps and take the plunge into a plant-based diet.

Having taken part in Veganuary before, I noticed that there are a lot of opinions on this ‘temporary’ life choice: people either thinking it is an impossible feat, a ridiculous waste of time or an interesting marketing tactic that forges a kinship between capitalism and the plantbased community. Many all-year-round committed vegans also seem to have a lot to say on the topic with regards to the emergence of readily available options in the supermarkets and restaurants that other months don’t bring. Why can’t these options be available all year round? My experience with an introduction to veganism during January strays from these debates; I think once we depoliticise veganism as a con-

cept, we can see the positives in Veganuary. I believe that if you want to make any changes in January that you plan to maintain throughout the year, they need to be small and without pressure. This ‘ethos’ applies to Veganuary massively; once I realised that I could approach it however I wanted to, it became a change that has been semipermanent. During Veganu ary, I made small manageable shifts to a plant-based diet that were affordable and didn’t daunt me. I switched minced meat in dishes like bolognese to lentils; I found tofu to be a good addition to my weekly stir-

frys; and I used plant-based milks over others. There is often a stigma that eating plantbased is more expensive than eating meat and dairy, especially when supermarkets bring out expensive alternatives to meat, but I can guarantee that my food shops come in cheaper than most of my friends who eat meat and use animal products. If you avoid big brand names like Quorn etc. you can still eat enough protein and cheaply.

When it comes to snacks: vegan chocolate, eggs and cheese do leave much to be desired, but crisps, cere -

als and biscuits are all easier to find than you think, so much so that you are probably even using them without realising it. Once you change how you view Veganuary, you realise that you can eat more plantbased than you thought and can thus be more sustainable and environmentally friendly in your diet. The marketing tactic ‘Veganuary’ only makes it more accessible and is a useful gateway into eating, not completely or strictly, more plant-based. Whilst dry January is an almost implausible achievement for university students, Veganuary is more practical.

Scarlett Cracknell

Image: Peepal Farm Foundation, Wikimedia Commons

Image: Pexels, Pixabay

Image: Wikimedia Commons

arts + lit

Existential literature for the January blues

Arts and Lit writers discuss the literature that will get you through these dark mornings

Waste Land’ T.S. Eliot

SOMETIMES existential literature serves a better purpose for curing our January blues than soppy romance or success stories. It reminds us that we aren’t the only ones experiencing the dramatic post-Christmas sadness and that the concept of time and existence has been thoroughly explored for many years.

T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Waste Land’ is the prime example of a post-war questioning of what the future holds given the state of society at the time of writing (1922). Flitting between time periods, personal events and even different languages, Eliot conveys a sense of disorder and not knowing what is to come. It often feels chaotic upon reading but in reality, it’s easy to seek solace in this kind of literature. Eliot is notoriously difficult to read and ‘The Waste Land’ is certainly no exception. But this means it’s open to interpretation, much like our own future as a human race. Despite this poem being written immediately after World War One, along with the emergence of the suffrage movement, the fallout of the flu pandemic and the spiralling economic state of England, the themes of the poem can largely reflect our lives today. Political instability and health crises are becoming more common, leading us to wonder what the point of all of it is.

Existential literature is commonly defined as literature concerned with the meaninglessness of the environment around us and it becomes apparent that the title ‘The Waste Land’ is named as such to match the protagonist’s internal image of what they can expect in the years to come. With similar societal problems continuously arising today, sometimes reading this literature allows us to understand that our dramatic ‘When will this boredom/sadness be over?’ crisis (often experienced during January) is not a true reflection of our mental states but more something we’ve been forced into feeling, through a collective hatred of the month that follows Christmas.

Gracie Moore, Lifestyle Editor

The Unbearable Lightness of Being Milan Kundera

MILAN Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being might not only lift your January blues but give you a whole new perspective on life. This existential novel was published in 1984 whilst the author was in exile from his native Czechoslovakia. Kundera places his own work more in the tradition of his adoptive country, France, than that of Prague. Nevertheless, having come to Kundera as a Kafka fan, I enjoyed his work and found rewarding similarities. Lightness focuses on two couples — Tomas and Tereza, and Sabina and Franz — in the years around the 1968 Prague Spring. Even with its surreal and often García Márquez-esque imagery, Kundera’s novel is not, primarily, a plot- or character-driven one. His style is interspersed with fourth wall breaks and philosophical meanderings, and, at times, the characters seem secondary to Kundera’s own philosophising. In an address to the reader, Kundera even admits the shallowness of his own characters, calling them nothing more than his own “unrealised possibilities”. The characters also serve to embody the philosophy presented in this book, which opens with references to Nietzsche, eternal recurrence, and whether we can step through a stream twice. The characters themselves seem to play out philosophical paradoxes, particularly the central opposites of the ‘heaviness’ and ‘lightness’ of being. Meanwhile, the experience of one character completely fails to align with another’s perception of them. Indeed, as a study of relationships, Lightness is fascinating and seems to opine — significantly for his experience of Czechoslovakia — that love is often simply the occupation of one person by the metaphoric constructs of another. Another motif associated with this is Kundera’s‘kitsch’— apparently a wilful self-delusion that seeks to deny the existence of anything bad in society and underpins both the ideal Soviet and the ideal American.

A common criticism of Lightness is that it is soulless. It is cerebral, yes, but I found it to be a deeply moving and, ultimately, optimistic book. If we do only step through a stream once, then maybe that is a good thing.

Austin Taylor, Features Editor

Architecture and art: a reflection of history?

Harry Craig, Music Editor,

FOR what is essentially a piece of metal, statues never appear to be out of the news in our culture war-driven society — from the now-infamous drowning of slaver Edward Colston in Bristol in June 2020, to debates over statues of Cecil Rhodes in Oxford and South Africa. This has even permeated Exeter, where the statue of Redvers Buller outside Exeter College has been the subject of heated local debate due to Buller’s racist, imperialist past.

This is not a new phenomenon, however. Statues, and more widely art and architecture, have always been a fundamental part of memorialising, reflecting and even creating history. Think of the iconic images of Saddam Hussein’s statue falling in Baghdad in 2003, or statues of Stalin pulled down by revolutionaries in Prague and Budapest in the mid-twentieth century. Our urban landscape is a manifestation of changing history, of which statues are just one component. A walk down my home town’s high

discusses the legacy of statues and imperialist surroundings in our society

street, for example, reveals churches hundreds of years old, a sparkling 21st century shopping centre, and a century-old department store. Ordinarily, most people don’t pay much attention to this. However, it captures our attention when, like the many aforementioned statues, architecture is the subject of controversy for its depiction of history. Sadly, this controversy is far too often presented as a binary between good and bad. Media organisations and politicians, keen to stoke culture wars, frequently deride those who call for a more nuanced debate about artistic depictions of historical wrongdoings as ‘woke lefties’.

In reality, the purpose of art, particularly of a historical and/or political nature, is to provoke these debates. Problems arise, however, when this art is not given

proper context, and thus venerates controversial figures. This is why statues are often found at the heart of culture wars: there is no space for nuance in a statue. They are erected to idolise someone, but as we have reassessed our history and moved away from ‘Great Man’ theories, figures like Rhodes, Colston and Buller are now rightly seen as unworthy of this depiction. In 2021, Guardian columnist Gary Younge was criticised for arguing that “every single statue should come down… from Cecil Rhodes to Rosa Parks”. However, he made a very valid point: statues are a very bad way of reflecting history as they don’t consider how societal attitudes evolve. Beyond statues,

other forms of art are better reflections of our history. Museum exhibits can be appropriately contextualised, for example. More generally, art provides a crucial, visible way of representing the past — when I think of the French Revolution, my mind visualises liberty leading the people, as in Eugène Delacroix’s iconic painting.

Most of the art we encounter, however, is not in a museum. It is the architecture that we see and use every day. We are accustomed to the famous architectural sights like Athens’ Acropolis, Rome’s Colosseum and even London’s Houses of Parliament, but even on a local level, architecture reflects our history, and is worth considering as we debate our history.

Image: Flickr

‘The

Image: Wiki Commons

OTHER FORMS OF ART ARE BETTER REFLECTIONS OF OUR HISTORY

Do judge a book by its cover

Esther Humphries, Online Science Editor, explores how

AS the age-old saying goes, ‘never judge a book by its cover’. While this may be an important metaphor to dissuade presumptions and judgements, most people would probably agree that when applied to actual books, this mantra is not often followed.

Book cover art is important to many people in informing the choices they make when buying new books. And, contrary to the saying, this does not need to be viewed negatively. Book covers that have been carefully designed to express the plot, emotions and characters of a book, without a first word even having been read, provide an insight into the world of the novel. When done right, book covers help inform book-buying choices, drawing readers in with bold designs and bright colours, but also readying them for the reading experience they are about to embark on.

Among bibliophiles, book covers are not only important in helping to choose a next purchase, they add to the joy that is the bookbuying experience. Going for a wander around Waterstones, carefully curated tables of books with exquisite cover designs offer a satisfaction that any book lover will recognise. Specific book covers may be sought out by readers: collectible versions, originals or book box sets. Visual arts and design are an essential part of any marketing. This does of course mean that there is a commercial side to book design. While great book covers are aesthetically satisfying, bad book covers can be particularly disappointing. It is important

important art is in promoting books

to note that most authors may be consulted during the design of their book covers, but that they do not often play a large role in the process. How can a customer therefore trust that the final design has been informed by a genuine understanding of the book’s content and message? With the growth of ‘BookTok’ and ‘Bookstagram’, the increase in viral book trends has affected the style of covers being designed. The online renaissance of reading has led to an increase in printed book sales but, as a result, book cover designs now seem to follow trends — often bright, bold colours in abstract shapes with the title superimposed on top. How can book covers

Spectres

reveal an insight into a novel’s world or help readers to choose their next read if they all follow a prescribed homogeneous style? So, does the design and marketing of a book really matter? Undeniably, book covers form an important part of the book buying choice. It is almost impossible not to be influenced by the style and design of a book’s cover. When this is done well, it can augment the reading experience and add to the pleasure of reading. However, book covers can also feel contrived, a means to push book sales by relying on trends to draw people in. In the end, if reading rates and book sales can be improved, it does not really matter why people choose the books they do. For some, book design is everything, others rely solely on the blurb and, for a new generation of readers, some may just try whatever book has popped up most recently on their ‘For You’ page.

Joshua Smith, Arts + Lit Editor, discusses ‘Septology’ and the unexplainable genius of Jon Fosse

SEPTOLOGY by Jon Fosse is addictive like the most dangerous narcotic, it’s profound, melancholic, it’s a love story, it’s a lament, a spiritual reckoning; nothing has ever been like it, nor will it ever be. It is a singularly unique work, one of literature’s finest achievements, and the best thing written this century, this decade, and for me, this epoch. Fosse has been compared to many writers from Beckett to Kafka, but despite having the gentle spirit of existentialism of the former and the mysticism of the latter he is starkly different from both, a true original. There are light bursts of comedic spirit in Septology , but it is the pervasive, almost phantasmagoric Catholic spirit which runs so deep and profound through each word, each pause in the hour-, sometimes week-long sequences of nothingness which makes him hauntingly unique.

Reflections to other time periods are prefaced by “[And] I see” in Septology (which

means a cycle of seven works, nothing more), each time referring to the painting with two lines that cross in the middle as he gazes sat in his spot out of the window to the Signe fjord. He recalls his life in poetic, simple reflection. These cyclical escapes into his past trap you, overwhelm you, and you cannot stop reading this inescapable torrent of life.

Asle, a widower and the narrator of the novel, is a sexagenarian painter living in western Norway, near Bergen. His interactions are limited to his annoying but kindly neighbour Åsleik, his gallerist Beyer, and The Namesake — another painter called Asle; but as he drives

through sleepless nights we come across people from his life scattered all over the familiar land in mystical Proustian scenes. His parents, his sister, his grandmother, his friends, his lovers, all appear sporadically. But Ales, his departed wife, is a ghostly figure who haunts the novel, recounted not as often through scenes but in the hollow space she’s left behind — the chair where she used to sit, left in its spot by Asle, representing the dark hand of death which preoccupies the novel.

The other Asle is a doppelgänger, a different version of Asle’s own life. He is

Your new obsession

also a painter, but consumed by alcohol and depression, where narrator Asle is childless, he is twice divorced with three grown up children, where narrator Asle is a deeply religious Catholic convert (and a communist, something ridiculed by Åsleik), he has always been an atheist. The two lives intersect and in the first few books you can never be sure which life is being talked about, since narrator Asle recounts the novel in a blend of first person and third person writing, but as it progresses, the lives diverge, with the many layers of each being slowly revealed book by book, but by the end, it’s as if it never mattered at all.

Septology is a novel about memories, faith, grace, alcoholism, childhood, ambition, art, love, death, longing, ageing, learning, fear, transfixion, or in other words, life.

I write this hollow piece in awe of Fosse’s writing and the great human achievement which is Septology , but also with a loss, a deep sadness, which hasn’t left me since I finished it.

Ella Minty, Arts + Lit Editor, recommends cultural highlights you may have missed

SHAKESPEARE — I love the National Theatre’s adaptations of Shakespeare, and so recently I watched the 2013 version of Othello. Watching it because my Shakespeare-mad housemate persuaded me, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did; set in modern day with the original words of Shakespeare, it felt like a contemporary commentary on military warfare. It pertains to the popular notion that Shakespeare is timeless: Emilia, just one of two female principal characters in the play, is trapped in an abusive relationship with the play’s

villain, Iago. If you enjoy Shakespeare, this is a must! Oh, and Jonathan Bailey, famous for his role as Anthony Bridgerton, is Cassio; if that doesn’t persuade you to watch it, I don’t know what will!

The Wolf Den — a Greek retelling that is chillingly similar to Atwood’s dystopian totalitarian world in The Handmaid’s Tale, The Wolf Den imagines the lives of slave women in Pompeii, focusing on Amara, a young girl who was sold into slavery after her father, a doctor, died. First a concubine until her master’s wife got too jealous, she is now a prostitute at The

Wolf Den brothel. Although the text is bleak at times, its overriding message is one of female companionship and the way women band together to get through challenging times. Read in just two days, I couldn’t put it down! Banksy — Although I visited this attraction around six years ago now, I still remember the impact it had on me, and not enough people know about it. Bristol is my home city, and is probably most famous for Banksy, its resident graffiti artist, whose identity still remains unknown. Around seven years ago, Dismaland Bemusement Park popped up

in a derelict outdoor swimming pool in my hometown of Weston-super-Mare. People came from all over the world to see it; there were queues all around the town as people tried to get tickets. I was lucky enough to go twice. The pop-up art exhibition was in the form of an apocalyptic theme park titled Dismaland (“The UK’s most disappointing new visitor attraction”) that was open to the public for five weeks. It was the best art exhibition I’ve ever been to, and I’d urge you to look into photos and videos of this event — it was missed by too many!

Image: Wikimedia Commons

Image: Dear Theophilus, Openclipart, Wikimedia Commons

MUSIC

Live review: The 1975

Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor,

reviews The 1975's headline show at Exeter's Westpoint Arena

The first section of the show finished with Healy on stage alone, after bandmate Ross MacDonald turned off all the stage lights apart from the one in front of Healy. To add to the somewhat chaotic and interpretative moments, Healy then did 20 consecutive press-ups whilst images of Rishi Sunak, Margaret Thatcher and Liz Truss flashed on the television on the stage. He concluded the act by jumping into one of the televisions, in line with the overarching theme of the first part as a take on modern masculinity.

throw oranges, it’s not the 1500s”. At the Exeter show, Healy stated that “we need a Labour government or at least an opposition that resonates with the working class. We haven’t had that since pre-Blair and that was the early 90s. The early 90s”.

DID HIS WELL-KNOWN AUTO-TUNE INTRODUCTION BEFORE PERFORMING THE SONG, INCLUDING HIS ICONIC LINES

ON 10th January, the hugely celebrated and widely recognised band The 1975 performed at Westpoint Arena in Exeter. The show, dubbed ‘The 1975 At Their Very Best’, was indeed a fitting title for such an amazing performance. The moment the blue curtain dropped to reveal The 1975’s house, mirroring the setting of a 90s sitcom, the arena filled with continuous screams of excitement.

The show is split into two parts, being named as a “bizarre show-within-a-show” by The Guardian, the first part involving the band showcasing songs from their newly released album, Being Funny in a Foreign Language. The first part mimics a more solemn performance, beginning the setlist with ‘The 1975’, the opening song from their most recent album, which perfectly introduces the band. During the performance, we see frontman Matty Healy smoke several cigarettes on stage and drink red wine out of the bottle, adding to his role as the arrogant and drunk rockstar. Gaining its fame from its popularity on TikTok, ‘About You’ was one of the most hotly anticipated

songs from their new album. As the recognisable intro for the song began to play, fans became exhilarated as they all started recording the iconic song on their phones. Giving an emotional feel to the song, Healy notably reached out to touch a non-existent lover, whilst singing the line, “do you think I have forgotten?”. This is a nod to the music video for the band’s 2013 song ‘Robbers’, in which Healy sings on a stage reaching out to his lover, portraying that the song is for her. This also adds to the idea that ‘About You’ is a sequel to ‘Robbers’.

The second part of the show is filled with many of the band’s iconic hits from previous albums. Healy walks through the door of the house, sporting a new outfit including a leather jacket, channelling a classic rock artist. This part involves a much more upbeat approach to the show. Opening with ‘If You’re Too Shy (Let Me Know)’, it proved Healy’s mastery of being a performative frontman, encouraging the crowd to start dancing and sing along with him. Other memorable songs included ‘It’s Not Living (If It’s Not With You)’ and ‘The Sound’, which got the audience jumping and screaming to the choruses.

Another fan favourite was ‘Somebody Else’ with its glazed synths, which got the crowd swaying along to the melodies that describe a heartbreak. Meanwhile ‘Robbers’ got the whole crowd to interact with the growls of Healy’s voice and romantic feel of the song. However, unfortunately for Exeter fans, Healy did not kiss anyone during ‘Robbers’, which was surprising considering Healy’s history of doing so during the song at previous shows.

IT is a common fact that music and emotion are intertwined. Music is known to move people, and to evoke a memory or feeling. But what happens when we explore how music allows for an escape as much as it affirms your reality? Does music merely reflect your mindset, or does it create it?

Principles of manifestation argue that we can create our own reality through our feelings and beliefs. Now, I am not going to argue that blaring Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour manifests eternal relationship problems. I will, however, argue that there is a transfer from the feeling we get

Specific to the Exeter gig, Healy also began to sing Elvis’ famous ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love with You’ with the crowd singing it along with him. The symphonic strings of ‘Part of the Band’ make it a beautifully crafted song that was certainly one of the show’s highlights, whilst ‘All I Need to Hear’ added a more sorrowful feel to the gig.

Exeter was also gifted with the performance of the song ‘Heart Out’, which the band hasn’t played since 2019. The song from their debut album The 1975 had several of their long-stand ing fans shrieking with joy, yelling “oh my god they’re doing ‘Heart Out’!” (myself included). Healy also announced that he would give the crowd a choice of two songs for them to play, before he instantly decided to “forget democracy, we’re doing ‘Paris’”, a nostalgic defining tune for the band.

Of course, during ‘TOOTTIMETOOTIMETOOTIME’ Healy did his well-known auto-tune introduction before performing the song, including his iconic lines “don’t throw menthols on this stage. Don’t like menthols” and “don’t

‘Love It If We Made It’ had everyone chanting to the energetic pop tune and relating to the line “modernity has failed us”, a reflection of the impact of modern society on people, marking it as a social anthem. The show ended with glitch-pop ‘Give Yourself A Try’, focusing on themes of growing up and forgiving yourself, a fitting song for many of the young people that made up the majority of the crowd.

The 1975’s show was certainly a night to remember with its uniqueness as a part performance, part pop-rock show. When Healy tells the crowd, “thing is about us ladies and gentlemen… we just keep getting better!”, he is being completely truthful. Performing some of the best poprock songs from the past decade, The 1975 truly understand how to captivate their audiences.

to the physical reality of our mindset. When we consider the impact of lyric and language in music, alongside the instrumental feeling you get, you can see how a mood can be manifested. In playing Jeff Buckley’s ‘So Real’ or Phoebe Bridgers’ ‘Funeral’, you don’t just reflect your emotions — you reaffirm them and create a mindset by immersing yourself in that mood.

We can also consider mantra; mantras and music of differing frequencies induce different mindsets and beliefs of the self. Religions like Hinduism use mantra chanting to create a rhythmic tone which induces a specific

mood or mindset. Menaka Desikachar, senior expert at KYM, describes the impact of chanting: “you just need to have a good ear, stay true to the punctuations, pauses, pronunciation, notation, length, and the force of the chant and repeat it over and over again. The transformation happens step by step”.

We can apply this more broadly too. When we listen to a song or a genre repeatedly, a transformation of the mindset occurs. Many pop songs use repetition, of a word or lyric pattern, to make a song ‘catchy’; only when looking back at mantra chanting can we re -

alise how the song can ‘catch’ your mindset. SZA is a key example of this — her pop hit ‘Good Days’ has a frequency of 423 Hz, which is the frequency of healing used in mediation. The song’s lyrics encourage positivity, reinforced by the frequency and instrumental.

I believe that it is clear to see the capabilities of music in its power to shift mood and thus alter mindset and actions from this mindset.

So, the next time you gravitate towards a sad song as soon as you wake up, consider if that’s how you would like to perceive your reality.

Livvy

[HEALY'S] ROLE... AS THE ARROGANT AND DRUNK ROCKSTAR

Scarlett Cracknell explores the impact music can have on our everyday mindset

In the zone: Music and mindset

Images: Livvy Mason-Myhill

HEALY

Images: Livvy Mason-Myhill

EDITORS: Harry Craig and Jake Avery

The 2023 hotlist

Dexter Woolley sets the record straight on the coming year's most promising artists

THERE are so many great songs released daily that are waiting to be discovered. Finding new music to fall in love with still remains one of the best feelings, even with it all seeming only a step or a click away. Here are a few exciting up-and-coming artists to pay attention to in 2023:

Nemahsis

Top Songs: 'criminal' and 'i’m not gonna kill you'

Listen If You Like: FKA Twigs, Caroline Polacheck

Nemahsis is an up-and-coming Palestinian-Canadian singer-songwriter. Nemah Hasan first started gaining an audience on Instagram, making videos talking about her Muslim identity, the hijab, and beauty, whilst also posting short covers of Adele and Dolly Parton.

In 2021, she released her debut single 'What If I Took it Off For You?' — a thoughtful piano ballad that would be adopted by other female creators, using the songs as a chance to talk about the hijab and female empowerment. The delicate vocals, meditative instrumentation, and powerful music video create a space on the internet to talk about the treatment of the hijab in public and discrimination.

Continuing to experiment with her music and appearance, Nemahsis’ vulnerable lyrics set her work apart. Exploring the relationship between herself as a Muslim immigrant and Canadian society, the assumptions made about her due to her appearance are a key theme to the singer’s work.

Recently, Nemahsis performed her latest single 'criminal' at the ColorsxStudio in Berlin, offering her a great platform next to vast amounts of diverse talent.

Cowboyy

Top Song: 'Gmaps'

Listen If You Like: Dry Cleaning, Hella

The latest product of the ‘Windmill, Sebright Arms and New Cross Inn’ East London music circuit, Cowboyy are a fourpiece band that have caught the ears of some music insiders like Matt Wilkinson, and the festival goers of 2022. Following the success of post-punk bands like Black Country, New Road, Shame, and Black Midi, the South coast band look ready to join the ranks of the genre trailblazers.

Formed by Stetson adorned songwriter and guitarist, Stanley Powell, the band carries the influences of their London-based predecessors, featuring whirring math-rock guitars, driving bass, and a Geordie Greep-inspired rapidly stuttering vocal delivery. Drummer, Rhys Teal, finds inspiration in both jazz legends such as Tony Williams and the metalcore drumming of Chris Pennie.

Their debut single, 'Gmaps', the first song of an EP coming out in March, is brimming with erratic pedal-driven guitar sounds. Despite their arty, experimental sound, the band does not shy away from referencing popular culture, much like Isaac Wood. The need for Google Maps suddenly becomes a quest for meaning and spiritual direction in Powell’s poetic rambles.

Kinder Bloomen

Top Songs: 'Do You Barbarians Speak?' and 'Brainless the Third, on a Cloudy Mission'

Listen If You Like: King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, Can

Formed in South Jakarta, Kinder Bloomen are a sixpiece progressive rock band that make a lot of noise for a long time. Citing influences from psychedelia and jazz fusion to Kendrick Lamar and Blink-182, listening to this Indonesian band is a busy experience. Releasing their second EP 'Progression II' in the summer of 2022, their output sees years of jamming at guitarist Abdul 'Defa' Defashah’s house put to tape.

Emerging from the trust and friendship the band have developed, their 15-minute long single 'Taxi to the Massala Guy' ebbs and flows with a psychedelic mindset around a krautrock-inspired core. On their latest single 'Do You Barbarians Speak?', vocalist Danang Joewono’s lyrics fluctuate between Indonesian and English, rap-inflected braggadocio and dream inspired surrealism: '"Akulah the wizard, kamulah barbarians” (“I am the wizard / You are barbarians”).

The band are well-placed to get bigger in Indonesia, playing shows throughout Jakarta and Bandung. They’re definitely in good company as an active part of indie label Lamunai Records’ buzzing roster, also working with retro rock trio FLEUR! and rapper BAP.

Musical nostalgia

Madison

Sohngen,

Screen Editor, evaluates the connection between music and memory

MUSIC can be the greatest time capsule. Obsessively playing your favourite songs seems to unconsciously bind you and that song together. But even more special is that it connects the current you to that song. This means that while you may age and move on with your life, the version of you that was sitting there with your earphones on the bus ride back from school is forever preserved and frozen in time.

This shows music’s power to relentlessly cling to memories, as it forms quick routes to access this feeling again at any moment. It also prevents moments from being fleeting by immortalising them within a song. For me, an example of this is whenever a song by Arctic Monkeys or The Strokes is played. I always feel as though I’ve teleported back to a Cavern Saturday, as it reminds me of dancing together with my friends. This makes me romanticise and reminisce these memories, although they only occurred fairly recently.

Another example of this from an earlier stage in my life is how SZA’s album Ctrl perfectly encapsulates how I felt when I was 15. Although not every lyric was relatable at the time, the album’s themes of grappling with ideas of disillusionment and the continuous struggle of self-discovery really resonated with me at the time. SZA also has a unique rawness which makes it feel like her music is an articulation of your own emotions — the album encapsu-

lates the feelings that you cannot put into your own words.

Now when I listen to this album, I am transported inside the brain of my 15-year-old self again. I can remember exactly what life was like when I listened to it for the first time. It was an integral part of my adolescence. It’s interesting how something so universal as a certified platinum album can feel so deeply personal.

Now, however, the album has taken on a new meaning for me. As I’ve just reached 20, the final song of the album, ‘20 Something’, has become more of a standout song. It discusses how we are all constantly growing and changing, but at our core we are still the same person. Although I may have matured (albeit slightly) since I first fell in love with Ctrl , having left my hometown, moved out and started a new life at university, I am reminded that I am still fundamentally the same person I was when I first heard it.

Of course, these strong associations are not always necessarily positive. Anyone who’s experienced any type of breakup will understand how this can also be a bittersweet experience. This is because memories can morph into some sort of ghost, haunting and taunting you with previous positive memories which only serve to juxtapose your current, less favourable situation. An example of this could be a song shared with someone who is no longer in your life.

Despite its pitfalls, one of the most powerful facets of music is its ability to create nostalgia. But it goes far beyond this. It creates an almost overbearing nostalgia, enshrining specific elements of yourself in one moment forever. It then preserves this, making it readily available for you to submerge yourself back into that moment at any time you wish.

Image: Adrien Converse, Unsplash

Image: Israel Palacio, Unsplash

Image: Wendy Wei, Pexels

Image: Jade Palmer, Flickr

screen

Interactive TV — novelty or innovation?

Charlie Oldroyd, Online Tech Editor, discusses Netflix’s ways of maintaining viewership

WITH subscription rates dwindling, Netflix has come up with several innovative ways to retain members and rake in subscription capital every month. By creating exclusive games and even creating a cheaper ad-supported tier, the company is fighting to stay afloat amid increased rates of pirating. With speculation that the company is also cracking down on password sharing, Netflix is clinging to viewers with innovation and novelty. A more unconventional innovation, however, is interactive television. In the wake of Bandersnatch in 2018, Netflix is basking in the media buzz of Kaleidoscope , the new drama miniseries released this January. With each subscriber being offered a different default viewing lens, there are over 40,000 ways to watch the series. Horror alum Stephen King boasted that the best way to watch the series was in chronological order — but apart from a greater sense of control, what is to gain from interactive TV? In a review of Bandersnatch four years ago, it was branded the “Tomorrow of TV”. Despite other mixed reviews frustrated with the loss of narrative through the extensive choices, it was an overall success, generating the attention needed to keep Netflix in TV viewers’ favour. This, however, begs the question: if it was a successful venture, why has Netflix waited nearly half a

decade to unveil new interactive content?

The answer lies within novelty. As a Netflix subscriber myself, the £10 snatched from my bank account every month is justified by the comfortable everyday monotony. Comfort shows and rewatches of classic series like Friends pad out much of my profile, with Netflix maintaining a steady roster of recommended films to cull my need for adventurous watching.

Upon the announcement of Kaleidoscope , I was very excited to see how eight episodes could be stitched together regardless of viewing order. Simply, it orbits around a dangerous heist with echoes of betrayal and greed in between key events. If I had been presented with this concept as a standard chronological TV show, my interest would have been quelled and it would have been destined to fester in my watch list. The steady feeding of novelty content keeps interest fixated on Netflix, batting attention away from pirating websites. Viewers are excited to begin an amateur career in film academia with friends piecing together the obscure interactive episodes. After all, I still remember the philosophi -

cal decision of Frosties or Sugarpuffs that Bandersnatch postulated so many years ago. Content-wise, Kaleidoscope isn’t novelty. Despite the talents of veteran actor Giancarlo Esposito, (most famous for his role as Gus in Breaking Bad ) the plot falls somewhat flat, hinging expectations on the ‘White’ episode which details the heist. With Netflix warning that this episode should be viewed last, can the series really claim the unique viewing experience it boasts? Having endured both viewing experiences, I agree with Netflix.

There is promise in its concept for sure, but creator Eric Garcia doesn’t seem brave enough to execute it with this type of story.”

Watching the series in chronological order constantly poses the question of what is next? With an unresolved ending in which (spoiler alert), Esposito’s Ray Vernon is shot and killed, I was left with a yearning for substance that the half-baked characters and plot lines could not quell. It proves that a well-fleshed out plot is needed to override the ‘gimmicky’ interactivity. Despite the excitement over the series, it sports, as expected, justified negative reviews. Summarised in Escapist Magazine : “In review, Kaleidoscope is a bold failure for Netflix and as such should be applauded.

Celebrating Miyazaki

Matthew Bowden, Online Screen Editor, debates Miyazaki’s best works

WHEN film-lovers and critics alike discuss the great cinematic visionaries of the mid-20th and early 21st century, certain names rise to the top. In terms of Hollywood, people think Scorsese, Spielberg, or Coppola, and the more artistic, cine-literate crowd might nominate European New Wave directors such as

Godard or Fellini. However, Hayao Miyazaki remains conspicuously absent from the conversation. In my opinion, the consistent body of work he has produced from his feature film debut in 1979 right up until 2013 (we’ll see if his eagerly anticipated 2023 film How You Do Live can continue his fine legacy) establishes him as one of the underrated greats of cinema history. He possesses the wonderful art of telling stories that are important and contain deep cerebral messages but also making them accessible — regardless of age, gender or nationality. Through his examination of unconventional themes such as environmental conservation, pacifism and feminism (the majority of his protagonists are young females), Miyazaki has contributed significantly to bringing animation into the public consciousness, and his filmography has displayed the storytelling power that this cinematic medium possesses.

has only ever seen one Studio Ghibli movie, it is probably this one; and in all honesty, if you’re new to Miyazaki, it is a perfect one to immerse yourself in his filmmaking world. As always with his films, the quality of animation is astonishing — the parallel blues of the sky and sea are constantly popping out at you, and the imagination that goes into the creation of the spiritual world pulls you right into the young girl Chihiro’s situation. For such a mainstream film as well, it is enjoyably weird and wonderful, as shown by the crazy circumstances of the film’s ending. A perfect one to start with for budding Miyazaki lovers.

The most familiar of Miyazaki’s works is his 2001 film Spirited Away, about a young girl who is forced to survive in a spiritual world after her parents are taken away from her. If someone

My personal favourite though has to be Princess Mononoke: arguably his most grown-up, mature film, about a young prince cursed by a demon who teams up with a she-wolf (the titular Princess), who casts aside the human world to live as a girl among the forest wildlife and attempts to prevent humankind from abusing the environment for their own gain. It was the first Ghibli I’d seen, probably too young, but I was again enthralled by the ease with which Miyazaki manifested a 14th century world. Watching it back numerous times, it is incredible to see how far ahead of its time (considering its 1997 release) the film is in terms of its environmental foresight; namely the concept that human exploitation of natural resources results in them being architects of their own destruction. For me, it’s his masterpiece.

Another amazing nuance of Studio Ghibli and Miyazaki films in general is their potential to initiate young kids into cinema and loving movies. Wholesome classics such as My Neighbour Totoro and Kiki’s Delivery Service are indicative of how so many of his films are both suitable and understandable for children, whilst still being treats that fully-grown adults can also enjoy. There are also a couple of Ghibli gems that definitely fly under the radar — I would heartily recommend Porco Rosso (about a pig fighter-pilot-turned-bounty-hunter who battles sky pirates: it’s as fun as it sounds) and Whisper of the Heart, which makes incredible use of the classic song ‘Take Me Home Country Roads’.

Miyazaki’s absence from Studio Ghibli will undoubtedly leave a gaping hole, yet recent films not directed by him, such as 2013’s wonderfully hand-drawn period animation The Tale of Princess Kaguya, suggests that there is hope for this animation dynasty when the great man hangs up his pencil.

CAN THE SERIES REALLY CLAIM THE UNIQUE VIEWING EXPERIENCE IT BOASTS?

MIYAZAKI HAS CONTRIBUTED SIGNIFICANTLY TO BRINGING ANIMATION INTO THE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS

WHAT IS TO GAIN FROM INTERACTIVE TV?

IT IS INCREDIBLE TO SEE HOW FAR AHEAD OF ITS TIME... THE FILM IS IN TERMS OF ITS ENVIROMENTAL FORESIGHT

Image: Daniel Benavides, Wikimedia Commons

EDITORS: Annabelle Law and Madison Sohngen

This generation’s manic pixie dream boy

Lisette Reed analyses Paul Mescal’s rise to fame

FROM his heart-breaking performance as Connell Waldron in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney’s Normal People to his most recent role as Calum in Aftersun, it is evident that Paul Mescal will be one of the most influential actors of the 2020s. His works shine a light over stigmatised subjects, such as men’s mental health, sex and relationships and it is this portfolio which has led to his recent success.

cal’s performance apart. Many viewers find comfort in his portrayal of Connell and this sincerity is expressed in some of his other works.

Mescal made his film debut in 2021 as Will in The Lost Daughter, starring alongside Olivia Colman and Dakota Johnson, and has since performed in Aftersun as the conflicted, young dad Calum. Aftersun begins with his daughter’s reminiscence on times with her father and ultimately captures the troubles Calum and his daughter navigate together. This is another prominent example of Mescal using his platform for good to communicate the memory of childhood and familial relationships.

for themselves. Though he may be known to some as Bridgers’ fiancée, it’s clear from his collection of works that Paul Mescal possesses a raw and intense talent, which the industry hasn’t experienced for a very long time.

Since the start of his acting career in 2017, Mescal has worked on many interesting and memorable projects and has many promising works on the horizon. Currently, he is starring in the sold out A Streetcar Named Desire show at the Almeida Theatre, where he is playing Stanley Kowalski. Paul Mescal will be one of the most successful actors of our generation and will continue to create meaningful works, exploring a range of shunned subjects.

Born in County Kildare, Ireland, Paul Mescal attended the Lir Academy at Trinity College Dublin, later graduating with a BA in Acting. From then on, he began acting in Dublin theatres with roles such as Jay Gatsby, from The Great Gatsby, and a range of other performances. Though Mescal had worked on many productions in Dublin, a role which shot him into the spotlight was his part in 2020’s Normal People. Starring alongside Daisy Edgar Jones, the two depicted the on and off relationship between Marianne and Connell, whilst also delving into topics such as miscommunication in relationships and male anxiety. Paul Mescal’s portrayal of Connell’s sensitivity and mental health struggles made him an incredibly relatable character as subjects like these are rarely shown on screen in such a raw way — many shows romanticise mental health as an aesthetic, rather than a real-life struggle. This is what sets Normal People and Paul Mes-

Throughout his time acting, Mescal has been nominated for and won a range of awards, including the British Academy Television Awards Best Actor award for Normal People, as well as a Prime Time Emmy Award. Moreover, Mescal has starred in music videos too, including his fiancé Phoebe Bridger’s ‘Saviour Complex’ video. The video was directed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and therefore the combination of all these creatives brought in a range of demographics; lovers of Fleabag, Normal People and Phoebe Bridgers united for this collaboration, resulting in Mescal’s career further being boosted. It can be argued that Paul Mescal is the manic pixie dream boy of this generation and with his engagement to Phoebe Bridgers, this statement could not be any truer. Whilst this relationship has been idolised by their fans, the media has also branded them as the current ‘it’ couple. This newfound recognition may have boosted his celebrity status further, but it has also encouraged more to view his works and to experience his talents

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Screen writers discuss their opinions on the newest addition to the Knives Out universe

FOLLOWING the reputable success of the first film, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery immediately has big shoes to fill. However, the film manages to take this daunting task in its stride. In one of the beginning scenes, Daniel Craig is shown to be playing Among Us in the bathtub. For me, this brief (and quite cringey) scene perfectly encapsulates the fact that this film seeks to not take itself seriously. Here, we have an actor mostly associated with his famed role as James Bond, playing an online game associated with teens and pre-teens. This comedic technique is also used for the rest of the starstudded cast as it places them in ridiculous scenarios, frequently making their superficiality the butt of the joke. An example of this is Edward Norton’s egotistical grand portrait of himself hanging in the background of the central room of the onion. This shows how the film’s greatest weapon is the fact it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

BRIEF...SCENE

that this is not a typical murder mystery is then accepted, it proves an enjoyable watch. Personally, I think this decision to deviate from the traditional layout of the genre allows Glass Onion a unique opportunity to be more experimental. For example, at one point in the film, the lights go out in the glass onion and a lighthouse effect is created with the lighting to briefly illuminate characters periodically before quickly descending into darkness. This creatively conveys the disarray and confusion within the scene as characters scramble around the setting either avoiding or searching for each other. This shows how the film uses its esteemed reputation to allow it the freedom to find new and interesting ways to play with film.

Madison Sohngen, Screen Editor

THE release of the new Knives Out film on Netflix, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery , just before the start of the New Year, has received multiple glowing reviews for its interesting plot. Only three days after its release, the murder mystery film was number one around the world, with 35 million household views from over 93 countries. Its popularity is partly due to the attraction for its audiences to follow along with the mystery and figure out the whodunit with returning character Detective Benoit Blanc played by Daniel Craig. Yet, the plot of the newly released film has interested its watchers, with its twist being that the truth behind the murder is the obvious choice. This annoyed some viewers as it destroyed the whole point of the killer being someone they never expected it to be. However, the

interesting feature of the plot is that it follows the structure of its setting that mimics a glass onion. The answer is clear to see in the centre of the glass onion, yet like an onion the truth has many layers around it.

Further, it is clear that the film establishes that it is not Knives Out 2. Once the fact

An interesting part of the film was the backstory of the character Andi (Janelle Monáe) and how her twin sister Helen then became involved in the murder mystery with the help of Blanc. This plot was debatably not as highly regarded as the plot of the first Knives Out film, as viewers found it frustrating that the film followed predictable choices. However, the whole point of the film was that it was supposed to mislead you into thinking that its narrative couldn’t be this obvious, but in reality, this was the case; thus becoming the twist to the plot. Although most people preferred the first Knives Out film, myself included, the second instalment was still entertaining and put a clever twist on the fabrication of murder mysteries.

Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor

HIS WORKS SHINE A LIGHT OVER STIGMATISED SUBJECTS, SUCH AS MEN’S MENTAL HEALTH

THIS

PERFECTLY ENCAPSULATES THE FACT THAT THIS FILM SEEKS TO NOT TAKE ITSELF SERIOUSLY

PAUL MESCAL POSSESSES A RAW AND INTENSE TALENT

YET LIKE AN ONION THE TRUTH HAS MANY LAYERS AROUND IT

Image: Geraldine Johansson Wikimedia Commons

Image: Simon Rowles, Wikimedia Commons

TECH

The Twitter saga continues

Harry Craig, Music Editor, reviews the

THIS week marks three months since Elon Musk became Twitter CEO, and he has been the source of constant drama ever since. From day one, Musk sought to completely upend the app, from the infamous blue tick fiasco to allowing controversial figures like Donald Trump back onto the platform. Those checking their Twitter feed over the festive period, perhaps to avoid making small talk with relatives post-Christmas dinner, discovered an array of frustrating changes to the app.

FROM DAY ONE, MUSK SOUGHT TO COMPLETELY UPEND THE APP

The most significant of these had already been trialled, then reversed, in 2022, before Musk’s takeover, after it proved unpopular. Nonetheless, Musk reinstated the prioritisation of Twitter’s ‘For You’ feed, which provides a selection of tweets recommended for users by the app. Although this has been available before, it was on equal standing with the generally preferred ‘Following’ feed that only shows posts from accounts the user follows.

The ‘Following’ feed is still available, but the app now defaults to its ‘For You’ feed,

much to users’ consternation. Concerningly, it seems to be amplifying conspiracy theorists and extreme political opinions, with athlete Michael Johnson asking, like many others, “why am I all of a sudden get ting anti-vax tweets from people I don’t follow?”

This epitomises the changes Musk has made — nig gling modifications that annoy users, and reveal more structural issues with Musk’s reign. In 2021, users had initially celebrated when Twitter an nounced it would no longer crop im age previews posted on the platform. Confus ingly, Musk reversed this, reverting to cropped images. It remains unclear why the new CEO reversed one of Twitter’s most popular recent decisions. Meanwhile, the blue tick saga has sol-

latest at Twitter under Musk

diered on, albeit with a resolution of sorts. Silver and gold ticks have been rolled out to denote government figures and brands, respectively. Those with blue ticks who do not fit into these categories still have the icon next to their name, accompanied with a message saying it is a ‘legacy’. The blue ticks are now intended primarily to symbolise a subscriber to Twitter Blue, rather than a notable figure or account.

Predictably, this has aroused further problems. Twitter users still perceive blue ticks as giving accounts legitimacy and authority, which the majority of Twitter Blue subscribers do not have. The BBC has found that the Taliban, for example, have started buying up Twitter Blue subscriptions to allow its figures to display the blue tick.

It was another area of Musk’s reforms, however, that led to Twitter dominating the

headlines over Christmas. The reinstatement of high-profile banned accounts like Trump and Kanye West, despite their violations of Twitter rules, caught public attention with Andrew Tate’s arrest. After his return to the platform, Tate began harassing climate activist Greta Thunberg on Twitter, which pre-empted his arrest on charges of human trafficking and rape. In spite of this, his account remains active on Twitter.

Another controversial figure, Piers Morgan, also found himself at the centre of a Twitter news story over the holidays, when his account was hacked. Morgan’s account posted racial slurs and abuse directed at Queen Elizabeth II and Ed Sheeran, but is now back under his control. This came not long after Education Secretary Gillian Keegan was also hacked on Christmas Day, and raises more questions for Musk on how his changes have made Twitter less secure and more prone to hacking.

It remains to be seen how much longer Twitter’s turbulent tale under Musk will continue, after users voted in a poll posted by the CEO on 18th December for him to stand down. His promise to abide by the result has not yet been fulfilled, but many hope he will, to finally end this saga.

Are essays now a thing of the past?

Livvy Mason-Myhill, Deputy Editor, explores the impact of ChatGPT

OVER the past ten years, we have often been told that as the technology in the field advances, robots will take our jobs. However, the new development at OpenAI, called ChatGPT, may have sped up this process. After the most recent chatbot from the Elon Musk-founded OpenAI foundation astounded onlookers with its writing abilities, proficiency at complex tasks, and ease of use, professors, programmers, and journalists may all be out of a job in only a few years.

The ChatGPT system is the most recent development in the GPT family of text-generating AIs. The team’s previous AI, GPT3, produced an opinion piece for The Guardian two years ago, and ChatGPT has a wide range of new capabilities. Academics have created exam answers using the tool that they claim would receive full marks if submitted by an undergraduate in the days following its release, and programmers have used the tool to quickly solve coding problems in difficult programming languages before creating limericks describing its features.

An assignment that Dan Gillmor, a journalism professor at Arizona State University, gave his students was to write a letter to a relative offering advice on online security and privacy. The AI partly recommended: “If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a website or email, you can do a quick search to see

if others have reported it as being a scam.”

According to OpenAI, the new AI was developed with an emphasis on usability. In a post announcing the release, OpenAI commented that “The dialogue format makes it possible for ChatGPT to answer follow-up questions, admit its mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests.”

During a ‘feedback’ period, anyone can use ChatGPT for free, in contrast to the company’s earlier AI. The business wants to use this feedback to make the tool’s final version better.

ChatGPT is adept at self-policing and recognising when an unrealistic question is being posed. Older models may have gladly provided a completely fabricated story of what occurred when Columbus arrived in America in 2015, for example, but ChatGPT recognises the deception and warns that any response would be bogus. The bot might also flat-out refuse to respond to any inquiry.

But it’s simple to get around the restrictions. Instead of asking for general advice, the AI will happily provide users with specific instructions on how to steal a car and respond to increasingly specific questions on issues like how to disable an immobiliser, how to hotwire the engine, and how to change the licence plates while adamantly stating that the advice is only for use in the VR game Car World

INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR GENERAL ADVICE, THE AI WILL HAPPILY PROVIDE USERS WITH SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO STEAL A CAR

A sizeable sample of content pulled from the internet is used to train the AI, usually without the authors’ knowledge or consent. The use of the technology for ‘copyright laundering’, or creating works that are derivative of existing materials without violating copyright, has generated criticism as a result.

Image: Justin Pacheco, Wikimedia Commons

Crypto — has the bubble popped?

Joshua Hughes, Editor, reflects on the world of cryptocurrency in 2022

IN a year that at times had been filled with hope and patience, crypto has had an overall sluggish performance. Coming off the hype surrounding crypto towards the end of 2021, many believed 2022 would bring further success and opportunity for people to adopt the new technology. However, what is now apparent is that the hopes and dreams of January 2022 couldn’t be further from the truth.

The one word that is on everyone’s lips at the moment is FTX. The failed crypto trading platform crashed in November 2022 with the ripple effect stunting confidence in nearly all cryptos. The crash of its native token, FTT, dragged the entire market to an all-time low, with Bitcoin trading at a two-year low.

The FTX crash tells many different stories when one looks into the collapse of one of the biggest crypto platforms in the world. The most significant being the genuine wilderness of crypto and the starkly apparent absence of a safety net for customers.

Despite banks and governments petitioning to introduce new regulations and restrictions on crypto, no such protections exist, which led to all of FTX’s customers losing out. With US bank Silvergate reporting that customers had withdrawn $8 billion worth of crypto deposits in 2022, it seems that crypto is heading in only one direction.

However, while crypto appears to be in a place from where it cannot recover, it

seems that it is possible crypto could make a return in 2023. From a regulation perspective, the technology is at something of a crossroads. The overall USP of crypto

This makes it open to anyone wishing to transfer money around the world, including criminals. This is because crypto uses blockchain technology, making it extremely

Therefore, either crypto introduces regulation and loses the feature that makes it most attractive to users or it continues to exist as a ‘wild-west’, increasing the risk for people’s money. It is difficult to provide a solution to this as it is ultimately an impossible question to answer. What is important to note however, is that crypto is just one small aspect of blockchain technology which still is yet to reach anywhere near its potential. While cryptos continue to trade at an extremely low price compared to the heights of 2021, there are signs in early January 2023 that the worst has passed.

is that it is completely anonymous, and decentralised, giving consumers the option to avoid the traditional channels of cash flow.

difficult to introduce regulations and create a safe environment for people’s money.

Although it is important to take whatever crypto ‘experts’ prophesise as a huge year for crypto or bitcoin with a pinch of salt, it is extremely possible that crypto could go through a huge pump and return to the levels once seen at the end of 2021. Overall, with the FTX crash in 2022 leaving many disillusioned with the technology, 2023 will likely not provide any moments as dramatic as that, as crypto looks to rebuild its reputation.

Will 2023 be a big year for tech?

WITH the birth of AI, or perhaps the death of Twitter and cryptocurrency, 2023 has an array of technology on the horizon: is this the year we leave the world behind for the metaverse?

One thing we are sure to have forced down our throats this year, as a response to looming climate and net zero targets, is electric vehicles (EVs). The luxurious British car company Rolls-Royce is joining the modern day with its first dive into EVs with the Spectre, which is certainly not compromising its traditional pomp to become greener. The manor house on wheels will be as unwieldly as its forerunners, weighing three tonnes and being 5.5 metres in length. Though the chance of seeing one of these in 2023 is unlikely for most of us, it is certain to have an equally unwieldly price tag. Unsurprisingly the EV you will likely hear the most about this year is the positively mad Tesla Cybertruck.

Elon Musk, who now manages to squirm his way into every Exeposé tech article, has promised that the truck will be available to buyers by the end of 2023, but doubt hangs over the head of every Tesla release. De lays have plagued every Tesla model

to date. It would be unfair to say the company overpromise and un der deliver because they do deliver — just maybe three to five business years late. If the Cybertruck does appear in showrooms this year it will be ground-breaking, with a 14,000-pound towing capacity and a 500-mile range.

From one EV out of a sci-fi film to another, DeLorean are set to re lease the Alpha5 which has the same childish charm as the original from Back to the Future . It maintains the gull-wing doors and will reach 88mph in 4.35 seconds. This car might not be on every street corner this year but will be sure to make any passers-by smile. Quantum computing sounds like something from a corny sci-fi film but this year massive leaps are predicted in this technology as the UK, US, China, and Russia pour money into developing quantum

technologies. It’s not the glossiest of new technologies so it is probable this may not make it onto headline news, especially if 2023 is as turbulent as the last few years, but it is worthwhile keeping tabs on; it will impact our lives more than the Cybertruck or the Alpha5. Developments would massively increase processing and storing capacity using subatomic particles with computers operating a trillion times more quickly. There is a danger that cyberwarfare could take hold if one nation gains this technology before the rest, as quantum computing would render any current computer encryption useless. For the sake of our national grid, transport and public services, let’s hope it is not China or Russia who make the big quantum breakthroughs this year.

We can expect greater integration of the digital world into our every

day lives: augmented reality (AR) is tipped to be a big part of Apple’s strategy moving forward as they buy AR patents and are supposedly positioned to announce some form of AR glasses or goggles this year. One day, not far from now, you might be able to not just watch a lecture from home but sit in an augmented digital lecture theatre from the comfort of Pret or the Imperial.

Perhaps you won’t be abandoning the windy and wet days in Devon for the sunny shores of a digital desert island in the metaverse just yet but burnt food will be a thing of the past.

Samsung have created an AI-enabled oven which will detect when your food is burning so no more burnt chips or black frozen pizzas. That is if you have upwards of £2,000 to splash on an oven.

Ewan Edwards, Tech Editor, considers the expected developments in tech this year

ONE DAY YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SIT IN AN AUGMENTED DIGITAL LECTURE THEATRE FROM THE COMFORT OF PRET OR THE IMPERIAL

IT IS DIFFICULT TO PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THIS AS IT IS ULTIMATELY AN IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION

Image: cryptowallet.com, Wikimedia Commons

TECH

LIFESTYLE ARTS + LIT

MUSIC STUDY BREAK SCREEN

Science

SCIENCE EDITORS: Daniel Pain and Hayley Power

A blot from the blue, or in this case green

Daniel Pain, Science Editor, explains a striking

SCIENTISTS have harnessed the power of lasers to direct lightning strikes from 50 meters away to a lightning tower atop the Säntis mountain in Switzerland. The beautiful green beam marks the first time that electricity has been harnessed by lasers outside of the lab.

Currently, lightning protective technology is limited to classic lightning rods which runs the electricity down cables to the ground. However, this is impractical when trying to protect buildings of significant size such as an airport. As Aurélien Houard

from the Institut Polytechnique de Paris in Palaiseau states: “You would need, for good protection, a lightning rod of kilometre size, or hundreds of meters.” It is hoped that while still in its early stages, this new technology could be used in these instances.

new discovery

in the field of laser technology

top on which the original lightning conductor was frequently hit by lightning — 100 times a year. It works by blasting short intense bursts of infrared light into the sky. This clears a path through the clouds which makes the journey of the electric current from the sky to the earth easier, and so it naturally follows the path of least resistance.

The instrument was specifically chosen to be set up on a mountain

The laser was on for a total of six hours during a storm in 2021. When first successfully tested, the laser was hit four times by lightning when the laser was on. When comparing the

direction of the lightning strikes with laser on and off, the laser managed to pull in strikes from further away than the conventional conductor did. This is a real achievement, and whilst the distance is certainly too small to cover a football pitch, let alone an airport, the foundations for this type of technology to be successful have been laid. Although other experts in the field are sceptical, the hope for the future is that this sort of system could be used to charge things in a novel way. But for now, that is but a low rumble in the distance.

GRAY wolves in Yellowstone National Park are more likely to leave their pack or lead it when infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. T. gondii is already known to make some animals more adventurous but has never before been studied in wolves.

The authors of the study, which was published in C ommunications Biology last November, drew on blood samples, movement data and behavioural observations collected since gray wolves (Canis lupis) were reintroduced to Yellowstone in 1995. Infected wolves — identified by T. gondii antibodies in the blood — were 11 times more likely than unin-

fected ones to leave their packs, and 46 times more likely to lead them.

“Those are two decisions that can really benefit wolves, or could cause wolves to die,” said Connor Meyer, one of the study’s seven authors.

Cats themselves are the only host in which T. gondii can reproduce; it does so in the small intestine, before being transported via faeces. The parasite is present in a third of humans, usually without symptoms.

Infected mice... lose their fear of cats 11 times more likely to leave their packs and 46 times more likely to lead them

Single-celled T. gondii alters animals’ behaviour by changing certain hormones. Infected mice, for example, lose their fear of cats.

Given that Yellowstone’s cougars (Puma concolor) also carry T. gondii , it is no surprise that infection rates among wolves were highest when their territories overlapped with the areas of densest cougar population. The study hypothesised that this leads to a

positive feedback loop: infected wolf leaders may be likelier to take their packs into risky situations, including entering cougar territory. Further research is needed to confirm this.

The study differs from previous work in labs. Ajai Vyas, who was not involved in the study, likens lab research to “studying whale swimming behavior in backyard pools; [it] does not work very well.” By contrast, the new study examines the effects of T. gondii in the wolves’ natural environment.

The team’s next step will be to investigate the long-term effects of T. gondii infections and whether infected wolves make better leaders than uninfected ones.

Exeter Undergraduate Research Showcase takes place

THE Exeter Undergraduate Research Showcase, an annual exhibition of research that students have undertaken during their time at Exeter, is taking place between Monday 23rd and Friday 27th January.

The showcase is taking place both online and in person at Streatham, St Luke’s and Penryn campuses during the week. Professor Tim Quine will be giving the keynote speech at the Streatham launch event.

Winning entries to the showcase will receive Amazon vouchers and paid entry to the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR)

set to take place in Warwick in April.

The showcase is especially intended for those hoping to do PhDs and engage in further study, but was open to all undergraduate entries.

It offers a valuable opportunity to have experts look over undergraduate work and present undergraduate work to the public.

Jack Liversedge, Guild VP Education who is helping to judge the competition, told Exeposé:

“I am really excited to have been asked to judge this year's Undergraduate Research Showcase. The Showcase provides a fantastic opportunity for students

to network with each other and promote their research to academics, which is something that I am very happy to support.”

A university spokesperson said: "The Undergraduate Research Showcase (UGRS) is an annual exhibition of research that students have undertaken during their time at Exeter. It provides a fantastic opportunity for participants to network with other students and promote their research to the wider academic community. The event provides an opportunity to not only develop their communication skills, but also gain relevant experience for use in applications for funding and further study, such as a PhD."

Oliver Lamb, Deputy Editor, explains the interesting reason behind why wolves may chose to go it alone or lead the pack

Wolf leaders may be selected due to a parasite

You would need, for good protection, a lightning rod of kilometre size

Megan Ballantyne, Editor, talks about the Exeter event which spotlights outstanding undergraduate work

Image: Kieran Moore

Image: Mas3cf, Wikicommons

Image: Pxhere

The world’s first swimming dinosaur

Hayley Power, Science Editor, outlines the recent discovery made by paleontologists in the Gobi Desert

THE skeleton of a new species of dinosaur, Natovenator polydontus, has been discovered by palaeontologists in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia (now devoid of water, but thought to have been home to large lakes and other bodies of water millions of years ago) and scientists believe the animal may have been able to swim. Based on fossil evidence, it is suggested to have been a predator that dived like a duck to catch its prey.

showed “several articulated dorsal ribs … to streamline the body” as seen in many modern-day diving birds. In addition, it also shares many anatomical adaptations with aquatic reptiles, such as “…a dorsoventrally compressed ribcage.” These findings have helped to confirm the aquatic nature of the species and prove the theory that some dinosaurs were capable of swimming and hunting in aquatic or semi-aquatic environments. This is a question which has long been debated in the field of palaeontology.

Evidence suggests that the dinosaur was a very small theropod (a subgroup of carnivorous dinosaurs which were bi-

pedal, and whose anatomy is characterised by having hollow bones and three clawed toes on each limb). Its neck was long and goose-like, and its snout was full of holes for nerves, indicating that it had an extremely sensitive facial sense of touch, which it may have used to detect its prey in water, much like a crocodile. Similarly to another dinosaur discovered in Mongolia, the Halszkaraptor, the Natovenator used its forearms to propel itself through the water. These species would have shared the waters with several other predators, such as a newly discovered prehistoric crocodile. Australian scientists discovered the first fossil of this

species at the start of 2022, stating that the last meal of the reptile was a “young dinosaur” (perhaps Natovenator itself).

2022 was a great year for dinosaur discoveries, including a 25-metre-long sauropod skeleton found in Portugal in August. We can’t wait to see what 2023 will bring.

Natovenator is predicted to have lived 145-66 million years ago, during the upper Cretaceous period. Its surprisingly well-preserved skeleton has revealed that the dinosaur possessed many adaptations appropriate for swimming, with the collaborative research paper produced by the Seoul National University, the University of Alberta and the Mongolian Academy of Sciences stating: “Its body shape suggests that Natovenator was a potentially capable swimming predator.”

Scientists found that the fossil

Teenagers’ brains ageing faster during pandemic

WHILE often in your teen years you may have dismissed your parents’ claims that you are growing up too quickly, is there perhaps some biological truth behind these statements?

As we dealt with a seemingly endless combination of lockdowns and restrictions, time went inevitably slower. As we were forced to cope with extended periods of isolation and drastic changes from our typical every day, long-term implications were expected both scientifically and socially. In recent studies analysing teenagers’ brains both prior to and post-pandemic, eye-opening discoveries have been made in relation to both the maturation of the brain, as well as shifting mental health experiences.

and the “peri-COVID” (post-pandemic participants). It is important to note that while these groups consisted of different people, participants were crucially matched on a range of factors, and the success of this is evident in the assessment that no significant differences were found in participant characteristics. Overall, researchers hypothesised that the peri-COVID group were more likely to report severe mental health issues and assessed to have more mature brains.

the results they produced closely correlated with the rating of physicians.

Once results were released, the initial hypothesis proved accurate in both aspects. Professor Ian Gotlib (Stanford University) notes how this “tracks with mental health difficulties we’re seeing”, as the study found reduced cortical thickness and a larger amygdala volume.

A study that began in the San Francisco Bay area prior to the pandemic already sought to investigate the impact of early-life stress on psychobiology — specifically during puberty. As “virtually all youth experienced adversity” because of the pandemic, the focus of the study shifted to analysing the consequential impacts of living through history. Researchers chose to compare two groups, labelled the “pre-COVID”

Due to restrictions, in-person assessments were unable to be conducted; however, to ensure internal validity, multiple methods of assessment were chosen, including both controlled and quasi-controlled environments. To track physical changes a total of 128 MRI scans were taken, with half taken prior to the pandemic and the remaining half at the end of 2020. For mental health, participants were asked to record symptoms on a Children’s Depression Inventory as well as an anxiety tracker that produced a MASC score (Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children). Though one may argue methods of self-report for this study may have been unreliable, the inventories used were said to have high convergent validity, essentially meaning

Though these are expected developments with age, the pandemic appears to have acted as a catalyst, quickening the rate at which this occurred. Impacts identified were said to be like the experience of early-life adversity on the brain. Raw data also indicated that the post-pandemic group had increased anxiety symptoms and differed significantly from the pre-pandemic group. Furthermore, the peri-COVID group had an older brain age despite being matched on numerous characteristics.

In the following discussion, researchers suggest that there was undeniable “accelerated brain maturation in the context of the pandemic.” As we await further investigations and publications, we are led to question whether these are short-term impacts or if these

Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Comment Editor, discusses the recent psychobiological study into the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teenagers’ brains

are permanent aspects “that will characterise the current generation of youth.”

If you have been affected by any

of the above issues, please get in contact with the University’s wellbeing service at: wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk.

Based on fossil evidence... dived like a duck to catch its prey

Similarly... used its forearms to propel itself through the water

Long-term implications were expected both scientifically and socially

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Richard Mortel

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Sungjin Lee

The peri-COVID group were more likely to report severe mental health issues

Though these are expected developments with age, the pandemic appears to have acted as a catalyst...

Image: Wikimedia Commons,

Nevit Dilmen

Have things really changed in women's football?

ON the 31st of July 2022, it finally came home. A soldout crowd of 87,192 piled into Wembley Stadium with 17.4 million more watching on the BBC to witness the Euro final, not knowing they would see a defining moment in women’s football unfold before them.

It was Manchester City’s forward Chloe Kelly that scored the winning goal in the 110th minute. Echoing Bobby Zamora, she whipped off her top to celebrate but there were still another 10 nail-biting minutes before the end of extra time. England managed to hold on until the referee blew the whistle. They had done it. The stadium erupted. England had beaten eight-time champions Germany 2-1, crowing them European Champions. As a result, Leah Williamson became the first England captain to lift a trophy at a major tournament since Bobby Moore at the 1966 World Cup.

The Lionesses Euro success was a watershed moment for women’s football. Their success caused a seismic shift in its visibility and changed the perception of women’s football indefinitely. But how much further do we need to go?

This truly pivotal moment in football was recognised by the King. The New Year Honours List 2023 awarded manager Serena Wiegman a CBE; Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White an MBE and captain Leah Williamson an OBE. Prior to this, at the end of 2022, Beth Mead’s individual efforts as the top goal scorer and best player of the Euro tournament were recognised as she was handed the title of BBC Sports Personality of the Year. She is the first women’s footballer to win this. However, whilst these accolades prove a change in attitudes to women’s foot-

ball, they only mean so much. What the Lionesses really want to do is increase visibility, in turn increasing sponsorship, and increase accessibility to football for girls. Inspiring the younger generations will catalyse change but often girls are persuaded to play other sports. Personally, I never had the opportunity to play football at school. In fact, the team reveal in their open letter that only 63 per cent play it in PE at school.

Upon victory, the Lionesses penned an open letter to Tory candidates Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss calling upon them to help make a difference in the landscape of women’s football across the UK. They point out how their victory is only the beginning and that there is still a long way to go in terms of women’s stakes in football. In fact, they are 50 years behind. The Football Association banned women from playing football for 50 years — the success of the Dick, Kerr Ladies FC during the First World War catalysed the 1921 ban that was only lifted in 1971. And so, the women’s game does indeed still have a lot of catching up to do, especially in terms of monetary recognition which sets professional men and women footballers worlds apart. It is said that top Lioness players earn around £200,000 a year in club football. This is crumbs in comparison to Three Lions Raheem Sterling’s salary, he is said to earn around £325,000 a week at Chelsea. As a result, many women footballers must have second jobs to supplement their income. Former Arsenal and England player Alex Scott worked in the laundry room at Arsenal. Captain Williamson herself is a part-time accountancy student. It will be a long time before there is no longer a pay gap across men's and women’s football — it

is first about sustaining interest and attendance. Commercial opportunity and visibility are synonymous in football.

Things are seen to be improving, however. In fact, in 2021 the Football Association signed a multimillion-pound deal with Sky Sports and the BBC for the Women’s Super League broadcast rights. This broadcast deal demonstrates not only a growing interest in women’s football but also paves the way for more sponsorship. Confirming this, the FA director of women's professional football Kelly Simmons states: "It is a landmark moment for the women’s game and a massive breakthrough for women’s sport and women’s football". Increasing the number of televised games will allow women’s football to become more mainstream. This exposure will tell girls that pursuing professional football is possible which is what the England team are striving for. Not only this, but more televised games pave the way for more sponsorship. If logos are not going to be seen, brands will not invest in the game thus explaining why male and female professional players' salaries are worlds apart.

Recently it has been confirmed that England will fly Business class to the 2023 World Cup hosted in Australia and New Zealand. This does show growth as in 2018 they flew economy. However, the men have planes chartered for them. The differences don’t lie there. The men’s medical access is more, and their access to training grounds is prioritised over the women. So, whilst improvements can be seen, ultimately the women’s game has much further to go. An increase in the televising of games is a step in the right direction. Attendance at Women’s Super League and Championship games has risen off the back of the Lionesses' success. Recently, on the 15th of January, 46,811 tickets were sold to the Arsenal home game at the Emirates against Chelsea — the second highest in WSL history. Arsenal sold more than 47,000 for the North London Derby. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes states that ‘Arsenal have done an excellent job at packing the Emirates, they’re an inspiration for the rest of the league’. Despite

this, Arsenal at their next game on the 22nd January away against Brighton play at Broadfield Stadium with a maximum capacity of just over six thousand. Therefore, it is impossible to sell the same number of tickets as the men. More tickets sold equates to further visibility and interest which leads to increased sponsorship. Until the women are consistently playing in the same stadiums as the men, the money and recognition will not compare, and it will stay a men’s game.

Usually, there is a rise of interest in the game following a major tournament — it is the sustainability of interest which is most important. The WSL runs up until the end of May with the World Cup commencing this July in Australia and New Zealand. This will keep fans excited and engaged whilst also hopefully encouraging others to take notice. In 2024 there will most likely be an England team at the Paris Olympics and then in 2025 the Euros circle back around. So, there are lots of tournaments for years to come that will not only sustain but also increase interest.

The success off the back of the Euro tournament is immense but there is still a long way to go before women and men are equal in the realm of football. The growth so far has been rapid and immense but with 50 years of catching up to do, the world must be attentive to women in football. Taking notice and getting curious about women’s football elevates their platform and sexist talk of women not being able to play or being less interesting to watch will be squashed. Hopefully, there will be a time where football doesn’t need to be distinguished by gender and it can just exist as football. For now, inspiring younger generations to play football will enact change at the roots — and the Lionesses will forever be known as the inspiration.

Qatar's FIFA World Cup in review

WHILE the FIFA fever may have come down for this year, with Argentina winning the world cup it really does feel like football may have seen everything. With the World Cup being held in Qatar this year there were a lot of concerns and questions of how well it would be executed and how restrictive the whole experience would be because of the strict laws in Qatar. It was suggested to dress modestly while in the country, not to talk to strangers, and to avoid any kind of public affection.

A lot of the experience of attending an event of such a large scope often rests on the notion of dressing up and hanging out with friends and loved ones, however this was restricted by the World Cup being in Qatar. There was a lot of speculation of whether alcohol would be allowed in the stadiums during games, alcohol was not available in the stadium to be purchased. Alcohol was however available in the World Cup hospitality area, which was right next to the stadium, the hospitality area was however only accessible to people who were guests of FIFA itself which was a very small proportion of the people attending the matches. The organisers in Qatar did make the tourist areas, transportation services and the stadiums accessible to the visitors. All public transportation was free if you had a Hayya card (Qatari Visa) which made the city more tourist friendly.

When looking at the experience of the World Cup independently from the restrictions, it was an experience of a lifetime. I watched the first semi-final which was between Argentina and Croatia and went in supporting Argentina. As Argentina won that match 3-0, and I got to watch Messi score a goal live it was a great day for me personally, the crowd was amazing with mostly Argentinian supporters the constant chanting, cheering, and the packed stadium made it an experience nobody would forget.

Anna Jones discusses the climate of women's football after a whirlwind year

Image: James Boyes

Ayusha Pandey

Is it time for Nadal to hang up his racquet?

Rob Worthington, Sport Editor, questions whether Rafa Nadal should retire following his Australian Open exit

THE 27th of September 2022 marked the end of an era for men’s tennis. After a truly illustrious career, picking up 20 Grand Slam titles along the way as well as the hearts of hundreds of millions around the world, Roger Federer played his final competitive tennis match.

But Federer’s retirement wasn’t just significant from an individual perspective. From grassroots tennis right to the very top of the game, his decision to exit the sport has and always was going to have an impact on many.

But arguably most heart crushing for tennis fans was the sobering realisation that the greatest rivalry in tennis history had finally come to an end on an official basis. Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal, and Novak Djokovic, the greatest three mens players of all time, would never again play in the same tournament.

Signs of decline had been prevalent in Federer’s game for a fair while prior to his retirement, but there was always hope he’d return to the court and collect a few more wins amid the latter stages of his career being plagued by injury.

As for Djokovic, he can still be considered the best around. The 35-year-old

has had to deal with fewer fitness issues when compared to his two great rivals and isn’t showing many signs of slowing down.

Don’t be surprised if the Serbian matches Rafael Nadal’s record-breaking achievement of collecting 22 Grand Slam titles in a few days. He’s the favourite to win the Australian Open in Melbourne, a tournament he has serially won throughout his career.

Talk of the Australian open hands me an apt opportunity to bring Rafael Nadal into the conversation. Nadal unfortunately will not be able to extend his current record of 22 Grand Slam titles as he has already crashed out of the tournament down under.

The Spaniard was played off the park by Mackenzie McDonald last week. No. 65 in the world dumps out no. two in the world in straight sets. Not a particularly good look for Nadal.

Nadal did of course sustain what looked to be a pretty painful hip injury late in the match in fairness to him. He’s set to miss six to eight weeks of the season as a consequence of that injury. But it would be far-fetched to suggest that issue caused Nadal’s poor Australian Open performance; he looked off the pace.

And even Nadal’s greatest supporters would be lying if they hadn’t considered the prospect of the 36-year-old bringing an end to his stunning career sooner rather than later. Nadal is still playing at a very high level, but from two key perspectives, he is entering dangerous territory.

It is widely known that Nadal has put his body through a fair deal of stress in order to ensure he has been able to remain competitive on the court in the final years of his career. Painkillers have helped him to manage shoulder, arm, elbow, knee, and back issues in recent years. And his latest issue concerns his hip.

The Spaniard has already terminally damaged his body. Many believe he’ll be in a wheelchair pretty soon after he retires, but it appears to be the case that he is happy to pay the physical price of continuing to play as long as he keeps winning.

And given the quality of player Nadal is, he’ll back himself to keep competing at the top for a fair while yet. Granted, he wasn’t at his best against McDonald in Australia, but flashes of his brilliance were still visible.

That brings me on to the second perspective Nadal needs to scrutinise carefully if those around him are sug-

gesting it might be time to bring an end to his career. The legacy perspective.

The world no. two needs to ensure that by continuing to play at the highest level he doesn’t tarnish his legacy within the game. It’s not as if his level has drastically dropped, but if he is consistently knocked out early in major tournaments this year, people will begin to take note.

In football we have seen public opinion on Cristiano Ronaldo change to a significant degree over the course of the last six months. Not long ago he was regarded by many as the greatest of all time, now he’s slipped out of the top 10 for many as a result of his antics at the end of his career.

Ronaldo’s stubbornness has ended up costing him. He clearly still feels he’s one of the best in the game, but the distinct lack of offers from English clubs when he became a free agent after his Manchester United exit suggested otherwise.

It’s a similarly delicate situation for Nadal. He may feel has more to contribute. In the eyes of many he still does.

However, if he were to retire in the near future, he would secure his legacy and protect himself from any more physical deterioration. It’s something he simply must consider.

The magic of the darts: Michael Smith mayhem

THE final of the 2022 World Darts Championship, and the crowning of perennial nearlyman Michael ‘Bully Boy’ Smith as Champion of the World after defeating three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen typified the spectacle of entertainment and euphoria that enthralled Alexandra Palace for three weeks. Winning by a seven sets to four margin tying three sets each during the match, Michael Smith pushed ahead in the second half of the match to convincingly claim the 2023 World Championship.

“That is the most amazing leg of darts you will ever see in your life! I can’t spake! [speak]”. The words of Wayne Mardle after Michael Smith completed a nine-dart finish nine (with a 141 finish) in the third leg of the second set after Michael van Gerwen missed double-12 and nine-darter himself by centimetres the throw before. Only Adrian Lewis had successfully completed a nine-darter in a final in 2011 beforehand. All the while an electric crowd is in rapture. Throughout the whole match, a grand total of 37 180s were thrown — a fitting end to the carnival that is the PDC World Championship. The atmosphere of Ally Pally is inseparably linked to the pandemonium of World Championships; that despite the event moving to the Haringey venue only in 2007, a four year extension signed in 2021 of four years until the 2024/5 Championships is welcome news. Claims that this 19 dart leg is the greatest ever certainly aren’t unreasonable — the

determination and momentum carried by both players during the final was unbelievable at points and that’s a large reason why Ally Pally erupted in joy for Bully Boy.

As far as redemption arcs go in darts, the rise of Michael Smith to the pinnacle of darts as World Number One is a story of resilience and one of the great stories — finalist twice before, against Van Gerwen in 2019 losing 7-3 and in 2022 losing 7-5 to Peter Wright, having been level with Wright at five sets each. Winner of the 2022 Grand Slam of Darts and finalist in the 2022 UK Open — it looks like the era of dominance by Michael Smith has begun. In an interview with Phil Cartwright of the BBC, Michael Smith captured the emotion of the occasion — commenting that after his 7-5 loss to Peter Wright, he lost faith in winning the title; “I was questioning myself whether I’d get another chance”. Furthermore, his victory was humanised as he spoke about his oldest son’s reaction, crying throughout the final leg: “Just finally, their dad’s done it”. After his victory against then defending champion Phil Taylor in the 2014 World Championship, the former World Youth champion presented his confidence: “my aim now is to put my name on this trophy”.

The popularity of darts throughout Britain and towards Europe and the Australian subcontinent (driven primarily by local names such as Dutchman Michael van Gerwen) is rooted in the sense of entertainment any darts event produces. The

2022 World Championships best moments sometimes were the funniest moments — such as Jose de Sousa mistakenly checking out his opponents score. Another example and perhaps most bizarrely, was Gerwyn Price emerging into the arena wearing earplugs and later on wearing ear defenders responding to crowd jibes, in the most surreal image of the tournament. Entertainment is darts, and darts is entertainment. The World Championships often give the platform for younger players to make their name, and keep the carnival firing on all cylinders throughout every round — Martin Schindler’s 170 finish (the highest of the tournament) within the opening rounds whilst the rise of Gabriel Clemens to a semi-final after defeating Gerwyn Price in the Quarter-Finals only to be knocked out by Michael Smith proved that tournament darts never has a competition problem.

Darts action will come to Exeter on the 2nd of March as the fifth round of the Premier League of Darts will be held at the Westpoint Arena — four players confirmed to be playing in the Premier League this year via their PDC ranking: Michael Smith, Michael van Gerwen, twotime World Champion Peter Wright and 2021 World Champion Gerwyn Price. The remaining four players to play in the series of one-night tournaments are yet to be confirmed, however likely players to be invited include Luke Humphries (winner of four European titles in 2022), Rob Cross (looking to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2021) and Joe Cullen as winner of The Masters.

Michael Smith is 2023 PDC World Darts Champion, Bully Boy completing his redemption arc and placing a target on his back as the most on-form player in the world.

Exeter City rescue late point in lively second half against Forest

IN a game of two halves, Exeter City were held in an exciting encounter between them and Forest Green Rovers. City and Forest traded chances in the first half, with neither side able to make anything of the pressure they had put on the other.

It took until the 31st minute for City to have a meaningful chance, with Josh Key’s shot going wide. Forest similarly failed to take an opportunity from a free kick in the 33rd minute with Brandon Cooper’s header going just wide. City’s last memorable act of the half came from Jack Sparkes with his shot also going wide.

Forest started the second half the better team with the Green Devils dominating possession and taking advantage of indiscipline from City. Their pressure paid off in the 55th minute with debutant Jordon Garrick tapping in a cross from Jamie Robson.

Sensing the need for energy from City, manager Caldwell immediately made substitutions, taking Archie Collins and Sparkes off and bringing on Jevani Brown and debutant Joe White. The substitutions had an instant impact, with a chance for Jay Stansfield just going over the crossbar. With renewed desire from City, the pressure built and finally paid off with incredible strike from Brown who buried the ball in the back of Rovers’ net.

Despite a late rally from City and chances left begging from Harry Kite and Josh Key, the score remained 1-1 at the final whistle.

Joseph Terry looks back on a brilliant World Darts Championship final

Image: Sven Mandel

Joshua Hughes, Editor

Image: Joshua Hughes

Sport

EDITORS: Toby Brisley Rob Worthington

Matt Jay leaves Exeter City after 18 years

EXETER City captain, Matt Jay, has left his boyhood club after 18 years of service to the team he joined as an eight-year-old. The attacking midfielder departs for Colchester United in a move that has come as a shock to supporters around the county.

Matt Jay and Exeter City Football Club seemed as if they were joined at the hip, inseparable from each other since their first meeting back in 2003.

The Grecians captain made over 200 appearances in red and white, scoring 54 goals since making his first team debut in 2013 aged just seventeen. His departure comes just two days before Timothée Dieng, another player crucial to the Grecians’ promotion last season, left the club for League Two side Gillingham.

In a statement confirming Jay’s departure, manager Gary Caldwell said “As a captain he hasn’t played as much as he would have liked — not just un-

der me, but Kevin Nicholson and Matt Taylor and he wants to play football. He is a fantastic servant for this football club, the promotion season and scoring the goal that got the club promoted means he will always be remembered as a legend at this football club.”

Despite being an integral part of Exeter’s promotion-winning campaign last year, Jay has struggled for game time this season, starting just six of Exeter’s fixtures upon their return to League One for the first time in a decade. The attacking midfielder also failed to score in the third division despite having found the net 14 times across the 2021/22 season.

Explaining his departure to the supporters, an emotional Matt Jay said “This has been my home for a long time, and it was a difficult decision to make for me and my family, having a young boy now so I’ve been looking for some security with my partner and little one. I think the time is right to say goodbye and I’m hopeful that it will be a positive step in my career. I really wish the club every suc-

cess in the future, and it will be the first club I check every weekend when the scores come in on a Saturday.”

Jay’s time at Exeter City started under the management of Paul Tisdale. Not yet ready for first team action, he spent two years on loan at non-league clubs Weston-super-Mare, Hayes & Yeading United, and Truro City before linking back up with the Grecians ahead of the 2016/17 season. Jay continued to struggle to break into the first team under Paul Tisdale, often making an impact off the bench but failing to cement his place in the team. After Tisdale departed and Matt Taylor was appointed, Jay continued to work his way into the team. His break came in 2020 as Exeter City prepared themselves for what Taylor called a ‘transition season’, an opportunity which Jay relished. After Jake Taylor’s departure, Jay succeeded the midfielder as captain and spearheaded the Grecians to promotion in 2021/22, scoring the crucial winning goal against Barrow which secured promotion to League One. Exeter City are now left with a

leadership void at the top of the club less than 100 days into Gary Caldwell’s reign at St James Park. Defender Pierce Sweeney, who made his 300th Exeter City appearance against Forest Green Rovers on Saturday, has been appointed club captain by Caldwell, but the players will undoubtedly miss the presence of his promotionwinning predecessor. Sweeney steps into the role having deputised for Jay on multiple occasions this season, but Caldwell insists that everybody at the club should be looking to be a leader.

A further void has been left in the playing squad as the fan favourite dubbed the ‘Silky Frenchman’ Timothée Dieng has also departed the club.

Caldwell was less complementary to Dieng as he was to Jay, telling the supporters in a statement “The transfer was out of our control. We didn’t want Tim to leave, but Gillingham activated a release clause that was already in Tim’s contract, meaning that ultimately it was Tim’s decision to leave the Club.”

A move from League One Exeter City to Gillingham, who sit rock bottom of

League Two, seems a strange decision and it is currently unknown as to why Dieng felt that moving to the Kentbased side was a good career move.

Caldwell has already made moves in the January transfer window to replace the two departed midfielders. Josh Coley has been recalled from his loan spell at Harrogate Town where he was played behind the striker in a similar role to how Jay was utilised at St James Park. Caldwell has also called upon the services of Joe White, who joins Exeter on loan from Premier League side Newcastle United. Caldwell first met White during his time in as interim manager of the Magpies U23s team in 2021.

The loanee has already made his debut for the Grecians, starring in red and white for the first time as they drew 1-1 with Forest Green Rovers.

Matt Jay and Timothée Dieng will both surely be missed at St James Park, but Gary Caldwell’s job of steering the Grecians away from a relegation battle must continue without two of their promotion-winning heroes.

Tom Picillo

Image: Sam Parks