Issue 694 // 28 January 2019

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ISSUE 694 28 JAN 2019 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Checking in or checking out?

EUAFC apologises for liking racist tweet Megan Davies & Graham Moore Editors

EXCLUSIVE

Most issues with the checkin system have been dealt with, Sabb claims

ous system left gaps: “[Lecturers] used a paper system, [which is] not practical in a lecture theatre. If you’re unable to monitor the seminars, you don’t really get the full picture.”

Similarly, Shadow Councillor DeLane Hammill echoed the University’s claim that Digital Check In makes it “easier to spot if a student has wellbeing issues”. Hammill referred to a University representative who said, in a meeting for which she was in attendance, that digital check-in allowed ...

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VP Education acknowledges distress caused to international students But standing up for them ‘not worth the time’ Image: Megan Davies

Edd Church Online News Editor

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HE Students’ Guild will not be pressuring the University to end the iExeter digital check-in, recent Shadow Council discussions indicate. At a Shadow Council session on Wednesday 23 January, Warren Bingham-Roberts, VP Education, stated that he felt “like most of the reasons students wanted to get rid of it have been mitigated against, or are being dealt with”.

Megan Davies, Shadow Councillor, asked for specific details on how the issue of Tier 4 student visas was being addressed by the Guild. Bingham-Roberts responded initially by claiming that nothing could be done. In a heated exchange, it was pointed out to BinghamRoberts that the University was already Home Office compliant prior to the implementation of the new check-in system.

Davies further asked Bingham-Roberts if he had tried to resist the digital check-in system on the ground of concerns over Tier 4 visas. The VP Educa-

tion replied: “No, because I don’t think it would be worth the time, because it’s a matter of law.” When pressed on the matter, Bingham-Roberts admitted that the new system has caused “significant concern” for some students. He went on to suggest there has been a lot of misinformation around the system— particularly around the fact that attendance gathering for tier 4 visa requirements is only taken once per week, not for every session.

Bingham-Roberts continued to make his case for the digital check-in system on the grounds that the previ-

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XETER University Association Football Club have apologised for liking a tweet that contained a racial slur, saying that they were “absolutely shocked and devastated that this happened”.

They said that because their password has remained unchanged for some time, a large number of people have access to their account, and that despite investigating as a committee, they do not know how it happened.

The University has tweeted that it is also investigating the incident.

Screenshots emerged on Wednesday night of the liked tweet, and EUAFC have since unliked it.

Responding to the screenshots, the University tweeted: “We’re very concerned to see this. We have zero tolerance for abusive or discriminatory behaviour of any kind. We will investigate immediately.”

This incident comes after a succession of previous occurrences where the University has attracted public attention for issues with racism and discriminatory behaviour. Students were expelled last year for racist, sexist and homophobic messages in a group chat linked to Bracton Law Society. The issue sparked national controversy, and the society was later shut down as a result of an internal investigation.

FEATURES

MUSIC

How does Exeter deal with eating disorders?

An interview with Ciaran Austin, Exeter grad turned soul rapper page 25 Image: Owen Bush

Image: Niklas Rahmel

PAGES 12-13

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HERE is an easy temptation, when writing a regular piece such as this editorial, to acclimatise oneself to the fact that you have a platform.

As it happens, we are lucky and privileged to have this opportunity to vent our opinions. This fact has become, in an almost organic way, the focus of this issue of Exeposé.

We have led the issue with two front page articles that represent two very different aspects of student representation, on an Exeter-specific level. Firstly, we find ourselves reporting on yet another racism investigation being conducted on a University society, with the eyes of Exeter this time falling on EUAFC (pages 1 and 5). EUAFC have, as the article states, issued a full apology - yet the reader may find themselves looking to the wider picture, and beginning to ask: are minority groups adequately represented in Exeter? Is the University - and indeed the student body - doing enough to combat these issues? Is it enough to only talk about this when an incident becomes publicly noticeable?

Indeed, other issues at Exeter tend to take precedence. Our other front page story focuses on the digital check-in system (also pages 1 and 5), an issue which might directly affect a larger proportion of students (you don't have to be a part of a minority group to notice those endless notifications). Yet again, whether you are a fan of the system or not, it is those groups who are arguably less represented who stand to lose most - international students, whose visas might be compromised.

Elsewhere, we also see the news that the NUS will be suspending its Trans Officer position, in an effort to save money

(page 5). Again, it is representation that suffers, and it is the representation of those who need it most. Again, we may ask ourselves: are we doing enough? Can we do more?

And that, we suppose, is the point we are getting at here. We as students may have opportunities - like Exeposé (and other student media) or Sabbatical elections or Guild Council - to make our voices heard, but the evidence here could be seen to suggest that what we are doing thus far is not, in fact, sufficient. We, as editors, are again reminded that we are privileged to have a regular platform from which to speak.

Every two weeks, we have an opportunity to make our voices heard. It is, then, our responsibility to ensure that platform is utilised to amplify the voices of all students here at the University, particularly those who might otherwise go underrepresented. This is the one of the joys of student journalism - ensuring student voices ring loud and clear. In this same way, it is also the responsibility of organisations such as Students' Unions to act upon the voice of its member; and it is also the responsibility of the University to ensure that, when issues do arise, they are dealt with in such a way that they do not resurface.

Giving voice - this is important to us as editors. If we may be so bold, we would like to trouble you to consider the same matter.

Are our voices - your own voice, and the voice of your fellow students - being heard?

And when student voices are heard, are we then ensuring that the promised change is being followed through? Can we do more?

Megan and Graham.

NEWS

Refreshers' brings in £3,900 in new memberships PAGE 4

Image: University of Exeter

COMMENT

How much should the ViceChancellor be paid?

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FEATURES Interview with Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich PAGE 11

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SCIENCE The cyberpsychology of being an Instagram influencer PAGE 36

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Worldwide university news

Scandal-hit Japanese uni to lose funds

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OKYO Medical University will no longer receive government funding from the 22 January for this and the next fiscal year, following multiple discrimination and corruption scandals. The university already admitted to discriminating against female applicants. Over the course of more than ten years, female students were deducted points in their entrance exams, being seen as less effective for allegedly taking too much time off after giving birth. This was followed by an indictmen where they admitted to allowing a bureaucrat’s son to enter so the university could gain a subsidy. The scandals at the university led to an investigation by the education ministry into Japan’s eighty-one universities. As a result, Tokyo Medical University along with six other universities have had their subsidies withdrawn or reduced.

Students react against Record number of firsts for UK students racism at Oklahoma

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RECORD number of university students in the UK recieved firstclass degrees last year, according to new figures from the Higher Education Statistics Authority. 28 per cent of students graduated with firsts in 2017/18 compared with 14.4 per cent of students who graduated in 2009/10. According to HESA, there has been a 2 per cent rise in the percentage of students recieving firsts in every year since 2013/14. Last month, the higher education regulator warned that public confidence in the system was under threat due to 'spiralling' grade inflation, and UK universities have launched a sector-wide review into the issue. Alistair Jarvis, Cheif Executive of Universities UK (UUK) said; ''Universities are already taking steps to tackle grade inflation.''

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WO University of Oklahoma students have voluntarily left the university after they faced a backlash over a racist video posted on social media. In the video, which was posted on the 18 January, one student films as another student is seen painting their face black while laughing and uttering a racist slur. In an official statement, the university stressed that “This type of behaviour is not welcome here and is condemned in the strongest terms by…our university.” On the 22nd January, 1,000 students and activists responded to the incident by participating in an on-campus rally. The school’s Black Student Association condemned the video, saying “It is unfortunate to us to be in 2019 and this is still happening.”

Nigerian students affected by strike

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ORE than a million students in Nigeria may not be able to graduate as a result of a lecturers’ strike which is now in its third month. The strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began in November following accusations that the government failed to fulfil past agreements over the redevelopment of higher education. Lecturers are also protesting about inadequate facilities, low funding, and an alleged plan to increase tuition fees.

However, the Nigerian Association of Students has accused lecturers of holding the strike for their own personal agendas and have threatened mass protests if it continues.

Negotiations between the union and the government are still ongoing.

Stories by Maddie Baker and Gwyn Wright (News Editors), Henry Jones (Senior Reporter) and Katie Jenkins (Deputy Editor) Images: University of Exeter and MARELBU

News

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NEWS EDITORS: Maddie Baker Gwyn Wright

Holocaust Memorial Conference achieves record attendance

Maddie Baker News Editor

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volunteers and student ambassadors.

This conference saw the highest number yet to attend, reaching more than double the last two conferences added together.

An opportunity [...] to engage with and learn about one of the darkest times in human history

Prof. Tim Quine, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education

According to Balint, the engagement of university students was particularly important in light of “the issues Exeter that has faced in the past few years” regarding inclusivity. Professor Janice Kay CBE, Provost, who is leading a commission to enhance equality, diversity and inclusivity at the university, emphasised the conference’s importance in enabling our community to “learn from the past to understand how we become a more open and inclusive society”. Professor Timothy Quine, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Education also went on to say

that as well as ‘raising awareness’, the conference provided ‘an opportunity... to engage with and learn about one of the darkest times in human history, the Holocaust, and to take inspiration from the resilience of those who lived through it.’

Lord Mayor Rob Hannaford believes this event, being run by the university, provided local students with the opportunity to more fully ‘understand the horrific situation that millions of people experienced’, which is especially important ‘at our present time of political upheaval’.

The conference was not the only event that the university held in order to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which took place across the globe on 27 January.

The Jewish Chaplaincy also held the Tu Bi Shvat - a festival where trees are planted – where memorial stones were also buried to mark the Pittsburgh Synagogue shootings near the Old Library, creating a simple yet permanent reminder of the Holocaust today.

Image: Maddie Baker

N 16 January, Exeter held its third Holocaust Memorial Conference, which sought to give students a wider understanding of the Holocaust.

Students from local schools, colleges, and the university, as well as academics, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education and the Lord Mayor of Exeter came together to remember what happened over seventy years ago.

A major aim of the conference was to remind young people that the Holocaust is, according to event organiser Barnabas Balint, is “an issue ongoing in the present” With other genocides, anti-Semitism and racial discrimination continuing to this day, .he added that he hoped to inspire attendees ‘‘to learn from genocide, for a better future.’’

The conference opened with the personal testimony of Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich MBE, who experi-

enced the ghettos, concentration camps, manual labour, violence and disease first-hand in war-torn Poland. The organiser praised the manner in which she “relived some of the darkest moments of her life” at the age of 89. By talking about these dark experiences that she faced with her close family – who she described to her audience through their names, actions and personalities – she brought these people and their histories to life in a way that is becoming increasingly rare as the number of living Holocaust survivors continues to fall. After her talk, students were able to attend a range of seminars covering topics from the issues surrounding the Holocaust today to depictions of the Holocaust in graphic novels and literature.

The conference saw a record number of attendees, with nearly two hundred students from the South West getting involved – many of whom were from widening participation schools. In total, there were over three hundred people in attendance including university students,

Guild preparing to support students in no-deal Brexit Megan Davies Editor

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HE Guild is focusing on communications and on supporting students’ trips preparing for the event of a no-deal Brexit, Shadow Council were told on Wednesday.

They also said that focus is currently on communications only. Asked about support for EU students, the Guild said that they were working with the University to offer consistent information to students.

The Guild recognises that the current uncertainty will affect the wellbeing of our members

Guild spokesperson

Councillors were told that the Guild are looking at how they will need to support student activities and societies’ trips into the EU. They were also told that the Guild would be working alongside the University so as to prevent the risk of contradictory communications.

Later, speaking to Exeposé, a Guild spokesperson said that society-organised trips to Europe were the only activity which the Guild had a direct ability to mitigate against. They said that other plans were still being discussed.

The Students’ Guild continues to work with the University to monitor the emerging issues relating to Brexit Guild spokesperson

A Guild spokesperson said: “The Student’s Guild continues to work with the University to monitor the emerging issues relating to Brexit and how to best mitigate direct and indirect impacts for students. This includes communicating the impacts and mitigations to these students.

“The Guild recognises that the current uncertainty about the political situation will affect the wellbeing of our members from inside and outside of the EU and are working alongside to University to provide support.”

Image: Dave Kellam

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28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

Refreshers’ brings in £3,900 in new memberships

Uni retains position in LGBTQ+ inclusivity rankings support for an LGBTQ+ friendly workplace, were all recognised by Stonewall. Additionally, the UniverHE University of Exeter sity of Exeter’s support of the annual remains one of the top 200 Exeter Pride event and the inclusion best employers in Britain for of LGBT+ staff on the University’s LGBTQ+ staff, positioned 181 in the Inclusivity Group portray the active rankings published by Stonewall last role the University has been taking in promoting a supportive work culture. week. Now in its 15th year, the charDorcas Cowan, the Equality’s rankings celebrate ity, Diversity, Inclusivity leading organisations and Wellbeing Manthat have been ager at the Univerworking to make sity said: “We’re their workplacdelighted to have es inclusive. maintained our Stonewall uses position within a range of key Stonewall’s top indicators that 200 employers in include confidenrecognition of our tial questionnaires Image: Joint Base Langley-Eustis work towards creating for staff. This year, an inclusive environment for a record number of 445 organisations took part in the index, those of all sexual orientations and demonstrating their work to promote gender identities.” ‘‘The university is committed to equality in areas including leadership, policy, monitoring, and community continuing our work to further embed an inclusive culture based on the engagement. core underlying belief that people The University’s LGBTQ+ Staff Network and the new Senior Allies feel and perform better when they Network, as well as the rainbow lan- can be themselves and feel included, yards that allow staff to show their respected and supported.’’

Deepa Lalwani Comment Editor

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Genetic disorder ‘more dangerous’ than thought

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MAJOR study into the genetic disorder haemeochromatosis, led by researchers from the University of Exeter, has revealed that the disease is ‘more dangerous’ than previously thought. The study found that people with the condition between the ages of 65 and 70 were four times more likely to develop liver cancer and twice as likely to develop arthritis. Until recently, haemeochromatosis was viewed as a relatively low-level health risk. It causes the body to absorb too much iron from diet which builds around the body eventually inflicting damage to organs. Although it is commonly referred to as the most common genetic disorder in the UK, little was previously known of the long-effects of the disease. Its symptoms include fatigue, joint pain and are often mistaken for signs of ageing. Dr Luke Pilling of the University of Exeter Medical School said; ‘‘We found that diagnosis of haemechromotosis is often delayed or missed. That’s not surprising as symptoms such as joint pains and tiredness are frequently mistaken as signs of ageing. Yet it is likely that these potentially deadly health risks could be treated and avoided, transforming lives, particularly at older ages.’’

Andy Lacy Kerr, News Team

Aaron Loose Music Editor

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HE Students’ Guild’s Vice President of Activities, Rosie McDonagh, announced on Wednesday 23 January that Refreshers’ Week had generated a total of £3,900 in new society memberships.

Refreshers’ was a great week of taster sessions, new societies and finding out what the Guild does Rosie McDonagh, VP Activities

McDonagh said ‘the main focus of [Refresher’s Week] is getting people involved and signing up to new things’. According the current figures, these goals were met. McDonagh said ‘the figure was £3,900; if you are guessing that an average society membership is £10, you’re looking at 390 new members’. Further Guild reports showed that £7,500 was taken in club membership. There was also a 232% increase to the events pages on the Student Guild website.

However, Shadow Council member Jack Hindson requested records

Brexit panels bring parties together

people believe their voices are not Maddie Baker being fully heard by politicians.

News Editor This is a view reflected by Exeter N 20 January, 370 students students who spoke out during 20 Jaand local people attended nuary’s edition of BBC South West’s Devon for Europe’s ‘Stop- Sunday Politics and described Parliaping Brexit – What We Do Now!’ talk, ment’s current situation as both ‘inaccessible’ and ‘chaotic’. There was a held in the Peter Chalk building.

A cross-party panel - including for- range of views from students favouring both leaving and remaining mer Conservative, Labour, Green and in the EU, with some Liberal Democrat MEPs and students stressing activists – led the event, dethe undemocratic bating the current Brexit tendency of a situation and promosecond refeting their solution of rendum, while a second referendum others reiteraor ‘Peoples’ Vote’. ted that they Members of Exeter would vote to Students for Euroleave.

There are pe also attended the I ma ge: other opportunievent, with their preDu nca nH ties to engage with sident contributing at the ull Brexit in the coming close of the discussion. weeks - on the 29 January, One major focus of the event was the coming together of political par- Exeter for Europe society is running a ties to bring about a more representa- ‘Write a Letter to your MP’ stall in the tive solution, something that resonated Forum and on the same date our Cenwith the Exeter Students for Europe, tre for European Governance is holwhose student members are ‘from all ding a series of seminars in London, political backgrounds’. A representa- starting with a discussion focusing on tive of For our Future’s Sake – a youth the implications of Brexit on the farorganisation – commented that young ming sector.

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from 2017, 2018, and 2019, pointing out that it was difficult to know how 2019’s intake differed from previous years without available statistics.

McDonagh responded by committing making the figures public soon.

The Students’ Guild held Refreshers Week between 13 and 20 January.

Each of the days were organised by a different theme. Monday showcased activities, Tuesday focused on Student Voice, Wednesday highlighted Sport, Thursday held a new Societies Day, while Friday foreground the Advice services. 2019 saw over 49 official Refreshers events in 2019, an increase from 2018, where only seven events were held.

McDonagh praised the forum exhibitions, stating ‘‘I wanted engagement in societies and what the Guild was doing and that was through the exbits in the forum and talking to the sab and things.’ When asked whether she felt the week was a success, McDonagh said ‘I’m happy with it. Obviously, you can always improve on things. For example, the sports day had all their poms-poms and canoes, whereas the Democracy and Governance council isn’t as engaging’’.

McDonagh also announced that Freshers Fairs meetings had begun for Streatham and St. Luke’s. There are also plans to ensure training for new committee members is ‘comprehensive’.

We’ve seen a massive increase in the number of new society members, with 673 people signing up!

Rosie McDonagh, VP Activities

McDonagh told Exeposé: ‘‘Refreshers’ was a great week of taster sessions. new societies and finding out what the Guild does. I wanted Refreshers’ Week to be an opportunity for people to get involved with the Guild, whether that meant joining societies and visiting Advice; I think the week did just that! ‘‘Students’ had the chance to look at the Guild, Athletic Union and University stalls to find out the wide range of opportunities available across our campuses. We’ve seen a massive increase in the number of new society members, with 673 people signing up!

Many thanks and a huge well done to all those involved in Refreshers’.’’

Bus station gets go-ahead Natalie Tongue News Team

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ORK has begun on building a new leisure complex and bus station in the city

centre.

The work is expected to be completed within two years, and the current bus station is remaining open for use throughout this period.

With contracts signed and work now underway, a formal ceremony was held on Friday 18 January to mark its beginning. Council leader Pete Edwards emphasised the importance of redevelopment to the city’s future. He states: “many city centres around the country are dying because of a lack of investment - we won’t let that happen in Exeter. This city will continue to thrive.”

Image: Tash Ebbutt

The creation of this leisure centre and new station is a step towards a wider redevelopment programme. In December 2018, Exeter City Council announced a £300 million estimated investment for the city. Their proposals have been supported by business leaders in Exeter.

A portion of this investment is set to go towards 250 housing units currently for sale in the Civic Centre, alongside 250 housing units up for rent.

The new leisure centre is expected to attract at least half a million visits annually. Featuring an eight lane main pool, 150 station gym, a soft play area and health and spa facilities, it will be the UK’s first leisure centre built to efficient low energy Passivhaus standards. This is predicted to save up to 70% in energy costs.

NEWS

EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019

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NUS to defund Trans Officer position Graham Moore Editor

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HE NUS UK Trustee Board has voted to defund official representation for the Union’s Trans Campaign.

The move, which has been described as “political” and undemocratic, will result in the retraction of funding for the Trans Officer position and its associated Committee from the 2019/20 period, as part of an initiative to cut costs.

In a letter to all NUS members, the Union described 2019/20 as “a transition year which requires extraordinary action to ensure solvency and deliver a degree of financial stability.” This letter – signed by NUS President Shakira Martin and Acting CEO Peter Robertson – describes how, in light of the “significant challenges” posed by the NUS’s financial situation, the Board voted to maintain only 12 paid officer positions. The Trans Officer position numbers among the eight positions which been “suspended”.

A statement signed by five NUS Officers argues that defunding the Trans Officer position was “the wrong decision”. The statement holds that there is “nothing democratic or liberatory about this decision happening without a single conversation with a trans student or representative”. It also disputes the decision to retain the position of VP Union Development (UD) over that of Trans Officer, “especially as the VP Union Development

is a member of the Turnaround Board Trustee Board’s vote”.

The NUS have stated that, whilst the Trans Officer role is suspended, its responsibilities will be absorbed into that of the LGBT+ Officer. Those in opposition see this as insufficient, as “[trans] students have specific welfare and campaigning needs, including healthcare (transition-related or otherwise), administrative barriers, housing inequality, access to gendered spaces and outright institutional and interpersonal transphobia”.

This decision has already been hailed by anti-trans activists as a victory TransformNUS spokesperson

Transferring these responsibilities to the LGBT+ Officer role will, the opposing statement argues, place an unsustainable weight on those resources assigned to the LGBT+ position. As two of the statement’s signatories, Rob Noon (NUS LGBT+ Officer, open place) and Eden Ladley (NUS LGBT+ Officer, women’s place) note that the decision was made “without any conversation with the current LGBT+ officers”. They cite “the Boards’ clear lack of understanding of inter-community dynamics”, and that the move may result in a “transphobic backlash”, as vital resources for the wider LGBT+ community will necessarily be diverted towards the trans community.

Citing recent incidents of public transphobia and a “crisis” in access to trans healthcare, the statement continued: “This coming two years is the worst possible time to slash trans representation in NUS. We believe that the reasons for which the above decision has been taken and the way in which it has been taken shows a fundamental lack of respect for trans students. Cutting trans representation after consultation with trans leaders would have been bad enough, but the leadership of NUS failed even to do that, the bare minimum.”

The NUS maintain that “our boards have made decisions knowing there are significant ramifications but in doing so have given us the best chance of getting to a position where we can reform our organisation," to "prevent NUS falling from an upcoming and repeating fiscal cliff.”

Exeposé spoke to TransformNUS, a group who had previously campaigned to instate the NUS Trans Campaign in 2016, and now find themselves campaigning to maintain it. “We are heartbroken and angry at this decision and at the way in which it was taken. No trans students were consulted in this decision, which shows utter contempt for the trans student community.

“This decision has already been heralded by anti-trans activists as a victory for their cause. The work that they want to do on encouraging legal discrimination against trans women, defunding trans healthcare and instituting a new Section

28 will have less opposition from the country’s largest union. NUS leadership are complicit in this, and we urge trans students and allies to get in touch with NUS and their students’ unions to say how this decision will negatively impact the trans community.”

Going forwards, TransformNUS said that “We’ll be submitting a censure of the NUS UK board to every NUS conference and lobbying Students Unions to respond to NUS and reject the proposals. We’ll be making the case at conference for an alternative budget that allows the trans campaign to exist both short and long term.”

When asked how the University of Exeter Students' Guild intends to ensure representation of trans students in the upcoming interim period Rose Ahier, VP Welfare & Diversity, told Exeposé: “It is disappointing that the NUS’s current financial situation has led to the reduction of the number of paid representatives, especially those representing the needs of

marginalized students.

"However, after discussions with the NUS I am reassured the voice of trans students will continue to be represented on a national level through the LGBT+ Liberation Campaigns. We would be supportive of Trans students organizing national level liberation activity outside of the NUS’s structures.

"The Guild's duty of care to all students will remain unaffected by the changes in the NUS as we are still able to effectively represent the views of these students to the University.”

Re-application of funding for Officer positions will be “subject to further consultation” after 2020. Ahead of democratic process at 2019’s National Conference, the NUS have asked their membership to respond to a released White Paper by 8 February, saying that “[t]he next few months are going to be vital to the future of NUS. It’s up to you, our members, to choose and determine what that future looks like.”

Image: Ross Burgess

'We haven't changed our 'Little conformity' in implementation password for some time' of Digital Check In system CONTINUED FROM FRONT Responding to student concerns on Twitter following the EUAFC incident, AU President Amy Clegg replied: “we continuously work hard with the Guild to combat issues like this.”

With regards to how the University might be dealing with any wider atmosphere of discrimination, she further elaborated: “We are dealing with this incident and collaboratively doing our best to do so university wide.”

A spokesperson for EUAFC told Exeposé: “This week we were notified that our Twitter account had ‘liked’ an offensive Tweet. We are absolutely shocked and devastated that this hap-

pened and we would like to apologise for any offence caused. We are a friendly and inclusive club and we do not tolerate racist behaviour or attitudes, and this Tweet in no way reflects the beliefs of any of our members.

“We have investigated and as a committee we are not sure how this happened. Unfortunately we haven’t changed our Twitter password for some time and a large number of people – including those no longer at the University - would have been able to log in.

We immediately changed the password so this can never happen again.

“We would like to sincerely apologise to our fellow students and everyone at the University.”

Image: Owain Evans

CONTINUED FROM FRONT ... them to track people’s wellbeing.

She further said: “to be honest, when you weigh up people not wanting [the University to] know where they are on campus, compared to [how] it’s actually flagged up a higher number of wellbeing issues. Even on that reason alone it does make it more worthwhile. It’s something I didn’t think about until sitting in on that meeting.”

The Students' Guild continues to address the substantive points of the Student Idea Students' Guild spokesperson

However, another councillor said that, despite not checking in once throughout the academic year so far, they had not received any such followup emails about their wellbeing.

Councillors also brought up the variation in approach which colleges have taken. Bingham-Roberts con-

firmed colleges were implementing and enforcing the system in different ways, and said that there is “little conformity” across the University. He also added that Ian Blenkharn, Director of Education and Student Experience, had professed the view that next academic year would be the “true” beginning of the Check In System. Bingham-Roberts dismissed a suggestion from councillor Davies that this year’s cohort were “guinea pigs.”

Student concerns over the Check In system were highlighted by a Student Idea submitted in autumn term of this academic year. The idea passed with 89.6% of the vote, and opposed the system on the grounds that it may assist the UK Home Office with deporting international students and that not every student has a smartphone with the ability to run the iExeter app.

A subsequent Shadow Council session saw Bingham-Roberts take fire from councillors for a proposed debate forum aimed at discussing the system further. No such forum has taken place as

of the time of writing.

A Guild spokesperson said: “We have been working to address the five points in the Student Idea and bring them to the University’s attention for action or resolution. However, on the issue concerning students with Tier 4 visas, attendance monitoring is a legal requirement on the University, and no action from the Guild can change this legal requirement.

“Warren’s comments in Shadow Council reflect that it is not a productive use of time and effort to campaign for the University to stop fulfilling a legal requirement, and that his and the Guild’s time is better spent working on other aspects of that Student Idea, and other academic issues that impact students.

“The Students’ Guild continues to work to address the substantive points of the Student Idea, and if they cannot be addressed to the satisfaction of the Guild, and lead to the detriment of the student experience, then we will push for the removal of the scheme.”

Hailey .M Tshuma National Union of Students exp: 09/09/19

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EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019

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Comment

COMMENT EDITORS:

Isabelle Gray Deepa Lalwani

Remembering the Holocaust

Barnabas Balint Contributor

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UNDAY 27 January marked Holocaust Memorial Day. On this day, we remember the six million Jews and millions of other minorities who were murdered by Nazi persecutors in the Holocaust. In doing so, not only do we honour those who were murdered and who suffered horrendous persecution, we also commit ourselves to standing up to hatred and discrimination in our own society today.

After the Holocaust, the world swore “Never Again”. Yet since the end of the Second World War, international courts have made indictments for genocide in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda and Darfur. It is therefore vital for us to learn about and remember these events: learning about them not as isolated incidents in a distant past, but as an ongoing issue in the present.

Commemorating the Holocaust doesn’t begin and end on this day Even in this country, Jewish people continue to experience antisemitism.

Earlier this month, the Community Security Trust and Anti-semitism Policy Trust released a report showing that an average of 170,000 Google searches with antisemitic content are made each

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year in the UK. Approximately 10% of these included violent language or intentions. Anti-semitic tropes, conspiracy theories, and denial continue to exist. That is why, when we commemorate the Holocaust, everything we do and everything we stand for is not just about the past: it is about what is happening today and how we can work to make the world a better place.

At the University of Exeter, we marked Holocaust Memorial Day with the Holocaust Memorial Conference, held on 16 January 2019. Supported by the College of Humanities and the University of Exeter’s Alumni Annual Fund, this conference brought together over 300 academics, researchers, and students from across disciplines and backgrounds for a common cause: to learn from genocide, for a better future.

At the conference, students heard the first-hand testimony of survivor Mala Tribich MBE. For those who attended, Mala’s testimony will remain a powerful reminder of the horrors that so many experienced. After hearing her speak, many students took part in seminars with academics from the University of Exeter and external institutions.

These nine seminars explored what happened during the Holocaust, how we remember it, and its impact on our lives today. Together with Mala’s testimony, the conference gave students a deeper and more personal understanding of the Holocaust. As one attendee

wrote in their reflections: “I found the experience so powerful and moving; there is only so much at school in class you can learn and begin to understand, but hearing even the part of Mala’s story that we could really showed the harsh reality of the Holocaust and how it affected so many people”.

For students at the conference, this was just the beginning. Pledging to “carry Mala’s message and warnings forward to the next generation”, one school has already written for their school newspaper to share what they learned. Others have signed up to the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust’s Youth Programmes, joining almost 100 young people across the country working in their communities to raise awareness of the Holocaust and its contemporary relevance. These Youth Programmes empower young people aged 14-25 to take the lead in marking Holocaust Memorial Day, meeting survivors of the Holocaust and genocide and attending the UK Ceremony.

Each year, UK Political, Civic, Faith and Community leaders from all faiths and walks of life gather in London for the ceremony, as we stand united against prejudice. But commemorating the Holocaust doesn’t begin and end on Holocaust Memorial Day. Learning about the Holocaust challenges us to consider how we can work in our communities to protect the values of tolerance and equality that we hold dear, so that we can learn from these atrocities.

This Holocaust Memorial Day, the message from the UK Ceremony, from the thousands of commemorative events across the country, and from the conference we held here in Exeter, rings out strong: intolerance and hatred have no place in our society. Learning about the Holocaust serves as a powerful reminder of what can happen when racism and bigotry go unchallenged. Now more than ever, we must come together and commit ourselves to remembering the Holocaust while recognising its contemporary relevance.

Image: University of Exeter

A religious experience W

BECAME a Hindu at the age of 14. Of course, I am a Hindu by birth, but it wasn’t until this age that I realised the extent of my faith. I must admit that I make minimal efforts to practise my religion: I observe Diwali (it’s hard to miss with the fireworks), and in my family we celebrate Raksha Bandhan every other year, a festival that celebrates the relationship between brothers and sisters.

As soon as I came to Exeter, I became a vegetarian to further honour the dogmas of Hinduism. There is a Hindu Society here which I joined in my first year: they run events for the major festivals, and with the Hindu community in the area who gather to pray on a monthly basis. Despite this, in the secular society of Exeter, Hinduism can

feel like a counterculture. Usually it is seen in a positive light, being a peaceful anti-evangelist religion, but without a temple, there is no home for Hinduism in Exeter. (It sometimes perplexes me that Exeter has a strip club and, rumour has it, a brothel, but no mandir.) There are plans to build a temple, aiming to be the largest in Europe and to completely overshadow the mandir in Neasden, London, even though it is proposed to be a £5 million project and according to the 2011 Census, only 0.1% of the population of Devon identify as Hindu.

I’m not optimistic that it will happen anytime soon, but I hope for a future where Hindu students and individuals living and studying here have a centre in which we can practise our faith.

Jasmin Priya

HEN I began University last year, anxiety hit me like a train. It was a shock; I’m always overly positive, and didn’t expect everything to be so hard. The only reason I am still at University is because of my family, the amazing friends that I am blessed enough to have found, and believing, genuinely, that God has a plan for my life and everything that happens.

I know that people often look cynically at Christians when something happens which seems coincidental, and we claim it is from God. However, I also know that these coincidences happen when I need them most, and whenever I look back on the events that have happened, everything has worked out in the best possible way. That’s not to say that my faith, by itself, fixed my anxiety,

Image: WikimediaImages / Pixabay, ArtsyBee

but going to church gives me an amount of peace that I just can’t find anywhere else.

At University, I’ve also noticed that saying you are a Christian makes many people assume things about your character. I love clubbing, I drink, I swear, I believe in LGBTQ+ rights, I don’t think I am perfect, or tell people what to believe. I hope that being authentic and open about what I believe in can be a way for people to understand that a lot of these assumptions are ill-founded.

We have an incredibly supportive and strong community of Christians at this University, and every single one goes to their faith for their strength. They are also just students; trying, and sometimes struggling, like everyone else.

Evanna Kappos

THE SABB

Grace Frain Guild President

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ALFWAY through our year long term as Sabbatical officers, six months on from graduating myself, and just over a month until campaigns week and elections begin for our successors, I’ve taken a moment to pause and reflect on the chaos that this last year has been. Stepping right out of the library and the stress of dissertation writing to the responsibility of being a director of an organisation, the chair of a trustee board and sitting on the governing body of a world-renowned academic institution has been overwhelming. It is hard to envisage all the opportunities I and the rest of my team have had over the last six months.

It has been a privilege to experience representing 20,000 students, build relationships and challenge people on areas that I have not agreed with. To see manifesto promises that I wrote a year ago being implemented and knowing that we have made changes that the student membership asked and voted us in on is rewarding. However, there are so many more layers to our roles that are not as visible to students every day. Tough decisions have been made and huge challenges thrown our way but always with the interests of the student body at heart.

I could not encourage people enough to come to talk to myself or any of the rest of the team to ask about our roles, shadow us and challenge us in how we work. For me, this role has been nothing like what I expected it to be whilst at the same time being exactly what I expected and ten times more.

Overall, I cannot put into a limited amount of words what I have learnt by being your Guild President. To go through the most rigorous ‘job interview’ process, the responsibilities, the respect that University staff have for our voice on important matters and the opportunities that you get makes singing and dancing on Forum Hill as the snow flurried on down last March so so worth it.

Come find the Sabbs in DH1 or email president@exeterguild.com if you are interested in running for a role in the upcoming elections. I assure you, you will not regret it.

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COMMENT

28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

‘We need to look after ourselves’

Emily Pirie Online Arts + Lit Editor

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NIVERSITIES are in a mortality crisis. Only last year, the Office of National Statistics recorded 95 university suicides: the first time university suicide rates have been revealed publicly. In an age where mental health is being discussed more on social media, and where the government has pledged to provide more mental health support for young people, it appears that the problem is still deeply prevalent. The stigma around mental illness may be diminishing, but there needs to be more support for those suffering at universities who feel that they cannot talk about their struggles.

Mental illness is still deeply prevalent amongst young people

University offers a vast amount of opportunities, allowing you to gain independence, new friendships, and knowledge. However, the process can be daunting for some. It can be an extremely isolating experience, in which some find that they struggle to create an equilibrium between studying, making friends and looking after themselves.

Abby Young Powell stated in The Guardian that “pressure for first year students

to meet new people can exacerbate the feelings of isolation”. These issues can soon manifest themselves into one huge dark cloud, and it’s not always clear where students can go to get immediate help.

It’s not always clear where students can go to get immediate help

This pervading sense of being lost and alone is one of the reasons why many are taking their own lives during their university degree. In fact, writing for The Telegraph, Olivia Rudgard notes that “the suicide rate among UK students had risen by 56 per cent in the 10 years between 2007 and 2016, from 6.6 to 10.3 per 100,000 people”. Rudgard further states that ONS figures show that “female students experienced a particularly striking rise in suicide [...] suicide among women in their early twenties is at its highest level in two decades”.

With these worrying statistics in mind, now is the time to implement preventative policies at universities to stop more people from losing their lives. We live in a highly visual society, therefore, there needs to be more posters in university buildings

promoting organisations where you can find help. Universities like Exeter and Leeds run Nightline, where students can ring professionally trained listeners. However, not many know about Nightline, Samaritans, Young Minds or Mind: these fantastic organisations are not promoted enough. Universities need to adopt the approach that the ‘We Listen’ campaign has, that seeks to raise awareness of Samaritans, so that those suffering know how to ring them. These posters are now up in rail stations across England, Scotland and Wales and they aim to encourage people to contact Samaritans - posters like these could help someone struggling during their degree.

Most students have never lived away from home before they arrive at university; they are now left without the physical presence of a parental figure.

Pastoral care should thus be a priority in universities: tutors should reach out to their tutees and check on how they are coping as a student, both in their studies and emotionally, rather than relying on their tutee to reach out first. For someone that is struggling emotionally, the act of reaching out and talking about it is one of the hardest things to do - staff need to do what they can to make this process easier. The changing of a student’s mood and participation in seminars could be a key indicator of mental health problems, and students should not have to suffer in silence.

Talking about it is one of the hardest things to do

aware of the student’s struggles. If all universities adopted this strategy, the painful losses of loved ones could decrease. Those that are in authority, such as student union leaders, need to speak openly about the importance of mental health; if they talk about it openly, then the stigma surrounding mental health will dissolve.

Universities therefore need to pull together to help protect students who are in need, before it is too late. Pastoral care needs to become a more prevalent feature in higher education, so that students can feel safe and secure in this often daunting place. As students, we can help by looking out for our friends and watching their changes of mood and behaviour, but fundamentally, we need to look after ourselves.

Fortunately, universities are now beginning to take on a more pastoral role, albeit slowly. The BBC have discussed Bristol University’s new “opt-in scheme”, in which Freshers are “being asked to give consent for university staff to share major concerns with their guardians”. This scheme comes after 11 students at Bristol took their own lives since 2016. Through this scheme, more lives could be saved, as tutors will have the authority to Image: SerenaWong / Pixabay make their guardians

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this article, the following contacts can help: The Wellbeing Centre 01392 724381 wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk Exeter Nightline Student-run listening service Open 8pm-8am 01392 724000 Samaritans 116 123 www.samaritans.org

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Refreshers’: Here we go again!

Lauren Newman Arts + Lit Editor

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N theory, Refreshers’ seems like the perfect opportunity to try out societies you perhaps missed out on joining in September. Unfortunately, despite attempts by the Guild to drum up some kind of hype via email, Refreshers’ Week always seems rather lacklustre. This year, the Guild’s idea of a “jam-packed week” basically consisted of a couple of underwhelming stalls in the Forum, stationed by a mixture of different student groups and university staff from Monday 14 to Friday 18 January.

Looking at other universities’ attempts, Exeter doesn’t fare well

Now, you may be asking, “What do you expect? You’ve been here nearly three years and Refreshers’ has always been a huge, steaming pile of nothing.” Well, dear reader, I have to admit

I was rather hyped up from the marketing brought out by the Guild. The shiny new emails filled with hashtags like #newyearnewme clogging up my inbox promised the perfect opportunity for those of us who made drunken New Years resolutions to start the year afresh. Even the way they advertised the Lemmy’s silent disco sounded vaguely interesting. The English graduate that composed those emails definitely took some artistic licence when they said there was “loads to get involved with”.

I acknowledge that comparison is the thief of all joy when it comes to my view of Exeter’s Refreshers’ Week. But when looking at other universities’ attempts, Exeter doesn’t fare well. For example, the University of Sheffield have a fair which features giveaways and competitions from Nando’s, Victoria’s Secret and Domino’s, as well as stalls from student societies. Sheffield’s preferable Refreshers’ seems

much more like our original Freshers Week in September (not that that was a complete logistical success either anyone who made it to the Great Hall Image: Deepa Lalwani

last year will no doubt have flashbacks of the rugby scrum the event turned

into). But at the very least, there was the chance for every society to have a physical presence at the Activities Fair, as well as opportunities for free gifts and competitions. Footfall encouraged by the possibility of free stuff does eventually translate into interest in societies: if Refreshers’ was truly to succeed, a similar event would need to happen to make it more worthwhile for both students and societies.

Of course, I can’t just blame the Guild for the failure that Refreshers’ seems to be. Societies themselves have to admit fault. If Refreshers’ Week is being marketed as a chance for students to discover and potentially join new societies, committees must acknowledge newer members with a varied choice of events. When the majority of your society-affiliated events are pub meet-ups geared for current members and committee officers

catching up with each other, you risk alienating those wishing to experience the society and find new friends. Signing up to a society midway through the year can be extremely intimidating when social groups have already formed, and such meet-ups can sometimes reinforce ideas of exclusion for students already unsure about joining.

I can’t just blame the Guild for the failure of Refreshers’

If societies gave more taster sessions or workshops, like many of the sports ones put on for potential members, new members will have a higher chance of meeting those interested in the same society and in the same tricky social situation. There is only so much faith one can put in a committee member’s word when they’re selling you membership; students must be allowed to make up their minds based on what the society itself does.

Essentially, Refreshers Week needs to freshen up.

EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019

Deepa Lalwani Comment Editor

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S the month draws to a close, so too does the aptly named ‘Januhairy’: a campaign created

by Exeter student Laura Jackson that has garnered international media attention as women pledged to stop removing their body hair for the month of January.

The intention of the campaign was undoubtedly positive, aiming to raise money for Body Gossip, a charity that promotes education and acceptance, and to encourage the normalisation of women’s body hair. Unsurprisingly, Jackson and the other women who chose to stop removing their body hair this month have faced backlash, mostly from men in the comments of Facebook posts or articles about Januhairy who describe women’s body hair as “unhygienic” and “unattractive”.

These kinds of comments are disappointing, but in a world where

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This isn’t going to cut it even adverts for women’s hair removal don’t actually show the hair being removed, it’s hardly surprising. Clearly, the ongoing presence of people who believe that women with body hair are lazy or unclean serves to show just how necessary it is to change the way body hair is perceived and depicted both in the media, and in everyday life.

Most women will go back feeling like they have no choice

Despite my defence of women’s body hair, I have to admit that my feelings towards the Januhairy movement in particular are mixed.

Upon first hearing about the project, my thoughts quickly g ravitated from “good idea” to “why would I bother shaving

in January anyway?” For me, it doesn’t seem particularly revolutionary to stop taking the hair off my legs when I haven’t worn shorts since August.

‘Januhairy’ is a catchy portmanteau, but the reception of it would be quite different if it was the middle of summer as opposed to the dead of winter. Also, the month is only 31 days long – like Dry January or the increasingly-popular Veganuary, there is the significant issue that the campaign will only last so long.

Come the first day of February, we’ll have forgotten all about free will, and most

women are likely to go back to feeling that they have no choice in the matter.

Maybe this is a pessimistic way to view it all, but as a woman of colour with more, and faster-growing hair than my white female friends, it’s hard

to imagine that Januhairy has had, or will be having, any long-term positive effects. Writing for The Guardian, journalist Chitra Ramaswamy notes that “not all body hair is deemed equal, or rather, equally disgusting”. And it’s true – when you see cute little feminist cartoons of women with body hair, they never show women with hair on their upper lip or stomach, it’s always leg or armpit hair. For women of colour, trans people, or those with polycystic ovary syndrome, it’s a very different story. Hair r e m o v a l is time-consuming, expensive, and usually painful. The ongoing process is physically irritating and mentally taxing, and personally, it doesn’t really seem like a viable option to stop removing any hair at all for an entire month when it grows back so quickly and noticeably.

Hair removal should be a choice: if you choose to wax, shave, tweeze it, or leave it alone, it should be completely

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up to you. Sadly, the judgemental society within which we live makes this difficult, particularly when your hair grows quickly or in places that aren’t considered acceptable by the vast majority of people. I highly doubt that a month-long challenge is going to change a deep-set social convention, especially when the nuances of the problem are so complex and subjective.

Hair removal is time-consuming, expensive, and painful

Kudos to the creator of Januhairy – this is certainly a step in the right direction. We just need to avoid it becoming a white-feminist-esque campaign where only conventionally attractive white women with a bit of fluff on their legs are being heralded for breaking down boundaries. Instead, let’s try to bring body positivity forward into the months and years to come.

Image: Marco Verch / Flickr

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Life’s nice for the Vice

Edd Church Online News Editor

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XETER’S Vice-Chancellor, Sir Steve Smith, is to be paid a massive £830,000 total as part of a special end of career remuneration package. This has been determined by a remuneration committee who have decided that this amount is justified. The package is around double his regular £424,000 salary, which is still around quadruple the annual pay of any other academic staff. However, whilst university staff are increasingly discontented with their own pay and quality of life, the time just isn’t right for a huge pay package for one individual whose salary is already a point of contention.

The time isn’t right for a huge pay package for one individual over others Sir Steve, who you might also know by his more affectionate name, Sir Stevey Boi, is the effectively the head of the University of Exeter. As such, he is responsible for leading the University and determining its direction more broadly, alongside his responsibilities in the Senate, our main disciplinary body.

Sir Steve is also a professor of International Studies and has worked in the higher education sector for years. It is

undeniable that the VC does a lot of work, and he is probably a very intelligent bloke. Denying this would be factually inaccurate.

The VC’s £800k package comes as a bit of a slap in the face Here’s the first problem: plenty of hard-working, experienced, intelligent people at the University of Exeter, and the world at large, aren’t rewarded over £800,000. For some comparison: according to the University of Exeter’s website, the salary range of a Professor is £67,000-£111,000, the maximum for a Senior Lecturer is £58,089, for Lecturers it is £43,267, and for PhD Research Associates, £34,189.

If Sir Steve were to step down from his role as VC and take on a regular professorial role, then his regular salary would be reduced by around 75% at the very Image: University of Exeter least, and

much more for 2019.

If we lived in a meritocratic world (and, to be fair, plenty of respected scholars have pointed out that we don’t), this would mean that in a regular year the VC would be doing roughly quadruple the amount of work that senior professors do, and eight times their work for this year. In addition, he would be doing almost ten times the work of a senior lecturer.

While it is near impossible to quantify the amount of work various academics do, arguably the extremely long hours, hard work, and plethora of un-

paid overtime which lecturers and clerical staff alike go through means that the VC’s £800k package comes as a bit of a slap in the face.

Where is the same treatment for the rest of the workers at Exeter?

Secondly, at a time where the University College Union is balloting its members on pay, the gender pay gap, and casualisation in general — and when its November ballot revealed nearly half of its members were prepared to strike over the same things — the news of Sir Steve’s pay package comes at a poor time. The University claims that the package is a reflection of the VC’s “commitment and outstanding performance”, but where is the same treatment for the rest of workers on Exeter’s payroll?

I would echo the statement of a member of the UCU, who said that this is evidence

of there being one rule for executives, and another for regular staff.

Thirdly and, perhaps, most worryingly: such a dramatic financial gift, and Sir Steve’s wage in general, comes at a time when the commodification of higher education is worsening almost on a yearly basis. From the recent TEF-triggered tuition fee increases to recent government-proposed plans to introduce two-year courses, the value of teaching is understood more and more through numbers in a bank account.

The VC’s salary furthers the feeling that we are in a corporate structure, not an educational one.

The commodification of higher education is worsening Instead of fuelling an excessive pay discrepancy between top and bottom at Exeter, why not use the extra £400,000 (which is, evidently, just laying there ready to be spent) on something else?

How about something more vital and pressing, which enhances the University, or the world at large?

Why not the Provost Commission?

Why not decolonising the syllabus? Why not widening participation? Why not AU joining fee subsidies? Why not the Guild? Why not 1,600 students’ TEF tuition increases? Or, basically, anything except executive pay increases?

EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019

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Features

FEATURES EDITORS: Niamh Elstone Neha Shaji

‘They wanted our lives’

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Neha Shaji, Features Editor, interviews Holocaust survivor Mala Tribich

NTISEMITISM is insidiously inescapable in twenty first century culture: one of the most read children’s book series of this generation about a famous boy wizard contains a race of ‘hook nosed goblin bankers’ greedy for money. It’s even more evident online, with outright slurs and dog-whistles, and Parliament itself is not lacking in antisemitism ranging from the blatant to the casual. Yet we are the last generation, or one of the last –that can read and listen to the direct testimony of survivors who had suffered tremendously under the Nazi regime. I sat down with Mala Tribich, a Holocaust survivor and activist who was in Exeter to speak at the Holocaust Memorial Conference to ask her about her experiences, and the role education plays today in limiting antisemitism in the public and private spheres.

Holocaust denial is a crime in several countries, including Germany “It is very hard to describe. It’s hard to describe it when you lose your identity. There is one thing that losing your identity does to you, you lose hope.”

In her testimony, Mala had detailed her story and the horrors she had undergone during the Holocaust. I asked her about her upbringing – whether prejudice from the public was the norm for her in her early childhood. She

recounted a life close to a nuclear family and almost picturesque in the games she recalled playing, yet added how “before the war, there was quite a lot of antisemitism, this is a well-known fact.

Well, some of it came from the top, you see – for example, anyone who wanted to be a medical student couldn’t if they were Jewish. Apart from that there were street comments, where people call you names, say go back to Palestine… which is very ironic.”

She acknowledged the pervasive nature of prejudice from the top to the street, a factor that continues today: there were over 94,000 hate crimes in the UK in 2017/2018 with motivating factors such as race, religion, and sexuality. In 2017, the Community Security Trust recorded 1,346 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK — the highest on record.

These incidents include, for instance, graffiti at a synagogue, social media abuse of Jewish Hollywood figures and Members of Parliament — and Jewish schoolchildren being taunted and attacked. Mala remarked on the resurgence of antisemitism and expressed her concern at how she was “afraid (antisemitism) has come to surface again even in high authorities in the country – Parliament, you know!

“That’s really unacceptable, and hopefully we can defend it, but I just cannot understand why it keeps surfacing…

It’s a 2000 year old complaint, and it just keeps surfacing again and again.”

Mala

Image: University of Exeter

continued telling me about her experience under the brutal Nazi dictatorship, how by shaving their heads they managed to eradicate the concept of an identity and to turn Jewish people into an unknowable, faceless mass to thus remove their selfhood, individuality, and will to survive. I recalled one of her former speeches, where she mentioned her friend Pema’s mother had an illegal copy of Gone with the Wind, and the girls would spend their time reciting the melodramatic story to each other. This seemed the most drastic sign of the depravity they had faced: Gone with the Wind was an international blockbuster, spawning merchandise, talk shows, and the actors going on international tours.

Mala’s experience of having to listen to the story secretly in a labor camp overlaps in a stark tragedy with how Adolf Hitler had publicly expressed his love of the film and had wanted to “kidnap Clark Gable.”

History is optional after Year 9 - students could be unaware of these horrors We talked more about situations not being a binary or painted in a harsh black and white; she told me about people faced with situations where one would have to choose between children, or between a spouse and children, and impossible choices Jewish people had to make in the face of death. Mala referred to what was called the ‘Jewish Administration’, where the Nazis hired Jewish people to carry out murders and raids on behalf of the administration, calling it a particular kind of cruelty.

“To have to hurt your own people on the Nazi’s behalf was a double whammy.

There were lots of these dilemmas and these contradictory situations, and they constantly wanted things from us – even when we had nothing, they wanted more. Eventually, they wanted our lives. But not until they deprived us of everything before.”

The greed motivating these situations seemed harrowing, and it resonated with her earlier statement on how even the Jewish identity was taken away, how appetite did not stop at material goods and extended even

to one’s concept of self.

Yet Mala had stories of hope and highlighted them amongst the stories of suffering. When we were talking about Gone with the Wind, she talked about how people had only brought ultimate essentials into the ghetto, and entertainment was negligible. Yet “there was someone who managed to hire a violin, it was one violin and we called it a concert! We held it in the evening when the Gestapo was unlikely to come.

Yes, in the ghetto, there was still some sort of life going on. It was so unusual, how far this was from our reality, but we still managed to have these bits of life.”

She highlighted individual heroism, specifically mentioning “the Warsaw uprising, just look at all the material they wrote just so people could know about it – they would never have known one day the war would end and there would be six million people gone.”

Six million is a frightening number – one that is extremely vital to remember and a scale that should be understood.

In the UK, history is an optional subject after Year 9 – and before that, the Holocaust (as with other atrocities in the past) is not taught in excessive detail.

Thus, a student could theoretically be unaware of the specifics around and prejudice that led to the Holocaust after the age of fourteen. Mitigating this are Holocaust survivors such as Mala, who go around schools and events held by the Holocaust Educational Trust (in the UK).

She talked about a renewed interest in the subject, specifically how “some of them come with this sort of urgency, with the knowledge that it won’t go on forever. Others may speak of it, but not the people who had survived. Your children won’t have that opportunity, but you will.” Education about the Holocaust, what led to it, and how people suffered during it is paramount, especially as antisemitism and general hate ramps up in political and private lives – and the H.E.T’s mission of taking people to schools to tell an individualised, personalised story is imperative for this cause.

Mala emphasizes the importance of education as the foremost step in preventing hate speech and antisemitism. “We’re at a crossroads in a way, because of this urgency – there

won’t be any survivors, soon. That is why people are showing more interest: because they want to hear a survivor as opposed to an educator.”

They wanted everything, even our lives. But not before they deprived us of all else Mala Tribich

This raises the question, however, of what could happen when there are no more survivors alive to tell a personal story? There is a possibility that relegating the Holocaust to the pages of history may then make it just an incidence in a chain of events, but the accounts written and told by these survivors would outlast them.

The frightening statistics need to be combined with stories like Mala’s, or Anne Frank’s or Irina Sendler’s in order to paint the larger picture: not just the Holocaust but what surrounded the Holocaust. Not just Hitler, but the antisemitism prevalent in 1930s Germany, the ordinary people that perpetrated it, and not just the concentration camps, but the people who died in them.

Mala told me about the vitriol she had noticed in comments online – this can be extended to statements in Parliament, on political pages and cartoons. Holocaust deniers are habitually found in online webpages across the U.S. and U.K., whilst Holocaust denial is a crime in Germany with sentences up to five years. Germany is currently a country that teaches her own history explicitly and blatantly.

They ensure that students understand what had transpired must never repeat, by instructing them on the malformed philosophies and military decisions that led to this series of events. This education needs to endure worldwide.

I then asked Mala how she thought young people could ensure something like the Holocaust would never happen again. Her response emphasized the significance of continual dialogue, saying “it’s only through talking that people can do anything. Keep people’s interests going, have good dialogue – it is what it is, it was what it was, and it should be said.”

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FEATURES

28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

‘There is hope for recovery’

Katie Jenkins, Deputy Editor, investigates the eating disorder services available in Exeter

N 2016, Hannah Butler was in her final year of university. An Exeposé Editor recently returned from her year abroad, she was on the cusp of top grades, a Masters degree, and high-flying journalistic ambitions. Yet, her time at Exeter had been marred by an eating disorder in her second year, for which she had found it almost “impossible” to get help.

If I’d had to rely on the NHS , I don’t think I would have finished that year at university

Two years on, we’re investigating again, this time to ask: how much has changed?

My first port of call is Amelie Sievers, Student Minds Coordinator, whose work with their Eating Difficulties Support Project is testament to the growing student-led support now available on campus. “The group was set up around two and a half years ago and I’ve been involved since the start,” Amelie explains.

“It was an alumna who founded it, Leah

intervention,” she explains. “This is an evolving intervention, regularly discussed and reviewed within the service and open to feedback and suggestions from students. We endeavour to be as flexible as possible, tailoring interventions around students’ individual needs.”

Ana Silva, President of Exeter Beats Eating Disorders Society (EBEDS), also cites advancements within her group. As University representatives of the charity Beat, EBEDS has been active since

limited because it’s a fundamental problem underneath.”

Her answer is a concerning one, and encourages me to ask to what extent she feels wider support is still “limited”.

“I think that there are still probably quite a lot of improvements to be made,” Ana laments. “People do come to us thinking that we are in a support group but we’re not trained, we’re just students. Obviously, some of us have had experiences with eating disorders and I

Fuller, who ran for a Sabb position and included this idea in her manifesto. She didn’t get elected in, but she thought it was so important that she still did it, which is amazing.

“We’ve done quite a lot over the years.

In the beginning, we had to find our feet, see where we fitted in, [find out] what there was in Exeter, which wasn’t much.

But now we’re really well-connected with the Wellbeing Centre and the Student’s Guild who are giving us a lot of support both in terms of advertising and also in regard to input with the group. We’ve appointed new facilitators which is really exciting, and attendance has been a lot more consistent.”

The beginning of 2018 saw the group’s initiation of a one-on-one support project in affiliation with the Wellbeing Centre.

Nina Leonard, a wellbeing consultant there, tells me that such an initiative acts as a “short-term flexible intervention”.

“Some sessions may consist of exploring what maintains eating disorders; helpful behaviour changes; self-help strategies and signposting to the appropriate treatment options within the NHS. We are also able to offer some follow up appointments to students whose difficulties are mild to moderate and who can, therefore, benefit from this type of

2016, helping to spread awareness of the organisation’s online support services available to those with eating disorders.

However, they have only become a society this year: a status that Ana hopes will “help put a name for ourselves out there”.

“A lot of the things we’ve done in the past as an individual group has been fundraising and raising awareness,” she explains. “I think that that’s great and we still plan to do that throughout the rest of the year. However, I don’t think we’ve ever tackled the medical side of things before, working with other University societies to change their perceptions of what an eating disorder actually is so that they can understand why we are so passionate about it.”

Informed by this, a principal campaign EBEDS has headed this year is to increase the number of hours Exeter medical students receive learning about eating disorders. “In their whole five or six years of undergraduate study, [medical students] get 1.8 hours teaching time on eating disorders,” sighs Ana. “It’s shocking because my first port of call when I had an eating disorder was my GP. To have 1.8 hours of learning in that whole six years shows, from my experience with doctors, that they don’t know anything about it. That’s probably why [support] is so

guess we offer that personal insight into it. However, I do think that what some of the members have expressed has reflected that the support in Devon isn’t quite sufficient.”

Amelie’s answer is a similar one: “To see people coming back is really nice.

That’s a word I use loosely though because obviously it’s really sad that people feel they have to rely on a group like us, that there aren’t more specialist services for them. For me, however, it’s nice to know that we are able to offer a supportive environment. To meet people at different stages of recovery can help a lot in itself.

That’s better than suffering alone.”

Although the work of these two groups is clearly suggestive of available support on campus, their concerns – like Hannah’s two years ago – continue to hint at underlying medical limitations within the region. Here at the University, the Head of Wellbeing Services, Mark Sawyer stresses to me that the Wellbeing Centre is there to provide “initial support, not specialist treatment”. “Diagnosed eating disorders are usually best treated through multi-disciplinary medical teams, and often within in-patient settings or closely monitored community programme,” he argues. “It is rarely appropriate for university services to offer such

Hannah Butler

“I couldn’t access the support I needed,” she reflects. “My doctor at the Student Health Centre was amazing, but they were limited in what they could do.

They advised me to go through the NHS, with whom I had an initial telephone assessment before the Christmas holidays and got an appointment for 5 January, 2015. I clung onto this date during the Christmas break, thinking everything would start to get better after that. When I went to it, I found out it was actually just another assessment – and at the end, I was told I’d hear from them in around three weeks. That was when I hit crisis point, really: when you’re not coping mentally, getting from one hour to the next is hard so the idea of waiting another three weeks was horrific.”

Things only improved for Hannah when she found a private psychotherapist who could see her for bi-weekly sessions initially and once a week after that. “I’m so incredibly thankful that my parents were able to pay for my treatment,” she says.

“If I’d had to rely on the NHS, I honestly don’t think I would have finished that year at university.”

Motivated by her experiences, in her final year, Hannah decided to investigate the eating disorder services available in Devon. “I never thought one feature in the student newspaper would make a huge difference,” she admits. “I just saw my piece as adding one more voice to those saying something had to be done.”

The results of her investigation were alarming. Compiling conversations with student volunteers and medical professionals, local support initiatives were found to be in existence and even in development, but were severely impeded by lack of funding. “We’ve got doctors, therapists, sufferers and campaign groups fighting for a service that doesn’t exist – all while trying to pick up the pieces themselves,” Hannah wrote at the time. “Sounds like one big mess? That’s probably because it is.”

treatments ‘in-house’.”

“That said, students with eating disorder diagnoses may be offered mental health mentoring, funded through the Disabled Students’ Allowance. The Wellbeing Service provides this regular support, which helps students to manage their mental health difficulties whilst they study. It normally takes place weekly for the duration of their programme of study.”

For a university student then, what help can be garnered long-term? I go to speak to Dr Neumegen at the Student Health Centre who, I am informed, is the practitioner there with the most experience in this area.

“As we stand at the moment, not a lot has changed,” she warns. “Where we are and where we have been historically is that we provide the vast majority of the physical health monitoring here at the Student Health Centre. We then historically referred those we were worried about through to general mental health services.

“They would have a general assessment and if they met certain criteria of severity, they would then be referred for assessment with what’s known as the Community Eating Disorder Service (CEDS), which hasn’t been around that long. Before that there was absolutely nothing. Their role has really been assessment. So, the patient will do an assessment with nurses, they get specialist advice from a psychiatrist, they will come up with a plan of what a student patient needs, and then the delivery of any real support comes from a general mental health team, not specialists.

There will be an expansion but we don’t yet know what that will mean in practice Dr Neumegen

“So quite a lot of the time people would deteriorate and then the only real option was either if they were severe enough to be admitted to an eating disorder unit, or if they interrupted and returned home to access support.”

The situation she depicts is a dire one, yet she assures me that developments are underway within the University, most notably with that of the Community Mental Health Team. “At the moment we’ve got Wonford House which is where the secondary care mental health service is based, but there is going to be a team of three mental health practitioners who will be based on campus,” she says. “So Images: [Left page] Exeter Student Minds Eating Difficulties Support Project; [all on right page] Exeter Beats Eating Disorders Society

EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019 rather than everybody having to go over there, there will be more assessment and hopefully support happening on campus and, more importantly, more close working between Wellbeing, us, and secondary care.”

It is consoling to hear of improvements being made, one reflected in the increased funding Dr Neumegen says has been injected into the eating disorder services within the region. Although hopeful, however, she is reluctant to make any promises: “There will be an expansion but as of yet we don’t really know what that will mean in practice for the services for students. So, there are definitely things happening, services have recognised that there needs to be greater provision, but we don’t quite know how that will reflect on the ground.”

To the inexpert eye however, the question is a simple one: where does the external funding come from?

For eating disorder services in Devon, the majority comes through the NEW Devon CCG (North, East and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group): the NHS body responsible for buying and commissioning local health services.

Although more recent statistics are unavailable, CCG spending on specialist eating disorder support between January and September 2018 more than tripled in comparison with the same period in 2015. This comes in addition to funds allocated to Devon Partnership Trust (DPT) – the local NHS body offering specialist mental health and learning disability services – whose remit also encompasses eating disorders.

Fiscally speaking, the numbers are promising. Yet where is much of this money being spent? Undoubtedly, one of the larger projects in development is that of the CEDS mentioned by Dr Neumegen: a pilot initiative established two and a half years ago.

The purpose of the project, says its Project Manager, James O’Reilly, is “to undertake assessments and provide consultation and advice on the outcome of the assessments that we carry out”.

“The outcome from the pilot was that we were able to gather a considerable amount of data and the CCG decided that they would like to provide DPT with a formal contract to provide services to people with eating disorders within the Devon area,” he explains. “So, we have gone from a pilot initiative which

FEATURES consisted of 2.3 whole time equivalents in the current set up [a term referring to the number of staff working in a service, derived at from dividing the number of hours people are working by the total hours of the NHS working week]. So, we have gone from a whole time equivalent of 2.3 staff in the current set up to 11.5 staff.”

Rachel Webb, the Services Manager within DPT with responsibility for eating disorder services, gender, autism and ADHD, confirms that the project is still an ongoing “process”. “The results from the pilot and the case that went to the CCG came in in summer. We’re still in the process of recruiting to those [11.5] roles so we can build a fully-formed multidisciplinary eating disorder service.”

The service is due to be launched across Devon next month. According to a spokesperson for NEW Devon CCG: “[The service] will provide a dedicated service to people with mild to moderate eating disorders in a community setting and will encompass psychological support, diet and nutrition advice as well as family interventions to support people with their recovery. Students who need to access the service can do so via GP practices in Devon.”

Indeed, James is hopeful that the new service will alleviate some of the limitations that formerly impeded sufferers in Exeter.

“The limitations up to now have always been in relation to the degree of

responses that people can get within the community: the type of assessment and the range of psychological interventions people can receive,” he says. “With the new service, because of the make-up of the new team which will include a psychiatrist, psychologists, dieticians, specialist nurses and assistant practitioners, there will be a whole range of interventions that will be provided. When the new service is fully up and running, it’ll look so different to what is currently provided.”

Currently provided, the

Their responses are consoling, yet how effective is the new initiative in practice? The answer comes closer than I expect in the form of second-year student, Emma* who meets with me to speak about her experience. Emma was diagnosed with an eating disorder in her teenage years. Having received help through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services) at home, she says she underestimated the impact coming to university would have on her.

“I’d always wanted

main resource outside of the University has been the Haldon Unit at Wonford House. The service provides for up to 20 patients including 12 inpatient beds and up to eight day patients. As Rachel puts it: “If people require an inpatient stay, they’re really very poorly. That’s often about medical stabilisation with regards to their physical health status and then working on from there, looking towards change and recovery.”

“The new service will be much more about greater work and sharing knowledge,” she says. “It will have a training and advice function to support groups or other professionals or medication providers. It’s about working collaboratively across all groups and that would include peer support.”

to get better for university. It was like a motivation,” she remembers. “But it didn’t happen that way. [My first year] was quite a struggle because it was so many new things and I didn’t realise how much that would impact on my mental health. It brought a lot back to the surface and I was realising that I still needed help and I needed to continue that.”

Don’t be afraid to speak to someone; don’t be afraid to voice how you’re feeling Ana Silva

Emma started with the Student Health Centre on campus, which she regards as “a blessing”. “It was really close to me, really accessible, and I could go there and just explain how everything was and they kind of continued my care

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plan from before.” From there, she went to Wonford House, where she received cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) via CEDS. “At first, I was reluctant because I was quite sceptical,” she admits. “But when I actually got involved, it let me open up about how I was feeling. [CBT] took the emphasis away from the physical side of what an eating disorder is associated with and shifted emphasis onto changing the negative underlying thought patterns.

Ultimately, tackling the ingrained thoughts and habits I had spent years with pulled me out of a dark time. I think that was probably the best thing I got from the eating disorder services.”

Clearly, developments are in progress, ones which – according to Emma’s testimony – hope to be hugely beneficial.

Yet why has it taken until 2018/19 for these to be implemented?

“A crucial one around that is going to be funding. You have to have the funding in order to have the services in place,” asserts Rachel. “I appreciate that as a member of the public it does always feel like there’s a lag but that work has been ongoing through these last two years.

These things take time to come onboard. There’s a huge need across a range of conditions, both physical and mental. There’s only so much money in the pot.

“Then if we get funding and we get investment, the reality of recruitment is that there is always a lag in that. That’s the bit I think sometimes if you don’t work in it you don’t understand.”

As Hannah concluded in her original article: “The fight for better eating disorder services in Exeter is far from over.” Two years later, so does the fight continue to wage, although increased funding and expanded services seem poised to transform local resources for sufferers.

In the meantime however, what advice can sufferers take? “As alone as you think you are, you’re not. Everyone who is in that situation is probably thinking the exact same thing as you,” says Ana. “Don’t be afraid to speak to someone; don’t be afraid to voice how you’re feeling and talk to people who understand because it will make you feel less alone.”

“My main advice would be to seek help,” agrees Amelie. “Being alone in it is so much more difficult, so the general advice is to go to your GP to get a diagnosis and advice on next steps to take..

Just know that you’re not alone, and there is hope. I think a lot of people lose that, but there is hope for recovery and a lot of people have recovered.” * - Name changed for anonymity

If you have been affected by this story, or have concerns about your own or somebody else’s wellbeing, the following services are available: The University also recommends online self-care package SilverCloud. For more info visit www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/self-help/online-therapy/silvercloud Beat 0345 634 1414 b-eat.co.uk

Student Health Centre 01392 676606

Exeter Nightline 01392 724000

Reed Mews Wellbeing Centre 01392 724381

Student Minds Eating Difficulties Support Project Mondays 7pm, DH2 Conference Room

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28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES

A matter of confidence T

James Sutton analyses MPs voting along party lines in the no-confidence vote

HE recent vote of no confidence saw Theresa May’s government survive defeat by a narrow margin, despite having suffered a massive loss on the Brexit vote the day before. It seems odd, however, that MPs can have confidence in the government despite so many being against the way it has gone about one of the most contentious issues of recent years. The motion was rejected by 325 votes to 306, a margin of 19 votes. Perhaps what is most noteworthy about this is that all MPs voted along party lines - even those who are in open rebellion against their party over their Brexit policies.

May had the DUP to thank for her victory: if they’d voted the other way the result would have been a loss by one vote. But what would have been even more welcome news is that all of the hard Brexiteers, and all of the firm remainers, backed her. This

really does seem to say something about the state of our political cadre, especially with regard to their role in Parliament

All the Tory Remainers voted for May and this says something about politics these days.

British journalist Neil Clark’s comments in an interview for Russia Today before the vote seemed to ring true. “The establishment in Britain is desperate to avoid the possibility of a government led by Jeremy Corbyn.

Stopping Corbyn is really a number-one priority for Tories”. When it came down to a decision between a government that was, in their view, failing on Brexit (either too soft or too hard depending on which side of the fence they sat) and a general election that could see Corbyn become prime minister, Conservative MPs were united in their desire to avoid the latter option.

T h e r e is dispute

Image: Arno Mikkor

over whether Corbyn’s Labour could actually win a general election. Despite the polls being far closer at the moment than they were at the start of 2017’s election campaign, there are few outside the Labour party saying they’d be able to pull off a victory. However, it seems even the slim possibility of this was enough to get the likes of Rees-Mogg to back Theresa May. “Theresa May” instead of “the government” is not used lightly there - in reality this was a vote about her as much as it was a vote about the government. 117 Tory MPs voted against her in last month’s vote, so such a swing back in favour of her is an indication of just how much the Conservative party want to avoid Corbyn getting into power.

Why are Conservative MPs so scared of a Corbyn government? Corbyn’s indefinite stance on Brexit has only strengthened the view that he remains a Eurosceptic, and he has consistently battled the pro-remain MPs in his party on the issue of a People’s Vote. However in the last few months, his staunch resilience has begun to falter. Senior Labour front benchers began to talk of the increasing possibility of a People’s Vote. With this comes the possibility that under a Corbyn government, Brexit could be thrown out completely - a prospect even worse than a Brexit too soft for Tory rebels.

CommonsVotes DigiMinster

It is also interesting that in a period where Labour have been so catastrophically divided, to the extent that they have failed to capitalise on extreme weakness from the Conservative party, they were united on this. All Labour MPs voted against having confidence in the government, but this is probably less surprising than the unity of the Tories - it’s likely that you’d be hard pressed to find a Labour MP who wouldn’t want Labour to have another crack at getting into power.

As we edge closer and closer to 29 March, a political disaster looks more and more likely Admirably, or perhaps necessarily, there were no whips imposed on MPs by

their parties, meaning they had free reign to vote how they like. On the surface this may have seemed noble, but in reality it was required to avoid further dissent among parties; there is plenty enough for MPs to be complaining about at the moment without a whip being enforced on such an issue to add to that.

In just over a week’s time, the government will vote again on whatever May is able to come up with next. If it gets voted down again, the next step is unclear. In the case of no decision being reached by the day we’re due to leave, we’ll be in limbo - that could mean we try to eject with no deal, but the likelihood that this will make it through parliament, as it now has to, is incredibly low. As we edge closer and closer to 29 March, it’s looking more and more likely that we’ll be caught in a political disaster.

Populist sensations gripping nations F

Ali Manshi discusses the declining success of populist leaders across the globe

OR the first time in years, it seems that Human Rights groups are triumphing over authoritarian and populist leaders.

‘Human Rights Watch’ have noticed a trend that indicates there has been a growing resistance towards “headline grabbing autocrats”. This surge against the global far right movement has come mostly from voters and institutions.

The organisation’s 674-page World Report 2019, looking at some 100 countries, is seen as one of the most influential digests of international trends in human rights. The report highlights the situation in China, referencing Beijing’s detention of an estimated one million Uyghurs and other Muslims.

Furthermore, the report highlighted the devastating casualties from the war on drugs in the Philippines, the impact on civilians of the ongoing conflicts in

Syria and Yemen, and finally the political and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.

Despite all this, Kenneth Roth, the group’s director, said that the key trend had not been authoritarianism, but resistance to it.

Roth emphasised efforts to resist attacks on democracy in Europe, stop bloodshed in Syria and bring to justice the perpetrators of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. There has also been a demand for a full investigation into the murder of Saudi Journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

In Europe, the fight for human rights took many forms, on the streets and institutions. Large crowds in Budapest protested against Orban’s moves to shut down Central European University and to enact a slave law that allows three year delays in paying for overtime as well as increasing permissible overtime.

A highpoint cited by the report, came in September, when the European Parliament responded to Orban’s increasingly authoritarian rule by voting to launch a process that could end with political sanctions under Article Seven of the EU Treaty. The US midterms also resembled a positive effort towards defending rights through as more Democrats were elected to the House of Representatives.

There was an emphasis on efforts to resist attacks on democracy in Europe

However, the report indicated that the trend had not all been positive and that the current crop of autocrats were continuing in their efforts to

undermine democracy by scapegoating and demonising vulnerable minorities to build popular support.

China received particular criticism in the report that observed: “China has increased its repression over the past year to the worst levels since the 1989 massacre of protesters from the Tiananmen Square democracy movement”.

The report said much of the pushback in the past year had played out at the UN, underlining its continuing importance as an institution, stating “beyond its important action on Myanmar and Yemen, the UN human rights council adopted for the first time a

resolution condemning the severe repression in Venezuela under President Nicolas Maduro.”

Five Latin American governments and Canada urged the International Criminal Court to open an investigation of crimes in Venezuela - the first time that any governments have sought an ICC investigation of crimes that took place entirely outside their territory.

Image: Foreign and Commonwealth Office

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the story of indian cinema

time’s up for r. kelly

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LIFESTYLE EDITORS Bethan Gilson Rhiannon Moore

ARTS + LIT EDITORS Lauren Newman Tabi Scott

MUSIC EDITORS Aaron Loose Alex Wingrave

SCREEN EDITORS Ben Faulkner Chloe Kennedy

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Alfred and Katie 28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

lifestyle

Grief is the thing with mustard HAVE my dad to thank for my Spanish degree. My dad and a suspicious-seeming mustard jar from so-and-so at work.

“You speak Spanish don’t you?” he squinted at me one evening. “Can you translate the ingredients in this? I have no idea what the f*** they are.”

I was 13 at the time, speckled with a fresh flowering of acne, and barely capable of stuttering through the conjugations of ‘tener’. Still, I struggled to say no to things, nay opportunities, of which jabbing at Google Translate seemed as golden as any.

It was a substandard translation I supplied.

Partially because of my inability to form a sentence; partially because the mustard, it turned out, was Portuguese. In the grand scheme of things it was barely noteworthy, yet it became a convenient anecdote for the gawping queries of why I studied languages, and thus the memory endured.

Years after that evening, for reasons now forgotten, I asked a Spaniard for the translation of grief. They looked at me, perplexed for a moment, before reeling off a list of – to their mind – synonyms. Pain, bitterness, melancholy, shame… The emotions unfurled on and on. Still, the simple fact loomed unequivocally: grief, as a noun, was untranslatable. As an emotional landscape, however, it was wellchartered and I – now three years on from losing my dad – was torn as to which encapsulation was the more apt.

GRIEF, AS A NOUN, WAS UNABLE TO BE TRANSLATED In many ways I’m cheating writing this article. My dad passed away a year before I started at Exeter, four years on from that evening with so-and-so at work, and three years after his first cancer diagnosis. In this new-found realm of Tinder-swiping, binge-drinking, salmonella-riddled adulthood, grief – or, at least, my teenage comprehension of it – seemed starkly out of place. Bereavement, much like my memories of dad, seemed sepia-tinted and antiquated, lost (or so I’d hoped) in the folds of adolescence.

Of course, it doesn’t require an expert to suggest that such an approach was hardly viable. Nor even was it especially helpful. Coming away to university – as many students will testify – is stressful enough as it is. Sprinkle the emotional drain of a bereavement onto a monstrous pile of deadlines, social engagements and overflowing bin bags, and for many the concoction is a rancid one.

“There is an expectation, or at least an association, when you go to university that you

are able to live, think and breathe independence,” says second-year student, Scarlett. “For me, there were times when I simply wanted to hug a family member but couldn’t. I think, a lot of the time, when a loved one passes, you seek closure. That is, the knowing. Knowing that you did all that you could and that things will be OK.” Scarlett had just started her second year when her grandma passed away. Diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the illness had severely impacted her ability to speak, move, and carry out day-to-day tasks. After a few years spent bedbound in a home, she passed away in October.

“Talking to my family about how I was feeling really helped. Initially I felt guilty because I could have seen her more, but the distance and changes in my life made that difficult,” says Scarlett.

“Talking about the good times I had spent with her, the memories made, and the fact that she had the best possible send off and funeral we could have given her was really comforting. There are still days when I get upset but I don’t keep it to myself. I’m honest with the very raw and human feelings that I have, and I know that I’m not the only one who has them.”

Bereavement amongst university students is a generally under-represented or even unexplored experience. Statistics from Netdoctor claim that a third of people experience a depressive illness one month after a bereavement, yet it is unknown how many of those are students. The NHS website offers specialist guidance for adults and children coping with grief, yet none for young people. Writing in 2015, one journalist for The Guardian detailed the lack of pastoral support available at UK universities, branding many institutions as illequipped to offer specialist guidance.

BEREAVEMENT AMONGST STUDENTS IS GENERALLY UNDER-REPRESENTED “Bereavement just isn’t something you expect to have to deal with [at university],” they wrote. “Good welfare services are indispensable for students but across the country these are underfunded and oversubscribed. Most universities don’t offer bereavement specific counselling, but instead refer students to outside services, such as Cruse.”

Such is an experience familiar to final-year student Jack who lost a close friend to suicide two years ago. “Slightly strangely, I found out at home and then quickly returned to complete my exams," he remembers. "For a fair few friends, it affected their academic performance because they wanted to reorganise their exams but were told by their universities’ administration teams that essentially the death wasn’t close enough.”

English student Lucy, meanwhile, was forced to interrupt her time at university following the death of her sister during her sec-

option. It was the only way I could heal in my own time because it’s a long horrible process and sometimes you can’t just simply ‘cope’."

GRIEF IS A SINISTER SHAPESHIFTER AND A DARK CLOUD What advice would she give to those struggling with bereavement? "Have something to get you up in the morning," Lucy recommends. "Find a hobby you enjoy to keep you going, even if it’s just to get you out of bed and onto the sofa.”

“At the time when it happened, I took on the responsibility for [helping to organise] the memorial service,” says Jack. “This was the easiest way for me to deal with the grief. By being the ‘strong’ one, the ‘organised’ one, the one that could ‘deal with it’, I managed to suppress my real feelings.

“Everyone deals with these kinds of things differently. I hate the idea of being in ‘mourning’ for weeks and months afterwards and would definitely focus on remembering the best bits of the deceased: to celebrate a life rather than to mourn it. That said, I’d like to think that I would put aside a few moments each day – much longer in the early days – to think about what has happened, talk it through with a friend or a family member because you must allow yourself to grieve."

“I have since learned that grief is a privilege," agrees Lucy. "I was lucky to love someone enough for their death to tear my world apart."

“I guess you’re looking for a balance," concedes Jack. "In order to accept what happens you first have to recognise that it did. Only then can you look beyond that and, in time, move on.”

Grief is a sinister shapeshifter: a dark cloud, my mum would say, that threatens to rain at any moment. Yet, if the clouds thunder so too do they dissipate, mere wisps of wind that unspool themselves from the past: from Dad’s piles of old books, his dusty CDs, and one day, perhaps, from the mustard.

Image: Christine Wehrmeier

I

Katie Jenkins, Deputy Editor, explores students' experiences of bereavement at university

ond year. At the time she posted on her blog Faraway Lucy: “I’m not trying to narrate a sob story […] but just to record my thoughts. To record how grief affects someone. To document suffering. Because it is cathartic. Because no one’s life is as sparkly and pretty as their Instagram. And if it is, well, you should never take that for granted.”

Two years on, she says she feels “like a completely different person to the person who wrote that piece”.

“I wrote that piece at the height of my grief, in an extremely emotionally vulnerable state," she says. "Life does get better, but it only got better because I interrupted my time at university.

“I didn’t cope for like a solid year afterwards. I literally couldn’t function and that’s why I had to drop out. I didn’t want to make that decision, and I understand that not everyone can just take a year out to focus on their mental health. But [for me] there was no other

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, the following resources are available:

Reed Mews Wellbeing Centre wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk 01392 724381 Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 https://www.cruse.org.uk/ Hospiscare https://www.hospiscare.co.uk/bereavement-care

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Tackling toxic masculinity

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Alex Wingrave, Music Editor, evaluates the impact of Gillette's 'The Best Men Can Be' advert

T seems we can’t go a week without some right-leaning men getting extremely offended by something. Considering these same people love calling people with progressive values ‘triggered’ and ‘snowflakes’, the irony really is impressive.

The latest outrage has been caused by an advert from razor company Gilette, which depicts men calling other men out for sexist or aggressive behaviour, backdropped clearly by the #MeToo movement.

Renowned turnip Piers Morgan has called it ‘a war on masculinity’ and hundreds of angry Twitter users have threatened to boycott the company.

THE PETULANT BACKLASH SUPPORTS THE CASE THAT TOXIC MASCULINITY EXISTS I could understand criticisms of the advert for being an obvious corporate attempt to cash in on current politics, but that’s not really what this uproar is about.

Many men seem to have taken the message as an attack on men in general. Certainly, the Gilette advert could do with a bit of nuance, but it seems clear that being ‘the best men can be’ is about challenging toxic

Misogyny and rape culture are another masculinity. This petulant backlash only set of dangerous effects; whether it’s the supports the case that toxic masculinity Brock Turner case in California, the series needs to be dealt with – this isn’t just a buzz of ongoing allegations in Hollywood, or phrase, it’s a real damaging consequence the Bracton Law Society scandal of patriarchy upon men. in Exeter, it’s clear that the Toxic masculinity refers idea of male dominance to the set of ideals can often lead to a which society holds disturbing sense for men, from of entitlement being strong and and superiority emotionless amongst to physically men. It also dominant, tragically whether it’s escalates over women to violence or over other against men.

These both genders, ideals aren’t with domestic innate to being abuse and gang a man, but are a culture being key constructed idea of problems in the UK. what men should be.

These issues are big, Calling toxic Image: Matheus Ferrero public and nowhere close to masculinity out is calling out being solved, so it’s evident Gilette had a system that’s unfair to men as well plenty of reason to make their advert. as women. The damage which these ideals Men are the key to ending the bad cause is evident, particularly on male behaviour of other men and helping free mental health, with men being three times everyone from the consequences of toxic more likely to commit suicide than women masculinity, and this message should according to Samaritans, and far less likely to feel empowering, not degrading. Noseek medical help.

On the calendar

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EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

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Megan Cammidge on the unmissable upcoming events in Exeter

T'S January; term has just started, and the the High Street, it promises to be a wonderful excitement of Christmas and New Year has display. This will be topped off by a Chinese come to an end. Although it often feels like Market of food, martial arts demonstrations staying tucked up in the warmth of your bed and activities inside the Forum, and a firework is the only option in these winter blues, there’s display to end the night with a bang.

Why not try signing up to the plenty of exciting events coming Inflatable 5K run? Held on 9 up in Exeter to get you out and March, it’s the perfect opporabout this term. tunity to test your stamina First and foremost, the as you bounce your way Rugby Varsity against over 10 mega-sized obDurham is fast apstacles as well as to proaching. The bigraise money for chargest sporting event ity. in the university calAs the term draws endar falls on 20 Febto a close and the weathruary this year. So, head er gets a little brighter, on down to Sandy Park I suggest hopping on the and get ready to #bleedtrain down to Paignton beach. green followed by an afterImage: Cathryn Lavery Although it may still be too cold party at Timepiece if you don’t for most of us to brave a dip in the want the fun to end.

Additionally, Chinese New Year promises to sea, a chilled out walk along Paignton pier with be a magical event again this year. Celebrations a portion of chips won’t go amiss. After watchfor the year of the Pig will run all day on Sun- ing the sun set over the English Riviera, try topday 18 February. Kicked off by Dragon and Lion ping off the day with a late-night visit to Paigtraditional dancing throughout the City, stop- ton Zoo, who are hosting their Reptile Ramble ping at Cathedral Green and processing along after-hours event during March.

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one is trying to erase stoicism or enjoying traditionally masculine pursuits; last time I checked, lager was still legal, and blokes kicking a ball round a field was still pretty popular. Rather, the doors should be opening to an expanded definition of masculinity, including expressing your feelings, and not feeling there’s anything to prove.

MEN CAN BE THE FUTURE ROLE MODELS FOR BOYS EVERYWHERE Piers Morgan’s piece for the Daily Mail suggests the advert is saying ‘all men are bad shameful people’, but he’s completely missed the point. The video isn’t making fabricated accusations about theoretical scenarios. Women are cat-called and patronised every day.

Boys are told to ‘man up’ and encouraged to punch away their problems every day.

These are facts, but they don’t have to be.

Men can be the future, the role models for little boys everywhere, if more of us keeping doing the right thing, standing up for the right values, and being the best men can be. That idea doesn’t attack masculinity. It makes it better.

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Penny Dinh presents her vegan curry INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • •

3 cloves of garlic, minced 1 onion, minced 2 teaspoons of chopped ginger 1 carrot, diced 3 potatoes, diced 1 pack of mushrooms 1 tin of chickpeas 1 tin of chopped tomatoes 1 tin of coconut milk 3 tablespoons of a curry powder of choice 1 cube of vegetable stock salt and pepper, to taste

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Roast the carrot and potatoes with oil, salt, and Image: Becca McHaffie pepper at 220*C for 20 minutes In a big wok or frying pan, fry onion, garlic, and ginger together until the onion is soft and slightly translucent Add the rest of the ingredients Add roasted carrot and potatoes to the pan Simmer everything for about 20 minutes Serve with rice or naan, garnish with coriander.

If you accidentally overspice it, serve with dairyfree yogurt!

Images: Petr Kratochvil, Ronmar Lacamiento

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EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

The need to succeed

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28 JAN 2019 |

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Emily Black discusses the pressure to be successful straight after university

N the present media climate of fearmongering and distress about the state of youth and graduate employment, for those of us entering our twenties it often seems as though there is no hope of ever getting a stable job. Fluctuating between a crippling fear of the future and a livingin-the-moment mentality seems to be how most of us address career prospects at this age. Some days we may think 'it will work out, because it has to'. On other days it's more difficult to adopt that mentality. We're left with a nihilistic doubt regarding future prospects, especially when we remember that many of today’s youth are crushed by student debt by the age of eighteen, a definite added pressure.

For our grandparents' or older relatives' generation, it was feasible to plan to ‘find a job’ and stick with it, before investing in a house after a few years. My own grandparents bought their first house for £8,000, a figure which seems alien when associated with housing in 2019 - except perhaps if you are discussing two years of rent for student housing.

Even the generation before us, our parents, were not stunted by the introduction, and the subsequent exponential in-

THE FAMILIAR DISCOMFORT WHEN ASKED WHAT YOU'RE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE

I hear recurring horror stories of friends who have been on a set course with their degree and have achieved high marks, but then are stuck working in Primark for a couple of years after, unable to find work in their desired field - hardly the dreamy executive role some people imagine after graduation.

One friend who graduated with a degree in Maths ended up going into catering and food production, disregarding the course which had landed them in student debt. Many people even end up travelling or gaining further experience after a string of unsuccessful applications to companies, or the increasingly common opting for a Masters programme as a way of prolonging the active search for work.

WE ARE BOMBARDED WITH IMAGES OF SUCCESSFUL YOUNG PEOPLE

There is a familiar discomfort at family meals when your aunt asks you what you plan to do with your life. We've all been there. You stare sheepishly at a bowl of roast potatoes before starting a neverending improvisation about how you are a member of different societies at uni, and have really been working on your ‘prospects’ recently, all the while, unsure if you even remembered to apply for that internship you had been considering.

We are bombarded with images of exceptional and successful young people in the media. Seeing idols such as Lorde, an internationally acclaimed singer by age 17, Leonardo DiCaprio, appearing in Romeo + Juliet age 21 and Jeanette Winterson, publishing her first book at age 26 instills a fear in the best of us, reminding us of our own shortcomings. As a result, our generation has become disillusioned with what counts as success and when we should reach it.

We have inevitably learnt a crushing reality about what the future may hold for us as we grow up. We wave goodbye to naive childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut or a famous ballet dancer.

So at what point do we become successful? For some uni graduates it may be when they have secured their first stable job. For others it may be years down the line when they have changed career path and are doing something they are passionate about, finally feeling satisfied with their work life.

There is no right answer and we must try to overcome the ominous uncertainty of being in our early twenties and gazing into the void of life after university.

Comic book writer Stan Lee wrote his first successful title at age 39. Samuel Jackson only landed a significant role at age 43. Darwin published On The Origin Of Species at age 50. Although most of us aim to reach some type of stability in our lives before then, it is important to remember that our lives are not defined by failure if we do not reach ‘greatness’ by age 25. This provides me with some solace that there is promise yet for those of us who feel like a spinning pin on a compass, unable to locate a direction on our path.

WE HAVE BECOME DISILLUSIONED WITH WHAT COUNTS AS SUCCESS But, we have negotiated our definition of success and most people will still fantasise about reaching a level of greatness within a profession. However, others simply worry about making this term’s student loan stretch those 12 weeks, or perhaps being able to afford a place to live a few years down the line.

crease, of tuition fees for university. This consequentially places immense pressure on the importance that your degree must be relevant to your career after you graduate. Not only does it discourage further education, but it disincentivises those who cannot afford the risk of the student loan system.

This advocation of elitism divides youths into two categories: those who choose not to go to university, and are likely to end up starting on an apprenticeship wage, and those who get a degree, and are then crippled by the debt which entails.

OUR LIVES ARE NOT DEFINED BY FAILURE IF WE DON'T REACH 'GREATNESS' BY 25

Image: Agung Pandit Wiguna

Although your aunt may continue to look confused to hear you haven't made it as a writer by age 22, there is still hope for self-defined success and we must hold onto that.

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Straight forward casting?

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Rowan Keith, Online Lifestyle Editor, discusses the controversy surrounding the casting of queer roles

ASTING for queer roles has been a huge topic in the last few years, with ongoing debates as to whether straight actors should be cast in LGBTQ+ roles. There is an extreme bias in the acting world as it is often perceived that LGBTQ+ actors cannot play straight roles, whereas all roles are available to straight actors. However, this has largely been in response to roles in cinema or television. Do the same issues apply in theatre productions, with smaller audiences, increased anonymity and arguably smaller individual cultural influence? I would argue that on the stage there are far more benefits to be found from a more flexible approach to casting.

My personal issue with sexuality-based casting is mainly the insistence on being publicly ‘out’. If we insist on queer roles going to queer actors, the roles can therefore only be given to actors who are not only personally comfortable with their sexuality but also ready to be out on a very public stage, quite literally.

This adds a pressure to label your sexuality, leaving far less space for those who do not like to define their sexuality or feel like it cannot be defined by one word. Such an attitude towards casting also has a tendency to erase the spectral nature of sexuality, often excluding bisexual and asexual characters, as Image: Troubador Publishing

An interview with Rosemary Schonfeld on her book Finding Relly

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USICIAN Rosemary Schonfeld had always expressed herself in music, having composed and performed all around the world. When it came to recounting her personal connection to the Holocaust however, she found herself unable to ‘write songs about genocide, cruelty,

there are even fewer roles offering positive representation for these identities than there is for gay and lesbian identities.

The demand for queer roles to be filled by queer actors also risks the assumption that the queer experience is monolithic. An actor’s queerness does not guarantee their ability to play a queer role, just as a straight actor’s straightness does not guarantee their suitability for a straight role. Casting only queer actors in queer roles both erases the nuances to be found within individual queer experiences, and neglects to acknowledge the intersectionality of a character’s identity, instead portraying their queerness as the one determining factor of their experience.

IT IS OFTEN PERCEIVED THAT LGBTQ+ ACTORS CANNOT PLAY STRAIGHT ROLES Far more directors recently have opted for gender blind casting, leading to new dynamics, relationships and sexualities being placed into plays written without them in mind. This has reaped some incredible results, and given actors of all genders opportunities to take on roles that would normally be denied to them. This also creates stories and suffering’. Instead, she wrote a book.

Finding Relly: My Family, The Holocaust and Me, charts her intensely personal journey of discovery as she explores the impact of the Holocaust on her own life as the child of a Holocaust survivor.

Raised in postwar UK and Canada, Rosemary, the daughter of a Czech immigrant, was unaware of her father’s Jewish identity.

It was only after her father’s death that she started discovering the truth about his family. After tracking down her Australian Aunt Relly, she was able to not only understand what had happened to her family, but also understand the impact that it had had on herself.

Rosemary’s book is not the culmination of academic research, but of a personal journey.

Rosemary talks of an ‘inner tsunami’ of uncertainty, of not understanding her and her family’s identity. Discovering and coming to terms with the murder of her extended family during the Holocaust was a journey that would take years.

But it was not a journey that she took alone.

Unearthing the truth of what happened to her relatives would have been impossible without the support and assistance of several dedicated individuals and institution,

in which queerness is present, but somewhat incidental; it allows for a space in which a queer character’s sexuality is no more or less of an ‘issue’ than a straight character, creating a far more accepting and optimistic worldview.

Although sexuality-based discrimination is still a reality for many queer individuals, and many still struggle with their sexuality, meaning coming out narratives and films explicitly exploring queerness remain incredibly important and relevant, is there not space for something new?

Personally, I get increasingly tired of stories in which a queer character’s narrative stems purely from their sexuality. The stories that I find most refreshing are those in which the sexuality of the characters is simply a part of the narrative rather than the dominating factor.

My fear is that in insisting on only gay actors playing gay roles we fail to get away from the narrative of sexuality as dominating and therefore reinforce a perception of distance rather than proximity between straight people and queer people. Whilst queer actors are frequently discriminated against, and the playing field does need to be evened, enforcing such strict rules on casting neglects to embrace the diversity and acceptance that makes the queer community so incredible. such as the Wiener Library, a London-based archive for the study of the Holocaust and genocide.

Instrumental in uncovering details of what happened to her relatives was Liba Salomonovic. Rosemary describes Liba as an ‘extraordinary archivist’ who after retiring ‘devoted her life to uncovering and researching information about families’ of people like Rosemary. Of course, once Rosemary had tracked her down, the ‘most important source of all’, was her aunt Relly. Rosemary warmly describes the letters, phone calls and meetings she had with Relly before her death in 2010.

Rosemary’s book recounts in detail the significant challenges she faced growing up in the shadow of the Holocaust.

ROSEMARY TALKS OF AN ‘INNER TSNUMANI’ OF UNCERTAINTY

The contemporary relevance of the Holocaust is at the forefront of her book. As the child of a survivor, Rosemary is part of what is called the ‘second generation’. When asked about her peers, she says ‘we are evidence’.

In the face of Holocaust denial and rising

Images: Gaunaco, Walterlan Papetti , Gage Skidmore, GabboT..

antisemitism, Rosemary affirms that it is vital to keep the memory of their parents’ stories alive.

Her book, however, is about more than remembrance. After the Holocaust, the world swore “Never Again” to genocide. Yet, since the end of the Second World War, international courts have made indictments for genocide in Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda. To this day, genocide continues in Darfur. ‘As long as we have genocides, many children of those who survive them will experience Transmission of Massive Trauma’, she says.

It is this hope that epitomises her approach to life since discovering the truth about her family’s experiences. Two weeks ago, at the University of Exeter’s Holocaust Memorial Conference, Rosemary spoke to students about her experiences. Sharing her story, she implored them to consider how they can live the lessons that can be learned from genocide in their own lives: ‘One individual cannot save the world, but we can all do our bit’. Be it welcoming and including others, or simply offering a kind word when needed, the author encourages everyone to think about how their actions can keep the awareness of equality, inclusivity and diversity alive.

Barnabas Balint

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EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

28 JAN 2019 |

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An ode to Insta-poets Bryony Gooch, Online Music Editor, evaluates poetry in the age of social media

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N every literary movement, there are always in Kaur’s signature style. While this has only exactly this – perhaps their parents might try a select few writers that seem to canonidone more to bolster her success, it certainly to explain this to them. But they may never cally represent the zeitgeist. Shakespeare feeds into the criticism she has received for truly understand what it means to be good dominates our curriculum as a representation perhaps being overly simple in her work. enough unless someone out there – with no of renaissance greatness. Wordsworth and It goes without saying that Kaur’s simlink to them – explains this. That is one of the plistic style, coupled with her take on love Coleridge stand out as key figures of Romanmany powers of literature: the delivery of ticism. Ginsburg’s ‘Howl’ is, for many, and vulnerability, is what makes her work so empathetic wisdom from someone the exemplar of the Beat Genwith no knowledge of your situation but can somehow put into eration. Whilst there are plenty of words how you feel in a way othcurrent movements that deserve attention, it is arguable that milers cannot. lennialism, and the generation And yet there is a clear disgap frequently complained engagement with literature; the millenialpoets87 about in the mainstream media, Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport found that 46% represents a cultural shift in attitudes and lifestyles that has beof young adults do not read in come something of a movement. their free time, in comparison to If we were to look for a represent31% of adults. There are many ative of this movement, then Rupi factors contributing to this; the Kaur would be a clear contender. increasing influence of technology in our lives undoubtedly has Having since 2014, Kaur has a huge influence. But it would sold over 2.5 million copies of her be foolish not to consider how debut collection, Milk and Honeyold. With 3.4 million followers on the literary curriculum influences young people’s interest in Instagram, Kaur’s minimalist poetreading. Anyone who has ever ry and her visual accompaniments felt forced to read an array of have fronted something of a poetic revolution. You can see her uninspiring and unvaried texts stylistic and thematic influence in order to achieve a grade will in the works of Amanda Lovelace understand the apathy that surrounds extra-curricular reading. and Nayirrah Waheed. Her books Rupi Kaur has bypassed these line the shelves of teenagers and very ideas that spark such indifyoung adults everywhere. ference to reading. Her poetry is Many people have taken influ20,000 likes ence from her minimalist gramsimplistic and understandable to millenialpoets87 “and here you are living despite it all” matical style, with no capital leta wider audience. Her topics are Words to live by xox #RupiKaur #inspiration #blessed #avocado ters or punctuation other than a varied: from discussing her own #Exetahh full stop, but this is not adopted experiences of immigration, to without reason the stylistic choice healing from abuse, to interacting with the issues facing young references the Gurmukhi scripts people today. Kaur never fails to of her Punjabi background. Howmarketable. Her internet following is a tesever, this cultural choice seems to have been strike a nerve. tament to this - she frequently previews her mistaken as pure aesthetic, having been repHer medias, whether you read her work licated by many other Insta-poets. It seems poetry and accompanying drawings on social from one of the minimally designed hardcopies or from your Instagram feed, are media. But where do we draw the line bethat, as well as representing her own cultural tween quotable art and unsubstantial work? background, the absence of complicated lanwidely accessible. She has made a name for guage and punctuation has struck a chord Take one of her most famous pieces, ‘if you Insta-poets everywhere. Whether or not poets like Brian Bilston, with 19.1k followers on with a generation that yearns for simplicity. are not enough for yourself/you will never be Instagram, or Nayyirah Waheed whose femiNaturally, Kaur’s success has come with a enough/for someone else’. Is this genuinely nist observations have earned a following of degree of criticism. Her trademark style has insightful? Or could anyone, unskilled in poetic composition, tell you this?

695,000, have felt the “Rupi-effect” is unclear. become something of a meme; in 2017 a parody book called milk and vine was released, However, the future of poetry may lie in the Perhaps it is both: a teenager struggling with their self esteem might need to hear taking iconic vine quotes and displaying them work of Insta-poets.

Images: BollyHollyBaba (Top) StockSnap

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Image: skitterphoto

WRITERS’ CORNER Sieve Zeb O’Regan It all comes back to you, when those sepia-tone days came trawling through. The morning sun yawns over the busker’s guitar, and we get in your car to go somewhere that’s not very far.

It all comes back to you, when we found a clearing in the forest’s pocket.

Grass ripples like telephone wires.

Your music - from the other side of the millennium rasps through.

It all comes back to you, how your voice crackled like an old vinyl; your cigarette smoke curling into origami, dangling from your lips. Its husky smell thickening in my clothes.

It all comes back to you when two lives fall through the sieve of time. Well after the busker has tucked away her guitar. When the polaroid moon is a pin-up in the night, and the stars are TV static. Your eyes blue as petrol in the rain.

EDITORS’ picks ART Exeter Phoenix offers a diverse array of art exhibitions and courses at a discount for students

THEATRE Cate Blanchett makes her National Theatre debut this month in When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other

BOOKS

POETRY

Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love is a feel-good essential read for any woman age 16 to 60

Rachel Wiley’s 2017 collection Nothing is Okay articulates the world of relationships, body shaming and feminism Image: jill111

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EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

28 JAN 2019 |

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50 shades of toxic masculinity W

Anna Romanovska discusses erotic fiction in the wake of the #MeToo movement

HEN the topic of erotic fiction comes up, chances are that most minds will automatically travel to the Twilight-inspired bestselling trilogy by E.L. James: 50 Shades of Grey. The tumultuous relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele provides us with yet another narrative of a pure, innocent and modest woman in need of a controlling stereotypical ‘Man.’

ANGRY OUTBURSTS SHOULD NEVER BE PORTRAYED AS THE EPITOME OF PASSION Now, there is nothing wrong with the inclusion of submissive characters within a novel mostly oriented around the exploration of the modality of sexuality. However, what the classic example of E.L. James’ writing seemed to forget, is that you can be a strong, decisive and independent character, yet still desire the role of ‘the Sub’ as part of another’s sexual preference. Angry outbursts stemming from a refusal to comply, as done many a times by the so-called ‘dreamy’ Christian Grey, should never be portrayed as the epitome of passion within novels. Such a portrayal is incredibly damaging to the representation of sexuality for all genders, where the dainty female characters are expected to automatically orgasm from the assertive, manipulative, and borderline emotionally abusive dominance exerted upon them by their ‘Perfect Mr Macho Man.’ Upon further examination of Amazon’s list of bestsellers within the genre of erotic literature, there is a rather disturbing pattern of the words ‘Virgin,’ ‘Violence’ and masculine

ing, yet again, on how toxic masculinity and possessive pronouns, appearing within the ‘Machoism’ prevents men from expressing top titles. ‘His Captive Mountain Virgin’ and their troubles in a healthy manner. No, ac‘Violent Delights’ are both perfect examples cording to them, a toxic ownership complex of such traits appearing within the book and violent tendencies are the go-to personnames. Yet again we find ourselves at the ality traits in the construction of a character hand of the over-fetishization of a woman’s who can be ‘damaged’ enough to partake in innocence and ideas mildly relating to intimate partner violence will produce prime BDSM. erotic material.

There is erotica that helps to promote female sexuality and feminist values. D.H. LawThere is a frequent use of fear-awakening rence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover, privately techniques such as threats, gaslighting and published in 1928, caused an uproar in sexual coercion through which the world of 1960s the male character asserts sexism with its his control over the female. Despite such acthen-he tions being largely abudonistic sive, such accusations portrayal of female are often dismissed due to the demand for domsexuality. Penguin, the sub narratives within subsequent open the genre. However, such publisher of the relationships should never book was sued in the require abusive tactics to be United Kingdom unenacted. It almost seems as if der the Obscene Publithe authors and the readers have cations Act of 1959, aimforgotten one final ingredient to any ing to protect the public sexual relation: consent. good from such a decaFurthermore, the 50 Shades series, dent insult to conservative along with many other basic erotic literature. Griffith-Jones, the novels centred around BDSM, are prosecutor within the ‘Reincredibly detrimental to the gina versus Penguin Books gender roles often ascribed Ltd’ trial then famously exto men within our society. pressed the inherent sexMost men are portrayed ism that the hushed sexuas incredibly damaged, ality of women often faced, expressing their emotional turmoil through attempting to scare the jury into making them imagine sexual dominance over a doe-like character. All these their wives reading the book.

Image: Carmen Fiano stories are doing is expandLuckily for the future of liberal

publishing, Penguin won the trial, providing the foundations for an unrestricted expression of sexuality not only within the literary world, but also for the development of discourse surrounding sexuality as a whole.

Although we may find ourselves enraged at how women are often degraded within sexually explicit literature, there has been an increase in erotica that not only portrays women as strong characters, but also helps to promotes feminist values. One such example is Uptown Thief by Aya de León, where the story’s hero, Marison Rivera, leads a highclass escort service to help pay for the education of her and her sister and fund a women’s clinic by robbing the corrupt men who benefit from the toxic patriarchal society they live in. It is a wonderful commentary of how men dominate the financial world and how a woman can take on the role of an empowered Robin Hood as well as any man can.

MACHOISM PREVENTS MEN FROM EXPRESSING THEIR TROUBLES IN A HEALTHY MANNER Just as internet pornography can be damaging and have a negative impact on one’s conception of sexuality, erotic fiction can find itself guilty of the same crimes. Stigmatisation of sexuality and power within gender, and shining a spotlight on heteronormative sexual relationships, thus also ostracising most members of the LGBTQ+ community from mainstream erotica. Although not all erotica is inherently misogynistic, there is still much work to be done to improve the controversial genre.

Fiction or activism?

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Holly McSweeney explores the changing agenda of YA literature

OLITICAL activism is the current vogue in teen fiction. Narratives of political activism have dominated bookshelves which were once preoccupied with the typical flimsy romance novels. YA literature’s latest trend is its most refreshing, most needed, and most exciting to date, and it is interesting to consider why the priorities of young people have changed.

NARRATIVES OF POLITICAL ACTIVISM HAVE DOMINATED THE BOOKSHELVES This celebrated shift comes as no surprise

in a world where politics is urgent and unavoidable, with admired icons from traditional teen fiction like Emma Watson turning their attention to political activist campaigns such as the #MeToo movement. The recent burst of powerful, politicallyoriented literature offers a multitude of diverse voices who unapologetically speak their individual stories. The scope of this shift is truly vast; various

Image: Elvert Barnes

works tend to vital issues on gender inequality, race, class and sexuality in the present era – and often do so all at the same time, as in Angie Thomas’ ground-breaking, and award-winning The Hate U Give in 2017. In an engagement with the Black Lives Matter Movement, Thomas creates a deeply moving, but equally incendiary exposure of the alarming reality that the US racial political crisis costs young lives every day. But this

is just one example.

What emerges strikingly from this new, ever-developing genre of politically-conscious teen fiction, is its possibility, its openendedness. It is the protagonists’ courageous motivation that connects such wildly disparate texts, from those on racial politics to LGBTQ+ rights, such as John Green and David Levithan’s New York Times bestseller Will Grayson, Will Grayson. This trailblazing trend puts its faith in today’s young people, believing in their strength, in their desire to not only be included in, but at the forefront of important conversations. It has resolutely exploded and opened the category of YA fiction to new areas, determined to leave no stone unturned and no issue untouched.

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Time's Up for the industry Any investigation into R. Kelly must recognise the voices we value over others, writes Tabi Scott, Arts + Lit Editor

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IT IS EASIER TO ENJOY KELLY'S MUSIC THAN TO RECOGNISE MISOGYNY All of this sounds like progress, until you realise how slow this progress has been. Reports of Kelly's exploitative relationships with women have continually resurfaced over the last couple of decades. From 1996 to 2002, three women sued him for alleged sexual contact with teenagers. In each case he settled with them. In 2008, he stood trial for 14 counts of child pornography. He was acquitted of all charges. Kelly's former partner, Andrea Kelly, publicly spoke out about the domestic abuse she suffered during their 13-year marriage. However, she faced backlash online from users convinced that she was seeking money and attention. In 2017, BuzzFeed News released a report, 'Inside the Pied Piper of R&B’s Cult', interviewing parents

who believed their daughters were being held hostage by Kelly. Kelly reportedly built his cult by luring young women with a promises to boost their music careers. However, it is alleged that these women have since been held in his Georgia home and Chicago recording studio. The “puppet master”, as the report describes Kelly, denied these accusations and the story slipped quietly from media attention.

Nevertheless, Surviving R. Kelly has served as a necessary catalyst to trigger the end of Robert Kelly’s career. Resent towards Kelly has accumulated online, with his peers publicly rebuking him and cutting ties. Lady Gaga, a fierce advocate for the Me Too movement, removed her song 'Do What U Want' that featured Kelly from streaming services.

Likewise, fellow Chicagoan legend Chance the Rapper has also removed his collaboration with the singer.

Ne-Yo is another artist who recently took to Twitter to consolidate this message of zero-tolerance, with #MuteRKelly soon trending across the platform. This idea of tuning out of Kelly's music and in to the voices of his victims is empowering, but it is important to ask why it has taken so long for his name to be associated with such disgust and shame.

Kelly is one of the most successful R&B singers of all time, and for someone to have so much power in this industry in the wake of an extensive history of sexual abuse allegations is disturbing. Why has it taken a six-part Lifetime documentary to authenticate the experiences of these women?

As disgusting as the alleged actions of Kelly are, it is also troubling how the world has reacted to past allegations against him.

For the most part, people now realise that it is time to mute R Kelly, but it has come too late for his victims who people refused to hear. In October 2018, Andrea Kelly appeared on ABC’s talk show The View to talk about the abuse R. Kelly inflicted on her throughout their marriage. When asked why she chose to come forward now, Andrea explained: “I wanted to bring validity to these women’s stories. I think so often it falls on deaf ears and no one believes them, so I felt that if I could come forward and say, you know what, it’s true because I’ve been through it, and the things these women are saying, that they would not know my life unless they’ve been through it too, I have to speak up”. The reality of the situation is that the voices of those who are speaking up are not met with credibility. Instead, they are interrogated for their motives for saying anything against him at all.

To understand why the music industry has tolerated R. Kelly for so long, we need to

TO IGNORE THESE WOMEN'S

Image: Charles Argobast

HE power of the #MeToo movement cannot be underestimated. It has united and empowered women on a global scale, bringing the issue of the sexual harassment to the forefront of social and political discussions. It has culminated in the downfall of those who were seemingly untouchable in power and status, from Harvey Weinstein to Kevin Spacey.

The same cannot be said in the music industry. While predators in the Hollywood sphere face sexual assault charges and public disgrace, the likes of Chris Brown and Trippie Red continue to enjoy steady careers. Fans fiercely argue for “separating the art from the artist”. Any claims that someone in the music industry has been accused of sexual violence begin to sound like a broken record, because it is so rare for them to actually be reprimanded.

One of the most haunting cases of this is R. Kelly. Over the decades, the R&B singer-songwriter has built up dozens of sexual assault accusations, yet he walks free as one of the most successful R&B artists of all time, having sold over 75 million albums worldwide. The Lifetime documentary Surviving R. Kelly has refuelled speculation, but this time with more fallout for the singer. The documentary covers 25 years, with victims retelling their personal experiences of Kelly's sexual abuse. In the wake of this documentary, the first signs that Kelly’s career may not be immune to his behaviour have begun to show. Officials in Georgia have launched an investigation since the documentary first aired on 3 January, and Kelly has since been dropped from his record company, Sony Music’s RCA Records.

look to the victims rather than the aggressor.

Almost all of Kelly’s victims are black women.

A quote from Malcolm X becomes eerily relevant here: “The most disrespected person in America is the black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the black woman.

The most neglected person in America is the black woman.” These women are seeking justice from a society which condemns and belittles their own place within a biased legal system.

THE MUSIC INDUSTRY MUST REFUSE TO TOLERATE THIS BEHAVIOUR It is far easier to drown out these allegations with another chart hit from Kelly rather than to acknowledge the deep-seated racism and misogyny that runs rife in the industry.

To acknowledge what this man has done is also to acknowledge that we allowed it to happen. Any investigation into Kelly's crimes must force us to recognise whose voices we are choosing to hear over others. Reports of sexual violence against black women, against women, against anyone, should not come

hand in hand with such scepticism. These women have been condemned and ridiculed when asking for justice for what this man has done to them, and to ignore their testimonies is tell these women that Kelly's abuse is acceptable.

Running parallel to this silencing of Kelly is the widespread encouragement for the voices of his victims to take the place of his lyrics. Despite how long it has taken for Kelly's downfall, years of allegations have manifested into organised legal action against him. From this, we can only hope that the music industry will start to become as selfaware as its sister film industry and refuse to tolerate such vile abuse in the future.

If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, the following resources are available: DEVON RAPE CRISIS Helpline: 01392 204 174 Email: support@devonrapecrisis.org.uk REED MEWS WELLBEING CENTRE Phone: 01392 724381 Email: wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk

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A chat with Ciaran Austin

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Aaron Loose, Music Editor, sits down with the Exeter graduate turned soul rapper Aaron Loose: What made you decide that you wanted to pursue a creative career?

Ciaran Austin: Well, it was a hobby for me when I started out. I took music tech in Year 12, but it has only been in the past couple of years that I’ve been taking it a bit more seriously.

So what’s it like supporting yourself as an independent artist who writes and produces everything?

It’s an ongoing learning process, because I’ve always wanted to do everything. I like to have control over how everything sounds. It means that you progress perhaps a bit more slowly, because you’ve obviously got so much more to try and progress in, as opposed to just doing one thing.

So who are your influences? Because listening in, there's a real neo-soul vibe.

Yeah, definitely, that’s kind of the music my dad’s always played, a lot of soul and funk and disco in the house. I’ve actually got an EP coming out in March, and there is a disco-

I think for me, music is a way to process past feelings. If you’re living an event or an experience or a situation, it’s only really afterwards when you look back on it and you reflect, that you can process what you were feeling at the time.

influenced song, which I’m really excited about. Yeah, artists like Stevie Wonder, Chic, even James Blake.

You have a new single coming out soon, with Sadie Horler. How did that come about?

Yeah, we had been saying for ages that we should definitely get together to try and write a song. But that wasn’t really possible with this song because it was all quite last minute..

You've now got increased airplay and a growing following on SoundCloud. What’s next for you?

I’m very focused on really pushing myself to improve as much as I can. I just want to work really hard, and I’ve got the EP which will be out in March, which is going to be the single with Sadie which is out next week. I want to keep pushing myself to be a better writer, be a better producer. It’s all about being patient.

So as a songwriter, what comes first: the beat or the verse?

I normally just sit at a piano or keyboard and play some chords, and then if I find a nice chord progression, that starts off the song. And then from there it’s writing. I find it very difficult to write lyrics without having any music to write to. But I’m trying to learn to do that a bit more, because writing that way means that you’re a bit more ready to record.

Another thing I picked out is listening to ‘Full Circle’, is that you often write in a nostalgic mode.

Image: Owen Bush

This interview is edited for length. For a longer version of the conversation, head to http:// exepose.com Ciaran's single, 'Golden Hour Winter', featuring Sadie Horler, is out now on all streaming platforms.

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Architects tear Wembley down

Death is not defeat for this Brightonian metalcore band. Alex Wingrave, Music Editor, reviews their London show

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PEECHES at concerts can often end up overstuffed, corny and insincere.

But when Architects frontman Sam Carter thanks the 10,000-strong Wembley Arena audience for keeping the band going against all odds, it’s an earnest, heartfelt truth. The outpouring of love from the fans to the band is a touching, tangible force, as Carter mentions that the stage was the only place that felt normal after the tragic death of primary songwriter and founding member Tom Searle in 2016. For the Brightonian metalcore band to not just survive, but thrive after this ordeal, is nothing short of aweinspiring. That power was on full display on this very special evening, as Architects played their biggest show ever and ascended into greatness.

This was an outstanding, nighinconceivable night of success for heavy music - well worth waiting an hour in the cold for. Australian rising stars Polaris kicked the night off with thundering riffs, thrashing

breakdowns, and the best response I’ve ever seen for an opening band. The gargantuan choruses and raging hooks of Beartooth followed, though sadly the set lost its momentum when an overly long drum solo interrupted proceedings. Still, Caleb Shomo is an irresistible frontman, and the group could well be headlining Wembley themselves in years to come.

Everything else fell away as soon as Architects stepped onto the stage. The first notes of the soaring ‘Death is Not Defeat’ send the crowd into a frenzy, as thousands of voices begun to scream in unison and never let up. Last year’s cathartically brutal record Holy Hell, the first without Tom Searle, is put front and centre, as the band plays eight of the eleven tracks from the album to a glowing reception. The set perfectly married the sparkling ambience and crushing ferocity which Architects do so well, with the glistening and catchy ‘Royal Beggars’ transitioning seamlessly into the rage of

older song ‘Gravedigger’. The mosh pit never let up, the joyful chaos of bodies smashing into each other reflecting the unique energy of metal music.

AN OUTSTANDING, NIGH-INCONCEIVABLE NIGHT OF SUCCESS FOR HEAVY MUSIC A mesmerising light show pefectly complemented the raw noise, with apocalyptic graphics taken from the band's conceptual music videos framing the stage.

It felt like the last rock show before the end of the world, and was all the more captivating for it. After a jaw-droppingly huge wall of death to the classic ‘These Colours Don’t Run’, Architects hit their home run, following the viciously political ‘A Match Made in Heaven’ with ‘Hereafter’ and ‘A Wasted Hymn’. Both anthems meld face-melting guitar work with

drummer Dan Searle’s poignant lyrics on grief and loss; chills ran down every spine. Sam Carter’s growls are undoubtedly incredible, but the vulnerability in his voice as he softly begs ‘can you live a life worth dying for?’ reached into thousands of souls.

After the blistering ‘Gone with the Wind’, and as the crowd shouted Tom’s name, Carter begun the aforementioned speech, and encapsulated the unprecedented significance of this night. Before the set, I spoke to a fellow crowd member who'd been following the band for a decade, and he told me Architects used to hitchike their way to gigs. This is a metalcore group who have clawed their way up the ranks for years, who have overcome the death of their brother and bandmate, and shaken Wembley Arena to its foundations. ‘Doomsday’ ended the night, every note an outpouring of pain, love and hope, floating above an atmosphere of solidarity. For Architects, death is not defeat, but the beginning of a whole new chapter.

Editors' Picks

Images: Polydor, Arista, Universal, Thierry Curo

Assume Form (2019) by James Blake

Let Go (2004) by Avril Lavigne

Mos Def & Talib Kweli are Black Star (1991) by Black Star

Best in Show: Yasiin Bey, O2 Academy Bristol, 3 Febuary

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A hit for all time

Britney Spears's classic debut still matters 20 years later, argues Tom Routledge

AKING a debut album is a difficult task for any artist. Making a debut album to live up to a single as monumental and instantly successful as ‘... Baby One More Time’ is even harder, but 20 years ago, Britney Spears did just that. The unprecedented success of ‘Baby’ inevitably pointed a large spotlight at Spears with questions of what she’d do next and whether she could live up to her immediate fame. It’s because of this pressure and attention that Britney’s debut album (also named ... Baby One More Time) is even more remarkable. Instead of being ten remakes and imitations of the title track in an easy cash-grab, each song is defined and unique with genres varying from ballads to songs with dancehall influences.

After the legendary ‘Baby’ comes ‘(You Drive Me) Crazy’ , proving from the beginning that Britney Spears was far from a one-hitwonder. It’s sonically interesting and equally infectious as the previous track causing crowds of people to still dance all these years later. ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Born to Make You Happy’ are classic pop ballads and act as a showcase of Britney Spears’ signature vocal quirks making her deliveries captivating and memorable. The second half of the album tends to

be forgotten due to the songs lacking standout moments and wow factor. However, they are possibly some of the strongest vocal moments of Spears’ career proving that she had the talent to match her innate star quality.

THERE IS NO DOUBT OF BRITNEY SPEARS' TALENT AND STARDOM After just one listen, there is no doubt of Britney Spears’ talent and stardom and the album made her a vital fixture of the pop scene for the two decades which followed. The consecutive years that followed Britney’s debut album saw two more albums with multiple long-lasting hits showing her as a pop star who could go the distance. It’s no secret that her debut has had a large impact on the sound of pop since and the popstars who have emerged because of it. This release shifted musical focus from groups such as the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys and N-Sync and reignited the teen obsession with the pop icon. Beyond that, artists such as

Image: Jive Records

Katy Perry, Kesha and Lady Gaga have cited Britney’s early years as major inspirations of their sound and creative image.

Notably, the song ‘Baby One More Time’ also gave Scandinavian pop genius Max Martin the first of his 22 number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s as if he cracked the code of how to write perfect pop with Britney and has gone on to apply the same tricks to the likes of Katy Perry and Taylor Swift.

Spears’ influence on her successors is undeniable and is easy to understand after listening to her debut.

She stepped onto stage demanding full attention making irresistible, glistening, shiny pop. Britney Spears’ debut changed the music industry then with an impact which can still be felt today. For that, we are all forever grateful.

The Instrumentals Sam Reid gives us an insight into the world of production

VER the past few weeks I’ve been trying to figure out how to transition my songs into a live act, despite my inability to play any instruments.

That seems like trying to rival Topshop with a few threads of string, but it’s not a unique problem: the availability of DAWs like FL Studio & Logic Pro are a huge part of modern music.

A lot of beats in Drake and Migos songs stem from programs like this; it’s the workstation used by a lot of artists, from CHVRCHES to Swedish House Mafia to Trent Reznor.

Digital music is nothing new, but it’s difficult to explain how it’s done, so here’s an cropped example of the first song on my EP, tape. Each of those columns down the left is a separate sample or synthesized instrument, ranging from expansive synth chords to the

sound of a hi-hat. I have hard drives full of drum sounds that are all pretty similar so choosing the right sound can take time. The fact that the building blocks of a song are directly in front of you means adjusting an aspect of a song is simple – you quickly learn most of electronic music is tinkering until it works.

WITH PRACTICE AND PATIENCE, YOU CAN MAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT The mixer is where you send your samples and synths to make them fit together. The wide variety of adjustments you can make can feel overwhelming, but it’s all necessary to make the song you want. Do you want your song to be bouncy and energetic, crying out for an OffImage: Sam Reid

set feature? Or something expansive and ethereal, like the 1975? Maybe something abrasive and experimental like SOPHIE? With practice and patience, you can more or less make whatever you want.

The most demoralising thing about all this (apart from the feeling of being a nerd when you get excited about a new compressor plugin) is the difficulty of explaining it. If you say you’ve made a song with three chords on a guitar, you’re obviously a musician. If you say you’ve made a song on a computer, you get this gut feeling that you’re a kid playing around on GarageBand. You feel like it isn’t real music and that it doesn’t take work. That’s before adding vocals and mastering, and a lot of it is just fiddling until something fits. The advantage of something like FL Studio is the freedom to craft whatever you want; the difficulty is how overwhelming that freedom can feel.

Like anything, you get out what you put in, and it undoubtedly takes effort to learn – I don’t see how you could get far without some understanding of music theory. I’ve been making music this way for four years, and I’m probably four years away from making anything professional sounding. But I have fun, and I get to craft music that means something to me and share it with my friends, and that’s the best feeling in the world. If you think you’ve got stuff to share, do it: it's never been easier to make something that matters.

Remember This?

MF DOOM

Image: Interscope

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MM.. FOOD November 2004

Image: Hassle

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EVER seen without his iconic mask, the rapper/producer MF DOOM has woven together countless albums, compilations, collaborations and features. MM.. FOOD was his fifth solo venture, released in 2004, but was so incredibly unique as to be effectively incomparable to his other work.

Almost every track features audio from the 1981 Spider-Man animated series, which melds perfectly with rapid-fire double entendres to enhance DOOM’s supervillain persona. The album’s food theme is creatively used in tracks like 'Kookies' and 'Kon Karne' as a tongue-in-cheek metaphor for sex and excess, whilst DOOM’s razor-sharp wit and polished production stop the longer tracks from dragging. Meticulously chosen features also keep the sound fresh; Count Bass D, Mr Fantastik, and Angelika/Stahhr’s three stunning verses on 'Guinesses'. Some of the tracks may feel overly conceptual, but the remainder fizzes along with joyful absurdity.

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Beyond Bollywood Nicky Avasthi discusses India’s largest film institution

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OLLYWOOD: a well-known portmanteau of ‘Bombay’ and ‘Hollywood’. Contrary to popular belief, Bollywood is not the sole cog in India’s cinematic machine; India produces films in over 35 languages (the largest number of any country in the world) and Bollywood (officially known as Hindi cinema and formerly referred to as Bombay cinema) is responsible for the films that are produced in Hindi.

It’s safe to say that India’s film industry has transformed time and time again since its birth in 1913; starting with Dadasaheb Phalke’s Marathi silent film, Raja Harishchandra. This continuous change is, more often than not, a reflection of India’s societies and the ways in which they are changing.

The first genre of film to develop in India focused on devotional and mythological subjects. Films in this genre were particularly popular during the silent film era, for instance, Lanka Dahan and Keechaka Vadham were silent films with plots based on Indian religious history and/or mythology. Lanka Dahan was India’s first large box office hit, with a plot retelling the tale of Sita’s abduction by Ravan in the Ramayan, whilst Keechaka Vadham was the first feature film made in South India and was inspired by the events of the Mahabharat. It is notable that Indian cinema in the early 20th century had common devotional and mythological themes, as this is where the trope of cinema being representative of the changes in India’s society began.

Once advancements in technology allowed for sound to be used in films, the genre of historical films became prevalent within India. These elaborate retellings of India’s histories often represented an awakening of national consciousness; a consciousness that, arguably, has remained awake, as historical films continue to be produced by (what is now known as) Bollywood to this very day.

More recent historical films include Lagaan (2001) and Jodhaa Akbar Images: Sony Pictures Entertainment; (2008), two Ashutosh Gowariker Productions

prime examples of films that were both a result of and represent a continuation of India’s awakened national consciousness. This is because they both depict times in India’s history when it was colonised by an outside nation and the way in which this affected lives; Lagaan gives a glance into life under the British rule (a time which is still alive and well in the memories of many of India’s peoples) whilst Jodha Akbar provides insight to the Mughul rule. India’s history as a country under colonial rule is still a prevalent part of the national identity as it is still something that affects people’s lives on a day-to-day basis. It is still a topic of contention in national politics, facts that are still reflected through the national film industries on a regular basis, despite historical films being one of the most expensive, and oftentimes disputable, genres to produce to date.

Friday 15 August, 1947. This was the day that India waved goodbye to the British Raj (or at least the overt oppression of their rule). This is not the only thing Indians welcomed following independence; social film was a genre that was born just as India became a free nation and was the most common type of film made during the immediate aftermath of independence. Significantly, this era when India was producing film after film in the social genre, focusing on identity formation of both the citizens and the nation as a whole, and challenging the idea that Bollywood is only capable of providing

non-consequential escapist entertainment.

Incidentally, the era when the social film genre came about in India is known as the Golden Age (1940s to 1960s) of Hindi cinema, a time when some of the most critically acclaimed Hindi films to have ever been produced came about. As well as the themes of India’s journey to independence, films in the Golden Age often centred on social themes of the struggles of working-class life, particularly in urban settings. Once again, this significant period supports the motif of films in India reflecting the national sentiment and political climate at the time.

Masala film is the genre of Indian film most commonly associated with Bollywood, an omnibus form of storytelling. It spans over the Classic Bollywood period (1970s to 1980s) to the New Bollywood era (1990s to present).

During the beginning of the Classic Bollywood period, in the early 1970s, Hindi cinema was oversaturated by musical romances and experiencing a period of thematic stagnation. It was at this time that the now infamous writing duo Salim Khan and Javed Akhtar entirely reshaped the Hindi film industry. They took the rural themes that were being explored throughout the 1950s and 1960s and reinterpreted them in an urban context. This reinterpretation was incredibly important as the socio-economic and political climate during the 70s was one of incredible discontent amongst India’s masses, with slums growing faster than ever before. As a result, Hindi films at the time reflected the population’s disillusionment through themes of corruption, crime, urban poverty and anti-establishment sentiments. These themes came together to result in the ‘angry young man’; the p e r s o n i f i c at i o n of the urban poor’s plight and angst, portrayed by none other than Amitabh Bachchan.

The 1970s and 1980s were littered with crime and action films about the Bombay underworld, popularised by the holy trinity of Salim Khan, Javed Akhtar and Amitabh Bachchan, and perpetuated by huge names throughout the Hindi film industry as well as in India’s other cinematic regions. It was during the years of Classic Bollywood that Indian cinema began to climb to the dizzying heights it has reached today, and a large part of this achievement is down to the industry’s ability to reflect and voice the issues felt by the nation’s masses - in the 70s, 80s and in the years preceding.

Today, we are in the age of New Bollywood, where at first glance it would seem that the themes throughout Hindi cinema’s history that we’ve explored together thus far have been overwhelmingly replaced by the romantic film. However, this is not the case. Admittedly, there was a shift from the ‘angry young man’ to romanticism in the 1990s and a shift from romanticism to eroticism in the mid 2000s.

However, whilst largely accepted as fact by the ill-informed eye, the idea that Bollywood’s main export is flimsy, phantasmagorical entertainment is entirely false.

Whilst the genres I’ve explored throughout this article are certainly signposts of major moments in Hindi film industry’s history, as well as indicative of changes in India’s overwhelming political and social climate, they are not categorical genres. In fact, it is the blending of these genres that make Bollywood films work and distinguishable from Hollywood. Javeed Akhtar famously said that “Hindi cinema has its own traditions, its own culture and language.

It is familiar and recognizable to the rest of India and rest of India identifies with it.” Not only do the traditions of Hindi cinema - such as the cross-fertilising genres and ever-reliable theme of songs and dance - make it familiar in India, it makes it familiar to Indians who have relocated in diasporic nations; as well as to people who don’t identify with the Indian identity or culture.

This is one of the largest appeals about Hindi cinema - it provides a tether to home, a comforting piece of a past or alternate life, for Indians who, for whatever reasons, find themselves living in a country they may not consider to be their homeland.

Editors’ Picks Images: nickyarborough; Two Brothers Pictures; BBC Films; Slab Mag.

Mary and Max (2009)

Fleabag (2016)

Fish Tank (2009)

The Draughtman’s Contract (1982)

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Catherine Lloyd considers the merit of one of cinema’s most enduring genres

T’S award season – otherwise known as ‘biopic’ season. The biopic for the last 30 years has held a monopoly over the coveted awards evening. This award season is testament of this unhealthy love affair, manifested in the contentious frontrunners Bohemian Rhapsody and Vice. With the genre ridiculed by the film community, rendered down to an image of linear storytelling, routinely discarded as ‘Oscar bait’, why are biopics still so well-esteemed by the academy? As if a formula for academy success, the biopic genre has become over-saturated with an onslaught of actors searching for Oscar immortalisation.

Astronomically, 14 out of 26 principal acting Oscars since 2000 have gone to people playing real-life figures. From Daniel Day Lewis’ Lincoln to the 2008 biopic Milk, the biopic is an unashamed exploration of the human and the underdog.

We are voyeurs; we are privy to the inside world of the famed and popular, a world typically off-limits. Characteristically, in a biopic we are faced with a transformative journey; we feel Freddie Mercury’s stigma, Steve Jobs’ enigmatic nature, King George VI’s condition, Martin Luther King Jr.’s persistence and Jordan

nostalgic 1970s hay-day of the biopic has long Belfort’s greed. Married with escapism, the departed, but as of the beginning of the 21st average viewer immerses themselves in a bycentury, we have witnessed a resurgence, gone time, harking back to beloved icons as legitimising their place in film history. With the star and subject merge on screen. Biopics peaks and troughs inherent in every genre, are yet to cease; the critical acclaim of Vice is those once sceptical of the biopic’s longevvalidation of the biopic’s current endurance. ity are disregarded as naysayers. Like Vice sets the precedent for its future, rather a phoenix rising out of the ashes, than an orthodox, stale approach, Mckay uses the biopic has transan unconventional narrator. As a quasi-biopic, formed. No longer we view Dick Cheney through a satirical lens, are they overoffbeat from typical form we break the form of simplified portraythe forth wall. Vice is fresh. No als of their subjects longer are biopics stranded cut into a in a mundane, historiminically accurate form. No m a l longer limiting and lint w o ear. hours.

Film critics universally Once condemned note biopics as cinema’s as a middle-brow drama, ‘least interesting biopics challenge our genre’, it’s almost intellects. We arrive sacrilege for diin the movie theatre rectors to brand with assumptions, their film as one. biopics do well to Don’t utter the dismantle precondreaded words, Images (from left): Focus Features; 20th Century Fox ceived notions we they howl. The

may harbour about the real-life individual.

A tired genre once tarnished by critique, has reinvented itself time after time. Rather than settling into cliché a new narrative has been orchestrated, one that focuses on intricacies as opposed to a swathing, rushed lifespan. We focus on the human emotion; empathy; grief; desire; shame, rather than a historical lineage of their most notable achievements.

Critics will always lament that biopics glamorise reality; I pose the thought that these individuals are worthy of glamour. People worthy of a biopic are era-defining, they should be celebrated. Plaudits galore, I say.

Is there a biopic bias? It’s an understandable anxiety as gravitas is present from the onset due to the already worthy subject. Praise is awarded to inventive work no matter what form, the Academy focus on what resonates true and biopics categorically resonate because they illuminate how universal difficulty is, no matter the creed, race, gender or fame of the subject. Cinema is inherently a medium which explores all avenues of life thus, I believe it has a moral obligation to enlighten us to world we would never have access to otherwise.

Colette Review: writing her own story Jack Verhaeg muses on Keira Knightley’s latest film

COLETTE Directors: Wash Westmoreland Keira Knightley, Fiona Shaw 2018, 111 minutes

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OLETTE perfectly captures the desires of its protagonist; the kind of desires which push the story forward, exemplifying its key concern: the forging of a specific and defined female identity.

Director Wash Westmoreland, Director of 2014’s Still Alice, uses Colette as an exploration of one collecting their identity as opposed to one seeing it crumble before them.

Based on a true story, the real life Colette (known by her full name as Sidonie-Gabri-

Image: Lionsgate, Bleecker Street, 30 West

elle Colette) was intent on authorial ambitions; the film itself makes the choice to cut Colette’s literary ambitions at the moment she prevails over her husband’s domineering wishes (the real life Colette would go on to write upwards of thirty novels). The film is such a success in part because it recognises the merit of struggle when it comes to artistic success, while at the same time managing to avoid the pitfalls of feminist biopics which can so often resort to overt martyrism.

In fact, as Westmoreland informs us, the only bounds that constrain her are societal.

Colette’s affair with her lover, Missy, who ‘[comported] herself as a man’ (according to Sisters of Salome) was frowned upon even in the more liberal society of 1920s Paris.

Though the film appears to fall at times into caricature-ism, its characters become increasingly believable as the film unravels.

The film really sings in its depiction of womanhood as a struggle for one’s identity; Colette’s writing itself, published under the moniker of Claudine, ends up being more ancillary to the film’s purposes. Colette herself is active in her pursuit of that which she desires, and it is Keira Knightley’s fantastic performance which facilitates this, depicting the progression from writer on the fringes to active participant in her own life.

The agency provided by writing propels more than just activity; it grows into behaviour, with Colette conducting affairs and

thriving in the Paris literary scene. It is thrilling to watch without once resorting to melodrama, though Colette’s life is portioned by the constraints of the (well-judged) run time.

The window of her life upon which Westmoreland decides to focus is decidedly exciting, showing the birthing of an identity: ‘these are my memories, my experiences, my opinions,’ Colette insists, conducting a bourgeois life of scandal while cooking up a literary storm. It’s a surprise this story hasn’t been told before.

Westmoreland is able to maximise the

Olivia colman

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potential for storytelling without being too overt about things, thematically unifying Colette’s subject matter with the story’s execution. There are several examples of men being used as vessels for ideas that overwhelm them, raising the film above your run-of-themill biopic and allowing it instead to breathe.

The intellect of the audience is, thankfully, assumed. Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette knew exactly what she wanted, and Colette itself is wise enough to get out of the way and let her tell her story.

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ESPITE reaching her peak later in life than most, Olivia Colman has undoubtedly proved herself in the acting world. Appraised by audiences and critics alike, Colman rose to the spotlight in her role as Sophie in Peep Show. Proving that she has more to give than a comedic sitcom role, Colman went on to star alongside David Tennant in the gritty ITV drama Broadchurch. Playing off Tennant effortlessly, Colman won a Best Actress BAFTA for her stellar performance in 2014. However, 2019 looks like it might be her best year to date. Kicking off the year with a Golden Globe win, Colman is also likely to be the bookie’s favourite for the Oscar win for her role in The Favourite. A truly captivating performance, Colman brings the character of Queen Anne to life in a way that no one else could. Teaming up with ingenious director Yorgos Lanthimos, who allowed her full reign to embrace the dramatics of the character. In Meryl Streep’s BAFTA acceptance speech for The Iron Lady, the veteran actress described Colman as “divinely gifted”. Oscars’ season aside, is there any award worth more than a shout-out from Meryl Streep?

Image: lbsan73, flickr Samuel Thomson

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EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

28 JAN 2019

Director Spotlight

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Amelia Chisholm discusses up-and-coming director, Reed Morano

Image: the conversation

Reed Morano Emmy winner for ‘Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series’

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OU most likely haven’t heard the name Reed Morano. I certainly didn’t, before I researched up and coming directors. But I don’t doubt you’ve seen her work.

Cinematographer for such notable works as Kill Your Darlings, The Skeleton Twins, and Beyonce’s seminal visual album Lemonade, Morano has been dedicated to the creation of filmic imagery since she was young.

As a high-schooler, Morano was gifted a video camera by her step-father, with the insistence that she should become “the family

ucation and experience. This ineffable ‘eye’ for the camera is undeniably pertinent to good directing, and is most obviously characterised by the most stylized of auteurs. Sofia Coppola, Wes Anderson, and Baz Luhrmann: each name evokes a distinct artistic flair. A talented cinematographer is likely to become a talented director through their understanding of image capturing, working alongside crew, and providing actors with instruction.

Morano’s consistent portrayal of the drama genre only fuels her practice. Consistent time and practice of translating specific evocations of unease, and tension, logically only improves as it is practised more and more. Her muted colouration and low-key lighting emphasises this. The dramatic genre undoubtedly fits her most recent works; 2018’s I Think We’re Alone Now, a post-apocalyptic drama starring Peter Dinklage and Elle Fanning, and the upcoming The Rhythm Section, a spy thriller featuring both Jude Law and Blake Lively.

Despite Morano’s extensive and irreverent career path, her consistent output of highquality visuals and quiet collection of multiple

Poster boys

awards intrigues me. She has been gathering talent and experience, silently and skilfully, while barely any cinephiles noticed. Discussing her past filmic experience in an interview with Filmmaker Magazine, Morano stated she “learned as a cinematographer” how to manipulate colour and mise en scène, which she regularly applies to her direction. She continues, discussing her hands-on approach to direction, manning the camera herself: “It’s very fluid, because I don’t have to sit there and explain with anyone, I just do it.”

Morano’s drive and confidence is tangible in every interview she gives. Her recognition of her own knowledge and skill is an imperative trait for any director, especially a woman.

Establishing authority may be difficult on set, particularly if subordinates may refer to you as ‘bossy’ rather than ‘direct’ – her obvious talent and understanding of it is a great belief that will aid in counteracting any anxieties felt, and what’s more, they are well-deserved beliefs.

Morano is just stepping into her proverbial spotlight. It’s time for us to wait and see what she does next.

Richard Ainslie considers the artistic value of film posters amidst the world of marketing

T

HE phrase used by US Supreme Court Justice, Potter Stewart, to describe obscenity is just as effective in describing good film posters: ‘I’ll know it when I see it’.

So what makes a good film poster? The right colours? Good positioning, style, or visual metaphors? Whatever it is that draws your eye, when you see one worthy of your wall, you will know. Indeed, some posters are so iconic that they stray into the weeds of cliché, as testified by the thousands of nonchalant Uma Thurman’s peering out of Pulp Fiction posters in student bedrooms. Up and down the country she stares unimpressed, as another teen Blu-Tacks her to the wall and feels very edgy indeed. A bad poster is just as obvious. My personal favourite is a poster released for X-Men: First Class that has James McAvoy’s hazy face sat right on top of a silhouetted Patrick Stewart’s groin.

The best posters are not only striking enough to make you see the film, they tell you in one hard slap of paper what the film is, in essence. Think Silence of the Lambs, the red eyes of Hannibal and the vivid moth of Buffalo Bill all imposed upon Clarice Starling’s pale face setting up the main conflicts of the film’s characters, and it is creepy as hell to boot. Or try CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS

In

documentarian”. Filming birthdays, Christmases, and graduation ceremonies lit a fire for Morano that would continue to burn until today.

Following her application and acceptance to NYU, Morano began her work in the industry, her cinematographic debut being the 2007 documentary, Off the Gird: Life on the Mesa.

Her success continued, as she displayed her talents in the aforementioned films, as well as becoming the youngest member of the American Society of Cinematographers in 2013 at age 46. Morano’s eye soon turned to the director’s chair, first taking the proverbial throne for 2015’s Meadowland; her talents were so noticeable that following her direction of the first three episodes of The Handmaid’s Tale series, she received both an Emmy and Director’s Guild award for ‘Best Direction of a Dramatic Series’.

This seemingly unearthed innate talent of Morano’s in her direction (personal tastes in directors may differ, but her amount of job offers provide some signal of objective value) is very clearly something which has been earned, through years of cinematographic ed-

Ralph breaks the internet DATE - 29/01

TIME - 6.30 & 9PM

American Beauty, the single rose across a bare female tummy primes you for Lester Burnham’s mad lust for his daughter’s friend. These posters can sell the film and present an echo of the story at the same time. It is the best posters that can achieve both these aims that best illustrate the central conflict of film

and worryingly effective at making crap movies look like Citizen Kane.

Nowadays, films that don’t care about the artistic value of their posters will produce a run-of-the-mill composite of the main characters in a colour scheme that matches the tone of the film – try every Marvel

posters: they lie in the muddy wa- t e r s where art meets advertising. Once upon a time, when children still smiled, and Apple was still a fruit, you might have a serious complaint with the capitalists for getting their filthy fingers on art’s brush. Moreover, films are sold off the back of trailers on YouTube and shared around social media. These trailers are generic; misleading;

poster – because their trail- ers do the heavy lifting pulling in the punters. A film that does care is blessedly free to put as much metaphor into their posters without having to sex it up.

The Lobster is a wonderful example; arguably there is nothing sexy or eye-grabbing about a moustached Colin Farrell hugging white space (fetishes notwithstanding), but it communi-

CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS

sorry to bother you DATE - 3/02

TIME - 6.30 & 9PM

cates the loneliness that the film is concerned with perfectly. Another is First Reformed, a single line of fire crosses Ethan Hawke’s face as a metaphor for the religious conflict that is destroying him inside. These posters aren’t concerned with marketing, since everyone nowadays has already decided to see the film long before they see the poster outside the cinema. This lets them be the artistic vehicles their designer intended, with no need for guns, muscles, or hot babes. The poster has been freed from the advertising necessity of the past to become a tool, for artistic expression in their own right.

This is not to say film posters have never been designed just for the sake of the art, but even some of the best posters have had certain fleshy elements added to spice them up, and perhaps not by accident – think Jaws, Forbidden Planet, or Princess Leia on the Star Wars poster.

Now, films, and especially the art-house genre, are free to have freaky, creepy, and unsettling posters as they wish, without turning off the public at the cinema door, and without low-cut dresses.

Images (from left): Picturehouse Entertainment; Orion Pictures; Metro Goldwyn Meyer; RKO Radio Pictures; Miramax Films

CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS In

Spider-man: into the spider-verse DATE - 5/02

TIME - 6.30 & 9PM

CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS In

Mary poppins returns

DATE - 10/02

TIME - 6.30 & 9PM

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study break

| 28 JAN 2019

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Down

Across

1

1 The human frame (4)

2

3 Australian marsupial (or hopper?) (8)

4

9 Molten rock (5) 5

10 Portion (of money) - chanter (anagram) (7)

6/8

11 Artist’s workroom (6)

12 (Highly emotional) stage story (5)

7

14 Conclusion (6) 8

16 West Indian religious practice (that causes

13

a hoodoo?) (6)

19 Collision (5) 15

21/20 Actor who played the Home

Secretary in 1 Across 5 - hawk

17

eyes lee (anagram) (6,5)

18

24 Renovation - refurbishment (7)

20

25 In existence (5)

22

26 Most slow - bust toes (anagram) (8)

23

27 Brain - intelligence (4)

Flop (4) Arithmetical figure - number (5) Writer (6) Protection - watch (5) Actor who played 13’s 1 Across 5 to 21 20 - and did charm ER? (anagram) (7,6) (Machine) worker (8) See 6 Jed ___, the creator (or 4) of TV’s 1 Across 5 (8) Systematic police search - granted (anagram) (7) Moving in a singular direction (3-3) Arts - crafts (6) See 21 Across Chosen part or group (5) Inanimate - inactive (4)

trivia corner 1. which netflix film has been nominated for ten oscars?

2. where is dyson moving their headquarters to?

3. why do goats have horizontal pupils?

4. what’s the university of exeter’s motto in english?

ANSWERS

5. what was the best-selling book of 2018?

6. The Night Manager their bodies, 4. We Follow The Light, 5. Becoming, Michelle Obama,

6. for which tv show was olivia colman first nominated for a golden globe?

Trivia: 1. Roma, 2. Singapore, 3. They can see 280 degrees around 23 Dead.

Operator, 13 Mercurio, 15 Dragnet, 17 One-way, 18 Skills, 22 Elite, Down: 1 Bomb, 2 Digit, 4 Author, 5 Guard, 6/8 Richard Madden, 7 Renewal, 25 Alive, 26 Obtusest, 27 Head.

Drama, 14 Ending, 16 Voodoo, 19 Crash, 21/20 Keeley Hawes, 24 Across: 1 Body, 3 Kangaroo, 9 Magma, 10 Tranche, 11 Studio, 12

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28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

Science

SCIENCE EDITOR:

Our lungs won’t wait

F

Scarlett Parr-Reid

Anna Fleming discusses how to tackle London’s illegally high levels of air pollution

OR hundreds of years, Londoners have been no strangers to the noxious effects of air pollution.

In fact, London’s dark acquaintance with smog began at least a thousand years ago. As far back as 1306, the burning of sea-coal was rife and shrouded the skies with a sooty haze.

So intolerable was the atmosphere, that King Edward I banned the burning of sea coal, marking the establishment of the world’s first air pollution commission; a progressive move, perhaps, if you discount the fact that offenders were hung and tortured.

The new ban however, didn’t last long. The surrounding woodlands rapidly disappeared as people resorted to wood for fuel. By the Elizabethan era, coal was back with smog oozing from an ever-growing sea of chimneys. The vile atmosphere was, simply put by the 16th century diarist, John Evelyn, a “hell upon earth”.

The situation only intensified with the advent of the industrial revolution in the 17th century. Monster power stations expelled 1000

tonnes of smoke particles per day, not to mention a host of other toxic gases. In his 1853 novel, Bleak House, Charles Dickens describes thick soot raining down as “soft black drizzle”, evoking the almost apocalyptic atmosphere of the time.

Later, in 1952, London was plunged into five December days of the cataclysmic ‘Great Smog’, claiming 12,000 lives. So impenetrable was the wall of noxious gases that, as they walked the streets, many could not even see their own feet. Obviously, all public transport, except the underground, came to a stand-still.

The dense smog even seeped indoors, forcing cancellation of events at cinemas and theatres – visibility was simply too poor. With the city’s law enforcement paralysed by darkness, chaos ensued and looting was rife.

Fast forward to 2019 and, thankfully, we have transitioned from coal to gas and electricity as major fuel sources. It is worth bearing in mind that, despite the despairing attitudes of the media on current air pollution levels, London air is in fact at its

cleanest since the 12th century.

However, despite appearing clean to the naked eye on most days, on a molecular level the city’s atmosphere is still choking with a host of toxic gases - sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone at ‘illegally high’ levels. Densely packed traffic, spanning across large road networks throughout the vast city is, of course, the major contributor of these noxious fumes.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 29% of deaths from lung cancer can be attributed to ambient air pollution. Long-term exposure to polluted air increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, asthma, stroke and even Alzheimer’s. Overall, toxic emissions are estimated to shorten life expectancy by a considerable average of six months.

There are also the less obvious, more insidious effects. For instance, pollution has been shown to impair cognitive and physical development in children; a frightening prospect considering 400 of London’s schools are in areas exceeding the level of ni-

trogen dioxide deemed safe by WHO. Clearly, the filthy air is a health time-bomb. However, there is hope on the horizon. The London mayor, Sadiq Khan, himself an asthma sufferer, is finally confronting the issue after its prolonged neglect by former major, Boris Johnson. Khan has initiated an ambitious plan to crack down on the most polluting vehicles roaming the city’s streets.

From April this year, all singledecker buses must be zero-emission and all taxis hybrid or electric. Perhaps the most high-profile aspect of the plan is the creation of an ‘Ultra Low Emission Zone’ (ULEZ). Vehicles failing to meet certain emission standards will be charged £21.50 per day to travel in selected central areas.

This direct action by the government will come as a relief to many. In particular, to Rosamund Kissi-Deborah, the mother of Ella - a nine-yearold school girl who tragically died in 2013 from a chest infection - after a short life plagued with multiple hospital visits for asthma attacks and even seizures. This year, Rosamund

Kissi-Deborah won the right to seek an inquest at the high court to link her daughter’s death with the illegally high levels of air pollution, stemming from the dense traffic of South Circular Road, 25 metres from their SouthEast London home.

On the surface, ULEZ appears an effective solution – fewer ‘dirty’ vehicles means less pollution.

However, like an iceberg, below the depths, there are a multitude of wider implications. For example, those in the lower income brackets, unable to upgrade to a lower emission vehicle within the short time frame before ULEZ is implemented will be hit hard by high fees.

Small businesses, where travel in ULEZ regions to deliver and transport goods is vital daily errand, will also suffer greatly.

Despite this, it remains a fact that our lungs won’t wait. The government has little choice but to force tough strategies on the nation’s capital to pave the way for a cleaner future.

Image: ExplorersInternational, Pixabay

Take the rough with the smooth

A

Aaron Loose, Music Editor, details the importance of fibre in the diet

S we pass into 2019, millions of people are putting their New Year’s resolutions into practice. For many, the annual selfcare plan will involve eating healthier, more wholesome meals. Simple enough. The challenge is knowing where to start. In 2018, the health and wellness market in the UK was worth over £26 billion. There are more crash courses, hardcover books, and appetite suppression sweeties to consider than any other time in dietary history.

It all feels a little too complicated.

But all is not lost. In fact, there’s a cost-convenient method to living a little better, and you won’t need to look any further than your local supermarket. Fibre is a complex carbohydrate often found in natural foods, such as a wholemeal bread and dried fruit. Nutritionists once believed that dietary fibre was insoluble and only served to bulk up stools. However,

fibre also serves a range of important functions. Naturophatic physician, Wendy Wells, says “eating fibre increases the immune system in your gut, feeds the good probiotic bacteria there, keeps the digestive lining healthy and absorbs and pulls out excess hormones, cholesterol, fat and toxins from the body”. Let’s call it intestinal self-care.

As such, people who consume more fibre are much less vulnerable to many common diseases. A 2017 study discovered that people who consumed high amounts of fibre were more likely to see increased health benefits.

The research team from the University of Otago, New Zealand, collated data from 185 clinical trials and 58 studies with startling results. The long-term impact of a higher fibre intake led to up to

a 24% fall in colorectal cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Fibre is clearly an essential nutrient. Since 2015, UK nutrition guidelines have strongly recommended a daily fibre intake of 30g, yet only 9% of adults reach this rather modest target. So why are we eating less and less of it? The ongoing popularity of low-carb diets is

Image: Buntysmum

partially responsible.

In 1972, the physician Robert

Atkins published a book titled The Atkins Diet, where he proposed that reducing your carbohydrate consumption might burn fat more effectively than a traditional low-fat approach.

Now, Atkins’ populist prescription is not without merit. Low-carb diets work because a joint reduction in carbs and a rise in protein consumption leads to a decreased appetite. You don’t lose weight because of an inexplicable chemical reaction; you lose weight because you eat less. But there are drawbacks.

The increased protein intake can strain your kidneys.

Moreover, eating so many saturated fats might lead to an overall increase in your cholesterol. So, as usual,

balance and moderation are key.

The UK’s health and wellness market is now worth £26+ billion But there is no need to despair over your poor emaciated guts! Fibrous foods are cheap and almost always readily available. Wholemeal and granary breads contain more fibre than white bread. You can even swap your Walker’s Salt & Vinegar for roughage infused alternatives, like fresh fruit, vegetable sticks, and oatcakes.

Keeping up a healthy diet is hard.

It requires self-control, determination, and the support of your closest friends. But if you want to do yourself a favour in 2019, chuck out the white loaf and munch some wholegrain. Your gut will adore you for it.

SCIENCE

EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019

Leaving EU and your pets behind

35

Laura Butula investigates the implications of a no-deal Brexit on the UK’s veterinary sector

P

ERHAPS as the epitaph for the United Kingdom’s parting from the EU is now officially exhausting to discuss, read or even think about - after all, it has been three years since the departure was devised and vigorously debated. Still, as the fateful date of 29 March approaches, it seems imperative to consider some Brexit topics that have been less highlighted; so, please mentally prepare yourself for the following contemporary and deepened Brexit issues: animal travel, illegal puppy trading, and the ambiguity of veterinary profession.

Many pets require proof of identity via microchipping and passports, by EU law In a No-Deal scenario, in which the UK and the EU have no arranged relationship after 29 March this year, the UK could become an ‘unlisted third country’ regarding the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This uncertainty has caused plenty of panic about the association between the UK and establishments such as the EU Animal Disease Notification System (ADNS) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Without a strategic rapport, the UK would lose access to ADNS, abandoning the chance to acquire up-to-date data on infectious animal diseases.

Not only would the nation lack direct contact with novel information, but it wouldn’t be able to contribute any statistics to the notification system and

consequently the disassembling transaction between the UK and the ADNS would be disadvantageous to both parties. Additionally, the UK would be isolated from the casual sharing of veterinary accounts and opinions. One can immediately realize that the ADNS split is a giant potential issue: being kept in the dark about the evolution and spread of infectious animal diseases doesn’t seem like a strategic way to go about life. In fact, with zoonoses rates growing over the past decade, stopping zoonotic transmissions, and consequently sickness or death, is more necessary than ever. Perhaps the UK could negotiate a sort of limited admission with the ADNS, similar to the one that Turkey has. Keep in mind it’s a non-EU country. If this isn’t possible, let’s just all be thankful for the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS); although the system is slower and less developed than the ADNS, it will provide international data back-ups for the UK in a No-Deal Brexit. Regarding EFSA, an analogous admission and lack of involvement could accompany the ‘unlisted third country’ title. This means that knowledge about animal and plant health, and food and feed safety would be restricted.

However, being an unlisted third country has several benefits along with the obvious drawbacks. During the waiting period for a ‘listed country’ application, UK animal travel will be stringently regulated - possibly even more than now. Firstly, pet owners will have to undertake precise actions regarding travel several months prior to a trip. If

you want your jet setter pet over for some cuddles in the UK, mention it to the authorities four months ahead of the puppy love. Under EU law, dogs, cats, and ferrets (yes, apparently this is almost as common as owning a cat) require proof of identity through a microchip implant and a pet passport.

It’s not surprising that pets traveling between the UK and an EU country after Brexit will have to take an additional blood test and pass through border. At each Veterinary Border Inspection Post within the EU country, specialists will check the legitimacy of the pet passport and ensure a Rabies vaccine was previously supplied by a certified vet. Warning: please comply with these requirements, otherwise your pet could be kept in quarantine for a maximum of half a year!

Puppy trafficking produces roughly £13 million per year in Scotland It may not seem like a major inconvenience if a No-Deal Brexit involves only two additional responsibilities in pet travel. That being said, it seems as if these firmer protocols would amplify the importance of animal welfare. The well-being of nonhuman animals is based on received treatment, specifically in terms of animal care, animal husbandry (the breeding and care of farm animals) and humane management of animals; nonetheless, criminal offenses such as illegal puppy trading are ongo-

ing, and tend to generate big sums of money. Puppy trafficking produces roughly £13 million per year in Scotland! With young canines being transported in poor conditions and valued merely as commodities, the spread of disease and Rabies risk increases, only to be impeded on by set parameters that focus on animal rights. For example, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) says that the age of puppies brought into the UK after Brexit should increase from 15 weeks to six months in order to avoid health risks.

Furthermore, the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has stated that employing CCTV in slaughter houses could hinder the merciless conditions that commonly occur within these places. These are some key reasons why a deviation from traditional EU systems suggests that Brexit’s stricter control is likely to have a progressive impact on animal welfare.

But does any of this truly make sense if there’s a paucity of people who understand the topic? For years now, being in the EU has promoted the UK as a leading nation in veterinary research and innovation; however, if a No-Deal Brexit hits, it’s feared that the talented 22% of non-UK EU citizens working in UK veterinary schools might reconsider their position. This is predicted to be a huge strike on the public health sector, as it would affect both the general public and those working in it – especially when considering that 95% of the workforce in the UK meat hygiene sector come from other EU countries.

Whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, the quality of meat and animal products is an important service, suggesting that the management of animal health in the absence of a transition period from EU laws is crucial.

The UK could negotiate a limited admission with the ADNS, as Turkey has Forget the complications of international trade, airport flow and retail prices for now; a No-Deal Brexit in terms of animal welfare and migration is meant to be purely encouraging and straightforward for the animals.

Of course, with a shortage of tactics comes uncertainty, but authorities are guaranteeing that withdrawing from the EU will leave minimal gaps in legislation concerning these two topics. The general insecurity results from the government’s indecision about how EU citizen rights will change with a NoDeal Brexit, affecting the veterinary job sector within the UK. Because the situation represents a double-edged sword, precautions are vital to ensure that a possible failure in the veterinary sector does not affect other sectors to a great extent. Consequently, with all these pros and cons comes the realisation that intricate preparation for and understanding of a No-Deal Brexit is necessary in order to prioritise the maintenance of animal welfare criteria, as well as the lives of those affected by these standards.

Image: huoadg5888

36

SCIENCE

28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

The highlight-reel mentality INCE its launch in 2010, Instagram has now gathered more than one billion users, half of whom use it daily to scroll through their ‘feed’ of pictures and videos.

For many, this is more than just a habit, but an opportunity to pursue a career as an influencer. Whilst sharing content, an influencer is able to gain followers, creating new connections, and making a name on the platform.

However, more recently, research-

being an influencer can easily lead to making a living off social media, attracting followers by posting pictures that are used to advertise products for brands. Recently, businesses have started to allocate more money towards influencer marketing, typically spending over $1.07 billion on merchandise and payment for this strategic work. For most influencers posting advertised products, they can make up to $100 per 10,000 followers

ers and influencers themselves have discovered the implications and cyberpsychology of maintaining such a career. Through the use of ‘perfect’ pictures, usually retouched and full of filters, followers develop unrealistic expectations that can easily have negative effects on their mental health, as they end up comparing themselves to their idol(s). As an influencer, the pressure to constantly interact with their audience and sustain a perfect feed can rapidly take a psychological toll, fostering anxiety regarding how they are perceived.

As full-time job on Instagram,

for a post, and other content such as videos usually varies from $50 to $100 per hour of their time.

On Instagram, over 40,000 followers create what is deemed as a ‘good salary’. From here, the influencer status may rapidly become a “career built on demand”, according to the automated Instagram photoscheduling service ‘HopperHQ’.

Recently, more and more companies have been targeting micro accounts (with around 10,000 followers) because those behind them have a niche audience. In comparison, mega accounts (any account with more than

200,000 followers), usually promoting mainstream companies, are known to breed unrealistic expectations as they are asked to represent products that most of us cannot afford, using filters and idealised images to make it even more attractive. As their follower count grows, influencers realise how they are facing unrealistic expectations from their followers, who expect them to constantly post and constant;y engage with their community. For many, that kind of expectation is impossible to keep up with, and the fear of letting down their fans, thus losing followers, usually fosters anxiety.

The platform is home to billions of users, with younger adults between ages 18 and 24 more likely to use it.

Distorting reality and posting unrealistic content can trigger poor selfconfidence, and cause younger users to wrongly compare themselves to their idols. The photographic clichés put pressure on people to try and look the same, when in reality, even the influencers posting the pictures do not usually look like what they post, as photos can easily be manipulated. Danielle Leigh Wagstaff, author of a recent study from Federation University Australia suggests a link between social media use and depressive symptoms, especially for younger girls. With almost 40% of girls showing symptoms of depression when spending more than five hours per day on social media, researchers warn us about the dramatic potential of those platforms.

Because of the growing number of social media users and the time spent on it, apps such as ‘Moment’ and ‘BreakFree’ have come up with a way to track your activity and the time you spend on each platform. Recent updates on Instagram also allow us to keep track of our activity and how much time we spend on average on the app daily. An activity dashboard shows us the average number of hours we spend using Instagram and another feature allows us to set notifications as a reminder when the time spent each day becomes concerning. Although these features can be the tools to help us disconnect, turning off Instagram is not as easy as it seems. When created, the platform was designed in a particular way such that it creates, or exacerbates, addictive behaviours, as the size of the pictures posted allow us to view the edge of the other pictures, thus causing an addictive scroll.

Some influencers, however, cannot keep up with the psychological toll of using Instagram daily and the pressure of posting “perfect” content for their followers. The pressure for the influencer to receive a sufficient number of likes on their posts can be draining and stressful. In this case, the radical option is to disconnect and take a break. But, for the most influential users, taking a break can be a risky business, especially fi-

you believe is detrimental to your mental health or wellbeing. The oftenidealistic expectations that Instagram breeds also has poor consequences for younger users. Thus, unfollowing this content and switching to more relatable and familiar content, such as that of your closest friends and family can have major benefits.

As an Instagram user, I have myself struggled with anxiety because of what I saw on the platform and how

nancially. Zoe Sugg (@Zoella), one of the UK’s top fashion and beauty influencers, has publicly shared her struggles, stating that social media was making her feel “suffocated” and “disconnected”, having to cope every day with the pressure of having millions of followers. She also explained how the perception of social media has changed over the years and how taking “digital detoxes” and attending weekly therapy sessions has helped her with her anxiety.

Other solutions for those looking for an Instagram-detox can include unfollowing any users whose content

I would compare myself with other users. Recently, and because of the growing number of users exposing the negative effects posting unrealistic pictures can have, I have decided to take an “Instagram detox”. Since I am on this break, I can see a huge difference in my mental health and my productivity academically. So, whether you decide to cyber-detox like me, or just reduce your exposure to unrealistic unhelpful content from your feed, to become aware of the implications of such a platform and the effects it has on us is, in my experience, a wise decision.

Images: Ijmaki, Pixabay

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Typhaine Autier explores the cyberpsychology of being an Instagram influencer

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28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

The next generation

Harry Scott-Munro previews the U20 Six Nations fixture at Sandy Park

ITH less than a week until the start of the Six Nations, Sandy Park is gearing up to host England Under 20’s against Junior World Champions France on Saturday 9th February, seeking revenge for their defeat in the final.

Whilst the French senior side continue to flatter to deceive, their U20s are in a rich vain of form, playing with the flair and creativity of the great French sides that included the likes of Sella, Blanco and Saint-Andre.

The outstanding Romain Ntamack and Demba Bamba, both of whom were so influential in French securing the World Title in July, have both been promoted to the senior squad. However, the assured fly-half Louis Carbonel and outstanding Number 8 Jordan Joseph remain.

will make this French side an incredibly difficult proposition for England’s Under 20 side.

Many of the England players have already played in the Premiership England, however, are not lacking for experienced heads themselves, with 14 having already been capped at Under 20 level. It is testament to the ability of England’s young players that so many of them have already played

several top-level games this season in both the league and in Europe.

In Marcus Smith, they have a fly-half who is already first choice at Harlequins and someone whom Eddie Jones rates highly. His expected battle with Carbonel will both be intriguing and perhaps, even match defining.

Whilst the strength and ability of Joseph will be a difficult task for England to handle, they are equally blessed with size and strength in the forwards.

Joel Kpoku is following his fellow Saracens second rows Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe in building towards becoming a regular first-team player in

The U20s pathway is a crucial part of player development

The France U20s are in a rich vein of form Whilst Carbonel has been part of a struggling Toulon side so far this season, his experience at the top level and distribution, coupled with the raw power of Joseph, who is still only 18,

the league, whilst Worcester’s Ted Hill has already won an England cap and cemented himself in the Warriors starting team.

With Ntamack hoping to make an impression on the senior men’s international game, Fraser Dingwall of Northampton Saints will look to follow in the footsteps of his former opposite number in making his case for the senior side. After getting a chance in the Northampton side after injury to first choice centre Piers Francis, Dingwall has been instrumental in the Saints side. His footwork that lead to his try against Exeter Chiefs was impressive, even more so considering he had been on the pitch barely 10 minutes.

Image: Valerie Huggins

The success of Exeter University has also been recognised, with back row Richard Capstick and scrum half Sam Maunder both named in the England squad. Whilst both will be a loss to the University as they approach crunch time in their BUCS Super Rugby season, nobody can begrudge them

the opportunity on the international scene. Both will be hoping to wear the Red Rose at Sandy Park in front of what will hopefully be a good crowd.

The success of Exeter University has been recognised The Under 20’s pathway is a crucial part of player development moving forward into the professional senior game. If this pathway is handled correctly, it is a breeding ground for some of the best players in the world, with the likes of Ireland’s imperious James Ryan and Jacob Stockdale both making their names at U20 level in recent seasons.

With the French both World Champions and reigning Junior Six Nations Champions, England’s stars of the future will be desperate to seek revenge at Sandy Park and reassert themselves as the team to beat in Under 20’s international rugby.

By the time the two sides clash at Sandy Park, England will already have played away to Ireland, while France's opener is a home game against Wales at the Stade de la Rabine, home of French side Vannes.

We're Gunnar win the league

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Stephen Ong examines the impact of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United

N Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first game as caretaker manager, Manchester United scored five goals in the Premier League for the first time since Sir Alex Ferguson’s last game - a 5-5 draw against West Brom, where current Red Devils forward Romelu Lukaku scored a hat-trick for the Baggies. But Solskjaer has won every game since, equalling Sir Matt Busby’s record of winning his first 5 games as Manchester United manager.

Managing the same squad as previous boss Jose Mourinho, United under Solskjaer have, at the time of writing, scored 19 goals, including 15 in the league. In comparison, United only scored 29 goals in 17 games under Mourinho, and conceded just as many.

Two simple things have changed, tactics and positivity These are the damning statistics that mark Mourinho’s third season at United.

It can be argued that Solskjaer has had an easy run of games (three teams are rel-

egation strugglers while another is near Martial and Paul Pogba were all allegedly the bottom of the Championship), but subject to criticism from the Portuguese there was no guarantee United would boss), criticising the board for not buyhave won these games under Mourinho. ing players, and bigging himself up (citing ‘football heritage’) were to Think back to the drab home be expected every week. draw against Crystal PalThese comments ace in November and were even made the game against during the preNewcastle when season, pollutUnited had gone ing the club 2-0 down in 10 with negativity minutes. before the seaSo if Solson had begun. skjaer is stuck It's worked for with the same Mourinho in the squad, how have past, but one clear the results taken such Image: Aleksandr Osipov conclusion emerged: a turn? There are two Mourinho's mindset was simple things he has done: totally inimical with what the Manchanged the tactics, and adding motivation and positivity to the club where chester United institution - supporters as well as the club - perceive to be their there was none before.

While occasionally amusing, Mour- core values.

On the other hand, Solskjaer’s press inho’s press conferences throughout 2018 were part of the ‘siege mental- conferences have been filled with his enity’ that he tried to develop in the club. thusiasm for the club and praise for the Praising opposition players while criti- players. Mending the atmosphere within cising his own (Luke Shaw, Anthony the club has been crucial, and its impact

is shown in the results.

However, the biggest change Solskjaer has made is the tactics. Mourinho would play to not concede a goal, maintaining a compact defence to frustrate the opponent.

The lack of a centre back pairing proved Mourinho's undoing While this worked in previous seasons, particularly to grab results against top clubs, the lack of a solid centre-back pairing this season, along with goalkeeper David De Gea occasionally proving inconsistent, has led to a defence unable to stop leaking goals. As a result, Mourinho played even more defensive this season to prevent conceding, forcing the players to maintain positions that would not suit them. When the players did win the ball, they seemed lost as to what to do with it.

For Solskjaer, as a striker, the only thing that matters is scoring goals. His

preferred forwards Rashford, Lingard and Martial are fluid and pacey, allowing United freedom to tear through defences.

Like the other top teams, pressing high and winning the ball back is now a priority, allowing the midfield three of Pogba, Herrera and Matic to shine – Pogba is able to play further up the pitch and influence the game, while Herrera and Matic can do the dirty work of winning the ball and dictating the pace of the game.

However, this more offensive tactic leaves United much more open on the counter, and the defence continues to struggle to keep a clean sheet. Teams of a higher quality will be able to take advantage of the exposed defence better, and it may seem a case of United needing to outscore them. Solksjaer's weaknesses in charge were utterly exposed in the second-half of their game against Spurs and only an inspired David De Gea stopped the North London side emerging from the game with anything.

Compensating for these weaknesses is now Solksjaer's biggest challenge.

EXEPOSÉ | 28 JAN 2019

SPORT

EULC 12-9 Oxford

CONTINUED FROM BACK -cted what followed though. A three goal, four-minute salvo from Oxford - which proved to be their best spell of the match – was followed up with another Oxford strike after an Exeter timeout to head into halftime 6-7 in front.

Discussing the way the game had changed, Jeannotte remarked that “They started setting the pace, when we were setting the pace and playing our game, we were fine.” Combined with poor discipline, which had seen Exeter players in the sin-bin for much of the second quarter, had helped give Oxford the crucial edge.

The squad remained calm, and Jeannotte knew if they could regain control of face-off possession - which they did in the third quarter thanks to Nick Woolgar’s strong form in the third quarter - and “play to the crowd”, Exeter would come back into

the game.

Though belief didn’t falter on the pitch, off it was a different story. Having witnessed the women’s team agonisingly lose against the same opposition, they were desperate to see a win on the bitterly cold day.

Exeter stuck to the gameplan and began to regain control of the game

But Exeter stuck to the gameplan, and began to regain control of possession, something they had lacked in the difficult period before the break. This, combined with brutal defensive intensity enabled the home side to get the momentum back and the crowd burst into life.

They were even louder when Oscar Draycott rounded off a brilliant attacking move before Larraz completed yet another superb solo attack with a

cool finish - in the blink of an eye, Exeter were back in front. Larraz then turned provider for their ninth, with a fantastic display of speed and agility before feeding Getley whose composed finished gave Exeter breathing space.

And as their opponents had done to them at the end of the second quarter, it was Exeter’s turn to score a fourth unanswered goal, this time at the end of the third quarter, with Jeannotte completing his hat-trick.

The final quarter would be defined by strong defence and goalkeeping, but that was not to say the game was in any way petering out. Sandwiched in between two Oxford goals, Jeannotte netted for his fourth, though had the Blues struck next, it would’ve made for a tense finish.

But Exeter, as they had done during the third quarter, were controlling things and although defence was still vital, Alex Powell’s rare charge from

defence showed they still had attacking ambition.

It was the men in green who got the last laugh, as McKay completed a hat-trick And it was the men in green who got the last laugh, with skipper McKay becoming the third player to complete a hat-trick, and they would hold on for a 12-9 win that assures them a Championship quarter-final spot, and only trail Oxford on goal difference.

Image: Nate C-H

Last minute penalty heartbreak

Josh Brown & René Bahar, Sport Editors, report on EULC's Women's 1s defeat to Oxford

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HE women in green arrived into their varsity fixture in good form, with a strong BUCS campaign up to this point - six wins from a possible seven; a solitary defeat to an undefeated Cambridge side the only blight on an otherwise faultless season.

Hopes of a play-off position are thus understandably high, and this set the tone in the opening period of the varsity fixture. Exeter took the lead inside a minute – with their very first attack, Freya Hopkisson made a phenomenal individual run before hammering past the Oxford goalkeeper in what was a dream start for the home side.

Hopkisson scored inside a minute to give Exeter a dream start The dynamic nature of the sport meant that the lead didn’t last long, however: a loss of possession in Exeter’s own defensive third gave Oxford’s #66 a chance too good to waste; she slammed home to level the scores after six minutes.

A messy couple of minutes followed, with the game transitioning back and forth, but the home side would retake the lead when the influential Hopkisson picked out Eliza White, whose shot beat the Oxford goalkeeper from close range. But again, Oxford would come back to level the scores, as their #40 broke around the back of the goal and was

left unmarked and in enough space to pick out the corner of goalkeeper Katie Jackson’s goal.

Exeter dominated the first period and were unlucky not to go ahead; the heroics of the Oxford goalkeeper often proved the undoing for Exeter.

She frustrated Hopkisson on a couple of occasions, saving low and keeping the ball out.

The home side were not to be denied however, and Hopkisson again was involved – combining with Lissy Garland, whose shot proved too powerful for the Oxford ‘keeper.

Image: Chelsea Lee

Again, the resilience of the visitors was tested, but again they found a response. The pressure built and built until the women in blue forced a way through; Jackson was forced into a spectacular save seconds after the first time-out was called but was helpless moments later, as the Oxford #20 crossed to #12, who finished clinically into the bottom corner.

There was an immediate response from Exeter; the two teams seemed to be playing off each other, waiting for momentum to swing their way.

A drive down the right wing resulted into a pass to Emily Elmitt, whose precise finish gave Exeter a 4-3 lead.

Exeter had the best of what remained

in the first half; they forced the Oxford goalkeeper into another spectacular save as the first period drew to a close, and when the whistle blew they went into the interval with a 4-3 lead.

Exeter did establish a two-goal lead after Garland and Woods combined

Into the second-half, however, and that lead proved to be shortlived. A direct shot on goal from the impressive Oxford #15 saw the visitors equalise, though again Exeter responded. Hopkisson’s initial shot was saved, but Fraser capitalised on the loose ball and fired into the top corner. Exeter did then establish a two goal lead – Garland and Isobel Woods combined to fashion an opportunity for the latter, and Woods made no mistake from close range.

But again, Oxford found an extra gear. The visitors were back within a point after Exeter lost possession and the visiting #15 scored another.

They were then level moments later; the response had shocked Exeter and Oxford took full advantage, going on to take a 7-6 lead as #15 – constantly involved – won, and converted, a pen-

Image: Chelsea Lee

alty.

With the game agonisingly escaping away from Exeter, there was a last hope of salvation when Hopkisson and Garland combined, and Hopkisson then found Fraser, who converted after a manic attack.

The composure was then lost, however, and Oxford’s #15 would break the deadlock one final time – smashing home a penalty late in the game to make the score 8-7.

Oxford would break the deadlock a final time

It was a devastating result for the women, especially from such a strong position at 6-4 up, and speaking after the game, Hopkisson cited complacency as a potential reason for the slip-up: “we weren’t at our best today. We beat them 9-7 last term, and maybe we were expecting an easier game. We have an intense two-week training period coming up, which will be a good chance to move on from the defeat and focus on the rest of the season”.

The team have two more games left of their BUCS season – they’re away to second-bottom Cardiff on Wednesday, before finishing the season at home to the undefeated Cambridge side, knowing that goal difference may well be the difference between second and third place; they currently sit three points above Oxford, but last Wednesday's visitors arguably have an easier final two games.

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Taking Stock of Exeter City Will Byford Sport Team

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AYDEN Stockley’s departure from Exeter City always felt like an inevitability. The 25 year-old had scored 35 league goals after joining the Grecians in 2017, and a club further up the football ladder would eventually pay attention and snatch him away. Stockley had a release clause of £750,000 which Championship club Preston North End satisfied, and then he was gone.

With Exeter currently sitting outside the playoff places, that exit may prove fatal to promotion hopes. As such, it has been a busy January window at St James Park, with four new signings. It would be an impossible task to replace Stockley’s goalscoring form, but Matt Taylor will be hoping that the 6"2 Ryan Bowman will at least replicate his ability as a target man.

The striker arrives from Motherwell, having only scored once in his 16 Scottish Premier League appearances this season. Next is Kane Wilson, who made 22 appearances for the Grecians last year, and will once again play on loan from West Brom. The 18 year-old should offer flexibility down the righthand side, equally able to play as a defender or a midfielder, although he may struggle to force fan-favourite Pierce Sweeney out of the team.

The most impressive signing is Randell Williams from Watford

The most impressive signing of the window so far came with Randell Williams arriving on a free from Watford.

The young winger had made 20 loan appearances for Wycombe Wanderers this season, and appeared to be on the verge of moving there on a full-time basis, before instead committing to City.

A player who never looked out of his depth in League One, Williams is a phenomenal signing for the Grecians. On the same day, left-back Jaden Brown also signed on loan from Premier League side Huddersfield.

Although inexperienced, the former Tottenham academy player possesses electric pace and should provide a younger option in lieu of veterans Craig Woodman and Dean Moxey. All four signings should expect to contribute immediately, though it may take longer to rebuild City’s attacking identity without the talismanic Stockley.

Replacing Stockley's goals may be impossible, but manager Matt Taylor will hope that the new signings allow him to implement stylistic changes that can compensate, and allow the Grecians to push further up the table.

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28 JAN 2019 | EXEPOSÉ

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SPORT EDITORS: René Bahar Josh Brown

From Spain with love Valencian star Diego Larraz shines as EULC triumph over Oxford

Image: Nate C-H

Men’s Lacrosse Varsity Exeter 1s .................................... 12 Oxford 1s .................................... 9 Nick Powell Sport Team

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HE international quality of Exeter Lacrosse Club’s offense proved too much for Oxford in EULC’s varsity fixture on the rubber crumb on Wednesday, as the home side emerged 12-9 winners.

“It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish” were the words of Exeposé Sport’s man of the match Dan “Prifti” Jeannotte, and these are words that hold true not just of the

game on Wednesday but of the season as a whole: the men in green, blighted by injuries to key players and some harsh results, managed just one win in their first five games and until they played Surrey in November, they still stood a chance of being relegated.

But victory there has kickstarted a three match winning run which has seen Exeter leapfrog Cardiff, and only sit behind Oxford on goal difference.

Victory at Surrey has kickstarted a three match winning run The ebb and flow of their season

was summed up aptly in this thrilling match, leading 6-3, trailing 6-7 and ultimately earning a three goal lead at 10-7 they would not relinquish.

When Exeter settled, they showed what an exciting team they are They took their time to establish control, but when Exeter did settle, they showed what an exciting team they are to watch with a dynamic and attractive style of play that got the crowd off their feet. Whilst Oxford were dithering a little, failing to take their chances through a combination of solid defence, some

sensational goalkeeping from Thibaud Salzer and wayward shooting, Exeter looked a constant threat.

The home side could have had more goals in the first quarter, but found themselves 3-0 ahead anyway after a brilliant individual run and finish from Diego Larraz, a well worked goal rounded off by Jeannotte, and Larraz’s second after Jeannotte made a longrange burst upfield.

It continued after the break, with captain Harry McKay rattling the post before another effort from distance found the back of the net to give Exeter a four goal cushion.

Alas, their defensive brilliance was

eventually undone, as Oxford finally found the net, and quickly followed it up with a second to halve the deficit.

The home side were 3-0 ahead at the end of the first quarter Although another excellent McKay goal - this time from a driving run through the defence - restored Exeter’s three goal lead, the teams would exchange goals again, with Jeannotte getting his second, to leave the game poised at 6-3. Nobody could have expe-

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