Issue 754- 9 February 2024 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 754 9 FEB 2024 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Guild found throwing old branded items in skip Image: Anonymous witness

Campus Crushes Pages 7 and 11

Anabel Costa-Ferreira and Livvy Mason-Myhill Editors-in-Chief

MPs support Exeposé’s campaign for awareness of Type 1 diabetes Pages 8 and 9

N the 23rd January, staff from the Students’ Guild were pictured disposing of what was perceived to be old merchandise, including fleeces, T-shirts and tote bags, into a skip in the Devonshire House service yard. The photographs were taken by an anonymous witness who shared the images with Exeposé. The majority of the old branded items that was disposed of was pictured having the old

Page 18

Images (top to bottom): Joshua Hughes, Diabetes UK, Dixie Srone, pngimg.com

witness further highlighted that after further inspecting the skip, they found that it was half-filled with the old Guild branded items, explaining that they believed “none of it seemed destined to be recycled, and definitely not donated.” The skip that the Guild were pictured binning their old branded items in was from the tipping company Coastal Recycling. The company have been offering “recycling and waste management services” across Devon for more than 30 years and while they aim for as many materials as possible to be reused and recycled, they ack-

nowledge they are unable to guarantee this is the case for all received items. The witness also noted that despite them knowing that the items were binned in a mostly recyclable skip, they feel that “with everything going into the skip together, I don’t necessarily believe that everything was recycled.” However, Coastal Recycling state that “on average our operations achieve a 90 per cent recycling and recovery rate for mixed materials” to remind their customers of their own sustainability targets.

on flights taken in first class, with any first class flights taken having to be “fully reimbursed by an external funder or sponsor.” Business class flights can be expensed so long as the flight is longer than seven hours, which would include any flights to countries such as the United States or China, while premium economy fights can be expensed for flights taking between four and seven hours. Stated justifications for why an employee may not travel in economy class include “a demanding work schedule” such as when there is a “short time between a flight landing and the commencement of University duties” or “where there are multiple flights over an extended being taken.” Additional justifications include medical grounds and “where it is cheaper or the same price at a higher grade, including first class.”

Other travel expenses include £5000 on train travel and £600 on vehicle hire. The ten most senior employees of the University over time (18 in total) whose expenses have been disclosed also spent a combined £17,000 on domestic accommodation and £21,500 on overseas accommodation. That accommodation is defined as being “in a reasonable quality hotel, taking into account value for money, location convenience and health and safety.” £36,500 was spent on ‘other business’. According to the University’s expenses policy, other business may include relocation costs, membership subscriptions, childcare and an assortment of other costs. A spokesperson for the University said: “the University of Exeter has a robust and fair expenses policy in place for all staff members. All expense claims

are submitted for approval, and staff are encouraged to use measures which are as cost-effective as possible. However, as a global research-intensive university with world-leading research and industry partnerships, it is vital that representatives attend meetings, engagements and appointments regionally, nationally and abroad. These engagements not only promote the University’s expertise and knowledge to a global stage, but also bring vital partnerships and incremental investment into the South West. Any travel that is undertaken complies with our institution’s Travel Policy, which includes a commitment to ensuring any travel is undertaken as sustainably as possible, and was reviewed and updated in 2023.”

Continued on page 4

Top University staff claimed £140,000 in expenses since 2018

Charlie Gershinson Deputy Editor

Review: Singin’ in the Rain

Guild logo on it, some of which dated back to as old as 2019, according to the witness. This comes after the Guild’s rebrand was launched on the 5th July 2023. The anonymous witness shared that they saw staff from the Guild coming down the corridor of DH2 with empty trolleys. They then watched the staff members go outside to the Devonshire House service yard with these trolleys now filled with items where they were “binning hundreds of T-shirts, many fleeces and dozens of tote bags (among other things like tables etc.) during a clear out of their basement cupboard.” The

XEPOSÉ can reveal that in a period of five and a half years, over £140,000 has been claimed on expenses by senior employees of the University of Exeter, an average of around £25,500 per year. The figures from March 2018 to October 2023 — disclosed through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request — saw that the largest portion of expenses was spent on plane travel, amounting to £44,500 overall. This is the equivalent of almost five years’ education for a domestic undergraduate student. The University’s expenses policy (dated from 2018) specifies that staff may not claim back

Continued on page 4

EXEPOSÉ

Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ Editors Print: Anabel Costa-Ferreira & Livvy Mason-Myhill Online: Jamie Speka & Amelie Thompson Print Deputies: Harry Craig, Charlie Gershinson & Joshua Smith Online Deputies: Ewan Edwards & Megan Haynes editors@exepose.com Executives Finance: Willow Cracknell Social Media: Charlotte Randall Events: James Allen & Kritika Balhotra Welfare: Destiny Walsh News Editors Print: Oliver Lamb Online: Shagnick Bhattacharya & Anna Kane news@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Henry Parker & Benedict Thompson Online: Michelle Chung & Callum Martin features@exepose.com International Editors Print: Josie Sharp Online: Agata Koralewska Comment Editors Print: Lisette Reed & Charlotte Zeyssolff Online: Charlie Oldroyd & Amy Rushton comment@exepose.com Satire Editor Print: Rosie Peters-McDonald Lifestyle Editors Print: Lucy Rawlings & Amberly Wright Online: Emily Roughton & Zoe Sperry lifestyle@exepose.com

Editorial

NCE again another term is flying by as we enter week four already! We hope you are all getting settled back into a routine well and are making the most of the post-exam season. We hope you all enjoyed our coverage of this year's Guild elections and want to say a huge congratulations to all the newly elected officers. As always we can't wait to read your stories and encourage you to contact us if there's anything you're keen to write about! In News this week, we focus on an investigation into homophobia and transphobia on campus (page 3). We also look at how Exeter marked Holocaust Memorial Day (page 5). In Features, there's a doublepage spread on Type 1 diabetes awareness, within which our Features Editor was able to speak to several MPs calling for awareness amongst students and to increase equipment accessibility (pages 8 and 9). In Comment, there's a discussion about the new government attendance campaign (page 12), as well as a debate on the line between cinematography and obscenity (page 13). Meanwhile, Satire gives us the perfect recipes for an empty student cupboard (page 14). In Exhibit, Lifestyle gives a guide

SPA AWARDS to both Galentine's and Guylentine's (page 16). Arts and Lit reviews Footlights' latest show: Singin' in the Rain (page 18). Music discusses the relationship between sound and motion (page 21). Screen reviews the latest release, Poor Things (page 23). Tech looks at legal battles with Apple in the US Patent Office (page 24) and Exetera Exetera reflects on old Valentine's editions (page 26). Science explores 'the consciousness wars' (page 29) and Sport discusses the shock departure of Guenther Steiner from Haas (page 30). As always it's been another busy start to term for us here at the Exeposé office. This time reaching the end of our third consecutive press week, ranting about F1 changes and debating whether parties at this age always need a theme... As always, a huge thank you to all our contributors and proofers. We hope you enjoy this Valentine's Day edition and keep an eye out for Campus Crushes (pages 7 and 11). And whether you're more excited for Valentine's or Pancake Day we hope you have a lovely week!

2023 Best Publication 2023 Best Publication in the South West Images (top to bottom): Pxhere, Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Deviantart: Paper10VE, Wikimedia Commons, Jeanpierrekepseu

COMMENT The government's attendance campaign PAGE 12

LIFESTYLE Is the phsical camera dying out? PAGE 17

TECH Death of the artist?: AI art generators face lawsuit in US PAGE 24

SPORT 2024 Six Nations preview: Wales in trouble? PAGE 32

Livvy and Anabel

Proofers: Livvy Mason-Myhill, Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Harry Craig, Charlie Gershinson, Joshua Smith and Anna Kane.

Arts + Lit Editors Print: Maddie Conlan & Lauren Walsh Online: Gracie Moore & Violet Berney artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Jake Avery & Scarlett Cracknell Online: Maya Fernandes & George Warburton music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Emily Sara Rizzo & Kayleigh Swart Online: Jess Cadogan & Katie Matthews screen@exepose.com Tech Editor Print: Ewan Gregory & Charlie McCormack Science Editors Print: Eloise Shewring & Hannah Woodley Online: Orla Watson sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Eloise Grainger, Oliver Rickwood & Ben Scott Online: Mikhail Shklover & Ceri Vaughan-Jones

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

University news home and abroad Chinese student who was Universities look to boost University of York relaxes grade demands for denied visa may have been security after Prague mass shooting spy, court agrees international students

Cambridge discourages students from reporting sexual assaults to police

HE University of York has instructNGINEERING PhD student YeuT 3pm on the 21st DecemANY student victims of ed staff to adopt a more “flexible kang Li’s student visa has been deber 2023, 14 people were shot sexual assault have recently approach” to grades achieved by nied by the Federal Court of Canada, dead, and 22 others injured, at come forward, stating that higher-paying overseas students, it is un- cementing the 2022 decision by a visa officer. the Faculty of Arts building of Charles the University of Cambridge actively disderstood. In an email seen by the Financial The ruling is based on suspicions he could be University, Prague. The shooter was also courages them from reporting incidents Times, the University said it had reduced its at risk of using his studies to commit espionage a student at the University, and went on to the police. The University claims that entry requirements for all departments in re- and contribute to Chinese military intelligence to kill himself when police came onto their process is a “cleaner, faster and sponse to its “current financial challenges”. and defence efforts. The judge’s review deci- the scene, after just four minutes. It has smoother alternative”, which is often UK-based student fees are capped sion made in December of last later been confirmed that the gunman just a resolution agreement between at £9,250 per year, whilst interyear marks the first time the killed his own father that same day, as both individuals involved in the assault. national students at York can FCC has been required well as another man and his two-monthHowever, with the lack of enforcepay up to £43,000 per year to rule on admissibil- old baby. Following the tragic event, ment, often the perpetrator doesn’t for Medicine courses and ity cases regarding flags were held at half-mast and many take the agreement seriously, with over £23,000 for most espionage concerns gathered at St Vitus Cathedral in Prague. one student finding that her ex-boyother courses. Defending under the ImmiUniversities have also been grap- friend, who assaulted her twice, still the move, a spokespergration and Refu- pling with ideas to boost security in the sat just rows away from her in lectures. son from the University gee Protection Act. aftermath. These include Comenius UniA 2018 Revolt survey found that 62 said it had not “lowered” Investigations versity in Bratislava which, after meet- per cent of all UK students have expeits entry requirements for into student visa de- ing with security experts, has launched rienced sexual violence; however, uniinternational students, but nial in Canada expose new checks at entrances, as well as in- versities are dealing with incidents that instead adopted a more “flexible a wider trend of flagging corporating training for staff on ap- potentially constitute criminal offences, approach” for cases where international instances where admissibility is propriate responses to crisis situations. leading to sexual assault being handled in offer-holders missed their requirements. in question, even in cases where the applica- The Slovak University of Technology often inconsistent and ineffective ways. They added that a similar approach is already tion does not involve a study visa, and when is similarly adjusting existing measures, Rose Stephenson, Director of taken for UK-based students and that the individuals studied in Canada decades ago. acknowledging both external and in- Policy and Advocacy at the Higher new system would allow them to compete Immigration lawyer William Tao referred ternal threats. Critically, both universi- Education Policy Institute, stated: “If in a “global market”. It comes as several uni- to the process as a “double-edged sword”, with ties have also mentioned mental health universities were investigating murder, versities, including Coventry, have expressed visa plans interrogated whether the student support for students as a preventative we’d all think that was totally inapdifficulty in recruiting international students. hoped to stay and work in Canada or return measure stopping future catastrophes. propriate. Yet we’re doing it for rape.” to their home country to utilise their studies. Image: User:Avjoska, Wikimedia Commons

By Tom Langley, Poppy Mitchell-Wright, Emily Elliott and Hannah Woodley

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

3 NEWS

Devon Air Ambulance rescued record number of people in 2023 Ewan Edwards Online Deputy Editor

EVON Air Ambulance Trust (DAA) has again proved its importance as a crucial emergency service in the south-west, operating completely on a charitable basis. DAA receives no government funding and for 2023 has recorded a record number of operations. In 2023, DAA responded

to 2226 emergencies, up by 18 per cent from 2022, according to DAA's own figures. Out of these responses, 1333 required deploying a helicopter. The Trust has two air ambulances in its fleet, meaning that each helicopter would have been used just under twice a day. Nigel Hare, Operations Director for Devon Air Ambulance, underlined the importance of “having the ability to fly the patient quickly by helicopter to the hospital best suited

to treat their specific injuries.” With hard-to-reach areas in Devon and the increase in time-critical incidents, the necessity of operating helicopters has never been more important. Road traffic collisions continue to make up a large proportion of the DAA’s workload with 307 incidents that needed a response in 2023, according to the statistics released by DAA. The DAA began operating in 1992 after fundraising by Ann

Thomas whose son was killed in a motorbike accident. She was told that what may have saved her son was a quicker response and treatment time. After more than 30 years of operations, the DAA continues to provide a vital service. In 2024, the charity is dedicated to focusing on cardiac arrest treatment as the top medical emergency they are called to. More information about the work DAA does and its data from 2023 can be found at: https://www.daat.org.

Image: Lewis Clarke, Wikimedia Commons

Exeposé investigates homophobia and transphobia on campus Harry Craig and Joshua Smith Deputy Editors THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT RELATING TO HOMOPHOBIA WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING

S LGBTQ+ History Month begins, an investigation by Exeposé has found barriers to the reporting of homophobia and transphobia on campus. According to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request submitted by Exeposé, there were just three formal reports of homophobic and/or transphobic behaviour formally reported by students to the University through Exeter Speaks Out between 2017/18 and 2022/23. When expanded to also consider informal reports, between 2018/19 and 2022/23, 64 reports mentioned sexual orientation, and 66 mentioned gender reassignment. Exeter Speaks Out allows students to report incidents of harrassment, bullying, intimidation and discrimination, and this can be done formally, informally or anonymously. A formal complaint has the possibility to trigger an investigation, whereas the University’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) team will support those who submit informal reports, and anonymous reports are used to inform the

University’s understanding of these issues. The University’s website encourages students to “report any incidents — no matter how small you might think these are,” for example encouraging students to report microaggresions as these “can combine with other similar acts or remarks over time to cause emotional harm.” However, a survey conducted by Exeposé found that there was significant reluctance from students who responded to report incidents of homophobia and transphobia. Of the 24 respondents, nine stated that they had experienced and/or witnessed homophobia and/or transphobia on campus, with a further 11 stating that this had occurred off campus during their time at Exeter. None of these respondents reported any of these incidents through Exeter Speaks Out. The majority of homophobic and transphobic incidents reported by students as part of this survey included slurs and derogatory comments. For example, one student had been “repeatedly called a f*****” by a first-year flatmate.” Another recalled “overhearing people (typically men) on campus talking about how “pronouns are fake” and stereotyp[ing] lesbian women by their appearance.” There appeared to be a particular issue with transphobic comments and

behaviour. One respondent stated that, “I’ve seen people laughing at the thing that was put up to remember all the trans people who’ve been hate crimed and someone even said they deserved it.” Another shared that they had witnessed “jokes satirising gender dysphoria at the Ram [whilst] watching the Six Nations, chanting “at least we know what a woman is”.” Respondents also felt some Guildregistered societies facilitated homophobia. One student stated that they believed that “ECU, EUCA and Freedom Society have been enabled by the Guild to be homophobic beyond freedom of expression to the extent that other students feel empowered to be homophobic and it creates a very unsafe environment on campus.” Another student similarly shared that they would not report incidents of homophobia because “the University has invited transphobic speakers to campus to share their opinions so why would they punish students for sharing those opinions?” In response, the Exeter University Conservative Association (EUCA) stated: “EUCA does not endorse or enable any form of hate speech, including, and not limited to, homophobia and transphobia. Our Committee have not been made aware of any concerns.” Freedom Society stated that: “it’s regretful this anonymous student

felt this way, but as no specific incident is being referenced to substantiate the assertion that Freedom’s vibes make people ‘very unsafe’, it wouldn’t be appropriate to comment further.” The Evangelical Christian Union (ECU) did not reply to a request for comment at time of publication. The majority of those who said they had experienced or witnessed, but not reported, homophobia, stated that they did not report these incidents because they were not aware of Exeter Speaks Out, or because they felt it was not serious enough to report. One respondent also criticised the University and Guild as “hav[ing] a track record of not acting and only making performative gestures rather than tackling homophobia seriously.” Consequently, most felt that, in order to more effectively support the LGBTQ+ community, the University should publicise Speaks Out more, and make it clear that there is a zero-tolerance policy towards homophobia and transphobia on campus. Maz, President of the LGBTQ+ Society, commented that they have never seen “any kind of University support targeted specifically to LGBTQ+ people”, but “they [the University] do refer people on to councelling with the Intercom Trust, which is useful but has long wait times (obviously).” The Intercom Trust is a commu-

nity led charity which aims to build a South West region where people are “treated with respect, celebrated, and where vibrant LGBTQ+ communities can live with equality.” In sum, Maz said “I don’t think there are adequate systems in place to mitigate or prevent, or to support, if anything because they don’t advertise any policies they do have.” Additionally, Maz stated that “there should be more transparency about how students can complain about homophobic and transphobic incidents,” reflecting the wider sentiment of the student population as found through our survey. In response, a spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: “the welfare and safety of all students is our highest priority. While instances of homophobia are rare, the University is clear that there is absolutely no place or justification for hate, harassment or abuse of any type.” Similarly, the Students’ Guild stated that: “it’s upsetting to hear that students have been experiencing homophobia on campus, there is no place for hate in our community, and we all have a role to play in standing against all forms of intolerance.” Image: ClkerFreeVectorImages, Wikimedia Commons

Student Access for Refugees celebrates Equal Access Campaign Livvy Mason-Myhill and Charlie Gershinson Editor-in-Chief and Deputy Editor

HE Student Action for Refugee group (STAR), a nationwide student group with a chapter at the University of Exeter, is expanding its Equal Access campaign to promote access to higher education for refugees. Beginning in 2008, the campaign has achieved significant success in securing scholarships and opportunities for refugees to study at British universities. Nationwide, STAR has helped to create dozens of scholarships for refugees, increasing this figure from just seven in 2012 to 80 in 2022. STAR says this has created 200 opportunities for students to study at university which

they otherwise would not have. The University of Exeter runs a Sanctuary Scholarship scheme for “indivudals seeking asylum and refugees who are not able access student finance to study at the University of Exeter.” To qualify, students must have submitted a claim for refugee status and are awaiting a response or have a similar status. For undergraduate students, this includes a full waiver of tuition fees with a £11,500 grant for living costs and a £2000 Access to Exeter Bursary. There are three places available per year at all levels of study. Other British universities with active STAR chapters also run similar schemes. The University of Warwick has nine scholarships: four for undergraduates, three for postgraduate students and two for doctoral students. The

University of Newcastle, meanwhile, offers three to five scholarships. STAR also runs other campaigns aimed to aid refugees. The Families Together campaign (which has cooperation from many organisations including STAR, Oxfam and Amnesty International) aims to reform refugee family reunion rules to make it harder for families to be separated. This includes the right for child refugees to sponsor their close family and the reintroduction of legal aid. Another campaign is to 'Lift the Ban' on people seeking refugee status gaining employment while in the UK. STAR gave Exeposé a comment, signposting that the week of the 12th February they will be hosting their STAR week. The STAR team indicated that on the Monday of that week, there will be a "double headliner with us being in forum

from 10am — 4pm sharing information about the Equal Access Campaign. Later on in the evening we will be holding a joint pub quiz with Women's Cricket to raise money for the campaign." They indicated that they will be around campus on the Wednesday as well as hosting an ethnographic documentary in the cinema room later in the week. They further suggested that "what we are really trying to do is raise awareness to students and staff on campus about the difficulties that refugees in the UK have with accessing higher education." STAR, have also shared their instagram (@exeter_star) for people to get in touch with them or become further involved with their campaign. The Students’ Guild also gave a comment to Exeposé explaining that

they are “very proud of the passion and dedication our students and societies have for raising awareness of causes close to them.” The Guild further suggested that they welcome any society or group interested in starting a cause to contact them so they can discuss how they can best support students from around the world. Image:Exeter Students’ Guild

4 NEWS

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

Guild criticised for their attitudes towards sustainability

OOKING on the Coastal Recycling website, the FAQ page explains the details of their operations. Coastal Recycling detail that once the waste is taken to a transfer station, items are either “bulked for onward transport to a suitably permitted waste recovery or disposal site.”

...items are either “bulked for onward transport to a sustainably permited waste recovery or disposal site” The witness continued by saying that they felt the Guild should have put these old items in boxes to offer for free in order to “donate them to students.” They ultimately felt

that disposing of the branded items in the skip was “just unnecessary.” Whilst the Guild have stated, when asked by Exeposé in the past, that the refurbishment of Devonshire House included “reupholstering old furniture to lessen waste and give [the furniture] new life”, the witness disagreed with the concept, stating that “there is not a single thing in Devonshire House that is the same as it was before. It looks all brand new.” In response to these accusations, the Guild stated “we always try to seek the most sustainable option where possible, an example of this is the refurbishment of Devonshire House where as much furniture as possible was re-

Image: Anonymous witness

upholstered rather than bought new.” The Guild continued by suggesting that “the company that we used ‘Costal Recycling’ are committed to sustainable practices, with over 90 per cent of materials recycled, recovered, or reused. We confirmed this with the company before the skip was booked. We did reach out to local charities and printing companies to see if they had use for the clothing items, but they were unable to take them.

We always try to seek the most sustainable option where possible

With regards to sustainability, the Guild has highlighted on their website that “being sustainable and looking after our planet is key to reducing the climate emergency.” They have also indicated that they “want to embed sustainability in everything we do at the Guild, and to empower students to create positive change at the University, the local community and wider.” This webpage however, does not seem to have been updated since 2022, with it referencing #ExeGoGreenWeek22 and the 2022 Guild Leadership Elections.

Vice-Chancellor Lisa Roberts received a five per cent pay increase

THER specifications laid out by the University where expenses are concerned include that employees are expected to travel on standard class rail travel. The expenses policy specifically sets out guidelines for travel expenses to “achieve best value” through “the choice of service, time of travel, type of ticket and travel agent.” Maximum limits are placed on accommodation and subsistence, with domestic accommodation capped at £180 if staying in London and subsistence expenses seeing a maximum of £40 if this absence is more than nine hours long. To qualify for these costs to be included under expenses, they must “actually, necessarily and exclusively incur in the course of University business” and must be “made promptly, receipted and approved by line managers/budget holders.” However, the policy also states that financial rules which are guidelines and not mandatory can be operated outside of in the event that the line manager approves. The policies regarding flights and accommodation, for example, are regarded as

‘guidelines’ rather than mandatory. Of the top ten highest earners at the University, Exeposé can also disclose that the basic salaries in the 2022/23 year have ranged from £180,000 to £290,000. The highest earner, based on figures publicly released by the University’s committee on remuneration, is Vice-Chancellor Prof. Lisa Roberts, who has earned a raise in salary of £15,000 from £275,000 to £290,000. The more-than five per cent increase in pay has been further confirmed by the University’s 2022/23 Annual Report and Financial Statements. This salary is still a decrease from her predecessor, Sir Steve Smith, who earned £315,000 in his last year as Vice-Chancellor. A spokesperson said of Prof. Roberts’ increase in base salary: “in 2022, the Remuneration Committee agreed to increase Professor Roberts’ salary by 5.45 per cent to £290,000 from the 1st August 2022 in recognition of her performance in her first two years in office.” They also stated that, “this was the first salary increase for Professor Roberts since she joined the University of Exeter in September 2020.”

Prof. Roberts also received a performance award of 17.5 per cent, amounting to £50,750, under the Executive Performance Reward Scheme. A public document from 2018 outlines the rewards of the Scheme as subject to two equal measures: one being the University

“achiev[ing] a range of institutional targets” and the other for “personal performance objectives, including how these are achieved, as well as what is achieved.” The University spokesperson said that the award “is conditional upon the achievement of performance objectives

agreed by the Remuneration Committee, under the Executive Performance Reward Scheme. The Executive Performance Reward Scheme represents an element of “pay at risk” — payment is not made if performance objectives are not achieved.” Image: Information Governance, FOI23-0487

5 NEWS

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

Exeter marks Holocaust Memorial Day Harry Craig and Charlie Gershinson Deputy Editors THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING

HE University of Exeter and the local area saw multiple events held to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day, marked on the 27th January, to remember the six million Jewish men, women and children, as well as many others, murdered by the Nazis. One of these events, hosted by the Jewish Society on the 29th January, was a talk by Henry Schachter OBE. Schachter is a Holocaust survivor born on the eve of the Second World War, who was able to escape Nazi-led persecution as an infant. Schachter talked extensively about the perils which his family and others faced, including frequent travel first to Poland to comply with Nazi law and then to what was (at the time) unoccupied Belgium in 1940 to escape the threat of the concentration camps. Schachter would be fostered by a Christian family in Belgium once the Nazis invaded in order to evade detection as a Jewish child. His talk contained many poignant and emotional moments such as the last time he saw his mother at the age of five before she perished and how — by chance — he found his uncle in the Netherlands after he got onto the wrong tram. When Exeposé asked for comment from the Jewish Society, a spokesperson said: “It was an honour to welcome Holocaust

survivor, Henry Schachter OBE, onto campus to speak to the university community. His story was incredibly moving — and we’re pleased that the event seemed to be well received by those in attendance. “As antisemitism surges nationally and internationally, the saying ‘never again’ has become all the more important. Those in attendance will have heard first hand how suddenly antisemitism can take hold, and the ghastly consequences that this has historically entailed for the Jewish people. As history threatens to repeat itself, we join our friends in saying: never again.”

As history threatens to repeat itself, we join our friends in saying: never again History Society also staged an online event on the 1st February, with a talk by Holocaust survivor Marcel Ladenheim BEM, in collaboration with the Holocaust Educational Trust. Maddie, History Society's Academic Officer, stated: "our speaker event with the Holocaust Educational Trust is a hugely profound and powerful example of the need for students to bear witness to personal testimonies of the Holocaust. "More widely, in an age of growing antisemitism, discrimination and Holocaust denial, education of the Holocaust and the genocides that followed is more important than ever." Alongside this, Exeter Cathedral held its traditional Holocaust memorial service on the 26th January. Built around the theme of 'The Fragility of Freedom', the event was attended by local schoolchildren and the general public, as well as the

Image: University of Exeter Jewish Society

Dean of Exeter Cathedral, President of Exeter Synagogue and Imam of Exeter Mosque, representing three of Exeter’s main religious communities. The service included a talk by Rosemary Schonfeld, the daughter of a Jewish Czech immigrant father who came to Devon after the Holocaust, who shared her family’s story, with her uncles and grandparents murdered at Auschwitz. Schonfeld recounted tracing her relatives’ stories as an adult, which led her to track down Relly, her father’s sisterin-law, who had survived Auschwitz. Schonfeld said: “I grew up not knowing my father was Jewish, he didn’t discuss the past with his family because he dealt with his trauma by looking forward, not back. I hadn’t even seen a picture of

my grandmother until 2018. When information became easier to find in the 1990s I found Relly, who was an exceptional person. After the Holocaust she had a happy life.” “Many Holocaust survivors are too traumatised to speak about their experiences. Relly felt able to do so and the impact of what happened to her stayed with her forever.” Also on the 26th January, the University of Exeter organised a conference for schoolchildren from Devon and Cornwall. This included talks from numerous University lecturers, including Dr Nicholas Terry on the Jewish experience in Poland, Dr Lucinda Fenny on the Holocaust in cinema and Dr Nigel Pleasants on genocide and society. This was jointly arranged by the University

with Oxford doctoral candidate and Exeter alumnus Barnabas Balint, who presented his research on discovering the lives of victims and survivors of the Holocaust. Exeter’s formal commemorations were drawn to a close with a candle lighting at the Guildhall on the afternoon of the 26th January, led by the Jewish community. For the first time, this ceremony included a candle lit by Alan Quick, co-founder of Exeter Pride, to remember LGBTQ+ people murdered in the Holocaust. Quick shared on Instagram that “for the LGBTQ+ community to be recognised has been something I have asked for for many years in Exeter commemorations and now it has been achieved, I hope every year from now onwards.”

Societies criticise Welcome Back Week Oliver Lamb News Editor

OCIETIES have criticised Welcome Back Week, particularly the Welcome Back Fair, for being poorly advertised. Welcome Back Week ran during the first week of term after exams, from the 15th to 19th January. Intended as a smaller-scale version of term one’s Welcome Week (formerly known as Freshers’ Week), the highlight was a fair on the 19th January at which societies were able to run stalls. Groups were also able to use the Students’ Guild website to advertise events taking place during the week. One society president, who said his views were shared by

counterparts in other groups, said that “the lack of advertising” meant the fair “was very poorly attended.” He added that “we maybe sold two memberships max”, and complained that the Guild “emailed us very close to the fair with changes of plan.” Salsa Society's social secretary Luke Ahearn said: “After talking with many of our society members before the fair, many did not know it was happening” as a result of it being advertised “midway through an email in Student Comms.” The committee was unhappy that their stall was in the Sanctuary, a relatively obscure place on campus. Salsa Society's Team Captain Niamh Kemp described how only three people came to their stall

before she arrived several hours after the start. She called the event “completely pointless” and “a waste of their [the committee’s] days.” A Future Societies Fair was held on the 18th January to showcase societies in the process of registering with the Guild. This included Angel Society, Doctor Who Society, Gaelic Football Society and others. A spokesperson for the Students’ Guild said: “to help get students in the mood for an exciting term 2 and to welcome January starters, we hosted a week of events and activities that

we called “Welcome Back Week”. One of our main events was our Welcome Back Fair as we wanted to focus on a hugely important part of the student experience for so many students — our societies. Since reopening the registration process for new societies to form, we've had lots of interest, so we held a Future Societies Fair to help promote them

and encourage students to join a new society. As well as our fairs, we hosted a Postgraduate Mixer, information stalls and provided students with lots of fun freebies! If you have any thoughts for what you would like to see in future Welcome Weeks and Welcome Back Weeks, we’d love to hear your ideas so please get in touch!”

Image: Flickr, Jisc infoNet

6 NEWS

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

Campus protests continue as ICJ weighs in on Israel-Palestine

Support offered to creative firms in Devon Oliver Lamb News Editor

HE Devon Create Growth Programme will offer support to creative businesses in Devon free of charge. The scheme is run by Creative UK in partnership with Torbay Council and is funded by the government’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport. A launch event took place at the Palace Theatre in Paignton on the 24th January. Support could take the form of “specialist creative sector advice,

mentors and training” according to Councillor Chris Lewis. New or emerging businesses will be able to access support from a six-month programme. A separate nine-month programme is available to ambitious businesses pursuing investment and growth. Businesses involved in sectors as diverse as marketing, film, computer services and museums are eligible to apply. The window closes on the 4th March for the nine-month scheme and the 1st April for the six-month version. Image: Popperipopp, Wikimedia Commonss

Unit 1 nightclub announces closure Anabel Costa-Ferreira Editor-in-Chief

OLLOWING a post on their social media account, the wellknown Exeter club Unit 1 has been closed with immediate effect. Owned by the UK’s biggest club chain Rekom, they were considered “the largest nightclub group in Northern Europe”, operating in several locations beyond the UK, including Denmark, Finland and Norway. As a result of the pandemic, the company (previously known as the Deltic group) found itself in administration back at the end of 2021. At the start of 2022, the company was purchased by Rekom for a total of £10 million. A mere two years later, the chain has been forced to close a total of 17 venues with immediate effect. While the company states they have “made every effort to redeploy staff across the business,” it is estimated around 470 positions in total have been impacted. Alongside our local Exeter Unit 1, other familiar names include the PRYZM clubs in Birmingham, Nottingham and Leeds. On their social media, a statement explained that the company have “faced challenging trading conditions due to the cost-of-living crisis, resulting in increasing Image: Harry Craig

cash flow pressure and a decline in trading performance.” Sharing a similar sentiment, Peter Mark, chairman of Rekom, further detailed that the cost-of-living crisis is “hitting younger generations and students particularly hard, as well as the rising National Living Wage alongside increased business rates and costs of operating.” In response to the news, Exeposé was able to hear some students’ responses to the closure. One student shared that while “Unit 1 has many first-year memories for me, it is sad to see it go but not a surprise.” Another student commented on the wider closures, sharing that as a result, “I have now lost the only club in my hometown.” On Overheard, an anonymous post even sarcastically initiated an “urgent appeal” to save Unit 1 with a target of £10 million. The company, however, has been able to secure the sales of 11 of their sites, which has reportedly saved 500 jobs. Notable locations that have been rescued include PRYZM in Brighton, Bristol and Kingston. As the Rekom group also owns pubs and bars, there are another 12 locations that have been entirely unaffected by this news, including Exeter’s very own The Terrace. A full list of closures and the official administration statement can be found on the Rekom UK group website.

Oliver Lamb and Felix Massey News Editor and Writer

RIENDS of Palestine Exeter has continued its campaign of protest against Israel’s actions in the ongoing war with Palestine. The student group has held a series of sit-ins in the Forum over the last few Thursdays. This comes after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) stopped short of calling for a ceasefire but asked Israel to take “interim measures”. The case against Israel was brought before the ICJ by South Africa, and related to claims of genocide under the UN’s 1948 Genocide Convention during the conflict in the Middle East. The court called for “interim measures” including that “Israel must take measures to ensure humanitarian access” and “Israel must ensure its military does not commit any genocidal acts.” Israel’s argument, through lawyer Professor Malcolm Shaw KC, was that the operation is necessary for the country’s security and self-defence, whereas barrister Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC for South Africa argued that Israel has deprived Gaza of essential supplies including water and medical equipment. The ICJ is able to settle disputes between states, and can give advisory opinions on legal issues, but its rulings are often ignored, and the court does not have enforcement powers. Since last term, the conflict has been the subject of notable protests on campus at the University of Exeter, including marches through Exeter and a peaceful sit-in protest on the 18th October last year, with regular future protests planned. This is partially in response to the ICJ ruling: Friends of Palestine mentioned the case on the poster for its 1st February sit-in. Students have also argued for the need to boycott businesses which allegedly contribute to the conflict by continuing to operate in Israel and the occupied regions of Gaza and the West Bank. The ongoing conflict has also been of high priority for students of Jewish and Israeli backgrounds, with antisemitism continuing to be a problem for UK universities and students. The Department for Education has recently published a blog outlining how the government is supporting Jewish students on campuses. According to the president of the Union of Jewish Students, Edward Isaacs, Jewish students are “deeply anxious” following an unprecedented rise in antisemitism at UK universities. From the 7th October to the 3rd November, 29 universities witnessed 67 antisemitic incidents, according to the Community Security Trust, up from 12 over the same period the previous year. When approached for comment, the Exeter Israeli and Zionist Society said: “as IzSoc we would like to point to the facts of the ICJ ruling and highlight that the ruling said that Israel

was NOT committing genocide and has given Israel a green light to continue its operations in Gaza to wipe out Hamas. Many anti-Israel voices have claimed that the ruling found Israel to be responsible for genocide when this is not the case. Ultimately, those who called for a ceasefire, accused Israel of genocide and claimed it was breaching international law have come to see that Israel is not found guilty of any of those, and that they know little about the law.” Friends of Palestine were also approached for comment, but did not reply at the time of publication. The society has previously argued that Israel is illegally occupying Palestinian territory, and that it is committing human rights abuses against citizens through acts of war. Experts in international law and armed conflict have also commented on the war and on the important ruling by the ICJ, with Professor Guglielmo Verdirame KC saying in a House of Lords debate that: “proportionality means that you can use force that is proportionate to the defensive objective, which is to stop, to repel and to prevent further attacks. [...] Siege is a legitimate method of warfare … It would be unlawful to besiege an undefended town since it could be occupied without resistance.” A letter was also written by top legal experts including Philippe Sands KC and Adam Wagner, stating that: “there are some aspects of Israel’s response that already cause significant concern. International law forbids sieges of civilian populations. Gaza is home to some two million fellow human beings (almost half of whom are children) and it would be a grave violation of international law to hold them under siege and while doing so deprive them of basic necessities such as food and water.” The University of Exeter’s Politics Society held a speaker event in

November last year with guests Professor Ilan Pappé, Michael Dumper and Dr Nadia Naser-Najjab about ‘Understanding the Israel-Palestine Situation’, and this was supported by Student Action for Refugees. Exeter’s Model United Nations society also held a role-play debate about the conflict. Both of these are examples of ways that Exeter students are discussing and tackling the complex problem with dialogue and discussion. A spokesperson for the Students’ Guild said: “the Guild exist to provide support for our students and student groups. Our role as a charity enables us to create safe spaces for challenging conversation and debate, where diverse, often conflicting, but legal views can be expressed. The Guild fully support students’ right to protest in a safe way and we work closely with students and the University to facilitate this, through the provision of template risk assessments, resources, and guidance. If any students are looking to organise a protest, we’re here to support you and encourage you to get in touch. “We continue to work closely with the University to ensure that all those affected by the conflict have the support they need. If you are struggling, please do reach out.” A spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: “we remain deeply concerned and distressed by the violence in Israel, Palestine and the Middle East. Our thoughts are with all those who are suffering as a result, wherever they are in the world. We are working directly with those members of our community who are most affected by this ongoing conflict, to hear their experiences and to offer our support. We are unambiguous in our support for all colleagues and students at this time, including our commitment to protecting the right to debate openly and freely, providing it is carried out safely, respectfully and within the law.”

Image: Oliver Lamb

Meowy dear L.R. — Purring under the moonlight, I can't help but confess my feline feelings for you. Your love is like a warm sunbeam on my whiskers, and your prescence is more comforting than a cozy cardboard box. I've been chasing my tail around the idea of us, and I'm feline ready to pounce into a purrfect partnership with you. - Napoleon the orange cat

Brunette girl I bummed a ciggy off outside Amory — you're stunning.

MS — the cutest man alive and the best listener! So many things I'd do to him and none of them are in the Bible.

- JD

- RP

HS — cutest lifeguard in Exeter, unfortunately you have a girlfriend and don't speak to me anymore. Lots of love.

Very cute American guy that is in my seminar classes. I've got a boyfriend but he's adorable and

- SC

would defo go there. - PC

IT — never seen someone so sexy buy so many cheese sandwiches from Marketplace. - LAW

Okay so TECHNICALLY he wasn't on campus, but he was wearing a puffer from some sort of sport soc? We locked eyes over the vintage section in Oxfam Bookshop and he was wearing a gorgeous pair of Ralph Lauren cords with little polo-player horsey people on them? Insane taste. Gorgeous man. Please be mine.

C — tall, dark haired Law student who's actually so nice. I never fail to do something embarrassing as I walk past and I've been crushing for two years at least.

-J

AA — I held the door open for you after our lecture once, and I haven't stopped thinking about you since. Sorry I haven't replied to your DM, don't want to fumble. - AL

- Holly

LM-M — Sexy sexy lady. - AJ

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

Features

FEATURES EDITORS: Benedict Thompson Henry Parker

Type 1 diabetes awareness: Tech Can’t Wait

Benedict Thompson, Features Editor, speaks to George Howarth, MP for Knowsley, on type 1 diabetesrelated eating disorders, awareness of type 1 diabetes amongst students and type 1 diabetes technology Image: Chris McAndrew, Wikimeda Commons

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT RELATING TO EATING DISORDERS WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING

eorge Howarth, MP for Knowsley, recently led a parliamentary enquiry alongside Theresa May, highlighting the impact of type 1 diabetesrelated eating disorders. The enquiry found that around a quarter of type 1 diabetics in Britain are suffering from diabetes-related eating disorders, many of whom are most likely students. Benedict Thompson, Features Editor, sat down with George Howarth to discuss type 1 diabetes awareness, his recent parliamentary enquiry, and the accessibility of diabetes technology in Britain. É: Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you became interested in the topic of type 1 diabetes? GH: I’m the Labour Member of Parliament for Knowsley and have been now for 37 years. I became interested because various members of my own family either had type 1 or type 2. So because members of your family had the condition, you get to know more about it. I became increasingly aware that certainly those with type 1 face a lot of challenges. Partly because there is a lot of misunderstanding between the difference between type 1 and 2. They struggle sometimes to get their voice heard in the medical system. They find themselves having to negotiate with the NHS if you need dietary help or if you need help with eye problems or so on. It is a question often of having to go to different hospital departments for different appointments. And then when you get there you might find, say with an endocrinologist, they don’t understand the psychological problems. If

you talk to a clinical psychologist, they don’t know enough about diabetes. So people with type 1 diabetes are constantly having to explain themselves to experts who don’t know enough about the broader spectrum of diabetes. Secondly, we published a report on the 23rd January about type 1 diabetics with eating disorders. In the course of taking evidence from that, people with lived experience told stories of how they had been bullied at school, they’ve been blamed for their own condition on lifestyle choices which don’t apply to type 1, and how they struggled even with teachers to understand what their needs were at different times. The thing about type 2 is that it’s not necessarily a lifestyle thing. There are often people who have been diagnosed with type 2 who are not always overweight; they don’t necessarily lead a dissolute lifestyle. But it is something that is more treatable and they don’t face the same challenges as people with type 1. Particularly for younger people where there is often a lot of peer group pressure which doesn’t quite fit in with the way you want to live your life.

[People have] been bullied at school, they’ve been blamed for their own condition É: A parliamentary enquiry chaired by yourself and Theresa May recently called for urgent action on type 1 diabetes and eating disorders. What change is the enquiry calling for? GH: The first one, the most important one, is we want better integrated services. There are couple of trials going on — one in Bournemouth, one in London and one

in my own constituency. All the early findings from those trials is that it works. People aren’t bouncing around between different hospitals and services. They can go to one place and get the treatment they need. So what we are saying is: that needs to be the norm rather than being lucky enough to be living in the right area to get access to that. The second thing we are calling for is a better understanding of type 1 diabetes in the medical profession. Not everybody is in the same position. So what we are asking for is the condition where young people also have, it’s not always young people but mostly, an eating disorder alongside type 1 diabetes, to be better understood. One of the things we found is that whereas in the past where people would have estimated there were probably tens of thousands caught up in that situation, it’s actually 144,000 which is a significant chunk of people. So we want better awareness that this is a major health issue. The other thing which came out of it is that we had one evidence session where we had people dealing with type 1 diabetes in different countries, from the US to Wales, to Scotland as well as Scandinavian countries. That was actually fascinating. There is a lot going on around the world and the different experts in different countries aren’t as aware of what is going on elsewhere. So what we are saying is that there needs to be a better pooling of the knowledge that exists around the world, which I think is very important. It’s that kind of thing.

We want better awareness that this is a major health issue É: In your constituency, there are policies in place which mean everyone should be able to get diabetes tech they’re eligible for and need to live well with diabetes. But this isn’t the case everywhere and there are still 11 Integrated Care Boards across England which don’t provide access to life-changing Flash and continuous glucose monitors. What are you doing to make sure it’s rolled out fairly and equally in your constituency? GH: I have an ongoing relationship with the NHS both at a level of the Integrated Care Board and with the people who are providing those services locally. It’s basically just encouraging them to do more integrated care. There is a particular scheme being funded in Knowsley in one of our local hospitals and I helped.

It was a professional application not a political application, but I got involved in that. I was also tentatively involved as a non-expert in how that is going. É: Could you tell us a bit about your work as chair of the then All-Party Parliamentary Group on Diabetes (APPG)? GH: To be honest, I was one of the Vice Chairs of it. But the APPG was very much focused on type 2 diabetes and it’s important, don’t get me wrong. But my focus is on type 1 so I tended to do my own thing. I worked with them when it was functioning. I’ve been approached about taking it over but by doing the sort of work I do with Theresa May or on an individual level, I can be more effective than I could be in that sort of role. É: How important is the distinction between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? GH: I think this sort of story brings it home. I was talking to somebody who was diagnosed with type 1 quite late in life which is something that is happening increasingly at the moment. There is a definite trend there. And she was saying once it became known locally where she lives, somebody said to her “oh I’ve heard (see) you’ve got diabetes. I didn’t know you’ve led a dissonant lifestyle.” And it’s that ignorance on the difference between type 1 and type 2. And if you look at newspaper articles, they often just talk about diabetes without making the distinction between the two. And I think its hugely important that we make it clear that one is an autoimmune condition which has nothing to do with lifestyle. Now that is not to say everyone with type 2 has led a dissolute lifestyle but there are things like obesity, diet and a lack of exercise that do contribute to type 2. People with type 1 often get accused of these things which they shouldn’t. É: How can we best raise awareness of type 1 diabetes, particularly amongst students who may be living with the condition at school or university but are unaware of the symptoms? GH: I think first of all, if you are a teacher or you are a manager, even by the way in the medical profession, there needs to be training programmes. Young people have also struggled with teachers. So I think teachers need to be trained in how to deal with it. I also think within the medical profession getting a diagnosis sometimes can be difficult. Often GP’s un-

derstanding, I remember going to an event in my consistency and it was a kind of a diabetes group that talked to professionals so it was a group of people who were living the experience with their families. And the stories the young people and their parents had about trying to get a diagnosis were horrific. They all displayed classic signs of having diabetes before they got diagnosed. So the medical profession needs better training and if you an employer there ought to be some easy access to some training about how you deal with somebody who has got type 1 diabetes so that you don’t just throw your hands up and say this is all too much struggle so you know what to do. É: Can the government work more with technology firms to provide type 1 diabetes equipment? GH: I think the government needs to. One of the things I’m hoping gains attention is our report on eating disorders as well, which in itself is a mental health issue. The government needs to understand that if you can deal with a proper integrated care system, you are going to head off crises in the future and the number of people who for one reason or another have poor control or have not got the right technological support. That costs more in the long run in terms of emergency treatment than it would if people had the support they needed to live well with it.

If you are a teacher or you are a manager... there needs to be training É: Do you support Diabetes UK’s Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait campaign which aims to ensure the fair and equal access of type 1 diabetes equipment? GH: Absolutely yes.

Image: Diabetes UK

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

9 FEATURES

MPs support Exeposé’s calls for awareness of type 1 diabetes Seven MPs back our campaign to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes amongst students and to increase the accessibility of diabetes equipment THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT RELATING TO EATING DISORDERS WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING

Images: Diabetes UK; UK Parliament

YPE 1 diabetics in England, many of whom are students, are being denied access to life-improving and life-saving technology in England. According to Diabetes UK, there are around 400,000 people with type 1 diabetes in England — an autoimmune condition where the pancreas no longer produces insulin. The condition is most prevalent amongst younger people, many of whom are dealing with the condition while at school or university. Blood glucose sensors, the size of a £2 coin, are attached to the upper arm to measure blood glucose levels continuously. Users can access the data by scanning the sensor with a smartphone or digital reader — a feature which improves the control of blood sugar levels. This means less tiresome finger-prick testing is required. Hybrid closed loop pumps, such as the Omnipod 5, can also make a massive difference in managing the condition. But now tens of thousands of people living with type 1 diabetes in England are being refused devices due to a postcode lottery. Type 1 diabetic students at university often bear the burden of this inaccessibility. They are stuck between a term and home address, changing GPs constantly, meaning they may feel less confident in their diabetes requirements and may lack the support they need. The mental toll of living with type 1 diabetes for students can also be high. A student who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in his final year at the University of Exeter told Exeposé: “It was all kind of tough, a bit of a haze. It would have been nice if the University published something which said what was available at the wellbeing services, because it was a big moment. I never went to the wellbeing services.” Universities need to ensure they are publishing advice for students so type 1 diabetic students can get the support they need.

It would have been nice if the university said what was available at the wellbeing team Recently, a parliamentary enquiry led by George Howarth and Theresa May revealed a quarter of type 1 diabetics in the UK are dealing with type 1 diabetes-related eating disorders. The condition can be life-shortening, it can be life threatening, and it can lead to death. With new cases increasing by three per cent annually, the time to act is now. The government needs to know about the life-changing impact diabetes technology can have on improving blood sugar control. Nearly two years ago, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines extended access to Flash and continuous glucose monitors for type 1 diabetics. But there are still 11 Integrated Care Boards across England, some in the south-west, which still do not provide access to these life-changing monitors and do not have a published policy for access. The cost of diabetes equipment may be high, but the cost of complications amongst those with the condition and the NHS is higher. The NHS spend £10 billion a year on diabetes (10 per cent of its budget). In 2023, Diabetes UK launched ‘Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait’ which calls for the fair and equal access of diabetes technology. Exeposé is now launching their own campaign, Exeposé for ‘Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait’, and would encourage all our readers to support this.

Sir Ben Bradshaw MP “The right technology can be truly life-changing”

George Howarth MP “We want better awareness that this is a major health issue”

Sir James Duddridge MP “Keeping diabetics out of hospital using tech saves money”

Virendra Sharma MP “We need everything to be on offer from the start”

Fabian Hamilton MP “This could not be more important than now”

Rupa Huq MP “Diabetes technologies... can transform people’s lives”

Thomas Derek MP “Diabetes tech will give you a better outcome”

George Howarth leads a chorus of praise for Exeposé’s attempt to raise awareness of type 1 diabetes for students across England and to support Diabetes UK’s campaign ‘Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait’. Along with six other MPs across the political spectrum, they have backed our appeal. Sir Ben Bradshaw, Virendra Sharma, Rupa Huq, Sir James Duddridge, Fabian Hamilton and Thomas Derek all urged our readers to support this campaign. Sir Ben Bradshaw, Exeter’s MP, said: “I’m really pleased to see that students in Exeter are getting behind this campaign. Access to the right technology can be truly life-changing and it’s important that this support is available no matter where you are in the country.” Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing Southall, also said: “I am delighted to see Exeposé and other newspapers working on this massively important campaign. Students up and down the country fair the same, often changing GP yearly, stuck between a term and a holiday address, less confident in their requirements and with developing needs. Patient access should not be a lottery; people across the country, whatever their age, whatever their gender identity, background or ethnicity, need treatment and access to the technology that keeps them healthy. In my own constituency of Ealing Southall, language is a barrier all too often, where not having English as a first language means

patients cannot ask for all they need. We need everything to be on offer from the start, not just to be made available to those in the know and those that ask the loudest and longest. Diabetes and associated complications cost more than 10 per cent of the whole NHS budget. Better care will save lives now, and save more in the future with spending able to go elsewhere.” Rupa Huq, MP for Ealing Central and Acton, said: “People living with type 1 diabetes should have access to new technologies that will allow them to better manage their condition. As someone with friends and colleagues who live with the condition, I know that diabetes technologies such as continuous glucose monitors and hybrid closed loop systems can transform people’s lives. These life-changing devices also have the potential to reduce long-term NHS spending on diabetes-related complications. I support investment in diabetes tech and I will

HOW TO HELP FUND

continue to press the government to address the wide variation in provision across the country.” Sir James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, told Exeposé: “As a type 1 diabetic, I am keen to support the understanding of being able to monitor blood glucose continuously and link this information to an insulin pump to manage the condition. Keeping diabetics out of hospital using tech saves money and saves lives. Diabetes is difficult to manage but you can lead a full life. I was a government minister, MP and marathon runner all whilst being a complex diabetic patient. Diabetes needs to be understood, not feared.” Fabian Hamilton, MP for Leeds North East, said: “The government must take full advantage of this technology that could help to assist all those that suffer from diabetes. As someone with diabetes, I know how monitoring glucose levels can be both time-consuming but also absolutely vital to our health. It’s important that Ministers at the Department for Health and Social Care fully explore the benefits of this technology, particularly on how it can save the NHS money. This could not be more important than now.” Thomas Derek, MP for St Ives, told Exeposé in an interview: “If there is a bit of kit out there which helps you manage your condition better, we are foolish not to make it available. Diabetes tech will give you a better outcome. Without these devices, we are distancing people to quite life-limiting choices and changes. I find that beyond irritating.”

International Ski season!

Antonella Perna discusses a major upside to the winter cold

Image: Flickr, Zach Dischner

IS the season... as the temperatures continue to drop, the air gets crisper and the breeze gets harsher, it’s easy to close your eyes and picture gliding through the Alps, cutting through blankets of fresh snow, making the cold weather worth it. Enjoyed by many internationally, skiing is one of the most popular snow sports in the world. The oldest skis prove that its origins trace back to 8000 years BCE (although ancient cave drawings have been found), but downhill skiing wasn’t invented until the 18th century. Although originally used as a method of transportation in the 1800s, skiing was popular as both a sport and recreational activity, and by the 1930s, people were skiing all around the world. This uptake in participation was aided by the inclusion of skiing in the Winter Olympics. Although

originally only nordic skiing was included in the first 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France, downhill skiing was soon introduced in 1936. Freestyle skiing was débuted at the Calgary Winter Olympics in 1988. Although the sport has a generally good reputation, its popularity has raised some sustainability concerns. Skiers can have a negative impact on the vitality and biodiversity of endemic wildlife species to the alpine habitats, and ski resorts tend to rely on heavy use of fossil fuels, resulting in greenhouse gases. However, many resorts are making an active effort to reduce their environmental impact, and those who do so run the possibility of being awarded by the National Ski Area Association.

Travel photographer of the year

landscapes and agriculture, the judges described both her portfolios as “engaging and rather beautiful”. You do not have to be an adult to enter TPOTY; there are categories devoted to promoting young peoples’ photography. Winners of the youth categories for 2023 were 17-year-old Lily Zhang (USA) with her photos of natural landscapes, and 14-year-old Zayan Durrani (USA) with his shots of volcanoes. Several finalists also find themselves in “runner-up” or “highly commended” categories. The prizes include fantastic exposure for the photographers. Winners receive “international media coverage, and their work features of the TPOTY webpage, their exhibitions, and their merchandise.

Israel-Hamas War

Sophie Arrol-Barker shares the disturbing updates on the conflict

ITIZENS on both sides of the Israel-Hamas conflict have been suffering since the attack on the 7th October. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 223 of their soldiers have lost their lives since the ground offensive against Hamas. According to the UN, Gaza is experiencing extreme food shortages, forcing a quarter of its population to suffer with starvation.

So far the war has displaced just under two million citizens of Gaza, expelling them in to already overcrowded and undersourced refugee camps. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 25,000 and over 60,000 injured. With only 42 per cent of Gaza’s hospitals functioning, many injured and vulnerable citizens are left at risk as they are not able to receive the necessary healthcare. Despite the striking num-

ber of fatalities and casualties in Gaza there continues to be a lack of comment on behalf of the Israeli government, as of the 26th January. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated: “We will continue to do what is necessary to defend our country and defend our people,” a comment which resulted in blame being placed on Hamas for the death of the Palestinian citizens.

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR: Josie Sharp

Red Sea crisis

Emily Elliott shares how rebel attacks are affecting one of the world’s most common shipping routes

OUTHI rebel attacks in the Red Sea have caused one of the most common shipping pathways to be considered too dangerous to use.   The Houthis are an Iran-backed armed rebel group that initially emerged from Yemen in the 1990s, taking control over its capital in 2014. The groups’ beliefs centre itself around the Zaydi branch of Islam, which considers Israel an enemy. The most recent attacks taking place in the Red Sea are linked to their strong support for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire for Palestine.   As announced by the organisation, any ships with Israeli links (whether owned, heading to Israel, operated by allies, or having goods aboard that link to Israel) are at danger of attack. On the 19th November 2023, the Houthis seized a commercial cargo ship partly owned by a wealthy Israeli, making it the first ship targeted. Since then, over 25 other ships have been struck by weaponry including drones, and through high-speed boats. With the US and Israel stopping the Houthis’ previous attempts through intercepting missiles, their impact on the Red Sea has caused huge financial waves. The Red Sea route

is a high traffic area, particularly for oil and gas, with 15 per cent of all seaborne trade travelling through, therefore ships are having to avoid the Red Sea route and having to divert across Southern Africa’s coastline at a much bigger cost due to the extra ten days of transit.

The UK and US have launched coordinated air/ naval strikes in Yemen In response, the UK and US have launched coordinated air/naval strikes in Yemen on Houthi targets on the 11th and 22nd January. These attacks follow initial warnings set out by the UK Defense Secretary on their willingness to use military force as a countermeasure against these attacks if they continued. It also follows a joint statement created by the governments of countries such as Australia, Belgium, the U.S, and the Netherlands, who all condemned the attacks. President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak have stated the attacks are due to the threat posed by Houthis to Trade, ‘freedom of navigation’, and the global economy.

Resurgence of Donald Trump

Anna Kane, Online News Editor, examines the competition to find the world’s best photographer

HE “Travel Photographer of the Year” (TPOTY) — set up by travel photographer Chris Coe in 2002 — is a prestigious global competition. Whether you have been working as a professional photographer for several years or just a beginner, your entries are welcome in this contest. Expensive equipment is not necessary; the website also encourages photos taken on mobile phones and tablets. The 2023 winners of the competition were announced this January, the finalists having been announced in December, and it is now possible to view the various winning images. Amongst the 14 winners, Andreja Ravnak, an architect from Slovenia, was selected as the “overall winner”. Ravnak’s photography examines

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

Henry Parker, Features Editor, discusses the expresident’s return to politics

to rematch current President Joe Biden this November. The twice-impeached former President appears to be the strongest candidate around, and whilst he marginally leads Biden in key battleground states, there are still areas of weakness. If he gets convicted, 47 per cent of RepubliT may be difficult to remember, but when can primary voters in New Hampshire said they former President Donald Trump launched would view Trump as unfit for office, and an Iphis re-election campaign, his hand-picked sos poll from last month suggests only a fifth candidates had all disappointed at of all voters would even consider votthe 2022 mid-terms, and being for Trump, demolishing any cause of Ron DeSantis’s chance of winning the general relative outperformance election. It is now a party of Trump, many votof populism, so perceived ers had begun seeslights against their figing him as the urehead only emboldens party’s real future the siege mentality, caus— “Trump withing the indictments to out the baggage.” galvanise Trump’s most 14 months later, committed supporters Trump’s baggage has whilst simultaneously laybecome heavier as the ing the foundations for ex-president faces four that support to be sliced. criminal indictments with Image: Wikimedia Commons Low vote counts in these pria total of 91 felony charges. maries could be proof of this false He has been judged as a civilly strength alongside the fact that all his elecliable rapist by a jury of his peers, as tion opponents refused to seriously attack him in well as having to pay US$83.3 million in damages the way that he attacked them. But it simply shows for defaming plaintiff E. Jean Carroll after the that allegiance to Trump remains the only worthfact. Yet Trump has just swept his second sucwhile currency in the Republican Party, which cessive GOP primary, for the first time in the has ensured his enduring popularity up to now. party’s modern history, putting him on course

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT RELATING TO RAPE WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING

JE — I love how you ghosted me after oversharing and cuddling like we were in love. Adore how you appreciate the look of yourself in the mirror. That thing you do with your eyes... So dreamy... So shifty... Please to whoever has a crush on this finalist Buisiness student in the future I must let you know that the liquidity of his assets... ahem... Just ain't there xoxo. Happy V day. - Anon

The blonde in the all girls Essex house on Mowbray Avenue. Her singing wakes me up joyfully every morning and I just want to get to know you better :)

I'm in love with TK, I want him to have my babies. - Liz

Bongo Kenny

- JS

- Anonymous

6ft something GOD. He looks like a mix between Jacob Elordi and Taylor Perez. He looked incredible in his Power Rangers cosName starts with an A. Really hot Italian girl, tume on Halloween. I think she's from the North (?). Also heard her - Anonymous speak Spanish to friends. Great fashion style. - Anonymous Nadia, I see you in my Law lectures all time and I think you're the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. Please take this as my formal proThe 10/10 blonde who was at Cavposal. ern but then she went to Vaults and now becomes a 3/10.

-H

- Greg D

Brown curly hair, short king, well groomed beard

Normally I turn to LinkedIn for my love interests but one lovely lady in Forum Marketplace has my caught my eye.She's always working the tills and I know she can give me a mature kind of lovin'. I buy a sausage roll everyday just to see her and sometimes our hands brush as I hand it over. I can't even read her name badge because I'm too nervous so please find her for me. - JH

- SO

Comment

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

COMMENT EDITORS Lisette Reed and Charlotte Zeyssolff

The government’s new attendance campaign

Harry Craig, Deputy Editor, examines the government’s new attendance campaign and its tone-deafness to primary and secondary school students’ lives

S any of us who endured the majority of the last two decades of our lives in the British education system will know, schools love to drill the importance of “perfect attendance” into children. I can remember countless assemblies reminding us of this; scary statistics about how our GCSE grades would drop substantially for every day we missed of school, and increasingly harsh sanctions for those with poor attendance records. In this vein, last month the government launched its new “Moments Matter, Attendance Counts” campaign, to reiterate the importance of children attending

school. Slogans such as “This morning he had a runny nose… but look at him now!” and “This morning, she was worried about school… but look at her now!” soon caught the attention of many on social media, who shared that they found these posters were frankly insulting, and suggested that children’s mental and physical health were secondary to the mere fact of being inside a school building. Of course, no one is suggesting that school is not important. Primary and secondary education is a vital part of childrens’ development, and the skills learnt in schools go far beyond simply taking exams. Parents taking children out of school for a

Image: GOV.UK

cheap family holiday, for example, is probably not the best use of term time. However, no child should sacrifice their own wellbeing for perfect attendance, and no parent should be expected to force their children into a school building when that isn’t what is right for them. This comes in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced nationwide school closures for almost a year across 2020 and 2021. This exposed the vitality of school for childrens’ development, as we can now see the devastating impacts a lack of in-person schooling has had, particularly for younger year groups. Conversely, however, the pandemic should have demonstrated that forcing children to come into school when unwell is a bad idea and can simply aggravate the problem by spreading infection and making children even more unwell. Worst of all, this latest government attendance campaign does not simply state that children should still attend school when suffering from a cough or a cold, but also demeans their mental health, particularly for those with autism, ADHD, and

Image:pxhere

other learning difficulties. Although school should be a safe space for all, we have to recognise that that isn’t always the case. Reducing childrens’ anxiety and stress around education to simply “This morning, she was worried about school” belittles children’s mental health. Yet again, therefore, this “Moments Matter, Attendance Counts” campaign is endemic of the performative tinkering that governments have historically used

This campaign is endemic of the performative tinkering

to tackle education-related issues. Rather than releasing posters that guilt-trip children into attending school, and parents into forcing them to do so, there should be a focus on why children cannot always attend. How can schools become safer spaces for children with learning difficulties? How do we make the education system more inclusive and less of a “kid prison”? How can we change the system so that children actually want to attend school, rather than having to be forced to do so? Answering these questions and more will do far more to solve the issues of school attendance than any performativeposter campaign ever will.

Reneé Rapp needs a break… not media training

Katie Matthews, Online Screen Editor, delves into backlash actress Reneé Rapp has faced on the Mean Girls press tour

ENEÉ Rapp has been accused of an apparent lack of media training after the press tour for Mean Girls (2024). The musical adaptation of the classic 2004 film has received mixed reviews, most claiming it wasn’t sold as a musical. Rapp’s wit during interviews has also been criticised, particularly in reference to comments on ADHD, queer identity and her general ineloquence. Her comments regarding Jo Koy’s failed speech at the Golden Globes have also been slated. Some rightly praise her for calling out unfeminist comedians. Others think she’s too direct, perpetuating the clichéd narrative of women as too much.

Some rightly praise her for calling out unfeminist comedians Rapp appeared on SNL on the

20th January, welcomed by former plastic Rachel McAdams. She then performed a sketch with Jacob Elordi who introduced her as his ‘lesbian intern.’ Some believe Elordi outed Rapp, who previously publicly identified as queer, but she, or her PR team, felt like this was the moment clarify Rapp is not your traditional straight white singer. During this, she snubbed back at negative comments, joking she needed “court ordered media training.” This kind of satire is reminiscent of early Jennifer Lawrence interviews, when her unpreparedness often became the narrative. I love how she is highlighting the disparities in the media’s comments on women purely speaking, but, unlike Lawrence’s celebrity character, I sense Rapp’s is genuine. The New York Times argues that the apparent lack of media training is a coy, to drive public attention to the musical

film, despite getting only 70 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes. Bill McGowan has stated that authenticity has been replaced by unhinged behaviour. Stars are the biggest commercial product that the film industry have to play with. Press tours are carefully planned, with every comical line, shot, awkward pause planted as a ploy to get us invested in not just the film, but in a fandom. A charismatic, attractive, idealised woman, like Rapp, has turned an abysmal musical adaptation into a classic.

Rapp has turned an abysmal musical adaptation into a classic When Rapp is so different to the mean girl she portrays, an interesting dichotomy between character and star is created, keeping fans interested.

The videos are circulating, and the SNL sketch most certainly helped. It’s important to note that Reneé gained recognition when also starring in the Broadway musical Mean Girls (2019-2020). This transmedial adaptation has brought Rapp with it, and consequently she has become synonymous with the Mean Girls franchise. Never underestimate the power of the star. Is it concerning that specifically Rapp has been called out for a lack of professionalism? Yes. Many celebrities including Harrison Ford and Elordi have been known for their direct interviews yet received far less criticism. Women will always be questioned for having personality. But it’s just publicity, and she doesn’t seem the type to run away from criticism. It’s about time someone broke the status quo. Reneé is refreshingly unapologetic, smashing the norm

of the homogenous celebrity. For whatever reason, misogynistic, homophobic, strategic or otherwise, the media won’t stop banging on about her, and box office sales have reaped the benefits. She’s not apologising for speaking, and neither should you.

Image: EvaSei6, WikimediaCommons

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

COMMENT

The fine line between cinematography and oscenity Comment writers debate the ethics of sexually explicit content in cinema

A provocative display authenticated as avant-garde?

An essential component of the cinematic experience?

HE portrayal of overtly sexual content in films and television shows is a complex matter that requires juggling artistic freedom with cultural standards and censorship regulations. It takes careful work to turn such material into something that is suitable for the big screen, so that it accomplishes more than just mere titillation. First and foremost, context matters. When sexual scenes add a great deal to the plot or character development, they are frequently acceptable. To understand this, one must look back over the history of sexual content that features in film and television. The 1960s were known as a time of sexual liberation, unleashing a wave of social and cultural liberation. This time period was commonly associated with significant changes in the liberties enjoyed by young people, including the partial decriminalisation of abortion and homosexuality in the UK (for those over 21) in 1967 and the introduction of the contraceptive pill for single women. In the 1990s and the first part of the 2000s, sexual liberty advanced even more as TV continued to push the envelope with graphic sequences and as the Blair government loosened censorship regulations, creating an environment where explicit content is now a hallmark of TV. Yet, in the modern day, as the industry brings in intimacy coordinators to manage on-screen closeness, there appears to be a growing trend towards modesty. However, a key example of a modern TV series that portrays authentic and nuanced explicit sexual scenes is the BBC’s TV adaptation of Normal People. Following a recent article written in The Telegraph, Paul Mescal, one of the stars of the show, hit back at a UCLA study

which showed that young people believe there is too much sex on TV. Mescal highlighted that sex on screen is “massively important… if we remove it, we’d be doing everybody a disservice.” Intimate scenes aren’t just included for show; they’re purposefully designed to further character growth and improve the story in this series. By ensuring that these scenes between Marianne and Connell were carried out with compassion and conImage: youviralart, Flickr sent, the intimacy coordinator’s involvement set a precedent for handling such content in the industry. The heart of Marianne and Connell’s relationship is depicted in these scenes: realistic, private moments spent together.

Intimate scenes aren’t just included for show The show’s thoughtful portrayal of intimacy contributes to its critical success and makes intimate moments extremely realistic and relatable for viewers. This demonstrates how, when handled with intention and care, intimate moments can elevate a story and become more than just acceptable — they become an essential component of the cinematic experience. Livvy Mason-Myhill, Editor-in-Chief

TUMBLING down the steps of staggered seats and emerging from Screen 4, a strange camaraderie formed between all of us spectators who had witnessed the genius and horror of Emerald Fennel’s psychological drama, Saltburn. Feeling dishevelled and still blindingly squinting to adjust to the brightness of the outside world, a collective wave of horror washed over us, as we digested the film’s perversion and infamously disturbing ‘grave scene.’ Before long, we were recounting our own interpretations of the audacious yet squirm-inducing ending to erstwhile strangers. In challenging sexually explicit boundaries involving bodily fluids and explicit male nudity, Emerald Fennel had instilled in us a sense of collective trauma. Saltburn has sparked controversy over the vulgarity of its sexually explicit nature which seemed to have been thrown in for dramatic effect. To me, they are integral to the whole point of the film. It is outlandish. It is skin-crawlingImage: Pexels ly satirical. But the use of explicit nudity and unashamed acts of fornication devoid of all romantic love is a theme that has become increasingly prevalent in cinema today, with the intention of stirring sinister discomfort. While in Saltburn’s case, the explicit

scenes are warranted by the whole twisted nature of the film, it joins recent films like Passages and Netflix’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover in acclimatising audiences with graphic and near scopophilic screen sex. Spectators have become desensitised to graphic and erotic thrill, characterising shocking visuals as symptomatic of cinematic genius, not dissimilar to the exhibitionist and painfully intimate artistic creativity of Tracy Emin’s My Bed.

Acclimatising audiences with graphic and near scopophilic screen sex It raises the question: at what point does the provocative and the ugly become avant-garde? Pushing sexual boundaries may spark admiration, albeit at the expense of viewers cringing for a couple of hours, but by ubiquitously exploiting carnality for cinematic effect, sex scenes are stripped of human temperament, eroding them of their significance to the characters’ development. The normalisation of aggressive sexual representations intended to shock rather than to portray romantic love, render them vacuous and frustratingly baiting for spectators, who, when the lights turn on, are left bewildered and with a residual metallic taste of discomfort.

Charlotte Zeyssolff, Comment Editor

Crazy little thing called love

Lucas Marsal considers the importance of Valentine’s Day for showing appreciation for loved ones

CCORDING to Forbes, in 2022 consumers in the USA spent roughly US$23.9 billion on Valentine’s Day gifts, with over half the population taking part in a day all about celebrating one thing — love. But is love really the focus anymore? Valentine’s Day, like many other popular holidays, has been heavily commercialised over the many years since its inception to the point that one has to question whether the original meaning of the day still holds any significance. With that bleak outlook in mind, why should we

still bother celebrating Valentine’s Day? To me, the answer is simple. Despite the perpetual marketing schemes and transformation of Valentine’s into a money-making machine, the message of the day itself is one that has only grown in relevance in the modern day. In a world that is full of distractions: social media; constant deadlines; endless talking heads on the news; celebrities; prestige Netflix dramas, it has become more important than ever to take a step back and show appreciation to the people we care about. Tak-

ing our loved ones for granted has become all too easy in our increasingly detached society and Valentine’s can serve as a useful reminder to tell them how much they mean to us.

Valentine’s can serve as a useful reminder to tell them how much they mean to us Furthermore, Valentine’s Day has merit beyond celebrating merely roman-

tic love. We could all afford to take cues from the recent Japanese development of giving ‘tomo-chocolate’ (friendship chocolate, spun off from the prior tradition of giri-choco) and use the day to show our love and appreciation for all those dear to us, whether that be in a platonic or romantic context. Ultimately, Valentine’s Day still seems worth celebrating to me given its value in reminding us to celebrate those who really matter in our lives. That, or maybe I’m just secretly a big softie for romance.

Image: Pexels

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

Satire The end of dry January

SATIRE EDITOR:

Rosie Peters-McDonald

Students versus the ELE chatbot

RY January has been like a Fever dream — you know the one where you’re stuck in the queue for the cloakroom only to find they’ve given your coat to the rah girl who used it to clean up her boyfriend’s sick? For years I have resisted the seductive croons of “who’s next?” from TP’s bar staff imploring me to exchange my weekly budget for a Venom. Alas, Dry January has not been all bad: my sleeping pattern has improved (no longer am I thrown out of my ex’s bed in the early hours of the morning when they wake up sober); my skin is clearer (without bruises or scraps from my drunken parkour), and I’ve had more time for hobbies (as I no longer spend my mornings tracing back where I’d been the night before or working out why there is a traffic cone on my kitchen table). Also, my hair is slightly longer than when I first started. Overall as Dry January comes to an end, I look forward to becoming my recovered self - with a plastic bottle of homemade squashka in hand — as someone who forgives and forgets (with emphasis on forgets). R a c h e l M c E w a n Image: Rawpixel, Jon Ayre

Delicious investment Florence New their questions, instead just re- anything to help. All I wanted was me a limerick about how usepeating itself and replying with my essay feedback and you couldn’t less ELE2 and the chatbot are? broken website links, always with even tell me how to access that. BOT: Of course! HE new ELE2 AI assisopportunity! a positive tone. This upbeat conBOT: I’m sorry I haven’t been There once was a tance chatbot has been

HILST business continues to boom on campus through its signature Pret coffees and Marketplace wraps, perhaps we students should consider cheating the system and growing our own fortunes. The answer is simple: Efes’ beloved kebab shop. The idea: strategise a plan to help invest in a brand-new clothing line. A new, fresh approach for the Turkish street food restaurant that we all love so much. A simple yet effective ‘I heart Efes Grill’ on a plain black T-shirt, available for purchase after a spending credit of £50 on chips and pitta in one term. £25 could grant a student a cap. £30 a pair of sliders. £100 spent over the space of a year and you could win a free plane trip to Turkey for the ultimate authentic experience. Even better if you already have a portfolio of experiences/interactions/contacts in Efes; regardless of your sobriety or the time of day, this opportunity will need a familiar face and some keen sales skills. Key design ideas would need to be marketed across important platforms: the Exeter Uni Instagram, TikTok, library walls, bathroom stalls. Perhaps even a collaboration with Stussy or Carhartt to get some insight on their professional advice. Then sit back head to toe in Efes merchandise and watch your commission grow, graduate from Exeter with a degree that you may no longer even need, and buy a house in the south of France.. Image: DeviantArt: 2bgr8STOCK

turned off just days after it was first introduced. After making the switch to ELE2, an AI chatbot was added to help students struggling with the new systems. To cut down on the queues at the Digital Hub, the chatbot was designed to make recommendations and point users in the right direction. Students quickly became frustrated when the chatbot was unable to answer any of

versation angered many users who began to lash out at the chatbot. One example got quite heated and shone a light on some of the flaws in the chatbot’s programming.

Replying with broken website links, always in a positive tone. USER: You’re just not doing

able to help you. Is there anything else I can do for you today? USER: Yes, actually. Can you tell me a joke about a useless AI chatbot that university students hate? BOT: Certainly! Why did the student use the useless AI chatbot for help with university work? Because they heard it was a great way to learn how to waste time efficiently and master the art of getting absolutely nowhere academically! USER: Now can you write

chatbot named ELE2, designed for university help, it’s true. But in aiding the masses, it caused more classless passes, now students just sigh, “What a to-do!” After this conversation was posted on the Overheard Facebook group, the option to speak to a chatbot mysteriously disappeared, with students now told to email for assistance.

Shopping didn’t arrive? We’ve got you Maddie Conlan Arts and Lit Editor

The end of the world will

1. The classic budget pasta.

bread is slightly stale from being

dawn on us the day the online

The staple of cooking with no

lost in the depths of the cupboard)

food shop fails to arrive. Cries

ingredient comes in the form of

and cover it with a sprinkle of

HEN the end of the

would be heard echoing over

the elusive, Michelin star-worthy

grated cheese and place it in the

world arrives on our

the suburbs at the pain felt by

meal of pesto pasta. Made with

oven for a true Italian experience.

doorstep it won’t be

those who had valiantly risen at

the finest tubes of penne and

3. The childhood nostalgia.

due to a nuclear war or a zombie

the break of dawn, more com-

mixed with a spoonful of pesto,

This delicious meal is one of the

apocalypse. It will come silently in

monly known as 9am, to collect

this meal has sustained students

toughest to master in terms of

the gaping hole of missing tea bags,

a delivery that will never arrive…

for generations. To spice up your

technical skill and ability. It will re-

Sophie Zoltowski in the empty shine of the depleted fridge, in the forlorn tube of card-

Students, and their infinite

life and embrace your adventurous

quire 20 minutes of your time, tin-

wisdom and lack of will to walk

side I suggest enhancing your meal

foil, and a tray. To create childhood

board resting on the floor cold and

to the shops, have mastered the

by swapping penne for spaghetti,

nostalgia, you will have to perfectly

afraid without its paper shroud.

art of making meals out of very

but I know that it’s sometimes not

cook, to a level just shy of burnt,

The gaping hole of missing teabags, ... the empty shine of the depleted fridge

little. I hope to enlighten you, in

worth it to change utter perfection.

smiley potato faces and chicken

your time of need, with some tasty

pizza.

nuggets. Once assembled add a

and cheap meals that have helped

Just spread a tiny bit of tomato

The

pitta

smear of the sauce of your choice,

students on their quest to be the

purée on a piece of pitta bread

be it Aldi ketchup or mayo, before

perfect mix of cheap and lazy.

(I find this works best when the

diving into your delicate cuisine.

LIFESTYLE

TECH

ARTS AND LIT

MUSIC

STUDY BREAK

SCREEN

Image: Dixie Srone

Image: Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ, Flickr

GUIDE TO GALENTINE’S AND GUYLENTINE’S

REVIEW: SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN

Images: Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

STUCK IN THE MIDDLE: HOLDING ABSENCE

21 Image: Junichi Yamashita, Flickr

A DIFFERENT TYPE OF LOVE

Image: Global Panorama, Flickr

AMAZON FINED OVER ‘EXCESSIVE’ SURVEILLANCE

STUDY BREAK

Image: The Blue Diamond Gallery

16 - 17

18 - 19

20 - 21

22 - 23

24 - 25

LIFESTYLE EDITORS Lucy Rawlings Amberly Wright

ARTS AND LIT EDITORS Maddie Conlan Lauren Walsh

MUSIC EDITORS Jake Avery Scarlett Cracknell

SCREEN EDITORS Emily Sara Rizzo Kayleigh Swart

TECH EDITORS Ewan Gregory Charlie McCormack

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Matthew and Livvy

lifestyle Guide to Galentine's and Guylentine's Sarah Gould reflects on how to celebrate Valentine's Day within platonic relationships

ALENTINE'S Day can feel like the loneliest time of the year for those who aren’t in a romantic relationship. With so much emphasis on the day to be celebratory between couples, it excludes other relationships that are equally important in people’s lives. Platonic relationships and close-knit friendships are just as significant as romantic ones, so why not use this day as a time to celebrate these relationships together? A typical Valentine’s evening for couples is to enjoy a meal together and perhaps engage in a fun activity, so why not do the same with your friends? You could go for a meal at a cute restaurant (Old Firehouse being perfect for sharing).

WITH SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON THE DAY TO BE CELEBRATORY BETWEEN COUPLES, IT EXCLUDES OTHER RELATIONSHIPS Or, if you’re on a budget like many stu-

dents, why not do a group cooking session ed to what is available at the cinema. You can at home? Pasta is an easy go-to for a group even avoid the romance genre for the night! If you’re up for a boozier night, why of friends and the trials of preparing not head out for a few drinks? the meal could lead to a great Revolutions offer a 2-for-1 bonding experience. As cocktail deal until 7pm for activities, bowling Sunday through to Frimay sound like a day. As well as Revs, cliché night out, Turtle Bay cocktails but a game of are always a good friendly comway to spend the petition may evening, with just bring you such a range availcloser togethable, including er and create mocktails for those new memories, who would rather perhaps even stay sober. Moreotraditions for othver, Batty Bingo’s Valer holidays! If you’re Image: Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ, entine’s special is on the not up for going out of Flickr 13th this year, so why not the house, a movie night take your group for a fun night out in can do just the trick. Grab those warm, fluffy blankets and treat your- before, and use the 14th for a cheeky recovself to your favourite snacks. With a range of ery day. As a group of singletons, you could streaming services available, you’re not limit- host a party for all of your friends to enjoy

a night together without the outside pressure of the commercialised day. Valentine’s Day will probably always feel like a huge weight, more so for those without a partner. This is the exact reason why appreciating friendships is so important, as they’re the ones who will stick by you. Even if there is a time where everyone feels coupled up, friendships will be there for you to not feel so alone. Image: Elif Tekkaya, Pexels

Solitude is powerful

Self-care is for all year

Kayleigh Swart, Screen Editor, discusses how to turn solitude into a form of self-discovery

Gracie Moore, Online Arts and Lit Editor, shares why self-care is an imperative, forever practice

NI can be a weird time in your life. Something is always happening no matter the day, you can always go out and find something to do. On one hand it’s great to have so many options, however if you don’t partake it can also leave you with massive FOMO. Despite this, I think having time alone and by yourself is an important part of the university experience too. Having time to yourself to chill out and be lonely makes those other moments even more special. So here are my top tips for being okay with being lonely.

HAVING TIME ALONE AND BY YOURSELF IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE Firstly, I like to give myself goals of things I want to achieve when I’m alone. Maybe you want to finish a book you’ve been reading, try out a new recipe or learn a new skill. Whatever it is, filling up your time with activities you want to do helps you to appreciate your time alone and look forward to it too. Your time alone shouldn’t just be spent on doing uni work. Another tip is to not put too much pressure on your-

self going out all the time and socialising. Many students fear that they are missing out if they aren’t putting themselves out there all the time but missing out isn’t something to fear. The uni experience is unique to each person and you don’t have to go out each night to have it. Even if you feel like you haven’t experienced enough during your uni time remember it’s only January, take your time, you have plenty of it. Being alone is so important and can be so good for your mental health. So don’t worry about feeling like you’re missing out, there is nothing wrong with some good old alone time. Image: Gerhard Reus, Medium

ELF-CARE can be difficult to turn into a consistent practice when many of us live such busy lives. Also, as students, feelings of guilt when we’re not studying is a real problem. But the truth is, we can’t be productive without rest and taking care of our mental and physical health. Managls ing these things alongexe ye, P Inou side our studies can n o is Mad ge: actually improve Ima our academic performance so why wouldn’t we do them? New Year’s resolutions aren’t just for January and implementing the goals over the rest of the year too will lead to better results. For example, a common New Year’s resolution especially at our age, is getting more sleep. Naturally, most of us lead very busy lives, trying to manage essays with society events and extracurriculars. We need more hours in the day in order to get more sleep and that’s just not possible. The truth is, we simply can’t

perform well without downtime and good sleep to supplement our day-to-day tasks. For this reason, sleep being the one example of many, making New Year’s resolutions a full-time habit is a mindset. It’s about trying to stop listening to the negative voice telling us to work harder and start listening out for the quiet voice that’s begging us to open a book for fun, turn on the TV, or simply turn the light out and go to sleep. Taking care of ourselves when we are sad, scared or angry is also important not just for us, but for the people around us who we are most likely to take our feelings out on. Recognising our own behaviours and responses to situations is a power move and the first step to making positive change. Speaking to ourselves like we would speak to someone we love is a form of self-care too. It’s time we worked on being nicer to ourselves, all year round.

exhibit

lifestyle

EDITORS: Lucy Rawlings and Amberly Wright

9 FEB 2024 | 17

How to upcycle clothes The Sunday reset craze Emily Rizzo, Screen Editor, advises readers on how to be more sustainable when it comes to our wardrobes

own handiwork and prefer a creative methIY outfits and creative side-hustles od allowing for mess-making, two options are getting more and more popular might draw your attention; scissors and/or online, with crocheting and knitdye. Whether it’s tie-dying that oversized ting, or fully designing your own clothes white tee you’ve never worn, or bleaching becoming a trendy hobby or even leading your boring old mum jeans, dying lets you to quite successful businesses. While some create intricate designs or just of the alterations you see on social that messy splash effect of media are destined to fail in Image: Wikimedia Commons colour which brightens the real world, tweaking your tired out clothes. and upcycling items is Taking up scissors is an easy enough proa much more risky cess and a great way business; much to spice up your like the impulse wardrobe without to cut your own letting the planet bangs, chopping or your bank balup your clothes ance pay the price. can look easier My personal, than it is and allow-effort, lowmost never goes commitment meththe way you expect, od for quite literally so maybe only put patching up worn-out your clothes under the clothing is to simply stick a blade as the very last resort. cloth badge on top. As a serial With enough creativity, anycloth badge collector, this kills two thing in your wardrobe can live a thousand birds with one stone, and is the easiest trick different lives before you share your last in the book. This might then lead you into farewell, and in experimenting and playthe world of sewing, which lets you cobble ing around you might just find a passion together anything your imagination desires. for a whole new hobby, so grab the nearest From decorative embroidery to fully tailorpiece of rejected clothing and get to work! ing a garment, being handy with a needle opens up even more upcycling possibilities. Of course, for those of us who don’t trust our

Katie Matthews, Online Screen Editor, tells us if Sunday resets are worth the hype

HE trend of the Sunday reset. This involves dedicating your Sundays to decluttering your mind, body and house. This can involve anything you think will clear your mind to get done including organising next week’s agenda, cleaning your room, taking the time to read a book, go for coffee with a friend, or do some art. The Sunday reset is a practice I would recommend anyone to pick up. It is also an opportunity to recharge your social battery. University life can be exhausting, by viewing your Sundays as entirely yours, and to reset the sleep regime, you might just make it to your 8:30.

THE SUNDAY RESET IS A PRACTICE I WOULD RECOMMEND ANYONE TO PICK UP For me, Sunday resets are invaluable. I wake up, I play dreamy 60’s music (extra points for 'Sunday Morning' by The Velvet Underground) and I let myself dawdle between each task. It's cathartic too, wistfully encouraging you to leisurely wake up, to drink tea without rushing to a lecture, to lay your bed, read your seminar materials, have an everything shower. It’s also a free habit to pick up, and only takes a little motivation. Unlike so many trends, this is completely attainable. Of-

Image: Amanda George. Pexels

ten people assume it means giving your Sunday away to the devil of housekeeping, but it only requires a few hours to reset. It also does not demand constant perfection, it practically encourages messiness in everyday life, to be upkept by a Sunday morning hoover, a trip to Morrisons, and a 90p Superdrug facemask. Let yourself be chaotic during the week, because that’s just how life is, but know by Sunday evening your room will be tidy, you’ll be relaxed, and you’ll be ready for another week.

IT ALSO DOES NOT DEMAND CONSTANT PERFECTION No university student has a plan for their Sunday. This is the perfect opportunity to cleanse your palette before the next week. Give it a try, you might surprise yourself.

Is the physical camera dying out?

Anabel Costa-Ferreira, Editor-in-Chief, shares her love for the digital camera

S time passes, it seems our desire to return to the past does not. Taking time to record moments in our life through taking photos and videos, the majority of us need only reach into our pockets to find a phone. Yet while technological advancements continue to make this easier and results scarily clear, phones are not the only way to capture a moment. Perhaps the result of a TikTok trend or desire to relive your childhood days, the digital camera is once again regaining favour. As a young child, I remember the sheer excitement receiving my digital camera. While I frantically went round the house taking photos of likely very mundane things, some may call that a waste of memory card space, I saw it as practice. This bright blue Fujifilm camera went with me on school trips, holiday and even saw the Pope at the time visiting Twickenham. However, like with most tweens and teenagers, the wonder of owning a phone took over and the digital camera returned to a miscellaneous drawer for many years.

Until August 2021 when packing for university I decided to take it with me, and while I did not use it all the time it was a fun way to capture memories (it even made its way to Fever once). As second year rolled around, I did not bring it back with me, but now I am in third year it has once again come back to Exeter. Current trends surrounding childhood nostalgia, mean many are returning to their nostalgic relationship with their cameras. Now while batteries are yet another expense to add to the budget, the cost of memories are priceless. When you use a digital camera, you can also argue you are more focused on the act of taking a photo itself, rather than just using another app on your phone. It is not simply taking the photos, but retrieving them forces you to take time to go through your photos as opposed to letting them get forgotten in your camera roll.

YOU ARE MORE FOCUSED ON THE ACT OF TAKING A PHOTO ITSELF, RATHER THAN JUST USING ANOTHER APP ON YOUR PHONE

THIS BRIGHT BLUE FUJIFILM CAMERA WENT WITH ME ON SCHOOL TRIPS, Personally, while I remain an advocate for HOLIDAYS, AND EVEN SAW the digital camera, I will typically reach for my THE POPE phone to take photos. The convenience of it

is undeniable and the availability of live photos is something that cannot be replaced. For those of you who prefer to use your phone, I would say to back them up as often as you can. Though, whichever format you choose to take your photos, the activity I would most Image:Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Image: pxhere

recommend is printing out your favourites. As while I did forget my digital camera's existence in second year, I still took plenty of great photos on my phone and have since turned them into a huge photo album filled with lovely memories I can one day look back on.

arts + lit “Knowledge under attack”

Lauren Walsh, Arts and Lit Editor, discusses the recent cybersecurity scandal at the British Library

T the end of October, users attempting to access The British Library’s online resources, such as its website and digital collections, were unable to do so, due to what the library termed a “technology outage”. It wasn’t until the 31st October that the British Library revealed that they had been the victim of a cybersecurity attack, which had involved the theft of personal details of its employees and readers. Ransomware group Rhysida have said that they were responsible for the attack and asked for a ransom of £600,000 for the library’s data, according to The Guardian. The British Library refused to pay and later the data (including employees’ passport details) could be found on the dark web.

ASKED FOR A RANSOM OF £600,000 FOR THE LIBRARY’S DATA 490,191 files were stolen and for 11 weeks the digital services the library provides have been unavailable, even deliveries from the Boston spa site to the London site were unable to take place. Furthermore, the financial impacts of the attack are

immense: it is estimated that the library will have to use £7m of its £16.4m reserves to recover from the attack, using up 40 per cent of its unallocated financial reserves.   On the 15th January, the main British Library catalogue and other important resources returned to the Library’s digital catalogue and on-site access to many of the special collections began again. However, the Library notes that not everything will function in the same way it did before the attack and “the processes may be slower and more manual than we’ve all been used to.” However, recovery is still ongoing, with some of the digital catalogue and the full range of resources at other sites still unavailable to readers and researchers, and the Library stresses that “that there are many further steps ahead.” Rhysida, the group which has claimed responsibility for the attack, have been active since May 2023, and are responsible for many similar cyber-attacks, with other victims being the Chilean army, the Portuguese city of Gondomar and the University of the West of Scotland. The British Library is one of the largest libraries in the world and is home to an

EUJO and Soul Choir — The Phoenix Rises 12th February, The Exeter Phoenix Come and watch the Anything Goes Funk Band, the Exeter University Jazz Orchestra and the Soul Choir perform at The Phoenix for what will be one of the funkiest nights of the year.

Shotgun Theatre — Carrie The Musical 15-17 February 2024, Barnfield Theatre A musical adaptation of Stephen King’s horror novel, Carrie follows outcast Carrie White in the lead-up to the school prom as she discovers she has telekinetic powers.

Shotlights — 48-hour musical 17th March, Kay House Join Footlights and Shotgun Theatre as they rush to put on a yet-to-be-announced musical production in only 48 hours!

estimated almost 200 million items, including Jane Austen’s writing desk, and puts on many events and exhibitions, for example, at the moment the exhibition ‘Fantasy: Realms of Imagination’, exploring the fantasy genre. For something like this to happen to such an institution is alarming to say the least. The Library’s Chief Executive, Sir Roly Keating, said it has been a “sobering couple of months”. This cyber-attack raises questions about the future of libraries in this so-called ‘Age

of Information’. One of the great things about libraries is that knowledge can be accessed and shared for free or for a small cost, and it is a shame that such a wellintentioned concept has come under attack in our increasingly digital age. In a statement on The British Library website, Keating says, “The people responsible for this cyber-attack stand against everything that libraries represent: openness, empowerment, and access to knowledge.”

Review: Singin’ in the Rain

What’s On! Lauren Walsh, Arts and Lit Editor, recommends upcoming shows by Exeter’s music and acting societies!

Image: Brewbooks, Flickr..

Maddie Conlan, Arts and Lit Editor, reviews Footlights’ latest show

OR me, and my eternal, nostalgic love of old Hollywood movies, there is little that tops the beauty of the 1952 film adaptation of Singin’ in the Rain starring Gene Kelly. Raised by a woman who loved old Hollywood, I watched this film countless times in my youth and I have always treasured this musical. It allowed me to fall in love with the glamour of the 50s, and Don Lockwood… To briefly summarise, Singin’ in the Rain tells the tale of movie studios, and movie stars, making the jump from the classic silent film, to the modern joy of the ‘talkies.’ The Exeter Footlights production of Singin’ in the Rain, which ran in the Northcott Theatre from the 24th to the 27th February beautifully brought to life the magic of this musical. I had the pleasure of viewing the show on a Thursday evening and was greeted with a bustling theatre that held an atmosphere of anticipation and excitement with beautifully designed programmes scattered around the room. The show opened with an overture from the band, which allowed for a showcase of their incredible musical talent before opening to our cast at the set of the movies. Throughout the entirety of the production, I was in awe of the cohesive sound of the band. While the music, singing and dancing were incredible, I was initially blown away by the costuming. The dresses, the hairstyles and even the shoes looked like they came straight out

of a 50s glamour magazine. I especially loved the costuming of both Lina Lamont (played by Poppy Line) and Kathy Selden (played by Hattie Govier). From their dresses to their hairstyles, I felt fully immersed in the 50s world of Hollywood.

Image: Dixie Srone

While Seb Tapp, who played the primary role of Don Lockwood, wowed audiences with his incredible rendition of the title song ‘Singin’ in the Rain’, especially when they created the effect of rain on stage, the standout for me was Geffen Katz-Kaye’s, playing the role of Cosmo Brown, rendition of ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’. The choreography and the vocals had the audience entranced and the number ended with a chorus of thunderous applause. The whole cast was overwhelmingly talented. This was showcased in the ensemble

sections of the musical numbers from both a singing and dancing standpoint. But it was the chemistry between our main lead Don Lockwood (Sebb Tapp) and both Lina Lamont (Line) and Kathy Selden (Govier) that kept the audience enraptured. The tense working relationship between Don and Lina contrasted against the tender love at first sight between Don and Kathy, which made for compelling relationship dynamics to root for, and to laugh at, throughout the production. Poppy Line was utterly hilarious in her depiction of squeaky-voiced Lina Lamont and had the audience in stitches throughout her rendition of ‘What’s Wrong With Me?’ The duet performed between Don and Kathy, ‘You Are My Lucky Star Reprise’, beautifully sung by Tapp and Govier, nearly brought a tear to my eye. I was so convinced by their chemistry throughout the production that I couldn’t do anything other than root for their success, both romantically and professionally. Singin’ in the Rain is a long production, but the sheer talent of the cast, and the talent and charisma of the male lead Sebb Tapp, made the time fly by. I especially adored the tap dancing and medley of songs that came just after the cast bows. I have had the joy of watching every Footlights production for the last three years and I can safely say that this one may be my absolute favourite. I can’t wait to see what this society comes up with for their term three show, Made In Dagenham!

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EDITORS: Maddie Conlan & Lauren Walsh

9 FEB 2024 | 19

A beginners’ guide to Romanticism Gracie Moore, Online Arts and Lit Editor, shares her favourite aspects of the Romanticism movement

Image: Royal Opera House, Flickr

OMANTICISM is an artistic movement that originated in Europe around the end of the 18th century. Placing emphasis on emotion and individualism as well as the past and the beauty of nature, the movement came about partially as a reaction to the effects of the Industrial Revolution which was focused on projecting society into a more modern era.

THERE IS ALSO A FREEDOM GRANTED TO THE ARTIST

Romanticism was a very formative movement for the acceptance of emotions like sympathy, awe, wonder and terror, making them seem more natural and important for the human experience. There is also a freedom granted to the artist which hadn’t been so visible in previous art movements. It can be argued that this was down to the social conflict that had been present in the lead-up to this movement gaining traction. Framed by the French Revolution at the end of the end of the 18th century and the Napoleonic Wars that persisted until 1815, artists craved a softer, more emotional form of art. I’d say my favourite piece of art from this movement is John William Waterhouse’s The Lady of Shalott namely because even without any context, the beauty and emotion of the subject in the painting is so detailed and complex. The painting used to hang at the top of the staircase in my Grandma’s house and when I was little (before I was into Romantic literature and all I read were Horrible Histories books and Tracy Beaker

special editions) I would stop on my way same name and even over two hundred years down the stairs and stand to contemplate THE ROMANTIC ART how the Lady of Shalott might actually be MOVEMENT FOR PROVIDING feeling and what had led to her looking US WITH PIECES THAT EVOKE distressed on a boat on her own on a river. SO MUCH EMOTION The context is that the Lady of Shalott lives isolated in a tower on the island of Shalott which is on a river that flows down later, the idea of doomed love can be felt by from King Arthur’s castle at Camelot. She many of us. Falling in love with someone that is only allowed to see the outside world cannot be had and feeling distressed at this. through its reflection in a mirror. I’m grateful for the Romantic Except one day she sees the art movement for providing reflected image of Lancelot, us with pieces that evoke a handsome knight and is so much emotion. On the desperate to look at him face of the Lady of Shalott, directly. The mirror cracks and the frustration and fear is a curse comes upon her. Her somehow simultaneously punishment is that she drifts tangible and the beauty of Image: Wikimedia downstream in the boat singing the human experience, albeit Commons her last song and dies before she not perfect can definitely be felt. reaches Camelot. She lets go of the Sorrow, framed by the beauty boat’s chain and this represents her truly of nature is such a clever oxymoron giving up on the life that she wishes she could that neatly reflects the idea of feeling have had, full of healthy love and happiness. pain in a world which doesn’t see you. It’s based on Tennyson’s poem of the

Romantic reads

Arts and Lit writers recommend their favourite romance books Just Kids ATTI Smith’s 2010 memoir, Just Kids offers a glimpse into the life of the formidable artist and singersongwriter and her relationship with photographer, Robert Mapplethorpe. The book, set against the backdrop of New York City, is an unconventional love story. The bond between Smith and Mapplethorpe is one that spans friendship, romance and the challenging relationship between an artist and their muse. The novel is a love letter to Mapplethorpe and depicts the experience

of two young romantics trying to make their way in a changing city. Smith’s lyrical prose beautifully depicts the experience of two kindred souls on a journey towards personal and creative fulfilment, and is a testament to the idea that love can manifest itself in many ways. In this case, love takes the form of a life-changing bond which transcends conventional labels. Just Kids is a memoir which I recommend to everyone, and a moving portrait of young love and artistic commitment. Maya Fernandes, Online Music Editor

Under A Dancing Star T is hard to deny the romantic essence of Shakespeare’s works. Laura Wood recaptures the romance of Shakespeare in Under a Dancing Star, a story based on Much Ado about Nothing, but through 1930s Italy. Following the story of Bea, who is given the opportunity to spend to the summer in Italy with her aunt, she comes across Ben, a young and arrogant artist. As the summer continues, their quick-witted banter together does not go unnoticed, nor does their growing admiration for each other.

Wood explores the boundaries of love in the backdrop of the growing tension of the possibility of war, and the rise of the extreme right around Europe. This romance novel has held a grip on my heart since. A light-hearted growing relationship in the darker undertones of Europe in the 1930s, Wood provides a perfect sense of living in the moment and holding on to it, before the moment ends. Phoebe Ozanne

Favourite fictional crushes

Arts and Lit writers share their favourite fictional crushes, just in time for Valentine’s Day

HERE are very few things readers love more than fawning over a fictional love interest, man or woman, with friends. In the spirit of Valentine’s being just around the corner we have asked for your weirdest, sweetest and favourite fictional crushes. Was the swoon-worthy love story between Elizabeth Bennett and Mr Darcy something that made your heart pound? Have our readers fallen in love with the new trend of fae romance? Here is a spotlight of our favourite crushes.

Connell Waldron — Normal People “The chain, the short shorts, the complete inability to communicate effectively” - MF Nate Hawkins — Icebreaker “He’s sporty, completely in love with the girl and would do anything to protect her.” - AN

Azriel — A Court of Mist and Fury “Tall, dark and handsome. What more could you want?” - AN

Death — Belladonna “He was just shadows and a flirty voice, but he had me giggling and kicking my feet” - AN Gilbert Blythe — Anne of Greene Gables “He is so patient and caring” - AN

Jo March — Little Women “Jo was not only my first fictional crush but in many ways a gay awakening. Despite being aware I was supposed to fall for Laurie, Jo was impossible not to love” - AN “Most of my crushes might as well have been fictional — can I put one of them” - AN

Dickie Greenleaf — The Talented Mr Ripley “He’s charismatic, rebellious and has great fashion sense” - CZ Image: Rawpixel

MUSIC Live review:Anything Goes Genre review: glitch pop Anna Kane, Online News Editor, looks at the Funk Band repopularised genre Scarlett Cracknell, Music Editor, reviews the recent performance by Anything Goes Funk Band (AGFB)

N the 19th January, The Old Firehouse was packed with those anticipating AGFB's first performance of 2024. Many, including myself, were afraid to leave the crowd as the stage area was constantly filled with spectators and the bar area piled with those breaking their Dry January vows. Throughout the night, I overheard those around me saying they hadn't seen it this busy since summer. And I believe that's because this is what the band brought: a summer soundscape to a cold, and what otherwise would have been depressing, January evening. The sheer breadth of their setlist stretching from Thundercat to Chaka Khan meant that the band were able to maintain the interest of both students and residents alike. When speaking to the band's drummer and MD Max Kroon, I asked what the band's favourite song to perform had been, to which he responded, "I can't speak for others, but my favourite song to perform is 'Blossoming' by Yakul. There are so many sporadic time and key signature changes that it requires everyone to be really attentive to what the rest of the band is doing." I would argue, however, that their attentiveness to what each other are doing on stage stretches far past this song. All 10 members of the collective worked seamlessly together, so much so that you would almost forget so many of them were onstage. With Jon Cushen on trumpet, Ella Craik on saxophone, Hayden Fletcher on trombone, Fran Robinson on piano, Ben Pringle on guitar, Liam Bannister on bass, Max Kroon on drums and two lead vocalists, Grace Hitchen and Gwen Subuh-Symons, there is the potential to overwhelm. However, each instrument had an opportunity to show its individual brilliance; the skilled performers were able to work in perfect harmony. It would have been easy to assume AGFB had never been separate rather than being formed at university. They were able to captivate an entire audience for the duration of the show; the crowd did not dwindle once. Their

consistency and stamina as performers can only be owed to their weekly three hour practices that I'm sure anyone would love to sit in on.

EACH INSTRUMENT HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW ITS INDIVIDUAL BRILLIANCE Mid-performance, we were also treated to a guest performance by Gil Westley who temporarily joined Liam Bannister on second bass for Thundercat's 'Them Changes'. Having photographed for AGFB throughout the night, Westley looked comfrotable with the band and played with incredible skill , something we have learnt to expect from his performances with Parasitic Mind. Despite AGFB's clear investment in jazz, the band were able to successfully adapt to their audience in reworking popular hits like Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy'. Whilst their other reworkings were incredibly impressive, they ended with a bang in their own take on Sophie Ellis-Bexter's 'Murder on the Dancefloor' — a song that has recently regained popularity as a result of the incredibly popular Saltburn. The song was so well recieved that "one more song" was begged for relentlessly. As such, AGFB chose to end on Cheryl Lynn's 'Got to Be Real', my personal favourite track of the night. The band let loose in feeding off the audience's energy; their comfortability on stage and with each other showed both just how deeply practised and skilled these individuals are. I'm sure I am not the only one desperate to hear them perform again, and our next opportunity is sooner than I had anticipated. AGFB will be the opening act for University of Exeter Jazz Orchestra and Soul Orchestra at SOULJO: The Phoenix Rises on 12th February! It should be another night to remember if their Firehouse performance had anything to go by, so be sure to check it out via FIXR or pay on the door.

Image: Scarlett Cracknell

ITH the dawn of technology came a new genre of music which is enjoyed around the globe. Electronic music (or ‘Electronica’) came about in full force in the early 1990s and remains one of the most appreciated music styles amongst youth culture today. Also known under the categories ‘ambient music’, ‘EDM’, and ‘noise music’, it is hard to distinguish the branches of electronic music from one another due to the music industry’s increasing reliance on digital instruments and technology. The genre, emerging in the UK around the time of jungle and trip-hop, was recognised as being distinct from both. ‘Glitch pop’ and ‘hyper pop’ have emerged as two of the most popular electronic music sub-genres, and their shared upbeat synthetic style makes it hard to tell the two apart. So, what exactly is glitch pop? Glitch is thought to have its conceptual and aesthetic origins in the movement and philosophy of futurism, a term coined by Italian painter Luigi Russolo in his 1913 manifesto The Art of Noises. Several of Russolo’s compositions were played by mechanical noise generators. Though other artists experimented with incorporating mechanical sounds into their music, glitch emerged as a distinct category in the 1990s in Germany and Japan with labels Mille Plateaux and artist Ryoji Ikeda exploring the genre. Where Glitch used to refer to music that em-

ployed distortions (such as skipping CDs and circuit bending), it’s now associated with the computerised splicing of samples from prior works merged with glitched beats and sounds that usually stand in for percussion. Crystal Castle and HEALTH’s 'Crimewave' gives you a good sense of the glitch scene. Hyper pop is a slightly more modern variation of glitch, coming into prominence in the UK in the early 2010s. Also known as “bubble gum pop”, it’s essentially an amplified version of typical pop music. The genre makes the most of synthesisers, pitch shifters and autotune to create “brainworm” pieces of music (think that soundbite from TikTok you can’t get out of your head!). Probably the most iconic hyper pop artist is Charli XCX — the first time I ever went to a concert (Taylor Swift, of course), Charli XCX came on as a support act and was very distinctly hyper pop! Another artist newer to the scene, PinkPantheress, and her Heaven Knows (2023), is a perfect example of the subgenre. Glitch and hyper pop are of huge importance to the British dance and rave scenes. Electronic music in general has had a groundbreaking effect on the music industry as you no longer need to have ability with traditional instruments to express yourself creatively.

Images: Flickr

Release radar: 'eat me alive' Maya Fernandes, Online Music Editor, reviews Alessi Rose's newest single 'eat me alive'

ONDON-BASED indie pop singer, Alessi Rose and her coming-of-age anthem ‘hate this part’ released her latest single, “eat me alive” at gained her a significant following on social methe end of January. The tune expresses the dia last year. The 20-year-old performed her up-and-coming artist’s feelings in the first live shows supporting Ella Jane on midst of an all-consuming crush and her 2023 tour and it looks as though will leave fans of Gracie Abrams she is destined for a huge year in and Olivia Rodrigo very much 2024. Rose’s new single is set to satisfied. I first discovered Alessi feature on the Radio 1 ‘Future Pop’ Rose online when the marketing list and she has been announced campaign for her new single went on the lineup for her very first viral on TikTok for its associations festival, Latitude. Despite only putwith Euphoria and Saltburn star, Jacob ting out three songs on Spotify thus Image: Pickpik Elordi. However, upon further research, far, it looks like the songstress is one to the singer-songwriter perfectly encapsulates feelwatch in the coming months; hopefully there ings of teenage fantasy in her début 'say ur mine' will be plenty more music from her this year.

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music

EDITORS: Jake Avery and Scarlett Cracknell

Stuck in the middle

'Hiss' versus 'Bigfoot' Malik Awotorebo pits two of the biggest rivals head to head with their latest singles... Megan Thee Stallion — 'Hiss'

N the most recent single from the indie artist, she is independent now after all, and H-Town Hottie, Megan Thee Stallion, she continues her serpent-themed tirade. This time with sharper fangs and seemingly with more violent venom. Where 'Cobra' was more confessional and electric guitar-filled, Megan returns to her usual bouncy piano beat by LilJuMadeDaBeat to deliver a scathing diss track directed at whoever it applies to. "I just want to kick this shot off by saying fuck y’all”; in a similar vein to ‘NDA' ’(opener to her latest album, Traumazine), Megan addresses her haters/Tory Lanez groupies/misogynists/hypocrites/… (am I missing anyone?).

Minaj participates in conspiracy with 'Bigfoot'

ISS Minaj has taken the metro out of Gag City, and gone searching for the famous creature, Bigfoot. A product of her most recent slew of Instagram livestreams and tweets (mostly directed at Megan Thee Stallion). It’s almost impressive how hard Nicki has fallen off the horse with this new song, which she attests is not a diss track yet a picture of Megan in tears accompanies the announcement tweet. This is a song where Nicki disses Megan’s Grammys (Nicki Minaj has none); accuses Megan of lying about getting shot (it’s court-proven that Megan was shot by Tory Lanez), but still references her “fractured foot”; Images: Eskil Olaf Vestre, NRK P3, TamTam7683, Flickr

Megan has always shined when she forgets the frivolities of trying to make a pop-rap track and just lays verse after verse of heat; stomping on people’s necks. And while Meg could switch up her flow more often, she reminds us that she is above potty-level lyrical work and meme-y one-liners. She’s not even competing. With disses so good (“these hoes mad at Megan’s Law") that it reduced Nicki Minaj (self-reported Queen of Rap) to rhyming foot with foot thrice on an Instagram Live. I eagerly await Nicki’s pulled-together response, but lest we forget snakes usually hiss before they actually lunge for a bite.

alleges she’s had plastic surgery; alludes to her humping a minor — she’s one to talk having lap danced on a minor during a concert. The track then strips down to a spoken (sometimes whispered) word piece. The music cuts out during the last 1.3 minutes of the track, so she can threaten Megan further and thank her Barbz (who are actively doxxing individuals who speak ill of her). Spewing unbacked musings like a bully, this track is just low, worrying, and badly-written (“shit’ll get dark like chocolate”). Nicki can say all she wants, but what Megan has on her is what she’s said is unequivocally true and that has clearly phased her.

9 FEB 2024 | 21

Jake Avery, Music Editor, brings to light the poignancy of Holding Absence's lyrics

S of late, there have been very few artists that have illustrated the importance of self-reflection as effectively as Holding Absence. The tenets for excellent melodies are written into the Cardiff quartet’s DNA — Lucas Woodland’s stratospheric vocals and Scott Carey’s striking guitar chops to name a couple — but the band’s real allure lies within their lyrics. Like with most music, this component can either make or break a song, but with Holding Absence, every line is articulated with a vulnerability and honesty that is as nourishing as it is critical. Their latest album, 2023’s The Noble Art of Self-Destruction, serves as another dive into a plethora of complicated emotions, and the turmoil that can brew beneath. The band elaborate on the feeling of being frozen between events in a constant stasis. ‘Liminal’ embodies this struggle, the narrator crying out "every time I turn a corner I am stuck" and that they exist in "the space between time and the time between spaces", a plateau that everyone

can relate to given the constant unravelling of life’s goals and challenges, both aspects that can feel never-ending given the fact that every ending leads to a new beginning. Woodland’s phenomenal range projects these lyrics with the dramatic breadth they deserve, but what makes these observations so insightful, paradoxically, is their banality. Much like anthemic track ‘In Circles’ from their previous album, the attention brought to some of the mundane, ritualistic aspects of life is what elevates the cathartic release of the song even more. The lyrics ponder over the helpless feeling of life being cyclical, the chorus focusing on the narrator’s acute awareness of "the hum of the earth just spinning around" as everything else around them feels like it’s moving towards something meaningful. The relatabilty of Woodland's lyrics has always been one of the strongest attributes of the their music — and it's certain that the band will continue to harness these themes with their phenomenal musicianship and creative muscles in the future.

Images: Sven Mandel / CC-BY-SA-4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Music in motion

Images: Dorothy Finley, WFUV Public Radio; Sarah Burns, Flickr

Sarah Gould journeys into the unison between music, walking and reading

LIFESTYLE practice that I incorporated into my everyday routine last year, and intend to keep up in 2024, is to make sure to go on a walk every day. It sounds trivial, I know, and I may not entirely stick to it when the weather is atrocious but it was a task that made me feel better. Sometimes these walks will be with my friends and family, but most of the time I like to take them by myself in order to clear my mind. Of course, I rarely cannot do anything without music in the background, and these walks are no exception. My playlists for these journeys usually differ, but I always like to start them off with a bit of Talking Heads, and what better song to begin than ‘Road To Nowhere’.

Depending on my mood, this can range from the early version to the remastered up-tempo track. Believe me, go give them both a listen, there is a significant change in the vibe, despite the lyrics being the same. Once this song is over, I sometimes decide to keep to Talking Heads. If my walk is in the evening time, I like to make my way up to a high spot of terrain and watch the sunset (when the overcast permits), listening to my favourite song of theirs, ‘This Must Be The Place’. However, on some of my treks, I also enjoy listening to SZA’s album SOS. The pure length of the album allows me to walk for a long period of time without worrying about changing my playlist. Many of the

songs also have a fast beat, which makes me feel confident when I walk. Another lifestyle practice I incorporate into my routine is to read for at least 20 minutes a day. Being an English and Creative Writing student, it is sometimes a struggle to get the motivation to read for pleasure when there is such a high volume to read for the course. That’s why I set a time, usually in the evening or in the early morning, to read a book for pleasure. To accompany this activity, I usually enjoy listening to tracks that

don’t contain any lyrics, so that I don’t get distracted when reading. It may sound silly to some, but I love to listen to the Bridgerton soundtracks. This is because they take modern songs and perform them in a classical tone, stripping them of their lyrics. It’s nice to listen to the familiar notes of the tracks, such as ‘Bad Guy’ by Billy Eilish and ‘Material Girl’ by Madonna. I begin with the first season's soundtrack and once the 20 minutes is up, and if I’m motivated to keep going, I then move on to the second series playlist. However, the two playlists are not very long in their own respects, and so I will usually change to some tracks by Mac Demarco. Demarco has an entirely instrumental album, Five Easy Hot Dogs, that despite having no lyrics, it is still distinctively his craft as the instrumentalisation proves. I thoroughly enjoy all of Demarco’s music, and so when a friend of mine recommended his instrumental tracks to have in the background when reading or doing creative writing pieces, I was excited to give the album a listen. It’s been a part of these lifestyle practices ever since.

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screen Oscars buzz

Henry Parker, Features Editor, discusses the recent Oscar nominations

HE 96th Academy Awards are only a month away, so it’s time to look at some of the surprise nominees and likely winners of this year’s Oscars. Starting with Best Supporting Actress and Actor, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, from The Holdovers, and Robert Downey Jr., from Oppenheimer, are the most secure favourites of the evening, having already picked up multiple awards for their performances. These two films have also had a similar stranglehold on Best Actor, with Paul Giamatti and Cillian Murphy each vying for the top spot, though my feeling is that Giamatti will take home the statue, despite my preference for Murphy. This year’s controversy has come in the Best Actress category, with Barbie star (and producer) Margot Robbie missing out. Anatomy of a Fall lead Sandra Hüller was recognised instead, despite not being nominated by SAG (Screen Actors Guild), which continues the Academy’s recent trend of showing love to films featuring foreign languages. Hüller didn’t manage that coveted double nomination with Supporting Actress though, meaning Barbie fans can take some consolation in America Ferrera getting the nod instead, which was no guarantee after not getting SAG-nominated either. Americans Greta Gerwig and Alexan-

der Payne both missed out on Best Director nominations, in favour of more international recipients — the French Justine Triet and British Jonathan Glazer, whose film The Zone of Interest is therefore my pick to win Best International Feature. Though it is the transatlantic dual citizen, Christopher Nolan, who is now the sure favourite to take home his overdue Oscar win. Co u nte r i nt u i tively, Payne’s absence from Best Director leads me to believe that he’s going to win Best Original Screenplay for The Holdovers, though he is still in tough competition with Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall which may still take it. With his 54th nomi-

nation, John Willams got in ahead of Daniel Pemberton, for Spider-man: Across the SpiderVerse, for Best Original Score. Regardless, Ludwig Göransson’s Image: Walt Disney Television, Flickr astonishing score for Oppenheimer will likely net him another Oscar. Oppenheimer is the favourite to sweep with its 13 nominations, leading in Best Sound, Best Cinematography and Best Film Editing. The film best placed to force some upsets is Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things which has the secondmost nominations. Emma Stone has the momentum to win Best Actress for her performance in this film, usurping Lily Gladstone in Killers of the Flower Moon, but

OTP and NOTP W

its ultimate success or failure may rest on whether the Academy is wholly willing to come on board with the film’s insanity, like it did with Everything Everywhere All at Once last year, or if it will instead succumb to the overwhelming power of Oppenheimer. This year’s juggernauts will also battle it out in Best Adapted Screenplay, with the notable exception of Killers of the Flower Moon. American Fiction has an outside shot of winning, though I would imagine Barbie will find success here. Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach both deserve an Oscar by now, but failing that, Barbie is still the clear favourite for Best Production Design and possibly Best Costume Design as well. I’m favouring Godzilla Minus One for Best Visual Effects, and The Boy and the Heron over Spider-man: Across the SpiderVerse for Best Animated Feature. I think Maestro will win Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Billie Eilish will net another Oscar for Best Original Song, though if ‘I’m Just Ken’ wins here then the night will be perfect regardless of whatever else wins. Lastly, my pick for Best Picture, which is also my favourite film of the year, is of course Oppenheimer. Uncontroversial I know, but by the 10th March we will know whether this will be a year of destiny, or a year of surprises.

Screen writers talk about their One True Pairing (favourite ship) and Not OTP (ships that shouldn’t sail)

HILE I could have written an entire article about any of my favourite on-screen couples, I can’t help but write about the Doctor and Rose Tyler from Doctor Who, one of my all-time favourite on-screen couples. Rose Tyler (played by Billie Piper) was introduced as the first companion of the NuWho Doctor in 2005. She was the companion for both the Ninth Doctor (played by Christopher Eccleston) and the Tenth Doctor (played by David Tennant). Tennant’s Doctor was when series producer Russell T. Davies decided to flourish the romance between the pair. Rose is incredibly significant to the Doctor’s persona as well as the modern-day show’s DNA. Rose was the one who restored the Doctor’s humanity when it was lost during the Time War, showed him compassion, taught him how to love, and ultimately helped pull him out of his lowest moment. The most heartbreaking part of their relationship is that they could not be together. Rose was determined to be the Doctor’s companion forever. She had a complete understanding and connection with the Doctor. In series two, the Doctor asked Rose “how long are you going to stay with me?”, to which Rose instantly replied “forever”. Rose was also determined to leave everyone she knew and loved behind to continue travelling space and time with the Doctor. The Doctor’s love for Rose is also greatly reflected. In ‘The Christmas Invasion’ episode in series two, one of the most poignant scenes that always brings a tear to my eye is the accompanying commentary for that episode (‘The Christmas Invasion’ by Jenny T. Colgan on audiobook), which explains that after the Doctor pulls a Christmas cracker with Rose, she opens the party hat stating “it’s pink! Mum it should be yours” then commentary continues: “’it wasn’t pink’, thought the Doctor, ‘it was Rose’” as

he stares lovingly at her. That to me was true love. ITH Valentine’s Day quickly apAs a big fan of the show, one of the most devasproaching, I’m taking the time to distating episodes of Doctor Who, ‘Doomsday’, further cuss less-favourable relationships on exaggerates the love shared between Rose and the screen. In other words, I’ll be talking about the Doctor. They become separated in different uni- lesser known ‘NOTP’, meaning ‘not true pairing’. verses, meaning that they could no longer live out While many pairs sprung to mind for this their dream of spending the rest of their lives with article, the relationship between two particueach other. The Doctor expends the energy of two lar film characters haunts me: Severus Snape suns in order to bid Rose farewell in a hologram. and Lily Potter. Anyone who has seen or read He doesn’t even have the chance to get the words Harry Potter is aware that the pair never end “I love you” out before the hologram cuts out *cue up together, but some fans still remain captimore tears*. After they were separated, the Tenth vated by their story, or what could have been. Doctor was never the same. He was consistently My family rewatches the Harry Potter sehaunted by the devastating loss of Rose. When they ries every winter, as a Christmas tradition, reunited in series four’s ‘The Stolen Earth’, Rose man- and the films are very close to my heart. Every aged to cross over to the Doctor’s universe. There year, one question always agonises me. How was only a brief moment for their happiness though does anyone sympathise with Snape’s obas it becomes even more devastating in ‘Journey’s session over Lily? The films present Snape End’ in which Rose chooses to be with the Meta- as particularly sympathetic, with his infatuaCrisis version of the Doctor, leaving the real Doctor tion over Harry’s deceased to continue travelling alone and broken-hearted. mother somehow excusAlthough this on-screen couple don’t techni- ing his horrific behaviour. cally get their happy ending, I love that they both While the film scenes loved each other so much that they had to let each depicting their childhood other go. They also never forgot one another, with meetings are admittedly the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Doctors both refer- adorable, with Snape introencing Rose and her impact on his character. Their ducing Lily into the magilove story is both beautiful and tragic and I love to cal world, the development think that the Fourteenth Doctor hopefully tried from a childhood crush to to reunite with Rose. Despite being separated by a deprecating obsession different universes that neither can cross, their is alarming. This obsession love for each other never faltered. I read an article spirals into hatred for her once that said something along the lines of: Rose son, whom he treats horImage: Marcus Quigmire, Wikimedia Commons fell for the Doctor, but the Doctor plummeted for rifically. Snape spends all of Rose. I will always find that is incredibly touching. Harry’s childhood purposeLivvy Mason-Myhill, Editor-in-Chief fully tormenting him and

his friends, harming their academic lives, putting them into dangerous positions, and so on. In one film, Snape takes particular delight in intruding Harry’s memories, under the disguise of ‘helping him’. And yet years of unprofessional behaviour, bordering bullying, are excused by his ‘lovesick’ nature, with Harry even naming his son after Severus. Lily is portrayed as being a kind, gentle, and incredibly moral woman. While her actual love interest, James, may have been a bit arrogant, Snape was a genuine Death Eater, until Lily’s life was threatened, and he decided to switch sides. I cannot fathom how anyone can sympathise with his character, or even worse, believe the pair to be an ‘OTP’. Isabel Bratt Image: mirror of erised, Flickr,

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EDITOR: Emily Sara Rizzo and Kayleigh Swart

screen

9 FEB 2024 |

“This diabolical fuckfest of a puzzle” Joshua Smith, Deputy Editor, shares his thoughts on Yorgos Lanthimos’ newest release, Poor Things

THIS ARTICLE CONTAINS CONTENT RELATING TO SUICIDE WHICH SOME READERS MAY FIND DISTRESSING

QUALLY phantasmagoric and elegiac, warped and disturbing, the tale of Bella Baxter is a frolicking, daring rigmarole of creation, invention, political and sexual enlightenment, all told through the singularly strange eye of one of the most innovative and peculiar directors working today. The protagonist of the tale is Bella Baxter, formerly known as Victoria Blessington, a woman who has killed herself by throwing herself off a bridge. However, her body doesn’t float long in the river before it is recovered by Frankenstein wannabe Dr. Godwin Baxter, who, realising she’s pregnant with a live infant, has the wonderful idea to take the brain of the unborn baby, and put it in Bella’s head, thus the body of Blessington is merged with the mind of her child, and Bella Bax-

ter is born. The film begins as Godwin’s (referred to as ‘God’ by Bella), protégé Max McCandless is invited to study and take notes about Bella’s progress, the rest tracks Bella’s unstoppable journey towards independence, and thus political and sexual enlightenment. If you’ve ever seen anything by Lanthimos before, especially 2009’s Dogtooth, you will not in the least be surprised by any of this. Unlike the Alasdair Gray novel the film is based on, which is quite distinctly set in 1880s Glasgow, the film doesn’t have a clear date or location. Rather, Poor Things is situated in some ornate and fantastical part baroque, part steampunk world of luminescent skies and Lynchian eccentricity. In other words, it exists in its own time, and, like any imaginary world, plays by its own rules. We are, however, while mesmerised by t h i s undis-

Image: The Tab

guisable place, drip-fed a quiet existentialism which centres around one thing: what is it to be a human? All the places, Lisbon, Alexandria, Paris, are both somewhere and nowhere, everyone she meets are someone and no one, and as Bella navigates what the Don Juan imitator and admirer of Bella Duncan Wedderburn calls a Image: Vue Cinemas; creative commons “diabolical fuckfest of a puzzle”, she proves too wild, dissatisfied, underworked and overthis. Bella, called back home because of Baxter’s sexed for life as he searches for meaning in terminal illness, is ready to settle back down this ever evolving, pulsating womb of a land. again for marriage to McCandless, returning to a We must watch Poor Things the same way simpler kind of life after all her adventures. Howwe read Kafka, as a comical exploration of the ever, they get as far as the altar before the hussilliness of life. The narrative thrust of the film is a band of her previous avatar, the one that drew parody of a romantic melodrama, as Bella skips her to suicide, appears to “take her back home”. from the gentle, innocent McCandless to the The disciplined cruelty of this character makes perverted and horny Wedderburn, to a Parisian everyone else appear saintly, but at no point do sex house throughout her adventures, stopping, we doubt that Bella will power her way through while lying next to Wedderburn, after what she the plight and not let anything get in her way. calls “furious jumping” to ask “why don’t people There is so much more to say about this do this all the time.” And this isn’t some bout of film, but little space to say it. It is so many friskiness, but an intrinsic part of the comedy of things, yet, this larger than life spectacle is appetites driving Bella’s hunger for experience. really all about its larger than life protagoThe whole film attempts to test Bella’s progress nist, and begins, and ends, with her, in all to the extreme. The ending, without giving too her beautiful, unstoppable, inimitable ways. much away, adds fine surprises emblematic of

A different type of love Emily Elliott celebrates platonic love in The Imitation Game

ALENTINE’S Day is quickly approaching, and, as usual, it seems that every shop window is filled with cards for your partner, deals on meals for two, and flurries of pink and red balloons. Our TVs will undoubtedly be filled with romantic films: When Harry Met Sally, The Notebook, and Romeo and Juliet. Whilst all these characters deserve their moment on Valentine’s Day, platonic love is not to be neglected either. The Imitation Game, a thriller/ war film starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Keira Knightley, touches briefly on the value and excitement of romantic love, but platonic love as a force of support, change and acceptance reigns supreme throughout the film. This film followed Turing’s school days in 1928, his work at Bletchley Park from 1939- 45 and his arrest for gross indecency in 1952. Most famously, Turing was famous for decoding the encryption of the German Enigma machines (coded Nazi messages) in the Second World War, and is regarded by many as the most important victory in the war in which the Allies were able to prevent many attacks. Perhaps the most striking demonstration of platonic dedication is Joan Clarke’s unbothered response when Turing tells her he is gay. Given the context of the film, during the Second World War, homosexuality was highly taboo. All sexual activity between men fell under the catchment term ‘indecency’ and could result in long prison sentences/ dismissal from the army, and medical abuse through chemical castration (which Alan Turing received). As a result, it would not be inconceivable for Joan to react negatively, or spread the news given the pressure from the legal authorities. So, audience members held their breath. After much painful consideration, Turing said: ‘I have something to tell you. I’m…I’m a homosexual’, Joan Clarke’s simple response was ‘Alright’, going on to assure him

Image: Junichi Yamashita, Flickr

that ‘We’re not like other people. We love each other in our own way, and we can have the life together that we want. You won’t be the perfect husband? I can promise you I harboured no intention of being the perfect wife’. Joan was prepared to sacrifice true romantic love for their bond and career. In one of the last scenes, Joan visits Turing. She has a husband and a job, which Turing terms indications of a ‘normal life’, of which he is clearly envious of. It’s a sad scene, Turing in a process of chemical castration that is affecting his bodily movements, and there is a real sense of loneliness and ‘rock bottom’. Joan’s mutual respect and support for Turing is shown to be unwavering over many years, as she responds ‘I went on a train that went through a city that wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for you. I bought a ticket from a man who would likely be dead if it wasn’t for you. I read up on my work… a whole field of scientific enquiry that only exists because of you. Now, if you wish you could have been normal…I can promise you I do not. The world is an infinitely better place precisely because you weren’t’. The bittersweet truth is that Turing’s life has not been one characterised by romantic and familial love, but his vastly important career as a logician, cryptoanalyst and mathematician has been entirely fulfilling, which Joan reminds him of in this heartwarming and affectionate sentiment. Joan is the only source of long-standing support Turing has in this film, and her presence creates depth and dimension in Turing’s life that would otherwise be absent. Her dedication and commitment should absolutely be commended this Valentine’s Day, as should their relationship as an example of a great platonic relationship on the silver screen.

TECH British inventor fighting Apple in US Patent Office

Emily Elliott outlines the legal battle that could be worth $18 billion

ATRICK Racz, founder of Smartflash, is claiming his ideas were stolen for the creation of iTunes and that this new technology has been used in almost every Apple launch since 2003. Patrick Racz is a British inventor and entrepreneur who grew up on a strawberry farm in Jersey. Notably, he was responsible for the first invention and patent of a ‘Triflow’ tap and water purification system in 1989. After accepting a buyout, he later went on to focus on creating solutions to problems of illegal downloading. On his website, Racz claims that a key technology partner he was working with disclosed details of Smartflash to Apple, with close ties to Steve Jobs. In his patent battle, he claims that Apple stole the file sharing and payment system for iTunes he had created. Racz has previously spoken of the "period of deep depression" this led to.

HE CLAIMS THAT APPLE STOLE THE FILE SHARING AND PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR ITUNES He was awarded $533 million in damages from Apple by a US court in 2015, which was an incredibly unlikely victory for a solo

inventor. Unfortunately for Racz, the decision was later overturned after the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board deemed his patents invalid, due to being "too abstract", followed by further loss as Apple appealed in commercial courts. Since then, he has also lost his own appeals, despite claiming that his own developed technology has been used in every Apple model device since 2003.

Image: atmtx. Flickr

THE US PATENT TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD DEEMED HIS PATENTS INVALID He has faced serious backlash online among Apple fans, including death threats from anonymous people via email, as well as the bullying of his children by their peers. This is following beliefs by Apple fans that Racz is a "patent troll". Racz is not giving up on his fight. Most recently, he has been looking to sue the US Patent Office for refusing to disclose uncensored emails and documents that he believes prove his intellectual property has been stolen. In response, Apple just referred to a previous statement, which said: "Smartflash makes no products, has no em-

ployees, creates no jobs, has no US presence, and is exploiting our patent system to seek royalties for technology Apple invented." Racz is not deterred by this, and is looking to spread the news of his fight through an autobiography he has written, Smartflash, alongside an Amazon documentary on his life

and career so far. As well as this, he is backed by the financial support of private investors in his legal battle, who are promised a share of any reparations, and are therefore highly motivated to see him win. As a result, it’s safe to assume the battle with Apple is one that promises many more twists.

Death of the artist?: AI art generators face lawsuit in US Rosie Peters-McDonald, Satire Editor, discusses the challenges facing well-known AI art generators

COPYRIGHT lawsuit against a number of art and image-generative artificial intelligence systems has emerged in the US recently, giving the technological buzzword another publicity boost as artists and consumers weigh up the ethics and nuances of the crossover between AI and the art. Firms such as Midjourney, Stability AI, Runway AI and DeviantArt are being faced with questions of whether the artwork they produce, including digitally-generated illustrations and photographs, is evidence of copyright laundering. Copyright laundering refers to the act of transforming or disguising (in this case via AI) an artist’s work in a way that creates something derivative and therefore less easily accusable of copied work. Artists such as Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin have seemingly fallen victim to this method of what many see as art theft, which one Guardian article describes as a way of "promising customers the benefits of art without the costs of artists." The way in which software such as Midjourney borrow from artists goes beyond concerns of legality and rights of use. It puts into question the role and importance of the artist(s) as an individual, asking us whether we care who creates something or why they might do so. Instead, these AI firms seem to align themselves more with the idea that art’s

importance comes from its aesthetic value as something which can be produced and reproduced, bought and displayed. The AI generator borrowing from the art has no qualms about artistic integrity; its existence suggests that artistic flair and style are trainable.

[THEY] BORROW FROM ARTISTS [AND GO] BEYOND CONCERNS OF LEGALITY AND RIGHTS OF USE 16,000 artists have been named as potential roots of copyright activity for Midjourney. While the US lawsuit takes place across the Atlantic, British and European artists such as Julia Fullerton-Batten, a Germanborn photographer known for her "investigations of teenage girls", according to the Jenkins Johnson Gallery website, have spoken out. Fullerton-Batten stands alongside many other artists on this side of the pond who feel that their art is personal and should not be replicable. She admits to the "seductive quality" (The Guardian) of AI generative software but continues to question its impact on the future of art’s relationship with AI. There are some methods which exist to distort the AI database when it attempts to use an artist’s work, giving power back to

Image: Deviantart, Paper10VE

those who don’t want their work to be replicable. On the other hand, there is an argument for a potential AI-positive artistic movement; artists have, in the past, looked to the randomness and mathematics of digital tools to innovate their art, another thing The Guardian touches on in their discussion of Midjourney. The US lawsuit against the aforementioned AI companies has certainly had an impact in both the art and AI worlds, with talk of legal action perhaps even stretching

across the Atlantic. Constitutional changes such as the government implementing regulative safeguards for the UK’s creative industries are likely to be discussed in the near future, especially in the aftermath of the lawsuit against Midjourney. Whichever end of the art-AI spectrum one stands on, there is definitely cause for discussion and potential for change in the future of art and its crossover with the generative AI network.

exhibit | TECH

9 FEB 2024 | 25

EDITORS: Ewan Gregory and Charlie McCormack

Zuckerberg’s plan to create AI with human intelligence criticised

Ewan Gregory, Tech Editor, explores Zuckerberg's plans and their criticisms

ARK Zuckerberg this week announced in a post on Facebook that Meta plans to build an AI with human-level intelligence (known as an artificial general intelligence or AGI). The Meta CEO also detailed that the company’s ‘longterm vision’ is to make their AGI system open-source. In other words, Zuckerberg wants to make the code that the eventual AGI system will be based on available to the public. This revelation has received criticism from some AI experts, who have warned that making such a tool free for the public to use and / or modify could lead to potential abuse. AGI systems are seen as the next frontier in the field of generative AI, and Meta’s decision to enter the race means that three of the ‘Big Five’ western tech companies have out-

lined plans to create an AGI. Previously OpenAI, which has received extensive funding from Microsoft, and Google (through their AI division Google DeepMind) have discussed plans for the creation of such an AI system.

THREE OF THE 'BIG FIVE' WESTERN TECH COMPANIES HAVE OUTLINED PLANS TO CREATE AN AGI Zuckerberg claims that Meta’s entry into the race is significant due to the resources that the company plans to dedicate to the eventual creation of its AGI system. In an interview with tech outlet The Verge, Zuckerberg boasts that Meta has the resources that will enable it to research AGIs "at a scale

that may be larger than any other individual company" — including around 340,000 Nvidia H100s (a top-of-the-line AI chip) that the company will own by the end of 2024. Much of the criticism of Meta’s AGI plans, however, surrounds not the decision to create an AI with a human level of intelligence, but Zuckerberg’s claim that he wants to make the system open-source. This is in line with Meta’s other AI systems, such as Llama 2, which is a large-language model (LLM) (like OpenAI’s ChatGPT). Unlike Meta, other companies in the field of AI have moved away from making their models open-source. Zuckerberg claims that the decision to make Meta’s AGI system open-source would "address a large class of issues that might come about from unequal access" to the tool. Not everybody, however, sees it this way. Dame Wendy Hall, who is a member of the UN’s AI advisory body, has claimed that the decision to make an open-source AGI system would be "irresponsible", and warned that such a tool "could do a great deal of harm." Another AI expert, Dr. Andrew Rogoyski, stressed that decisions about the availability of AI tools should be based on "international consensus, not in the boardroom of a tech giant."

timately, however, the decision to make Meta’s AGI system open-source or not rests with Zuckerberg, who owns 57 per cent of the votes issued to Meta’s stockholders. With AGI systems still likely to be "many years away," according to Hall, from being realised, it seems likely that uncertainty will continue to surround the field for the foreseeable future. Indeed, Zuckerberg has stated that before the details and capabilities of Meta’s eventual AGI become clear, he is reluctant to fully commit to its release as an opensource model. However, Meta’s decision to dedicate itself to the creation of an AI system with a human level of intelligence must be seen overall to be a massive step towards the eventual creation of an open-source AGI.

DECISIONS ...SHOULD BE BASED ON INTERNATIONAL CONSENSUS, NOT IN THE BOARDROOM OF A TECH GIANT At the UK’s recent AI summit, held at Bletchley Park, leaders in the field of AI (including Meta, Google and OpenAI) agreed to let governments examine and test their AI systems before they are released. Ul-

Image: Anthony Quintano, Flickr

Image: RogueDawg777, DeviantArt

Amazon fined €32m over claims of ‘excessive’ surveillance Lauren Walsh, Arts and Lit Editor, investigates the claims concerning Amazon's surveillance programme

MAZON France Logistique has been fined €32 million (£27 million) by CNIL, the French data watchdog, over what it terms “excessive” surveillance of its employees. The CNIL, or National Commission on Informatics and Liberty, ruled that the measures Amazon has in place to monitor employees, including measuring the length of breaks employees take, and the pace at which they are scanning items, are illegal. Amazon also kept data collected by these systems for 31 days, which the watchdog said was “disproportionate”. Furthermore, it was found that Amazon was responsible for many breaches of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), such as failing to comply with the data minimisation principle, failing to ensure lawful processing of data, failing to comply with the obligation to provide information and transparency, and failing to ensure the security of personal data.

THE MEASURES AMAZON HAS IN PLACE TO MONITOR EMPLOYEES... ARE ILLEGAL A spokesperson for Amazon said: "We

strongly disagree with the CNIL's conclusions which are factually incorrect and we reserve the right to file an appeal. Warehouse management systems are industry standard and are necessary for ensuring the safety, quality, and efficiency of operations and to track the storage of inventory and processing of packages on time and in line with customer expectations." It is no recent discovery that Amazon is a bad employer, with a Guardian article from February 2022 saying that “the average Amazon warehouse worker leaves within just eight months.” Some Amazon employees complain that they feel like “prisoners” and the tech giant’s serious injury rate in their warehouses is nearly twice that of other warehouses in the US, with 5.9 serious injuries per 100 employees in 2020. This is all in despite of Jeff Bezos, founder, former CEO and president, and now executive chairman of Amazon, claiming in 2021 that he would make Amazon “Earth’s best employer and Earth’s safest place to work.” Bezos has a net worth of US$180 billion and is the third-wealthiest person in the world, behind only Bernard Arnault and Elon Musk. It is also worth noting that Amazon’s market capitalisation is roughly US$1.7 trillion,

an amount larger than the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of 92 per cent of countries.

JEFF BEZOS... CLAIMING IN 2021 THAT HE WOULD MAKE AMAZON "EARTH'S BEST EMPLOYER"

Image: Global Panorama, Flickr

While the outcome of the fine, and the longer-term impacts on the company may remain to be seen, hopefully it will help to spark further investigations and steps forward for employee safety and well-being at one of the largest corporations on the planet.

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

EDITORS:

Exetera Exetera... ASK NAPOLEON: advice column

Question 1: How do I deal with being single during Valentine’s Day? EING single on Valentine’s Day can feel rather lonely and you may even feel rather sad, especially if you are just getting over someone (like myself). I personally have never liked Valentine’s Day, but despite my dislike for the holiday, I still try to find ways to make it enjoyable even though I am not currently in a relationship. Firstly, keep yourself busy! Try not to think too much about the cringey couples that flood your social media. You can spend the day instead with friends, family or even by yourself. I have had my own tradition for Valentine’s Day every year to ensure I take time for myself. I choose to look after myself by watching Titanic every year and stuffing my face with lots of sickly chocolates. Sounds like something Bridget Jones would do, I know, but it’s honestly such a lovely way to spend the day alone. So, this Valentine’s Day, do something for yourself if you haven’t got a significant other and use the day as an opportunity to love yourself and your loved ones.

Question 2: What are some good things to give up for Lent? LTHOUGH most of us are far more transfixed on the celebration of Pancake Day than the subsequent 40 days of Lent, the latter can provide a valuable way to make New Year’s resolutions and Dry January last! Naturally, therefore, alcohol is a common choice to give up for Lent among students. Similarly, those of us in our final year who are facing an imminent dissertation deadline may choose to give up clubbing for the next 40 days or so, to use their time more wisely (even if one Exeposé editor would rather give up their dissertation instead!). Similarly, deleting social media (especially TikTok) can help to make you more productive. There are plenty of things you can give up for Lent that can help stretch that student loan a bit further, too, such as giving up fast food and takeaways. One Exeterspecific resolution could be giving up lunch from Pret or coffee from Starbucks. Even if you aren’t Christian, Lent can be a valuable time to save some money and/or time as a student, and buckle down on those second-term essays!

Images: Anabel Costa-Ferreira

Anabel Costa-Ferreira Livvy Mason-Myhill Harry Craig Joshua Smith

Student stars CAPRICORN (22 DEC — 19 JAN) You’re taking more pride in your work, money, possessions, valuables, and ability to earn or improve your life.

ARIES (21 MAR — 19 APR) Those in authority favour you, and professional projects move forward without resistance.

CANCER (21 JUN — 22 JUL) The urge for selftransformation can be strong, and it’s a fine time to eliminate wasteful activities.

LIBRA (23 SEP — 22 OCT) Your desires and ambitions with creative or romantic pursuits are building.

AQUARIUS (20 JAN TAURUS (20 APR — LEO (23 JUL — 22 SCORPIO (23 OCT — 18 FEB) 20 MAY) AUG) — 21 NOV) Your vision is clearer Your ambition is stirYour powers of It’s an important time and decision-making ring, but do take care negotiation skyrocket. to boost your feelings is more effortless. It’s best to avoid not to bulldoze your way towards People are intrigued with you and of security and centre yourself, even pushing yourself too hard. your goals. drawn to you. if your mind stays busy. PISCES (19 FEB — GEMINI (21 MAY 20 MAR) — 20 JUNE) It’s a time for collectYou desire activities ing yourself, tying up and areas of focus loose ends, and catching up on rest. that lift you above your usual concerns and daily routine.

VIRGO (23 AUG — 22 SEP) Your romantic inclinations are strong, and you find it easy and natural to attract favourable attention.

SAGITTARIUS (22 NOV — 21 DEC) Your mind is curious. Connections are in store as transportation and communication channels open up for you. Image: OpenClipart, SVG

Recipe: Perfect one-pan gnocchi

HIS week is an easy, cheesy, crisp, and warming take on a classic Italian food: gnocchi. If you hate loads of washing up but like to eat, then this is perfect for you. Step 1: Heat 1tbsp olive oil in a frying pan on medium heat, then place a pack of gnocchi in it, making sure to cover each one in the oil so they cook properly. Leave for 5 minutes or until the outside of the gnocchi is slightly golden and crispy on the outside, and fluffy on the inside. Place the gnocchi in a bowl to the side while you make the tomato sauce.

Step 2: Place one pack of fresh cherry tomatoes in the same frying pan, not bothering to wipe it, with a little bit of water so they don’t burn. Simmer until they’re soft and easily smashable, and place a blend of salt, pepper, thyme, oregano, and dried basil, then mix. Add in a bit of tomato purée, then place the fried gnocchi back in the pan, mixing it in with the tomatoes. Heat the grill up to medium heat, then spinkle some grated/ sliced mozzarella on top.

Image: Karolina Grabowska, Pexels

Step 3: Grill for 3-5 minutes, or until slightly golden on top and the mozzarella has melted. Serve as is or with fresh basil.

Exeposé archives: a Valentine’s special

S the season of Valentine’s begins, we hope you’re enjoying this specially themed issue of Exeposé. The love for the paper and writing on this season of appreciation appears to have remained. While we hold many Valentine’s specials across the years, including many titled Sexeposé (not quite sure that would make it through compliance these days) the one pictured beside was a particular favourite. Titled ‘LoveAction Exeposé’, this 1989 copy also focused on a “week of action against student loans” to protest the top-up loan scheme proposed by the government. Fittingly titled “the broken heart of education”, the week sought to involve as many students as possible. Students were encouraged to skip class on the Wednesday — with the article even assurimg students worried about missing class that “many departments and faculties will be supporting the action and will reschedule any

missed lectures and tutorials.” As well as this, the Vice-Chancellor is said to have ran a talk on the underfunding of higher education, an issue that remains an important discussion. Taking a more light-hearted reading, the issue mentioned a Valentine’s dance at TP, with tickets only £1 (it really makes us question the £5 we spend to walk up a staircase...). Turning to the inside cover we see the 80s equivalent of Campus Crushes (pages 7 and 11 in case you missed it), which was previously named ‘Love Lines’. Perhaps a tad more explicit than the confessions we publish these days, but funny nevertheless. One in particular read: “To George who’s

never had a mention in Exeposé , from all the women in his life.” Another simple but poetic rhyming couplet read: “Anthony Fell, I know you well, I love your smiles, love from Lucy?”.

study break

| 9 FEB 2024

exhibit | 27

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Across 1 Strip of boneless meat (6) 5 Ancient document (6) 8 Enthusiast (3) 9 Leave (7) 10 Geropiga (anagram) — type of musical chord (8) 11 Flat (4) 12 Trap (a criminal, say) (6) 15 Front of a building (6) 17 Current affairs (4) 19 Paunch (informal) (8) 22 Alligator pear (7) 23 Pursue - follow - hound (3) 24 Disclose (6) 25 He tore (anagram) — to this (formal) (6)

Down 2 Deduce (5) 3 Portable light (7) 4 Nasal tone (5) 5 Block up (4,3) 6 Strip (of farmland, for example) (5) 7 boil-producing plant - ensiled (anagram) (7) 13 Use (7) 14 Hear pal (anagram) - Renaissance painter (7) 16 Smooth hard cheese (7) 18 Piece of rock (5) 20 Jawbone structure (5) 21 Not heavy (5)

ANSWERS

TRIVIA CORNER

1. What is the only planet that rotates on its side? 2. What animal’s milk is pink?

3. Who created the first heart shaped box of chocolates? 4. From which film is the famous quote, “As you wish?” 5. Who sings the song “All You Need is Love” in the movie Moulin Rouge? 6. From where was the oldest-known Valentine’s Day message sent?

Trivia: 1. Uranus 2. Hippopotamus 3. Richard Cadbury 4. Princess Diaries 5. Christian (Ewan McGregor) 6. Prison Across: 1 Fillet, 5 Scroll, 8 Fan, 9 Abandon, 10 Arpeggio, 11 Even, 12 Corner, 15 Facade, 17 News, 19 Potbelly, 22 Avocado, 23 Dog, 24 Reveal, 25 Hereto. Down: 2 Infer, 3 Lantern, 4 Twang, 5 Seal off, 6 Ridge, 7 Linseed, 13 Operate, 14 Raphael, 16 Cheddar, 18 Stone, 20 Tooth, 21 Light.

Science 28

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

SCIENCE EDITORS:

Eloise Shewring Hannah Woodley Livvy Mason-Myhill

Science's fake-paper problem: high-profile effort will tackle paper mills

N April 2022, Times Higher Education and the Science Magazine uncovered Russian paper mill company International Publisher Ltd, which sold authorships on scientific papers for up to $5000, including in reputed journals like Oxford University Press and Taylor & Francis. This brought a previously relatively unknown issue — paper mills — into the spotlight. Now, the group United2Act, formed of funders, academic publishers and research organisations, has launched a campaign to combat the growing issue of paper mills. On the 19th January, the group released a statement outlining how it will address the problem, including by closely studying paper mills and improving author-verification methods.

...closely studying paper mills and improving authorverification methods The term “paper mill” refers to an

illicit company which publishes fake or poor-quality academic papers, and sells authorships. Although in some cases the research is genuine, these operations normally involve fraudulent data and falsification, and are highly unethical. It has been a focus of scientific journal Nature, which in 2021 reported that thousands of academic papers had originated from papermill operations in China, Iran and Russia.

"paper mill" refers to an illicit company which publishes fake or poorquality academic papers Indeed, with China becoming one of the world’s biggest publishers of scientific and academic research, the role of Chinese companies in paper-milling is of particular note. According to the Institute for Scientific Information, China produced 3.7 million papers in 2021, 23 per cent of the global output and just 700,000 behind the US. China’s rapid rise in academic

publishing has raised fears that much of this research is low-quality, fraudulent and emblematic of paper-milling. Paper mills are a growing problem in scientific research. Unpublished analysis reported by Nature last November suggested that two per cent of all scientific papers published in 2022 were fake papers, originating from paper-mill productions. As is a common theme in contemporary science, researchers fear that artificial intelligence will exacerbate the issue, by allowing paper mills to rapidly generate fake scientific papers that can easily evade existing detection methods. United2Act’s statement is the result of a summit last May, jointly organised by the Committee On Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Association of Scientific, Technical and Medical Publishers (STM). This set out five key areas to tackle paper-milling, including improving education and awareness, conducting detailed research into paper mills, improving post-publication corrections, developing tools to verify

the identities of authors, editors and reviewers, and improving communications between groups working on the issue. Although the issue of papermilling has long existed in the scientific community, this marks the first concerted, collective effort to address it. Although this may appear to be a niche issue for researchers and academics, it concerns the quality of the science that shapes our lives. It is a particular problem in medicine, and comes at a time when good, high-quality scientific research, amidst the threats of climate change, pandemics and artificial intelligence, is more important than ever. Whether the goodwill of scientists and groups like United2Act is enough to challenge the growing power of paper mills remains to be seen.

Image: Myrfa, Pixabay

Harry Craig, Deputy Editor, discusses the effect of paper mills, and a campaign to help prevent them

Cloned rhesus monkey created to speed medical research

Oliver Lamb, News Editor, discusses the cloning of a Rhesus monkey, and the impact this will have on medical research

E may be ReTro by name, but a rhesus monkey born more than two years ago is cutting-edge. He is, in fact, a clone — the first clone of his species to live any amount of time, thanks to a technique invented by researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai, who published their find-

Image: Masashi Mochida, Flickr

ings last month. However, animal rights groups have raised concerns about the number of animals expended in the quest for a viable method of cloning. Rhesus monkeys are physiologically similar to humans and therefore commonly used in medical research. Using cloned animals would not only speed up trials, according to the sci-

entists, but, by eliminating the genetic variable, make the results more certain.

Using cloned animals would speed up medical trials... and make the results more Until now, the more successful attempts to clone rhesus monkeys have ended in the baby dying within hours of birth. The less successful attempts have not resulted in births at all. For ReTro to last two healthy years, then, marks a noteworthy change in fortunes. For most mammals, just one to three per cent of clones are born healthy. The usual method of cloning is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and involves fusing a body cell with an unfertilised egg whose nucleus has been removed, resulting in the transferral of the cell’s nucleus to the egg. The egg becomes an embryo which is implanted into a surrogate. Before creating ReTro, the researchers compared rhesus monkey embryos produced by SCNT, with embryos produced by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) — where a sperm cell is injected into an egg. They observed several differences. Among them was

that the SCNT embryos developed defective, unusually thick placentas. An organ that provides foetuses with oxygen and nutrients, the placenta develops mainly from an embryo’s outer cell layer — the trophoblast. The researchers found a way to hollow out the inner cells from ICSI embryos, leaving only the trophoblast, and transplant the inner cells from SCNT embryos. That meant the foetus, when it developed, was still a clone, but benefited from a regular placenta. It was this process of trophoblast replacement that gave ReTro his name. Even with this innovation, the 11 embryos that were implanted into surrogates resulted in just two pregnancies. Of those, only one was successful. Cloning augmented by trophoblast replacement is still far from a perfect technique, and a single success story proves little about how well the process works. Mu-ming Poo, director of the Institute of Neuroscience at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, acknowledges that to produce one healthy clone still requires too many surrogates. However, he hopes that the new technique will eventually be able to produce “a large number of genetically uniform monkeys.” These would be used for testing the safety and efficacy of drugs as well as

modelling conditions such as depression and anxiety. But animal rights groups worry about the enormous sacrifice of animal wellbeing that will be necessary to perfect cloning techniques. The RSPCA said, “We are expected to assume that human patients will benefit from these experiments, but any real-life applications would be years away and it is likely that more animal ‘models’ will be necessary in developing these technologies. The RSPCA is deeply concerned about the very high numbers of animals who experience suffering and distress in these experiments and the very low success rate. Primates are intelligent and sentient animals, not just research tools”.

Animal rights groups worry about the enormous sacrifice of animal wellbeing In response, Dr Falong Lu, of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told BBC News that the research had obtained ethical approval and that the aim is to make the cloning process more efficient. The research was published in Nature Communications in January.

EXEPOSÉ | 9 FEB 2024

SCIENCE

COP 28 agreement reached with mixed responses Charlie Gershinson, Deputy Editor, explores the COP 28 conference and the increasing doubts about global strategies

HE COP 28 conference held in Dubai late last year saw yet another annual meeting of nations to discuss the grave issue of climate change around the world and how to tackle it. While the conference was filled with warm words and platitudes, there are lingering and growing doubts about how effective global strategies will be to uphold the cornerstone of the conference: keeping global temperatures from rising above 1.5C.

There is still lingering and growing doubts about how effective global strategies will be to uphold The conference itself was founded on controversy due to its host: the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE is one of the world’s largest oilproducing nations and appointed Sultan al-Jaber as its chairman — the chief executive of the state-owned oil company. Al-Jaber’s company is expected to massively increase production this decade. Further controversy arose when the BBC reported that the UAE

wished to use the opportunity to pursue more deals for oil and gas production, which is completely antithetical to the aims and intentions of the conference. The main consequence of the conference was a commitment by nations to agree on a need to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems” for the first time. However, this commitment appears to have little worth below the surface. There is no timescale or any measures to compel signatory nations to follow through on their promises. The deal was rushed past small island nations most viciously affected by climate change, and the language of the agreement is weakened from earlier language calling for fossil fuels to be “phased out,” perhaps signalling the influence of oil-producing nations such as Saudi Arabia. Outgoing US Special Envoy for Climate Change John Kerry, meanwhile, hailed the agreement as “cause for optimism” amid the context of the war in Ukraine and conflict in Gaza. UK climate minister Graham Stuart also spoke positively of the agreement, telling the plenary that it was “the beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era,” but said that “there

Image: International Labour Organisation, Flickr

are elements here we do not like.”

The beginning of the end of the fossil fuel era Mixed responses to COP 28 con-

tinued from other areas such as Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate, who described the agreement as “nowhere near enough” and as “a fossil fuel COP out.” Tuvaluan negotiator Mervina Paeuli left with “mixed feelings” and fears for her island home. United

Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that many governments wanted action on climate change but that what was agreed was “watered down.” COP 29 later this year is expected to be held in Azerbaijan, another heavy oil-producing nation in Asia.

The consciousness wars Magdalena Kanecka analyses whether scientists can ever agree on how the mind works

Image: agsandrew, Deviant Art

VER time, there have been numerous emerging debates over the neuroscientific and philosophical definitions of the mind and the body and their relations with each other. Thus, whereas some believe that the brain produces consciousness, which directly connects it to the physical body, others suggest that they are separate things that do not depend on each other. The overall role of consciousness plays an essential part in areas of both disciplines, combining scientific processes of neurons within each of our brains with the philo-

sophical considerations of what makes up consciousness, its primary definitions, and the extent of its presence in contemporary science — both physically and metaphorically. Yet, as scientists and philosophers remain divided over the topic, recent study suggestions reinforce that experiments regarding Adversarial Collaboration — meaning testing different [conscious] experiences against one another and comparing opposing experiences to agree on a joint conclusion. Numerous other experiments and studies over time have brought little to no developments to the ongo-

ing debate — thus, it makes sense that the two disciplines are currently looking for ways to use the already existing extensive research around the topic of consciousness and see what can be done with it to reach final conclusions.

Numerous other experiments and studies over time have brought little to no development The critical concerns within the conflict of interest between and within philosophy and science of the mind

and the brain regard funding. The budget put into this area of research is particularly large, considering how much conflict there is within the area, and yet, a specific conclusion has yet to be reached thus far. This leaves many wondering — where is this money really going? Moreover, what is it that makes this topic so hard to conclude? One of the critical philosophical concerns regarding consciousness considers the researcher’s background and what stance they take on the topic. Besides the definitions of consciousness itself, the most popular questions concern whether they already reject science in other fields of their research or whether they use it in their findings — along with whether they acknowledge the mind and the body as separate or one and the same. Yet, scientists often take a more numerical and quantitative approach — attempting to make sense of scientific statistics and linking them to our brain processes. Thus, perhaps as a result, it is easier to conclude that the most broadcasted view suggests that consciousness appears once brain processes occur — as found in Lucia Melloni’s research. Whereas this helps to combine the two disciplines, it still struggles to define what consciousness is — such as what it is made up of or what its physical properties are compared to its mental ones. Furthermore, one of the main problems for science is that perhaps consciousness cannot be physically proven — if we were to open up

our brain, there is no physical property labelled as consciousness — thus, how can we prove what it is, and how much of it is genuine and legitimate? However, my suggestion proposes that the two disciplines consider a different area of the debate. Such that, for example, whereas scientists can consider numerical data and statistics, philosophers can be left to explain the more complex meanings behind these. Within these, a conclusion must be reached with regards to whether we are to look at consciousness as a subjective thing which differs from one individual to another — or whether we are able to agree on a specific definition of it. Image: David, Flickr

9 FEB 2024 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT

"For fok sake!"

Eloise Grainger, Sport Editor, discusses the shock news of Guenther Steiner's departure from Haas

SHOCK to the system has hit the F1 world recently — and pre-season testing hasn’t even begun! Guenther Steiner has departed Haas F1 Team, with immediate effect. A huge personality in the paddock has been axed from the team, and from F1, by team owner, Gene Haas. Steiner’s contract was coming to an end, and Gene decided it was time to break the long-term relationship between the American team, and the Italian team principal. His sudden exit was unceremoniously communicated to Steiner via a phone call during the period be-

tween Christmas and the New Year.

His sudden exit was unceremoniously communicated to Steiner via a phone call A run of poor performances is the reason Gene gave for Steiner’s removal from the team. In the eight years Haas has been an F1 team, none of their drivers have ever stepped foot on a podium. The first few years looked promising for the team, finishing eighth in the Constructors ChampionImage: Steve. Wikimedia Commons

ship in their first year. But the team has been struggling in particular since the 2020 season, when it was on the brink of closure due to financial difficulties brought about by the pandemic. Haas then took the risky move of choosing an all-rookie line up, entrusting Mick Schumacher and Nikita Mazepin to help improve the team. This all fell through, and after finishing the 2023 campaign in last place (10th) in the Constructors Championship, it means the finger is usually pointed at the team principal. Just as in football when poor form leads to the responsibility being placed on the manager’s shoulders, in F1, the blame falls on the lap of the team principals. Steiner claimed the lack of good form was due to little investment in infrastructure, which has been holding Haas back whilst other teams accelerate forward and progress. Some critics have claimed that Steiner’s multiple TV appearances (most notably his involvement with Netflix’s docu-drama, Drive to Survive) as well as his recent success in the literary world with his 2023 book, Surviving to Drive, have proved distracting, and hindered the team’s performance. Steiner rebuts this entirely, stating the exposure and sponsors

Image: Jen Ross. Wikimedia Commons

that he brought with him were beneficial for the team rather than damaging. In fact, he is already working on another book with ghost-writer James Hogg.

in F1, the blame falls on the lap of the team principals In an interview with Sky Sports News reporter, Craig Slater, Steiner commented that he doesn’t have any set plans for his future, but he most certainly will find comfort in taking up whatever pleases him in the moment,

whether that be in F1 or elsewhere. He claims there is no bad blood between himself and Gene when probed by the reporter. Although it wasn’t Steiner’s decision to make, he knows he has to accept whatever Gene asks of him. Ayao Komatsu, formally the trackside engineering director, has now been appointed team principal. With F1 cars set to hit the Bahrain International Circuit in two weeks’ time, Gene Haas desperately hopes that he has made the right call, and that Haas F1 Team will begin to climb up the grid in a more stable fashion.

Alpine Ski World Cup: are things going downhill?

Harry Craig, Deputy Editor, rounds up the Alpine Skiing World Cup, which has been plagued by injuries, as well as the impact of the climate crisis on the sport

ITH no Olympics or World Championships in 2024, the focus of the ski racing world during the 2023-24 season is on the World Cup tour, taking in over 80 races for men and women spread across 37 resorts in 14 countries. For the season’s fastest, and most importantly consistent, racers, a shot at the Crystal Globe awaits. In the race for the overall titles for both the men and women, there seems to be very little change from years gone by. Although the retirement of Marcel Hirscher in 2019, who won eight consecutive overall titles between 2012 and 2019, raised hopes that there could now be a closer battle in future seasons, a successor to Hirscher’s dominance has already been crowned in Swiss prodigy Marco Odermatt. He currently leads the downhill, super G and giant slalom standings; is undefeated in giant slalom for almost a year, and took his first ever World Cup downhill win with back-to-back victories in the iconic Lauberhorn races in Wengen last month. For now, Odermatt’s only competition is against the record books. On the women’s side, Mikaela Shiffrin, who last year became the most successful World Cup ski racer of all time, has already taken seven victories across downhill, giant slalom and slalom. Al-

though she consequently leads the overall standings, a crash in the downhill race in Cortina d’Ampezzo last month has put her campaign on hold, and it still remains unclear whether she will return to the slopes this season. If she doesn’t, Lara Gut-Behrami, who is currently less than 100 points behind Shiffrin, looks to be favourite to take the overall title for the first time since 2016, and complete an historic Swiss double. Sadly, season-ending injuries have Image: Krzysztof Golik, Wikimedia Commons

become a recurring theme in recent Gut-Behrami, as well as Italy’s Federica months. A challenging, crashBrignone and Sofia Goggia, but filled weekend in Wenexciting young stars like gen with three speed Lara Colturi and Zrinka races in three days Ljutić are also startended Aleksander ing to make a name Aamodt Kilde and for themselves. Alexis Pinturault’s Men’s slalom seasons — both racing has also former World continued its traCup champions. dition of being Just before the arguably the most New Year, Marco nail-biting and open Image: Krzysztof Golik, Schwarz was ruled out sport in the world. AlWikimedia Commons for the rest of the season most anyone in the top 30 following a crash, after lookof the start list has the potening like he could challenge Odermatt’s tial to finish on the podium in any given dominance in the early races. For the race, and the second runs in Kitzbühel women, there were heartbreaking scenes and Madonna di Campiglio would have as Olympic slalom champion Petra Vl- shattered even the hardiest of nerves. hová’s season ended early after a crash in Special mention too must go to front of her home fans in Jasná, Slovakia. Britain’s men’s slalom team, led by Nonetheless, some new stars have Dave Ryding. Ryding himself has finemerged. Frenchman Cyprien Sarrazin ished in the top five three times this completed an historic downhill double season, including a podium in Madonin the Hahnenkamm races, the highlight na di Campiglio just before Christmas, of the World Cup season. His victory whilst history was made in Kitzbühel in the Saturday race came with possi- when three Brits — Ryding, Billy Mably the greatest run of all time on the jor and Laurie Taylor — all finished Streif race course. The women’s compe- in the top 20 for the first time ever. tition has mostly seen victories shared Although the action on-piste has among familiar faces like Shiffrin and heated up just in time for the classic

races of January and February, sadly the planet too has heated up. Climate change has left ski racing in crisis — seven of the opening nine men’s races this season were cancelled due to weather, a problem that is becoming endemic for early- and late-season races. Indeed, it is now threatening mid-season races in the depths of winter — last weekend’s speed races in Chamonix and Garmisch-Partenkirchen, two traditional alpine ski resorts, were cancelled due to lack of snow and warm temperatures.

Nonetheless, some new stars have emerged The fight for ski racing’s future is existential. A sport that depends on the climate, is also disproportionately responsible for climate change, with a growing dependency on artificial snow, and a calendar that criss-crosses Europe and the world (including two trips across the Atlantic for the men this season). As the white circus prepares to mark the 60th anniversary of the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 2026, we will continue to enjoy the racing, but action is needed now to ensure the survival of the sport for another 60 years.

SPORT

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

The January football transfer window

Ceri Vaughan-Jones, Online Sport Editor, reviews the January transfer window Image: SAM_1245, Flickr

S January draws to a close, so too does the transfer window with clubs looking to finalise their squads ahead of deadline day. Curiously, it has been a much quieter window than what we have become accustomed to over the past few years. This could be due to clubs exercising increased caution surrounding the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules following Everton’s 10-point deduction in November. Nevertheless, Fabrizio Romano has, of course, been busy keeping us up-to-date throughout the month as teams look to bolster their options with title races and relegation battles on the horizon. On that note, let’s

take a look at some of the window’s biggest transfers that have been confirmed by the Italian’s trademark "Here we go!"

It has been a much quieter window than what we have become accustomed to First up is Jadon Sancho, who has joined Borussia Dortmund on loan from Manchester United after a torrid couple of months. Sancho signed from the German side for £73 million in July 2021 but never managed to live up to the hype and

expectation. To make matters worse, a fall out with head coach Erik Ten Hag has left the 23-year-old completely exiled from the firstteam squad since late September, making only three appearances all season. He returns to Dortmund having scored 12 goals in 82 matches for United, hoping that he can rediscover the form that earned him the big money move to the Premier League in the first place. Donny van de Beek has also been loaned out by Manchester United after a lack of regular first-team action. He joins Eintracht Frankfurt until the end of the season having only featured in the league 35 times for United despite a £35 million fee back in 2020. Eintracht Frankfurt will have the option to make the deal permanent for £9.5 million. Tottenham Hotspur have perhaps been the team making the most headlines in terms of players brought in, with additions both in attack and defence. They have signed Timo Werner, a familiar face in London, on loan from RB Leipzig until the end of the season with the option to buy for around £15 million. Werner netted 23 times for Chelsea between 2020 and

2022 and scored 16 goals for RB Leipzig last season. However his form has dropped during 23/24; only managing two goals had seen him become out of favour at the Bundesliga side. As for Spurs’ defence, they have signed Romanian Radu Drăgusin from Genoa for £26.7 million. Injuries for Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven as well as Eric Dier joining former teammate Harry Kane at Bayern Munich had left the North London side short of centre-back options. On the other side of London, West Ham have signed Kalvin Phillips on loan from Manchester City with the 28-year-old looking to get his career back on track following a frustrating spell on Pep Guardiola’s bench. Hannibal Mejbri is another player to have left Manchester United this month — he has moved to Spain, joining Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season with an option to buy worth around £17 million. The current Europa League champions are under pressure in La Liga, sitting in 16th with just 17 points. He will hope that his playmaking flair, that made him

so popular at Birmingham City, will help Sevilla stay clear of relegation, especially with Ivan Rakitic departing for Al-Shabab. Making the move from Spain back to the UK, Ben Brereton Díaz has joined struggling Sheffield United on loan, adding to their options up front. Despite failing to score in 20 games for Villarreal this season, he has found the back of the net twice in two Premier League games for his new side. Burnley are 19th in the league, one position above Sheffield United, and have also looked to the January transfer window as a way of bringing more goals to a squad that have only managed 21 so far this season. David Fatro Fofano joins Vincent Kompany’s side on loan from Chelsea in their pursuit of Premier League survival. Finally, Jordan Henderson has returned to Europe following an unsuccessful spell at Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq. A failure for his family to adapt to life in Saudi Arabia left the former Liverpool captain desperate for a move back to Europe, cutting short his £350,000 a week contract. He has joined Dutch giants Ajax on a twoand-a-half year deal. Image: Steffen Prößdorf

Couples in sport

Florence New highlights iconic lesbian sporting couples in women's football as LGBTQ+ History Month begins

OMEN’S football is full of Sports Personality of the Year in 2022 couples and drama, with and Miedema won the BBC Women’s relationships common Footballer of the Year in 2021, and among teammates and opponents, at both made the shortlist for the Balhome and abroad. Many couples post lon d’Or Feminin in 2022, a fact they their relationships on social media, of- discovered when on holiday together. ten opting for a classic ‘soft launch’. They first got together just days This was very much the case for after England beat the NetherBeth Mead and Vivianne lands, Miedema’s national Images: El Loko Foto, Flickr Miedema. Mead was team, in a friendly in first signed by ArseJune 2022. The two nal in 2017, with first went public Miedema also joinlater that suming the team later mer, with Mead that same year. referring to them Both have found as the Posh and immense amounts Becks of the lesbiof success at the club, an world. Their relahelping to establish tionship, just like any, Arsenal as a staple in the has faced its challenges. Women’s Super League (WSL). In November 2022, Mead sufAlongside their achievements for Ar- fered an ACL injury and was out of the senal, both Mead and Miedema have game for 11 months. Miedema also inbeen recognised for their individual jured her ACL during a match in 2022 strengths. Mead was awarded BBC and was able to return in October 2023.

Throughout their period of recov- for Gotham FC in the US and repery, Mead and Miedema spent a lot of resented the US women’s team at the time together. It’s amazing to see how most recent World Cup, scoring a pensupportive of one another opponents alty in the shootout against Sweden. can be, with Miedema proudly celIn 2019, both Kerr and Mewis were ebrating the Lionesses’ victory in the playing in the National Women’s Soc2022 Women’s Euros. Possibly the cer League. They first started speaking cutest part of their relationship is online, very much in line with their new dog, adopted in sapphic stereotypes, durNovember 2023, who is ing the pandemic and named Myle Meadema. fell in love from Another popua distance. They lar couple are Sam were first spotKerr and Kristie ted together Mewis. Kerr is ofduring the 2021 ten regarded as one Olympics, conof the best women’s troversially before Images: Rufus46, Wikimedia players in the world, Kerr’s breakup Commons being the only female with her ex-girlfriend football player to win the had been announced. Golden Boot in three different A conscious decision leagues across three different conti- was made to make their relationship nents. She currently plays for Chelsea public, wanting to be out to promote and is seeking her fourth consecutive the LGBTQ+ community. Their enWSL win. Mewis previously played gagement was announced on Insta-

gram in November 2023, which followed months of speculation from fans as Mewis’ Instagram posts featured her wearing an engagement ring. They were featured in the recent Netflix documentary series Under Pressure, giving fans a closer look into their personal lives. Kerr and Mewis have now finally ‘broken the distance’ and will now both be living in the same country, as Mewis has recently been signed by West Ham.

A conscious decision was made to be out, wanting to... promote the LGBTQ+ community Part of the beauty of women’s football is how inclusive it is. Captains regularly wear a rainbow armband. Many players are out and proud, some married with children. The game matters, not just for entertainment, but to show that it is possible to be openly gay and successful in the public eye.

9 FEB 2024| EXEPOSÉ

Sport

SPORT EDITORS: Eloise Grainger Oliver Rickwood Ben Scott

2024 Six Nations preview: Wales in trouble?

Image: Wikimedia Commons, Jeanpierrekepseu

HE 2024 Six Nations kicks off with a Friday night lights battle amongst the two favourites for the competition. France host Ireland in Marseille with the Stade de France under construction for the Olympics in July. Ireland need to make In the absence of captain and standout their case that they can player, Antoine Dupont, France have apresume top form without pointed back row powerhouse Grégory their captain Alldritt to lead them to a redemption title this year. Both teams will look to reFor France, as shown in the new move painful quarter-final exit Netflix series, Six Nations: Full memories from last year’s Contact, this year is about Image: Conor Lawless, Wikimedia Commons Rugby World Cup after redemption after only promising to challosing to Ireland in lenge the southernDublin last year hemisphere giants. to finish second. The clash looks How much that incredibly tough plan changes with to call but the team the loss of Anthat dominates toine Dupont to the would bring momenOlympics Sevens side, tum into their campaign is up for debate, but I this year and most likely be seriously wouldn’t be ruling favourites for the tournament. them out. There are quality playAlso without a key player, Ireland ers across the squad and Fabien Galthié need to make their case that they can re- has made some bold calls for the Ireland sume top form without their captain, all- game that could continue throughout the time top-scorer, and the man who pulled tournament. Notably, in the second row, the strings, Johnny Sexton, who retired Paul Gabrillagues steps up, and Yoram after the World Cup. Jack Crowley, the Moefana is preferred to Louis Bielle-Biar24-year-old Munster fly-half has been rey on the wing despite his primary posigiven the nod and has big shoes to fill. tion being centre. With a hefty Bordeaux No doubt, though, coach Andy Farrell influence in the backline, Matthieu Jalib-

ert and Damian Penaud will be the ones to watch, but off the bench, the exciting scrum-half talent Nolann le Garrec lurks. Next up, Italy host England in the Stadio Olimpico to kick off their campaign, hoping to escape from the unfortunately traditional last place with new head coach, Gonzalo Quesada. University of Exeter student and Exeter Chiefs back row young talent, Ross Vincent has been selected in the Azzurri squad and hopefully will be involved throughout the tournament with much promise. Two brothers could be running the Italian team, as talisman Paolo Garbisi might find his younger brother, Alessandro, pairing him in the half-backs. This young side promises to challenge the larger rugby nations and every fan should be supporting them against every team but their own. Facing Italy in their first match, Steve Borthwick’s England will want to start the tournament better than last year’s opening loss at Twickenham to Scotland. Also Exeter student, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, made headlines this season with his prolific finishing and earned his first call-up to the international side despite his Welsh connections. Hopefully, Borthwick will pick a young side to mark a new era with the departure of much of the old guard. This should free up players like Marcus Smith with no shadow cast by veterans like Owen Farrell, though the Harlequins fly-half has reportedly injured his calf. Nonetheless, England will target Scotland as their closest rivals in the tournament.

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Ben Scott Sport Editor

will rely on his experienced caps like prop Tadhg Furlong (72 caps) and the new captain, Peter O’Mahony (101 caps). Rising stars Calvin Nash (winger) and Joe McCarthy (second-row) make their debuts in France and will hope to make their mark against an impeccable French fifteen.

Fans should be careful, however, to not disregard a new England in title odds. Also a noticeably younger side, Wales also look to turn the page after a disappointing last year of performances. For coach Warren Gatland, this starts at the top, with the naming of another Exeter student, Dafydd Jenkins, as captain at only 21 years old. The new-look Wales squad look must also emerge from the shadow of Louis Rees-Zammit’s exit to the NFL. Hopefully, this will present an opportunity for younger players like Cameron Winnett and Mason Grady who have shown promise for their club sides. This Welsh team might not look as strong as has been, but the younger side has the ability to cause surprises. Finally, Scotland will want to feed off the “Messi of rugby”, Finn Russell, to once again challenge for the trophy. Despite a great start last year, the Scots could

Wales also look to turn the page after a disappointing last year of performances not surpass the likes of France and Ireland, but this year could be their chance to push for the top. Even with four uncapped players among the squad, Gregor Townsend’s side will be a formidable force in the tournament with the likes of 106kg winger Duhan van der Merwe. Scotland finished third last year and won’t want to go backwards in any regard.

If you’re looking for a break from your studies, the Official Fantasy Six Nations Fantasy game will provide a lot of fun from picking fifteen players, and a “super sub” every round. Join up in mini-leagues with friends and housemates or compete generally against every other player to demonstrate your rugby knowledge. After playing the game for the last several years, here are my best tips to secure bragging rights. Be careful with your budget; players go up and down in value with good and bad performances so players like England’s Tommy Freeman (8 stars) and Ireland’s Calvin Nash (11 stars) offer huge value in the back three. Think through your captain choice as his points will be doubled; look to players accustomed to MOTM performances and prolific try-scoring like that offered by the most expensive players like Damian Penaud, Finn Russell, and Thomas Ramos. There are unlimited transfers every week, so continue to pick players based on form and their opponents. Finally, consult the team sheets on Instagram to select your super sub; hookers, scrumhalves, and back row players usually receive the most minutes off the bench, so be careful in risking picking someone whose minutes are under question.

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