Issue 690 // 26 November 2018 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 691 26 NOV 2018 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Hedges sentence casts doubt on academic ties

‘People are struggling without this money’

Graham Moore Editor

URHAM and Exeter Universities and academics internationally have come out in support of Matthew Hedges.The PhD student has been given a life sentence in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), following charges of spying on behalf of the UK government. The family of Matthew Hedges, a PhD student at Durham University, maintains that he was in the UAE undertaking research on the country’s security strategy for his PhD at Durham University.

Some Erasmus grants still unpaid University cites ‘teething issues’ with new finance system Students ‘let down and angered’ by University handling of the issue

It is an alarming day today for human rights and academia

IAIS Centre for Gulf Studies

mus grant’ in response to a number of enquiries from students. ‘The university has recently moved over to a new finance system and there have been some teething issues’, the email reads: “As soon as the Finance Team have identified and resolved the issue with the new system, these ...

A petition, circulated by in the international academic community, has gathered over 600 signatories. Hedges, 31, is an Exeter resident and previously completed a degree in Middle Eastern Studies at the University. News of his sentencing has led many to further question the legality of his detainment and process, alongside possible violations of Matthew’s human rights. A petition for Hedges’ immediate release has gathered over 600 signatures from the academic community worldwide. A petition, in the form of an open letter to the UAE calling for Hedges’ “immediate release”, has been circulating amongst the international...

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Image: 158887 / Pixabay

Edd Church & Gwyn Wright Online News Editor & News Editor

RASMUS grants have not been paid to a number of students on year abroad programmes, Exeposé understands. According to Erasmus+, these can be worth €470 per month. The University has acknowl-

edged delays in the payments. The grant, a fund allocated to study and work abroad students by the British Council and participating institutions, is usually given out in late summer or in the early stages of the autumn term. However, students have raised concerns with Exeposé that, despite completing the appropriate paperwork in a timely manner, there has been a delay

in the payment. Some students working or studying abroad, whose Erasmus+ grants were initially delayed, have now received their grants. But at the time of writing others are still experiencing delays. An email was circulated to students, informing them of the delay, on 6 November 2018. The email was an ‘update on the payment of the Eras-

ARTS + LIT

SCREEN

Is Broadway changing the West End? page 21

‘We do have magical powers’: an interview with Kermode and Mayo Image: Amanda Lucidon Image: Paul Hudson

page 30

EXEPOSÉ

Editors Print: Megan Davies & Graham Moore Deputy: Fenton Christmas & Katie Jenkins Online: Harry Bunting & Natalie Keffler editors@exepose.com

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@exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exepose Advertising Kate Watkins kate.watkins@exeterguild.com (01392) 722607 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.

Islamic Society raises over £14,000 for charity PAGE 5

COMMENT

Are two-year degrees a viable option? PAGE 8

FEATURES Celebrating women in politics PAGE 12

SCIENCE Is youth shortsightedness on the rise?

Image: PxHere

Arts + Lit Editors Print: Lauren Newman & Tabi Scott Online: Emily Pirie & Kristina Werner artsandlit@exepose.com

given rise to yet another space within which individuals can post about viewpoints which many would construe as 'problematic'. There is no denying that different people - from different backgrounds, knowledge areas, and ideologies - will have differing views. As we've said, coming into contact with views that do not necessarily align with your own is something universities should engender. However, if you post a deliberately inflammatory statement anonymously, you are not engaging with debate - you are, in fact, avoiding it. By divorcing yourself from your own opinion, you immediately add the implication that you yourself find it invalid. By making the decision to post anonymously, you utterly fail to competently ignite debate. Instead, any subsequent discourse is entirely left to the comments section - and anybody who has ever visited a Facebook comments section can tell you that it is not a format inherently suited to useful dialogue. The seeming lack of oversight by ExeHonestly's admin(s) - or, perhaps, a willingness to post inflammatory content to gain traffic - does not aid this issue. Anonymous discourse can be fun, but when it strays into larger issues it can only be shallow at best, and damagingly reductive at worst. Those actually seeking to engage in intelligent, informed, and cohesive debate about serious topics would be misguided if their first port of call was an anonymous Facebook platform. Doing so simply appears shallow, cowardly, and as if harbouring the deliberate intent to provoke reaction. Those of us operating under the pretence of undertaking 'higher education' should, frankly, do better. 'Til next time, Megan and Graham.

Image: Corey Torpie

Features Editors Print: Niamh Elstone & Neha Shaji Online: Chloë Edwards & Bryan Knight Foreign Correspondents Co-ordinator: Ellie Cook features@exepose.com

NIVERSITY is a place for Ex(e) posure to new and different ideas - an important part of the experience, contributing to growth not only as a student but as a person. Such growth also increasingly affords the opportunity to voice ideas of one's own, to engage in discourse, and to appraise information in a critical and careful manner. Where are we going with this, you may ask? Here at Exeposé, we take pride in being a prominent, visible, and free outlet for the student voice. With that in mind, we take care to ensure that our content - whether it be as serious as News' coverage of the ongoing Matthew Hedges case (page 3), or as fun as Screen's debate on the merits of Gilmore Girls (page 28) - undergoes a careful editorial process. We check our facts, validate our sources, and generally hold all our additions to the student discourse to high standards. These things are important to us because we firmly believe that, if our platform is to represent students, we owe it to you - and to ourselves - to be responsible. It is with this in mind that we would like to discuss the concept of anonymous outlets such as ExeHonestly, a Facebook page with which, by now, many of our readers have likely come into contact. ExeHonestly provides an anonymous platform for the student voice. In theory, there is nothing wrong with the existence and use of an anonymous platform. Certainly, ideas can exist without being attached to an individual. Yet so much as a brief scroll down the ExeHonestly page is enough to see that an anonymous platform is not conducive to constructive conversation. In fact aside from being an outlet for a seemingly endemic amount of sexual frustration - anonymising ExeHonestly has largely

NEWS

Image: Graham Moore

News Editors Print: Jaimie Hampton & Gwyn Wright Online: Edd Church & Hannah Stevenson news@exepose.com

Editorial

Image: Islamic Society

Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ

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Worldwide university news Two year degrees get green light

HE Department of Education is proposing plans for two-year degrees at universities in England. These courses would save students roughly £5,000 on fees compared to threeyear courses, and could start operating next year. Universities Minister Sam Gyimah claimed that the two-year degree would make higher education more accessible to mature students and commuters. Dr Fraser Milton, Director of Education for Psychology at Exeter told Exeposé that the two-year structure would mean that first year assessments would count towards degree classification, putting pressure on students who have been out of education for a while. Dr Milton also claims that twoyear degrees would also hurt international students who may use their first year to improve their English language skills.

UK slips down Birmingham warned over LGBTQ+ rights employability ranking

TAFF from the University of Birmingham have warned against a “watering down” of LGBTQ+ rights at their new campus in Dubai. The university maintains that they are committed to ensuring students have the same rights as they would in the UK. However, Birmingham’s Rainbow Network, which exists to support LGBTQ+ staff, has warned that “the University will be limited in its ability” to protect staff and students if they are reported to government authorities. Under Dubai law, homosexual relations are punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment. Some references to LGBTQ+ equality have therefore been removed from the campus handbook, although the university has drawn up an urgent returns procedure should students be reported and need to return to the UK.

HE employability performace of British universities has fallen in recent years, according to The Times Higher Education. The annual ranking has recorded a decline in British universities' performance. Since 2011 the number of British universities in the top 150 around the world has fallen from 15 to 10. The US has also seen a decline. Germany has more than twice their previous amount and South Korea has increased sixfold. Simon Baker, Data Editor at THE, said that the apparent cause is the higher focus on employability skills and their increased use of English removing the advantage from British and US universities. Alistair Jarvis, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said; 'It is clear that to maintain our world-leading position we must matching our competitors' increased investment in higher education.''

Activism crackdown at Chinese unis

CRACKDOWN on student activism in some of China's top universities this month has led to a number of students being held by officials in an attempt to curb student support for labour rights. Over a dozen young activists are said to be missing, with at least five being students or recent graduates at the country's leading institution, Peking University. The University has been leading the search for those involved after 50 students from across China converged in the province of Guangdong in August. A Peking University spokesperson said on Monday that "non-campus affiliated persons suspected of committing a crime" has been seized by authorities. Stories by Penny Dinh, , Luis Donohoe and Henry Jones (News Team) and Chloe Edwards (Online Features Editor) Images: Joint Base Langley- Eustis, kenner116

News

NEWS EDITOR: Gwyn Wright

Exeter alumnus given life sentence in UAE

CONTINUED FROM FRONT ...academic community since 22 October. Dr Marc Valeri, an Associate Professor at the University’s Centre for Gulf Studies, is gathering signatures on the open letter, which has now been signed by over 600 scholars from around the world. The signatories stress that Hedges’ detainment “places into question existing and future academic ties between the UK and the UAE. “British scholars can no longer regard the Emirates as a safe place for legitimate academic research, despite the efforts of the UAE government to encourage educational exchanges between UK institutions and the UAE. By his unjustified detention, prolonged arrest in solitary confinement, lack of access to proper legal advice and limited consular access, Matthew’s rights have been and continue to be denied by the UAE authorities.” A separate petition has gathered over 210,000 signatures from the general public. In a tweet, the University’s Institute of Islamic and Arabic Studies’ (IAIS) Centre for Gulf Studies said that “It is an alarming day for human rights and academia today. Academics around the world/especially those in the UAE should be dismayed by this decision.”

In response to the sentence – passed on Wednesday 21 November - Professor Stuart Corbridge, Durham University’s Vice-Chancellor, said: “There has been no information given on what basis Matt was handed this sentence and no reason to believe that Matt was conducting anything other than legitimate academic research. “We are devastated to learn that Matt Hedges has been sentenced to life in pris-

Image: Daniela Tejada

on following his detention and trial in the United Arab Emirates. Following a period in which he was detained in conditions which breached his human rights this judgement has been delivered in the absence of anything resembling due process or a fair trial.” A statement by Sir Steve Smith, Vice-

Chancellor of the University of Exeter, concurs: “Matt was in the UAE to carry out legitimate academic research, and has an undoubted passion and concern for the Arab Gulf and its people. It is absolutely vital that academics the world over are free to conduct research without fear of interference or arrest. Exeter will continue to do whatever it can to ensure Matt and his family can return home as soon as possible, and calls upon the authorities to work actively towards securing his return.” The sentence follows Hedges’ formal charging in October, and a six-month period of solitary confinement. Under UAE law a life sentence constitutes up to 25 years’ imprisonment, after which Hedges will be deported. Hedges’ family told the AFP that “The hearing lasted less than five minutes, and his lawyer was not present.” Daniela Tejada, Matthew’s wife, maintains that his case had been handled “appallingly”.

It is absolutely vital that academics are free to conduct research without fear Sir Steve Smith

“Matthew is innocent. The UAE authorities should feel ashamed for such obvious injustice. […] I am very scared for Matt. I don’t know where they are taking

him or what will happen now.” Hiba Zayadin, a researcher who works with the Middle Eastern division of the non-profit organisation Human Rights Watch, has suggested that Hedges’ “detention and prosecution in the UAE violated his right to fair trial” on various accounts, including five months in pretrial detention, prevention of access to a lawyer until his trial, and “possible prolonged solitary confinement”. She further states that “this is yet another example of an authoritarian regime’s fundamental lack of respect for the rule of law.” Attorney General Dr Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, when confirming the sentence, said: “the defendant confessed in full detail to his crimes during investigations where he was accorded his full rights and assurances as per the UAE constitution and state laws to fair and transparent trial”, and that British embassy representatives had been present in court. Regarding the charges levelled at Hedges, Al Shamsi has said that they include “spying for a foreign country, jeopardising the military, political and economic security of the state”. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said that it is “not what we expect from a friend and trusted partner of the United Kingdom and runs contrary to earlier assurances.” The UK has retained a close relationship with the UAE since the state’s formation in 1971, including the an-

nouncement of a defence partnership and plans to trade military technology in 2012.

I don’t know where they are taking him or what will happen now Daniela Tejada, Hedges’ wife

A Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesperson said: “We hope the UAE now looks favourably on the family’s request for clemency.” Hedges retains the right to appeal before the Federal Supreme Court for a retrial for 30 days after his sentencing.

Shortly before this issue went to print, the UCU’s Exeter branch passed a motion concerning Hedges’ sentencing. The 12 point motion, which passed unanimously, includes a call for “all EUCU members to engage in an academic boycott of the UAE in the name of academic freedom and solidarity with Matthew Hedges and his family.” Resolving to join Durham University and the University of Exeter in “vehemently condeming the sentencing”, the motion also expresses an intent to write to members of University leadership, urging that the University “suspends all business partnerships with the UAE [...] and lobbies for the immediate release of Matthew Hedges.” Exeposé will be reporting on the situation as events develop, at www.exepose.com.

City councillor faces criticism over absences Gwyn Wright News Editor

XETER graduate and Labour member of Exeter City Council, Lewis Keen, has faced criticism over his attendance record at council meetings. Keen, aged 21, was elected to represent the St David’s ward in 2016 while studying at Exeter. He currently lives in London and has only attended one in every nine council meetings held between 15 May and 7 November of this year.

Exeter or remain resident in London on a full-time basis. Constituents can currently contact Keen by post or by phone, but his email inquiries are being redirected to the other three councillors who represent the St David’s ward. Exeter Green Party have raised concerns about Keen’s attendance at council meetings, and have dubbed him the ‘missing councillor.’ The Greens wrote

to Exeter City Council leader, Labour’s Pete Edwards, to enquire about Keen’s continued eligibility to sit on the council, attendance at meetings and allowances. They also asked whether his poor attendance record can be explained and whether the council are taking steps to address concerns that such low attendance raises. In response to these enquiries, Councillor Edwards said; “Councillor Keen has now got a job in London and

we are doing what we have done in the past for all councilors who move away to work in all political parties.’’ “As for the questions that you ask me they are none of my business so I can’t help you.’’ Councillor Keen said: “at the end of the day my vote won’t make a marginal difference between whether something is passed or not. What’s more important is making sure constituents’ case work is

At the end of the day my vote won’t make a marginal difference Councillor Lewis Keen

He has been living with his parents in London for the past four or five months, and broke his ankle in October, which has made attendance at meetings more difficult. However, he has not yet decided whether he intends to return to

Image: Tash Ebbutt

being done and that is what I have been doing.’’

If people don’t like the way I’m representing them, then they don’t have to vote for me

Cllr Lewis Keen

He added: “I still 100% want to be an Exeter councillor. At the moment I am undecided if I will be staying in London.’’ ‘‘I will be up for election in May and if people don’t like the way I’m representing them then they don’t have to vote for me. It’s democratic.’’ A St David’s constituent, Joana Chanter, who was on the verge of homelessness because her housing benefiit was stopped, said: ‘‘he is the only person who has helped me in a very difficult situation.’’ Exeposé reached out to Exeter Labour Students on this matter, but they declined to provide a comment at this time.

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

Social mobility expert joins university

Hannah Seeckts News Team

OCIAL mobility expert and former Chief Executive of the Sutton Trust, Dr Lee Elliot Major, is set to join Exeter as a Professor of Social Mobility. The Sutton Trust is the UK’s leading foundation formed to improve social mobility, primarily through education, so young people’s talents can be fulfilled irrespective of their social background. He is also a founding trustee of the Education Endowment Foundation, and chairs its education advisory board.

The dream of just doing better, let alone climbing the social ladder, is dying

Dr Elliot Major

Much of Dr Elliot Major’s work has been inspired by his own background. Growing up in Feltham, he described it as a world “devoid of aspiration and hope”. Despite dropping out of school, he went on to

retake his A-Levels and study at the University of Sheffield and Imperial College London. Earlier this year Dr Elliot Major published his co-written book, Social Mobility and Its Enemies, which discusses Britain’s low social mobility – the lowest, in fact, in the Western world, on a par with the USA. The book also examines the cost to the nation of potential generations of unfulfilled talent and the importance of universities in creating a fairer future. Writing in The Guardian in September, Dr Elliot Major condemned the social immobility witnessed in British society today. “Generations growing up today face a bleak future [...] The dream of just doing better, let alone climbing the social ladder is dying.” Professor Debra Myhill, ProVice Chancellor and Executive Dean of the College of Social Sciences and International Studies has expressed her “delight” at his appointment: “The experience will be invaluable for all those he will work with at the University of Exeter.”

Exeter remembers Jodie Coughlan News Team

HE University of Exeter held a service of Remembrance in the Mary Harris Memorial Chapel to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War.

The hearts of the citizens of Exeter were not boastful but were instead filled with thankfulness

Sir James Owen, Mayor of Exeter

During the service there was a reading of names of the 75 stu-

dents and alumni who have died in conflict. Within the chapel there is a memorial plaque which remember Exeter’s alumni who have died in war since 1945. Reverend Hannah Alderson, who led the service within the chapel, said that “Remembrance Sunday is a time when we give thanks for those who have given their lives in armed conflict”. The university has also conducted research led by Dr Richard Batten into how Devon reacted to the news of the end of the war 100 years ago. Research found that religious services turned into services of thanksgiving and The Mayor of

Exeter, Sir James Owen declared that “the hearts of the citizens of Exeter were not boastful but were instead filled with thankfulness”. The service held by the University was a time of reflection for both students and staff. “For many, it brings feelings of pride and gratitude for the courage of those who fought in the World Wars and conflicts since, and those who made sacrifices in many other ways. We are also reminded of the horrors of war, not only in the past but in our world today. As we look back, we also look to the future, and commit ourselves to peace” said Reverend Alderson. Image: Pamela Kelly

Exeter carol service returns Students find formula

Natalie Tongue News Team

HE Evangelical Christian Union (ECU) are hosting a Carol Service at 7pm on 3 December in St James Park. As the nation’s biggest carol service outside of London, this annual event is “a really special event that brings students and locals together”, as described by the ECU President Alex Williams. Performing at this festive service are Semi-Toned (an internationally renowned a cappella group) and Sweet Nothings (the University of Exeter’s all-female a cappella group), alongside Image: ECU

Newtown primary school and Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education.

Each year we put [the carol service] on to gather as many people to celebrate the good news of Christmas

Alex Williams, ECU President

These Exeter-based acts will treat audiences to a night of Christmas carols in the countdown to Christmas with 3,000 people. The Lord Mayor, Rob Hannaford, and the Guild President, Grace Frain will be giving read-

ings at this community event. The venue is wheelchair friendly, with ramps throughout the park and level entrances for accessibility. There is designated seating for the disabled and elderly, making this an inclusive event for all to enjoy. A British Sign Language interpreter from the Royal Exeter Deaf Academy is attending as well. “We’d be delighted if you could join us for this year’s Carol Service!” the President of the ECU, Alex Williams commented, “each year we put this on to gather as many people to celebrate the good news of Christmas.”

for ‘Oxygen on Mars’

Katie Jenkins Deputy Editor

NIVERSITY of Exeter students have found a way to produce oxygen on Mars, winning gold at an international science competition. This win signals Exeter’s fifth consecutive gold medal at the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition, which this year took place in Boston, Massetusuts. In their winning project, they managed to convert perchlorate, a chemical compound found in Martian soil, into oxygen. They also designed a bioreactor to contain the reaction on Mars and found a way to harvest the oxygen. “Our project was initially inspired in two ways; bioremediation of water sources and space exploration,” explained team member Juliana Sackey, speaking to the University. “We found a link between the two in perchlorate: an ion found in contaminated water sources on Earth that could potentially help humans breathe on Mars.” The team, composed of ten stu-

dents from Physics, Computer Sciences and Biosciences was supervised by Professor John Love. “They have been a great team, always open to new ideas,” said Professor Love. “As ever, iGEM is a massive team effort. I am very grateful to those researchers and PhD students who, in addition to their day jobs, helped the students in the lab.”

We’d like to say a big thank you to [...] everyone that helped us along the way Juliana Sackey, team member

“We are thrilled to receive a gold medal,” said Sackey. “It was a culmination of a summer full of new experiences in team work, organisation and discovery in synthetic biology. “It was a great ending to our trip to Boston and we’d like to say a big thank you to our supervisors at the University and everyone that helped us along the way.”

NEWS

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Islamic Society raises over £14k Gwyn Wright News Editor

HE University of Exeter’s Islamic Society have raised £18,109.37 during Chartity Week, which was held between 22 and 28 October. This amount surpasses the total amount raised last year.

week. The society was placed second in terms of institutions in the South region for their fundtaising efforts. In adition, Exeter were presented with the SpaceX award for helping forge a sustainable environment for all members in Exeter to help futher Charity Week initiatives for next year.

The society chose to fundraise through Islamic Relief (IR) because they believe that it is one of the most transparent and effective charities in the United Kingdom. The money raised went towards numerous charities supporting orphans and children in need throughout the developing world.

These projects have included support for an orphan village in Mali, before and after school day centre in South Africa, training centres teaching vocational skills in Somalia, provision of a sustainable income for orphans in India, funding of orphanages and a school in Syria, girls’ education in Afhaganistan and education and training in Pakistan.

Charity Week is a beautiful initiative which brings students together under the banner of doing a selfless act Madina Bengaly, ISoc President

Image: University of Exeter Islamic Society

The money was raised through a mixture of events held throughout Exeter as well as through online platforms. The events included a Fifa tournament, Kaspas dessert night, and ‘ultimate gameshow’, dodgeball and an annual dinner, which was held on 4th November. The society were also present with in the forum and at St Luke’s campus throughout the week with numerous bake sales, as well as fundraising in Exeter town centre. The broader masjid community also raised between £3,764.97 during the

Madina Bengaly, President of the University of Exeter Islamic Societytold Exeposé: “Charity Week is a beautiful initiative which brings students together under the banner of doing a selfless act. The week primarily focuses on unity and fundraising for orphans and needy children, who are some of the most vulnerable members of our society. This year in particular it was absolutely mindblowing to have the sort of engagement we had with the wider Exeter community and wider student body in delivering the Charity Week message of unity and helping us fundraise. We hope this streak can only continue in the coming years.’’

It’s great to see groups of students take the opportunity to raise money for such a great cause Rosie McDonagh, VP Activities

Rosie McDonagh, VP Activities, said: ‘‘It’s great to see groups of students taker the opportunity to raise money for such a great casue. I’d like to congratulate all those involved in this great work.’’

Concern raised over late Erasmus payments CONTINUED FROM FRONT ...will be processed and you will be paid. […] We are not able to estimate when these payments will be processed as the issue is with our Finance and IT Teams. [...] We are not in a position to respond to emails regarding estimated payment dates as we are focusing our efforts on getting the issue resolved.”

Many students [...] are definitely starting to struggle Anonymous student

One student studying French, on an Erasmus programme, told Exeposé that they thought the University had not done enough to support them. “The University Study Abroad team has not done enough to ensure that each student is comfortable on their year abroad. Simply providing us a rough guideline and then not even delivering this

to all students is inadequate and does not provide the resources the university claims it gives. Many of us had to research and apply for jobs independently, as well as search for accommodation. The least the University could do was give the financial support it was supposed to. I and many others have been incredibly let down and angered by a university that we hold dear to us.” To receive their grants for work abroad, students are required to fill out paperwork including an Erasmus+ traineeship agreement, which must be completed by the students’ employer, the student themselves, and the university. Another student who was also disappointed that they had not received their grant told Exeposé that while they currently have a job, they know “many students don’t have that luxury and are definitely starting to struggle”. They said that the University had done little to differentiate between students who had begun working as early as

June, and those who had begun working later. They also raised concerns about the manner in which the university had dealt with their enquiries, and how they feel like “a burden” when emailing the University’s Year Abroad Team about such issues.

There were some delays in processing some of the payments

University spokesperson

A University of Exeter spokesperson said: “The University implemented a new finance system in August of this year. In the early stages of the migration to the new system, there were some delays in processing some of the Erasmus grant payments. “These delays have been resolved, and the Student Funding team have been working together with the Study Abroad office to process confirmed awards as soon as possible. However we apologise

unreservedly for any concerns or issues students may have faced by these delays.’’

Our Student Advice Team will work with any student who approaches them Students’ Guild spokesperson

“While the first allocation of grants are usually paid at the end of October, the University does advise students that this is an estimated time, and not guaranteed. “The Study Abroad team wrote to all students to advise them as soon as they were made aware of the delays, and also offered guidance regarding who to contact if they had any queries or concerns. We are confident that students who have provided the full and correct bank details to receive the fund transfer, have been paid. However, any student with concerns about the payment of an Erasmus

grant should contact the University, [via SID] with their student number and details of the concern so we can investigate individual cases. All enquiries should be marked for the attention of the Student Funding team. For any student who has applied for student finance, but continues to find themselves in financial Hardship, can apply to the Hardship and Retention fund.’’ A Students’ Guild spokesperson said; “We are aware of a number of isolated cases where students haven’t receive the funding they expected. Our Student Advice Team will work with any student that approaches them to support them in resolving the problems delaying payment and addressing any hardship that results from the delay. We monitor cases and other enquires to look for information and patterns that suggests larger problems and where these are identified we will address them directly with the University.” Image: Jean-Pierre Lavoie

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Comment

COMMENT EDITORS:

Isabelle Gray Deepa Lalwani

Dear ExeHonestly Yudy Wu Contributor

r ck Fli

While there are helpful posts focusing on mental health or giving you a laugh, the problems from the YikYak era are also brought back in all these anonymous pages, especially racism. One of the anonymous posts (now removed) says: “No nut November is a pisstake. Everyone knows no N-word

/ ter lan OP SE

We would expect people in higher education to be more educated

This page is entirely anonymous, unlike YikYak, which was operated by a company that needs to have business ethics to keep things going. ExeHonestly is for students, by students (sorry XpressionFM). No one knows who is posting on it, and no one even knows who the page admin is. There’s no one that you can have a talk with and tell them: “hey, this is wrong.” And it is impossible for the University to shut down a Facebook page – even if they could, and did shut down ExeHonestly today, there might be a page called ExeConfess popping up on your Facebook timeline tomorrow.

e: ag Im

OMPLAINING about your annoying flatmate or confessing to your crush anonymously is not a new thing on the Internet we’ve all seen YikYak. And we’ve all seen how people were posting harassment, hate speech and threats on that app. Finally, we’ve all seen how it was banned by many schools, became irrelevant, and was eventually shut down. However, with YikYak came the opening of Pandora’s box, and now almost every university has an anonymous submission page - Exeter’s newest being ExeHonestly on Facebook.

November is a real challenge.” It may sound astonishing that a person who is currently receiving a university education would find this funny and think it’s a good idea to post it on a public page; it’s also astonishing that the page admin, again, a person who is also receiving university education, actually thought that it would be okay to let this be seen by other students. The post was screenshotted and complained about on the Facebook page Spotted: Racism in Exeter & Devon. Although ExeHonestly apologised and removed the post, they argued that “the post does not represent the views of the page”, somewhat denying culpability. The University’s Facebook account replied: “Thanks for tagging us in this. It looks like the moderators of that page have removed this post already.” And when the page admin asked what actions the University would be taking, the University did not reply - one student asked: “What actions would you like them to take?” This is a fair question - what actions can our university actually take?

These posts reflect the lack of consciousness at this University The biggest problem with all of this is not that YikYak and ExeHonestly give us a platform to post stuff without

taking any responsibility. These posts can be seen to reflect an ongoing lack of social consciousness, particularly in light of recent events at the University such as the Bracton Law scandal. We would expect people in higher education to be more educated - it’s ironic that bigotry is so clear, even while we consider ourselves as one of the best universities in this country. The fact is, even after the whole Bracton Law scandal, there are still many people at this university who have and vocalise racially insensitive views, and given the ongoing conversation surrounding racial diversity on campus, this problem might not be gone quickly.

on a post that read: “This page used to be decent before they started screening posts. Now every post is as bland as the next, politically correct so as to not offend anyone. Now it’s just a bunch of Oxbridge rejects moaning about sex.” Yeah, we get it, you didn’t think the “No N-Word November” joke was offensive, and you’ve probably never thought about actually apologising and regulating your page. After all, the more controversial the page is, the more attention it will receive. But ExeHonestly, maybe it’s time for you to actually think about what the point of your page is.

Maybe it’s time to think about what the point of this page is But, ExeHonestly, this doesn’t mean that you are innocent. The way that many people at this university behave shouldn’t give you less of a responsibility as a page admin. Everyone on the internet can see this page; what you decided to post is actually affecting the way that students think and talk, as well as how this university looks to others. ExeHonestly itself left a sad react

Image: Pixnio

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Safer Sex Ball: hit or miss?

Lauren Fawke Contributor

FTER figuratively missing the bus for SSB in first year, the infamous annual event took a fallow year which left me to fulfill the notorious Exeter tradition as a sceptical third-year. However, despite the mixed reviews and advice I received, from “wrap up warm” to “pre hard” (the bus takes a while and I wouldn’t recommend going sober), I actually found myself wanting to take more layers off than I had left to offer – even if this was largely because it was so hot and busy.

I didn’t wear any glitter and I came home covered in it In hindsight, I would argue that going single with single friends played

a key part in enjoying the event because embraced the glitter and spandex to puffers or moonboots, the theme you don’t really get a choice in whether make up for their lack of underwear wouldn’t have been recognisably you get pushed up against someone else options. Also, without the minority intergalactic! Generally though, I had a good – trust me, I didn’t wear any glitter and of girls that donned silver Image : kerry time but probably wouldn’t I came home covered in it. However, ank / P ixabay go again – once really is more drinks did mean fewer cares and enough. Wilkinson this was an attitude I carried Image: Ministry of Sound delivered a decent into the night, so, atmosphere and while some outfits predictably delivered more of b a i t e d an eyeful than us with I bargained ‘Afterglow’ for, I was which he happy to played right ditch my silk at the end. robe half And, while an hour in it could be and the body described as a positivity literal zoo (imagine shared by top floor TP Wednesday everyone overall but worse), that doesn’t was impressive. necessarily make it bad. The bars were I must praise the reasonably priced (four Jägerbombs for boys in particular as they

a tenner!) and I got a bottle of water for the journey home (although jam sandwiches and custard creams from the Lemon Grove outdo this).

The body positivity shared by everyone was impressive My main disappointment therefore resided in the fact that we weren’t given free party bags filled with the likes of condoms and lube that years before us had the privilege of receiving – after all, isn’t the entire aim to encourage safer sex?! Thus, I can only hope that the exposed individuals who were spotted walking home in the early hours of Monday morning were sensible enough to use protection, because they clearly weren’t prepared enough to pack extra clothes for their sleepovers.

COMMENT

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Is two the magic number? Graham Moore Editor

S you may be aware, the government recently confirmed plans which would enable an accelerated, two-year programme for UK universities’ degree courses. Changes in legislation would allow universities to charge higher fees per annum (approximately £11,000) for two 45-week years of teaching. Supposedly, this offers greater flexibility; Universities Minister Sam Gyimah has suggested that a fast-track course would provide improved access to education for “mature students and those who commute, who were previously locked out of higher education”.

There is more to university life than just a degree

Let’s break this down for a second – allow me to crunch some numbers, if you will. Two years at £11,000 comes to £22,000 in tuition fees, which even I – a dedicated non-STEM student – can tell you is £5,750 less than the currently standard three-year degree. Not

to mention you’d save money on one year less student rent, and one year less out of full-time work. Sounds appealing, right? And it would be, for some – but we’re not yet looking at the whole picture. Sure, your average student might save money – but who’s gaining? In 2017, the University’s enrolment figure (Home and EU) was given at 15,582. If we multiply that by our humble £9,250, our total figure for incoming fees comes in at £144,133,500 (a figure with only marginally less commas than one of my essay submissions) - but if we input the proposed £11,000 fee, this rises to £177,402,000. I’m extrapolating of course, because not everyone would opt for a two-year programme, but certainly the University stands to gain financially. And so does the government, in a way, because a lower total tuition fee means lower student loans to fund. But surely this is all well and good, I hear you say? I still gain my degree – what’s so bad about the University and the government having a bit more money to throw around? Where’s the loss? The loss, I’m afraid, is everywhere except in the numbers. Responding to the news on Twitter (that bastion of intellectual discourse; truly, a cesspit for the modern age), the University of Leeds’

Dr Sara Barker noted that “for many having other responsibilities outside of arts degrees, [a two-year programme] my course that involved being part of a ignores the realities of how students de- team and meeting so many great people velop intellectually over time and how was just as rewarding as the academic they work during their degrees”. Many side of uni.” Honestly, I have to agree – whilst a students, myself included, would agree. I spoke to Emily Garbutt, a Uni- two-year degree may sound cost-effective, it’s only desirable if we versity of Exeter alumna treat our education who graduated with as a commodity. a BA in English, The extra stress who tweeted piled on by about the squeezing announced three years plans. of content She said: into two “Third is likely year was to have the time an impact that I on wellbecou ld ing, not to really say that mention limitI enjoyed what ing students’ caI was studying - I Image: StartupStockPhotos / Pixabay pability to undertake tried lots of different part-time work alongside things throughout first and second year, a lot of it compulsory, and their course. A more intensive year also I kind of needed that trial and error to adds to the workload of teaching staff, realise what I liked and what I didn’t.” diverting time away from valuable reShe also raised another important point search. Put simply, universities are more – there is more to university life than just a degree, and getting involved than just machines for churning out with extra-curricular activities can take certifications. Is it worth complying time. “Balance is super important, and with a scheme that enables further

commodification of the higher education system, would lead to a more condensed and stressful term-time, and limits students’ capability to gain extracurricular fulfilment - all for the sake of a cheaper and more rushed course? For some, yes. I won’t hesitate to admit that many people seeking to add a degree to their CV would be more than happy to minimise the time spent gaining it. Yet, whilst I wouldn’t fault an individual who opted for a two-year course, offering such a programme sets a bad precedent. If the plans go forward, then many would be pressured into that option for the wrong reasons. Higher education should not be a competitive environment - it should not be a race, and it should not simply be a product to sell for maximum profit. There is more to university than simply achieving grades and ticking boxes; there is more to academic study than simply learning how to pass an exam. Universities should be providing an environment that stimulates growth, both personal and intellectual. This is not something that can be so easily achieved through two intensified years of study. If you have the time and can afford to do it, a three-year course is always going to be be more rewarding – and produce better graduates.

DEADLINE HORROR STORIES Wefault need to get rid of year, the Monday of the week after reading week Y worst deadline story is Exeposé’s entirely, N first and has nothing to do with my inability to manage was when my first ever assessed essay was due. Having all the metaphors time, actually do any reading, and crippling fear of missnot done around harassment Psychology at A Level, I felt very unprepared ing out. So there we were, at boozy bowling, and I’m mix- for my Clinical Psychology essay. As a huge procrastinaing espressos and shots as if I were the Russian mafia on tor, I’d barely done any work by the end of reading week. an all-night watch. I knew I had a paper due the next day, Before I knew it, it was already Sunday, the night I’d I knew I was writing about the illiterate male ‘adored na- promised to go out with my flatmates to celebrate Haltive’ character in postcolonial novels - I just hadn’t done loween. any of my critical reading, primary sources, or actually By the time pre-drinks started, my essay was at started the essay. I just wanted to win at bowling. around 1,000 words, and nowhere near making sense. On went the pub crawl, and at the second pub I took And so I decided to make a brave decision: to pre-drink my leave and dragged my heels back to campus. I had ten while finishing up my essay. As I finished a bottle of cheap hours, enormous amounts of caffeine, and a true love of wine, the essay managed to reach a natural conclusion the subject. I took a short break at one point as I decided I at 1,592 words - more than I had ever expected. And as was undeniably hungry. Despite the three shots of vodka alcohol impairs decision making, my tipsy brain decided and four espressos inside me, churning like the world’s that my essay, which was meant to be 2,000 words long, worst rollercoaster, I was starving, it was 3am and not a was ready for submission. So I submitted it and went on single shop was open. Right: Monster Munch and Dairy to have a fantastic night out at Unit 1, only to regret it Milk from the vending machine, and a crushed up Belvita the morning after, when I woke up with plenty of time to I found in my handbag had to do. look at the essay before the deadline at 12pm. I did get it done in the end. It was 7am and my essay had Much to my surprise, I received a 2:1 for the essay! reached over two thousand words, the dappled sunlight To quote the marker, the essay was “a good start and an flickering over all the references arranged alphabetically. encouraging sign for future work”. I stumbled home, triumphant in my experience as a FYI, this was my essay title: “What role can a clinical cautionary tale for students - you may be running late, psychologist have in enabling a person with an alcohol but you don’t have it quite as bad as... that girl. I did get a problem to change behaviour?” 73 on it, however, so who’s laughing now?

Neha Shaji, Features Editor

Penny Dinh

EWIND to my first year - I’m in the Ram. I have 2,000 words to produce in the next few hours, but here I am, pretending otherwise. “First year doesn’t count,” I chant to myself, repeating the mantra in a pathetic attempt to validate my poor judgement. “Start your essay,” my only friend with half a brain recommends. So I do. Pint in one hand and laptop in the other, I start. Fast forward. With five minutes left, I start to resort to bullet points. 14:59:49. SUBMITTED. 11 seconds to go, but submitted nonetheless. It was BAD. Luckily, here’s what my professor thought: “This is a very strange essay. It begins out rather strongly, however, due to the prevalence of frequent spelling and syntactical errors, and the weird system of annotation (the like of which I have never seen), the essay tends to limp rather than stroll along. Page three consists of a series of notes mishmashed together along with sloppy syntax and mis-spellings, so the essay actually on this page stops limping and bites the dust. Although the essay picks itself up on page 4, it tumbles to the earth again in paragraph 2—with notes instead of full sentences given, and little rhyme or reason in their order. The saving grace of the essay is the 12 sources used, which show an ample breadth of research. All in all, this essay, which exhibited so much promise at the start, ends up in its final delivery as very flawed. Grade: 54.” Isha Gurung

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Should the Guild have a town crier?

F you haven’t been keeping up with the most recent Student Ideas (and why wouldn’t you?!) then you might have missed the fact that an idea was recently passed to instate a town crier in the Guild. As detailed in the idea, the town crier “would be an elected, unpaid role and the person would be equipped with a bell and ceremonial garbs”. Potential announcements of the crier would include “horse theft/a new farrier in town,” “nearby highwaymen or bandits,” and “regicide”. Obviously, this is a role which must be created and filled forthwith.

Obviously, this is a role which must be created and filled forthwith But what would this crier look like? Perhaps creating an image of such a figure would be enough to stir the Guild into action and get the ball rolling. Let’s run through a few options for which type of town crier should be elected. First up, the Regal Crier: the kind of crier every loud informative individual aspires to be. Adorned with a bright red and gold coat, matching feathered hat and, of course, a shiny gold bell, the Regal Crier commands the respect of every social class. They rub shoulders with all the barons, never get pushed and shoved by the sickly urchins of the parish, and even get to proclaim announcements in the Queen’s Court. This kind of crier would no doubt bring a certain je ne sais quoi to DH1, but would not help the university’s already privileged reputation. Let’s consider the Solemn Crier. This type of crier takes the role much more seriously. Dressed modestly in a plain black overcoat, undecorated tricorne hat, and dark brass bell, this crier has no pageantry about them. Although the Solemn Crier is efficient in their proclamations, their dour outlook and grave countenance will not bring much solace to the exceptionally stressed student populace. Likewise, we could pick the Dread Crier - usually deployed in harrowing emergencies, the Dread Crier announces plague outbreaks, marauder invasions, rampaging bears, and

THE SABB

AGAINST

FOR Harry Bunting Online Editor

COMMENT

other such macabre occurrences. Sporting black breeches, a dark tabard emblazoned with white skulls, and equipped with a special mahogany-handled bell, this type of crier is barely able to keep to their duties as the sheer panic of the situation takes hold. Definitely not a crier for routine Guild-use, this foreboding bellman could come in handy when climate change really strikes.

A town crier is clearly the only way forward Finally, the Fool Crier. What a joke. The Fool Crier is lucky to hold a title at all. Usually wearing nothing more than a hessian sack and often carrying a poultry cowbell – if a bell at all – this crier is little more than a jester to the townsfolk. Frequently heard announcing monthold potato prices and basic facts about the weather, the Fool Crier is regularly pelted with rotten gourds and sleeps in the pig sty. Entertainment potential is high, but information potential is low. With so many students in the dark about the goings on at the University, a town crier is clearly the only way forward. But which type of crier do you think the Guild should employ on campus? Tweet your opinion using the hashtag #ExeterGuildCrier and let’s get our voices heard!

Adam Robertson Charlton Contributor

N writing this, I am aware of the immense responsibility that rests upon my shoulders. Not desire but necessity has motivated me to speak up for the minority. The oppressed 13.6 percent: those that oppose the commissioning of a town crier in Devonshire House. Ours is not a popular position. Despite the taunts, some of us do in fact partake in fun, every now and again. Indeed, one or two of us are quite pleasant company at a party. I would like to take this moment to chide, quite indignantly, those who both tabled and voted for this motion, and to illustrate the absurdity of such an appointment. It has been pointed out by some on this side of the argument that this vote devalues our democratic institutions, and is a distraction from the serious work that the Guild ought to be busying itself with. My personal objections pertain rather more to the scenarios that the town crier is intended to notify us of from his perch in Devonshire House. The Guild was good enough to provide a list of such scenarios: the most significant are addressed below.

Despite the taunts some of us do partake in fun, every now and again First: election results. Top of the

Images: R/DV/RS / Flickr; Marcus Jeffrey

list of scenarios that the Idea was good enough to provide. This is perhaps the least terrible idea, but it still has one intrinsic flaw: no one cares about student elections. Next: sales in the Ram. I think this is best kept quiet. The last thing we need is the Ram’s one-of-a-kind queueing system assailed by thirsting hordes. Getting a drink takes quite long enough as it is, without a meddling town crier.

Any armada small enough to make it up the River Exe is not an armada. It’s a rowing club Now for the ‘trouble in Parliament’. At this moment in time, crying trouble in Parliament would be a full-time job. Not just for one person, but for at least eight, working a 24-hour shift pattern, wide-eyed from caffeine and broken dreams. In the whirlpool of resignations, draft deals, angry MEPs, angry MPs, protest marches, blaring news headlines, EU Christmas jumpers, Larry the cat... A town crier might just be the last straw. What hapless individual could bear that burden on their scarlettruffled shoulders? As for the threat of ‘nearby highway men or bandits’? I for one could not condone in good faith such a blatant affront to our hard-working Estate Patrol. Besides, my encounters with banditry are all I have to fall back on at the pub, when I’m being regaled by tales of thuggery and two-foot machetes by friends at Manchester Uni. I don’t feel very threatened by approaching armadas either - any armada small enough to make it up the River Exe is not an armada. It’s a rowing club. The list ends with regicide: again, this sort of thing is best kept quiet. Especially at a university attended by so many sons of dukes, earls and lairds - at the merest whiff of regicide, they would be readying the yeomanry. A war of succession would erupt on campus leading to amicicide and dominicide. This would, of course, result in famacide. Best they don’t know until the rightful heir is safely on the throne.

Image: Students’ Guild

Tom Allars PVP Postgraduate Taught

ROM myself, this column acts as a quick hello and update from a new Sabbatical Officer. Josip, VP Postgraduate, and myself started towards the end of October and we are now nearing a month in the office. It has certainly been a whirlwind start to life in the Guild, but it is great that we can both give specific representation to Postgraduate students. The opening weeks for us have been centred on academic representation and welfare. I have chaired the three PGT Executive meetings and been having one-toone meetings with as many of our PGT reps as possible. Josip has chaired the PGR Exec meeting and been conducting meetings with all the PGR reps. We’ve been collating useful feedback and have been initiating the processes to create lasting change. We always like feedback, so come and speak to us at any point and we’ll happily listen. Running through my manifesto has been a significant process over the past two weeks, breaking it down and working with the other officers (who have been fantastically accommodating) to find the overlaps. The initial steps have been very positive and I’m hoping that I will be able to enact the manifesto pledges over the year. We have been working hard on our visibility as well this month, so you may have seen our faces circulating on the website or watched one of our Vlogs online. To close I would like to say, on behalf of Josip and myself, a big thank you to everyone who voted and we are extremely excited for the year ahead. If you are a Postgraduate and you want to come and talk to us about anything University related, then come to the Sabb Office and myself and Josip will be happy to help!

Image: Exeposé

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

COMMENT

The year abroad experience

Comment writers discuss the expectations and realities of going on a year abroad Jasmin Priya Contributor

“

EMIND me what you did on your year abroad?” It’s a question I can answer in my sleep. “I studied in Bergamo, Italy, and worked in Murcia, Spain.” To be specific, I spent a semester or five months barely surviving at an Italian university in the region of Lombardy, and then three easier months of a translation internship in the sunny south of Spain. If you’re used to alternating your nights between the campus library and the club, I’d recommend studying abroad.

This year won’t seem like the best year of your life My main difficulty was integrating with the Italian students; in fact, it was impossible. Furthermore, any locals I met refused to speak Italian with me, as my accent was “troppo brutto” (too ugly). I heard those words often.

However, I formed many strong friendships with individuals from all over the world, and this expansive global network has proved useful in my life now. My main advice here: if you’re struggling academically, don’t be afraid to seek help from the International Office, the Erasmus societies or your professors. I did prefer my work experience. I liked the regular schedule and the chance to focus on something I really enjoy. There were some prejudice issues: the permanent, salaried workers had a nickname for us interns - “beckies”, short for “becarias”, i.e. those funded by Erasmus grants. I also think it was a Beyoncé reference. Well, I do have good hair. Nevertheless, there was a lovely group of translator interns, I met my wonderful boyfriend in that very office and my supervisor was like my

twin, but Spanish. I had much more opportunity to practice both Spanish and Italian with the translations and the friends I made there, who were very patient and encouraging. I would recommend working on your year abroad if you need the experience to buff up your CV. Besides, the issue with studying is that it’s 24/7; there’s always something to read or revise. When I left the office, I left all work behind, I was done until my shift the next day. It’s quite relaxing. In conclusion, this year won’t seem like the best year of your life. The culture shock, the language barriers, the homesickness… it seems like Hell. However, I feel sorry for all the students who don’t have this opportunity and you’ll be a better person after it. One final warning: unless you’re a massive extrovert, don’t go on the ESN trips. Just don’t.

Images: Jasmin Priya; ML5909 / Pixabay

Lou Aubay Contributor

S a fourth-year student, I would definitely recommend you go on a year abroad - for me, it was a rewarding experience on a personal, social and academic level. It was also a necessary break from Exeter. Hong Kong is a cosmopolitan city, and a popular destination for travellers and year abroad-goers. In my sixperson apartment, I was living with two English, two Spanish, and one Korean student but my whole accommodation was completely international, inhabited by Dutch, Finnish, French, Americans and other nationalities. Integration was very easy: everyone just hung out together and as everyone was so far from home, people were more openminded and eager to meet new people. The campus is a maze because it is built on different levels, as is the rest of Hong Kong. The facilities are very nice. It is comparable to the University of Exeter, except for the gym and the swimming pool, which

were completely free. Academically, the classes were challenging. I had the opportunity to study a very different range of subjects such as cybersecurity, contemporary African American culture, and journalism. The year was extremely useful as I came back for my final year with greater skills and a clearer idea of what I wanted to do after University. Staying in Hong Kong felt unreal. You can eat dim sum (the local tapas), Vietnamese or Thai food for under £4, spend a day on a boat eating and tanning for £25, or just jet off on a weekend to a neighbouring country for under £200. I had the opportunity to explore 9 different countries: Taiwan, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bali, Singapore, Korea, China, Vietnam and Thailand. Even if you decide to just stay in Hong Kong, it’s hard to become bored. There is always a new beach, a new hike or a new cool spot to discover the closest beach from my house was 45 minutes by public transport. Hong Kong is a multi-faceted city that I completely fell in love with last year, and I’m sure you will too. Image: Lou Aubay

Image: NASA

Sophia Eady Contributor

O on a year abroad, they said. It’ll be the best year of your life, they said… They were not wrong. A mere two months into my année étrangère and I’m sure it’s the best decision I’ve made in a long time. I’m in a city in the middle of the Alps, where cheese is as plentiful as red wine, teaching adorable primary school children English. I don’t want to say it isn’t without any trials, but so far I do feel incredibly fortunate. Are the weeks before the move stressful? Of course. If you think finding housing in Exeter is bad, try doing it in a foreign country, where the continual attempts to string a coherent sentence together in a foreign language make you question what on earth you’ve been learning over years of language classes. But the stress,

the paperwork, the language - it’s all easily made up for by the sublime moments, anything as simple as taking the tram to work and staring out over the mountain ranges, stumbling over romantic, cobbled streets, the endless soirées. You realise quite how short a year is, and you will be astounded by the novelty of it all. You wonder how you will ever go back to ‘normal life’ because after just six weeks of working I can’t imagine being a student again. At the end of class today, one of my students gave me a note which, literally translated, said “I love you, Sofia” (yes, she spelt my name wrong, but obviously I wasn’t going to say so). If I could stay another year, I would. A year abroad is a welcome break from the mundanity of studying, an escape from the university bubble; a year to feel useful, to feel challenged. Maybe it’s not for everyone, but it certainly is for me. Image: rostichep / Pixabay

Emma Hussain Contributor

HEN you’re applying to universities, year abroad sounds like an abstract dream you can’t wait to realise. But fast-forward a few years and you’ll be weeping on the Metro system of a city that’s far, far away from Exeter. You start to wonder – is it really all it’s cracked up to be?

I’m beginning to feel myself thinking in another language Throughout second-year, Year Abroad definitely loses some of its charm as you begin to realise that you have to leave all your friends, find somewhere to live in a foreign country, and survive a year without Tesco. Arriving abroad while friends head back to a place of comfort and familiarity

for their final year can feel like you’re somehow in the wrong place. However, slowly but surely, you build up a new routine – a new job or university, new friends, new supermarkets! You’ll still be facing challenges daily, but they’re balanced out by other new experiences you’re having. It’s also heartening to know that through all of it, you’re becoming a stronger person. For me, the year so far has felt like a series of chaotic events strung together by really cool stuff. My French phone contract isn’t working…but I’m at the Louvre. I’m locked out of my bank account…yet I’m strolling by the Seine. I’m severely hungover after a night out where a single shot was €5… but I’m eating a first-class baguette.

(All real examples from the past two months.) Ultimately, the year abroad is a fantastic way to discover another culture in a way you otherwise never could. The weirdest experiences become part of normal life. Last weekend I found myself playing jump rope with some kids in a community centre while music by a French afrotrap rapper played over the speakers. I’ve met people from all over the world who have welcomed me into their lives with open arms. I’m beginning to feel myself thinking in another language. A year abroad may seem like a big thing at first, but if you’re looking for the chance to travel and do strange, exciting, and challenging things, it’s definitely worth it. Image: Fshoq!; 12019 / Pixabay

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Features

FEATURES EDITORS: Niamh Elstone Neha Shaji

Remember, Germany William Harrop, Copy Editor, explores Germany’s double standards in acknowledging their own colonial past

S the ashes of Europe began to settle in 1945, Germany was about to start a fresh battle with its past. Over the next 60 years, Germany confronted the grotesque looming shadow of the Holocaust, settling on a mentality of collective responsibility. As with most things in the world, the Germans had a word for this: ‘Vergangenheitsbewältigung’ literally meaning ‘coping with the past’. However, given Germany’s attitudes towards its oft forgotten colonial atrocities, ‘Vergangenheitsbewältigung’ takes on a much more one-dimensional definition of dealing with a past, but not the past. In recent years, the former German colonies of Tanzania and Namibia have struggled to pursue justice and retribution for the crimes Germany committed during the early 20th century. However, such initiatives have only been met with tepid statements, promises of developmental aid or, more disturbingly, silence. With such an excellent record of remembering the crimes of the Second World War, why does Germany fall short of the mark in coming to terms with its colonial past? Why is there such a double standard to ‘Vergangenheitsbewältigung’? Walking through the streets of Berlin today, one would be forgiven for forgetting Germany ever had an

empire, let alone the fact that this very city hosted the first international conference on the partition of Africa. The Berlin Conference on West Africa was held between 1884 and 1885, and witnessed the European powers gather around a map of the African continent and begin the process of carving it up into the neat portions of territory visible on maps a decade later. Germany managed to gouge an empire out of modernday Togo, Cameroon, Tanzania, Namibia, Rwanda and Burundi, and quickly began the process of ruthlessly squeezing them for profits. Tragically and inevitably, it didn’t take long for everyday cruelty to boil over into genocide. It was Namibia, then German South-West Africa, upon which the German iron fist would first fall. Like many other colonial powers in Africa, Germany’s policies were ruthlessly ignorant of indigenous interests. Indigenous peoples were enslaved as a source of forced labour and ancestral farmland was torn from families and given to German colonists. With their livelihoods threatened, the Nama people of Namibia launched a bloody insurrection in 1903, later followed by the

Herero people in 1904. Indignant, the colonial governor, Lieutenant-General Lothar von Trotha, promptly assembled an expeditionary force of 14,000 German soldiers to crush the revolt. Herero rebels were predictably routed at the battle of

Image:C Carl Steffec

Waterberg, driven into the desert and left to die of thirst.

Hundreds of skulls from massacres were transported back to Germany Following this, von Trotha issued an order decreeing the extermination

Image: Wikimedia Minestrone

of the Herero people. The men were to be executed, the women and children driven into the Namib Desert to certain death. The Herero and Nama unfortunate enough to survive the massacres, usually women and children, were then deported to disease infested concentration camps like Shark Island, in which up to 3,000 were executed or died of exhaustion. Hundreds of skulls from the massacres were then taken back to Germany both as a grim trophy and for genetic study by scientists hoping to prove the superiority of the white race. It is estimated that 80% of the Herero and Nama people were exterminated between 1904 and 1908, in what the UN classified as one of the earliest acts of genocide of the 20th century. A similarly inspired revolt in German East-Africa (Tanzania) sparked the Maji Maji War 1905-1907. Once more, the German response constituted unambiguously heinous crimes against humanity. Weaponizing some of the most basic human requirements, German troops burned crops and withheld food, leading to a devastating famine. By 1907 as many as 300,000 people had either been slaughtered or forced to die of starvation and dehydration. Following the defeat of the Great War, Germany’s empire was dismantled, and divided between the British and the French. Whilst initially condemned, Germany’s crimes in Africa were eclipsed by the hauntingly incalculable scale of the Holocaust. Germany’s road to recognition was paved with difficulty. It wasn’t until 1998 that Namibia was graced with a German state visit, where President Roman Herzog, who expressed regret, stopped his sentiments short of apology. An apology was finally issued in 2004, on the 100th anniversary of the Herero-Nama genocide by Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, Minister for Economic Development and Cooperation. In 2011, 40 Herero and Nama skulls were finally sent back to Namibia from two German universities – however, over 1,000 African skulls reaped from

Germany’s empire still remain in Berlin. For decades, relatives of the survivors have struggled to obtain reparations from Germany. More recently, in 2017 descendants of the Herero and Nama tried to sue Germany for damages in the US, dissatisfied with their reconciliation for the genocide.

Germany is not the only country to perpetuate this double standard This double standard of remembrance echoes the sentiments of the anti-colonial writer, Frantz Fanon, in 1965’s The Wretched of the Earth. The colonial world, writes Fanon, is a world cut in two, where the indigenous peoples, with their unfamiliar culture and appearances, are cast as the ‘other’. This ‘othering’ and dehumanising of the native population made violence the universal language in the colonies. Consequently, colonial violence was something far removed from that of the metropolitan world. Colonial subjects were subjected to a more twisted, savage form of violence. Concentration camps. Ethnic cleansing. The machine gun. These all too familiar components of modern warfare were trialled in the baking deserts and steaming jungles of Africa before being imported to Europe itself. Germany’s handling of atrocities committed in Europe as different to those crimes committed in their colonies simply reveals the survival of these ‘othering’ mindsets into the modern world. It would be nothing short of blind ignorance to say that Germany is the only nation to perpetuate this double standard of remembrance. The attitudes of Britain, France, Belgium and Portugal towards their barbarous colonial pasts are no better and are often much worse. The British Museum and the Louvre are still packed to the rafters with colonial loot and Belgium remains evasive over the ten million people it murdered in the Congo. Whilst theoretically upstanding, Vergangenheitsbewältigung becomes a meaningless contradiction when applied so selectively to a nation’s past, exposing significant flaws not only in Germany’s approach to its colonial past, but Europe as a whole.

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES

Who run the world? Girls T

Features writers take us through some notable women in politics around the world

HE recent US midterm elections - whilst rather underwhelming for partisan politics - had been lauded for having a considerable number of female candidates win and stand for election. Women in politics in large numbers is still somewhat of a novelty; whilst there have always been singular women who excelled in politics (see: Indira Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher, Hillary Clinton), women as a whole rising up in parliaments across the world is heartwarming to see. We asked our Features writers to have a look at some of the upstanding women in politics around the world, from Gambia to the United States.

Lana Prlić

said “When one woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women, and we as MPs must stand for all women”. This highlights how vital it is for appropriate representation within politics worldwide. Kamilla Bell

Tsai Ing-Wen

Described by Time magazine as radiating “a calm that sheathes a core of inner steel”, Taiwan’s first ever female president is a truly remarkable figure. As the only woman to have ever run for leadership of a Chinese-speaking nation, Tsai Ing-Wen has broken the mould for an enormous generation of women. Exceptionally unusually for a national leader within Asia, she does not come from a political dynasty; instead, she is a former law professor. When elected in 2016, Ing-wen had a monumental challenge before her; how to rejuvenate the economy of the island nation, when its nearest neighbour (China, fast becoming the world’s strongest economy) denies its very right to exist and imposes global isolation upon it. Such a challenge has been far from easy and Taiwan’s economy does continue to suffer difficulties. Ing-wen has been forced to walk an uneasy line between the demands of businesses, who insist upon extensive deregulation, and her obligations for social protections, which limit cuts to government services and to pensions. However, she has been courageous in insisting that

Despite 50% of the world’s population being female, only 23% of the world’s politicians are women; change must occur to close this gender gap within politics. Prlić’s election last month to serve as the vice-president of the Bosnian and Herzegovinian Social Democratic Party presents a positive shift within the country’s government as she is the youngest high party official at the age of 21. Lana rose to national prominence after she explicitly condemned her uncle’s war crimes against Bosnian Muslims throughout the Bosnian War of 1992-1995. Prlić has been an active party member since 2010 and, in 2012, was chosen alongside 20 other women to partake in the Young Women Leadership Academy directed by the International Republican Institute (IRI). Drawing on personal experience, Prlić has actively campaigned against nationalism and segregation, promoting “a future that will be based on reconciliation, respect and building of common values”. Lana takes her influence from being raised within a matriarchy of a single mother household after her parents’ divorce. Prlić felt inspired by the strength of the women in her life and the vital work they do every day for family and community that often goes without recognition. In celebration of the centenary of the UK’s women’s suffrage, female parliamentarians from across the globe sat in the House of Commons on 8 November 2018. In light of the conference, of which Lana Prlić was an attending member believing it to be the opportunity to express examples of Tsai Ing-Wen good practice, Lana

Taiwanese politics would be conducted by debate, consensus and compromise. She has been clear in supporting the rights of LGBTQ+ citizens in Taiwan and has backed the legalisation of same-sex marriage. She has enacted minimum wage increase and is (slowly but surely) encouraging economic growth in Taiwan. Tsai Ing-wen is a truly impressive figure and should be the subject of genuine admiration from onlookers across the globe. Harry McIlvar

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez On 3 January 2019 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will become the youngest woman in history to serve in the United States Congress. At 29, OcasioCortez has been passionately vocal about the issues that have affected her throughout her life, as a working-class millennial of Puerto-Rican descent. A self-described “democratic socialist”, Oscasio-Cortez achieved her victory against the democratic encumbant, Joe Crawley during the nominations, and then Republican opposition

Anthony Pappas as Congressperson for New York’s 14th Congressional district. She touts policies that include tutitionfree universities and public school, a renewable electricity grid for New York by 2035, and a single-payer healthcare system. And her considerably more leftist policies don’t end there. OcasioCortez has declared her support for criminal justice reform, electoral reform, the black lives matter and LGBTQ+ movements, and has even stated she would support the impeachment of Trump. These passionate arguments for basic human rights may seem more fitting to be heard from a student radical than a politician.

Kumba Jaiteh is organizing a network of women invested in expanding opportunities Yet as time passes, despite the increase of fiscally and socially conservative policies, Ocasio-Cortez’s election is a reminder that not only are all millennials of voting age, but they are now old enough to run for Government. And they’re doing it. Older white, straight, cis, male figures who speak for the left, Jeremy Corbyn and Bernie Sanders, may have made a significant impact upon politics, but here we

have a young woman who looks and speaks and lives like the people she is representing. I won’t be surprised if we hear much, much more about OscasioCortez, and her exciting effect on US politics, following her swearing in. Amelia Chisholm

Ya Kumba Jaiteh

Ya Kumba Jaiteh, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee for The Gambia recently began a movement to promote female politicians across the globe. She is, furthermore, a member of the Local Government and Lands Committee and the Female Lawyers Association of Gambia. Her work focuses on women’s rights including freedom of speech, and preventing domestic violence. On 8 November, Penny Mordaunt organised a meeting with 86 women to celebrate 100 years of Suffrage. At this gathering Jaiteh discussed the future for female politicians claiming “We have been electing these men for so long, I think they have failed us. Only we understand our power and only we can empower ourselves”. Jaiteh is developing a network of women who are invested in expanding opportunities for all women and increasing female power in governments globally. Women like Jaiteh are paving the way for future aspiring politicians to make a real difference in the effort to shatter the glass ceiling once and for all. Niamh Elstone, Features Editor

Lana Prlić Image: Bedrudigusic, , Wing92, Dawn Hudson,

FEATURES

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Why we should all go to Iceland Rosie Shepard engages with the controversy surrounding Iceland’s Christmas advert

OCIAL media has been ablaze in the past week with the story of Rang-tan - an adorable little orangutan, whose rainforest habitat has been destroyed due to deforestation for the extraction of palm oil. This simple advert was supposed to be Iceland’s Christmas release, bringing attention to both the environmental issue and the fact that none of Iceland’s products contain palm oil. While perhaps it could be criticised for lacking holiday spirit, no one predicted that it would be banned for political content.

In an increasingly environmentally aware society, the message is surely welcome So, what is the issue? The advert, narrated by ambassador Dame Emma Thompson, was originally commissioned and produced by Greenpeace, a political pressure group. Current UK legislation bans politics from UK television, and, while the message of the advert is environmental rather than political, the production was not. Therefore, to allow it on television would be a breach of the law (unless Greenpeace prove themselves to be an apolitical organisation). Ironically, the fact that it

has been banned has done it a favour: the campaign to get Rang-tan’s story on air, led by James Corden, has now reached over 670,000 signatures, and the video has over 30 million views on YouTube. If it had simply been released on air, perhaps it would have started a conversation, but would not necessarily have received the popular outcry it now has.

We are influenced by adverts all the time whether we like it or not To the everyday person, it seems silly and pernickety to single out Iceland’s advert, which has been completely rebranded to omit any mention of Greenpeace and its part in the creation, as unsuitable for the British TV screen. In an increasingly environmentally aware society, the message is surely welcome and n e c e s s a r y. In this

instance, the politics is negligible, but if we allow one to slip through the carefully-created system, there’s nothing to stop them all. Advertising was created for a reason – it persuades you and entices you to buy (or buy into) whatever it presents. It is a mild form of indoctrination. We are influenced by adverts all the time, whether we like it or not. They are everywhere. Political adverts could, therefore, have a detrimental effect if they play on our television screens every evening. Take the example of the Brexit bus: In the time leading up to the Brexit referendum, the slogan “We send the EU £350 million, let’s fund our NHS instead” was emblazoned on buses across the country, persuading many voters to sway towards the VoteLeave campaign. The advert quite clearly made generalised claims regarding the amount of the UK’s gross annual contribution to the European Union, and it soon became clear that the money could and would not be repurposed for the NHS alone. Recent developments in the Brexit case have further proved the dangers of political advertising, w i t h calls for another

referendum reflecting the genuine confusion about what the move would really mean. In the UK, political advertising is banned due to the belief that television and radio adverts would lower the tone of the Image: Seneca Park Zoo

political processes to fake news and negative bashing of the opposition. Instead, campaigns are limited to media stories which appear based largely on the personal relationships between journalists, politicians, news outlets and operators – is that a better system? In some ways, it actually hinders more than helps as it gives the media ultimate power rather than giving a voter the true information.

Recent developments in the Brexit case have further proved the dangers of political advertising Take the American system, which we all love to criticise. Yes, it could be rather irritating to see your local MP’s face pop up in every ad break while you’re just trying to watch Love Island… But then again, do many of you really know the name of your local MP (or their opposition candidates’). This way, we could actually get the basic facts and faces of the campaign from the comfort of our living room, without the media bias or political jargon. To say that political advertising on television would be too powerful essentially reduces the mind of the voter to a robot. It assumes we are incapable of noticing when an advert has nothing but negative things to say about their opposition, rather than displaying the positives of their own. It would simply create another outlet for parties to get their mandate in the public eye. But what about for political pressure groups, such as Greenpeace? The majority would agree that the story of Rang-tan does not really have an impact on our political opinion, it simply opens our eyes to an environmental issue that we were most likely unaware of. Campaigns such as this can only help, right?

To allow the adverts of all pressure groups on television would be to open the floodgates Unfortunately, not necessarily. What we have to remember is that Greenpeace does have a political agenda, as do other pressure groups from the National Union of Teachers, to the Confederation of British

Industry, to the Electoral Reform Society, to LIFE (an anti-abortion group). Not all will have agendas that are welcome or palatable to a lot of society. To allow the adverts of all pressure groups on television would be to open the floodgates to all campaigns and all arguments, creating a neverending stream of debate which already overflows in the political arena. While we may want Rang-tan’s story on our screens, adverts about abortion or hunting may be slightly more than what you bargained for when relaxing in front of the TV on a Saturday night (or even worse, a hungover Sunday morning).

We are increasingly surrounded by an online echo chamber of our lives, our views, our likes and dislikes Another debate lies in the realm of social media. You may have noticed that an advert for that pair of trainers you were looking at online, or that restaurant you messaged your mate about suddenly pop up while you’re scrolling through Instagram or Facebook. Creepy. While some of us may put it down to the FBI man watching through our laptop camera, the realities of the joke are far more serious. We are increasingly surrounded by an online echo chamber of our lives, our views, our likes and dislikes, our hashtags and our prejudices. Perhaps a regulation of this type of advertising is what we could really do with. We are receiving targeted adverts without even realising, persuading us which way to vote by using algorithms designed to echo what they already know about us. It is all down to regulation. What may seem like an innocent story of a lost orangutan in a little girl’s bedroom is just a drop in the ocean of political advertising. While I agree that maybe Clearcast’s judgement was slightly too picky (especially in the Christmas season), the connotations of such a decision should not be ignored. As stated, allowing one advert to pass through essentially indicates that we should allow them all. Perhaps that viewpoint is outdated, and political adverts could help campaigns in an increasingly digitised world… Or perhaps sticking with a system that we know works so we don’t have to deal with the moral implications of politics on every screen would be best for all.

CMY

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STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Alfred and Katie 26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

lifestyle People power?

Anna Ramonovska deconstructs the concepts of 'girl power', egalitarianism, and feminism

HE Spice Girls, the queens of 2000s pop culture, have come forward in support of Prime Minister Theresa May as a woman in power, calling on other women to back her for ‘doing the best she can.’ So, what does this mean for unity among the genders?

JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE A WOMAN, DOESN'T MEAN YOU'RE A FEMINIST Unless a woman is rigorously pursuing attempts at furthering gender equality within her country, the sticker of ‘girl power’ should remain neutral to her. Yes, women do need to be empowered and encouraged to enter politics, and such achievements should be celebrated, as seen in the success in the U.S. midterm elections in terms of diversity, but just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean you’re a feminist. The truth is, to be a woman in power, feminism is not a requirement. Of course, there are many women who look to continue the fight from their position of power, whilst others often step on the backs of women below them to further their own career. Margaret Thatcher is another example of an icon famous as the first female PM, but wasn't good for women, notorious for her rejection of feminist ideals - she only

promoted one woman to cabinet. Female unity doesn’t stem from constant ‘girl power’ preaching at all women. It’s easy for women, as it is for men, to identify and empathize with their own gender, and that’s understandable. It’s almost the easy path on the long road to equality, yet it hardly does anything to combat it. Additionally, the Spice Girls dropping their ‘girl power’ brand, opting for the more egalitarian ‘people power’ trademark is nothing more but another

harmful stigmatization of the nature and promise of feminism. I’m going to be honest here, three years ago I would have agreed. “If we’re fighting for equal rights then why is the name tied to one specific gender, right?”Wrong. The idea of dropping the name ‘feminism’ is yet another example of the exertion of privilege often witnessed (and ignored) in mostly western, white and financially comfortable spheres. Egalitarianism offers the linguistic freedom to include men within the movement, and such an inclusion is necessary for a universal abolition of gender inequality. Men undergo unhealthy amounts of stigmatization regarding the importance of masculinity in the creation of a male identity. The term egalitarianism yet again prevents men from accepting feminine ideals as part of their own, further perpetuating the toxic masculinity that flows through our society. After all, have women not accepted using masculinity as a method of gaining power?

EGALITARIANISM ALLOWS US TO FORGET THE WOMEN WHO FOUGHT Image: nappy

Furthermore, the notion of egalitarianism allows us to forget the powerful women who

fought so hard for women’s basic rights, such as that of voting, and those who fought against the stigmatized perceptions of societal gender roles, as done by the Red Stocking Movement in Denmark. We are also assuming that the foundations of inequality have ceased to exist. This is a harmful claim to make. We still need to draw our attention to the plight of women in countries that systematically block them from reaching a leading role in society. Tied into this are the women within our own society, especially carers and single mothers, who are consistently facing hardships due to government austerity cuts. Austerity cuts, which are coincidentally headed by Theresa May, worsen many gender-related issues such as that of period poverty.

MAY'S RECENT FUNDING CUTS ARE AFFECTING WOMEN May is a woman in power whose feminism holds a lot of controversy, and her recent funding cuts are affecting women across the country. Of course, it’s difficult to completely bash her for such cuts during a time of political instability, but surely a woman who wears a ‘This is What a Feminist Looks Like’ t-shirt wouldn’t advocate against abortion rights?

Fashion faux pas

Megan Cammidge and Madelayne Goodall lament their fashion pet peeves Slogan tees off if you’re a fourteen-year-old girl, because AVE you ever been shopping and let’s be honest, cringey fashion is a rite of passeen a nice top in the distance only sage, but it really is time to let the sloto go closer to reveal that gan tees go. sad attempt of a motivational Our pet hate has to be quote slapped across the those tees that try hard front of it, “Just be you, to create that super babe.” “Follow your funny, super cute dreams.” “Be happun, but is really py.” These kinds just an awful, of shirts seem to badly thought be everywhere out attempt at right now, and humour. Bewe are just not lieve us, you feeling it. Don’t won’t get peoget me wrong, ple chuckling at we’re not against your oh-so-funny a good old motitee, but just rolling vational quote evetheir eyes instead. In ry once in a while, but fact, if you want to see on a shirt? Are you tryus smile, exchange those ing to inspire other people? Image: Eneida Hoti slogan tees for something with a Yourself? Or is it solely because bit more style. you think it looks pretty? We’ll let you

Cycling shorts far. They don’t have style or function and E think many can agree on this they are simply the most random new fashone. Cycling shorts are not a ion trend we’ve seen. They also don’t look; we just don’t underseem to provide any sort of stand them. Are they meant protection from the elefor hot weather, or for ments, and as we are cold weather? They are fast approaching Desuch an awkward cember, do you relength too, not ally plan to bare short enough that much flesh to be actual in the freezshorts, but not ing months to long enough come? to look normal. We are not We’re not sure a fan of this who this style is particular fashaimed at, but it’s ion trend, but if certainly not tickyou do own a pair ling our fancy. of cycling shorts, we We are true suphave to commend you porters of the sporty, because that definitely takes easy, go-to look for when Image:Paulo Candelo a lot of confidence to pull off such you’re wandering around campus a controversial look! all day, but this is taking things too

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EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

26 NOV 2018 |

Time to palm off palm oil?

Natalie Tongue discusses how we can limit our palm oil consumption

CELAND has recently released its Christmas advert, 'Orangutan Friendly Christmas', on social media stirring up a lengthy discussion around the issue of palm oil. This advert, banned from TV for being "too political", draws attention to the environmental impact and the deforestation caused by the palm oil industry. Six Greenpeace activists have recently boarded a palm oil tanker near the coast of Spain spreading banners declaring “Save our Rainforest”, and are currently being detained for their brave and desperate efforts.

THE ORANGUTAN COULD BECOME EXTINCT WITHIN TEN YEARS Palm oil causes an enormous amount of damage environmentally and is responsible for many human rights abuses. The burning of tree bark to extract the palm oil contributes to 4% of all global greenhouse gas emissions and is the cause of 8% of global greenhouse gas caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Its impact goes beyond an impersonal impact on climate change and is detrimental to the survival of many species. It has been reported that

as a result of palm oil, the orangutan is likely to become extinct within five to ten years. This species has been considered a “conservation emergency” by the UN as over 90% of their habitat has been destroyed in the last 20 years. Although most attention has been devoted to the Orangutan, as was the focus of Iceland’s advert, they are not the only animal suffering. A third of all mammal species in Indonesia are believed to be critically endangered as a result of this deforestation. Sumatran tigers could become extinct in less than three years. The picture is bleak, so what can we do to help these poor animals? Try deforestation-free brands. For biscuits, for example, the companies Bahlsen and Walkers offer several palm oil free products, along with many of Waitrose and M&S own brand biscuits. For chocolate, M&S offer the greatest range of palm-oil free confectionary. All of the breads offered by Biona and Weight Watchers are also palm oil free, but for a cheaper and more easily available alternative, check out Waitrose, which offers an extensive range. Now if buying these products doesn’t seem a feasible option, or perhaps a little too pricey, baking your own food is a fun way to reduce your palm oil consumption. Gone are the days you have to rely on

Taking a moment

store-bought cereal, dry and bland, or too overpriced for a student budget. Make your own granola! It’s cheaper, tastier and healthier, and most importantly, can be made without any palm oil. A quick search online and you’ll be overflowing with recipes to try from. The same goes for fries, cookies, and a variety of other sweet treats. Make it a flat activity and you’ll have plenty of fun all while helping save some orangutans.

USE YOUR WORDS: TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT OF PALM OIL If making regular palm oil boycotts or baking doesn’t seem for you, why not try the #nopalmoilchristmas challenge? Striking palm oil as much as possible from your Christmas dinner is a small way that can make a huge difference. Encourage brands to source palm oil more ethically or boycott it altogether. Companies such as Starbucks (who have made palm oil related promises and failed to deliver) and PepsiCo are great players in deforestation and human

Lucy Yeeles gives her top tips for looking after your mental health this deadline season

Image: @Brigitte Tohm

EEK 9 has hit and the dreaded deadline season is among us. We are soon to be (if not already) immersed in lots of assignments and work. With the growing amount of pressure we are facing nowadays, it’s no surprise that we get so stressed and anxious. It’s so important to look after ourselves properly during this time, because it’s easy to lose sight of the most important thing: our wellbeing and happiness! Balancing life is tricky, so here are my top tips on how to look after our mental health, and stay positive:

Have time for yourself It’s so important to have a healthy balance between work and other things in your life. Make sure to do something after/during working to break your time up. This will keep you motivated and happy! Grab a coffee with a friend, go on a little walk, make sure to create time for things that make you happy.

Have lengthy breaks We need to have long enough breaks so that when we come back to work, we feel refreshed and ready to work again. Spend time outside When we are working hard, sometimes all we want is to have a break by watching TV, but honestly I can’t emphasise enough how important it is to get outside, get some fresh air, maybe go to the gym or do some exercise and clear your head. Talk to someone Everyone is stressed during this time, and sometimes we need to chat about our worries, so remember that there are always people, friends and staff, who you can speak to if the work gets too much. So, make time for yourself, and do what makes you happy! However, let’s also make an effort to look after each other.

rights abuses surrounding palm oil. Voice to these corporate giants your concerns and push them to make changes. This is a simple and free way to make a difference and will only take a moment of your time. Talk about palm oil. If you cannot make food and commodity-related changes then use your words. Spread the word about the devastating impact of palm oil and you might just inspire people to join the fight and make these desperately needed changes. Even if you convince just one person to reduce or boycott palm oil usage, that’s a muchneeded difference made.

Image: @James_Jester

Megan Groves presents her pumpkin and biscoff cake INGREDIENTS: • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

250g Plain Flour 3 teaspoons Cinnamon 1 teaspoon Nutmeg 1 teaspoon Mixed Spice 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon bicarbinate of soda 240g margarine (melted) 4 Eggs 200g dark sugar 100g demerara sugar 1 can of pumpkin puree 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract for the icing 300g Margarine/Butter 400g Icing Sugar 3 Tablespoons of Cream Cheese 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract 1 pack of Biscoff Biscuits (crushed)

METHOD:

1) Preheat the oven to 180°C and butter two matching cake tins in order to prevent any mixture from sticking to the tin. 2) Mix the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, mixed spice, baking powder and bicarbonate of soda in one bowl and leave to one side. Image: Becca McHaffie 3) In a separate bowl, whisk the 4 eggs with the melted butter, sugars, pumpkin puree and vanilla extract. 4) Slowly, fold the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients and stir in order to create your cake mixture. 5) Evenly pour the cake mixture into the two separate tins and cook for 35-40 minutes in the oven. Remove once cooked and leave to cool for 3 hours before applying icing. 6) For the icing, cream the margarine and icing sugar together. Tablespoon by tablespoon, add in the cream cheese to form a cream cheese butter icing. 7) Add the crushed Biscoff biscuits to the icing mixture, and then spread evenly in the middle and top of the cake once cooled.

Images: Petr Kratochvil, Ronmar Lacamiento

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EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

lifestyle

26 NOV 2018 |

The moustachioed man

Peter Syme explores the importance of the Movember movement

ROM Borat and Ron Burgundy to Friedrich Nietzsche and Albert Einstein, the moustache is a distinguishing feature of those men who choose to wear them. Stoptober and Dry January are amongst the plethora of month-long challenges, but Movember stands out from the rest with its charitable intentions. With the risk of looking less like Arthur Shelby, and more like Michael Cera, the absurdity of the event has garnered controversy and provoked mockery. For example, in 2007 several students were banned from prize giving at New Zealand’s Scots College for their participation. However, it is the importance of the cause which trumps its risibility; first founded in a Melbourne pub in 2003, the Movember Foundation raised nothing their first year, and £32,000 the next. Today, they have raised over £400 million for male health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health issues.

MEN'S RIGHTS ARE NOT IN OPPOSITION TO FEMINISM Cancer Research UK reports that amongst males, prostate cancer is the most common type, but around 4 in 10 are diagnosed at a late stage in England, rising to 6 in 10 in

affects physical wellbeing, but can only act as a transitory solution. In the words of Oasis in their 1994 album Definitely Maybe, “it's a crazy situation, but all I need are cigarettes and alcohol”, but fundamentally, this can never wholly solve issues of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems. Issues relating to raising awareness of The next time you men’s rights are often wrongly perceived in see a moustachioed face opposition to feminism, but the enormity of on campus, alongside the issue highlights the necessity to address it. the inevitable amusement Whilst Samaritans note that the male suicide from its sheer farcicality, the rate is the lowest in over 30 years, men are necessity of raising money still three times more likely than women to for men’s health should not take their own lives. It is often theorised that go unforgotten. With over five the discrepancy is linked to the stereotypical million supporters across the world, image of masculinity, as the demands of Movember has funded more than strength and stoicism make it harder to 1,200 projects in 20 countries, and reach out for support. The Men’s Health you can donate, or participate, at Forum further notes that three-quarters of uk.movember.com. Through this, premature deaths from heart disease are when we look at the suffering male, two-thirds of men are overweight or caused by gender stereotypes obese, and four out of every five suicides and expectations, hopefully are male. This can be linked to their higher Image: Charles Deluvio we can begin to recognise that likelihood to smoke and drink to dangerous the hegemony of the alpha levels, which illustrates the dangers of heavy male lifestyle has significantly indulgence in drinking culture. Indeed, affected male health, alongside turning to drugs as a form of escapism is often its harm on society as a whole. easier than seeking therapy, and this not only Scotland. There is an average of 31 deaths every day, and whilst 84% survive for ten years or more, its symptoms are both debilitating and emasculating.

RAISING MONEY FOR MEN'S HEALTH IS A NECESSITY

Image: Tom Rumble

A touch of SADness

Izzy Cole discusses the effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder

HILE most of us are wrapped up warm in the lead up to Christmas, it’s important to recognise not everyone feels so good during the winter months. This is particularly due to changes in weather and persistent lack of daylight which can lower people’s moods and cause a type of seasonal depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or informally known as ‘winter blues’. In metaphorical terms, it’s as though our bodies are solar panels, they need exposure to light in order to work. Furthermore, SAD occurs in countries where the change in weather is most prominent such as the UK; the disorder is estimated to affect 3% of the UK population.

DECIDE WHETHER YOU ARE WILLING TO HELP YOURSELF While it may be obvious that minimal exposure to light can cause low mood, there is a science behind it: functions such as appetite, sex drive, temperature, mood and sleep are controlled by how much light hits the back of the eye, so if the eye is experiencing

ficulty in concentrating. The severity of such little exposure to light these functions slow symptoms can vary from person to person down and eventually stop. Moreover, these which makes it difficult for doctors to diagfunctions are linked to higher levels of menose SAD, however according to the NHS a latonin (the hormone which makes us sleep) diagnosis of the disorder can be confirmed and lower levels of serotonin (the chemical if the cycles of depression happen repeatwhich regulates mood), hence why people edly at the same time of year and with SAD are likely to sleep longare then followed by periods er, overeat and endure a lower where the depression fades. mood. And even though we Following diagnosis, are all sometimes prone there are various options to indulging in our fafor formal treatment vourite comfort foods depending on the and getting an extra severity of the case, hour of shut-eye, its the ideal would to important to underbe to move to the stand when this type Bahamas where lack of behaviour becomes of sunlight isn’t an issue, an issue. but unfortunately our stuThis leads onto the dent loans don’t stretch that symptoms of SAD which are Image: Asdrubal Luna far. On the other hand, it’s recsimilar to those of normal deommended to try simple things pression but occur in particular seayou can do yourself, such as sitting near winsonal months. They include feeling hopeless dows, getting as much sunlight as possible and tearful, a reduced sex drive, loss of intere.g. through lunchtime walks and to avoid est in everyday actives and socialising, feelstressful scenarios – i.e. not leaving those esings of anxiety and low self esteem as well say deadlines to last minute! (Which let’s be as greater drug/alcohol abuse. Other symphonest, just sometimes happens). Other optoms also include feeling lethargic and dif-

tions include cognitive behavioural therapy and counselling, antidepressant prescription or bright light therapy in which a light box is used to increase the amount of light exposure which is missed during darker days – though there is scepticism over the effectiveness of this treatment due to it’s short term effects, so other options mentioned may be more useful. There are numerous treatments to choose from but there is a much bigger decision that needs to be made before starting any treatment. You need to decide whether you are willing to help yourself or not. Let’s face it, if you’re not willing to put the time and effort in when engaging in treatments you might as well not use them because there is no failure, except in no longer trying. If you have been affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder, please contact: Reed Mews Wellbeing Centre, EX4 4QP 01392 724381 wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk Exeter Nightline 01392 724000

arts + lit Excelsior!

Alex Wingrave, Music Editor, explores the legacy of comic book titan Stan Lee when plotting a Captain America story, afraid to use his real one in case an association with the low social status of comic books prevented his eventual success as author of real novels. Though he would later assume the name legally, Lee would never stop this practice of creating his own identity for the outside world. Through his editorial flair, his cameos in Marvel films and public appearances, Lee has crafted his image as the godfather of comics, the creative overseer of one of the most expansive and colourful universes of stories in culture.

LEE HAS CRAFTED HIS IMAGE AS THE GODFATHER OF COMICS Image: Gage Skidmore

HERE is arguably no other comics creator who has gained as much renown and inspired as many people as the late Stan Lee. Born Stanley Martin Lieber in 1922, Lee began working for Timely Comics, the company that would eventually become Marvel, in 1939. It was here that he created the pen name ‘Stan Lee’

Artist or activist?

Klux Klan analogue, the Sons of the Serpent, Professor X and Magneto in The X-Men drew parallels with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X, and in The Amazing Spider-Man #96-98, Lee defied the Comics Code Authority to depict the dangers of drug abuse.

LEE WANTED READERS TO SEE COMIC CREATORS AS OLD FRIENDS Stan Lee was not a perfect man. In constructing his superstar image, he financially and creatively undercut his collaborators Kirby and Ditko, leading to their departures from Marvel. But his powerful storytelling, his discussion of politics and real issues, and his influence on generations of creatives is undeniable, and the literary world will miss his presence. Lee’s work made me fall in love with the Marvel Universe and inspires me every time I pick up a pen. His catchphrase, ‘Excelsior!’, roughly translates as ‘ever higher’. Thanks to Stan Lee, comics and films still endeavour to push boundaries - to go ever higher.

Anna Wilmot discusses the nature of political art and the obligation of the artist

HE Met Breuer exhibition in New York explored the relationship between art and conspiracy theories, delving into the discussion about the influencing forces in our lives, both real and imaginary. It’s raised many important questions on the nature of political art, in all its various forms: how far should art interact with politics, social issues and pop culture? Should art only be a form of entertainment? Or is its role to voice political views and incite action? Whilst some believe, like writer Toni Morrison, that the only “good art” is the kind that incorporates both aesthetics and social commentary, many argue that conspiracy theories belong in the dark and dusty corners of the Internet, to be debated by 30-something year olds who live in their parent’s basement and rant about lizard people, not in galleries or public libraries.

HOW FAR SHOULD ART INTERACT WITH POLITICS, SOCIAL ISSUES AND POP CULTURE? Why must art be steeped in dry, unglamorous political commentary? There are some

who argue that art is for pleasure and pleasure only. Art should be an opportunity to leave behind the grind of daily life, the horrors you see on the news, and sink into a blissfully distant world, far away from your own. After all, when you’re looking to relax, you don’t necessarily reach straight for 1984. Yet art, in whatever form it takes, is closely intertwined with reality. However fantastical the world depicted in a painting, film or novel, this universe was born in the laboratory of the real world. An artist should not, and cannot, exist in a vacuum; they are influenced by their socio-political environment every time they read a paper, watch a film, or even go to the shop for milk. One needs only to look at comic books, supposedly one of the most ‘innocuous’ forms of entertainment, for inspiration. The recent backlash Image: College of Art protest

When he created the Fantastic Four for Marvel Comics in 1961, Lee was 39 years old and preparing to leave the industry. With nothing to lose, he experimented with the typical superhero formula, branching out from the flawless do-gooder typology to create human characters with issues and rich, naturalistic civilian lives. The instant success of these relatable, fallible heroes led to the creation of

some of the most significant fictional icons of the last century, and the fostering of new comic book artists Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. Lee’s work for Marvel Comics can be described as a modern mythology - the characters he birthed, including Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Thor, Black Panther, the X-Men and the Avengers, have endured for years because of their unique traits and their believable, connected worlds. Perhaps more importantly, however, Lee included the reader, rather than talked down to them. Peter Parker wasn’t a lecturing adult superhero, but a struggling teenager whose social life was just as difficult as the average American kid. Lee wanted readers to see comic creators as old friends rather than moral storytellers. Letters pages allowed Lee to respond directly to fans, and his monthly ‘Stan’s Soapbox’ column was a way for him to connect directly with Marvel lovers. Lee used this platform to advocate for equality during a heated time in American history. Not only did he co-create the first African-American superhero in comics, the Falcon, but he frequently spoke up for diversity, social issues and civil rights in both his stories and his editorials. The Avengers battled a Klu

over the ‘over-politicising’ of comic books has brought into focus the political roots of the genre. Marvel Comics’ superhero ‘Captain America’, for example, was created in the 1940s by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby, two Jewish comic artists who used their art as a protest against the rise of Nazism. Not only is this art political, it is of its time. We are unlikely to find a beloved superhero punching Hitler on the front of a magazine in 2018. It is important that art is politically immersed in the zeitgeist of the time. Powerful art cannot be detached from the environment it was born in. Any art form is capable of making a political or social comment. For example, the British punk scene used its rebellious music, fashion and general aesthetic to protest against youth unemployment amongst other issues. It is still true today that all art is steeped in its political and social context. Which brings us to

the next question: do artists have a level of responsibility because of their power to alter the perspectives of others?

ART CANNOT BE DETACHED FROM THE ENVIRONMENT IT WAS BORN IN Art, at its most basic, is a medium to express opinions and emotions. It should not be the role of the artist to censor their own thoughts. Instead, they must trust the public to draw their own conclusions and interpretations based on the artwork. Art that is hung in a gallery is intended to be studied, to be questioned, to be thought critically about. Art cannot help but reflect the socio-political environment of the world it was created in, and nor should it try to avoid it. Art and literature are some of the most important ways that stories are shared across the world; these stories appeal to human empathy, provoke hard thought and opinions, and, ultimately, stimulate real change. “In our age there is no such thing as ‘keeping out of politics’,” George Orwell concludes. “All issues are political issues”.

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arts + lit

EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

26 NOV 2018 |

Rise up

Image: Joey Gannon

Lauren Newman, Arts + Lit Editor, on Broadway’s domination of musical theatre

HEN the news broke that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ground-breaking musical, Hamilton, was to be staged in the Victoria Palace Theatre in the West End, the musical theatre community went into hysterics. It had seemed like a literal age since Miranda famously performed ‘Alexander Hamilton’ at the White House in 2009 and, after many workshops and creative revisions, had made it to Broadway in 2015. Shamelessly and patiently I sat in the Ticketmaster queue and furiously clicked through almost every date on the show calendar, blatantly ignoring the lecture on Roxanna going on in front of me. After about half an hour of stress, anticipation and frustrated sighs at the reCAPTCHA photos, I finally got tickets for June… a year and a half after my booking.

THE MUSICAL THEATRE COMMUNITY WENT INTO HYSTERICS Now, anyone who knows me will verify the fact that I hardly know what I’m doing day to day: I double-book myself, forget plans and hopelessly pootle on through life oblivious of essay deadlines and general carnage. This rare moment of future planning was therefore arguably out of character for me. However, my love for this specific show superseded my instinct to pale at the £40 price tag per ticket and generally procrastinate. My excitement was indicative of that of the wider British theatre community’s, who awarded Hamilton seven awards out of the show’s record-breaking 13 nominations at the 2018 Olivier Awards. Hamilton’s appeal was enshrined in British musical theatre history, despite it being the epitome of an American story (the musical is literally about one of its founding fathers).

AMERICAN MUSICALS HAVE GAINED ENORMOUS POPULARITY

Stephen Ward and Love Never Dies sadly putting his legacy in jeopardy.

MUSICAL THEATRE PHENOMENA RELY ON PREEXISTING FAN BASES Whilst original shows like Everybody’s Talking About Jamie do very well in London, they have not yet achieved the international outreach they deserve. Whilst London is ever the site for dramatic industry and experimentation, it has become a rather stagnant site for musical production. Let’s just hope that the emerging British talent can rise up, and that musical theatre executives allow them to take their shots.

WRITERS’ CORNER Clyde Yudy Wu Most things I’ve been searching for in my life are myths. I wonder, do they, or do I, have a specific meaning sometimes; searching for a phrase that can be presented in a certain way. When I’m too lazy to bother all of these, I just simply own them. My body barely exists, which allows me to sneak in those places I wanted to, final step, I get things that I wanted. I’m gifted, I was made for this. But you know how they will end up most times - desire is your flaky friend, masterpieces are either tragedies or stories that I’ll leave forever untold. This is about how you engraved a pumpkin at Halloween and tried to make the puree for Thanksgiving; you got all good, cinnamon-flavoured intentions, but you started too early, they eventually got crushed into landfills. Relatable. I feel attacked. Oh Internet. I asked what you want for your birthday, you answered “nothing” just as I expected, but you don’t really need to find out that I had got you a birthday gift anyway. I did what I am good at, hoping that you would enjoy the process of taking things for granted as much as I do. We were in my car, as we always were, heading to the next tragedy, while I shoved your birthday gift under the backseat instead of giving it to you. I finally started to realise that I can’t just simply own things. We may be heading to nowhere, since I started to be not good at things that I used to - to few it’ll be grief, to the law a relief. I wonder if there’s an exception. I hate having changes in my life: it probably should stay as a myth, but there’s nothing wrong to just think about it.

Images from top: Carmen Cusack, Barrne227, Steve Jurvetson

From simply looking at the range of productions showing on the West End today, we can see the impact that American musical production has had. Heathers has become the most recent trans-atlantic success story after it’s transfer from The Other Palace to The Theatre Royal Haymarket earlier this year. Fronted by actress Carrie Hope Fletcher it retells the 1988 cult film complete with high school, twisted romance and homicide. Its popularity, especially amongst younger audiences whose support heard over the internet translated into mammoth ticket sales, is staggering. Sara Bareilles’ musical Waitress is similarly due to make a splash when it opens at the Adelphi theatre in spring 2019, whilst multiple Tony

Award Winner Dear Evan Hansen will make the transfer next Autumn. They have, or will, join the ranks of stalwarts like Wicked, The Book of Mormon and The Lion King who dominate the musical scene the U.K. Even if they aren’t staged in London, American musicals have gained enormous popularity beyond Broadway due to streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music. Productions such as Mean Girls and Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 have gained enough buzz through streaming services that West End transfers seem almost inevitable. So why this seemingly sudden influx of American talent? Much of the musical phenomena mentioned above rely on pre-existing fanbases. The Heathers and Mean Girls films captured the zeitgeists of the eighties and noughties and continue to remain powerful nowadays, when nostalgia seems to have seized the public consciousness like never before. Fans of the originals will at least be intrigued to see what various musical directors have done with their beloved tales. Even if they don’t directly lift stories from popular films, productions that play around with current music forms are more successful. Hamilton’s success in representing “the America of today” lies in its use of R&B and rap, whilst Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 fused EDM sounds with traditional Russian folk music to produce it’s award winning soundtrack. Those who perhaps would have been put off of musicals, due to the stereotypes that surround them, could be introduced to a whole new realm of musical possibility. The American composers of today are particularly adept at tapping into the popular public consciousness and producing new works that defy our expectations of musical theatre. Emerging talent from the British side seems rather thin on the ground, at least in mainstream production - potentially due to lack of funding. But even veteran composers like Andrew Lloyd-Webber have struggled to replicate the level of adoration these shows engender. For a spectacularly long time Lloyd-Webber and his collection of musicals dominated the scene. Phantom of the Opera still continues to mesmerise audiences after 33 years, having played to an estimated 140 million people in 35 countries in 166 cities around the world. But of late Lloyd-Webber has struggled to produce anything nearing the cultural significance of his earlier works, with flops like

Speaking of which, you should go and check my back seat; I’ve got something for you. Image: Liz West

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arts + lit

EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

26 NOV 2018 |

The crime of the century

Mubanga Mweemba reflects on the sale and exhibition of stolen art

N Black Panther, directed by Ryan Coogler, one scene stood out to me. Erik Killmonger is placed in front of an exhibit of African artefacts in the fictional Museum of Great Britain; Marvel’s stand in for the British Museum. The exchange that takes place between Killmonger and the white woman, who is the museum’s curator, is fraught. Killmonger challenges the curator’s knowledge of the origin of the hammer on display, which is originally from Wakanda, then claiming that he will take the object off her hands, the curator then goes on to dispute this. She replies: “These items aren’t for sale”. Killmonger’s response?: “How do you think your ancestors got these? Do you think they paid a fair price? Or did they take it?” Thus, the troubling dialectic of value, exchange, and trade surrounding cultural items and pieces of art is brought forward. Though the inherent ethical arguments about ownership are constantly shifting in a world where art can be ‘priceless’ and yet can be sold for a price in an auction, the looting of cultural artefacts under colonial rule - and, later, during Nazi invasion - and various iterations of exploitative acquisition was (and still remains) problematic. The case of the Cornelius Gurlitt haul,

when a collection amassing over 1500 artto fund their military exploits and the others works - verifiable masterpieces from the were to be destroyed. modern artists such as Picasso, Matisse, The notorious auction of June 1939 in Monet, Renoir, Cézanne - was discovered in Lucerne, Switzerland sold 126 “degenerate” the apartment of Cornelius Gurlitt in artworks, whuch despite being re2012, brought to light a trove garded as unconscionable of humanity’s artistic enby Nazi supporters, still terprises. But Gurlitt’s brought in interested father was an buyers. Alfred H. art dealer who Barr Jr, who was worked for the the director of Third Reich. He New York’s Muwas notorious seum of Modfor profiting off ern Art at the of the sale of time did not “d e g e n e r a t e” attend personartworks, many ally, but he did of which were acquire pieces acquired from via a proxy, wantJewish collectors ing to separate the who had their works reputation of the taken by Nazi forces or auction from the name had to sell to raise funds to of the museum. The untrouImage: Bundesarchiv escape Germany under the Nazi bled seperation of art from poliregime. tics is not a case of black and white thinking; Though many “degenerate” pieces were many believed that they were saving art by sold through legal avenues, thousands of purchasing them in these dealings. But for pieces of art during Nazi rule were pilfered Barr, Gurlitt and the class of individuals and from their owners; those of value were sold institutions that saw these works fall out of

ownership for financial gain, their ownership of such items deserves to be challenged. Not to mention the role that Britain has to play in this chronicle of misappropriated artefacts. Like in Black Panther, the British Museum is still in possession of a particular collection of pieces known as the Benin Bronzes, sculptures looted by the Empire in the 1897 punitive expedition. Far from the ambiguous morality of an art auction, the Benin Bronzes were not bought, but stolen. It is the history of many items in collections in British institutions. The Rosetta Stone which, as the Egyptologist John Ray observes, could end up spending “longer in the British Museum than it ever did in Rosetta”. Some institutions have considered loans, whilst others have outright refused to return them. The entitlement that some museums exhibit to these pieces is somewhat chafing against egalitarian principles, that would reason that it belongs to everyone and no one, and that ownership of any kind is a thinly veiled manifestation of arrogance. We must endeavour to interrogate whether individuals and institutions objectives of posterity accords them the ownership of what they hold and support demands for the repatriation of those holdings.

The stars are out tonight

Arts + Lit writers debate whether celebrity culture has a place in the theatre industry

FOR

OMPETITION with cinema and online streaming surfaces has been an ongoing challenge for the world of theatre. The answer to this problem for many producers has been, of course, to get a big name to get bums on seats. And in reality this is a tactic which works. Consider the Hampstead Theatre’s production of I and You directed by Edward Hall, starring Maisie Williams of Game of Thrones fame. The theatre’s choice to cast Maisie Williams ensured press coverage for the production both nationally and internationally, whilst making space for an unknown face. Maisie’s only co-star Zach Wyatt, a recent Guildhall graduate, made his professional debut. When theatres cast stars in a main role, the idea that some people will only buy the ticket to see their favourite celebrity in the flesh is true. But is there anything wrong with that? Casting choices such as these bring people to the theatre who wouldn’t normally be there and present opportunities to talented but otherwise unknown actors through association with such big stars.

Theatres should take risks, but in these times of economic uncertainty producers have to make wise financial decisions. Casting celebrities allows theatres to compete with the “golden age of television”, whilst still making space for an element of creativity in the production. Isabel Flynn

Image: Suzi Pratt (edited)

AGAINST

VER time, British theatre and celebrity culture have begun to sit closer and closer to one another. Favouring celebrities at the expense of drama school graduates or trained performers is becoming an increasingly common marketing tactic. I’d argue that it’s time we seriously start thinking about our casting decisions. Britain is home to some of the world’s leading drama schools, churning out graduates of whom 80% will earn less than £10,000 per annum. As a young actor having jumped the hoops to win a place in an institution more competitive than Oxford and accrued a £50,000 bill, completely unsubsidised - you suddenly find yourself in an industry where all the prime roles are palmed off to untrained celebrities, pimped out for their ravenous fan-base. Although there are many individuals counted as ‘celebrities’, many are wrongly dismissed if we ignore the fact that they are first and foremost performers. For instance, the Gielgud Theatre’s production of Company, inevitably attracted an audience partially based on their choice of leads, Rosalie Craig

and Tony award winner Patti LuPone, and their following. Yet ultimately, their talent as performers earned them this celebrity status, so is therefore surely justified.

ALL THE PRIME ROLES ARE PALMED OFF TO UNTRAINED CELEBRITIES However, casting celebrities without any prior training, with the assurance that their fan base will potentially triple ticket sales, is surely feeding unemployment within this notoriously unstable industry. YouTube star Tanya Burr landed the lead role in a new play at the Southwark Playhouse. Naturally, this came with lots of publicity from Burr on her social media platforms but it was a performance that was universally panned. We seem to have forgotten the talent and skill that professional training develops and enhances, in favour of more publicity and fanbase following. It saddens me that theatre has become simply a commercially focussed industry, ignoring the genuine talent that professional actors who are unable to get work possess. Sofia Giles

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music

Ten years after Heartbreak I

Aaron Loose, Music Editor, celebrates the tenth anniversary of Kanye West's fourth studio album

T'S easy to overstate the impact of an album as singular as Kanye West’s 808s and Heartbreak, so let’s begin with the caveats. Scarface first reckoned with suicidal thoughts on the 1991 Geto Boys classic ‘Mind Playing Tricks on Me’, a decade before West helped Jay-Z patent The Blueprint. T-Pain also recognised autotune as a tool for striking chart gold back in 2006. In truth, nothing on 808s is new. Yet its legend is undeniable. 808s is haunted by the loss of West's mother and manager, Donda, who died during a liposuction operation paid for by the Chicago producer himself. What followed was his chilliest record yet, an imperfect fusion of freeze dried synthpop and autotuned cyber-soul released in 2008 both to widespread acclaim and dismissal. Ten years on, time has vindicated 808s as a prophetic classic of consumerist isolation. ‘Welcome to Heartbreak’ opens on the funereal groan of a single cello. West chooses to rap, perhaps to lure back listeners put off by ballad ‘Say You Will’. Yet the vocals remain distorted, frosted over in alienating layers of reverb. The rhymes are clumsy: "Dad cracked a joke all the kids laugh/ But I couldn't hear 'em all the way in first class", but his blunt couplets chip away at the hard realities of stardom under capitalism. Listen to the album’s final soliloquy,

Image: Peter Hutchins

‘Pinocchio Story’, a freestyle recorded live at Singapore. West laments: "There is no YSL that they could sell/ To get my heart, out of this hell/And my mind, out of this jail." So hoarding luxury French accessories doesn’t make you happy. But what is this jail? The verses sound downright toothless for a MC who began as a sharp critic of social injustice. Late Registration cut ‘Roses’ found pathos in a retired secretary’s struggle to pay for her hospital bills on a middle class pension. Why is West's so vague here, always gesturing to a problem without uttering its name? Mark Fisher, a theorist who became renowned for his leftist readings of pop, wrote on ''a sense of exhaustion, of cultural and political sterility'' poisoning the routines of contemporary life. Unlike West, he gave it a name: capitalist realism - the acceptance of competition as the default design for humanity. Every talent is commodified and chained to a free market value. Anything that defies measurement - kindness, love, community - is marked as an obstacle to economic progress. And we are assured by our ministers that there are no alternatives. The effect on the mind is frankly devastating. Neoliberalism isolates us from our peers. Eventually, the pursuit of pleasure,

Nuclear waste

rather than pleasure itself, becomes our only available therapy. Fisher called it "depressive hedonia" and it’s the background noise of every modern record worth hearing. It's lurking in the zombified gloom of Travis Scott’s pornographic catalogues of detached consumption, laced in the acid of Robyn’s bittersweet promises: "No, you're not gonna get what you need/But baby, I have what you want/ Come get your honey."

808s CAPTURED SOMETHING OF OUR MODERN DEPRESSIVE CRISIS The legacy of 808s reaches beyond a sound. It was perhaps the first mainstream pop record to capture something of our current depressive crisis. Hip-hop was the century’s great capitalist genre. It is fitting that its most radical artist would realise Louis Vuitton can never atone for losing something as vaporous as love. West’s most inward album isn't intended as a critique. But pop is the canary in the coal mine. Its downbeat melodies offer a topography of our culture. Follow the contours and you touch the face of the greatest threat our society has known: the neoliberal prison that teaches us that nothing in our lives matter unless it can be measured by the dollar sign.

James Garbett reviews Imagine Dragons' most disappointing outing yet IMAGINE DRAGONS Origins 9 November

EGARDLESS of their musical quality, it remains fairly impressive that Imagine Dragons were able to drop a full-length album on their unsuspecting fanbase in an age where album promotion is often a long, tedious affair. Origins, however, is a peculiar beast. The band have referred to it as a reinventing of their style as the title suggests. But a listen to the album's 12 tracks (or 15 if you’ve acquired the fancy deluxe edition) act more as a sub-par refinement of their style than a dramatic reinvention. Lead single 'Natural' keeps the bassthumping, roaring vocals of their most acclaimed tracks of their previous album, Evolve. It will no doubt be the track that most fans will gravitate towards to, with genuinely intriguing lyrics and a raw sense of musical power that normally would launch an album off to a flying start. Alas, no such luck here. There's a real lack of cohesion, not just within the tracks (as of-

ten the vocals are oddly unsynchronised with the rhythm) but the album as a whole. 'Zero' is deeply commercial pop-esque fun, whilst 'Machine' sounds more lyrically related by an A-level philosophy and ethics guide than anything we have come to love about this band. Furthermore, it’s as if Origins got its namesake from having tracks that have never passed the demo stage.

beats

THE LYRICS READ LIKE AN A-LEVEL PHILOSOPHY ESSAY It’s infuriating to listen to songs that feel like there are great pieces waiting to be explored and fleshed out in studio sessions, but have been popped without second thought on this album. Additionally, the genre blending is an ambitious endeavor but one that has no tenacity due to there isn’t a theme, to bind this album together. Frontman Dan Reynolds gives the tracks his all and his thunderous vocals and flexibility remain one of the strongest elements of the band, but it’s not enough to save the album from sounding pitifully unfinished.

Image: Sven-Sebastian Sajak

Nevertheless, while certainly not the huge game-changer they promised, their experimentation works occasionally. 'West Coast' is nostalgic and while its saddled with nonsensical lyrics, there’s genuine melodic talent and 'Only' is just as good as anything the Chainsmokers have ever churned out. It’s a statement that often feels disingenuous, but I feel as if fans won’t be disappointed by Origins. One can only imagine how it would feel to have Reynolds' vocals and the pump-

conected to live speakers with a gargantuan wattage. However, while their publicity shows that Imagine Dragons are more passionate about their music than ever before, there seems to be an element of soul missing from their newest music. The empowerment of Night Visions or the rage behind Smoke + Mirrors is non-existent here. Origins has nothing new to say and Imagine Dragons have become something rather forgettable.

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music

EDITORS: Aaron Loose and Alex Wingrave

Comeback queen

26 NOV 2018 | 25

Katie Baker, Online Lifestyle Editor, tells the story of Kesha's inspiring return to form

disorder, all of which took place over the ten years they worked together. Within this she filed a preliminary injunction that would free her from her contractual obligation with Kemosabe Records, which was denied. After a counter suit for defamation, #freekesha began trending everywhere with widespread celebrity support. Now, it's hard to see it as anything but as a preamble to the wider #MeToo movement. Her injunctions were repeatedly still denied and eventually she dropped the charges in 2016. She remains signed under Dr Luke’s record label to this day.

KESHA CELEBRATES FEMALE EMPOWERMENT AND SELF-WORTH Before Rainbow, even before the abuse allegations, there were calls in 2013 for Kesha to be ‘freed’ from Dr Luke due to the stunting of her creativity. These protests only increased after the broadcast of Kesha:

My Crazy Beautiful Life, a reality TV series that showed just how little creative control Kesha had over her own releases; her concessions involved scrapping her favourite song ‘Machine Gun Lover’ as well as over 70 other possible tracks from the final master of Warrior. Kesha is not ashamed of her past releases. Instead, she felt they presented only one side of her. She told one interviewer: "You can be a fun girl. You can go and have a crazy night out, but you also, as a human being, have vulnerable emotions. You have love." Nonetheless, Kesha seems to have won at least some more creative freedom. This was apparent though the release of single ‘Praying’, which undeniably relates to her relationship with Dr Luke, Moreover, Rainbow celebrates themes of female empowerment and self-worth. It is the culmination of Kesha’s experiences, an album of healing and expression. But Kesha is still being forced to work with an alleged abuser, who continues to profit from her trauma. Perhaps

we can hope for a second wave of truly empowered comeback and freedom for Kesha, but this cannot come into fruition, legally, until her contract comes to an end. Image: Jeff Denberg

ESHA may not be your first thought when it comes to comeback artists, especially among the announcements of both the Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys setting off on their reunion tours. But Kesha’s creative comeback, beginning from the release of Warrior (2012) to Rainbow (2017), is best read in relation to her personal life. Between releases, apart from a feature on Zedd’s ‘True Colours’ , Kesha remained mostly absent from media narratives and public life. During this period, she spent time at the Timberline Knolls Residential Treatment Center to receive help for an eating disorder. While there, she revealed that 14 songs had been recorded for her third album, and changed her stage name from the stylised ‘Ke$ha’ to her birth name, Kesha. Later in 2014, Kesha sued her producer, Dr Luke, for sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, emotional abuse, drugged rape, violation of California business practices and causing her eating

The Instrumentals Richard Ainslie discusses his love of the acoustic guitar

Image: Richard Ainslie

play with myself in my bedroom and start a band as well. But that was just a pipe dream. It turns out that learning how to play the guitar is like trying to learn how to surf on one: very difficult and highly time consuming. The basic chords are relatively simple; C, G, D and you can manage recognisable strumming to a lot of popular songs – but it's nothing impressive, and so that wouldn’t do. And if you’re like me – someone who gives up when he isn’t perfect at something because the idea of not being perfect plays to some frighteningly deep-seated insecurities – you’ll probably do what I did at this first hurdle: give up. And so, just like my other instrument, my guitar sat unused, hidden from the light of day. After many long, silent months, it was Bob Dylan who

convinced me to pick up the guitar again. On one hazy, smoky evening I listened t o

‘Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright’ from his Freewheelin’ album, and his soft fingerstyle melody and simple, soulful, poetic lyrics reached out like he was playing a show for one. That song still means a lot to me – in fact I’m listening to it as I write this. Something about the song was perfect, and I knew if I could reproduce that it would be worth all the insecurities and frustrations in the world.

IT'S WORTH WORKING HARD TO MAKE YOURSELF HAPPY It took two months and one bootleg YouTube video to learn the song, but finally I can play it – perfectly. And once I could, I experienced that rare kind of satisfaction – the type that doesn’t come from anyone else, the type that doesn’t depend on anyone hearing you, congratulating you or gazing at you in admiration - satisfaction just for me. I will never get tired of playing that song, and now I’m learning many more. The guitar showed me that it's worth working hard just to make yourself happy. The guitar did, however, do one final thing for my self-indulgence and it came, surprisingly, in non-musical form. It allowed me to write 500 words for my student newspaper devoted entirely to me; Thank you for your time. You’re not having it back.

CARLY RAE JEPSEN E•MO•TION AUGUST 2015

A R LY R a e Jepsen first rose to cultural significance with her 2012 hit ‘Call Me Maybe’ - despite the vitriol from many, it haunted our radios for most of the year, and still appears during almost every cheesy club night you can imagine. But that’s not what I’m going to talk about today. E•MO•TION is a perfect showcase of Jepsen’s talent for concealing subversive lyrics within catchy bangers. ‘Making the Most of the Night’ is, on its surface, a party anthem, but on observing the lyrics, it becomes a heartfelt tune about lifting your friends up when they need it the most. ‘Boy Problems’ isn’t about what it says on the proverbial tin, but rather vocalises a woman’s struggle with her friend’s own obsession with romantic interests. The combination of bubblegum pop with emotional lyrics has a special place in my heart, and if you’re not too cynical to give it a try, give it a listen, and feel some E•MO•TION.

Image: Interscope

IKE my twin in utero, I am a very selfabsorbed person. I assume that everyone is, but I’m not too interested in finding out. It was for this character trait that I knew the guitar would be the instrument for me. The possibilities were endless. I could sit around campfires and croon to a disinterested audience and they would be too polite to stop me; I could say "Yeah, I play guitar, but I’m only alright" in casual conversation sounding like I was being modest while in fact being totally truthful; finally, most importantly, when I invited girls over to my room I could pull out that magnificent piece of wood and strum it to my heart’s content in front of their eyes to rapturous applause. Not only that, but I could b o t h

Remember This?

Amelia Chisholm

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EDITORS: Aaron Loose and Alex Wingrave

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Alex Wingrave, Music Editor, chats to local star Sadie Horler about how and why she writes

ITH her lilting melodies and gentle guitar picking, singer-songwriter Sadie Horler is a rising star in the Exeter music scene. I spoke to her about her influences, passion for the local circuit, and the power of travelling. We're lucky to have such a diverse range of musicians in Exeter - what makes the South West scene so interesting? There’s so much talent coming out of the South West at the moment! There's a really strong connection between the musicians here; everyone is very supportive. This was especially apparent recently when I organised an event at Exeter Phoenix for ‘Musicians Against Homelessness’. We had ten acoustic artists, seven bands, and nine artists from Devon music project soundlaunch, who all gave up their time to support a wonderful charity, and really showed off our sense of community. What’s your writing process like? Lyrics or music first? I’m always jotting stuff down with a pen and paper, whether it’s conversations I’ve overheard and what I’ve seen throughout the day, or how I feel about certain articles in newspapers and magazines. Being nosy makes for good material! After I’ve got some ideas, I start to adventure with chords to see if I can come up with something which fits the topic.

‘Solivigant’ (the lead single from Sadie's latest EP) is about being set free and has themes around travelling – how do you think your travelling will affect your writing? I'm visiting Australia in early 2019, so I think travelling will affect my writing a lot due to the fact that I’ll be meeting new people, experiencing different cultures, and discovering new places. I’ll also be keeping a travel diary so when I return home, I can look back on that and be inspired once again. You’ve spoken about politics in your work; why do you feel its important for musicians to speak up about current issues? For me, songwriting is such a personal journey, it’s a great way of expressing your emotions and thoughts. So many influential songwriters have written about political and controversial topics, and I think it’s all about having the freedom to express yourself My song, ‘Why Should I Tidy My Room When The World’s in Such a Mess’, was written following the terrorists attacks in France. I’m currently halfway through a song about pollution in the ocean too - current issues are always important to me. You recently covered Queen; what other bands and acts inspire you? Artists who I grew up listening to, like Leonard Cohen and Pulp are constant

influences to my music, but artists who inspire me change all the time! At the moment Father John Misty and First Aid Kit are two acts who really impact my writing, especially after seeing them both of them live.

Image: Liz Greenberg

A personal journey

26 NOV 2018

THERE'S SO MUCH TALENT COMING OUT OF THE SOUTH WEST Which of those influences would you love to tour with? When I went to see First Aid Kit, they seemed like they were having such a fun time on tour, so it would’ve been wonderful to have joined them. Their music is mind-blowing too; to join in with some of their harmonies would be a dream! I'd also love to go on tour with Sound of the Sirens, who are an amazing local duo. I’ve supported them on a few occasions, and they are totally wonderful. Backstage is always a lot of fun with them, they both make me laugh so much! Tell us about any upcoming projects you’re excited about! I’ve recently been in the studio and recorded a couple of songs including a song which leans towards ska! A couple of singles will be released next year. I’ll be songwriting away when I'm down under ready to be releasing some new music later on in 2019.

Queen of clubs

Image: malagalabombonera/Wikimedia

Alicia Rees mourns the demise of innovative club music

ITTING the club. The end goal of every night out. Generally accepted as something that drains your bank account, self-esteem, and will to live simultaneously. In years past, the one remaining slither of hope were the banging tunes churned out by the DJ. Recently, there are fewer banging tunes and more synthesised pop messes. These generic one hit wonders are great if that’s your thing, but the key point here is that they are everywhere. DJs across the South West are all sharing one Spotify account. Genre rarely seems to be a thing anymore. Funk nights at Unit 1? Hun, spinning 'Play

that Funky Music' by Wild Cherry doesn’t constitute a night dedicated to funk music. Mamma Mia! vs The Greatest Showman Cheesies? Not enough Mamma Mia! and a merciful lack of The Greatest Showman. The playlist is so predictable; I know exactly how to plan my cigarette breaks so as to avoid certain tracks. With all this in mind, it’s no wonder that house parties are coming furiously back into fashion. Even a prolonged pres is more fun than hitting the club. For £4.99 a month, a whole world of music is at your fingertips and it can be curated to specific tastes with no false request promises from the DJ. Get a

jazzy lightbulb from Wilko and a half decent speaker and you’re good to go. Not only do you have the luxury of listening to music you actually enjoy, there’s far shorter queues for the toilets and usually less sweat. Fever has tried to overcome the struggle of changing tastes with their two very different sounding rooms. A great idea, but let’s be honest. The music is awful in both rooms. It’s way too bassy in one, and clogged full of cholesterol-inducing cheese in the other. A* for effort, though. In the long term, clubs will survive. There’s a certain 'je ne sais quoi' about getting dolled up and tottering through the entrance of

club with the squad in tow. And yes, I do understand that generic crowd pleasers are the easiest way for clubs to gain and retain punters, and there’s nothing wrong with that. A rogue Saturday in TP, when the DJ dropped bangers such as 'Sandstorm' and 'Alors On Danse', is still one of the best nights out I’ve had in my entire time at uni. All I’m asking is that every now and then the DJ mixes it up a little. Thursday Quids In is a good example, a nice blend of cheesey tunes, drum and bass, with a hint of charts. Not too much, but a generous pinch. If that can't be done, then a night dedicated to Europop would be highly appreciated.

Editors' Picks

Images: Columbia; Amazon,; Fontana; Paul Hudson

Music Inspired by Illumination & Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch (2018) by Tyler, the Creator

Melancholia Hymns (2017) by Arcane Roots

Scott 4 (1969) by Scott Walker

Best in Show: Nadine Shah, SWX Bristol, 3 December

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It’s a lifestyle, it’s a religion Screen writers debate the cult show Gilmore Girls

What’s the hype?

WENTY years since the first season was aired, Gilmore Girls remains a show loved by so many. But it’s important to look at what we consume in a critical way, so I’ve been reflecting on some aspects that make Gilmore Girls a problematic show. And I haven’t even looked at the revival - its many issues have already been thoroughly dissected by the internet community. Just go and google “Gilmore Girls revival pool scene”. The first thing that came to mind was the lack of diversity of the show. Yes, you have Michel as a supporting character, and the Kim women, but the cast of Gilmore Girls comprises straight, white, cisgender people in its entirety. Where are the people of colour? Where is the LGBTQ+ community? We have to assume that either Stars Hollow doesn’t have anyone but white, normative people - something unlikely for a New England town - or that they are simply not represented at all. Furthermore, when we do encounter POC, they either are reduced to the stereotypes about their race or they are used mainly as comic relief caricatures for the main characters to lean on. An example of the first case is, obviously, the Kim women. An article online suggests that “none of the Koreans [in Gilmore Girls] get to have personalities”. Lane does have one, but she never gets to pursue her dream, having to settle for a married life in the small town she will live and die in, which contrasts with Rory’s storyline. Her mother, as well as Lane’s cousin, are examples of problematic representations. Strict, and uncommunicative: it all points to a stereotypical and highly problematic portrayal of Asian culture and characters. As for the comedic characters, we have Michel as an example: he doesn’t get a character arc, or barely does, and his hypothetical homosexuality is never explored, but instead played off as a funny character trait. Liking Celine Dion is not a personality trait, especially not one that only gay people have. Other ex-

amples of POC in the show would be Gypsy, the Latina mechanic, or Emily Gilmore’s maids, and they can all be classified as one of the two cases. It’s all doubly problematic when we realize that because we don’t have many POC characters, they are tasked with creating our vision of those races, therefore reducing them to a bunch of stereotypes. Finally, Rory as a character is also one of the most problematic aspects of the show. I’m all for cutting my fringe and reading MobyDick, but she is, as Claudia Griot says, the “epitome of privilege”. Her successes and constant opportunities are unrealistic, and she is not even aware of that. This contrasts with both the characters of Jess and Logan. The former progresses from being an aloof kid to realizing he’s not the centre of the universe and working hard to create a path for himself (without any of the money the Gilmores have). The latter, despite his wealthy background, acknowledges his privileged and is humble about it, especially as his character arc is developed. I could get into a few more other issues, such as the obsession with marriage, slutshaming or the glorification of junk food, but for the sake of length, I’ll conclude here. In the end, it is important for us as fans to have critical views on the works we love the most, to be able to defend them and use them to develop our own opinions. Gilmore Girls is a great show, but there are some issues that just can’t be overlooked. Media is always rooted in context, and has the power to influence it. If we’re going to let problematic shows influence our world, at least let’s examine what we are accepting.

Anne Chafer

In defence of

HE reminiscent guitar strumming. The melodic la-las play as we drift in and out of a montage of the autumnal scenery of Stars Hollow. This polished, provincial, fictional Connecticut town is the home of our favourite mother-daughter duo: The Gilmores. Lorelai, a strong-willed single mother estranged from her high-society parents, Emily and Richard. Pregnant at 16, Lorelai is still stuck in an unresolved adolescence. This becomes evident in how the role of parent and child become interchangeable, with Lorelai’s teenage-angst fuelled sarcasm and Rory’s wisdom merging. Rory is an Ivy League bound, academically gifted success story - everything that Lorelai wasn’t to her disparaging parents. At the core of Gilmore Girls is an impenetrable mother-daughter bond. We follow the trials and tribulations of single motherhood and see Rory blossom through her formative years: teenage anxieties, wrenching heartache, adolescent rebellion, euphoric successes and agonising failures. Rory was my study icon – she was wellread and poised for every intellectual debate. All I can say is that there is substance to the saying “Read like a Rory”. The eventual editor of the Yale Daily News; she is academia personified. I admired her academic resilience and how comfortable she was in her own skin. Upon Rory entering the high-society private school - Chilton Academy – Lorelai must reignite the relationship she had with her parents in order to fund Rory’s academic desires. They do so, with the promise of a week ly

Friday dinner, which soon becomes derailed by quarrels and source of the best scenes of the series. At first struggling to navigate her grandparents socially elitist world, she soon develops a lasting connection with them, despite being were estranged from them for so long. Gilmore Girls was a definite caffeine shock to the early 2000s television patriarchy as this iconic duo dismantled preconceived stereotypes and celebrated the independent woman. Awash with headstrong females, the intellectual quips of Paris – Rory’s highlystrung intellectual rival - were beloved. The repartee between the judgemental matriarch of the Gilmore family, Emily and Lorelai are famed within the Gilmore fanbase. With a script written by the talented Amy Sherman Palladino, to match the innate comic ability of Lauren Graham (Lorelai), we are awarded with a sharp-quipped dynamic. From the eccentric residents of Stars Hollow to the hay-maze traditions, the razorquick dialogue juxtaposes the slow pace of this provincial hamlet. Of course, coffee may be the root of that dilemma. With an intense caffeine dependence, both Rory and Lorelai reside for the near entirety of the show in Luke’s diner - you would think that the series was sponsored by a coffee franchise. Chastised for a coffee addiction by the belligerent owner, we are introduced to Luke, whose romantic interest in Lorelai is continuously thwarted. We are whirled into the romances of both Rory and Lorelai. Whether you align your loyalty with the lovable Dean, Jess or Logan, we are all glued to the romantic ordeals that Rory must endeavour. Being on Netflix, a new generation are being compelled to the world of In Omina Paratus, Doose’s Market and the Dragonfly Inn. To end with the poignant opening lyrics that I think encompass the essence of being a Gilmore girl: “where you lead, I will follow.” Catherine Lloyd

Images from left to right: the tvdb; Feminista; jennifermichie

Editors’ Picks Images: Paramount Classics; anygator; filmpost.it

The Virgin Suicides (1999)

Sorry to Bother You (2018)

The Other Side of the Wind (2018)

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EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

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26 NOV 2018

Is comedy underrated by critics?

It is easy to see why comedy has maintained this stereotype of being unworthy of serious universal consideration. Since the beginning of the decade, Hollywood has churned out countless lacklustre comedy films. Comedians like Adam Sandler are infamous for lazy, stereotypical films lacking any merit. The lowest rated Adam Sandler film, The Ridiculous Six, holds a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 0%. This is unsurprising considering its gags primarily revolve around diarrhoea, Taylor Lautner, and… well, highly offensive portrayals of Native Americans. Yet Sandler isn’t alone. For every comedy classic Will Ferrell brings out, his filmography is forever stained with the mediocrity of Get Hard, Daddy’s Home, and Zoolander 2.

ADAM SANDLER IS INFAMOUS FOR LAZY FILMS LACKING MERIT

Despite this, comedies remain some of the most beloved, interesting interpretations of society. One of the most beloved comedies of all time – Groundhog Day – functions on a simple theory: if you lived out the same day continuously on a loop, what could you learn about your surroundings? What could you learn about yourself? And indeed, whilst slowly witnessing a blossoming romance, we see the potential in humanity to grow out of cynicism and into kindness. In the best comedies, for the most part, it is encouraged to wear your heart on your sleeve, which perhaps points out how far we have come from Aristotle’s Poetics, in which comedy (whilst comforting in its happy endings) “aims at representing men as worse”. Equally, comedy has become ingrained into other genres to heighten otherwise monotonous movies, e: P ara

a mandatory comedy award to make up for ignoring the genre. Yet even ceremonies that separate comedies and dramas, such as the Golden Globes, come under fire for misclassifying movies, such as The Tourist and Get Out.

RISTOTLE’S Poetics identified that comedy stemmed from phallic ceremonies and festivals of humour that highlighted the “ridiculous”; pointing out mankind’s flaws. The only formal requirement for a comedy at the time was a happy ending. Yet, despite this light-hearted definition, Aristotle made it clear that comedy was not to be underestimated due to its joyful effect on people. Since then, formal ideas of genre have evolved, as have our ideas of what makes a comedy. Yet there is a clear dogma that comedy is a lesser art-form than drama; considering this patronising simplification, has comedy become a less significant artform? Since 1927, it is believed that only nine straight comedy films have won the Academy’s Best Picture Award. Whilst it’s arguable that the Academy shouldn’t be given the power to define greatness in the film industry, the ceremony certainly directs the mainstream opinion of cinematic brilliance by being widely watched on television, heavily covered in the media, and extensively coveted in Hollywood. This bias has been widely criticised; in 2011, comic titan Judd Apatow suggested that the Academy should have

Bryony Gooch, Online Music Editor, discusses the largely critically forgotten comedy genre

making them more palatable. Satirical slasher Tucker and Dale vs Evil is a fantastic commentary on America’s socioeconomic stereotypes, pitting redneck culture against middle class college students for a shocking, yet funny, horror movie. In Greta Gerwig’s, understated coming-of-age film Lady Bird, a relatively normal tale of adolescence is filled with gleefully funny moments, from family bickering to attempts to conform. Yet its beauty lies in nostalgic, universal moments of what self-discovery means in your teens. Whilst comedy is clearly an important feature in these films, it does not detract from the meaning, nor is it the central performance. It merely accentuates the events with an alluring warmth. When considering comedy in its full scope, acknowledging the good and the bad, the cultural bias and the commodification, can we say that it has become an underrated, less important art-form? Arguably, no. Comedy is a hard-to-perfect skill, as highlighted by Hollywood’s track record of producing awful comedies. Yet still there are some terrific comedies, and it has evolved from a straightforward genre into an integral part of most movies, adding an essential charm to otherwise dull narratives. Comedy is no joke.

We’re ready for our close-up William Lamb takes us through the beauty that is the close-up shot

HE close-up is an integral part of cinema, as it draws the audience’s gaze to the screen and sticks it there. At their best, they can be startlingly intimate, allowing us to see every crack, whisker and twitch of that gargantuan face shining back at us through the gloom. The close-up is made for the cinema; it works when given the largest screen. In 1928, Carl Theodor Dreyer realised this when he released The Passion of Joan of Arc, a heartbreaking historical drama based on the life of the eponymous saint. Joan is questioned on her faith by a bunch of stale white clerics glaring down at her. It is then that the films astonishing lead, Renée Jeanne Falconetti, demonstrates her true stardom, and we are allowed full access into the utter pain and tor-

Image: Criterion

ment Joan is suffering. This simple cut to her tear-drenched face changed the cinematic language, by opening the film up to the audience in a way that few films had ever before. Apart from causing one to shed an empathetic tear, the close-up can also make you wince in pain and clutch your belly. Psycho uses the close-up in the most recognisable sequence: ‘the shower scene’. It was revolutionary in the way it was gruesome, raw, and salacious; a naked Janet Leigh is stabbed by Mrs Bates in a frenzy of noise and blood. However, as every Hitchcock fan will tell you, there is only one brief shot of a knife going even near her stomach. The sequence is so gorgeously misleading because of its sublime use of the close-up. Strictly speaking, the term is normally defined as a shot which shows the features of a face and not much else. Yet here Hitchcock uses montage to hone in on the flash of a knife, the desperate defensive lunge of an arm, and the flinching twist of a neck, all with the cumulative effect of utterly distressing the audience. And how does he finish this scene? With one of the most poetical nihilistic matchcuts of cinema history: from a gurgling shower drain to a lifeless eye. However, the close-up can work as a guiding light in alien environments, such as 2018’s Pili, in which women attempt to overcome the stigma of their HIV diagnosis in rural Tanzania. Here, first-time feature director Leanne Wel-

ham makes the audience so familiar with faces – which denote various stages of the virus. This has the meta-effect of vanquishing any kind of shock or pity that an audience member might have, just as we see these characters overcome their own obstacles within the village. It is by Welham’s graceful, and in no way ostentatious, use of the close-up that helps the film educate and provoke without detracting one iota from a film of pure entertainment and joy. A good close-up can make even the most magical films seem tangible. Personally, my

rooney mara

favourite use of it is in Powell and Pressburger’s The Tales of Hoffmann, which is a film full to the brim of splendour and charm, and yet invites the viewer in from the opening scene. As soon as you see Robert Helpmann’s Lindorf dart out from behind a pillar and glare straight into camera with an operatic grace you know that this film will be witty, camp, and overstuffed with larger than life characters that will live with you way after the screen shuts off and the lights come on. One simple look to camera and I’m lost in the film; but happy to be so.

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NY conversation on the finest actors around absolutely deserves to have Rooney Mara included in the dialogue. Despite a weak debut in the remake of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Mara has flourished within the independent film scene amongst some of modern cinema’s most celebrated auteurs. Her lead role in Todd Haynes’ stunning period drama Carol showcased a wistfulness and nuance that instantly created an on-screen chemistry for the ages. Similarly, her gut-wrenching performance in David Lowery’s A Ghost Story, proved her commitment to an emotionally demanding vision (the pie scene is an all-timer). Yet, Mara equally possesses a knack for playing comparatively more sinister or cutthroat characters – just take a look at her bewitching performance in Soderbergh’s Side Effects. Mara’s embodiment of compelling, emotionally intelligent characters is second-to-none. To think that her career is just getting started is thrilling indeed. Jacob Heayes Image: Leod23

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EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

26 NOV 2018 |

Wittertainme

Chloe Kennedy, Screen Editor, and David Conway, Online Screen Editor, int

Imagine watching your favourite podcast in front of your very eyes; but you’re a part of it. You let their witterings unfold and bounce off from one another. Never has there been a couple that so bickered... that are also unmarried. Never has there been a couple so different in style. Simon wears a knitted blazer, Mark is in smart a black suit (but not without the fun of a treble clef on his tie). Instantly their chemistry is apparent. Despite their differences, this combination has created one of the most prominent forces in film journalism and broadcasting in Britain. Their famous chemistry on Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review has put them in the hearts of listeners across the country, charming us with their sharp combination of ‘wittertainment’ and insightful criticism. Last week, the pair came down to Exeter to discuss Mayo’s new book, Mad Blood Stirring, as part of the University’s Creative Dialogues series; reversing their usual dynamic of Mayo hosting. Before they walked onto the Forum stage though, Screen Editor Chloe Kennedy and Online Screen Editor David Conway sat down to witness their wittering in action. First off, thank you for coming and congratulations [Kermode] on becoming honorary professor. Mark Kermode: Thank you, I think that’s really the main reason we’re here [laughter]. Simon Mayo: It’s amazing how that happened. Kermode: I know… remind me which honorary thing you have? Mayo: I’m an honorary doctor, which you told me at the time was, I think, a complete fake. Kermode: Yes, well, when I said complete fake what I meant was that there are many ways of looking at it. Some people might say that it was... I am happy to accept, because I’m not as stubborn and doctrinal as people may think. I’m happy to have moved on my position that your honorary doctorate is indeed a proper doctorate, because I am now Professor Kermode. Mayo: Right. But does my honorary doctorate cancel out your honorary professorship, which just makes you a doctor? Kermode: No it...what? Mayo: Well if you cancel out my fake degree and your fake honour. Kermode: Well you mean, if you’re not a doctor? Mayo: Then you’re just a doctor. Kermode: Yes, if you’re nothing… I’m a doctor. If you’re a doctor, I’m a professor. Whatever it is, I’m one step above you, ok? Mayo: Ok, we got that. [laughter] Sorry, that’s

all we’ve got time for. Kermode: It’s been lovely speaking to you and Simon has a book out as well. Bye. [laughter] Well, congratulations on the book, it’s doing very successfully and we’ve heard as well that there are rumours of a screen adaptation? Mayo: There are rumours of that, yes, and who knows? I mean, there’s a screenplay and there’s a producer, and there are always a thousand reasons why these things don’t happen so I’m not assuming anything. What drew you towards the historical period of Dartmoor prison in 1812? Mayo: I honestly stumbled into it. I was writing a book called Blame, which was set in London, but it needed to have a prison set in the South West of England because there was an escape from London, and they came to the South West and so, I thought, Dartmoor is the most famous prison in the South West of England. So, I was doing some research into Dartmoor prison, then discovered half of this story and thought, that’s too good to waste. So instead, Blame ended up in Bodmin, so that was that story already done. And then, I came back to the story of Dartmoor prison, and it was one of those things where the more I researched, the more interesting it got and the more I thought that surely someone else had told this story, it seemed too good to be true. I just kept on going and kept on going - Britain’s only racially segregated prison, that was a pretty good story. And then I found out about King Dick, and he was too good to be true, and then I got to his production of Romeo and Juliet and that was the point where I though, ‘ok that’s good enough’. It has to be a version of that. So, you know, it was just a footnote in history, but it felt like it should be slightly more than that. So winding the clocks back a bit, because of lot of people here are very interested in getting into journalism and broadcasting - last time you were here Mark you spoke about how a lot of it was just through persistence Mayo: Have you been here before [Kermode]? Kermode: Have I told you about my professorship?! [laughter] How did your experiences compare? Kermode: [Gesturing to our microphone] This is how you [Mayo] started. Mayo: Yeah, I mean, we come together for two hours on a Friday but our ways into it are very

different. You know, I went through, I did hospital radio, I did student radio. When I was at Warwick I did a Saturday night show called Pyjamarama and enjoyed that very much. And my plan was to be a studio manager for the BBC which is what my mother had been. Then I applied to be a station manager and I failed the hearing test, because I have one faulty frequency in my left ear, which meant that they said I couldn’t balance the BBC Symphony Orchestra if I was asked to do that [laughter]. So I then had to re-think what I was going to do, and in BBC local radio they have a thing called station assistants, which is basically like the bottom run. So, to cut a very long story short, I mean I did hospital radio after that (after student radio) and then started for jobs in BBC local radio, put records away in the Radio Brighton record library, you know, all those things to make your CV slightly better than the other peoples. So, then I ended up at Radio Nottingham as a station assistant, and you drive the radio car and you read the news, and I presented a classical radio programme, then they asked me to do a mid-morning show and then I sent a copy of my mid-morning show to Radio One. Kermode: Yeah but, the punch-line of that story is that you got a call. Mayo: I got a call from the controller of Radio One, to Radio Nottingham. The receptionist at Radio Nottingham said, "there’s a call for you, it’s the controller of Radio One" - a guy call Johnny Bealing - and I assumed it was a joke, assumed it was a hoax, I didn’t believe it at all. And it turned out to be Johnny Bealing. Kermode: But he called you in and said something on the lines of "we think you’re doing interesting stuff". Mayo: No, he said "you’re a good broadcaster" and I did say "well, I sent you a tape a year ago" [laughter]. Kermode: But I just think [that’s so] great… that you actually got a phone call in your workplace: "It’s the head of Radio One". Mayo: So, what had happened is, I had invented a quiz and made a pilot of that, in the local radio station, and then sent it to him because I had had this idea for a half-hour kind of game show on Radio One, and he really liked the idea and when he was listening he missed his tube stop, which is always one of those things - he was so into it he missed his tube stop. Kermode: He fell asleep, he just went straight through. Mayo: [ignoring] So he called me as a result of that. Kermode: You have to admit, if somebody

made a film of your life that’s the scene that I wouldn’t believe. The scene of the guy missing the tube stop and then you getting the phone call, because it would seem like too much of a set up. Mayo: If that ever happens, I want Joe Wright to direct it. I think he’d do it just right [laughter]. Kermode: A great long angle... there’s people in the [train carriage] going [in a posh voice] "oh what do you think of this radio quiz that I’ve put together". Mayo: That’d be quite good... But [cinema-goers] would say, "it was quite interesting, that scene on the tube". Kermode: [They’d say] "that was rubbish". How did you meet, if you both had such different paths into the industry? Mayo: Well, it was Radio One, where you [Kermode] were doing Radcliffe Kermode: Yeah, I was doing Mark and Lard. I’d worked for Danny Baker from Radio Five. When it started out [it] was a hotch-potch of different things. I mean, it was literally a bit of kids’ stuff, a bit of youthy magazine stuff, a bit of sports, I think it was sports and education was nominally, because Radio 5 was made up to protect a frequency, because 909 and 693, they were told, that they had to put something new on

Image: Shetland Arts

exhibit

SCREEN

EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

26 NOV 2018 |

ent in Exeter

terview cult podcast duo Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo it, so they literally invented a radio station as a holding pattern before it became Five Live. So it was a period of a few years where Radio Five was Radio Five and it was, the rule was, stay on air, don’t swear, that’s it. Yeah it was good. And then, I had been working with Danny Baker and then Mark Radcliffe had a show on called Out on Blue Six, that’s how I ended up doing Mark and Lard. Mayo: And then, I got moved from breakfast to mornings and one of the things I wanted to do is to cover film. So Matthew Bannister, who was the controller at the time said, "oh, well Mark Kermode’s doing that on Mark and Lard, why don’t you do that?" Kermode: I don’t think we piloted it or anything, I think we just did it. Mayo: So it was a Matthew Bannister arranged marriage. Kermode: When you say it like that it feels really creepy [laughter]. At the time it was fine. Everyone was doing it. There was a war on, y’know? Moving on to the present day, you’ve had long prolific careers - how do you keep with the times? Do you strategise? Kermode: I don’t think we’ve ever strategised anything. Mayo: You say strategise, you’ll never get anywhere, because essentially all we do is exactly the same as what we’ve always done because podcasting and, however it’s packaged, is basically radio. It’s old fashioned, speech radio, and that’s what we do. What you do is you add bits at the beginning and add bits at the end so you end up with the super executive version; like the director’s cut. Kermode: DVD extras was what we used to call it, wasn’t it? Mayo: Yeah, essentially if you listen to all the most sucImage:

Ben Sutherland

cessful podcasts, it’s old fashioned talk radio. son and you came to one of the outside And when you go and see the live shows of broadcast that we did they would look some of the most successful American podaround at the audience that come to our casts you come over and you’re watching, shows in genuine astonishment because the it’s like musical hall from the 30s and 40s. It’s audience is so young – they’re like your age just people in front of mics doing plays and [points at us], that young. The average age sketches with music – so, it’s actually quite of a Radio 5 Live listener is in their fifties, reassuring ‘cos it’s the old skills essentially. so if they go out and do a show for an averKermode: Yeah, and honestly with that we age listener everyone will be in their fifties have never strategised anything – partly – and that’s great, I haven’t got a problem because I don’t think we’d know how to with that, I just want everybody to listen. But start, and partly because it’s not really how when we do an OB, even though we’re really – I mean the show has expanded from being really old, the audience is really really young the five-minute segand I think that’s because the show’s ment it was on attitude is young. Radio 1 to now Kermode: I buy that. To counbeing this ter it slightly, the thing two-hour that we hear the most whatevnowadays is someer-it-is body will come up thing to you and they’ll on Radio go "my Dad loves 5, and your show". And it Image: @Jeremy Bishop the podis literally that that cast, but is great, lovely. The at no point fact they listen with did anybody their Dad, that’s the Image: Linda Ruth Williams ever sit down and point. go "we should sort of do this". It just sort of happened. It did happen There’s an open, inclusive organically, you know, like a wart. [laughter] feeling to your show that avoids snobbery. Mayo: The truth is, if you were putting [the Kermode: We’re not snobby. I think we’re a lot film show] together now, if we were starting of things, but snobby – chippy, sometimes, from scratch... but not snobby. Kermode: ...you wouldn’t come up with us Mayo: I agree with him. Mayo: You wouldn’t come up with us two. And it would genuinely not get commisThere’s a nice healing quality to your witsioned. "They’re how old? They’re how terings. white? They’re both men?" So, fortunately Mayo: We do have magical powers. we’ve been around so long I don’t think anyKermode: I’m slightly worried that you’re one thinks of it like that. starting to believe it. Kermode: No, I think if you sat down and tried Mayo: I do believe it. to figure out – you wouldn’t come up with Kermode: You’re starting to think that we are us because it is literally two people talking actually working miracles because there are in a room. It’s like Mark Radcliffe saying that people actually being brought back from the dead, woken from comas, and [that] "radio is playing some records with some somebody had a broken leg and then they talking in between". With us it is just some listened to the show and they didn’t have a talking in between; that is literally all it is. broken leg. I’m starting to think that you are And actually that whole thing about the first buying this. half-hour of the show now theoretically beMayo: I have another career as a healer after ing "we’re doing a top ten countdown", but this. actually what that is is a way of doing all the listeners’ correspondence; and we’re still What does the future hold for you both? only scratching the surface. Kermode: Well Simon’s going to go off and Mayo: I also think it’s the fact that it doesn’t become a famous screenwriter and author sound - like obviously we are old – [but] I and I’m going to be left behind in the studio think the show’s attitude is young. slagging his movies off to say ‘yeah, see, see, [Kermode laughs] you left me and went to Hollywood and now -- If you were a [Radio] 5 Live manager per-

I bet you regret it!’ Mayo: I suspect that’s probably not true. Kermode: Mad Blood [film] is going to happen. You’re underplaying it, but the thing is, you’re right, there’s a million things that could happen between now and the movie actually happening, but a proper screenwriter has done a version of it, and you’ve got proper producers – and Simon’s got the Itch books – the Itch books are being turned into a TV show in Australia starting Mayo: In February. Kermode: This is the reason for the whole Radio 2 thing [Mayo leaving his drivetime show] – because you’ve literally got more work than you can actually do now. So, it is very likely that that side of your career will take off. Mayo: Well, next year’s quite interesting because I’m leaving Radio 2 and I’m going to Australia to see the filming of Itch which will take a bit of time. And then Mad Blood Stirring – counting the chickens, all that kind of stuff. Jack Thorne is writing the screenplay – we had meetings planned this week but he’s doing King Kong on Broadway so it’s been delayed. Kermode: But this is also Jack Thorne that wrote the Harry Potter play [Harry Potter and the Cursed Child] that sold out forever and ever and ever, y’know. Mayo: So, y’know, the thing it has in its favour is that on the screenplay it says Mad Blood Stirring – Jack Thorne, so most directors will go, ‘well, okay, at least I’ll read it’. So, who knows? I suspect radio and writing is what I’ll continue to do, just the balance of it might shift. Are you excited by this new branch in your career? Mayo: Yes, excited. And fearful. Excited and fearful, because I’m always fearful about anything. If you assume everything is going to go wrong, you can only be pleasantly surprised when they don’t. So I’ve got some new radio adventures, and some old radio adventures. Kermode: Thank you for including me in that [nervous laughs] I momentarily worried. Mayo: You’re the reliable pillar in my chopping and changing year. Kermode: And you know, that’s all I’ve ever wanted to be. So that’s what we’re going to do – he’s going to go off and become stellar, and I’m going to continue to hitch my wagon to his star. Because Simon is much more than a partner and a friend, he’s a pension plan.

exhibit

study break

| 26 NOV 2018

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Down

Across 1 3 5 9 10 11 12 14 16 19 21 24 25 26 27 28

1 (Ringing?) instrument (4) Place to sleep (3) 2 Computer symbol - it’d bang (anagram) Retain (4) (7) Female servant (4) 3 ‘OK, Ned?’ (anagram) - Japanese martial Cloth made of flax (5) art (5) Gush - ‘Wot foul?’ (anagram) (7) 4 Mass departure (6) Complete (8) 6 Improvise (a speech, say) (2-3) Wager (3) 7 Decline (in business, say) (8) Nary it (anagram) - office container (for new 8 Greek goddess - ethane (anagram) (6) work?) (2-4) 13 Very cruel - satanic (8) Gentle - currency (6) 15 ‘Ha, cuss!’ (anagram) - in a particular Save (it can precede 11 answers here) (3) capacity (2,4) Ominous - left (8) 17 Most low (7) Reasoning correctly (7) 18 Large arrival (of people, say) (6) Ancient Greek letter - me ago (anagram) (5) 20 Stiff (5) Cipher (4) 22 Tempest (5) Test (4) 23 Obtain - advantage (4) 1016 kg - 2240 lb - 100 (informal) (3)

ANSWERS

trivia corner 1. Who is the youngest nobel prize laureate? 2. what colour was the hulk originally? 3. which comedienne was initially offered the role of phoebe in ‘friends’? 4. in which language was the first printed book? 5. How many of the bbc’s top 100 women this year are from the uk?

5. 12; 6. Three Trivia: 1. Malala Yousafzai, 2. Grey, 3. Ellen DeGeneres, 4. German,

6. how many brexit secretaries have been appointed in the past six months?

22 Storm, 23 Gain. 8 Athene, 13 Diabolic, 15 As such, 17 Deepest, 18 Influx, 20 Rigid, Down: 1 Bell, 2 Dingbat, 3 Kendo, 4 Exodus, 6 Ad-lib, 7 Downturn, 26 Code, 27 Exam, 28 Ton. Bet, 14 In-tray, 16 Tender, 19 Bar, 21 Sinister, 24 Logical, 25 Omega, Across: 1 Bed, 3 Keep, 5 Maid, 9 Linen, 10 Outflow, 11 Absolute, 12

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Science

SCIENCE EDITOR:

Scarlett Parr-Reid

Seeing is believing

Scarlett Parr-Reid, Science Editor, assesses the growing issue of shortsightedness in infants

IVE a child the new iPhone XR, or the latest Xbox One S, and their eyes might beam with excitement. But, suggest detoxing from their gadgets for a short 20 minutes to go for a Sunday walk, and you will be greeted with no more than a frown. Sacrificing screen time to go outdoors, not least when British weather is grizzly and grey, is asking a lot in the 21st century. Yet, believe it or not, there was once a day when the allure of the birds chirping and trees being tussled by the wind, just waiting to be climbed, was enough to instil joy in a child all day long. Now, children see going outside as a means to an end, to get from A to B, and not much more.

Shortsightedness in infants is expected to soar by as much as 4.8 billion people 2050 But, it’s easy to think that the lack of time spent outdoors has no implications on our health. It’s surely a choice, and not of any real importance when there is school work to do, chores to complete and expensive games consoles that ought not go to waste. Whilst I’m guilty of seeing it through the prism of the materialist, I also respect the need for a little perspective. And with shortsightedness in infants - linked to spending insufficient amounts of time outdoors - expected to soar to as much as 4.8 billion people by 2050, I think I have the perspective I need. Shortsightedness, known as myopia - due to excessive axial growth in the eye and improper bending and refraction of light - is exacerbated by prolonged periods exposed to artificial light. Katie Williams, in a study published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology, reminds us that “the rapid adoption of smart devices in children adds a new dimension to how we define and quantify near-work activity”. In other words, it’s now second nature to have a smart phone in your pocket and laptop in your bag almost everywhere you go, especially whilst doing work. In an age where productivity is championed above just about everything, that means everywhere.

The study, involving 1077 children born in England and Wales between 1994 and 1996, followed the infants’ development, behaviours and education up to 16 years, using questionnaires and genetic tests. As much information was gathered as possible, including age, sex and family relatedness. It yielded results suggesting that the act of looking far into the distance, and being exposed to natural light, help lower a child’s risk of being diagnosed with shortsightedness. These were compared with the statistics of other countries, including China, where shortsightedness has reached an epidemic scale, with 90% of teenagers and young adults living with the condition. Is that the whole picture? Likely not. Otherwise, we might hasten to say that going outside is mandatory for looking after your eyesight, and prescribe it like Ibuprofen for a headache. Williams states that “a healthy balance of time indoors and time outdoors, and a balance during early education is important”.

Shortsightedness is an epidemic in China Holistically speaking, shortsightedness is a multi-factorial condition, with genetic factors involved, as well as interplay with influences such as playing computer games, being born in the summer, and having a well-educated mother. To dissect these a little bit, individuals born in the summer showed nearly double the odds of being shortsighted, likely due to beginning school earlier in their life than their peers. Interestingly, for every higher level of education the mother had, the odds of the teenager having the condition rose by 33%. This could be for various reasons, such as a genetic link between intelligence and myopia, or interplay between genetic factors and social influences, such as class, wealth and their mother’s encouragement. The more time spent

playing computer games, the greater your risk of developing myopia. This is likely to the combination of more time spent inside and the prolonged exposure to artificial light and screens. Yet, this is shocking, considering that the study began before the widespread release of smartphones, indicating that such findings can only have been perpetuated.

A healthy balance of time indoors and time outdoors is important. The broadness of the study allowed identification of other factors, such as that being born by fertility treatment actually reduced the risk of developing myopia by 37% by the time the child reached their teenage years. Though the finding seems surprising at first, Williams attributes it to the lower birth weight and shorter gestation

period (time spent in the womb between conception and birth), accounting for some neurodeveloptmental delay. In an age of fake news and sensationalism, you might read this and question your own, or your child’s, entire upbringing and environmental exposure. Yet, the reality is that the four aforementioned factors account for just 4.4% of variance in rates of shortsightedness. Therefore, with the knowledge from previous studies that genetics play a large role in population variance, as Williams comments, these findings are not the whole story. Though, they do leave us with the question of how modern-day pressures of childhood may be behind the rise in prevalence of shortsightedness, when genes cannot change this rapidly over just a couple of generations. James Wolffsohn, Professor of Op-

tometry at Aston University adds that, it’s clear from the high levels of myopia in Asia that there is a genetic predisposition, but not to rule out the effect of controlling environmental factors in order to limit the progression of the condition. As speculative as the studies may be at this stage, the fact that the use of fertility treatment during birth, and excessive screen time during later years have marked effects on the development of shortsightedness are valuable. This is because during the child’s earliest years, they are most susceptible to visual impairments, thus would benefit most from a targeted treatment. It’s simple to say that nearsightedness can be easily treated by wearing glasses or contact lenses, but that doesn’t detract from the fact that the risk of sight-threatening conditions rises with the level of short-sightedness. Therefore, anything done to slow the progression of the condition is critical to protect the individual from sight loss or damage in later life. h f Healt utes o l Instit a n o ti : Na Image

SCIENCE

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Should you listen to your gut? T’S a gut feeling… We often talk about having a gut feeling. Whether we’re making a crucial career decision or deciding if he’s ‘the one’, we believe that listening to our gut is as important as the logical decision process we think is going on in our brains. But over the last few years, surmounting evidence suggests that there’s more of a similarity between your brain and your gut than you’d think, adding a new meaning to the saying ‘you are what you eat’.

Appendix removal can lower the risk of Parkinson's, but cannot eradicate it Current research points to the gut as the origin of a whole host of elements of our physical and mental wellbeing, including neurological diseases previously thought of as solely diseases of the brain. One such condition is Parkin-

son’s disease, affecting approximately 128,000 people in the UK.

Parkinson's affects approximately 128,000 people in the UK Characterised by tremors, bradykinesia (slowed movement), and rigid muscles, amongst other symptoms, the bulk of Parkinson’s research has focused on the brain, initially concentrating on the loss of neurons that produce dopamine, which could help explain the loss of movement. Over the years, researchers have shown the importance of alpha synuclein aggregation; the aggregation of a protein that changes shape by twisting into clumps called Lewy bodies. Whilst this research has been going on, it is estimated that half of Parkinson’s disease patients have constipation and researchers have shown the risk of Parkinson’s is lower if the person had

their appendix removed. At the time, there was speculation that this process was caused by a pathogen that had not yet been identified that travels through the vagus nerve. Other studies have suggested that alpha synuclein aggregates move from the gut to the brain via this vagus nerve. A recent study analysed the content

It's theorised that alpha synuclein moves via the vagus nerve

matures, before travelling up the vagus nerve into the brain. Recently, this theory has been tested, with a study in which Lewy bodies were injected into the guts of mice from the California Institute of Technology. Within three weeks of injecting clumps of alpha synuclein into the stomach and intestine of mice, these fibres had migrated to the dopaminergic neurones in the substantia nigra part of the brain, al-

tering movement amongst many things. Substantial further research should be carried out to determine how and when these protein clumps are moving to the brain. But for now, knowledge of where alpha synuclein aggregation originates provides hope to improve diagnosis, as well as targeting treatment to the first part of the disease course, with the aim of minimising symptoms of and curing Parkinson’s.

of people’s appendices, the small vestigial organ located close to the large intestine, showing they contain alpha synuclein, which is normally found in the brains of Parkinson’s patients, rather than the healthy population. As not all cases are prevented by removal of this organ, this is not the end of the story. The researchers proposed a theory in which alpha synuclein is formed and

Image: Semyon Lorberg

Elinor Jones explores a recent theory that Parkinson's may originate in the gut

Is there a solution to air pollution? I

Katie Jenkins, Deputy Editor, unveils the hidden reality of air pollution how to solve it

T’S gas-guzzling cars and powerpumping factories; it’s asthma attacks and skin rash reactions; it’s fossil fuels and plastic production and maybe even farting cows… All in all, it’s air pollution: ever-thickening and increasingly lethal year upon year.

I am asthmatic and air pollution makes me sick Delhi native, Shibayan Raha, is living proof of its perils: “I am asthmatic and air pollution makes me sick. In 2014, I packed up and left Delhi, moved to the mountains. But I have to keep coming back to the city and fighting air pollution has become a personal battle for me.”

Seven million deaths per year are caused by air pollution In fact, according to recent statistics from the World Health Organisation (WHO), seven million deaths a year are caused by air pollution. 90% of

the world’s Image: Pixource / Pixabay population breathe air pollution from “traffic emissions, industry, agriculture and waste incineration” while 93% of children under the age of 15 are breathing polluted air. The figures are alarming, and the question more so: when so ubiquitous, how is air pollution to be resolved? According to recent research, the answer is simple, and no, it’s not found in social media campaigns or extortionate apparatus. Quite simply, it is refrigeration. The study - conducted by Nottingham Trent University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences – found that freezing pollution was able to remove 99% of particulates and prevent it from contaminating indoor spaces. By freezing polluted air to -18°C in a condensing tube, finer particles clumped together and fell to the bottom, thus allowing clean air to pass

through. When frozen to -50°C, the process was also able to remove 98% of nitrogen oxide pollutants. “Our study makes it possible to add an ‘air cleaner’ option to household appliances in areas that might experience extremely poor air conditions,” explained Professor Gang Pan from Nottingham Trent University, the leader of the research. “By controlling indoor air pollution and improving air quality in this way, this work could be greatly beneficial for public health.” Professor Robert Mortimer, a fellow researcher at the University, has agreed: “Hazardous outdoor air pol-

lution has significantly affected indoor air q u a l i t y, threatening the health of billions of people. “Outdoor air pollution in cities is a global problem, whether it be haze plaguing Beijing or poor air impacting the health of children in inner city London schools… When outdoor air quality is poor, people tend to spend even more time indoors – but outdoor pollution also leads to indoor pollution and people are still impacted.”

Hazardous outdoor air pollution has significantly affected indoor air quality Eben Dokubo, an environmental activist in Nigeria, has been particularly vocal in the fatal relationship

between the two ambits. Posting on Facebook, they warned: “Over the past two months or more, an ominous phenomenon has been occurring in Port Harcourt and its environs. A film of odourless BLACK dust, not visible to the naked eye, has enveloped the city. If you wipe surfaces indoors and outdoors with a white towel or tissue paper, you get a black smudge.

A film of odourless black dust, not visible to the naked eye, has enveloped the city “Perhaps more worrisome is that if you clean your nostrils with a white material, you come up with a jet-black residue. If you walk barefoot, the soles of your feet turn black.” As Professor Gang Pan has highlighted, perhaps this research could herald a turning point in improving “public health”. Yet, air pollution remains a global battle, and although experts are striving to enact reform, for the moment it is ordinary citizens like Shibayan and Eben who are paying its heavy dirty price.

SCIENCE

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Train of thought

Ludovico Vermeir details the journey from steam-locomotives to hydrogen fuelled trains

HEN I chose to write this article about trains, I thought that it would be a good idea and rather fitting to type it up during my journey from London Paddington to Exeter St Davids. The idea of an article about trains written by someone on a train seemed appealing and so I strode to the station positively armed with my charged laptop in hand.

The French TGVmaker Alstrom is now producing hydrogenfuelled trains Unbeknown to me, within a matter of minutes I was crammed into a packed carriage with no available seats, contemplating spending the next two and a half hours jammed in between a luggage rack and a toilet. Furthermore, a traveller had suddenly opened an egg sandwich, much to the dismay of my fellow passengers and I, that produced a stench that equalled that of the toilet. To make matters worse, my neighbour seemed to have never been introduced to the concept of deodorant.

These clean, quiet, eco-friendly trains can go for 600 miles before refuelling It is possibly the most underrated form of travel. Underrated because of its hours of delays, extortionate ticket prices and the competition to find

a seat. However, in a broader sense, when ignoring the train company side of the equation, this mode of transport is ingenious and offers the ability to carry thousands of people to their destinations with relative ease.

Diesel-powered trains could be replaced by 2020

be replaced by 2020! One thing is for certain, rail franchises are monopolies worth scrapping. What happened to the good old competition of privatisation. However, we can take comfort in the knowledge that in a few years we’ll probably still all be

crammed into trains but at least we’ll be saving some polar bears and producing some water along the way. The station is approaching so I’ll leave it there, hoping desperately that my bloodless legs will carry me home.

Even more ingenious now that the French TGV-maker eih erl Alstom has started to nv ah b produce hydrogen e: U ag Im fuelled trains that will have zero emissions. These clean, quiet and ecofriendly trains are calledImage: Coradua iLint, and Ellaolsson ( can rack up 600 miles before having to refuel for only 15 minutes. These trains are so clean that the only byproduct of their engines is pure water; it seems like the diesel powered trains of today could

Sequencing life

Fenton Christmas, Deputy Editor, details the biggest genomic endeavour thus far

HE way in which humanity studies and understands other organisms around us could be about to drastically change. Scientists have begun the momentous challenge of attempting to decode the DNA sequences of all the 66,000 species of eukaryotes in the UK. Eukaryotes comprise of every organism consisting of multiple cells, each with their DNA bound within the nucleus. These include animals, plants, fungi and protozoans. The Wellcome Sanger Institute, which had previously worked on the Human Genome Project in the 1990s, has committed to the sequencing here in the UK. The work will remain part of a worldwide scheme known as the Earth BioGenome Project (EBP) that aims to use this genomic information to aid to the conservation threatened species and further understand how organisms adapt to environmental change. This major international endeavour includes US scientists sequencing the genomes of vertebrates, the UK research into all known species in Britain and a Chinese research pro-

ject on plant genomes. Currently, only around 0.2% of eukaryotic species have had their genomes sequenced. It is hoped the project will see the completion of the sequencing of around 1.5 million different species. Yet this sort of project comes at a huge cost. It is projected to cost around $4.7 billion (£3.6bn) split across 17 different institutions that will be involved. The funding is set to come from charities and governments around the world across the next ten years.

Only around 0.2% of eukaryotic species have had their genomes sequenced But what is the overall goal of all of this? Why spend so much time and money on what appears like auxiliary information? The main ambitions of the project remain both conservation and benefits humanity’s own welfare. Through sequencing the genomics of various species, scientists want to understand how genetic codes affect a

species’ ability to adapt to their environments. In terms of human interests, it is hoped that the useful characteristics appear that could be used for humanity’s benefits – for example, ways to protect vital crop species from disease or drought to improve food stocks for the future. As well as this, the goal is an extravagant test of scientific progression. The aim of creating an inventory of genomic information on the biological formations of around 1.5 million different species would be an incredible achievement. Rather than retaining an overall goal from the off, the project could help produce new advances in biology. Yet, this project will not only focus on biology. Scientists from all forms of disciplines will be involved - even computer scientists. The huge amount of data and computing power needed to hold of information is pushing the development of exascale computing: supercomputers capable of a billion billion calculations per second. That sort of power is nearly comparable to the human brain. That’s crazy.

Image: Dmitry Azovtsev

Nonetheless, articles don’t write themselves so I proceeded to obtain my laptop from my bag and find a position in which to type, an operation that took the best part of 20 minutes. It is hard to think that the Great Western Railway (GWR), once the joy of a nation, famously nicknamed ‘God’s Wonderful Railway’ was now looking like more of a ‘Gloomy Wretched Ride’. It was even harder to think that a railway that drove the Industrial Revolution and was designed by none other than Isambard Kingdom Brunel, one of the most prolific and ingenious engineers of all time, had culminated with ceased blood circulation in my lower left leg. Although my situation was dire, we often forget the wonders of locomotive transport.

SPORT

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

A renaissance for the Old Lady?

Michael Rudling, Sport Team, endorses Juventus' chances of European success

HE Champions League is in full swing, and the usual contenders are looking nervous. Between them, Barcelona and Real Madrid have won six of the last seven UEFA Champions League trophies, and seven of the last ten. But the current champions are recovering from their worst league start in years, and Barcelona look shaky despite their strong league position, having conceded six goals in their last two games. With these two giants limping, it is possible they will be overtaken by the Old Lady. If not Barça or Real, then who? The only other winner in recent years is

Image: Tsutomu Takasu (Flickr)

Bayern Munich, who find themselves underperforming with an ageing squad in the Bundesliga, and their strong UCL points tally marred by the absence of any other clubs from Europe’s top five leagues in their group.

Both sides are in imperious domestic form

That leaves PSG and Manchester City as the favourites. Both sides are in imperious domestic form; neither have lost a league game, and PSG are yet to drop a point. Inexplicably however, The Parisian side’s European campaign lies in tatters: just one win in four currently sending them towards the underworld of Thursday night Europa League action. Whilst there is time to recover, PSG don’t look like favourites. As for City, things are looking up. Three points clear at the top of Group F, and the top scorers in the competition so far, they are the front-runners. But Guardiola’s men aren’t as solid as they appear. The only side they have

faced in Europe with world-class forwards is Liverpool, where they lost 5-1 across two legs in the quarter finals last year. This is not to say City have no hope, but their European record does not promise much. This leaves us with Juventus. Having redeemed themselves from the Calciopoli scandal that saw them relegated to Serie B in 2006, Italy’s most successful club is challenging for the most coveted prize in European football. Doubters will say they have been here before wasted the opportunity, with nine UCL finals bringing two trophies. It must be remembered, however, that this is more success than PSG and Manchester City combined.

The key to success in Europe is form The key to success in Europe is depth. In Kiev last year, Real were able to turn to a world class forward in Gareth Bale to win them the final, from

off the bench - whilst Liverpool could only manage Adam Lallana.

Image: UEFA (Wikipedia)

The Champions League needs a break from Spanish dominance The same problem has faced Juve in recent years, with some distinctly mediocre players such as Mario Lemina coming on expected to change the game in the 2017 final, whilst their opponents were able to bring on Marco Asensio, whose 90th minute goal ended any hopes of a comeback. This year, however, things are different. The Turin side now find themselves with an abundance of attacking talent: Douglas Costa; Mario Mandzukic; Rodrigo Bentancur; Federico Bernardeschi; Pablo Dybala and of course Cristiano Ronaldo, a man with more Champions League goals than Manchester City. Defence isn’t an issue either; Juventus conceded just 24 goals in the league last year, the least

in Serie A. The biggest worry for Juventus will be the ghost of those seven losses in finals, but the introduction of a man with five wins on his own promises change. Whether Juventus win or not, the Champions League needs a break from Spanish dominance. It is a competition made great by drama; Manchester United coming from behind to win in 1999, Liverpool’s fightback in 2005 - it is not made great by having the same two sides dominating every year. Juventus, this year, look our best hope of breaking the Spanish duopoly.

Just around the Korf-ner

Harry Scott-Munro, Sport Team, looks at the growing popularity of Exeter University Korfball Rules of the Game •

•

• •

There are eight players on a team, consisiting of all female players or four male and four female Matches have two halves, each lasting 35 minutes with a ten minute half-time interval There are four players in each half for both sides who cannot switch zones The aim is to score by throwing the ball through the opposition's basket With the ball, players may not dribble or run, but can move one foot with the other planted on the ground as in netball Once two goals have been scored, the teams change zones Korfball is a non-contact sport The team with the most points at the end of the match is declared the winner

ITH Exeter hosting the Southern Regional round of BUCS korfball this month for the first time in the club’s ten-year history, one of the most unique sports on campus is continuing to go from strength to strength. Many people will not have heard of korfball before they arrive at university. But, with a consistent total of 60 members a year and that number continuing to rise, the sport is something fresh and new in the competitive and challenging university sport environment.

to attack and defend, with the switch from offence to defence giving every player a chance in each facet of the game. This allows for vast opportunities for those taking up the game to get a taste of every aspect of play. At national level, England have just won their final match at the IKF European Korfball Championships against Hungary, 19-11. The final placings in the championships saw England come seventh out of 15 teams with the Netherlands coming out on top - a good result for a relatively new England squad contributing to give them a standing on a national sporting level.

A non-contact mix of basketball and netball Image: Hazelares (Wikipedia)

First invented in the Netherlands in 1901, korfball is a fast-paced, noncontact mix of basketball and netball played in 69 countries. Teams of eight split into two halves, each half consisting of two boys and two girls. Players switch from attack to defence after every two goals, so players are forced

Exeter University Korfball prides itself on its friendly and laid-back attitude, with all players training together regardless of what teams they find themselves in. It is also a sport that complete beginners can pick up and find their feet in with the right training, as proven by the majority of players competing for the university in BUCS not having played the sport un-

til they arrived at university.

EUKC looks to be in a strong position as BUCS Korfball arrives on campus Exeter's BUCS silver medallists in 2017

Exeter Korfball have two teams sive nature of the club whilst also competing in regional leagues this keeping up the high standard of play. year and, for the first time in the Club Captain Saskia Hardcastle club’s short history, three teams ap- said that playing the first round of pearing in BUCS. With the first team BUCS at home was "a massive event reaching the national finals last sea- for the club" and something that son, and both league teams enjoying would be an "amazing opstrong starts to their domestic portunity to raise the seasons, combined with the profile of the sport club’s development teams on campus". With excelling in tournaments teams from against Bristol UniverReading University and local rivals Exsity and Southeter City, ‘EUKC’ looks ampton comto be in a strong posipeting in the tion as BUCS Korfball regional round, arrives on campus for the there is plenty of Image: Mikasa Korbal first time. good competition In the 2016 season, EUKC and standard of Korfball had two players in the first team who should be really high. had never played before and the maIf you would like to get involved jority of the second team were new to with the society, please contact korfthe sport. The regular matches, socials ball.captain@exeter.ac.uk or message and tournaments enhances the inclu- the Facebook page.

EXEPOSÉ | 26 NOV 2018

Simply the breast Libby Jones Contributor

HE Exeter’s University Boob Ball Team organised a competition to raise money for CoppaFeel, a breast cancer awareness charity encouraging young adults to check their breasts and pecks to help detect early signs of breast cancer. On 16 November, they hosted a boob ball tournament raising £600 for this charity. Boob ball is a glorified form of dodgeball, where two teams of five compete for 25 minutes, trying to hit opponents with boob balls. If a player gets hit anywhere between their neck and feet without the ball bouncing, they are out, and the only way to return to the pitch is if one of their team's players catches a ball thrown at them. The game follows the general structure of dodgeball; the aim of the game is to get as many of the opposing team out as possible and the team with the most team members left on the pitch when the whistle blows is the winner. All 16 teams were encouraged to have boob related names, ranging from ‘Simply the Breast’ to ‘Areola Grande’ - wearing team colours and glitter was recommended. The tournament began at 2pm, and the teams, ranging from sport societies to drama groups and friendship groups, all tried to devise strategies to win the games. It soon became apparent that the lacrosse teams had a knack at dodgeball, both winning their separate heats and making it to the final with Agile Areolae being crowned champions. Speaking after the event, Emily Tonkin, president of the University Boob Team, said "We're delighted at how successful the tournament was. It was lovely to see such enthusiasm for such an important cause, and we managed to talk to all participants on a serious note about the importance of regular checks. To raise over £600 was fantastic, and we're also grateful to the businesses who donated prizes, on top of everyone who participated that made the day such a huge success". Besides the few accidental headshots, it was a great event with a really positive atmosphere, raising a significant amount of money for a really important cause.

Image: CoppaFeel

SPORT

EULHC 0-0 Oxford 1s CONTINUED FROM BACK Somehow, the visitors went into the interval without conceding. On the brink of half-time, Cooke broke down the left and produced a fantastic cross, though Exeter were unable to direct the ball goalward and the ball bounced agonisingly wide. The second-half continued to showcase moments of individual brilliance, which ultimately came to nothing. Axford was again involved eight minutes after half-time, with a superb run down the right-hand side, though Oxford recovered once more and got enough players behind the ball to keep Exeter out. The home side earned another short corner with 20 minutes gone in the second period, though the women in green were unable to make it count for anything.

Somehow, the visitors went into the interval without conceding

The visitors started to probe, and were awarded a short corner of their

own that Exeter defended bravely, though two minutes later O’Dwyer was forced into another save – Oxford’s #2 and #13 combined on the counterattack, though O’Dwyer cleared. Into the last ten minutes, and Exeter threatened to score the goal they probably deserved; great work from Beth Marriott earned what proved to be a final short corner for the home side, though it was ultimately wasted and nothing came of it.

women will be looking to emulate the achievements of the EUMHC 1s, who secured their BUCS title with two games to go, establishing an unassailable seven point lead at the top of the table after beating Oxford 4-1 on Wednesday.

EXETER: O’Dwyer, Seddon, Jorda, Wood, Bowen, Axford, Patient, Marriott, Sheldon, Dalton, Tollafield, Mason, Cooke, Evans, Davies.

Exeter threatened to score the goal they probably deserved There was nearly a sting in the tail as Oxford were awarded a short-corner in the dying embers of the game, and when their #13 was afforded the space to shoot it looked like Exeter might have been punished for their failure to be clinical, though the ball flew wide of O’Dwyer’s right-hand post, and the game finished scoreless. The result sees Exeter drop to second in the South A table, with Bath going top after they won away at Cardiff on Wednesday. Nonetheless, the

BUCS Women's Hockey 2018-2019 South A

P W

L Pts

Bath

8 5

Exeter

Oxford

3 11

Cardiff

Bristol

8 1

Cambridge 8 2

Images: Rory Selvey

The rise and rise of Sam Skinner

Nick Powell looks at the rapid upsurge of former Exeter student Sam Skinner

ORMER Exeter student Sam Skinner marked his Scotland debut with a towering Man of the Match performance in their 54-17 win over Fiji. Five years ago, Sam Skinner was playing amateur rugby for Taunton Titans. He was always talented, having played for his school, but his height left him sacrificing dreams of becoming a professional rugby player as he entered a gap year. He decided to give it "one last crack" at Taunton, and after an impressive season in National League 2, he was soon scouted for the Scottish Exiles programme.

Five years ago, Skinner was playing amateur rugby And then came the breakthrough. Rob Baxter and the Exeter Chiefs came calling, and set in motion Skinner’s stunning rise from keen amateur to Scotland superstar. Speaking to BBC Sport, Skinner talked about his physical change: "I think I signed for Chiefs at 90kg. For a year, they allowed me to develop, get bigger. I put on another 5-10kg at Uni-

of Bath in the 2016 Varsity, Skinner picked out that season’s BUCS success as his on-field highlight whilst at Exeter University. As the season At that stage, he was just starting went on, he out at Chiefs, but with his degree and, became a key part alas, his green and white days over, of the Chiefs squad 2016 allowed him to fully focus on the job of becoming the best player he could. But the transition wasn’t just physiHe had to be patient, as he had cal. At Exeter, Skinner worked his way been his whole rugby life, starting up through the ranks at EURFC to with appearances in the now-defunct captain them to their first national tiAnglo-Welsh Cup and making his way tle in 15 years after a dramatic game at onto the bench for big games before Twickenham, whilst graduating with a his first start. first in business and economics. In much the same way as it Speaking to Exeposé back in May, was for his international debut, Skinner credited the University setpraise was heaped upon Skinup for allowing him the platform to ner when he eventually started develop physically and technically. a Premiership game against “Playing at university allowed me to Wasps in September 2017. focus and develop my game in In a bonus point win, a kind of part-time envihis performance was ronment, and allowed described as “The me to develop physistand out percally as well,” Skinner formance of the stated. weekend” by The The rugby club enTelegraph. joyed an unprecedented As the sealevel of success during Skinson went on, he ner's tenure; he captained became an increasingEURFC to a comprehenSkinner celebrating EURFC's varsity sucly large part of the sive 46-8 hammering cess in 2016. Image: Edwin Yeung versity and it let my size get up to Premiership and then international level."

Chiefs squad and he went on to appear in the Premiership Semi-Final and Final. It’s been this season however, and his role in Exeter’s blistering early form that has caught the eye of Scotland coach Gregor Townsend.

Ten carries, seven tackles and 44m was enough to earn MotM against Fiji Skinner, who has spent the majority of his life in the far south of England - playing at Taunton from as young as five years old - qualifies for Scotland through his father, Peter, and after he's been seemingly ignored by the England national set-up, is reaping the benefits of this dual-eligibility. So here we are. Ten carries, seven tackles and 44m was enough to earn him man of the match on debut, as Scotland trounced Fiji 54-17. Journalists and pundits alike heaped praise on Skinner for his starring role, and he was retained for Scotland’s final two matches against South Africa and Argentina. And at only 23, there is plenty more to come from the self-proclaimed “posh boy from England".

Sport

26 NOV 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT EDITORS:

Drawn Out

René Bahar Josh Brown

EULHC held to a point by Oxford at the Sports Park

Image: Rory Selvey

Women’s Hockey Exeter 1s ..................................... 0 Oxford 1s .................................... 0 Josh Brown Sport Editor

RESOLUTE Oxford defence frustrated EULHC’s 1s to hold out for a draw on the water-based astro on Wednesday. The opening minutes set the tone for the majority of the game; a frenetic opening period with few chances. Exeter dominated possession and managed to come closest to scoring through Helena Evans. As the ball pinballed around

inside the D, it fell kindly in front of the Exeter player, but her improvised effort flew wide.

There were moments of individual quality throughout Whilst there were moments of individual quality throughout the first period, the final ball was found lacking, as Oxford recovered in the nick of time. Exeter’s Kate Axford, who has represented England at youth level, was a constant threat down the righthand side, overlapping the midfield and

barging down the wing on several occasions. She was unlucky to see one of these mazy runs result in an intercepted cross as Oxford managed to clear the danger. Despite Exeter’s pressure, the first short corner of the game was awarded to Oxford. It came after the first of several contentious decisions from the umpires and Nicole Bowen was shown a green card for questioning the decision. Exeter conceded another short corner trying to defend the first, and Oxford had arguably their best chance of the game from it. The visitors created

a well-worked opening, and only a superb save from Exeter goalkeeper Bex O’Dwyer – diving low to her left-hand side – kept the scores level.

The women in green grew into the game as the half wore on These short-corners proved to be one of Oxford’s rare attacking ventures in the first-half, as Exeter regained their domination of possession. The women in green grew into the game as the half wore on, and were in a great position to challenge the Oxford goal when Orla

Cooke broke at pace. She attempted to combine with Tash Patient, but the move was nipped in the bud by a challenge in midfield from Oxford. The pressure was unrelenting, however, and Exeter soon had a short corner of their own. Some sloppy defending from the visitors was punished after a defender took out an Exeter forward with half an hour played. A clever routine found Emily Tollafield inside the D, but the game was pulled back for a foul as she got her shot away, and Oxford were again let off the hook.

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