Issue 721 / 27 Sept 2021

exeposé The South West’s Best Student Publication

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ISSUE 721 27 SEPT 2021 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Image: Chloe Pumares, Deputy Editor

“THE WORST MANAGEMENT I’VE EVER HAD THE MISERY OF WORKING FOR” Former employees allege University mismangement of Ram

EXCLUSIVE Oliver Leader de Saxe Editor

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EVERAL former Ram employees have come forward to express their anger and frustration at the alleged mismanagement of the University’s on-campus pub since it was transferred from Guild ownership in Autumn 2020.

Talking to Exeposé, several former employees presented a series of damning allegations that ranged from poor hygiene to replacement of student staff with adult employees.

One former student staff member, claimed “roughly 30 members of student staff got fired without being notified” when the University took over the bar despite being “reassured that we would not lose our jobs” in the transfer. An-

other former employee stated they were removed from the work app without even being formally notified: “I was a loyal and hardworking member of staff. They didn’t even have the decency to tell me I had been let go.”

Following these firings, those student staff were allegedly replaced by “inexperienced adult” staff from other University outlets such as Reed Hall, which also led to reduced working hours for remaining student staff. According to one source, one adult staff member was so inexperienced that they didn’t even know what a jaeger bomb was or how to make one. “The Ram used to be a student bar for students, run by students. Quite frankly it is now a student bar run by a bunch of out-of-touch, unqualified middle-aged white men” stated the source.

The change in staffing also allegedly

COMMENT

The nightmare of Freshers’ Flu

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Image:Pixabay, Flickr

led to an uncomfortable working environment. “We used to wear black tops which were replaced by white ones saying ‘Isca eats’ on the front. Many of the female staff felt uncomfortable as the material was see through, and if anything was accidentally spilt on our clothing, as it does in a bar, everyone could see through it” one former female staffer stated. However, when the individual source approached their supervisors with their concerns they were told to “suck it up” and stop being “dramatic girls”.

LGBTQIA+ staff were also allegedly made to feel uncomfortable in this new working environment. “When the ram was owned by the Guild, we had a very diverse group of colleagues and managers and the ram was a safe work environment. However, once the University took over, we had to spend our shifts with

SCIENCE COVID-19 and the menstrual cycle PAGE 28

middle-aged white men who made us feel uncomfortable and who wouldn’t even say the words ‘gay’ or ‘LGBT’”. Senior staff were allegedly prone to sexist comments or attitudes. Several sources made note that a senior staff member dismissed LGBTQIA+ representation in training sessions, and skipped over LGBT+ equality policy in the workplace. Furthermore, numerous staff attested that senior staff made sexist and homophobic comments throughout their employment, often undermining their capacity to carry out heavy labour tasks. However, one source wanted to make clear that these comments were often made by senior staff members, and that “a large proportion of the new University staff were very inclusive and kind to LGBTQIA+ student staff members”.

Former employees also criticised the

decline in hygiene and failure to follow COVID-19 safety regulations under UniSyme versity management, withImage: severalPete sources stating The Ram was forced to shut on four different occasions due to COVID-19 outbreaks. Under new COVID-19 guidance, staff were expected to social distance behind the bar, deep clean surfaces every thirty minutes and wear masks at all times. These rules allegedly were ignored.

As one former employee stated “I genuinely can’t recall a time I saw kitchen staff with masks on in the roughly six to nine months I was there.” Numerous sources also allege that staff handled food with their hands rather than with tongs, and one even stated that kitchen staff would snack on the food while they were on shift.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

FEATURES

Taxing times and national insurance PAGE 9

EXEPOSÉ Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ Editors Print: Bridie Adams & Ollie Leader De Saxe Online: Millie Betts & Anna Wilmot Deputy: Lucy Aylmer, Cassie Grace & Chloe Pumares editors@exepose.com News Editors Print: Megan Ballantyne Online: Meg Allan & Orla Mackinnon news@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: Cassia Grace Online: Rachael Powell & Eirwen Abberley Watton comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Lucy Aylmer Online: Issac Bettridge Foreign Correspondents Co-ordinator:s: Ryan Gerrett & Elen Johnston features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Bridie Adams Online: Katie Edgar & Sophie Porteous lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Ella Minty Online: Clemence Smith artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Harry Hawkins Online: Tom Bosher music@exepose.com

Editorial

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OW that the chaos of Freshers' Week has finally died down, and the excessive partying has finally warn off, we hope you're starting to feel a little more settled in after such a long time off-campus.

However, time waits for no one, regardless of Freshers Flu or lack of seminar prep, and as such it's time for the next edition of your favourite student newspaper.

For this issue, we had the opportunity to speak to former employees of the Ram regarding their experiences following the commercial transfer, as well as talking to students about the change in culture surrounding initiations (front page, page 3). whilst Comment looks into other Freshers' Week phenoma like sharking (page 7).

Features meanwhile takes a more sombre tone as it examines the ways in which trauma post- 9/11 has manifested itself (page 10).

For something a little more lively, perhaps check out Screen's cinecheese defense of the underrated Rock of Ages (page 22).

And for something a little more mellow, Lifestyle features a review of CBD products (page 13), whilst

Science Editors Print: Lauryn Mitchell & Ellen Rogers Online: Daisy Scott & Imogen PoyntzWright sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Oscar Young Online: Floris de Bruin & Henry Hood sport@exepose.com Chief Photographer photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Danni Darrah Proofers Ollie, Bridie, Kit-Cassierole, Chloe, Lucy, Blood, Sweat & Tears

@exepose @exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exeposeexeter Advertising SalesandBusinessDepartment@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.

briefly touching on the science behind them.

And if it's the Science that interests you, then check out page 28 where we look at COVID-19 and menstruation.

On a different note entirely, Tech takes a look at ongoing battles for unionisation in the gaming industry (page 23).

If you're looking for a new read, Arts + Lit has a review of Sally Rooney's work (page 16).

Music also has some fantastic articles, including a feature on 2001's best albums (page 19). We've also got a piece on Oktoberfest (page 20). Screen writers decided to explore their favourite autumnal films on page 26.

Finally, the Sport section celebrates Emma Radacanu's US Open win as well as providing a rundown of this season's football transfer window on pages 32 and 31 respectively.

We hope you enjoy this issue, and remember that you can still purchase a membership with us on the Students' Guild website if you haven't already.

Ollie & Bridie

2020 Best Publication 2021 Best Publication in the South West

NEWS Students speak against initiations PAGE 3 Image: Will Shenton, WikiCommons

FEATURES

Taxing Times PAGE 9

Image: Mattie Blume, WikiCommons

ARTS & LIT

Sally Rooney: fad or frenzy?

PAGE 16 Image: Justine FG, FreeImages

SCIENCE N-O way PAGE 29 Image: Unizin

University news home and abroad

Screen Editors Print: Archie Lockyer & Francesca Sylph Online: screen@exepose.com Tech Editor Print: Oliver Leader de Saxe

SPA AWARDS

Government mandates face-to-face teaching

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FTER a year of heavily interrupted student learning, Gavin Williamson has stated that universities must return to face-to face-teaching, and not use online learning as a means to cut down on the cost of education.

The government has stated that exceptions can be made in cases where students and staff are meant to be self isolating, andfor some lectures. The Education Secretary’s roadmap for university level teaching emphasises that teaching should return to a faceto-face style.

This comes after some universities proposed continuing courses online this year, despite this not being required under government advice.

Some universities are offering a blended learning approach, with options for viewing lectures and seminars online.

Record intake of UK students Chinese universities ordered to step up ideological education into universities this year

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HE 2021/22 academic year has seen a record intake of 18-year-old UK students starting university this year, with a 7 per cent increase from last year.

UCAS admissions show that 272,500 UK college leavers are starting university this term, with more UK students of all ages accepting university offers. However, there will be proportionally less EU students, who are seeing a 56 per cent decrease from the previous academic year, due to the increase in tuition fees following the UK’s departure from the EU. More overseas students from Asia and Africa are set to come to UK universities, with more students from China than the whole of Europe. The 38 per cent of 18-year-olds coming onto campus have been praised by the director of the Higher Education Policy Institute, Nick Hillman, as being “rational, ambitious and full of aspiration”.

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INISTRY of Education officials delivered the instruction to officials from 31 top universities in ‘feedback sessions’ on 2 September. It comes after inspectors sent by the party’s Central Committee in May found “common and deep-seated problems” in universities.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the party’s top anti-corruption agency, said universities had “slackened in their ideological work” while “problems such as corruption in scientific research and infrastructure [investment] persist.”

Since Xi Jinping became President in 2013, universities have been told to avoid topics of press freedom and political rights. In 2016, Xi vowed to turn universities into party “strongholds” that “uphold the correct political direction”.

Last month it was announced that Xi’s ‘thoughts’ will be incorporated into textbooks at all levels of education to teach the next generation “to love the party, to love the nation and to love socialism”.

Taliban cracks down on female education

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HE Taliban has begun to crack down on women's education in Afghanistan, announcing on 12 September that women could only attend university provided they studied in gender segregated institutions. A later statement also signaled the return of boys to high schools, but included no mention of girls or female teachers.

Originally, following the Taliban's take over, primary-aged children – including girls – were ordered back to class. The new announcement effectively bans girls and female teachers from secondary education, and likely signals the diminished quality of women's higher education in Afghanistan.

The group has denied this is permanent, but has also barred women from most jobs as a “temporary” measure for “security reasons”.

Images (L to R): Robert Townshend Wikicommons, Wikicommons

By Rhys Wallis, Ella Buckley, Oliver Lamb & Jordan Andrews

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27 SEP

“It’s obvious to student employees how much The Ram has changed” Contiued from front page.

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HE pandemic has allegedly had major impacts on student employees, with sources claiming the University did not pay “casual” non-contracted student staff furlough for the second and third lockdown, despite having received furlough from the Guild during the first lockdown.

ployee.

A University of Exeter spokesperson said: “We do not recognise this version of events. The University of Exeter did not fire any member of staff. At no time during the University of Exeter tenure has the venue had to close due to a CO-

VID-19 outbreak and the team followed COVID-19 measures at all times. Due to national restrictions, The Ram was closed from early November until early April and when it reopened the shifts were posted openly and either accepted or declined by individual workers.

“The Ram management and culinary

.......[We were] reassured we would not lose our jobs [in the transfer] “This was completely shocking and stressful for myself and a number of my colleagues as we worked at The Ram purely to fund our academic studies” stated a former em-

Image: Guild

team are highly qualified and have continual refresher-training. The Ram has a 5* Food Standards Agency ‘Scores on the Doors’ EHO rating (2021) and the Service Food Safety Management Plan is internally and externally verified and tested.

“On recruitment and furlough, the human resources guidance has been applied correctly at all times. Casual workers are engaged to meet fluctuating demands, and no guarantee of work is therefore given to casual workers until work can be assigned based on business requirements.

Where work had not been assigned casual workers could not be furloughed and this was applied to all casual workers engaged by the University.

We offered support through alter-

“Not compatible with our ethos”: University and students speak out about initations Bride Adams Editor

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HE University and students have expressed disapproval of hazing and extreme drinking culture in clubs.

A University of Exeter spokesperson says, “Initiation ceremonies at Exeter were banned in 2007 following the tragic death of an individual student.”

An anonymous student has spoken out about their experience with initiations in Freshers Week 2021.

They stated: “For football, socials are still going ahead. The club know that the word initiation is banned but they’re still pretty much the same as previously.

“Anyone who throws up does so in a bin in the middle in front of everyone.

“They don’t last too long and honestly make a good sense of camaraderie. Almost everyone finds them a positive experience.

The word initiation is banned but they’re still pretty much the same as previously

“Tennis and lacrosse were a lot more relaxed. There was absolutely no being made to drink.”

In the past, initiations have included swallowing vomit and other bodily fluids, consuming dangerous amounts of alcohol and attempts to humiliate students.

According to the University, “the British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS) governing body also take a zero tolerance approach to problem initiations.”

A third year law student cites initiations as a cause of her decision to leave Exeter University Fencing Club: “Most third year students that don’t back the initiations end up leaving their clubs by their final year. Either you fit in with the culture or you cut ties and leave.

“I would like to clarify that although I know initiations are still happening to some extent, they are on a spectrum.

“I’m 100 per cent sure they’re still being done in women’s rugby and football.

Since becoming less involved with sport at Exeter, she has not witnessed any initiations taking place: “Once you exit that environment, it’s hush hush.”

Another student says that during their time as a member of Cricket Club, they witnessed drinking games, but no sort of hazing.

Some sports clubs actively avoid any form of initiation activity altogether. Ben Coxon, the 2020-2021 Welfare Secretary of Canoe Club, says, “Initiations are simply not compatible with our ethos.

“I’ve attended many sports societies at Exeter, and have not once been asked to do an initiation.

“I think women’s is worse than men’s now. Women’s doesn’t get policed. What I mean is: if men’s rugby

was to do initiations, they’d get closed down.”

Ben also mentions swimming, triathlon and rugby league as sports which, in his experience, don’t have a “toxic” drinking culture.

An anonymous student, who plays women’s rugby, had a positive initiation experience with Exeter University Women’s Rugby Club during Freshers week: “We went to a festival and the only type of initiation was a naked run which we could choose to get involved in and how much we would wear.

Some people didn’t want to do it and that was absolutely fine.

“Our comfort was made to be the main concern which was really nice!

You don’t even have to drink at our socials. It’s all about inclusivity and having fun which I think is quite unique for a rugby team.

“Most people do drink at socials, but there’s a good number of girls who go out sober and that’s never a problem.

“I know that sometimes the purpose of other clubs’ initiations is to humiliate or make the members throw up from how much they’ve had to drink which is pretty harmful.”

A University of Exeter spokesperson says: “Through both their BUCS membership and our Athletic Union Code of Conduct Drinking Policy, we expect all individuals to meet the expected standards and any breaches can, and do, result in disciplinary action. Anyone who has concerns about this issue can contact our Director of Sport Alison Davidson confidentially at alison.davidson@exeter.ac.uk or report anonymously on the BUCS website: https://www.bucs.org.uk/report-an-initiation.html”

Some people didn’t want to do it and that was absolutely fine “Our coach is really strict and wants to distance us from men’s rugby. She wants our club to be really inclusive and friendly so distancing us from the reputation of the men shows rugby can be a really welcoming and fun club to be a part of, without having to do stuff that makes you uncomfortable.

native work options and an ‘Emergency Assistance Fund’”.

We do not recognise this version of events. The University of Exeter did not fire any members of staff If you’ve experienced sexism or homophobia on campus. you can report such problems on the University Speak Out page (http://www.exeter.ac.uk/ about/speakout/report/). For further support or advice contact University wellbeing (http://www.exeter.ac.uk/ wellbeing) or the Student Guild (http:// wexeterguild.org/advice).

First stage of Dawlish Sea Wall finished

Megan Ballantyne News Editor

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HE final touches have been made to the 360 metre first section of the new sea wall at Dawlish, with low energy LED lighting and concrete seating installed along the promenade. The project, run

by Network Rail, aims to allow people to walk along the promenade both in the daytime and in the evening, as well as to protect the Dawlish rail line, which completely collapsed following a 2014 storm. A total of 143 concrete wall panels were successfully insalled fro the project.

The sea wall’s constrction is governemnt funded and expected to cost £80 million in total. All sections are expected to by finished by 2023, with work on the second 415 metre section beginning last November.

Ewen Morrison, Network Rail senior programme manager for the sea wall project, said it was, “pleasing to see the remaining finishing touches to the first section of the sea wall have now been compelted. The lighting will undoubtedly brighten up the promenade and enable people to safely use the sea wall in the evening, particuaraly as the darker winter nights fast approach.”

Image: pxhere.com

Image: Wikipedia

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NEWS

27 SEP 2021| EXEPOSÉ

Exeter Politics Society apologises “We are all paying the same money, yet are being eduafter HIV joke at a social Megan Ballantyne News Editor

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XETER Politics Society has published an apology on its Facebook page following an incident on the 21 September in which a committee member joked about HIV at a society social. The Students’ Guild is currently investigating the incident.

The comment was made at a Pizza and Pints meet up, where as part of a quiz each committee memeber was asked to anonymously contribute a funny or embarssing fact about themselves, which attendees would then try to match to the correct committee member. In this game one member stated that they had a “1/4 chance of contracting HIV.” The society has since posted multiple apologies on their Facebook page, stating that the society, “deeply regret contributing to the stigma surrounding HIV”, and that the comment was “unques-

tionably ignorant.”

Following an earlier apology which had been vague as to the details and contexts of the incident, an open letter apology was posted on the society’s Facebook.

This explained the background behind the comment, stating that the member was “injected with a potentially infected needle by hospital” and “spent a week in contact with HIV support groups, anxiously awaiting test results which came back negative.”

The letter also offered students some context as to how the comment was allowed to be made at their social in the first place, expaining that the incident occured in part because “the confession was a last minute contribution and therefore was not properly considered.” The society states that their intention was “never to cause hurt or offence to anyone.” In response to the incident the committee wil be undertaking “inclusivity and diversity training.”

Council delay plans to build 93 new homes in Exeter after protests Megan Ballantyne News Editor

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DECISION over the development of land near Beacon Heath has been delayed. This comes as a result of protests from locals about the use of the scenic greenfield site for a housing development.

Dozens of protestors gathered out the front of the Guildhall before the Exeter City Council Planning Committee meeting at which a decision regarding the development was to be made. The project came from Devon developer Salter Property and had been set for approval, but several city council planning committee members were concerned by the protests and wanted to look at the location before making a final decision.

Locals expressed concerns that the development of this site would lead to further developments in the countryside surrounding Exeter. ‘Once one of these plans gets agreed, the whole lot of those fields are going to go,’ says Malcolm Stone, who lives near the site.

“The views are absolutely stunning. That’s all going to be lost for a housing development. We have to build houses. We have to build them somewhere, but let’s use the brownfield sites, not the greenfield sites.” If approved, Stagecoach will extend its existing F1 bus route through the site due to greater demand for its service.

The application had originally been for 105 homes, but this was adjusted down to 93 following initial complaints.

cated inconsistently”: Students speak out about their experiences of in-person and online teaching

Chloe Pumares Deputy Editor

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TUDENTS have experienced a lack of consistency from the University of Exeter regarding online and in-person teaching co-existing depending on the department.

Some people are experiencing both types of teaching.

A Registrar email was sent out on 25 August to update all students on how University teaching would be conducted this year. Safety measures that were outlined by the University encouraged all students to be ‘double jabbed’ in line with measures likely to be put in place by the Government. Regular bi-weekly testing, continuing to practise good personal hygiene and “continuing to wear face-coverings in shared indoor spaces.” The email stated teaching in Term 1 would be largely taught face-to-face, with student feedback taken into account, the best aspects of online such as ensuring lecture material is available to watch online, were also suggested.

[There was] someone standing outside my lecture giving out masks In conversations with students, there seems to be a disconnect between what the University suggested in their initial Registrar email and what has actually been put into practice.

Masks appear largely optional, with many students not wearing them around campus, and aside from the posters that appear, there does not seem to be much attempt University wide to encourage students to wear a mask. When speaking to a group of students, Exeposé uncovered that some students had received emails regarding masks in their lectures, while others did not know their departments stance until they turned up. A third year Sports Science student, based purely on St Lukes campus, discussed how she attended her first lecture in person where there was someone standing out front “handing them out at the

door.” They suggested that this may be due to St Lukes being a predominantely medical campus, therefore may be more likely to encourage masks.

A student studying Philosophy, Computer Science and BSL stated “in my first lecture maybe 70 per cent of people were wearing masks” although they and their fellow students had recieved an email before lectures started asking them to wear face coverings.

In terms of online and in-person teaching there were mixed rev i e w s.

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Referring back to the Registrar email’s sugggestion that teaching will still be accessible online, the students Exeposé spoke to discussed the difficulty some of their lecturers had with setting up recordings or enabling students to join virtually. One student specified a seminar where a student had to join via facetime on a friends laptop. While another student commented that in-person does not take into consideration students or lecturers with COVID-19 anxiety.

There was a general consens u s

third Image: Kevinrice from Pixabay y e a r amongst Sports Scithe students ence student Exeposé spoke to mentioned that while their that the COVID-19 rules the first lecture had been in-person University departments are still the rest would appear online in pushing feel redundant given a series of 12 minute long vid- that a number of students do eos. They suggested that this not obey the rules they have felt like more work than at- been set, and that “most of the tending in person as they “can students sitting wearing masks take longer to watch” maybe in lectures have probably been up to half an hour per video. c l u b b i n g As this student’s seminars are t h e in-person it seems there is even inconsistency regarding teaching within departments themselves.

The Philosophy, Computer Science and BSL student argued that online teaching was preferential because people learn at a differnt pace and have different optimal working times. “Last year I worked at 11 o’clock at night and now I am having to get to campus for an Image: Zapculture from 8:30 lecture.”

Pixabay

night before.”

There is not only inconsistency across departments but also within them as several first and second year students are taught online while their third year counterparts are inperson.

Most of the students wearing masks in lectures have probably been clubbing the night before

Exeposé contacted the University asking for a statement about the decisions they have made regarding teaching this year.

A University spokesperson said: “We are delighted to welcome students and staff on to our campuses this year and deliver face to face teaching and social activities. We know the campus experience is so important for our students and staff – for teaching interactions, friendships and overall wellbeing.

“We have put in place the best possible protective measures that meet government guidance and student expectations on access to education.

These measures include a comprehensive testing programme, vaccination campaign, cleaning operation, protected teaching spaces and ventilation as well as policies and support for those who are clinically extremely vulnerable. We strongly encourage all students, staff and visitors to continue wearing face coverings when in shared indoor spaces, particularly in crowded and enclosed spaces.

Student, staff and community health and wellbeing is always our top priority.

We stand ready to adapt and support students and staff throughout this academic year.”

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Comment

GUEST COMMENT EDITOR:

Cassia Grace

In conversation with bouncers

Henry Hood Online sports editor

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V E RYO N E loves queuing!

Said no one. Ever.

As I’m sure many are aware, freshers’ week is always a busy time in Exeter. Campus has never been busier, Pret sandwiches never in higher demand and club tickets have never been rarer. All this sadly means everyone has to queue. A lot.

The poor bouncer probably had the same conversation with endless students One quirk I have recently noticed while queuing for clubs is the conversations with bouncers.

As one of my friends began to drunkenly ask the bouncer if it had been a busy week, I realised that

Rebecca Bowsher MA, Creative Writing

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HARKING is the practice of older students having sex with younger students. It is particularly common in freshers’ week when a few thousand freshers will join over 15,000 other students at a University such as Exeter. While it is a common practice, the question remains as to whether or not there should be better provision to protect new students from it as they typically are viewed as vulnerable.

Currently, among UK universities, sexual assault statistics are staggeringly high with one in five women having been victims of sexual assault during their time at university. Approximately 3.1 per cent of women (according to rape crisis) have experienced some form of sexual violence in the last year.

This is of course alarming but is sharking to blame?

‘Lad’ culture exists at university and of course freshers are more easily manipulated due to their

this poor man probably had the same ‘conversation’ with endless students surreptitiously drinking ‘journey juice’ before they enter the club. So I asked him if he had heard that question a lot, and it seemed to actually register with him. He found it quite funny!

According to this one bouncer, it was the freshers who were the chattiest, since they were the keenest to get into the club and not get on the bad side of the bouncers. He also commented on how many people tried to hide their ‘journey juice’ containers.

It’s apparently incredibly obvious that the coke bottle you drink out of contains an unhealthy

amount of vodka or rum and is not just a harmless soft drink being sipped before a quiet night. As long a s

lack of local knowledge. However, it would be wrong to tar all older students with the same brush and to label freshers as completely unprotected. The name sharking suggests it is a practice of predator and prey, but it is possible that some of these sexual interactions are between consenting adults. Of course, any coercion by an older party is completely wrong but many students at university will be feeling excited at the prospect of partying away from home.

Older students are usually blamed for this due to their age indicating their increased accountability.

However, it is possible that blaming sharking is counterproductive as all interactions between students of all ages should be considered when promoting student safety.

This better covers all bases rather than blaming one particular student group.

It is also impossible to prevent sharking amongst students as it cannot in any way be regulated.

However, freshers should be aware of the facilities that are available to them if they feel unsafe such as Exeter Nightline or the Facebook group Urban Angels, which is aimed at promoting women’s safety and has nearly three thousand members.

Students at university will of course have different experiences of sexual interactions. A female student consented to answering some questions anonymously on her own experiences of sharking. In response to the question of if her university experience was impacted in a negative way she said this: “for

Image: Pixabay

you throw it away before you enter the club, and actually put it in a bin instead of lobbing it onto the street, you can drink your juice without it getting confiscated.

There is always that one friend who talks to the bouncers. Sometimes, as in my case, you’ll want to laugh and spare the bouncer the small talk.

Other times though, they seem to get on like a house on fire.

I have one friend who comes from Sweden and has this magic ability to charm quite literally anyone, whether that is myself or some gruff-looking bouncer outside a Wetherspoons.

He knows half of Exeter’s security workers by name as far as I can see and can often be seen offering them a cigarette or a nicotine patch. Unsurprisingly, he

is also rarely kicked out of clubs or turned away from the entrance.

His charisma and charms have paid off. Whether he has undertaken this three year project of love intentionally or not isn’t fully clear, but either way he is one of the more popular figures found in a queue.

me personally, I was excited as a fresher to have new experiences and I do not feel taken advantage of. It is good that I felt safe and I didn’t feel pressure, only excitement but I worry that many freshers don’t feel the same.”

In addition, when asked if sharking should be prevented she added “I don’t think it can be. Not every experience between older and younger students will be bad either.” What is important is making it clear to freshers that they should always be able to say no.” I then asked what advice she would give to freshers and she said, “if ever you feel unsafe always tell someone.

You can approach bar staff or call Nightline. You should never feel like you have to do something you don’t want to.”

Sharking can of course have a negative impact on freshers if they are at all pressured. Not all older students should be blamed for sexual violence. Students of varying ages who are mutually consenting are doing nothing wrong. The focus instead needs to be on protecting the entire student population from sexual violence through education so that no particular group is vindicated or blamed.

Sharking: a modern horror story?

The focus needs to be on protecting the entire student population Still, a culture of violence against women must exist to a worrying extent as the RAINN statistics suggest that 13 per cent per cent of students at university have experienced some form of sexual violence. This would suggest that, with women being a target of violence, sharking could indeed have a negative impact on women’s safety.

If you’re going to talk to them, do try to make it interesting So next time you’re in a queue to a club, or pub, or anywhere else, just remember that the bouncer has probably heard the question you’re about to ask. If you are going to talk to them, which is of course completely allowed, do try to make it interesting. You’ll most likely be under the influence anyway, which can make the creative juices in your brain flow a bit more freely, so ask something other than how the night is going for them.

Image: Jokerleber

8

COMMENT

Declassification: why now?

Oliver Leader de Saxe Senior Editor

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WENTY years ago this month, the largest terror attack in American history took place. The image of a man jumping from the World Trade Centre in a desperate bid to escape has become seared into our collective consciousness, as have the memories of the nearly 3,000 civilians who lost their lives that day. Despite the horror and national trauma that was inflicted across the United States and the subsequent War on Terror which destabilised the entire region to this day, and left hundreds of thousands dead or displaced, many of the truths surrounding September 11 remain a mystery, particularly the alleged involvement of Saudi Arabia.

Many of the truths surrounding September 11th remain a mystery

The FBI only recently disclosed a 16page document about the logistical support Saudi hijackers received, the first of hopefully many investigate reports the Biden administration has promised to review. This declassification drive in the Justice Department and other security agencies comes amidst widespread anger from the bereaved who believe the U.S. government is sitting on a trove of classified information that could implicate senior Saudi officials.

Only last month were formal officials questioned under oath in New York, but these depositions, like so many key documents, are considered too sensitive for disclosure.

The withholding of vital documents from the public is, of course, nothing new in the U.S, especially in regards to the War on Terror. There are so many examples of the United States concealing potential wrongdoing, crimes and illicit activity under the guise of national security, that any real trust in keeping information clandestine for the greater good has long since died

away. The Afghan War Diaries alone reveal everything from American contractors using child prostitutes to previously undisclosed civilian casualties, and that was but the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the leaks of classified documents which have tainted our perception of America’s Middle Eastern campaigns.

And even outside of the War on Terror, over-classification is rampant.

Since World War II, eight blue-

Image: Pixabay

ribbon commissions have to varying degrees criticised the country’s excessive over-classification. The former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden once lamented that even a “Merry Christmas” email he received was classified, as a feature from The Atlantic notes. This needless concealment of information from the public not only harms trust, but our ability to hold democratic institutions accountable. Without access to information, we are left with uniformed electorates and unanswered questions about abuses of power within intelligence quarters.

As such, the caginess surrounding classified 9/11 documents just adds more fuel to the fire burning in the hearts of those affected by the brutal attacks two decades ago. Given the welldocumented petroleum and arms

27 SEP 2021| EXEPOSÉ

trading between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, America’s failure to disclose information surrounding the attacks creates the impression of duplicity and deceit, even if that is far from the truth.

We are left with uninformed electorates and unanswered questions about abuses of Regardless of whether documents released by security services over the next six months exonerate Saudi officials, the hurt caused to first responders and families looking for justice is beyond reproach. In a truly free society, information needs to be free when so much trauma is resting on bureaucratic national security measures, perhaps it’s time to consider who those measures are truly designed to protect.

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Freshers’ flu: the nightmare continues

Cassia Grace Deputy Editor

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S a third year, I had rather hoped that the misery of Freshers’ flu was behind me. And yet after a noisy night screaming Mr Brightside in Cavern, I woke up on Saturday with no voice. What was perhaps even more distressing was the response of pretty much everyone I know and the enjoyment they seemed to take from my

predicament. My friends responded with unabashed laughter and the ever condescending “awwwww poor baby”. My father, demonstrating just how much I am missed at home, messaged me to say, “he was glad he’d finally found a way to shut me up.” All week I have been victim to blatant bullying: “SPEAK UP CASSIE!!”

I still sound like I regularly smoke several packs a day My initial assumption was that a day of rest and a soothing lemsip would help me put the world to rights.

Sadly, it is almost a week later and I still sound like I regularly smoke several packs a day. Not how I had hoped to spend my first week of university.

What is more

Images: Pixabay

stressful is of course the everpresent worry that my hacking cough, dubbed “disgusting” by my unhelpful flatmate when asked to describe it to a pharmacist, could in fact be COVID-19. Several tests later, I can confirm that that is not the case. Unfortunately, pretty much everyone I meet, doesn’t know that and seem to take reassurance from a spluttery stranger as further proof that I’m a threat

It seems odd that the University has more or less completely abandoned online teaching Of course, even though I have tested negative, I have likely still been contagious with whatever bug has the whole campus coughing. It seems irresponsible to go about my daily routine as though this is not the case. Certainly, my now very sick house hasn’t thanked me for it. As a result, I have been left with some very difficult choices. Do I play catch up with all of my lectures and

seminars or do I go to class anyway? Having spent a lot of money developing a state of the art virtual learning system for all of last year, it seems odd that the University has more or less completely abandoned online teaching.

Some students with physical and learning disabilities will have always struggled to attend in person lectures, especially when the handicap support is so poor; online learning for them would have been a blessing in disguise.

If you see me around campus with a hip flask, never fear, it’s probably cough syrup So, if you see me around campus with a hip flask, never fear, it’s probably cough syrup. Despite

being in Exeter for three years, I have never caught freshers’ flu like this and although I hope to be miraculously cured soon, in the mean time I will be choking down my coughs and living in a pool of self-pity. Judging by the matching coughs on campus, I’m not the only one suffering. I pray to all the Gods I don’t believe in that we make a speedy recovery.

27 SEP 2021| EXEPOSÉ

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Features D

GUEST FEATURES EDITOR:

Lucy Aylmer

Taxing times

Evan Pearse discusses the increase in National Insurance Contributions

ESPITE criticism that a 1.25 per cent increase in National Insurance Contributions (NICs) would not solve the social care crisis and would negatively impact the young and poor the most, on 8 September the Health and Social Care Levy Bill 2021-22 won House of Commons backing, with the measure set to take effect from April 2022.

Originally passed under the National Insurance Act 1911, and expanded as part of the Welfare State, contributions by the employee and employer were only intended to create a fund providing for the employee in cases of qualifying circumstances, such as unemployment, sickness and eventually retirement.

The links between contributions to the fund and benefits recieved have been eroded In theory, an upper contribution limit exists under the founding principle that benefits received reflect contributions paid, unlike a traditional income tax. However, the government now has the ability to borrow from the fund to bankroll

other sectors, meaning in essence, National Insurance isn’t National Insurance anymore. It’s simply another fundraising mechanism to provide resources for the general pool. Unlike a more progressive income tax, employees are only taxed 2 per cent on earnings above £50,628, but 12 per cent on earnings below this (save for personal allowance). Under this system, higher earners lose proportionally less of their income than lower earners, a discrepancy that will be exacerbated by the 1.25 per cent increase.

Nevertheless, the fund remains regarded amongst much of the public as a social security pot. Yet the links between contributions to the fund and benefits received have eroded, therefore it now acts as an additional income tax and one that is more regressive and deleterious to the working poor and recently graduated young.

An additional key distinction is that NICs aren’t paid on certain other kinds of income such as property rental, with Keir Starmer pointing out the unfairness of tenants picking up a bill that their landlords would not pay when receiving rent. Details of an alternative solution from Keir Starmer to the social care crisis have

yet to be shared, but he did eventually endorse the implementation of wealth taxes after being pressed several times by Beth Rigby on Sky News. Boris Johnson has insisted that the Conservatives are still the “party of low taxation”, but even if true, raising taxes is not the only way the government plans to raise funds.

In the same week as the rise in NICs, it was also announced that universal credit would be cut, with a reduction of £20-per-week from October 2021.

According to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, it is estimated that this measure will force 500,000 into poverty. Regardless of the fundraising measures used, and the perceived unfairness, there is widespread agreement that the social care crisis needs addressing.

So, what is the government planning to do to ensure we have a return on our investment? While adult social care includes support for anyone over 18 who is not able to look after themselves, an ageing population means the demand for social care is increasing. Unlike the NHS, it isn’t free at the point of use and only those with financial assets of less than £14,250 or a high level of need (with assets under £23,250) have their care paid

for by the council. This leaves those unlucky enough to require extensive care having their assets whittled away, while those with conditions that are covered by the NHS keep their assets protected. Under the new system, no one will pay more than £86,000, and those with assets of less than £20,000 will have their care paid fully.

If assets are valued £20,000-100,000, care costs will be subsidised.

Higher earners lose proportionally less of their income than lower earners This is not the NHS-style overhaul that many had hoped for, and critics believe it does not go far enough in “fixing the problem of social care”, dissenting from the claim made by Boris Johnson during the 7 September press conference. This new system won’t even take effect until October 2023, as initially the funds will be used to help clear the NHS backlog. It also does not alter the role of private care companies which will continue to provide the vast majority of home and residential care.

The position of the private sector has been under fire due to its receipt of both public money and the

assets of the elderly for profit while allegedly providing substandard services and underpaying carers. The government has emphasised that the unprecedented times of the pandemic have led them to break their manifesto promise not to raise National Insurance. It’s undeniable that COVID-19 has deepened issues within the health and social care sectors, but this decline predates the crisis by many years.

It’s undeniable that COVID-19 has deepend issues within the health and social care Perhaps the pandemic has acted as a useful scapegoat to distract from the previous decade of austerity which gutted the welfare state, likely leaving services illequipped for the catastrophe ahead.

One particular irony is that, as an indirect effect of the tax rise, carers will now be paying a greater portion of their income to the private care homes they work for, this protects the assets of the elderly for whom they provide care. Perhaps we can remedy their new financial strain with another round of clapping?

Image: Unsplash, Christian Erfurt

27 SEP 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

10 FEATURES

Grieving 9/11

Abbie Wells investigates the varying ways that trauma is conveyed post 9/11

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HIS September marks the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the United States of America, a tragedy that left almost 3,000 people dead and many more seriously injured.

This month, numerous memorial services have taken place across America, most notably at sites of the attacks: the World Trade Centre, the Pentagon, and the crash site of the final hijacked plane, a field in Pennsylvania. As of the 11 September, the annual wave of articles, news reports, and news media associated with 9/11 begins to flood the internet with accounts of national grief. In

Image: Unsplash, Jerico Cervantes

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this sense, 9/11 is of course thoroughly lamented.

Nevertheless, the question of how to appropriately react to this tragedy has always been at the forefront of 9/11 coverage.

The sting of 9/11's legacy is keenly felt, and arguably exists as an undercurrent in millenial

The immediate aftermath of 9/11 left not just America but the world at large, reeling. For many Western countries, it exposed the fragility of the status quo; and this made necessary both acknowledgement of the catastrophe and a defiant assertion that the wounds opened during this attack could be healed. The complexity of this grief manifests perhaps most obviously in American broadcasting systems’ immediate response to 9/11. In ‘Entertainment

Wars: Television Culture after 9/11’, Lynn Spigel suggests that the decision to substitute scheduled comedy programs for historical documentaries and memorial shows was a bid to distance entertainers from the offensive levity of their usual fare.

However, this tactic “actually facilitated the return to the way things were” (241) in that the new sombre tone invited viewers to accept the gravity of the situation, thus contextualising the event in a timeline of historical tragedies. In turn, this allowed for grief to give way to the process of healing and the return to ‘normal’.

This dual purpose of media as a means of both grieving and healing carries into the present day. Young adults born around the time of the attacks, many of whom are currently studying at university, are known as the first generation raised in a post-9/11 world. We now find ourselves in the peculiar position of grieving a tragedy we did not witness unfold, and yet one that has shaped our upbringing on account of the international trauma it has invoked. The sting of 9/11’s legacy is keenly felt, and arguably

exists as an undercurrent in millennial culture, namely its fascination with abstract and morbid forms of humour. Addressing grief through humour proves a powerful strategy, as evidenced by the return of scheduled comedy programs on television in the weeks immediately after 9/11. This structured normality can be perceived as a form of healing. However, grief is a multiplicious force and people will continue to mourn in a wide variety of ways. Understanding the ways in which those personally or more closely affected by 9/11 choose to grieve can provide invaluable insight into the complexity of mourning such a catastrophic event.

A new wave of media dealing with the events and fallout of 9/11 marks the 20th anniversary of the attacks. These resources, including television series such as the new documentary Turning Point: 9/11 And The War On Terror, and books, such as Don DeLillo’s Falling Man, can act as a powerful reminder of people’s experience of 9/11, whether direct or through cultural shifts. Crucially, they carve out a safe space to heal through the act of reading and remembering.

We now find ourselves in the peculiar position of grieving for a tragedy we did not witness Ultimately, there are no easy answers to the question of grief. It remains incredibly difficult to know how to even begin to heal after a tragedy which took so many lives.

Those personally affected by loss may choose to approach the 20th anniversary in several ways, from vocal participation to respectful silence.

Similarly, communities particularly affected in the aftermath of the attack may find it difficult to know how to address their loss. This includes the Muslim community, which, The Independent reports, suffered a 500 per cent rise in religion- and race-related violence against them. The death toll of the initial attacks does not reflect the tragic loss of life to racist violence in the days and years following 9/11.

It is crucial that those who perished after the attacks have their lives celebrated and passing mourned too.

Politics and Popehood

Cassie Grace, Deputy Editor, evaluates whether politics and religion can remain secular

OPE Francis has consistently been known for taking a more liberal approach to politics and the Church, especially in comparison to his predecessor Pope Benedict who promoted more traditional values.

When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, a conscientious and popular leader of the dispossessed in Latin America, the liberal world celebrated the dawn of a new age for Christianity.

Time has shown that this perhaps may be an overstatement. Pope Francis has offered neutral and at times, inscrutable comments. On gay rights, he stated that if they still seek God in their life but were homosexual then "who am I to judge?”. However, he has also said that priests cannot bless such same-sex unions. On abortion, he encouraged a “mercy window”, but has also referred to the aborting of a foetus, even soon after conception, as “murder”. Such comments show how he has tried to play the field and satisfy both sides of the political spectrum.

This also explains why the number of US Catholics who think that Pope Francis offers little change has risen to 26 per cent. Refusing to commit

himself to any one side of a debate, highlights his unwillingness to intrude too much into the world of politics.

So, should religion and politics be kept separate?

Theocracies, where the ruler’s power is based on religion, have been common throughout history.

In Ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was thought to receive his authority from a higher power and was believed to be a God placed on earth to rule over us. Although he had advisers known as 'nomarchs', much of the religious and political decisions were left to the Pharaohs discretion, giving him power over land, tax collection and the waging of war. When they died, Pharaohs were famously mummified and buried with all their treasures so that they may take their riches with them to the afterlife;

the grandeur of the Pharaohs tombs demonstrates their status as a God and by extension the political power they wielded.

Closer to home, the English Civil War of 1642 was caused by Charles I refusing to delegate power to Parliament, even going so far as to close Parliament to prevent further opposition during his “personal rule.” Increased taxation, fines and his campaign against Puritans were all justified to the people and Parliament as his “divine right” to rule, giving him political legitimacy.

More contemporary examples include Iran, where democracy and human rights are suppressed under the “supreme leader”, who takes his mandates from Ja’fari Shia Islam.

Developed countries such as the US, are not

governed by theocracies, yet religion still has a huge impact on the political agenda. Both Trump and Biden have appealed to Christian followings, with Trump gaining huge popularity from white middle class Christians. Half of Americans think the Bible should influence US laws. The impact of this on American politics, especially in the South, is evident in the recent abortion laws passed in Alabama and Texas; conservatism such as this is fuelled by evangelical Christian groups.

Clearly, there is a long history of religion being intertwined with politics. However, in modern times, there has been increasing opposition to this.

Pope Francis himself criticised President Biden’s use of religion for political gain, stating that religion was “not a flag to wave”. In a time where division seems to shape modern politics, allowing religion a more central role, deepens these animosities. Religion can also sometimes be seen as relatively backwards looking, putting stock in traditional values and lifestyles; as society continues to develop and improve, many would suggest that religion should be kept separate from politics to

avoid the spark of change being dampened.

It seems naive to suggest that religion can ever take a backseat when it comes to politics

Overall, it seems naïve to suggest that religion can ever take a backseat when it comes to politics. A recent survey suggests that 84 per cent of the world has some religious affiliation; with such a large majority, it makes sense that such beliefs would shape their political views. The important thing is that this is done in the appropriate format and forum; all religions should be given equal voices and their involvement should be limited to simply giving their view rather than dictating policy. No religion should be spoon feeding views to people, but rather providing the opportunity for debate within the political space.

Image: Pixabay, Wengen

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lifestyle

CBD: does it work?

Danni Darrah reviews CBD products and explains their benefits and drawbacks.

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ODAY'S progressive sphere of natural remedies has led to rigorous research into plant based extracts. This, paired with the rapid increase in mental health issues like anxiety and depression, makes it increasingly difficult to find anyone who hasn’t heard of cannabidoil or CBD. The effects of the cannabinoid have been researched meticulously and written on in length. As individuals have tried it one by one, the popularity of CBD has grown drastically, despite its connections to cannabis initially ringing alarm bells for some. Found in cannabis leaves, CBD is the non-psychoactive one of two main present cannabinoids, along with its psychoactive counterpart THC (the cannabinoid that gets you high).

The research conducted on CBD has proven the list of health benefits to be extensive. CBD effectively relieves issues such as bad heart health, acne, diabetes and multiple sclerosis. It can also work to reduce anxiety and depression and

promisingly, although studies are young, may have neuro-protective properties.

These alter the neurological system to actively reduce muscle spasms, seizures and other neurological conditions like epilepsy. CBD has also been suggested to have anti-psychotic properties, aiding and reducing the side effects in those with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Despite all of this, there are still disadvantages of the cannabinoid that deter some people from being regular users of CBD oils and infusions. Though in many people the effects of CBD are well received, in others it causes intolerable side effects. These include fatigue, nausea, dry mouth, drowsiness, diarrhoea, a lack of appetite and reduced focus.

Ironically, in some cases, these are the exact opposite what it is intended for).

My first experience caused exactly these side effects. I tried CBD oil in my vape juice and was discouraged by the waves of nausea and dry mouth I had by the end of that night. My self-sab-

otaging tendencies and the stubbornness that came with desperately wanting to use the CBD benefits to full advantage led to a continuation of my hunt for a CBD product that worked for me.

I also chose another drink by MEDA, intended to heighten focus with 15 mg of CBD and 100 per cent natural ingredients, including vanilla, rosemary and ginseng.

Sounds tasty, right? Wrong. My initial impression of this drink was how difficult it was to swallow without gagging.

Had it not been for that precious 15 mg of CBD I so badly wanted to increase my focus, I would’ve thrown it away. Needless to say, my morning was mediocrely productive and the aftertaste of the drink distracted me more than anything.

MY ATTENTION SEEMED HEIGHTENED The relatively unnoticeable taste and smell of CBD means it can be infused or mixed into just about anything, from food, drinks and body creams to deodorant, tampons (helping pelvic pain) and even, more recently, lubricant. The second product I dropped in my basket was a CBD infused coffee (coffee being more vital to my system than oxygen).

This was far better received than I had originally anticipated and my attention seemed heightened with a sharper focus that morning. However, whether this was a result of a stronger roasted caffeine hit or the CBD taking effect, I couldn’t say.

THE AFTERTASTE OF THE DRINK DISTRACTED ME Despite research into benefits of CBD, it is always important to note that bodies are chemically different so what works for one person may not for another.

But you can rest assured, I will continue searching for the perfect CBD product.

Award-winning fashion Lifestyle writers share their favourites award show looks of all time Lil Nas X, Met Gala 2021

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’M not particularly into fashion. I’ve always been more cheap and cheerful than Chanel, and happy with good prices over Gucci. When the world flocks to the Met Gala every year to witness the biggest names wearing the biggest brands, all I see are expensive dresses and lacklustre suits.

Then, along came Lil Nas X, the provocateur prince himself, waltzing in with a glamorous royal robe that evoked Her Majesty herself, and I was in. The controversial rapper promised a show unlike any other, and all us plebs needed was some popcorn and a stupid grin on our faces as the robe slipped away to reveal the gnarliest golden armour possible, part jacked Arthurian knight, part C3P-O, all hilariously over-the-top. Then, as if to sweeten the deal, this too evaporated as Lil Nas X ended the night in a self-described “slutty” bodysuit. In a night filled with endless excess, the king of triggering conservative middle America managed to pull off the most exciting look of the year.

Oliver Leader de Saxe, Editor

Lady Gaga, Met Gala 2019

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N 2019 the Met Gala's theme was 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' and Lady Gaga definitely understood the assignment.

Arriving early to the event, followed by an entourage of five dancers, personal photographer and make-up artist, she was already an impressive sight to behold. This was nothing compared to what was to come. Her initial Brandon Maxwell bright, fuschia-pink ballgown was phenomenal, but Gaga doesn't settle for looking good. She wants to surprise people, and people were definitely surprised when she unzipped to reveal a LBD underneath. Not long after, she had yet another outfit change; this time into a Barbie-pink gown, accessorising with sunglasses, before revealing her final look of the night: a black crystalembellished underwear set, styled with platform boots and fishnets. I think it deserves to go down as one of the best moments in Met Gala history.

Before Lil Nas X, there was Lady Gaga.

Chloe Pumares, Deputy Editor

Janelle Monae, Met Gala 2019

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ONAE'S glamorous, playful costuming (such as her 'pussy pants' in the Pynk music video) has always played on the idea of 'camp', so when this was selected as the Met Gala theme for 2019, she was sure to deliver.

In her Picasso inspired Christian Siriano dress, Monae mixed hyper-masculine and hyper-feminine elements to play with the fixed idea of gender expression, a play which is at the heart of queer and camp culture. Her structured skirt and the stack of top hats echoed the tailored silhouette of men's formalwear, but remained feminine through their hot pink colouring. With the unusual shape of the skirt, shaped into an exaggerated feminine silhouette and the fauxtoppling effect of the headpiece, Siriano made fun of rigid binaries.

Megan Ballantyne, News Editor

Cher, Oscars 1986

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HER'S red carpet looks are endless in their influence on American fashion, but no look is as iconic as her 1986 Oscar garb. Dressed by long time collaborator and friend, Bob Mackie, Cher took to the stage to present the award for Best Supporting Actor. Donning a show-girl inspired two piece black ensemble, complete with a cashmere shawl and a feathered mohawk, the bedazzled outfit has now rightly earned itself a place in the Academy Museum for its contributon to the Oscars history. Cher was a presenter, on stage for less than five minutes, but she made the front pages the next day.

The birth of the naked dress, a red carpet staple, this Mackie creation is the peak of celebrity style.

Image: Pixabay

Georgia Balmer

EDITOR: Bridie Adams

exhibit | lifestyle

27 SEP 2021 |

Self-care is not selfish - it's essential

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Sam Bovey explains why taking care of yourself is important, whether you're a self-care expert or still learning the ropes

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N why Self-Care isn’t Selfish, Jessica Brubaker identifies why self-care is a debt we

owe to ourselves, stating, "in the process of growing up […] we develop core beliefs about ourselves” that damage us. It is our responsibility to affirm ourselves physically and emotionally to foster a healthy mind. But what about the face masks and spa weekends? Don’t they offer the same affirming effect? Sometimes.

Affirming yourself is important. Emotions are the worst kind of hangover though, because they fester long after your last mojito. Anxiety isn’t a joke.

AFFIRMING YOURSELF IS IMPORTANT Here are the different types of self-care, according to the Health Coach Institute: Emotional “the actions we take to connect with our emotions” This is your opportunity to relax with a face mask! You need to connect with your emotions.

Physical “any activities you deliberately engage in to enhance your physical well-being”

Image: Evan Swigart

You could accomplish this through exercise. It helps me sleep and stay fit.

Mental “encompasses anything you do specifically to stimulate your mind and cultivate a healthy psyche” Read a book! Sometimes in a book you re-encounter your problems in an abstract form, and see how the author would solve it, using the fictional example of their protagonist.

Social “activities that nurture our relationships with others” Go on a date with your partner; talk to them (especially useful if you find it harder to talk to your family and friends about your problems).

Spiritual “encompasses any activities you engage in to connect with and nurture your soul” Switch off your phone, walk on Dartmoor, or by the River Exe. Your mind deserves space to breathe, listen to it.

CONNECT WITH AND NURTURE YOUR SOUL Practical “any actions you take to fulfil your core needs and reduce stress” Tidy your room! Your private space correlates with your mental space. Don’t believe me? Don’t ignore your stresses, needs or emotions, confront them.

Professional “the activities and actions that support feeling balanced and fulfilled in your career” Take a lunch break with friends because that’s why lunch breaks and friends were invented. In spending time with them you affirm one another and that mutual commonality that initially sparked your friendship!

Now, time to pause. Self-care is about listening to your body and mind. Give yourself a break, tidy your room, go on a date, just make sure you don’t suffocate your mental or bodily health.

How to achieve hygge Livia Cockerell gives some ideas for incorporating the Danish idea of hygge in student accomodation

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HE Oxford English Dictionary defines hygge as "the quality of being warm and comfortable that gives a feeling of happiness" but really, I think the definition of this Danish term varies from person to person. For me, hygge means drinking a warm bowl of tomato soup on a rainy afternoon, or lighting a candle on a cold winter's evening, or reading a book in bed over a steaming cup of coffee. It is a feeling of complete contentment.

The term hygge (pronounced hoo-guh) derives from the 16th century Norwegian phrase 'hugga' which means 'to comfort' or 'to console'. Although the English language does not have an exact translation of the word, it does of course remind us of the word 'hug', thus allowing us to understand the comforting embrace-like quality of hygge.

As the trials and tribulations of a new academic year begin, creating a sense of cosiness in our student houses can be essential in helping us unwind.

Even in the space of a small bedroom or shared accommodation, there are some simple alterations that can be made to create a sense of hygge whilst at uni.

Create a nook Whether you have the biggest or smallest room in your student house, creating a cosy little nook where you can snuggle up to read a book or watch Netflix is a great way that we can all experience a sense of hygge. Get yourself some fluffy blankets and comfy cushions and create a space away from your desk that offers you a complete sense of respite.

Fairy lights Is it even a uni room nowadays if you don't have a set of fairy lights?! Jokes aside, some peaceful lighting can create a warm and comforting atmosphere in any room. I find that the change in lighting from my main light to my lamps and fairy lights also helps mentally with my transition from study to relaxation mode.

Cooking a meal with your housemates I think a mistake we sometimes make with hygge is that we focus so much on trying to achieve a cosy aesthetic, that we lose the focus of the true meaning of the term,

which is more about the feeling. Cooking a meal with your housemates will not only make you feel nourished and fulfilled (nothing beats a good homecooked meal), but the process of cooking and eating together strengthens your sense of companionship and encourages a sense of homeliness.

Aromatherapy The holistic healing properties of aromatherapy can be particularly useful in student homes where candles are often a no go. Essential oils, electric diffusers and even bath salts create a relaxing ambiance and can certainly help to reduce the stresses of uni work.

Plants House plants are not only there to provide a cute aesthetic, but indoor plants can boost your mood.

If being a plant parent is not really your thing, treat yourself to a bunch of flowers!

Mugs Nothing gives me a more instant feeling of hygge than a nice cuppa tea, especially when I have treated myself to a cute new mug. Why not also get some herbal teas to share with your housemates?

Board games Board games are a great way to build connections between people as we sit together laughing, bickering and enjoying each other's company.

Playing board games in your student house will help you bond and create a family-like setting that may provide a feeling of comfort and hygge. If you are living with a new group of people this year, board games are also a great ice-breaker when getting to know one another!

Image: Pixabay

arts

+ lit

Curtain up!

Arts + Lit writers review new experiences that can happen due to the recent end of restrictions

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Museum of the Moon

ESPITE having been to many art exhibitions before, I never really enjoyed or appreciated them as much as my parents did when they brought me along. But the exhibitions I went to this summer weren’t exactly your standard galleries full of paintings or sculptures; they were giant scale models of the Moon and Mars, suspended in architecturally beautiful buildings for visitors to gaze up at in awe. Designed by British artist Luke Jerram and travelling from country to country over the last couple of years, Mars and the Museum of the Moon were exhibited in the Wills Memorial Building and the Bristol Cathedral when I visited them this summer.

Seeing them was a really breathtaking experience. Not only were the installations themselves incredible, it was great to be able to explore and admire the two old and intricately decorated buildings that housed them. Because we were inside, the vast majority of people still wore masks, but for me this didn’t spoil the experience at all. I was just grateful for the opportunity to leave the house and do something different to what I would normally do — and take some very Instagrammable photos, of course! Of the two, the Moon was my favourite exhibition, probably because I often find myself staring up at the moon at night, so the chance to see an up close and detailed version was something spectacular.

The Museum of the Moon is currently still touring the UK, stopping at Wells Cathedral from 12th October to 3rd November, and at Bath Abbey from 19th November to 26th December — both places that are within easy travelling distance of Exeter — if any readers wanted to see it in person. I highly recommend it, for a truly ‘out of this world’ experience!

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Circus Cabaret Night

S many people have found in the last year, the consumption of performance art has not been as straight forward as turning up at the door. Instead, after managing to nab a ticket from the substantially reduced quantity, taking the lateral flows, and leaving the house with masks to spare, I was able to attend a circus-tent style pitch-up cabaret night.

After so long away from the arts scene, the whole audience (myself included), were more than willing to enthusiastically cheer alongside the host as they welcomed each act.

However, that’s not to say each performer didn’t deserve our somewhat riotous applause.

There were acrobatics performed from aerial hoops, suspended pole dancing (in heels no less) and the performance rounded off with a foot juggler, so it is fair to say the night was an absolute hit.

For those who had felt long deprived from the eccentricities that accompany many performance art scenes, that were unfortunately pushed to the back row during the pandemic, the performance was a much-needed top-up of glamour and entertainment.

I am so grateful that thanks to the enduring passion of the performers and crew, we were once again able to congregate to appreciate their hairraising exhibition and additionally enjoy the unique innovations bred through the creative teams to combat this year’s circumstances. The circus tent rigged to the rafters with ropes and pullies was an impressive sight in of itself.

Ultimately, despite the setbacks, the cabaret night’s success rung true the old proverb and did it proud, ‘the show must go on!’

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Van Gogh Experience

HEN deciding on what to do during my summer of freedom once restrictions were relaxed, the Van Gogh Experience seemed like a no-brainer. I had never really visited anything like it before. My con0sumption of art up until this point had been in the fairly traditional way of trudging around art galleries on school trips, being forced to find the meaning in countless paintings. This was a new experience in many ways, which I really needed after a year spent in lockdown.

The experience began when you walked into the tent and saw a timeline of Van Gogh’s artwork starting from the beginning, going through all of his most popular works such as Starry starry night and Sunflowers, before ending with Tree roots, his last painting before he died. As you followed his paintings through time, you Image: Fixr saw the story of his life unfold, and how his life was reflected in his artwork. It was a truly fascinating way to learn about the story of Van Gogh, a story I thought I knew fairly well until I went to this exhibition. However, the pinnacle of the whole experience has to be the moving images display that lasts 45 minutes and makes up most of your time spent in the exhibition. It was truly breathtaking to see some of Van Gogh’s images brought to life. The images were weaved together with a backing track and a scattering of his quotes complementing the display.

I am so glad that I decided to try something I had never tried before, and it is probably something I never would have done before COVID-19 because I wouldn’t have appreciated it in the same way; so if I have to thank COVID-19 for anything its that I now appreciate everything much more since restrictions have been lifted.

Charlotte Black Chloe Pumares, Deputy Editor

Katie Edgar, Online Lifestyle Editor

Do’s and don’ts of first year English Jessica Holifield gives her top tips for Freshers studying English

Reading Material

General Advice

Highlight the most important sections and note down page references. Familiarise yourself with key databases, like JSTOR and ProQuest and learn how to navigate these sites!

Don’t be afraid to ask questions; if you are too shy to ask in class, send them an email later. Use office hours to talk about essay plans and exams.

Trying New Things!

Pressure of Grades

First year is all about learning what you like best; don’t be afraid to take risks because the beauty is first year doesn’t count! Make bold decisions writing essays to figure out what works best.

Try not to get immersed in the pressure of getting good grades; let’s revel in all this information at our fingertips and make the most of it. It will be over in a flash!

Image: PxFuel

EDITORS: Ella Minty

exhibit | arts + lit

27 SEP 2021 | 16

Sally Rooney: fad or frenzy?

Caitlin Barr discusses Sally Rooney’s new book

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OONEYMANIA’ has seized the nation again. Hordes of social media posts about the Irish writer’s new novel Beautiful World, Where Are You? have been proliferating in recent weeks, with both positive and negative reviews flooding in.

But how has Sally Rooney captured the zeitgeist so successfully in the last few years?

Why do we keep flocking back to her work?

Rooney’s ability to lend beauty to the mundane moments of the millennial/Gen-Z experience is surely part of her appeal. She has been hailed as “a portraitist of her Millennial generation” by Caleb Crain in The Atlantic, and this certainly rings true in all three of her novels as well as her short stories so far. Her characters are full of contemporary anxieties like free market capitalism, the complexities of kinks and the availability of avocados. They communicate digitally far more successfully than face-to-face. Tote-bag wearing bisexuals have been finding themselves in Rooney’s pages since 2017. But her relationship with her generation isn’t cynical – she isn’t appealing to us because she knows her books will sell – she seems genuinely interested in capturing the cultural moment we find ourselves in, post-2008 crash and in the midst of a housing crisis.

Rooney describes herself as a Marxist, and the themes of class, money and imperialism are prevalent in her work. At a time

when many young people are waking up to radical ideas (whether through infographics or more reliable means), Rooney both lauds and slyly mocks the left-wing views of her characters. For example, Marianne in Normal People says that ‘money is a social construct’ but has a house in Dublin paid for by her mother while her friends are forced to work throughout the year. Connell and Marianne’s relationship is somewhat defined by their different classes, and Connell’s apparent transgression of the expectations placed on him by his upbringing clashes dramatically with his actual experience at university – one of isolation and imposter syndrome.

Conversations with Friends documents the lives of members of the Dublin elite – actors, writers and performers living off inherited wealth. Rooney’s fascination with the irony of people who seem to espouse leftist ideals and yet live incredibly comfortable lives is striking and astute.

However, many have criticised the author’s characters for their sameness – both Conversations with Friends and Normal People feature skinny, white, rich, tragic young women with a penchant for destructive behaviours. Some people also find Rooney’s writing style grating – a tell-don’t-show, quotation-mark-less, winding structure that can be dif- ficult to settle into. I personally enjoy the way Rooney forces her

readers to get inside the heads of her characters, even if those characters are deeply annoying at times.

Still, criticisms levelled at the author don’t seem to take into account the ways in which she’s innovating, and how the popularity of her work has encouraged many people who may not read often to pick up a book – long may that continue.

The success of 2020’s Normal People TV adaptation, which was widely praised by fans and critics alike, has resulted in the announcement that Conversations with Friends will also be adapted for the screen.

It is likely that it will attract a similar level of viewership as its predecessor, just as Beautiful World Where Are You? is benefitting from the excitement generated by Rooney’s previous work. Rooneymania isn’t set to end any time soon.

As Beautiful World, Where Are You? hits bookshops, doormats and ‘to be read’ lists, it remains to be seen whether it’ll live up to the hype. But one thing remains certain – Sally Rooney is one of the most important novelists of our time. I don’t feel like it’s dramatic to suggest that her works will be seen as classics years down the line, and I’m personally already excited for what she does next.

Photography and Danger

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Image: Flickr

age credits: Faber and Faber

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Cassia Grace, Deputy Editor, discusses why photojournalists place themselves in danger to get the story

ISTORY is told by the victors. That fact has proven true time and time again.

Yet one of the greatest challenges that

victors face when formulating their own version of events is the activity of a free press. Photojournalists have the opportunity to capture a moment in time in its most truthful form. Photoshop aside, it will always be easier for stories to be manipulated if there is no photo evidence.

The importance of journalism, in particular photojournalism, can be seen throughout literature. In Orwell’s 1984, the authoritarian and omniscient Big Brother seeks to control everyone’s lives by shutting down the free press and rewriting the history books to suit their chosen image through historical negationism. The Party frames history to always show Oceania in a positive and successful light. Accordingly, they won every war, were always innocent in initiating them and have had domestic peace since The Revolution (rather than regular rebellions).

Of course, restricting access to free news doesn’t just pertain to fiction. Almost every repressive regime throughout history has implemented some kind of media censorship. This just goes to show the power that photography has and the threat it presents to anyone trying to prevent democracy and freedom of information. Famous

photos such as Nick Ut’s The Terror of War, which depicts injured Vietnamese children fleeing from napalm, clearly places the photographers in dangerous situations, but they also had deep social and political ramifications. In the case of Nick Ut, his photo not only earned him a Pulitzer Prize, but it also turned the tide of public opinion against Nixon and the Vietnam War. Without photojournalists placing themselves in the line of action, it would be much harder for people to hold their politicians accountable and understand the true severity of these situations.

In the semi autobiographical The Bang Bang Club by Greg Marinovich and Joao Silva, four South African photojournalists shed light on life under the Apartheid regime, aiming to “set the record straight”. Apartheid for a long time crushed any criticism or descent and, as a result, we know surprisingly little about what exactly happened.

However, the journey to and eventual liberation of South Africa is arguably one of the most significant events of the last 50 years. Although the book is not necessarily an accurate representation of the historical and political events (it certainly couldn’t be used as a historical source by any budding his-

tory students), it does serve to demonstrate how much journalists will endure to tell their truth. It also depicts the ethical struggle that they must continuously endure: is photographing people at their most vulnerable actually exploitative?

All these journalists put themselves in dangerous situations, valuing their work above their lives.

Of course, some have actually died in this pursuit of the truth. Tim Hetherington, a British photojournalist, travelled the world for his work, engaging in the Afghanistan conflict and eventually dying in Libya whilst covering Gadaffi’s siege. The Tim Hetherington Trust, which works to create safe spaces for artists and journalists, recently donated all of his work to the Imperial War Museum, demonstrating the long term significance of his work in helping us to remember and depict history. Tim’s sacrifice reflects the ultimate belief of photo journalists that they have a duty to make the world more interconnected. To quote him: “I’m a documentary image maker, still and moving, because keeping the real world on the agenda is really important at a time when we’re increasingly disconnected from parts of the world on whom we depend.”

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MUSIC

20 years on: records of 2001 Music writers celebrate the best albums of 2001

SYSTEM OF A DOWN'S TOXICITY

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JIMMY EAT WORLD'S BLEED AMERICAN

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The ability to occasionally restrain (or at least divert) musical fury with varied instrumentation makes System’s songs far more effective and lasting than more over indulgent metal acts that came before them. In the 2020s, some metal bands still need to learn this, but plenty have taken notes.

LEED American (2001) was, as explained by frontman Jim Adkins, intended to be a lyrically accessible exploration of how even the smallest problems in life can get the better of us. 'The Middle’ potentially the band’s most well-known track to date, is a shining example of this concept, with its focus on the classic teenage dilemmas of insecurity and isolation being “left out and looked down on”.

Unfortunately, what was initially intended to be a relatable and straight-forward album concept went awry after the acts of terrorism that took place in September 2001. The band was worried about the album’s title being misinterpreted and the impact this might have in terms of their music being “sidelined”, according to Adkins.

Consequently, the label and the band made the decision to rename both the album (to Jimmy Eat World) and its title track (to 'Salt Sweat Sugar').

It’s fascinating when we can see history reflected in our favourite art. Having not discovered the album until after its second re-release in 2008 when it had gone deluxe and returned to its original title, I was completely unaware of the band’s anxieties following initial release.

However, despite the album’s shaky beginnings and the fear surrounding its potential politicisation by fans, every single from the album made it to the top 20 of at least one US chart, and Bleed American appeared on several all-time-best album lists by publications such as Consequence of Sound, NME and Spin.

Bleed American is one of the greatest albums of 2001, not only because of its punky and aggressive, yet at times comtemplative tone, but also because of its rocky journey.

Harry Hawkins, Music Editor

Bridie Adams, Editor

YSTEM Of A Down called themselves pop music for a reason – these may not be bubble-gum tunes, but each song is meticulously crafted for maximum impact and are all uniquely catchy as hell. See the up-and-down moshability of the lead single, 'Chop Suey!', whose slamming verses and caustic "rap" are carefully balanced with a dramatic and spiritual chorus, where the obliquely gorgeous harmonies of singers Daron and Serj wail, “I cry when angels deserve to die”.

THESE MAY NOT BE BUBBLE-GUM TUNES, BUT EACH SONG IS METICULOUSLY CRAFTED Certainly, the highlights of the band’s songs culminate with some beautiful lyrics that seem pointed at another world – the title track's longing to reach “somewhere between the sacred silence and sleep” is alluring, especially when shoved between walls of distortion and shotgun snares.

SLAMMING VERSES AND CAUSTIC 'RAP' ARE CAREFULLY BALANCED

RADIOHEAD'S AMNESIAC

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MNESIA, often penned as Kid A's aftermath, offshoot, sequel, or lesser cousin, stands with some of Radiohead's more cinematic and timeless music.

It also seems formative for the bands later work, especially their most recent album, A Moon Shaped Pool.

Though there are a handful of tracks on Amnesiac that seem a little too abstract to stand as fully fledged classics, the ideas seem relatively important in Radiohead's journey.

'Hunting Bears', being an abstract moment on this record, is a track that seems rather meaningless. This is due to its ambient, rhythmless guitars not really being picked up by the band in any future works, however it remains a somewhat interesting aesthetic interlude.

Though the record has some unfinished or lacklustre ideas, there are still some fantastic moments that still hold up today.

Some standouts are 'Pyramid Song', 'You and Whose Army?', 'Knives Out', and 'Life in a Glasshouse', the latter of which being one of my personal favourite Radiohead songs to date.

These all stand out to me as having stood the test of time due to their organic production and song writing.

They often sound as if they could be on some of their newer records, informing the sounds of In Rainbows and A Moon Shaped Pool, which in my opinion are examples of Radiohead at their very best, and of this record being, dare I say, ahead of its time.

EDITORS' 2001 PICKS Drive ByTruckers - Southern Rock Opera

The Strokes - Is This It

Gorillaz - Gorillaz

THEY COULD BE ON SOME OF THEIR NEWER RECORDS, INFORMING THE SOUND OF IN RAINBOWS Amnesiac then, should not be dismissed as a mere cobbling together of Kid A rejections.

Daft Punk - Discovery

Aran Grover

Images left to right: American Recordings, Fueled

by Ramen, Parlophone

Images top to bottom: New West Records, Rough Trade Records, Parlophone, Daft Life

27 SEP 2021 | 20

EDITORS: Harry Hawkins and Charlotte Bend

exhibit | music

Oktoberfest!

Harry Hawkins, Music Editor, investigates the history and developments of German music

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T'S not necessarily a country as romanticised and associated with arts as much as France or Italy, nor does it have the obvious significance to modern day music as much as places like Spain or Portugal.

But Germany’s musical impact is both wide and deep, with impact stretching to this day.

Let’s start with some of the classics – even if you don’t like much in the way of big movements or symphonies, you’ll probably have heard of some of the ‘3 Bs’ – Beethoven, Brahms and Bach. These composers made an indelible effect on form and composition in all kinds of music – such as Bach’s strong use of counterpoint (where a melody is accompanied by a distinct “counter-melody”, which complements it through making opposing movements or rhythms). Bach was also one of the earliest artists to have their music revived after his death, with all of the other composers men-

tioned taking great inspiration from his earlier work.

With a small leap we arrive to the 20s! Cabaret was big during this period after the relaxing of authority from the Weimar Republic, causing club music to be as hedonistic as the roaring 20s would be in America. However, these cabaret clubs would also be places where LGBTQI+ and sexual identities were openly expressed, and political satire was performed. Later on during the 30s, the Swingjugend (youth music clubs) were targeted by the Third Reich – despite being casual and not particularly organised and their disdain for restrictive freedoms and a multi-national, liberal attitude – often accessing swing music through foreign radio or recordings meant that some swing music fans were tortured or sent to concentration camps.

After the tragedies of World War II, any semblance of arts reflecting Germany as a nation was understandably re-

jected, leading to a kind of void of identity for a postwar generation.

Germans would listen to American or British music and watch French films – the process of rebuilding and re-integrating a state was of course more important for the time than what people would listen to and watch.

But a decisive idea of what German modern music could sound like was coined with the advent of Kraftwerk.

Kraftwerk members who grew up in Dusseldorf experienced huge increases in wealth due to the boom in industrialisation and trading. As such, Kraftwerk members were able to purchase electronic equipment, with which a modernist style – influenced by nearby art and fashion exports – was developed. Albums like Trans-Europe-Express were direct reflections of Germany’s aim as a nation to integrate into a wider Europe. Yes, much of Ger-

man music is often described as “industrial”, but given the inconsol-

able terrors of war, a fresh start from the rebuilding of Germany makes industrialisation almost their modern origin story – Kraftwerk defined themselves as ethnic musicians due to its industrial nature.

Images top to bottom: Pxfuel, Raph_PH

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Expecting you, Mr Bond

Henry Hood, Sports Editor, writes about the range and importance of Bond themes through the years

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’M not sure there are many collections of songs that have remained consistently spine-tingling throughout the years, and certainly no one does it better than Bond. With No Time to Die set to come out, there’s no better time to discuss the Bond songs and what makes them so good.

THEIR VOICES DOMINATE THE SONGS Before I start, whether you’ve watched Bond or not, listening to the Bond collection is genuinely worth your time. Any good soundtrack has the ability to transport you far off into your imagination, and the Bond themes seriously have a knack of taking to you to a world of indulgency and secrecy. If you need something to kickstart your work this term, or a workout, a Bond song might be the way forward.

So what makes the Bond music so good? Well, a good place to start is the backing. Most Bond songs sound the same, but in a

Images L to R: Ed Vill; Antonio Cruz

good way. Absolutely massive, fat, blaring brass for the chorus are a classic motif, alongside atmospheric interludes from string sections that seem to positively sing. There seems to be a template for any Bond song that has been consistently and successfully used throughout the years, and it was originally created by the late John Barry who masterminded ten separate bond film scores. Countless famous composers have also been in the Bond world; Hans Zimmer, best known for his soundtrack for Inception, recently composed the backing for Billie Eilish’s No Time to Die. Bill Conti, composer of the Rocky soundtrack, and George Martin (known as the Fifth Beatle) have also composed for the Bond franchise. Each exceptional composer has worked from John Barry’s template to consistently make award-winning soundtracks.

MOST BOND SONG SOUND THE SAME

Image: Pixabay

And then there’s the singers. Apart from a few odd exceptions like Duran Duran’s A View to Kill, the best of the Bond songs have big-time singers leading the song. Shirley Bassey, Tina Turner, Gladys Knight and Adele have all graced the Bond franchise with their voices. Their voices dominate the songs but just give the film that big-time feel that’s needed for such a famous film franchise. To keep up with the changes in the music industry, the songs each have their own spin. It’s interesting getting a list up of all the Bond songs and seeing their release date as they all seem to match up with the trends at the time. Billie Eilish is the best example of today’s music industry, with Duran Duran and a-Ha making music for Bond in the 1980s and Madonna’s bouncy pop anthem of the early 2000s matching the musical trends. Sure, some of the songs maybe don’t quite hit the mark,

but they’re a product of their time.

Either songs can use the original template or try make something new. By using the Bond-y type backing, some songs risk sounding the same. Sam Smith has an amazing voice, but his 2015 song Writing’s on the Wall has failed to last longer than the hype of Spectre.

Adele’s Skyfall is still well-regarded today, and although Billie Eilish’s new song has topped the UK charts, it does seem like it will fall into obscurity and not be remembered as one of the best Bond songs.

THE BEST BOND SONGS HAVE BIG-TIME SINGERS Anyway, a song is a song, and the main kicker on a Bond film is unsurprisingly the film. The production value, acting cast, CGI budget, everything is stupidly good. The Bond song is the icing on an already lavish cake. Enjoy it, and let it make you feel giddy in a cinema again.

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Fall favourites

Exeposé Screen Writers share their comfort watches for a cosy night in this autumn

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OGONADA’S achingly peaceful debut – soon to be followed by his next effort, After Yang – is a tale of the coincidental meeting and subsequent growth of two strangers. One, is a man steadily approaching middle-age, trapped in the shadow of his father. The other, a young architecture-enthusiast, too consumed with concern for her struggling mother to allow herself to move away from her hometown – the eponymous Columbus, Indiana (not to be mistaken with the Ohio state capital). Perhaps tellingly, the latter half of the film’s double-helix is concerned with a young woman grappling with her decision to fly the coop and all the anxieties such a decision entails; yet a key undercurrent of the film is its apparent aimlessness, its meandering late-summer pace. The quiet life unfolding in Columbus is transitory and warm and for the many of us just now moving to Exeter and starting an exciting, terrifying new chapter, at the end of what has felt like one interminably long summer, will do much to calm the nerves and affirm this next step. For me, it’s a must-watch and one I’m sure to be bundled up in bed watching many a night this autumn.

Adam Simcox

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COLUMBUS

OU knew that Fantastic Mr. Fox would be on this list. Wes Anderson’s stop motion movie is the embodiment of autumn. Every scene is cast in luxurious gold and rusty orange light, the characters chatter in a rhythmic near-festive fashion, and the story unfolds over the shift into the wintery darkness we now find ourselves facing. The wild animals live and grow in a crisply cold and autumnal world, where everyone wears knitted, cosy clothes and eats warming meals (when things go to plan, at least). Mrs. Bean’s famous nutmeg ginger apple snaps look mouth-watering, and her husband’s apple cider is good enough to drive a rat mad. Everything in this film is artfully handmade and put together with patience and care, from the candlelit underground burrows to the thunderous paintings of Mrs. Fox’s anxieties. I mean, if you’ve never seen this film, then what the cuss are you doing? Go grab a warm drink and settle in for a lively and quote-unquote fantastic film about family, feasts and instinct. It’ll leave you warmed through and excited for the leaves to turn fox-fur red and in awe of its dedicated, truly expert production team.

Amber Hogan

FANTASTIC MR. FOX

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VERY single year, without fail, September comes around and I am overcome with a need to begin my annual rewatch of Gilmore Girls.

As the nights become colder and darker, all I want to do after a long day of lectures is to come home to my favourite comfort characters, a fluffy blanket and a hot cup of tea (please don’t tell the Gilmores that I actually hate coffee). The pure serotonin and nostalgia that I receive from those opening credits is honestly unparalleled; autumnal leaves and Carole King. What more could a girl want? Seasons one to three will always hold a special place in my heart, but if you’re looking for some inspiration for Hot Girl Semester, you can’t go wrong with the Yale Years (there is a distinct possibility that loving Rory Gilmore and Hermione Granger from a young age may have fuelled my need for academic validation). After so many years, Stars Hollow has become a home away from home. I know, I know, it’s a fictional town that doesn’t actually exist. However, there is something magical and escapist about a small town filled with quirky, loveable characters that are always getting into various hijinks and misadventures.

Francesca Sylph, Screen Editor

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GILMORE GIRLS

OR my fall favourite, I’m recommending Peter McHale’s Emmy Award-winning animated miniseries Over the Garden Wall. As the seasons turn over and we all take up our creature comforts once again, I have consistently looked to this show. The series captures a unique blend of comedy, whimsy and horror under the simplistic guise of a quirky cartoon universe.

Contained in the 10-part story are characters and events which become increasingly bizarre, but each oddity is developed through rife metaphor, implication, and disturbing truths. All of this contributes to creating a slightly off-beat backbone to what could otherwise be a more straightforward, quest-driven plot. The janky soundtrack put together by The Blasting Company has gained much of its own acclaim apart from the show. Its folksy Americana theme perfectly matches the show’s atmosphere which, if only in one word, can be described as ‘weird’ - but I can almost guarantee that you’ll be humming the tunes after just the first watch. Overall, whilst perhaps more complex than a background noise-type cartoon, the series is still an easy watch and marries perfectly with a hot chocolate and some fluffy socks for those nights you just want to stay in. I couldn’t recommend a watch more!

Charlotte Black

OVER THE GARDEN WALL

Image: Fantastic Mr. Fox, 20th Century Fox, IMDb.

Girls, guts and gore

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Image: Titane, Arte France Cinéma, IMDb.

Francesca Sylph, Screen Editor, discusses Titane and the future of women in horror

ACK in 2016, French director Julia Ducournau shocked the world when she released Raw, a cannibal comingof-age film (my favourite underrated horror sub-genre) which caused two people to pass out during the Midnight Madness screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) due to its graphic body horror and gruesome depictions of cannibalism. Five years later and Ducournau may have accidentally created a tradition. Her latest film, Titane, reportedly also caused at least one person to faint during its Midnight Madness screening at TIFF. Titane also went home with the Palme d’Or at Cannes this summer, making Ducournau the second female director in history to win the festival’s most prestigious award.

Trying to explain the premise of Titane honestly feels like a fever-induced car crash (no pun intended) but here goes nothing:

newcomer Agathe Rousselle plays Alexia, a young woman with a titanium plate fitted in her head and a disturbing obsession with cars. On the run from the police, Alexia decides to disguise herself as a boy who has been missing for 10 years and is ‘reunited’ with the boy’s father. There’s more I could say but, honestly, you probably wouldn’t believe me and I think it’s best to go in knowing very little (and be traumatised a lot).

HORROR HAS ALWAYS BEEN QUEER, AND HORROR HAS ALWAYS HAD WOMEN IN IT Horror, and body horror in particular, is a very male-dominated genre, with Ducournau frequently being compared to the

‘king’ of body horror David Cronenberg (The Fly, Videodrome, Crash) as opposed to an auteur in her own right. Female filmmakers working in the horror genre have often been overshadowed by their male counterparts; how many people know John Carpenter compared to Debra Hill, his producing partner and frequent co-writer (Halloween, The Fog, Escape from New York)? As Anna Bogutskaya, co-founder of The Final Girls collective, explains: “Horror has always been queer, and horror has always had women in it, it’s just not how it’s been positioned or mar- k e t e d . ” Female filmmakers in horror are increasingly getting the

recognition they deserve, from Amy Holden Jones (The Slumber Party Massacre) to Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body) and Jennifer Kent (The Babadook). This year alone, we not only have Titane to look forward to, but also Nia DaCosta’s Candyman sequel and Prano BaileyBond’s Sundance smash Censor. The gender balance in horror seems to be shifting and the future is undeniably female.

exhibit | screen

EDITORS Archie Lockyer and Francesca Sylph

27 SEP 2021 | 22

Review: Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings

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Charlotte Black reviews the latest entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universive

HANG-CHI: The Legend of the Ten Rings is the latest film to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe after its release in theatres on September 3. Highly anticipated among all Marvel fans, Shang-Chi did a fantastic job on delivering an introduction into what is to be the next wave of the superhero films post-Endgame.

THE POOR MARKETING SPEAKS NOTHING TO THE BRILLIANT PERFORMANCES OF THE CAST The story of Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings centres around a family divided both in mindset and physical distance. The story welcomes a predominantly AsianAmerican casting and the portrayal of the character’s heritage is handled brilliantly by director Destin Daniel Cretton. Although, he did have quite a task in reforming the outdated stereotypes that came with the underdeveloped Asian superhero depicted in the comics. The film was taken on by Cretton with an intent to both give homage to the kung fu films that have influenced decades

of action movies in Western cinema, as well as to also portray a heroic figure he felt many Asian-American children like himself “could have really used”.

To also address the building controversy post-production, the film absolutely did not receive the same treatment as its predecessors in terms of pre-release marketing. In fact, the actor Simu Liu, who plays the titular character ‘Shang Chi’, was effectively deemed a one-man band of advertisement, something which many fans online took notice of. This drew media attention and resulted in speculation of the film potentially being used as an ‘experiment’ both in post-covid cinema and in Marvel’s adaptation style.

Compounding this with the film being the first Asian-led and centred Marvel production, makes the choice to use it as an ‘experiment’ questionable and thus has rightfully generated some critical backlash, yet to be formally addressed by the studios.

However, the poor marketing speaks nothing to the brilliant performances of the cast and directorial team, as the film itself was a huge success. Simu Liu did an incredible job at embodying the comic-book character, demonstrating impressive stunt

work, technical martial arts, and strong acting skill to bring Shang-Chi’s intriguing and emotional background to the masses. The supporting actresses of the film were also phenomenal talents including names such as Michelle Yeoh, Awkwafina and Meng’er Zhang, whose particularly impactful performance should hopefully earn her a firm spot alongside Simu in the ongoing franchise.

With such convincing performances alongside the extremely realistic CGI and visual effects, the film immerses you into a realm of infinite fantastical possibilities.

Shang-Chi is also a great example of how there can be plenty of thrilling, high energy action scenes without neglecting the more emotive, meaningful lore needed for an audience to effectively engage with the characters and world-building. To spotlight action for a moment, the choreography for the fight scenes is definitely deserving of praise.

With an emphasis on the martial arts style technique and skill rather than the more commonly found fisticuff brawl expected of Marvel, the movements of the characters are gripping and cleanly delivered.

This divergence from the standardised Western fighting form really aids the film in

delivering an experience of Marvel which is both new and exciting.

There are a few callbacks to previous instalments of the MCU that are there for the die-hard fans, however, the film remains completely accessible to those who also just want to rock-up for an enjoyably actionpacked screening. Overall, despite its marketing lapse, Shang-Chi: The Legend of the Ten Rings is a great movie and hopefully speaks to the next phase of Marvel entertainment bringing further innovation and fresh ideas to the franchise.

Image: Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings, Variety

Cine-Cheese: Rock of Ages Cassia Grace, Deputy Editor, explains the sheer brilliance of Rock of Ages

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S someone who spends far too much time as a couch potato developing an encyclopaedic knowledge of films, it is somewhat embarrassing to reveal that one of my favourite films is in fact Rock of Ages. This film has very few redeeming qualities. The acting is largely horrifically wooden, reminding one much more of the mannequin challenge than anything else. The script is similarly appalling, with one liners such as “looks like she’s been hibernating in Margaret Thatcher’s bumhole” proving once again that Russell Brand can only play himself. And yet everyone who I’ve forced to watch this film, has come away with the same surprised sense of enjoyment.

I can summarise why it is so wonderfully awful into three reasons.

Firstly, Tom Cruise steps out of his action hero, big budget comfort zone and instead plays an alcoholic, sex obsessed rock star who spends most of the film in a leather thong. It sort of comes across as a “fuck it, I’m so rich I can do whatever I want”, but the man is shockingly good at singing and actually provides a much needed sense of maturity to the film.

Secondly, it’s so awful it’s actually good.

I think many people don’t appreciate these kind of films for what they are; light hearted, ridiculous fun. These films know how bad they are yet they lean into it

Actor Spotlight: Florence Pugh Matthew Bowden explores the varied career of Florence Pugh

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LORENCE Pugh is currently at the stage of her career where she falls neatly between being a rising star and an established icon of Hollywood. However with every film, she edges closer to the latter.

Some performers’ bankability is based upon a consistency of performance-type; Tom Hanks being a prime example as the everyman American. The extent of range and breadth that Pugh has displayed over her relatively short filmography provides an added dimension to her star quality.

While 2019 was the year that catapulted Pugh into the attention of mainstream audiences and film fans, her early work is also tremendous and should not be underappreciated. Her big-screen debut came in Carol Morley’s excellent 2014 drama The

and use it to their advantage. Whether it is the logic that being in a boy band is much worse than being a stripper, which is said in such earnest tones that one cannot help but laugh. Or maybe it’s the bizarre plot that loosely and randomly connects songs together with very little warning or explanation; I now can’t unsee Journey’s Any Way You Want It being used as a manual to the services a stripper can provide. Either way, it makes for a good watch!

Finally, the soundtrack is chef’s kiss. It may not be an original soundtrack, but as far as jukebox musicals go, it is one of the best. If you like 80s soft rock, then this film will have you bopping along like it’s nobody’s business.

From Hit Me With Your Best Shot as the Christian groups promise to close down the rock club, to Don’t Stop Believing as its triumphant and heart warming end.

You will literally have the Images: Midsommar/ Rock of soundtrack playing non-stop.

Ages IMDB

Falling, followed by her first leading role as the titular Lady Macbeth, with her performance being described as “lethally charismatic” by critic Peter Bradshaw.

2019 saw a trifecta of films (Fighting with My Family, Midsommar and Little Women) that fully revealed Pugh’s versatile capabilities as an actress. In Stephen Merchant’s uplifting drama, she excels in portraying the pugnacious angst of an outsider trying to find their feet in an alien and unforgiving environment. In Midsommar, Pugh acts as the shining light of Ari Aster’s disturbing horror, embodying the film’s torturous depiction of grief with a humanity and pathos that makes its tagline of a “break-up movie” conceivable.

Little Women was her breakthrough in terms of awards recognition, receiving both BAFTA and Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress for her role as the fabulous Amy March. Breathing a new vivacity and conception into this well-trodden character is arguably Pugh’s greatest achievement to date, and with her upcoming role in Olivia Wilde’s psychological thriller Don’t Worry Darling, it’s likely this is only the beginning of her tenure as an awards contender.

TECH

Game developers rise up!

Harry Hawkins explores how employees in the game industry could end exploitative industry standards

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AMING is a huge section of our modern-day economy. In 2020, the Global Gaming Market was valued at $173.70 bn (or £127.08 bn), is most likely due to the need for people to quarantine and rely on home entertainment. The industry is valued about 75 per cent higher than the film industry for last year and most game industry employees are fans of gaming themselves. Surely working for big games companies like EA and Activision is a dream come true, right?

UNFAIRTREATMENTAND DISCRIMANATION ARE NOT BOUND TO BIG COMPANIES Well, the dream doesn’t seem to be alive within any of the big game developers.

This July, a lawsuit against games conglomerate Activision-Blizzard was set into motion by California’s Department for Fair Employment and Housing, describing an ongoing culture of sexual harassment and discrimination against female employees.

What was the response from Activision CEO Bobby Kotick and other executives? They hired Wilmer-Hale, a well-known anti-union law firm, for a third-party review. EA has improved its work compensation for overtime, but only because of complaints filed by am

Activision employee’s partner in 2004, who noticed that her husband was working extremely long hours to finish game development - sometimes from 9am to10pm, seven days a week.

Issues of unfair treatment and discrimination are not bound to big name companies. The indie game publisher Nicalis’s former boss, Tyrone Rodriguez, would overwork and manipulate his employees and was frequently racist and anti-Semitic.

Much of this behaviour was left unchecked due to the influence and prestige he commanded in the independent games scene as a publisher.

Why is this exploitation of workers, often very skilled and hardworking employees, so prevalent?

One answer is the age and experience of many game developers — games companies often take new employees straight out of education, meaning that they are not experienced with the standards of any other industry. This makes it easier for cultures of overwork and unfair treatment to develop.

Due to a lack of unionisation, games industry employees are often

Image: Open clipart, free SVG

treated like ‘human resources’ — the five “celebratory layoffs” (yes, you read that right, employee layoffs to celebrate successful game launches) of staff conducted

by Activision-Blizzard since 2010. In some circles, a ‘veteran’ game dev means a fiveyear career — to survive in one company without being laid off is an infrequent honour, due to the risky boom-bust cycles often planned by company execs.

ion that tries to organise game employees and other tech occupations. Being both relatively recent industries which began during a political period that very much disincentivized unionisation, tech and games companies share many of the issues caused by a lack of unions — companies being unaccountable, no say over working hours or conditions and union-busting practices (most recently demonstrated by Amazon).

THESE INDUSTRIES BEGAN IN A POLITICAL PERIOD THAT DEINCENTIVISED UNIONISATION

TO SURVIVE IN ONE COMPANY WITHOUT BEING LAID OFF IS AN INFREQUENT HONOUR

One example of a union for games workers is the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB), which has a branch called Game Workers Unite. Currently it campaigns to end the industry-wide standard of excessive and underpaid overtime (in games industry speak, ‘crunch’) and makes sure workers know their rights and employment terms — particularly for lower-level positions such as QA testers, who are often put on precarious zero-hour contracts.

In the States, the ‘Campaign to Organize Digital Employees’ (with the fitting acronym CODE) is one un-

Ultimately, ending practices of overworking, harassment and discrimination and constant employee turnover can only be a benefit for everyone involved. Workers will live happier, healthier and fuller lives and probably still do as much useful work to make great games (given that productivity has been repeatedly shown to reduce for those that work over 40 hours a week, causing more mistakes). Unions can help implement these new regulations and make sure everyone benefits from the joy of videogames instead of just consumers and CEOs.

exhibit |

TECH

EDITOR: Oliver Leader de Saxe

27 SEP 2021 | 24

Console yourself Exeposé Tech writers discuss the greatest gaming consoles of all time Nintendo DS Playstation 2 Gamecube

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HE GameCube launched in 2001 is undoubtedly one of the best consoles of all time. Its unique and instantly recognisable design bring back a plethora of memories and nostalgia. After looking through the loft recently we discovered we still had our GameCube and this led to many more hours of fun for me and my brother playing on the console, something we had not done together since we were kids. The GameCube allowed people who may not have a lot of experience to join in as the games required less skill than most do now, yet were still incredibly enjoyable. Yet it’s not just this aspect that makes the GameCube great, but the collection of games available to play on it, from Super Monkey Ball, to The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker, to the classic Super Mario games. My personal favourite being Street Fighter: Capcom vs. SNK, with the Simpsons: Hit and Run coming in a close second. Plus, the GameCube deserves to take a spot on the list of best consoles of all time because it still works after over a decade of sitting untouched. They just don’t make consoles or tech in general like that anymore. I have never enjoyed playing a console more than I have with the GameCube, it gave me plenty of memories without the frustration that a lot of video games cause now.

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F the best answer you can come up with when asked about your favourite throwback console is the Wii, you’re basic. Only the real ones know that the Playstation 2 was where it was at. After I became hooked on the masterpiece that is Strawberry Shortcake: Adventures in the Land of Dreams on my cousins’ PS2, my mum caved and bought me my own console. Wacky Races Starring Dastardly and Muttley and the game adaptation of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe were staples for me - especially when it came to the multiplayer modes which I switched on when I had friends over. In terms of single player games, Catz became addictive for me as I got hooked on the storyline which involved saving the feline residents of Cat Island from the evil actions of Ivlet the wolf. Riveting stuff. My favourite game series was WWE SmackDown! I know nothing about wrestling and have no interest in it in the real world, but this only served to make the games even more entertaining. I never actually owned the game but played it all the time at my best friend’s house; despite her rolling her eyes every time I suggested it, I could tell she secretly enjoyed it. We’d only really played it as a joke to begin with, as it was her dad’s game, but things escalated quickly when we started to get invested in learning the different wrestling moves and tactics. The thing is, when you’re a kid, everything - from toys to games to DVDs - is somehow better when it’s not actually yours. If you’re looking to try out a classic console, look no further than the PS2 - and if you’re playing SmackDown, count me in and prepare to be defeated (I’ll play as the Undertaker).

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HE Nintendo DS was seemingly modelled off a garden variety brick and sits about as comfortably in your hands as an angry hedgehog. Your current microwave probably has more processing power than the DS Lite does, and could hold a longer charge. And the constant need to replace the stylus is the reason we had to remortgage the family home. But, in spite of all of that, the novelty of being able to play the entire Star Wars trilogy, in Lego, on the move, wherever I wanted to go, blew my tiny, prepubescent mind. In the history of mankind, perhaps only the invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire come before the ability to play Mario Kart in bed, or Sonic on the train. And despite having the operating system of a pebble, the hardware limitations forced game devs to get creative, with some of the most interesting and unique games of the day coming out on the system. Factor in endless hours of multiplayer (if the RSPCA discovered the amount of Pokémon battles I had with friends, we’d all be indicted on at least a good thousand counts of animal abuse), and you have a system that, despite not being the most powerful hardware on the market, became a fundamental part of not only my childhood, but of an entire generation of kids like me.

Bridie Adams, Editor

Oliver Leader de Saxe, Editor

Chloe Pumares, Deputy Editor Images: Evan Amos (WikiCommons)

Android vs Apple

Exeposé Tech writers debate what the best type of phone on the market is

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INCE my first phone in 2010 I have never strayed from buying an Android, because I have never needed to. Android phones have always given me exactly what I need, and are usually cheaper than their glorified counterparts. It’s time to finally dissect why Android phones are the superior mobile devices.

Now to begin, the most obvious bonus to getting an Android is how much cheaper it is than an iPhone, where you pay an extra couple hundreds of pounds for logo, which you end up covering with a case anyway. Androids are undoubtedly better value for money, with more features and power than their competitor.

Not only are they cheaper to buy but they are also cheaper to run; a friend whose screen broke recently went to the Apple store where they wanted to charge £190 to fix it! She then went to a high street repair shop and it was a mere £85. Clearly, Apple regularly overcharge for their services as well as their devices, you would never get that extortion with Android.

Not only this but Androids use universal chargers. Now this may not seem like a significant aspect when choosing a phone, however, it is important when you might need to charge your phone while out and just have so many more opportunities to find a c-type charger cable. This has helped me in a lot of bad situations which would have been made a lot worse if I couldn’t charge my phone, notably being stranded miles from my house after a night out with only a 24-hour betting shop to serve as my guardian angel. This is especially worrying for Apple users since their battery life leaves a lot to be desired.

Other benefits to having an Android which trumps having an iPhone, is that they last significantly longer, in my experience. My last phone, which was a Samsung S8 lasted me over four years, and while it was notably battered it was still alive and kicking. Whereas friends who have iPhone’s seem to have to get one every other year once their contract is up and a new iPhone is coming. (That seems a bit dodgy, looking at you Apple!)

All in all, there are numerous reasons that Android phones are undoubtedly better than their rival, these are just the beginning. I have never had an iPhone nor had the desire for one, and if you haven’t either then stay away. Android for the win!

Chloe Pumares, Deputy Editor

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WANT to state, for the record, that I’m not a big Apple fan. The design ethos of the company is so insular that you could imagine them trying to build a wall next to Microsoft and hoping Bill Gates will pay for it. The truly godawful user experience of a Mac computer is surely one of the primary reasons anarcho-primitivism is coming back into fashion.

Yet, and it pains me to say it, the quality of the iPhone is unmatched. In fact, the iPhone lacks such competition that it has started competition with itself, that’s how little alternatives there are out there. The UI is silky smooth, to the point that even my grandmother knows how to work her Apple accessories, with so much more clarity than the labyrinthine nightmare that is trying to get an Android to do, well, anything.

Sure, Android might be cheaper, but so is MacDonald’s; that doesn’t make it a substitute for prime cut rib-eye steak from a five-star restaurant. And that is what Apple are: the gourmet phone experience. Gone is the confusion of the Google Play store, adios to menus that change depending on the different phone brand you use. Everything is clean, everything is in the right place. The fact Steven Soderberg made an entire feature length film on an iPhone tells you everything you need to know about its camera quality.

With a wide range of older and newer models still on the market, there is really something for everyone, regardless of budget. From the iPhone SE with its decent storage and old-fashioned aux abilities, to the latest iPhone models with their box of fun features from facial ID to magnetic charging, even the least tech-savvy among us have an option to suit their lifestyle.

And I haven’t even mentioned Apple Music, the secret weapon in the iPhone’s arsenal, allowing you to fully integrate your iTunes library with a streaming service that actually pays artists more than Spotify. And although it’s about as necessary to day-to-day life as bran flakes, free Apple TV for a year is more than fair in comparison to the years of misery you’ll receive by degrading yourself by getting an Android. All of this, combined with a sleek design that fits comfortably in your pocket and your hand, the answer for a mobile phone has never been simpler: Apple for the win!

Oliver Leader de Saxe, Editor

Images left to right: Android, Apple

study break | 27 SEP 2021

exhibit | 25

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

Across

Down

1 Take a seat (3)

1 Strewn - desert cat (8) (9)

3 Type of coffee - came in oar (8) (9)

2 Apprentice - learner (7)

8 Word formed by the letters of another - rag a

3 Race (8) - 4840 square yards (4)

man is one of it! (7)

4 Catch in a net - she-men (8) (6)

9 Indicate (at someone, say) (5)

5 Face to face (2,6)

10 Melody (4)

6 Extraterrestrial (5)

11 Alienate - sergeant (8) (8)

7 On strike (3)

14 Smelt bad (6)

12 Superb (9)

15 Of poetry (6)

13 Trounces (8) - tells (a story, say) (8)

18 Foreign representative - amid plot (8) (8)

16 Coaching - teaching (7)

20 Mound (4)

17 Group of related people (6)

22 Pungent edible bulb (5)

19 Cost (5)

23 Dream - picture (7)

21 Barrier in a fence (4)

24 Improvise (rap music, say) (9)

22 Postponed (3)vv

Trivia corner

1. What is the most popular cheese in the world?

2. How long did the oldest squirrel live for?

3. How many times is “donda” said in Kanye West’s ‘Donda Chant’?

25 Louse egg (3)

4. Which actress has won the most Oscars in her career?

ANSWERS 5. What is described by Edmar Mednis as the worst opening in chess?

6. What is the University of Exeter’s motto?

Opening 6. Lucem sequimur Trivia: 1. Mozerrella 2. 23 years and 6 months 3. 58 4. Katherine Hepburn 5. The Barne Down: 1 Scattered, 2 Trainee, 3 Acre, 4 Enmesh, 5 In person, 6 Alien, 7 Out, 12 Excellent, 13 Recounts, 16 Tuition, 17 Family, 19 Price, 21 Gate, 22 Off. Across: 1 Sit, 3 Americano, 8 Anagram, 9 Point, 10 Tune, 11 Estrange, 14 Reeked, 15 Poetic, 18 Diplomat, 20 Hill, 22 Onion, 23 Imagine, 24 Freestyle, 25 Nit.

LIFESTYLE

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ARTS+LIT

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MUSIC

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SCREEN

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Science

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27 SEP 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

SCIENCE EDITORS: Lauryn Mitchell Ellen Rogers

COVID-19 vaccines and menstruation

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Katie Jones discusses a new-found link between the COVID-19 vaccine and changes to the menstural cycle

LL year people have taken to social media to share their experiences of menstrual changes after receiving their COVID-19 vaccine. Common complaints seen are of a delayed and heavier period with severe cramping for the first month after vaccination. However, menstrual changes were not listed in the possible side-effects of any approved vaccine as this was not examined during clinical trials. In a recent publication included in the British Medical Journal, Dr Victoria Male, calls for investigations into the possible link between vaccination and men-

strual changes, saying that this link is “plausible”.

More than 30,000 instances of menstrual changes have been reported More than 30,000 instances of menstrual changes have been reported to MHRA’s yellow card surveillance scheme. The changes typically last for one cycle before going back to normal in the subsequent menstrual cycles. There have been

reports of changes in all three approved vaccines, however notably fewer from those who received the Moderna vaccine. Dr Male notes that as side effects have been reported in both mRNA vaccines and adenovirus vectored vaccines, it is likely that any correlation between vaccination and menstrual changes would come from the triggered immune response as a result from the vaccine, and not a component of any vaccine itself.

The immune system has strong links with the menstrual cycle and immune stimulation could trigger influencing hormones in the menstrual cycles or

immune cells within the lining of the uterus. Similar side-effects have been seen in other vaccines such as the HPV vaccine.

Clear research and infromation will reduce vaccine hesitancy Dr Male says that future research must not leave menstruation changes as an after-thought. Instead, it should be asked about directly as “participants are unlikely to report changes to periods unless specifically asked”.

She believes clear research and information on this is also likely to reduce vaccine hesitancy in those concerned about fertility.

She is also keen to point out that there is no evidence of vaccination having a lasting effect on menstruation or impacting fertility. During clinical trials, unplanned pregnancies occurred at similar rates in both the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.

Furthermore, since the wide-spread rollout of the vaccine, reproduction clinics have reported no difference in pregnancy rates between the vaccinated and unvaccinated population.

Don’t be fooled by the rocks that I got

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Zoe Sperry looks at the new rock sample that has been collected by the Mars rover

HETHER or not Mars rock and soil samples in the search once held life durfor evidence of microoring its long ganisms, and since then history is an exciting has been exploring question that scientists the Jezero Crater. have been pondering This area is of parfor years. NASA has ticular interest for been keenly explorscientists as it aping the Red Planet by pears to have river sending rovers to roam and delta sediits terrain, the most rements, and thus they Image: Pixabay cent one being Perseversuspect there could’ve ance, which landed on Febonce been a lake. ruary 18, 2021. It was sent to collect

September 6 and 8 were monumental days for scientists at NASA as the rover collected its first samples from the Martian land. The rover drilled two holes into a slab of rock, now nicknamed Rochette, that is believed to have volcanic origin.

The rocks found are believed to have volcanic origin The rock samples collected con-

tain salt, which is a sign of water alteration, and there’s a strong chance this could signal there was once life on the planet. What’s also exciting about the samples is that they could provide the time during which this water was around on Mars.

For now, the samples can’t be completely analyzed until they return to Earth. They remain sealed in a titanium tube that NASA is hoping to retrieve in the future through the Mars Sample Return campaign in collaboration with ESA (European

Space Agency). Ken Farley, a Perseverance Project scientist has noted that “when we get these samples back on Earth, they are going to tell us a great deal about some of the earliest chapters in the evolution of Mars.”

But there is still a large part of the Jezero Crater left unexplored, and Perseverance is due to venture further out in the coming years. The future samples it collects will hopefully provide some groundbreaking discoveries on the ancient history and life of our neighbouring planet.

Spider season

Lauryn Mitchell, Science editor examines the cause of so called ‘spider season’ and adresses some spider myths

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T this time of year, I’m sure we are excited for pumpkin spice latte season, but all I can focus on is the beginning of the so called “spider season” in the UK. So why am I seeing so many around the house?

The common house spider is most likely the species called Tegenaria and Eratigena, which are relatively large spiders with a dark brown colour who prefer to stay in warm, dry spaces, which makes nice, cosy homes a lovely spot for these critters. These spiders are harmless, but that doesn’t stop me from crying when one scutters past me. Scarily, according to Dr Lena Grinsted, these spiders don’t

just come in due to the colder autumn temperatures, but actually were most likely always living in your home. So far this isn’t making me feel any better so far.

The common house spider is most likely Tegenaria or Eratigena Spiders that you see running across the floor or hiding in your towels are most likely male spiders. The females tend to stay in their webs and wait for the male spiders to “approach”. I have seen a strange theory on social media which claims that

male spiders mistake sleeping human eyelashes for female spiders and will try to mate with them, but luckily this is not true and is truly an attempt to terrify arachnophobes.

Although these spiders are just minding their own business and looking for a date with a lovely lady spider, I still do not feel comfortable with the idea of the fuzzy creatures running rampage in my house, so how do I get rid of them? I don’t like the idea of killing them, and I am way too scared to handle them to put them outside, so I have researched some ways to deter them. One great way that I have tested is peppermint essential oil, which is speculated to repel spiders due to its

strong odour. This thankfully seemed to work for me, but some other methods I have found during my research was to use conkers, lemon peels and even to get a pet (good excuse I guess).

I probably haven’t made you feel any better about “spider season” but at least you now know the science behind this behav-

iour and that the eyelash theory isn’t true. Just think about Christmas and it will all be fine.

Image: Pixabay

Image: Unsplash

SCIENCE

EXEPOSÉ | 27 SEP 2021

29

Battle stations

Harry Hawkins, Music Editor, discusses recent research demonstrating the importance of T cells in cancer therapies

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HE immune system is a wonderful and complicated network across your body that protects you from most, if not all, microscopic dangers in the body. T cells provide the essential role of identifying foreign bodies through the antigens they present – a sort of chemical ID. Over time, memor y of numerous antigens from different threats are developed, allowing our body to identify, and overcome illnesses much faster.

However, cancer cells and tumours throw a spanner in the works of this method, as cancer

cells can develop new mutated antigens (neo-antigens) which allow them to resist detection

by T cells. They can also create immune inhibitor y signals which impede the ability of the cells to sur vey the tumour.

Cancer cells can develop neoantigens which allow them to resist detection The most difficult part of the neo-antigen response is that there isn’t just one type - there may be multiple! Scientists have

noted that commonly, ver y few of the numerous neoantigens expressed on a tumour raise an immune response, meaning the immune system cannot properly target the cancer cells.

New research from Massachussets Institute of Technolog y seems to have found the reason for the lack of variety of neo-antigens required for a successful immune response – the T cells compete against each other! The competition between types of neo-antigen targeting T cells leads to one more dominant population in circulation around

the tumour. This T cell population circulates the tumour and supresses other neo-antigens targeting, leading to an ineffective response.

in studies of mice with lung tumours to cause tumour shrinkage.

T cells compete against each other The solution? A vaccine of these suppressed neo-antigens.

When the relevant protein found on the tumour is injected, the T cells targeting said protein proliferate, leading to a more holistic response which was shown

Image: Pixabay

N-O way

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Ellen Rogers, Science Editor, discusses the overlooked element polluting our planet

ITROGEN is a crucial part of our planet, making up 78 per cent of the air we breathe. It is also fundamental to healthy plant growth and development, and needed for the maintenance of aquatic ecosystems.

Nitrogen and nitrogen-containing compounds in the water ensure that algae and aquatic plants grow well, providing shellfish, fish and small aquatic organisms with a reliable food source.

Although nitrogen and its compounds are naturally occurring, excess nitrogen can have serious impacts on both the environment

and human health. Dr Dan Bebber from the University of Exeter has recently discussed how human activities – most specifically the burning of fossil fuels and biomass – has altered the natural nitrogen cycle and resulted in the pollution of our ecosystems with excess nitrogen. Other sources include agricultural runoff and imperfect sewage treatment.

Excess nitrogen can trigger an ‘algal bloom’ in aquatic ecosystems, in which algae grows beyond what the ecosystem can handle – negatively affecting water quality, food sources, and oxygen levels in the water. Algal blooms also result in in-

creased toxin production and bacterial growth, which can make aquatic species or humans that eat them ill.

In humans, this illness can range in severity from simple skin rashes to neurological effects and liver disease.

Excess nitrogen can have serious impacts on both the environment and human health Excess nitrogen can also pollute the air and negatively impact human health, visibility and plant growth.

Nitrogen can undergo reactions in

the air to form the harmful compounds ozone and ammonia, which impair human breathing and can cause respiratory difficulties (especially in those with asthma). This can also fall back to the Earth’s surface and harm forests, soils and aquatic eco-systems.

Even though it is often overlooked, nitrogen pollution has a huge impact on human health and, through its impact on plant health, growth of the economy. Like the carbon compounds we hear so much about, nitrogenous gases contribute to climate change – but nitrous oxide (NO) is 300 times more effective

at trapping heat than CO 2. Mitigating the impact of nitrogen pollution on our planet’s health and future warming requires policy changes on a global scale. However, with improved research and understanding of nitrogen pollution on the environment, this change is more than possible.

Nitrogenous gases contribute to climate change

Think small

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N June 2019, headlines emerged, estimating that the average person consumes a credit card’s worth of plastic every week. The culprit? Microplastics – defined as any plastic piece less than five millimetres in diameter. They often end up in our oceans, lurking everywhere from beach sand to deep sea sediment.

It’s no secret that our world has a huge ocean pollution problem.

However, a potential new superstar has joined the fight against microplastics: tiny self-propelling microrobots that ‘swim’ around

Catherine Nock talks about a tiny solution to the big microplastics problem and capture plastic pieces from water.

It's no secret that our world has a huge ocean pollution problem These robots have two main properties: they are photocatalytic (involving a chemical reaction accelerated by sunlight) and magnetic. When sunlight hits the mini-bot, the photocatalytic material, bismuth vanadate, kicks off a chemical reaction that creates

movement through water. This allows the robots to move around and attach to the surface of plastic pieces, before degrading them by accelerating the natural breakdown process of plastics in sunlight. A magnetic coating then allows scientists to collect their mini-bots – along with all the microplastics they have gathered.

They are photocatalytic and magnetic

The microbots can attach to four different types of plastic Pioneering the study is chemist Martin Pumera from the Czech University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague. Lab experiments conducted by Pumera’s team showed that the microrobots can attach to four different types of plastic; after one week of light exposure, they had reduced the mass of the plastic they had captured.

A wastewater treatment plant will be the site of the first realworld test: an attempt to effectively treat the problem at one of its sources by removing microplastics before they gush into the ocean. Thanks to their size, the bots are also incredibly versatile, with potential to be used throughout the world. Although still a proof of concept, these star-shaped microrobots offer a firm proof of hope for a world that has a big plastic clean-up to do.

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I

27 SEPT 2021 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT

England vs India - the unresolved series Stanley Murphy-Johns recaps the highs and lows of the unconcluded test series

NCREDIBLE individual performances, strange decision making and ever-changing conditions made the recent Test Series between England and India extremely entertaining from the first test to the last. I, like many others, was hugely disappointed when the final test was called off, simply because I thought it had the potential to be a thrilling conclusion to an excellent five match example of the intriguing nature of Test Cricket.

However, before I analyse the highs and lows of the tests, I would like to add that I found a significant degree of the media coverage around the cancelled fifth match to be utterly distasteful. The Indian Cricket contingent was in the UK for roughly two months, and thoroughly entertained cricket fans throughout their time here. Therefore, to suggest (as some did) that they should somehow not be given the series win due to it being their backroom staff who contracted Covid-19, I found deeply strange and unsporting. Now onto the cricket!

It is important to note that this test began with a draw, and yet still it had my full attention. I was drawn to the idea that England had gotten away with one, but they were going to come out all guns blazing in the next round.

In truth, the

Image: Brian Minkoff

second test was an extremely depressing affair, outplayed for the most part, with a brief interlude in which Joe Root displayed just a few of the reasons that he’s ranked as the best batsman in the world.

However, even as I watched India’s lower order outplay England’s finest bowlers, and then gazed in horror as our batting order crumbled into nothingness in the second innings, I was still intrigued by the series. Maybe in the third test we would come out swinging…

And then we did.

Maybe in the third test we would come out swinging.

And then we did When India were bowled out for 78 I told myself not to get my hopes up, it was too early in the game, and we all know how shaky openers can be. Then, at the end of the first day, Burns and Hameed sat in the mid-40s looking confident, I allowed myself some excitement.

What followed was truly awesome, to win by an innings and 76

runs is significant, but to do it against a team who have severely outplayed you for the two preceding games was even better. As such, I went into the fourth with high hopes, and for a while England lived up to the expectation, giving themselves a 100-run lead going into what would prove to be the final innings of the series.

India fought back with a dogged intensity of a championship boxer going through the motions, each punch was measured, and each counter was avoided smoothly.

They cruised to victory with a grace which even as a disappointed England fan, I had to admire.

The final test could have been great, it could have initiated a response from England similar to the third, but I think the more likely scenario would have been a tensely fought

Image: John Sutton

India win, similar to the 4th. But that of course, is just a guess.

India fought with the dogged intensity of a championship boxer going through the rounds Each test had its outstanding performers, but over the series I think it’s quite difficult to look past Joe Root as the player of the series.

At times I felt as though he was dragging England into the competition by the scruff of their necks, refusing to allow the looming defeat in the first match, and the actual defeat in the second become too embarrassing for his team.

Scoring an astonishing 564 runs in four matches, his numbers were more than double that of the next English batsman on the list, Jonny Barstow with 184. In spite of this though, I struggle to find reason to tip him as player of the series because in spite of his best efforts, England were still defeated.

On the contrary, the efforts of Rohit Sharma with the bat and Jasprit Bumrah with the ball were magnificent at times, and they did manage to bring their team to victory. Bumrah especially is fascinating to watch; his motion alone was intriguing, (how on earth does he generate a 90mph swing ball off a stuttered run?) but beyond his run up, his numbers also didn’t lie, taking 18 wickets in the series for an

average of 20 runs per innings.

I mentioned strange decisions in the introduction, so I feel it’s important that I mention the elephant in the room: the decision to leave out Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian off-spinner, with over 400 test wickets to his name. This is not to say that Jadeja (the Indian spinner who was picked) had an awful series, or in fact that India necessarily needed Ashwin, considering they still managed to win, but it was certainly odd. The assumption seemed to be that Kohli and Ashwin do not like each other, and that something must be going on behind the scenes, because to leave out a player who has proven they can score runs and take wickets at this level is unusual to say the least.

On the English side of the dressing room, the top order remains a weakness, the reshuffled Hameed-Burns partnership certainly appears stronger than some of the recent opening partnerships England have fielded, but it is still far from reliable. This will surely be a major concern for Root and the selection team going into the Ashes later this year. If they are unable to fix the issue in time, then Root, Stokes, Malan and Pope, will all find themselves at the crease far earlier than they would like, as has been the case a lot in recent times.

There were certainly promising moments during the series from an English perspective, but whether there were enough, remains to be seen.

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Transfer window recap

Harry Richards runs through this summer's football transfer window

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HE dust is now settling on one of the most extraordinary transfer windows in footballing history. The COVID-19 pandemic may have made the 2020 summer window less bombastic, but it took just one summer for some clubs to get back to normal . For example, Premier Clubs have spent around £1.04bn on 103 players this summer according to Sky Sports.

It took just one summer for some clubs to get back to normal That is not to say that the pandemic has not had an impact, even among the elite. Liverpool have publicly stated they cannot justify spending sprees on the level of United, City, or Chelsea. For Barcelona and Inter, clubs that have been mismanaged financially over multiple seasons, the pandemic has had more drastic consequences.

Inter were forced to sell star assets Lukaku and Hakimi. Barcelona’s failure to move on expen-

sive deadweight like Coutinho and Dembele left them unable to afford the renewal of Messi’s contract, making way for the greatest player of all time to leave for free. They have also been forced to sell valuable assets like Firpo, Emerson and Todibo just to keep the club running. There are rumours Ansu Fati and Pedri might follow next summer.

The big story though, has to be Messi. The impact of his free transfer has already been seen with Kylian Mbappe’s refusal to sign a new deal at PSG, with his heart set on a free transfer to Real Madrid when his deal runs out next summer. Long term contracts are designed to offer long term financial security at the expense of freedom, but players on the level of Mbappe and Messi do not need that security anymore.

We have seen the increase of player power in other sports already, such as LeBron James “taking his talents to South Beach.” But the deal for Messi, and the prospective one for Mbappe, could be a similarly instrumental moment in football. The story of Harry Kane this summer, who has been forced to stay at Tottenham despite his wishes, will be a cursory tale to players of what happens

when you leave your fate in the hands of your club.

Kane’s transfer saga is easily paralleled with that of Jack Grealish. Both played at their respective clubs since they were children, performed well at the EUROs for England this summer, and wanted a move to City. But only Grealish will deck out in sky blue this season, thanks to his £100m release clause. Kane, meanwhile, is left bemoaning his gentleman’s agreement that Daniel Levy did not honour.

Speaking of Grealish, it will be interesting to see how Aston Villa’s approach to replacing him fares.

CEO Christian Purslow took to social media to explain his sale, stating that Grealish’s contributions will be split between three new signings: his creativity from Buendia, his assists from Leon Bailey, and his goals from Danny Ings. This may be reminiscent of Tottenham’s unsuccessful replacement of Gareth Bale with Lamela, Soldado and Eriksen in 2014, but the logic, on paper, is sound. If Villa can maintain their mid-table position whilst removing their reliance on one (wantaway) player, this window will be a success.

It says a lot about this window that Manchester United, or Cristiano Ronaldo, have not yet been men-

tioned. In addition to the signings of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane, United have undoubtedly strengthened over the summer – shown by their place at the top of the table after five games. Although there remain serious questions over their midfield and goalkeeping positions, this summer’s window should elevate United much closer to the level of City and Chelsea (as well as Liverpool, where the return of Van Dijk might prove more impactful than most of this summer’s transfers).

Crowning the “winner” of the transfer window from such little evidence so far is close to impossible, but a dark horse might be Bayern’s signing of manager Julian Nagelsmann in April. Players may get more attention, but even the best players need functional systems to win trophies – look at Messi and Barcelona in the last few seasons. It may be a honeymoon, but Nagelsmann’s Bayern have scored 38 times in eight games. Do not discount his team, the one everyone is forgetting, from spoiling the big spenders’ party at the Champions League final in St. Petersburg in May.

Will the Hamilton-Verstappen rivalry boil over?

George Edwards looks ahead to the rest of the 2021 F1 season

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HE 2021 Formula One season has given us the most exciting title fight since Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton battled it out in 2016. Now, as then, the fight has created a rift between F1 fans, with the sup-

Image: LG

porters of Hamilton and his current rival Max Verstappen, arguing constantly on social media. It’s all to play for in the constructor’s championship, and only five points separating Verstappen in first and Hamilton in second in

the driver’s championship. So far, Verstappen has won seven races, and Hamilton four, with both drivers having had their share of bad races too.

In Azerbaijan, Verstappen crashed and Hamilton, after missing turn one at the restart, finished 15th. In Britain, we had the first of two Ham-Ver crashes, in which Verstappen flew into the barriers after the drivers bumped tyres going into Copse corner. Hamilton went on to win but was penalised for the incident, though this still caused a wave of arguing between fans online.

The Belgian GP was also one to remember, with delays due to heavy rain before the ‘race’ was held for three laps under a safety car. As a result, drivers were given half points.

After an amazing home win in the Netherlands for Verstappen, the Italian GP ended in misery. After a collision at turn two halfway through the race, Verstappen’s car mounted Hamilton’s, and without the halo, the outcome for Hamilton could have been far worse. Once again, this fuelled arguments across the internet, with Verstappen being penalised two penalty points and a three-place grid drop for the next race.

The collisions between the two drivers have fuelled mistrust between the drivers and teams, with neither driver prepared to back down an inch.

With the title rivals separated by a mere fivepoints at the halfway point in the season, let’s look ahead to the eight races left.

The Russian GP can be a snoozefest. It’s not a great track for overtaking, especially with the long turn three. In the seven years since Sochi was reintroduced into F1, Mercedes have won every race, so it would make sense to place your

bets on Hamilton or Bottas to win again…

The Turkish GP is harder to predict, especially as it’s a rather new circuit. It has several tight corners after straights, which are very good for overtaking if you can hold the car steady.

It will be interesting to see how the rivals react when racing side-by-side through these. Mercedes have always performed well at the US and Brazilian GPs so it won’t come as a surprise to see Hamilton on the top step of the podium at both. But, as we have seen, Red Bull are faster this season, especially in the corners.

Between these two races is the Mexican GP, which often gives us a great race. In 2019, Hamilton and Bottas sandwiched Vettel’s Ferrari on the podium. However, with its many tight and sweeping corners, more downforce is needed to ensure the car turns in well, so we may see Verstappen winning it this year.

After the Brazilian GP, it becomes even harder to predict what will happen, especially as the immediate race after is still to be confirmed.

Then the second to last race is being held at an entirely new circuit in Saudi Arabia. However, the Abu Dhabi GP is often a blinder to wrap up the season. We can expect to see a great battle for the title if neither Hamilton nor Verstappen has already run away with it.

Personally, I favour Hamilton over Verstappen as the more experienced and overall stronger driver, though it’s clear that Verstappen has so far had a better season. As the pressure has mounted, Mercedes seem to have made more mistakes.

Who can forget Bottas’ Monaco pit stop where it took them 43 hours to remove a tyre they’d managed to wedge on while under pressure from Red Bull?

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SPORTS EDITOR:

Oscar Young

Raducanu’s triumph

Archie Rucker

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F there was ever a British sporting success to whip the nation into a frenzy, your mind wouldn’t immediately turn to a relatively unknown, unfancied 18-year-old, A-Level graduate. Last week, Emma Raducanu became the first qualifier in tennis Open Era history to win a Grand Slam singles title. The British nation has always loved a hero, almost as much as it loves a villain, which can be extremely daunting as the England Euros team found out earlier in the year. Fortunately, Raducanu held her nerve exceptionally throughout the process, showing maturity and resilience far beyond her youthful years.

Born in Toronto, Canada, in November 2002 to a Chinese mother and Romanian father, Raducanu holds dual citizenship of both the UK and Canada, and also retains her mother’s fluency in Mandarin. Her tennis idols growing up were Simona Halep

and Li Na – both renowned for their mental strength, something she clearly has in abundance.

It must seem a lifetime ago that A-Levels were Raducanu’s biggest priority, as she has now not only triumphed in the US Open, but also won the $2.5 million prize that goes with it. Her A* in maths must be somewhat of an afterthought now.

Truly, Raducanu has the potential to become the future face of not only British tennis, but British sport in its entirety

You could be excused for thinking that this year’s final might have been slightly lacking in the quality and star-power of previous years considering Raducanu and her teenage opponent Leylah Fernandez made up the first ever final of two unseeded players. However, this

was certainly not the case. The match was mainly built upon both players’ baseline stroke playing. The refreshing aspect of women’s tennis is that there are normally fewer aces per match leading to far more competitive and engaging rallies. The sheer power and precision of the game was breath-taking, with Raducanu carefully building points before laying down a trademark, ruthless win. Although Fernandez ended up on the wrong side of a 4-6, 3-6 loss, she can be extremely proud of her efforts as the match was much closer than the score line suggests. Numerous times the momentum ebbed and flowed as she got off to a rapid 2-0 start only for Raducanu to break back and secure the first set. In addition, as the title was seemingly bound toward London and as British nerves were reaching a breaking point, Fernandez conjured up another mini comeback on Raducanu’s serve. However, fate would perhaps smile on the Brit as a medical timeout seemed

to reset the momentum and she was able to secure the match with an ace.

To say Raducanu’s US Open title was a huge boost to not only women’s tennis but British tennis as a whole would be a massive understatement. The Lawn Tennis Association have since made a formal £20 million request for further government funding in grassroot tennis. They referenced the incredible viewing figures for the final. Channel Four had a viewing peak of 9.2 million people and at one stage dwarfed the 7.9 million people who watched the entirety of BBC’s 2021 Wimbledon coverage.

This does not even include Amazon Prime, who later reported that the match was the most streamed tennis match ever played on their service. Furthermore, it was reported that 48 per cent of the total audience population were 16 to 34-year-olds, which will only benefit British tennis further. Quite rightly, Raducanu has received the plaudits of

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countless celebrities and sports stars, with impressive names such as the Queen and the Prime Minister topping the list. However, perhaps the most poignant of Image: EUWRFC those was her “courtside cheerleader,” Tim Henman, who was with Raducanu for much of her US Open journey. If you watch the glorious winning moment again, you might notice that the first person she looks at in disbelief is Tim himself. Since then, Tim has made sure to note that he believes that his trainee is the “real deal” and not just a “flash in the pan.”

What Tim further picks up on is the outstanding role model that she has the ability to become. Despite the circumstances, the audience was treated to an eloquent, thoughtful and most importantly, honest report on the previous three weeks. Truly, Raducanu has the potential to become the future face of not only British tennis, but also of British sport in its entirety.

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