42: SEEK

Razz

University of Exeter's Arts, Culture and Lifestyle Magazine

Editor’s Notes Consciously or not, we are all seeking something. Whether it be success, more friends, higher grades, a happier family, or a specific job prospect, all of us are in the active pursuit of something. In this edition of RAZZ, our writers have reflected on what it means to be in this state of constant pursuit, and have shared their stories of how being bold enough to consciously seek opportunities can be positively life changing.

Whatever stage of life you’re in, going into your first year at university or your last, I hope in these pages you’ll find resonance or inspiration to keep going and keep seeking. There’s a place for everyone, and even though at the start of beginning somewhere new it can feel daunting and isolating at times, you will find belonging if you seek it.

And the doors to RAZZ are always open!

Lastly, I want to say a huge thank you to all our wonderful writers and contributors, for making this edition possible, and to everyone on the RAZZ Committee who has helped along the journey. Special thanks go to our Deputy Editors, Em Hamblin and Elena Ingram Medina; our Copy Editors, Nathan Steward and Lucy Verdier; our Creative Directors, Dharma Austin and Phillipa Bailey; and our Assistant Creative Directors, Lillian Gibbs and Katie Matthews. The team have all worked incredibly hard over the summer to get ‘Seek’ ready for you to read, so from everyone: enjoy!

Isabella Wartski, Print Editor and Co-President

Cover art by Sadhbh Holden

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What you seek is also seeking you. What happens when we seek our creative impulses and let them flourish? It has been such a joy to read through what our RAZZ writers have creatively sought in this edition, and I am so excited to see what the next year brings!

Em Hamblin, Deputy Print Editor To seek is to demand something of the world; to know that the world is made of a million fragments of greatness which are just one jump away. Buoyed by our fantastic writers and illustrators, I hope you find inspiration in this edition of RAZZ. A new theme, a new year, a new start – there’s no better time to seek out everything you want from the world!

Elena Ingram Medina, Deputy Print Editor Stepping into the Creative Director’s shoes with ‘Seek’ has been such a delightful start to RAZZ this year. I hope this edition reflects fresh energies, encouraging readers to seek out new opportunities. I am so happy with the overall design, and it could not have been done without the talents of Phillipa, Katie and Lillian in my creative team (so thank you!)

Dharma Austin, Creative Director In this edition of RAZZ, we have explored what it means to seek.

From a creative standpoint this has been so interesting to envision and to see people’s different interpretations. From the spiritual, to the adventurous, to the curious, we are all attempting to find something.

We hope these pages inspire you to keep seeking!

Phillipa Bailey, Creative Director Illustrations by Katie Matthews

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contents 6-9 Meet The Commitee

10 Societies to Seek

11 Autumn in Exeter: The Mixtape

12-13 Seeking a voice in Student Media

14-15 Summer Seeking; Travel Stories

16-17 Creative Writing

18 Seeking Something Better

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19 Unexpected Friendships

20-21 Question for the Culture: Who's going out?

22-23 Nuture-U

contributors Amber Bragg Ciara Barton Dharma Austin Elena Ingram Medina Eliza Clark Elizabeth Grace Strassheim Em Hamblin Freya Williams Isabella Wartski

Jay Weaver Jessica Okelo Katie Matthews Lilian Gibbs Lucy Facer Lucy Verdier Nathan Steward Nina Warren Phillipa Bailey

Illustrations by Phillipa Bailey 5

MEET THE COMMITTEE Isabella Wartski - Print Editor / Co-President.

Course and year: History of Art and English, 3rd year What’s something you’ve enjoyed seeking at Exeter?

I’ve enjoyed seeking community and new friends that have become like family at Exeter.

A favourite artwork: Man and his Soul, Herman Wald (2011).

Lily Smith - Online Editor / Co-President Course and year: English, 3rd year What does seek mean to you?

To keep moving forward and to reach higher.

A favourite artwork: Brat by Charli XCX. Elena Ingram Medina - Deputy Print Editor Course and year: English, 3rd year What does seek mean to you?

Opportunity and hopefulness, the mindset that there is always something out there worth exploring.

Current favourite book: The Picture of Dorian Grey.

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Em Hamblin - Deputy Print Editor Course and year: English, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

A newfound perspective and appreciation for university life and all the beautiful things that Exeter has to offer amid the chaos of my final year. I’m excited to slow down and take it all in for the last time!

Current favourite book: Crush - Richard Siken’s poetry.

Lucy Facer - Deputy Online Editor Course and year: English, 3rd year What does seek mean to you?

To try to look at things from a creative perspective and find enjoyment in discovering interesting media, books and music.

Current favourite book: Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides.

Eliza Clark - Deputy Online Editor Course and year: Drama, 3rd year What does seek mean to you?

Everything good is waiting out there for you to just actively discover it!

A favourite artwork: Pierrot in red, Rey Camoy.

Dharma Austin - Creative Director Course and year: Geography, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I want to seek new opportunities and make the most of my third year at Exeter :)) A favourite artwork: Encontrar el contemplador, Tomas Sanchez (2005).

Phillipa Bailey - Creative Director Course and year: Biological Sciences, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I’m seeking deeper knowledge around immunology and new quiet nature spots to reset in.

A favourite artwork: Ponies in a Sandpit, Sir Alfred James Munnings (1909).

Katie Matthews - Assistant Creative Director Course and year: English and Communications, 3rd year What does seek mean to you?

Searching out new and interesting opportunities, staying present, and exploring the world around me.

Current favourite book: What You Are Looking For is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama.

Illustrations by Lillian Gibbs

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Lillian Gibbs - Assistant Creative Director Course and year: Natural Sciences, 3rd year What’s something, at Exeter, that you’ve enjoyed seeking?

All the different beaches you can reach from Exeter, year round.

Current favourite book: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Nathan Steward - Copy Editor Course and year: English and Creative Writing, 2nd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I hope to seek more opportunities and inspirations to write outside of my course.

Current favourite book: East of Eden by John Steinbeck.

Lucy Verdier - Copy Editor Course and year: Sociology, 3rd year What does seek mean to you?

Keeping an open mind and pushing myself out of my comfort zone.

Current favourite book: Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang.

Julie Terlinden-Ruhl - Outreach Officer Course and year: Geography, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I’m seeking a more balanced lifestyle in my final year at Exeter and hoping to contribute and be a part of a project that matters to me.

A favourite artwork: Le rêve sensible à l’état pur, JeanMichel Folon.

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Lisette Reed - Treasurer Course and year: English and Film & Television Studies, 3rd year What’s something, at Exeter, that you’ve enjoyed seeking?

New creative opportunities like watching a new film or seeing one of the exhibitions at the Exeter Phoenix or Picturehouse have been a real comfort for me at uni.

A favourite artwork: Babel by Cildo Meireles.

Ella Oxborough - Welfare Officer Course and year: Drama, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I plan to get as much as I can out of every opportunity, but within that, to seek peace in the midst of all the fun and crazy chaos.

Current favourite book: Romans, the Bible.

Amelie Bidston - Social Secretary Course and year: English, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I hope to seek a better sense of purpose and calling; amidst the beauty of doing a course I love, enjoying incredible friendships and writing a novel, it can become so busy and easy to lose sight of my direction!

Current favourite book: The Secret History by Donna Tart.

Megan Thomas - LGBTQ+ Officer Course and year: History, 3rd year What do you hope to seek this year?

I'm seeking to make a difference this year, raising money for charity and advocating for more sober university socials.

Ideal next holiday destination? Amsterdam.

Ciara Barton - Publicity Officer Course and year: Geography, 4th year What do you hope to seek this year?

Having worked in the film industry in London for a year, I am seeking to use these networks to support students with their creative careers.

A favourite artwork: City Of God (2003).

Illustrations by Lillian Gibbs

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Societies to Seek

Societies to Seek Societies to seek

Two RAZZ writers tell of getting involved with RAZZ for the first time, and recommend some fun societies to get stuck into!

There is no better way to start university than seeking new versions of yourself.

The burst of Fresher’s Fair gives endless opportunities, where committees and societies take over the Forum with QR codes, leaflets and banners. Though it might feel daunting, I encourage taking that chance to seek your hidden talent.

that one opportunity with an open mind, and seeing what you can seek within yourself, can create new paths of skills and friends you never thought possible.

In my first year, I wanted to try something different. Having a creative mind was quite out of character for me, with no experience in art, photography or online design skills. I randomly signed up to RAZZ in Freshers’ Week, thinking I would try something spontaneous but probably drop later on. Yet, coming across this society became one of the luckiest decisions I have made at university. Through the committee’s enthusiasm, I gained new skills and met many lovely people in the Media Suite and through socials. My small design interest developed into one of my main passions.

Dharma Austin, Creative Director

I am now going into my third year on the RAZZ committee, and I have never felt more excited. From this experience of seeking new challenges at university, I learned that you don’t need to do everything, but giving yourself

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Illustrations by Dharma Austin

'... you don't need to do everything, but giving yourself that one opportunity with an open mind...'

My biggest piece of advice to any student, Fresher or Fourth Year, is to seek as many societies as you can. Attend taster events, and don’t be afraid to go alone! The society may not be for you, but you will always leave having learned something new, and might even meet a new friend. Going to events can be daunting, so these friendly, laid-back societies may be a good place to start: Open Water Swimming Society Literature Society BodySoc Art Society RAZZ Magazine (obviously) SwiftSoc Harry Styles Society Your course society!

Lucy Verdier, Copy Editor

I Believe You,” Fleet Foxes Autumn in Exeter: “Can “It never got less strange, showing The Mixtape anyone just a bare face / If I don't, RAZZ Print Editor/Co-President Isabella Wartski shares some of her most-listened-to songs to help get you in the mood for the new term ahead and the changing of the seasons.

I wonder which songs you’ve had stuck in your head over summer, and how they shaped your perception of everything around you. Music has the power to transform my day, for better or worse. Sometimes it’s helpful to rest in slower, more melancholic songs that resonate with a low feeling, but before long I know I have to choose to play more uplifting songs that make me feel sunnier.

What we fill ourselves with affects how we view ourselves and others. I hope some of these songs show you that there’s no feeling or experience that you are alone in.

“Motel 6,” River Whyless “And for the first time, I'm terrified of wakin' up alone” Catchy and earnest-feeling, River Whyless hits at a great human fear: loneliness. “i am not who i was,” Chance Peña “Will you love me for who I am, not who I was?”

Gritty but dreamy at the same time, begging the question of how far is too far gone?

well, nothing will change” Ethereal and plucky, inspiring and romanticising courage.

“The Weatherman,” David Beats Goliath “I don't care what the weatherman said, / He doesn't know what's in my head, well / Maybe I like the rain,” Whimsical! Look on the brighter side of everything!

“Orange Blossoms,” Goldford “'Cause I can't think of anything I wanted more / Than to see the colours of my seasons change” Cool and easygoing, like being somewhere beautiful with your favourite people.

“Your Friend,” MUCH MORE “Your face is towards me / Unashamed to call me / Unashamed to call me Your friend” Happy and relaxed, feels like sunlight on your face.

“If I Got It (Your Love Brought It),” Aaron Frazer “If I got the strength to carry on / Or admit when I was wrong / If I got it, ooh, baby, your love brought it” Jazzy and fresh, a groovy reminder that love is the greatest of all!

Illustration by Lillian Gibbs 11

Student MEdia

Seeking a

Voice in

RAZZ Assistant Creative Director Katie Matthews shares her experience of finding courage to write for RAZZ and put her voice out into the world.

What does having a voice mean to you? To me it means learning to share ideas, opinions and information; an opportunity to feel like a part of something special that might just help others seek new things. It could be a creative outlet, a way to fill your time, or a need to articulate your convictions.

As an avid member of both RAZZ and Exeposé, I hope to articulate the significance of student media in my journey at Exeter. If you’re considering getting involved, or even if you have never written in your life, I hope reading this article

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will encourage you. "even if you have never written in your life, I hope reading this article will encourage you".

In my first year, I didn’t make much of an attempt to get involved in student media, believing myself unworthy, my writing dull, and my opinions indistinct. As second year rolled around, I picked up a copy of RAZZ and realised the content was exactly what I needed to hear. Tales of adventures, experiences, opinions and passions. I aligned with the writers’ ideas, entranced by the carefully-crafted art framing every page.

Most importantly, I realised I wasn’t any different from the people who had contributed. I could do the same.

Before long, I joined the committee teams for both RAZZ and Exeposé.

I started writing more for student media, but also just for me. It became a kind of therapy, as I realised that the advice I was writing was often what I needed to hear for myself too.

"It became a kind of therapy, as I realised that the advice I was writing was often what I needed to hear for myself too."

While Exeter doesn’t have Journalism or Graphic Design courses, X-Media provides real experiences for aspiring writers, illustrators and designers. It is a safe space for creatives to develop their portfolio and their style; to learn to edit the work of others, receive feedback on their writing, and learn from and share their experiences.

RAZZ works wonderfully because of the harmony between writers and illustrators. The first time I saw my writing published, I was thrilled by the illustrations someone else had created to go alongside it. This cohesive collaboration is what makes the voices of RAZZ so authentic. It is often what inspires me to put pen to paper, dreaming up my own illustrations, and imagining a

synaesthesia of words, colours and textures. Reading writers’ explorations of the abstract themes of each edition, I find my own perspective shifts, forcing me to reconsider the significance of a single word. "... I find my own perspective shifts, forcing me to reconsider the significance of a single word."

Assisting in the creation of a tangible magazine, a sparkling demonstration of student creativity, is a feeling that cannot be beaten. Being a part of RAZZ has enriched my student experience and reminds me there is so much more to university than mere lectures.

As a committee member for both RAZZ and Exeposé again this year, I can personally vouch for the benefits of seeking out your voice and making some change in your own little corner of the world. If this sounds like something you are interested in, to scratch a creative itch or to help you progress in your career goals, I absolutely encourage you to join RAZZ. Your voice will be heard, and is. wanted, all you need to do is be confident enough to get involved. "... there is so much more to university than mere lectures."

Illustrations by Katie Matthews

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Summer Seeking: Travel Stories

Three RAZZ writers share their experiences of travelling to places old and new; from the village of Mijas, Spain, to the understated getaway of Athens, Greece, to the culture shock of Morocco.

Seeking Adventure in Familiar Places

Settled halfway up a mountain in Spain is Mijas, a village I have known my whole life. Its pristine white houses stretch up and around winding streets, and its viewpoints blend harsh cliff-faces with hills that roll toward the sea. I don’t think I truly appreciated how beautiful it is until this summer though.

Touring two separate friend groups (the perks of living in a prime holiday location), I saw it in a new light. Armed with a digital camera, I saw the village through my friends’ eyes, and everything seemed different. Flower pots lining the walls of every walkway, shops filled with trinkets, bursting with colour; it was uniquely beautiful. There are gems to discover everywhere, even in places you already know.

Parks, villages, seaside walks, museums, cafes; everywhere is full of beauty and opportunity. You can find new joy in familiar places, you just have to seek it out!

Elena Ingram Medina, Deputy Print Editor Photography of Mijas by Elena Ingram Medina

Morocco

Morocco is a beautiful country. Before travelling though, I was warned by many people to ‘be careful’. I, perhaps ignorantly, brushed it aside. I was expecting to have to hold my bag tight and never walk the night alone.

In just fifteen days I learnt that not everywhere in Morocco has progressed;

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there are many homeless, lots of women living without sanitation, and others forced into early marriages and motherhood. Yet, I discovered a whole new world, and realised that different countries progress differently. I changed my perspective on the notion of revealing oneself, realising fashion can be elegant without showing an inch of skin, and how beauty isn’t on the outside at all. It might feel like the fight is over, but for so many freedoms there is still a battle. I would advise anyone to visit Morocco, but to allow yourself to find joy in its different culture.

Katie Matthews, Assistant Creative Director Photography of Morocco by Katie Matthews

Athens: The Understated Getaway

I imagined my Athens trip like Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again; the explorations of Donna before Bill took her on his boat to Kalokairi. The city’s liberating, vibrant atmosphere made my trip every bit as idyllic.

Athens has become an overlooked getaway, since Greece’s islands entice young travellers with the wild nightlife. Yet, Athens is a capital city uniquely complemented by sand, sea and lakes just twenty minute drives apart. Going from the rush and bustle of the city markets to diving into the Vouliagmeni Lake made for the perfect holiday – every moment of action balanced with an equal dose of calm. Plus, dinner with a view doesn’t completely eviscerate your student loan. Many evenings we sipped on Aperol and ate dinners overlooking the acropolis for less than twenty euros each, often followed by night outs spent forgetting that a European shot is double an English one!

Amber Bragg Photography of Athens by Amber Bragg

Illustrations by Phillipa Bailey

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I was born fat and sated with a bellyful of dreams.

Ecstatic, jolly – I only cried in confusion – never understanding, and the tears were sweeter: shiny and new and heavy on my cheeks like opals, or quartz.

Illustrations by Katie Matthews

Then the ache or the memory of a pernicious want – a selfish need beyond hunger, thirst, obligation – carved an expectant palate.

Society dangled a poisoned carrot and batted it against my lip.

Seeking another’s dream is busy work and the pleasure drips and slips into habit, or occupation.

Desire hollows itself and absurdly shakes off its pretty skin like a worm or febrile snake.

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I Seek To Never Seek Again Beneath these new appetites an authentic yearning takes its form like the rich and thickened yeast of a well-baked thought.

What is craved cannot be found In speech or print or pain, nor can it be discovered and stencilled with thin lines on a map.

What we seek is a memory of a dream of an impulse – where there is no impulse – except the vision of our eyes and the duties of our body.

Like an animal, or the sea, I gnaw and bite my chain: knowing that all I seek is to never seek again.

Nathan Steward, Copy Editor

hide and seek A little pink spirit framed by a curly blonde halo, she focused solely on the daisy chain that was laced around her soft, plump fingers.

Every day for the past week or so, she had added three more flowers, for it was a difficult endeavour and she had to pace herself. Now that Mother’s Day had arrived, she silently studied her work. Most of the petals had curled up and browned, their fixings limp. The circle was complete and would fit her mother’s head because, when she tried it on herself, it slid straight to her shoulders.

A boy, bloody knees and dirty hands, was peeping from his usual position in the ivy-bound tree. He was too young to know that this was a poisonous perch, and yet older than the girl, for he had flashes of a screaming baby. She lived on the other side of the fence and had been carrying around daisies for the past week. Surely they were dead, he reasoned, cut off from life the second their stem was snapped up from the grass. Clearly, she didn’t know this yet, as she skipped towards the house, crown in hand.

Rosie will be a vet. She’ll care for puppies and lambs and endure people who own stick insects.

It’s an evening in August and we’re in the park. She’s telling me about a boy who brought one into the practice, holding a terrarium in his arms like something he’d never forgotten.

Before Rosie finishes the story, I’m interrupting with guesses about how it ends – like that there was no stick insect, it’s just a stick, and the boy lost something he didn’t have in the first place.

She describes how the vet took a look inside the jar of rocks and fern, and when he reached out to touch the stick insect, the thing collapsed into pieces. For weeks, somewhere, a boy watched, fed and watered something he thought was just being still. We’re laughing about this now— as if we’ve never whispered into our clasped hands when no-one else was in the room.

On our walk home, midges crowd under the lampposts and make the night air look like television static. Under the bridge, the river runs brown and quiet. A fisherman stands with water to his waist, his arms as wide as a wish. He can’t see a thing.

Elizabeth Grace Strassheim

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Illustrations by Katie Matthews

Beliefs

Eliza Clark, Deputy Online Editor

Unexpected Friendships Two RAZZ writers tell their stories of making friends in new places, and connecting with people unexpectedly.

Starting university completely altered my perception of friendships. They went from being something I had, to something I had to actively choose to keep. It forced me out of my comfort zone, having to constantly be open to having a conversation with a stranger, but ultimately, every friendship starts with that leap of faith.

Most of my closest friends and I met each other at house parties or before going out. Even though we’d chosen completely different courses to study and societies to be a part of, university has a way of bringing you friends from unconventional places, people you wouldn’t ordinarily cross paths with. When you find these friendships, cherish them, and you’ll find that the intentional nature of having to maintain these connections after you find them is what makes them so strong.

Jessica Okelo Illustrations by Lillian Gibbs

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‘Mega ballz’ was what I wrote on the second side of the cup, capitalising each word and curving them to encapsulate an Among Us astronaut in the centre. I engaged all my spontaneity and none of my brain as I followed on from earlier writing, ‘cringe or based’ on the first side.

Creatively exhausted by another Student Guild event the day prior, I focused more on answering the questions vehemently inquired by the person opposite me. Their top radiated with a soft, natural green and perfectly counterbalanced my all-black outfit. ‘What’s your favourite colour?’ and ‘what shows and games do you like?’ were concerningly answered with ‘purple’, ‘Bojack Horseman’, and ‘Dark Souls’.

Two years later, I have a new favourite person and my mum still bewilderingly questions why they asked me to be their boyfriend when how we met is described for the tenth time.

Jay Weaver (YouTube: The Tenth Letter @thetenthletter178)

Seeking Something Better Three RAZZ writers share their experiences seeking healthier habits at university, being renewed and finding calm within the chaos of student life.

Since getting into the habit of bringing a hot brew and a book to bed, I have noticed that my sleep quality has vastly improved. Herbal teas are the simplest of remedies, known to relax the mind and muscles, and support digestion.

A criminally underrated distraction technique, quality reading closes our brains’ ‘real world’ tabs, and stimulates our imagination for dreaming, allowing our subconscious to perceive and problemsolve the day’s events more easily. TP nights (and stressful all-nighters!) are great, but life can be even better with a healthier, quieter routine that recharges you for the rest of the week!

Eliza Clark, Deputy Online Editor I was almost too afraid to tell anyone I was starting university. I worried that by the time the news travelled, I would’ve already dropped out. Two years prior, I had been diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, making me too unwell to study or work. University would be a leap of faith; it could build my confidence, or shatter it. Make or break. I decided I had nothing to lose by trying, by believing that fatigue was not final. I told everyone: I am going to Exeter. By doing just that, I know now that I was made, not broken.

Nina Warren

Embarking on a new life in an uncharted city is overwhelming.

The monumental pressure to get everything right; finding ‘your people,’ adjusting to demanding workloads, or merely avoiding FOMO, can sometimes make it feel like an elaborate juggling routine. Whilst I do not claim to be the expert of all things Exeter, I have found slowing the staggering pace of student life and making time for myself gives me more stability. So, as a fresher or returner, throw yourself into the unexpected this September, but also take your time, and don’t be too discouraged by things not going to plan.

Freya Williams

Illustrations by Phillipa Bailey

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Questions for the culture

Question for the Culture: Who’s Going Out?

Question for the Culture: Who’s Going Out? RAZZ Deputy Online Editor Lucy Facer shares her experiences of the ups and downs of clubbing culture at university.

Before I started uni, I was probably the last person you’d expect to find in a club. Being crammed into a sweaty room full of intoxicated people whilst being deafened by 2010s pop seemed to combine everything I disliked. Aside from an obligatory night out to celebrate my A-level results, I found the glorification of clubbing bizarre and never expected it to become a regular pastime in my early 20s. However, going into my third year at Exeter, I feel that I’ve frequented Fever and made enough regrettable decisions in Timepiece to appreciate both sides of clubbing culture at university.

"I found the glorification of clubbing bizarre and never expected it to become a regular pastime in my early 20s."

I have mixed feelings about how clubbing has shaped my university experience. I’m grateful to have made memories with my wonderful friends, occasionally clubbing into the early hours. Some of my favourite moments

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with them have been doing our makeup together for a Cavern Saturday, or sobering up in Subway at 2 am. Plus, as a queer person, I had my first romantic experiences with women in clubs, long before dating felt like an option.

However, I attribute my positive experiences to surrounding myself with people I am comfortable with, rather than going out itself. (If someone can’t accept you when you’d rather go to the pub or have a study session, do you truly want to be friends with them?)

I also favour the argument that balance is key. No amount of Timepiece tickets is worth the stress of pulling an all-nighter on an essay to repent for your clubbing sins. Equally, the increasing price of drinks and club entry means that having the financial freedom to dance the night away is a privilege that is afforded to fewer students.

“I attribute my positive experiences to surrounding myself with people I am

Questions for the culture comfortable with” As a fresher, it’s understandable to be apprehensive about going out with the people you’ve been allocated to live with only days before. There were definitely occasions where I should have kept resolute boundaries and stayed in. Know your limits and trust your instincts if something feels off.

Another criticism levelled at routine clubgoers is that it’s an excuse for irresponsible drinking, a perspective I admittedly find difficult to refute. In many cases, alcohol and nightlife are presented as an intrinsic part of university. After waking up a few times with hangxiety and a hazy memory, it’s easy to understand why many in our generation are embracing “sober-curious” life or abstaining from alcohol entirely.

I reassessed my relationship with alcohol after noticing that I was finding it harder to

bounce back from heavy nights out – it was affecting my sleep quality, my mood, and my physical wellbeing. For me, alcohol was a crutch to feel at ease in social situations, particularly around big groups of people I didn’t know well.

However, the way my anxiety always peaked after those nights signalled that I could not sustain that lifestyle.

"For me, alcohol was a crutch to feel at ease in social situations, particularly around big groups of people I didn’t know well."

If you find that nights out aren’t feeling so fun anymore, it’s worth honestly reflecting on whether going out serves a healthy purpose. While I haven’t cut out clubbing or alcohol entirely, it has been hugely beneficial to take breaks for weeks at a time and not to pressure myself to go to every social that I’m invited to. There’s no shame in dipping after pre-drinks!

Many societies, from sports to student media, offer plenty of non-clubbing socials if the clubbing scene isn’t for you. I tried pottery painting with Benchball last year.

The campus cinema is another budgetfriendly option, as are walks around Exeter’s many green spaces. "... it has been hugely beneficial to take breaks for weeks at a time and not to pressure myself to go to every social that I’m invited to."

And remember, if you’re concerned about a friend’s (or your own) alcohol use, don’t hesitate to reach out to the University’s wellbeing services.

Illustrations by Lillian Gibbs

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About the Project We are Nurture-U: a huge national research project that wants to find better ways to support university students with their mental health and wellbeing.

There are 6 universities taking part – Exeter, Cardiff, King’s College London, Oxford, Newcastle, and Southampton. The project is funded by the Medical Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Ways to Get Involved We are currently running lots of different projects to help people with their wellbeing! Here are the different ways you can get involved: 1) Our Survey: From the start of Welcome Week, we will be running our Autumn survey!

You can help us learn how students are feeling, what you find stressful, what you find helpful, and how this may vary. You can win up to £200 shopping vouchers by taking part!

2) Our Trials: We are testing a new, self-help app, that has already shown to reduce worry and build confidence in young people, different types of internet CBT, and our ‘Bounce Back’ workbook for resilience. You can get support for your wellbeing, and earn shopping vouchers for taking part!

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3) Our Wellbeing Toolkit! We are also currently testing our new wellbeing toolkit, which helps you track your mental health over time and get the right support when you need it. Our toolkit has been successfully used in the NHS and is also being tested for students in Canada, and we’ve designed it with students to make it specific to the Exeter experience. Again, there’s a chance to win up to £200 shopping vouchers by giving us feedback on if it works for you.

4) Our Mental Health Literacy course: We are testing a new course to educate students about all things mental health, including ways to support yourself and your friends.

5) Work with Us! Our Student Advisory Group are involved in all stages of the project. More than 200 students have helped us so far with many parts of the project, including: choosing the name, designing the logo, co-designing the toolkit and therapies, working on the social media, publishing our research findings and much more. We are always recruiting for new student advisors, and pay £12 an hour.

Please find out more at our website www.nurtureuniversity.co.uk, our Instagram @nurture_uni, or email nurture-u@exeter.ac.uk if you have any questions.

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