Interview
Lifestyle
Comment Ben Bradshaw
Travel Special
Page 7
Page 16
Interview
Sport
Rob Baxter
Exeposé
Monday June 7 2010 Issue 567 www.exepose.com
Page 21
Free
Exeter loses Top 10 status
Ellie Busby News Editor
EXETER has dropped out of the top 10 universities in the UK. The University of Exeter was placed 12th out of 113 institutions across the country in The Times Good University Guide 2011. The University was ranked ninth place last year and has now fallen three places, being displaced by York, Lancaster and Edinburgh. Professor Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor of the University, has responded positively to the news. He stated, “I am very happy with top dozen.” The Good University Guide ranks the universities by eight categories, such as research quality, degree results, and student satisfaction. From this criteria, it has been recognised that both employability and studentstaff ratio are the University’s weakest areas.
“I am very happy with top dozen” Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor Prof. Steve Smith has informed students that measures are already being taken to improve these issues. The University has employed more staff to even out the unbalanced student-staff ratio. In addition, a specialist in employability has recently been hired to boost employment opportunities for graduates. Smith admitted, “Employability is the key to what we need to change.” Paradoxically, even though Exeter students are achieving high grades, they struggle to get employment after graduation compared to other universities. Regarding this difficulty Smith added, “There seems to be something in the water in Exeter”. The University of Lancaster has soared from 23rd place last year to
10th this year. One of the key reasons for this is the dramatic improvement in graduate employment. Professor Steve Smith told Exeposé that Exeter university has hired a senior member of Lancaster’s employment team in order to improve our low graduate employment rate.
Photo: Henry White
Times League Table 2011
1,000 points 1. Oxford 965 2. Cambridge 3. Imperial College 831 12 Exeter
723
The University maintains student employability has actually risen during the recession, unlike many other universities. Stuart Franklin, Director of Communications at the University, said, “We think there is still much more we can do to get students thinking earlier about the jobs they want to do when they graduate. We are beginning a big new push on this.” Speculation has mounted over the effect of the building work on the league table. Richard Stearn, Guild President, said, “The building work has had no meaningful effect on the data at this time. Student satisfaction has only dropped by 1%, which is where we would expect to see the effect of significant disruption.” A first year English student said, “The temptation is to blame the building works instead of confronting the real issues at heart.” A Masters student said, “Exeter has made huge ground in the four years I’ve been here but I feel we almost peaked too soon. Maybe we’re not quite as good as we thought we were.” A total sum of £275 million has been spent on improving campus facilities, such as the Forum Project. Professor Smith claimed, “I predict once the Forum Project is done, the University will come back up.”
University has acknowledged that employability was the main reason for our drop in Times League Table
2
Exeposé
The Exeter student newspaper
Exeposé, Cornwall House, St German’s Rd, Exeter, Devon, EX4 6TG (01392) 263513
Features Speaks to Sister Helen Prejean, the American activist against capital punishment.
Music Speaks to General Fiasco before their gig in Exeter’s Lemmy, and previews the Libertines’ reunion gig.
Screen Reviews The Brothers Bloom, Sex and the City 2, Death at a Funeral and Lebanon.
VGames Reviews Rockstar’s latest offering, Red Dead Redemption and Final Fantasy Dissidia, explores the life of the console widow, and looks at the retro classic Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Editors Tristan Barclay & Andrew Waller editors@exepose.com
Deputy Editors Rachel Bayne & Jennifer Seymour depeds@exepose.com
News Editors Ellie Busby & Charlie Marchant news@exepose.com
Features Editors Columba Achilleos-Sarll & Anna-Marie Linnell features@exepose.com
Lifestyle Editors Laura Le Brocq & Clare Mullins lifestyle@exepose.com
Music Editors Ellie Bothwell & Ben Murphie music@exepose.com
Books Editors James Henderson & Jacob Moffatt book@exepose.com
Screen Editors Calum Baker & David Brake screen@exepose.com
Arts Editors Rosie Scudder & Ellie Steafel arts@exepose.com
Video Games Editors Daniel Burnage & Alice Scoble-Rees games@exepose.com
Sports Editors Alexander Cook & Andy Williams sport@exepose.com
Photo Editor Henry White photo@exepose.com
Advertising Joanna Bowery j.c.bowery@ex.ac.uk (01392) 263579 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.
June 7 2010
News
Exeposé
Ellie Busby & Charlie Marchant news@exepose.com
Lucky escape in student blaze VC at GM Photo: Alex Owen
Adam Walmesley Senior Reporter
A FREAK fire left a Monkswell Road property unrecognisable, while the female student tenants were enjoying a post-exam celebration in Bude. The blaze destroyed the conservatory, severely damaged the kitchen and living room, and left the whole house with extensive smoke damage. The students were “devastated” and “shocked” by the incident in the Mount Pleasant area of Exeter. No smoke detectors were working properly when the fire was reported on Sunday May 30. Firefighters have since warned that, had the four housemates been in the house and asleep when the fire started, they would have died from smoke inhalation. An electrical fault is presumed to have started the fire several hours after the property was vacated, although the official cause is unknown. Housemates; Alex Owen, Anna Pearson, Gabrielle Richardson and Millie Wigmore were informed by friends that their house was ablaze. “We knew it was bad when the firemen said they didn’t know the study was a study,” they told Exeposé. Millie said the damage to her property was over £4,800. She
Mystery fire in a student house causes severe damage.
added, “My laptop melted rather spectacularly.” Another housemate lost her entire wardrobe of clothes, and two years of university work. Alex described that after washing her singed clothes, they fell to pieces. One of the housemates had student contents insurance, although the others are likely to claim under parents’ house insurance. Devon and Cornwall Fire Service received numerous reports of the fire. Three fire crews attended the scene
around 9.15pm and fought the blaze until 1am, although it was deemed under control by 10.30pm. The fire service urges people to have working smoke detectors, and advise that they are checked regularly. The girls returned to survey the damages the following morning. Alex described the scene as “eerie.” She added, “We’re grateful it didn’t happen at another time, because if we’d been there we could have died.”
Ellie Busby News Editor
VICE CHANCELLOR, Professor Steve Smith, answered challenging questions from students at the Guild General Meeting last week. When asked about the controversial new term date system, Professor Steve Smith declared, “I am not happy with them to be honest.” He claimed that the university has received complaints from dissatisfied students, especially regarding the lack of contact hours in the third term. Prof. Smith predicted that tuition fees would rise to £6,000 by 2013. He stated, “In the long run, we think the cap on tuition fees will come off”, in order to improve facilities to compete with top universities. Gemma Richens, Guild FATO, presented the new Guild budget, and the new Advertising Policy, which gives societies freedom to be sponsored by any group, except those on the Guild Ethical Platform List. A motion, regarding more publicity of Guild Council meetings was passed. Whereas a motion concerning Guild support in the possible event of an Exeter based strike from the University College Union was narrowly declined by one vote. Approximately 50 students attended the meeting.
Minimal disruption
Alex Moss Senior Reporter
STUDENTS have responded well to provisions put in place to minimise the disruption from building work taking place on campus through the exam period. Just over 20 complaints have been lodged during the summer term concerning the impact of construction on study. A majority of the complaints came in May when drilling took place on the basement level of the library. As a consequence, the contractors shifted to a method of non-percussive drilling in an attempt to limit the disruptive effects of work in the Main Library on Streatham Campus. The University has stressed the availability of alternative study spaces in a bid to spread students away from the centre of campus, where building work has escalated through the summer term, and is expected to continue to the completion of the Forum Project. Since work has been started on
the Great Hall and surrounding area, alternative arrangements for the exam period were necessary with the loss of the Great Hall and Lower Exam Hall. Steve Vinall, University Marketing and Communications Manager, said provisions were established in consultation with academic staff and the Students’ Guild. Student responses were generally positive, with one final-year commenting, “The steps taken to limit the noise during exams were effective, I didn’t feel like it was any louder than previous years.” Mr. Vinall pointed to the success of the University’s communication policy, saying, “It is a two-way process and University staff are always willing to listen to the concerns of students, with the aim of resolving issues if at all possible”. While building work is set to continue over the next academic year, the successes of measures taken to limit the disruptions to date have provided for many an effective response to the potential disruption of the massive redevelopment.
Photo: Henry White
Credit Crunch: The old Natwest is demolished
3
Exeposé Week twenty nine Photo: Henry White
Guild Top 3 in UK
THE Students’ Guild has been shortlisted for an NUS award, alongside Exeter student Adam Walmesley, who is in the running for NUS Student Journalist of the Year. After picking up the NUS participation award last year, the Guild has been nominated as one of the top three Student Unions in the country, alongside Northumbria and Anglia Ruskin. Richard Stearn, Guild President, said, “we are absolutely delighted with this nomination as it is a vindication of all the hard work that everyone has put in over the last year.” Stearn was keen to highlight the fact that “every aspect of the Guild has something to show for what has been a great year, from record squash signups to doubled Advice Unit usage, from vast voter registration to a brand new enterprise, ExeLets.” On top of the Guild’s success, Adam Walmesley has been shortlisted for NUS Student Journalist of the Year having served as News Editor of Exeposé from 2009-2010 along with Alex Moss.
Adam was pleased with the news of his nomination, stating that, “being nominated for a national award is flattering and this is a testament to the work of the whole Exeposé team.”
“It is a vindication of all the hard work that everyone has put in over the last year” Richard Stearn, President
Floella receives peerage
Guild
He also thanked the Guild, “for their ongoing support, despite our tendency towards critical analyses of their actions.” On Adam Walmesley’s achievement, Stearn was full of compliments: “We are very proud of our student media and the shortlisting of Adam represents the brilliance of the students who do it all.” Adam added, “Exeter is rarely a hubbub of activity, so this year I wanted to ensure we delved deeper to uncover the stories that made the headlines.” Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Warwick on July 1 . Photo: Henry White
FLOELLA BENJAMIN, Chancellor of the University and TV presenter, has received a peerage from the Liberal Democrats. Her appointment to the House of Lords was announced on May 28, alongside Floella Benjamin, well-known Lib Dem activist, stated “‘I feel very privileged to be given the opportunity to serve my country in a significant way”.
NUS has recognised the Guild’s active support of student issues.
Students disrupt residents Charlie Marchant News Editor
Students have disrupted many residences with loud noise at night.
Society Awards cancelled
THE Society Awards ceremony was cancelled due to the lack of tickets purchased. The ceremony, due to take place on Saturday June 5, was called off as only 20 tickets were sold. It would seem that the reason for the low ticket sale was the new term date system, as many students have already gone home after exams. The winners will still be announced online, just without a formal event.
Exeter Guild amongst best Student Unions nationally
Craig Browne Reporter
News
STUDENT noise is becoming an ever-increasing problem in Exeter. On May 29, there were reports of students shouting and playing loud music on Vic Street. On adjoining Victoria Road, male students were seen throwing water bombs at passers-by on May 30. Another report noted a recent spate of street noise in the St. James Ward, particularly along Pennsylvania Road. As well as these off-campus reports, student noise has been affecting residents on campus. 94% of students on St Luke’s campus and 79% of student respondents at Lopes Hall on the Streatham campus claimed that noise irritated them most between 11pm and 7am. Chris Jennings, a first year student currently living on campus in Lafrowda, commented that, “On Lemmy nights or student nights in town, I get people screaming at each other or into other flats at about 2am - it’s annoying on nights when I’m trying to sleep”. Students recently received an e-mail from Steve Smith, Vice Chancellor, emphasising the severity of the issue. Professor Smith warned that, “The University
values its relationship with local residents and expresses a zerotolerance approach to anti-social behaviour”. After sending the email, Professor Smith commented that, “It was a rare email to send out and we don’t like doing that. It is a shame that one student party undermines all the good work that students do”. In response to the noise problems, the University instigated the Zip-It campaign. This was similar to the ‘Sssh’ campaign led by other universities but intended to be more memorable in raising noise awareness. Rory Cunningham, University Community Liaison Officer, commented on student’s reactions to the campaign saying, “Our 10 Student Community Wardens spoke to approximately 800 students throughout the campaign week. The vast majority spoke in support of the campaign and relayed their own messages about noise disruption.” Matt Richards, Guild Welfare Officer, says, “The Guild and the University are working in partnership to try and deal with issues such as this.” He reminds students, “to remain aware of the impact they have on the surrounding area and their neighbours, both permanent residents and other students.”
The one and only
CHESNEY HAWKES is returning to Exeter campus this week to perform a free gig. Hawkes will headline a free concert in the Lemon Grove on Monday June 7, and will be supported by The Lasting Days, a Bristol-band formed by former Exeter students. Five campus bands will play a second free gig at the Lemmy on Tuesday June 8. The University has contributed money to these free music gigs as a recognition of the disruption caused by the extensive building works.
City parade for Chiefs
EXETER CHIEFS paraded through Exeter on an open-top bus on Saturday May 29. The City Centre was packed with thousands of proud loyal fans who welcomed the Rugby team with great appreciation and cheering as the bus arrived at Guildhall. See Sports for more information.
30 mile walk for charity
OUT OF DOORS SOCIETY organised a 30 mile charity walk from Torquay to Exeter which took place this weekend. Students walked in aid of the Calvert Trust, a charity that enables those with disabilities to achieve their potential through outdoor adventure activities. Last year the students raised over £500 for charity on their annual walk, and are hoping to match that this year.
4
june 7 2010
News
Rising tensions
Photo: Henry White
FITFINDER, a social networking website set up by a UCL student, has been closed down due to its ‘controversial’ nature. The FitFinder website allows students to spot attactive people around campus and post messages about them on the site. It reached five million hits only four weeks after its launch in April. Richard Mortell, founder of the website and a final-year computer sciences student at University College London, has been fined £300 and was forced to close the website. He has been told that if he fails to pay the fine then his degree will be at risk. UCL was unimpressed with the more sexually explicit posts on the site, and fined Mortell for damaging the university’s reputation. They had received many complaints from other universities, such as London School of Economics, who claimed that it was distracting students from their work. Many students have shown great opposition to the actions taken by UCL. An online petition has been created which around 6,000 people have signed.
£500 compensation
Birks Grange students have their only remaining grass area taken away to make space for crane.
24/7 Library Petition Ninjutsu ejected from AU Lizzie Mackley Senior Reporter
A PETITION to extend Tremough Library’s opening hours to 24/7 on a permanent basis has been signed by nearly 600 students on Exeter’s Cornwall campus. The petition, written by Law student Jungi Shafti, demands that the temporary extension of the library opening hours over the examination period should be made permanent. Although many major universities already have 24 hour library facilities, current opening hours for Tremough Library are limited to 8.45am to midnight on weekdays, and 10am to midnight on weekends. Between Tuesday May 4 and Friday June 11 the limited opening hours were extended to allow students to use the library on a 24 hour basis during the examination period. Jungi Shafti has created a group on Facebook to gain support for a 24/7 service. He argues that, “A centre for students to complete work
Student News FitFinder closed down
Rachel Bayne Deputy Editor
STUDENT annoyance has peaked at Birks Grange as the last available grass area is overshadowed by a giant crane. Builders have diverted the path outside D Block, and have placed a huge crane on the only grass area left at Birks, making living conditions even worse for students. Harry Wingfield, President of Birks Grange, stated, “Although the presence of the building site has been an inevitability since our arrival in September, we are only right to expect more from the University and contractors than to have the last grass area within the vicinity of Birks Grange closed off to us during its most popular hours.” Nigel Hellier, Business Development Director for Cowlins, told Exeposé, that they “have closed off the grassed area outside Birks Hall to allow construction work to be undertaken safely. The tower crane located on site oversails the area, and our Health and Safety Procedures ensure that strict controls are placed on these movements.” Although health and safety is paramount, students have raised questions into why this particular work was not held off until the end of term.
Exeposé
and conduct research is an essential necessity in any further educational institution.” He believes that the limited opening hours of the library makes it difficult for students to complete assignments with ease, and states that reviewing the opening hours would come at a low cost and deliver high benefits for students. Jacob Funnell is one of many students to have signed the petition via Facebook. He posted, “If Exeter really want to compete with Bristol, Bath and the other big south-west universities, a 24 hour library is surely a necessary box to tick.” Tremough Library is one of three libraries at the University of Exeter Cornwall and University College Falmouth (incorporting Dartington College of Arts). The group had already gained support from nearly 600 social network site users, and is continually growing. To show your support search: Tremough Library 24/7 (Petition) on Facebook.
Hannah Sweet Senior Reporter
EXETER UNIVERSITY Ninjutsu Society has been disaffiliated from the Athletic Union following financial irregularities. This is the first time in over six years that a club has been excluded from the AU. The issue surrounds the lack of financial records kept by the Ninjutsu Society, and crucially the club’s failure to abide by the rules laid out in the AU constitution. There are no audited accounts for the last two years, the club bank account was under a name external to the AU, and the society failed to attend important meetings. Dominic Small, a previous captain and current member of the society, told Exeposé, “Ninjutsu understand the AU’s concerns and agree that we made mistakes and were party to financial irregularities, though through genuine misunderstanding. We are very disappointed to lose our affiliation to the AU after 15 years and believe students have lost an opportunity.” On a more personal note, Small
added, “I’ve been a member for my entire university career and it really made my Exeter experience.”
“We are genuinely saddened by the disaffiliation” Tom Murray, AU President
Tom Murray, Athletic Union President, said, “We are genuinely saddened by the disaffiliation of Ninjutsu. The club was given many warnings, and it was only as a last resort that the AU executive committee moved for their disaffiliation.” He added that it was necessary, “to ensure the continued success and integrity of the AU.” The AU took over the club’s financial assets back in March, yet the Ninjutsu Society continued to spend money without the AU’s permission. The society has now re-written its constitution in an attempt to move forward. It plans to look into joining the Guild to enable it to continue to run next year.
ESSEX UNIVERSITY students been given £500 compensation per room after being woken up early by building work. Essex undergraduates living in North Towers, at Wivenhoe Park, have been given a payout after months of disturbance. Students say noise from a £5m building project wakes them up as early as seven am. Although they are happy with the compensation, they are still worried about further disturbance during the exam period. The University has paid out a total sum of £161,600 to nearly 400 students in rent reductions.
Delay in student loans predicted
STUDENTS have been warned of a potential repeat of the loans fiasco that occurred last summer. The National Union of Students have predicted that the Student Loans Company could experience problems again this year. Out of 385,000 applications registered so far, only 206,000 have been processed. Last summer, 100,000 students were left without a student maintenance loan for months due to problems processing loan applications. Ralph Seymour-Jackson, Chief Executive of Student Loans Company, and John Goodfellow, Chairman of Student Loans Company, were recently forced to resign due to their previous administrative debacle.
$%287 72 *5$'8$7(" *2,1* 72 0,66 <285 0$7(6 $1' 7+26( *5($7 1,*+76 21&$0386"
Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t worry...
7+,6 ,6 7+( ),567 '$7( 72 387 ,1 <285 ',$5< :+(1 <28 /($9( 7+,6 6800(5
LonDonLemmy 9 )5,'$< 7+ 129(0%(5
7+$0(6 52:,1* &/8% (0%$1.0(17 3871(<
7,&.(76 Â&#x2026; 21 7+( '225 30 72 $0
3GHR HR SGD QDTMHNM NQF@MHRDC AX $WDSDQ FQ@CT@SDR ENQ $WDSDQ FQ@CT@SDR 2HMBD LNQD SG@M NE XNT G@UD L@CD +NMCNMKDLLX XNTQ Æ¥QRS L@INQ QDTMHNM @ESDQ KD@UHMF $WDSDQ (SÅ&#x2014;R DW@BSKX VG@S XNT VNTKC DWODBS EQNL SGNRD KDFDMC@QX MHFGSR HM "NQMV@KK 'NTRD
<28 <285 0$7(6 %((5 *5($7 %$17(5 $1' &+((6< '$1&,1* #NMÅ&#x2014;S LHRR $WDSDQÅ&#x2014;R AHFFDRS @MMT@K QDTMHNM 1DFHRSDQ XNTQ HMSDQDRS AX D L@HKHMF
LonDonLemmy@hotmaiL.com NQ BGDBJ TR NTS NM E@BDANNJ DUDMSR
LonDonLemmy 9 KK OQNBDDCR SN XNTSG VNQJ HM *DMX@ @MC 4F@MC@ 8NT B@M DUDM CQHMJ @MC C@MBD JMNVHMF XNTÅ&#x2014;QD GDKOHMF RTOONQS @AQHKKH@MS @MMT@K SQHO SN $@RS EQHB@ QTM AX $WDSDQ FQ@CT@SDR 3GD )@LAN )@LAN G@R SNTQDC *DMX@ @MC 4F@MC@ DUDQX XD@Q RHMBD TRHMF SGD +NMCNMKDLLX OQNÆ¥SR 2N E@Q SDDM@FDQR G@UD G@C SGD BG@MBD SN DWODQHDMBD @ CHƤDQDMS BTKSTQD @MC DMUHQNMLDMS @KK O@HC ENQ AX XNTQ QDTMHNMÊ&#x2013;
6
June 7 2010
Comment Tristan Barclay & Andrew Waller editors@exepose.com
9th, 12th, where next?
Not many of you will have escaped the fact that Exeter recently lost its ‘Top 10’ status. Rumour has it the University is changing all signs to Top Dozen or maybe even Top 10 (excluding Oxbridge). It’s easy at times like these to pretend that league tables don’t matter. Discrepancies, particularly between international and national tables, can cause confusion and many denounce them as inconclusive and obscure. Take Lancaster for example: 23 last year and now right up there in the top ten. However, there is no getting round the fact that many read the Times League Table and, no matter what anyone tells you, your University is always a factor when it comes to employability. The drop was somewhat expected, but not necessarily for the right reasons. Some thought that the Forum Project would have a negative effect on student satisfaction but this remained high. It was graduate prospects and student-staff ratio that seemed significantly lower than other universities of similar
standings. There is some shimmer of silver lining: whilst Exeter is in a strong position financially, cuts to Higher Education funding may see many institutions dropping to ratios similar to ours. Also, so long as Exeter keeps its ever-growing reputation, graduate prospects can only improve. The thing is, we needn’t worry about the drop. Three places is not a big change. If anything this simply goes some way to confirm that Exeter is increasingly becoming the well recognised, well renowned institution we all want it to be. When you look at some of the universities below us such as Bristol, Birmingham and Nottingham, we can be well proud of our current standing. The interesting result will be next year. In the midst of the Forum project, when many students won’t have any fond memories of banter on the Birks Grange grass, and potential students are visiting a building site, will Exeter be able to retain such a strong position?
Are students always right?
The Students’ Guild term date survey has revealed that a majority of students feel that the changed term structure has had a negative impact on several key areas of student life. The most striking result was found when students were asked “what impact have the new term dates had on your academic experience?” A resounding 59% responded “negatively.” Only 17% responded that the change had aided their studies. Furthermore, 53% of students felt they did not have enough time to see their tutors in the run up to exams. 62% said that they had finished all their academic work in the first three weeks of term three. How can the University justify a tuition fee of over £1000 for three weeks with limited access to tutors? Other issues affected were student health, finances and societies.
This highlights the fact that the new term structure is upsetting all areas of student life, and the debate must take this into account. Do the findings of this survey condemn the seven week term to the dustbin? Exeposé has been keen to keep an open mind over the situation, as there are obvious benefits to the current system and the extended summer vacation that it provides. However, this seems to be a damning response from the student population, whose views this newspaper has a duty to represent. The University must listen to these concerns when it holds its review on term dates in the autumn. If it decides to retain the current format, then it must structure itself better to allow students to really benefit from the system and to ease the problems that students have highlighted.
Exeposé
Guild’s response to Uni’s tuition fee proposals. One of Exeposé’s proudest points is being an independent voice within the University. It is no secret that Exeposé and the Students’ Guild have had their differences. However, it seems on the subject of tuition fees, we are agreed. Late on Friday afternoon as we went to press the University published its proposals to the Browne review on funding for higher education in a dark recess of its website. Following a load of waffle about the need to make sure access to education is open to all/ needs blind etc they then proposed doubling the current cap and, in the future, scrapping it altogether. Once again Exeposé would like to stress its concern that sacrificing education to the free-market is a fundamentally bad idea. We are completely agreed with the Guild’s response, which is printed in full below. The Students’ Guild’s Response: We would like to note our rejection of this proposal both on the grounds of the assumptions that feed it and the effects that it will result in. (University Assumptions U & Guild Responses G): U: The benefit derived from University is best measured in terms of graduate earnings and hence the cost of university should be proportional to this. G: The benefit of University cannot just be measured in earning potential, the non-financial benefits both to the individual and society are vital. A higher level of fees will actually exceed the ‘graduate premium’ in some subjects.
Letters
U: The current financial pressure on the exchequer means that students should pay more. G: The best way out of this recession is through an educated, young and mobile workforce. We need as many people as possible going to University now, not stopping them with high fees. U: The role of employers should be limited G: Employers are a significant beneficiary of university education. Their workforce should not have to pay for the entirety of their own education whilst the company takes the profit. U: The increase in fees, combined with better information, bursaries and the loan system, will positively affect participation. G: The cost of University is a fundamental concern for students, paying the fee from a low-interest loan doesn’t remove this issue, it merely defers it. The levels of debt that will result from this proposal will be a significant barrier to participation, especially to those from poorer backgrounds. Bursaries are provided to counter this but at the top Universities they are often unclaimed and at the bottom there isn’t enough to go around. Effects: U: The creation of a market system for higher education. G: Price competition can and should never be the driver for Higher Education. Firstly it will result in a tiered system, the Universities charging higher fees will get richer and better whilst those on the lower
fees will only get proportionally worse and may go bust. Market dynamics will never improve these Universities because they just don’t have the money to compete. G: Secondly a whole host of factors define where people choose to study. A decision will never really be based on price and therefore the inherent incentives to improve will not apply. Those from poorer backgrounds often study close to home, often at the same Universities that will be charging lower fees, without enough bursaries to cover their students educations. G: The result of this system is not efficient or fair as it will significantly disadvantage those from lower socialeconomic backgrounds U: The overburdening of the student loan system. G: What the events of the beginning of this year show is that it’s very difficult to administer lending large amounts of money to students. Radically increasing this amount, coupled with the current lower than expected repayment rate, will place a critical burden of debt on the exchequer. Given these results we firmly reject the notion of a higher level of fees as the primary result will a significant negative impact on those from NSSEC 4-7, not only impacting their participation but also the institutions they choose to go to. We would like to see the NUS Blueprint model implemented, providing a fairer and more comprehensive alternative. To see the University’s report see www.exeter.ac.uk/staff/policies and click on H. E. Funding and Student Finance Review.
Send your letters to letters@exepose.com
Exeposé,
As residences of Birks Grange we have suffered from the start the outrageous noise of a building site adjacent to our halls in which little compensation has been offered. The building works appear to take complete priority over any acknowledgement of student comfort to the point where our one area of grass, our only outdoor relaxation point is now being barred from us.
This also includes a disregard to student welfare during revision time where there was no allowance for our academic studies. Students have also felt violated in the privacy of their own rooms due to the proximity of the site but have not been offered any support for this invasion of personal space. We also feel we have been let down by the University through a deliberate lack of information when choosing accommodation, and it appears they are going to be allowed
to do the same with next year’s students too; to look at the website currently all the detail that is offered is that “construction work is taking place alongside the residences”. It is shameful that Birks Grange was not offered a discount for the inconveniences we have suffered this year in a hall that is overrun by building works but instead charged £179.20 to live in a loud and dusty building site. Anon
Corrections:
Thanks to all those who proofed this issue:
Marcel Choules, Mayor of Exeter, served in Aden in 1964, not 1970, and is the St. Luke’s Building Facilities Manager, not a porter, as was suggested in Features, issue 566.
Jack Flanagan, Adam Walmesley, and members of the Exeposé editorial team.
7
Exeposé week twenty nine
Interview Comment
Editors’ Interview
The Importance of Politics
Tristan Barclay & Andrew Waller, Editors, spoke to Ben Bradshaw, MP for Exeter. Coalitions, Millibands and football were the order of the day.
Photo: Henry White
From left to right: Andrew Waller, Ben Bradshaw and Tristan Barclay. Bradshaw was in a talkative mood after his election victory. Labour MP for Exeter since 1997, the recent general election has left Ben Bradshaw in opposition for the first time. When we met him last week, Bradshaw seemed relieved after a stressful campaign and the chaotic fallout of the inconclusive result. Relaxing in the sunshine on Exeter’s Cathedral Green, Bradshaw graciously paid for coffee: his was a double espresso and fizzy mineral water. Clearly still enthusiastic about national politics, Bradshaw launched straight into his analysis of what he thinks is a “very exciting phase in our political history.” He was concerned about the new Conservative-Liberal coalition, which he sees as “inherently unstable. I worry that Cameron will simply wait for an opportunity to ditch the Lib Dems [...] before legislating for a fixed term.” Asked if he thought the Conservatives had changed, Bradshaw was sceptical, particularly worried about the Right of the Conservative party. Likening the party’s attempt to modernise to Blair’s New Labour revolution, he said, “They’re desperately trying to have their Clause 4 moment.” Bradshaw’s concerns weren’t only
limited to the Conservatives. We asked if he thought prominent Lib Dems were simply Tories in disguise and, although he wouldn’t go that far, Bradshaw was happy to dub them “all classic Orange Book Lib Dems.” He still believes a Lab-Lib coalition would have been more natural, and rejected accusations that such a coalition would have been illegitimate or fragile. “We can measure stability in two ways: arithmetically or sustainability in terms of policy.” However, despite the best efforts of Labour negotiators, Bradshaw was certain that “Clegg’s heart wasn’t in it.” With this in mind, is Bradshaw enjoying life in opposition? “Oh, it’s marvellous,” he said with a wry smile. Despite moving to the opposition benches, he still holds his culture brief and, although keen to remain at the forefront of Labour politics, he quickly dismissed questions about the possibility of his running for leader after the resignation of Gordon Brown. So who is he backing? Frustratingly, by the time of our interview, he had already promised an exclusive to the Observer newspaper. However, he did tell us, “You look at David Milliband; he was an excellent Environment Secretary and a very
good Foreign Secretary. For someone so young to have had so much experience on the world stage and to have gained so much respect, that’s not a bad position to be in.” He later confirmed in the Observer that Milliband D. was indeed his choice for Labour leader, but to us Bradshaw seemed optimistic about the future of his party as a whole. “We’re spoilt for choice. We have a wide range of extremely able and bright leaders in both the Millibands and Ed Balls.” Indeed, Bradshaw said, “as a country, and I’m not making a party political point, I think we’re quite lucky with our modern generation of political leaders, and in a time when people tend to be quite jaundiced and rather sceptical about politics, I think that’s a good thing.”
“Get involved in the debate; get stuck in, join a party. That’s democracy.”
Bradshaw’s passion for politics is infectious and, when he started to talk of student involvement, it was hard not to agree with him. Whilst he wouldn’t
back away from the party line on tuition fees, he made a pertinent point that, for student voices to be heard, we have to play an active part. “I urge students to get involved in the debate; get stuck in, join a party. That’s democracy.” Despite keeping tuition fees off the agenda for the election, Bradshaw will now admit that “it’s a very worrying time for universities and students in general. Student finance is going to be one of the major fault lines of the coalition.” We tried to pin him down further on tuition fees, but he talked himself out of it with ease, consummate politician that he is. Our interview with Bradshaw followed the publication of the latest Times university league tables. Surprisingly unaware of the results, Bradshaw was quick to console Exeter students after the University dropped from the 9th to 12th ranked institution in country. As he rightly pointed out, whilst not as high a position as last year, 12th goes some way to consolidating Exeter’s climb into the elite of UK universities. Having not visited the Streatham Campus since the election campaign, Bradshaw then asked us, somewhat hilariously, “is it still a building site?”
Under the Labour government, Exeter was granted unitary status, allowing a super-council to run all local services. The Unitary Authority was an issue close to Bradshaw’s heart, but the city’s unitary status has now been jeopardised by the change of government. Suddenly feeling the pinch of opposition, Bradshaw labelled it a decision based on “pure political spite.” He argued, “If you read the Queen’s speech, this government will introduce legislation to devolve more power to local communities, except in Exeter and Norwich [another unitary status city], where they’re taking it away.” Exeter’s identity as a Labour seat in South England is something of which Bradshaw is particularly proud. “I’ve never been complacent about Exeter. Exeter has always been a Tory seat; it should be a Tory seat now. They must be gutted that they didn’t win it back.” In the South, outside London, Labour was reduced from 45 MPs at the 2005 election, to just ten in 2010. Often to be found on the terraces of St James’s Park, Bradshaw is an avid fan of Exeter’s sports teams. “I was more nervous watching City try to stay up than at the [election] count. Exeter has had a great sporting year. The rugby was the icing on the cake.” Whilst he couldn’t get to Bristol for the Chiefs’ victory, he followed the commentary on Twitter.
“The indefatigability of the human spirit and the longing for freedom.”
With the coffee now finished and Ben’s fizzy water losing its sparkle, we decided to wrap things up with a few questions about his motivation for entering politics. He told us that it was more by chance than anything else, but one or two experiences undoubtedly left him with a real sense of “the importance of political leadership.” As the BBC’s man in Berlin during the late 1980s, Bradshaw witnessed firsthand the East German Revolution of 1989, and this reinforced his belief in the “indefatigability of the human spirit, the longing for freedom” and the fact that politics really does matter.
C.V. • Attended universities of Sussex and Freiburg, Germany. • Joined Exeter’s Express and Echo in 1984 and the BBC in 1986. • Elected MP for Exeter in 1997. • Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport 2009-10. • Lives in Exeter with his partner Neal Dalgleish, a BBC producer.
8
Features
“Everyone has the right to life” Sister Helen Prejean made a landmark visit to Exeter where she spoke openly to Adam Walmesley about her ongoing activism and why she feels the death penalty is a universal concern.
MANUEL Ortiz has been on death row for 17 years, convicted of a crime he may not have committed. The former New Orleans businessman was sentenced to death in 1992 for the supposed murder of his wife and another female. Largely based on the claims of one person, Ortiz is due to die by lethal injection. His spiritual adviser believes she is counselling an innocent man. Sister Helen Prejean is one of America’s leading and most prominent anti-death penalty activists. She has campaigned to politicians; she has fought the death penalty at the highest level; she has witnessed six executions and expects to see more. Her ministry has taken her inside prison walls to meet, counsel and spiritually advise several inmates on death row over 25 years. Some have compared her to Mother Teresa. The 70-year-old from Louisiana travels the world to campaign and share her views. She was recently in the UK talking about her latest book, The Death of Innocents, detailing the story of two men who were apparently wrongful executed. The book follows her famous 1993 work, Dead Man Walking. We met with Sister Helen, after she had spoken to local Exeter school children about the relationship between her life and her literature. “They sat there kind-of stunned. You bring them into a very deep story of someone who killed two teenage kids, just like them. Then you bring them through the death penalty, what it means to them,” Sister Helen tells us. She is, of course, referring to the landmark Dead Man Walking, her book and later an Oscar winning film, based on real-life murder cases. Capital punishment is still a contentious issue. Barack Obama, America’s Christian President, has spoken of his support of death penalty for the most heinous crimes. Opponents fight for the right to life, and call it murder. Sister Helen explains her own views: “It’s not ever about condoning; it’s about not wanting to imitate the most terrible behaviour of all: ‘He killed so therefore we’re going to kill him’.” No official executions have taken place in the UK since 1964. In 1969 MP’s voted to abolish UK capital
punishment, except, until 1998, for treason and piracy with violence. Sister Helen is keen to emphasise that it is still an ongoing debate in the UK: “Just because you don’t have it as a law doesn’t mean people don’t struggle with it as an issue. It’s to keep the issue close to people’s minds and hearts.” She claims that recent polls suggest 70% of Canadians support the death penalty, even though it is illegal in the country. The Catholic Nun’s challenges to the death penalty are grounded in her Christian faith. She understands that the battle is tough, with some of the most radical death penalty proponents claiming they are Christian: “You have fundamentalists who believe God wants punishment. They even argue God was for the death penalty, because God let his own son be executed.” Sister Helen maintains “absolutely” that Christians should be opposed to killing. She cites the Biblical example of Jesus Christ to uphold her beliefs: “Jesus is about forgiveness and not letting love be overcome by hatred. You’ve got to speak up for Jesus because some people misuse Christianity terribly.” And, she considers faith intrinsic in the process of reformation. Karla Faye Tucker was convicted of murder in 1984: “She had killed two people in a terrible way. When she got to death row, she changed her whole life, and she was truly born-again. The warden said this woman had changed her fellow prisoners.” Despite calls to change her punishment to life imprisonment, Faye Tucker was executed in 1998. However, the nun is adamant that the death penalty is something that not only Christians should challenge. She cites the 1948 UN Declaration of Human R i g h t s : “ E ve r yo n e has a right to life, Article 3. No one should be subject to cruel and
degrading punishments and torture, Article 5. That’s what we can stand behind, regardless of what the religious perspective is.” Human Rights Agencies, such as Amnesty International, have backed her work. Progress is being made in the US on capital punishment. Although there were 52 executions in the US last year, in 2008 the figure 37 was the lowest for over a decade. Sister Helen agrees, “Yes, absolutely progress is being made. In 1999 they had 98 executions in the US.” Naturally she remains cynical to the possibility of execution: “You can’t entrust government with having death on the table and the right to use that as an option ‘cos they’re always going to use it wrongly.” Sister Helen makes the bold suggestion of the racial stereotyping regarding the use of the death penalty: “Overwhelmingly, it’s when white people are murdered. Eight out of every ten are executed when white people were killed, and people of colour account for 50% of all homicides.” The research supports her claims. In 2003 Amnesty International found that of 845 people executed since the US resumed capital punishment in 1977, 80% were for killing white people, while only 13% were for killing black people. Sister Helen adds, “They don’t respect the life of the person who was killed.” She concludes that the abolition of the death penalty should be a universal concern: “Absolutely, it’s something we should all care about. It’s the only way we’re going to make progress as human beings on this earth. We have to take away that power to kill because we’re never going to do it right.”
june 7 2010
Exeposé
Columba Achilleos-Sarll & Anna-Marie Linnell features@exepose.com
World News • Israeli Raid on Flotilla
• Cameron starts to cut
At least nine people have died and 30 have been wounded after Israeli troops intercepted a Flotilla of ships carrying aid to the Gaza strip. An Israeli blockade has been in place since 2008 and this was the ninth attempt by aid services to deliver aid to Gaza. The violence has sparked international uproar and widespread condemnation of Israel’s actions.
The new Conservative-Liberal coalition government has started to implement the cuts laid out in its manifesto. In an attempt to revitalise the economy, it has been stated that money will be taken from the Child Trust Fund and the government agency Becta, which is designed to ensure innovative use of technology in learning.
• Culture Clash over Cream Teas
• US Investigation of BP oil spill
Langage Farm in Devon has launched a campaign to gain European Protection for the term “Devon Cream Tea.” If the farm wins protection of origin, it means only clotted cream teas produced, processed or prepared in Devon will be called Devon Cream Teas. This has stirred old debates, as some Cornish campaigners argue that Cornwall actually holds claim to the original cream tea.
On June 1 the US attorney general, Eric Holder, announced a criminal investigation will be launched in to the oil spill crisis in Louisiana. It may take until August to stem the spill, which has been one of the most damaging environmental disasters in recent years. President Barack Obama stated: “if laws were broken leading to this death and destruction, my solemn pledge is we will bring these people to justice.”
• Climber Dies after Success
• Murder of Yorkshire Prostitute
Peter Kinloch, 28, died only hours after he reached the summit of Mount Everest. Kinloch was completing his descent on May 25 when he began to suffer blindness and stumble. His lifelong ambition was to climb the seven highest peaks in the world for charity; Mount Everest was his fifth challenge.
Stephen Griffith, a 40 year old PhD student from Yorkshire, has been charged with the murder of three prostitutes. On May 29 police divers recovered the body of Suzanne Blamires, 36, from the bed of the River Aire. Detectives have been searching for the full remains of two more missing prostitues.
• The Death of Dennis Hopper
• Churchill goes to Auction
American actor, Dennis Hopper, died on May 25 aged 74. The widely famed star of Apocalypse Now and Easy Rider had been suffering from prostate cancer. Hopper first acted in art films in the 1950s and 1960s, before he became a Hollywood star.
On June 2 the first of three auctions of Winston Churchill memorabilia took place in London. The private collection included an unsmoked cigar that sold for nearly £600,000. The items are being sold by US publishing magnate Steve Forbes.
• 2010 Hay Literary festival
• Cumbria shooting killing spree
The Hay Literary festival, a celebration of literature and art, took place from Thursday May 27 to Sunday June 6 in Hay-on-Wye, Wales. At £20 a head it was attended by a number of high profile speakers, including Education Secretary Michael Gove, who agreed
On June 2, a gunman drove across west Cumbria shooting victims before taking his own life. Twelve people were killed and another 25 wounded. A body thought to be the suspect, 52 year old taxi driver, Derrick Bird has been found.
9
Exeposé week twenty nine
White Nose Syndrome destroys bat population
Features
The bat population continues to suffer from a devastating fungal infection. Tom August, a PhD student in the school of Biosciences, investigates why this problem is so hard to solve.
In 2006 a caver in New York state took a photograph of a group of eight bats hanging inside a cave; each had a mysterious white fungus on their nose. Since this image was taken over a million bats have died from White Nose Syndrome (WNS). The mortality rate in caves where bats hibernate over winter ranges from 70-100%, and in many of these caves the carcasses of bats litter the floor. Millions of dollars are being made available for research into this disease, but it could well be too late. Since 2006 WNS has spread through the cave systems of north eastern America into 12 US states and two Canadian provinces and within a number of
years could spread across the entire of North America. Research so far has established a number of facts. The fungus that is associated with 90% of the bats found dead is new to science and has been named Geomyces Destructans. The fungus invades the wing and nose membranes of the bat causing tissue damage, but this is not thought to cause death. Instead a more intriguing hypothesis has been proposed. When bats become infected with the fungus, it is thought that they come out of hibernation to groom themselves. Such activity uses valuable fat reserves that must be replaced if the bat is to survive the winter. Although the bats
do attempt to replenish these reserves and leave their caves, few insects fly in the winter months and so the bats often die of starvation.
“Millions of dollars are being made available for research but it could well be too late”
Amongst those bat species affected by White Nose Syndrome are two already endangered species. The Indiana bat has a total population of 387,000 individuals which fell by 37% in the worst hit states. The story is even more tragic for the Virginia Big-Eared bat. With a global population of only 15,000 individuals, the majority of which live in an area not much larger than Dartmoor National Park, this population is directly in the path of the spreading fungus. In an attempt to save the population a group of 40 healthy individuals were taken into captivity to create a breeding colony. Bats can be extremely difficult to keep in captivity and the Virginia Big-Eared bat has been shown to be no exception. Less than five months after the bats
were captured, nearly all have died and those remaining are too ill to move. In order to prevent the spread of the fungus on the clothing and equipment of the visitors, state owned caves have been closed to the public across those areas affected. A moratorium on recreational caving has been put in place. This may be to no avail: bats that use the affected caves are known to travel over 100km to other roost sites, where they are also able to transmit the fungus to uninfected bats. Decontamination of both the caves and bats has been suggested, but the scale of such an operation would be unfeasible. There is no assurance that the fungus could not return to a cave once cleaned, and there is a chance the fungus would become resistant to disinfectants if they were used on a large scale. The use of disinfectants, however, may be feasible on a small scale, such as in a focused effort to protect the Virginia big-eared bat, but it is likely their implementation would only slow the inevitable. Other researchers have suggested that efforts should be made to relieve the symptoms of WNS, rather than focusing solely on its prevention. It is thought that when bats are woken
by the fungus they use most of their energy reserves to keep themselves warm in the otherwise cold caves. A study published earlier this year used mathematical models to predict that adding heated boxes to caves could reduce the bats’ energy demands and increase survival by up to 75%. The researchers admit, however, that such a measure would only be a stop gap to provide more time. A long term solution would still need to be found. More work needs to be done to establish how the fungus spreads, what can be done to reduce mortality in infected bats, how the spread can be slowed or stopped, and how we can save those bats threatened with extinction. Currently US state departments, universities and nongovernment organisations are working together in an effort to learn as much as possible about WNS and how it can be stopped, but there is still no definite answer. At a recent gathering of leading WNS experts and bat biologists, one attendee asked: “Does anyone know how to stop White Nose Syndrome?” The question was met only with silence.
Don’t you forget about me
Rachel Samuel looks back to the Eighties; an era of glamorous pop and unpopular politics.
On May 22 the excellent television series Ashes to Ashes came to a close, and the fond obsession that popular culture has recently developed for the Eighties became apparent. Whether through the fashion of leggings and shoulder pads or the seemingly relentless repeats of ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ most recently covered by the cast of Glee - there are remnants of the past everywhere you look. But why do we delight so in the extravagance of the Eighties? Why has there been such a huge surge of Eighties nostalgia in recent years? The most obvious reason we feel a connection to this decade might be the eerily similar parallels between their economic situation and ours. The Eighties were built on high consumption: fast food, fast living and easy money. Bankers lived the high life and took bonuses over power lunches, whilst they arranged meetings on their new mobile phones. Sure the technology may have changed, but the scene sounds familiar. The Eighties is often remembered for a love of money and objects, characterised by the view of Gordon Gekko that ‘Greed is good’ in the classic film Wall Street. As a generation we’ve been imbued with this concept; we have heeded no economic warnings and casually bought as much ‘stuff’
as we could get our hands on. But in 1981 a Tory government also inherited the recession of the late Seventies. Let’s not forget that the Eighties had some of the worst unemployment figures on record, with countless strikes and protests from the workforce. The divide between rich and poor got wider and animosity towards government increased as Margaret Thatcher privatised industry. The Eighties certainly weren’t as rosy as popular culture would like you to believe. Perhaps we deliberately remember this decade in a certain way so as not to lose faith in the system, and only recall the high points of a decade of such extremes. To paraphrase the Bible: “the pride comes before a fall,” and our economy has shown what a big fall this can be. It may also be that we cling onto the fashion statements and musical extravaganzas of the Eighties because they are an escape from our own financial woes. The decade was a time of fantasy, with recording giants like David Bowie conjuring up other worlds. Hardworking people become heroes in films such as Top Gun and Flashdance. To recreate these ideas provides an escape for people who do not want to hear about the banking crisis or poor job prospects.
The popularity of figures such as Gene Hunt in the aforementioned Ashes to Ashes shows a backlash against the political correctness of modern times. Hunt’s disregard for authority and blatant bending of the rules reflects an era when every form didn’t have to be filled in, and details weren’t recorded with precision. Favourable public opinion towards Hunt even played a part in the recent general election, when a Labour poster depicted David Cameron in a Gene Hunt pose to remind voters of the political unrest of the Eighties.
This was accompanied by the slogan: “Don’t let him take Britain back to the 1980s.” This effort to denigrate the iconic character backfired as the Conservatives created a response poster asking Britain to: “Fire up the Quattro. It’s time for a change.” Hunt is a popular figure: as an audience we indulge in the uncompromising and uncomplicated manner of his approach. However, in the modern day characters like Gene Hunt can only be fantasies. His approach to the world represents a reactionary view towards race and sex which could not function in our equality-focused age. He may be an attractive character to pass an hour with, but he is also an idealised figure w h o belongs in the past.
So it may be that the Eighties covered over the woes of the unemployed with shiny new creations and fantastic figures, and the decade may not have been as glossy as the pop culture myths reproduce. However, the explosion of creativity from all corners of the media during the period is commendable regardless of the struggles they served to smooth over. For all the depressing realities and constraints on the individual, a sneaky liberalism ran through the Eighties that could not be controlled. People today respect and try to hold on to this freedom. Though one definite Bowie descendant, Lady Gaga, might not be to everyone’s taste, at least she has the guts to be different. As we struggle to afford the latest technology and fill in one too many forms, we hold on to one theme from the Eighties: life doesn’t have to be boring. Maybe we are tricked into believing in the extravagance of the past, but it is a deceit worth believing in. There’s nothing wrong with making life a little less ordinary, something the children of the Eighties tried their hardest to prove.
10
Lifestyle
june 7 2010
A magical mystery tour of Morocco Chloë Hamilton shows us a snapshot of life in the Souks of Marrakech.
HAVING spent a week or so battling through the parades of Semana Santa in Andalucía, I thought I would be a little more prepared for the foreign lands of Morocco. En route there during our first night in Granada (whilst accidentally ordering a tortilla with bull’s testicles, sheep’s brains and bone marrow) we had caught sight of what looked horribly like the Ku Klux Klan. Thankfully, however, the penitential Easter rituals of the brotherhood were less concerned with lynching than their hooded robes might have suggested and, 32 parades later, shuffling down narrow streets alongside yet another brass band section felt quite normal compared to the strangeness of Morocco. Rocking up to the shores of Tangier, I emerged from my persistent vegetative state with the realisation that I had never been somewhere quite
so different. Aside from the intrinsic Muslim identity, my first impression was of a general resistance to Western customs and principles. Perhaps one of the most alarming manifestations of this was the road behaviour: from
Tangier to Casablanca to Marrakech my teeth instinctively clenched every time I got into a car. I saw a family of pedestrians using a roundabout with the same nonchalance as cars (although to give them credit they were holding hands) donkeys ambling along in the shadow of huge lorries and motorists ignoring the proposal that you should drive with, not against, the direction of traffic. I could not comprehend how the drivers coped with what seemed to be a continuous roll of nightmare hazard perception clips. Their calm seemed such that they reached another level of mental being - or that there was so much to panic about it was not worth panicking at all. If one was feeling a little lightheaded from such an ordeal it would make sense to up your blood sugar levels with a pot of mint tea. The Moroccan national drink - and sure path to tooth decay - is something else that I found amusingly bizarre: instead of the ‘one lump or two’ dilemma you can chose type one or type two diabetes. Yet after marvelling at the social acceptability of having so much sugar in one’s tea, my sweet tooth took advantage and I was punished on returning home with a come-down of pounding headaches. And of course you have to get used to bartering. This art of negotiation certainly does not come naturally to the English. As you are nudged along through the labyrinth
the souk sellers was not quite enough then Jemaa el Fna, the main square in the heart of Marrakech, offers many more opportunities to be politely robbed. The din of snake charmers, fruit sellers and monkey-tamers, at first so alluring, soon becomes wearying. After having a snake slung around your shoulders and being told
who could speak more than noddy French, I was appointed negotiator and this might have worked well if the other four weren’t standing behind, continually undermining me by misunderstanding French and forgetting the exchange rate. Committee bartering does not work. If one’s inadvertent charity toward
to pay for the misfortune one soon realises that nothing is free. To the inexperienced traveller, Morocco is perpetually disconcerting and to the experienced, exhilarating. What is perhaps most interesting is that a short ferry journey across the Straits of Gibraltar transports you to a land far, far away from the regulation
Swapping high life in the Hilton for bargain bunks, Samuel Lambert beds down for the night. was time to move on and experience something new. Upon arrival at the HI-Toronto I automatically adopted the friendly but reserved approach of someone checking in at a hotel; this was demolished and I was soon laughing and joking with the guys at reception, a great start. I was convinced that I looked like a pro, until I left my towel on the reception top: bad move - the maids here weren’t going to hang fresh towels in my room and do that bizarre folding manoeuvre with the toilet roll! I walked through the lounge and internet area, bursting with nationalities, and made my way up to room 401, a four bed dorm. “Hi.” my room-mate looked up and nodded in a polite, British fashion. I was greeted with a small space filled with two bunks, a chair and lockers. Ok, so it was hardly the Hilton, the pillow was a bag of marshmallows and the curtains were about as useful as a scarcely hung fishing net, but it was exciting.
When it came to the first night I was initially alarmed to find a new room-mate tucked in below, someone I had never ever seen in daylight, and I was even more uneasy to wake to find aman stumbling around the room, who I initially thought an intruder, take to the final bed. This aside, jet-lag sent me to the land of nod and by morning I was refreshed and ready to take the Niagara tour I had planned. I met Julia, a Senior Police Constable from Sydney, also staying at the hostel. I discovered that a wonderful variety of clientele passed through the HI-Toronto’s doors, not just the stereotypes. The sheer opportunities to meet people simply dwarfed the clinical coldness I would be sure to find in the luxurious Fairmont down the road; people were like-minded, open and interested in meeting new people. The only-ever-seen-at-night man below me was exchanged for a German engineer and the Mexican man grounding the other bunk was replaced by an
Laura Le Brocq & Clare Mullins lifestyle@exepose.com
of souks by impatient motorbikes and donkeys carting everything from bricks to fresh strawberries, it will not do to stop and betray interest in a stall’s wares. Once you know what you want to buy, feigned indecision is OK, necessary in fact, but a family of five dithering tourists can only lead to chaos. As the only one of us
A day in the life of a hostel hopper
WHEN I arrived in Exeter and joined the colourful discussions of places afar and “gap yahs”, people would turn to me in horror when I confessed I had not set foot in a hostel: “you must!” Before joining the University I had a smile permanently plastered on my face and walked backwards at 35,000ft offering “Chicken or beef?” for a living. The lifestyle came with its perks, such as beautiful hotels, but these discussions showed me it had narrowed my perception of travelling. When it came to hostels, my head was full of all kinds of images from mould ridden bathrooms to wandering hands in the middle of the night, but I had to cave in and give it a go, even just to silence my new critics. The stewardess on the flight over, whom I knew, commented, “You can have my room in the Fairmont when I pull the First Officer”. With a knowing smile I thanked her; inside I realised this represented a bygone world for me, it
Exeposé
Indian gentlemen. Both were pleasant enough, though the latter snored loud enough to blast the poor Englishman above him towards the ceiling. So then, why stay in a hostel if you haven’t yet done so? After trailing countless cities across the world, I always returned to my serene, Westernised hotel. The room service menus and extensive room features mean these establishments serve as wonderful retreats but they can be just that. You could, if you were of the mind, stay in your micro-world for your eternal stay, alone with HBO and a £10 sandwich. The hostel provided no such opportunity - want breakfast in bed? No chance, get up and get it. The facilities were there, a large kitchen contained fridges bursting with named food bought by guests, there was a snug with a flat screen TV and a cafe, but would you be able to get anyone to do anything for you? No. This is what I really got from my experience: going to the local
supermarket wasn’t novel, it was essential, it was more real than the fantasy of my previous world and the constant restaurants. I felt more connected to Toronto for this reason. Add to this the job advertisements plastering the walls and you got the feeling this was a place to embrace the city for the true life it offered. This isn’t to say I wouldn’t stay in a hotel again, but when travelling alone, no chance. I would never have had the opportunity to meet so many people, such as the eccentric Danish man in the lift, overthe-moon to find I wasn’t Australian “like everyone else.” The hostel was clean, warm and welcoming but it wasn’t “Come stay in me and never leave while we wait on you handand-foot” nice and for this reason it forced you to get off your backside and explore; kudos to this way of travelling, I look forward to many more such trips.
11
Exeposé week twenty nine
Travel Special Lifestyle
Ticket to ride
Taking the train around Europe, Henry White, Photography Editor, is bowled over by the InterRailing experience.
Berlin Hauptbahnhof, the largest crossing station in Europe.
I SUFFER from the awkward social disorder which makes me readily state “I like trains,” which usually clears the room of anyone within audible distance. However, from my early days of Thomas the Tank Engine (Ringo Starr’s second greatest achievement) I have been fascinated by the things, so it seemed an obvious way to travel around Europe last summer. I decided InterRail would be the perfect way to explore Europe in a month, and I wasn’t disappointed. InterRail gives you unprecedented travel in up to 30 European countries for up to a month, dependant on the type of pass you select. Anyone below the age of 25 is eligible, though being an EU citizen helps. The booking process was easy enough: pick your dates, fill out the online application, and wait for the postman. Done. Then came the route. It is fair to say I am not well-travelled, having
The Italian Alps at dawn, from the night train to Venice.
parents that believe in the good old British holiday over sunny, distant nations. France was my only “foreign” experience and to be honest it isn’t really foreign is it? It’s like Wales, but with a lower tolerance of the English. With this in mind, I had a large amount of places I wanted to go, and with only one month, it was going to be a tough choice. One map of Europe and a felt tip pen later and I had a rough route to take, from Paris through Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Italy and back to Paris for the Eurostar home. It really is that simple, or so I thought. First, those devious Europeans have cottoned onto us Brits taking liberties with their trains, thus a booking fee is required for some train services, on top of the InterRail price, mainly the major high-speed lines. Still, 12€ as an average fee isn’t too
bad. Second, if a fee isn’t required, booking a seat is still worth the effort, as one five hour (I lost count of the number of seats I changed) journey through an intolerably hot Italy taught me. So, with seats and specific journeys booked, and practically a degree in deciphering foreign train ticketing systems, all that remains is getting to the start line. This can be anywhere. I chose Paris due to the Eurostar connection, however you can travel from any point as long as it is in a participating country. Likewise, anywhere could be the end, just as long as you are off the train by the time your ticket expires. As most people know, Britain invented the train. However, somewhere along the line, pun intended, we allowed our Victorian pomposity to get the better of us and forgot to update the system. Europe, on the other hand,
Nadrazi Holesovice Station in Prague.
probably thanks to the Germans, has a much better system, with big, comfortable (except Italy) carriages with elaborately dressed conductors ready to check your ticket within 2.5 milliseconds of the train’s departure. These conductors, complete with hats and waistcoats more often than not (I’m sure I saw pocket watches too) are proud of their jobs and the trains on which they work. I have no idea what most of them said to me, but they smiled with a childish glee that surely only constantly moving around a country on a clean, highspeed tube can bring. This is the point, really. The journey. Once onboard, with my ridiculously oversized backpack precariously balanced overhead, I could sit back and turn my head to view the world as it drifted by. Framed by the window, like a continuous film screen or picture frame showing me the wonders of
the world. I saw a different view every time I blinked. There are drawbacks: I saw hundreds of places that, had I been in a car, I could have pulled over to see. Then again, I wouldn’t have been effortlessly gliding over the canyons and gorges of the Alps, with the white-tipped mountains glinting in the sunrise, I’d have been focussing on driving, missing the views. From the excitement of a new city or town, to the hustle, bustle, and architectural wonders of the stations, the excitement of knowing that every journey will lead somewhere new never failed to inspire me to continue onwards. The different people you are constantly surrounded by, the ever changing vistas, and the numerous types of train, all provide for a spectacular month of wonder. This all before you even explore each destination.
Barcelona for the discerning day tripper Rebecca Lewis takes us on a whistle-stop tour of the beautiful Spanish city.
SPAIN is often associated among travellers with excessive boozing, lobster-faced Brits and expatriates keen to keep British tradition alive rather than fully immerse themselves in Spanish culture. All in all, an ideal place to fly to for a long weekend of debauchery. It has a reputation that Italy and France have managed to escape, largely due to Ibiza and Costa del Sol flying the flags for British tourism gone wild. So, not the hub of culture and history one might desire. Yet Barcelona, while rife with British tourists and football fans making fools of themselves, is one of my favourite cities. Metropolitan and modern, Barcelona has the perfect mix of old-meets-new with key Catalan traditions kept flourishing whilst accommodating a growing business and tourist industry. There is a strong Catalan identity in Barcelona, where both Catalan
and Spanish is widely spoken and taught in schools and Catalan culture is heavily encouraged as a response to Franco’s repressive dictatorship. As such, Barcelona maintains a uniqueness from the
rest of Spain that makes it a must see for tourists. Barcelona is a treat for art buffs as it boasts stunning architecture from the Gothic, Renaissance, Romanesque and Art Nouveau
periods and is home to the works of Antoni Gaudí such as La Sagrada Familia and Park Güell, both of which can be enjoyed for free. Additionally, Barcelona hosts the work of Picasso, Tàpies and Miró and a myriad of museums. Yet walking around the city enables you to engage in the beauty of Barcelona without paying a hefty price. From the cobbled streets with iron wrought balconies to the majestic view of the entire city from the Magic Fountain, Barcelona shows off its romantic element from all aspects. One of the best ways to see Barcelona is by bike; renting a bike for two hours cost less than 10€ and allowed me to explore the unknown streets of Barcelona and whizz down the sea front. Barcelona is a bike friendly city and has stations of bikes dotted around for residents who pay yearly subscriptions to hire the bikes for use around the city. The
use of bikes seemed to highlight the city’s laid-back and relaxed attitude: all shops are closed on Sunday, dinner isn’t served until ten in the evening and clubs do not open till one or two, a far cry from Arena’s closing time of 2.30am. The smoking ban is not in effect in Barcelona until 2011 so tourists can enjoy the freedom of smoking in bars and restaurants. It is poles apart from the moneydriven, mad city of London. While there are plenty of bars and clubs for tourists to lose themselves in, Barcelona does not need to be another drinking holiday where the splendour of the city gets lost in a revelry of gluttony. Vibrant, multicultural and subsumed in history, Barcelona is one of the best cities to visit in Europe, and essential for those who consider themselves well-travelled.
13
Exeposé week twenty nine
Back in the U.S.S.R.?
Travel Special Lifestyle
Melissa Kennedy swaps University in South Devon for a summer camp in Siberia and makes a surprising discovery.
“FORWARD march! First division, let’s go, let’s go!” Teenagers ranked in height order stride across the parade ground to stand in serried rows. Following this first group comes the second division, younger by a school year, filing in neatly two by two. After them comes the third division, and so on until the eighth lot of kids arrive. Children in this last division are just seven years old: hot under the Siberian midsummer sun, they could be forgiven for not cooperating. However, the collective mood is more than obedient - it’s positively buoyant. The summer campers assembled know that the cadet-style marching is just convention, the opening ceremony for a much-anticipated sports competition. Their patience is rewarded. A few speeches later, festivities break out: someone flicks a switch and music blasts forth. It’s an ‘80s beat with lyrics ‘D.I.S.C.O.’, and the camp’s choreographer has set cheerleader-style moves to it that everyone knows. What’s more, everyone dances – teenage boys included. It’s a far sight from how an English adolescent might picture their ideal summer. Yet on reflection, it’s not hard to see why being in this Siberian children’s camp makes for an epic summer holiday experience. I came to the camp through CCUSA, a camp counsellor exchange programme that sends English-speaking students to camps throughout Russia. I applied with dreams of being placed in a Black Sea resort. Sundrenched days and sandy beaches were high on my holiday to-do list; Siberia was not.
My dreams were deftly squashed when I learned I was to be sent to Tyumen, a city whose location is incontestably east of the Urals. I feared the worst: mosquitoes, industrial pollution and – whisper it – gulags. Outdated though the Siberian wasteland stereotype may be, Stalin’s lethal prison camps nonetheless loomed large in my imagination. I was not alone in my delusions: on sharing news of my holiday plans with friends and family, reactions ranged from, “won’t it be freezing cold?” to “tell us how you’d like to be remembered.” Most of it was tongue-in-cheek – I think - but I cannot deny that the S-word jumpstarted my pre-departure nerves. Within a few days of arriving at my designated camp, it became clear that I had, in fact, struck lucky. The ‘Children’s Republic’ camp turned out to be as luxurious as the gulags were sparse. On top of the usual dormitories and canteen, Rebyachka – as the kids nicknamed camp - had facilities to equal any boarding school.
An indoor swimming pool, climbing wall, gym, rifle range and rubbercrumb pitches were all sleekly well maintained. The dance and drama department was especially impressive. Where British summer camps tend to favour outdoor activities to keep children busy, Russian camps traditionally emphasise
performing arts. Regardless of age, no child was exempt from the obligation to perform dances, skits and songs in front of all his peers. Rather than protest in outrage, however, the kids were happy to accept this as the norm: stage fright was not an option. Zaryadka was another excuse to get everybody dancing. This light aerobic session is a mainstay in the daily routine of children’s camps in Russia. Typically, it consists of general exercises such as star-jumps, together with several camp-specific dances. All movements are performed to songs of the beat-driven variety: Eurovision hits were a popular choice at Rebyachka, together with the aforementioned D.I.S.C.O. The campers’ willingness to go along with the daily routine was striking. Whether this was a legacy of Soviet-era expectations of discipline, or some deeper inherent factor in Russian children’s culture, I couldn’t say. There was nothing false about it,
however; the atmosphere of 300 kids in a stuffy auditorium was frequently boisterous, but their overall cooperation made for an easier working environment than I ever would have expected from English kids of a similar age. Outside the more rigorous parameters of mealtimes, assemblies and zaryadka, campers were kept busy with activities prescribed to promote personal development. Key to this nurturing side of camp life was the ogonyok tradition. Designed to help the campers reflect on their daily experiences, ogonyok sees the children gather around a candle or campfire at the end of each day to share their emotions with their peer group. Once again, no child is exempt from contributing. A further nurturing tradition was manifest on ‘King’s Night’, the final night at camp. Throughout the evening, friends exchange snippets of wool. These are threaded onto a necklace loop so that by the end of the night everybody in camp has collected their own tasselled garland of friendship. Like zaryadka, ogonyok and disco dancing, the garland ritual can sound cheesy in the retelling. However, these traditions are upheld because they genuinely are effective. The powerful sense of community that had developed by the time camp ended was nothing short of startling. It made me smile to remember my initial misconceptions about living in Tyumen, little realising, back then, that this old adage is true wherever you are in the world: be it South Devon or Siberia, ‘the people make the place’.
Brits on holiday - here, there and everywhere Alex Moss casts an eye over peculiar British travelling habits.
THERE is something typical about the British at airports. The stalwart features of any summer holiday: a crying child whose parents make little or no effort to quiet; an old couple sitting in silence while they eye every passing ‘young person’ (a title applied of course to everyone from 15 to 25); and the sterile smell of Heathrow airport while its floors reflect hatefully back at bags dragged through its coffee stained, labyrinthine halls. And the queues. Always the queues. All have a depressing ubiquity and presence that serve as a quiet but painfully obvious reminder of
our national idiosyncrasies. No matter where you are, no matter how far you go to escape the UK, these features will somehow follow you. Sitting in the tiny airport at Bergerac in southern France last summer, I was still subjected to the wary stare of an elderly British man in cargo shorts and varicose veins who occasionally, and of course vocally, turned to his wife to complain about the service in these foreign airports. Of course, national affectations are a funny thing, and travel provides a brief seasonal glimpse into the inner-workings of the ‘other’. Whatever a large number
of professional politicians (who often sound more amateur than anything else) would have us believe about our immediate European neighbours and those further away, going abroad is the best way to see how lifestyles and habits are different across real or imagined borders. Of course I mean actually going abroad, not flying out to Xante or Costa del Sol, because let’s face it: you could save yourself the airfare, get the bus into a reasonably sized town centre on a big club night, and get the same experience. It’s always strangest seeing other British people abroad. Half
the reason we leave is for a change of pace and environment, and yet wherever you go, providing it’s hit the requisite temperature (anything in double digits) you will see a guy carrying his England shirt in one hand, Stella in the other. All British males engage in the proud national tradition of removing their tshirts, regardless of weight, body hair, and embarrassing tattoos. It’s like boarding your plane on the last day of a holiday: it jerks you straight back to home. One of the best things about my summer last year was the potential for absolute immersion
in every place I stopped during my two weeks of inter-railing. Avoiding hostels where possible, it is so much easier to feel like you’ve actually gone away. Nothing is more pleasing when abroad than standing in a given place, surrounded by people, and not understanding a single word of what is being said around you. Give me a holiday away from home comforts and reminders of what lies in store for the 48 weeks of the year I’m actually in the UK any day.
16
June 7 2010 Exeposé
Music Upcoming
Ellie Bothwell & Ben Murphie music@exepose.com
music intervieW
Chris Cooper chats to rapidly growing stars, General Fiasco, ahead of their performance supporting Kids in Glass Houses at The Lemon Grove. Photo: Henry White
7/6 - Amnesty event with The Soul Choir, MAMA STONE’S
8/6 - Benefit Gig for Headway Devon, CAVERN CLUB
8/6 - Tallis Morris, Alex Meddings, Drive-By Blessings, Bizarre Sex Appeal, Black Coffee, MAMA STONE’S 9/6 - Miquid Licks plus DJs Loic and Alex, MAMA STONE’S
10/6 - Dumber Than The Average Bear, MAMA STONE’S 10/6 - Murder By Death, CAVERN CLUB
11/6 - Phonic FM Benefit, EXETER PHOENIX 11/6 - Motown Night featuring Angelo Starr, MAMA STONE’S
11/6 - Mini Soya followed by Cabaret Voltaire, CAVERN CLUB 12/6 - Wreckreation, EXETER PHOENIX
12/6 - The House Band featuring Leigh Coleman, MAMA STONE’S 14/6 - Knightley Garden Party, KNIGHTLEY, STREATHAM CAMPUS 15/6 - Richard James, MAMA STONE’S
15/6 - Babybird followed by Rinseout Hospicecare Benefit, CAVERN CLUB 16/6 - Wondermentalist: Taking The Mic, EXETER PHOENIX 16/6 - Zamani African Night, MAMA STONE’S
17/6 - Adam Isaac plus Chris Woods, MAMA STONE’S
18/6 - The Dark Knights Go Dub, EXETER PHOENIX
General Fiasco at The Lemon Grove. Before getting the chance to do this interview, I hadn’t heard a great deal about General Fiasco. I was missing out. The youthful Northern Irish rock three-piece rank among one of the industry’s rising stars. Despite a six hour bus ride from Brighton to the Lemon Grove, the band, made up of axe-slinging brothers Owen and Enda Strathern and drummer Stephen Leacock, are convivial, chatty and above all just excited to be playing another show. “This is probably the best support tour we’ve ever done,” admits Stephen, which is saying something considering that the band have previously supported indie heavyweights such as The Wombats, The Pigeon Detectives and The Enemy, “and Kids in Glass Houses have been good hosts.” The band seem in high spirits and despite the obvious musical differences between them and tonight’s headliners, the tour seems to have gone well for them. “Our album has sold really well on tour and we’ve really enjoyed playing the songs and getting
a mosh pit going for a change,” Stephen adds. On the matter of their first album (Buildings, which surfaced on March 22 of this year), the band reveal that they’ve been touring the songs on it for the best part of 12 months. Singing bassist Enda admits, “Yeah, it’s not really a new album, it’s more a collection of old songs, but we’ve got some stuff written for the follow-up though, about eight or nine songs”. When asked about their approach to writing, the band are open about it. “We don’t write on the road,” Enda adds, “We do that in a studio at home. The last thing you want to do on a bus is pick up a guitar. Usually we just try to sleep.”
“We just want to keep playing bigger shows and write more killer songs.”
The band are playing at several festivals this summer - T
in the Park and Oxegen in the UK and a few more abroad, namely Pinkpop, Pukkelpop and Japan’s Summer Sonic. “We don’t know where most of them are though!” admits Stephen. Furthermore, the band are trying to “get out on a headliner tour in October”, although “nothing’s confirmed yet.” When asked where they want to be at the end of the year, the band think carefully for a while before proclaiming, “as big as Lady Gaga. Haha, no, we just want to keep playing bigger shows and write more killer songs.” On tonight’s evidence, none of that (apart from maybe the Lady Gaga comparison) is unattainable. Much better live than on record, the band seem confident and assured as they rip through an assortment of songs, Enda’s voice soaring effortlessly above Stephen’s tub-thumping drums and Owen’s industrious guitar work. Recent singles ‘Ever So Shy’ and ‘Sinking Ships’ prove to be the set highlights, played solely by Enda on an acoustic guitar. The boys provide the
“[We want to be] as big as Lady Gaga.”
filling in an intriguing musical sandwich on tonight’s bill. Openers Spycatcher play a solid set, despite the absence of bassist Stuart Gili-Ross who is away in Switzerland with British hardcore outfit Gallows. Headliners Kids in Glass Houses are one of the British rock scene’s brightest sparks. Having just released their sophomore album, Dirt, to critical acclaim, the band’s set (led by charismatic lead singer and future icon Aled Phillips) is arguably the best on the night. Rammed full of summer anthems such as ‘Give Me What I Want’ and ‘Matters At All’ and bouncy rock tunes such as opener ‘Artbreaker I’, they look set to continue their meteoric rise into the rest of 2010. General Fiasco’s album Buildings is out now on Infectious Records. See www.myspace.com/generalfiasco for October tour dates.
Exeposé week twenty Nine
17
music Feature
Alex Chadwick revisits The Libertines ahead of their reunion.
What became of the likely lads? Well, now we know. It seems six years apart was long enough for The Libertines as they announced their reunion at the Boogaloo in Highgate in March. I’ve been struggling to
contain the excitement of my soon-to-be extinct teenage self and have had Up The Bracket and The Libertines on repeat. Fan boy that I am, I also revisited some of the band’s earlier songs, most of which were never released, but
which featured prominently at gigs. Perhaps the best collection of this material is the bizarrely named Legs 11, which captures The Libertines before being signed and at their most indulgent and quixotic. Given that their recordings and live performances have so often been thought of as charmingly halfarsed, this collection of eight early demos reveals an astonishingly well-formed and coherent rock band. Selected by Carl Barât in September 2000, and featuring the 54-year-old Paul Dufour on drums, they are a documentation of the now much-romanticised early days of The Libertines. Surprisingly, the first of the tracks is a comically melancholy version of ‘Music When The Lights Go Out.’ A mournful violin replaces Barât’s lead guitar part as Pete Doherty happily croons away
about how he can’t hear the music anymore. Lyrics like “alarm bells ring/when they say your heart still sings/when you’re with me” sound playful here, a world away from the spite and anger with which they are sung on The Libertines. Tongue-in-cheek and light hearted, the songs that follow are sung in the spirit of a good old fashioned ‘knees up’, which, after all, is what The Libertines were always about. ‘Love On The Dole’ with its shimmering guitar riff, the Beatlesy ‘Bucket Shop’ and the frenetic ‘Hooray for the 21st Century’ seem distilled from the best of English pop music. Examples of Doherty’s wit and ability to twist everyday expressions into memorable lyrics are dotted throughout. On ‘Bucket Shop’ he asks “you said you lived your life by the Albion creed/so pure in thought and word and deed/well my boy what did you gain?” while
Music
on ‘Hooray for the 21st Century’ he wonders, “what became of the working class?” before murmuring “Nike, Reebok, Adidas.” The last of the tracks, ‘Seven Deadly Frenchmen’ has no lyrics at all, and is instead a showcase for Barât’s guitar work. Featuring an uncharacteristically epic guitar solo, it’s how I imagine Django Reinhardt might have sounded if he’d played in a punk band. All in all, Legs 11 is so good that it leaves you wondering why the band never released it as an album. It also raises questions about what else they’ve got tucked away in dusty corners. All eight tracks are available to download for free on the fan website Albion Arks, so if you don’t feel excited enough about the reunion or if you never really got into the band in the first place, have a gander and it might get you in the mood.
Live review Rhona Kirby looks back at Laura Marling at Colston Hall, Bristol, April 21 2010.
Without introduction, Laura Marling and her four-piece band strike up the forceful and aggressive cacophony of ‘Devil’s Spoke.’ From the first ten seconds of the set, it is clear this young songstress has grown up and found a new, mature style. The stage is almost entirely in darkness and her eloquent yet sorrowful voice is powerful and full of rage: there is certainly an even greater sense of urgency to her singing than that portrayed on the album recordings. Marling expresses triumph in the face of adversity as her melodic wails juxtapose the blunt ranting that dictates the lyrics of this first song. Laura Marling’s new album I Speak Because I Can, was written in response to her break up with Noah and the Whale frontman Charlie Fink. Despite this lost love, she has risen like a phoenix from the ashes: stronger, more confident, and more assertive. Contrary to her usual sweet and somewhat shy impression, her new image asserts a commanding presence on stage. She has ditched the rolledup jeans, flowery tops, and messy
peroxide blonde hair of her teenage indie/hippy years and replaced them with a far more serious, Puritan-esque look. She now wears black and grey; her hair, recently dyed dark brown, is gathered tightly in a bun at the top of her head, creating an authoritative stern profile that inspires awe and respect from the audience. The heavy strumming and haunting gloom of the stage is continued as she sings ‘Hope in the Air.’ It is not until the third song that Marling first addresses the audience briefly before delving into a passionate rendition of her old classic ‘Ghosts.’ Her new independence alters the more light-hearted songs of her debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim. We are now confronted with strong roars, violent upsurges, and the Irish twang that features so much in the new album. Her usually hesitant stage banter has been replaced with confident assertions and witty remarks. She tells us, “I’m gonna play you a new song now… because I can” and when she makes an embarrassing guitar fumble during ‘Made by Maid’ she simply gives up and declares
“Forget it, I made my point.” She is now less modest about her talents as she whistles the complex fiddler’s part in ‘Night Terror’ while her haunting shadow is projected both across the stage screen and the entire audience. And she is now brave enough to give personal insight into her lyrics as she explains the heartfelt inspiration behind her Christmas hit ‘Goodbye England (Covered In Snow).’ Despite having only just turned 20, Marling is able to share prophetic words on the pains of love through songs like ‘Blackberry Stone’ and ‘What He Wrote’ without the first thought of her being considered naïve or inexperienced. It is as though these songs are written directly to her ex-lover as she makes the criticism: you never did learn to let the little things go, and you never did learn to let me be.” Her lyrics create a sense of voyeurism for the listener, as if we are intruding upon the intimate conversations that led to this broken relationship. For these more personal songs, Marling sings unaccompanied, and stands alone on the dark ominous stage. Without other distractions, her
presence is even more emotive and our total focus is on this lone woman howling her heart out to us. Marling tells the audience that her penultimate song, ‘My Manic and I’, should be considered the last song for those who want an encore. She has learned there are more important things in life than simply generating crowd-pleasing music, and it is this
that makes her new album so much more personal and pained. She concludes her set with the title-track, ‘I Speak Because I Can.’ Her band return to create a final impressive crescendo of noise to finish this cathartic musical experience: the negative emotions of each individual have been confronted and purged, so that we too leave with a sense of triumph and salvation.
infra (the Latin for ‘below’) was first conceived as the music for a multimedia ballet inspired by T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland which was produced in 2008. Here the music is expanded from its original 25 minutes to fill the album; the album tracks are easy to remember as all 13 tracks are named either ‘infra’ or ‘journey’ with an accompanying numeral to differentiate them. According to Richter, the music was written to be a journey; and certainly
the album comes across as such. The music has a strong sense of image, like scenes in an unwritten film. ‘infra 1’ carries the triumphal slow strings of the journey begun but as the album continues the mood darkens; ‘infra 4’ seems to express doubts over the validity of the journey, strings circling like falling leaves, whilst each instrument picks out a different motif as if questioning. The album is held together by sometimes bursts and even whole tracks of static
noise from which half-heard voices will emerge and fade, unnoticeably forming themselves into the melody of the tracks they lead into. The mood grows darker throughout until we reach ‘infra 8’ which mourns for things lost. The album seems an appropriate metaphor for my own revision journey, which through all my self-sabotage can only end in tragedy. oli carey
Album review
Max Richter - infra
YOU know when you hear a word or a fact, and then all of a sudden you find this new knowledge everywhere? Well, this is how my relationship to the work of Max Richter has evolved (in a slightly more protracted fashion). I first came across him sound-tracking the beautifully haunting animated documentary Waltz With Bashir (for which he won a European Film Award); then my brother lent me The Blue Notebooks, album,
and most recently (for me) he appeared on the soundtrack of Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island. He has also been soundtracking my revision, providing an appropriately maudlin atmosphere for the inevitable mood swings and heightened emotions which the exam period induces. infra has been on repeat since I picked it up to write this review, and it will, unfortunately, now forever bring Latin verbs before my eyes.
18
June 7 2010
Books
James Henderson & Jacob Moffatt books@exepose.com
BOOKS SUMMER READS
The Acid House Irvine Welsh ISBN: 0099435012
Irvine Welsh offers the reader a dark journey through the lives of his many protagonists in this collection of short stories and a novella. Pulling no punches, this collection showcases Welsh’s brilliant and individual use of language, using the Glaswegian dialect so as to bring his characters to life. This can, however, make sections hard going at times, yet the language helps to draw the reader into the clear but often debauched, subversive and darkly humorous society created. Featuring characters that would usually be either ignored or
derided, Welsh gives the underbelly of Glasgow a voice, and humanity, allowing the reader to make up their own mind. The Acid House often offers touching insights into the lives of Welsh’s characters, which is then forcefully juxtaposed by the violent reality of life for these everyday people. The collection shares a frequently sinister undertone which is reflected in the often brutal and unyielding narrative and abrupt endings. The prevalence of violence and clarity of understanding offered by Welsh allows him to create a realistic yet dark world, and he delivers a oneoff collection. Welsh will always be synonymous with his writing debut Trainspotting and despite its many merits The Acid House does not quite live up to this earlier work. This is ideal reading for those not easily shocked, looking for something that they can dip in and out of this summer with something offering depth and grit. This is Welsh coming into his own as an author. Laura Marriott
Exeposé
Photo: Henry White
A Case of Exploding Mangoes Mohammad Hanif ISBN: 0099516748
Mohammad Hanif’s first full-length work has the dubious boast of being banned in the author’s own home country of Pakistan, while receiving critical accolades in the west in the form of a Booker nomination. The 2008 novel, A Case of Exploding Mangoes, deals with the last months of President Zia al-Huq, who led the country after seizing power by military coup in 1977 until his death under mysterious circumstances in 1988. Best known for his ostensibly ‘radical’ Islamic reforms, the novel seeks to show the delicate interplay between
the leader of one of the largest Muslim nations in the world, his policies, and various sectors of Pakistani society. The book reads as a series of storylines that coalesce at the point of Zia’s death. A young Pakistani soldier who is disillusioned with the regime narrates the plot, echoing the experience of Hani, who was himself in the Pakistani military. As such the novel reads as an insight into his own understandings of the Zia era, though it was published much later and may have been coloured by the author’s move to Britain during the 1990s. Zia and his rule are dealt with mockingly, but with subtlety and intelligence. The contradictions of Islamic reform and their implementation are presented through a series of characters, for example a blind woman who is sentenced to death for adultery because she cannot identify the men who raped her. However, the book is not crass or brazen in its approach, instead slowly
WITH exams nearing completion for even the latest of finishers and the sun finally making an uncharacteristic venture into the South West, we’ve decided to focus this issue on Summer Reads. For many people the summer is their principle oppurtunity for really committing to reading a novel and it is one of my favourites of this country’s secular traditions, whether it be relief from the responsibilities of the year’s drearier months or, for many students, a chance to start reading for pleasure and not to a deadline. Personally, I’ll be using the coming months to cross another ‘classic’ off my ever expanding ‘toread’ list. Hemingway called it the birth of the Great American Novel, and one hundred years since Mark Twain’s death, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is still a revered and influential novel. If I were to make a recommendation, I would suggest to anyone with a sense of humour that they immediately pick up a copy of Jean Teulé’s fantastically amusing The Suicide Shop. It is a wry and subversively funny look at family life and mortality that marks Teulé out as a genuinely individual writer. All that remains is for us to wish you good luck on your exam results and we hope to read some exciting reviews of your Summer Reads next term.
unfolding a series of critiques of a period many Pakistani nationalists hold to be a ‘golden era’ of postcolonial history. While the book deals with its subject matter admirably, it comes at the cost of character development. The relationship between the protagonist and his close friend Obaid is only vaguely hinted at and never really unpacked or explored. Instead the characters remain pawns of the grand narrative, almost simply there out of necessity rather than for the plot itself. A Case of Exploding Mangoes is a highly entertaining and very wittily written novel. After finishing my degree and taking a tentative step back into ‘reading for pleasure’, it was a genuine joy to read and impossible to put down. While Hanif continues to search for a publisher in his home country, I am very thankful no such qualms or concerns over religious offence exist in our own publishing sector. Alex Moss
Exeposé WEEK TWENTY Nine
19
BOOKS Feature Harrison Laird explores the subject of the new Avengers movie with a look at its Graphic Novel origins.
WITH the increasing anticipation of The Avengers movie brought about through references in the recent Hulk and Iron Man movies, and with the inevitable release of the Thor and Captain America movies looming, I thought now may be a good time to suggest a few places for readers to begin building a background of knowledge in preparation, while of course trying to convert some of you more innocent bystanders into true Marvel believers! Any one of the following graphic novels would be a great place to start; you can of course read them all, which I highly recommend. The Avengers - Disassembled (2004) Written by Brian Michael Bendis, illustrated by David Finch. ISBN: 0785114823
While it may seem like quite a paradox to suggest the end of The Avengers to begin your reading, this graphic novel gives a surprising amount of information about both story and characters, while also suggesting numerous previous story arcs to delve into at your own leisure.
The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway ISBN: 0099908409
This novella was the final fictional work published during Hemingway’s lifetime, and it launched him into international recognition and acclaim, still today earning royalties and being taught worldwide. However, by some it received scathing reviews, and even those who praised it could see the reflection upon Hemingway’s self. Deeply infused with the tragedy occurring within the author’s life, and at many times self-deprecating and pessimistic, it is cited as revealing the mindset of the author at the time of writing. It was written in 1951, published in 1952, whilst Hemingway lived in Cuba and recounts the endeavor of an aged fisherman called Santiago, who sets out on the Gulf Stream to catch the best fish he can. A breezy and breathing read, but no less troubled and turbulent (which is why, I guess, Hemingway chose the sea!), it speaks about the tribulations of a great author, and should be praised for its conciseness and truths, and not lambasted for painting a martyr, if that was what Hemingway aimed to do. It is a masterpiece either way, and is duly recognized for its brilliant portrayal of an old man and his eighty-fifth day at sea. JACK FLANAGAN
The story focuses on the mental breakdown of one of the team’s longest serving members: the Scarlett Witch (who is in fact Magneto’s daughter for those of you who know of the X-Men). Her breakdown, coupled with the reality altering nature of her powers, leads to large-scale battles in which several Avengers lose their lives. This puts tremendous strain on the Avengers’ relationship with the US government and so there is a political subplot which runs parallel with the main events. Both classic characters, such as Captain America and Iron Man, and lesser-known characters, are given ample development which highlights Bendis’ exemplary writing skills considering the amount of characters he is dealing with, without hindering the quality of the story. Finch’s artwork does not fail to deliver either and the novel as a whole is both visually and literally a stunning climax to a popular series. The New Avengers – Vol. 1 Breakout (2006) Bendis & Finch. ISBN: 0785114793 Bendis and Finch collaborate again two years later on a series set
six months on from the events of The Avengers – Disassembled. While the whole team may not be ‘new’, it is smaller and more focused, enabling more detailed character development. While including Captain America and Iron Man again, and by throwing in other popular Marvel characters such as Spider-Man and Wolverine, the team may seem like a publicity stunt by having major and popular characters as the main attraction. However, this is quickly overlooked as these more solo based heroes create very contrasting and quite often humorous character interactions that have not previously been explored at length. Characters that new fans may not recognise include SpiderWoman and Luke Cage who provide an almost relatable reference for the reader, being new to the team dynamic themselves. Briefly then, the plot involves the heroes coincidently banding together in an attempt to prevent a supervillain prison breakout which reflects the original Avengers’ formation in 1963, providing a sense of nostalgia for long-term readers, but with the modern new direction needed to renovate the series. Finch’s artwork
The Little Stranger
The Ultimates 1 (2002) Written by Mark Millar, illustrated by Bryan Hitch. ISBN: 0785109609 With its fairly recent creation, the Ultimate universe makes this novel a perfect place to start for new readers. However, what I cannot stress enough is that this universe has absolutely no connection to that of the standard Marvel universe. While some of its characters may share namesakes and costumes, in most cases their origins and stories are completely different and must not be confused with that of the normal Marvel universe. While this team is created by Head of S.H.I.E.L.D. Nick Fury, its founding members are extremely similar to that of the original Avengers,
making some of these intertextual similarities hard to discard. However, some perseverance sees writer Mark Millar revel in the free reign he has on these characters; changing the Hulk’s origin and introducing characters such as Hawkeye, Scarlett Witch and Quicksilver in radically different ways. Millar succeeds in making the Ultimates’ world completely and dramatically separate and so the fresh approach is perfect for that of any first time reader and potential collector. Hitch’s artwork, while quite mediocre in comparison with other artists, still provides a promising start for the series. Original team characters in this novel such as Iron Man, BlackWidow and a black Nick Fury (as opposed to the standard Marvel universe’s White Fury) suggest to me that the pending movies may be taking more of an influence from this Ultimate universe as opposed to the standard Marvel one, hence my inclusion of this title. However, there are too many epic stories that can be translated to screen from both universes, so why take the chance of being disappointed that you don’t know what is going on? Read them all just to make sure!
Transmetropolitan: Back on the Street
Sarah Waters
Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson
ISBN: 1844086062
You may know Sarah Waters as “that lesbian writer” who wrote books such as Tipping the Velvet and Fingersmith. One of them was even adapted for television by the Beeb which means it must have been good, and was described by Sarah herself as a “very upbeat... kind of romp.” I wasn’t sure what I was anticipating when I read The Little Stranger, but it certainly didn’t turn out to be any of the aforementioned. OK, this book isn’t exactly summery. Definitely not the kind of book to take with you to the beach and skim over whilst eating an ice-cream/slowly letting the sun turn your skin a nice lobster red. Do not let that put you off however; this is the perfect book
seems darker to reflect the more manipulative, sinister natures of the villains introduced and so just from the visual the novel seems much darker and more involved than its predecessor. This is a must-read for anyone who wishes to understand the Marvel superhero climate today and suitably provides a brilliant beginning to a consistently brilliant series.
Books
ISBN: 1401220843
to peruse on late summer evenings or, for the braver souls, at night. The Little Stranger is, at heart, a ghost story with a twist. What that twist is will, of course, be left to the reader to discover, but needless to say, the story is flawlessly put together. Some parts of it remain with you far longer than you might wish; there is a particularly horrifying chapter concerning a frightened mother and a sinister nursery room that took me a long time to get out of my head - not helpful when trying to sleep in a dark room. Although a slow burner, when the tension reaches its peak Waters skilfully sustains it for the remainder of the novel to the point where anything and everything causes a delicious sweat of anticipation. Though some readers may be unsatisfied by the ending, the fear this book inspired in me for the characters whilst reading it is enough to at least credit it with both the unusual ability to scare without CGI and linger in the mind long after the book is finished.
ALICE SCOTCHER
Transmetropolitan is the story of Gonzo journalist Spider Jerusalem in a not-too-distant dystopian future. Spider has spent the past five years in isolation atop a mountain, taking copious amounts of drugs and living off the success of his past two books. Spider’s debts finally catch up with him and he is forced to move back to the city to find material for his next book. Ellis has created an awesome character, loosely based on journalist Hunter S. Thompson: Spider is a gunloving, drug-taking psychopath. Spider’s work and philosophy centres around getting ‘the truth’ out to the public and exposing the corrupt political leaders of the totalitarian government. In an interesting paradox, Spider hates, at the same time, the people he is trying to save for their blind acceptance of what
he writes. Despite being a complete arsehole with obvious moral issues, you start to see Spider as a hero. Ellis’ creative and interesting dialogue creates a clear mood throughout the book, one of a disturbing and depressing realism that comes a bit too close to the truth of the present day. Darrick Robertson’s art captures the vibrant filth of a cyber-punk future perfectly. The gritty realism and graphic depictions of injuries leave you cringing and the streets look like the sort of place you might stumble into after taking a wrong turn in a bad part of London. Finally, being able to relate to the dirty, scum infested, cigarette butt-filled world of the city really gives the comic a nightmarish atmosphere. The book is definitely for mature readers and should appeal to those who enjoy strong content. The main story arc is well constructed and never fails to entertain: Spider’s method of delivering the truth in the most direct and blunt manner possible makes an enjoyable and thought-provoking read. The strong themes of antiauthority and atheism throughout this comic make it a truly interesting and unique read. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to read a more mature, untraditional graphic novel. ARRON CUMINGS
20
Screen
Newsreel
What’s going on in the film world?
THE HOBBIT, scheduled originally for a 2012 release, has been put on hold as Guillermo del Toro left the project. MGM’s debts of a rumoured $3.7 billion has continually pushed back the release date and left del Toro with no other option. Bad times. Further sad news came in the form of the death of actor Dennis Hopper, 74, after losing his long battle with prostate cancer. A rebel to the end - rest in peace. In other more positive news, the new trailer for Scott Pilgrim vs. the World was released. Director Edgar Wright agreed that when the Facebook group hit 100,000 members, the trailer would hit the web. Quite frankly, it looks amazing.
Competitions
We have goodies.
Once again, we have THREE PAIRS of FREE TICKETS to any ODEON screening you choose. If you’d like your two tickets, just answer this question: Which historical figure most deserves a Hollywood makeover? Answers to be emailed to: screen@exepose.com anytime by Monday June 14.
june 7 2010
Bloody annoying
Calum Baker & David Brake screen@exepose.com
Lizzy Quinlan shares her disdain for sexy parasites.
HEAR that ominous squealing sound echoing out from just over the horizon? Possibly not. Personally, my ears haven’t stopped ringing since the last installment of High School Musical. But, yep, whatever the condition of your auditory paraphernalia, there’s no escaping the fact that it’s that time of year again - Twilight: Eclipse is soon to be unleashed to the hormonal masses, and consequently every single pre-pubescent girl in existence is shortly going to spontaneously combust with excitement and repressed sexual feeling. They literally won’t shut up for months. It’s going to be like living in a Jonas Brothers concert. Don’t you just love it when a Mormon housewife’s plan comes together? Now, I’d hazard a guess that when Bram Stoker first published Dracula back in 1897, there weren’t swarms of screeching 13 year olds camped outside bookshops with ‘Team Vlad’ sewn onto their parasols – they were all too busy lying in the gutter dying of cholera, for one thing. These days, however, we’ve got girls literally slicing their arms open in order to thrust the freshly dripping wound into Robert Pattinson’s chiselled features, presumably amid hopes that he’ll forget all about that pesky restraining order and gratefully get sucking. And I’m not even joking. It’s all a bit creepy, to be honest, and raises a number of questions.
Namely, why is modern society suddenly so bloody obsessed with vampires? Or, to put it another way, does WHSmith honestly require a dedicated ‘vampire’ section? Do all Hollywood executives have shares in plastic fang manufacturers or something? Oh and also, is Pattinson actually even that attractive? His face is weird. Go on, look at it. Properly. See? Yeah. Told you so. Weird. I digress. Why are vampires suddenly such an omniscient screen presence? Today’s TV listings are positively infested with the things; US import True Blood’s just begun its third season, having been one of 2009’s most popular series, and the never-knowingly original ITV is also busy flogging angsty teen soap The Vampire Diaries. Cinema’s no better – this year we’ve got Daybreakers, Lost Boys 3 and Stake Land all attempting to cash in on the post-Twilight vampire mania. It’s genuinely got to the stage where it’s clichéd to even call it a ‘phenomenon.’ General consensus amongst the journalistic pseuds writing faux socio-analytical pieces on this current fanged screen monopoly (such as this, in fact) is that the appeal lies mostly in society’s similar, allconsuming passion for sex. Since Dracula first took a nip of Mina and Lucy back in the 1800s, there’s always been a hint of the sexual predator about vampires, pandering to our modern pansexual tastes very nicely. The romances central to these stories are a far cry from the
snarky, repressed exchanges of the Austenian mating ritual – vampire love tends to be very much focused around sex, or (in the case of the Twilight series) lack thereof. It’s all smouldering glances, sinking teeth, heaving bosoms and so on. And in the case of True Blood it’s fullon, howling soft porn. No wonder modern audiences love it so much. And the other attraction lies, perhaps, simply in a need for escapism. Modern life is, currently, one long relentless slog through many and varied forms of misery culminating of course in protracted, agonising death caused by too much Diet Coke or too few aduki beans. We’re all obese. The economy has effectively hurled itself, screaming, off a cliff; most of us are now rapidly hurtling towards the day we’re forced to trade in our left kidney for that week’s thimbleful of water. Every day we’re expected to cope with yet more devastating news of frail Cheryl’s secret heartache. It’s impossible. No wonder we need something mindless to distract ourselves from this wretched 21st Century existence, and, let’s face it, you can’t get m u c h m o r e mindless t h a n
Is there a future for historical film? Chris Davies takes a cinematic ride through history.
HISTORICAL films have been a staple of cinema since its earliest days. Many filmmakers turned to the epic canvas of history to create films with visual grandeur to fascinate worldwide audiences during the silent-era. During wartime and the Depression fewer costly epics were made, but following WWII the release of Quo Vadis began the Golden Age of the historical film. Offering incredible splendour in full colour, and, following The Robe, in ‘Cinemascope’, the post-war epics provided escapist adventures mixed with Christian morality tales that proved hugely successful with family audiences. When these costly epics faded in the early 1960s, historical cinema continued through the western, war-film, gangstermovie, romance, and even comedies.
The 1980s was arguably historical cinema’s weakest period, but was followed by an impressive revival in the 1990s. This began with Dances with Wolves, and was followed by a string of hits, including Saving Private Ryan and Braveheart. Indeed, from 1990-2000, nine out of the eleven winners of the Best Picture Oscar went to historical films, while Titanic and Gladiator also pioneered the use of CGI to replicate historical settings. So why has the genre lasted so long? As with the early epics, seeing historical worlds recreated remains fascinating, regardless of historical accuracy. Federico Fellini’s Satyricon, in particular, showed how historical films can be treated with alternative aesthetic approaches to those expected from Hollywood. The genre is also
surprisingly flexible, encompassing a variety of subgenres and periods, and even when films disappoint commercially, as Robin Hood has, there is still room for the genre to adapt, altering scale or setting, or
Exeposé
even entering the world of fantasy, as with Prince of Persia. Furthermore, many science fiction and fantasy movies are indebted to history; think of the ancient historical influences in Star Wars, or the historical feel of Lord of the Rings. History has inspired endless films, and films can also be used in an educative format to create awareness of history, such as the Holocaust in Schindler’s List. They also reflect
sparkling, romantically-inclined vampires. Twilight, True Blood and even that odious ITV wannabe thing, The Vampire Diaries, all let us switch off and lose ourselves in a world of attractive lead actors, enjoyably preposterous storylines and expensive sets, all of course dished up with a hefty portion of bodice-ripping action. Twilight even provides us with a conveniently characterless personality vacuum to all project onto, aka Kristen Stewart. Everybody’s happy. Well, particularly Stephenie Meyer of course, who is no doubt already concocting a few spin-off series to ensure that this especially lucrative cash-cow keeps ‘em squealing well into the next decade. It’s summer 2010, and vampiremania shows no sign of letting up.
contemporary issues – 300’s Eastversus-West motif, for example – and the continued relevance of historical issues in modern society ensures that the cinematic genre has significance, and can likewise assist in studies of past decades through examining the way filmmakers have chosen to represent history on film. So, whether a personal tale, a spectacular epic, or a surrealist vision set two thousand years or two decades ago, I believe historical films will never stop being produced. The wealth of visuals, stories and inspiration that derives from history forms the foundations of many movies, while the genre itself can adapt to suit almost any cinematic trend, and in so doing, endure. The rest, as they say, is history.
21
Exeposé WEEK TWENTY nine
Death at a Funeral
Dir: Neil LaBute (15) 92mins Cast: Chris Rock, Zoe Saldana THE vogue for Hollywood remakes knows no bounds, and now LaBute extends the treatment to the fairly forgettable British comedy of the same name from just three years ago. Transferring the funeral to that of a family including Rock, Saldana and Danny Glover hasn’t avoided the same pitfalls experienced in the original however, as one joke hits the mark while its follow-up sinks without a trace. Add some initially slack pacing and the greatest moments are only to be found later as the ensemble really get to interact. In such moments, the film shows enough humour to be enjoyable and highlights its own unfulfilled potential.
Sex and the City 2
Dir: Michael P. King (15) 146mins Cast: Sarah Jessica Parker et al. WHAT really stung about this film wasn’t the appalling puns and limp dialogue (“Lawrence of my labia” and “there should be a Jude law against that!”), nor the questionable wardrobe choices (the red spiky jacket that made Samantha look like a WWII U-bomb?) What really made me want to weep was the constant mockmorality: this film paid lip service to women’s rights, gay rights and pitying the poor Indian butler besides, all while Abu Dhabi’s culture is seen as a joke throughout: “I knew I should have brought my burkha,” says Carrie, and the “girls” go on to pity a burkha-clad Muslim woman trying to eat, not to mention laughing at “burkhinis”
Dir: Samuel Maoz (15) 93mins Cast: Oshri Cohen, Itay Tiran
whilst simultaneously admiring the Australian rugby teams’ packages. All this could almost be forgiven if the characters were to undergo some sort of epiphany where they realise how much they really have and become women’s rights campaigners... or something. Instead, they are outraged when they get thrown out for Samantha’s promiscuity, which is hardly surprising considering their extreme lack of cultural respect. There is not one redeeming moment. Everything that you loved about the TV series has been replaced with a script that’s superficial, crude and offensive. If you enjoy selfharm, then this is a film for you.
LEBANON follows an Israeli tank crew entering a hostile town on the first day of the 1982 conflict. Action takes place almost entirely from within the tank as we receive occasional glimpses of the outside world through crosshairs. Events outside increase the stresses and strains of life inside, and in the confined space the men struggle to retain their sanity. This creates compelling drama, delivered with stunning conviction from an excellent cast - though occasional lack of subtlety frustrates, contradicting the gritty realism and becoming too obvious. The film is nonetheless a difficult but worthwhile viewing experience, horrific and gripping in equal measure.
NO STARS LAURA LE BROCQ, LIFESTYLE EDITOR
STEPHEN O’NION
The Brothers Bloom Dir: Rian Johnson
Lebanon
Reviews
Screen
CHRIS DAVIES
(12A) 114mins
Cast: Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel Weisz
A HEIST movie with a few twists is nothing new. But Rian Johnson, the man behind the acclaimed Brick, has created a movie where the twists are internalised to the point that the eponymous conmen aren’t even sure where their ‘story’ meets reality. Let’s elaborate, or something at least, lest we fall into the same trap they do. Or do they? Follow me: brothers Stephen and Bloom (Ruffalo and Brody) have been conning from a very young age. Orphans in revolving foster care, all that matters is each other. 20 years later, Bloom decides he wants out. Of course, this is generic. But keep following: three months later, Stephen tracks down
Bloom for one last con, which Bloom reluctantly joins him on. But it’s still all expected! Wait: the ‘mark’ of this final job is one Penelope Stamp (Weisz), a beautiful rich recluse who, after placing himself strategically in her arms, Bloom begins to fall for. Oh, come on! But, for those familiar with Brick, this is clearly all ironic. If his first film was his Postmodern Noir film, this is Johnson’s Postmodern conman caper. It wears its influences on its sleeve next to Stephen’s everready pack of cards; it strives to show you what it knows and takes it places that, by the time the credits roll, you’ll wish you could go too. This is arguably, as with many
so-called Postmodern films – Pulp Fiction, 24 Hour Party People – a case of style over substance. We do want to be with the brothers – accompanied by both Penelope and Rinko Kikuchi’s hilariously mysterious parody “Bang Bang” – as they play out their heist story; though of course this is all simply because the characters are designed to look and seem iconic. It is cool, it is slinky, but ultimately too slinky for any real investment. Where the substance actually lies is in the idea of “stories”: Bloom is angry at Stephen as he realises his big brother has essentially been writing their parts from the start: Bloom rejects a woman’s advances
Classic Films #3: Banlieue 13 (2004) Dir: Pierre Morel
by pointing out that she is only attracted to him because Stephen wrote him as the loner. These ideas, elaborated through absolutely topform dialogue as well as classy performances from all involved, really cement any appeal the film has for me. The direction is fluid and the photography really rather lovely. It flashes back and forth, relating situations to each other and showing that, for Bloom, it is love that breaks out of his “story” and becomes a reality... though as the ending suggests, maybe it doesn’t... was it all just written by Stephen? Tell you what - it’s not like it’s over-complex or too difficult to follow. It’s just that a great deal
happens that deliberately doubles back on itself and, while stimulating and very cool for a reasonable length of the film, soon generates indifference and almost plays just for itself. I have no idea exactly what I thought of this film. The writing is a good example of this: the dialogue is brilliant though the structuring is ill-thought-out. Doesn’t that uncertainty mean that, in the end, Johnson has pulled off the biggest con of all? If this is the case, and if I have to give a star rating, I guess I’ll award this movie an unstable four.
somersaulting down stairwells, vaulting roof gaps, scaling balconies and swinging from overhead rails, leaving a trail of dumbfounded, broken-limbed gangbangers in their path. Moreover, the film makes no use of CGI, safety cables or stunt doubles – every manoeuvre is real and shot with the use of simplistic, no-nonsense camera work; the result being a palette of refreshingly honest scenes of raw action. You’d be forgiven (but mistaken) for expecting an unconvincing performance from Belle, a manoff-the-street rather than seasoned actor. He carries his character with the conviction of a politician, if only because he and Leїto are very alike: streetwise, ghetto-born, and humanitarian (Belle’s early years were spent in national service,
the Troupes de Marine, and as a fireman). The same praise can be extended to Raffaelli, whose performance is flawless. Admittedly, the film lacks a substantial and (frankly) nonclichéd plotline, but to judge Banlieue 13 by this criterion is like judging the success of a painting by the way it smells – it simply isn’t the film’s central concern. Plot steps aside for action; the film is (more than anything else) a celebration of athleticism and the capabilities of the human body. Awash with heartstopping feats of agility and nearsuicide, Banlieue 13 vaults clear of everything you thought humanly possible. Albeit no winner for plot or script, it is, if only for the stunts alone, definitely one to watch. ben savill
calum baker screen editor
(15) 84mins
Cast: David Belle, Cyril Raffaelli, Bibi Naceri
VIOLENCE, organised crime and hard drugs: welcome to Banlieue 13, a sin-riddled district of Paris that has gone so irrevocably to Hell that authorities have closed it off from the rest of humanity with a 70-foot, barbed-wire-topped, armed-guard-dotted wall. It’s also the setting for one of the freshest and most breathtaking action films of our time. Living alongside the underbelly of Parisian society is Leїto (David Belle), an athletic and wily modernday Robin Hood who hates crime and injustice and chooses to strike back hard against the gang that rules and exploits his neighbourhood. When he is caught destroying a batch of the gang’s cocaine and escapes, crime lord and gang leader Taha Bemamud (Bibi Naceri)
orders his cronies to capture Leїto’s younger sister. But kidnap and drugs are not the limits of Taha’s criminal activities; he has also found and rigged up a bomb to a missile launcher and, with the threat of launching it into the centre of Paris, is holding the French government to ransom. Leїto teams up with Damien Tomaso (Cyril Raffaeli), a skilled and equally hardy Parisian cop, to rescue his sister and disarm the bomb before it is launched. The film brought into the public light an emerging (and, until recently, relatively unknown) discipline called Parkour, a sort of urban athletics formulated by David Belle, the actor who plays Leїto – and oh, what a way for this new sport to debut. The film is a feast of athleticism, with our heroes casually
22
Arts
june 7 2010
Theo Jansen’s ‘Strandbeests’ invade Spacex
Rosie Scudder & Ellie Steafel arts@exepose.com
Zoe Bulaitis discovers Theo Jansen’s skeletal sculptures at the latest Spacex exhibition.
ARTS EXHIBITION
Theo Jansen May 15-July 3 Spacex
THEO Jansen’s job title is hard to pin down. He is part architect, part artist, part vet, and arguably part magician. He speaks of himself as: “an engineer who wants to match the progress of mobility, another part of me is an artist who wants to sculpt the earth around us and give it shape.” Jansen’s creations are skeletal sculptures, set to roam up and down beaches of their own accord. He has named these constructs ‘Strandbeests’, meaning ‘Beach Animals’ in Dutch. Visiting the Spacex gallery is more like visiting some sort of archaeological dig than a conventional art gallery. The space
is filled with Jansen’s ‘Fossils,’ bare bones which are brought together to make his fantastic beach machines. Jansen treads the line between awe and repulsion; the recycled scrap pieces are melded together forming uncomfortably realistic bone structures. A selection of drawings accompany the fossils and give an insight into Jansen’s idea process, mapping the progression from sketches to structures.
“The artist produces something with a mind of its own, free to move in its natural environment as the forces of the beach dictate.”
The highlight of the Spacex exhibition comes as you watch all the component parts come to life, transforming from their inert
forms into a series of beautifully created video pieces exhibiting the sculptures in action. It is a miracle of architecture and engineering as these animalistic structures are driven along sand and through sea water. Entirely self-propelled, the artist produces something with a mind of its own, free to move in its natural environment as the forces of the beach dictate. Some of the footage shows the machines running and gambolling along the seashore while others document a stuttering, restricted series of movements. To truly experience the magic of the ‘Strandbeests’ one has to see them in action. Luckily for all of us, the location that Jansen has chosen to exhibit his beautiful creations lies but a 15 minute train ride away on the beach at Exmouth. Jansen’s newest animal, Animaris Siamesis, is to be released into its natural environment on June 2527 between 2pm and 4pm, and if
Exeposé
you are too lazy to head down to the beach (which is undoubtedly the best place to see them) then you can also see the ‘Strandbeest’ in Princesshay Square on July 24 at the same times. Both of the
viewings are completely free and a great opportunity to experience some truly ‘moving’ art.
The Bates Motel: Check in. Unpack. Relax. Take A Shower...
Directors Ross Brown and Jo Forest Jones discuss their upcoming Theatre With Teeth production, ‘Creating Psycho’.
ARTS PREVIEW
Creating Psycho June 12-13 M&D Room
THIS year marks the 50th anniversary of Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, a film which saw the first ever onscreen toilet flush and is famous for the iconic image of Janet Leigh being stabbed to death in the shower to the chilling sounds of violin screeches. What better way to celebrate this than to transform Psycho into a brand new stage show.
“As fans of Hitchcock we thought we’d attempt to transfer his filmic genius to the stage.”
Creating Psycho combines an adaptation of the novel Psycho by Robert Bloch, Hitchcock’s 1960 film and, most disturbingly, the true story of serial killer Ed Gein. Using 1950s horror as our style we intend to create a live thriller in the
M&D room using nothing but five flats, a projector and, of course, a shower curtain! To round things off we have an original score created by ‘The Pookas!’ who will be performing live each show. The story follows Robert Bloch as he tries to create the ultimate horror novel. Sitting in his local bar he watches an interaction between a waitress and a customer; using this for inspiration, he creates a fictitious story which follows the waitress. The audience watch as her story unfolds and she finds herself stranded at Bates Motel with $40,000 of stolen money. The waitress is befriended by a man called Norman Bates, but it’s not him she needs to worry about, it’s his mother. We are both very excited about this project. As fans of Hitchcock we thought we’d attempt to transfer his filmic genius to the stage in order to scare the theatregoers of Exeter. In order to keep the cast on their toes and to spark fear in their hearts we have held a few extra special rehearsals known as ‘Fright Nights’, including a screening of Psycho and a late
night rehearsal in Elmbrook Cottage. This particular rehearsal involved the cast searching for information about serial killers in order to solve a murder mystery, of course all done by torch light. Our method for rehearsals is simple: the more we scare our cast, the better!
“Using 1950s horror as our style, we intend to create a live thriller in the M&D room using nothing but five flats, a projector and, of course, a shower curtain!”
So, if you fancy a creepy night of theatre, head to the M&D room at 8pm on Saturday June 12 and Sunday 13, where you will be in for a scare. For the daring theatregoers among you, there will also be a midnight showing on June 12. We promise it will be a scream.
23
Exeposé wEEK twenty nine
ARTS REVIEW The History Boys May 27-29 M&D Room
PERHAPS it’s those distant memories of a musty classroom, nose pressed against the pages, trying to decipher some ancient tragedy, that have left many with a permanent prejudice against plays. It is this musty, forgotten classroom in which Alan Bennett’s critically acclaimed The History Boys is set. In the final weeks of May, EUTCO took on the task of producing and performing this well-loved play to an expectant audience. It was a packed final performance, so busy, in fact, that the M & D room was stiflingly hot. With the set visible, I immediately felt nostalgia for my teenage school days, back in my old History classroom with Lord Kitchener glaring at me, telling me my country needs me. The History Boys, in essence, is a coming of age story, but a very British, innuendo-ridden, and often uneventful one. Bennett’s characters are Oxbridge candidates in Sheffield, and the casts’ accents were more than acceptable. The minor mishaps and slips in lines were easily
ARTS PREVIEW
Photo 51 August 6-30 Edinburgh Fringe
DELVE into a wonderland where lab coats intertwine and cells burst with light, and discover the story of the forgotten genius of Rosalind Franklin. Compelling original music and a talented ensemble unravel the mysterious beauty of the double helix. How can something so tiny be so remarkable? How can the curiosity of five performers reveal ‘the secret of life’ when even experts get lost in its depths? Interpreting puzzling equations and obscure scribblings through graceful movement and sweeping sound, ‘Photo 51’ blurs the lines between art and science. In 1952, after a one-hundred hour exposure, Rosalind Franklin’s X-ray photograph finally proved the structure of DNA. However, after a series of ill-fated events, it was James Watson and Francis Crick who received the Nobel Prize for the discovery. The ensemble explores the single-minded and single-hearted devotion of the woman who was missing from the winners’ podium, prompting the
overlooked and ultimately added to the authenticity of a classroom environment, with several classroom scenes almost impossibly realistic.
“The whole premise of The History Boys seems to question not so much “what if ?” but “what is?”, and this was expertly captured in a light-hearted but touching way”
Bennett’s characters, although clichéd, were brilliantly acted by the cast, with a teenage, youthful naivety and arrogance that would fit into any typical boys’ school. Each scene was pushed to its emotional limit as the conflicts of characters’ desires were sensitively portrayed by the cast. The director worked with the limited space available on the M&D stage, using a projection screen to distract from scene changes and add an extra visual stimulus. Despite this, the unavoidable noise of onstage movement sometimes drowned out the actors’ voices, but in general the piece was slick and polished.
question ‘who owns an idea?’ ‘Photo 51’ is Theatre with Teeth’s second show to hit the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The production is being performed in Edinburgh from August 6 - 30 in ‘The Den’ at Zoo Roxy. ‘Photo 51’ is also being performed at
The whole premise of The History Boys seems to question not so much “what if?” but “what is?”, and this was expertly captured in a light-hearted but touching way by the EUTCO cast and crew. The play was both entertaining and gripping, and the characters were portrayed with such emotion and
conviction that I left, with a nod to Hector ’s tendencies, feeling genuinely touched.
HENRY WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR Photo: Henry White
Arts
Editors’ Top 10
Arts Week Special 1. Bug
A Play by Tracey Letts Mon/Tues - 2pm Roborough Studio 2
2. Dance
Showcase
Mon-3pm/ Wed-3pm/ Fri-1pm Ram Beer Garden
3. Play Readings Mon-4pm/ Tues-8pm Roborough Studio 2
4. Pimms & Poetry Tues-1pm Ram Beer Garden
5. Greet Sunshine Timms (Zach Price) and Hector (Theo Fraser) share a moment during “useless” General Studies.
The Bike Shed Theatre on Fore Street for the Exeter Fringe Festival from June 30 – July 2.
EMILY WILLIAMS Photo: Theatre With Teeth
ARTS POETRY
Pimms and Poetry June 8 The Ram Beer Garden
ON the (hopefully) sunny afternoon of Tuesday June 8, a very special event will take place in the Ram Beer Garden, showcasing a variety of student and alumni performers’ work. ‘Pimms & Poetry’ will go above and beyond the name, presenting a potent mix of live poetry, music and comedy - all home grown by Exeter University’s very own talented students and alumni. Poets include Marion O, who has previously performed at Beat Roots and the International Women’s Day Cabaret to great acclaim, and Isley Lynn, a former drama student who has, since graduating, toured her solo performance work both nationally and overseas. Many of those performing are third years, so this is your last chance to catch these talented performers live and free before they must venture into the real world! Expect sweet melodies, clever prose and razor sharp wit, washed down with a jug of Pimms from the Ram. KATIE TRANTER
A Play by Nick Havergal Wed-8pm/ Thurs-6pm Roborough Studio 2
6. Bluebird
A Play by Simon Stevens Wed/ Thurs/ Fri 7.30pm
7. EUTCO
Directing Workshop Thurs-2pm JCR
8. XTV Improv.
Comedy Night Fri-7pm Ram Beer Garden
9. All Together
Now
All-day Entertainment Sat-12pm Ram Beer Garden
10. Creating Psycho Sat-8pm & 12am/ Sun 8pm M&D Room
24
Video Games
News
Bytesize
You may well have been hearing the stories about the development of the 3D DS. It all seems a little too good to be true: backwards compatibility, no need for glasses, etc. However, a couple of weeks ago saw the leaking of what looks like a testing prototype for what’s becoming known as the ‘3DS.’ Whilst at the moment it looks more like one big computer chip than the sleek little handheld we all know, it does suggest that the 3DS might be going widescreen. But the XL has only just shipped! Surely this is all happening too fast? Apparently not for Square Enix, who have announced the first totally original Final Fantasy title for the DS - The 4 Heroes of Light. The character avatars and graphic design are looking suitably cutesy, and The 4 Heroes of Light apparently offers four person co-op play, so you and your mates can save the world together - providing you all have a DS and a copy of the game. Meanwhile Star Wars: The Old Republic is sounding less like an MMO and more like an RPG with every passing update from BioWare. The latest has fleshed out the concept of ‘Companion Characters’ that you will encounter and travel with in the game. Rather than being pretty unresponsive helpmates that are with you just to provide muscle, these Companions will be interactive - in the same style as the previous Knights of the Old Republic games. According to the official website, “some Companions will become your closest friends, others may become your lovers, and a few may even become your enemies!” Some, however, are worried that this is another indication that The Old Republic will be little more than KotOR 3 with a monthly subscription fee slapped on it, and would that really be worth it?
june 7 2010
Exeposé
Daniel Burnage & Alice Scoble-Rees games@exepose.com
The lament of the Console Widow
An Anonymous Student on the death of romance at the hands of the 360.
It’s Saturday night and I’m lying in bed looking forward to an evening with my boyfriend. Grinning at me, he sits on the bed and pulls out his favourite toy. It vibrates violently, the third person in our relationship - his beloved Xbox. Yes, I date a gamer. He loves his Xbox, he plays it all the time. In the moments when he’s not playing, he’s sharking. No, not sharking like the crazy guy you spot in Mosaic staring at every girl; I mean scouring the shops for new games releases, perhaps even eyeing up his next conquest as it flirts with him, begging him to take it home for some nostrings-attached gaming. I’ve realised that I am competing with the Xbox for my boyfriend’s attention. He set a time to meet me and I was patiently waiting for him. An hour passed. Oh, maybe he’s running late. Two hours passed. I text him: “Where are you?” Three hours passed. Yes! A reply! “I’ll be there in a bit!” By four hours I was getting quite annoyed and concluded that he was gaming, a fact which was confirmed by him when he finally turned up… the
next day. Most girlfriends worry about their partners getting off with the secretary at work, but my boyfriend cheats with a games console (Actually, I am thankful for this fact – at least the Xbox isn’t some leggy girl with giant breasts!). Panicked, my friend and I decided to google gaming addiction. “Signs of a game addict include playing four to five hours a day.” Only four to five hours? It’s been suggested that he once played for twenty! Don’t get me wrong though, I am not anti-gaming, as I too own an Xbox. However, an achievement for him means a place on the leaderboard; an achievement for me was unlocking Taylor Swift in Band Hero.
“At least the Xbox isn’t some leggy girl with giant breasts!”
Unlike the average girlfriend, the Xbox can be turned on at will and it can be muted. Even
better, when the relationship gets a bit stale you can simply buy a new game to rekindle the passion once more. “But!”, I hear you cry, “A console can’t replace a woman! You can’t even sweet talk it!” Well, think again. On our latest visit to Game, what caught my eye was an announcement for the new Xbox Natal, which claims that you can now interact with your Xbox by speaking to it. Horrified and exclaiming how a robot apocalypse was nigh, I left the shop. As having a threesome with his Xbox is now my only option, I am learning to accept his gaming. Off I trotted to Game to find a surprise for him; but when your boyfriend has a million and I have about as much clue about games as Exeter students have about the North, it is almost impossible to treat him. Nevertheless, I found one with a lovely cover to fuel his addiction. I even recently watched him play and complete a game for five hours, praising him when he did well and consoling him when he died. The pinnacle point of our relationship was when he excitedly downloaded the new Halo: Reach Beta and
Photo: Calum Baker
offered me a controller - yay, a couple’s night in! I kept dying though so he called me a n00b. Most girls would laugh it off; but when it comes from a gamer’s mouth it’s almost as insulting as “honey, your bum does look big in that.” Oh dear.
“Unlike the average girlfriend, the Xbox can be turned on at will...”
I suppose I should be thankful: at least I always know where to find him and trust that the only other women he plays with are Bayonetta and Lara Croft. I mean, I’m starting to get used to it and at least I sometimes get to play too - it’s become somewhat bonding! Perhaps having a gamer boyfriend is actually a good thing; at least he’s not hooked on crack (or worse, work) right? But for now though, I’ll continue to hope that his Xbox proposes to him one day… with the dreaded Ring of Death.
25
Exeposé wEEK twenty nine
Final Fantasy: Dissidia Sqaure Enix: PSP
Dissidia marks the 20th anniversary of the Final Fantasy series; a series of games which has provided your standard gaming teenager with days… days… and days in which to lose themselves within a grandiose landscape and gravitational plot. Having said that, the expectation for a game that seeks to combine all this into one handy, stroll-downthe-street disc is going to be pretty high. So, does it match up? Well, yes and no. The game takes the central characters (of which, you can’t help but notice, there is only one woman, who’s quite meek and confused, really) from each game and throws them into a brawl, Super Smash style. Any Final Fantasy fan would be spazzing… and who could blame them? So already you have the setup for a great (perhaps niche) game. The gameplay style is innovative (that old key attribute to a good game), involving a fairly typical action-game fighting style, with a more epic flavour, as characters leap, jump, fly and race across familiar and interactive environments, so at all times the player can enact the style in which they go about defeating their opponent. And one does so through the interesting medium of ‘Brave
Points.’ Collected by performing certain attacks on an opponent, they increase the overall attack-strength of the player, until they choose to unleash an HP attack. This deepens an aspect of the game that could have been quite dull: well avoided by Square Enix!
The cinematics, both in battle and throughout, are also praiseworthy. In battle, characters are well detailed for the console, and their movements are fluid and easily controlled, i.e. not in the least frustrating, the ever-present danger in games within the same genre. Movie sequences are of a very high quality, and choreographed to leave the player wanting (not that the series has ever delivered less), with plenty of trademark assaults from the major antagonists/protagonists… awesome. Now for the bad stuff. Well, the storyline for the actual game is not great. Based around a quite infrastructural concept of the war
Video Games
between harmony and discord, the warriors are gathered to fight on the opposing sides for what is revealed to be ‘the eternal struggle.’ However, it appears a haphazard mash of all the main characters, with horribly clichéd, and often irrelevant, dialogue between them. Key aspects of the storyline weren’t explored, and it is often over-ambitious and misdirectional in depicting its struggle. It’s strange when clearly so much thought went into the action aspect (which, as said, is pulled off beautifully) and so little into devising a plot. That being said, I guess the idea was never to have so much a sound story; with the novel combat system and fan goodies galore (e.g. references to the originals, remixes of leitmotifs), the game stands, more or less, without it! To sum it all up, the game has done what it promised: it took the main characters from 10 games, threw them together in (kind of literally) a mixer, and watched the fun fly. For non-fan(atics) it’s a fighting game with a commendable twist, for those who share that unspeakable bond with Square Enix already, it’s the bee’s knees…. who cares about the story?!
7/10
Jack Flanagan
Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic Retro
UNLESS you’re completely new to video games, or alternatively have spent the last eight years with a bucket on your head, you will have probably formed your own opinion on Knights of the Old Republic but, on the off chance you haven’t, here are my thoughts. Four thousand years before the saga of the evil, fluorescent tube-wielding asthmatic we all know and love, KotOR puts some much needed distance between the game and the films. Enough Star Wars elements survive to keep the fanatics happy whilst giving BioWare enough room to weave their now legendary story-telling magic. This is RPG vintage at its finest. Gameplay here is the hardcore turn-based set up (I hit you then you hit me until one of us is dead) inherited from RPG’s boardgame origins. If you’re anything like me, this is going to annoy you - you just can’t escape it, and waiting for the bad guy to clobber you over the head is just stupid. Fortunately, the splattering of mini-games from swoop bike racing to using your ship’s gun
turret allows you the occasional reprieve by providing some real time gameplay.
Not that you’re really going to care - this is BioWare after all - it’s all in the story. An uncompromising player choice-influenced Star Wars plot has cemented KotOR as one of the definitive RPG experiences of all time. The characters you pick up along your interplanetary journey are all as thoroughly fleshed out
and engrossing a bunch of oddballs as you could wish. While less character-driven than most current RPGs, your bunch of tag-along space groupies still have enough emotional baggage and comic one liners to sink a ship, providing much of the game’s charm and fantastically complex backstory. The prize, however, has to go to the now infamous HK-47 assassin droid. This darkly comic and instantly loveable psychopathic killing machine deliciously undercuts any emotional or moral situation with variations on “Please let me shoot him master”… pure genius. OK, it’s a bit of a dinosaur by modern standards, but that proves to be more enchanting than irritating. This game marks the foundation of the BioWareplus-Xbox formula and still has something even for veterans of their latest work, such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age. A truely iconic game that shaped a generation and the industry. Oh, and did I mention that you get to choke people with your mind? DanIel Burnage Video Games Editor
Red Dead Redemption
Rockstar: Xbox 360, PS3
Set against the backdrop of the Wild West’s dying days, Red Dead Redemption tells the story of gunslinger John Marston as he sets out to kill his former gang members in return for his family’s freedom, who are being held hostage by the American government. The world of RDR is a rapidly changing one, where the antiquated ways of the Old West are quickly giving way to technology, industry and order, with Marston at the forefront of the conflict between the government and the lawless. It would be easy to exaggerate just how good this game is but, put simply, this is possibly the best game that Rockstar (of Grand Theft Auto fame) have ever made, and is easily one of this year’s finest. The world of RDR is impressive and expansive, stretching from the Mexican desert to the great plains and forests of Colorado, with Texas in between. The world looks amazing and feels authentic, from the empty prairies to the sleepy frontier towns, where a host of characters go about their lives, drinking in the saloon or fighting in the street. Even the most minor characters have been worked into the world superbly, adding an extra level of depth to the game. A personal favourite of mine is Herbert Moon, the anti-Semitic shopkeeper and part-time poker fiend who is constantly falling foul of robbers. The voice acting is excellent – as is the thoughtful soundtrack. Both play a vital role in making RDR a truly cinematic and involving experience. Beyond the towns, in a land devoid of civilisation, RDR continues to shine. The level of realism is extraordinary: wild animals wander the landscapes, stalking defenceless passers-by whilst bandits pray on wary travellers. The sky and weather effects are especially striking – a detail that I particularly like is how more raindrops fall on the screen when looking up at the sky. So far I have barely mentioned anything beyond the world of RDR, which shows how beautifully crafted it is. Fortunately the gameplay is just as good. There are so many features, all of which are near-perfect. The cover system is intuitive and never feels awkward whilst the ‘Dead Eye’ system, which activates slow-motion aiming, evolves across the game, in line with a difficulty curve which never obstructs progress but still provides ample challenge. Combat is a lot of fun, but also feels weighty and visceral. A lot of planning has obviously been put in to making sure that the game can be played at any pace; it’s easy to spend hours riding across the plains, just taking in the world, but thoughtful fast travel systems and the ability to skip missions if they prove too difficult mean that it’s possible to enjoy the game in short intervals too. None of these features are original, but they are all implemented so well that it hardly matters.
Aside from completing the main story – which is brilliantly written, full of compelling characters and classic twists – there is a wide array of mini games and activities to spend time on. It’s easy to get sidetracked in a world so full of detail; poker and blackjack tables wait in the saloons, bounties on local criminals can be collected, there are animals to hunt and herbs to pick, both of which can be sold at stores. Horses (which are one of the game’s biggest triumphs) can be broken in and cattle herded; strangers run up to you asking for help retrieving a stolen horse or begging for aid against bandits. It’s up to you to provide help – or simply gun them down and continue on your way – the choices made throughout the course of the story affect how people react to you. There are also side-missions, all of which feature their own memorable events and characters. All these features can prove distracting but are incredibly rewarding if taken advantage of – the best way to enjoy RDR is to try everything it has to offer. The multi-player is also excellent, and gives what is already a 20 hour long game vast replayability. There are a variety of modes, from ‘Free Roam’ where up to 16 players can explore the game world, to more traditional modes. One of the best things about the multi-player is that whilst it’s quickpaced and entertaining, it remains in keeping with the rest of RDR, rather than just feeling like a clumsy add-on. Before playing RDR I had my doubts that it was going to be nothing more than Grand Theft Stallion – a familiar game but with cowboys and horses instead of gang-warfare. Thankfully it is so much more than that; RDR merges superb artistry and insightful design with the iconic setting and mythology of the Wild West. There are a few minor glitches and stumbles, but nothing serious enough to detract from the rest of the game; this may sound like rampant exaggeration, or at least the words of someone on Rockstar’s payroll, but Red Dead Redemption is almost faultless and deserves recognition as a milestone for the industry.
10/10
Alex Hawksworth-Brookes
26
june 7 2010
Sport
Murray’s Musings...
AU President Tom Murray
HELLO everyone. It seems only yesterday that I was sat here at my desk writing my first article for Exeposé, and now here we are almost a year on, with my final edition. Unfortunately I’m limited to only 500 words, because there are so many people that I would love to thank for all their help and hard work this year. But before I do, I should let you know what is going on in the University of Exeter world of sport one last time. Ladies cricket have got their semi final tomorrow in Leeds, where they take on Leeds Met Carnegie in the Championship semi final. Good luck to Lottie and all the girls, who I’m sure will do Exeter proud. Also I’d like to wish the rowing club the best of luck; they are currently all training ridiculously hard all hours of the day for the Henley regatta. This year we have a great chance of doing well in both the men’s and the women’s eights. So best wishes to Dani Hinckley, and all the ladies as well, as Mark Gleeson and the men’s first eights are set to do really well this year! Men’s Rugby Union did superbly well in a highly competitive Bournemouth sevens last week, in a field full of semi professional sides, the boys did well, ending up the winners Photos: Matt Richards
of the plate final. We now look forward to Athletics and building on what has already been their most successful season ever. Under the leadership of Dan Strang, the club are set to win more points than ever before. We wish both Rebecca Courtney and Mark Andrews the best of luck as they are off to represent Exeter at the combined BUCS championships. So before I sign off one last time there are a few people I need to thank. First and foremost Charlotte Edwards and Catherine White who work in the AU office. Anyone who knows anything about university sport will realise that it is the hard work of both these individuals that makes sport such a success here at the University of Exeter. I have been incredibly grateful this year for their support, friendship and all their hard work, making my job much easier. I would also like to thank my exec team, the sports office staff and all the club captains, who have supported me all year, and for that I am again very grateful. On a personal note, I’d like to thank all my house mates for being a great support this year and also Catherine Thompson who has been a wonderful help and support; for that I always will be truly grateful, thank you. In terms of next year, for all you lucky people who are staying on, I know you will have a great year with your new AU president Josh Belsher. I want to wish him all the best of luck, I know he will do a fantastic job. And finally it’s my pleasure to say that as part of my manifesto I promised that the University would make a top ten BUCS finish, and with only a couple of events left Exeter is sat proud in tenth position with a clear 130 points ahead of Bristol in 11th place, a great achievement by all the clubs. Have a great sport filled week! Tom Murray au@ex.ac.uk
Will the three lions roar this summer?
David Brake, Screen Editor, and Jacob Moffatt, Books Editor, look at the upcoming World Cup and England’s chances. Announcing his final 23-man squad on June 1, Fabio Capello has provided a limited number of shocks since the announcement of the provisional 30 man squad, handing ten players their first World Cup experience. Indeed, the main surprise was the exclusion of Walcott, the 2006 shock call-up. Prior to England’s final preparatory friendlies against Mexico and Japan, the Italian claimed to be looking at a number of players with regards to their potential selection. It would seem that Leighton Baines, Theo Walcott, Darren Bent and Tom Huddlestone all failed to impress when handed the opportunity, whilst Joe Cole and Shaun WrightPhillips took full advantage of the 45 minutes afforded to them. Perhaps the greatest shock of the announced squad is the inclusion of Stephen Warnock as cover for Ashley Cole at left back, despite having played no part in the two friendlies and having only a singular senior cap. Walcott’s exclusion will undoubtedly grab the headlines, but his performances against Mexico and Japan still showed an alarming lack of maturity and depth as a wide player. Named as third favourites by a number of bookmakers, Capello’s side appear still not to have a definitive formation, trying as many as three different configurations against Japan. Joe Cole’s second half introduction saw England convert to a 4-4-1-1 formation and it was during this time that the team looked most dangerous and complete. The formation change also highlighted the inadequacy of the earlier 4-4-2 that focused on pace and width. Giving measured praise to Capello’s selection, former England striker Alan Shearer emphasised the importance of luck. England however can swing the balance in their favour dramatically by winning their group. Approximated results suggest that by winning the group, England will face Australia then Greece in the second round and quarter-finals respectively. By coming second they are most likely to face Germany rather than Argentina. Now, a look to England’s major competition in this tournament.Brazil’s
Ball, Beach and BBQ Beach
Alexander Cook Sports Editor
With the post exam period kicking in for all but an unfortunate few, ‘Christians In Sport’ kindly hosted a volleyball and football tournament at Exmouth beach on Tuesday June 1. 40 Exeter students, unperturbed by the early morning drizzle, took off their shoes and put on their game faces to participate in this ‘4-a-side’ extravaganza and challenge for the
Exeposé
football and volleyball titles. Each team was named after a country, a nod to the upcoming World Cup. After the fiercely contested opening rounds and equally wellmatched playoffs, Malawi emerged as champions of the football tournament. The Malawian players were adamant that their victory should be dedicated to the great Taj Sanudi; an inspiration both to Malawi and to us all. The volleyball ‘spade’ was awarded to Holland. They truthfully admitted: “we came
style on approaching the tournament has become more defensive under Dunga, causing a storm of controversy. Nevertheless, Brazil qualified with ease, scoring 33 goals and conceding only 11, showing his tactics are the way forward. It is no wonder that Brazil are tipped for success once more. The absence of Ronaldinho is a bold but sensible move. This form of no nonsense management could keep Brazil in consistent and victorious form. Indeed, Luis Fabiano has had a formidable season and will score freely in the Rainbow country. However, with only one player under 25, the lack of youth may raise question marks. Nevertheless, a semi final is the minimum. Proven tournament winners now, they coasted past Capello’s England in February 2009 and their roster of talent cannot be matched by another team at this World Cup. There’s a reason that Spain are everyone’s favourites and there are no fewer than 12 Champions League winners medals in the provisional squad of 30. This Spanish team, by all rights, should progress at least to the final, and if you were in need of convincing, just a look at the beating heart of this Spanish midfield should do it. Given life by Iniesta and Xavi, who have now played together for over a decade, powered by Xabi Alonso and with none the less than the further option of playing Cesc Fabregas and David Silva. Diego Maradona,
the Argentine hero and pantomime villain must be the greatest liability to Argentina. He is largely bereft of managerial experience and failed to display any breathtaking aptitude in Argentina’s inconsistent qualification. Only a fool however would write off this team. With individual stars like the Milito brothers and Sergio Aguero, not to mention arguably football’s most naturally talented player Lionel Messi, they have the ability to play the kind of strong football that could scupper teams like England and Spain. Neither Portugal nor the Ivory Coast can be considered as much more than outsiders at best to win the tournament, but two very ambitious players who will be keen not to disappoint will be Cristiano Ronaldo and Didier Drogba. L a r g e l y similar players in many respects, they both have experienced great success with their clubs, are ambitious and very individual talents, and crucially they are big game players. Expect them to be vying for the golden boot come mid July. However, disastrous penalty taking and the controversially light Adidas Jabulani football aside, England’s squad is an impressive one. However, looking at the likes of Spain, Argentina and Brazil, an English victory would still be something of an upset.
to conquer football, but ended up conquering volleyball,” but further added that this title was far more than a consolation prize. Playing on the beach sand was a real leveller of ability. As the day progressed, the churned ground appeared increasingly to mimic the choppy sea. Matt Richards, a huge name on the Intra-Mural football scene and manager of the long-standing Cranston Pickles, remarked that the surface was “unorthodox, but I like it”. He also noted that there were some “great skills” on show throughout the afternoon, despite the unpredictable bounce of the ball. A fantastic day of sport
was capped off with a tasty barbecue, served in a bap of good humour and reminiscence of the afternoon’s highlights. Jonny Reid and his team must be thanked for organizing and running this fun-filled and action-packed day. Such an occasion epitomises Exeter Summer and reminds us of the beautiful Devon countryside and coast just on our doorstep. The next event of ‘ChristiansIn-Sport’ is running in ‘Pre-season training’, taking place over the August bank holiday. ‘If you’re a Christian who loves sport or just want to find out more about the Christian faith then come along!’ For more information, please contact jar209@ex.ac.uk.
27
Exeposé week twenty nine
With Exeter now finally in the Premiership, having come so close over the past few seasons, I was lucky enough to be able to speak to the Chiefs’ Head Coach Rob Baxter and ask his opinion an all matters concerning the Chiefs. Baxter has been the Chiefs’ Head Coach for the past five seasons, having played for the club for 14 years. Baxter began his coaching career here at Exeter University whilst still playing for the club and has now reached his goal of bringing Premiership rugby to Exeter. First and foremost, I posed the most obvious question of how it feels to finally, after all the hard work over the past few seasons, be promoted to the top flight of English rugby? “It feels fantastic, like the culmination of a lot of hard work. It’s a reward for a lot of people, not just for me, but particularly for the players. It shows how hard they’ve worked, and how hard they’ve been prepared to push themselves this season.” “It just shows you that if you work really hard and believe in something, you can achieve big things, that’s what we’ve tried to get into this team this season and I think it’s shown.” As the interview progressed we moved onto the topic which has sparked conflicting opinions: the new play-off system for promotion and relegation in the Championship. This season the RFU introduced a new three group system for the 12 teams in the league, whereby the top eight from two four team pools will play each other, with the top two from each group going through to semifinals and then a two leg final. The bottom four then all play each other twice and the team with the least points gets relegated. Effectively this system could mean that the team that finished eighth could get promoted, yet the team that finished ninth could get relegated. Despite the Chiefs securing promotion even though they finished second in the league, Baxter is also against this idea. “No I wouldn’t say I am [in favour of the new system]. We’ve done everything right in a lot of ways I think, Bristol have probably complained or said its not quite right that they’ve won the league part of it and their pool yet they’ve not been promoted. Yet at the end of the day two teams
voted against a cup style promotion system at the start of the season, ourselves and Bristol, but once it’s been passed by majority, what do you do?” “It’s one of those things you get on with, you plan for it accordingly, and if we’ve played the system better than Bristol then surely that’s a credit to us. I think it’s just one of those things, you take what you get at the start of the season and if you make your plans right then you come out better at the other end.” Unlike the Championship playoff final in football, whereby the final is played over one leg at Wembley, in rugby the RFU decided against a single Twickenham final, instead opting for a two leg approach, one at each of the teams’ home ground. “I’ll be honest with you, when Tony Rowe [Club Chairman] came to me and said ‘What do you think, a two leg or a one leg?’, it was pretty early in the season and my concern was not about how the last game or the last two games of the season went, we just said that everything we did we were going to earn our way towards, and we weren’t going to get carried away with games that were a long way off.” “I said as far as I’m concerned if its one leg at Twickenham we’ll get ourselves ready for that, or if its two legs we’ll make sure we’re still ready, and that’s what we did and it worked out rather well.” On the subject of the two leg final, I questioned what was going through his mind in the second half of the final leg at the Memorial Stadium in Bristol. “At the start of the second half it was quite a bad time for us as we actually stopped playing; it was that stage in the game where we looked a little bit fragile. We started focusing on trying to defend our lead and that really didn’t help us at all, it neatly allowed Bristol to almost crawl back into the game. But then if you look back at the game as a whole and look at the last 20 minutes we played some superb rugby, dominated possession and made a lot of good decisions. “We upped our defensive work rate and with
Photo: Sport Action Photos
about ten minutes to go I think you could start to see that there was only going to be one winner. I think at that stage it did start to sink in a little bit, that we were going to do it. It was nice in a way that it didn’t come down to everyone panicking in the last 30 seconds about how the game was going to go, it just allowed us to savour the moment, watching a very good team play very good rugby.” “It’s something you don’t often get to do as a coach as you’re often looking at everything and don’t get to appreciate how well your team are playing. What’s been nice is to look back at the game, the good decisions we made and how well we did play with a less critical eye”. In the first leg, Exeter made some dubious decisions to kick for the corner rather than take three points; however at Bristol they went for points every time. Was this a designated plan from before the match, or was it just common sense on the pitch? “Yeah it was, but it was also very similar to the first leg in some respects; however, when you are away from home you just need to take every opportunity to get as many points as possible.” Sadly the constraints of modern technology and the infamous (lack of) Devonshire mobile phone reception cut short our conversation before I could ask if there were any big plans for Chiefs with regards to signing new players, yet their website reveals the signing of winger/centre Andy Higgins who has returned from retirement and flyhalf Ryan Davies who was a regular in the Bath starting line-up last season. Come next season the Chiefs will be competing in the Guinness Premiership; ticket prices are exceptionally reasonable and are available online or from the ground itself. We would like to get as many Exeter students as possible down to Sandy Park, and make sure we do our bit to keep Premiership rugby a mainstay here in Exeter.
Puzzles
SUDOKU
The numbers 1 to 9 should appear in each row, each column, and each 3x3 box.
Hard
Easy
Pub Quiz
Kenken
The numbers 1 to 4 should appear in each row and column. The numbers within each black outline should equal the target number using the operation indicated.
Crossword
1. What did Americans see the end of in 1933? 2. Who wrote Decline and Fall? 3. Who was the last Prime Minister to be appointed from the House of Lords? 4. What is the venue for the football World Cup final? 5. Who are PJ & Duncan better known as? 1. Prohibition 2. Evelyn Waugh 3. Sir Alex Douglas-Home 4. Soccer City, Johannesburg 5. Ant & Dec
Exeter Chiefs’ Head Coach Rob Baxter speaks to Andy Williams, Sports Editor, after his club’s promotion to the Premiership.
Sport
No. 10 by Alexander Cook
1. Ape (5) 4. Inert gas (5) 7. Titania’s husband (6) 8. Machine programmed to perform a specific function (5) 10. Sparkle (5) 11. Country in West Africa (4) 12. Business scandal; West End play (5) 13. Well-known (7) 16. Harsh, sour, bitter (7) 19. Formal expression of praise (8) 20. Hip salutation (2) 22. French name (3) 23. Hollow cylindrical structure (4) 24. Innards (8) 28. E.g. thumbs (8) 29. Highly emotional event; performance (5) 30. Give out (4) 31. The ash tree thought to overshadow the whole world Norse (8)
1. Influenced by greed or gain (9) 2. Child’s bed (3) 3. Prefix denoting one hundred (5) 4. African country (6) 5. A densely populated slum area of a city inhabited by a socially and economically deprived minority (6) 6. HP’s broomstick; cloud (6) 9. US Composer; hairdresser (6) 13. Surface; aspect (5) 14. Snake (5) 15. Customary (5) 17. MAAN protagonists: Beatrice and --------- (8) 18. -------- Junction – recent film by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant (8) 21. Serving no useful purpose (6) 25. Device used for detection key to Allied success in WW2 (5) 26. Prayer leaders in mosques (5) 27. Type of mollusc (5)
No. 9 solution – Across: 1. Aeneas, 4. Solar, 9. Hexagon, 10. Enoch, 11. Iowa, 12. Duo, 13. Rat, 14. Grail, 15. Tastelessness, 20. Shunt, 21. Pundit, 22. Braille, 24. Vast, 25. Carnage, 26. Immense. Down: 1. Aphid, 2. Noxious, 3. Augur, 5. Oleaginous, 6. Aloha, 7. Unit, 8. Chill, 16. Aphorism, 17. Tangible, 18. Exigence, 19. Spinster, 23. Port, 24. Via.
28
Monday June 7 2010
Sport
Exeter Chiefs Win Promotion
Alexander Cook & Andy Williams sport@exepose.com
Photo: BBC Sport
Chiefs Rugby
Andy Williams Sports Editor
Exeter Chiefs Bristol RFC
29
10
Exeter win 38-16 on aggregate
Exeter Chiefs RFC have been promoted to the Guinness Premiership after beating rivals Bristol RFC at the Memorial Stadium in Bristol 29-10 (38-16 on aggregate). Chiefs’ flyhalf Gareth Steenson kicked six penalties and two drop goals, with Simon Alcott scoring a last minute try for Exeter to guide the visitors to a convincing victory and seal promotion. The Chiefs were fortunate to enter the match with a very narrow 9-6 lead. A last ditch Steenson penalty saw them snatch a narrow home victory. However, their performance at Sandy Park left a lot to be desired; they had hoped to go away from home with a bigger cushion, especially considering their 35-26 defeat at the last visit to Bristol. The second leg saw Chiefs take every opportunity to kick at goal to ensure that the scoreboard kept ticking over, whilst maintaining the pressure on the opposition. Chiefs took the early initiative and went 6-0 up, until Bristol stormed back with a try from Luke Arscott that was converted by his brother Tom. Yet Bristol could only muster a further three points for the rest of the match, despite testing the Chiefs’ defences to the limit and arguably winning the territorial battle. Steenson, outstanding with the boot and in open play, coolly kicked Exeter in front and relieved the pressure. He slowly punctured Bristol’s hopes for a new beginning in the top flight. The two drop goals he nudged over in the second half seemingly fulfilled the strategy of attack coach, Ali Hepher (the former Northampton fly-half). Simon Alcott’s try, awarded after consulting the video referee, sealed the deal during the final play of the game, though perhaps inflated the scoreline. Triumphant, the team showed their appreciation to the Exeter faithful with an open-top bus parade through the City Centre on Sunday May 30. Fans turned out in their thousands, flocking for a glimpse of their heroes clasping the long sought after Championship Trophy. The Lord Mayor of Exeter also made a speech applauding their successes. A
Exeposé
Bronze Boys and Gutsy Girls EUBC
Kathryn Stevens
Rowing Correspondant
IT was yet another successful weekend at BUCS for the Exeter rowing team. The novice men’s eight crew secured themselves a welldeserved bronze medal at this prestigious event. Following up their previous win at Peterborough and establishing themselves as a crew to be reckoned with, Reader, Cruz, Moffett, Carter, Cawthorn, Horrocks, Johnson and Login rowed a superb race, leading throughout the heats. Despite horrific weather conditions in the morning, they rowed to a glorious third place in the final with a chorus of cheers from the Exeter supporters on the banks.
“A true display of guts and sportmanship.”
Fly-half Gareth Steenson kicked 24 of the Chiefs’ 29 points in the second leg of the playoff final. fitting end to a fantastic season. Sandy Park and its facilities have been examined by the RFU and have met the standards required to host Premiership rugby. This means that Exeter are guaranteed to play against and host the likes of Leicester Tigers and London Wasps come the start
of next season. Finally the team, stadium and fans will witness a level of rugby they deserve. We can only hope that the Chiefs’ ethic of playing with determination and flair will help deflate the nonchalance emergent in some Premiership clubs next season.
Tough decisions will now need to be made regarding the squad and coaching staff selections. It would seem an injustice to deny those who have worked so hard to win promotion the opportunity to experience club rugby at its highest level.
The novice women’s eight put in a gutsy performance to reach the semi-finals, the best place ever reached by an Exeter female novice crew in this event. The team’s performance in the heats was a true display of the guts and sportsmanship required for rowing. However, halfway through the semi-final qualifier, disaster struck. Exeter, being closely hounded by the Swansea crew, suddenly became a woman down. Chaos ensued, with a broken seat and a crew member unable to row, resulting in the loss of a seat overboard and a crew member almost following suit. Swansea were gaining. With a woman down and almost an extra 70 kilos to drag through the water Exeter began to push. The surge on the boat was tremendous and the Exeter crew hauled away from Swansea carrying the dead weight of their fellow crew member for almost 1000 metres, nearly half the race’s overall distance. With seven women to Swansea’s eight, Exeter held off the attacks of Swansea and the other two full crews racing behind them to secure a place in the semi-finals. A true underdog story. If they had given out medals for guts and determination, Exeter definitely would have taken gold.