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13 October 2014 • Issue 628 • Twitter: @Exepose • www.facebook.com/Exepose • Free
Battle of the balls: SSB’s back Hannah Butler News Editor
#NeverOK
Photo Credit: Edwin Yeung
Emily Leahy, News Editor and Gemma Joyce, Editor EXETER students have come together in their hundreds to join the newly launched #NeverOK campaign raising awareness of the prevalence of sexual harassment in student life. One of the Guild’s biggest campaigns of the year, #NeverOK is fronted by Guild President Rachael Gillies and VP Welfare & Diversity Kate Hawkins. Since its launch, 5,812 people have visited the page on the Guild’s website, 525 pledges have been submitted and the promotional
Comment:
Sarcasm, anger and praise: reactions to our last front page
Pages 10 & 11
video has been viewed 4,928 times. The movement follows a recent NUS survey, the results of which suggested that one in four students nationally had experienced “unwelcome sexual advances” which included “inappropriate touching and groping.” The survey additionally uncovered that 60 per cent of respondents were “not aware of any codes of conduct implemented by their university or students unions that prohibit or tackle sexual comments, unwelcome sexual advances, group intimidation and verbal harassment.” Gillies said: “Sexual harassment is not just gender-based; it doesn’t always
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involve alcohol, and it doesn’t only take place on nights out. Our students say they have these kind of experiences even when they are walking down the street. It’s never ok regardless of gender, where it is and when it is.” She continued: “While the issue of sexual harassment is a national one, it is important to us to create a safe and secure environment for Exeter students. Anecdotal evidence indicates that sexual harassment is something that many students experience on a regular basis. We hope that by engaging students in the conversation about sexual harassment, we can instigate a cultural shift among young people.”
Your next MP? We interview the main contenders, Bradshaw & Morris
Page 12 & 13
Highlighting the survey results, NUS President Toni Pearce commented: “I say to universities everywhere the passing the buck approach of ‘not my campus’ is now completely unacceptable. They must acknowledge the problems and join us in confronting them.” She has since tweeted about Exeter Students’ Guild’s #NeverOK campaign, describing it as “Amazing”. Gathering data on incidents of sexual harassment is, by nature, very dif�icult. Many incidents are thought to go unreported simply because the victim feels too uncomfortable to talk about it or because
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AFTER a year’s absence, versions of the banned Safer Sex Ball (SSB) will return to Exeter this December in the form of two private events. Created by The Enchanted Group – the company behind Exeter’s Enchanted Garden Ball – the �irst of the two events is set to take place on Sunday 7 December at an as yet secret location, while another function modelled on SSB is to be held at Westpoint Arena on Wednesday 10 December. Facebook events for both the Enchanted Group and Westpoint Arena balls have proven popular, with 21,000 and 14,000 ‘attendees’ respectively, at the time of going to print. The last SSB, which was held at the Great Hall and organised by RAG with the help of the Students’ Guild, had a controversial tribal theme. Neither of the new events look set to replicate SSB’s traditional premise and themes exactly, with the Enchanted Group encouraging revellers to dress for a Rio Carnival atmosphere, and the Westpoint Arena event opting for a winter wonderland theme. With Jameela Jamil, Jaguar Skills, Jamie Liang, the Candy Kittens and members of the Made in Chelsea cast con�irmed to entertain ball-goers at the Westpoint Arena event, details of the Enchanted Group ball have yet to be announced.
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Games & Tech: Destiny, Volume and Evolve hands on: G & T visit EGX 2014
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University news from beyond Exeter
Boycott threatens Outrage at LSE Rugby Club leaflets Russell Group unis
Students admit to taking legal highs
THE MEN’S rugby club at LSE have been disbanded for the year after a lea�let they handed out in Freshers’ Week caused outrage. The document, which referred to ‘slags,’ ‘mingers’ and ‘scum,’ caused a social media storm after pictures spread on Twitter, prompting an investigation by the student’s union. Organised like a dictionary of club slang, the �lyer (right) de�ined female hockey, netball and rugby “birds” as “beast like women who play sport so they can come out with us on Wednesdays.” Other sections include a homophobic slur and encouragement to members to “pull a sloppy bird on a night out.” LSE’s student union said it had con�iscated all of the �lyers.
ACADEMICS from Britain’s top universities might refuse to mark work over pension rows. The University and College Union (UCU) has stated this was a result of £230,000 being removed from retirement funds. This may lead to full strikes and the possibility of students being unable to graduate this academic year. 67 universities are at risk of disruption, including Exeter and all other members of the Russell Group. Sally Hunt, UCU’s General Secretary, said: “Staff are understandably angry at these proposals. If members back industrial action and there is no negotiated solution, we will look to an assessment/exam boycott.”
ONE in every �ive university students have admitted to taking ‘legal highs’ as they start university, according to a recent survey. The study, conducted at a university in southern England, found that 19 per cent of new students asked admitted to trying some potentially harmful drugs in the past. 61 per cent of Freshers claimed that they had friends who had done so too. Legal highs see manufacturers mimicking the effects of class A drugs such as cocaine, using substances that are not on the government’s banned list. The practice is becoming increasingly widespread throughout the UK, with �igures continuing on an upward trend.
LOWER SAXONY has become the last German state to abolish tuition fees for university students, including international students. The decision means the entire country is now non-fee paying. Prior to 2006, higher education institutions in Germany had traditionally been free of charge. However, 2006 saw the country’s Constitutional Court ruling that fees did not con�lict with Germany’s commitment to universal education. The policy was so unpopular that individual states gradually dropped the ruling, leaving Lower Saxony alone in charging for tuition. Gabrielle Heinen-Kjajic, Lower Saxony’s minister for Science and Culture, explained why the decision was taken, stating: “we do not want higher education which depends on the wealth of the parents.”
STUDENTS in Glasgow, Leeds and Exeter took part in protests last week to raise awareness of unrest in Hong Kong. A large number of students rallied outside Glasgow’s university library, while Leeds’ Union’s courtyard saw dozens of students staging a solidarity protest, and a silent sit-down rally was held outside the INTO Building at Exeter. The protests sought to raise awareness and show support of the democratic protests, led by students, in Hong Kong. Exeter’s local MP, Ben Bradshaw said: “I congratulate the students of Exeter University in their sign of solidarity with the people of Hong Kong.” Meanwhile in Hong Kong, plans for the government and protesters to sit down together were cancelled because protesters pledged to continue to pressure the government through civil disobedience.
WARWICK has been named the University of the Year for 20142015, according to the Good University Guide published by The Times and The Sunday Times. Their vicechancellor, Professor Nigel Thrift said: “Our greatest achievement of the past 50 years has been to remain student focused… this award is a fabulous and �itting start to Warwick’s approaching 50th anniversary celebrations.” Meanwhile, Durham was named Sports University of the Year. Exeter previously won the University of the Year title in 2013 and is currently ranked seventh in the country.
Germany abolishes Protests for Hong Warwick named tuition fees Kong across the UK Uni of the year
Stories contributed by: Vanessa Tracey, Deputy Editor and Rosie Smedley, News Team
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Sussex profits on ID cards THE UNIVERSITY OF SUSSEX has made £35,770 by re-issuing lost and damaged ID cards in the last �ive years. A Freedom of Information Request submitted by The Badger revealed that 3,577 staff and student ID cards have been re-issued since January 2010 and are currently replaceable at a charge of £10 per card. The University insisted that they do not make any pro�it on the reproduction of Student ID cards, but the cards only incur a production cost of approximately £2. Sussex responded by stating it was “a small charge” and said the pro�its went towards the costs of future ID cards.
Islamic university opens in Turkey
PLANS to open an Islamic university in Istanbul have been announced by the head of Turkey’s top religious body. Professor Dr. Mehmet Gormez, the Head of Religious Affairs, has announced plans of transforming the 29 Mayis University on Istanbul’s Anatolian side into the International Islamic University. The main reasons behind his plans include �inding peaceful solutions to the current problems a lot of Muslims currently face. Gormez reinforces his point that the sorrow and violence that Muslims bring each other needs to stop, and this is how he feels they should deal with it.
Exeter’s outlook for the week ahead
Tues 14th Weds 15th Thurs 16th Fri 17th
Low
14°C
9°C
15°C
12°C
16°C
13°C
16°C
14°C
Sat 18th
16°C
13°C
Data accurate at time of print
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Students support Guild campaign
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...they don’t feel it’s worth reporting. The #NeverOK campaign is working on the basis of widespread anecdotal evidence and aims to start conversations on campus and show that sexual harassment is never acceptable no matter what the circumstances. When asked about the campaign, a third year Philosophy and Sociology student said: “The campaign looks great and has an important message - I just hope it reaches all students, including those who don’t think sexual
harassment is an issue on our campus. While the �igures are encourag-
I say to universities everywhere the passing the buck approach of ‘not my campus’ is now completely unacceptable Toni Pearce, NUS President ing I think it’ll take more than a video with David Tennant in it and a petition
to make a real change.” There are three main ways to engage with the #NeverOK movement. Students can sign the pledge online, view the campaign video in the style of the American “1 is 2 many” campaign, featuring notable �igures from campus as well as Dr Who actor David Tennant, and take part in a number of events taking place over the rest of term. To sign the pledge visit: www. exeterguild.org/neverok/ *Figures correct at time of print Photo credit: Exeter Students’ Guild
Restrictions on voting in NUS Liberation Campaign elections Hannah Butler News Editor Exeter’s 2014 NUS Liberation Campaign Reps were elected on Friday, but some students were unable to vote due to their demographic. Campaigning for the rights of students from particular social groups, the elections saw Exeter candidates standing for the positions of Disabled Students’ Campaign Rep, LGBT Campaign Rep and Women’s Campaign Rep.
The NUS Liberation Campaign Reps are only open to students who identify with and are represented by those groups Kate Hawkins, VP Welfare and Diversity
No candidates stood to be Exeter’s Black Students’ Campaign Rep. Some students’ attempts to par-
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ticipate in the elections ended in confusion, as many found that their voting had been restricted. It emerged that only female students were eligible to vote for the position of Women’s Campaign Rep, with similar restrictions placed on the other positions. VP Welfare and Diversity Kate Hawkins explained: “The NUS Liberation Campaign Reps – Women, Black Students, Disabled Students and LGBT - are only open to students who identify with and are represented by those groups. She added: “In the case of the Women’s Campaign, this means only women and those who identify as female are eligible to nominate themselves or vote in any cross-campus ballot.” After Exeposé contacted NUS for further clari�ication on the decision to restrict voting, they explained: “The NUS Women’s Campaign is about women organising themselves as women and making their own decisions about their own lives. This is not to say that men cannot be involved in
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What matters to Exeter students? Emily Leahy News Editor THE decision over whether to boycott illegal Israeli settlement products is in the preliminary stages of student voting on the Guild’s website. In August the NUS National Executive Committee voted in favour of the controversial motion. The Guild decided not to implement the motion, but did not rule out future action, claiming they could not take a stance until they had received the input from Exeter students. So far, of the 102 votes cast, 53 per cent have voted “Strongly Agree” with the motion to boycott illegal Israeli settlement products, followed by 28 per cent voting they “Strongly disagree” with the motion. The vote closes on Tuesday 14 October. The idea submission with the most votes is the proposal to install a slide down ‘Cardiac Hill.’ 168 votes
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have been cast, with an 80 per cent majority voting “Strongly Agree.” Matt Bate, VP Activities, said: “All quorate Student Ideas, including the proposal for a slide down Cardiac Hill, will be passed to Guild Council for discussion about appropriate next steps which might include liaison with relevant University departments. Updates from all Student Ideas are held on the web page.” The responses are analysed by Guild Council after 14 days of voting and if deemed “Strongly positive” the idea will be passed. If the responses are neutral, it will come down to a Saab Of�icer to take action or a Separate student vote will take place.
Photo: Edwin Yeung
Stand up to cancer in Exeter’s Undie Run
campaigning on issues of concern to women, but they must allow women to de�ine their own priorities.
Our policy is not binding and members do not have to do the same things as NUS NUS Press Of�ice
The NUS Women’s Campaign does hold open events to which men are invited. However, we want women students to make their own decisions about the campaign, so conferences, committee meetings and some campaign events are for women only.” The NUS Press Of�ice further stated: “our policy is not binding and members do not have to do the same things as NUS. “Students’ unions and guilds are responsible for governing themselves and just because we do something one way here at NUS does not mean that members have to follow unless they choose to,” they added.
The four NUS Liberation Campaigns aim to protect the rights of those from particular social groups. Candidates are elected for the positions of Disabled Students’ Campaign Rep, Black Students’ Campaign Rep, LGBT Campaign Rep and Women’s Campaign Rep
Photo: Cancer Research UK
Sarah Gough Arts Editor STUDENTS will strip down to their underwear for Cancer Research this month. The ‘Undie Run,’ held on 27 October, requires participants to complete a one km course as part of the Stand Up To Cancer campaign. There are over 40 events taking place across the country at various different universities. Registered runners automatically make up an Undie Run “team” for the University, the progress of which can be tracked on a national leader-board. RAG are supporting Exeter’s involvement whilst the University’s Men’s Hockey third team are the �irst
of the AU teams to sign up. The run is one of many events organised as part of Cancer Research’s annual two-month fundraising campaign, which is in it’s �irst year in the UK, after success in the USA and Australia. Charlie Speller, Exeter’s Student Ambassador for Cancer Research, said: “It’s a really exciting event, something that has the potential to raise a lot of money for Cancer Research as well as being a lot of fun! I can’t wait! “There are prizes to be won - two TP gold cards will be in the raf�le.” Registration costs £5 and is done via the Undie Run website. At the time of writing, over 1,000 people were invited on the of�icial Facebook event and over 150 attending.
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Exeter alumni success celebrated in first LinkedIn ranking tables Lucy Maguire News Team
EXETER graduates have scored well in LinkedIn’s �irst University ranking tables. The University has placed in three out of �ive of the tables currently available on the site, ranking in the top 25 institutions in the United Kingdom for its alumni of Accounting, Marketing and Media professionals. The business-oriented social
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networking website compiled the table’s results based on the career outcomes of postgraduate LinkedIn users, analysing the career patterns of more than 300 million of the site’s members. Alumni considered to be working in a desirable job in the sector were identi�ied, and then the percentage of relevant graduates in these jobs from each institution were compared to yield the �inal outcome. To re�lect recent employment trends, the website only considered
graduates who had obtained their undergraduate degree less than eight years ago. The University of Exeter placed tenth for its recently graduated Media Professionals, and 18th for both its Marketing and Accounting graduates. The tables are a new addition to the site, and are part of a move to create an increasingly student-friendly interface, with similar tables constructed for universities in Canada and the United States.
There are currently 67,161 LinkedIn members with a University of Exeter connection. Included in this figure are: > 2916 current Exeter students declaring a graduation year of 2015 > 1741 with a declared graduation year of 2016 > 928 declaring a graduation year of 2017 Data Correct as of 9 October 2014
Breakthrough in height variation research Gareth Roberts News Team AN international team including scientists from the University of Exeter Medical School have succeeded in identifying nearly a �ifth of the genetic factors that determine an individual’s height. The research, funded by the Welcome Trust, approximately doubled the number of regions identi�ied as being involved in determining height. The research group, consisting of
450 experts across some 300 institutions - the aptly named GIANT consortium - examined and compared the DNA of 253,288 individuals of European descent. They identi�ied 697 variants in 424 areas of the genome which determine height, an impressive leap in a �ield of which nothing was known as recently as 2007. Dr Andrew Wood of Exeter University’s Medical School, the report’s lead author, explained: “We know that as a population we have become taller over the last few generations, be-
cause of factors including improved nutrition. But more than 80 per cent of the factors in height variation are known to be down to genetics, with the rest caused by environmental factors. He continued: “We now have access to far greater quantities of DNA data. These data sets are proving to be a genetic treasure trove which has enabled us to shed light on height, and we expect to continue to make signi�icant advances, both in this �ield and in other human traits.”
Exhibition faces up to climate change Hannah Butler News Editor WEDNESDAY 8 October saw the opening of the ‘Face 2 Face with Climate Change’ exhibition in The University of Exeter’s Forum building. ‘Face 2 Face’ depicts 12 Exeterbased IPCC (International Panel of Climate Change) authors in largescale black and white photographs the work of One Planet MBA graduate David Mansell-Moullin. The images are overlaid with text from the latest IPCC �ifth Assessment Reports on climate change - portraying both the authors themselves and their work on the reports. The exhibition sets out to reveal the faces behind the science, celebrating Exeter’s contribution to research and raising awareness of climate change and the IPCC. Explaining the exhibition, Mansell-Moullin said: “During my �irst week on the One Planet MBA I discovered that Exeter has the highest number of IPCC authors working on the 5th Assessment Report of any city in the world.
“I was amazed by this fact and that so few people, either in Devon or further a�ield, are aware that Exeter has this depth of climate change research and knowledge. I began to wonder how this could be communicated in an interesting and engaging way.” Dr Tim Johns, of the Met Of�ice Hadley Centre, added: “Exeter may seem like an unlikely hotspot for climate science, but the juxtaposition of the expertise at Exeter University and the Met Of�ice makes it a noteworthy
So few people are aware that Exeter has this depth of climate change research and knowledge David Mansell-Moullin centre.” He continued: “The Face2Face exhibition is a �itting celebration of this fact and I heartily congratulate David and his team on bringing to fruition the idea of visually engaging with people of all ages on climate change.”
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Rival SSB-style events compete for ticket sales
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SPORT 38-40
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Exeter’s original Safer Sex Ball was banned in 2013, after CCTV footage went public of two ball-goers allegedly engaging in sexual activity, provoking scrutiny in the national and international press. The fundraiser had previously been held for 21 years, raising tens of thousands of pounds annually for nominated charities including the Eddystone Trust, a local charity supporting AIDS sufferers. However, continued controversy plagued the event, with complaints about a sexual violence joke forcing the organisers to reprint a promotional magazine for the 2011 ball, and 2012’s tribal theme prompting claims of racism. 2014 saw the launch of a replace-
ment event – Exeter’s Prohibition Ball - raising around £5,000 for RAG’s nominated charities. The same year, the emergence of what appeared to be a return of the SBB sparked excitement among students. Created by Cardiff-based company Electric Ents, the event attracted media attention but was later cancelled. When asked for comment on the two new events, a Guild spokesperson said: “The two events that have been announced over the past weeks as The Safer Sex Ball and Safer Sex Ball are not af�iliated to the Students’ Guild.” Tickets for the Westpoint Arena ball went on sale at 6pm on Wednesday 8 October, while general ticket release for the Enchanted Group event is set to begin at 6pm this (Monday) evening.
Research uncovers effects of air pollution on river flows Kitty Cleaver News Team A STUDY published in the latest edition of Nature Geoscience demonstrates that air pollution has had substantial effects on the amount of water �lowing through rivers in the Northern Hemisphere. The report was the result of a collaboration of research by scientists at the University of Exeter, the Met Of�ice, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, University of Reading and Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique in France. They discovered that air pollution, known as aerosols, can signi�icantly impact the environment and highlighted the need to seriously consider the climate in future. It is already universally known that the burning of sulphorous coal, which was widely used until the 1970s, leads to the increased presence of aerosols in the atmosphere.
As a result of these additional aerosols, the amount of sunlight reaching the Earth’s surface has decreased, which is known as ‘solar dimming.’ The study concluded that ‘solar dimming’ causes increased water levels, as the reduction of sunlight decreases the rate of evaporation of water on the Earth’s surface. The discovery leaves some worrying predictions for the future, as Nicola Gedney, from the Met of�ice and lead author of Nature Geoscience, stated: “We estimate that, in the most polluted Central Europe river basin, this effect led to an increase in river �low of up to 25 per cent when the aerosol levels were at their peak, around 1980. “With water shortages likely to be one of the biggest impacts of climate change in the future, these �indings are important in making projections for the future.”
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Penryn researchers Exeter alumnus Solomon set to go plastic-free to appear on The Apprentice Kate Richardson News Team UNIVERSITY OF EXETER researchers Dr Jennifer Sanderson and Miss Lindsay Walker are aiming to give up buying anything with plastic packaging during October. The researchers, based at the Penryn Campus in Cornwall, are attempting to tackle and raise awareness of the growing problem of high plastic packaging levels in our everyday lives. Miss Walker stated that: “We have been shocked by the statistics on plastic waste and decided that we wanted to try to do something to build community awareness about the environmental and economic costs of living in a world reliant on plastic.” Figures show that global production and consumption of plastic has risen from �ive million tonnes in 1950 to 245 million tonnes in 2006 and that the UK alone uses more than 275,000 tonnes of plastic each year. The researchers wish to highlight
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the serious impacts that plastic has on the environment, with plastic debris killing more than one million sea birds yearly; on the economy, with environmental damage from plastics causing approximately $75 billion of damage per year; and on global energy consumption, as the demand for plastic increases the demand for its source, crude oil. Dr Sanderson and Miss Walker are encouraging members of the public to get involved with the campaign too by asking them to think about how much plastic they use daily, from food packaging to plastic shopping bags, and to pledge not to buy anything with plastic packaging for a day or more. They also advise the public to reduce, reuse and recycle and offer ideas and initiatives as to how this can be achieved. Information can be found at the ‘Unpackageme’ website as well as on the researchers’ daily blog. You can also get involved on Twitter (@Unpackageme) and Facebook.
Photo: Express and Echo
Gemma Joyce Editor EXETER alumnus Solomon Akhtar is to appear in the upcoming BBC series of The Apprentice. The 23-year-old is one of the youngest candidates of the 20 selected to compete to win a cash prize from Lord Alan Sugar. Akhtar graduated from the University in 2013 with a 2:1 in Geography, and was well known amongst students. During his time at Exeter he worked as an events promoter and started his own business, Instabear, that won second place at Deloitte’s annual startups business competition.
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Controversial Exeter alumna Katie Hopkins first shot to fame after appearing on The Apprentice
In the lead up to the programme’s airing, Akhtar told the BBC: “I hate negativity, as I think of myself as a very positive person… I think that some-
times my over enthusiasm can annoy people.” He added that his biggest regret is “spending too much time and hard earned money at university on partying. I wish I’d reinvested money into my company.” Akhtar told Exeposé that he’d be unavailable for interview until the series started. One third year, who worked with Akhtar in her �irst year, said: “He never
failed to surprise and he always has something up his sleeve. At the same time, he’s really hard to take seriously!” Another student agreed, saying: “It’ll be interesting to see what Alan Sugar thinks of his laugh.” Exeter alumna Katie Hopkins appeared in the third series of The Apprentice, but rejected a place in the �inal after her other commitments were called into question.
Personalities discovered in sharks Kurdish Society protests Lauren Buchan News Team RESEARCH by University of Exeter and the Marine Biological Association of the UK has found ‘predatory’ sharks can actually form personalities. Despite stereotypical depictions of sharks as lone hunters, the Scyliorhinus Canicula (a small, spotted cat �ish shark usually located in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean) has developed a social personality in order to survive. This particular sub-species of shark is known to group together on the seabed �loor, and lie on top of each other, as a way of avoiding the attraction of larger sharks in search of prey. A recent study conducted in Plymouth observed ten groups of sharks in three distinct habitats, and found that this social behaviour was not followed
by all, suggesting that it is more than just an evolved survival technique. Depending on the individual shark, social or anti-social behaviour was adopted: some preferred to migrate to the gravel at the bottom of the tank alone and attempt to camou�lage themselves, whilst more ‘social’ sharks migrated to large groups and swam together in a pack.
This study shows, for the �irst time, that individual sharks posess social personalities Prof Darren Croft, Animal Behaviour in Psychology Centre Furthermore, the social sharks who were ‘well-connected’ main-
tained this behaviour in the three different habitats, again suggesting that this is an individual preference for survival. Professor Darren Croft, of the Centre for Research into Animal Behaviour in Psychology at the University of Exeter, said: “We de�ine personality as a repeatable behaviour across time and contexts. What is interesting is that these behaviours differ consistently among individuals. “This study shows, for the �irst time, that individual sharks possess social personalities.” Since this is the �irst piece of research to �ind such traits in sharks, it is both illuminating and groundbreaking, and is likely to spark further research into the link between predators and personality development in sharks. Photo: Wikipedia
against Kobanê desertion Photo: Josh Creek
Emily Leahy News Editor THE Kurdish Society held a peaceful protest on Wednesday 8 October with the aim of bringing the plight of Kurdish people under attack from ISIS, to the forefront of campus. The protest was largely conducted as a reaction to the current attack on the city of Kobanê, which currently holds more than 5,000 people. The Society hoped to raise awareness on behalf of the people who are oppressed and �ighting for their freedom in Kurdistan. When asked about their campaign, Shilan Keskin, a representative for the
Kurdish Society, said they had been motivated by “the fact that Kurdish people surrounded by ISIS feel alone and forgotten. We are raising awareness on their behalf so that they know they aren’t alone.” The protestors were calling for individuals to contact their local MPs to provide more military support to the freedom �ighters. Keskin said of the event that “we feel that it was a success, over 600 leaflets were distributed and many people showed great interest in our struggle. This may not seem much, but it is for us, because we have been �ighting the oppression of others alone for far too long, and are �inally getting attention.”
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Science faculty awarded for Diwali celebrations gender equality developments come to the Forum Beatrice Wood News Team
A PRESTIGIOUS national award scheme has recognised the University’s commitment to gender equality in the science disciplines. Four departments across the University have been awarded the Athena SWAN (Scientific Women’s Academic Network) awards, which was founded in 2005 to recognise and celebrate good employment practices for women working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths and Medicine (STEMM) in higher education and research. Silver Athena SWAN department awards were given to both the Medical School and Sport and Health Sciences whilst the Mathematics and Computer Science and Psychology were awarded Bronze awards. Professor Janice Kay, Provost of the University, said she was “delighted that these departments have been recognised by the Athena SWAN Charter with Silver and Bronze awards.” She continued, saying that the awards are “testament to the commitment and dedication shown by everyone involved to promote the careers of
women in science and medicine.”
Exeter is absolutely committed to providing a culture and environment that support women to reach their full potential,
Professor Janice Kay, University Provost Since 2011, the University of Exeter has been a member of the Athena
SWAN Charter and it gained its Bronze institutional award in 2012. These awards established the University’s foundation and intend to further gender equality not just in STEMM subjects, but across the University in general. Professor Kay said of the recognition: “Exeter is absolutely committed to providing a culture and environment that support women to reach their full potential, and these awards recognise the progress we continue to make.” Photo: University of Exeter
Gemma Joyce Editor
THE University’s Asian society is organising a free event for all students in celebration of Diwali. The event will take place on the 26 October in Forum Street from 3pm onwards and will include henna painting and fireworks. Representatives from the Asian society said: “Diwali, also popularly known as ‘the festival of lights’ is celebrated all over India. It is heralded as a triumph of good over evil and is a time
filled with light and love. “Back at home, families get together and brighten their homes with Diyas (clay lanterns). On the day of Diwali, we pray to God in order to ask for forgiveness and thanking God for the beautiful life that he has bestowed upon us. This is followed by burning firecrackers and exchanging presents. “The true essence of it, however, is that of being together as a family and spreading love among one another.” For more information visit www. exeter.ac.uk/diwali
Nutritional values to be introduced on outlet menus Emily Leahy News Editor FROM January 2015 the University will provide nutritional information on all menus. Campus Services provide one million meals a year across campus in catered halls of residence, cafes and restaurants and want to aid customers to make better-informed decisions. A spokesperson for the University said: “Student and staff wellbeing and healthy eating are two areas that the University catering teams are commit-
ted to.” They continued: “Many people are eating more saturated fat, salt and added sugar than Government recommendations; and too little fruit, vegetables, oily fish and fibre,” adding that the move should help customers to “make better informed decisions about the food they eat.”
Nutritional information on menus: a good thing or not? Comment Page 9
Government funding for Exeter student publishes historical bioscience postgraduates biography of Katherine Howard Ellie Mulder News Team EXETER bioscience postgraduate students will soon benefit from the newly created South West Bioscience programme (SWBio), a training effort funded by a £125 million investment from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The BBSRC is a governmentfunded research organisation that supports students and scientists in bioscience fields. 1,250 PhD students from the South West Doctoral Training Partnership, a group made up of Exeter and five other universities, will receive enhanced training over the next five years using £8 million of the grant. “The UK punches far beyond its weight in science and innovation globally, which is a credit to our talented scientists and first-class universities,” said Business Secretary Vince Cable in a statement after announcing the grant. “This new funding will safeguard
Britain’s status as a world leader in life sciences and agricultural technology,” he added. Student training will be divided into specializations: 30 per cent of students will receive agriculture and food security training; 20 per cent, industrial biotechnology and bioenergy training; 10 per cent, bioscience
This new funding will safeguard Britain’s status as a world leader in life sciences and agricultural technology
Vince Cable, Business Secretary for health training; and 40 per cent, training in other bioscience fields. “The funding will train students in world-class bioscience to lead the next industrial revolution and boost the economy by building on UK strengths in agriculture, food, industrial biotechnology, bioenergy and health,” according to a BBSRC pressrelease.
Rachel Gelormini Online News Editor THIRD year History student Conor Byrne has published a full-length biography of Katherine Howard, the fifth wife of Henry VIII. Entitled ‘Katherine Howard: A New History’, his book has sold over 200 copies and is available to buy on Amazon. The book invites readers to reconsider traditional perceptions of Henry’s fifth wife, presenting her as a rounded and credible figure in light of culture and society in Tudor England. He said: “Katherine’s had such a negative reputation ever since she died. For most people, she’s nothing more than a prostitute who got what she deserved. Think of the portrayal of her in the TV series ‘The Tudors’ and you’ll know what I mean.” Speaking about the responses he’s received, he continued: “I’ve had generally very good responses to it so far. I think this is mainly because she does have a very negative repu-
tation, but once you unpick the lurid rumours apart, it becomes clear that the truth isn’t as simple as you might think.”
Once you unpick the lurid rumours apart, it becomes clear that the truth isn’t as simple as you might think Conor Byrne
Conor also began a blog in 2012, which recently gained over 100,000 page views and has attracted worldwide attention. Focusing mainly on historical issues surrounding gender, social and cultural history in the late medieval and early modern periods, Conor also writes about contemporary social and political affairs. Conor’s interest in the Tudor court began at the age of eleven, and his research into Katherine Howard began in 2011-12. His first extended essay on her was entered into a University of Oxford competition.
When asked about future plans, he said: “I’m considering writing a book on the portrayal of all six wives in popular culture, but that’ll have to wait until after the degree!” ‘Katherine Howard: A New History’ currently has a 4.4 star rating on Amazon with one reviewer praising the book as ‘a new perspective’. Photo: Amazon
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Thanks to those who helped proof this issue: Isobel Burston, Sabrina Aziz, Flora Carr, Lara Hopkins, Samantha Gillies, Jeremy Brown, Thomas Griffith, Gareth Roberts, Matthew Jones, Jack England, Sophie Lawrence, Kate Jones, Akash Beri, Polly Bowden, Kezia Pugh, Evan Jones, Luke Taylor, James Landymore, Emma Farnworth, Lavanya Rhaasa, Alex Thomas, Dora Tothfalusi, and members of the Exeposé editorial team.
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13 OCTOBER 2014 |
EXEPOSÉ
Harrison Jones & Gemma Joyce Callum McLean & Vanessa Tracey
Will it ever be OK? LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Comment
“We have become desensitised to instances of sexual harassment”
IT’S all around you. It’s the roguish grin you’ve seen as they sidle up behind an unsuspecting dancer at Arena. It’s the nonchalant references to ‘Rape Alley’ that trivialise a genuine fear held by students: alone, homeward bound and at their most vulnerable after a night out. It’s the thousands of students who have experienced unwanted sexual advances here in Exeter and feel embarrassed to speak out. The #NeverOK campaign may have launched, but changing campus culture is not going to be easy. In a survey for the AAUW Educational Foundation, the top three reasons given by students for sexually harassing someone on campus were because they “thought it was funny,” they “thought the person liked it” and “it’s no big deal.” These are precisely the kinds of misconceptions that the
Cartoon: Emily McIndoe
even more important that student debate encompasses a wider circle than merely our campus - which is why we’ve interviewed the two likeliest candidates to be the student body’s representatives in Westminster next year, Ben Bradshaw and Dom Morris. For space reasons, we couldn’t chat to more, but other candidates will undoubtedly feature in our pages before the election. The rest of the paper is �illed with its normal array of reviews and features, including interviews with comedian Chris Martin (no, not that Chris Martin) (page 31), poet Adam Horovitz (page 28) and a particularly impressive display of student artwork (page 32). Games & Tech have also been busy, representing Exeposé at the Eurogamer expo in London and coming back with a whole host of handson reviews (pages 34 and 35). Looking to the future, we’re excited to be sending our screen section to the London BFI Film Festival and reporting on it in our next issue, while online’s deliberately cringe-inducing ‘appvert’ will be hitting your news feeds soon, providing a sneak-peak of our snazzy-looking new app that’ll launch in the coming weeks. *** On a slightly more monotonous note, we’d like to apologise to any of our members who haven’t been receiving our emails - we’ve been having some technical issues but believe we’ve sorted it now. If you’re still having issues do ping us an email at editors@exepose.com
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Students make their voices heard
GAMES & TECH
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EDITORIAL
EXEPOSÉ fully backs the #NeverOk campaign. As has been highlighted in this issue (see article, right), sexual harassment is a very dif�icult problem - and perhaps even culture - to tackle. Our lead story highlights the scale of the task facing the Students’ Guild campaign and ties it in to a very worrying context across the nation. Led by Rachael Gillies and Kate Hawkins, #NeverOk has attracted a great deal of positive attention, with hundreds of students signing the pledge. Alongside increased participation in a number of political issues (see page 3), this appears to show an upward trend in engagement towards a diverse array of issues concerning Exeter students - from the international (a boycott of Israeli goods) to the light hearted (a cheeky slide down cardiac hill) to giving us two a bit of stick for our previous front page (see pages 10 & 11, an amusing parody account on Twitter and some other interesting social media activity). Such interest, regardless of its form, is encouraging and we think it important, regarding our previous front page, to give people a voice in this paper even if we think some of the arguments are �lawed and underpinned by a rather loose interpretation of the facts. Nonetheless, the whole point of a student paper is to encourage debate on serious topics and hopefully we’ve gone some way to achieving that; though inevitably it’ll never match the interest in good old SSB, which has mysteriously returned… twice, after a year’s absence (see page 1). In the run up to the election, it’s
ARTS 31-32
#NeverOK campaign is attempting to bring attention to, but is a video featuring David Tennant really going to cut through the white noise of social stigma? The beliefs shown in the survey highlight why this is such a tricky issue to target - we have become desensitised to instances of sexual harassment, they seem normal.
The #NeverOK campaign has a message that ought to at least help students to start asking themselves the right questions So how can we begin to identify and challenge incidents? Some of the more straight-talking feminists at Exeter might propose the Af�irmative Consent Standard as a tantalisingly simple solution. Wouldn’t it be easier to get a loud, irrefutable “Yes” to make sure
everyone’s on the same page? The reality is that understanding consent can sometimes seem like a mine�ield for students - a complex and bewildering navigation of body language and social norms. Each situation is so unique. But the bottom line is this: buying someone a drink does not mean they owe you anything. Someone laughing along with your joke doesn’t mean that you haven’t hurt or offended them. The perpetrator is always to blame. Sensitivity is key but, unfortunately, it’s not something that’s easily taught. Sexual harassment is not going to disappear overnight and the success of this campaign will boil down to spreading awareness. Ultimately, #NeverOK is a good, strong message that ought to sink into campus consciousness over the coming weeks and at least help students to start asking themselves the right questions. Is this okay? Is this sexual harassment? Because sexual harassment is never okay.
EXEPOSÉ
“Exeter Inc.” - our corporate campus
Rachel Brown
WOULD you want to go to a university paired up with a corporation forced to pay a record-breaking $1.3 billon criminal penalty, accused of blackmail and seemingly countless misdemeanours? If you are an Exeter student, this could be the case next year. The University announced their af�iliation with AstraZeneca in May. In an updated statement givem for this article, Professor Nick Talbot, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Exeter, said: “We take all our corporate partnerships very seriously and they are all subject to full ethical review.
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We greatly value our relationship with AstraZeneca, which ensures that rigorous environmental and ecotoxicology testing of products takes place to the highest possible international standards. Universities play a key role in helping corporations carry out long term research and to solve problems.”. Sure enough, AstraZeneca - Britain’s largest drug maker - are trailblazers in cancer research. Based at Exeter’s £9 million Aquatic Resources Centre, the biopharmaceutical will use zebra�ish to study where pharmaceuticals act in the body and their environmental impact. The team of scientists will be joined by two PhD students. However, PhD applicants might be unsettled to learn AstraZeneca itself
has only recently been accused of data falsi�ication (according to Forbes). Alarming still is Reuter’s prediction that US pharmaceutical giant, P�izer will renew their bid to acquire AstraZeneca by the year-end. In a lawsuit P�izer settled this summer for $325 million, Bloomburg reported that more than 5,000 healthcare staff were entertained at extravagant meeting venues including the Bahamas. The New York Times reported P�izer has also been found criminally liable for mis-marketing drugs, with recordbreaking settlements. A former sales rep stated: “The whole culture of P�izer is driven by sales, and if you didn’t sell drugs illegally, you were not seen as a team player.” The belief fashionable today – one
>>Ian Read, President and CEO of P�izer, who are predicted to take over current University of Exeter partner AstraZeneca
I think the management must believe to have struck a deal with AstraZeneca – is that social gains like cancer research can be harmonised with market interests i.e. making pro�it. But the numerous allegations made against the company reveal a pro�it culture in
The problem facing ‘Exeter Inc.’ right now is how to handle unpredictable capitalistgymnastics like the P�izer takeover of AstraZeneca the pharmaceutical industry that willingly ignores the very research academics dedicatedly produce. Worse still, P�izer stand accused by the Washington Post of taking advantage in the 1996 Nigerian meningitis epidemic. Parents alleged they did not give consent for P�izer’s “Trovan” drug to be used and it caused crippling health complaints for their children. According to the Guardian, of�icials received death threats during the investigation, and the Nigerian Attorney-General was blackmailed into submission. Whether or not these allegations are true, the Trovan case (and others) was a media sensation. A father explained, “My son was ill and we took him to the hospital like any other family would. Then the Americans and some local Nigerian doctors injected Anas with this evil drug.” P�izer’s alleged conduct – no matter how true – has given rise to mistrust of Western medicine. Indeed, polio in Nigeria has not risen because of the lack of vaccinations, it was purely due to citizens’ refusal to inoculate their babies.
“Our research is already making a difference across the world”, said Talbot when the University announced its af�iliation with AstraZeneca in May. But in future our University cannot con�idently make this claim when one of its partners has been actively undermining medical research with dubious drugs trials and mis-marketing. Even if AstraZeneca have a clean record and are not acquired by P�izer, the University has still dipped their toes into an appalling industry. An industry driven by pro�it, not health. The likely takeover of AstraZeneca by P�izer demands us to reconsider the creeping corporatism on campus. Our Nestle boycott for over three years suggests we take university ethics seriously. So you should know that the University’s business partnerships already include Shell, GlaxoSmithKline and IBM. Another partner is Dstl, reported by the Salisbury Journal as “a government body dedicated to developing new types of weapons systems”; uncomfortable news for the Amnesty International Society’s recent arms trade treaty campaign. Students need to wake up and smell the coffee. Corporations at Exeter are not visible only by the Costa queue that spills into the Forum at lunchtime. Whilst business on campus offers students many opportunities, surely we also want to ensure these companies aren’t compromising our own campaigns. Prospective students today need to factor ethical considerations into their choice of university. The problem facing “Exeter Inc.” right now is how to handle unpredictable capitalist-gymnastics like the P�izer takeover to ensure that their own research doesn’t stand accused of hypocrisy.
“It’s a burger, not a spoonful of antifreeze” Rory Morgan Guild outlet employee THE new calorie counts in the Guild food outlets might seem to some a small, unnecessary and insigni�icant step, but for those of us that work in them, the addition will be a welcome relief. Gone now are the days of �itness freaks pining over the menu, asking if the burgers are healthy (it’s a burger, not a spoonful of antifreeze). It seems that a University so focused upon �itness and sport should make such a decision, and yet I wonder if this move will have a negative effect on eating habits in an environment already predominantly focused with image.
Of course it is important to watch what you eat, whether that is too much or too little, but I think the counting of calories can dangerously dip into obsession and cause people to have a negative relationship with the food on their plate. So long as you are making sure you are getting all the protein, vegetables and carbohydrates
Gone now are the days of �itness freaks pining over the menu, asking if the burgers are healthy into your diet it is ok to cheat once in a while. If people are really so concerned about the calori�ic content to
their food maybe they should be preparing it themselves, rather than grabbing a milkshake or burrito. I do however believe the �igures on the calorie charts will be a warm surprise to most, as the food is less stodgy and fatty than you might think. However, don’t be put off ordering a lots of waf�le or pie if the calories are slightly high, these are delicious treats you should not deny yourself on a busy working day. As an employee I have mixed feelings about this addition, but look forward to the reduction of umm-ing and ahh-ing gym bunnies. Sad-
ly, this move will probably not stand in the way of people still making the ridic-
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ulous order of a ‘skinny’ cappuccino - semi-skimmed milk doesn’t foam so well folks.
Exeposé
A fishy story? Your thoughts on our 10
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13 OCTOBER 2014 |
#Justice4Colin, #AUTogether “Sportsmen who have fallen through the cracks” Ben Pullan
WELL done Exeposé, you’ve broken a very original story! Along with blackening the names of individuals permanently, stitching up your own university, and cutting ties between student media and the AU - all for your one moment of glory. Nobody knew that around the country sports’ clubs have a social scene involving heavy drinking. Neither did anyone know that there is a hierarchical system in some university societies whereby Freshers might not get treated exactly the same as third- and fourth-years. Congratulations, also, on getting this story to the national press; The Daily Mail Online is the absolute pinnacle of investigative journalism, and is clearly the sort of publication Exeposé aspires to be. Though I feel immensely proud to be part of such a distinguished and honourable society, whose reporters are willing to go undercover, risking life and limb, all for the sake of ‘protecting’ the student body from ‘dangerous’ meet-and-greets, and not at all to further their journalistic careers, I
do worry for the Sport section of the paper. As an active writer for Sport, I have been singled out for quite a bit of gyp from my sporting friends, despite not having anything to do with the story. And I have been informed by some of these that the AU ‘will have nothing to do with student media after this.’ So thank you Exeposé for this enlightening experience. We here at Exeter really are the worst, and you were the brave ones to expose
Thank you Exeposé for this enlightening experience
it. Forget the fact that we came sixth in BUCS last year, forget the fact that these socials are entirely optional for club-members, forget the fact that a large proportion of your membership are actively involved in uni sport and could have provided a counter-argument. I’m sure the student body will hail your piece as the turning point in the fight against the evils of university sport and I’m sure that new readers will flood to the Exeposé bins next Monday hoping for more groundbreaking journalism.
Anonymous ex-EUAFC member THE recent undercover Exeposé investigation will probably provoke a unanimously defensive reaction from Exeter University’s official sporting community, with AU members drawing attention to how much they genuinely enjoy such occasions and the fact that nobody is forced to attend them against their will. While these points may be largely true, I am sure that the article will also hold a certain resonance amongst others, not only from somewhat less sporty types, but also from the University’s sportsmen and women who have fallen through the cracks. These cracks appear from the very first social event. Being ordered to purchase drinks. Being asked cringeworthy questions about your number of sexual partners. Being forced to follow the orders of someone based simply on their year of study. Such initiation ceremonies, whilst not reflecting the entirety of the clubs themselves, are at least an indication of the dominant culture they espouse. Such a cul-
ture may seem familiar and attractive to many but can in no way be assumed to represent the entire student body, which includes people who might not drink, fit in with, or agree with ‘lad’ culture, or subscribe to superficial notions of hierarchy.
I’ve lost count of the number of talented players disillusioned by EUAFC While such behaviour is problematic for various reasons which merit further discussion, in this context it can also prove to be rather socially exclusive. The events might not be obligatory, but there is naturally an expectation to make some sort of effort beyond the confines of the pitch. And all the sporting social events - be they Wednesday socials, ‘all-dayers’ or even more casual get-togethers - have recurring characteristics built around drinking and specific sets of rules. Certain students are immediately made to feel uncomfortable with these codes of behaviour. While over time it is likely that more organic relationships will form which allow for more varied so-
cial activity, during the early stages of university in particular, such events may be off-putting or completely inaccessible for some. This question of social inclusiveness can not only affect your desire to play for a certain club, but also your ability to be noticed and excel within it. This relationship between your social activity and progress within the club is slightly hard to identify but it is there, lurking under the surface. I have lost count of the number of talented footballers who have become disillusioned with the exclusive nature of EUAFC. Muslim students who, unable to drink for religious reasons, ultimately found their sporting talents unutilised. International students who, already in a difficult period of acclimatisation, found the dominant culture of the club disconcerting. And others simply from more varied backgrounds, perhaps of an ethnic minority, found it hard to relate to new forms of behaviour and consequently struggled to rise up the ladder. While some may dispute the responsibility of the club itself for such disillusionment, I think we can all agree that it is a shame that these feelings exist at all.
“Intimidation is wrong, on any level” “Not an initiation” Sophie Harrison
THE TIMING of last week’s front cover seems quite pertinent in the wake of the HeForShe campaign, and the Guild’s new #NeverOK initiative to combat sexual harassment. All three share common ground, in that they expose a worrying culture of acceptance. At university, the preconceived image of alcohol-fuelled socials is still the reigning one, despite the banning of true ‘initiations.’ However, this expectation has led to a concerning tolerance of things that, in other contexts,
wouldn’t be. This university bubble distorts reality. Yet, this cannot allow us to simply brush issues under the carpet. “If you throw up, that’s good… you drink, you empty your stomach and you drink more.” If these words were uttered in the ‘real world’, what would the reaction be? Yes, university is about fun, but certain behaviour has just gone too far. Intimidation is wrong, on any level. Society presidents can claim that they do not force people to drink, yet at the same time the Club Captain is quoted as saying they “enforce” a “very specific set of rules”… is it just me who does not see a discernible line between the two? On nights out, seeing the sleazy, seediness of guys ‘praying’ on girls is a crass, but worryingly
common scene. It does make me think of the HeForShe campaign, as far as the ideas of men taking responsibility; contrary to the campaign, however, I don’t even believe it is so much men changing attitudes towards women, but rather themselves – choosing not
Taking personal accountability is easier said than done to conform to these crude and basic stereotypes of masculinity, measured by pints bolted and female “conquests.” That is not to say that this culture of intimidation is an exclusively male issue. I’ve heard the familiar word “conquest” used by girls. I’ve seen them bolt drinks. I’ve succumbed to friends’ coercion - even if unintentional on their part. Many of us have. Maybe the fault here lies with me? Maybe I should have simply grown a backbone; I am sure that is what the response of many will be to last week’s headline article. People should just take personal accountability. This is easier said than done. Sometimes, the pressure is so great that backing down can feel like social suicide. We need to remove these expectations, including drinking and social pressures.
Gus Grant
ON Wednesday 19 September, just days into my first year, I attended the first EUAFC social, which has recently been subject to considerable controversy since Exeposé’s investigation. I turned up not knowing what to expect; I was possibly even a little nervous. What I found was nothing more than a few drinking games, orchestrated by the older students. I don’t know if it should shock anyone that drinking took place - what I mostly saw was a club that was entirely together, completely welcoming to new members, and moreover a club that I couldn’t wait to get involved in. The first football social was not by any means an initiation, nor were we “forced to divulge sexual secrets” as the article claims. We were asked to tell an embarrassing story about ourselves. Many decided to divulge secrets of a sexual nature but that was their decision and, in fact, the confessions that weren’t related to that field were often met with much greater appreciation from second and third years. The whole article rests on the premise that we were somehow coerced into doing all of this, as if we weren’t allowed to
play football unless we didn’t. My personal view is that the “undercover reporter” deliberately neglected many parts of the so-called “initiation” with the view of producing an entirely one-sided article. I was not forced to kiss an eel, and nor was anyone else. About three people did, and I’m sure if they hadn’t thought it would be funny, they wouldn’t have. The article also relates to students being “forced to drink pints” - I don’t know if it ever occurred to the reporter that the students wanted to drink, and those that didn’t weren’t compelled to. What the hidden footage may have conveniently missed was me telling the third years, who were apparently intimidating us, that I didn’t want to drink any more. Not only was this accepted, it was supported. The reporter must’ve also been unlucky to miss all of the older years clubbing together and putting in money for me to get a cab home as I had an injured leg. I left early, as anyone could have, as I’d been playing drinking games and fancied going home after having enough. What I experienced on my first social was not an initiation, but a getting to know the club. Wednesday was my best night of Freshers’ and the EUAFC’s name shouldn’t be blackened just for the sake of a story.
undercover investigation of EUAFC EXEPOSÉ
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Exeposé bites back - why it was right to publish the story Meg Lawrence Online Editor
A NUMBER of people have argued that the front page story was ‘old news’ - initiations have always taken place, they always will, and everyone is well aware of the situation. That attitude allows the University bubble to keep spinning and all the while our culture goes unchecked and unquestioned. As a paper, we would not have been doing our job properly if we had blocked this story because we knew it would upset people. Indeed, it’s an interesting exercise to ask yourself: if you were editor and you had this footage, what would you have done? Of course, we all know initiations take place, but that isn’t the point. The point is that up until now we have failed to question them and speak out against them. People have accused us of damaging the University’s reputation - but even if we have, shouldn’t that be secondary to student welfare? It should also be noted that just because some members of our editorial team play sport does not mean they support every social practice in that sport - that is almost as daft as saying everyone in the UK agrees with the British government. When
people throw accusations of hypocrisy around, it’s generally because they can’t engage with the real arguments. Before I’m accused of being a sober kill-joy, I must point out that I enjoy drinking and socials as much as anyone else. But there is a line that is crossed when a fun, relaxed and comfortable environment transitions into one that is intimidating, malicious and deliberately uncomfortable. Let’s be honest, we all know that initiations are designed to make Freshers feel uncomfortable.
We would not have been doing our job properly if we had blocked this story because we knew it would upset people To all of those who are put through this intimidation, one of two things happens. One, they cut their losses and avoid socials like the plague, sticking to nights out with other friends but perhaps still enjoying the sport, or two, they power through, only to have the pleasure of in�licting even worse punishments on next year’s Freshers, to make up for how they were treated. Those people in the �irst group, who felt so intimidated in their initia-
DEAR EXEPOSÉ...
tion, this investigation was for you. It wasn’t for the sensationalism or the glory, it was in spite of the backlash and criticism. Because if you truly believe that some Freshers don’t feel genuinely scared and terrorised at initiations, then you are wrong. I am appalled by a university culture in which so many seem to believe that this kind of behaviour is normal and okay. There are many sports societies that host fun and inviting socials - I know because I have attended them. Similarly, I am aware of the fact that Football is by no means the only club to break the AU code of conduct. However, sometimes people have to be made an example of to make others aware of the bigger problem. To those who think it’s normal and necessary to shout at people on your socials, force them to drink, make an example of them and embarrass them, I would like you to know that as much as you say ‘it’s acceptable’ - it’s not. As much as you say ‘they knew what was coming’ - they didn’t. And however much blame you try to pin on Exeposé for raising these issues, remember that we are simply reporting on your actions. And if you don’t like what has been said, perhaps you should try to follow the lead of other AU clubs that don’t feel the need to bully to boost their egos.
Emma Thomas Features Editor:
THE AIM of Exeposé’s investigation was to draw attention to the dif�icult positions students are being put in during certain sports society socials, and highlight the insuf�iciency of the initiation ban - not to attack speci�ic clubs. The team involved were incredibly conscious of the implications of the investigation, which is why Exeposé abstained from publishing the footage - to protect the privacy of those, the victims, involved. Whilst, as we expected, not everyone found our coverage troubling, committee members have been approached by individuals who have been seriously affected by even worse incidents than those reported. Rather than focusing solely on the reputation of sports clubs, Exeposé encourages readers to consider the welfare of the students involved in these events, who have been intimidated and victimised in the name of ‘tradition.’
Josh Creek Games & Tech Editor:
THE PRESS make known things going on behind closed doors. If you are doing things behind those doors
that you know are wrong then you have made a deliberate choice to face the consequences of your actions should they ever be discovered. In this case, students have accepted positions of responsibility, made vows to not force anyone else to drink, broken those vows, and abused their positions. This is their own choice and so any consequences they face are their own doing and not the fault of Exeposé. We wouldn’t be doing our job if we ignored stories because of our friendships with people involved.
Natalie Clark Books Editor: THE SAFETY of our students is paramount, especially given the University’s history with forced drinking and initiation ceremonies. Committee members of all societies, as well as the Guild, have a responsibility to their members. The AU’s code of conduct exists for a reason. These socials may be optional, but everyone has the right not to feel bullied into anything. The investigation uncovered an unfortunate reality - that safety and respect is not appreciated by people in whom you put your trust.
Rant or rave, send us your letters at editors@exepose.com
“Not a one off ”
Breaking the ‘Wall of Silence’
I read your story in Exeposé about EUAFC.
This year we dealt with a whole range of situations: students vomiting down themselves or losing control of their bowels; crying and screaming; running away or falling face first onto the floor. We heard confessions of love and hours’ worth of rumours and gossip. We saw many bizarre, and a few disturbing, things. A diverse assortment of happenings, but each one of them having in common the utmost discretion with which we undertake our responsibilities. We realise we are dealing with human beings and a range of students dealing with a whole array of personal circumstances. It is not our role to judge.
Just a couple of points I would like to add. The cleaners and porters have tried to get this stopped for a number of years now because the mess they leave behind is outrageous. They use the bins as sick bowls, they piss on the carpets and chairs and they have smashed up furniture. Also the bar staff are University employees, not outside contractors. And the University are well aware of what has been going on because room bookings were contacted by staff to charge for extra cleaning because of the mess that has been left behind. On the 24th, a week after your undercover report was carried out, they booked the Cross Keys bar again, and on the booking they requested that 200 pints of beer be ready for them, poured and on the bar for when they get there. The cleaning staff, porters and security all asked room bookings not to accept their bookings anymore as it caused too much trouble, but their pleas were ignored and the booking went ahead with similar results to last time. Your report is NOT a one off, it has been going on for a number of years and the University and AU have chosen to turn a blind eye to it. Thank you, Cross Keys staff member
#Piegate Dear Sophy Coombes-Roberts, Regarding your claim in this week’s edition that “No girls want to eat pies,” I’d expect that all of the girls waiting to buy a pie at Pieminister this lunchtime (who, by the way, easily outnumber the men in the queue) would disagree. I’d also hazard a guess that they probably don’t need you speaking on their behalf. Regards, Sam Wise
The Welcome Team would not be available to comment on the activities held at the EUAFC “Welcome Drinks” as we were not there, and will not comment on rumours. We do not work at individual society or sports club events. Other happenings at other venues would of course have been witnessed by some of our volunteers, who would have intervened when they thought appropriate. Yes, some Welcome Teamers saw things. No, they won’t shout them from the rooftops. Senior Welcome Team members Read more of this letter by scanning the QR code to the right:
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13 OCTOBER 2014 |
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Labour MP and his Conservative rival
Sitting MP: Ben Bradshaw, Labour BEN BRADSHAW’S con�ident, professional demeanour is obvious even after a stressful week at the Labour Party Conference, as he chats calmly to me about the University, devolution and the 2015 election. Previously a journalist, he knows exactly how to play the media, just like many in Parliament. Nonetheless, he’s exceptionally polite and seems to genuinely care - though that doesn’t stop him dodging questions in predictable fashion.
Bradshaw is widely viewed as a Blairite and therefore ideologically distant from Ed Miliband
incumbent MP had attracted signi�icant attention throughout the week, after being at the heart of a movement within Labour campaigning for devolved power to England, a group deemed ‘rebellious’ by some. He dismisses any such talk, notably a challenge from Dom Morris to explain exactly how he proposes this would work, with an easy air and in typically eloquent terms. “It’s a little bit out of date, he (Morris) needs to keep up. I was one of the �irst Labour MPs to say that we needed to address this problem and I’ve made
A former minister in the Labour administration, Bradshaw is widely viewed as a Blairite and therefore ideologically distant from Ed Miliband. He rejects that view but hesitates when asked if, perhaps, he might be a liberal or a socialist. “I believe in a social market, a free market that works for business and free enterprise but also has responsibility for the most vulnerable in society; a strong, well funded health service and decent state education. Those are my politics and they’ve never changed. I’ve never believed in these kind of labels, I’ve always seen myself as labour,” he clari�ies, conveniently. E xe t e r ’ s
a big fuss about this at the Labour Party Conference.
The most important thing for students is their prospects Ben Bradshaw MP “If the Tories think that the answer to our political challenges and people’s disaffection with politics is some secret �ix among leading Tory politicians in a smoke �illed room in Whitehall, they really don’t understand the level of angst towards the Westminster elite.” He’s quick to spin the question about whether he sees himself, given that he’s in his mid 50s, being around for more than one term. “I’m not going to assume that I’ll be re-elected,” he says after a slight pause. “It’s always a very tough �ight, Exeter was always a Conservative seat before I won it in 1997. Exeter’s been doing very well, but I don’t take anything for granted.” Explaining that he was the �irst openly gay candidate to be selected and then elected, he repeatedly avoids complacent rhetoric. “Oh yeah (it’s a marginal seat). There aren’t very many seats that Labour won from the To-
A bit about Bradshaw Age: 54
Career background: Teacher, journalist
Education: University of Sussex (German)
Place of birth: Norwich
Years in parliament: 17
Slogan: “A fairer future for Exeter”
ries in 1997 that we still hold. In the last election the Tories threw shedloads of Ashcroft money at it. I don’t think they have many members or volunteers or activists - but they can afford free post, glossy literature and I expect to see a lot of that this time.” He seems less focused on the student vote than Morris, but jumps at the chance to criticise the easy target of coalition policy on tuition fees. “I’m con�ident that we’ll come up with a better, more sustainable and fairer student �inance system; the disaster that has been the tripling of fees under this government has actually ended up costing the taxpayer more. There has to be a better way of doing it than that.
Exeter was always a Conservative seat before I won it in 1997 Ben Bradshaw MP “The most important thing for students is their prospects: will they be able to get decent, high paid work, will they ever be able to afford a house to live in? One of the things I �ind most worrying about Britain under this government is that the current generation feels that their lives will not be as comfortable and secure as their parents’ and that has to change. There’s been a real attack on young people under this government.” Many in the neo-conservative Henry Jackson Society would disagree with such an assessment, but that does not stop Bradshaw defending his membership. Labelling it
Interests: Environment, health, foreign policy, media & culture Hobbies: Cycling, hiking and Ashtanga yoga
“slightly misrepresented,” Bradshaw claims: “just because I’m associated with it doesn’t mean I’m going to endorse everything that everyone associated with it believes.” Another of the few things Bradshaw has come under �ire for is ‘�lipping’ his home - a practice involving changing the house assigned as an MP’s primary place of residence, for economic gain. He cleverly turns this potential weak spot into a positive, reasoning: “Ministers at that time were told they had to change their �irst home designation, it wasn’t a choice. I stand on my record - my expenses have been the lowest of any member of parliament in Devon & Cornwall. They always were.” He’s keen to bring Exeter into nearly all topics and waxes lyrical about the University. “It’s the single best and most valuable asset that Exeter has: the single greatest contributor to our economy. It has a very positive effect and impact on the rest of the education community.” He laughs as I raise his “incredibly lucky break” of being in Berlin as a foreign correspondent in 1989.
Germany was reunited and I kind of made myself Ben Bradshaw MP “I started my working life in Exeter as a local journalist. In 1989 I applied for and got a job as a BBC correspondent in Berlin, which was a backwater since the wall went up and was quite a minor job. The rest is history. The wall came down, Germany was reunited and I kind of made myself. It was amazing.” We end our conversation as he gets ready to board his �light, and I am left with the feeling that Exeter’s recognisable, assured representative may prove dif�icult to unseat.
Dom Morris, Conservative EXEPOSÉ
DOM MORRIS raises an eyebrow as I ask for a latté at Artigiano’s Espresso & Wine Bar. Like the relatively new establishment in the city centre, the Conservative candidate seems friendly, smart and charming - but there’s more than a hint of tradition beneath the surface. Before me is a con�ident, down to earth 30-something with bags of life experience, aiming to overthrow Labour’s 17 year hold on Exeter. Conscious of the student vote in his constituency, Morris enthusiastically agrees to chat after watching a cross-
Not having it easy makes me more in touch with the public on things like the NHS Dom Morris party debate the Politics Society had organised on campus. “I’m not hungover,” he clari�ies, looking down at our outside table and nodding at the tablet �izzing away in his glass of water. “I have chronic facial and spinal pain, so I need to medicate.” “I think not having it easy makes me more in touch with the public on things like the NHS,” he says later, referring - not for the last time - back to his ‘real people in Parliament’ pitch plastered all over campaign post-
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ers, which, he notes humbly, make no “cheap” references to his illness. Labelling himself a “compassionate conservative,” his lengthy, on mes-
The former RAF pilot fails to highlight a single coalition policy he disagrees with sage replies to each question add to doubts about how much his claim to be ‘unlike the Westminster elite just toeing the party line’ actually holds up. The former RAF pilot fails to highlight a single coalition policy he disagrees with and scoffs as I refer to Trussell Trust �igures suggesting Conservative-led welfare reforms are behind the dramatic increase in demand for food banks. “No. (There is no link between government policies and the rise in food bank use). Oh come on, why would I think that? The trouble with using food banks is that there is always going to be increasing demand for something which is free. If this cof-
fee shop was free, I reckon you and I would be here more regularly,” he reasons - somewhat patronisingly - after the all too familiar ‘inherited Labour de�icit’ spiel. The prospective MP smiles as I raise the tripling of tuition fees. “Well this is where you’re going to stuff me, aren’t you?! “On balance, I’m okay with it,” he adds, in refreshingly blunt and honest fashion. “My position is �irst of all that we didn’t introduce them and second the evidence says that this year more people from disadvantaged backgrounds than ever before are going to university.” He’s effusive in his praise of the University of Exeter, and says he can deliver two things for students. “One, a better relationship with permanent residents in Exeter. Secondly, I’d like more graduates from
I’d like more graduates from Exeter to stay in the South West. It’s an incredibly exciting place to be at the moment, Exeter more than ever before Dom Morris Exeter to stay in the South West. It’s an incredibly exciting place to be at the moment, Exeter more so than ever before, and yet a tiny proportion of students are staying. So I think it’d be great to get more to stay and to get more businesses linked into the University.” Himself a geography graduate, the 33-yearold Tory’s life story is an interesting one. He cites time on the front line in Helmand province, Afghanistan, as crucial to his decision to stand as an MP. Sporty, into music and single, Morris more than ful�ils the ‘would he be a nice bloke to have a pint with’ question often thrown at out-oftouch politicians. The ‘Westminster bubble’ narrative is one the “South West boy” has jumped on and one that he hopes will minimise UKIP’s impact on his chances next year. And yet, there are numerous similarities be-
tween this “son of a farmer” and the elite establishment �igures he is so dismissive of. His ideological stance, of course, mirrors many of them, but the way he speaks, answers questions and calculates political decisions based on tribal victories appears familiar too. He’s con�ident of joining them in Parliament but believes the local media coverage isn’t helping his cause.
I’m not going to be lectured by a Vicar’s son from Nofolk, Ben Bradshaw, about being local Dom Morris “It is a marginal, but it’s interesting the press don’t present it that way. They present it as a Labour �iefdom, which is not accurate in any way, shape or form,” he argues. He goes on to slate a recent article in the Western Morning News which questioned whether he was local and how well advertised the public hustings from which he became a candidate was. “There were so many inaccuracies in the story I don’t know where to start. It’s the worst piece of journalism I have seen - appalling. They just swallowed Labour accusations and I’m not going to be lectured by a Vicar’s son from Norfolk, Ben Bradshaw, about being local.” Right on queue, Bradshaw cycles by minutes later, apparently oblivious to the onlooking Morris. “How is your relationship with Ben?” I ask. “He doesn’t even acknowledge I’m in the room,” Morris smiles back wryly. Whilst Bradshaw has already had a spell in Cabinet, his rival could have decades in the political game, at 21 years his junior. “If I was offered the opportunity to be a minister in the Foreign Of�ice, to contribute to our foreign policy, or the Department of Work and Pensions, then yeah, absolutely. I don’t understand why politicians dodge this question… I aspire to lead. If the opportunity to become a minister arose, then what a fantastic privilege it would be.” Such ambition belies Morris’ obvious work ethic, which - make no mistake - will make him a serious contender for this seat. It is, after all, one which his party held for a full 27 years prior to Bradshaw’s tenure. The next general election is due next year. Register to vote by scanning the QR code right here or copy this link https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.
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A bit about Morris
Age: 33 Education: University of Birmingham (Geography) Years in parliament: 0 Career background: RAF pilot, army official Place of birth: Westcountry Slogan: “Real people in parliament” Interests: Exeter, welfare reform, foreign policy. Hobbies: Sports, music Exeter’s other local candidates Liberal Democrat: TBC Green Party: Diana Moore UKIP: Keith Crawford Candidates from other parties are yet to be confirmed. Who will you be voting for in the next local elections? Let us know by tweeting @ExeposeFeatures.
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Let’s get satirical 14
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13 OCTOBER 2014 |
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Exeposé Features rounds up the news with a humorous twist
‘Bee for Flea’ campaign launch Sarah Gough Arts Editor
AFTER years of prejudice, the launch of the United Insects ‘Bee for Flea’ campaign is the �irst to attempt insect equality across the globe. At the UI Conference in Birds Nest, Queen Bee kick-started the ‘Bee for Flea’ message by delivering an emotional speech to species delegates. The campaign’s main aim is to tackle prejudicial insectism by a proposed dismantling of the food chain. Queen Bee stressed the peaceful nature of her community’s honey sourcing strategy as a pillar example for other species. She critiqued the food chain as an “out-dated, archaic system.” There was a focus on how the food chain has become a “dirty phrase” – a statement that provoked a rousing cheer from the worm community, who have been living in dark, oppressive conditions for years. With the intention of bringing all insects together, Queen Bee suggested scrapping the search for ‘inferior’ insects and replacing this with the use of less morally compromising, renew-
able energy sources. She talked of the importance of utilising sustenance outside of the insect community, such as bird poo pellets and human phlegm. She received a �lying ovation from the
There was a focus on how the food chain has become a dirty phrase nest of UI delegates with the phrase “If not �lea, poo? If not poo, phlegm?” The campaign’s inclusivity appeared to rouse positive reactions from ant to earwig. Paul Ringo, diplomat for Ground Beetle affairs, welcomed the newfound initiative, de-
spite relying on the �lea community as his primary food source. Considering the recent clashes between centipede and millipede communities, the launch of the campaign was surprisingly well received by the two camps. In a joint statement, both parties expressed their “excitement for pellet feasts”. Some spiders were less supportive of the ‘Bee for Flea’ campaign. Jacob Black, diplomat for Wolf Spider affairs, argued that it was “not badass enough,” adding that “poo pellets are for pussies”. Overall however, Queen Bee’s launch of the initiative has achieved a positive buzz. There are hopes that a similar move towards equality for all can be achieved at the Crustacean Summit later this month.
Photo:: aprillancebees.com
Palace leak sends shockwaves Flora Carr Copy Editor
PALACE insiders have disclosed explosive diary entries from Her Royal Highness, revealing some less than savoury events which took place in the palace… “The PM calls. He wants another statement for the press about my neutrality on the whole Scottish business. “There in one minute,” I say, “Charles is just taking down the bunting.” “Do I hear someone hoovering in the background?” PM asks. “Yes, it’s a little messy here,” I say. “Philip got rather too enthusiastic with the salmonshaped piñata.” Another exposed the Duke of Edinburgh’s drinking habits. “On the settee with Philip, Charles, Katherine and William; we’re watching The One Show. I’ve had to monitor our viewing schedule ever since Philip’s little upset over that malarkey on The Great
British Bake Off. I wish there were an instruction book on how to get single malt whiskey out of an 18th Century rug. Harry just walked in, looked at us all, laughed and said we looked like The Royal Family. “That’s because we are the royal family, dear,” I said.
The entries suggest the scandalous infedility of the Duchess of Cambridge The entries also suggest the possible in�idelity of the Duchess of Cambridge. “Katherine has popped round for tea and crumpets. She’s telling me about an upcoming Shakespeare television production, starring an actor called Benedict Cumberbatch.” “Benedict Cumberbatch?” barks Philip over his newspapers. “Is he foreign?” Katherine tells him that he’s not. “He’s ac-
tually rather lovely,” she says. “He’s got the most gorgeous thick, curly hair… A nice, full head of hair.” She sounds wistful. Can’t think why.” The controlling nature of the Queen in politics is also exposed: ‘The PM calls. Again. He tells me that everyone is gearing up for the general elections. “Just out of, well, curiosity Your Majesty, what did you think of my pledge to raise tax thresholds? And in addition…” I miss the next bit as I’m juggling the Mary Berry cookbook and my Cath Kidston baking tray. “You are listening, Your Majesty?” PM says. “Lovely, lovely,” I mumble as I lick the spoon. “All the best to you, PM. Pity about your brother not making the cut though.” There’s a silence. “I think, Your Majesty, you may be a little confused-” PM starts to say; but I’ve already hung up. You’d think with an ancestry like mine I’d be able to make a decent Victoria Sponge.’ The palace is yet to comment.
Student is spotted ‘snogging’ a trout Image: Wikipedia
Ciaran Willis Screen Editor IT has been reported that an Exeter student is facing accusations of being caught in a public display of affection with a trout. The trout, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is currently unable to speak to reporters. A Guild spokesperson has said: “Unfortunately the victim is very shaken up right now. She has said she ‘feels like a �ish out of water.’ However, the University is doing all it can to investigate and is currently providing her with all the support she needs.” The sordid incident is alleged to have taken place in Devonshire House, in full view of other students. An onlooker, who wishes to remain anonymous, claimed to see the events: “I was just sitting down, doing some work, when a student walked in carrying a �ishbowl. At �irst I thought it was relatively normal – you know, just a student having a stroll with his �ish. Then he took the �ish from its bowl and started locking lips with it. They were really going at it.” Another witness gave his view: “All I saw is the pure and innocent love between one man and his �ish. Can �ish and man not live and love and swim in
Photo: chicagofishingschool.com
this great ocean of life together, hand in �in?” A Guild spokesperson said: “This is an unprecedented incident and is full of legal muddy waters. For the University, it’s a whole new kettle of �ish.” Colin Collins, a friend of the student involved, thinks, in hindsight, he should have seen the signs: “When my friend told me his new girlfriend was a ‘real catch’ I thought he meant it metaphorically. Not that he’d caught her in the ocean. And when he said he reeled her in with his big rod...Well, I thought he was just being weird.”
His new girlfriend was a real catch Another friend, Jeremiah SpigotMarling, was similarly perplexed: “He said that his new girl, on a scale of one to ten, was a ten. Off the scales, in fact. He did complain, however, that he didn’t like her �ish-lips.” He continued: “After his last break-up I told him there were ‘plenty more �ish in the sea.’ But I didn’t expect him to take it so literally.” A strong tide of controversy surrounds the issue, with the University expected to hope to wash their hands of this incident.
EXEPOSÉ
www.exepose.com >> Protestors take to the streets in Hong Kong. Photo: Huffington Post
Protests explained FEATURES
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TC Chu, an active participant, explains the motivations and details of the movement
Hong Kong in trouble
>>Exeter students express solidarity. Photo: Edwin Yeung
Sam Davies shares his concerns over the recent peaceful protests in Hong Kong THE CHINESE central government faces perhaps its most dif�icult challenge since similar protests were held in Tiananmen Square. The violent response to those protests in 1989 casts a heavy shadow over the current political stand-off in Hong Kong, and has left many wondering whether the present situation will end the same way. The student-led ‘Umbrella Revolution’ seems to have signi�icant support within Hong Kong and some sympathy from the democratic world outside, but there is as yet little prospect of a solution to their grievances. If the protests do not simply �izzle out, as Chinese President Xi Jinping seems to be hoping they will, then the authorities will be forced to act. The likelihood of a satisfactory conclusion for the protestors seems slim; the Chinese government will not allow the fully democratic election process the demonstrators believe they are owed.
Protests could throw the country into turmoil as the party would seek to maintain its control and halt the demonstrators But what if this were to happen? Should the protests result in a fully democratic political system in Hong Kong? This would present to the Chinese people a serious alternative to Communist Party rule, within China’s own territory. This would surely provoke democracy activists on the mainland to come forward and perhaps start their own demonstrations. Depending on how much support such groups received protests could throw
the country into turmoil as the Party would seek to maintain its control. The Communist authorities know this, hence their censoring of the goings on in Hong Kong, their efforts to halt holiday trips from the mainland to Hong Kong and the recent blocking of Instagram across China. The Western world also seems to realise this danger if the lack of support for the protestors from the likes of the USA and Britain is anything to go by. A China in �lux would not be pro�itable to the region or the rest of the world. If this is one extreme of where the protests in Hong Kong might lead, the other end of the spectrum is perhaps more immediately dangerous. If the stalemate continues and the ‘Occupy Central’ movement does not simply dissipate, the authorities may feel that they have no other alternative but to use force to restore order. Such actions would be tragic for the peaceful protestors, but would also be a disaster for the Chinese government. Though perhaps more likely than Beijing giving in to the protestor’s demands, the option of sending in the troops appears remote at present. The events of 1989 shocked the world and continue to colour China’s diplomatic relations with other nations, a similar response in a prosperous, developed, and relatively open place like Hong Kong would be a complete disaster for the Communist Party. And whilst the Hong Kong police initially attempted to disperse the crowds with tear gas, they have since exercised restraint. It is hard to see how a resolution could be found. Beijing has so far resolutely backed Hong Kong’s current chief executive Leung Chun-ying, who the students are demanding to resign. If President Xi were to withdraw his
backing of Leung, it could convince many protestors to return home in the short term. But losing face in such a manner would be a last resort. There seems little room for negotiation between the two sides.
Whilst Hong Kong police attempted to disperse the crowds with tear gas initially, they have since exercised restraint If other nations were to state their support for the demonstrators, they might have more sway. The British government, having signed the original agreement to return Hong Kong to China on the basis of ‘one country, two systems’ and with the guarantee of universal suffrage elections by 2017, has remained noncommittal and evasive on the issue. This is understandable given the importance of China not just economically, but also as a key player, and an increasingly powerful one, in world politics. In any case, China has warned others to stay out of its internal affairs. It seems the stalemate may well continue. President Xi and the Communist Party hope they can wait it out and that the protestors will eventually tire or see that their efforts are futile and simply return home. Otherwise China may be forced to offer the minor concession of removing Leung Chunying in return for a short term end to the disruption. One thing seems clear, the controversy surrounding the political system is not going to go away for a while yet. Pray there’s no re-run of 1989.
THE UMBRELLA Revolution was triggered by the decision made by mainland China to deny Hong Kong a true democratic vote, despite previous promises that Hong Kong will have universal suffrage by 2017. The current Chief Executive of Hong Kong (the equivalent of the Prime Minister), CY Leung was elected by a pre-selected committee that is pro-Chinese policy. As such, he does not have the mandate of the Hong Kong citizens, but simply the indirect mandate of the Chinese government through oligarchic election methods. This contradicts the idea of a ‘high degree of autonomy’ that Hong Kong was promised under the Sino-British Declaration, signed in the handover between the UK and China. Under the proposed electoral blueprints for 2017, citizens of Hong Kong will only be able to elect their Chief Executive from a pre-selected number of candidates that are decided by the aforementioned pre-approved committee. In other words, the people are only allowed to enjoy universal suffrage on the condition that all the candidates approved are �irmly under the thumb of the Chinese government. This protest is peaceful to the point in which protesters actually clean up after themselves, complete with protestors sorting out the recycling. One might go so far as to say that the Hong Kong protesters put the ‘civil’ in civil disobedience, if you can pardon the rather atrocious pun. Hong Kong’s method of dealing with the frustrations and demands of its citizens is to disperse these dissidents through hard force. The police force have been deploying tear gas and shooting plastic bullets at unarmed protesters in order to suppress divergence. Viral videos and photos of protesters attempting to protect themselves from the tear gas
with umbrellas have gone viral. The use of umbrellas as shields against tear gas is also the origin of the Umbrella Revolution’s namesake: a signi�ier for the peacefulness of the movement through the innocuous domestic symbol that protesters must use it to protect themselves against brutality. There have been violations of hu-
The people of Hong Kong are �ighting for democracy man rights on account of the Hong Kong police force. Cases include the unlawful detainment of activists who have been arrested for an unjusti�iable period of time without proper explanation. Various movement organizers have also had their homes ransacked. This, alongside the use of excessive brutal force, is a clear violation of human rights by the police force and consequentlty, the Hong Kong government. The police force has also ignored incidents of sexual harassment and assaults. Threats of rape and acts of molestation were directed towards female protesters in clear view of the police force yet there has been no attempt to reprimand the culprits. Similar approaches are taken toward violent assaults against protesters. A car drove through a crowd of protesters, with the police failing to act. The Chief Executive even voiced support for the driver by stating that “he would have normally been able to drive past that road anyway.” The people of Hong Kong are �ighting for democracy to ensure a better future. We cannot say that the Umbrella Revolution will succeed in giving Hong Kong democracy, but we can very well say that they will not give up.
Hong Kong citizens words on the protests “In every protest, there are negative effects to the general public. However, these are short-term outcomes. The aim of protests is to make an impact on the whole society, to provide a better future for everyone in Hong Kong.” -Edwin Yeung “The broken promise of universal suffrage does not only mean the loss of individual expression: it indicates the beginning of an ominous and terrifying closure to the multinationalism and openness that Hong Kong has so far been defined by.” -Cherrie K
“The movement may drive some of us apart but it drives most of us together.” - Judy Wong
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Lifestyle gets tw@tted
This week at Exeposé Lifestyle we’re talking all things social media. First up, two of our writers share their experiences of online dating Anonymous Student
Something smells fishy...
IT is impossible to ignore the $2.1billion craze that is online dating; whether you’re a 50-year-old single analysing profiles on Match.com or an 18-year-old student casually flitting through profiles on Tinder, online dating features more in relationships than ever before. Second only to ‘meeting through friends’, one in four couples now meet online, a statistic that is constantly on the rise. Cynical as I am, I personally never bought into the idea of online dating. Doubts surged through my head whenever the topic was brought up: why can’t these people find re-
Isobel Knight Can I be your Tinderella? IF you haven’t heard of the dating app Tinder, then you’ve been living under a rock for the past year or so. The idea is simple: you are shown a series of people who live within a radius of you, you see their photo and
This is the 21st Century and it’s all about lust at first sight swipe left if it’s a ‘no thanks’ or right if you like what you see. If both people swipe right, then you are allowed to start talking. Forget love at first sight, this is the 21st Century and it’s all about lust at first sight.
lationships in person? Is it not a bit dangerous to meet people from the internet? How much of what they write about themselves is really true? Aren’t they all really just after a one-night-stand?
Why can’t these people find relationships in person? During the summer, a friend excitedly gushed to me over coffee of her dating success on a website called ‘Plenty of Fish’ as she was now seeing someone also at her university. Evidently my dismissive attitude towards online dating came across
I downloaded Tinder as a joke with my flatmates one evening, and our time was divided fairly equally between belly aching laughter and squeals of delight. A few months down the line, and I still have the app on my phone. My intentions are not to date someone, and I’m certainly not using it as a way to find random shags. I rarely start talking to people, and have never met up with someone through Tinder. So why have I kept it? Boredom is probably an honest answer, a few minutes spent laughing at the profiles brings out the worse in me. Vanity is a more honest answer the thrill of matching with someone
more than I realised, as my afternoon was interrupted by an email stating my username and password for a ‘POF’ profile she had set up for me, apparently determined to prove me wrong. Pessimistic but slightly intrigued, I went along with it. If you ever thought filling out graduate internship applications were a nightmare, think again. The sheer number of questions and information boxes was horrifying, to the extent that it took me two days of procrastination before I finally completed my profile and was ready to ‘start fishin’, to use the company’s effective, albeit cringe worthy, slogan. Yes, my scepticism meant that anyone who dared message me was bound to be under close scrutiny, but
who is astronomically fitter than me will always be very, very flattering. I most certainly do not keep Tinder for the conversation. It seems to be okay to say all sorts of weird things to strangers if you are not actually talking to them. Common opening lines seem to be: ‘’sit on my face,’’ ,‘’you’re crying out to be spanked’’ and ‘’when you’re eating watermelon, do you spit or swallow the seeds?’’ I’m not even shocked by what people type any more - I have had more raised
soon enough my inbox was teeming with sordid one-liners and some truly horrendous grammatical mistakes. To receive one, simple, grammatically correct, “Hi! How are you?” caused me to reply quickly, almost in relief, and after a surprisingly engaging conversation, we swapped numbers.
remain light-hearted with low expectations. This is not to say that I’d recommend online dating to everyone, but who am I to say that there aren’t plenty of fish in the sea!
It took me two days of procrastination before I completed my profile We have now been together six months. It’s hard to admit, but I have to say I think it can work, provided you take it with a pinch of salt and
eyebrow moments with the profile pictures some men have chosen. I worry that it has become a social norm to ask a girl about her fellatio techniques and show her a photo of your penis before you have even asked how her day has gone.
The thrill of matching with someone who is astronomically fitter than me will always be very flattering I worry that what has become ‘acceptable’ online will quickly become acceptable in real life. Is the new world of dating really going to be conducted online? Perhaps I am being old fashioned, a friend of mine
went on a date with someone she met on Tinder - and she didn’t text me to rescue her so it seemed to go well. I am not sure I like ‘lust at first sight’, but I don’t believe in ‘love at first sight’ either. I don’t want to be your Tinderella, and I’m not that keen on being Cinderella either... Can I just be Issy?
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LIFESTYLE
Tweets of the week The best of the Lifestyle Twitterati’s musings and wit this week Tweet us @ExeposeLStyle Gemma Joyce @GLJoyce It amazes me how well the poster sale does when there’s a pretty much universal ban on blu-tac in student accomodation #fightthepower Laura Yonish @lozyon Just in case the torrential rain and lightning storm this morning weren’t enough, I broke my sunglasses just now. It is 100% winter Rory Morgan @rorylm ‘Is that an old woman? No, that’s Boris Johnson’ Rhiannon @rhiannoncoleman 5 more mins in bed until I have to leave it and enter the ice block that is my house #studentproblems Helena Berry @helenaSberry When the whole cast photograph your mid-rehearsal nap #castsupport #thereforme #snapchatsalloverrodney Giverny Masso @GivernyMasso Just tried to run to get the train thinking I was late, then realised the time was an hour earlier than I thought #notyetawake Kate Bellamy @_KateMate Eugh, up since half one, can’t breathe. Tomorrow’s going to be fierce craic Harry Spackman @harryspack I’ve heard I can choose two out of sleep, work, and social life! I choose the latter two. Sorry sleep Sali Hughes @salihughes I went to bed at 9pm. #HighHopes Ellie Barton @elliebarton13 I need to go on a spending ban asap James Pidduck @jamespidduck reunited with my phone yayayay #babyscomehome Becca Hoare @BeccaHoare Instagram shows me people getting grad jobs and working out. Ive just missed my only lecture of the day and eaten 6 samosas Tom Bond @tom_bond Disappointed that Raven is trending and it’s not because of the CBBC show.
NEWS 1-7
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11
MUSIC 20-23
SCREEN 25-26
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13 OCTOBER 2014 |
Exeposé
Has Twitter ruined television? Insta-bible
Eamonn Crowe, Lifestyle Editor, discusses why he Daniel Foley thinks Twitter’s musings have ruined the TV experience preaches
AS brilliant/tragic as this may be, it is an indisputable fact that watching TV is a staple of everyday modern life. In the last few years, social media has become an almost unavoidable part of the television viewing experience.
The problem with Twitter is that everyone is trying to make everything funny Most of the time, Twitter’s commentary of television is pretty damn funny (always check your timeline when Made In Chelsea is on Lifestylers). But my one gripe with Twitter is that the Twitterverse doesn’t seem to get that not everything/everyone on TV is there to be ridiculed. The treatment of reality stars on social media is a prime example of this Twitter/television relationship gone wrong. Reality shows often encourage interaction via social media and this is part of the reason that they are massively successful. (If you haven’t already guessed from this article, I’m a bit of an addict.) However, in recent years, there’s been a shift in the narrative. Cast members and storylines were once aspirational, if a little vapid (see the girls of The Hills carving out fashion careers), but they’ve now been replaced by vulgarity and scenes with the shock factor (see the girl who got a sheep tattooed on her vagina in The Valleys). Personally, I think this has happened because television is trying to please Twitter... and Twitter loves to laugh. TV stars are now routinely served up as fodder for the social media machine in which they are transformed into an endless array of memes, reaction shots and gifs. On Twitter, everyone is trying to make everything funny and this has led to some television moments which should have been sad, simply becoming another opportunity to make a meme. Take the mega-brand that is the
Kardashians. When on one of their many shows, Kim cried hysterically over the failure of her infamous 72 day marriage, it should have been a tender moment that offered an insight into a divorce that made international headlines. Instead, Kim’s ‘ugly crying face’ has been immortalised as one of Twitter’s most popular memes. Her scrunched-up face can often be seen on your newsfeed alongside captions such as ‘that moment when you realise you haven’t done the homework that’s due.’ In fact, the facial reactions of the Kardashian clan have spawned an entire Twitter page, (@kardashiansreact). The use of these images is often comedic, but things are made
slightly less comfortable when you remember the context of these images. For instance, the Kardashian Reac-
Kim’s ‘ugly crying face’ has become one of Twitter’s most popluar memes tions Twitter page regularly places a still of Khloe Kardashian breaking down about her husband’s drug addiction, next to jovial captions, such as “when my mum forgets to buy my favourite snack”. Anyone else starting to feel a little less okay with Twitter’s mocking of absolutely everyone? Don’t get me wrong, the Kardashians willingly place themselves in front of social media’s gaze and probably intend for much of their show
to be funny. Yet, I somehow doubt that they wanted these personal moments to become comedic devices. Perhaps a better example of Twit-
Her wikipedia page listed her as an ‘ice- cream melting supervillain’ ter’s harsh judgement of television is Diana Beard. Unless you’ve been living in a mansion on Mars for the last few months, you will know about the ‘bin-gate’ scandal that recently rocked The Great British Bake Off (it made the front page of The Sun for crying out loud!) This incident saw a 70 year old contestant on a show ABOUT BAKING become the target of a whole host of Twitter abuse, after she removed a baked alaska from the freezer. I can’t help but feel that the level of outrage caused wouldn’t have been so high without everyone pretending they cared far more about this non-event than they actually did, in order to secure a few retweets. As soon as the show aired, Diana was instantly memeified and her Wikipedia page edited to list her as an ‘ice-cream melting supervillain’. Yes, this kind of Twitter banter is hilarious when we’re reacting to a Real Housewife crying over a lost Rolex, but when it’s targeted at an elderly woman, you have to ask whether Twitter is beginning to leave a sour taste in our mouths... just like Iain’s failed baked alaska would have. I am not saying that Twitter is bad, I just think we should be a little more careful when tweeting about shows that involve real people. Ultimately, my feeings about Twitter and television are the same as my feelings about my best friend and long-term crush... I love them both, but I just don’t like it when they hang out together.
Instagram conduct
DO:
1. Establish the purpose of your Instagram. Are you food driven? Or a traveller with picturesque holiday snaps? Your followers will expect a certain kind of image to appear on your feed, so try not to deviate. 2. Think carefully about what hashtags you use. Things like #tbt and #instagood might gain likes from random people, but they’re not very original. Think of quirky hashtags that will grab the attention of your followers. 3. Match your followers with your following. Follow back friends that follow you. Show an interest in other people’s profiles. Don’t be one of those people that never follow back. 4. Don’t feel constrained by the square photo. There are plenty of apps like InstaSize that give you the chance to keep the original photo size. 5. Network with other Instagrammers. Post comments on their photos and like them if appropriate.
DON’T:
1. Spam people’s feeds. One photo each day is enough, two’s pushing the limit. 2. Take cliché photos people have done before, such as snaps of your legs sprawled out in front of a swimming pool. 3. Edit your photos to the point that you no longer look like the same person. 4. Post quotes or phone screenshots. Instagram is for photos, not statuses! 5. Post endless selfies.
Some recommended extension apps:
InstaFollow: Allows you to track if anyone’s recently unfollowed you or hasn’t followed you back.
InstaSize: Allows you to avoid cropping your image to a square by fitting the original image vertically or horizontally into the square box.
VSCOcam: Probably the most popular photo editing app right now, with better filters than Instagram’s selection.
Koredoko: Allows you to manually edit the location of your photo if you didn’t have location services or a GPS enabled when you took the photo.
Exeposé
To pin or not to pin? Expectation
ON the face of it, Pinterest is great. An online clipboard, where you can pin your ideas, share inspiration, learn new tips and tricks for helping you through life. What’s not to love?
I don’t think anyone could ever eat enough jam to produce the number of jars necessary to try all those projects Of course I have Pinterest. I also have, as I realised recently, more followers on Pinterest than I do on Twitter; apparently I am something of a pinning celebrity, without even trying. There are some people, I’m sure, who swear by Pinterest for their wedding planning, their interior design, or for seeking out wonderful new recipes. I’m also sure that if you put in enough effort, it is actually
Lucien Fulcher, our resident astrologist, rubs his crystal ball(s) to predict what’s in store for Lifestyle readers this week...
Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) Love is a many-splendoured thing. Also hugely incomprehensible, difficult and frequently apocalyptic. Stay away. Lucky crisp flavour: roast chicken. Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) Cupid’s arrow flew straight and true last night – what a shame that it missed anyone you would ever find attractive. Avoid pigeons at all costs.
A one time Pinterest addict tells us why, for her, pinning has certainly lost its prick quite rewarding. It has the potential to be fabulous. And indeed, most stuff on Pinterest is completely fabulous. Who wouldn’t want to know how to revamp your kitchen storage using only recycled materials? And what would we do with all our used jam jars if there weren’t about a million pictures on there of all the different things that look just fab in a jam jar? I don’t think anyone could ever eat enough jam to produce the number of jars necessary to try all of those projects. But really now, I don’t think I’ve ever made any of the - truly delicious looking - cakes that I’ve pinned to my ‘Tasty Looking Things To Eat’ board. I am yet to do all the insane things to my hair that I have pinned to my ‘Hair Inspo’ board, and I doubt I will ever have a wedding at night, lit only by tea lights (see ‘Wonderful Weddings’ board for more info). I really don’t know why I waste my time looking for handicrafts that I will almost certainly never craft. But that’s exactly what it is: Pin-
terest is a massive waste of time. It’s a brilliant way to procrastinate, and in all honesty, the only time I tend to check my Pinterest is when I am determinedly not writing an essay. It’s a fun way to waste a few min-
Why do I waste my time looking for handicrafts that I will almost certainly never craft? utes, looking at the wedding photos of people we don’t know, or snaps of ridiculously cute kittens, but do I ever actually do any of the things I have pinned on my apparently rather popular boards? Of course not. I don’t have the time to make papier mâché baskets to keep my hair pins in, I’m not in the Brownies any more. If I could employ someone to make all the fun stuff I see on Pinterest, that would be great. But in reality, it’s a load of pictures of stuff I will never, ever do.
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Written in the stars Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22) This week may be the best week of your life, but probably not. Maybe top 50. Stay away from useless people, in spite of their tendency to gravitate towards you.
Reality
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Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) Just as you thought you were finally getting a grip on a difficult situation, it will spiral wildly and messily out of all control unless you make an effective decision on Thursday. Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Congratulations on surviving the first few weeks back at University! From here on out, regrettably, your odds of continued survival decrease markedly. Pisces (Feb 19 – Mar 20) As a water sign, people often find you insipid, bland and without much structural integrity. Just let this wash over you and enjoy a week which promises an agreeable surprise. Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) As a confrontational Aries, remember to take at least four deep breaths before putting yourself in even a moderately testing situation,
and avoid coffee on Tuesday.
Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20) An unwelcome encounter with someone you thought you weren’t going to see will probably leave you feeling disgruntled. Unlucky colour: fuschia.
Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20) Once bitten, twice as shy, as the sages say, so stop biting people and take a more relaxed approach on the first date. Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22) An old friend will reappear in your life, bringing a muchneeded burst of zesty reinvigoration. Time spent reminiscing will help you refocus and calm yourself. Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22) If you feel as though you haven’t been partying enough, stop whinging like a small child - get yourself together and go out and have a great time. By yourself if you have to. Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22) Carry a handkerchief around with you this week, as it will help you out in more than one sticky situation.
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13 OCTOBER 2014 |
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Kate Burgess & Tristan Gatward music@exepose.com LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Music
Interview
Monday 13 October James Yorkston The Louisiana, Bristol Tuesday 14 October Nerina Pallot Exeter Phoenix Wednesday 15 October That Fucking Tank Cavern Wednesday 15 October Glass Animals Thekla, Bristol Thursday 16 October CHIVERIN Showcase: Febueder Louisiana, Bristol Thurday 16 October Eagulls Cavern Thursday 16 October Wave Pictures Start the Bus, Bristol Thursday 16 October Kishi Bashi Thekla, Bristol Friday 17 October Low Steppa Exeter Pheonix Friday 17 October QUIRK (Magic Hatstand) Cavern Saturday 18 October John Cooper Clarke Anson Rooms, Bristol Thursday 23 October Willie & The Bandits Cavern
Spotlight
Glass Animals @ Thekla, Bristol Wednesday 15 October “Glass Animals create a formula that leaves you curled in a corner marvelling at their brilliance.” - Clash Music
Kids In Glass Houses
Pavel Kondov, Online Music Editor, and Lauren Edwards, sit down with Iain Mahanty of Kids in Glass Houses ahead of the second night of their last ever tour at the Phoenix WHY did you decide to split? It just feels like it’s come to an end. Rather than drag it out and soil the name, we thought we’d go out on a high. We’ve just released an album we’re really proud of. We all came to the same point at the same time, just sat down and had a chat and made the decision.
A lot of bands go all of a sudden, why a farewell tour? It wasn’t under bad circumstances that we made the decision to split, so we wanted to have one last chance to play around the world, and one last opportunity for fans to see us, kind of make a celebration out of it rather than it being a sad thing.
Do you feel different on stage? I guess we feel more relaxed, because we aren’t facing the pressure of trying to make a success out of it anymore. Usually on a tour you’ve just made a record and you’ve put so much work in it that you try and make sure it really counts towards something. Now we just go out and make every night the best it possibly can be. It’s a lot easier. As for how it feels with the other guys, if anything, we’re having more of a laugh. We are going out the way we came – just five mates who want to get pissed and play shows. What are you most proud of during your run? I think going abroad, getting to play in places like Japan and Australia. We also played some amazing shows in our home town, which was pretty unbelievable when we were growing up.
And what do you regret most? I wouldn’t say we regret anything, really. We probably could have done some things differently, but all the decisions we did take have led us to where we are at the moment and to us having these eight amazing years.
In your early days you were part of a booming Welsh scene along with bands such as Funeral for a Friend, Lostprophets, Bullet for my Valentine and others. What do you remember of that period? It was an awesome time. We would always put on shows together and open for each other, split the door money and whatnot. We always helped each other – Lostprophets and Funeral helped us loads with taking us on our first big shows and giving advice. There is a sense of pride to us for being Welsh bands. I’m toying with the idea of going into putting shows locally, you know, give something back, but we’ll see how that goes.
We wanted one last chance to play around the world...make a celebration out of it Is Peace the last piece of music that we are going to hear from KiGH? We were toying with the idea of writing a farewell song but then we thought it might be a bit weird or seem like we’re cashing in, so we decided against it. We’re super proud of Peace and it’s amazing to be able to play songs
off this record on the current tour, some of them are going down as well as songs from our first album. We’re going to film our last night of the tour in Cardiff, but we’re not sure if we are going to release it, but we would have regretted not having it so it’s at least for us.
You’ve been in Cavern and the Phoenix, which are too very different venues. Do you prefer smaller or larger places? The small shows you get a select number of people and it’s usually the more devoted fans, which makes for a fun and relaxed show, but playing to a shitload of people feels awesome as well, so we love doing both. And we’ve also played the Lemon Grove. You’ve just come back from Australia – what’s the difference between the crowds that you get here and abroad? Britain has always been our – I hate using the term – biggest market. This is where our most devoted fans are. But in places like Australia, it’s quite a surreal feeling to play away from home in front of people who know your music.
What does the future hold for each of you individually? Aled is going into graphic design, Shay is presenting a radio show locally, and Phil’s been doing some drumming and writing. As for me, I’ve been doing some film scoring and writing other stuff, so I’ll be continuing with music. What do you think of the current state of the music scene?
I always keep an ear out for new music and I think things are wicked. Pop music especially is in a really good space, because you have more freedom - you are allowed to be a lot more eclectic and still get on the radio, whereas until recently pop had become quite stale and formulaic.
We might still do something together, but not as Kids in Glass Houses Is a reunion a possibility or is KiGH a permanently closed page? We’re not big enough to do a reunion [laughs]. Us splitting up is us closing a chapter in our life, saying that period is over and that we are ready to move on and do other things in our lives. We might still do something together, but not as Kids In Glass Houses.
Picture yourself 50 years from now, telling your grandchildren about that time you were in a band – what will be your most vivid memory? Probably just waking up in a van in a service station car park, surrounded by my friends and a weird smell. That feeling is something not a lot of people experience and I feel it’s going to last. Kids In Glass Houses certainly did not disappoint when we saw them play later at Exeter Phoenix. To read all about it, have a gander at our website where you’ll find the full review.
EXEPOSÉ
Interview
Pioneers of pop Kate Burgess, Music Editor, gets Sylvan Esso to touch her socks
AMELIA Meath and Nick Sanborn seem an unlikely coupling. Coming from the folky deliciousness of Mountain Man, Meath, with her bull ring and heady platforms, sat �idgeting next to the very earnest Sanborn when I met them in Bristol. Theirs is an unlikely tale of brief encounter and subsequent cyberrelationship but not as grotesquely low-budget Hollywood as it sounds. Recounting how they started making music, Sanborn explained how they had played a show together, as two of three bands. From the Cactus Club, WI, the two musicians quickly
Aphex Twin Syro 22 September
TO SAY expectations were high for Richard D James’ latest release would be an understatement. 13 years since Drukqs is a long time for fans of one of electronic music’s most vivid pioneers. Syro sounds a lot like a lot of other releases from the Cornish producer but is almost effortlessly engaging in its glitchy, undulating �low. The real beauty of this work is that it sounds familiar, and yet at the same time remains innovative, the gradual shifts in sound allow the hints and tones of ambient and techno to lace the mind of listener in an ever-changing kaleidoscope of engrossing electronica. The brilliant ‘produk 29[101]’ perhaps best exempli�ies the diverse and nuanced way in which Aphex
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became friends, but it was about two years until Mountain Man needed a remix. The resulting track was to become their �irst song, ‘Play It Right,’ when they “were like: ‘that went really well, we should do this more… but on purpose’.” On the subject of remixes, Sylvan Esso were divided. Sanborn tentatively suggested that “they can be a good thing… it’s just there’s so many bad ones.” Amelia then offered up “I personally never seek out remixes” before Nick reprimanded her for never listening to them. Both agreed that albums like the Gil Scot-Heron
Twin produces music, with a variation between rapid drum beats and sneaking beats overlapping, in an eerie yet not quite jarring way. The intermittent vocals, drawn from members of his family, are a nice touch and yet again demonstrate an awareness of utilising sound to enact different sections of each track. Despite its almost experimental sound, there appears to be method in the weirdness. The �low of this album far exceeds Drukqs and avoids being a disparate collection of tracks, by pushing entrancing changes in tempo, whilst maintaining the stream of dreamy ambient synths. Emphasis shifts, like those found in ‘180db_[130],’ validate much of what this album seems to achieve, branching further out from the elegant and obscure sounds that de�ine Aphex Twin, whilst staunchly perpetuating the wonderfully different noises that made him famous in the �irst place. Overall, an excellent comeback, once again setting the bench mark in a genre of endless possibilities. It’s as good as could be expected and once again lays down the claim that Aphex Twin is the creator of the most intelligent electronica there is. CALLUM BURROUGHS ONLINE EDITOR
and Jamie XX record were worth listening to, but for Meath “in general, they’re silly and weird.” They make an insightful case; while remixes can offer up fascinating interpretations of one artist’s vision they can under-
That went really well, we should do this more... but on purpose line more sinister industry objectives. Paying homage to Sanborn’s skill, Meath suggested that though there
can be a point “where sometimes it feels like a search for extra content that isn’t necessarily needed,” and “a way for industry to continue pushing a band.” Opening up a can of capitalist worms, Sylvan Esso lament vaguely at labels’ impetus for “more stuff! More stuff!” In the single choosing process they admit dif�iculty in �inding a “middle-ground… where you’re both listening [to the response/market] and pushing [creative expression].” When I asked if the album had a particular aim Sanborn enthused about a desire to make “pop that doesn’t treat the human experience as this black and white thing.” This honest aim is what both claim made the transition from previous projects much easier; as Meath said “it’s the same thing fuelling it, the desire to make an honest connection.” We then talked about the supposed need for a ‘creative hub’ to produce creatively (as I made comparisons between Exeter and Durham, NC), agreeing that if there’s a good karaoke bar… well, Brooklyn eat your heart out. Karaoke tracks of choice: Bonnie Raitt and ‘The Way You Make Me Feel.’ After a disconcerting moment where Meath stroked my (glittery) socks, both enthused “we had no idea that more than 12 people wanted to come see us in Bristol.”
Lights Little Machines 23 September
sion of Little Machines is a long way from the tentative sound of her earlier music, but quieter songs like ‘Child’ and ‘Don’t Go Home Without Me’ are reminiscent of the self-revealing, re�lective nature of her debut, The Listening. Little Machines has been three years in the making, during which Lights has been on tour, married Beau Bokan of Blessthefall, and had a child, Rocket. Lights speaks more honestly
LITTLE Machines is a handful of electro-pop ballads, laced with synth and electric guitar. It’s fastpaced with heavy beats – songs like ‘Same Sea,’ with a grinding bass walk-down in the chorus, and single ‘Up We Go,’ are ideal for live perfor-
Lights reached into her childhood to recapture her imagination
This is more mainstream pop than her last album with Holy Fuck mances. It’s more mainstream pop than her last album, Siberia, where with Holy Fuck she produced a dirty, heavy sound that underscores her high vocals. The heavy percus-
and clearly in her lyrics than in previous albums, showing a desire for openness. The endless references to husband Bokan scattered throughout Little Machines demonstrate the strength of her bond with her husband. ‘Oil and Water’ reveals the pain she experiences from their frequent separation, with lyrics: “No one said it would be this hard, how could I know?” Lights has revealed the dif�iculty she experienced writing Little Machines, saying she reached into her childhood to recapture her imagina-
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Exe-press Reviews Caribou - Our Love A kaleidoscope of dizzying dance tracks that is a joy to awkwardky shuffle to. LEWIS NORMAN, ONLINE MUSIC EDITOR
U2 - Songs of Innocence Fuck off.
SAM HOPKINS
Alt-J - This Is All Yours Markedly less coherent than their last, but who cares? It’s Alt-J, the only common denominator of all ‘quirky cool’ new music (according to NME). Actually good though. Sorry. KATE BURGESS MUSIC EDITOR
This moment captured Sylvan Esso as a band – a little odd and dorky but excited and, more importantly, exciting. Essentially fun, embracing the muddied word ‘pop,’ Sylvan Esso are instantly recognisable, but utterly refreshing. The ensuing gig was entirely enigmatic. Supporting them was Cosmo Sheldrake who, by the way, is an absolute dream.
tion. In order to free up her mind lyrically, single Portal was originally a poem that she transformed into song. I was impressed to learn that she had struggled with the album, but managed to create a sound that feels effortless to the listener. Little Machines is an album that demonstrates Lights’ musical development, while remaining true to her own beliefs and values. After experimenting for years, she seems to have �inally reached a sound that really �its her. It’s an album that feels like coming home. SARAH MERRITT
WANTED: COLUMNIST - Are you witty? - Are you intelligent? - Are you a philanthropist? - Are you stupidly good looking? - Are you none of the above? Then becoming our fortnightly columnist might be for you! Pontificate on something music related in a few hundred words. It doesn’t even have to be good (it probably does). Screams CV material like noone’s business. Email us: music@exepose.com
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A completely revamped The Horrors get Charlotte Drohan’s approval at Bristol’s O2 Academy earlier this month
“HAIR today, gone tomorrow,” once claimed sharp-witted, nice-haired indie iconoclast Alexa Chung. However, The Horrors have arguably undergone one of the most surprising musical evolutions of recent years, abandoning their former goth-pastiche for something far more introspective and re�ined. So whilst the aforementioned hair is decidedly tamer, their ambition is most de�initely not. The Bristol crowd are suitably warmed up by Telegram, a Ramoneslight four piece by way of Caerphilly. However, their krautrock �lirtations only heighten the anticipation for the night’s main event. For a band that have never shied from wearing their inspiration on
their sleeve, The Horrors are at their strongest when they dare to be original. The hypnotic ‘Sea Within A Sea’ galvanises an already eager audience, despite its winding eight minute length.
Whilst the hair is decidedly tamer, their ambition is most de�initely not ‘Scarlet Fields’ still sounds as urgent and fresh as it did on �irst listen, twinned with a pulsating light show. Newer songs such as ‘I See You’ and ‘Sleepwalk,’ taken from fourth LP Luminous, inject a fresh electronic
throb, yet still induce a warm woozy fuzz, a welcome trademark of guitarist Joshua Hayward. Sadly not every song shines with this same character or innovation. Although a crowd pleaser, ‘Who Can Say’ has dated quickly, revealing itself as a feeble attempt at Shangri Las-by-numbers, ultimately more cringe-worthy than haunting. The huge single ‘Skying’ also veers into dangerous territory; a shot at life af�irming pop that actually has all the euphoria of a Coldplay album track. Despite this, it’s perhaps apt that they chose to end on ‘Moving Further Away,’ with their own musical trajectory slowly, but surely, unravelling itself from their myriad in�luences. Emulation of Joy Divison, Neu!
and Can has served The Horrors well so far, but tonight proves they are
more than capable of striking out on their own.
Kim Churchill: “I am fluffy”
Tristan Gatward, Music Editor, speaks to Kim Churchill before he played Cavern last week
FLUFFY haired Australian Kim Churchill graced Exeter’s Cavern earlier this week. Before the gig, we managed to get a few words from an artist going from strength to �luf�ier strength
(unfortunately, the �luffy headline quote is fabricated; he didn’t say it; it’s not a thing. But it stays.)
Originally from Canberra, Australia, how has growing up in Australia in�luenced your music and ‘surfer’ image? I was born in Canberra but moved to a small town on the far South Coast when I was about six-years-old. Canberra was important to me in the beginning of my career because it was the closest city to my town and I busked there for hours and hours each week. I wouldn’t have had the
money to buy my car and start travelling Australia playing shows, so it played its part. I would say growing up in a small town afterwards impacted me more – de�initely not much in the way of sur�ing there, though...
Your newest record Silence/Win came out in the UK this week, how do you feel about the album? It was the �irst time I really allowed a producer in. The bloke’s name was Warne Livesey and was responsible for Midnight Oil’s work as well as The The. I had so much respect for his work; I was happy to let him in crea-
tively. I found it so enjoyable to work on it with him and I think enjoying something a lot often makes it loads better. This is by far the work I’m most proud of.
In other interviews you’ve seemed especially anxious to get a good reaction from England, what is it about us that’s so daunting? Well, not so much daunting. My mum’s English. I came over here a lot when I was younger and was in�luenced by the music over here massively. As a result, I think I am more determined to make a good impression over here
Best new tracks
Kim Churchill Window to the Sky September 9, 2014 Flying Lotus Coronona, The Terminator September 18, 2014 Perfume Genius Grid September 18, 2014 Febueder Brazillia October 6, 2014
and add something worthwhile to the mix. I played London last night, which was incredibly special. And you’re playing Exeter’s Cavern tomorrow, have you ever been here before? Yeah I played here with Billy Bragg last year. There’s a damn good burger place downtown! And Cavern looks to be a seriously cool little place to play. I love this part of the UK in general, I was down in Cornwall last week for the �irst half of my tour – so much fun.
Your second single from the record, ‘Window to the Sky’, has had a great reaction so far - can you tell us a little about it? I was working on the album in Montreal at the time and staying in this weird little kind of cave thing under a house. It was very odd, the sort of place where the water heater goes. It was a hard time for me, being on my own a lot, and so I wrote the song about the joy I got out of doing things for my friends around their house while they were working. It was nice to make them happy and I realised I had stopped focusing on my own stupid problems. Your sound has been brilliantly described as ‘psychedelic whale music,’ is this a comparison you like/ agree with? I wonder if the whales would agree... If you missed his Cavern date, all is not lost. Bristol awaits. For full tour dates, visit Kim’s website.
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Newsreel
Di Caprio drops out of Jobs biopic Gone Girl tops US box Danny office Boyle’s latest project on the life ofDirector the AppleDavid founderFincher’s has been dealt latesta crime grossed $38 blow Di drama Caprio announces hismillion, resignanarrowly surpassing prequel tion from the role. Thehorror actor says he is Annabelle and Denzel Washington’s taking a period away from acting inaction film The Equalizer to take top spot. Gone success at the out box defi nitely. DiGirl’s Caprio drops office makes it Fincher’s highest grossing movie to date. of Jobs biopic Danny Boyle’s latest project on the life ofSherlock the Apple founder Holmes has been dealt filma blow Discovered Di Caprio announces his resignation A Sherlock from theHolmes role. Thefilm actor from says1916, he is long thought be lost, been taking a period to away fromhas acting inuncovered defi nitely. in a French film archive. The movie, starring the original Holmes, William Gillette, and titled Drama in Four Acts, appears to be complete and will premiere at the French Film festival: Toute La Mémoire Du Monde next January.
Di Caprio drops out of Steve Jobs biopic Danny Boyle’s latest project on the life of the Apple founder has been dealt a blow after Leonardo Di Caprio announced his resignation from the role. The actor says he is taking time out from acting indefinitely.
London rolls out the red carpet This week, cinemas across London will play host to the 58th annual BFI film festival. Highlights of the festival will include The Imitation Game starring Benedict Cumberpatch as Alan Turing, and Fury, David Ayer’s latest WWII drama. Exeposé Screen will be there - read the low down in our next issue.
“I did not kill my wife”
Ciaran Willis, Screen Editor, reviews the long-awaited �ilm of Gillian Flynn’s bestseller Gone Girl Cast: Ben Af�leck, Rosamund Pike Director: David Fincher 2014, 145 mins
GILLIAN Flynn’s novel Gone Girl holds the impressive accolade of being one of a very small number of books I’ve thrown across a room. It’s a book that caused me much mental anguish, and probably took years off my life. Yet there’s one thing the book is: gripping (except when you throw it). It’s a classic page turner. The plot is so full of twists and turns, narrative smoke-screens and what-the-fuck moments that it’s darkly addictive. It’s the kind of novel that makes you invent new permutations of swear words to express your shock and disgust. David Fincher’s �ilm adaptation is a faithful one; it gets the novel’s warped,
deranged sensibility. It’s wrong, and nasty, in all the right ways but I didn’t �ind it gripping. The story revolves around Nick Dunne (Ben Af�leck), who returns home on the morning of his �ifth wedding anniversary to �ind his living room disturbed and his wife, Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike), gone. We follow the ensuing police inquiries,
Empathy with the characters- something key to the novel - was lacking the press conferences and the general melee that surrounds the search for a missing person, as everybody asks: where is Amy Dunne? This present is juxtaposed with
�lashbacks narrated by Amy through her diary entries. She tells us of the couple’s burgeoning romance and their sweet early courtship. We see them �lirting and teasing and, apparently, falling in love. The �ilm brings to life the visually interesting parts of the book. We really perceive the crazed fervour of the media circus surrounding Nick Dunne. Because Nick doesn’t act in the right way – because he smiles and doesn’t sound sad – the media turn on him. The �ilm is viscerally shocking. Fincher is the modern master of brooding, unsettling �ilms – from Seven to Fight Club to Zodiac. In Gone Girl an air of gloom hangs over the polished exterior, as well as a dark sense of irony; it’s a place where American Psycho meets Desperate Housewives. However, one problem is the �lat characterization – the couple are so
dull and vapid that it’s hard to engage with them. Amy sounds like she’s permanently narrating a trailer to an epi-
David Fincher is the modern master of brooding, unsettling �ilms sode of Desperate Housewives, and Af�leck’s Nick is so gormless it’s suprising he’s made it so far in life without being knocked over by a bus. Problematically, empathy with the characters – something key to the novel – was lacking. These are not characters you really want to spend time with. Afterwards you may want to bathe in chlorine and weep into the arms of your cuddly toys. That’s ok. This is not a �irst-date movie.
In Hollywood you have to adapt to survive
Matt Whittle examines Hollywood’s age-old obsession with transforming books and games into movies
IF you haven’t realised that The Hunger Games �ilm series is based on a series of books by Suzanne Collins, then you probably need a second glance at your nearest bookshop. This translation from successful book series to tremendously successful �ilm franchise is yet another example of Hollywood’s love affair with the adaptation. Obviously, adaptations of books, plays or video games for the big screen are not a new phenom-
enon - early black and white cinema was stuffed full of stories taken from novels, like Treasure Island and Oliver Twist. No-one can doubt their commercial success - the Harry Potter �ilm series earned over $7.7 billion dollars but are they actually any good? Any gamer
knows that movies spawned from video games tend to be, well, awful. The main pitfall is usually the amount of deviation from the source material. Often, those watching an adaptation are fans of what they are based on: and the more liberties the director takes with the plot or design of the �ilm, the more problems the audience will have. Directors need to stay true to the source material, while creating a watchable movie. It’s a dif�icult balancing act- and one that, recently, has started to lead
to big problems. The �ilm Divergent shows this well. The plot of the novel Divergent is suited to a �ilm - a dystopian future world with elements of action, intrigue and romance. But because the book was popular with teenage girls, a demographic Hollywood still struggles to understand, the �ilm we are left with is essentially a teenage romance with a pseudo-sci �i setting. Adaptations are being rushed and it’s crushing the medium.
The fact of the matter is that Hollywood wants money - and an adaptation is guaranteed at least a curious, if sceptical, audience. Why take a risk on something original, when you’re guaranteed money from a three-part Hobbit series? One thing is certain. As long as adaptations keep making money for Hollywood, expect more of your favourite books to come to a cinema screen near you.
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Getting Downton with the kids 34-36
Sex, secrets and post war scandal, Catrin Southgate reviews the new series at the illustrious abbey Downton Abbey Cast: Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery ITV1 Season 5
AS THE FIFTH series begins it is clear that, despite fears, Downton is not going downhill anytime soon. Six months have passed since we last saw the Grantham family, and we are swiftly (and repeatedly) reminded that ‘times are changing’ at Downton. England is under a Labour government and, unsurprisingly, Lord Grantham is less than happy about it. Indeed, so far this series, he has been unhappy about many things, declaring the wireless ‘a fad;’ disagreeing with Carson about the remembrance garden, and taking an instant dislike to Branson’s love interest Miss Bunting, calling her “a tinpot Rosa Luxemburg.” The woes of Lord Grantham
Campus Cinema review: Godzilla Josh Mines Screen Editor Godzilla Cast: Bryan Cranston, Aaron Taylor-Johnson Director: Gareth Edwards 2014, 123mins WHEN I heard the news that the Japanese cult monster movie: Godzilla was to be remade under the watchful eye of newbie director Gareth Edwards, I was �illed with intrigue, excitement, and the slightest bit of nervousness. Though visually stunning, the �ilm was let down by its casting, plot and characters and at points felt closer to a cringe inducing family drama than a high budget monster movie. That’s not to say that the money spent on CGI wasn’t worthwhile. Godzilla and his pals looked better than ever. On top of this the landscapes of desolation and de-
struction, which made up the backdrop of the movie, were huge in scale and incredible to witness being torn down by the larger than life lizard. The scenes of monster mayhem were a joy, it was just a shame that they felt few and far between in a �ilm �illed with unnecessary subplots and pseudo-scienti�ic jargon.
Though visually stunning, the �ilm was let down by its casting, plot and characters The �ilm tries so hard to make itself into the gritty Nolanesque reboot that it loses the spark that made Godzilla such a cultural stamp in the �irst place. Though Bryan Cranston does well with the script he was given, the Breaking Bad actor felt wasted in the movie. Equally, Aaron TaylorJohnson is wooden and
struggles to carry the plot as the clichéd military lead who very quickly becomes predictable, repetitive and annoying. Though Edwards’ attempt at the monster movie genre is entertaining, it fails to identify its own visual strengths, and instead ends up concentrating on elements that feel forced into the story. What we’re left with is a self-important �ilm that �inds itself straddling between being realistic and totally over the top, and doesn’t do either particularly well.
were wonderfully offset by the reemergence of Lady Mary, now out of mourning, and back to her usual, dry self. Preparations for her weekend of ‘sketching’ with Lady Annabelle (a euphemism for a dirty weekend away with her admirer Lord Gillingham) involved forcing Anna to make a mortifying trip to the pharmacists to stock up on diaphrams.
These more mild plot arcs should be enjoyed while they last as more dramatic storylines are being hinted at
We are swiftly (and repeatedly) reminded that ‘times are changing’ at Downton Downstairs meanwhile, gentle storylines are developing as Moleseley (who is fast becoming the hero of Downton) continues to defend Mrs Baxter against evil Thomas, and Daisy tries to further her studies. These more mild plot arcs should
be enjoyed while they last as much more dramatic storylines are being hinted at: when will someone �ind out that Marigold is actually Lady Edith’s child? Is Bates going back to jail for the murder of Green? Downton is back to doing what it does best: combining dramatic plot twists with the gentle trials of everyday life. That combined with the hilarious one-liners beautifully executed by good old Maggie Smith, makes Downton Abbey perfect Sunday night viewing.
Screen Asks
Following the recent Simpsons/Family Guy crossover, we asked Exeposé Screen writers which shows they’d like to see come together Godzilla and Mega shark vs Giant Octopus. All kinds of destruction would ensue. PS, this is in no way linked to the hatred of the reading I’m currently doing. GEMMA JOYCE Sharknado and any film with Keira Knightley in it. I will say nothing more.
BBC Parliament and Game of Thrones. ANDREW HOLLAND Walk the Line and Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas. Johnny Cash abandons his musical career to pursue a cocaine fuelled dream sequence with Johnny Depp. WILL CAFFERKY
RORY MORGAN
True Detective and Law and Order: Downton Abbey and Geordie Shore, SVU. Rust Cole solves horrific satanic because I want Maggie to teach me crimes with Ice-T... JONI BLYTH to dougie. BETHANY STUART Baking Bad: a down on her luck Mary Berry turns to cooking meth to make ADAM SMITH ends meet. JOSH MINES
Man of Steel and The Dark Knight.
Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuck combine and have an American Hor- Sherlock and Hannibal, all the (slightly) pschopathic detectives! ror Story/Glee crossover. CARMEN PADDOCK HUGH DIGNAN
What’s hot and what’s not in this week’s news? Angry Birds - I’m not talking about Geordie Shore, but the adaptation of the game, which has signed up Peter Dinklage for a voice part. May not �ly though.
Spice Girl
Now You See Me 2 – Daniel Radcliffe, perennial boy-wizard, is reported to have a role in the sequel to the magic heist caper. Despite the title, I may not actually see it. But if it magically disappeared I might applaud.
Dwayne Johnson - Johnson aka The Rock aka buff babysitter is set to run extremely slowly and melodramatically onto our screens in Baywatch. I’m not sure I want his hulking frame running at me. But whatevs.
Paddington - Imelda Staunton and Sir Michael Gambon have joined the cast for the �ilm about the cutesy, marmalade loving bear. I’m not sure if it will be any good. But who cares - he’s just so �luffy.
Ben Af�leck - the Gone Girl actor’s star is rising; now signed up for The Accountant, a �ilm about an accountant moonlighting as an assassin. And he’s Batman - and it don’t get cooler.
Gone Girl
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artsandcultureexeter.co.uk/paddon-award Please email any questions to: artsandculture@exeter.ac.uk You will need to be free to perform/display your entry or screen your film on the Streatham Campus at 17:00-19:00 on 18 March 2015.
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Slad Culture
Sophie Harrison, Online Books Editor, interviews Slad-based poet Adam Horovitz about his new book celebrating the centenary of author Laurie
Condensed Classics
A Month in the Country J. L. Carr (1980)
“We can ask and ask but we can never have again what once seemed ours forever.” War-ravaged Tom Birkin has escaped to the countryside to restart his life. He takes a job restoring a medieval fresco and a room in the loft of the parish Church. As the summer unfolds, Tom tenderly descends into the rhythms of rural life and the quaint little community of Oxgodby. In this extraordinary novella, JL Carr has delicately rendered a work of post-war rural Englishness, exploring loss, recovery and happiness. At once restrained and deeply emotive, A Month in the Country is a singularly bittersweet tale. JOSH HAMBLETON-JEWELL
IN advance of his reading at the Exeter Poetry Festival, Sophie Harrison met with Adam Horovitz to discuss poetry, writing tips and his home town.
Your latest work A Thousand Laurie Lees was published back in June. Were you already familiar with Lee’s Cider with Rosie? Was it challenging to strike a balance between capturing his work while conveying your own unique story? I was familiar with Cider with Rosie. I grew up in a thumb offshoot of the Slad Valley and had lived and breathed its stories as a child, so much so that I didn’t actually read it until I was in my mid-twenties. I was much more familiar with his poetry, which was read to me by my mother when I was small and which I have continued to read, to myself and others, as I grow older.
The main reason I stayed with poetry would be the death of my mother, Frances Horovitz A Thousand Laurie Lees was never intended to capture Laurie’s work as such – it was initially conceived as a study of the Slad Valley and the impact writing has had on it. 10 days after signing the contract, however, I broke both my arms and, laid up for the summer (during which time I had originally intended to interview people and walk the valley), I had to rethink the book. What was originally conceived as a rather more journalistic book for Laurie’s centenary, laced together with memoir, became my version of Cider with Rosie, tied together
with poems and exquisite illustrations by Jo Sanders.
Despite the publication of this novel, your roots are ground �irmly in poetry. What �irst drew you to this genre, over others? Poetry has been in my blood since childhood. Both of my parents (Michael and Frances Horowitz) were poets and it was a natural thing to do. I zig-zagged along in their footsteps as a small boy, writing sweet little poems, as many children can and will if encouraged. A Thousand Laurie Lees, whilst being mostly prose, is concerned deeply with poetry throughout, and the condensing of childhood poetics into an adult obsession with writing verse. The main reason I stayed with poetry, however, would be the death of my mother, Frances Horovitz, in 1983, when I was 12. Her Collected Poems was a last line of communication with her, and you can �ind numerous nods to it in Turning and A Thousand Laurie Lees. I went as a teenager to an annual course in Buckinghamshire that my mother had taught, and which was taken over by her close friend Gillian Clarke after she died. Without Gillian’s encouragement, the impulse to write may have slipped away, which makes it even more special for me to be reading with her at the Exeter Poetry Festival on the thirty-�irst anniversary of my mother’s death. What would be your biggest advice to writers, in terms of both developing their style, and looking to publish? Samuel Beckett wrote: “Ever tried?
Ever failed? No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” I concur. If you want to write, keep writing, keep reading, keep reading your work aloud, especially poetry – it’s an oral art at the root. Listen to the advice of others but don’t be a slave to it. Learn from your mistakes but don’t be afraid of them. If you want to be published, keep sending, keep writing, keep on striving to hone your work. Forget about being better than others. Enter competitions if you like, but don’t write poems to win competitions. Enjoy the better failure of others. Write. Write. Write.
Keep writing, keep reading, keep reading your work aloud, especially poetry - it’s an oral art at the root Which poets would you say you have drawn the most inspiration from, in your own writing? I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by poets, and many of them have left lasting impressions on me that can be found in my work. Of the long dead poets, Blake, Donne, Dylan Thomas and Homer have been great sources of inspiration, but I have taken note of innumerable others, from Laurie Lee to Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, Ted Hughes to Edwin Morgan, John Cooper Clarke to Anne Stevenson. Gillian Clarke and Carol Ann Duffy have both had an im-
pact on me too, as much for their generosity as for their �ine writing. However, it’s my mother’s work that has had the deepest imprint, and the conversation that I started in verse with her after her death continues to this day. Besides visiting Exeter for the Poetry Festival, what is next in the pipeline for you? I’m just �inishing up judging the Manchester Poetry Prize with Clare Pollard and Adam O’Riordan and about to take part in a ‘just post’ National Poetry Day jazz and poetry gig at the 100 Club. Then it’s back to work at the day job: the next book of poems and judging Bare Fiction magazine’s �irst poetry competition (deadline October 31!). Maybe then some uninterrupted sleep, so I am �it to help my father in preparation for next year’s �iftieth anniversary of the International Poetry Incarnation, which took place at the Albert Hall in 1965 and which he both read at and helped to organise.
A Thousand Laurie Lees is published by The History Press Ltd, £12.99 RRP
EXEPOSÉ
The beauty of battered books
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WELL-LOVED, cherished books have a timeless appeal. Ele Asplen defends the often overlooked second hand book. My Grandpa has countless books hidden around his house. Every time I need books for my course (all too frequently considering I do an English Literature degree) he pulls out at least a couple that I need from the depths of his collection. Sometimes they are books he has collected second hand and so they have a stranger’s name
The Midnight Track
Ele Asplen
In a Kindle or new book you wouldn’t �ind such snap-shots of history scrawled on the front page. Sometimes there are annotations of his own that he has scribbled in the margin. For me, all this seems to add to the magic of reading a book. In the age of the Kindle, we seem to be forgetting that reading is an experience. I can’t help but resent technology that takes away the feeling of turning pages, of becoming engrossed in a book and its textuality, of thinking about who has read this copy before you and what it has meant to them. It’s the same reason that, though I think it is nice placing a shiny new book
Jenni Lane Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
HALF OF A YELLOW SUN is an engaging look at the Nigeria-Biafra War of 1967-70, a somewhat refreshing war novel to read during the year when all eyes are focused on the First World War centenary. For once, the European takes a back seat, though the presence of Englishman Richard Churchill, the stereotypical struggling writer, does provide the necessary outsider’s viewpoint. However, Adichie also splits the stage among four other principal characters: privileged twins Olanna and Kainene, volatile Professor Odenigbo and Ugwu, a village boy new to luxury.
on your shelf, I prefer opening a worn and tattered copy that makes you feel like you’re holding something valuable and delicate. A book my Grandpa gave me was a light read for my course. It was a book that my Grandma had clearly purchased and one which she hadn’t got very far through; there was a newspaper clipping slotted in to mark her place at the third chapter. The torn piece of paper advertised sleeping bags for 89 shillings with £4.45 written in brackets. In the corner was an advert for a typewriter. And on the back was a section of an article about Chairman Mao, ping pong and communist China. A sentence stating that the UN Secretary-General “does not expect China to enter the United
It makes you feel like you’re holding something valuable and delicate Nations before 1972,” gave me the idea that this article was written at least 40 years ago. In a Kindle or in a new book you wouldn’t �ind such snapshots of history. The article had stained the page but that didn’t bother me. New books may be glossy and pristine but by having a less than perfect book you can prove it has been read, you can understand that books are timeless, and you can gain a greater appreciation for them and their history. Each provides a different outlook as the novel progresses from the early 1960s, through the war and ends with the defeat of Biafra in 1970. The intertwining of their lives prevents them becoming too one-dimensional and by knowing all their innermost thoughts, the reader gains a rounded picture of each character’s strengths and weaknesses.
There is an aura of predictability running throughout the novel However, despite the novel’s interest historically and Adichie’s brilliant turn of phrase, there is an aura of predictability running throughout the novel. Perhaps this is Adichie’s great-
Creative Writing
So this is it? I heard them say, As we walked along the midnight track. From here we’ll see another day Welcomed in anew, not looking back. This dug out here to shelter me From the sleet, the snow, wind and the rain. The days drag on and here are we, Fighting for home, our efforts in vain. But all I sought when this began Was adventure, fame, a sweetheart’s kiss. Despair was not part of the plan And death now seems like heaven or bliss. Over the top we go come dawn, Leaving the trench behind, out of sight. War is not something to adorn, It’s as cold and dark as the black night. No peace for us, we are left torn. To kill or be killed, should we attack? Our friends are gone, in silence we mourn As we walk along the midnight track. SOPHIE GREIG
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Any Last Words In honour of National Poetry Day on 2 October, we asked you to tell us your favourite lines of poetry… “Who hangs a birdhouse from a sapling?” - Carrie Etter SOPHIE HARRISON “Our almost-instinct almost-true: What will survive of us is love.” – Philip Larkin FIONA POTIGNY “Life is real! Life is earnest! And the grave is not its goal. Dust thou art to dust returnest was not spoken of the soul!” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow CARMEN PADDOCK “For the stronger we our houses do build, The less chance we have of being killed.” - William McGonagall ADAM SMITH “The woods are lovely, dark and deep But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep.” Robert Frost RORY MORGAN “The tear is famous, briefly, to the cheek.” - Naomi Shihab Nye KITTY HOWIE “Oh What a Heaven is Love! Oh What A Hell!” - Thomas Dekker ALEX DAVIES “The toil of all that be heals not the primal fault, It rains into the sea and still the sea is salt.” - A.E. Housman GARETH ROBERTS Any Last Words is a quick and easy way to get your name in the paper. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to contribute!
est strength - she does not attempt unrealistic originality of character pro�iling, so that, though Odenigbo is perfect to Olanna, the reader is aware of his �laws and can predict his fall from grace. It may also be inevitable when a writer, even one as talented as Adichie, chooses war as a subject plot. The reality of war is constant repetition; the reality of war-writing is unavoidable cliché which, in places in the novel, destroys the feel of originality. This is the novel’s greatest issue; the constant and current presence of war in human life creates a blanket of banality on the subject and in attempting to break that, Adichie resorts to clichés. The storylines of Ugwu and Kainene were utterly predictable, �itting as they did into the classic war story mould. If Adiche was trying to emphasise the repetitiveness of war
A refreshing war novel during the year when all eyes are focused on the centenary then she succeeds triumphantly. If not… perhaps it is unavoidable. The novel’s ending is disappointing. I dislike implied conclusions and don’t feel it is for the reader to make the �inal judgement on the characters’ lives. However, overall it is a highly engaging and interesting read; I recommend it. Half of a Yellow Sun was published by Harper Perennial in 2007 (RRP £8.99)
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Matt Wilcock, Online Comment Editor, spoke to Chris Martin (no, not the Coldplay guy) ahead of his recent gig at Exeter’s BikeShed Theatre “MAKE sure you ask him about his ‘conscious uncoupling’ with Gwyneth Paltrow! Do you think you’ll be able to speak to her as well?” “No mother… it’s not that Chris Martin! I’ll be interviewing the other one, the comedian.” I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Martin, and for the umpteenth time – no, not the lead vocalist of Coldplay. With me getting somewhat irritated at having to explain this, I can only imagine it’s really getting on his nerves. Let’s check:
Have you ever been mistaken for the other Chris Martin? How irritating is it that yet another person is bringing this up? Not at all mate, you’ve got to expect it in every interview. But I have been mistaken for him, yes. I was in a Slug and Lettuce not too long ago in London and two Danish guys had come all the way to the UK to see me/him! No offence to Slug and Lettuce but
McDonald’s and hair, what more could you want? I don’t think the fella from Coldplay needs their 2-4-1 deals on cocktails to entice people to come to his gig.
Your style of comedy is very observational. Where is it you get your material from? It’s just stuff that’s happened to me from day to day. I’m working on new stuff now. There’s something in there on gum disease and more on carrying cooked chicken. So there’s no real rhyme or reason to it. I pick out a lot of experiences �irst and then try to connect them with a common thread or story. What’s the worst audience or gig you’ve ever had? I’ve had loads of bad gigs but they become fewer with practice. If you’re in the wrong arena, like when people don’t know there’s going to be comedy, that’s going to be tough. I was at Loughborough
Freshers’ Ball and the only thing that got anyone’s attention in the end was when I started wrestling a guy on stage. Why
and
get
how did you into comedy? I simply loved watching comedy. Comedians who inspired me were Eddie Murphy, Jack Dee and Eddie Izzard. I was 12 when I was watching Eddie’s stand-up �ilms like Raw and loved it, although looking back now it could be homophobic. After university I was de-
termined not to get a real job. When I found I wasn’t horrendous at stand-up, I just kept on going! Any hints as to what students can expect to see at the BikeShed when you come to Exeter? I’ve got some new stuff about McDonald’s. Oh, and hair. McDonald’s and hair, what more could you want?
As a professional comedian, have you found that everyone expects you to be funny the whole time? Yeah, sometimes you meet a stranger and one goes “Gowon! Tell me a joke!” There’s nothing worse than a comedian who’s always trying to be funny. But you learn to deal with it. You ask them what they do and if they’re a chef ask them to make you a sandwich. Not too bad a deal: a joke for a sandwich.
Follow the QR code below to read the full interview with Chris online. c
e
.
Banksy: rebel or run-of-the-mill?
Emily Kerr discusses the impact of Banksy’s latest graf�iti on the arts world
ON Sunday 28 September a brand new Banksy work was spotted in Folkestone, Kent. The work, which appeared on the wall of an arcade, has an estimated value of £300,000. Labelled Art Buff, the piece captures an elderly woman who has donned headphones and is inspecting a grey area on the wall above a plinth. Famous for his satirical graffiti, Banksy has turned his critique to his home turf, the art world itself
- more specifically, to the way in which artworks become commercialised for public consumption. The work seems to poke fun at the everyday ‘art buff ’, the gallery visitor who is supposedly able to decipher an entire painting or sculpture just by listening to its two minute commentary. It mocks the art buff who automatically assigns a higher value to works found in galleries. Some might say that through this latest work Banksy is rebelling against society’s notion of ‘art’. Arguably, however, Banksy himself is not so different from
those he mocks. Although it appears on a wall, Art Buff is in a type of gallery of its own - the work even has a security guard and protective sheeting to preserve the paint. Mobile Lovers, another of his works, actually appears in Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Banksy even has his very own gallery, of a kind, online. On the other hand, Banksy has done something extremely clever. In creating Art Buff, he has shown an awareness of his greatest failing: a graffiti artist still ensnared by capitalism. He produces thought-provoking and
controversial images, yet ends up with his works on shopping bags,
Banksy has shown an awareness of his greatest failing in bedrooms and in galleries. Increased fame carries with it the danger of becoming conventional. For this, you have to admire Banksy. It takes a true rebel to admit that they are really becoming run-of-the-mill.
EXEHIBITION 32
ARTS
NEWS 1-7
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11
MUSIC 20-23
SCREEN 25-26
BOOKS 28-29
Every issue, Exeposé Arts features a student and their art. This week, it’s first year Engineering and Management student Cerys Bandmann, and her drawings
Laura-Jane Tiley
Online News Editor Romeo & Juliet Northcott Theatre 21 September 2014 ROMEO AND JULIET, Street dancing. These are the two things upon which we lay our scene. Except they are not alike, and there was no dignity. Fair Verona, in fact, resembles the stage of Sky 1’s Got to Dance. This season, with added foliage. There I was, bouncing into the Northcott last week, brimming with academic anticipation for what promised itself to be a “dazzling and innovative version of an unforgettable classic.” Two hours and 20 minutes later, I
Erratic hand-waving, strange leg contortions and... a nod towards country dancing hobbled out, numbed by cynicism and beaten up by boredom. Well, I exaggerate, but allow me some dramatic licence if you will. Because dramatic licence is precisely what Custom/Prac-
Arts in the news
tice and Newbury Corn Exchange took. Innovative and experimental versions of Shakespeare are undeniably integral to the algorithms of the current theatrical landscape. For the highest calibre physical theatre, go and see the Propeller Theatre Company in action, and for stylised modern performances Cheek by Jowl are utterly compelling. It is with this in mind that I wonder what Custom/ Practice were trying to achieve. Body movement should adorn the musicality of Shakespeare’s v e r s e , should it not? Unfortunately, it had the opposite effect. If it was not slow motion �ight scenes which functioned as vacuums for any lingering dramatic tension, then it was erratic hand-waving, strange leg contortions and something that may or may not have been a nod towards country dancing. I’ve accepted the
World’s smallest Mozart portrait to be sold at auction
fact that I will never quite know what Mercutio �lailing his arms for the entirety of the �irst act added to the piece. Although the actors were clearly very talented dancers, this became very distracting, dissipating the meaning and rhythm of Shakespeare’s language. There was also a
supremely surreal sequence in which the star-crossed lovers galloped around the stage in their underwear. A metaphorical representation
Turner Prize 2014 exhibition showcases censored porn from Tokyo library
ARTS 31-32
GAMES & TECH
34-36
SPORT 38-40
“I �irst started drawing graphite pencil portraits about two years ago for a project on self-portraits in art class. I enjoyed drawing my portraits so much that I decided to continue drawing portraits over the following summer… and never stopped! So far, I have focussed on drawing celebrities as well as some friends and have even
of their wedding night, I deduced. Now, call me a bore, but I’ve never thought galloping to be particularly romantic. The sniggers of school chil-
The star-crossed lovers galloped around the stage in their underwear dren spreading through auditorium during this sequence only con�irmed my suspicions. What further vindication could I need? While Arun Blair-Mangat, who played Romeo, could not seem to get over his ability to shout every single line, there was a good performance from Michelle Cornelius, whose wry humour and unforgettable physical presence took the part of the Nurse to new heights. This production, then, can be commended for trying to achieve something different; it is just a shame that it ravaged Shakespeare’s strong foundations. After all, you know something is seriously afoot when you �ind yourself mentally begging Romeo to drink the vial of poison, and fast.
Homeless man locked in loo overnight in Tate Britain
13 OCTOBER 2014 |
EXEPOSÉ
done some commissioned work. Drawing portraits has now become one of my favourite hobbies and I always enjoy drawing new people and accepting new challenges!”
If you would like to be featured in Exehibition then contact us at arts@ exepose.com for a chance for your artwork to be published in print!
Artistic Licence With Freshers’ frolicks long gone and the workload starting to hit, we’re all in need of a little hilarity. This week we’ve let the pros do the work, with a token joke from a few favourite comedians. Jerry Seinfeld: “Dogs are the leaders of the planet. If you see two life forms, one of them is pooping and the other one’s carrying it for him, who would you assume is in charge?” MARCO ROBERTS Tina Fey: “Gravity: it’s the story of how George Clooney would rather float away into space and die than spend one minute with a woman EMILY LEAHY his own age.” Dylan Moran: “I can’t swim. I can’t drive, either. I was going to learn to drive but then I thought, well, what if I crash into a lake?” RORY MORGAN James Acaster: “Leadership looks fun, but it’s stressful. Just look at someone leading a conga.” SARAH GOUGH
Plans for Vincent Van Gogh: The Musical to be unveiled in 2015
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34
GAMES & TECH
NEWS 1-7
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11
MUSIC 20-23
SCREEN 25-26
BOOKS 28-29
ARTS 31-32
GAMES & TECH
34-36
SPORT 38-40
13 OCTOBER 2014 |
EXEPOSÉ
GAMES & TECH G&T at EGX 2014 GAMES & TECH EDITORS
Josh Creek & Adam Smith games@exepose.com
FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ExeposeGames
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Ryan Grace is Destiny’s child as he reviews the latest next-gen game from Activision Destiny Activision Playstation 4, Xbox One, Playstation 3, Xbox 360 Out now
IF you, like me, �ind your ears pricking at the words ‘RPG’, ‘open world’ and ‘�irst-person shooter from the developer of Halo’, then your expectations would be almost as high as mine were prior to Destiny’s release earlier on in September. It is easy to get drawn into promises of becoming a ‘legend’. However, it doesn’t quite meet the high standard that was promised. One of the �irst things to notice (especially on next-gen consoles) is the stunning world. The player is recovered by a ‘Ghost’ just outside of the last city in a dystopian
Earth, 700 years in the future. Despite Earth having gone through a miraculous ‘Golden Age’ brought on by the mysterious ‘Traveller’, the last civilization on earth is on the cusp of destruction from aliens called ‘The Darkness’. The player’s basic role as a ‘Guardian’ is to prevent the human race from being wiped out, by discovering information and slaughtering waves of
In a similar vein to Borderlands, searching for loot is compulsive
enemies. So what’s the catch? The campaign is �lat. As intriguing as the lore initially sounds, each level
players are forced into repeating the same formula: Find out a potential lead, shoot your way towards this goal, then defend a room until a deus ex machina ending. Although Bungie does make up for it with exciting gun�ights, and very smooth controls, this is a huge disappointment. Despite the fantastic aesthetic of the game, it becomes increasingly dif�icult to overlook the fact that the campaign doesn’t indulge the player; disappointingly, you do not get a chance to actually look around the last city, only a hub-like area named ‘The Tower’ which stands tall above its skyline. Bungie have also made the game restricted by it being always-online. Players don’t
have a choice about completing the campaign alone; players are automatically added into your
It is easy to get drawn in to the promises of becoming a legend world. This was rarely bene�icial - other players were often a much higher level, and did not interact with other people. Also, if you have a slow connection then this is an issue as you must connect to Bungie servers before logging in. Luckily the online multiplayer, dubbed ‘The Crucible’, almost rescues Destiny from being a dud. The gameplay is usually fast-paced and it takes real skill to perform well, whilst vehicles are a welcome bonus and do not feel over-powered. In a similar vein to Borderlands, searching for loot is compulsive;
however this too becomes an issue if your character is at a lower level. ‘The Crucible’ is unlocked as your character reaches level �ive. but other players may have already gained more abilities, better weapons and armour; diminishing the ‘balanced’ matches that Bungie claim are a part of the game. Despite this, Destiny is de�initely an addictive game, and forces you to want to grind your characters and �ind better weapons, in order to overcome the dif�iculties you may have found earlier on. It is dif�icult to say that Destiny lived up to expectations. Having been described as the next big gaming ‘blockbuster’ series by several different sources, a sequel should �ix the problems that thousands of players have discovered. As for its future, we’ll just have to wait and see. The rest is Bungie’s destiny.
EXEPOSÉ
GAMES & TECH
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35
Adam Smith, Harry Shepherd and Rosie Howard rundown this year’s biggest titles Evolve 2K Games Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC February 10, 2015
FROM 2K Games and the Left For Dead team comes Evolve. Well, four players and one extra player …who plays the �inal boss…who looks like Cthulhu or King Kong. I’m game. There are four human classes: Assault, Trapper, Medic and Support and each of these characters have two versions; for example, Val the Medic has a one shot sniper ri�le and a smaller medigun, while Lazarus can bring players back from the dead. These four hunters must contain and defeat the player controlled monster before they evolve to Level 3 and become as powerful as any �inal boss. I fought against the Kraken, a �lying leviathan capable of telekinesis and throwing bursts of lightning at the player controlled monster before it evolves to become as powerful as any �inal boss. I fought against the Kraken, a �lying leviathan capable of telekinesis and throwing bursts of lightning at the players. Never does one feel more connected to your fellow hunters than when this vision of destruction
�lies overhead and you and your team must jetpack in front to make one last stand. Evolve truly shows what it means to be play as a team against an enemy you are very likely to lose against.
Nosgoth Square Enix PC TBA
A FOUR versus four F2P game, each team must play ten minute matches as both humans and vampires before victory is declared for the match. The undead’s �ighting style is more melee focused, while the humans are mostly archers. While the humans are more powerful than the vampires when they are grouped together, the undead are able to climb up walls, turn invisible and �ly around the map. This is possibly the best free to play game to come out since Team Fortress 2.
Volume Mike Bithell Games PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita TBA SPEAKING to Mike Bithell, the g a m e is an adaption of
Robin Hood brought into the futuristic age. You play a hacker that breaks into bank accounts by sending himself into the system and tries to sneak past the �irewalls, personi�ied as robot guards. The game focuses on stealth and using sound to distract guards. The controls are simple WASD from an isometric perspective, similar to Supergiant Games’ Bastion or Transistor. You also get a few weapons to make your hacking easier; the ‘Bugle’, a gun that sends soundwaves bouncing off walls that can be ‘detonated’ and a ‘Folly’, that acted as a tripwire to dissolve guards. Bithell has a lot to live up to after Thomas Was Alone, so hopefully Volume can live up to expectations.
Hyrule Warriors Omega Force, Team Ninja Wii U Available Now
HYRULE Warriors combines the Legend of Zelda series and the franchise of Destiny Warriors, focusing on the combat elements of the games. Link is a soldier in training, who is tasked with the simple goal of defeating hoards of monsters and
soldiers looking to overrun Hyrule (many of whom will be recognised from previous games). Link’s abilities are very familiar; spin attack, bombs and bow and arrow. Whilst combat was a feature of traditional Zelda games, it was diluted with puzzle solving elements and exploration. In Hyrule Warriors the combat isn’t diluted at all; and with little being added the game becomes slightly repetitive at times. The game will appeal to those who enjoyed the combat elements of the originals and love a good �ight. However, the charm of the main title is somewhat lost in the crossover. While some may enjoy it, others may be disappointed that this game is not Zelda through and through.
Battle�ield: Hardline Electronic Arts PC, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One March 31, 2015
THE SIGNS were promising for Battle�ield Hardline when it was announced. The stale narrative involving a hardy, vanilla soldier taking on yet another terrorist threat is to be replaced with what seems to
be the simplest, slickest campaign mode yet: cops versus robbers. It’s not exactly a massive achievement, but the TV crime drama-style action of playing as either a scheming criminal or the reactionary iron �ist of the LAPD, accompanied with Battle�ield’s still excellent graphic and sound design looks a decent distraction. The multiplayer is far from exciting. The beta for the online heisting was available immediately after EA’s E3 brie�ing, but things have been quiet ever since. Visceral Games has since delayed the popular shooter franchise to early 2015 citing that they need to be, “spending more time polishing our core features.” Bearing in mind Battle�ield 4’s infamously terrible launch, alarm bells may already be ringing for some gamers. The loyalists will already have pre-ordered, but to those on the fence, there are plenty of other ways you can scratch your itching trigger �inger.
Should’ve gone to spysavers
36
GAMES & TECH
NEWS 1-7
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11
MUSIC 20-23
SCREEN 25-26
BOOKS 28-29
ARTS 31-32
GAMES & TECH
34-36
SPORT 38-40
13 OCTOBER 2014 |
EXEPOSÉ
Josh Creek, Games & Tech Editor, reviews some totally subtle spy glasses for pranking �latmates
You’re �ilming from the camera hidden on the bridge of the glasses Firstly, ease of use. The glasses are incredibly easy to use - even a drunk student could manage them. With a one button control system you simply hold down
Large frames and a slight purplish sheen immediately draw attention to them
the button again. Transferring videos from the glasses to a computer is an absolute doddle. Simply plug in the USB cable and drag and drop your �iles. Charging the glasses is easy too. They charge whilst connected to a computer or, using the included adapter, can be plugged into a wall socket. The second thing to consider is effectiveness. These glasses do a truly superb job of capturing what the wearer is seeing and hearing, although the volume is a little on the quiet side. It is very easy to
start and stop recordings subtly by making it look as if you’re just �iddling with the glasses. However, they aren’t especially subtle. With large frames and a slight purplish sheen under some lights they immediately draw attention to themselves. In particularly bright or direct sunlight the secret camera is
clearly visible, turning the spy glasses into more of a headmounted camera. Finally we come to the price. At £165 they aren’t exactly cheap and while they may �it well into the budget of some Exeter students, for most of us the glasses are too expensive for occasional use. Unless it’s really important to you that your �latmates don’t know you’re �ilming their reactions you might as well use your smart-
phone. Actually, you could probably still manage to �ilm them without them knowing. Just remember to prank responsibly.
- Ease of use - Effectiveness - Price - Overall Rating
Puzzle Corner
Answers:
Across: 1 Ogre, 4 Populate, 8 Indigo, 9 Dragon, 10 Shrapnel, 11 Help, 12 Sphinx, 14 Merman, 16 Ugli, 18 Cerberus, 20 Entail, 21 Answer, 22 Hereford, 23 Yeti.
FOLLOWING last week’s front page we thought it might be fun to look at the kind of gear you can get to mess around with your friends, speci�ically for �ilming the reactions of your �latmates as you prank them. So, here’s a review of the Spy Glasses Camera/DVR-HD from Spy Equipment UK.
the button for a few seconds and you’re �ilming from the camera hidden on the bridge of the glasses. To stop recording simply hold
Down: 2 Gunship, 3 Erica, 4 Phoenix, 5 Pedal, 6 Leather, 7 Troll, 13 Imitate, 14 Mermaid, 15 Acutest, 17 Genie, 18 Cello, 19 Essay.
Spy Glasses Camera/DVRHD, £165 www.spyequipmentuk.co.uk
Sudoku #2 and Crossword #65 by Alfred
Across:
Down:
1) Mythical creature (4) 4) Supply with inhabitants (8) 8) Violet-blue colour (6) 9) Mythical creature (6) 10) Type of explosive shell - her plans (anagram) (8) 11) Assistance (4) 12) Mythical creature (6) 14) Mythical creature (6) 16) Citrus fruit (4) 18) Mythical creature (8) 20) Involve (6) 21) Solution of a problem (6) 22) City on the River Wye (8) 23) Mythical creature (4)
2) Weaponised vessel (7) 3) Girl’s name heath plant (5) 4) Mythical creature (7) 5) Foot lever (5) 6) Tanned skin (7) 7) Mythical creature (5) 13) Take as a model (7) 14) Mythical creature (7) 15) Use tact (anagram) (7) 17) Mythical spirit (5) 18) Stringed instrument (5) 19) Less complex type of dissertation (5)
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38
SPORT
NEWS 1-7
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11
MUSIC 20-23
SCREEN 25-26
BOOKS 28-29
ARTS 31-32
GAMES & TECH
34-36
SPORT 38-40
13 OCTOBER 2014 |
Captain’s Corner
EXEPOSÉ
Photo: Edwin Yeung
In this week’s Captain’s Corner we chat to third year golf scholar and Captain, Katie Bradbury HOW does it feel to lead the team this year? Being able to lead the team this year is a great opportunity and gives me a lot of responsibility. We have so many great players this year so, although there will be a lot of tough decisions to make, I’m looking forward to captaining them and hopefully we will have great success this season.
How were your pre-season preparations? Pre-season kicked off by sending some of our best boys to play in the Stirling Invitational and considering
it was their �irst tournament they played some great golf. We have been regularly training in the gym and are out on the course almost every day everybody is looking forward to the start of the season. What are your aims and expectations for the season? The past few years have been great for the golf team, winning BUCS two years ago and reaching the semi�inals last year. We hope to continue this success and bring back BUCS Championship gold and individual success at the BUCS �inals next year.
Who are the golfers to look out for this year on the team? We have a load of golfers that are on great form and playing well at the moment. Dan Lane is playing some solid golf at the moment and we have Will Cooper who is a former U16 England squad player. What is it like to captain the team when golf is such an individual sport? A lot of the golf that I have played has been in a team environment so I am able to draw on the skills of my previous captains and bring that into cap-
taining the University team. Practicing in a team environment is also a lot more bene�icial as people can bounce off each other and use each other for help, so whilst you are out as an individual when on the course, most of what we do is in a team environment. What is your favourite part about EUGC? I love the team atmosphere, the coaches and how well everybody gets on. Even when we are not playing golf we will still hang out or study together. It is a very sociable sport and you get to meet a lot of new people.
What has been your greatest sporting achievement to date? I am the current Welsh Amateur Champion and this has been my biggest individual achievement. In a team environment my biggest achievement was representing Wales in the World Amateur Team Championships in Japan this September. What are your plans for after University? Once I graduate I am going to start work for Ernst and Young in Bristol and hope to continue with my golf alongside working.
EURFC 2s earn victory over UWE
M��’� R���� Ben Pullan Sports Team
EURFC 2s UWE 1s
7 3
ON a soaking-wet afternoon in Topsham, EURFC 2s battled the elements to earn a hard-fought victory against UWE 1s. Though the game was scrappy at times, the home side will be happy that they saw off a potentially tricky BUCS season-opener. The game kicked off in a light drizzle. Right from the off, it was apparent that the conditions would dictate that this game was not going to contain the sort of free-�lowing rugby we have become accustomed to seeing at ‘Fortress Topsham.’ As drizzle turned to light rain and then quickly to heavy downpour, the
players from both teams were unable to build any kind of momentum going forward. As one would expect in these conditions Exeter turned quickly to plan B, relying on the boot of �ly-half Jack Polson to gain some ground. Exeter’s number ten went on to have a fantastic game, frequently getting the home side out of some tricky situations, and scoring the match-winning try. However, Exeter found themselves under a lot of pressure, largely due to set piece malfunction. With the play being so important in a wet, lowscoring game such as this, EURFC were making life dif�icult for themselves by gifting their opponents possession at the scrum and line-out. Thankfully, they were assisted by the fact that UWE were unable to make the most of their opportunities.
Exeter’s lack of discipline at the breakdown and dif�iculty within their set piece ensured that three times in the �irst half, the away team were presented with simple chances, but on each occasion the UWE kicker fell short. This meant that Exeter escaped unpunished and the two teams went into half time with the score bizarrely locked at 0-0.
This hard fought victory shows that this is a team ready for the challenges of a tough BUCS season The second half saw the sun shining on the Topsham pitch - a welcome relief from the opening period’s weather. It was UWE who were �irst on
the scoreboard as their rapid winger broke, and Exeter conceded a penalty right in front of the posts. Though UWE’s kicker had had been poor up until now, he was not going to miss this one. Exeter responded valiantly. Due to a couple of half time changes, their scrum improved drastically and from one of these deep in UWE’s 22, EURFC �ly-half Polson made a slicing run through the opposition’s defence, giving Exeter their �irst score and a two point lead. This was doubled, as Polson converted his own try, setting the game up for a thrilling climax. UWE then threw everything at Exeter, desperately trying to overturn the narrow de�icit. Thankfully Exeter’s defence remained strong, and they were starting to get some phases going. The game
was effectively won when inside centre Ollie Rammage made a crucial 30-yard break in the dying stages of the game, ensuring that UWE were camped deep in their own half and could not make a late dart for victory.
É
39-10
The margin of victory the last time EURFC 2s played UWE
When the �inal whistle blew, the Exeter players were visibly elated to have come out on top of this scrappy encounter. Though the rugby was not particularly pretty, it was a great test of the team’s mettle to play - and win - in conditions such as these. This hard fought victory shows that this is a team ready for the challenges of a tough BUCS season.
EXEPOSÉ
Pre-season Championship silver for ladies lacrosse 1s L����� L������� Sophy Coombes-Roberts Sport Editor
EULC Ladies 1s
Runners Up
THE Chippenham Lacrosse Pre-Season Cup is the climax of the South West BUCS preparations. Boasting a team packed with international players and reputable freshers, the Exeter Ladies 1s have already been dubbed serious contenders for the title this year. After beating last year’s BUCS Champions Birmingham and local rivals Bristol in late September, the team went into the tournament undoubted favourites. EULC Ladies 1s started the day
É
SPORT
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45
The total number of goals scored by EULC Ladies 1s in the tournament
well with three comfortable wins against Marjons, Cardiff and Bournemouth, but tough competition was still
to come. The team’s stamina and general on-pitch grit was impressive, yet their stickwork was somewhat under par. However, they came out strong against Bath in what was their best performance of the day thus far. With slick passing, the attack moved the ball well, breaking down the Bath defence again and again. Captain Sophy Coombes-Roberts put away �ive goals whilst Lottie Van-Praag racked up her second hat-trick of the day. The �inal game of the group was a re-match against Bristol. After losing out to Exeter twice already this season, they came out all guns blazing. Despite putting up a good �ight, Bristol’s speed on the ball proved too much for the Green Machine and a 4-2 half-time score put Exeter in a tough position to come back from. Despite a last minute goal, the game ended at 4-3 to Bristol, leaving Bristol top of the group with Exeter in a close second. The semi-�inals ran as predicted, with Bristol defeating Cardiff and the Exeter girls producing a repeat of their previous encounter with Bath, winning 4-1.
The �inal was a grudge match if ever there was one and there was little doubt that these two teams would be competing for the title. Exeter began on top winning the ball from the draw, before Coombes-Roberts managed to roll the crease and pop the ball into the top right corner. However, Bristol responded instantly with two quick goals, putting
Exeter behind. The ball moved from end to end and both teams had a number of unsuccessful attempts on goal with new goalie, Mimi Ruiz, standing strong for the greens. Yet it was the Bristol team that were able to �ind a gap in the play, resulting in another goal. Now 1-3 down, the Exeter team dug deep and third year Ellie Kermode drew the foul, passing off on a free position to Alicia Hamner, resulting in a 3-2 score line. With only a minute left in the game, the ball was again in an Exeter stick. A quick chain of passes resulted in one �inal shot in the last three seconds of the game, yet the Bristol keeper came up with a vital save leaving the �inal score at 3-2 Bristol. It was a disheartening end to the day for the Exeter 1s who were disappointed to leave without a trophy in tow. However, the girls clearly have more to give and will still go into their BUCS premier league coming off the back of some strong wins. They begin their campaign against Bath on Wednesday.
Exeter’s unsung heroes Photo: Joanne Van-Praag
Rugby, cricket or lacrosse not take your fancy? Following on from our ‘Best of BUCS’ feature, Exeposé Sport examine the credentials of some of the lesser known AU clubs on campus Climbing
Archery
Boxing
Korfball
THE climbing club start this year as London University Bouldering Event (LUBE) champions after winning the grand slam (beating 35 other teams in all 4 rounds) last year. The club are keen to defend this title when the season starts on 8 November. BUCS climbing is held over one weekend in February and is consistently dominated by the two Shef�ield Universities. This year the club are aiming for a top �ive �inish for the men’s team and a top three �inish from the women’s team. Climbing is a great way to get �it, meet new people and see some fantastic places most people never would. You can train with the club as often or as little as you like, they have quali�ied instructors to help you progress and always welcome newcomers to the sport.
THE archery club is rapidly growing, with membership increasing by around 33 per cent from this time last year to over 120 members. The club participates in a regional league for the South West and Wales (SWWU) where they �inished third in the novice. They experienced leagues and two BUCS competitions last year, one indoor and one outdoor. The club also enters an electronic postal league, which includes universities from around the country and runs from September to March. Last year the club won one gold medal at the indoor competition, and both the experienced and novice teams placed within the top 20 at both events. Off the shooting line, the club is a great place to meet new people and make friends.
THE boxing club formed in 2010 and became af�iliated with the AU in 2012. In that time the club has grown considerably, gaining around 170 members per year. The majority of members train to keep �it, have fun and learn a new skill. Last year the club hosted their inaugural home show at the Lemon Grove, �ielding nine boxers, seven of whom were victorious on the night. Later in the year, club captain Richie Goulding won a gold medal in the National Boxing BUCS championships, a �irst for the University. This year the home show will be taking place as an of�icial ‘varsity’ �ixture on 26 November. The club hopes to increase their BUCS successes from last year, and have set the challenging target of winning at least three medals this year.
THE kor�ball club is a student-led sports club that has now been part of the AU for three years, and has grown greatly in that time. This year alone, the club has increased its number of members by 20 per cent, making them likely to improve on their already brilliant rank of 16th best university kor�ball club in the country. Kor�ball is a mixed sex hoop-sport that has similarities to netball and basketball, but attracts people from all kinds of sporting backgrounds. They play regularly in weekly local league matches and various tournaments. Last year’s 2s team was composed solely of Kor�ball rookies and came fourth in the South West local league, and ninth in an inter-university tournament.
39
The Final Whistle Here is your guide to a few upcoming sporting courses, classes and events: Available all year Student Sports Membership Standard: £23.00 Gold: £246.00 Platinum: £308.00 www.exeter.ac.uk/sport/join 01392 724452 exetersport@exeter.ac.uk
12 October
Yoga Workshop Students: £15.00 Non-students: £20.00 13:00-16:00 St Luke’s Sports Centre stlukessportcentre@exeter. ac.uk 01392 724940
15 October
First round of BUCS fixtures Various locations
1&2 November Level 1 Award in Coaching Basketball Just £110 for University of Exeter Students Contact Paul Mouland p.d.mouland@exeter.ac.uk to book
15-19 December
NPLQ Course Become a qualified lifeguard St Luke’s Sports Centre Students: £220 Contact 01392 724940
Every Monday
Back into Tennis: Tennis Xpress session 18:00-19:00 Contact Exeter Tennis Centre: 01392 723699
Every Tuesday
Boot Camp 17:30-18:30 Meet at Northenhay House (Unite Halls) Free to all students
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SPORT
NEWS 1-7
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11
Sport
MUSIC 20-23
SCREEN 25-26
BOOKS 28-29
ARTS 31-32
GAMES & TECH
34-36
SPORT 38-40
13 OCTOBER 2014 |
Exeposé
SPORT EDITORS
James Beeson & Sophy Coombes-Roberts sport@exepose.com
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Photo: Edwin Yeung
Men’s Rugby Emmott Leigh Sports Team
EURFC 3s (Fresh 1s) Cardiff Met 3s
51 13
EXETER’S formidable Freshers side began their BUCs campaign by roasting Cardiff Met in a 51-13 rout, a result which could easily have been even more humiliating for the visitors. The match began with Exeter working with the ball in hand, which proved to be a wise decision when Jordan Turton was set up for a break into the Cardiff 22, sidestepping around several players at impressive speed in the first of many attacking forays. It was the Exeter side who looked far more likely to score the first points of the match. Two more attacks broke down desperately close to the Cardiff
In this issue of Exeposé Sport...
try-line, one from another knock-on and the other from a loose pass off the back of a scrum. Surprisingly, the home side opted for scrummages from the many penalties they received rather than kicking for the posts and forcing Cardiff to chase the game. Yet their trust in their deadly ball carriers paid off as they promptly scored the first try of the match. From deep inside their own 22, Exeter’s Luke Hattam single-handedly drove his team onto the front foot, setting up a series of phases which ultimately unleashed outside centre Ned Warne. He wisely supplied his fullback Ted Landray to cruise over the line. Exeter would add three more points from a penalty in front of the posts from the same man to open up an eight point lead. With the rain belting down relentlessly, Cardiff struggled
their way into some promising positions and managed to get themselves three points for a straight-forward penalty before subsiding into defensive mode again under the speed and strength of Wicks, Hattam and captain Matt Blandford.
From deep inside their own 22, Exeter’s Luke Hattam single-handedly drove his team onto the front foot For the most part, both sides were managing to handle the increasingly slippery ball with impressive dexterity, but the lineouts certainly suffered. A particularly messy throw from the Cardiff hooker within their 22 went completely awry and left the spectators shaking their heads in dis-
EULC end pre-season as runners up Page 39
may.
Soon, however, they were to be found applauding as Blandford charged through on his finest carry yet, breaking tackles by the second and giving his team the opportunity to run the ball through the hands until Warne cruised over the line. The conversion fell way short, but it was only a matter of seconds before Exeter were barging over the line again. Blandford smashed through and winger George Smith found himself touching down. A successful conversion and brutal Blandford hand-off later and Exeter entered the half-time break 20-3 up. After the interval there were tries aplenty for the rampant Green Army. The progress of the team’s strongest ball carriers was close to unstoppable as Landray put another nail in the coffin by ploughing the ball over the line. Meanwhile, Cardiff’s lineouts con-
A successful conversion and brutal hand-off later and Exeter entered the break 20-3 up tuined to prove completely fruitless. Nevertheless, the visitors did manage to scrounge a couple of cheap tries late on, but the final score came from the home side off a cross-field kick, which bobbled about before it was seized and given to Hattam, who was rewarded for his barn-storming performance with a try. The referee immediately blew for time after the conversion was missed, which left the score line at 51-13 in a superb and very promising performance at the start of the Exeter side’s season.
Captain’s Corner: EUGC’s Katie Bradbury For the latest BUCS Page 38 content go online