Exeposé issue 632, December 8 2014. by Exeposé

W WW.EXEPOSE.COM

EXEP

SÉ

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Uni ignores student anger on timetabling

8 December 2014 • Issue 632 • Twitter: @Exepose • www.facebook.com/Exepose • Free

• Pilot scheme to go ahead in spite of student criticism at badly advertised meetings • Guild expresses opposition to teaching day changes • Lectures scheduled for 8.30am-6.30pm next year Emily Leahy News Editor THE University is set to implement its original plans to extend the teaching day in 2015/16, despite strong student criticism. Over the past two weeks the University has hosted a series of open meetings “primarily designed as forums for students to raise speci�ic issues they may encounter as a result of the changes.” However, the discussions have inadvertently provided an opportunity for students to voice their opposition to the plans. While the meetings featured in the University In Brief newsletter, many students complained that they had been poorly advertised. A reminder email sent to the whole student body

only reached inboxes on the morning of Tuesday 25 November, the day of the �irst meeting. For many students it was the �irst chance to express their opinions on the scheme, which the University has de�inite plans to enforce. At the meeting held on 25 November, Ariel Edge, Humanities College Manager, said the decision to change the teaching day was made “following a rigorous process of research and data analysis.” She also referred to consultations regarding the change with various student bodies, which were held in term three of last year. Sam Johnson, Music Society Executive said: “although they did consult us [last term] we were pretty much

CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

Photo: Edwin Yeung

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Features

Should we stay or should we go? Student views on leaving the NUS

Music

Professional explorer Ann Daniels talks polar bear attacks

“No offence but I can’t remember.” Gary Numan on playing Phoenix

Page 12

Gemma Joyce Editor

OVER £12,000 has been charged in library �ines so far this term for late or lost books, according to information released to Exeposé under a Freedom of Information request. The University also con�irmed that nearly £80,000 was collected last year and that one student wracked up a �ine of £87 in the last two years. According to the University, the money is reinvested into the library and used to purchase new resources, but the large �igure has been criticised by various groups. Shef�ield University has recently been applauded for abolishing library �ines in a bid to create a more ‘userfriendly’ system in which books are automatically renewed until they are requested by another student. The move came after the University was criticised by the NUS and Of�ice of Fair Trading who contacted universities warning them they could be in breach of consumer law if students were not allowed to graduate because of unpaid library �ines. A statement on the University’s website says: “If you have an academic related debt to the University you may be prevented from graduating,” but the press of�ice claimed information on students prevented from graduating because of outstanding library �ines

Comment

Pages 8 & 9

Term One library ﬁnes top £12,000

Page 20

Exeposé’s new App is available to download here

Exeposé, Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ

Email: editors@exepose.com Call: (01392) 723513 Editors Print: Harrison Jones & Gemma Joyce Online: Callum Burroughs & Meg Lawrence Deputy Editors Callum McLean & Vanessa Tracey depeds@exepose.com News Editors Print: Hannah Butler & Emily Leahy Online: Rachel Gelormini & Laura-Jane Tiley news@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: Callum McLean & Vanessa Tracey Online: Rachel Brown & Matt Wilcock comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Rory Morgan & Emma Thomas Online: Kayley Gilbert & Fran Lowe features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Eamonn Crowe & Jack Wardlaw Online: Alice Belton & Harriette Casey lifestyle@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Kate Burgess & Tristan Gatward Online: Pavel Kondov & Lewis Norman music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Josh Mines & Ciaran Willis Online: Will Cafferky & Emma Sudderick screen@exepose.com Books Editors Print: Natalie Clark & Chloe Glassonbury Online: Sophie Harrison & Christy Ku books@exepose.com Arts Editors Print: Sarah Gough & Bethany Stuart Online: Laura Christopher & Stephie Wilson arts@exepose.com Games & Tech Editors Print: Josh Creek & Adam Smith Online: Rosie Howard & Harry Shepherd games@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: James Beeson & Sophy Coombes-Roberts Online: Alex Bonner & Freddie Turner sports@exepose.com Photography Edwin Yeung photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Sabrina Aziz, Isobel Burston & Flora Carr

@Exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exepose Advertising Ross Trant R.Trant@exeter.ac.uk (01392) 722432

Receive our fortnightly, fun and concise email of our best content by scanning below:

The opinions expressed in Exeposé are not necessarily those of the Exeposé Editors nor the University of Exeter Students’ Guild. While every care is taken to ensure that the information in this publication is correct and accurate, the Publisher can accept no liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result of using the information printed. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss or damage to artwork or material submitted. The contents of this, unless stated otherwise, are copyright of the Publisher. Reproduction in any form requires the prior consent of the Publisher.

NEWS

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-15 17-19 8-11

NEWS

MUSIC 20-21

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

EXEPOSÉ

NEWS EDITORS

Hannah Butler & Emily Leahy news@exepose.com

In brief

BOOKS 26-29

SCREEN 24-25

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé News

University news from beyond Exeter

Tear gas used at Warwick protests

UKIP member banned from UEA

20 new universities Ohio State football planned in Kenya player dies

FOOTAGE has emerged of police using tear gas to control a supposedly peaceful student protest at Warwick University. The protest conducted by Warwick For Free Education aimed to raise awareness of a day of protest by the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts. Students report that protestors were staging a sit-in until security began to circle them off and the police were called. In a video �ilmed by one of the protestors, a female campaigner is seen being dragged by her scarf by police. Shocking pictures depicting the after-effects of the tear gas can also be seen on the WFFE Twitter account.

A PETITION by UEA students has successfully prevented a prospective UKIP MP from speaking on campus after campaigners felt “intimidated and degraded” by the political party. Norwich UKIP candidate Steve Emmens had been invited to speak at the University on 27 November by its Political, International and Social Studies Society, however the event was cancelled after a petition calling for the location of the talk to be moved “away from the University campus” received over 1,000 signatures. UKIP MP,and UEA alumnus Douglas Carswell heavily criticised the decision on Twitter, denouncing the move as “intolerant.” However, the petition’s creator, Timea Suli, dismissed the recently re-elected politician’s claims.

A PROPOSAL to enable Kenya to set up at least 20 new public universities was launched last week, as part of an overarching scheme designed to develop higher education. Currently Kenya has 66 universities, 22 of which are publicly owned. However, the Universities Bill 2014 seeks to set up new universities in certain counties as centres of research. These will focus on exploring the natural reserves of each country: for example, Turkana will focus on oil and gas exploration. Educationists have also noted a boost to the areas surrounding existing universities and hope that the new institutions will bene�it local communities in the regions in which they are built.

Petition demands Oxford campaigns award for Albayrak against slavery

Students to swing 2015 election

UNDERGRADUATES at the University College of Durham University have voted to preserve the controversial title of “Senior man” for a post open to both men and women, despite concerns that the title endorses sexism. The title of “Senior man,” issued to the Head of the Junior Common Room, is still used in three colleges: University, Hat�ield and St. Chads. Many students complain that the title alienates women as it suggests that they must adopt a masculine role to �ill the position. Although women make up 53 per cent of the college’s population, only two women have run to be Senior man from 13 candidates in the last two years. One student complained that the college was the last to accept women, and still very much feels like a “public boys club.” The motion was rejected by 154 votes to 72; however, the University insists that the decision is not �inal.

The German President has been inundated with over 100,000 signatures on an online petition demanding a posthumous bravery award for 22-year-old student Tugce Albayrak. Albayrak was brutally attacked in a McDonald’s after stopping a group of men harassing two women. She allegedly confronted the group of men after hearing cries for help coming from the female toilets, and according to media reports, was consequently beaten to death with a bat by an 18-year-old man. Her parents asked doctors to turn off her life support machine on Friday 28 November after hearing that she would not recover. It was her 23rd birthday. In a letter of condolence to her parents, German President Joachim Gauk wrote: “Where other people looked the other way, Tugce showed exemplary civil courage and came to the aid of a victim of violence.”

STUDENTS taking part in the Oxford Against Slavery campaign recently took to the streets in response to the ‘Modern Slavery Bill’ currently passing through Parliament. Launching a video campaign, they set to interactively “raise awareness about modern slavery and to determine public perception of the issue.” Although the bill will introduce harsher sentences for traf�ickers and will appoint an AntiSlavery Commissioner, the students are concerned and argue it does not provide suf�icient care for victims and leaves them vulnerable to further exploitation.

RESEARCH into student voting patterns has predicted that student voting could tip the balance of power for the �irst time in the next general election. A change to the way we vote is reported to make it easier for students to have their say by registering voters individually rather than according to household. In doing so, students will face less “bureaucratic hurdles” when voting. An increase in student voters is expected to hit the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives the hardest, with MPs such as Deputy Prime-Minister Nick Clegg and Education Secretary Nicky Morgan currently predicted to lose their seats.

Durham college keeps “sexist” title

Stories contributed by: Caitlin Duffy and Emily Henderson, News Team

Weather

EXEPOSÉ

AN OHIO State student football player has died after an apparent suicide. Students at the University gathered on Sunday night to conduct a vigil in memory of Kosta Karageorge, a keen football player. 22-year-old Karageorge was found in a skip near his apartment with a self-in�licted gun-shot wound. Before disappearing on the Wednesday night, Karageorge texted his mother apologising for his behaviour, which he believed was the result of multiple concussions. The death brings attention to the dangers of head injuries in contact sports, as Karageorge was involved in both American football and wrestling.

Exeter’s outlook for the week ahead

Tues 9th Weds 10th Thurs 11th Fri 12th

High Low

11°C

6°C

8°C

6°C

8°C

7°C

9°C

7°C

Sat 13th

11°C 8°C

Data accurate at time of print

EXEPOSÉ

Students vote on Guild’s NUS membership Hannah Butler News Editor

STUDENTS began voting on whether Exeter will remain in the NUS and what majority should be needed to disaf�iliate today. The two votes could mean that the Students’ Guild leaves the NUS in the next academic year, with the results announced on Friday. Campaigners for disaf�iliation claim the NUS no longer represents students. Describing the Union as bureaucratic, undemocratic and indecisive, the Yes Exeter campaign has condemned the £50,000 NUS af�iliation costs, as well as the group’s decision to support lecturer strikes and marking boycotts over the past few years. The organisation has come under �ire for its refusal to condemn ISIS at its October NEC, while its failure to back last month’s national ‘Free Education’ demo sparked further controversy. Meanwhile, No campaign supporters argue that the �inancial bene�its outweigh the af�iliation costs – citing the £140,000 of Students’ Green Unit funding and £16,500 sales income from NUS Extra cards, as well as pointing out NUS membership provides discounts on food, drink and sta-

tionery across Guild outlets. Their campaign also stresses the bene�its of remaining part of a national campaigning body, which this year helped overturn government cuts to the Disabled Students’ Allowance. A DebSoc event titled ‘This House Would Leave the NUS,’ saw students vote decisively in favour of staying with the NUS two weeks ago.

This is a change in the constitution which all students should have the right to vote on Rachael Gillies, Guild President The NUS has over 600 member students’ unions. However, several unions across the UK act independently from the organisation. Imperial College London left in 2008, while the University of Southampton has been disaf�iliated since 2002. Other non-af�iliated students’ unions include those at the University of St Andrews, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Dundee University and Glasgow University. In May, Oxford University Student Union voted to leave the NUS: however, allegations of vote-rig-

Community Wardens offer help to students Theodore Stone News Team THE Student Community Wardens will be in the Forum between 11am and 1:30pm on Monday 8 December to take bookings for glass collections during the week as part of the Glass Caddying scheme. The scheme is designed for students who do not have access to a vehicle and are thus unable to take their glass to the local bottle banks on their own. The Wardens will be offering security marking and will register valuables at their stall without charge. They can also come to students’ addresses and security mark property both before and after Christmas. They commented: “many students

NEWS

www.exepose.com

return in January with valuable new items, and may be unaware that leaving packaging outside could be advertising to potential thieves.” They will also be working on their ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the �inal grey bin collection days in the lead-up to the end of term, as well as providing information as to what to do with any grey waste accumulated over the Christmas holidays. The Student Community Wardens support students living off-campus and work with the local police and the City Council to ensure the wellbeing of students in private accommodation. To arrange an appointment with the Wardens or learn more about the schemes, visit their stall or contact them at streetwise@exeter.ac.uk. Photo: Exeter University

ging saw the result overturned. Currently, 66 per cent of students would need to vote for disaf�iliation for Exeter’s Students’ Guild to leave the NUS. But a Student Idea has prompted a referendum on whether this should be changed to a simple majority. Reported in last fortnight’s Exeposé, the Idea “to have a fair vote on the NUS Referendum” was discussed by Guild Council on 26 November. The Council voted to open the decision to students, with a Council member stating: “the alternative is us deciding what’s best. How do we know what everyone wants?” “This is a change in the constitution of the Guild which all students should have the right to vote on,” added Guild President Rachael Gillies. Rejecting claims that holding two votes would cause confusion, Gillies argued: “our students aren’t stupid.” A two thirds majority will be needed to change the constitution – meaning that if 65 per cent of students vote to leave the NUS and 65 per cent vote to change the constitution, the Guild will remain in the Union. Voting for both motions closes at 5pm on Friday 12 December. Votes can be made at www.exeterguild.org.

IF:

>66%

...then the constitution vote is irrelevant, so

vote to leave

IF:

AND

51-66%

>66%

vote to leave

vote to change the constitution

AND

<66%

51-66% IF:

vote to leave

vote to change the constitution

<50%

...then the constitution vote is irrelevant, so

vote to leave

WE LEAVE WE LEAVE

WE STAY

WE STAY Photo: Edwin Yeung

Students protest that Black Lives Matter

Susannah Keogh News Team

THE Exeter African Caribbean Society organised a peaceful demonstration outside the INTO building on Wednesday 2 December, under the heading “Black Lives Matter.” Such events have been happening all around the globe and form part of a movement created in 2012 following the murder of 17 year old African American Trayvon Martin in Florida. George Zimmerman, the Neighbourhood Watch volunteer who shot the unarmed Trayvon, was later acquitted of murder. Following the recent events in Ferguson there has been an increase of high pro�ile Black Lives Matter events

as a way to �ight back against racism and the marginalisation of black communities. Dozens of Exeter students attended the event, which lasted over an hour, including speeches and discussions.

The rally was about Ferguson and the criminal justice system African Caribbean Society More similar demonstrations are set to happen on campuses across the UK and USA, with another similar case hitting the headlines last week. The criminal case against police

of�icers involved in the death of Eric Garner - an unarmed black man who died in an illegal chokehold - collapsed on 3 December. A civil rights investigation has been launched by the US justice department and peaceful protests have been taking place throughout New York. A member of the African Caribbean Society said: “The rally was not only to raise awareness about Ferguson but also about the treatment of People of Colour in the criminal justice system. “Feelings of sadness and hopelessness motivated the rally. Where there is no longer any hope of the system acting to correct itself, the individual must act; out of compassion for your fellow man and out of self-preservation.”

NEWS

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-15 17-19 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

Uni library ﬁne rip off? Macho clichés 33-35

affect men too, research ﬁnds Eamonn Crowe Lifestyle Editor

CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE ...was not held. Ben Street, VP Education, said: “Whilst library �ines help to ensure the fair use of �inite resources for all students, I am keen to explore what the University of Exeter can learn from institutions such as Shef�ield. The Students’ Guild and the University are discussing how the Express Collections service can be improved and the potential introduction of a ‘�ine on request’ solution which would only result in a �ine when a requested item was not returned on time. I would be interested to hear from any students with views on

Photo Credit: Edwin Yeung

this issue.” One third year Sociology student said: “Whilst I understand the reason for library �ines I am constantly caught out by the Express Collection system. Unlike the normal system it doesn’t email you reminders to give books back. Funnily enough when I’m in essay writing mode giving back the book 24 hours after I took it out is not my primary concern. This needs to improve, be that with a removal of such harsh �ines or a better reminder system.” In 2013 Exeposé revealed that £283,188.55 had been collected by the University through library �ines

since 2008. A University spokesperson said: “We work hard to ensure that all students bene�it equally from the library’s full facilities and resources. Overdue �ines are charged as an incentive for responsible library borrowing, bene�itting all library users and ensuring items are returned within reasonable timescales and are therefore available for others to borrow. “Library staff work closely with students and listen to their views about �ines. Mitigating circumstances are taken into account, when appropriate.”

“We encourage everyone to bring any instruments they have, even home-made, to be creative and really make a noise. Bring placards, chants, banners, friends and sing along. We want as many people as possible to join us, to show their support and help us �ight against all violence against women and girls,” a spokeswoman from the service explained. Molly Flitcroft, President of FemSoc, told Exeposé about the society’s motivation for joining: “Reclaim the Night is such an important cause – it’s raising awareness of how oppressed women are. Even today, we can’t walk outside at night without fear.” Ministry of Justice �igures state that one in �ive women in the UK aged 16-59 has experienced sexual vio-

lence, whilst it is estimated that 7,000 women in Devon alone experience rape and sexual violence each year. Only ten per cent of cases are thought to be reported. “The march should hopefully empower women to challenge this oppression and take their right to walk freely at night without fear of harassment. We hope it also shows that women will protest for a safer, fairer public space,” Flitcroft added. Last year’s protest saw 250 members of the community take to Exeter’s streets. However, with already over 140 con�irmed attendees from the University alone, Reclaim the Night looks set to welcome even greater numbers this year.

FemSoc joins Devon Rape Crisis to Reclaim the Night Fiona Potigny News Team

FEMSOC and the Devon Rape Crisis Service will unite to “Reclaim the Night” in an annual march demanding an end to sexual violence this Thursday 11 December. The march, organised by Devon Rape Crisis Service, will begin at the Mint Church in Fore Street at 6.30pm, where male and female protesters from both the University and local community will rehearse the songs and chants that will accompany the “raucous protest” before setting off towards Bedford Square at 8.15pm. Upon arriving, a vigil will be held in solidarity with victims of sexual aggressions, assault and violence. Photo: Carol Uren

>> Last year’s Reclaim the Night march

NEW research has suggested that masculine stereotypes in the workplace affect men as well as women. The research, conducted by the University of Exeter’s Michelle Ryan along with two other academics, suggests that some men are deterred from entering typically hyper-masculine professions, explaining why these workplaces are seen as male dominated.

We explored whether macho occupational stereotypes discourage men who feel they ‘are not man enough’ Professor Michelle Ryan, University Psychology dept The �indings, published by the British Journal of Psychology, suggest that some men are deterred by masculine stereotypes in the workplace and are subsequently put off from following particularly ‘macho’ career paths, such as becoming surgeons or

joining the Royal Marines. Conducted as a two-part study of 218 Royal Marine recruits and 117 male surgical trainees, the research found that simply being a man is not enough to protect men from the ‘corrosive effects’ of these macho stereotypes. The study may also have an effect on female participation in traditionally masculine careers. Michelle Ryan, Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at the University, said: “Women have made substantial inroads into some traditionally masculine occupations, but not into others. There is evidence that the latter group of occupations is characterized by the hyper-masculine ‘macho’ stereotypes that are especially disadvantageous to women. We explored whether these macho occupational stereotypes that are associated with marine commandos and surgeons also discourage men who feel that they ‘are not man enough’.” Dr Kim Peters of the University of Queensland commented that the research “suggests that increasing the appeal of these occupations to a more diverse range of men may be one way of increasing their appeal to women.”

Harmonics support children’s charity with debut album Theodore Stone News Team

THE University of Exeter’s choral society Harmonics have released a charity debut album, entitled Christmas With Harmonics. The album is a collection of classical Christmas songs, with all pro�its going to the Woodlands School Charitable Trust for Children With Special Needs. The Woodlands School Trust is designed to grant those between the ages of two and 19 with physical or sensory needs the education and skills that they deserve. The school serves pupils from the whole of the South West peninsula. The album also marks the last time that the society will be working with their Musical Director, Edward Woodhouse, who is leaving them at the end of this term. Speaking to Exeposé, Virginia Szepietowski, the head of the society

and the album’s producer, stated that it was “something to bring the whole choir together,” before adding that it was the “�irst time we’ve done one of these, and we hope that it’s really successful.” The society also voiced hopes that the album will provide some “real competition for Michael Bublé.” The album is available on Amazon for the price of £5.99. The society will also be selling physical copies of the CD in the Forum on 9 and 11 December.

EXEPOSÉ

Student appeal ﬁgures released Tristan Gatward Music Editor

THE number of appeals launched by University of Exeter students against academic decisions and recommendations has fallen in recent years, according to information released to Exeposé under the Freedom of Information Act. According to the University’s website, appeals can be made against formal assessment results, a degree classi�ication, a decision consequential to an academic failure such as the termination of registration or a decision consequential to unsatisfactory academic progress. It goes on to state that “postgraduate research students may also appeal against a decision relating to their registration status, such as transfer to continuation status, change of mode of study, early submission of thesis etc.”

We are pleased to see a decrease in the number of appeals University Spokesperson

Regardless of the growth of Exeter’s student body, the number of academic appeals declined last year. In 2011/12, appeals totalled 258, with 2012/13 seeing 252 appeals. 146 appeals have been recorded so far for the 2013/14 academic year, although the University is still running out the cycle of Postgraduate Taught Students (making the data accurate to 1 November 2014). The segment of these appeals being rejected by College Deans or their representatives is increasing, however, with 74.8 per cent being dismissed in 2011/12 and only 19 per cent continued as Stage 2 Appeals. The 2012/13 academic year recorded 76.6 per cent rejections, with only 16.2 per cent continuing as Stage 2 appeals. University principle states that while appeals “cannot be made against the academic judgment of either an internal or external examiner of the University”, appeals can be made if the student believes “that this judgment was not made fairly or according to the correct University process.” A Spokesman for the University of Exeter said: “We are pleased to see the decrease in the number of appeals, which is testament to the continued hard-work and dedication displayed by our academic team to deliver the very best student experience here.”

Guild votes to condemn ISIS NEWS

www.exepose.com

Hannah Butler News Editor

THE Students’ Guild has voted to of�icially condemn extremist rebel group ISIS. On Wednesday 26 November, Guild Council met to discuss the Student Idea created by Sam Salzman: “The Students’ Guild Should vote to condemn ISIS”

I don’t think anyone’s under the impression that we condone ISIS Maria Finnerty, Council Chair Describing the organisation as “one of the greatest threats the civilised world has faced in recent years,” Salzman’s Idea argued: “If the actions of ISIS do not merit condemnation, then surely there is no organisation in the world which does.” The Idea received 76 votes, with

51 strongly in favour. It was then passed to Guild Council for consideration. Opening the discussion, Council Chair Maria Finnerty stated: “I don’t think anyone’s under the impression that we condone ISIS” However, questions were raised as to whether the Guild, a non-political organisation, should take a stance on the issue. “Obviously ISIS are a vile regime. Hypothetically they should be condemned,” stated Matt Bate, VP Activites. He explained: “It’s not a question of whether or not we condemn ISIS – it’s more of a question of whether it is appropriate for the Guild to have a stance on this.” Yet adding that “a vote not to condemn would be seen as condoning,” Bate spoke in favour of a vote to condemn ISIS “there and then,” stating: “It’s such a black and white issue.” Council voted on the issue, with ten votes for immediate condemnation, four for passing the decision to Photo: Edwin Yeung

the student vote, one abstention and one vote to not take a stance – resulting in an immediate of�icial condemnation of ISIS.

Obviously ISIS is a vile regime [...] it’s more of a question of whether it is appropriate for the Guild to have a stance on this Matt Bate, VP Activities The Guild decision preceded an NUS vote to condemn ISIS last week. At the National Executive Council on Wednesday 3 December, NEC members concluded “that ISIS should be condemned for its atrocities, against the Kurdish people and all others who have been affected.” The NUS condemnation follows weeks of widespread controversy in the wake of a refusal to condemn ISIS in October. The motion “to condemn the IS and support Kurdish forces

Vanessa Tracey Deputy Editor THE University of Exeter has received a grant of £1.1 million to fund new research that will improve long term weather forecasts across Europe. A team of mathematicians from the University will lead the research using climate model experiments and advanced statistical techniques to accomplish the four year project. The project aims to advance current understanding of key conditions that in�luence seasonal weather across the continent, including Artic sea-ice and the stratosphere. The funding has been granted by the National Environment Research Council (NERC) in collaboration with the Exeter based Met Of�ice. This will be match funded by Citadel LLC, a global �inancial institution. Professor Mark Baldwin, Head of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Exeter and team leader said “this is an incredibly exciting opportunity to highlight the outstanding, collaborative work we do here at the University of Exeter, and

also to help the Met Of�ice to continue its world leading research into long range forecasting.” This research has the potential to bene�it both UK and European businesses due to seasonal predictions affecting the agricultural and energy sectors, as well as military defence and urban planning.

This could yield substantial bene�its for everyone across Europe Prof Mark Baldwin

The team also includes colleagues Professor David Stephenson, Professor Geoff Vallis, Professor Mat Collins, Dr James Screen and Dr Daniel Williamson. Professor Baldwin furthered “although progress has been made in recent years, having the capabilities to provide consistently accurate longrange forecasts remains a hugely complex scienti�ic challenge. “This could yield substantial bene�its for everyone across Europe and it is up to us to make it a reality.”

�ighting against it” was then rejected by the NEC on grounds of the move being seen as “islamophobic.” Commenting on the Guid’s decision to condemn ISIS, President Rachael Gillies said: “Guild Council voted to express solidarity with the Kurdish people and to condemn ISIS for violence and atrocities committed in recent months. I hope that this will offer some comfort to students from affected regions who are currently experiencing a very dif�icult time.”

The NUS National Executive Council voted to condemn ISIS on

3 December, after rejecting the motion in October

Uni extends teaching day despite Guild opposition CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE

£1 million funding to improve forecasting

...ignored.” In an email seen by Exeposé, the University’s “consultation” limited student leaders to choosing from three options: extending the teaching day until 7pm on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday; Starting at 8:30 and �inishing at 6:30 on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and teaching until 9pm on a Thursday. In addition, Johnson added that the email “consultation” was “mediated through the A&V desk,” which made him feel “quite removed” when reporting the options to the ExTunes committee and members. He said: “they should have had consultation talks in person last term,” adding “the talks this term weren’t long enough. It feels very strategic, arranging these meetings at the end of term.” A University spokesperson argued the process of the open meetings was successful, saying: “we have already heard from a student whose child attends nursery making it impossible to attend an 8.30am lecture. “By understanding these sorts of issues, we can ensure that we have the right mitigation in place to support them when these modest changes are piloted in 2015.” But the Guild has expressed concern. Ben Street, VP Education said: “The Students’ Guild continues to oppose the planned extensions to the

teaching day. The extended day will have a detrimental effect on the student experience and I will continue to press for mitigations to be put in place by the University. Thank you to those who attended the meetings and made their concerns known. I would encourage anyone who wasn’t able to attend to contact me so I can pass on issues to the University.” Laura-Jane Tiley and Jennifer Garside, Students’ Guild Societies Of�icers, said: “we are disappointed that the changes to the teaching day are going ahead. “The impact on societies at a time when we are already struggling to accommodate them all in terms of space is extremely concerning. We are particularly concerned that extended days will deter people from getting involved.” Laura Payten, BodySoc President said of the plans: “having extra-curricular responsibilities is important to university life and a lot of people might miss out on this opportunity, which can damage the mental and potentially physical health of students.” Sophy Coombes-Roberts, Captain of the Women’s Lacrosse �irst team said: “Most of the Uni’s top sports teams train early in the morning (79am) as it is the only time we can get the whole team together. With the longer teaching day either our practices will be cut short or we will be up on the rubber crumb at 6:30am.”

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS • EXPERIENCE NEW CULTURES • ENHANCE YOUR EMPLOYABILITY • FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

where will a

degree at Exeter take

Study Abroad...

Where will you be next Christmas? Research your study abroad options before the application deadline of 1st February 2015: www.pinterest.com/exeteroutbound MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE STUDY ABROAD TEAM!

EXEPOSÉ

Serious climate changes predicted in research James Beeson Sport Editor

RESEARCH conducted at the University of Exeter has warned that changes to the circulation of the Atlantic Ocean could cause droughts, large changes in sea levels and other serious implications for the global climate. The study, which was published today by the journal Nature Communications, analyses the Atlantic

Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) by using a simulation derived from a complex model. The research concludes that warning signs that the AMOC was in danger of collapse could be detected up to 250 years in advance. The AMOC transports heat from the Southern Hemisphere to the North Atlantic, and is powered by the salinity and temperature of the water. If the AMOC were to collapse as a result of

Socialist Students for free education Harrison Jones Editor

EXETER Socialist Students conducted a tongue-in-cheek demonstration in the Forum last week, handing out mock debt notices whilst wearing masks of pro-fee British politicians.

Physically handing out debt invoices actually brings home how much we’re being royally screwed Harry White, Protester

Last Thursday, several members of Socialist Students donned fake David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband faces and lea�leted onlookers with pretend student debt invoices worth £44,000. The awareness raising activity coincided with a nationwide ‘Walkout/Occupy/Resist Day of Action,’

NEWS

www.exepose.com

organised by The National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts in the wake of the ‘Free Education’ demonstration three weeks ago. The group hope to highlight the marketisation of education and build on the momentum gained after the 19 November demo, which called for an end to cuts, fees and debts. Harry White, one of the protesters, said: “I think we as students sometimes try and close our eyes and forget about how much debt we are actually being loaded with. Physically handing out debt invoices to people, whilst wearing a David Cameron mask, actually brings home how much we’re being royally screwed.” Around the country, the day of action attracted support on various campuses and gained notoriety after police appeared to use excessive force at the University of Warwick (see page 2). Students at Exeter and nationwide are expected to conduct further action next year in the run up to the general election.

freshwater entering the North Atlantic region, it is predicted that the air temperature could cool by up to 8°C in the worst affected regions.

Fluctuations in the circulation were longer-lived as collapse approached Chris Boulton, Lead Author

Any collapse of the AMOC would encourage droughts in the Sahel, an area south of the Sahara, and changes of up to 80 metres in sea levels across Europe and North America. Lead author Chris Boulton said: “We found that natural �luctuations in the circulation were getting longerlived as the collapse was approached, a phenomenon known as critical slowing down,” It is not known how far away a

collapse of the circulation is. However, co-author Professor Tim Lenton was enthusiastic about the �indings, commenting: “the best early warning signals in the model world are in places where major efforts are going into monitoring the circulation in the real world.” The simulation of this type of early warning signals is thought to be the most realistic to date.

STAR campaigns for Syrian refugee aid Photo:Financialtribune.com

Nicola Dash�ield News Team ON Wednesday 26 November Student Action for Refugees joined Refugee Council, Amnesty International and other leading charities in a bid to “substantially expand the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation scheme and help Syrians with a connection to this country to join their relatives here in the UK.” According to recent data, the UK has only settled 50 Syrian refugees, with a non-committal pledge to help ‘several hundred people.’ In contrast, neighbouring countries Lebanon and Turkey are currently sharing most of the 3.2 million Syrian refugees. Con-

sequently, these countries are about to close their borders. On 9 December the UNHCR will ask countries to provide resettlement places and other safe legal routes for Syrian refugees at a global pledging conference. They will ask EU countries to collectively resettle 100,000 Syrian refugees; this is below the number of refugees that entered Turkey in one weekend in September. Resettlement speci�ically aims to help those in need of medical care, or who have suffered torture and sexual violence. The STAR group spent the day raising awareness for the cause, collecting over 130 signatures for a petition asking local MP Ben Bradshaw to call on Home Secretary Theresa May

to attend the UNHCR conference and resettle more Syrian refugees in the UK. Emma Williams, CEO for STAR said Exeter’s student involvement was “brilliant, this is about getting people informed.” She urges students to continue to spread the message about the campaign. VP Activities Matt Bate said of the campaign: “It’s amazing to see our student groups working hard in our local area to in�luence refugee support on a national scale. “It seems that the UK can do much more to facilitate resettlement for victims of the Syrian crisis and I fully support the committed efforts of our students.”

- There are more than 3 million Syrian refugees in 5 host countries - 1,176,971 Syrians have saught refuge in Lebanon...1in5 people in Lebanon is a Syrian refugee

Uni signs Time to Change pledge Sarah Gough Arts Editor

Photo:Natasa Christofidou

EXETER University is set to sign the Time to Change pledge to challenge mental heath stigma and discrimination. Professor Janice Kay, University Provost, will of�icially sign the campaign pledge in the Forum Street on 10 December. With mental health affecting one in four people, Time to Change is England’s biggest programme to challenge its accompanying stigma and discrimination.

Launched in January 2009, the campaign is run by the leading health charities Mind and Rethink Mental Illness. According to the Time to Change website 73,583 people have signed the pledge. Time to Change aims to change behaviours and attitudes towards mental health through high pro�ile marketing and media campaigns, together with community activity. They also run a £2.7m grants scheme to fund grassroots projects, led by people with mental health problems, encouraging people to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health.

They commission an annual survey asking public representatives questions about their knowledge, attitudes and intended behaviour towards those with mental health. The progress of the campaign is then measured by the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London. Exeter’s involvement with the campaign is a direct result of the “No health without mental health” Challenge in 2014’s Grand Challenges programme. A third year student said: “anything challenging discrimination must be a good thing.”

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

COMMENT EXEPOSÉ

SEND US YOUR LETTERS: editors@exepose.com

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

Ignorance is bliss more study space on campus? Consultation has been badly handled, student satisfaction has been and will continue to be damaged and the University has made a decision that doesn’t deal with the wider problem. If you’d like your own opinions moved immediately to the ‘Junk mail’ folder do email futureworkplaces@exeter.ac.uk to let them know what you think. *** This week, we’re voting on whether Exeter should stay in the NUS. In reality, we should not be voting this week and not enough people will vote given that most of us will be more preoccupied with last minute essays and thinking about our holidays. More baf�ling, though, is the fact that we could have a situation where 65 per cent vote to leave the NUS, and 65 per cent vote against the need for a 66 per cent majority to leave - and we would still stay in the NUS. As you might have noticed, it’s all a bit of a confusing mess for such an important vote (page 3 has a simple guide). In our humble opinion, we’ve said all along that the NUS is �lawed but we’ll both be voting to stay, in the face of the alternative: Exeter as a lone voice. Collectively, the student movement has limited sway when it stands together and shouts at the authorities: if Exeter is left alone, no one will hear us - or give a toss even if they do. The economic implications are convoluted but we �ind it hard to believe that we would not lose money - let alone gain some - by leaving a union that provides us with various widespread discounts. *** It’s not been a massively positive edition despite our festive theme! For some light-hearted festive entertainment check out our review sections. Or crack open the mulled wine and get the turkey in the oven. Merry Christmas!

Thanks to those who helped proof this issue: Isobel Burston, Sabrina Aziz, Flora Carr, Jack England, Lily O’Neill, Alex Thomas, Ellie Mulder, Evan Jones, George Payne, Gareth Roberts, Reuben Grace, and Exeposé editorial team members.

GAMES & TECH

33-35

EDITORS DEPUTY EDITORS

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

Harrison Jones & Gemma Joyce Callum McLean & Vanessa Tracey

Think we better leave right now

EDITORIAL

IF you’ve not heard about the changes to the teaching day - and that’d hardly be surprising given the farcical lack of communication the University have provided on it - it’s time to listen up. Despite several Q & A sessions with students involving heavy criticism, the University made the decision weeks ago that the teaching day will be extended next year (see pages 1 and 5). Ultimately, the University needs more money in order to achieve its unrelenting ambition to get into the world top 100 and it’s willing to screw its own students over to get there. More students mean more £9ks, but unfortunately, as the piggy bank bursts at the seams, so too do the University’s already limited facilities that are blatantly not suitable for rising numbers. The elongation of the teaching day is part of a wider problem at the University that everyone is talking about: there are no seats in the library, there are half hour queues for a rip off lunch and inadequate rooms being used for seminars and lectures. There are too many students here and not enough space to accommodate them. It’s not like the University don’t know this: we ran an issue headlined ‘Are we growing too fast?’ last year, concluding that we are (surprise); but the Uni just carried on its merry way regardless, perhaps in the vain hope that students hunched over their work on the �loor of the Great Hall might jubilantly stand up singing “thank god we’re in the top 100.” Arguments against the expansion of the teaching day span from the (understandable) unwillingness to get to campus for 8:30am to the obvious effects on societies and sports activities in the evenings, some of which will need to be pushed back. Instead, how about we invest some of our excessive tuition fees (and extortionate library �ines; see page 1) into more academic buildings and

SCREEN 24-25

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Comment

Should we disaf�iliate from the NUS?

>>(Clockwise from right) Students vote against the motion to leave the NUS at DebSoc’s recent debate; Charlie Evans stands to argue for the Yes campaign; Liz Jessop rallies support for the No campaign alongside NUS VP Raechel Mattey; NUS Extra used over counter

“If you want lower prices and an additional £50,000 that could be spent elsew Liam Taylor Yes Campaign

EXETER has been given a historic chance to vote on whether to leave the NUS. I could talk about how undemocratic and unrepresentative the NUS is. I could talk about how it actively harms the interests of students, by supporting lecturer strikes and marking boycotts that endanger our degrees or by undermining the efforts of students campaigning for lower tuition fees and free education. I could talk about the many other moral reasons for leaving, not least of which was their refusal to condemn ISIS three months ago. But I won’t. Instead I will talk about how leav-

ing the NUS will affect you directly. How it will mean lower prices in the Ram and Lemmy. How it will save us £50,000 a year and how it will mean we will still keep all our treasured discounts. It’s no secret that the NUS use our money to campaign for higher alcohol prices nationally. At the very least, claiming to subsidise alcohol whilst also arguing that alcohol prices should increase is hypocritical. There are hundreds of bulk buying organisations, groups and consortiums across the country, few of whom charge the extortionate joining fees the NUS does, and no one would seriously claim that the NUS is the cheapest. A report by the disaf�iliated Southampton University found

that as an independent university its external supplier for its student bars were £1,200 cheaper than the prices offered by the NUS.

It’s no secret that the NUS use our money to campaign for higher alcohol prices There have been a lot of myths �loating around about how much we get from the NUS and how much it costs, so let’s use this opportunity to bust those myths for good. We pay the NUS £50,000 each year. That is money we are guaranteed to save if we leave. The scaremongering �igures that are often trotted out by the

EXEPOSÉ

COMMENT

www.exepose.com

Don’t go breaking my heart: the NUS make their case for why we should stay

Raechel Mattey Vice President NUS

I WAS really excited to be in Exeter at the recent DebSoc debate to talk about the role of the Guild in NUS. But if I’d just come down and defended everything NUS does, saying everything is �ine, then that wouldn’t have been fair. That wouldn’t do justice to an organisation that does far more than just provide �inancial bene�it to the Guild and Exeter students. But money matters. Sure, the £50,000 you spend on membership is a lot of money, but it is a myth that

this could just be picked up and spent elsewhere in your Guild if you left NUS. Most of the cost is earned back straight away in savings. Savings on buying things for the bar and shop, and thousands more is earned from the commission your Guild gets on every single NUS Extra discount card sold. Over 2,500 students have one in Exeter alone. Last year Extra put £2.6 million back into students’ unions across the country and saved £1m for students doing their everyday shopping at the Co-op alone. However, it’s not only about money. Across the UK students are tackling similar issues to those at Exeter: strug-

gling to make ends meet on student �inance that doesn’t cover rent, poor housing, being ripped off by lazy landlords and then a lack of jobs when you graduate. With the Guild, students’ unions and students all over the UK, we’ve made huge changes to students’ lives in the last few years - and in the last few months: saving the Disabled Students Allowance and millions for the National Scholarship Programme and taking action to stop the axing of the £350m Student Opportunity Fund. And just in the last few days we’ve won a new scheme for postgraduate funding, opening up access to postgraduate study and stopping students having to

That said, we don’t always get things right and we can be better. 650 organisations and seven million students make up NUS. That’s a lot of different ideas and people and when I was a student I was completely turned off by politics – it was so distant from

what I and students cared about. Sometimes there’s headlines about one or two controversial things that get discussed, but there are a tonne of others - from removing fees for resitting exams through to �ighting to protect local services that matter, like mental health. We never tell students’ unions what to do. Students’ unions decide NUS policy, not the other way around. From saving unions money to supporting students on the ground with campaigning and winning on national issues, NUS is a good deal for the Guild and students in Exeter – and with your help it can be better.

Topshop / Asos / Warehouse / Miss Selfridge jumper that you just HAD to buy? The 10 per cent off in the Co-op for the days you can’t be bothered to walk all the way to Sainsbury’s? The free Big Mac that you need whilst you stumble home from a Monday Mosaic? Those no longer exist. 2. Increased food prices across Guild outlets. The Guild shop, Comida, the Grove Diner can all provide good food at a low price because of our relationship with the NUS and the ability to buy food in bulk. The £3.29 meal deal in the guild shop? Gone. 3. Reduction in society funding. The Guild will lose £138,000 through disaf�iliation. Cuts could hit many vital components of the Guild’s provision such as society funding (wave goodbye to the In Vitro Meat speech funded by Veggie Soc, the sponsored skate

hosted by Longboarding Society and the appearance of our A Capella Society at the Edinburgh Fringe festival). This may even extend to support staff losing their jobs or the very pages that you are reading now not being printed. I do not think that anyone who is going to vote ‘No’ to disaf�iliation believes in the perfection of the NUS. However it is our af�iliation with the NUS and therefore many other institutions that gives us the power to be heard on issues that students face, such as free education or the disabled students allowance, which the NUS successfully forced a U-turns on cuts to. When voting on a referendum with such giant impacts on both a university and personal scale, it is important to make an informed choice. The power lies with you.

have fought for rights for international students, against sexual discrimination, increased postgrad funding and against the privatisation of the student loan book.

Lastly and most signi�icantly, if we leave the NUS we as students will be signi�icantly worse off �inancially. The Guild would lose £138,724 per year that’s seven times the amount given to societies last year. Losing that much money would be catastrophic for the Guild. It does not take a genius to work out that such a loss would result in a signi�icant reduction in services. That �igure does not include the fact that we would lose access to the NUS Extra card and other NUS training for Sabbs, other Guild staff and students. In addition, prices in Guild outlets such as the Ram and Guild shop would have to go up. The Guild is part of an NUS bargaining deal where the NUS buys alcohol, food and other goods in bulk and then sells them to all student unions at a cheaper price. If we left the NUS we couldn’t be part of this - prices would go up. These are just a few of the reasons why our link with the NUS is so vital to our time as students. Breaking that link will signi�icantly affect the quality of our study at Exeter and the quality of future generations’ study.

fund it on credit cards, overdrafts and personal loans

We never tell students’ unions what to do. SUs decide NUS policy, not the other way round

“Our affiliation with the NUS gives us the power to be heard” Emily Bevan

I AM not a political student, nor do I claim to be. However, with an issue as important as our af�iliation with the NUS, I believe each student needs to know how they will be affected personally if they vote to disaf�iliate from the NUS. You might not care that the Guild will lose out on £138,000 or that the power to have our voice heard will be reduced, if not removed, but there may be some factors you do care about: 1. The student discount received in high street shops. The NUS sign on the back of your university card, alongside the NUS extra card that is available to purchase would no longer be available. Your ten per cent off that

“When my student experience was under threat, the NUS was there” John Chilvers No Campaign Chair

where, say Yes to Exeter and vote to leave the NUS” NUS camp come from what they call ‘retrospective discounts’ and NUS Extra Card sales. So that I don’t bore you with discussions about accounting practices I’ll put it as simply as possible: discounts are not income. When you buy 2 for 1 Domino’s on a Tuesday no one would claim they have just earned £16. It’s why it doesn’t appear on income in the audited accounts the Guild gives to the Charities Commission each year. As I pointed out earlier, we would still be able to buy at a discounted rate from other bulk buying organisations. As for NUS Extra Cards, we pay for them. If you’re one of the 6% of students nationally to have one then the money is coming out of your pocket. Any bene�its the Guild gets from selling them are

coming from our pockets, not from the NUS. Besides, just about all the discounts offered by NUS Extra can be got for free from alternatives such as UniDays. Whilst we’re on the topic of discounts then there is one �inal myth to bust. We will not lose our student discounts. It is illegal for anywhere advertising a student discount to not accept a student card. It does not need to have an NUS logo on the back. So do not worry, your discounts are safe. So if you want lower prices in the Ram and Lemmy, an additional £50,000 that could otherwise be invested in student societies and services, all while keeping your discounts, then say Yes to Exeter and vote to leave the NUS.

THERE are a range of reasons why it’s madness to leave the NUS. There are those who claim that it does not represent or act in the interests of students - they are simply wrong. As someone who receives the `Disabled Student Allowance (DSA) I cannot thank the NUS enough. The government planned to strip down DSA to virtually make it non-existent. A signi�icant proportion of students here in Exeter receive some form of DSA support. The NUS led that campaign and were able to force the government to make a UTurn, something lobbying �irms with tens of millions fail to do on a daily basis. When my student experience was most under threat, the NUS were there to stand up for me. If we vote to leave, there will be no national representation for Exeter students. We will become a lone, insigni�icant wolf, whose tiny voice is never heard. It’s not just DSA that the NUS has successfully campaigned on, they also

If we leave the NUS, Exeter will have no voice and so no in�luence We have to be realistic about how best our interests as students at Exeter are looked after. Most decisions that will have a major impact on our time at university are not made by Sir Steve and the university, they are not even made by the Guild, they are made in Westminster, by the government. That’s why all university student unions need to pool their in�luence together into one national body that can �ight to ensure students get the best deal. Even if we decide to leave, the NUS will continue to exist as a national movement that’s recognised by government and business as the voice of students - Exeter, however, will have no voice there, and so no in�luence.

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

SPORT 37-40

EXEPOSÉ

Half an hour earlier - Homelessness - put a sock in it however will we cope? “Exeter has one of the highest homeless populations in the UK” 10

COMMENT

Maria Bowles

WITH news that the University is planning to extend the teaching day by half an hour either side, students have gone wild. Utterly outraged by the thought of having to get to campus for 8:30am, or not leaving until 6:30pm, the entire student populace is bordering on depression. Student life will naturally descend into complete chaos: no one will attend those early morning lectures or seminars, no one will go to later classes, and over the lunchtime period there will be people napping all over campus. Grades will drop, tiredness will take over, and there will be no enthusiasm on campus. University life as we know it, will be forever changed. On the plus side, Costa will certainly get a boost of coffee sales – only caffeine can stop us all dropping off during lectures and seminars. But be warned: the queues will inevitably extend all the way to the bottom of Forum hill. You may have to camp out the night before just to make sure you can de�initely purchase that crucial morning espresso before your lec-

ture starts. Plus, that’s bonus sleeping time that would otherwise have been wasted on walking to and from your house. There will be no time for such luxuries in the new campus order. Such injustice… Such cruelty… Such VILLAINY… Does this sound ridiculous to anyone else? This may be a controversial opinion, but will that half an hour in the morning really make that huge a difference? Or getting home half an hour later?

Will that half an hour in the morning really make that huge a difference? The thing is, no matter what time the ‘earliest start’ is, it’s always going to feel horrendous. Getting up forum hill for a 9am lecture is not fun, but if the day started at 10am, that would feel equally as loathsome. So, starting at 8:30am won’t be an enjoyable experience. But it won’t really feel any worse. In the grand scheme of things, an extra half hour either side of our current timetable is really quite a minuscule change.

33-35

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

Sophie Tooley Be the Change

JIM Carey, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Lopez, Charlie Chaplin, Ed Sheeran, Kelly Clarkson. What do all these individuals have in common? Probably the last thing you would suggest is that these celebrities have been homeless at some point in their lives. The word ‘homeless’ tends to conjure up a speci�ic stereotype, but the reality is that homelessness can affect anyone. ‘Project Habitat’ is part of the campaign and volunteering society ‘Be the Change’ and has the primary aims of fundraising for local organisations and promoting awareness of the issue, as well as volunteering with those facing homelessness. Sadly, it may not surprise you that Exeter has one of the highest homeless populations in the UK and this is why the work of ‘Project Habitat’ is so important. There are a variety of reasons why individuals may end up with nowhere to live: family breakdown, mental or physical health problems, addiction issues and �inancial struggles, to name just a few.

Mince pied

The fact is, no one chooses to be homeless; terrible circumstances and unforeseen situations can creep up on anyone and before you know it, the vicious cycle of homelessness has begun. This term, Project Habitat have been involved in a variety of activities. We’ve loved volunteering with the YMCA, a Christian organisation devoted to supporting vulnerable young people. Craft workshops have been a chance to not only all share experiences but have a lot of fun attempting to draw, knit and even make an origami Yoda! Habitat also recently held a screening of the BBC3 documentary ‘Britain’s Hidden Homeless’ alongside an eye opening discussion with the local charity, Nightstop and the project helped out in St Petrock’s street collection in order to raise money for the brilliant work the shelter does.

If you would like to donate, get in contact with Be the Change and visit www. projecthabitat.wordpress.com or join Be the Change’s Facebook page. You can also get in contact if you would like to be involved with their projects next term.

Don’t milk it Akash Beri

Cartoon: Emily McIndoe

So… where do you come in? SOCKS! Yes, we know socks aren’t the most exciting present to receive on Christmas day but for someone who doesn’t have any accommodation this Christmas, the extra warmth will certainly be appreciated. A £2 donation will buy a pair of socks with a gift tag so you can add a Christmas message. So, come on Exeter, let’s sacri�ice that £3.20 Timepiece burger and instead send a gesture to someone struggling this winter. Let’s start with the small actions and try to make a difference this Christmas… one sock at a time.

‘TWAS a quiet Saturday morning, a pale day that heralded prospects of rain, deadlines and hangovers. But this was a special day. This was Golden Nuggets day, the cereal that simply melted in the mouth, exploding with sugary goodness and childhood nostalgia. But our resident thief had other plans. Upon opening the sacred fridge, I was grimly shocked to �ind that my precious milk, which had been carefully rationed for this glorious day, was gone. It had vanished without notice, as money does from your wallet on a night out at Arena. In the blink of an eye, my day had gone from one of uneasy optimism to dark depression. I hurriedly scrambled through the fridges and cupboards, like a mother looking for a lost child, but she was nowhere to be found. The milk thief had taken her. A sickening sense of realisation swept over me. One of my �latmates, my own people, had committed a

crime so horrible, so appalling, I could barely stand it. Limping with a severe lack of Golden Nugget goodness, I made my way to the secret place where this godly cereal had been hidden. It was safe. Huddled in a corner, an emotional wreck, I struggled to �ind respite from this unending nightmare.

The milk thief is still out there, and justice must be served Others had entered the kitchen now, eyeing me with curious regard. The �iend was among them, I am sure, though his (or her) identity remains a mystery. Although I reported this incident to the police, something more must be done. The milk thief is still out there, and justice must be served, one way or another. Bandits of this kind deserve no mercy. Should you know of a milk thief in your area, report them to Estate Patrol immediately; together, we can stop this suffering.

Has the Uni ruined Christmas? EXEPOSÉ

Natalie Bartram

WINTRY days, tartan scarves, steaming cups of hot chocolate, snow�lakes, John Lewis’ Monty the Penguin and The Christmas Market: that’s right, “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” as Michael Bublé swoons on his infamous Christmas album. However, it’s not the happiest time for those Exeter students who over the Christmas period are forced to study for the atrociously-timed January exams. The Christmas spirit and tinkling jingle bells may be lost on them. I’m about to be controversial, so please don’t hurl stuf�ing mixture at my head, but I don’t think our University can be held responsible for ruining Christmas Day. In fact, there are actually positives to studying over the Christmas break. Firstly, consider the incredible summer months, teeming with festivals and holidays. Personally I would prefer to have January exams to lessen the pressure of the June period. Just picture those amazing tans achieved by those shits sunbathing on the Birks’ banks, and earlier (therefore cheaper) holidays that you can jet off to as you have fewer exams in June than most. Plus realistically the cold and snow forces you to spend more time indoors anyways, so why not whip out that exam text to analyse in front of the �ireplace? Secondly, ever heard of comfort food?! Just think of all the turkey, roast potatoes and mince pies getting shoved down your gob to relieve the stress of studying. Christmas foods are great comforters (although perhaps not so great on the waist line. You may be doing a Santa pot-belly impression sooner than you realise, but don’t worry, the gym will be call-

COMMENT

www.exepose.com

ing in January), so it’s not all bad. And you cannot argue with the selection on what to eat in those vital study breaks of three hours *cough cough* I mean 15 minutes - it’s food heaven! I can already taste those leftover turkey sandwiches. Also, if you really are in a pit of revision, there’s no excuse needed to get boozy at Christmas. Fill your boots/ stockings with the sherry and mulled wine. In no time you will be shamefully screaming along to Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ and spreading festive cheer. That Elf quote will soon come to mind: “the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” Just think, those who don’t have exams (openly hated by all) will still have essays to plan, books to read for the new term and the �irst term’s lecture notes to consolidate. So no one can escape the vicelike grip of study over the Christmas period. Rest assured, you are not alone. Finally, news �lash - we get a solid month away from university, so examgoers do not fear, you can easily have a week off studying, exchanging the books for drinking and partying, and still pass those exams with �lying colours. Compare our Exeter month off with employed professionals who usually get two weeks off at the most. All in all, that’s life, I’m afraid.

James Beeson

FIRST of all, let me make something abundantly clear; I am not a scrooge. I love Christmas every bit as much as the next person. The festive season is a chance to kick back, eat lots and catch up with the family… unless of course you go to university in Exeter, in which case you’re pretty much fucked. For those of us (un)fortunate enough to go to the UK’s tenth highest rated university, our reward for 12 weeks of toil and hard-work is a meager three week break and the prospect of spending the entirety of Christmas locked away, desperately trying to ignore the increasingly violent game of charades taking place downstairs in order to revise for January exams. Don’t get me wrong, I think January exams are totally necessary, taking away some of the pressure that can reach breaking point in the summer. However, for me, the prospect of merely three weeks to write an essay and revise for three exams, which take place within a week of returning to Exeter after the winter break, is not a pleasant one. Combine this with working at a pub to fund my studies, and having to �ind time for my girlfriend, old school friends and great aunt Audrey and suddenly the Christmas break doesn’t look so appealing. Now I understand that many degree programs (that’s right English students, I’m looking at you!) don’t have any January exams, and that

some students studying Maths or science will probably have more exams than myself. Nevertheless, I still now �ind myself dreading Christmas, and longing for the term not to end… and I don’t think that’s right or fair. For example, contrast the length of time students at Exeter have to revise for their January exams with those at Shef�ield, a university ranked even higher than ours for degree programmes similar to my own. They have four weeks off at Christmas, followed by a three-week exam period in January/February. By the time they �inish their exams, we at Exeter will be nearly half-way through our second term.

It’s a situation that seems all the more baf�ling given the ludicrously short third term we have To me this seems ridiculously unfair; why should we be given such a shorter period to revise for exams that have the same bearing on our �inal degree grade as students studying at a different institution? It’s a situation that seems all the more baf�ling given the ludicrously short third term we have at Exeter. I see no reason why term three cannot be used for teaching, in order to extend the Christmas break or January exam period. Additionally, this could also render the whole debacle over the extension of the teaching day unnecessary. Of course, this makes far to much sense for the University to consider it as a reasonable suggestion, so instead of enjoying spending time with my family, I’ll be spending Christmas revising rational choice theory and consuming my body weight in mince pies.

The Guildhall Grotto: an elf confesses Sophie Greig

IF you’ve seen the movie Elf, you’ll be familiar with the three rules of being an elf: 1) Treat every day like Christmas. 2) There’s room for everyone on the nice list. 3) The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. What better way to get into the festive spirit than applying for a job in the Guildhall Christmas Grotto? I have to admit, when the job appli-

cations were held in July I couldn’t think of anything other than summer, and when the grotto opened on November 15, it still felt way too early to be thinking about Christmas.

Children told Father Chrismas everything they wanted, including a dead rat I don’t think I’ve ever heard so many parents tell their children “It’s only just November, it’s too early

to visit Santa!” But, apparently it wasn’t, when 22 children still visited the Grotto upon opening and told Father Christmas everything they wanted for Christmas, including a seven-year-old asking for a dead rat. The following weekend, a reindeer came to Exeter and 120 children stopped by. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired after a shift. Nine hours of pretending to be an elf and having to stand outside in the freezing cold all day was not what I had planned when taking the job. It became pretty dif�icult to follow the three simple elf rules. Firstly,

in November it’s a bit dif�icult to pretend it’s Christmas. Secondly, there is de�initely NOT room for everyone on the nice list. And last of all, I have heard too many renditions of ‘Do You Want To Build A Snowman’ to prove that singing loud for all to hear is de�initely not the best way to spread Christmas cheer. Moaning aside, seeing a child’s face light up as they meet Santa Claus is pretty rewarding, and seeing the belief that children have in magic and Christmas makes the cold and tiredness worth it, even if it was November.

Last weekend we had a child visit who was adamant that Santa didn’t exist. He kept asking really dif�icult questions and caused a bit of trouble. But as soon as he received his gift from Father Christmas and, completely by chance, found out it was exactly what he had asked his mum for, he turned to Santa and said, “maybe you do really exist,” leaving the grotto with the biggest smile on his face. It may be too early for some people to begin celebrating Christmas, but working as an elf is de�initely one of the best ways to get into the festive spirit.

FEATURES

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-15 17-19 8-11

FEATURES

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES EDITORS

Rory Morgan & Emma Thomas features@exepose.com

A trip to the North Pole FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ExeposeFeatures

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Features

Gemma Joyce, Editor, interviews Ann Daniels on her polar explorations ENTERING the lavish Council Chamber in Northcote House, the table adorned with heaps of fancy �inger sandwiches and extravagantly coloured macaroons, I wondered whether we could possibly be further from the harsh conditions of the Arctic. Ann Daniels shakes my hand �irmly and immediately asks warmly how I’m doing at uni. The world recordbreaking polar explorer emanates toughness, having tackled frostbite, dealt with polar bears and travelled, against all odds, to both the North and South Pole. It really puts my complaints about the state of my essays and the weather in Exeter into perspective. Having taken a break from expeditions, Daniels is an acclaimed motivational speaker with an honorary degree from the University. She’s in Exeter to speak at the Excellence in Exeter Awards. Daniels is candid about her unlikely journey to putting ‘polar explorer’ on her CV. “My husband was pretty horrible,” she said. An advert in a newspaper offered ordinary women the chance to train to join a relay expedition to the North Pole, and Daniels seized the opportunity with both hands. “That was my turning point to get hold of my life again... I suddenly thought, we all have an opportunity in life to do something different and this actually is my opportunity to do something amazing… it wasn’t so much about the North Pole, it was about taking ownership and doing something for myself.” Following an arduous weekend of trials in Dartmoor, Daniels decid-

ed to go all out on improving her �itness. Convincing a gym to sponsor her, she was able to train in the morning and do circuits on the patio while her baby triplets slept in the afternoon. Returning to Dartmoor nine months later, she was accepted onto the team. “I went from not knowing anything to being able to lead a team and perform. It was that difference that got me on the team.”

It wasn’t about the North Pole, it was about taking ownership and doing something for myself Since her �irst venture Daniels has completed numerous expeditions, many of which have contributed to improved scienti�ic understanding of climate change. I asked her whether she’d witnessed these effects �irst hand. She explained: “In 1997 there was so much more ice. It wasn’t as dynamic because there was more of it there. When we went in 2002 which was just �ive years later we would never have got to the pole if we wouldn’t have swum. Too much open water, too much thin ice. We were the �irst team to use emersion suits and actually swim.” She added: “We were coming out earlier so it was not as far into the summer, and trying to �ind an area that the plane could land on… days we searched, whereas in ’97 it was half a day. Certainly, visually it’s changed so much.” Climate change is clearly a topic close to Daniels’ heart, and she’s given various speeches on the issues involved. “I don’t know why people are in denial. And even if they’re in denial I

don’t understand how the intelligent part of their brain goes OK for some bizarre reason we don’t believe in climate change... I don’t understand why people aren’t engaging.” Her adventures have not been without incident. She recalls one horrifying moment during an attempted solo expedition to the North Pole in which she became aware of a male polar bear circling her tent. “I was half dressed and knew I couldn’t go out so I got my gun. I shot the ice and he literally did just look at it and then looked at me, as if to say ‘is that it?’ At which point I panicked and had two fears. One is that it’s actually going to eat me because he’s really close, or I’m going to have to kill it. And I don’t know what was the biggest fear because if I ever had to kill a bear, which are very precious to me, I don’t think I could forgive myself.” Luckily, her second shot, �ired above the bear’s head, meant he backed away slowly. She claims he remained close to her for around three days, as they tracked each other across the ice. “I feel really connected to that bear. What was the most terrifying experience of my life was the most precious experience of my life.” Daniels describes an incredible spiritual connection with the Arctic. “I felt as if I had a relationship with it. At the same time as it tries to kill you, and it is when it’s moving, it’s also protecting you. It would have characteristics and some days it would be really angry and horrible and some days it would be beautiful, calm and make your days really special… You get excited when it moves because you feel nature and you know you’re nothing compared

nature. It’s enormous and magni�icent out there.” Daniels is vocal in her condemnation of the stigma attached to female explorers and sportspeople, pointing out the continued lack of sponsorship and funding made available to females. She seems equally frustrated when I ask about her coverage and criticism within the media. Despite completing the relay, breaking two world records and working with scientists to aid cutting edge research, she claims, twenty years into her exploring career, that newspapers

We would never have got to the pole if we wouldn’t have swum. Too much open water, too much thin ice

continue to lead with the fact that she is a mother of four. Describing a particularly cutting interview on Vanessa Feltz’s show, in which Daniels was criticised

to the great scheme of the world and

for leaving her children, she explains: “If I cut myself short and don’t go for my dreams how can I tell my children to do it?”

You feel nature and you know you’re nothing compared to the world and nature Meeting someone with such a gritty sense of determination is refreshing. In the Arctic, Daniels says: “You suffer. People ask, is it cold? It’s really painful and you get frost injuries and quite often we go and we say to each other ‘well, we’re in pain, so we’re alive!’” “I don’t care too much about the little things that maybe I would have cared about before,” she says, as I attempt to subtly stuff the rest of the macaroons into my lunchbox. “If you go for a job and you don’t get it, so what?” Ann Daniels is a truly inspirational lady with a thousand jaw-dropping stories and a wide open future. “I might attempt the solo next year,” laughs the 50-year-old, referring to another attempt at becoming the �irst woman to venture alone to the North Pole. “It’s an open canvas and come January I’ll start �illing it in but right now I’m just decorating the house and speaking and having a good time.”

EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES

www.exepose.com

The ‘War on Terror’ rhetoric

Following the establishment of Islamic State, Zeena Starbuck re�lects on the group’s effects on the ‘War on Terror,’ which has now been ongoing for over a decade

notion of ‘us’ versus ‘them,’ encourages the public and the media to perceive anything that is different to ‘us’ as the enemy. Identity politics are evoked to construct the enemy, and in this case, Islamaphobia ensues.

The ‘War on Terror’ by no means resembles conventional war. Terror is not a territory or an enemy, but a tactic. Rather, much of the rhetoric behind the war parallels to that of a crusade. Crusades are relentless campaigns to suppress and eradicate inferior cultures and identities, often in the name of ‘good,’ with no end goal; the Crusades of the Middle Ages aimed to expand the superior civilisation of Western Christianity until there was nowhere else to conquer. This parallels Bush’s implementation that ‘the advancement of human freedom’ was the goal of the ‘War on Terror.’ If ‘freedom’ is to the USA what Christianity was to the Roman Catholic Church, then indeed, Bush was implementing a crusade, not a war. In crusades, governing leaders can act as gods, breaking laws in the name of civilisation and the ‘greater good,’ removing threats before they even

exist. For example, radical jihadist preacher, and American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, was killed in a drone strike in September 2011. Yes, the Daily Mail accused him of ‘meeting’ the ‘underwear bomber,’ and Obama had nondisclosed intel tying him to terrorist attacks, but he was not trialed or formally convicted of any crime. Nor was his 16-year-old son, who was killed in a drone strike weeks later. Rather, under the banner of the ‘War on Terror,’ these two were killed not for crimes they were proven to have committed, but for future crimes they could commit. President Obama: The Minority Report called - it wants its plot back. This Orwellian, post-modern notion of war, where people are targeted because of their identities and their potential to be dangerous, where surrender is impossible because the death squad is a remote controlled airplane, indicates that the ‘War on Terror’ is not actually a war. It is an assertion of superiority over other cultures, a crusade of forced freedom. Bush and Obama have never directly stated that Western civilisation is superior. They have never directly made the war about religion; Obama speci�ied, “the United States is not – and never will be – at war with Islam.” However, the rhetoric that lies at the heart of the ‘War on Terror,’ this binary

7 July 2005

2 May 2011

29 August 2014

an emergence of Islamaphobia in our society. By constructing our enemy through difference and what makes them ‘the other;’ the ‘War on Terror’ has become a war against identity.

This binary notion of ‘us versus them’ is part of the on-going rhetoric underpinning the ‘War on Terror.’ It is not a conventional war, against a de�ined nation-state, group, or individual enemy. Rather, this war is against those who “hate us.” Bush evoked a war of freedom versus fear and civilisation versus savagery, without directly asserting whom the war was against. It is no surprise then that the enemy is always changing and evolving when it is de�ined as nothing more

than “those who hate us.” While governments label individuals and groups as perpetrators of the ‘War on Terror,’ the threat of the omnipresent ‘them’ is constructed and reinforced by the public. The USA targeted Saddam Hussein, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden, and now ISIS under the banner of the ‘War on Terror.’ Fox News Anchor Bill O’Reilly hailed Bin Laden’s death as a “great day for the USA,” and across the world it was seen as a major turning point in the war. It was a victory, but not the end. Obama said in his Presidential address that “[Bin Laden’s] death does not mark the end of our effort.” These individuals are made examples of to give the enemy a face and rally the public. Bin Laden is gone, IS is out there, but the omnipresent threat of ‘the other’ will never go away. In an attempt to create a more concrete notion of our opponent, we look to �ind commonalities between the individual enemies. For example, what do Hussein, Bin Laden and IS all have in common, according to O’Reilly? They are savages, they hate Western culture, and they practice Islam. But these supposed parralels may not link together at all, but just be the creation of the media and public opinion. Identity links to action, religion links to politics, and ‘savagery’ links to Islam. Sadly, the inevitable consequence of this is

11 September 2001

20 Septemer 2001

IS’s beheadings of American, British and French citizens have led to the subsequent revival of American military interventionism in Iraq, another chapter in the ongoing ‘War on Terror.’ The governments of the USA and Britain have been quick to isolate IS as inhumane ‘savages’ – Prime Minster David Cameron said “they are an evil against which the whole world must unite.” This differentiation of ‘them’ and ‘the whole world’ is reminiscent of George W. Bush’s post 9/11 rhetoric, which included the phrase; “either you are with us, or the terrorists.”

The governments of the USA and Britain have been quick to isolate IS as inhumane ‘savages’

Two plains crash into the World Trade Centre in New York.

George Bush declares the ‘War on Terror.’

This binary notion of ‘us vs. them’ is part of the ongoing rhetoric

Four bombs are detonated across London’s transport system.

Osama Bin Laden is assassinated.by a team of U.S. seals.

In crusades, governing leaders can act as gods, breaking laws in the name of civilisation and the ‘greater good’ This construction of the enemy, and our willingness to partake in this construction, is a weapon in itself. If we, the public, accept ‘the other’ as the enemy, governments can bend laws and take actions all in the name of freedom – military activities that may not be justi�ied or moral are swept under the name of ‘War on Terror.’ The problem is that this war is not a war, but a crusade with no foreseeable end. If we accept this, we inactively give the war its most powerful weapon; our approval. We need to understand this rhetoric behind the ‘War on Terror’, challenge it, and hold governments accountable for their actions in the international playing �ield. Democracies cannot be crusades, and governments cannot be gods.

The terror threat in the UK is raised to severe.

Spotted: racism at Exeter? 14

FEATURES

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-15 17-19 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

Flora Carr, Copy Editor, ponders why racism is still an issue in Exeter ‘POLICE’s fatal shooting of black teenager.’ ‘Unarmed teen shot dead by police.’ There was something oddly déjà vu about the headlines on the recent shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. A story about an African-American teen shot at close range whilst allegedly unarmed; it seemed as if the media were re-telling an old news story. Brown’s shooting in August led to widespread controversy. The debate over the law’s treatment of young black men is once again reignited. The statistics show that black men are far more likely to be arrested than their white counterparts, and not just in the US. In 2013 the Ministry of Justice reported that black people are three times more likely to be arrested in the UK than white people.

It seemed as if the media were retelling an old news story Thinking about the Ferguson case, I was reminded of the new ‘Spotted’ page on Facebook: ‘Spotted: Racism in Exeter.’ Scrolling through it, I was struck by one particular post: “No but where are you really from?” “London.”

“No, where are you from? Like what 98 per cent white and is a long way country are you from?” “UK.” “Where from major cities.” When you think are your parents from?” I was born of multiculturalism, Devon is hardly and raised in England but according to the �irst place you’d think of. A quick some students at Exeter, I can’t be tru- �lick through the Student Room only English when I’ve got brown skin. line con�irms this. One international It doesn’t matter where my parents are from; I’m from this country.’ The conversation quoted in the post is typical of a kind of casual, sweeping racism that I’ve heard time and time again in the UK. At home for the holidays, a friend made a joke about not being able to see another friend at night time, be- Image: Muslim Reverie cause of how dark student started a thread asking about their skin is. It’s the kind of racism that is often shrugged the ‘culture mix’ at Exeter. The result? off. Of course, outside of London few Responses ranged from “it’s the whitplaces in the UK can truly be called est city in the UK to be honest” to “it’s multicultural. One anonymous stu- very white… don’t get offended by lodent I spoke to blamed the new ‘Spot- cals using racist humour.” In 2009 the actress Emma Thompted’ page on a lack of diversity in Exeter city: “Exeter is something like son famously stated that the leader of

BNP, Nick Grif�in, “would be happy” in Exeter, stating that “Exeter is very white and middle class and it needs to be cracked open a bit.” Her comments came after her adopted son Tindyebwa Agaba alleged that he had experienced racial bullying during his time at Exeter. He described one of the incidents when he was a victim of racial bullying, his attackers being three or four tattooed and macho-looking bouncers at a club.” On the Exeter ‘Spotted: Racism’ page a similar episode was reported involving Arena bouncers. When the victims reported the abuse to the manager they were told, “it’s just banter, don’t take things too seriously.”’ Vanessa Michaela, a second year, agrees with Thompson. “I’m second generation black British, and I just wasn’t prepared for the ignorance of some students.” Nomnso Okeke, who lives in Lagos in Nigeria, agrees that the general demographic of Exeter

students plays a big part in the casual racism he’s encountered. “Some people are also quite ignorant of simple geographic and ethnic facts and tend to make broad, often silly assumptions,” he says. “Perhaps it is innocently done, and perhaps it’s due to their sheltered backgrounds and lack of exposure (to the rest of the world).”

When you think of multiculturalism, Devon is hardly the �irst place you’d think of Racial prejudice is a major issue across UK universities, not just Exeter. A study conducted by the LSE analysed university applications made in 2008 by 50,000 would-be students. They found that degree applications from 12 minority groups analysed were “signi�icantly” less likely to result in an offer. Thompson is right when she says that we “need to open our eyes and doors and see what’s been going on,” and where better to start than a university smack bang in the middle of ‘the whitest city in the UK’?

Exeter’s City of Sanctuary campaign

Rosa Jones discusses why we all need to stand up with refugees A HUMAN is a human. Unless they are born on the wrong side of our fence. Rape, torture, kidnap, and slavery are crimes we abhor. The desperation to keep your children alive is an instinct indicative of love, compassion and sel�lessness. Unless these desperate journeys bring someone to cross to the wrong side of our fence. Then we decide a victim is a criminal. If we gave enough time to listen to a refugee who arrived on UK shores, we might realise we were in the company of a hero. But we’d rather avoid that because then how could we allow a border policy that shuts the doors on people in desperation? How would we believe the articles that repeatedly ignore the difference between refugees and illegal immigrants, and tell us that they’ve all sneaked over to steal our jobs and drain our welfare system? Here refugees are treated like criminals. An anonymous victim spoke to the New Statesman about her escape from the Border Gezi military training camp that she was forced into when

abducted from her college in Zimbabwe. Guards kidnapped her, raped her, beat her and left her to die. She made the terrifying journey to the UK, then our guards put her in a cell and paraded her in front of almost entirely male staff, who continue to get away with sexual abuse because the women they are ‘guarding’ come from a world where they know no alternative.

If we gave enough time to listen to a refugee who arrived on UK shores we might realise we were in the company of a hero What could possibly be going on in the UK’s detention centres that has led to 16 suicides, self harm and hunger strikes? People who have persevered through unimaginable hardship, only to now give up on life. How many of us know that seeking asylum as a refugee is legally a human

right? How many people are aware that holding refugees in detention centres is what is actually burdening our economy? Take the victim from Zimbabwe: it is her dream to become a midwife. The NHS currently has a shortage of 2,300 midwives, and training one of them costs less than it does to hold a female prisoner in a detention centre. But here in Exeter things are changing. A countrywide initiative is being brought to our city that is pivotal in cutting away at the public stigmatisation of refugees. If Exeter can achieve the ‘City of Sanctuary’ status, organisations all across the town will join the movement to build a culture of hospitality for people seeking sanctuary in the UK. Anyone can support the City of Sanctuary movement - from attending or assisting the lecture series that will be beginning in the city in January, fundraising and campaigning alongside Refugee Support Devon and University societies, to simply signing our

petition. Join the Exeter City of Sanct u a r y Movement on Facebook or by contact-

ing the project on info@exeter.cityofsanctuary.org for all the information you need on how to get involved and spread the word. Let’s show refugees who are already considered part of our city that they are welcome as members of our community.

>>Kosovar Albanian refugee enters border town Image: William Miller

Let’s get satirical EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES

www.exepose.com

Exeposé Features rounds up the news with a festive twist Black Friday undoes milllennia of civilisation Zak Mahinfar IT is of course only �itting that in the spirit of Christmas we replace all goodwill and gratitude with the desire to acquire the biggest and best treats for our loved ones (at the cheapest prices). Even if you have to gouge somebody’s eyes out and break their legs to attain the perfect gift, the price is worth paying. Nothing compares to the satisfaction of watching a loved one open a Christmas present you have risked life and limb to obtain. You may have murdered an old lady in the Asda queue to put that gift in your little treasure’s precious hands, but what’s a life over an Xbox?

You may have murdered an old lady in the Asda queue to put that gift in your little treasure’s precious hands And that is why there is a single day each year on earth where morals can be unquestionably disregarded in favour of unrestricted and ferocious consumerism. On Black Friday, an uncontrollable rampage sweeps the globe in the wake of Thanksgiving. It is only natural, of course, that a day of thanks must be immediately succeeded by one of violence and consumer craze. As the day of darkness dawns,

the common people arm themselves with knuckle-dusters and Kalashnikovs and approach the nearest retail complex. The 24 hours that ensue, as a concept, can only be likened to The Purge.

As the day of darkness dawns the common people arm themselves Black Friday shoppers prowl into the store: alert, bloodthirsty. Carefully they choose their prey; electrical goods are always a popular catch. Weary of the competition, the predators approach their chosen bargain and mark their territory. Urination is common. When a target has been selected, there is no force on Earth powerful enough to rescue it from their beastly clutches. Never come between one of these deadly creatures and their 57inch Plasma screen TVs; it will only end in severed limbs and broken goods. For some, the only method of survival is to resort to foul-play: secretly snatching bargains from the safety of another’s trolley, thence retreating to the protection of the self-service checkouts before rapidly �leeing from the scene. Such a treacherous violation leaves the victim in turmoil… wailing, howling for their loss. ’Tis the season to be jolly. Merry Christmas.

Santa’s SSB strip Sarah Gough Arts Editor

CHRISTMAS came early for many last Sunday as Santa Claus treated all at the Safer Sex Ball to a special strip-tease. Donning his usual crimson coat and leather boots, Saint Nicholas was a surprise guest on the SSB main stage. Together with 12 elf backing-dancers, he proceeded to shake his grotto bootay to well-known Christmas hit ‘O Come All Ye Faithful.’

Saint Nicholas was a surprise guest on the SSB main stage Upon heavy encouragement from the scantily clad and inebriated crowd, Santa soon abandoned his North Pole attire and truly embraced the Rio theme. He disrobed and de-booted, revealing a rather stretched banana hammock. The crowd surged forward to get the best view of naked Nick. Police have con�irmed that one audience

member was trampled. Not by the crowd surge, but by an overly enthusiastic Rudolph. It remains unclear as to whether the randy reindeer will be prosecuted for his actions. The event organiser, Mr Grinch, was impressed with Santa’s performance. He stated: “Feathers and Fred’s phallus worked hand in hand to produce a truly magical show.” Santa’s seductive display de�initely divided the naughty from the nice. The Grinch received three complaints regarding Santa the slut. Mrs Clause was amongst the protestors: “I told him to diet in preparation so he could show off the good stuff. Lay off the mince pies, I said. But no, he never listens to me, does he. His belly basically obscured his nether regions. Ain’t nobody got time for that.” However, Santa’s bootay certainly impressed the crowd. One drunken reveller commented: “Who knew Santa had such a pert bottom?!

He sleighed that slut-drop.” Speaking to Saint Nick himself, he was keen to convey the reasoning behind his promiscuous performance: “It was an obvious career choice for me. I’ve been a secret for so long, now it’s time for people to see the real Nicholas. Stay safe kids, stay safe.”

The biggest concern, however, lies with the postal service. Exeposé contacted the head of The Royal Mail, for a comment. The response was as follows: “This is a travesty! How can we be expected to travel over this much ice? I fully endorse the Daily Fail campaign to hunt down the Ice Queen. Or Elsa… what will we do?”

been looking into airborne alternatives.” One of the rumoured options is inspired by classic Christmas �ilm The Grinch. “We thought we could �ind some of those baskets that Who babies arrive in. I reckon ten million should cover it. We can use them to transport everyone’s parcels!” It has also been claimed that The Royal Mail have gone all out in regards to their wrapping department. Among the hired maestros is Rowan Atkinson, to ensure that every gift comes wrapped with sweets and perfectly ruf�led up paper. In addition, Arthur Christmas has agreed to lend his Wrapping Executive, Briony. As she knows, “there’s always time for a bow!” Even if the gift does fall from a basket 50,000 feet up in the air.

Elsa goes on rampage Sophie Harrison Online Books Editor

THIS Christmas, Britain could actually have weather worth complaining about. Undercover sources claim that Queen Elsa of Riverdale has taken a turn for the worse, and that we can expect the most Frozen Christmas in living memory. The media has been sent into a frenzy. The Daily Fail have dedicated their entire front page to a “wanted” poster of the Queen. Meanwhile, The Telepath on Sunday are claiming they “predicted this for years – before Disney even wrote the bloody �ilm script.” If only the Fail could have been told this, it would have saved us years of believing Armageddon would be brought by 1cm of snowfall.

Queen Elsa of Riverdale has taken a turn for the worse His deputy was more pragmatic. “We’ve been looking into possible solutions. We’ve established that the ground is a no-skate zone, so we’ve

ONLINE

HIGH STREET

CAMPUS

OVER 160 DISCOUNTS FOR

FROM DATE OF PURCHASE

GET YOUR CARD PRINTED IN MINUTES FROM THE STUDENTS’ GUILD INFO POINT OR YOU CAN ORDER ONLINE AT NUS.ORG.UK

EXEPOSÉ

LIFESTYLE

www.exepose.com

LIFESTYLE FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ExeposeLStyle

LIFESTYLE EDITORS

Eamonn Crowe & Jack Wardlaw lifestyle@exepose.com

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Lifestyle

Have you been naughty or nice this year? ‘Tis the season to be jolly, and here at Exeposé Lifestyle we’re getting into the Christmas spirit by writing letters to Santa Elizabeth Menshikova

DEAR Santa, I am so happy that it is Christmas soon so I can talk to you again. You know, it has been a year since I have written my last letter and I feel that I need to straighten things out with you. So, please, tell your lovely elves and reindeers to be quiet as this is actually serious. To start with, I would like to highlight the fact that I am an adult now. I am 18-years-old. Therefore, there is no chance of you ignoring me anymore because I am no longer that little kid who woke up in excitement at 5am every Christmas. This year, I am staying up till midnight so please make an effort to come on time as we need to chat. First of all, I’m sure you understand that Christmas means a lot to me, which is made clear from the fact that I have been writing letters to you since I was four. Not that I am blaming you, but it has been 14 years and you have NEVER replied. Not even left me a quick note, but you have had the milk and cookies. #Notimpressed. Secondly, I �ind all this good/bad list banter complete nonsense. I was raised by a family of lawyers so I have always questioned it. Now, however, I am studying International Relations so I KNOW MY RIGHTS. Where is the of�icial list published? What are the actual criteria for ranking kids into good and bad ones? How do I make an appeal if I disagree? Moreover, I would like to �ind out where the presents are that I actually asked for. When I was four, I asked for an African giraffe and not an encyclo-

paedia! When I was seven I wanted a brother, not the �iddle kit! And I really do not remember asking for maracas when I was 14! I understand how busy you are, given there are 1.9 billion children in the world, but this is just not ok. Perhaps some other system of gift distribution needs to be implemented in order to avoid that kind of confusion? I am more than happy to help, just drop me a message. Lastly, I hope you are aware of the fact that my birthday is actually on Christmas day. Thus, I truly believe that I need to be getting three presents on that day to make it fair: a “Merry Christmas” one, a “Happy Birthday” one, and de�initely a “Sorry Your Birthday Is On Christmas” one! Please take note of that. Santa, despite the high level of grumpiness in this letter, I would like you to know that Christmas is, in fact, the best time of the year. Therefore, the purpose of this letter was just to make Christmas 2015 perfect. And my birthday. Don’t forget. Love you loads. Looking forward to meeting you and all the reindeers this year.

Lewis Norman Online Music Editor

DEAR Santa, As a simple man with few needs, I don’t want a lot this Christmas. However, being a man without a loving family and only having 2.5 friends, would you be so kind to get me a couple of things this Christmas? First of all, a girlfriend. Preferably a nice one, although I’m not particularly picky. Failing that, could I get either a swag or else “massive gains.” I’m not really sure what these are to be honest, but all the cool kids at school had them so obviously I’ll be needing them. I’m not sure how many swags I’ll need so can I have as many as you think is necessary? Likewise with the gains; I don’t want too many - just enough to make me sexually appealing. The next thing on my list is a beard. I’ll need this to make myself look more edgy than I actually am. It also gives me an excuse to wear my beanie hat all the time without being judged. Along with this, can I also get a lifetime’s supply of festival wristbands – so I can trick all my friends into thinking that I attended Green Man in 2004 and thus they will

worship my innate indieness? Oh, I forgot something. About that pending girlfriend, can I get a harmonica so I can serenade her? Actually, while I’m at it, a tattoo of an anchor would be good – I’ll need this to make the ladies think that I am in the navy when, in fact, I get seasick easily and have a serious phobia of seagulls. That reminds me, an umbrella as well, to use as a weapon in case I get jumped by a particularly menacing seagull. Hmmm, what else? Ooh, I know! A bonsai tree - There is nothing more spiritually nurturing than caring for and tenderly loving a bonsai tree. Can I also get Shia Laboeuf – being scared of dogs, I’d much rather deter intruders from my house by letting Shia Laboeuf run riot in my front garden. If you’re going to get me Shia, can you also get me Katie Hopkins so I can entertain myself by feeding her to Shia Laboeuf?

Can you also get me Katie Hopkins so I can entertain myself by feeding her to Shia Laboeuf? The �inal thing I want is the ability to Irish Jig. I’d love to to freshen the face of a Friday night Timepiece. I’m not a fan of this ‘grinding’ and ‘slutdropping’ malarkey. Real women are wooed by the graceful art of Riverdance. So there you have it, my humble and simplistic ‘Dear Santa’ list, I hope you like it and look favourably on me this Christmas!

LIFESTYLE

Tweets of the week The best of the Lifestyle Twitterati’s musings and wit this week Tweet us @ExeposeLStyle Hannah Hayles @hannahayles I remember when Wednesday afternoons were for snoozing Emma Kai @EmmaKai I live in mortal fear of accidentally sending a tutor ‘xx’ at the end of an email out of texting habit. Isobel @isobelgrace08 One of my housemates bought Xmas scented loo roll. The festivities have well and truly begun. Shev @Shevvvv Me and Laura were going through our search histories and it was all fun and games until one of hers was ‘chloroform’. Gemma Joyce @GLJoyce Just saw the Hunger Games 3- ashamed at how jumpy I got considering it’s a 12 #scaredycat Sarah Gough @sarahgoughy Ah there’s nothing quite like that Friday feeling (I just accidentally trampled a slug in my kitchen) Harry Shepherd @HarryyShepherd For all the hope I build up for humanity over the course of the year, #BlackFriday crushes it. Kath Bailey @KathBailey Should be a rule not to eat smelly food in the library Harriette Casey @harricasey The advantage to doing a late nighter in December is if I make it to 12, I get another chocolate. Harrison @HarrisonJones7 Should probably do some of that degree thing. Josh Mines @MinesyJosh Scary that the future of back to the future 2 is next year. Doesn’t look like we’ll have hoverboards and self tying nikes yet unfortunately. Russell Roe @Russ_95 It’s almost getting to the stage when the Christmas music in Costa is acceptable. Ryan Hopkins @RyanHopkins_ Train didn’t have a table so I’ve therefore decided that it’s absolutely impossible for me to do work on the way home #legit

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

Last Christmas, you stood me up

Katherine Giddins shows you what not to do when looking for festive love ARE you feeling lonely this winter and hoping to �ind your Santa soul mate? We all know that dating (for anyone who isn’t a Greek god/goddess) is a truly horri�ic and horribly awkward process. However, sometimes it can actually work out quite well. I suppose that’s why we keep trying, despite the dating disasters. Take a look at Lifestyle writer, Katherine Giddins’ tales from the world of dating... but if you are looking for kisses under the mistletoe this Christmas, you probably shouldn’t follow her advice.

If you are anything like me (as in human) you will understand the turbulent and utterly frustrating motions which your mind can go through when you are trying to attract a member of the opposite sex. I (being abnormal) am the most ridiculously unlucky and embarrassing person I have ever known, so I feel as though such situations are evermore dif�icult for me.

Just like Rex from Toy Story, I really do hate all this uncertainty

Case in point: I am currently on my year abroad in Italy and I have met this French boy who I really like. He’s calm, he’s trés cool, he’s a writer, he studies history, we can speak French (the language of love), etc. etc. So what’s stopping me from making him au courant on how I feel about him? Well for a start, any boy I have ever liked has never reciprocated the feeling. I get hurt and then with hindsight I usually realise that he wasn’t all that special. I always rush in. I think too much with my heart and not with my head. I am emotional and I can’t just ‘like’ someone. It’s all or ‘rien de rien’ for me.

My dilemma is that I am only here for another three months before I go to France (and he is here for the whole year) so I don’t really have the luxury of time to play out a ridiculous Ross and Rachel-esque ‘will they won’t they’ situation (although it would be great if he ran to the airport before I got on my plane to Paris). In the end I decided to turn to my Erasmus friends for advice; “You need to play the game,” said my friend Conor in his delightful Dublin accent. “What game?” I asked, almost hoping that he would answer Jenga because I am quite the expert. “The game” he replied, although I was still quite clueless. What was this universal recreational pastime t o which I was s t i l l oblivious? “How do I play it?” “You need to be more subtly obvious” Oh, is that all? Thanks for clearing that up for me! The advice I think took a turn for the worse here, but I was intrigued by what Conor and my Belarussian girlfriends had to say on this concept of the “game.” Ac- cording to them you need to �lirt with someone, throw them a

hook so to speak and then wait to see if they take the bait in order to suss out whether they feel the same way about you. My problem is that I can’t �lirt. Well, I can with barmen and old shopkeepers to get cheaper drinks/groceries (feminists gonna hate), but with Théo I just can’t. There is always a little voice in my head saying “yes do it, try to kiss him on the mouth instead of just the cheek when you say au revoir, put your hand on his knee, or his hand, or his arm maybe”, and then the other one which says “No, no, no, he doesn’t like you like that, calm down, the night is over Katherine. Finito.” Just like Rex from Toy Story, I really do hate all this uncertainty. It’s driving me crazy and turning me into a neurotic mess. For example, the other night we sort of arranged to meet up in this bar (neither of us committed to a de�inite time nor did I check to see if he would be there). So I went anyway, noted his absence but decided to stay for a while and read anyway, just in case he appeared. Choosing a seat is normally a simple decision but in this case it became utterly impossible. “Maybe I should sit by the window, then I can see him if he passes by,” “No, I’ll sit by the door so I can notice if he comes in,” “Maybe I should go to the toilet just so I can do a general

surveillance of the back seating area without making it too obvious that I am looking for someone” In the end I sat by the door and quickly got out my book so I wouldn’t obviously look as though I’d been stood up… but I couldn’t concentrate at all. All I could think was how I would appear to him should he happen to make a cameo appearance in this slightly sad scene of my life; “Maybe I should cross my legs,” “Maybe I shouldn’t” “Which is more ladylike? Which is more intellectual?” “I wish I wore glasses, they would complement this sexy secretary out�it so perfectly” (I met him after I �inished work).

Maybe he has to go at a snail’s pace because he eats snails? In the end, after ten minutes of trying to read and a brief phone call to my mum in which she told me to “fuck him” (if only mother), I decided to send a casual text saying “Tu esci stasera?” “Are you going out tonight?” (because I default to Italian after two glasses of red wine) to which he replied “hey I’m sorry but I’m feeling sick tonight. Sorry to slack again…” Was he genuine or was this his way of blatantly messing me about? With any other person I probably would have decided on the latter and immediately left the bar with a strong stride of feminine empowerment. With Théo, however, the �irst thought to enter my mind was “Oh no, he must be stressed out because of his exams.” So I sent him a text telling him not to worry and that I had been struck by a sudden burst of writing inspiration (the ironic thing being that he didn’t know I was writing about him). So the barman continued to topup my vino, my thoughts �lowed freely over the paper place settings, and by the fourth page (after which I just started drawing cats) I think I reached a conclusion. I’m either an idiot, or in love, or very desperate... quite possibly all three. Maybe he has to go at a snail’s pace because he eats snails? Just go home Katherine... just go home.

EXEPOSÉ

LIFESTYLE

www.exepose.com

All I want for Christmas is you

Written in the stars

For our festive Blind Date, we sent two randy reindeers Lucien Fulcher, our resident astrologist, to the Exeter Christmas Market. At least, we tried to... rubs his crystal ball(s) to predict what’s THIS time, we sent our two singletons to the Christmas market, in hope of hearing tales of kisses under the mistletoe and suggestive hotdog-eating. However, it turned out that on the evening we sent them it was closed (our bad, we told you we were crap at this matchmaking thing). Nevertheless, our intrepid lovebirds endeavoured to �ind a pub in which to carry out their blind date. In the words of Bono, thank God it was them instead of you...

What Dan thought of Sophie 1.) What did you expect from your blind date? After 21 years of abysmal failure with women, I wasn’t expecting much more than another episode in a long series of rejections and disappointments. 2.) What was your �irst impression of your date? She was very smiley, and she didn’t stop smiling when she saw me, which is always a plus.

I was discovered in the foetal position on the bathroom �loor in a pool 3.) What was your favourite part of the Christmas market, is it a good place for a �irst date? It was closed for the night, but I liked the boarded up windows, empty streets and litter blowing in the winter breeze – it was very dystopian. We went to the pub. 4.) Were there any awkward moments? I told her the story about my birthday party, where I was discovered in the foetal position on the bathroom �loor in a pool of my own vomit, dressed as Oscar Pistorius. Other than that I mostly managed to keep details of my sordid exploits under wraps – it was a good exercise in damage limitation. 5.) What was your date’s most attractive feature? Her excellent ability to cover up her native Newcastle accent. Also nice hair, I guess... 6.) What was their worst trait?

Not enough of a feminist. 7.) Were you a fan of your date’s out�it? It was pretty cold, so she was wearing several layers. I was impressed - I’m a big fan of dressing pragmatically. 8.) You have to give a lump of coal to Rudolph, Santa or your date … which one do you choose? I’d probably give it to Sophie, because my maintenance grant has run out and I couldn’t afford any more expensive Christmas presents. It’s coal or nothing. 9.) On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the evening? (10 being the best) It was a solid 8.3 10.) By the end of the night, was there a hug, kiss under the mistletoe, or something more? Just a hug outside Firehouse, which was about the most action I’ve had since April so I was happy enough. 11.) Would you meet up with them again? Yeah, why not? This is the best chance I’ve had in 2014 of spending time with someone who isn’t utterly bored of me. 12.) Would you snog, marry or avoid your date? Probably snog, not gonna lie. 13.) How much mulled wine would it take for you to �ind your date more attractive than Angelina Jolie? Half a pint. Or after Christmas I’d settle for a Jungbomb.

What Sophie thought of Dan 1.) What did you expect from your blind date? A Christmas Market, complete with Reindeer and mulled wine, so when it turned out to be closed my expectations were slightly shattered…. 2.) What was your �irst impression of your date? Very resourceful – he quickly came up with a solution for the fact that our date venue did not exist. 3.) Were there any awkward moments? The conversation �lowed really well, and I was shocked at how time �lew by. 4.) What was your date’s most attractive feature? Good sense of humour and very similar interests. He or-

dered chips with ketchup, not mayo, a revelation after �inding so many fellow students scorn my beloved tomato sauce. He also offered to pay for my drink, which I declined - ‘gender equality’ and all - but I always think it is nice if the guy offers. This was a welcome change from a previous ‘date’ I went on… 5.) What was their worst trait? He doesn’t drink coffee, which I do have an arguable fondness for. So we would struggle to share a mutual love for milk heart cappuccino art, not to mention coffee puns such as ‘Love you a Latte’ and ‘Espresso Patronum’. 6.) Were you a fan of your date’s out�it? Yes - he wasn’t wearing �lip �lops or chinos, which made a refreshing change from like 90 per cent of Exeter’s male student population. 7.) You have to give a lump of coal to Rudolph, Santa or your date…which one would you choose? Rudolph. He could replace his red nose with coal for the reindeer Christmas party, to avoid the other Reindeers turning around to say to him “you can’t sit with us!” 8.) On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate the evening? (10 being the best) I’ll give it an 8. It rhymes with date, and it was a good evening. 9.) Would you meet up with them again? Oui. We have a lot in common, and it was a lovely evening. He also proved himself to be an excellent companion, if I were to �ind my heart broken by another beloved destination in Exeter being closed down. That being said, if he doesn’t drink coffee, Boston Tea Party might not be on the list of possible alternatives… 10.) Would you snog, marry or avoid your date? Snog. Although as a Books Editor and Literature Student I will edit that to “kiss” – let’s keep it classy. 11.) How much mulled wine would it take for you to �ind your date more attractive than Channing Tatum? I do have to say that Channing Tatum is on about the same scale as Gimli the Dwarf for me. Change him to Ryan Reynolds, infused with Augustus Waters and Edward Cullen, and you might be onto a question…

in store for Lifestyle readers this week...

Sagittarius (Nov 22 – Dec 21) The festive season is a time for miracles, which augurs well for your chances of finally finding someone who isn’t repulsed by you.

Cancer (Jun 21 – Jul 22) DING DONG MERRILY ON HIGH!!! Attach small bells to your hat and gloves to bring a jingle of festive cheer to everyone’s life. Particularly advisable in the library.

Capricorn (Dec 22 – Jan 19) By remembering that Father Christmas only has 24 hours to deliver presents to EVERY SINGLE CHILD IN THE WORLD, your looming deadline will seem much more manageable.

Leo (Jul 23 – Aug 22) This December forgo Christmas to reconnect with your previously undiscovered Jewish heritage and celebrate Hannukah, from 16 until 24 December.

Aquarius (Jan 20 – Feb 18) Sudden changes in your circumstances may make this festive period more difficult than normal, but focus on the small pleasures and you will be just fine. Pisces (Feb 19 - Mar 20) Use your skills as an imaginative Pisces by taking a leaf out of a certain washed up rockstar’s book and pen a catchy, well-intentioned but wholly patronising ditty. Aries (Mar 21 – Apr 19) To get that White Christmas you so desperately crave this year so you can build a snowman and frolic with your family, simply go to Switzerland or Antarctica. Taurus (Apr 20 – May 20) Don’t bother making any resolutions for 2015 – we all know you won’t keep them. Instead, buy a cactus that you can love and nurture throughout the New Year. Gemini (May 21 – Jun 20) Mulled wine and mince pies are always a winning combination, so stuff yourself like a turkey. Lucky decoration: tinsel.

Virgo (Aug 23 – Sep 22) You really should have learnt from experience and begun your Christmas shopping earlier. Yet, as surely as reindeers can fly, Christmas Eve will find you crying with regret in Primark or MUJI. Libra (Sep 23 – Oct 22) A drunken venture to Midnight Mass may seem like a good idea, but remember that even a priest’s patience is tested if you are sick in the pews, on the altar and in the font. Scorpio (Oct 23 – Nov 21) “At last this soul-sappingly dreary year is over!” you may well be thinking. Don’t worry, next year promises to be equally tedious, if not more.

MUSIC

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

MUSIC FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ExeposeMusic

Listings

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

MUSIC EDITORS

Kate Burgess & Tristan Gatward music@exepose.com LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Music

Interview

Monday 8 December The Pitchish Trail and Sweet Baboo Exeter Phoenix Tuesday 9 Decemeber Mahatma Music Xmas Party Cavern Wednesday 10 December Our House: Grades Cavern Wednesday 10 December Matthew and Me Darlington Hall, Totnes Thursday 11 December Carnival before Xmas: Molotov Jukebox The Fleece, Bristol Friday 12 December Angus & Julia Stone and The Staves o2 Academy, Bristol Friday 12 December Gramatik Thekla, Bristol Tuesday 16 December Deaf Havana and Lonely the Brave Lemon Grove Friday 19 December Quirk Xmas Party: Magic Hatstand Cavern Friday 19 December Royal Blood Bierkeller, Bristol

Spotlight

I came back a Nu-man

Tristan Gatward, Music Editor, and Josh Gray, talk with the father of electronica, Gary Numan, about electric friends, old audiences and the aesthetics of a comeback GARY NUMAN found fame primarily as front man of late 70s punk rock come new wave Tubeway Army, debuting ‘Are “Friends” Electric?’ at number one over May 1979 and ‘Cars’ in his own name later that year. He is to electronica what The Stones are to rock ’n’ roll, or what Dylan is to folk. His songs pioneered synth hooks and pedalling, despite his own confusion that none existed in his most commercial song: “[‘Are Friends Electric?’ has] no recognisable hook-line whatsoever.” Being pigeonholed into a few recognisable hits hasn’t seemed to be a problem for Numan, though. His latest record, Splinter (Songs from a Broken Mind), was his highest charting in 30 years since 1983’s Warrior: “I �ind increasingly that the audience is more familiar with the newer material than they are with the old. It was interesting to notice the entire front rows of many of the recent US tour gigs singing along to the songs from Splinter and not knowing the words at all to the old songs. It was something

I never thought I would see happen. I have no wish to pour scorn upon or be dismissive about my older songs but it was very cool to see people at the gigs that had come because of Splinter, not because of ‘Cars.’” Just as new bands favour promoting debut albums, the same goes for Numan. While he says he thinks very carefully about which songs to play live, being “very aware that people will come to the gigs having completely different eras of my career that they favour,” it’s still the new material that offers him the most anticipation. Despite his trepidations, the ‘hits’ linger: ‘Cars’ and ‘Are “Friends” Electric?’ are an essential requirement it seems. I enjoy seeing the crowd reaction but they are not, for me at least, the most exciting parts of the evening. I’ve been playing them live for a very long time and even though I revamp them from time to time to try to keep them fresh, they are still ‘Cars’ and ‘Are “Friends” Electric.’ I’m proud of them as songs, so it’s not a hardship to play

them; but it’s just that over familiarity that stops them being as much fun to play live as songs from the new album.” A dynamic has been started with the return of other established artists. Bowie’s resurgence in The Next Day and now ‘Sue (Or In a Season of Crime,)’ Kraftwerk headlining Latitude behind what can only be described as an elongated sideways fridge with neon lights and white suits, and even Tears For Fears, joining Spandau Ballet on tour (it’s a mad world). We have long serving musicians playing to a younger audience, even if it is one who assume The Ramones to be a brand of t-shirt.

Exeter? I can barely remember yesterday The phrase ‘comeback’ is an untrue one in Numan’s case: “I’ve been doing this for a very long time, without any breaks, and it has been very up and down. I’ve lost count of how

many times I’ve read that I’m making another ‘comeback.’ I never stopped; these ‘comebacks’ are simply releasing a new album, so I will talk to the media again, I turn up on the TV and radio after a quiet spell. It’s not a ‘comeback’ at all; it’s just another album. Every ‘new’ fan, be they young or old, that buys one of my albums, or a ticket to one of my shows, is a person that I have worked very hard to reach, with constant touring, new music, promotions, well understood social media, collaborations and because I have been covered, sampled and namechecked as in�luential by a wide range of very cool artists for the last twenty years at least.” Having played Exeter’s Phoenix this summer, we �inally asked if this had been his �irst visit. It was followed by those fateful words: “No offence intended but I can’t remember, to be honest. If I ever have it must have been a long time ago and I can’t remember anything about it. But, then again I can barely remember yesterday.”

Have yourself a very indie Christmas

Ciaran Willis, Screen Editor, offers four Christmas tunes to the alternative elves 1. Ron Sexsmith – Maybe This Christmas

Gramatik @ Thekla Friday 12 December “A perfect example of the successes of a globalized, interconnected dance music atmosphere.” - Lost in Sound

This is just a really sweet and poignant evocation of all the hope that Christmas can bring. Sexsmith’s warm yet slightly fragile voice perfectly captures this feeling – that ‘maybe this year, love will appear.’ And with melodic guitar, bells and maracas, it hits all those Christmassy notes. A touch saccharine perhaps – but that’s what Christmas is all about. Letting people reminisce together, all drunk and sentimental.

2. Low – Just Like Christmas

As soon as the shuddering, toe-tapping drum beat starts and the bells begin to shiver, it begins to sound just like Christmas. Warm synth stretches out languorously in front of a �ire. But it’s not the Scandinavian snow falling, depicted in the unsual lyrics, that’s just like Christmas; it’s not the landscape; it’s feeling young and excited and together.

3. Joni Mitchell – River

I guess there’s a reason that this song isn’t a regular �ixture on Christmas playlists – it’s rather downcast. But still it’s incredibly beautiful. Mitchell uses christmassy melodies and themes but subverts them, using the festive landscape to evoke sadness and personal longing. In short: dance to Wizzard and after one too many drinks - cry to this.

4. Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls – Merry Christmas Baby (Please don’t die) Two darlings of L.A fuzz-pop, Crocodiles and Dum Dum Girls, team up for this grungy take on the Christmas song. Blending scuzzy shoegaze guitar with Christmas bells and pop melodies, this is a refreshingly morbid take on Christmas. This is Santa as Lou Reed or Morrissey: Santa in shades (indoors) and a leather jacket, wistfully drunk and dancing to The Ronettes. Cool Santa.

2014: an album advent calendar EXEPOSÉ

www.exepose.com

With time running out ‘til Christmas, Exeposé Music decide the best albums of the year SO, here it is. The list you’ve all been waiting for: the Best Albums of 2014. Maths, critics’ scores and writers’ opinions makes this list the best guide to this year’s music

Jamie T Carry on the Grudge 29 September 2014 Virgin Records

Pink Floyd The Endless River 10 November 2014 Parlophone

Jack White Lazaretto 10 June 2014 Columbia

Ought More Than Any Other Day 29 April 2014 Constellation

Temples Sun Structures 5 February 2014 Heavenly Records

Mac DeMarco Salad Days 1 April 2014 Captured Tracks

CANADIAN Mac Demarco’s third studio album takes the name of a Shakespearean term which has come to mean youthful exuberance and enthusiasm. Easy guitar and chilled melodic vocals roll through the LP’s entirety with bummed out chill vibes being intermingled with serious issues; like relationships with mums and girlfriends. CALLUM BURROUGHS ONLINE EDITOR

SUN KIL MOON BENJI CALDO VERDE RECORDS 11 FEBRUARY 2014

Future Islands Singles 24 March 2014 4AD

Shabazz Palaces Lese Majesty 28 July 2014 Sub Pop

Leonard Cohen Popular Problems 19 September 2014 Columbia

The Antlers Familiars 16 June 2014 Transgressive

FKA twigs LP1 6 August 2014 Young Turks

15 4

alt-J This Is All Yours 18 Septemeber 2014 Infectious

13 12

Bombay Bicycle Cub So Long, See You Tomorrow 3 February 2014 Island Royal Blood Royal Blood 22 August 2014 Warner Bros

Flop of the year Neil Young - Storytone 4 November 2014, Reprise Records By the once long-haired folk deity, Storytone isn’t bad, but arranged by Chris Walden (famed for work with Bublé), it’s hard to tell whether the distinctly average nature of the record was an intention or an inevitability for someone attempting to live up to his former glory.

Jungle Jungle 14 july 2014 XL Recordings

IF I was to pick one word to sum up Jungle it would de�initely be ‘groovy’. Every track from ‘Busy Earnin’ to the hip and soulful ‘Time’ will have you jiving along to their mellow sounds as uninhibited as a toddler learning to walk. They put on a cracker of a live show too; I practically put my neck out bopping along to their set at Reading 2014. JOSH MINES SCREEN EDITOR

Aphex Twin Syro 19 Septemeber2014 Warp Records

BENJI is the best album of the year. Some Exeposé readers may have tried to swing the vote 1989’s way, but the truly enlightened, the valiant and the committed snatched the title from Taylor Swift’s undeserving hands [Incidentally, Miss Swift placed 27th in the Top 30]. It seems strange to call an album by an artist who recently recorded a song entitled ‘War on Drugs, Suck My Cock’ beautiful, but the s t re a m - o f - co n sciousness lyrics

Best Debut Album Adult Jazz - Gist Is 4 August 2014, Spare Thought

Caribou Our Love 6 October 2014 City Slang

FOLLOWING 2010’s Swim, Caribou has now produced the most enduring record of 2014. Its loops, sequences and samples interweave those dulcet tones of Dan Snaith with fellow Canadian Jessy Lanza to spawn layers of sound that are truly unique. Never formulaic, the song of the summer ‘Can’t Do Without You’ captures the essence, and all the ebbs and �lows, of Our Love. GEORGE PAYNE

Benji is the best album of the year, and that’s fucking brilliant and minimal instrumentation of tracks such as ‘Dogs’ and ‘Ben’s My Friend’ address Kozelek’s problems in a manner more nuanced than simply ‘shaking them off.’ In a climate in which most

Warpaint Warpaint 17 january 2014 Rough Trade

Lana Del Rey Ultraviolence 13 June 2014 UMG Recordings

Swans To Be Kind 12 May 2014 Young God

St Vincent St Vincent 24 February 2014 Loma Vista

Wild Beasts Present Tense 24 February 2014 Domino Records

6 2

Perfume Genius Too Bright 23 September 2014 Matador

The War on Drugs Lost in the Dream 18 March 2014 Secretly Canadian

THE third album from The War on Drugs is a deep and re�lective piece focussing on themes of loneliness and depression following an extensive tour, perhaps referencing some kind of ennui felt after reaching some form of artistic peak. The album is an exquisitely layered and engaging piece despite its potentially melancholic themes. CALLUM BURROUGHS ONLINE EDITOR

albums only have tracks to fill the ‘blank space’ between the singles, Sun Kil Moon have released a record in which every song, every verse and every last word matters. I wanted to do a clever and poetic sign off, but, sadly, I lack the ability to do such a thing, so I’ll repeat: Benji is the best album of the year, and that’s fucking brilliant.

MUSIC

Old New Borrowed Blue HELLO again. The last Hello again. Theme last time you heard from you were confronted time you heard from by a hoard of sinisterly me you were conimposed cutouts of my fronted by a hoard face. I am neither respon-of sible for, nor party to, thiscutsinisterly imposed mass distribution, but I had little outs of my face. I am neither choice to consent. My sincerest responsible nor press party to, apologies. Butfor, we must on. I have plenty of festive cheer the mass distribution of my to shove down your ears and face. I am led to believe that limited column to do it.

it is integral to the artistic vision of Exposé and Old: Chris de Burghmusic, - ‘A Spaceman Came Travelling’ student media as a whole. Apparently, in an interview, Therefore, I have little Chris de Burgh said he wrote this song choice but to consent. You after wondering what it would have my beensincerest like if the star of Bethhave apologies. lehem had been a spacecraft. We Noneteless, we must press feel you, Chris. Screw the festivion. have oftackled festive ties;I it’s timeplenty someone the burning issues. cheer to shove down your ears and limited column New: Clark – ‘Winter inches in which to doLinn’ it. In the absence of any decent new Christmas songs, I figured I’d set-

tle for something winter-themed. Old isn’t the best one on the album, AItbut Spaceman Came Travelit’s the one that’s most about ling – Chris de winter. ApparentlyBurgh a “linn” is a waterfall or precipice. Bet you Apparently, in an interview, didn’t know that? Chris de Burgh said he wrote this song after wondering Borrowed: Micmac – ‘The what it would have Snowman Theme (Rebeen mix)’ like if the star of Bethlehem had been An actual human person has a spacecraft. Wetheme feel actually remixed the from TheChris. Snowman. There’s a you, Screw the drum machine and everything. festivities; it’s time someone Somewhere, a pre-pubescent tackled the Aled Jones is burning crying. issues.

¬New Blue: Blue – ‘Lonely This Clark – Winter Linn Christmas’ Blue never had a Christmas hit. In the absence of any deHowever, they did release a live, cent newback, Christmas songs, I stripped acoustic cover ﬁgured settle some-’ of Mud’sI’d ‘Lonely Thisfor Christmas. Huzzah. It’s on YouTube with thing winter-themed. This some proper snazzy slideshows track liftedand from of baubles shit. Clark’s There’s also a eponymous isn’t live recording,album where you canthe see the lads Santabut hatsit’s andthe a best onewearing on there, fella playing the bongos. There’s a one that’sDuncan most about winter. bit where looks through Apparently a “linn” ismy a wathe camera and right into eyes, and It’s very intense. terfall or points. precipice. Bet you

Advisory | Assurance | Corporate Finance | Tax

ARE YOU FUTURE READY?

We’re preparing the graduates of today for the business world of tomorrow.

Find out more at ey.com/uk/careers

20514399_EY_Semra_297x210_AW.indd 1

If you have the ambition, we will provide the experiences, training and networks to help you get your career off to the best start and put you at the heart of business — globally.

29/07/2014 10:17

PADDON AWARD

THEME: TRANSFORMATIONS CATEGORIES: MUSICAL COMPOSITION,

FILM, CREATIVE WRITING AND VISUAL ART

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES: 16 FEBRUARY 2015

plus the chance to have one-to-one mentoring session at a later date with the judge of your choice

For more information on the competition rules and how to enter visit:

ARTS COMPETITION

PADDON AWARD 2015

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.

OPEN TO STUDENTS, STAFF & ALUMNI OF THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER

LUNCHTIME SPECIAL

£4.99 LARGE PIZZA WITH 1 TOPPING

Collection until 4pm

49 Sidwell Street, Exeter EX4 6NS

Tel: (01392) 42 52 52

Opening Hours: Delivering till 5am 7 days a week, collection till 1am Sun – Thurs & 2am Fri & Sat. Classic and thin crusts as priced, premium bases and crusts will be charged as extra. Not valid with any other offer. Please mention offer when ordering.

SCREEN

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

SCREEN Newsreel

biopic Don’t Let it Go - Frozen Danny sequel Boyle’s inlatest works project on the life of the Apple founder has been dealt a bIIlow Fans of Dithe Caprio musical announces will behis glad resigto hear that be a-snow. nation froma sequel the role.might The actor says he hasn’taway been confi rmed isThough taking aitperiod from acting inofficially yet, star Idina Menzel has stated in Di an interview that the out film defi nitely. Caprio drops is in development, though we’ll have to wait till at least 2017 to see of Jobs biopic an endBoyle’s product. Still, there’son enough Danny latest project the life there for us to feel ice. of the Apple founder has been dealt a blow Di Caprio announces his resignation Film from trailers the role. Theincoming actor says he is taking a period away from acting indefi Nerds nitely. rejoice! This week we were treated to a double helping of teaser trailers for the upcoming Jurassic World and Star Wars VII movies. Both films, which are planned to be released in Summer and Winter 2015 respectively have finally had official footage released which feature, among many other things, giant dinosaurs, barren planets and the much anticipated return of the Millenium Falcon. Certainly our curiosity has been peaked, and you can read Screen’s analysis on our website.

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

SCREEN EDITORS

Josh Mines & Ciaran Willis screen@exepose.com

Is Hollywood mocking us?

Di Caprio drops out of Jobs

MUSIC 20-21

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Screen

Part one: Nicholas Porter looks at Hollywood’s penchant for prolonging franchises THE “Part 1” phenomenon – taking a book or original text, cutting it in two and releasing each �ilm individually – has become popular in recent years, ever since Harry Potter proved it could be done while still making enough money to purchase Luxembourg. It’s largely symptomatic of the larger serialisation dynamic which is populating the movie landscape at the moment; universes and sagas sell better than standalone movies, after all. Why sell one story when you can sell two, or three, or eight?

How many people watch Deathly Hallows: Part One on its own? I’m willing to bet not many

The recent examples of two or three-part adaptations (Deathly Hallows, Breaking Dawn, The Hobbit, Mockingjay) are not, however, selling multiple stories. They are selling one story, divided into multiple �ilms. The fact that all of them are the �inal instalments in already popular �ilm sagas aimed at young audiences implies that the main motivation for this trend is the absolutely absurd amount of pro�it. Now obviously this could be said about any blockbuster; the difference is that this is a creative decision, that’s being made for �inancial reasons, without

any regard for how damaging it is for the story. But is it really damaging?

The creators realise there isn’t material for a two hour �ilm - so they stretch the existing material out Well, here’s a question: how many people watch Deathly Hallows Part 1 on its own? I’m willing to bet on “not many”; it doesn’t hold up without the other half. It loses momentum far too quickly and is stretched far too thinly. It’s all buildup to a climax you’re denied until the next �ilm – in other words, it’s guilty of all the same problems as the other “Part 1”s (In all fairness I haven’t seen the Breaking Dawn �ilms…I’m told they aren’t the exception). The creators realise there isn’t enough material for a two-hour �ilm – so they stretch the existing material out in the name of “world building” or “developing characters” (Hint: you

don’t need two extra hours to do this), �inishing the �ilm on a ham-�isted cliffhanger in order to give the illusion of an ending. Except they aren’t endings, because they don’t end anything. They don’t, in any way, resolve the �ilm that came before them. “To Be Continued” is �ine – exciting even – but it has to be the beginning of a new story, not a continuation of the current one. Even stitching the �ilms together doesn’t absolve the narrative issues.

Giving people what they want is not worth sacri�icing the story People will say that this kind of narrative expansion is what they want – more Middle Earth, more Hogwarts etc. I am simply arguing that maybe giving people what they want is not worth sacri�icing what the story needs. You can read Nicholas’ review of The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 on Exeposé Screen online.

Top ﬁve: Christmas festive favourites

Sabrina Aziz, Copy Editor, picks the �ive �ilmic presents to keep you warm during the Christmas holidays Home Alone

BECAUSE what says Christmas more than a little boy being neglected and abandoned by his family? How the parents managed to retain custody just to forget the poor kid again (see Home Alone 2) baf�les me. In all festive seriousness though, this �ilm is a classic and for good reason. If the sight of Macaulay Caulkin clutching his burning face after shaving isn’t a treasured Christmas memory for you, well then you’re just a bit sad…

Love Actually

YES, we’re going for cheesy. Sorry not sorry. Love Acually is a classic and a masterpiece, fact. It’s got Colin frickin’ Firth in it, for one. Plus Kiera Knightly, Hugh Grant, Mr Bean and that ginger bloke from the BT adverts. Its incredible levels of cheese might not be for everyone, the lactose intolerant stay away, but for the easily pleased ones that enjoy feeling all gooey inside, this one’s for you. Because you know what, love is all around us.

The Grinch

BECAUSE furry, green, anti-festive, half-man half-leek like creatures are fun. And watching them reform and �ind the true meaning of Christmas makes us feel all good and warm inside. Highly underrated, criticised as ‘trash’ by some, this �ilm is surprisingly witty (crude), funny (well, Jim Carrey) and heart-warming (disturbing). It’s one of my faves at least…

Elf

The Mummy

FROM the guy that slayed us in Anchorman and Step Brothers, comes this festive masterpiece. Will Ferrell is on top form as the larger than life elf that journeys from the North Pole to New York in order to �ind his real family, his true home and, basically, the true meaning of Christmas. Although ridiculous in terms of plot and, well, Will Ferrell, this �ilm nonetheless possesses a sweet charm that never seems to turn sour.

OK, I’ll admit that this �ilm has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas per se. But it always seems to be on during Christmas time so we’ll count it. Starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz, the duo must defeat an Ancient Egyptian mummy that they accidentally awaken from the dead whilst in Egypt. No one learns the true meaning of Christmas and there is not one elf in the entire �ilm. But hey, it’s a good movie.

Have yourself an alternative Xmas EXEPOSÉ

SCREEN

www.exepose.com

If you’re tired of all the schmaltzy Christmas classics, why not watch something a little different?

Mark Allison

Die Hard (1988) Director: John Mctiernan Cast: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman, Bonnie Bedelia 131 minutes

DIE HARD is the ultimate Christmas �ilm. When else but Christmas Eve is a better occasion to watch Bruce Willis leap from an exploding skyscraper, clinging to a hose pipe? Established among the greats of eighties action, John McTiernan’s 1988 Die Hard is an unrelenting experience, topped off with wit, humour, and career de�ining performances from Willis as hero John McClane and Alan Rickman as German master criminal, Hans Gruber.

Although bursting with action, Die Hard isn’t lacking in festive cheer Although bursting with action, Die Hard isn’t lacking in festive cheer; set on Christmas Eve, McClane’s slaughter of Gruber and his gang of international terrorists takes place in the midst of a Christmas party, while the soundtrack features a range of holiday favourites including ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘Let it

Snow!’ For anyone tired of carols and good cheer, here’s a Christmas movie with some bite. No Christmas �ilm is complete without an emotional punch, and Bonnie Bedelia as McClane’s estranged wife, Holly, provides some poignant drama amidst the carnage. For those who aren’t instantly enamoured by Bruce Willis blowing away terrorists on Christmas Eve, perhaps this unconventional Christmas romance will provide more of what you expect. In between explosions, anyway. Add to this a plot full of twists and turns, and it’s no surprise that twenty-six years and four sequels later, the original Die Hard is still the king. So, do yourself a favour this winter and give Die Hard a watch for the �irst, second, �ifth, or, in my case, twentieth time. Perhaps it lacks in the sentimentalised overtones of It’s a Wonderful Life, or the snowy backdrop of Home Alone, but Die Hard makes up for any festive shortcomings in spectacle; for anyone looking to add some excitement to their Christm a s , look no further. “Welcome to the party pal.”

Mary Fraser Gremlins (1984) Director: Joe Dante Cast: Zach Galligan, Phoebe Cates, Hoyt Axton 106 minutes

RULE 1: Keep them out of direct light. Rule 2: Don’t give them water, not even to drink. Rule 3: And most importantly, do NOT feed them after midnight. If this sounds more like the set up to a horror �ilm, you’re right. 1984’s Gremlins subverted all ideas of what holiday movies were supposed to be. Gremlins isn’t just any Christmas �ilm; it’s the ultimate alternative Christmas

Christmas turkey

Yyvette Stimson tells us which terrible �ilm she has a soft spot for NATIVITY!: a �ilm featuring terrible acting and even worse comedy. Starring Martin Freeman, in a pitiful role considering his recent acclaim, this movie is an all-round cringe fest. Honestly, it sort of feels like they didn’t even try. Yet it is one of my alltime favourite Christmas �ilms - one that I will watch religiously over and over again. Nativity! is an improvised, mostly un-scripted, comedy about a school teacher Mr Maddens, who is attempting to put on a nativity play at his primary school. He tells one or two little white lies concerning a Hollywood producer ex-Girlfriend which snowball (excuse the pun) out of control. And he’s helped (or hindered) along the way by Marc Wooton, who plays the childlike Mr Poppy.

If you ignore the pretty simplistic plot and horri�ic acting and immerse yourself in the childish humour then you might just enjoy this �ilm. Even though I cringe whenever Mr Poppy opens his mouth (actually whenever most characters open their mouths) i t is a cringe that I enjoy. I really like reminiscing about all the nativity plays I was in as a child and this �ilm helps fuel my nostalgia, even if I squirm along the way. As far as bad Christmas �ilms go, if you’re going to watch something cheesy and juvenile, then

you might as well go for Nativity. I promise that it is heart-warming if you can get past how terrible it is.

�ilm. When most children break the rules of looking after their Christmas pet it ends up in a shoe box in the garden. When Billy breaks the rules of his new pet, a mogwai named Gizmo, he unleashes terror upon his town in the shape of the horrible, reptilian, hard drinking, chain smoking gremlins. Hijinks, hilarity (and a little bit of horror) ensue as the town �ights to stop the gremlins from wreaking havoc and ruining Christmas. Whilst the premise is rather ridiculous, Gremlins embraces this silliness, and drives off into the sunset with it in a pink Barbie Corvette. No other Christmas �ilm involves monsters exploding in microwaves, singalongs to Snow White and The Seven

Dwarves, Santa being attacked by monsters and a monologue by a character about why she hates Christmas (her dad dressed as Santa one year, got trapped in the chimney and died).

How can you not love a �ilm whose hero looks like this? The �ilm is the perfect antidote to the vomit inducing cheesiness of most Christmas �ilms but will still leave you smiling and in the Christmas spirit. After all how can you not love a �ilm whose hero looks like this?

SCREEN ASKS SCREEN ASKS

With the festive season finally upon us, we asked our writers which film character they’d invite to their Christmas parties. John McClane....you’d just feel safe. I don’t think he’d come though. Joni Blyth

Santa Claus. He loves mince pies so he’d fit right in, and have a laugh. Josh Creek

Sven from Frozen, cos reindeers are better than people James Smurthwaite

Kevin from Home Alone - why wouldn’t you want to turn your Christmas party into something of an obstacle course? Plus, he’ll fight away any party crashers. Fran Lowe

A Mogwai from the film Gremlins. No one should be eating after midnight at a decent party anyway. Will Cafferky Edward Scissorhands - he can make ice sculptures, he could do my hair beforehand, and we’d never need to hunt for a bottle-opener. Hannah Butler Edna Mode, because she would make a cracking (bulletproof ) Christmas jumper. Eamonn Crowe

George Bailey - sometimes we just need unbridled optimism and nostalgia around the holidays. Carmen Paddock Jack Frost. White Christmas sorted! Thomas Davies Napoleon Dynamite. - he dances like a drunk octopus. And I respect that. Ciaran Willis

BOOKS

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

BOOKS

Hogwarts at Christmas time will always be my idea of heaven CARMEN PADDOCK The Culture. A society dedicated to the hedonistic enjoyment of everyone in star ships the size of continents. Actually, make that any day. TOM FFISKE The Hunger Games. Take out some essay stress on my peers. RORY MORGAN The correct answer is Narnia. EVAN JONES Any warm setting – Somerset Maugham, Malcolm Lowry, Marquez… JULIAN ISAACS The Weasley’s – Molly would make the best roast, Arthur’s face if you presented him with a cheap Tesco Christmas cracker would be priceless, and who wouldn’t want to awkwardly feed Harry a mince pie? SOPHIE HARRISON The Polar Express. Because it’s cool and snowy. CHARLOTTE MEREDITH Jolly Christmas Postman, Allan Ahlberg. Childhood classic. CHLOE BITCON I’d like to go to Brambly Hedge because they know how to celebrate Christmas. JOSH CREEK

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

BOOKS EDITORS

Natalie Clark & Chloe Glassonbury books@exepose.com LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Books

Natalie Clark, Books Editor, interviews Royal Literary Fund Fellow Jane Corry DO YOU need help with academic writing? Any student from any discipline can book an appointment with one of the Royal Literary Fund Fellows. The fellows are available by of�ice appointment to help with queries and problems relating to the practical aspects of writing. Exeposé Books caught up with fellow Jane Corry about her career as a journalist, author, teacher and writer in residence at a prison.

THIS week we asked which literary world you’d most like to visit for Christmas…

SCREEN 24-25

Academic writing advice

Any Last Words

MUSIC 20-21

You’ve partly made a career out of helping others to write, but how did you re�ine your talent initially? It was a long process. I read English at Reading in the late seventies and then worked on women’s magazines and features pages on newspapers. During that period, I started writing novels. My fourteenth has just been published. As well as this, I have written several non�iction books and short stories. About ten years ago, I took a quali�ication to enable me to teach adult learners and taught a ‘How to write for the mass market’ module at Oxford University. I also speak at literary festivals and

workshops both in the UK and abroad.

Having worked as a journalist before having your �irst novel published, do you have any advice for students hoping to go into journalism? I would advise students to pitch articles to as many publications as possible. It doesn’t matter if you don’t get paid. The important point is to build up a portfolio. Suggest ideas which others might not have thought about: an odd angle or a subject which you are an expert in. Try to stand out. An editor is often in need of specialist writers. Write to newspapers or magazines and ask if you can do an internship. Don’t ignore local papers. They can be brilliant. Do you have a particular creative process or routine? When I’m writing a novel, I write 2000 words every morning as early as possible before phones start to ring. It takes me about four months to write a �irst draft. Then I’ll spend the next three months going through it to look at plot holes; characterisation; dialogue; viewpoint; setting etc. I need complete peace and quiet to write! Are there any authors or books in particular which have particularly inspired you? I have always loved Fay Weldon’s books. I am now lucky enough to count her as a friend. I also enjoy Anne Tyler and Maggie O’Farrell.

When did you know you wanted to write for a living? From as soon as I could pick up a pencil (two to three years old?).

Are you currently working on anything new? Yes. It’s a psychological suspense but I never discuss a novel while I’m writing it. I like to hug it close to me!

You were once the writer in residence in a high security prison - what did this role entail? I went into the prison two days a week for three

years to help men write short stories, novels and life stories. I also brought in outside speakers like Colin Dexter. I thought I would be more scared than I was but I only had four hair-raising experiences. Writing is a great leveller. I forgot I was dealing with men who had committed headline crimes. We were all more interested in stories. Writing can also be a great therapy. The point of my role was to help men face their crimes and to be better citizens Of course the Royal Literary Fund Fellows offer writing advice to all students - not just the humanities. What are the most common problems students come to you with? Sentence structure; planning an essay; sticking to the question; grammar, such as use of the apostrophe; overcomplex words. Never be embarrassed about areas of writing which you feel you should know about such as the apostrophe. We are here to help - and it’s all con�idential.

I forgot I was dealing with criminals. We were all more interested in stories What are your top �ive pieces of writing advice? 1) Structure the essay as though you were telling it like a story. Imagine you are in a radio station for example, being interviewed.

2) Make sure that each paragraph has a different point.

3) Read it out loud - it’s amazing how you can pick up errors through doing this instead of reading from the page.

4) Keep your sentences reasonably short - no longer than two and a half lines.

5) Cut word length by going through your essay line by line and taking out the odd unnecessary word or using one instead of two. Jane writes under various pen names to distinguish between genres. Her latest novels are: Guilty - Jane Bidder After The Honeymoon - Janey Fraser Do You Take This Man? - Sophie King She also writes historical �iction for Italy and Germany under the name Jane Corry.

To arrange an appointment: Mondays & Tuesdays Lorna Thorpe – email L.Thorpe@ exeter.ac.uk Wednesdays Sue Purkiss – email S.Purkiss2@ exeter.ac.uk Thursdays Jane Corry - please sign up on the of�ice door. You can �ind the RLF of�ice in Room 237, Queen’s Building, telephone 01392 72 2450.

EXEPOSÉ

BOOKS

www.exepose.com

If they just love fiction... The First Phone Call from Heaven – Mitch Albom, £7.99, Sphere

If they just love fiction... The Children Act - Ian McEwan, £16.99, Jonathan Cape Ltd

The residents of a small town start receiving mysterious phone calls from heaven. Is it all an elaborate hoax? Or an astonishing miracle?

Leading high court judge Fiona Maye is called to try a case; seventeen year old Adam is refusing the medical treatment that could save his life for religious reasons. Here McEwan deftly explores the values within which religion, law, and marriage operate. You cannot go wrong with this literary heavyweight, and his latest novel is sure to please.

For the Potterhead... Harry Potter: The Creature Vault, £24.99, Titan Books

This is the perfect Christmas present for the diehard Potterhead in your life! Made especially for you by Warner Brothers, this glorious book contains all kinds of exciting material about how the creatures of the Potterverse were brought to life for the big screen. Jam-packed full of concept art, behind the scenes shots and creature profiles, this is a book not to be missed! LAUREL BIBBY

For the feminist... Not That Kind of Girl– Lena Dunham, £16.99, Fourth Estate

Perfect for any fan of American hit TV show The Girls. In an insightful and candid memoir, Lena Dunham gives invaluable life lessons through a series of essays. A young woman tells you what she’s learned with wonderfully witty and intelligent prose.

For the tech enthusiast Beta Life - Eds. Martyn Amos and Ra Page, £12.99, Comma Press

For the kids... Awful Auntie – David Walliams, £12.99, HaperCollins

In this short story collection, 38 scientists have paired up with authors to imagine what the world will look like in 2070. A definite must for any lovers of technology or science fiction.

Lady Stella Saxby is to inherit Saxby Hall, but Aunt Alberta is desperate to claim it for herself. However, armed with her friend Soot, the ghost of a chimney sweep, Stella is determined to fight back. Filled with eccentric characters, and sparkling with humour, this is a great book which they won’t be able to put down.

Books for Christmas Not that kind of Girl – Lena

For the poetry buff... The Rattle Bag - Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney, £16.99 For the foodie... Comfort Food – Jamie Oliver, £30.00, Michael Joseph

As a child I used to love the ‘Match’ annuals that came out every year. The Rattle Bag is nothing like them. But volumes make great gifts. And for those with literary leanings, The Rattle Bag is an absolutely great volume of poetry. Curated by two rock ‘n’ roll legends of British verse – Ted Hughes and Seamus Heaney -- it’s a veritable verbal feast, mixing classics by the likes of W.H Auden and Dylan Thomas with lesser known gems. So, yes, why not give someone an ode this Christmas? CIARAN WILLIS

This is a bumper collection of Jamie’s most lavish and delicious recipes. A far cry from his 15 minute wonders, these are intense recipes meant for special occasions. It’s the ultimate guilty pleasure cook book, with recipes organised into ‘nostalgia’, ‘good mood food’, ‘pick me ups’, ‘rituals’ and ‘sweet indulgence’.

For the chick-lit fanatic... Shopaholic to the Stars – Sophie Kinsella, £18.99, Bantam Press

The Shopaholic series is a musthave for anyone who loves a little bit of romance and comedy. Lovable Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is following her dream to become a celebrity stylist in Hollywood, with husband Luke and daughter Minnie in tow. But will the glitz and the glam live up to expectations?

If they like history... The Churchill Factor – Boris Johnson, £25.00, Hodder

For the Game of Thrones fan... The World of Ice and Fire: The Untold History of Westeros and the Game of Thrones (Song of Ice & Fire) - George R. R. Martin, £30.00, Harper Voyager

Fans of the series will love the never-before-seen insights this untold history offers. Featuring over 170 illustrations and maps, along with family trees and an in-depth explanation of the history and culture of Westeros, the all-new material in this epic book makes it the ultimate companion to Martin’s series. For the crime-fiction lover... The Burning Room - Michael Connelley, £19.99, Orion

Britain’s most entertaining politician, Boris Johnson, explores the brilliance of Winston Churchill one of the most important leaders of the twentieth century. Boris explores the myths surrounding the renowned Winston Churchill, considering what it takes to make a great leader.

A murder-mystery with a twist this victim died ten years after the crime that left a bullet lodged in his spine. Two LAPD detectives work to uncover evidence from years past, and in the process discover politically sensitive secrets.

LAST POSTING DATES BEFORE CHRISTMAS 2014 2ND CLASS & SIGNED FOR 18 DECEMBER 1st CLASS & SIGNED FOR 20 DECEMBER SPECIAL DELIVERY 23RD DECEMBER FAR EAST, ASIA, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND 3RD DECEMBER AUSTRALIA 4TH DECEMBER AFRICA, CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA, MIDDLE EAST 5TH DECEMBER CYPRUS, EASTERN EUROPE, GREECE 8TH DECEMBER CANADA, POLAND 9TH DECEMBER U.S.A 12TH DECEMBER WESTERN EUROPE (EXCLUDING GREECE & POLAND) 13TH DECEMBER

EXEPOSÉ

Expectations Wind howls outside I breathe in a coolness, a Purity. White Blanket chills outside. I wear my red Blanket inside. You arrive And knock on the fifth beat Of my clock bell, hammer And hand. “It’s cold outside” you murmur Breathing frost and noise and steam. Your cold hands as you say it’s time; I get chills. Out to the scrapers, frozen blades thrusting Skywards bleeding shards. Fresh confetti falls, Hailing our union and gathering Followers and haters like muck Spread on freshly furrowed ground. The suits step out and bluster Reaching inwards, a hurried self-embrace. Stepping out, like us, but skating In their freshly woken beasts to escape. The creatures in their glass cages Yap and whine, intemperate About the temperature outside The Goldilocks Zone. We pass skirts and blazers on Street corners – “What does this smiley even mean?! FML.”

Graham Robert Eveleigh introduces Xpression’s Union Road adaptation of Dickens’ classic Christmas tale CHARLES DICKENS’ A Christmas Carol is surely the de�initive Christmas story – which is probably why it has been adapted so many times! This Christmas, Xpression FM’s Union Road are retelling the Scrooge story in reverse: George Lazenby goes from reformed gent back to old miser! How is Exeter’s soap opera playing homage to the Victorian Christmas classic? Originally, the story was retold in Dickens’ own abridged dramatisations, since then, it has been adapted many times, �irst for �ilm in 1901, then subsequently with the likes of Blackadder and The Muppets. Many �ictional franchises have harnessed the story, often because the narrative �its with an existing character. That’s how Union Road’s version came about, by thinking: “George Lazenby is a Scrooge �igure isn’t he?” It is a fairly close adaptation, reversed. The original “God bless us” end, Union Road has at the beginning, with Little Billy (not quite as catchy as Tiny Tim).

I look out at them frolicking gaily running And prancing in the wet white downpour. What do they have to be happy about?

JOSH CREEK

BLANKETS is a book I’d been meaning to read for a while. The front cover immediately struck me: the two teenagers standing, clasped together on a blanket of snow, the background of dark blue trees, the childish scrawl of the title. As someone prone to nostalgia, and a fan of the coming-ofage story, I liked it already. Blankets is actually an autobiographical graphic novel. For those who don’t know what that means, it’s basically a whole book in the style of a comic (an autobiographical one). In it Craig Thompson tells the story of his childhood growing up in Wisconsin, as he goes from a scared

lonely kid, to an emancipated artist in the city. As a child his parents are strict and devoutly religious, and we see the indelible mark this leaves on him as he grapples with the self-doubt and selfloathing caused by this. He’s sexually abused as a child, and at school he’s bullied and alienated. But he seeks refuge from this through drawing and in his imagination; under the blankets in the bed he and his brother share, they �ight off imaginary sharks, casting themselves as adventurers. As he grows up, he �inds solace in his relationship with Raina - a girl he meets at Bible camp. The winter landscape serves as a beautiful backdrop to this blossoming romance, as they earnestly �ind comfort from the cold with each other. Though they’re just two small dots on a wide landscape under the stars, for them their young romance seems broader

Singing an old carol anew

The suits bemoan a lack Of 3G cursing lag Times and “dial-up speed” – antiquated.

Ciaran Willis Screen Editor Blankets Craig Thompson

BOOKS

www.exepose.com

than the winter sky. Yet it’s as �leeting and fragile as a snowdrop. The black and white drawings of Thompson perfectly capture this; they’re brilliantly spare and evocative. Yet they’re also incredibly creative – the use of panels is hugely varied – with imaginative baroque dreamscapes, dialogue boxes taking all shapes and forms, and untethered, whimsical, inventive illustration. It’s an incredible achievement. As Craig suggests at the end, after leaving footprints in the snow: however temporary it is, there’s something beautiful about making your mark. No matter how tenuous, how fragile or �leeting, this book leaves its own mark. And there’s something great about that.

But in the end, will George become a full Dickensian Scrooge, concerned with money over people? The Scrooge character is now a solicitor, not a money-lender. We have excised the Cratchit’s Christmas dinner scene, which brings a bit more cheer to the original tale. Also, rather than showing a terrible vision of his future, his grave, the Scrooge-George is offered the chance of a brighter future.

Because we play it backwards, you see Scrooge fear what he may become Central to the show, though, is the classic image of Scrooge by the �ire, staring into the �lames, originating from John Leech’s seminal illustrations. Our Ghost of Christmas Past is a character long-dead, although not as long as the seven-years-dead Marley.

In the original tale, the dead-character spirit is separate from the spirit of the past, but we have amalgamated the two. This is because Marley’s function is to inform Scrooge that the spirits are coming, whereas our Scrooge-George is more self-aware, and notices this pattern himself, being familiar with the Dickens story! Because we are playing it backwards, you see the Scrooge-George fear what he may become at the start, rather than gradually brighten – Scrooge shows a slow increase in concern for the poor, like in his “Are there no workhouses?” plea. The fact the story has been retold again and again is a testament to its universality – look closer and many works of �iction adopt the Scrooge model of reforming a character via a number of challenging experiences. For the latest rendition, tune in to Union Road: George’s Christmas Carol: Xpression FM, 5.05pm, Wednesday 10 December. God bless us every one!

ARTS

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

Art Arts and Soul: Victorians and the Gothic @ RAMM 22 November - 12 April

Comedy Comedy Club Christmas specials @ Barnfield 10-12 December

Radio Xpression Presents’ Christmas Panto: Cinderella 10 November, 5:30pm

Theatre George’s Marvellous Medicine @ Northcott 9 December - 4 January The Man @ Phoenix 9 December Edgar and the Land of Lost @ BikeShed 16 December - 10 January

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

ARTS EDITORS

Sarah Gough & Bethany Stuart arts@exepose.com

Is pantomime pants?

Arts Diary

MUSIC 20-21

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Arts

With the panto season soon upon us, Kate Burgess, Music Editor, and Hector Fraser debate whether it’s a loveable or laudable tradition WELCOME to the place where Christmas dreams balance precariously on whether Dylan from Woking gets picked to weep half of ‘Old McDonalds’ into his plastic bag of goodies under a manically smiling, dead-behind-theeyes, Buttons. What larks we’ll have, in the name of festive cheer. Now the scene is set, settle down into your seats, apologise to the late comers that tread on your toes, establish where the cretins with a huge packet of Doritos are (so your disdainful glares are accurately placed once the house lights go down), and welcome the two hours of veritable glee that will enrich your Christmas holiday so.

Heck, it’s always heartwarming to see a granny coordinate her out�it with her grandchild Okay, so potentially quite a scathing introduction to a relatively harmless tradition - my scorn stems from the double shifts I did as an usher during panto season. Yes, all the actors are despondent images of frenzied fauxhappiness caked in two-shades-toodark foundation, but the children don’t have to know that, and the O.A.P’s seem to have forgotten. Heck, it’s always heart-warming to see a granny coordinate her out�it with her grandchild and choose chocolate chip over spiced-ginger

for their shared ice-cream in the interval. It reminds me of a simpler time when my granny would take me and my twin each year, when we would sing ‘Always look on the bright side of life.’ A simpler time, when panto didn’t just fall short of its exciting possibilities like its gender-bending dames (still the heteronormative ‘Happily Ever After’) and its moralising tales (still the impetus on consumerist ‘and what are mummy and daddy getting you this Christmas?’). It’s going to carry on whether Grinches like me like it or not, so maybe I should just accept it as it is; a cheery family outing serenaded by squealing kids and whining [insert obscure Drama-school here] graduates. KATE BURGESS

“DOM Jolly is Aladdin in this year’s pantomime!” It’s late November and I’ve just walked past a bus bearing those terrible words. I sigh, because panto season is upon us again, which only means one thing. Everywhere you go, pictures of minor celebrities squeezed into the most painful looking costumes, bearing forced smiles with teeth whitened and eyes glazed. You pause at a bus stop, where Diana Vickers glares down at you, daring you to question whether her portrayal of Tinkerbell in this year’s Peter Pan is a seminal performance, with standing ovations every night, and roses at her dressing room door. We’ve all been to pantomimes when we were younger. Queued for tickets, smelt that funny smell of pathos and despair that per-

vades the seats and stage. The lights go down. A tinkly tune comes on, and BANG, there’s the Genie, looking even more depressed than last year’s Genie at Farnham Arts Club. You sit there in silence, willing it to be over, hoping to do real Christmas treats like eat mince pies and go sledging in the snow.

The most I’ve ever laughed at a panto was when I thought Buttons had fractured his ankle I think the most I’ve ever laughed at a panto was when I thought that Buttons had fractured his ankle on stage. To be fair, he had it coming; roller skates were a terrible idea. Off he went, slowing rolling his way to Cinderella, when suddenly he tripped over a fake wall, his legs �lew up, his arms windmilled, and down he came, a crash, then silence. Of course I wasn’t hoping that he’d been severely injured, but it was quite amusing, and he had a wry smile on his face as he stumbled on for the encore. The next time I go to a pantomime I’ll force a smile and a laugh, but I can’t promise you that I won’t hope someone mucks up, to break the drudgery of this enforced jollity. HECTOR FRASER

The good, the bad and the very heavily sequinned Loosest lead:

Sherrie Hewson as Empress of China New Theatre, Hull 4 Dec - 4 Jan

Best villain:

Craig Revel Horwood as Hook The Orchard, Dartford 12 Dec - 3 Jan

Most astounding fall from fame:

The Hoff as Hook Cliffs Pavilion, Southend 13 Dec - 11 Jan

The campest:

Gok Wan as Godmother Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 13 Dec - 4 Jan

EXEPOSÉ Dan Squire

The Exeter Revue’s Stand Up Saturday M&D Rooms 29 November 2014 ON 29 November The Exeter Revue held their �irst ever stand-up showcase. As a fellow comedian, and someone who is acquainted with the sheer terror of performing comedy, I was keen to see how everyone would fare. Six of the nine comedians were completely new to the scene, making for an interesting mix of styles.

I hope it becomes a regular �ixture for the society - I’ll certainly be returning for more There was a good audience turnout, and despite the repetitive compère the acts �lowed through very well. Ricky J. Freelove struggled to warm up the audience as the �irst comedian, but made a valiant effort and �inished with a great punchline about his mother’s nightwear. Ollie White also had a hard

James Landymore

Icarus in Love The BikeShed Theatre 26 November 2014 EDSON Burton’s new play Icarus in Love offers an eclectic mix of passion, danger and jazz. Firmly rooted in the music scene of 1960s Soho, the audience are immersed in the unstable world of lovers Henri and Reg, who must hide their relationship for fear of being attacked, or even imprisoned.

An eclectic mix of passion, danger and jazz Henri is a Jamaican immigrant who faces the challenge of �inding success in performing on the �ickle nightclub scene whilst attempting to navigate the dual obstacles of his sexuality and race under the shadow of intolerance. This may be surprising, considering the liberalism we now associate with this period in which the Beetles thrived and social change seemed to occur at a rapid pace. Both the script and the production

Arts in the news

ARTS

www.exepose.com

job with understandable nervousness, with too many swearwords detracting at times from the comedy, but his observations were on point and deserve re�inement for his next gig. Jonny Ainslie and Toby Cutt opted for an edgier approach. Both had great moments – Ainslie’s lesbian encounter and Cutt’s tiny mouth made particularly good punchlines – although at times more self-deprecation might have made the political incorrectness more palatable. Overall it was a solid performance from both, with some good punchlines to take forward. Society founder Oli Gilford also pushed the boundaries, but his experience showed in the delivery: he dissected the names of rappers and made observations about vaginas with a con�ident, easygoing style that let the audience forgive the more risqué jokes about race. The only female comedian of the night was Sarah Gough, who held her own with good material about the Christmas market and her effeminate father. Sarah had a lot of supporters in the audience which gave her an extra boost in con�idence, but her material succeed in conveying the extent of repression that gay people encountered in the not-so-distant past. The small space of the Bikeshed’s stage is used well to create an environment that is both intimate and restrictive, underlining the point that characters are trapped in a world that offers limited freedom. Jazz is shown to be the only possible escape from social exclusion. Whilst the nightclub is tolerant of their sexuality, they cannot be liberated outside of this setting. To further encourage the audience to understand this, an original composition, Icarus in Love is sung and reprised throughout this short play, using the metaphor of the mythical character who �lew too high to describe Henri’s wish to be free to live as he wants to be, but can’t because of society’s restrictions. Using all of these techniques to push one point, the play’s message is hardly understated. Occasionally it all feels a bit John Green- when will Augustus from The Fault in Our Stars pop up, appropriately equipped with gi-

Shia LaBoeuf speaks out about being raped whilst performing #IAMSORRY

was strong in its own right. The most successful acts were especially impressive because they were all �irst-time performers. Jack Edwards, Darren Walsh and Marco Roberts all showed distinctive styles and as-

sured stage presence, and delivered some of the best lines of the evening. Jack’s material on strange w o r d s was very c l e v e r, Darren’s intervention for his protestant dog was surreal and original, and Marco’s quip about being the only man in a feminist lecture, probably the joke of the night, was perfectly constructed and delivered. All three had the con�idence of regular performers and the punchlines to back it up: de�initely names to keep an eye out for in future. Overall the Exeter Revue stand-up showcase was a successful event, and I hope it becomes a regular �ixture for the society – I’ll certainly be returning for more.

logue and action; the score is organic in the way it adapts to variations in pace and mood. The play is at its strongest when light, sound and action work seamlessly together. This is most notable when the protagonists experience a homophobic attack: the actors stare vacantly into

Light, sound and action work seamlessly together

ant Icarusesque wings and declare, ‘It’s a metaphor’? Whilst I would argue the play errs on the side of telling rather than showing the message, the multilayered texture of the production is excellent. Music is performed both on and off stage to complement dia-

Albanian installation artist Anri Sala wins Vincent Award

the audience whilst harsh lighting and ominous drumming make us feel uncomfortable and voyeuristic. People looking to explore attitudes to sexuality (and, to a certain extent, race) in the 1960s would certainly �ind Icarus in Love illuminating. Subtlety may elude this production, but given the importance of the plot’s message, this is understandable.

Moscow government kicks out artists from subsidised workspaces

Artistic Licence ‘Tis the season to be jolly so this week we asked: who would YOUR PANTO VILLAIN be and WHY? Bah humbug, let’s spread some festive hate, boo, hiss etc. “Katie Hopkins - because no-one remembers me heckling her at the debate. But I do. ” ADAM SMITH

“Colonel Sanders, dressed as a chicken and being chased by rabid hungry obese people. Karma rules. ” BETHANY STUART “Piers Morgan. Both fundamentally loathsome and easily reduced to a caricature suitable for pantomime.” GARETH ROBERTS

“Farage. I reckon I could take him.” EMMA THOMAS “Peter Andre, in a show where people only ever speak to him about turkey dinosaurs and how much they love their children. See how he likes it.” EAMONN CROWE

“David Cameron - wouldn’t be that different to turning on the news.” GEMMA JOYCE

Poignant photos of Ferguson protests by Johnny Nguyen go viral

National accreditation for private student accommodation endorsed by the Studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guild, the University of Exeter and NUS

Promoting good landlords

through independent checks of properties in the city of Exeter

Positive relationships

a trusted quality mark for positive landlord and tenant relationships

Is your landlord accredited?

and if not, why not? When looking for student housing, always ask

Looking for accredited landlords in Exeter?

come to the Students' Guild Housing Fair on 13 January 2015

exeterguild.com/accredited for a full list of accredited landlords

to find out more about the benefits of the scheme visit

exeterguild.com/accredited

EXEPOSÉ

GAMES & TECH

www.exepose.com

GAMES & TECH FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @ExeposeGames

GAMES & TECH EDITORS

Josh Creek & Adam Smith games@exepose.com

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Games & Tech

Chestnuts roasting on a dragon’s fire “Nobody expects the Dragon Age: Inquisition! Our chief weapons - dragons...” Michael Grif�ith-Dixon

Dragon Age: Inquisition Bioware Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC Out now

DRAGON Age: Inquisition welcomed all consoles to its Medieval party but was shoved to the side by more popular games like Assassins Creed and Call of Duty; who were late to the party, having been to the gym, and only really turned up to drink Dragon Age’s alcohol and steal his girlfriend.

Dragon Age is a Bioware game, so you know the drill; action RPGs with an emphasis on story and decision making. Inquisition toes a nice line between the original Dragon Age game, which favoured the classic RPG style of gameplay, and Dragon Age 2 which focused on action. Inquisition directly follows on from the events of Dragon Age 2 but manages to create an exciting story by having the entire world in peril. Basically there is a hole in the sky and demons are coming through. Playing this game makes you actually feel like the hero who is the only

one with the wit, intellect, skill and natural prowess to save the world.

Basically there is a hole in the sky and demons are coming through

As ever with Dragon Age you can wander through the story autolevelling up your companions, always play as yourself... or you can go full D&D nerd and spend hours hunting down ram hide to craft the perfect breaches for the glass-cannon Rogue in your party, so that she deals 3.8 per

cent more frost damage, and her ass still looks good in the tactical camera. On this account Inquisition does a good job of simplifying some aspects of upgrading gear and levelling up to make the game more approachable for new players. The real pros and cons of Inquisition come down to if you have played a Dragon Age game before. If, like me, you have you will love this game. I’ve slept with Dragon Age before and I had fun last time but this time everything is prettier. Although the size of the world can be daunting and the number of quests

and things to do can seem like a bit much, this is the �irst time we have really been able to explore the world of Thedas. But if you are new to the series you will likely not care about the world, its politics or the characters, which really lets the game down. If this is your �irst RPG Inquisition can go too big and too deep into its own lore. But I don’t know if it is strong enough for the 90 hours that need to be invested to �inally hit that climax.

Los Santos Clause is coming to town Jack England thinks Rockstar’s remastering is grand (theft auto) Grand Theft Auto V Rockstar Games Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC Out now

LOS Santos is a world of sun, sex and satire; from stealing a plane mid-air to climbing to the top of Mt. Chiliad and spending the night under the stars with a lucky lady and a pile of methamphetamine – and I love it. Every single feature, from FirstPerson mode to the updated target-

ing modes are all easily explained to new players, and on PS4 Rockstar cleverly use the touchpad as the method of changing the camera (and the light bar on the front of the controller to �lash red and blue when police are chasing you). With the ingenious First-Person mode, all of your criminal activities suddenly seem even more so. It just feels so much worse beating up a man, stealing his car and then

shooting down police of�icers when it’s through your own eyes. GTA V pulls off the feeling of horrible guilt and should be praised for it. The city feels more real - a dense pedestrian population and the number of cars on the road do make you feel like you’re actually there in Los Santos – which makes a nice break from wet and cold Britain, if you’re willing to put up with a couple of mur-

ders and bank robberies. Unfortunately, as someone new to the series, I found the driving controls quite dif�icult to get used to, especially while driving and shooting. For you online fans, there’s good news there as well. The world player count has been bumped up to 30,

meaning even more of your friends can go on rampages across the city with you, plus, your last-gen online pro�ile can be carried over to current-gen. So don’t feel guilty about buying that new console. I must recommend GTA V; it is amazingly polished, it plays amazingly well and is a whole lot of fun.

GAMES & TECH

NEWS 1-7

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

All I want for Christmas is Q The naughty list

Adding the Persona touch this holiday

Adam Smith Games & Tech Editor Persona Q: Shadow of the Labrynth Atlus Nintendo 3DS Out Now

WHAT do a robot, a blond boy in a teddy costume, a cybernetic dog, and a handful of one-note teenagers that can summon battle spirits have in common? Apart from all having featured in my pubescent nightmares, they’re all characters in Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth, the new game from Atlus and Nintendo. Person Q is a JRPG crossover of the Persona 3 and Persona 4 game neither of which I have played. New players will be a tad bemused as to how children can summon strange humaniods or ‘Personas’ to �ight dis�igured creatures or ‘Shadows’ after being stuck in a magic lift that crashes in a Culture Festival of an otherwordly school. And in true JRPG fashion, after playing this game for seven hours, I still do not understand the plot. The

�irst level being set in an uncanny Alice In Wonderland labyrinth, which is a staple for bad narrative, has led me to believe the entire story is a writeoff, especially when the dialogue trees and cutscenes take up two hours of the game.

After seven hours, I still don’t understand the plot The gameplay is marginally above average, but nothing particularly special. You control a team of �ive characters each with special skills and abilities in relation to their ‘Persona’ that are effective or weak against certain enemies. Think Pokémon, but using your entire party at once. Alas, the battle segments are let down by the choir-rock music that gets annoying after ten minutes and drives you insane after one hundred. While there is a ‘Rush’ button that will perform default attacks from all characters, the difference in power between you and your opponents means that you will almost certainly end up attacking instead of healing at that critical moment.

The game is somewhat redeemed by the tile-based exploration feature between battles, similar to Legend of Grimrock, in which you use the touchscreen to draw your map and receive bonuses for stepping on every square. It’s an idea that could have been implemented well, if not for the JRPG genre getting in the way. In order to escape a battle, rather than there be a handy button, players have to either select ‘Escape’ for each of their characters, or risk being trapped by the Shadows. And eventually you will need to escape, because between the �irst and second level the power creep is very noticeable - the inevitable Game Over screen bringing a condescending and unexplained poem, and worse, means you have to sit through yet more cutscenes. It’s a shame that the cutscenes are so frequent, because the characterisation of each different member of your team is quite varied. They get equal screen time and so could be endearing, were they not all so gratingly one dimensional. And really, ‘grating’ sums up the entire game. In the �irst few hours I was optimistic and ready to sink a lot of time into this game. Unfortunately, the repetitive gameplay will wear all but the most dedicated players down, and it lacks the charm that encourages RPG players to keep playing.

33-35

From hero to zero - the Grinch’s games Josh Mines Screen Editor

Guitar Hero: On Tour for DS The game required a ‘guitar grip’ to play - a tacky mini fret board and was a pain in the wrist when playing music from your Dad’s records. The game is so �laky it made me want to throw my DS to the ground in a Noel Gallagher-esque tantrum.

Cat Mario

A platformer where EVERYTHING is a one hit KO and half the obstacles aren’t even visible until they hit you. Most players will probably break their keyboard before they get anywhere close to actually �inishing this hell-spawn of a game.

Flappy Bird

Need I say more? Despite my high score of 127 I still hated almost every minute I played of this game. I would rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty spoon than ever play this game again.

Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing

Awful collision detection, ludicrous physics and questionable grammar; there’s nothing good to say about this game. A bizarre third person racer, the game isn’t just broken; it’s un�inished to the point that it’s unplayable. There’s still something endearing about the “you’re winner!” message if you endure long enough to �inish.

Sim City

The tutorial tells you nothing about how the game’s mechanics work, so it’s up to you to �igure everything out. Plus it’s just plain boring; the only positive was being able to send down giant robots to destroy the shitty city.

Bugging around the Christmas tree

Evan Jones reports on Ubisoft, Microsoft and Sega’s broken news “A DELAYED game is eventually good, but a rushed game is forever bad.” These wise words spoken by video gaming visionary Shigeru Miyamoto, creator of Super Mario Bros., provided a simple mantra for game development. How disappointing then to see headlines about major releases such as Assassin’s Creed Unity, Halo: The Master Chief Collection and the Sonic Boom games being riddled with bugs, glitches and broken mechanics at launch. With no repercussions to the publishers whatsoever - they’ll all probably sell by the bucket-load regardless. Some publishers gave formal responses, ranging from unsatisfactory to downright pathetic; Microsoft who “apologise that you’re experiencing... issues.” Being unable to admit they have released an HD collection of four videogames, not with “issues”, but an entirely broken online play

mode, despite all four games individually launching with functioning online modes years ago is very poor. However, given Ubisoft’s response to the glitchy mess that is Unity, perhaps we should be grateful that Microsoft even used the word apologise in their statement. Instead of providing any form of compensation, or apology Ubisoft decided to provide a continuously updating blog about all the patches they’ve released and act like this is what we paid £40 for all along. Worst of all, we have Sonic Boom: Rise of Lyric. Suspicions were raised when reviewers weren’t receiving copies of the game before release, so it was unsurprising to �ind on launch

day that the game had a broken camera system, sluggish controls, stuttering frame rates and a glitch that allows you to jump inde�initely, which speed runners have exploited to beat the game in under an hour. The Sega marketing team collectively weeping into their hands is not quite the sound Sonic Boom wanted to make.

There’d be outrage if people sold books with chapters missing Sony’s Driveclub, an online-focused driving game, has been broken for over a month since launch. The large number of patches needed to make Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare playable is amazing. Whilst these are by no means the �irst instances of broken videogames at launch, it is sadly self-evident from this dismal display of unpolished products rushed out for Christmas that the

gaming industry has a major issue. The practice of releasing something that is incomplete or not functioning satisfactorily has become commonplace among major game publishers. It shows that they regard videogames, not as a product that should be working and ready on launch, but as a service where they continue to patch and �ix the game after releasing it at the point of optimal revenue return. There would be outrage among the public if people knowingly sold books with chapters missing or cars without vital components, but the videogame industry, the largest entertainment industry in the world, appears to have its own rulebook. We shouldn’t preorder titles from companies with a history of half�inished

releases, we shouldn’t be ‘grateful’ for ending up with less than what was promised and we shouldn’t be complacent with owning broken games no matter how recent the launch was. Industry change starts with consumers. Now where did I put my Gamecube?

EXEPOSÉ

GAMES & TECH

www.exepose.com

Puzzle Christmas Special Across:

Answers:

Down: 1 Cidery, 2 Rabbi, 3 Shindigs, 4 Muppet, 5 Stew, 6 Dieting, 7 Yatter, 12 Rib cages, 14 Gremlin, 16 Boxing, 17 Tinsel, 18 Season, 21 Piano, 22 Mess.

Across: 1/6 Christmas Day, 8 Dubai, 9 Present, 10 Reindeer, 11 Wine, 13 Agog, 15 Iago, 19 Oven, 20 Mince pie, 23 Illness, 24 Glass, 25 Gin, 26 Salt spoon.

Sudoku #6 and Crossword #69 by Alfred

1/6) Public holiday in December (the 25th?) (9,3) 8) Largest city in the United Arab Emirates (5) 9) Bounty (given on 1 Across 6 Across?) (7) 10) Comet and Cupid, say - night workers before 1 Across 6 Across? (8) 11) Drink (in red or white?) (4) 13) Excited (4) 15) Othello’s enemy in Shakespeare’s play (4) 19) Small furnace (for making 20s?) (4) 20) 1 Across snack I pen mice (anagram) (5,3) 23) Disease (7) 24) Beaker (for 25 and other drinks at 1 Across?) (5) 25) Alcoholic beverage - card game (3) 26) Old way to 18 your food - pass on lot (anagram) (4,5)

Where’s Wally?: Forum Edition Beginner:

Expert:

Down:

1) Dry ice (anagram) - tasting of an alcoholic, apple-based drink (6) 2) Teacher of Judaism (5) 3) Lively parties hid signs (anagram) (8) 4) Fool (slang) - Kermit, say (6) 5) Cook - casserole (4) 6) Slimming (after 1 Across lunch?) (7) 7) Try tea (anagram) - chatter (Scots) (6) 12) Rice bags (anagram) - walls in chests? (3,5) 14) Mischievous, malevolent creature (7) 16) Combat sport - with 6 Across, another public holiday in December (6) 17) Decorative material (for the 1 Across tree?) (6) 18) Time of year - at 1 Across, ‘tis the time to be jolly! (6) 21) Keyboard instrument (5) 22) Chaos (4)

Riddles 1) A smooth dance, a ball sport, a place to stay, an Asian country, and a girl’s name. What’s her name? 2) Alone I am 24th, with a friend I am 20. Another friend and I am dirty. What am I? 3) Two men find an old gold coin and want to have a coin toss with it to decide who gets it. The only problem is the coin is heavier on one side so it comes up heads more than tails. What is a fair way for the men to toss the coin and decide who gets the coin?

Answers: 1) Juliet 2) The letter ‘x’ 3) They just have to flip it twice. They call the first toss either heads or tails, then the next toss they automatically pick the opposite (i.e. if one man calls heads on the first flip, he automatically picks tails on the second and vice versa). If they both win one toss (a tie) out of the two, they just have to repeat until one of them wins both tosses. Photos: Gemma Joyce

FreshersExposeAdvert.pdf

CMY

09/10/2014

08:37

EXEPOSÉ

SPORT

www.exepose.com

Captain’s Corner This week, we chatted to EULHC 1s Captain Kathryn Lane about role models, training and her future HOW does it feel to lead the team this year? Great. I’m really proud to lead an amazing group of girls. Everyone is really helpful when anything needs doing and I don’t know what I’d do without my Vice Captain Izzy Grigg. We have a really high team morale this year and everyone gets on so well, it makes my job much easier!

How is your season going so far? We’ve had a really good start to the season, topping our table and we’ve not lost a game yet... �ingers crossed I’ve not just jinxed it!

What are your aims and expectations for this season? I’d love to be able to win our league and get to the BUCS �inal. A gold medal would be incredible.

Who are the players to look out for on the team? Previously mentioned Vice Captain Izzy Grigg, fresher forward Meg Crowson and the ever consistent Nat Capel. What big games do you have coming up? We have actually already played our

such a family feel and everyone is welcome, whether a social member or a �irst team player. I will miss it when I leave!

there will be some cheesy tunes on. Avoiding the wrath of Beef (Head of Strength and Conditioning) is also a factor!

What is your favourite part about the sport and EULHC? EULHC is without a doubt one of the best clubs I have been a part of. It has

What motivates you to get up and train? Early morning gym sessions are made so much easier when I know the whole team will be there and

What are your aspirations for after university? I’d love to go on and work in an international business dealing with Spanish clients (hopefully lots of trips to Spain) while continuing to play hockey at a high level.

This allowed for a competitive match, resulting in a draw after a last minute goal from the Bristol side. Exeter’s two novice teams played very well across the weekend, winning both of their games against their respective upper (Georgie Reeves, Kio Briggs and Rosie Cook) and lower (Peter Philips, Georgie Warden, Pippa Sheehan and Rachael Kelleher) division teams. This weekend was the �irst time most of EUPC’s novices made the step up from beginner level, and they rose to the challenge, forming two very strong sides. The unquestionable highlight of the weekend was the open match, played by EUPC President Charley Howell, Francisco Acosta and Matias Bertola. Acosta and Bertola had never played in the arena before and com-

peted for Exeter at the highest level of university polo. The match was a fantastic success for the Exeter team, with a �inal score of 19–8. It was a truly thrilling game to watch, and a brilliant end to EUPC’s �irst tournament of the year. This hasn’t been the only competition for EUPC so far this year, with Exeter being the only university to enter two teams in the 2014-15 Exeter Cup University League at Druids Polo Club in Wiltshire, a competition which attracts the strongest novice university teams from across the country. Exeter A, lead by Charley Howell, started strongly in League A, easily beating a mixed team from Kings College London and Bristol Law School. Unfortunately, they could not continue their winning streak and suffered close losses to both a Combined Uni-

biggest game against Cardiff who were second in the table. But we will also have a tough match next week against Oxford Brookes. After Christmas when cup games start they will all be huge games in the knockout stages. How long have you been playing for? Around 12 years now.

What has been your greatest sporting achievement to date? Going to the European Championships with England U21’s last summer.

Who is your role model? Jessica Ennis-Hill is a huge inspiration.

EUPC dominate Bristol in Varsity P��

Annabel Goulding & Lara Hopkins EUPC members Annual Varsity Tournament winners IN the last weekend of November Exeter University Polo Club faced Bristol in their annual Varsity tournament. Exeter reigned supreme, not losing a game during the whole competition and showing incredible strength of players in the opening match to win 19-8. EUPC were well represented for the �irst tournament of the year, with a huge number of people signing up to play for Exeter; a true re�lection of how much new talent has entered the club.

With Exeter beginners outnumbering those from Bristol, the tournament began with an Exeter friendly match. It was a great opportunity for the Exeter freshers to get their teeth into a real match situation without too much pressure for their �irst real tournament introduction.

It was a great opportunity for the Exeter freshers to get their teeth into a match situation Varsity beginner team Annabel Goulding, Matt Le Brocq and Gareth Sims had a tougher clash than anticipated against Bristol, with the opposition including some very strong riders.

versity team and UWE, when �ielding slightly less experienced members.

The match was a roaring success, with a �inal score of 19-8 Exeter B, however, have been progressing very strongly , winning their �irst two matches against Cardiff and Hartbury in dominant fashion with teams that included Lara Hopkins, Crissy-Louise Bowler, Karina KauteBrown and Peter Philips. If they can continue this run of form they will be in a strong position for the playoffs, which take place in March, and will have a chance of lifting the cup.

SPORT

NEWS 1-7

The best of BUCS Selected results from BUCS matches played on 3 December 65 76

Football Men’s 1s Cambridge

1 0

Men’s 2s Southampton 2s

0 0

Golf Exeter 1s Buckinghamshire New

5 1

Hockey Men’s 1s Oxford

1 0

Men’s 2s Gloucestershire

2 0

Women’s 2s Gloucestershire

1 0

Lacrosse Men’s 1s Oxford Women’s 2s St Marks and St Johns

7 14 45 3

Netball Women’s 4s Plymouth 2s

33 27

Women’s 6s Winchester 2s

50 33

Rugby Union Men’s 1s Swansea 1s

87 13

Men’s 2s Bath 2s

24 32

Tennis Men’s 1s Oxford

12 0

Women’s 1s Cardiff Met 1s

10 2

Women’s 3s Bath 2s

EUNC 2s unbeaten N�� Liz Nicholson

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

Fresh 1s batter Swansea 33-35

EURFC 3s cruise past their Welsh opposition 63-10 in the last game of the term

EUNC Social Secretary

Basketball Men’s 1s Buckinghamshire New

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

8 4

EUNC 2s Bath 3s

35 27

THE Exeter Netball 2s continued their winning run in a highly anticipated top of the table clash against Bath. Playing in unfamiliar territory, they overcame the Blues 35-17, putting in a strong all around team performance. The Greens started slowly, allowing Bath to quickly take hold of the game and pull away to a three goal lead. This was a rude awakening for the Exeter girls who soon realised they could not be complacent. Shooters Holly Walton and Jessy Firth stepped up their attacking game, �inding the net time after time, allowing them to take the lead. At the end of the �irst quarter Exeter had managed to throw Bath off their game, pulling away to a 10-5 lead. The second quarter continued in the same vein. The girls managed to keep their lead, consistently outwitting the opposition’s defensive zone. At the end of the 15 minutes, they had extended their lead to six points. After a half-time huddle, the Green Machine came back on court with renewed energy. The communication was noticably improved as the girls continued netting goals and with Lauren Walker-Elias picking balls out of the air in defence, the team conceeded very few goals. This third quarter proved to be the turning point of the match and at 33-15 they thought the game was already won. However, the Blues had different plans and came out determined to clinch the win. As Exeter let their standard drop, Bath produced some stunning netball, holding the Greens to only two goals. Yet, it was ultimatley too little too late and the home team were unable to close the lead, leaving the �inal score at 35-27 to Exeter. Standout performer and Captain Franchesca Smith commented: “As a new squad this year, the team has fused together seamlessly. The real strength in depth we have has signi�icantly contributed to our success.” The EUNC 2s remain unbeaten in their league and are through to the quarter �inals of the cup competitition. This is the best performance over one term the EUNC 2s have produced in over three years. If they are able to carry this quality of play forward into 2015 they look set to top the league this season and cause some serious damage in the cup.

>> Fresher Jordan Purton in action for EURFC at Topsham. Photo: Edwin Yeung

M��’� R�� Emmott Leigh Sports Team

EURFC 3s Swansea 2s

63 10

EXETER’S Fresher side continued their impressive season by slaughtering Swansea 63-10, in a match that saw �ly-half Charlie Wicks amass 28 points single-handedly. The game began surpisingly as Swansea caught Exeter off guard to take the lead, courtesy of a penalty. However, the Greens were soon able to assert their in�luence when Blandford and Wicks set off in consecutive line breaks to put themselves in the opponents’ 22. Wicks was soon given the ball again and �lew towards the line, barrelling through a tackle in the process of charging over the line before converting his own try.

Turton intercepted a poor Swansea pass to score unchallenged Although Exeter had stolen the lead, the pace of the game began to slow as a result of a few territory kicks. However, it was not long before

the full-back Matias Galuccio ramped up the tempo, running 50m before attempting a cheeky grubber kick. Exeter were nearly through again, as Ned Warne impressed with a strong carry up to the 5 metre line. However Swansea were almost the bene�iciaries of this when they came close to capitalising on an errant pass for an interception try, but it was adjudged to have been knocked on. The Green Machine began to pull ahead as Jordan Turton cruised over the line, having looked like doing so in several line-breaks. Despite their success, the side were beginning struggling to retain possession of the ball in the rucks - had they done so, the score might well have reached 100. Exeter almost found themselves scoring the third try on two occasions; one was an excellent move spoiled by a forward pass, and the other a close opportunity for Galuccio. Finally, Exeter were able to surprise Swansea by popping the ball up from the side of a ruck to hooker Oscar Page, of�loading over to Wicks, who touched down. After the conversion, his points tally stood at an impressive 16. Exeter’s domination of the match continued, but they were only able to score once more before the end of the half, another try for Turton, who intercepted a poor Swansea pass to score

unchallenged. At the beginning of the second half, the �loodgates were well and truly opened. Even though Exeter’s �irst score of the half (�inished off by scrumhalf Rory Christopher) was somewhatdubious due to a clear obstruction in the build-up, it hardly mattered after the hailstorm of tries that followed. The next two both directly involved inside centre Ned Warne; �irstly, he cut through the middle of the pitch and of�loaded in the tackle for Galuccio to score, then he managed a try himself from another Wicks break.

Fly-half Charlie Wicks amassed 28 points single-handedly Swansea scored a consolation try, but there was enough time for second row Luke Hattam and Captain Matt Blandford to put the icing on the cake. All seven tries had been converted by Wicks, and he scored two of them himself. The Green Machine are now leading the BUCS Western 1a Division, and will be hoping to continue their superb season with a win next week against bottom of the table Cardiff Metropolitan 3s.

EXEPOSÉ

EULHC defeat Oxford EULC to extend lead at the top win 31-0 SPORT

www.exepose.com

W��’� L��

Sophy Coombes-Roberts Sport Editor

EULC 1s Southampton

>> Nat Capel threatens the Oxford defence during EULHC’s 2-1 win. Photo credit: Natasa Christofidou

W��’� H��

Freddie Turner

Online Sport Editor ELHC 1s Oxford

2 1

EULHC overcame Oxford 2-1 in what was a close fought encounter, maintaining their unbeaten record and BUCS Premier South dominance. They were thankful to defender and ViceCaptain Izzy Grigg for the win, who was in�luential in both goals, scoring the �irst and creating the second, both from short corners. In the opening exchanges, it was the visitors Oxford who enjoyed the lion’s share of possession, as they showcased some good movement to build some well worked chances. Indeed, they forced Exeter goalkeeper Ella Jackson into a couple of smart saves with her feet. Exeter responded well and were able to create their �irst chance of the game, which came via Hannah Grif�iths. Her reverse stick shot looked destined for the top corner, only for Oxford’s keeper to foil her. Exeter did not have to wait long for the opening score as they earned a penalty corner in the next play. A well-worked routine was initially well defended but the rebound fell to Grigg who slapped with thunderous velocity through the oncoming defenders to �ind the back of the net. Grigg was enjoying a stellar perfor-

mance, with the majority of her work coming in defence. She helped marshal the backline superbly and made a number of important tackles. Naomi Gray was also impressing alongside with some telling interceptions. As the game played out there was little between the two sides, with both enjoying spells of possession and creating a few half-chances. Exeter’s attacking duo of Grif�iths and Meg Crowson were looking potent and persistently troubling the Oxford defence. However, Oxford were also threatening in attack.

Grigg slapped with thunderous velocity through the oncoming defenders to �ind the back of the net This threat manifested in an important equaliser just before the break. A counter attack allowed an attacker to get in behind the Exeter defence. The Oxford player kept her composure to round the keeper, before squaring the ball for her teammate to de�lect into an empty net. The game was left delicately poised at 1-1 at the break. which was certainly a fair re�lection of a very even �irst half. After surviving an early Oxford short corner, Exeter came out with some fresh impetus in the second half.

Forward Crowson began to see more of the ball and some fanciful stick work meant she was able to create numerous opportunities. Only Oxford’s keeper denied her a magni�icent solo effort, after a mazy run and �irm shot. Some more skilful work from Crowson won Exeter only their second short corner of the game and once again it proved fruitful. The goal was remarkably similar to the �irst, as a different short corner routine once again found its way to Grigg inside the D. She unloaded a trademark slap across the face of goal and amidst the melee the ball was de�lected into the net by Hannah Grif�iths. Buoyed by their lead, Exeter continued to dominate proceedings in the second half. Captain Kathryn Lane became more in�luential as the game unfolded, reading the game superbly to both intercept and distribute with composure. For the majority of the half the defence appeared un�lustered whilst Grif�iths continued to provide the perfect outlet with a number of piercing runs through the heart of the Oxford defence. It was only during the �inal �ive minutes of the game that Oxford were able to mount any real pressure on the Exeter goal, as they went all out in search of an equaliser. Two probing balls hit into the D signalled danger but were successfully dealt with. However, just on the whistle, Oxford created a glorious chance and it was

left to Jackson to keep Exeter ahead with a brilliant diving save down low. The rebound resulted in Oxford being awarded a short corner just as the whistle blew. After much deliberation, Oxford opted for a simple routine which forced Jackson into a much simpler save. The rebound did beat the keeper, but �ittingly player of the match Grigg was able to clear off the line and end the game. All in all it was a deserved win for Exeter, who were the better side in the second half. However, they were pushed all the way by their plucky opponents. The win was EULHC’s seventh from eight this season, leaving them 12 points clear at the top of the table with only two games remaining.

BUCS Women’s Hockey Premier South

P W D L Pts Exeter 1s

8 7 1 0 22

Bristol 1s

7 3 1 3 10

Oxford 1s

7 3 0 4

Cardiff 1s

6 3 0 3

Bath 1s

7 2 0 5

Oxford Brookes Photo: Jay Stone 1s

7 2 0 5

31 0

THE Exeter Women’s Lacrosse 1s produced 60 minutes of faultless play at Topsham, as they demolished Southampton 31-0. Currently sitting in a three-way tie with Bristol and Oxford for second place, the team went out with the target of accumulating a signi�icant goal difference. The Exeter side started strongly right from the start with fresher Ellie Roberts dominating the draw controls from the defence wing. After a seamless transition in the mid�ield, Welsh international Lottie Van-Praag found the back of the net within the �irst minute of the game. Exeter didn’t let up throughout the whole match and continued to build on their goal tally as Southampton gained possession just twice in the �irst half, meaning the Green defence saw very little of the ball. This resulted in a half time score of 14-0. Playing at the centre, Katie Butcher continued the �lurry of goals, scoring a hat-trick in the �irst �ive minutes of play. Exeter’s mid�ield transition was also impressive and Charlotte Gibbon produced a standout play, bringing the ball down safely and of�loading to Cathy Taylor who was free right in front of goal to �inish. There were plenty of notable performances in the attacking unit. Third year Ellie Kermode scored four goals and assisted three, giving her the overall points lead. Van-Praag scored an impressive six, whilst Butcher and Taylor netted �ive each and �irst year Ailie Groom converted her �irst free position shot. The de�lated Southampton team looked visably relieved when the �inal whistle blew, leaving the �inal score at 31-0. Although the match obviously demonstrated the depth in Exeter’s attack, it also showcased an impenetrrable defencive unit who did not concede a single goal all game. Still sitting joint second, the girls will have to wait and see if this goal difference is enough to give them the edge going into their �inal two games which will decide the overall standings of this intensely close league.

SPORT

NEWS 1-7

SPORT

COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 17-19 12-15 8-11

MUSIC 20-21

SCREEN 24-25

BOOKS 26-29

ARTS 30-31

GAMES & TECH

33-35

SPORT 37-40

8 DECEMBER 2014 |

EXEPOSÉ

SPORT EDITORS

James Beeson & Sophy Coombes-Roberts sport@exepose.com

LIKE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Exeposé Sport

A winning week in winter << FULL REPORTS INSIDE:

A fantastic week for Exeter’s sporting elite with wins in Hockey, Netball, Lacrosse, Polo and Rugby >> Clockwise from top left: Ellie Kermode is triumphant after her fourth goal, Aine Wright at the EUPC Varsity, EURFC Fresh 1s’ Simon Linsell leaps for the ball, Netball 2s celebrate an undefeated term, EULHC 1s’ Nat Capel in action against Oxford. Photos: Edwin Yeung, EUPC, Edwin Yeung, Holly Walton and Natasa Christofidou

In this issue of Exeposé Sport...

Captain’s Corner: EULHC’s Kathryn Lane Page 37

EURFC Fresh 1s topple Swansea 63-10 For the latest BUCS Page 38 content go online