Issue 681 26 February 2018 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 681 26 FEB 2018 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Only one candidate for VP Education

Image: Owain Evans

Megan Davies News Editor

Owain Evans Editor

changes to our pension benefits came into effect less than two years ago. Since then, there’s been one set of data about how the pension fund is progressing, and we’re told there’s a massive deficit, but what we’re not told is that in that interventing two year period that deficit has been reduced by a quarter. “They don’t tell you that three years into a 17 year recovery plan, we’re more than on track to fill in that deficit. The changes are working.”

HIS year’s Guild Election sees only one candidate running for the position of VP Education, and fewer candidates compared to last year in all but one Sabbatical position. Warren Bingham-Roberts is the only candidate for the position of VP Education. This is, however, the first time there have been this many candidates for Societies Council - only the role of Recreation Rep is still vacant. This has come after feedback from the October elections about involving students in promoting the elections. According to the Guild, this grass-roots involvement has “driven engagement” with both the Academic Executive positions and the Societies Council positions. The number of candidates for Guild President has gone down from eight last year to three this year, that for AU president has dropped from six to three, that for VP Welfare & Diversity has dropped from eight to three. Only VP Activities didn’t see candidate numbers change. Several candidates dropped out before the beginning of Sabb week, with one position losing half its candidates. There will be no election for postgraduate Sabbatical representatives this March, as the decision to replace them with a single officer was criticised by the postgraduate community and by members of Shadow Council.

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UCU Strike begins

CADEMICS across all of Exeter’s campuses have taken to the picket lines as talks have still yet to resume over the ongoing pensions dispute, leading to approximately one-third of contact hours being disrupted on its first day. The strike, led by the University and College Union (UCU), claims to be in defence of their “right to a fair pension”. Action began on the Exeter based cam-

puses on Thursday 22 February, with pickets forming at Streatham Drive, Stocker Road and Thornlea, as well as St Lukes campus and at Wonford.

The last changes to our pension came into effect less than two years ago

Barrie Cooper, UCU Exeter Branch President

Afterwards, those on the picket lines took part in a march through the City Cen-

SABB ELECTIONS Your complete guide to this year’s candidates PULLOUT

tre to St Sidwells Community Centre. The lecturers were joined in solidarity by representatives from the Fire Brigades Union, the Trades Union Council, National Union of Teachers, the Women’s Equality Party and the Socialist Party. Many students also joined the march, brandishing signs proclaiming their support. According to estimates by the UCU’s Exeter branch, at least 250 people attended their rally. In it, the UCU’s Branch President, Barrie Cooper, attacked the changes to pensions that led to the strike, saying: “the last

LIFESTYLE

After #MeToo: challenging sexism in the modern age PAGE 19

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Editors Print: Owain Evans & Emma Bessent Deputy: Tash Ebbutt & Graham Moore Online: Phoebe Davis & Ollie Lund editors@exepose.com News Editors Print: Megan Davies & Natalie Keffler Online: Nicky Avasthi & Ruby Bosanquet news@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: Alicia Rees & Malcolm Wong Online: Harry Bunting & Hannah Weiss comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: James Angove & Isabel Taylor Online: Matthew Phillips & Daphne Bugler features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Lauren Geall & Barbara Balogun Online: Bethan Gilson & Melissa Barker lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Mubanga Mweemba & Maddie Davies Online: Ellie Cook & Emily Garbutt artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Alex Brammer & Maddy Parker Online: Chloë Edwards & George Stamp music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Ben Faulkner & Fenton Christmas Online: Johnny Chern & Molly Gilroy screen@exepose.com Science Editors Print: Gabriel Yeap & Luke Smith Online: Ayesha Tandon & Rhys Davies sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Dorothea Christmann & Wil Jones Online: Michael Jones & Kieran Jackson sport@exepose.com Photographers Christy Chin & Léa Esteban photography@exepose.com Copy Editors George Pope, Jaysim Hanspal and Eloise Hardy Proofers

George Pope, Jaysim Hanspal, Eloise Hardy, Rhiannon Moore, Ish Gurung, Theo Cox Dodgson, James Angove, Jaimie Hampton, Niamh Elstone, Charlotte Forrester, Isabelle Gray, Aaron Loose, George Stamp, Barbara Balogun, Alex Brammer, Emily Garbutt, Gwyn Wright, Lauren Geall, Daphne Bugler, Natalie Keffler.

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NEWS

Editorial Between UCU strikes and Sabb Week, campus is overrun with placards, banners and campaign slogans. With striking staff and would-be student representatives clamouring to be heard from Prince of Wales Drive to the Sports Park, university space is currently host to a plethora of debates and discussions about how the University of Exeter will change in both its immediate and long term futures. Even if you’re amongst the number of students refusing to cross the picket line in solidarity with your lecturers, you can’t escape these conversations; they are spilling out from the bounds of Forum Hill in the form of jaunty sabbtirical music videos, Twitter hashtags and photographs of Shiba Inus doing their democratic thing (see Exeposé’s Facebook page for further details). Although Comment have a few ideas about how to dodge campaigners on page 9, we suggest you save these evading tactics for emergency situations only. Take a few minutes out of your day to understand what various campaigns and protests are trying to achieve, and participate in actively shaping the future of your university. Your voice matters - besides, with roughly one third of teaching interrupted by strike action, the excuse that you’re running late for a seminar can only work so many times. As Week 7 hits with full force, Sport are reviewing Rugby and Boxing Varsities (pages 37-39). Plenty of us are feeling the midterm KO; Lifestyle are working to counter this by discussing the restorative properties of visiting

home on page 20, and experimenting with the remedial self-expression unique to open letters on page 18. Arts + Lit’s poetry special (page 24) is a refreshing and thought-provoking change of tone from our usual content, and our spring themed Study Break (page 32-33) is designed specifically for those of you only able to squeeze a half an hour break into your essay schedule. Screen’s Oscar predictions on page 29 and Music’s feature on video game soundtracks on page 27 will continue to lull you with some of the most enjoyable sources of procrastination known to mankind, and Science is wondering whether or not such habits can actually be classed as addictions (page 36). Once you’re fuelled up on all this escapism, cautiously dip your toe back into the waters of reality by reading Lifestyle’s reflections on holding a committee position (page 21), Comment’s break-down of what Sabb candidates are so desperate to be elected for (page 9), and of course, our exclusive Sabb special pullout with its comprehensive breakdown of each candidates’ objectives. When you tire of Exeter-based affairs, Science are looking at the *ahem* global issue of Elon Musk’s car (page 34). Features are looking further afield too, discussing the flaws in our NHS (page 14), the centeniary of women’s suffrage (page 13) and speaking with ex undercover policeman Neil Woods on page 12.

University to hold Paddon award for arts PAGE 5 Image: University of Exeter

COMMENT Sabb campaigning: getting involved PAGEs 9

Image: University of Exeter

FEATURES Interview with Neil Woods, exundercover police officer PAGE 12

Image: Neil Woods

SCIENCE Soil: looking after the planet beneath our feet PAGE 35

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Owain and Emma

Worldwide university news Cambridge uni tracks Fraternity reprimanded VC arrested in relation Theresa May rules out sexual misconduct for sex competition to Grace Mugabe PhD scrapping tuition fees

HE University of Cambridge has admitted to having a significant problem with sexual misconduct after receiving almost 200 complaints. The majority of the complains are allegations made by students regarding misconduct performed by other students. Two students have made complaints about staff, and seven staff members have complained about the misconduct of other colleagues. Graham Virgo, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education at the University of Cambridge, stated: “It supports our belief that we have a significant problem involving sexual misconduct – what we now need to ensure is that those who have been affected receive the support and guidance they need.” Cambridge University is the first to reveal high numbers of allegations after launching an anonymous reporting system recently adopted by many leading universities. Professor Virgo said: “We expected high numbers and view it as a metric of success."

FRATERNITY at New York’s Cornell University has recently been found to have led a contest where new members won points for sleeping with people; extra points being given to the member who had sex with the woman who weighed the most. The fraternity has been put on probation for two years as a result of this discovery. Labelled as a ‘pig roast’ sex competition, the fraternity is said to have explicitly violated university rules against “any form of sexually abusive behaviour on the part of its members, whether physical, mental, or emotional”. A report said that the challenge took place last year, but did not specify the length or the number of members involved. Images: Blizniak/Pixabay (left), Estonian Presidency/Flickr (right)

NIVERSITY of Zimbabwe Vice-Chancellor Professor Levi Nyagura has been arrested for ‘corruptly’ awarding Grace Mugabe a PhD in philosophy. Lecturer Professor Claude Maraike, who supervised the former first lady’s work, is also under probe. Mugabe was allegedly awarded the PhD without the approval of the University of Zimbabwe senate and council. Although there have been claims that Mugabe’s PhD was fake since 2014, no action was take whilst Robert Mugabe, her husband, was in power. In January, ten lecturers from the department of sociology wrote a letter to Nyagura, challenging him to revoke and nullify Mugabe’s doctorate, arguing that it constituted academic corruption. The lecturers wrote: “The candidate earned the degree without the knowledge and involvement of the sociology department board, from the application, acceptance, supervision, examination, to the awarding of the degree.”

HE Prime Minister has launched her annual university review looking at fees and funding, that states that the English system is “one of the most expensive systems of university tuition in the world”. Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner said the review showed that May “has finally admitted that her government got it wrong”. However, in a speech given in Derby, May said that scrapping fees would lead to tax increases and that she maintains that students “who benefit directly from higher education should contribute directly towards the cost of it”. She argued that without fees, universities would have to compete for funding with schools and hospitals, and that this could lead to caps on the number of university places availStories by Jaimie Hampton and able. Deepa Lalwani, Senior Reporters

News

NEWS EDITORS:

Natalie Keffler Megan Davies

“Today is our answer to them”

CONTINUED FROM FRONT Further, Cooper attacked the timing of the dispute, claiming that: “the university employers think it’s a convenient time to pick a fight. Against the anti-trade union laws that have been passed in the last year, requiring a 50% turnout at ballot, they felt that we wouldn’t be able to muster that strength, we wouldn’t stand together in solidarity. “Today is our answer to them.” Further speeches took place at the rally, with a representative from the

Fire Brigades Union urging attendees to “keep that sense of anger with you, because it’ll keep you warm on the picket lines as you continue to fight.”

They felt that we wouldn’t be able to muster that strength

Barrie Cooper, UCU Exeter Branch President

Nationally, academics from 56 other universities walked out in protest of the changes. The proposed change would see pensions moved from a defined benefit scheme - in which recipi-

ents are guaranteed a specific income - to a defined contributuions scheme - in which pension payouts depend on the performance of stocks that the funds are invested in. Further, a group of activists occuppied Universities UK’s offices in protest of the pensions changes, referring to them as “a parasitic organisation which profits directly from the increasing marketisation of our education system.” The occupation was confirmed by a Universities UK spokesperson, although they insisted that the protesters were not causing problems

for staff. In a statement, a University of Exeter spokesperson told Exeposé that: “The University is doing its utmost to help students through this difficult time and has detailed plans in place to try to minimise any impact of strikes on students’ education. We have asked lecturers taking part to provide learning materials, such as lecture notes and presentations, to students in other ways, including digitally or via podcast. We are closely monitoring the situation and are keeping students informed of developments as soon as we are made

aware of them. Strikes will not include a boycott of marking and assessment, and we will make sure that any exams affected by the industrial action would be rescheduled.” The Students’ Guild, which initially came out as neutral in the face of the strikes, changed its stance following the passing of a Large Idea. Now, it is committed to supporting the strikes, as well as pressuring for student refunds. Strikes are set to continue on 2628 February, 5-8 March and 12-16 March.

Image: Owain Evans

Barrie Cooper’s Rally Speech

Loneliness ‘brought into focus’ Tash Ebbutt Deputy Editor

NEW survey developed by academics at the University of Exeter, the University of Manchester and Brunel University London has launched this week. Aided by a grant from the Wellcome Collection, the survey looks to investigate people’s experiences of loneliness and was launched on BBC Radio 4’s All in the Mind in collaboration with Wellcome. Entitled The Loneliness Experiment, the online survey will explore the nation’s attitudes and personal experiences of loneliness. The survey aims to explore a variety of areas such as the role of friendship, the impact of new technology and social media and the perception of those who are lonely. The survey will also question what period of life people most likely to feel lonely, what solutions are most or least useful in tackling loneliness and whether or not an individual’s personality or life circumstances affect their experience. The aim of the research is to increase understanding on prevention

in addition to examining solutions which people have found to be the most useful.

There’s a lot that is still unknown about loneliness

Claudia Hammond, BBC Radio 4

Professor Manuela Barreto from the University of Exeter commented on the importance of the survey on a global scale stating that “the participation of people from around the world will give us the chance to examine differences in the experience of loneliness across cultures and how these differences might be explained by culture-specific patterns of social relations” In 2015, 18,000 people took part in the Radio 4 and Wellcome Collection’s Rest Test which explored the nation’s resting habits – it is hoped that a similar response will be achieved with thousands of people predicted to complete the new survey. The Loneliness Experiment is likely to be the largest of its kind which will provide insights into subjective expe-

riences of loneliness across the UK. Claudia Hammond, presenter of Radio 4’s All in the Mind commented on the interest on loneliness stating that “it’s clear that loneliness has been brought into focus, but there’s a lot that is still unknown about it. We want as many people as possible to take part in the Loneliness Experiment to help discover not only who is likely to feel lonely, but what it is that can propel people out of it and help them feel more connected to others.” People are invited to take part in the survey whether they have or have not experienced loneliness. The survey takes less than 40 minutes to complete with participants having access to instant feedback online. The results will be studied and discussed in the autumn at an event at the Wellcome Collection. They will also be broadcast on All in the Mind on BBC Radio 4. Additionally, there will be a Radio 4 series called Anatomy of Loneliness and a set of specially commissioned dramas to further raise awareness of this issue. The Loneliness Experiment can be found via the BBC Radio 4 website or at thelonelinessexperiment.com

I want to start just by thanking others who have turned out in support of UCU today, in solidarity. We’ve got the Trades Council, the Women’s Equality Party, the Fire Brigades Union, the NUT, Socialist Party, Socialist Worker and I’m sure many others. Oh, and the students, absolutely. I was getting to that. Let’s just remind ourselves why we’re here. Over the ten years that I’ve been at the University of Exeter, we’ve had to come out three times in defence of our pensions. Each time over that decade, benefits have been chipped away, first of all from new entrants into the scheme, then taking away final salary pensions from those of us in the scheme and lucky enough to be on them after that first change. Now, the intention is for university employers to take away defined benefits at all, no guaranteed pension income at all, and it’s a disgrace. Let me remind you that the last changes to our pension benefits came into effect less than two years ago - 1 April 2016. Since then, there’s been one set of data about how the pension fund is progressing. And we’re told there’s a massive deficit but what we’re not told is that in that intervening two year period that deficit has been reduced by a quarter. They don’t tell you that three years into a 17 year recovery plan, we’re more than on track to fill in that deficit. The changes are working. But now, the University employers think it’s a convenient time to pick a fight. Against the anti-Trade Union laws that have been passed in the last year requiring a 50% turnout at ballot, they felt that we wouldn’t be able to muster that strength, we wouldn’t stand together in solidarity. Today is our answer to them. I will be going to the Council meeting this afternoon at the University to speak to them about the pension dispute at 3 o’clock. I will be explaining some of these facts that appear to be missing from our own

Vice-Chancellor’s letters to us, the information from Human Resources that comes out. I will be asking them to mandate the Vice-Chancellor to go to UUK, Universities UK, and tell them to restart negotiations. For too long, University employers have taken our love of the job for granted. And again, today we say no further, no more. And as we said earlier, I’d like to especially thank the students who are standing with us in this campaign. We would all rather be teaching you, working to make your student experience what we believe it should be: that fantastic time of growth, of exploring new ideas, of pushing the boundaries of knowledge and research. Today is an education. The next month is going to be an education. And thank you particularly to all those who voted in a student motion to change the Guild position in support of this action. We will stand with you as the fight begins again to eliminate tuition fees and the debt that students have on graduation and thank you for standing with us in this hour Over the course of this campaign, there’s going to be a whole series of events, where we reimagine what University should be like. It starts, in some sense, this evening at the Barnfield Theatre at quarter to six, where we look at the question of ‘What’s wrong with our University?’ And over the course of the next three or four weeks, we’ll have workshops looking at Universities of the future. There’s a whole events list, there’ll be a pop-up English department next Wednesday afternoon. All sorts of events to re-think higher education and how we do things. But part of that re-thinking Higher Education starts also with understanding that we’re fighting here for each other, standing in solidarity, and we all have our own stories that we bring to this particular situation that leads us here, now.

26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

Lizards’ sexes take place of species

EW research by the universities of Exeter, Lincoln and Sheffield has shown that conflict between males and females of the same species could inhibit the evolution of others, challenging long-held theories of natural selection. The study, which observed lizards in the Chilean Andes and Argentinian Patagonia, found that males and females within certain species have evolved to be so different that they have the potential to fill the ecological spaces usually occupied by multiple different species. This means that animals of the same kind must compete for the ecological resources available in different habitats, causing one sex to become better adapted to their environment and therefore more likely to survive. Professor Dave Hodgson, Director of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation on the University of Exeter’s Penryn Campus, said: “When sexes differ, there is less ecological space for other species. When there are lots of species, there is less ecological space for differences between the sexes. “This shows that the evolutionary battle between the sexes can have a direct impact on biodiversity.” The study been published in the journal ‘Global Ecology and Biogeography’. Ellie McGarahan, News Team

Sabb week clashes with UCU strikes CONTINUED FROM FRONT Shades, Guild President, has now said that the Guild will start an overall officer review, starting with a three-month review on postgraduate representationThis will include an open meeting, followed by a pilot survey and an all-postgraduate student survey, and focus groups for postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students. They will also involve the Research and Insights Unit. The Guild have said that they put this year’s lower number of candidates to normal fluctuation between years, and that they were following standard promotional plans to encourage students to vote. They also pointed out that candidates might withdraw for a variety of reasons. Voting in the elections will open on Monday 26 February, at the same time as the UCU strikes which started on Thursday 22 February. The last time a single candidate stood for a sabb position was in the year 2006/07, when a single candidate ran for Guild President and lost to R.O.N. (reopen nominations). A new election was held, where seven candidates came forward, and the original candidate lost.

Notice of Improvement issued to Sabb Oliver Lund Online Editor

HADOW Council voted earlier this week to issue VP Activities Becca Hanley with a notice of improvement. This followed concerns she was not fulfilling the expectations of her role or her manifesto commitments. In a session designated for specific disciplinary matters, the council scrutinised Hanley on a number of points pertaining to her record, including improving ‘Activities and Volunteering’, an Exefest alternative, and Refreshers’.

The Students’ Guild will be supporting the VP Activities through this process Guild Spokesperson

The first point of order was Hanley’s relationship with the Societies Executives, Natasa Christofidou and Imogen Hayward. Hanley provided evidence that she has been meeting regularly with the Officers and providing them with executive support. The Council mandated she should continue this and provide evidence that she had

been participating actively in meetings. The Council then scrutinised Hanley’s failure to put in place meaningful plans to encourage collaborative events, including interfaith sports competition, as proposed in her manifesto. Hanley has not had meaningful communication with Faith and Worldview Society President’s or Executive Representatives, and the Council specified Hanley must action this in the next three weeks. She must also set the date for an event, which will likely to be term three. Hanley also came under fire for her failure to improve A&V, a central point on her manifesto. Council set her the goal of conducting a survey with the Societies Executive group, with the goal of producing a report allowing changes to be made during third term. There was no Refreshers’ event this year, and Hanley faced questions as to why this was, given improvements were promised in her election manifesto. Council instructed Hanley should work on an outline of how this can be achieved next year.

The last area Hanley was directed to improve was providing an Exefest alternative. Following the festival’s cancellation, Hanley is expected to make consequential progress in gauging interest for a summer party from societies. Council deemed disabled access to DH1 unactionable and thus set no goals. In three weeks time Hanley’s progress will be assessed, and there will be second vote on whether the notice’s terms have been met. If not, Council can bring in a No Confidence vote against Hanley. A Guild Spokesperson said: “The scrutiny of elected officers is fundamental to the governance of student representation on campus, and the issuing of a Notice of Improvement is a tool to push for change and improvement of an officer from Shadow Council. It’s great to see these democratic processes upheld and the Students’ Guild will be supporting the VP Activities through this process.”

Feminism not cancer, says law

STUDENT Idea was briefly online last week, titled ‘Guild to declare that Feminism is Cancer’. The Idea was up on the afternoon of Friday 23 February, before a complaint led to it being removed to avoid breaching the Equality Act. Its description read: “The Guild should demonstrate solidarity with people who suffer from feminism by officially declaring that feminism is cancer. Symptoms may include, but are not limited to, an irrational belief that the sufferer is always a victim, delusions on the part of the sufferer that they are the successors of suffragettes, an acute fear of applause necessitating the use of non-triggering Jazz Hands and sometimes an unhealthy attraction to ideologies that pose a threat to their wellbeing and rights. In issuing such a statement, the Guild will encourage the University of Exeter Medical School to conduct more research into this malady in order to find a cure for sufferers of feminism.” The Students’ Guild said: “The Student Ideas platform is open for students to submit suggestions of change to the university experience. In this case, however, the idea was removed as it breached the Equality Act.” Megan Davies, News Editor

Alumni volunteering project reaches target Gwyn Wright News Team

XETER alumni have now given over 60,000 hours of their time to volunteering at the university, principally in the area of careers advice. Former students have given over 700 careers talks, answered over 1,200 questions from students about careers via email and have participated in over 1,500 mentoring partnerships which have lasted between six months and one year. Alumni now volunteer in over eighty countries. The Making the Exceptional Happen campaign, launched in 2012, is the principal force behind this volunteering drive. It sought to achieve 60,000 volunteering hours by 2020, a target which has now been reached two years early. Over 1,000 alumni gave their time in the 2016-17 academic year, including 750 of them supporting students. In response to the news, Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor, said: ‘’60,000 volunteering hours in six and a half years is an incredible gift.’’ ‘’It equates to one of our alumni volunteering for the university every hour of every day of every year since

the start of the campaign.’’ He also sent a message of thanks to alumni volunteers. Natasha Bellinger, who graduated from Exeter in 2011 with a law degree, said: “I became a career mentor at the university a few years ago (basically as soon as I could) because my mentor was a source of inspiration and has such a positive impact on me.’’ Speaking about her mentor, Peter Baldwin, she said: “His wise words helped to guide my career development at a crucial stage and had such a positive impact.’’ Alongside retaining the current volume of hours devoted to volunteering, the campaign will now focus on achieving its other key target of raising £60 million by 2020. Lauren Churchman, who studied Spanish and now works at BBC 6 Music., said: “I came down to Exeter recently along with fellow alumnus and former Xpression FM member Jack D’Arcy to give two talks to students about getting in to music and media. “The media can seem mysterious and daunting to try and get into, so I was glad to be able to give some advice to the students and show them that in just a few years, you can achieve anything.”

Image: rawpixel.com

NEWS

Week to raise awareness for brain research National Women’s Health Conference held in Exeter

Natalie Keffler News Editor

Brain research could lead to ... possible cures for a range of disorders

Soraya Meftah

To conclude the week, on Saturday 17 March the University of Exeter are hosting a day of activities in the forum for Spring Community Day, of which

Brain Awareness Week will have a stall with multiple activities. Soraya Meftah, an organising member for Brain Awareness Week at the University of Exeter, said: “Brain Awareness Week at Exeter is shaping up to be a fantastic week, and gives us an excellent opportunity to shine a spotlight on the important brain research we do here at Exeter and across the world. It’s an area of research that’s really evolving, and could lead to better understanding, new treatments and possible cures for a range of disorders, from depression to dementia.” You can follow the events in Exeter on Twitter using #BAWExeter, or you can follow the global festival using #BrainAwarenessWeek.

Image: Agnieszka Palmowska/Pexels

RAIN Awareness Week, also known as BAW, is being held from 12th – 18th March this year, and is an annual campaign, aiming to increase people’s awareness of current brain research whilst highlighting its significance and importance. This week is supported by the Dana foundation, a private organisation dedicated to advancing brain research, as well as educating the public on prospective neuroscience research. The University of Exeter has been awarded funding from the British Neuroscience Association, and therefore they are hosting multiple workshops

and events on brain-related topics. The purpose of these workshops is to draw people’s attention to the importance of this neuroscience research, further increasing understanding of the brain, and enhancing their knowledge on the current and future research to be done within the field.

GoGreen Week brings sustainability events to campus Megan Davies News Editor

OGREEN Week is set to go ahead again this year, involving 14 societies and groups who will be holding stalls in the forum and putting on events. The event raises awareness and gives skills to students aruond environmental issues such as climate change. It will be held the week from monday 12 to Saturday 17 March. Groups involved include student groups and societies such as Exeter Student Volunteers, Socialist Students and Vegetarian Society. Among them is also Exeter FoodCycle, who serve a threecourse-meal every day to “those who need a community meal”, made from surplus food. Dr Bike, trained cycle mechanics from the local bike shop Saddles & Paddles, will also be present. GoGreen Week will see events go ahead including a FoodCycle cooking session and community meal, a food market organised by VegShare, setting up an irrigation system for the community garden, and a guided bike ride around the quay. Vegetarian Society will be hosting a ‘Bring Your Own Cutlery and Tupperware’ potluck dinner, while Socialist Students will be hosting a talk on EcoSocialism.

Beth Pitcher, Training and Campaigns Coordinator, said: “Go Green Week is the biggest Students’ Green Unit event of the year and will take place between 13-17 March 2018. The five-day event offers a jam-packed program of events and activities around sustainability and the environment. It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase everything the Guild’s Sustainability Council have done and to team up with student societies, academics and the local community to put sustainability issues at the forefront. The aim of the week is to raise awareness of environmental is-

sues, campaign for change, and teach you some nifty skills to green up your life. This year we have gardening sessions, vegan potlucks, talk, bicycle repair lessons, ecology tours and much more.” Penny Dinh, Vice-President of Vegetarian and Vegan Society, said: “As someone who is really passionate about sustainability, I am really excited to take part in organising GoGreen Week events with Vegetarian Society. I think it is very important that campaigns like this are organised to make students aware of sustainability and all the little things we can do to save the planet.”

Alex Wingrave Senior Reporter

HE Exeter & Truro Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society (EOGS) is holding the National Women’s Health Conference on Saturday 3 March. The event will contain several lectures and workshops throughout the day, covering women’s health, global health issues and leadership in the healthcare sector. The conference is to take place in the Research Innovation Learning and Development (RILD) Building at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital, and is open to all. Keynote speakers include Johann Malwana, former obstetrician and current chair of the British Medical Association’s Junior Doctors Committee, who will be discussing leading change

in healthcare; Zahra Ameen, an obstetrics and gynaecology consultant who will be discussing training and working with the World Health Organisation, and Marianne Stephen, also a obstetrics and gynaecology consultant, who will speak on the topic of ‘Global Health: Ebola and Obstetrics in Sierra Leone’ Various workshops will also be run, covering areas which include labour & delivery, surgical skills, how to get into medical education, feminist perspectives on the ethics of abortion, ethics in global health and humanitarian contexts, and identifying & caring for trafficked people. A panel discussion of MDT will also be taking place. The event requires a £20 deposit for a ticket, but this amount will be refunded in full upon attendance. Free lunch and coffee is also provided.

Paddon Award 2018 open for entries Ellie McGarahan News Team

HE University of Exeter’s 2018 Paddon Award is now open for applications. The cross-arts competition, funded by Exeter alumnus Ann and John Paddon, is open to all university students not working in the professional arts sector. The theme for this year’s award, ‘Seasons on Campus’, invites students to take inspiration from their natural surroundings across the University’s campuses. Last year’s award was won by Anna Prescott, with her piece ‘Pastpresentfuture’. Students can submit entries under one of four categories: visual arts (painting, illustration, sculpture, print

or photograph), prose (a poem or short story, maximum 1000 words), film (maximum length of five minutes), or musical composition (an original piece of music, maximum length five minutes). Only one entry per art form will be accepted per person. The prizes for first, second and third place will be £175, £100 and £50 cash respectively. More details and application forms can be found on the Paddon Award 2018 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/paddonaward2018. The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 9 March 2018, with presentation and judging taking place on the evening of Tuesday 27 March 2018 at Streatham campus. Winners will be announced at this final judging event.

Image: Paddon Award

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26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Comment

COMMENT EDITORS: Alicia Rees Malcolm Wong

Strike petitions

Carys Wilkinson Contributor

HE upcoming four week period of planned industrial action is arguably one of the most extensive strike’s to ever be seen in an academic environment, perhaps because despite their various more eloquent titles as lecturer, tutor, seminar leader and so on the academic staff are, essentially, teachers. There is no shying away from the fact that most academics working at not just Exeter but other universities around the country, are not in the scholastic profession for the money. A vast majority could, if they so wished, be working for a corporate company in the city earning twice the amount they do now, not having to put up with students hounding them relentlessly. As it stands, they choose to educate us and share their expertise and knowledge. Perhaps when exam season comes round, or it’s 1am and you’re three red bulls in, made a 100 word dent in a 1500 word essay and wondering how you will ever be finished by 10am, our academics may seem like the enemy and like they enjoy torturing us. They don’t.

Lauren Geall Lifestyle Editor

S the yearly society committee elections come around again, it feels weird to look back on my year on Exeposé committee. When I ran for Print Lifestyle Editor last year, I definitely underestimated the impact this role would have on my overall experience. Being on a committee has not only provided me with valuable knowledge for my future career, but has also enriched my university experience as a whole.

Being on committee has been more of an escape Without a doubt, being on a committee has allowed me to meet avariety of wonderful new people who have quickly become close friends. Not only have I met people who study various degrees, but I have also been exposed to new opinions

They do not enjoy causing gaps in our learning, messing us around or wasting our money; and if they could avoid screwing us over while also defending their futures, I have no doubt they would. We can be angry and frustrated but to take that anger out on those who are striking achieves very little. Students from around the UK have been turning away from the academics and complaining to the universities themselves asking for compensation. It is appropriate that complaints are aimed at the source of the problem, the UUK or on a smaller scale, individual university’s. When we pay for something in every day life we expect something back in return, if you had a standing order at a food delivery company and you have paid, you would expect your product to be delivered. University is no different. We have paid an extraordinary amount of money, an issue in itself for another day , for a service that is being denied to us. We can, and should, be entitled to demand we are reimbursed. Students pay £9,250 a year for the privilege of a top education. The teaching

hours vary from course to course and therefore, different students would hypothetically be entitled to different amounts of compensation for the missed teaching hours. Having said that, I thought it would be a good idea to work out a rough

and personalities. Whilst university is predominantly about getting a degree, your experience shouldn’t be wholly defined by your academics. The access to such a diverse range of societies and people is what makes the opportunity of attending university such a privilege; not only are we exposed to world-class research, but a variety of peers who have the ability to challenge and shape the way we see the world. It is also very healthy to have a project separate from the stress of your degree. As a third year, I have found that being on committee has been more of an escape than an extra source of stress. Whilst it can sometimes be a challenge to juggle multiple commitments, having that time to focus on something nonrelated to your academics can help you to return to your work refreshed and refocused. I know that for me having press days can give me a chance to catch my breath, as being surrounded by my friends whilst working on a page can take my mind off whatever may be stressing me that

week. Your degree work doesn’t have to define your university experience, and making time for activities you enjoy is so important for your overall wellbeing. Importantly, being on a committee can provide you with a well-needed CV boost. Of course, being a social secretary will not look as impressive as a 10-week internship, but it all plays a part when you’re presenting yourself to a potential employer. By taking on a position of responsibility and working as a part of a team, you’ll have proved some fundamental skills required for postgraduate employment. Although graduation may seem like a distant event, getting some experience whilst you’re studying is never a bad idea. Finally, being on a committee can help you to feel more confident and secure at university. After struggling with my mental health at the end of second year, being elected to a committee position has really helped me to find my feet on campus and made the transition into third year so much easier. Being able to learn new

Image:Pexels

estimate for exactly how much money is being lost over the course of the strike period. At Exeter, we have about 24 weeks of normal timetabled contact hours (split fairly evenly between Term

one and two) . For a week that consists of 12 hours of contact time that is spread relatively evenly across the course of the week, it is possible to come out the end of March having essentially lost £1,075 (I now hasten to add that this is by no means a definitive figure). There is not one person that will be unaffected by this. Regardless of the exact figure individual to each student, nationwide there has been a standard response among the student population; many of whom can sympathise with the UCU and their strike. By no means do students disagree with the premise of the action but in itself it is a complex issue. While the academics do not set out to in any way harm or disadvantage us, as an indirect result of their issues concerning pension schemes, we are affected. However, I am under no optimistic illusions as to the outcome. The chances that we will receive any kind of payback after the industrial action is over are slim to none. Ultimately the decision is down to each university as to whether they reimburse their students. Yet, as doing so would likely mean a major pay cut or

perhaps no Christmas bonus next year for those that would be in the position to make said decision, I think it is fairly safe to say we should not be waiting expectantly for even a fraction of our lost fees to reappear in our bank accounts.

skills and take part in something I am passionate about has allowed me to learn more about myself and what I want to do in the future (cheesy but true). It may have been difficult to build up the courage to run in the first place, but the reward has greatly outweighed the initial stress. Without a doubt if you’re considering running for a position, I would highly encourage you to do so. Even if you don’t end up being

elected, running in an AGM and giving a speech are key skills which can really help to boost your confidence. University is all about getting to know yourself and your interests, and running for a committee role can be one of the best ways to do this. I know that the concept of running can be an intimidating one at first, but in the end, you’ll discover it wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be, and you may even end up enjoying it!

Manifesto madness

This change could end up with staff losing up to 40% of their pensions On a grand scale complaints and grumblings should not be aimed at the lecturers or tutors, but rather at the institution that has backed them into a corner, never taking them seriously because they know that as teachers, the academics primary desire is to do the best for their students. On a smaller scale, the Vice Chancellor of Exeter University could bring this to an end with a few words. By simply making a statement of his verbal support of the cause, academics at our university would immediately stop striking and return to work, thus we would not lose out on any teaching time, or any of the money that as students, we have so trustingly and perhaps grudgingly invested

Image:Megan Davies

COMMENT

What’s that coming over the hill? Neha Shaji Contributor

ORUM Hill is generally not an interesting destination for a student. Unlike the hallowed labyrinthine hallways of Amory or Queens, Forum Hill is straightforward – up, down, and if you’re lucky, someone would Heely down it once in a blue moon. Come Campaign Week however, and Sabb candidates colonize the hill, leaving it a gaudy splash of about 16 colour schemes that try very hard to stay distinct from each other. It’s like the ‘Battle of Five Armies’ from the Hobbit films, without any mauling or dragons (unless someone goes drastically over budget), and the poor first year is left in shock – what was once ol’ familiar Forum Hill suddenly became a war torn battleground of future politicians insisting that they alone can solve racism, misogyny, and global warming. Personally, I live for Campaign Week. Invigorating and exciting, it’s my opportunity to be as annoying as possible. I don’t need to ask anyone what their name is or what they’re running for – I’ll get it shoved in my hands, on a piece of thin eco-friend-

ly paper. I then proceed to grill them, pretending to be fresh off the boat, and ask all sorts of questions ranging from any existing social issues at Exeter to how much wood do they, personally, think a woodchuck could singlehandedly chuck. As someone who’s only extremist belief is extreme extroversion, Campaign Week is a godsend – I don’t need to run up and make conversation, about twenty people constantly mill around me waiting for a conversation.

There are places where candidates enter...to campaign Apart from my gleeful pleasures, Campaign Week is just objectively entertaining. Last year, a candidate for VP Welfare and Diversity literally slept in the Forum on an old mattress. The lengths candidates would go to in order to prove a point is like watching a reality TV show, where you’re the stage audience. This dystopia is only exacerbated by the colourful matching costumes of the campaign teams, really making you wonder (in a dark place at the back of your mind) whether you should

bring t-shirts of all these colours and just pretend to be part of each campaign team in turn.

Campaign week is a godsend The Sabb candidates are running for several posts, but one thread runs between them all – the fact that their mission, if you choose to vote for it, is to basically listen to student ideas and demands all year round in order to bring about the changes they promised. So it does seem that as a small token of respect, students should be obliged to listen to what candidates have to say and how they go about saying it. And indeed, actually listening to them would prevent you from voting for a candidate who promised to turn Forum Hill into a waterslide when you meant to vote for the one who promised to erect a statue of Knuckles from the Sonic games in the Queens Courtyard. Sabb candidates generally run a varied set of campaigns, with AU President hopefuls conducting some

daredevil stunt whilst Welfare and Diversity candidates often try bringing up issues students face in a dramatic, public manner. However, something to note about this year’s campaign week is that three days of Sabb Week are also strike days for several lecturers and postgraduate students– it is important that the candidates respect this movement by not having any of their poster handouts or stunts next to the picket lines or demonstrations unless directly supporting or advocating something to do with the strikes themselves. If you get tired of this weeklong The Thick of It episode, however, remember that there are places where candidates or their team cannot enter with the intent to campaign, such as DH 1. If you were looking for a quiet space to do some work, that would be it. The library as well is, of course, out of

Sabb-ulous, darling Peter Firth Contributor

AM not going to lie to you, when I arrived in September I had no idea who or what Sabbs were. The extent of my knowledge of them was that they were six huge faces staring down at me when I walked into the forum for the first time. If I’m honest, I’m still not entirely sure what it is exactly that they do – but at least I know their names and could potentially recognise them around campus; that must count for something right?

When I arrived in September, I had no idea who Sabbs were To quote the Guild website: “Sabbatical Officers, or Sabbs, lead the Students’ Guild and represent you to the University, the local community, and nationally.” What does that even mean?! Of course all the information is there on the Guild

website. But honestly, who has the time to go through a website just to find out what the people elected to represent you actually do. Although, my ignorance towards them could just be because this is my first year at university so the system is completely new to me, but surely, as they still are supposed to be representing my interests, I should have some clue about exactly what it is they are doing for the me as a member of the students’ guild. This may seem entirely unfair, potentially unreasonable but it’s simply the truth. Maybe this is the ultimate mystique of the Sabbs: to be seen but not heard. Perhaps the fact that I don’t know too much about what they do or that its not flaunted around campus is a good thing. Perhaps this means that they’re more able to make the changes the student body asks for without necessarily drawing direct attention; changes probably take place around the uni without us even noticing and maybe this is the best sign of a healthy working Student’s Guild, seamlessly

instigating change without us even realising. That’s why I want to be careful here cause what the Sabbs do is probably one of the most important yet underappreciated jobs that ultimately impact thousands of stu-

dents on a daily basis. And yes they chose to run and are being paid to rep-

resent us and have our interests at the forefront of their agendas, but the fact that it’s already nearly half way through term two and I still haven’t the foggiest what Sabbs really are is only a sign that they’re undermarketed and under-explained. I may be completely wrong here, and fair enough, but I feel as though those first years who didn’t have a chance to vote their Sabbs in should at least know what they’re about! Why is it only now that they are becoming more visible? Is it because of the strikes or because re-election is fast approaching? I have to confess, I am rather looking forward to experiencing a flash back to freshers week and be bombarded by flyers as a trudge my way up forum hill undoubtedly late for a lecture I have no idea what’s going on in. And maybe as I move from being a first year and towards the golden fields of second year and so forth, I’ll come to appreciate the Sabbs more and more but right now, I’m not so sure.

bounds to campaigners so you can get some work done or snaffle down a quick sandwich – for whom among us wants the future Guild President to see us inhale a tuna and cucumber sarnie? If all fails, you can lock yourselves in the bathroom – no walking buses in yellow or green will follow you in there, so you can heave a relieved breath, take out your phone, and for God’s sake, vote.

Tell me your secrets, ask me your questions Agony McAuntface Resident Agony Aunt My boyfriend is cheating on me. With golf. Ah yes, the sex appeal of a golf club. Talk to him, make sure that one night a week is solely about the two of you, no golf chat or games. It doesn’t need to be pricey either, chuck a film on and spend some quality time with slightly different holes. Wink wink. I still talk to my ex but I’m also chatting to this new guy. I don’t know what to do, am I leading them on? Ex is ex for a reason. No matter how great the memories seem now, at the time it didn’t work. Take it from someone who knows, going back into a relationship with an ex never ends well. It ends in regret, and disappointed head shakes. See what happens with the new guy, you never know what you’ll find.

COMMENT

Getting Ketty with Katie Isabelle Gray Contributor

land Hall, asking her friend: “Camilla, darling, you got the k yah?”. She enters the club, and the moment has arrived. She sneaks off to the bathroom, exhilarated, thinking this is a genius way to get back at Daddy. A few too many lines later, the real meaning behind her K.H initials become all too clear, she has fallen into the k hole. Feeling like a newborn

ATIE Hopkins, one of the more unfavourable Exeter alumni was recently in the news for appearing to have taken ketamine, after suffering a dislocated shoulder. As the students that we are, I’m sure we’ve all heard the story of someone explaining their drug use is for medical reasons, “I smoke weed so I can sleep!”, and so on. Never did I think Katie Hopkins would be part of such a crowd. When I first heard the news, I imagined Katie in her youth, jumping Image: CC0 Creative Commons into her taxi from Hol-

baby, she’s not too sure what’s going on, barely able to move but loving every bloody second.

Camilla, darling, you’ve got the K yah? She focuses on a boy, a Ralph Lauren yellow shirt on, she is transfixed, as if he was the only person in the room. Mark notices this, watching Katie moving her body in an unpleasant and slow motion, staring, looking confused as ever, and he whispers to himself “Katie’s in a k hole, oh my gosh,” and walks over to introduce himself. As you can see, I

have fairly vivid daydreams, and sadly that was not how Katie met her first husband, or at least isn’t the story they would have told. As funny as the idea of Katie Hopkins on ket is, there is a more ironic, and equally painful truth that comes out of this event. In a tweet that has since been deleted, Katie requested people email her ‘If you have pictures of migrants in the NHS A&E / maternity / waiting rooms with suitcases straight from HEATHROW.’ She is known for her stance on the NHS in relation to tourists’ and migrants’ use of such services. Yet, Katie herself has become something she was supposedly so opposed to by using the South African medical services. Although claiming to have paid the bill in full, the importance still stands that she relied on the kindness and care of a foreign health service

in order to help her recover from her injury. And so, why should anyone else not be allowed such a privilege? The idea of Katie encouraging people to prey on ill or injured persons in a country unknown to them and take photos simply because they are ill and using services of a country unknown to them is something that should be let go easily. Clearly the irony has not been triggered in Katie’s mind but I hope it has for people that have agreed with her views on this topic. I fully believe that if you believe something you should with all your might, to ‘say it with your chest’ if you will, and so if Katie is so against migrants using the NHS then really she should have not been able to enjoy the experience of a k hole. Leave people alone to get their medical help or no more ket for you Katie.

Why we stood up Malaka Shwaikh Contributor

COME from a small city called Gaza. It’s just 360 square kilometres. For 22 years, I saw nothing beyond this area. The only interaction I had with outsiders was with the Israelis. They launched one war after another, dropping bombs, firing missiles and targeting us with artillery from the sea and

the ground. Even when there is no actual war going on, the Israeli drones do not leave the sky and they become part of our daily lives. I am from the generation who grew up under what is called the “peace process” between the Palestinians and Israelis but, as I grew up, I became more pessimistic every time a “peace” meeting occurred, because at the same time Israeli settlements on Palestinian land continued to expand.

Image: Wikicommons

As I left the besieged Gaza Strip for Egypt by something of a miracle (details to be written about later), the first place I saw on the way from Gaza to Cairo Airport was a desert. This deserted, empty place shocked me, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I had lived in Gaza traumatised by one war after another. Now I could see the results.

I had lived in Gaza traumatised by one war after another A year after I left, another war took place, the most horrible of them all, leaving over 2,000 dead. It included a massacre in my birthplace, Shujaia, eastern Gaza. Imagine being away from home and reading in the news about the death of your neighbours and friends. It was probably the most difficult moment in my life. I could not reach my family easily, but I knew that corpses were in the streets of my home. The loss was huge: more than words can describe or I could face. It was beyond me. I could not go back to give them a last hug. The Israeli government continued their war. A neighbouring family stayed under the rubble for two days while the Israeli forces prevented the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from pulling them out. The spokesperson of the Israeli Prime Minister at the time, Mark Regev, appeared on several programmes, defending the Israeli army. I don’t understand how the killing of 315 children and wounding 3,374 others– of whom 1,000 were left permanently disabled– is excusable.

I chose to protest Regev’s presence here because he is a representative of a settler-colonial state that continues to oppress and suppress my people, ignoring UN resolutions and international law. Regev is, of course, an ambassador, but it is worth noting the extensive security put in place for his appearance at Exeter. Some security would be predictable, but the amount deployed in this case for a basically private event suggests an excessive fear of protests and debate. Regev’s response to our protest was not unexpected. To claim that our protest is hurting the Palestinians was yet another level of supremacy, based on blaming the victims. He didn’t realise that some of us are Palestinians. How would he know the extent to which his government is restricting our freedom of movement? I have not seen my family since I left Gaza in 2013. Human Rights Watch documented 54 cases of patients in Gaza who lost their lives last year as they were denied exit for treatment by Israel. Travel out of Gaza is currently 1% of what it was in September 2000.

I chose to protest Regev’s presence here because he is a representative of a settler-colonial state The reality on the ground is dire. But we can make a change. Only when this colonial state that Regev represents is put under international pressure will a solution be achieved. This pressure will not come from Regev’s PR missions

but from people who are committed to peace, justice and equality in Palestine - as exemplified by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, for instance.

Image: Wikicommons

Exeposé reached out to the Israeli Embassy for a comment from the Ambassador, but received no response by printing time.

COMMENT

! E Exeposé Comment catches up with the K I R T S latest views on the UCU industrial action N O T OU For too long, university employers have taken our love of the job for granted, and again, today we say no further, no more.

It is important to note that the decision to make these changes to USS has not been taken lightly.

BARRIE COOPER, UCU EXETER BRANCH PRESIDENT. SPEAKING AT A RALLY

SIR STEVE SMITH, UNIVERSITY OF EXETER VICECHANCELLOR

I think it’s important to see the bigger picture, especially if you want to go into academia. The whole future of the profession is at stake.

I’m putting on the line a huge amount of my income, which I rely on to pay the rent and pay the bills. That’s a really hard thing to do.

We were pleased to see that the announcement of UCU industrial action sparked much debate within the student population.

VICTOR ALEXA, 3RD YEAR STUDENT

RHIAN KEYSE, GRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT

STUDENTS’ GUILD STATEMENT

In pictures...

26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Features

FEATURES EDITORS: James Angove Isabel Taylor

“This is the greatest social justice issue of our time”

James Angove, Features Editor, speaks to ex-undercover police officer Neil Woods about the war on drugs, police tactics and his talent at buying crack

crack deal isn’t the beginning of your typical career. But for Neil Woods, who worked for 14 years as an undercover police officer in the drugs squad, scoring class A substances from dealers came to define a successful career. “I finally found something in the police I was pretty good at” he explains. And good he was. After all, in a job as dangerous as undercover police work, merely to survive is a sign of skill. But Woods positively thrived in the role, helping to train other officers and being sent all over the country to the frontline of the war on drugs. Indeed, he calculates that he was involved in putting people in prison for a total of over 1000 years. Yet speaking to him now, he is absolutely certain that the war is failing. In fact, Woods is now the Chairman of the organisation Law Enforcement Against Prohibition UK, which lobbies for drug policy reform. So why would someone with a successful, albeit risky, profession choose to abandon their career in order to destroy the very war he spent so long fighting? Another statistic perhaps gives us some indication. Despite his prolific undercover activities, Woods tells me that he only ever interrupted the drug flow in any city for around two hours. This touches on one of the reasons why some are now beginning to question current drug policies. Simply put: they don’t work. Current laws surrounding drugs do not prevent people from buying those drugs and they do not prevent young people coming into contact with drugs. Woods asserts that “it’s easier for teenagers to get hold of cannabis than it is alcohol” and despite its ring of sensationalism, it appears that this claim holds true. Evidence from a national survey conducted by thinktank Volteface found that 44% of 13-18 year olds said it was ‘extremely easy’ for them to get cannabis for free or find a dealer or friend who would sell it. Only 23% said the same was true for alcohol. But crucially, for Woods and others who have joined the campaign for drug reform, the failure of the war on drugs stretches far beyond ineffectiveness: the policy actively causes harm. Research consistently shows that around two thirds of problematic drug users suffered childhood physical, sexual or emotional abuse. Yet making criminals out of

people who struggle with substance addiction problems does nothing to address the underlying trauma, which some of these people are self-medicating to deal with. Instead, it makes their lives worse. This is something Woods is all too familiar with. In his line of work, Woods would approach addicts and use them to gain access to the gangsters. “I would pick on vulnerable people and manipulate them” he explains, though even early in his career he was aware of the harm this could cause. “I knew I was putting them at increased risk because they were the numpty that made the introduction. I realised that coming into contact with me their lives were going to be worse off - because they were people that needed help. But I still carried on doing it because at the end of the operation, six months later, I always caught vicious gangsters and put them in prison” As time went by, Woods found himself dealing with more and more violent criminals, who were responding to the actions of police by working increasingly hard to intimidate and silence anyone they came into contact with. He cites the example of The Burger Bar Boys, who operated a crack cocaine and heroin gang in Northampton in 2004 and “were using rape as a reputation builder, just to make themselves more terrifying.” “This is the way it was going” he explains, making the analogy to an arms race in which escalation is the inevitable conclusion. “I realised that the reason that year after year, the gangsters I was meeting were getting more and more vicious, was me. And people like me.” Although a cumulative realisation by his own admission, Woods asserts that there came a moment in 2007 that gave him the push to leave undercover policing for good. “When I was in Brighton, the police had been using the tactic too much and they’d be using it in very unimaginative fashion. So the gangs there had developed the defence mechanism of using a proxy dealer who was a homeless person and they were controlling them with fear and murder. They were saying to them “you’re now our proxy dealer, if you bring anyone close to us and we’ll kill you.” And to me that was just the vision of the future.” After leaving the police, Woods’ experiences left their mark on him and

he speaks with open regret at his role: “I look back on all of those people I caused harm to and the end didn’t justify the means at all.” This honesty is part of what makes Woods such a compelling proponent of reform. He is someone who has been deeply affected by his actions in a job that he believed for so long was right. Having left the police, Woods developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), though he emphasises that this was a more than a result of the things he had seen and been through. He talks with admirable frankness about how his PTSD was partially a result of his own actions. “The anxiety I was having was not about the times I thought I was going to die. It was about the people I’d caused harm to.”

The anxiety I was having was about the people I’d caused harm to

The trouble with the war on drugs, Woods asserts, is just that. It’s framed as a war. He suggests that he ended up following “the mentality of the battlefield” in the job, providing an analogy of a general who accepts losses to his troops because he believes that he’ll eventually win the battle. “That’s what I’d been doing by causing harm to those individuals. I was justifying that [to myself] because the ends justified the means.” “Weaponising empathy, that’s what you do as an undercover cop.” Here Woods is resolute and a degree of outrage creeps into his usually calm and measured tone. “That kind of mentality has no place in civil policing at all. Where else in policing would you even think in those terms?” Woods continues, saying that the “the situation that we are in, where the most vulnerable people in society are the people who are most affected, is entirely the creation of drug policy. Entirely” And this, he says, is the one thing that he wants people to understand. Slowly though, the current policy of prohibition is being dismantled in countries across the world. Most obviously this brings to mind the nine states in the US that now have completely legalised cannabis, a movement that started in 2012 when voters in Colorado

and Washington voted to legalise cannabis for recreational use. But more significantly is the example of Portugal, which passed a law decriminalising possession for all drugs in 2001. The 20 years prior had seen the country struggle with a heroin epidemic of cataclysmic proportions, and it was estimated that nearly one in every 100 people had a problematic relationship with the substance. Punishing users, however, proved counter-productive and the nation’s prisons were soon filling up with people who had been punished for drug-related offences. Consequently, the recommendation to decriminalise was made, approved and implemented – to transformative effects. Since decriminalisation, the rate of drugrelated deaths has been slashed more than tenfold and now stands at three deaths per million, one of the lowest in the European Union. By comparison, the same statistic in the UK stands at nearly 50 deaths per million. Moreover, new cases of HIV infection, which stood at 104.2 new cases per million in 2000, have been cut to just 4.2 cases per million (as of 2015). “The evidence is there” Woods confirms, “and if you talk about the harms of drug use, the first measure of harm is of course drug deaths and they have brought that down.” For Woods this provides the best argument against people who say that decriminalisation will end up harming more people. But what about those fearful of a regulated market for drugs? Woods has an answer for this too, citing a drug we are all familiar with. “Tobacco use is now at its lowest rate since 1940. And that’s only been achieved because it is a regulated product that isn’t in the realm of criminality. You can have no

Image: Neil Woods

control over a substance whilst it’s being controlled by criminal enterprise.” Compare this to the market for cannabis, which is entirely controlled by those outside of the law. This has recently led to the development of a tactic known as county lines, which involves the exploitation of children to transport and sell drugs. “Teenagers are recruited through the teenage cannabis market. I’ve seen it happen” says Woods. Thus the potential “regulation of cannabis will have a huge impact on the protection of children and stifling impact on organised crime.”

Weaponising empathy, that’s what you do as an undercover cop

But for Woods, nothing can change without the public. “The most important thing is changing the attitudes of the public” he says. “Social justice issues change through social change, so what we do is grow that movement through speeches, social media, books and the Stop and Search podcast.” But just how important is this to Woods, a man who knows more about this war than almost anyone else in Britain? The emphatic reply: “This is the greatest social justice issue of our time.”

26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

FEATURES

100 Years of Women's Suffrage O

Rosie Shepard examines whether suffragettes should be pardoned

N 6 February 1918, the fight for women’s suffrage achieved a huge milestone when the Representation of the People Act granted the vote to propertied women over the age of thirty, thus opening up the vote to 8.4 million women in the UK. While the suffragettes would continue to fight for a further ten years to secure the same right for all women, this was an incredible step in the right direction. But how did these women campaign for the issue and what should we make of recent calls for their pardoning? Theresa May, in her commemorative speech last week, paid tribute to Emmeline Pankhurst, calling her an “icon”. One of the most famous members of the suffragette movement, Emmeline and her daughter Christabel led the Women's Social and Political Union in a radical and militant campaign for enfranchisement. Their primary tactic was to gain publicity from what some deemed acts of terrorism: they committed arson and vandalism; went on prison hunger strikes until they were force-fed; detonated bombs; and chained themselves to railings. Emily Wilding-Davison famously threw herself under the King’s horse at The Derby in 1913. But did this militancy help or hinder the cause? While publicity certainly helped

their origins in Leeds 1977 they have become a regular features in town and cities across the world. In terms of female advancement, we may have a long way to go, but we must also recognise how far we have come. Although 100 years ago, it was only women over the age of thirty who were married or owned land that gained the vote, more women are in positions of power than ever before: Theresa May, Prime Minister of the UK, Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, Erna Solberg, President of Norway, Jacinda Arden, President of New Zealand, and many more. Without the suffragette movement, British society would be very different today, and although suffragettes are denoted as the “first wave” of feminism, their passion and radical action continue to inspire subsequent activists. As we acknowledge the injustices still experienced by women, we must remember those who banded together, stood up and fought for what they believed in. The legacy of the suffragettes, of a collective community of women fighting, burns brightly in the #MeToo movement, in the women’s march or wherever injustices towards women are tackled. It is a testament to the actions of those women that 100 years on they remain central to our discourse, our history and, indeed, our very society.

Rudd has suggested that a pardon could be too ‘complicated’. Jeremy Corbyn, on the other hand, has expressed that a Labour government would grant a pardon to all suffragettes for their actions. However, a pardon could be taken in the wrong light. Whist we are grateful for the actions of the suffragettes, a pardon should not equal a tacit endorsement of extreme behaviours. For Rudd and May especially, this issue of legality and criminality is central, with the home secretary stating that “pardoning for arson, for violence like that … is a little trick[y]”. Conversely, others argue that past crimes against women should be at the forefront of the decision to pardon rather than the laws broken by individual suffragetes. What’s more, it's clear that rights are not fairly won and some say that pardoning suffragettes ends up diminishing their radical activities. The Spectator writer James Forsyth has said that pardoning their crimes actually eliminates the intentions of the suffragettes – to be arrested to highlight their cause. Similarly, the journalist Bidisha has suggested that ‘to wipe away these convictions is to wipe clean any sign of what was done to these women’, of the injustice done to them and the violence they suffered at the hands of the State.

Fight for your rights

Niamh Elstone explores the legacy of the suffragettes

RITAIN has recently celebrated the first step in a long battle for gender equality, but women are still facing injustices today. Currently, the feminist movement is particularly concerned with fighting sexual harassment and assault, most notably through the #MeToo movement. Public figures such as James Franco and Harvey Weinstein have been accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women and people across the world are standing up and speaking out to express their outrage of the unjust treatment of women. 100 years on from the first major act of British feminism some women are still experiencing sexism on a daily basis. From company policies that dictate that women must wear heels, to the fact that women account for less than a quarter of all director’s board seats in the UK, it is clear that 21st century women are still not living in an egalitarian society. The issue of the pay gap remains a pressing concern too. Hollywood actors such as Emma Watson and Carey Mulligan have begun to demand the same pay as their male counterparts. These celebrities are encouraging other women with less exposure to demand equal pay and equal treatment to men in all work places. What’s more, Britons continue to inhabit the spirit of the suffragettes and fight for a safer, fairer Britain for all women. Many young women have organised protests and founded charities based upon securing a safer environment for all women. For instance, ‘Reclaim the Night’ events that protest about sexual violence committed against women have grown in the UK. From

to gain attention, it was used to demonstrate the unsuitability of women’s entrance into politics – they were simply too emotional. It was only in the midst of World War I that the suffragettes were able to turn support in their favour: by volunteering to replace traditionally male job roles, they showcased their capabilities. On the other hand, the radical history of these women must not be belittled. Their militant and often illegal activity has transitioned into a popular narrative that makes it seem as if women’s suffrage was a given all along; with parliament taking undue credit. This teleological way of thinking negates the struggle of women that still resonates today. While we've moved on 100 years, Theresa May correctly reiterated that there are still too few women in parliament. This largely stems from continuing harassment with methods of persecution moving online but largely persisting. This leaves the legacy of the suffragettes at an awkward impasse. When asked about the possibility of granting posthumous pardons to many of the suffragettes, Theresa May remained tight-lipped, espousing a view that it is “not as straight-forward as it seems” given the illegal nature of many of their activities. Likewise, Home Secretary Amber

Bea Fones details an under-reported feminist battle in New Orleans

Image: Lars Plougmann

N 2018, the fight for equal rights continues to be fought across issues of race, gender, and sexuality. Whilst many of the campaigns in these areas are highly publicised and reported on, there are some movements still restricted to the shadows. The rights of sex workers across the globe is one such issue. It is hardly surprising then that recent raids on strip clubs in New Orleans and subsequent protests by affected dancers have gone largely unnoticed aside from original reporting by some US news outlets. The New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and the Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control (ATC) sent undercover operatives into strip clubs on Bourbon Street in New Orleans just 11 days before Mardi Gras, revealing instances of “prostitution”, or rather sexual services outside stripping, at eight strip clubs near the tourist area. It was also alleged by police that drug activity was found at four of those clubs. According to police, their increased presence is part of a wider effort to curtail human trafficking. However, officials are divided on whether human trafficking, as legally defined in the state of Louisiana, was taking place in the clubs. Louisiana ATC Commissioner Juana Marine-Lombard told reporters at a news conference that “prostitution in and of itself is sex trafficking.” This is unjust and incorrect. Voluntary sex work and sex trafficking are not one and the same. Louisiana law says that “fraud, force or coercion” must be evident to meet the legal definition of human trafficking. No human trafficking charges have since been filed, according to a NOPD spokesman. It should also be considered that the phrase “trafficking” has been used repeatedly to discredit and discriminate against migrant sex workers, painting them as victims and removing agency from them in an already tenuous legal situation. The voluntary closures of the affected clubs led many dancers to take to the streets to defend their jobs. Bourbon street workers and supporters protested on the basis that the

crackdowns are thinly veiled attempts to remake the image of the French Quarter “party district” into a family-friendly destination. Dancers pushed back against law enforcement activity which has affected their income and business, marching with slogans such as “We are not victims” and “It’s Bourbon St., not Sesame St.” Protesters said that they had not seen any evidence of human trafficking in their clubs, and that the raids and closures are endangering women rather than keeping them safe. Dancers protesting alleged that officers had read out the real names of employees in front of customers during at least one of the raids and had forced workers to change clothes in front of male officers. The alleged conduct of these officers speaks louder than their official statements about stigma and public disregard for all sex workers. Clamping down on strip clubs in New Orleans is likely to force strippers to turn to other forms of sex work or relocate to clubs outside the city, where they are less familiar with regulations and may be in more danger in their workplace. It is a real concern that Bourbon Street feeds an ecosystem where pimps control sex workers in the area, recruiting through strip clubs. It seems, however, that the recent raids have done more harm than good in this respect. Law enforcement in New Orleans seems to be blurring the distinction between voluntary sex work and exotic dancing, and situations of human trafficking and individuals being forced into sex work. It is untrue that sex and human trafficking are a facet of all strip club environments. Stripping is a misunderstood profession. It is presented either as a lurid, dark trade or held up in feminist circles as an empowering way to earn money. In truth, it can be both or neither. This binary view of the entire sex industry lacks the nuance required to educate the public, lessen stigmas and keep sex workers safe. Regardless of sex workers’ motivations for entering the industry, they have the right to work without fear of violence or unfair treatment from local authorities.

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NHS S.O.S.

James Hacker analyses the problems facing the NHS and explores some potential remedies

VER the winter, the National Health Service faced its perennial problems: waiting times, slow response times and people seeking and getting treatment in the wrong places. But NHS England opted to tackle the wrong one: slow response times. Restricting care professionals to arbitrary time restraints in an attempt to maintain a steady intake of admitted patients achieved little in the way of delivering genuine quality of care. It instead, created confusion and miscommunication between patients and professionals. Such restrictions dodge the issue on the frontline: the headlines and frontpages. It unnecessarily penalises health care professionals, skirting past the increase in flu patients, and most importantly, limited bed space. Patient discharge has always been a lengthy procedure. First, a patient must be identified as medically fit to leave the hospital. This is followed by an assessment of post-discharge social care. The patient then receives a written care plan which meets the needs of their assessment. The care plan is then put in place. Only then is the patient discharged. A lengthy procedure, but necessarily so, to ensure appropriate care is given. A delayed transfer happens when a patient who has been deemed medically well enough to be discharged is held up by occurrences outside of the hospital’s control. Currently, bed occupancy is around 94 per cent, a full 9 per cent higher than the “safe” 85 per cent; anything higher than this and the risk of poor quality of care, or the spread of infection, is increased. The reasons for these delays can range from complications with the patient’s living arrangements, to errors or hang-ups within the hospital, but are

increasingly more commonly identified as issues with arranging and enacting home social care. Struggling to receive sufficient council funding, delays in quality social care are to be expected and, as more and more patients require these services over the winter months, the problem extends beyond the point of a quick and easy clean up. Perhaps then, the blame should fall on us, the public: those who directly benefit from the services provided by the NHS. After all, we are the ones occupying those limited beds. Last summer, I worked on the administration desks at the NHS Somerset Partnership, booking and readying non-emergency ambulances. In the sweltering heatstroke last June, the winter crisis felt a hundred years away, but the ever-present issues with bed occupancy and delayed discharges were just as concerning. An office block consisting of a variety of departments, Somerset Primary Link (SPL) acted as a connection between hospitals, patients and their GPs: processing referrals, and determining the appropriate course of action. A day on SPL is manageable – hectic, I should stress, but generally only as hectic as one would expect the job to be. Independent of the winter crisis, getting people into hospital isn’t the problem. In that same office is the Bed Coordination Department. Bed Coordination is complicated. Patients who are assessed medically fit to be discharged, but who are not well enough to return home find themselves in community hospitals. Bed space is just as much an issue here as in general hospitals, but the problems become exacerbated in this limbo. Bed Coordination is especially busy in the period after the annual winter crisis. This of course contributes to the

Image: PublicDomainPictures limited bed space in hospitals unable to discharge patients. Discharging a patient does not end when they leave the hospital, by any means. Often patients will request a hospital close to home, delaying transfers significantly. Free or not, the NHS is abused and misused, and these problems are out of their hands. If the NHS is to save itself, it needs to address the ways in which its services are used. In 2015, Homa Khaleeli reported on the state of the NHS for The Guardian, compiling a number of statements from various NHS or care professionals.

Free or not, the NHS is abused and misused One GP commented on the tendency on behalf of patients to bottle-up their symptoms and ailments, and discussing them all within one GP appointment. This puts GPs in very difficult situations, not simply having to advise patients on their concerns, but also having to subsequently process the corresponding paperwork. A ten-minute appointment can potentially become hours of administrative work. More recently Jack O’Sullivan, director of his own health innovation consultancy, told The Guardian he believed a £10 monthly fee would combat this kind of entitlement. A pay-per-service barrier would surely

encourage this bottling-up mistreatment of the NHS, but would a monthly fee necessarily be any better? Patients might begin to open up more easily, but perhaps too much. An abundance of unnecessary appointments hardly seems better than an over-filled ten-minute slog. Would a cap have to be installed, and if so, how would people determine what was a necessary appointment or not? Would this mentality extend to our use of A&E or hospital referrals? Surely this would only exacerbate problems with bed coordination. The NHS is slow, and we can’t change that, but it over-performs, and we take it for granted. Amidst the neverending referrals, seasonal crises, the paperwork to be faxed, and the waiting list for beds exists the patient; the patient can make the process easier, or harder than it ever needs to be. Perhaps an effective way to ease this process would be to apply a filter between the potential patient and the GP. The NHS has its own online service which allows patients to book or reschedule appointments, order repeat prescriptions and access their GP records. GP at Hand offers online consultations, powered by Babylon (an online symptom checker). These services tout their immediacy: “see a GP within three minutes”. It might seem obvious to say, but this immediacy is integral to ‘straightening out’ the NHS’ patient problem. Many

THE CHALLENGES FACING THE NHS...

services is rising by 4% each year (nhsproviders.org)

BREXIT UNCERTAINTY

FUNDING ISN'T KEEPING PACE

RISING DEMAND Demand for NHS

who use these applications might still require a referral, but many who show minor symptoms won’t infiltrate the system. The issue here is getting people to trust these mobile apps. Some, like Push Doctor, require a subscription fee: an immediate deterrent. And many patients who insist on seeing a GP for minor symptoms or health anxieties, feel far more comforted in the presence of an off-screen doctor. For a machine to properly function, everything has to be in place. As such a big part of the NHS, why is the patient not held to a degree of accountability? I am not suggesting healthcare services be restricted by any means – that would be ludicrous. But without a value for the wonderful (and frankly unique) services the NHS provides, it will continue to be misused. Last autumn the NHS launched a television campaign targeting the misuse of antibiotics. The advert explained why taking antibiotics without good reason reduces their effectiveness. Perhaps a similar campaign is needed here, addressing potential strategies to make the most out of NHS services, without over loading its professionals. Of course, this isn’t a complete solution. Although such a campaign would surely have a good reach, there would be no guarantee of its effectiveness. What it would indicate is that NHS England is willing to tackle the problem with its usage head on.

Calls for ambulances

There will be

were up 7% from June

The over-85s population

an estimated spending

Over 167,500 EU nationals

2016 to 2017

has increased by over a

gap of £22 billion

currently work in health

(nhsproviders.org)

third since 2005 to 1.3 mil-

by 2022 (kingsfund.org.uk)

and social care in

lion and will double in the next 20 years (nhsproviders.org)

£22b

the UK and their future looks uncertain (nhsproviders.org)

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lifestyle

An open letter to...

ON THE CALENDAR You've made it through two thirds of this term! With one month left, here are a few things to mark in your diary as February draws to a close. 26 February marks the beginning of Sabb week. In the run up to the election, there will be a series of lunchtime interviews live on XpressionFM, and evening debates taking place in the Forum as candidates campaign for their nominated positions. Remember to tune in to XpressionFM and follow Exepose's live tweets (@ExeposeNews and @CommentExepose) for summaries and updates on the election. The week is also packed full of musical delights: 27 February: Voted 'Event of the Year' in 2015, the Soul Choir and the Exeter University Jazz Orchestra are collaborating once again to bring you a fantastic evening of wonderful harmonies and groovy tones at the Exeter Phoenix. Tickets are available via the Students' Guild website. Doors open at 7:30pm. Brought to you by Campus Bands, the fourth and final heat of the annual Battle of the Bands will be held at the Lemon Grove, starting from 7:30pm. Be sure to make your way there and watch musicians go head to head for a spot in the Semi-Finals. 28 February: If you missed the Poltimore Festival Launch event, do not fret. Well-known across campus, bands Cantaloupe Island and Psychopomp and Indie-Folk singer-songwriter, Sadie Horler, will be taking the Exeter Cavern by storm. Each will be showcasing individual sets to produce an eclectic mix of brilliant music. What better way to unwind on a Wednesday evening, than to listen to some talented and passionate musicians do their thing with a pint in your hand? The event starts at 8pm; be there or be square. 2 March: The annual Jailbreak Challenge is back. Hosted by Raise and Give, groups of 2-3 people set off to get as far as possible from the Forum in 36 hours to raise money for charity. Last year, one group managed to get as far as New York. Chelsea Lee

Exeter Jail Break

26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Two Exeposé Lifestyle writers pen letters to a barista and their mum

O the Barista Who Gave Me Free table with the sugar and such, with the Coffee, I really don’t like hot chocolate I paid for in one Americano. There, I said hand and this free, sharing-isit. I think Americano coffee caring Americano in the othis a sad espresso diluted er. I then emptied what was with demon tears, and probably an entire sugarpersonally I prefer a diacane into it, and chugged betes shot of hot chocoit in one shot. It was like late or a bitter death by drinking elephant sweat. black coffee. Americano It made me wonder – why is what daddy and mummy did you give it to me? I narespressos show their chilrowed it down to three readren the night before A-Levels, sons: firstly, it could be beImage: 'Simply hired' to warn them that if they get Us and cause I have a resting face Es, they’d become an Americano. But still, it is that looks like Gorbachev when rather nice that I got that free one when I vis- he learnt the Soviet Union had ited your establishment, which is increasingly fallen. Or, it could be because often nowadays because Starbucks has man- you secretly dislike me, and aged to spell my name ‘Lean’, which is only wanted to watch me suffer, second worst to them spelling it ‘Near.’ struggling between my desire for a free drink and my distaste of watery depression coffee. Or it could be some person of colour solidarity you had going on and let me tell you, comrade, I would chug ten million Americanos I do think you need to know what hap- for you if that was the case. pened to this coffee though. I tottered to the Really, I’m just picking at nits that don’t

I HAVE THE FACE OF GORBACHEV WHEN THE SOVIET UNION FELL

EAR Mum,

Please, don’t take this the wrong way. Now, at 53 years of age and a divorcee I have watched you underestimate what it means to love yourself, to know that you are allowed to love yourself and that self-love is imperishable.

I HAVE NEVER MET ANYONE WHO LOVES LIKE YOU DO In my 23 years of being your Daughter I have never met anyone who loves like you do. You care in the most passionate, caring and irreplaceable ways. But, I have also seen this love break you, many times, and have seen it take the light from your eyes even when you’re strong and I have never seen you give that same love to yourself.

When I was younger I believed you cared very little about certain people, that when you argued or got angry it was because you didn’t like them, but, now, old enough to understand I see it differently. You love and you love so much. Just like you’ve shown infinite love to me and my brothers, to our Dad even after what he has done, to your Mum who stood by idle through the hardships of your childhood, and to your sister who does not appreciate it. And your anger was all because you were hurt. But Mum, I have one piece of advice to offer you. I encourage you to use your love to live the way you have always wanted. By showing that same love you have towards others to yourself. You deserve it. You are 53; you’re not old. You can do now what you have always

really exist, like a Capuchin in captivity with a stuffed monkey. That coffee, whilst vile, was a kind deed that I probably wouldn’t forget any time soon. After all, it’s not often that I roll into a coffee shop after a seminar, an essay plan, and a lecture, hoping to bury myself in blankets soon, and instead get a free perk me up and a smile from a pretty barista who also complimented my eyes (they’re contacts though.) It’s not really anything to write an open letter about, but it is something to remember – also maybe I’m just writing this in the hope that you’re a student here, that you’d read this, and then maybe give me a free hot chocolate instead, because I really don’t like Americano. Neha Shaji

wanted to do. Believe in what you say when you talk about your future. If you want to move, move. If you want to learn keep learning. If you want to travel keep travelling. That self-love that you have so heavily engrained in me, take it and believe it. Because of you, I will never be too afraid to go after something I want, I will never be too self-conscious to meet new people. It’s time to realise that the love you have given and have may not received in return does not mean anything by you, aside from your ability to hurt like everybody else and your whole-hearted kindness. I am telling you that you are young, that you are stronger than anyone I know and that you are so beautiful. So, use that love and passion on yourself and move forward.

Anonymous

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Editors: Barbara Balogun and Lauren Geall

lifestyle

26 FEB 2018 |

Moved by #MeToo

Katie Baker tells us how to challenge sexism in the legacy of the #MeToo movement

T'S impossible to avoid the cultural moment that is the #MeToo movement and although the breaking news stories have reduced to weekly rather than hourly, it is still undeniably present. And rightly so. Amid the madness and trauma, it’s easy to feel powerless, but rather than simply despair at the state of the world, it’s time to put our thoughts into actions. Whilst this can seem intimidating, we don’t have to single-handedly rid the world of every predator; little life changes can end up contributing the most.

WE MUST LEARN AND MAKE CONTINUED EFFORTS TO LISTEN Most of all it’s all about being conscious and conscientious. The first step is recognising sexist attitudes and behaviours that contribute to abuse. It starts within ourselves, focusing on the way we respond to stories of victims and then taking it out to a wider level by thinking about how we communicate about women and men differently. By deconstructing your own perceptions, you can start to understand the world differently. An excellent way to widen your own perspectives is through following marginalised voices on social media, such as people of colour, transgender people and people with disabilities. Above all, we

must learn and make continued efforts to listen. From gaining greater perspectives we can be critical of the world around us and the media we consume. You don’t have to necessarily start arguments and lose friends to call them out when they slip up. With greater knowledge of the world and some new perspectives you’ll be able to explain, rather than reprimand, why something a friend says isn’t exactly respectful or accurate. It will become easier and easier to recognise problems when you consciously select the content you consume. This doesn’t mean that you should stop loving F.r.i.e.n.d.s beImage: Mihai Surdu cause binge watching it

on Netflix this month has made you realise a good amount of the jokes are at the expense of marginalised groups. You can keep on watching till your heart's content, just be mindful as you do of where its problems are and recognise them as legitimate and not just ‘products of the time’. Above all it’s important to do what you can to look out for those around you. Know someone who has been a victim of harassment, assault or rape? Check in on them to see if they’re doing okay with the barrage of headlines. Going on a night out? Make sure everyone is getting home safely not alone and not with a stranger. Help anyone you see that could be taken advantage of, even if they’re strangers. For example, offering to walk home or call a taxi for a drunk per-

son, or helping someone get away from a situation which they look visibly uncomfortable in.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LOSE FRIENDS TO CALL THEM OUT Another way to get involved is politically, through protests such as the Reclaim the Night walks organised by Devon Rape Crisis, contacting your representatives and getting involved in local government to represent your voice in the local community. However, if that all seems a bit daunting, don’t worry, take it one step at a time. The biggest activists all started somewhere. It’s okay to make mistakes if you are prepared to sincerely apologise and make amends to your future behaviour. We can learn a lot from #MeToo if we’re willing to put the effort into our daily lives.

If you've been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, we recommend the following information: Wellbeing: 01392 724381 https://www.exeterguild.org/change/wid/help/ abuse/

A broken scale

Rowan Keith confronts the problem of sizing options in UK stores

Image: Hans Olav

ARLIER this month, Topshop announced they would be selling jeans in half sizes; rather than the waist size of their jeans increasing in two inch increments, they will now be sold in one inch increments, almost doubling the number of sizes currently available. Women everywhere were delighted, there was celebration all over Twitter and hundreds of article headlines rejoiced that women no longer need to fit into the cookie cutter sizes that the fashion industry sets out for us. All good stuff, right? Here’s my issue: Topshop currently only sells clothes up to a size 16, occasionally a size 18 online. The average size of the UK women in 2017 was a size 16. This means that Topshop currently only caters to just over half of UK women, with their biggest size being the average size of the population. Despite this, Topshop has decided that their priority is not to expand their size range so that the other half of the population can finally experience the heavily celebrated magic of the Joni jean, but simply to make their jeans fit the section of women that they already cater to slightly better. This is a completely illogical economical de-

cision. Joni jeans are not completely resistant to criticism, however, the only criticism I have seen is always focused on the fact that the jeans lose their colour after two washes rather than issues of size. The fact of the matter is that Topshop, like most fashion brands, do not want their clothing being represented by ‘fat’ women. This is true on the catwalks of London fashion week, it’s true of fashion editorials in magazines and it’s true of 95% of clothing brands advertising. Systematically plus-size women are told that they are not worthy of the same control over their fashion as straight-size women.

TOPSHOP CURRENTLY ONLY CATERS TO JUST OVER HALF OF UK WOMEN Topshop is unfortunately not the only brand that is guilty of this kind of sizing issue by any stretch of the imagination. Zara came under fire last year for their jeans advertising campaign featuring two very slim models with the slogan ‘love your curves’. Countless articles came

out slamming H&M for their sizing, with size 12 women being incapable of zipping up size 16 dresses. However, many brands out there are making a move towards size inclusivity. New Look and Primark regularly go up to size 18 or 20 in their main clothing lines. Boohoo, Missguided, Asos, New Look and River Island all have plus size ranges. Boohoo recently launched an advertising campaign featuring models diverse in race, ability and size. Even H&M, the target of so much sizing scrutiny, has a plus size range that is widely available in stores, not just online. Topshop has done none of this. For them, maintaining an image of what they perceive to be a desirable size is far more important. As a plus size woman, I can say that over time this kind of thing has an incredibly detrimental effect on your mental health. Not being able to shop in the same shops that your friends do because 50% of high street shops aimed at the under 30 age range don’t sell clothes bigger than a 16 becomes pretty painful. Missing out on shopping trips or having to explain to them why you’re not trying anything on is really difficult for a teenage girl, and it’s still pretty

damn hard at 21. And this is not something we talk about. So many of my friends who I do talk to are shocked by the fact that I cannot buy clothes from some of the biggest retailers in the UK simply because I am one size larger than the national average. I’m used to this kind of purposeful oversight from fashion brands at this point, but this one hit particularly hard. Joni jeans are a wardrobe staple for most female students, and being excluded from this, especially when so many people on social media are celebrating the apparent body positivity and inclusivity of this latest update, feels very much like being excluded from the cool gang. The body positivity movement is stronger than ever, and with the rise of social media surrounding yourself with beautiful, size inclusive images and advertising is easier than ever, but until the fashion brands can join this movement, plus-size women will continue to have their self esteem chipped away every time they try to shop on the high street. In the meantime, however, Primark does a killer pair of high-waisted skinnies for a quarter of the price, which I highly recommend.

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EDITORS: Barbara Balogun & Lauren Geall

lifestyle

26 FEB 2018 |

The mid-term slump

As we reach the middle of term, Exeposé Lifestyle writers reflect on the blessings of home

ECENTLY I was on the phone with my mother, when I was shocked to learn that my sister had a reading week in term two. The jealousy I felt at my sister’s week of rest was worsened by the fact that she had started second term a week later than me, and was breaking up for the Easter holidays a week earlier than me. Fighting the growing resentment I felt towards those who decided upon Exeter’s term dates and reading weeks (or lack of them), I started to think of home and all the things I miss most about it. Out of the many things that make me miss home, I decided that what I miss most is those who live at home – my family and my cat.

I LONG FOR THE SUPPORT AND CAMARADERIE OF HOME Over Christmas, my sister and I spent weeks at the table together writing essays. We laughed and cried together, and we motivated one another. At this point in the term when essays once more descend upon me, I long for the support and camaraderie my sister provided me with on a daily

basis, something I don’t feel very often at university living alone in my studio. I also miss the evenings my family would spend together watching films or the latest television series. After spending our days Image: Flo Dahm on our respective tasks, this time in the evenings allowed us to relax and spend time with one another, maybe even solving puzzles and brainteasers together and bonding over our mutual infuriation at their difficulty and deceptively simple answers. Finally, although his constant demands annoy me, I miss my cat, for I can always turn to him for love and affection when I need it. Fiona Edwards

NIVERSITY is great – for the first few weeks of term. But before long, you begin to miss the familiarity of home, being able to go downstairs and talk to your mum whenever you like, waking up with a muchloved pet next to you in bed and most importantly, the home cooked meals. There is so much to enjoy about university, but missing home is one of those things that really puts a dampener on the term. For many of us, the thing we miss most is the food, prepared using fresh ingredients, set out on a plate on the dining table to enjoy – the crucial part, however, is the very concept of a family dinner. At uni, meals can become blurred, you eat alone in front of Netflix in your room and cook simple meals without putting much effort in to the preparation. Meals stop feeling like

S Image: Jenna Hamra w e students reach the half way mark of Term 2, I feel a sigh of relief is in order for arriving at such an accomplishment. However, the end of term is still nowhere to be seen, disguising itself in the not-so-near future. Inevitably, the prospect of duplicating the past six weeks again is resulting in a mid-term stagnation of students everywhere. The yearning for home and all it entails is at it’s peak in this period. For me personally, I want to run, jump and squeeze the faces off my friends from home. As a fresher, I have made the shift from seeing my best friends five days a week, to a handful of time over the past five months, and a visit from my friends is not even a small possibility. Exeter is, in their words, “practically another country”. I could not have comprehended how much I would miss their moaning, whining, and holding their hair back over the toilet on a night out. It is fair to say I never valued all the measly, insignificant moments with them, failing to cherish the privilege of chatting everyday. Yet now, in the middle of Term 2, I’d love more than anything to play the sober parent or listen to a two hour rant about a guy I’ve heard multiple times before. It would be an honour. Even though I’m incredibly lucky to have found an amazing group of friends here, new friendships are as different to old as sugar to spice - the void of my friends from home grows everyday as we reach the mid term mark. Our joint laughs, jokes, gossips, moaning and bitching are not the same over snapchat. However, with a hefty train price separating us all, it will do for now. Megan Groves

ROM day one at university, I’ve missed the silence of my house at home. The antiquated building of Llewellyn Mews’ is bizarrely constructed in a way that means that every single sound seems to ricochet across the whole flat. I miss being able to go to bed at night without resigning myself to a 4am wake-up call when my flatmates get home from a club. It seems like no noise can evade me. If someone’s having a conversation in the corridor, I can hear every word. If someone goes to the toilet, I get the full sound track. If my window’s open, I can hear the conversations in the kitchens down and upstairs. And with a bedroom that overlooks the railway, I get the sweet symphony of trains trundling along. In my bedroom at home, my only concern is the dawn chorus. Unsurprisingly, it makes a much nicer alarm than the sound of your flatmate peeing. Most of the time, I can tune out the noise of the trains and laugh at my flatmates’ raucous, drunken shouts. However, there reaches a point where my tolerance is flagging. The appeal of my quiet bedroom at home, only interrupted by the sound of my dad bringing me a cup of tea, grows in conjunction with the passing weeks of term. It would be so blissful to be able to have a whole night of undisturbed sleep and to enjoy a lie-in unpunctuated by train whistles. Katrina Bennett

meals, and eating becomes something you have to do, or something you’re doing out of boredom. For many, this can destroy relationships with food by removing the family aspect to the nightly dinner. There is absolutely nothing like sitting at the table with your family to eat a meal and catch up with what’s happened that day.

THERE IS NOTHING LIKE EATING A MEAL WITH YOUR FAMILY The solutions to this are not as simple as you may think – it isn’t as simple as cooking every day with your friends. The meals need to be made with thought and care. Perhaps open a recipe book and cook something new. However, one of the best things we can do is avoid sitting in front of the TV or a laptop. We need to be separating mealtimes from everything, just as we do at home – it will make a true difference to this mid-term slump and homesickness we all experience. Rhiannon Moore

Image: Mali Maeder

HEN we’re feeling homesick, chances are that one thing we’re really missing is home cooking. I’m extremely fortunate to have a mum who’s an all-round amazing chef, and can turn her hand to anything. There’s always baked goods in the tin, her pies are the things of legend (my best friend often starts implying how she hasn’t had chicken and leek pie in ages shortly after I invite her over for dinner), and she’s kept our family holidays alive in her recreations of the local cuisine. The one dish I’m currently missing the most is one of her desserts. It’s something appropriately sweet and indulgent to nurse my stressed-out heart as deadlines loom. A British classic: sticky toffee pudding (STP). A thick, soft sponge made with dates, smothered in a gorgeously rich sauce that can be topped with custard, clotted cream, ice cream… Coincidentally after having a conversation with a friend about how good it is as a dessert, I found out my mum made one just this weekend! It’s a dessert beloved by everyone, often made when my dad’s side of the family are over (as is steam pudding – I think love for syrup is hereditary at this point), and the quiet that falls over the table when we tuck in is one of joy. STP is also the gift that keeps on giving – we always end up with leftovers, so get to extend the experience of pure bliss over the next few evenings. Such is our love for my mum’s STP that we replaced the traditional Christmas pudding with it last year. It’s therefore not just delicious, but tied to so many lovely memories, all of which I’d much rather be reliving right now instead of writing these essays! Charley Cross

SABBATICAL ELECTIONS GUIDE 2018

19.00 - VP ACTIVITIES DEBATE 20.15 - au president debate

Wednesday 28 Feb 19.00 - VP Welfare & Diversity debate 20.15 - VP EDUcation debate

THURSDAY 1 mar 19.00 - Guild president debate

Friday 2 mar 19.00 - results

d an e ws liv ! e k r en fo ee s o se l w p xe epo e al e @ ex g a w o ent ver l l m fo om e co @c bat de

exeposé

TUESDAY 27 FEB

Guild President

MANIFESTO Tom Allars Age:

Subject: Geography Societies: Welcome Team, ESV, TeachFirst

George Gordon Age:

Subject: English Societies: Pearshaped, Amateur Boxing Club, Bracton Law Society

Grace Frain Age:

Subject: Anthropology Societies: Student Action for Refugees, YMCA, Amnesty International, BodySoc

MANIFESTO

what’s THE biggest problem facing exeter?

is student democracy in exeter effective?

Current President:

Shades

biggest weakness?

if you were a supermarket, which would you be?

My pledge is to make Exeter an inclusive, supportive, and great place to be where the Guild gives back to all students. 1) Bring back the campus music festival with a corporate partner to lower ticket prices. 2) More shuttle buses for disabled students. 3) Welfare training for committee members with Mental Health First Aid England. 4) More international food options and allergen information. 5) Recognition for voluntary work and society commitments. 6) Improved university welfare systems within departments. 7) Cheaper printing. 8) Enable greater postgraduate representation. 9) More support for international students. 10) More event access on St Luke’s.

Access to appropriate healthcare and support. There needs to be much better signposting of the services available. There also needs to be greater support systems within academic departments for students as the current policy allows many students to be neglected. In partnership with Mental Health First Aid England, we can solve this problem and make sure everyone in Exeter has the support they deserve.

If not I would not stand as I would honestly not believe that I could make this University and Guild a better place. Every student can stand for election and the Student Ideas forum has provided a platform for ideas to be raised by everyone. My own campaign has been shaped by the ideas of students around me alongside my own, and I have actively sought the opinions of many different students to make sure I represent everyone.

I have a tendency to let projects that I care about come to dominate my life, [as] with my work in Welcome Team - something I am proud of but acutely aware is not sustainable over the duration of a year being Guild President. This is something I am aware of and endeavour to improve.

Morrisons – slightly quirky and unashamedly willing to do things a bit differently, with something for everyone.

My manifesto sets out the three areas which I have found to be of greatest concern from talking to students, and they are: The need for additional mental health resources at our university. The Wellbeing Centre is overstretched as student numbers at Exeter grow, and I believe that help should be there for all that require it. Improving the social and study spaces to better cater for student needs. I believe that we need more workspaces, and not at the expense of social spaces. I also wish to ‘Rebuild the Guild’, which includes revamping both Guild Points and the website, and completely transforming the Lemmy into the nightclub students deserve.

Other than the current UCU industrial action, the biggest problem currently facing Exeter is the imminent and controversial arrival of an M&S supermarket on campus. Do we really need it? It’s replacing the Natwest in the Forum next year, and we already have the Market Place, and a good choice of upmarket eateries to purchase meal deals and snacks from. Arguably, a Wetherspoons would make a far better addition to university life.

Yes, I think the democratic system in place at Exeter is adequate for a student body. Elected presidents have the chance to make a real difference. A couple of examples that come to mind are Toby Gladwin’s Lemmy ATM or Shades’ initiative to improve Postgrad representation. While I believe the points in my manifesto are important, I think the primary role of a successful sabbatical officer is to remain flexible and, above all else, listen to students’ needs.

My unhealthy addiction to coffee, to the extent that I’m rather too well known by the Pret a Manger baristas.

For starters, I definitely wouldn’t be the Marketplace. I’m more of a Morrisons kind of guy – all about that variety and value.

Gain University of Sanctuary Status to follow on from the Sanctuary Scholarships that were set up last year to demonstrate Exeter’s welcoming nature and inclusivity for all; rentable laptop chargers for when you forget; accessibility to resources online including increasing the consistency of lecture recordings and information on welfare and housing in different languages for international students; committee training for all on Welfare issues covering Disability, Diversity and Sexual Abuse training; ensure to maintain an open-door policy and offer drop-in sessions on both campuses, as well as a regular review of online student ideas to ensure that all students’, undergrad, postgrad, part-time and distance learners, voices are heard.

In terms of the city, homelessness. Exeter has one of the highest percentages per capita of homeless people outside of London. Often as students we can detach ourselves from the city around us and live in our own little bubble but I want to ensure that we engage with the city. In multiple ways, so that we can help but also so that we appreciate the wonderful place that we are lucky enough to call our home.

Regarding the high turn out of almost 44% for last years elections, I believe that the student body is engaged and interested in bettering their experience. There will always be more to improve on in all aspects and it is hard to fully engage the entirety of students but by aiming to ensure accessibility and diversity across the university, through following through on some of my manifesto points, hopefully it may increase the reach and voices heard.

Trying to do too much at one time and placing pressure on myself to achieve my own expectations. I thrive from engaging in as many things as possible at once but I have learnt that I need to step back to see the bigger picture and set myself individual goals at a slower pace. But, this is always easier said than done.

The Co-op because of its ethos and ethical sources. It is always looking out for students and helping out with deals, and it is always close by when needed.

MANIFESTO Wallace Wang Age:

Subject: MSc Economics Societies: ECU, Economics Society

SOMA PIRITYI Age:

Subject: Philosophy and Politics Societies: Tennis

MANIFESTO Tackling mental health issues will be my utmost priority, and as Guild President I will make sure that the Guild puts the maximum amount of effort into it throughout the year. Much can be done by the Guild to raise awareness of mental health issues, to improve publicity and the accessibility of mental health support services, and also to be more encouraging themselves. I will also work towards fixing the broken relationship between Exeter locals and students by developing entrepreneurial, volunteering, and charity schemes that can benefit both our students and the city that hosts us. These are my main focuses; for more please visit the candidate page.

I believe that mental health issues are the most serious problem facing Exeter students, or perhaps students of all universities. Poor mental health can lead to dangerous actions such as suicide or self-harm; or at least low motivation that can result in failing modules, which is bad enough for students. Mental health issues are more common than they appear to be, and people who need help tend to not look for it.

Yes I do think it is effective. We have a very well established Student Ideas system and many students are active on it. It can be made even better over time.

I myself suffer from I wish I were M&S. mental health prob- The girl whom I love lems (which became loves it :) a reason for my candidacy); also I am quite an introvert and do not usually work in teams, but I should be capable of teamwork too. I’m afraid of spiders - does this count?

My plan is to change your time at University from ordinary to extraordinary. Firstly, I will provide a grant for accommodation and society fees to ensure disadvantaged students enjoy the full Exeter experience. Secondly, I intend to eliminate the culture of sexual assault by creating an organisation which will always be there to support victims and prevent future crimes. Thirdly, I will build a Sustainable Student Space in the place of NatWest which will be the University’s premier Vegan outlet. Furthermore, in the light of Brexit I will strive to protect all students and prevent xenophobia. Finally, I invite you to celebrate the strength that comes from the diversity of cultures in Exeter and to work together to overcome discrimination.

The toxic culture of fear and hatred that affects many aspects of University life both on and off campus. Verbal, physical and sexual assaults continue to be rampant and unreported with many students feeling too scared to discuss their experience. The use of radical symbols and language makes EU and International Students feel threatened and unwanted. This lack of respect and togetherness limits our students in their everyday life both in terms of academic performance and personal wellbeing.

Overall, I am satisfied with the Guild’s level of student democracy, but I believe more can be done to represent students from racial and religious minorities as well as the LGBTQ+ community. Furthermore, I am concerned by how freshers in the Forum do not know who their Guild representatives are despite their tireless work. Nevertheless, the Guild’s reaction to the strike shows its flexibility and willingness to adapt to evolving scenarios whilst continuing to support the interests of students.

Sometimes, I am too stubborn especially when it comes to compromises which can potentially damage the interests of students. Whilst some play the tit for tat game of politics, I am unwilling to sacrifice my principles and ideas as they mean too much to me and I am too invested in helping people fulfil their potential.

guild president debate 1st march

T EXEPOSÉ VERDICT

what’s THE biggest problem facing exeter?

SABB ELECTIONS 2018 | EXEPOSÉ is student if you were a democracy supermarket, BIGGEST in exeter WEAKNESS? which would effective? you be?

HE manifestos from this year’s five candidates display a wide range of foci - however, there is an overarching theme of inclusivity and emphasis on student welfare, which is undoubtedly a good thing. Three out of five candidates, for example, specifically aim to tackle mental health issues in their manifesto points. Wang, indeed, is basing the message of his whole campaign around this undeniably pressing issue. That said, all candidates seem somewhat reluctant to bring anything new to the table this year, instead pledging to bring back or revamp various initiatives which have already existed in some form. It also seems somewhat strange that so many of these Presidential candidates have opted to focus on issues which might have been better suited to form the core premise of

campaigns for either VP Activities or VP Welfare & Diversity. Given that the President is in charge of the overall direction of the Guild, it would be nice to see more clarified, coherent policy come through during the debates this week. When it came to identifying the biggest problem facing Exeter, most candidates opted again for welfarebased answers - Wang, Allars, and Pirityi with student mental health, signposting support services, and “toxic culture” respectively. Also opting for a welfare focus but taking a more city-wide stance, Frain ventured outside of the “student bubble” and highlighted the ongoing issue of homelessness in Exeter. Gordon, meanwhile, opted for that most pressing of issues the impending doom that is an upcoming M&S outlet on campus. Perhaps Gordon, who is a self-professed

Tesco, because my door would be open when people needed me and I would never fail to serve the needs of the students. Also, I always deliver!

“Morrisons kind of guy”, isn’t a big fan of Percy Pigs he’s certainly liable to clash with Wang, a confessed M&S wannabe. Don’t worry, George - we’d rather have a campus Wetherspoons too. It’s definitely good to see that all of our candidates believe Exeter’s student democracy is effective, but it’s also reassuring to see an awareness from most candidates regarding the need to actively seek out and listen to those students whose voices may not always be so easily heard. Pirityi’s concern that “freshers in the Forum do not know who their Guild representative is” does clash with the figures - last year, Exeter was the most democratically involved university in the country by voter turnout. 44%, as Frain points out. We will have to see if that turnout is repeated again this year, or indeed exceeded.

VP Activities 4

what’s THE biggest problem facing exeter?

MANIFESTO Rosie McDonagh Age:

Subject: History and Ancient History Societies: YMCA Soc, Irish Soc, Gym & Cheer,

George Pitchford Age:

Subject: Maths Societies: MathSoc, Exeposé, RAG, Exeter Student Volunteers

Joe Zolna Age:

Subject: (FCH) International Relations and Middle Eastern Studies. Societies: Labour Society, Student Action for Refugees, FCH Society, Poker Society.

Becca Hanley

BIGGEST WEAKNESS?

if you were a musical instrument...

Refreshers’ and Freshers’: Make a real buzz around Refreshers’ like there is during the Freshers’ period. Online Resources: Re-vamp the Guild website so committee resources are easier to find. Centralise the room booking and forum table booking systems. Societies: Improve committee training. Explore spaces for permanent society meeting rooms or storage. ‘You’re more than just your degree’- rewards for extra-curricular involvements. Inclusivity: A&V and Meal Deals at St Luke’s. Advertise societies to International students more. Post-Grad reps in societies. Exeter Charities: In-hall charity reps to raise money outside of Charity societies. Start up ‘What’s a Pound?’ to add £1 onto formal tickets, which will go to charity.

It would be great to get more students involved with local community projects. There is a bit of a barrier between students and locals and it would be so nice to break that down. ESV does a great job with this so I would aim to continue to encourage this, but also create other means of students to get involved with the local community.

The biggest issue by far is the level of bureaucracy needed to go through in order to set up an event. Students get put off planning events to try to avoid the system entirely. Planning events should be an easy, simple and quick process and I plan to make the process more centralised and easier to understand.

I say yes to too many things and so I find myself constantly busy. I get through it all and I enjoy it, but it often leads to a fair bit of stress along the way.

It’s a fivefold plan to enhance our extracurricular, headlined by an ExeFest sequel. I’m aware of the fear surrounding it, and that’s why I’ve worked hard liaising with Guild staff to build an achievable concept of a second festival. Societies have been integral to my time at Exeter, so a Sponsorship Fair to boost networks with one other and external corporations takes point number two. Additionally, I believe Refreshers is an outstanding tool for members and committees, and I’m opening the door to a Refreshers Fair. iExeter sees the Guild hugely underrepresented, and it’s time our media and societies are given their own space. Building on this would allow for timetabled society events, and a redecorated room booking system.

There’s a myriad of issues facing our students. There’s the obvious candidates, including recent tuition fee rises and housing inflation. But from an activities perspective, our Guild fails to perform on the national stage. We revere our success in teaching and research, but the less known metrics show that our union does not shape up in terms of resources and accessibility.

A lack of support from the body that homes us. We have hundreds of students here on a termly basis, yet this year saw no Refreshers Week. We have outstanding student groups dedicated to mental health, but no welfare training for committees. We have a state of the art app for university, but it’s bereft of any society presence. The tools to enhance our societies are available, but no one’s picked them up yet.

Overcommitting. In my Cymbals. I like to time here I’ve chucked make a big impact. myself into a multitude of organisations, soaking up as much Exeter as possible. Trying to be Superman becomes taxing when you realise you study topics with terrifying names like ‘Geodesics’ and ‘Markov Chain Monte Carlo’. It’s a tough balancing act, but if you’re got everything under control, you’re not moving fast enough.

It’s time to #BeBald. Support me for a better say and a better time. I’ll make sure that great events happen throughout the year like live music, speakers and shows. Exefest was a success and there’s no reason it can’t happen again. I’m committing to a ‘Destress Fest’ thought-out exams to keep you happy and healthy, including puppies and petting zoos. I’ll enact a Refreshers fair, so that everyone gets a second chance to get involved in the societies that they might have missed the first time round. I’ll change student ideas to give societies and their member’s greater say in what goes on. I’ll enact participatory budgeting, to give everyone a vote on where Guild money is spent.

Too much power in Exeter is given to too few, who then act in their own interests. Students need to start taking back that power and using it effectively. I’ve given a few practical ideas in my manifesto about how we do that (E.g Reforming Student Ideas) but I think it just comes down to being loud and proud about what we want. The best ideas are done by and for students. Exefest is a good example.

W EXEPOSÉ VERDICT

biggest issue facing societies and groups?

Current VP Activities:

HO wants ExeFest round two? Two out of three VP Activities candidates, that’s who... or is it? Whilst Pitchford clearly states that an ExeFest sequel is on the cards, Zolna’s full manifesto plays it safe, only going so far as to promise “something similar” - not so “Bald” after all, perhaps? Meanwhile, McDonagh avoids promising ExeFest 2.0, although her manifesto is full of improvements and charitable outlook aplenty. All candidates express intentions regarding improvements to Refreshers’ (ie. actually having it

I would be a triangle - little musical talent but tries, pretends to be a cool percussion instrument.

Too many student groups A personal weakness is I’d be a Trumpet aren’t reaching their full that I’m usually honest. because I did a potential because they I’ll see when something Buzzfeed quiz don’t have the right or someone isn’t working and that’s what it support, training or as well as it should and said. Seems pretty attention given to them. I’ll let them know. My accurate. The Guild and A+V are boldness won’t make way too complicated to me many friends as VP navigate and a lot of the Activities but it’ll actually time they’re too repressive be a strength because so or controlling of what much needs reform. I’ll goes on. That shouldn’t work to make the student be the case. I guarantee experience as great as it to give Exeter’s groups can be. the support, power and freedom they need to do well, and to give students the experience we want. next year, for starters) - for Pitchford, this is just one in dire need of improvement, whilst Zolna appears facet of a manifesto area aiming to increase visibility concerned that Guild bureaucracy is going to destroy and transparency for societies. McDonagh also aims us all (not unlikely, but it would take a bloody long to increase visibility, with her full manifesto including time, as anyone who has ever put an event through event advertisment and a ‘Spotlight On’ feature. A&V might tell you). Whilst Zolna is certainly vocal It’s a triple threat triad again when it comes about reform, his opposition have produced clearer to improving the utility and functionality of A&V, policies for said reform - something he will have to which all candidates identify as a major issue facing justify on the Hill and during Tuesday’s debate. societies and groups. McDonagh and Pitchford both With a wealth of ideas on show here, this year’s VP highlight room booking and event planning as areas Activities campaigns are sure to be interesting.

VP Education MANIFESTO Warren BinghamRoberts Age:

Subject: Psychology Societies: Psychology, ESV

what’s THE biggest problem facing exeter?

MANIFESTO My manifesto focuses around bringing people together, so that everyone is able to Achieve, Connect, and Experience more from their time here at University. The following are just some of my manifesto pledges that address this, in bullet point form: -Greater student-staff interaction -Life skills workshops -High profile guest speakers and educational events -Improved cohesion between academic societies and their respective SSLCs -Transparency throughout academic representation, with minutes, meetings recorded and accessible -Grade tracker on iExeter, eBooks for core modules, ‘Reading days’ -Greater incentives, recognition for academic reps Unfortunately there isn’t space for all the ideas I would bring forward and push for, but you can find them across social media, or by speaking to me throughout Sabb week!

In terms of Education, the biggest problem facing Exeter is ensuring that all students receive the highest quality teaching and experience that they can, and with intake and fees higher than ever, this only becomes more important as space and money continue to be stretched. As VP Education, I would ensure that students from all walks of life are able to thrive throughout their time at University.

1ST MARCH

28 FEBRUARY

Voting opens 9AM

debate

activities + au

welfare + education

GUILD PRESIDENT

EXEPOSÉ VERDICT

Bryony Loveless

BIGGEST WEAKNESS

Some people get more value for their money than others, but there are a number of reasons for that. The argument for higher fees is often ‘quality’ over ‘quantity’, but with contact hours significantly less for some subjects than others, the onus to make the degree and money worth it often falls upon the individual, to go out and experience more (e.g. through societies). However, not everyone is able to do so, which is why the focus of my manifesto is to ensure people do get value from their degree.

27 FEBRUARY

hat’s this? An unopposed candidate? Surely not!? Indeed, your eyes do not deceive you - your two choices for VP Education 2018/19 are either Mr Bingham-Roberts or that most trusty and upstanding of candidates, RON (Re-Open Nominations). Some say that RON has stood in countless elections - that they are democracy’s silent guardian, its watchful protector. RON is the hero that Exeter deserves... but is RON the hero that it needs right now? Exeposé asked Bingham-Roberts whether he foresaw any issues with the fact that he was running unopposed. He responded: “The main issue [...] is that there is nothing to compare the ideas I’m bringing to the table against. However, as President of the Psychology Society, Psychology Subject Chair, Academic & Employability Rep for Societies Executive, Project Leader for Exeter Student Volunteers, and Welcome Team Leader, I want to show that I do have the skills and experience required for this role, and did not just apply on the off chance and get extremely lucky.”

Current VP Education:

Do students get value for money from the university?

26 FEBRUARY

SABB ELECTIONS 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Big words from Warren, a man who has branded his campaign on lapine word-play riffing on his given name (presumably resulting from a humorous misreading of Richard Adams’ chilling 1972 sociopolitical thriller Watership Down). Yet BinghamRoberts strikes upon an important point - is it not necessary, from a democratic point of view, for candidates to prove themselves and defend their ideas in open debate? As an electorate, students should bear in mind that a vote cast for RON - the trusty Weasley to Warren’s Potter - is not necessarily a vote against a lone candidate. It can, instead, merely be a vote to do exactly what it says on the tin - re-open nominations and ensure due, effective democratic process. With that out of the way, it’s certainly worth taking a look through Bingham-Roberts’ manifesto. His first point strives for “Greater student-staff interaction”, for which - in his full manifesto - Bingham-Roberts suggests a “Student-Staff Sports Day/Weekend”. This idea is certainly pleasant, although - since many departments do not lack staff-student cohesion - it

I am often quite the perfectionist, and commit myself to possibly too much, which can mean I overwork and over deliberate in certain things and get very tired… it all works out in the end though!

if you were a campus building.... Washington Singer - that building in the back of all the iconic ‘rock pics’... and the home of Psychology!

2ND MARCH Voting closes + results

is odd as a first-place choice. As for “guest speakers”, given that similar schemes are already ongoing (both by departments and by TEDxExeter, which is now entering its seventh year), we may hope that Bingham-Roberts clarifies this manifesto point during the week. The candidate clearly identifies several issues with our current SSLC system. He focuses chiefly on visibility and operational transparency, both of which are areas in undeniable need of updating. Bingham-Roberts states that “the focus of my manifesto is to ensure people do get value from their degree” - however this is not immediately clear. His manifesto does include a wide variety of minor quality-of-life improvements, yet there is considerable scope for expansion. The VP Education debate - such as it is - will be on Wednesday 28 February, when Bingham-Roberts will be able to expand upon his pledge to ensure value for money, alongside ‘Achieving, Connecting, and Experiencing’. You can get live updates on Twitter at @ExeposeNews and @CommentExepose.

VP Welfare & Diversity

what’s THE biggest problem facing exeter?

MANIFESTO Rose ahier Age:

Subject: Philosophy and Theology. Societies: Nightline, Welcome Team, ECU, Mind Your Head, Just Love Exeter.

Kerry Mann Age:

Subject: History Societies: Mind Your Head, DanceSport, XpressionFM, upReach

Rebecca bartle Age:

Subject: Anthropology Societies: Sociology, Anthropology & Criminology Soc, Welsh Soc, ESV

Kat Karamani

do you feel that the university is an inclusive environment?

Biggest weakness?

if you were a biscuit...

My manifesto is entitled “Stop, Look, Listen”, because I believe we need preventative wellbeing support, to look out for our environment, and listen to the student voice. ‘Stop’ is to prevent feeling academically unsupported and isolated, through: blankets in the library; wellbeing information in Fresher’s packs and lectures; and starting a postgraduate tutor scheme for undergraduates. ‘Look’ is about looking out for each other and our environment, including: a “Small Talk Saves Lives” suicide prevention campaign; switching to bamboo cutlery and biodegradable alternatives; and a “clear-out scheme” for students to donate their old goods to charity. ‘Listen’ is for listening to the students’ needs, including: #SabbChat, a weekly drop in chat session with the Sabbs; an independent adult skills blog; and ensuring the University improves prayer space.

The lack of awareness and communication. The majority of students do not know about the huge network of resources and services that are available to them. This means many students struggle in isolation and try to face their struggles alone. A low level of engagement with the Guild can lead to the underrepresentation of the student’s voice, and prevents students from thriving throughout their university experience.

The Guild has really pushed Hummus. for this through the #WeAreAllExeter campaign.. Often, only the loudest student voices are heard; as a diverse community, we need an established platform to express our individual needs. As VP, I will ensure that every voice is heard by having weekly drop-ins and collecting feedback from liberation council to start positive change.

A party ring because I’m a party legend (only joking… haven’t been out since OCTOBER)!

The focus of my manifesto is improving the student experience with opportunities to promote welfare services both old and new and increasing the platform of the international community in cross campus events and support. I want to secure new self defence and wellness sessions to boost students’ confidence before the need to access Wellbeing. I am keen to promote the already important Wellbeing Information Directory on iExeter and Wellbeing Centre in the Forum. My manifesto also focuses to two very important cross-campus campaigns on selfharm and anti-racism. I’m passionate about bringing an international diversity fair that will showcase international society events and cultures fostering a greater cultural understanding. I’m committed to affordable accommodation and creating a multi-faith prayer space.

With the worrying trend of racism on campus, I think discrimination of all kinds is a worrying problem facing Exeter students. Reported incidents from both staff and students are concerning and should be taken seriously. There are barriers to students from certain backgrounds and we should be working towards breaking these down and making Exeter even more inclusive and welcoming to all its students.

Exeter does foster an inclusive atmosphere. One of the things that I loved when visiting the University was just how much of a community feel there was, and there is genuine care from both the Uni and Guild. Students are encouraged at every possible opportunity to get involved which filters down to student led events

I love taking every opportunity in front of me, whether that’s taking on roles of responsibility, internships or helping as many people as possible. Which all sounds great but sometimes I can try to fit too many things into my day and I miss opportunities to do things for me!

A Foxes Viennese swirl! They are a traditional classic with a sweet taste and of course since I do ballroom dancing I had to make the Viennese Waltz connection…

My manifesto covers 4 main areas: Accessibility, Culture, Welfare and Connectivity. To summarise, my main points are: 1. Improve accessibility to events 2. Access improvement between the two campuses 3. Update the prayer rooms on campus 4. To improve food choices and dietary lists at outlets 5. Soup kitchen for the homeless 6. Welfare and Diversi-TENT 7. Abolish Saturday exams and create reading week 8. Society welfare workshops 9. International welcome packs including information in native languages.

I would say the biggest problem facing Exeter is the economic gap which leaves many people homeless and sleeping on the streets. I feel like this is reflected in the increased house prices that students are facing which makes it difficult for us to find accommodation that is affordable and so this is a problem which affects not only the people who live in Exeter locally but students coming to the city as well.

Yes and No. I feel like in most aspects Exeter is inclusive as any events and things like that are screened so that nobody will be discriminated against and everyone can be involved. I feel like the inadequate prayer rooms and the current accessibility for those who have mobility issues makes it hard to say that the uni is as inclusive as it is capable of being.

Probably thinking too much, if that makes sense? (That’s me thinking too much about the answer) I think a weakness of mine is that I can self doubt a lot and overthink situations that would be fine if I just went with it but I also feel that’s something a lot of us share but don’t really speak about.

Definitely a ginger nut because although not one of the biggest players in the game, they’re small, sweet and you know what you’re getting.

A EXEPOSÉ VERDICT

Current VP Welfare & Diversity:

LL three Welfare & Diversity candidates have put forth well thought-out manifestos. Both Bartle and Ahier have broken theirs down into catchily-named areas (“Accessibility, Culture, Welfare, and Connectivity” and “Stop, Look, Listen” respectively), whilst Mann has opted for a single overarching mission statement, promoting welfare services whilst “increasing the platform of the international community” on campus. Interestingly, each candidate identified a different issue as the “biggest problem facing Exeter”. Ahier highlights a lack of awareness and communication, stating that “the majority of students do not know about the huge network of resources and services that

are available to them”. This seems to go against multiple student testimonies, as many feel that welfare resources at the University are not sufficient - however, increasing awareness would work well in conjunction with Ahier’s proposed welfare expansions. Mann sees discrimination as the major issue, citing various recent incidents of racism, xenophobia, and discriminative behaviour on campus. This is something tackled positively in Mann’s full manifesto, with a widespread #NeverOK-style campaign and an International Diversity Fair. Bartle, meanwhile, focuses on economic disparity both in the city itself and with regards to student living

costs. This leads us to question - if Bartle has identified this issue, why does a potential solution not arise in her manifesto? Candidates on the whole seem to feel that the University is an inclusive environment, although both Ahier and Bartle do explicitly note room for improvement - it is odd that Mann does not immediately do so, since her manifesto is in fact wellequipped to promote inclusivity. Meanwhile, Ahier citing her weakness as simply “Hummus” is both bold and relatable, but not as relatable as having not gone out since October. You and me both, Rose.

AU President what’s THE biggest problem facing exeter?

MANIFESTO

amy clegg Age:

Subject: Psychology with Sport & Exercise Science Societies: EULFC, EUBC, SVS, Sport and Health Science

Lexie Williams Age: 20 Subject: History Societies: Karate, Touch Rugby, DanceSport, XpressionFM

Dani Nolan Age:

Current AU President:

Jim Balshaw

Are gender/ diversity imbalances an area for improvement? The simple answer is yes, in that there is always room for improvement. But obviously when it comes to putting actions in place to improve any imbalances, it’s always easier said than done. In terms of statistics, this (academic) year’s Active People Survey showed an equal 50/50 split of males and females taking part in sport and physical activity once a week. And AU membership this year sits at 51/49 (M/F). I believe one way of improving any imbalances is to tackle the current unequal representation of students across the university.

I‘m a hopeless optimist, A bouncy ball, because which I had to be particularly I’ll always bounce back. aware of when figuring out my manifesto. I have made sure each point is realistic and achievable. It is in fact the negatives which will be most useful in terms of development and progress. In the lead up to campaign week I met with as many AU members as possible to identify areas for improvement. Also, as much as I hate to admit it, another weakness is my bolt time.

biggEST WEAKNESS?

If you were a type of ball...

Spotlight Sports: I will publish a weekly BUCS report to include Wednesday’s results, all of the latest Exeter stats, and a full ‘match report’ from the spotlight sport of the week. Mental Health and Wellbeing Support: I’d like to establish a student peer support network - a safe place, in a familiar, comfortable environment, where students can talk about any troubles they may be facing. AU Equality Pledge: I’ll ask all AU clubs and students across the University to engage with a new ‘Equality Pledge’, ensuring sports clubs offer equal opportunities to all students. Digitisation of the AU: I intend to continue the use of online forms and an online payment system. Furthermore, I also intend to maximise the AU’s social media profiling to ensure we achieve the greatest reach possible across all University populations. Sustainable Sporting Connections with Alumni: I intend to develop a system which will maintain better connections with our Alumni. The ultimate aim would be to have an annual Alumni sports weekend.

From an AU perspective, I think more time needs to be dedicated to non-BUCS sports participation. My manifesto revolves around student engagement and providing equal opportunities for all students to make the most of what is on offer. With problems on campus ranging from the cost of student housing to lack of study space, sport offers a common ground to unite us all. The big problem we’re all REALLY worried about is the Lemmy closing down. What will we do without the world’s stickiest dance floor?

1. AU affiliation will become a one-off payment paid by individuals. In combination with the creation of a universal green card applicable to all AU sports clubs 2. Strengthen the relationship between the Guild and the AU. The timetable of rooms for both Streatham and St. Luke’s Campuses will be released. There will also be the introduction of a self-defence

Unequal opportunity. Whether it’s race, age, gender or familial situation, not everyone at Exeter is given equal opportunity to maximise their success. This issue is prevalent within the sporting community. I am looking to

The gender and diversity imbalance could certainly be improved within sport at Exeter. In terms of the gender dynamic, it will certainly be beneficial to have a woman AU President, as this will help to

My biggest personal weak- Definitely a disco ball, ness is definitely my inces- because I love a good sant ability to get injured. dance and party. I end up dislocating my shoulder quite regularly and am really clumsy so that cer-

workshop run by the Martial Arts clubs and Mind Your Head. 3. Introduction of athletes, moments, teams and scores of the month. 4. Greater focus and coverage of women in sport. 5. Creating greater access to sport for all students. There will be regular ‘drop-in’ sessions where students can turn up and participate in sport without paying a basic membership.

tackle this key problem through providing greater access to sport for the entire student population. Thereby, helping to increase the accessibility provided, so that no one feels that they are unable to gain the full student experience at Exeter.

promote non-males in sport. It is particularly notable that women participating in sport have far less publicity than their male counterparts, and this is important to improve. In terms of diversity, it is important that we further highlight the multicultural successes that occur in Exeter.

tainly prohibits my ability to do sport. I also cannot sing in tune to save my life, so never ask me to sing, or you might cry.

1. Make AU club membership more accessible 2. Increase female participation in sports 3. More opportunities for involvement in social and recreational sport 4. More support for mental health in sport 5. More equal representation of clubs on social media.

The biggest problem facing Exeter University is the high levels of poor mental health among students. This is something I feel passionate about and have included in my manifesto. The university experience is often portrayed as very enjoyable and many students struggle to ask for help when they experience problems. Whilst there has been significant improvements in the past year, I feel that there is more work that the Guild and the AU can do to help students.

Working to reduce the gender gap is one of my manifesto points. As a woman in sport I know the importance of this. During my time on the athletics club committee I have worked to increase our number of female members. This year we have seen an improvement in our female performance with our womens team finishing tenth at BUCS cross country which is the highest ever team finish. This is definitely something that could happen across the AU.

Probably my ankle injuries. It makes walking up Forum Hill difficult and is the reason I’m sometimes late to lectures.

Subject: Physics Societies: Athletics

A EXEPOSÉ VERDICT

SABB ELECTIONS 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

CCESSIBILITY and diversity are the watchwords in the AU Presidential race this year, with all three candidates seeking to improve on those points. Indeed, Williams highlights unequal opportunity as the biggest problem facing Exeter. Representation is the solution, according to both Williams and Nolan, who vow to improve “focus and coverage of women in sport” and “equal representation of clubs on social media” respectively. Clegg, meanwhile, cites specific statistics, and seeks to begin to formalise this process with an ‘Equality Pledge’. Voters should

consider which approach they think would be most effective. Exeposé would like to remind Clegg that BUCS Reports are already available as part of our University-wide coverage - we too are holding elections this term, so if she would like to pursue her ‘Spotlight Sports’ manifesto item further, she is welcome to run for one of our Sport section’s four editorial positions. We don’t bite, we promise. In fact, as serial losers of intramural netball ourselves, we very much like Clegg’s desire to focus on non-BUCS

RUGBY. I’m from New Zealand and it’s one of the things we’re known for. I’m a huge All Blacks Fan. Rugby is definitely one of my favourite sports to watch.

sport, and “sport as a common ground to unite us all”. All in all, our three candidate’s professed weaknesses sound very much like many of my firstyear nights out - a misplaced obsession with bolt times, followed by a sad inability to sing in tune, and ultimately concluded by an inevitable lateness to any morning lectures. Exeposé wishes this year’s AU Presidential candidates the best of luck - you can catch them in their debate on Tuesday 27 February.

VOTE

EXETERGUILD.COM /VOTE

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VOTE NOW FOR:

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exhibit

lifestyle

EDITORS: Barbara Balogun & Lauren Geall

Eco-friendly Exeter

26 FEB 2018 |

Evanna Kappos tells us how to stay eco-friendly on campus

NE of the many ways we attempt to care for the world around us is by reducing our carbon footprint. We remember discussing the idea of being ‘ecofriendly’ in secondary school, and now that we are at university with our own lives, trying (and often failing in my case) desperately to keep on top of a million and one things, it can be a term we feel strangely allergic to. How can it be possible to keep on top of our degree, job, social life, exercise, household tasks, societies, find work experience, save money and even find time to sleep and eat, whilst also taking the time to reduce our everyday waste without going crazy?

THE CAMPAIGN HAS ALREADY SAVED MORE THAN 30K CUPS Jokes aside, it is so, so important that we start to make a difference to the environment around us immediately. Not in a few years, or even a few months, but now. The world around us is changing so fast, and the nature we enjoy at the moment seems like it could never be taken away. However, as Shailene Woodley pointed out at the 2016 Environmental Media Awards, if we imagine wanting

our grandchildren to be able to drive off in Similarly, if you like this idea, it can be their car and jump in a river when they pass it, easy and cost effective to buy a reusable wawe have a lot to do, and quickly, because we ter bottle and fill this with tap water daily, can’t do that right now. Our rivers are not go- rather than purchasing plastic bottles from ing to be contaminated, they shops which are then simply are contaminated.’ thrown away. You can refill After Wetherspoons easily at water fountains chose to remove plastic in most buildings on straws in all of its 900 campus. Have a look pubs in the new year, at the ‘Less Plastic’ everyone became page on Facebook excited about the which gives even idea of makmore advice on ing tiny, small reducing your changes in your plastic wasteveryday life that age. Or even can still make a big www.refill.org.uk, difference, and even where there is inforsave you some money mation about a camwhile you are doing it. paign that is branching You may have even heard out into Exeter, encourGive Up Your Paper Cup of the #giveupyourpaaging outlets to allow easy percup campaign going on refills of bottles. Have a look across campus; with the purchase of a £5 cup and give the campaign some love at our camfrom Market Place shops, you will avoid the pus! waste of the infamously unrecyclable paper Another easy way to reduce you impact coffee cups, as well as getting discounts from on nature is one you may already be doing all hot drinks outlets on campus. The cam- without even thinking about it: taking notes paign has already saved more than 30,000 electronically. Not only is this a faster way to disposable cups so far: have a look at the ‘Give keep up in lectures, but it saves all the paper Up Your Paper Cup’ page on Facebook. you would be wasting in notebooks.

Consuming less can even stretch to your closet. You can stop buying clothing you don’t need, like clubbing clothes which can be wrecked quickly. Instead, try Vintage Sales which can be found on Facebook, and happen at Exeter Corn Exchange, or the many charity shops in Exeter, as well as the occasional fairs on campus. By buying pre-loved items you can reduce waste and often find some more unique things!

CONSUMING LESS CAN EVEN STRETCH TO YOUR CLOSET Lastly, consider what you are eating. Eating just one portion less meat a week will not only save you money, but according to a UN report, ‘cattle-rearing generates more global warming than greenhouse gases’. The Guild's Meat Free Mondays could be a way to incorporate this into your own lifestyle. There are many more ways to reduce your impact on the environment easily while on campus, so have a look around. Even if you only make one small change, you will be able to look at the nature around you knowing you are doing something brilliant not just for yourself, but for those who will come after us.

Slide into my AGMs... Three Exeposé editors reflect on their own committee experiences

Exespresso Coffee Society

Art Society

Exeposé

As one of the youngest societies on campus, it’s been amazing watching the member count grow: comparing gaining Guild affiliation with about twenty members last year to the member count passing into triple figures for the first time during the Freshers’ Fair, it’s really been heartwarming to see how far we've come. We owe a lot to the groundwork done by last years’ initial committee – such as our close working relationships with many of Exeter’s independent coffee businesses – but my colleagues this year have really put the effort in to bring the society to new heights. That’s not to say we’ve had a stress-free year. One of our elected committee members was unfortunately unable to attend this academic year, leaving us a committee member short from the offset. Happily a replacement was found, and again when our Treasurer found herself (understandably) unable to cope with both a law conversion and the endless Guild finance forms. Both ex-committee members have remained close friends of the society, and I think that shows what has been the best part of being on this committee – really, we’re just a bunch of like-minded people who care about the same thing. I hope next year’s coffee-lovers feel the same! Graham Moore, Deputy Editor

When I tell anyone who knows me that I’m on the committee for the university’s Art Society, they’re always a little sceptical. To be fair, this is reasonable – fond memories from my secondary school art lessons include my teacher disappointedly flipping through my sketchbook of half-hearted fruit bowl still life drawings. The great thing about Art Society, however, is that there isn’t a single halfhearted bowl of fruit in sight. My role on committee is publicity and marketing, which essentially means spending even more time than usual on Instagram and Twitter. Ideal. I also have to shamelessly plug things a lot, which luckily I’m quite good at. Some say I can’t go more than ten minutes without shamelessly plugging something. The best thing about Art Soc is that you don’t need to be good at art to be a member or even, as it turns out, to be on committee. There are a lot of very talented artists among our ranks, but it’s a chilled society and a great way to get to know a new group of people. One of the highlights of the past year has definitely been the society’s exhibition launches, of which the next is on 5 March. I would apologise for the shameless plug but it’s been ten minutes, I’m sorry, I had to). Also, join a committee. I can happily plug that, too. Emily Garbutt, Online Arts + Lit Editor

When I decided to run last year, I had only a few articles behind me. However, this has been the best experience of my life. I have made some amazing friends: some I see on every night-out, some I need to have a catch up with every week, and even some I joined a football competition with. Never would I regret having run. It is the moment you take committee pictures that you realize how this is almost over and nostalgia reunites with the fun. I am leaving proud of my uni but also of all the work we have put in during the year to get out a content call every other week and of the improvement since our seven hours in the office on our first press day. Being in a committee is like a roller-coaster; somedays are more fun than others. Especially when deadlines are involved. Exeposé is quite a big commitment every other week, but I guess it will just show on my CV that I’ve gained time management skills! If I could change one thing, I would definitely go to more house parties. But, once again, if I had the chance to do it all over again, I would without a doubt. So Exeposé, thank you for being part of my life this year. You’ve been amazing. Barbara Balogun, Print Lifestyle Editor

@exespresso

@uoe_artsoc

lifestyle committee

arts + lit

Framing the Obama era Olivia Denton investigates the meaning behind the portraits of America’s first black President and First Lady

T last week’s unveiling of the Obama portraits at the Smithsonian in Washington, Michelle Obama declared she was “thinking of the young people”, in particular, “girls of colour who in years ahead will come to this place and see a picture of someone who looks like them”. The celebration and commemoration of the first black President and First Lady of the United States was set to be spectacular, yet the portraits surpassed expectation in their illustrious reception and most importantly, finally put African-American artists at the forefront of modern portraiture.

THE PORTRAITS PUT AFRICAN-AMERICAN ARTISTS AT THE FOREFRONT OF MODERN PORTRAITURE By selecting Kehinde Wiley to paint his portrait, Barack Obama was inviting the artist to challenge the what is normative, which as far as art is concerned, will always be interesting. Wiley’s works are gorgeous, vibrant portraits that incorporate electrifyingly bright colours,

textures, and patterns whilst mastering a naturalistic rendering of subject. Wiley’s works are at once aesthetically beautiful whilst challenging convention through pastiche as he confronts the art-historical canon that for so long excluded him as an African-American.

OBAMA’S FIGURE IS UNAPOLOGETICALLY TAKING UP SPACE In Wiley’s past works including “Napoleon Leading the Army Over the Alps”, we see Jacques-Louis David’s iconic portrait of whitemale elitism and power confronted as Wiley replaces the figure of Napoleon with a black male. As Obama does in Wiley’s work, the Napoleon figure is is looking directly at the voyeur, unapologetically taking up space and facing the viewer in a way that articulates ‘power’. Additionally, Obama is seen emerging from the green foliage and it is easy to see why some have criticised why the first black President is literally emerging from the bush. I personally believe that the beauty of the foliage’s rendering, and the presence of Barack’s figure in the composition invites a healthy discussion around the politics of such an artistic choice and in the invitation to discussion lies the power of the portrait. Baltimorebased artist Amy Sherald was commissioned to paint Michelle Obama, and again the portrait was met with controversy. The unquenchable spirit of Michelle could be said to be muted by the palette, yet it is in the colour of the piece that lies a powerful symbolism. Sherald describes her approach to art as “conceptual”, tied in with her desire to create

s o m e t h i n g bigger and beyond the sitter themselves,and perhaps this is why Michelle is rendered with grey skin. The charcoal tone of Michelle’s body seems to at once make a statement about the colour of her skin, yet also in its silver tone, deems Obama’s race as irrelevant. What is so striking in the construction of the composition is the way Michelle stands out, featuring a flowing white and abstractly patterned gown. Michelle’s figure appears the definition of poise and elegance against the pastel backdrop that emits a modest charm. The modesty and serenity of the portrait shocked many viewers who were expecting something bolder. It is precisely the humbleness, the lack of extravagance in this portrait that makes it so beautiful and effortlessly arresting.

THE CHARCOAL TONE OF MICHELLE’S BODY DEEMS RACE IRRELEVANT Intriguingly, both pieces are captivating and totally inspiring, as independent pieces as well as as a pair. Both portraits could stand alone in a gallery and inspire. Just as the Obamas are a power couple they have their own irrepressible power as individuals. Within both pieces, there are so many elements that play with the genre of portraiture and the concept of power. Michelle’s portrait has a dark, some might even say cold palette. She sits assuredly and powerful, the image is almost ‘masculine’. Whereas Barack’s pose is soft, his hands casually placed, a subtle lean

forward of the delicate antique chair, offset by the jewel-toned background dappled with pinks and creams; making the image seem almost feminine. It could be suggested that the artists are playing with the conventions not only of canonical portraiture, but of what it means to have a painting of a man and a woman. Conventions about femininity and masculinity are thrown out and what we see are portraits of people.

THE PORTRAITS DISTORT THE NORM AND HAVE PROVOKED UPROAR FL What makes the portraits by Sherald and Wiley so exceptional is that they force you to look beyond face value; they distort the norm and have provoked enthusiastic uproars from spectators everywhere. Much like when the Obamas took Washington by storm, we are again forced to be critical of what we know, but in an ultimately rewarding way.

exhibit

arts + lit

EDITORS: Mubanga Mweemba and Maddie Davies

26 FEB 2018 |

Who is the real Banksy?

Lauren Newman investigates the ‘curious obsession’ with the identity of the graffiti artist

N June last year, the art world was sent into disarray when radio DJ Goldie may have accidentally revealed the identity of “scarlet pimpernel of the art world:” Banksy. As soon as the name ‘Rob’ passed the DJ’s lips, speculation was rife as to whether the identity of the infamous street artist was that of Bristol native Robin Cunningham who had previously the focus of the public’s scrutiny, or Robert Del Naja of band Massive Attack. The world seemed intent on naming and acclaiming (or shaming depending on what position you hold on vandalism debate) the artist of such works as Balloon Girl or Slave Labour which have come to fetch up to $1,700,000 at auction.

I CHOSE TO KEEP MY IDENTITY HIDDEN, I WANT THE MYSTERY This curious obsession of people attempting to unmask Banksy is perhaps an “expression of their need to identify with him” according to street art expert, Carlo McCormick, which is certainly not an implausible theory. We have all found ourselves guilty of trying to relate to or even simply

compare the lives of an author or artist to their work- certainly those of us who opted to take English Literature A-Level will remember the dread of including the ‘AO4 bracket’ in essay writingand Banksy himself stated that part of his motivation in keeping his identity secret was to prevent such assumptions: “I choose to keep my identity hidden. Often when you know the artist, you think you also know the art and I want to keep the mystery.” Although we may not know his name, many would argue that Banksy’s murals give us more of an idea of who the artist is himself then any background information on his life due to their witty political commentary. Most recently Banksy’s mural outside the Barbican - ‘Portrait of Basquiat being welcomed by the Metropolitan Police’, which unofficially accompanied the exhibition on Jean-Michel Basquiat, one of the first famous black American artists one that similarly used graffiti for political commentary - appeared to comment on the increased likelihood of people

of colour getting stopped by police by manipulating Basquiat’s ‘Boy and Dog in a Johnnypump’; the dog innocently looks on whilst Basquiat’s boy is searched by two rather menacing looking police officers. The anti-establishment aesthetic presented by this recent work is evident in many of Banksy’s other creations such as Spy Booth, which has now been painted over, where three agents surround an ordinary telephone box holding tapping equipment, and his anti-Brexit work which appeared in Dover last year after the UK’s decision to leave the European Union was finalised. The artist’s witty dissections of such political and cultural hot topics arguably give us a further insight into his person than any information we try to worm out of his friends, such as Goldie, and piece together from various sightings or urban legends. As well as Banksy himself, many other artists, now famous both in name and in work, have chosen to remain anonymous in an attempt to salvage some privacy in a contemporary world obsessed with fact. J.K Rowling, arguably Exeter’s

Art over artist?

N artist relinquishes control over their work when they reveal it to the world, and it is then defined by how the audience chooses to interpret it. Should creators try to influence the reception of their work or leave it to the audience? Who does art belong to: the artist or the audience? J.K. Rowling is not an author who wishes to surrender this control. Through social media and interviews, Rowling reveals new information about her characters and the changes to the plots that she would make now. One of the most shocking revelations was Rowling’s announcement that if she were to write the series again, Ron and Hermione would not be in a relationship, saying: “For reasons that have very little to do with literature and far more to do with me clinging to the plot as I first imagined it, Hermione ended up with Ron.” Many Harry Potter fans were heartbroken. Even though the plot remains the same, the knowledge that its author no longer believes in it left many feeling disenchanted with the relationship. It seemed to lose its credibility. The characters are, after all, at the mercy of her imagination, and this new information has the power to change how readers may feel about her work. Every year Rowling apologises on Twitter for the death of a Harry Potter character. She once held the position as their ‘murderer’, and can now allude back to that power through a single tweet. These comments and revelations are perhaps extensions of the original stories, which Rowling publicly edits and reflects on. Tabi Scott

Y soul shrivelled when my creative writer tutor announced: “If you want to stick your head in the oven, write poetry”. It angers me that Sylvia Plath’s work has constantly been associated with suicide and depression to the point it seems ‘depressed poet’ and ‘Sylvia Plath’ are interchangeable. The fear here is that Plath’s depression becomes a commercial add-on to sell her work posthumously. To define someone by their mental health problem seems unfair, yet the world of literature continues to speculate about how Plath’s depression and her tumultuous marriage to Ted Hughes influenced her work. Plath and Hughes were the Brad and Angelina of the literary world and its unquestionable that her poetic works must be at least in part inspired by her life-- it’s a theory as deliciously tempting as online clickbait. Who can read pieces such as Mad Girl’s Love Song, and not relate that to the turmoil that seemed to typify Plath’s biography? In her book The Bell Jar published in 1960, Plath tracks one woman’s mental health troubles and electroconvulsive therapy. One wonders whether so many generations of readers would still relate to the text on such meaningful levels were it not for the biographical element. Although Plath’s story was stronger than her sadness, the fact that she was someone who wasn’t afraid to express and break the stigma around mental health, continues to help so many of her readers feel less alone in their own hours of darkness and proves that the problem of biography for a writer can provide solace and comfort to the reader. Olivia Denton

most famous alumnus, chose to do so in her use of the pseudonym “Robert Galbraith” to publish The Cuckoo’s Calling series where she attempted to ‘work without hype or expectation’ in an environment where her every move was watched by media and fans alike. Similarly, literature’s most famous trio of sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte first published under the names Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell with their first collection of poetry to hide their identities- it is not an uncommon phenomenon.

ART WILL ALWAYS BE ART AND I WILL KEEP COMING UP WITH NEW IDEAS Yet Banksy’s motivation for obscuring his real name seems entirely different, at least in comparison to Rowling; the street artist utilises the celebrity the Banksy pseudonym has acquired to advocate certain political and cultural standpoints and not gain personal recognition. Although we may never know his true identity, as the artist himself aptly put, “Art will always be art and I will keep coming up with new ideas of showing that”.

HETHER we watch films, go to the theatre, or read books, the ‘creator’ of these works seems to constantly perform a starring role. We start liking something before we even have the chance to experience it, based simply on what we have previously thought of that author. It may come as a surprise that many of our most famous authors took on pseudonyms and C.S. Lewis is one example of this. Anyone who has read his work understands that he had a beautiful way with words, lived and practiced Christianity and is mostly recognised for writing the children’s fantasy series, The Chronicles of Narnia. However, Clive Staples Lewis also wrote under the name of Clive Hamilton and N.W. Clerk, and in 1961 he released A Grief Observed a book about his grief over his wife’s death. The fact that this was published under a different name in the hopes of avoiding identification says something interesting to us as readers. We love literature best when it is authentic and truthful, and this is when it speaks to us most powerfully about our own issues. We let go of things through the most powerful message of all: You are not alone. You are not alone in your grief, in your anxiety, in your failure. C.S. Lewis’ work A Grief Observed is arguably one written at his most broken and truthful, but he knew that authorship creates a distance from the reader, and knowing you are well-known as a creator of fiction can create a distance from your true self. No matter what art or literature we are creating or receiving, this is an important idea to remember. Evangelina Kappos

exhibit

arts + lit

EDITORS: Mubanga Mweemba and Maddie Davies

Creative Writing

26 FEB 2018 |

Exeposé Arts+Lit writers share their original works of poetry in our newest collection of creative pieces Neha Shaji

Jack Watts

“Sixty Four Years”

“The Stars Still Shine”

As children you know she saw you grow and you watched her breasts bloom your mother wonders if you’ll see them sag already a wedding dress is under the loom

You’re born into your mother’s arms, The stars remain untouched. You take your first steps, one year old, The stars are not moved much. You fall in love and soon are wed, The stars just blankly stare. The family grows as kids arrive, The stars still do not care. You lose your loved ones as they pass, Yet stars will always be. And soon you too grow old and die, The stars don’t even see. The world unchanged, the stars still shine, But every day with you changed mine.

something happens in between but you’re not quite sure of what it’s a little sad but you don’t understand so you hug her and threaten to fart. there are several days if not every one you wake her up and graze her ears with the uneven, glistening points of teeth you wake her so for thirty years. it takes months for you to become used to the smell of each other’s shit. and to take a shower while she folds into jeans that used to fit. you eat with the grace of three-year-olds with egg around your chin you finish first, but you spill the milk so she declares her win. you never go on dates with umbrellas in drinks you choose to slosh at home cans of beer and burps race the room your feet on her widening lap. you laugh at her as her lips turn down and her hair gently goes grey you look at your blue-veined hands and ask why you haven’t aged a day. you sleep by her and you wonder why she takes up all the bed does she not know that you’re still here? isn’t that what you have said? as the lines around her eyes carve their path you begin to fade as she loses books and keys and roads, your precious lives unmade. sixty four years in, she does not scream as she did at eighteen years you slip away from time and mind you drag with you her fears. next year, or next, or twenty lives in she snores from around your feet and this time you beg the grace of God

“A MOUTHFUL OF STARS”

A smile like hers made me believe She plucked the sky at night. She filled her mouth with shining stars, How else was it so bright? So bright that when I stared too long It blinded me a while. But it was worth it, just to see That summer-night-sky smile. The night she left, I couldn’t sleep,

Rosalind Tickle “Hot / Cold” Alive: The Andes Incident 1972. Day 3.

Zebulun O’Regan “healing” The sun yawns, as the last of night runs for a bus atdawn. The moon peeps through the sky, like a child in a window. I hear the birds sing my poetry back to me, and somehow time stands still. The grass stops shivering in the wind, and the trees freeze in mid-air their branches spreading wide, trying to catch the stars and for a moment, the world is locked like a rhyme. Hiding in time’s back pocket.

“PROMISE” A phone. Dead like a dog in the sand. Thrown away – like so many other things that we wish we could say, but can’t. It lies in the ink of twilight, and gapes at the sea, listening to the water whisper like a prayer from the thousands of voices that sleep in the deep. Suddenly the speaker clears its throat. It crackles like torn paper. Static. I pick it up, and feel its weight sink in my palm – heavy like a promise. I want to answer, and speak into it like a well. But when I try, my throat winces. My voice cracks like a heart. And for a second, I feel my own fingers letting it fall. And so, it dies, in a sea of tiny broken stars. I feel too small for my own body, but I manage to heave my head upwards, and watch as the sun starts to flirt with the treacherous dark.

We’re still here; breathing and beating in all the right places. Our skin throbs with cuts and bruises, waiting for that prickle and fuzzy feeling of healing. Day 6. Like hyenas, we wreck the wreckage, slit the seats, slash the metal. A vulture lands on the plane’s carcass, then glides away, soaring above the ruins of our featherless wings. Day 8. My icy brain can’t recall whether she has our father’s eyes. When her eyes shut, I anticipate that sting in mine, I ache for that trickle of familial tears down my cheek. Heat grows inside my chest, but my tears do not thaw. I freeze her life as I pile snow on her face. Day 17. “Teeth tear into flesh so easily,” I think, as my tongue licks the icicled skin, my teeth gnaw at the thick flesh; Numa always was a tough guy. My stomach growls for more, drowning out the bells in my head. Day 26. The snow gave up last night it collapsed on our heads; the frost confronted our mouths with its knives. We lost four more to the snow’s white fingers; at least they are already buried. Day 40. Survival grips my veins today. But we fall back down the mountain, squinting into the white haze. Snow and sky blend into one and I can’t remember which one I came from. Day 72. 16 left, 29 gone. Escape sustains my stomach. But in the distance, a blurry foreign figure approaches; my chapped lips part, I inhale my first breath as the snow’s white fingers loosen their grip. My bones stop shaking at the stranger’s warm touch.

POSTGRADUATE OPEN DAYS  STREATHAM CAMPUS: Wednesday 7 March 2018

 PENRYN CAMPUS: Saturday 10 March 2018 n Speak to academics about Masters and PhD study n Hear from current students about postgraduate study n Find out more about loans, funding and scholarships

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2018CAMS038

music

The Good, The Bangers & The Ugly W

Rosie Shepard examines the phenomenon of albums accompanying films

HAT is a film without a soundtrack? Boring. Music gives every film what it needs to convey without words, be it happiness or suspense. With the release of Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther soundtrack prior to the film release, it seems its no longer enough to just make a good film – a star-studded playlist tips it over the edge. Let’s start with Black Panther – Kendrick Lamar created this album specifically to reflect the atmosphere of the film, featuring a mostly black cast of artists using a range of genres like afrobeats, hip-hop and soul. While the majority of the songs did not make it onto the actual film score, this companion soundtrack created all the hype Marvel needed for the Black Panther’s first foray into a solo film.

A STAR STUDDED PLAYLIST TIPS IT OVER THE EDGE The album attempted to showcase black musical prowess yet has also been criticised for its lack of real African artists – in a film that is supposedly set in the East Africa of today, the music could have more accurately depicted borderless

black music. Nonetheless, it is unsurprising that the album stormed in at number 1 in the Billboard charts this week, with its rich tapestry of artists and beats. This isn’t the first time that big-name artists have been asked to assemble the perfect soundtrack to the film. The first that comes to mind is Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film, The Great Gatsby, curated by Jay-Z as executive producer, offering a mix of new material and covers with a jazz and/or hip-hop basis, juxtaposing the 1920s storyline. True to form, Baz Luhrmann’s film wasn’t the ordinary Gatsby atmosphere – it was decadence to the extreme and needed a soundtrack to match. Then comes Lorde’s The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, carefully put together to depict the eerie Districts. You’ve also got Suicide Squad: The Album, Men in Black: The Album, Fast and Furious 7, as well as the soundtracks to all three of the

Fifty Shades trilogy. Then there’s the musicals – the Pitch Perfect trilogy, and The Greatest Showman. It’s no longer just about the film. I don’t know about

Wack Panther?

you, but after watching a film and thinking I liked a few of the songs, I quite often try to find a playlist of the songs on Spotify. This brings back the feelings you get when watching the film, giving out the same vibe as the storyline – so why shouldn’t they be cohesive albums? New music in films has now, more often than not, been carefully curated to represent the film, often releasing the music prior to the film itself (think Adele’s 'Skyfall'). You’ve got to admire the artists, both as producers and performers – even more so when it is evident that most of the music is simply inspired by the film, rather than created for a particular scene. Naturally, not all film companies have the same budget that Marvel does to put together such a star-studded soundtrack, but the creation of these albums adds another dimension to the industry, breaking out from the ordinary to the extraordinary. It crosses the divide between music and film so organically that it is no wonder this way of designing music has become more and more common. I just hope they release an Incredibles 2 soundtrack for us 90s kids who are desperate to see it!

Elliot Burr takes Black Panther: The Album to task

VARIOUS ARTISTS Black Panther: The Album 9 Feb 2018

HIS is, notably, a proper album, with real effort and thought put into it. The production on individual songs is high-quality, and the stack of popular artists who’ve been roped in are mostly well-used. As master of ceremonies, Kendrick Lamar takes centre stage, appearing constantly across the runtime. You won’t find any of his best work here – the verses generally sound like they could have been on 2016’s collection of B-sides Untitled Unmastered. However, that’s still to say that if another rapper had delivered them we’d be impressed. From Lamar, they are mostly mediocre. Sonically, Lamar’s tracks often follow quite clearly after last year’s DAMN. in that they vary wildly in sound – some are poppy and generic, whilst sounding a little more left-field. 'X', with its bumping beat and squeaky, infectious hook, sounds like a tasty leftover from that album. Elsewhere, the loop-heavy beat and urgently-spat bars on opening track 'Black Panther' have an enticing, melancholic drama to them, only slightly

undercut by some weak “King!” adlibs. Single 'King’s Dead' gives us that dream collaboration of Lamar and Future, but is unfortunately quite the miss. The two-part instrumental underwhelms, and Future ruins things further with his shrill, horrific bridge. Lamar does his best to drag things back with a killer verse in the second half, but he can’t quite drown out the screeched “La-di-da-dida, slob on my knob” which now echoes between the ears.

KENDRICK LAMAR TAKES CENTRE STAGE Most of the guest performances, however, are genuinely pleasing. Khalid’s smooth crooning on silky, sexy 'The Ways' is a favourite, as are ScHoolboy Q’s and Vince Staples’ verses on 'X' and 'Opps' respectively. 'Opps' throughout is a fun, dark track, with a thunderous beat and an explosive feature from South African emcee Yugen Blakrok. Other lesser-known artists jump into the spotlight across this album, providing some of its biggest highlights. A top track is 'Seasons', a sombre, thoughtful show of strength from Californian Mozzy and South Africans Sjava and Reason.

Tracks like 'Seasons' and 'Opps' stand out because they do something different (at least within the context of an album like this), a quality large parts of this album lack. 'All the Stars' and 'Pray for Me' are serviceable, but fail to be interesting or worthy of revisiting because we’ve heard them so many times already. So: qualitywise, this is a mixed bag. There are good songs and weak songs. That’s to be expected from a soundtrack album. The issue here, though, is as much the fluctuation in sound as in quality. Steps have been taken to make this more of a cohesive project than your average soundtrack, but it seems that the attempt at cohesion mostly comes from consistent lyrical references to the property on which Black Panther: The Album is based. There are songs from the perspectives of the characters; there are political verses; there are Black Panther references

scattered throughout (as well as, bizarrely, occasional lines recalling DC properties such as 'Power Girl' and 'Gotham City'). However, the album does not craft a solid sonic identity for itself. It jumps from dark to poppy to sexy and back in a clear attempt to be as marketable as possible. Its identity is solely that it’s from that big, important movie we’ve all heard of, and shares its politics. A theme of the fervour around Black Panther is that its politics justify, perhaps necessitate your purchasing of movie tickets and album streams. GQ’s review tells us that “it’s what the album is getting at, rather than simply what it sounds like, that makes it so important”. Maybe that’s true – the pro-diversity, pro-representation politics of Black Panther: The Album are sympathetic and valuable. But maybe it’s also a cynical purchaseas-activism marketing scheme, a real cause hijacked to get you to pay money for mediocre entertainment. I suspect both are true, so I’ll go by simply what this album sounds like: alright.

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EDITORS: Alex Brammer and Maddy Parker

music

26 FEB 2018

Future of Music: Journalism

Ellie Stephenson hopes that music journalism isn't dead, and so do we

HE exact moment at which the death knell for traditional music journalism began to toll is debatable. Was it when NME stopped being a subscription magazine amidst plummeting circulation figures? Was it when MTV announced that it was turning its back on its brief dalliance with long-form journalism for a return to a video-based approach? Or was it the moment when Twitter was founded in 2006, opening the floodgates for a relentless torrent of micro-reviews? NME and MTV are not alone in suffering the full brunt of the internet era's assault on traditional music journalism. The music industry has developed rapidly since the millennium and music journalism has been dragged along with it, kicking and screaming. Thanks to the rise of digital music and the immediacy it offers, music journalism seems to have less of a place in the current industry. Rarely now do journalists have the privilege of receiving music first and reviewing it prior to mainstream release and, thanks to YouTube, fans can experience live shows instantaneously from anywhere, bypassing the role of the concert reviewer. If the purpose of the music journalist

was to act as a middleman to convey to the public what they can not or had not yet experienced, they now seem obsolete. Even online music journalism is suffering. Opinions on the latest music releases are now a dime a dozen thanks to social media and less traffic is being directed to music sites with just one person's opinion. Where, in the past, people looked to music publications for recommendations, the sharing capacities of social media mean that this has become the gateway to new music. With this wealth of free music information available online, it is easier to access music recommendations and reviews without having

to buy and search through a magazine or scroll through a website. A journalist trying to keep up with consumer demand for music information simply cannot compete with the immediacy of social media or starred ratings on Spotify or iTunes. Less traffic and consumption results in reduced revenue and, as proven by NME, profit-based companies can only operate at a loss for so long until they are forced to drastically alter their output. Yet, as much as the digitalisation of news media harms the industry, it may also be its saving grace. In a world where we are so overwhelmed with information, music criticism offers a clear path through the noise. As convenient as it may be to take an album's Spotify or online rating as a sufficient review, more value will always be attributed to the carefully considered words of a real human

being; there is no algorithm for emotive human responses to music. We inherently value the veracity behind genuine human responses, and it helps even more if this response has the weight of a recognisable publication behind it. So, is there any hope for music journalism? After a steady decline since 2000, the music industry finally showed signs of growth in 2015. This comes partially as a result of the ubiquity of streaming services, but also follows the renewed popularity of live tours. Music journalism is inherently reactive, so it figures that it too has seen an upturn recently, just not in its traditional form. Just as music today is increasingly connected to the contemporary cultural moment, so too is the journalism surrounding it. Popular music no longer exists in a vacuum, but as part of a wider social moment, and it is the music journalist's job to explicitly unpack this and offer coherence and clarity within the cacophony of the digital age. Music crosses social divisions and written discussion about this music injects the necessary vitality and clarity into this culture. Music journalism may be down, but it certainly isn't out.

Grand Theft Audio Emily Reader takes us through the best game soundtracks

HEN my older brother first told me that he listened to video game soundtracks while he worked, I thought it was the final indicator that he had reached peak nerd. Little did I know that he was several years ahead of a trend that is now so popular that Classic FM is launching a show dedicated to it. First, an explanation. Your first thought when presented with the idea of video game music may be electronic, tinny little hooks that are looped until you feel like your ears might bleed. Fortunately, the gaming industry has moved on from pixels and whiny tunes to painstakingly elaborate world-building and symphonic soundtracks that rival any film music or traditional classical pieces, so much so that game music has started to beat the most famous composers in the classical charts (that’s right, there are classical charts). It is far more than just background music; these orchestral scores fully immerse you in the atmosphere of the game you play, making every adventure you go on feel even more epic. I honestly think that soundtracks for gaming are as important as they are for film in their ability to immerse the viewer.

This new wave of gaming music is in a unique and difficult position that often results in its under-appreciation. The classical music world, dominated by the older demographic, looks down on it as an inferior form of classical music. The younger generations see it as geekiness on another level. But rather than being stuck outside a category, I think this is a unique opportunity for an alternative style of music to be accessible to our generation. Think of it as a gateway

genre. If the only classical pieces you know are the ones made famous by adver ts, this is a chance to see

what all those crazy old instruments can really do. If you need an excuse to have a listen (or an excuse to tell to your friends), it’s said that gaming music is great for studying to because it is designed to help you concentrate. My recommendation for anyone looking to give it a go is to start with the Skyrim soundtrack; it’s what I listen to when I study. I have to admit that I have never actually played Skyrim myself but know through watching family and friends play that it is an open world, role-playing computer game set in a mythical, Nordic world filled with dragons, mountains and snow. The music is full of delicate string and wind solos, gradually building and falling in a way that feels exhilarating without being intrusive. If you’re a film music fan like I am, it will remind you of the music of Lord of the Rings and Game of

Thrones. On holiday a couple of years ago, my family played the Skyrim soundtrack as we drove around Yellowstone National Park; it really heightened the experience and made those landscapes just that bit more awesome. Many older video games have caught on to the trend and produced full orchestral versions of their electronic melodies. So if you’re an old school gamer or just feeling a bit nostalgic, I would recommend checking out the new, revised scores of games like Legend of Zelda, Super Mario or even Sonic the Hedgehog. You may call me a dork (if anyone still uses that word) but trust me, I would jump on this bandwagon before it leaves you behind.

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EDITORS: Alex Brammer and Maddy Parker

music

Why I Stan: Lil Wayne

26 FEB 2018

Alex Brammer, Music Editor, walks us through Weezy

AP music receives a lot of uncalled-for hatred from people who aren’t fans of the form. More hatred goes toward hip-hop than any other genre (with the exception of metal and country). As far as rappers who receive hatred, above average levels, Lil Wayne seems pretty central. After all, he’s just some trashy mainstream rapper who just talks about sex, drugs, cars and violence, right?

HE'S JUST SOME TRASHY MAINSTREAM RAPPER... RIGHT? Pretty much, yeah. He’s not quite Kendrick or Kanye, making cohesive albums with strong central concepts and themes. Lil Wayne is not going to make a storytelling album like Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City. He’s certainly not going to make a hyper-technical nerdy record like MF DOOM, Busdriver, or Open Mike Eagle. What Lil Wayne can do – and has been doing since the late 90s – is make hundreds of songs proving he’s a better rapper than your fa-

vourite rapper. That’s one of the main reasons why people dislike Lil Wayne’s music. His music is utterly unapologetic to his hiphop roots. If you’re not already a fan of hip-hop, you certainly won’t like the barrage of off-the-wall metaphors, sex jokes and bloody-minded violence that makes up the average Lil Wayne verse. But for those who are already into the music and are willing to put aside and even embrace his trademark nasal delivery, Lil Wayne’s discography is the gift that keeps on giving. The release of Tha Carter II in 2005 is, to me, the moment where Lil Wayne went from being just a talented rapper to the kind of musi-

cian that it would be a crime to ignore. Not only are Carter II and its followup studio album Tha Carter III stonecold classics, packed to the brim with verses which would go on to influence the likes of Young Thug, Danny Brown and even Kendrick Lamar, but the run of mixtapes between the two doesn’t have a bad track to speak of. And we’re talking about a lot of mixtapes here – multiple series of them. The Dedication series has been running long enough to see two separate releases in the last three months alone. Lil Wayne mixtapes from 2005 through to 2009 are rap’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – there’s a whole lot of content, comprised

All about that bass

Alex Wingrave gives his top tips for getting into bass guitar

AVE you ever wanted to learn the guitar but have absolutely no musical talent? The trusty bass guitar is the easy alternative! You only have to play one note at a time, and you can hide behind the rest of the band while still looking cool, because playing music isn’t really about the music, it’s all about posing. In all seriousness, the bass guitar is deceptively important for filling out the sound of any song. It’s fiendishly difficult to master, but pretty easy to become adequate at, so read on for your Idiot’s Guide on Becoming the Backbone of any Good Musical group. Let’s begin with the gear. For your first bass, I’d recommend the sturdy Fender Squier Jazz Bass – for only £200-300 it’s a bargain as far as guitars are concerned and will give you a pretty solid sound. If you want new strings, Ernie Ball are your best bet in my opinion – they supply some of the biggest bands in the world and give you a silky smooth sound. Ampli-

fier wise, I’ve always liked the Roland Cube, as it gives you plenty of depth and various fun effects to play around with. To start off though, don’t be tempted by layers of reverb and chorus, and leave your tone nice and clean. Whether you should be allowed to use a pick or not when playing bass is a hotly contentious point. I think it’s definitely best to learn to play fingerstyle, as it gives you a meatier sound and allows you greater control over how each note sounds. But if you already play guitar or it just feels more comfortable, a pick will do the job for most songs just fine. You’re not going to be able to play Muse’s ‘Hysteria’ after five minutes, so it’s a good idea to start with some basic but iconic riffs. ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes is an essential riff to learn (although funnily enough its not actually played on a bass in the original). It’s simple, it sounds fantastic, and you can start socialist demonstrations with it by chanting your love for Jeremy Corbyn as you play. ‘Another One Bites The Dust’ and ‘Under Pressure’ by Queen are good starters too. Being able to play things just by listening to them

is a great skill to learn, but using normal sheet music or some online tabs is very useful when you’re starting out. It’s also a good idea to familiarise yourself with a few musical scales as well, to give you a bit of freedom on where you play each note – getting yourself a teacher would help with this.

THE BASS GUITAR IS DECEPTIVELY IMPORTANT IN FILLING OUT THE SOUND OF ANY SONG Ultimately, bass isn’t an instrument that should be played alone – sadly, a complex bass solo will never impress a date in the same way that rattling out some soppy chords on a guitar will. Play along to your favourite songs, or better yet find some people to play music with. Bass guitar is very versatile and will fit in everywhere from an orchestra to indie folk to death metal, so whatever style you love, you’ll be able to lay some funky grooves down. The bass guitar isn’t a particularly glamorous instrument, often overshadowed by whatever else is going on musically, but a good bass player will lay important groundwork and work with the drummer to create a fantastic rhythm section – take the bass away and most songs will sound flat and lacking. It’s not hard to whack out a few notes on the bass, but if it grips you, you can create some magical sounds when you put in the hard work.

mostly of dirty jokes, and a cult following that will get angry at you online if you don’t have a deep, esoteric knowledge of every little detail.

THE RUN OF MIXTAPES DOESN'T HAVE A BAD TRACK TO SPEAK OF And yet, despite this prodigious output, even when he’s unable to put out solo studio albums due to label issues, Lil Wayne has put out multiple releases a year for the past decade, and he’s been releasing music since he was 13 years old – Lil Wayne maintains an uncanny level of quality. Even on albums and mixtapes which have fallen into obscurity like 2014’s Sorry 4 The Wait 2 there will be at least one verse where Wayne outraps everyone else in the game. Love him or hate him, Lil Wayne has been consistently the most impressive, most exuberant, most unabashed rapper alive for nearly 15 years, and for that he should be respected.

REMEMBER THIS? ANIMAL COLLECTIVE Spirit They've Gone, Spirit They've Vanished August 2000 Beloved indie psychedelic band Animal Collective is considered one of the most important outfits to have come out of the New York scene in the 00s. Their string of four albums from 2004-2009 (Sung Tongs, Feels, Strawberry Jam and Merriweather Post Pavilion) is viewed by many of their fans as one of the greatest highs any band has ever been through. However, I find in the adoration of this string of albums (which I do feel is mostly deserved) their first album, Spirit They've Gone, Spirit They've Vanished, has not been given the attention it itself deserves. Many ideas and styles that have found themselves in some of Animal Collective's best works originated from this album. Despite being labeled as an Animal Collective album, it is a project dominated by Avey Tare, who does everything on it except for the drums and percussion, which is done by Panda Bear. Yet the drums throughout are incredible, particularly on songs like 'April and the Phantom' and 'La Rapet'. The odd and inventive feedback looping seen in songs like 'Spirit They've Vanished' and 'Untitled' are glossed up for albums like Merriweather Post Pavilion and Panda Bear's solo record Person Pitch. The odd songwriting and volatile vocal performances on 'Chocolate Girl' and 'April and the Phantom' inspire the core of Strawberry Jam. I don't believe this to be the best Animal Collective album, but it acts a framework not just for their projects, but for all indie psychedelic music throughout the 2000s. Jamie Montcrieff

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screen

And the winner is... Exeposé Screen predicts the big winners at this year’s Academy Awards WHAT SHOULD WIN GET OUT

BEST PICTURE

Jordan Peele’s low budget debut ensnares the audience in a horrifyingly uncomfortable experience filled with social commentary more relevant than ever. Get Out is the most contained and tight film nominated and despite the competition being fierce, Get Out should take the statue home.

WHAT WILL WIN THE SHAPE OF WATER

CHRISTOPHER NOLAN - DUNKIRK

BEST DIRECTOR

Certainly our most rogue pick of the bunch, we debated this one excessively. But Nolan’s Dunkirk just wouldn’t leave our minds. Visually sprawling and emotionally harrowing, Nolan composes a film that captures the unwavering fear and tension of war better than arguably any before it. And it’s about time he snapped up one of these.

GUILLERMO DEL TORO THE SHAPE OF WATER

TIMOTHEE CHALAMET - CALL BY YOUR NAME

BEST ACTOR

The third youngest nomination ever, a Chalamet win would be record-breaking – and boy does he deserve it. He puts in a perfectly rounded, remarkably real turn as a charming adolescent who is troubled by deep-seated insecurities. It’s about time the Academy found the courage to award younger stars who are putting in performances well beyond their years.

GARY OLDMAN DARKEST HOUR

FRANCES MCDORMAND - THREE BILLBOARDS...

BEST ACTRESS

We cannot remember the last time a female lead owned a film as much as Frances McDormand. Portraying the type of female character that Hollywood very rarely allows for, McDormand is the storm in a teacup that really drives the film forward. Potentially one of the performances of the decade.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Sam Rockwell has long been beloved by many for his zany performances, but here he has found the perfect character to really show how good an actor he is. Portraying a racist, egotistical and all-round nasty cop might seem a ridiculous character on paper, but Rockwell brings an alarming sense of levity and realism that only a Oscar worthy actor could bring.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Allison Janney will end up winning the battle of the mums, but Laurie Metcalf’s complex, affecting turn pips it for us. The mother-daughter relationship that Metcalf and Ronan produced feels more grounded and realistic than the one in I, Tonya; Metcalf’s every moment feels like it’s been lifted from a real household.

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

At the grand old age of 89, James Ivory has written one of the most delicate, honest scripts of the year. He impressively translated Andre Aciman’s novel into a charming, heart-breaking screenplay, that provides the platform for a film which captures the reality of first-love and adolescent exploration better than anything in recent memory.

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

The coming-of-age story of teenage girls has been done countless times, but there is something unique about Lady Bird. There’s real pathos littered all through a script all tied up in a package of pure emotion and family drama that never feels unbalanced. The more we think over this script, the better it gets and that is the mark of truely great writing.

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY

We must admit, this is a bit of a career driven award, but Blade Runner: 2049 feels like the culmination of decades of truely outstanding work from one of cinema’s most talented individuals. Every frame is absolutely breathtaking, never feels overblown and stays true to its grounded, cyberpunk setting. Plus, Fenton might have smashed the office up if he doesn’t win.

FRANCES MCDORMAND THREE BILLBOARDS...

SAM ROCKWELL - THREE BILLBOARDS...

SAM ROCKWELL THREE BILLBOARDS...

LAURIE METCALF - LADY BIRD

ALLISON JANNEY I, TONYA

JAMES IVORY - CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

JAMES IVORY CALL ME BY YOUR NAME

GRETA GERWIG - LADY BIRD

MARTIN MCDONAGH THREE BILLBOARDS...

ROGER A. DEAKINS - BLADE RUNNER: 2049

ROGER A. DEAKINS BLADE RUNNER: 2049

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screen

EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Fenton Christmas

26 FEB 2018

Spotlight: Steven Soderbergh

A DIRECTOR UNAFRAID TO GO TO THE UNKNOWN

It’s best to start somewhere close to the beginning. In early 1989, the Sundance film festival played host to one of his first films: Sex, Lies, and Videotape. It was the kind of bold, corrosive work that rocked the circuit,

Harry Caton sings the praise of Steven Soderbergh’s diverse portfolio

ERHAPS you don’t know Steven Soderbergh, but you’ve almost certainly seen one of his films. That’s because his presence is both chameleonic and expansive; his filmography skirts drama, genre-flick, and indie, freely stopping off at the dozen points in between. Soderbergh has a style that refutes easy categorisation. His works pointedly blend numerous divergent genre strands with the closest thing to a signature he has: a playful, empathetic coolness in film’s formal mechanisms. But you still might not know him. Contrary to the cinephilic fawning over the ‘auteur director’, he’s usually credited with a simple “directed by”- even when he’s also editor, writer, and cinematographer. It’s a refreshing change; Soderbergh is a director unafraid to go to the unknown; to try something abstract and new. Over his wide career, he’s forever refused to be defined by any singular artistic identity.

exploring confession and sexuality with an unrelenting frankness. Though missing the Grand Jury prize for drama, it won the Audience; the ascendancy was completed upon its winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes in the same year. His slow climb continues from there, from the coming-of-age King of the Hill in ‘93, to the ineffably-weird comedy Schizopolis in ’96. The first of many creative peaks came with the one-two-punch of Out of Sight, and The Limey, in ’98 and ’99 respectively. It’s these two that grasp the breadth of his style. Both crime dramas, Sight approaches the genre with peppy, energetic fun, and a cast game for its delicate balance of romance and zany humour. Limey goes for much the opposite, living in the grit and squalor of its seedy, warped Los Angeles. There’s another theme here, besides his stylistic diversity. Soderbergh consistently draws magnetic performances from his actors, giving a young(er), George Clooney a starmaking turn in Sight, while having Terrence Stamp revel in a layered, angry latecareer turn in Limey. 2000’s

Traffic is something of a culmination of all these strands. With an ensemble cast, a sprawling plot, and a style that encompasses political drama and neo-noir, the film exemplifies his increasingly bold gambits of outright rejecting convention. It’s funny, then, that this marks his introduction to the mainstream. Traffic won him Best Director at the Academy Awards, and from there comes the all-starstudded Ocean’s Eleven, in 2001. Maybe a director less rooted in the weirdness of the indie would falter into the system. But Ocean’s Eleven is a film that took the far larger canvas that Hollywood offered, and used it to build on the eccentricity of Out of Sight while also marrying it to the broad scope of Traffic. There are even clear precedents in his stranger stuff to this film’s blockbuster appeal; the distortion of viewer knowledge comes right from The Limey, while

The clone bores

the deadpan humour works from the same comic approach as Schizopolis. It’s only natural that Soderbergh’s films put their feet in both camps; whether indie or Hollywood, the constant desire to try something different runs throughout his work. It’s the attempt to rejuvenate American classicism in The Good German, or the tragicomic absurdity of The Informant. He’s even dipped a toe into the world of TV, directing K Street, The Knick, and Mosaic. The expanse of his ethic itself is nothing short of incredible – he’s edited and cinematographed many of these, remaining steadfast to the semi-mystery of all his pseudonyms. Who’d think that the director of Contagion also made Magic Mike? Soderbergh is an affective filmmaker, putting-on and taking-off new styles at every turn. But if he’s affective, then he’s damn good at it. Though you can practically see the pointedly cinematic quality in his patchwork of references, it’s all handled with such exceptional control and style; he rises far above any sort of base competence, or even exceptional pastiche, to the ranks of those who seem to simply have an incredible feel for the many different parts to the form. This un-identifiability confounds typical manners of auteur-adulation. You may never even know, and still question, if a film is his. In this, he even resides outside the authorial stereotype implied in the ‘Director Spotlight’. And shouldn’t that itself be celebrated?

James Garbett expresses concern over the future of the Star Wars franchise

T’S peculiar to note that if Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm had not occurred, 2018’s only Star Wars film would be a mere re-release of Return of the Jedi in 3D. Instead, since 2015, fans have been treated to three new Star Wars films with two new trilogies on the horizon. Not to mention the upcoming Solo film, Abram’s Episode IX, and a third untitled spin off. Star Wars fans have got an embarrassment of riches to come, but with that, a question arises: when does it become too much Star Wars? The fact that only six Star Wars films were released over a thirty-year period had granted the series a sense of uniqueness, with each film having the status of a cinematic event. Admittedly this doesn’t include the decidedly ropey Ewok spin-off adventures, but only diehard Star Wars fans endure those monstrosities. Instead, the rapid influx of the films seems to be waring that sense of exceptionality away. Since its release in 1977, every franchise was dying to be “The Next Star Wars”, a series that had an incredible influence upon audiences. However, fast forward to present day, Star Wars is desperately attempting to be “The Next Marvel” – frantic to pump out new

films to build a rivalling, pseudo-Star Wars Cinematic Universe. Yet whilst Marvel can release a political thriller and a zany sci-fi comedy within the same year, Star Wars has been somewhat limited in this regard, unable to operate in the vast spectrum of genre that Marvel can. Despite Solo being marketed as a “gambler heist” movie, it doesn’t differentiate itself enough from the main saga films aesthetically or tonally, another element of worry for fans regarding Star Wars saturation. The volume of the films is not necessarily the sole problem, rather the strange need of the filmmakers to repeatedly hark back to the Star Wars of old to win the audience over with nostalgia. This is something that, for all its flaws, The Last Jedi tried to

move past but unfortunately a feat that Solo seems to regress from. Differentiation and diversity within each of their films is the key to longevity for the Star Wars franchise going forward. If Disney continues to flood the market with paint-by-numbers Star Wars instalments, then saturation is inevitable. It seems they are ignoring the series’ greatest asset. This is a franchise that has always hit its stride in intermedia, and the quality of the books, videogames, and television shows have been severely lacking since Disney’s takeover. A new focus on the transmedia that the series possesses could not only continue the vast financial benefits for Disney, but also please a gargantuan number of Star Wars

fans the world over. It’s easy to forget that two million Star Wars books were sold in 2015, and despite a severe lambasting from critics, Star Wars Battlefront was one of the bestselling games of the same year, selling a whopping ten million units. It appears Disney has severe tunnel vision, regarding the franchise as only limited to film and everything else as a measly afterthought. If Star Wars attempts to be the next Marvel by making Lucasfilm a proverbial conveyer belt, then the box office will respond with a resounding sigh, and the series runs the risk of going extinct. Whilst Star Wars fans may endure, the casual moviegoer will not. Instead the franchise needs to explore unfamillar and new parts of the universe, and furthermore rely on the unprecedented transmedia empire that Star Wars possesses. Not only would this prevent cinematic saturation, but it could continue their financial success by keeping the grumbly Star Wars fanatics content; so when another Star Wars film finally smashes onto the silver screen, fans will meet with a rejoice rather than a moan in returning to a galaxy far far away…

exhibit

screen

EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Fenton Christmas

Across the Cloververse

26 FEB 2018

David Conway examines the peculiarly structured Cloverfield franchise

LOVE the idea of the Cloverfield franchise. The concept of an anthology of stories threaded by subtle world-building, coming together to form a much larger canvas, offers such unique and exciting storytelling opportunities. And the factor of releasing them as surprises, kept under tight secrecy, is such a fun way of playing around with typical distribution conventions. So why then, does the Cloverfield franchise pain me, when its foundations excite me so much? Sadly, the answer lies firmly in the category of squandered potential. The franchise gets off to an excellent start with the first film, Matt Reeves’ Cloverfield. The piece is a clever subversion of the found footage genre - which was at the time mostly reserved for horror films - repositioning the shaky, low-fi camera into a monster movie world. The way in which it took two wildly different styles of film, both not exactly at the height of Hollywood popularity, and mashed them together to make a huge blockbuster that still had a very human heart, was unprecedented, and made for a big success. Its viral marketing campaign, too, was brilliant, in how it expanded film into a form of multimedia storytelling. Finding websites linked to the world of the film filled with Easter Eggs and hints as to the origins of its Lovecraftian horrors were part of the fun, and made for a rich experience as an audience member. Then, in January 2016, something happened that nobody was expecting. A ‘spiritual

successor’ to Cloverfield, entitled 10 Cloverfield Lane, was announced to have been made in secret, and was going to be released in two months. It wasn’t a sequel per se, as it was a film set within the same world as Cloverfield, with Easter Eggs and thematic strands connecting it to the first. Certainly, in many respects it’s a totally different film to Cloverfield – a psychological thriller mostly contained to three characters in a single small space. However, for the most part, it works as a very interesting little chamber piece. Unfortunately, 10 Cloverfield Lane’s connection to Cloverfield is also its main weakness. As it turned out, the film was initially written as a spec script entitled The Cellar, and it was only during production that producer J.J Abrams noticed thematic similarities, and decided to tie them together. And sadly, it shows. The Cloverfield element feels oddly jarring and very obviously inserted into a different film, disrupting the flow of the story and ultimately making for a weaker film. Nevertheless, the film was a success, and introduced the exciting potential of the Cloverfield world. But sadly, come 2018, and what we have been given is The Cloverfield Paradox, another clumsy attempt at inserting Cloverfield into an already existing script mid-production. What makes this situation different from 10 Cloverfield Lane, however, is that whilst that had a great script to go off, the script The Cloverfield Paradox is based on just isn’t very good. Full of

tired science fiction tropes and dull characters, as well as cringe-worthy exposition dumps, this is an already messy piece of filmmaking made even more confused by the insertion of someone else’s film.

IT IS UTTERLY INEPT AT PLANNING ITS OWN TRAJECTORY

Again, the release was based around a clever marketing strategy, where the film was given a surprise trailer at the Super Bowl and announced to have dropped on Netflix immediately, keeping with the franchise’s propensity for unique distribution plans. But whilst I would like to think that releasing the film on Netflix was a bold statement of intent around the exciting new streaming age we’re living in, the truth really does seem to be that it would have flopped at the cinema, and Paramount just dodged a bullet in selling it off. The main problem with this franchise is that, for something that is so forward thinking in its ideas of what cinema can be, it is utterly inept at planning ahead its own trajectory. The world of Cloverfield could become a richly textured tapestry of stories, worlds, and characters, if only it outlined where exactly it wanted to go. Here’s hoping that the next film, Overlord, is a more thoughtfully planned addition to this world.

Three Billboards Outside Grenfell Charlotte Forrester assesses pop culture’s impact on real world issues

AST Thursday, three mobile billboards reading “71 DEAD”, “AND STILL NO ARRESTS?”, and “HOW COME?” were stationed outside Grenfell Tower, eight months after 71 people died when the tower (a block of public housing flats) caught fire. The tragedy led to the revelation that the tower had failed to meet standards for fire safety, with flammable cladding and inadequate evacuation procedures. This also brought to the fore the dire point that Britain’s housing crisis had reached. The billboards mimic the style of those that appear in the Oscar-nominated film, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, where a mother confronts the local police department for failing to find her daughter’s murderer. ‘Justice4Grenfell’, a community-led organisation, are set on achieving justice for “the bereaved families, survivors, evacuated residents and the wider local community” affected by the disaster. The announcement of the billboards came with the statement that “eight months on from the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower, the issue is being ignored. 71 people died in the Grenfell Tower. And still no arrests. And still 297 flammable towers. And still hundreds of

survivors are homeless. And still they are not represented on the inquiry. And still there is no justice. These three billboards are here to keep this tragedy in the national conscience, to make our voices heard. And our voices call for change to a system that kills. And our voices demand justice for Grenfell.” The message is a powerful one, made ever more effective by the impact that Martin McDonagh’s film has had on pop culture. This is not the first time that a movie has been used by activists to protest socio-political injustice though. After the Grand Jury refusal to indict Darren Wilson (a police officer who murdered unarmed teenager Mike Brown), the slogan “If we burn, you burn with us” emerged as a significant motif in the Black Lives Matter movement, with a picture showing the mantra graffitied onto a monument in St. Louis

going viral. The slogan was borrowed from Mockingjay Part 1, an instalment of The Hunger Games series, which had just been released in cinemas, and proved pertinent for the viewership who were dealing with their own struggle in terms of an unjust system. The realm of romantic comedies has also been used for campaigning. At a 2015 antiausterity march in London, a protestor created placards using references to Mean Girls with a few reading “Stop trying to make austerity happen IT’S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN” and “Raise your hand if you’ve ever been personally victimised by David Cameron”. There was also a cartoon in The New Yorker where a man at a rally asks, “What is a coat hanger abortion?”. A woman then replies, “Haven’t

you seen Dirty Dancing?”. Even when discussing social turmoil and reproductive rights, chick flicks have found their way into the discourse and have been used by those speaking up for change.

POP CULTURE PROVIDES A LANGUAGE ACCESSIBLE TO MOST

Hence, the fictional worlds of film are often used for fighting injustice in our real world. This is because, when the vocabulary of activism can prove intimidating and therefore exclusionary, pop culture provides a language accessible to most. The adoption of iconic cinematic moments in protest allows a precedent that is available to a high proportion of the public. There shouldn’t be a division between art and politics now when the two have always been so closely intertwined. Justice4Grenfell’s move to do their own version of Three Billboards is painfully poignant, but more so thanks to the film’s current place in culture. The revolution may not be televised, but the screen definitely has its place in striving for progress and justice.

study break

| 26 FEB 2018

exhibit

STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD # 108

SUDOKU # 47

Across

Down

Ban (as South Africa did for the 24 Olympics?) (7) Perfect (7) 2 Only - one (4) Might (5) 3 Unsurpassed performance (that’s often Owl’s hollow cry (4) broken in athletics?) (6) 4 Political go-between (8) Having defensive clothing (8) 5 Deepen (5) Ripen - adult (6) 6/19 Athletic event whose world 3 was (Military) gesture famously broken in 24 in 1968 (4, 4) Athletic team contest (3-2-3) 7 Plod wearily along (6) See 6 Down 12 Wall drawings (8) :-) or :-D, for example (5) 13 Concern (6) 15 South American country, capital Free time (7) Montevideo Latin American host of the 1968 Summer 16 Begin hastily and eagerly (4,2) Olympics 18 Hand covering (5) 20 Verse composition (4) 21 User-developed website (4) Sit with a leg either side of (something) (10)

ANSWERS

Trivia corner 1. What is the name for a collection of frogs? 2. Who WROTE BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY’S? 3. IN POKEMON, WHAT DOES CHARMANDER BECOME IN THE THIRD STAGE? 4. NEAPOLITAN ICE CREAM IS USUALLY MADE UP OF WHICH THREE FLAVOURS? 5. WHAT’S THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE OF IRAN? 6. WHAT WAS THE NAME OF WALT DISNEY’S FAMILY DOG? 7. who is the patron saint of music?

Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry 5. Persian 6. Lady 7. St Cecilia Trivia Corner: 1 An Army 2. Truman Capote 3. Charizard 4. Glove, 20 Poem, 21 Wiki. jump, 7 Trudge, 12 Graffiti, 13 Matter, 15 Uruguay, 16 Fall to, 18 Down: 1 Boycott, 2 Sole, 3 Record, 4 Diplomat, 5 Lower, 6/19 High City. Mature, 14 Salute, 17 Tug-of-war, 22 Emoji, 23 Leisure, 24 Mexico Across: 1 Bestraddle, 8 Idyllic, 9 Power, 10 Hoot, 11 Armoured, 13

exhibit

26 FEB 2018 | 33

study break

VEGETABLE WORDSEARCH

FLOWER ANAGRAMS

1. BUTT SPRUCE

CAN YOU FIND ALL TWENTY FIVE WORDS?

8. LIT PUS

2. OCCURS

9. SWORD PONS

3. SAD LID OFF

10. ARTISAN CON

4. ANY HITCH

11. FRET TO GNOMES

5. I GO BEAN

12. I EAT PUN

6. STARCHY MUSH MEN

13. WOLF RUNES

7. PIE WRINKLE

14. LID ORGASM

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE THERE ARE NINE DIFFERENCES TO FIND

aRTICHOKE ASPARAGUS BROCCOLI CABBAGE CARROT CAULIFLOWER CELERY EGGPLANT

GARLIC LEEK LETTUCE OKRA ONION PARSNIP PEPPER POTATO PUMPKIN

RHUBARB SHALLOT SPINACH SQUASH SWISS CHARD TOMATO TURNIP YAM

ANSWERS

13. Sunflower 14. Marigolds Snowdrops 10. Carnations 11. Forget me Nots 12. Petunia

Moustache on dog 8. Aisnley 9. Book of Steve

5. Begonia 6. Chrysanthemums 7. Periwinkle 8. Tulips 9.

Hat colour 4. Dog patch 5. ‘University’ road sign 6. Axe 7.

Anagrams: 1. Buttercups 2. Crocus 3. Daffodils 4. Hyacinth

Spot the Difference: 1. You killed my father 2. Face 3.

26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Science

SCIENCE EDITORS:

Luke Smith Gabriel Yeap

Driving to Mars

Ramanujen Nathan explains why Elon Musk’s favourite car was sent into space

’M sure everyone has heard or read about Elon Musk’s car that’s currently orbiting in space. If you haven’t, then yes, you heard that right - a car coasting in space. The 2008 Tesla Roadster got a ticket to leave our planet on what is now deemed to be the most powerful rocket in operation, the Falcon Heavy. It is second to only the Saturn V rockets which carried men to the moon during the Apollo era. The goal was to get the Tesla to successfully orbit elliptically between Earth and Mars where all three will be bonded in an endless loop around the Sun. The Tesla successfully reached orbit on 13 February 2018. By being attached to the upper part of the rocket which cruised for about six hours, it had demonstrated its new capability for the US Air Force. On a livestream, the payload showed its passenger, The ‘Starman’ - which Musk named the dummy driver in a nod to David Bowie - gave stunning views of the car and its only passenger fitted in the SpaceX space suit casually floating above the Earth. SpaceX then cut the livestream and the last of the engines reignited for a final push for the Tesla to reach its destined orbit. In orbit, it was speculated that the payload was heading in the direction of the Ceres asteroid orbit, but it wasn’t the case. Experts have commented that they expect to see the payload’s orbit changed by gravity of Jupiter and other forces. Its orbit will be stretched out and it will start crossing not just Mars’s orbit twice every 18.8 months, but Earth’s as well, and by extension Venus’s and Mercury’s. We would be able to see the payload approaching Earth some 11 years lat-

er and if the Tesla avoids a collision with Mars or is reduced to rubble by other cosmic dusts, it will remain in its loop around the Sun for perhaps hundreds of millions of years. What led to Tesla’s founder to achieve such a feat? Or as one would playfully put it, “have his head in the clouds”.

The Tesla car and its dummy payload may loop between Earth and Mars for hundreds of millions of years Musk emigrated from South Africa in 1988 and made millions from Zip2 and PayPal. But as a boy, he dreamed of rocket ships and space travel. In late October 2001, Musk was on a mission to buy an intercontinental ballistic missile from Russia. He said that it would be a good vehicle to transport a plant or some mice. His friends that accompanied him thought he was bat-shit crazy, but supported him nonetheless. They had setup a couple of meetings with various companies but all of them fell through. One of the chief designers had even spat at him and his friends exclaiming that he thought that they were full of s---. In February 2002, the group returned to Russia to strike another deal but that too had proved fruitless. Musk had thought that the Russians were either not serious about doing business or they wanted to exploit him for his vast amounts of money. He then decided to build a rocket by himself with his team. He had been devouring books on rockets, fundamentals of aerother-

THE JOURNEY TO SPACEX AND TESLA... As a child, Elon Musk had dreamed of all things space: rockets, the moon, galaxies... he always had his head in the clouds

Musk emigrated from South Africa in 1988 and made millions from Zip2 and Paypal

modynamics and astrodynamics. He was met with much criticism from his peers, but they supported him regardless. He joined the Mars Society and the members took to him very quickly. This resulted in him building a network of space experts who would then go on and discuss ways to send a plant into space, land it on Mars, and hopefully, have a garden. And in June 2002, he founded Space Exploration Technologies, SpaceX. Musk was very well on his way to Mars. But, of course, he wasn’t just building rockets in his spare time. In 2003, he founded Tesla Motors and ended up as the company’s CEO. He had committed $100 million into SpaceX and a further $70 million into Tesla, a decision that would almost break both companies - and it almost did. After some roaring success with the Falcon 1 (the first privately built, liquidfuelled rocket that had reached orbit), SpaceX and Tesla were facing major cash shortage. As bad as they were, they failed in comparison to his personal life. He had lost his 10-week-old son to sudden infant death syndrome and soon after, filed for divorce from his first wife. He was getting pistolwhipped. Doubts flooded his mind about his life, his car and his divorce. He thought that he was finished. There came a point where he had to choose: SpaceX or Tesla? If he had funnelled the remaining cash into both, then both companies would perish eventually. But if he channelled it into one, then only one would survive while the

other becomes non-existent. Which for him, wasn’t an option either. In 2008, he got wind of Nasa offering a contract to resupply the space station which was valued in excess of $1 billion. SpaceX had done tremendously well by creating a name for itself in the industry. He was hoping that this contract could save SpaceX. As for Tesla, he had taken risks by selling his

shares and equity, brokering new investments and calling in monetary favours from his peers, all in effort to keep Tesla from crumbling. In December 2008, SpaceX had won the contract deal of $1.6 billion for 12 Nasa resupply flights and the Tesla deal ended up closing successfully a few hours before it had to declare bankruptcy. On 29 September 2013, Falcon 9 was successfully launched, and it was nothing more than a red spot in the sky, till it vanished into space. Fast forward to 2015, SpaceX is profitable and estimated to be worth $12 billion and Tesla has had huge successes as

well. With the recent achievement of Elon Musk’s payload (Tesla Roadster) on his rocket in space, it has definitely put him on the map in the aerospace industry if it hadn’t already done so. SpaceX have made reusable rockets a reliable business for Nasa and telecom companies and are advertising them at only a fraction of the cost. They have mastered the controlled burns down to a fine art cutting the cost of space flight from billions to just millions. A Falcon Heavy launch is $90 million while Nasa’s SLS is about $1 billion per flight. The Falcon Heavy’s successful launch propels the dream into a new orbit. It has plans to include building a new space station above the moon, carrying new telecom or spy satellites, and shuttling people to deep space destinations. Last February SpaceX said it intended to send two private citizens on a trip around the moon, possibly as soon as this year. SpaceX has challenged the traditional launch industry in the US and in Europe, China and Russia and it only took 15 years through the sheer determination and strong willpower of Elon Musk. I leave you with one of his quotes which I believe had made his dream of rocket ships and space travel a reality: “I could either watch it happen or be a part of it.”

In 2002 Musk founded Space Exploration Technologies, Space X In 2001, Musk was determined to purchase a Russian missile - this was unsuccessful so he decided to build his own. He proceeded to join the Mars Society He later went on to set up Tesla in 2003

SpaceX almost fell into bankruptcy but a 2008 NASA contract worth $1.6 billion saved them As for Tesla, Musk’s selling of shares and negotiations allowed it to stay afloat

SCIENCE

Electric touch

Scarlett Parr Reid discusses the development of electric skin

MIDST a swarming sea of silver nanoparticles and Polyimine, a revolutionary marriage of electronics and biological tissue is occurring: electronic skin. Perhaps as strange as it sounds, E-skin is a multifunctional translucent material, capable of performing the sensory functions of human skin. It can detect pressure, temperature, air flow and humidity. That’s right: artificial skin that knows when it’s too hot or cold or how much pressure must be exerted to pick up an object. In fact, its durability and malle-

ability is applicable to the curvature of human arms and robotic hands, fingers and toes, simply

through exposure to mild heat and pressure. So, the looming prospect of a robot invasion in the next 50 years seems a little less frightening; these robots can be coated in E-skin to prevent them from harming humans! If E-skin isn’t mechanically miraculous enough, researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder discovered that it’s able to heal itself and is recyclable at room temperature. Picture a nasty wound or cut - unsightly and painful - able to heal in just 30 minutes. All that’s needed to repair the skin, or any damage to its electrical sensors, is three easily accessible substances found in ethanol. Recycling of the skin simply requires dissolving it in a special solution, degrading it

to monomers and oligomers, which are then readily separated by ethanol to sink the nanoparticles. A solution is then produced for the manufacture of new E-skin. These properties make

E- skin both environmentally and economically friendly, reducing electrical waste and manufacturing costs. This is particularly important, given that 16 billion pounds worth of electronic waste was produced in the US alone, in 2014. Redolent of the sci-fi Terminator movies, all this talk of artificial skin capable of regeneration may sound a little farfetched. But, that’s the power of the senses: with potential applications in monitoring patient health, brain wave activity, speech and the healing process of skin. E-skin’s utility in medicine, robotics and

prosthetics is rapidly advancing. The novel invention represents our ability ‘to blur the distinction between electronics and biological tissue’, says John Rogers, project researcher at the University of Stanford.

Robotic skin has been made that can use ethanol to heal itself in 30 minutes And it doesn’t stop there. With its ability to sense both downward and bending pressure, akin to the angle and pressure of a human handshake, E-skin’s versatility extends from prosthetics to self-fixing wires for electronics. Pretty

handy for that severed laptop charger or those frayed earphones you reluctantly replaced. Or, envision for a moment a robot babysitter able to identify a baby’s fever with the mere touch of the forehead - a useful scientific advancement. Who knows where E- skin may lead us: smart electronics and textiles, made reusable by simply soaking them in solution. Now, that’d make for an iPhone that really is an upgrade on the last. Chemically stable, electrically conductive and mechanically strong, E- skin can monitor human health and heal serious wounds or cuts, despite being ten times thinner than a human skin cell. So, next time your mind ponders the prospect of the human population replaced by robots, know that they’ve got your back and will even greet you with a handshake.

Super-humus

Rachel Jones heralds why we should pay more notice to the earth beneath our feet

OIL, the ground beneath our feet, is more than mere dirt; it is one of the critical components of the natural world, vital for food security, healthy ecosystems and human wellbeing. This upper layer of the earth is a mixture of organic and inorganic material in which plants grow. An enormous 95% of our food comes from soil, however, it is under threat.

Good healthy soil is the result of over a thousand years of preparation There are many factors that are contributing to the global trend of degrading our land resource, stripping it of nutrients and making it less fertile. The major causes being: irresponsible management practices, increased demand made on it due to population pressures and poor policies and governance. In Europe soil erosion is primarily a result of poor management practices, resulting to the loss of 920 million tonnes each year. Whilst in less economically developed countries, many of which naturally have a lower soil quality, the effect of erosion has much more serious implications. In sub-Saharan Africa over one quarter of the land is affected by this soil degradation. The severity of the issue is only truly realised when you consider

that there are 180 million people who depend on this land. The combination of land degradation resulting in poor crop yields and the region’s growing population, has resulted in a soil crisis with major concerns for its food security. World Soil Day was first designated as 5 December in 2014 and since then it has been celebrated annually. Organised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, it aims to create a greater awareness and appreciation of this natural resource. The event is focused around communicating messages through outreach, public engagement and educational activities of the importance of soil quality to promote and empower all sectors of society to take a more sustainable approach. Good old healthy soil is the result of over a thousand years of preparation. It starts with fragmentation of bedrock which forms a porous mixture of much finer particles. The space between particles is important as it enables the flow of both water and nutrients and allows for the exchange of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Additionally, the air pockets between the rocks particles allow for the growth of new

organisms and their eventually decay. This creates a complex mixture of both minerals and organic matter which in turn provides the sustenance for life on earth. The material is so complex, detailed study would take an interdisciplinary approach utilizing knowledge from geology, biology, chemistry and physics. Now, as an attentive reader will spot, the duration of this process means that healthy soil is essentially a non-renewable resource, at least on a human time scale. In fact, just one centimetre depth of the matter can take up to 1000 years to generate. Despite its continuous generation, global rates of degradation are quickly overtaking the rate at which, it is formed. The global trends of soil degradation are creating growing concern, with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations estimating that over one third of the earth reserves of soil have already been eroded. It is clear that informed and responsible decision making from all governments and authorities would help to reverse the worrying effects and

trends we are currently experiencing. There are many ways to reduce mankind’s acceleration of soil erosion including, improving education, reducing chemical inputs, implementing more sensitive grazing management and ensuring better planning and building practices. Many successful approaches have already been demonstrated, most noticeable of which are those realised in Ethiopia and Rwanda, where in recent years they have seen land restoration as a result of integrated soil fertility management practices. These have included the following: increased soil surface coverage with vegetation, promoting crop rotations and increasing its organic matter content. As soil plays a central role in many other natural functions, it is hoped that the encouragement of the sustainable

use and management of land soils will lead to the attainment of other targets outlined by the UN under its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’S). These goals range from food security; humanhealth; water quality; climate change and bio-diversity within our ecosystems. It is hoped that World Soil Day and other ensuing educational events, can drive a resurgence in sustainable methods ensuring that future generations will inherit a healthy planet -something which we could all start by simply looking after the ground beneath our very feet.

SCIENCE

The quest for the laser

Elinor Jones investigates the potential of lasers in making new scientific discoveries

OR decades, it has been assumed that a vacuum is a vacuum, entirely empty, unable to with hold any particles of matter: no atoms, and no sub-atomic particles. However, current thinking is turning classical quantum electrodynamics on its axis, suggesting a vacuum is not entirely empty, and all this understanding is coming from a longused instrument by physicists: lasers. Lasers work on the principle that electrons, negatively charged sub-atomic particles with a minuscule mass, can get excited. Just as children get excited and need to let off steam by running around, electrons in lasing material, such as gases, crystals, and semi-conductors (materials with conducting properties between that of a metal and non-metal), raises to a higher energy state and falls back down, emitting a photon, and returning to the non-excited state. What creates the laser beam is the characteristic narrow stream of intense light; this is because all the electrons emit

the same photons, such that they are all the same wavelength, meaning all photons are the same colour. Whilst lasers have been in use for some time, physicists at the Shanghai Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics (SIOM) are currently working on the Station for Extreme Light (SEL), a novel technique for particle acceleration, with huge potential in medical and material sciences, whilst also providing extreme temperature and pressure conditions not naturally experienced on Earth. Emitting laser light in short pulses and a diameter of just three micrometres (0.003mm), the SEL is aiming to become the most powerful laser ever created, with

an intensity, power per unit area, of 1024 Watts (unit of power) per square centimetre (W/cm2). To put this in context, this intensity is 10 trillion trillion times more intense than the sunlight on Earth. With this intensity, at SIOM, they are looking into a previously unknown possibility of a vacuum: it is not entirely empty. This theory is known as quantum mechanical uncertainty, and suggests that pairs of electrons, and their antimatter particle (opposite charge and spin), the positron, exist briefly in a vacuum, although immediately degrade by annihilation – particles and their antimatter particles destroy each other. It is with this laser that particles could be separated prior to annihilation, such

that electrons and positrons do not destroy each other. This is based on the principle that the laser light is like any electromagnetic wave, thus has an electric field. Because it is a wave, the electric field will vary, moving back and forth; when the intensity of the laser beam increases, the electric field strength also increases, to the 1024 W/cm2 intensity that could break any attraction between the electrons and positrons. The electric field would cause these particles to emit gamma radiation, another electromagnetic wave, and these rays could generate new electron-positron pairs.

In medicine, ultrafast high-intensity lasers can be used to cut tissue during surgery This phenomenon can be described as ‘breaking the vacuum’ and showcases Einstein’s equation E=mc2 in action,

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where energy and matter are interchangeable, as the kinetic (movement) energy of a body is equal to the mass of said body multiplied by the speed of light squared, which is approximately 300 million metres per second. The opportunities from this discovery are out of this world, with applications in areas such as biomedicine, manufacturing, and materials, needed for welding, cladding and drilling. In medicine, ultrafast high-intensity lasers can be used to cut tissue during surgery. For example, cutting-edge Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is used in highprecision eyeball surgery. Ultrafast X-ray radiography affords for high resolution phase-contrast images needed for diagnosis. Discovering that empty space is not so empty suggests that we should never be final with discoveries in science; we should always keep thinking about things in multiple ways, as this can lead to exciting new opportunities.

James Sutton explores whether playing video games can become an addiction

HAT happens when video games become more than “just a game”? The World Health Organisation is set to declare “gaming disorder” as an officially recognised mental health condition, following recent concerns over the potentially addictive properties of video games. With an estimated 18m people playing video games in the UK alone, recent studies cited by the WHO suggests that some gamers could become dependent on intensive gaming sessions, and neglect aspects of their everyday lives as a result. However, some have scrutinised the WHO’s approach to addressing gaming disorder, and have advocated against making the condition officially recognised without further study.

The WHO is set to declare "gaming disorder" as an official recognised mental health condition The increasing popularity of gaming has led to a number of claims in recent years about the potentially detrimental effects, particularly on children, of video games. Gaming addiction is not a new revelation – studies on the condition have been publicised before, and some private centres even offer treat-

ment for the addiction – but this statement by the WHO is the most dramatic recognition of the condition’s validity thus far. This will be published in the WHO’s next International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) later this year, creating a universal standard of identifying gaming disorder, and proposing possible methods of diagnosis and treatment. The latest draft of the unpublished ICD-11 describes gaming disorder as ‘a pattern of persistent or recurrent gaming behaviour’, which is severe enough to impair ‘important areas of functioning’ in the life of the subject. In short, the WHO is approaching this condition as an ‘addictive behaviour’, which can only be formally diagnosed after the negative consequences of the addiction is evident. Many people can appreciate the immersion and enjoyment of video games, so it is important to note the distinction between this and gaming addiction. In the ICD-11, the WHO advises that three symptoms may be evident of gaming disorder: impaired control over gaming; increasing priority given to gaming over other life interests

and daily activities; and continuation or escalation of gaming despite negative consequences. The occasional gaming binge across virtual landscapes of your favourite game doesn’t immediately suggest an addiction; only if these binges become more frequent and replace other aspects of your life. Thus, the WHO advises that any symptoms should be evident

over

during a 12-month period to properly diagnose, although this may be shortened if the condition is particularly severe. However, only last year an open debate paper from 26 academics voiced concerns over the WHO’s planned approach to classifying gaming addiction. Many claim that the research into the condition is thus far insufficient and lacks consensus among the psychologists that study

video games, and criticise the WHO’s approach as premature. Aside from the academics, this news has been slated by many people across different social media platforms. For many consumers, video games are seen as another media form – no different from films, books or television - and so many question the relevancy of ‘gaming addiction’, especially considering t h e subtexts of drug use suggested by this term. Yet, the action of the WHO is only the earliest steps in classifying gaming disorder, and their approach could be warranted considering the wide consumption of video games. Despite the concerns from certain academics that their research is insufficient, many still acknowledge the need for further research into the condition. Gaming addiction needs to be addressed, and the WHO arguably acted appropriately to establish a standard for identifying the condition. This draft of the ICD-11 is only the latest revision of the influential document, and their approach to the condition can be revised as appropriate as research is conducted on the properties of “gaming disorder”.

26 FEB 2018 | EXEPOSĂ&#x2030;

BOXING VARSITY REVIEW

Seconds out, round two

Wil Jones, Sport Editor, reports on all the action from EUBC's second varsity of the year

OLLOWING Exeter University Boxing Club's first varsity of the year in November, the ring returned to The Lemon Grove on Friday 16 February. With three EUBC men taking to the canvas -- alongside several bouts from nearby amateur clubs -- the night was another success as the punters were treated to an action-packed night of boxing. Proceedings began with an excellent showing from five junior bouts. The youngsters from Torbay, Sydenham ABC, Cheltenham's Kings, Paignton, Yeovil and Exeter amateur boxing clubs all produced brave and entertaining displays, roared on by their families and friends. Following that came the seniors, and first up was Exeter's James Peck as he took on Ryan Rodriguez from Portsmouth. The lightweight bout began in cagey fashion as both fighters found their range, Peck landing a neat left-hand combination in the first 30 seconds, before being caught by Rodriguez' right.

Punters were treated to an actionpacked night of boxing Rodriguez then forced Peck into his corner, catching him with a left hook after the Exeter man ducked to evade the shots coming his way. The second round started with Peck on the defensive once more. Having found his range, however, he landed a nice combination on the counter. Despite this, Rodriguez managed to mostly avoid Peck's dangerous right-hand -- a nice upper-cut in close, followed by a right hook, was enough warning for the Portsmouth man to stay clear, and he responded by producing a series of powerful straight-rights himself. As the second drew to a close, Peck was pushed

Photos: Liz Greenburg

back to the ropes before a flurry from both fighters was halted by the bell. Rodriguez came out firing in the third round, throwing two searing rights in quick succession that Peck did well to avoid, connecting instead with a left-right combination. Peck utilised a low stance and showed good movement throughout, looking to uncoil with his right. However, unable to work his way inside with the jab, the remainder of the fight saw Rodriguez pick away from a distance. The Exeter man finished on the front foot, dropping his hands and looking for a big right to end the fight, but Rodriguez did enough to hold him off and take the victory on a unanimous points decision. The intermission allowed the watching crowd to catch their breaths, and see EUBC's Cat Holst come into the ring to be presented with the British University Women's Boxing Champion trophy for 2018. Next up for Exeter was Aron Syverson at welterweight. He faced Rewson Rai -- also from Portsmouth University. Syverson began the fight confidently. Clearly the aggressor from the start -a nice left-hand hook, followed by clever use of the jab, set a promising tone -- the bout saw Rai look to fight from the peripheries. It was a tactic that proved effective, as southpaw Rai countered well -- a powerful right hook midway through the round stood out amongst several good overhand lefts. With the round going away from him, Syverson responded with a clever combination to bring the crowd to life. A left hook with 10-seconds to go was quickly followed by another as Syverson looked to get inside and cause real damage, but as it was Rai looked to have done enough to edge the first. The second, however, belonged to Syverson. With the Exeter man dominating the

centre of the ring, he refused to yield to Rai's increased tempo and footwork.

Winning in front of the club was an ecstatic feeling

ARON SYVERSON

After initially landing a left-right combination that saw Syverson dive away from the centre, Rai did well to survive. Syverson rocked the Portsmouth man with a huge shot, catching him again as a flurry came flying his way. Rai could only respond with some wild swings himself -- one of which caught Syverson on the nose, drawing blood -- but another big right-hand from Syverson had the visiting fighter rocking at the close of the second. With the fight evenly poised, Rai began the third round with another wild swing that failed to make its mark. Instead, Syverson built upon his good work at close range, closing the distance repeatedly to land with his right and force Rai to resort to the clinch. In the final minute of the fight, Syverson still resolutely held the centre-ground. A messy coming together led Rai to claim a rabbit-punch before briefly taking a knee -- the breather saw him respond with a powerful overhand that caught Syverson. Rai was warned in the closing seconds to keep his head up as the Portsmouth man looked for the knockout blow, but with the crowd roaring him on Syverson found the energy for one final foray towards his opponent. It proved to be enough, as the incredibly close bout went his way on a split decision from the judges. After the fight, ExeposĂŠ caught up with Syverson who was delighted with the victory: "I've got to say that was definitely my favourite

fight I've fought, winning in front of the club for the first time was an ecstatic feeling." Finally, Exeter's Shaun Lee-Tassell entered the ring looking to avenge his narrow defeat in the last varsity in November. Up against Taren Aujla, the light heavyweight bout was a fantastic contest of differing styles. Classy movement and counter-punching against the agreessive Aujla saw LeeTassell work well off the ropes -- a lovely combination finishing with a left-hand uppercut the pick of his measured shots in the first that saw him pick off his opponent with his greater range. The intensity was raised significantly in the second round. Pinned to the ropes once more, this time Aujla's aggression got through LeeTassell's smart guard and evasive movement. A left-hand slug connected as the Exeter man weaved, and a hook sent Lee-Tassell retreating into the blue corner. In the final seconds, both fighters looked out on their feet as the sheer number of punches thrown took its toll -- Lee-Tassell was still able to land two effective straight right-handers before the bell despite Aujla's power-punching. The third saw Aujla come out swinging once more. Amongst some wild, weary and wayward shots, the aggression of the Portsmouth man resulted in blows to both the body and the head of his Exeter opponent. LeeTassell -- on the ropes once more -- was still able to free his left to land counter-punches, but it looked unlikely to be enough to defeat the sheer volume thrown by Aujla. As it was, with 20-seconds to go, a left hook caught Lee-Tassell on an existing cut above his right eye. Despite consternation from the Exeter corner, the referee stopped the fight to take the decision out of the judges' hands and bring an end to an enthralling contest and an entertaining night of boxing.

Photo: Wil Jones

BOXING VARSITY REVIEW

26 FEB 2017 | EXEPOSĂ&#x2030;

SPORT

EXETER

Player Ratings 15. Sal M'boge

No love lost as Exeter dump

6.5

EW opportunities to run with ballin-hand in a game dominated by the forwards. Sacrificed himself for the team in preventing a try and was replaced not too long after his return from the sin-bin. Solid in defence. 14. MAX HIMBURY

OING into the game, you could be forgiven for thinking an Exeter win in the varsity match was something of a formality. Buoyed by a flawless winning streak at Sandy Park -- with last season being the first time since 2011 that Bath managed to chalk up double-figures, shipping an average of 43 points in the last three fixtures alone -- the EURFC 1s looked set to stamp their authority over their South West rivals once more. Bath, however, clearly hadn't read the script. If the driving rain hadn't already dampened spirits on a grim Valentine's Day, the Somerset side's forward-oriented gameplan ensured it was a frustrating evening for the Green Army. An even first-half saw Bath repeatedly claw back the home side's advantage on the scoreboard. With both sides looking to minimise errors in a cagey second period, Bath's forward power edged them into an improbable lead for the first time in the final quarter, and it needed a late rally from Exeter to secure the win and a deserved bonus-point victory to keep them in the hunt for the top spot of the BUCS Super Rugby Championship.

EOOKED threatening when receiving the ball in the wide channels. Put in a try-saving tackle in the corner and nearly got on the end of a Landray grubber-kick in the second-half, but limited chances to shine in attack. 13. MIKE HAINES

ANTASTIC first-half try at a key moment in the game, combining brilliantly with Thorne. Covered the back-field well when required to drop deep.

12. TED LANDRAY

8.5

EPT scoreboard ticking over with almost-impeccable goal-kicking. Use of the boot in open play put Exeter in right areas of the field, particularly in second-half, to make amends for spilt up-and-under. 11. DOM THORNE

ACE on the outside caused Bath problems. Managed to float a majestic offload to Haines for a try and did well when required to play territorial game with the boot.

10. SaM MORLEY

The Somerset side's gameplan ensured it was a frustrating evening for Exeter

8.5

ROUGHT composure to back-line moves, his pace holding the defence before releasing the ball. Kicked well when required to in open play and great run in final ten minutes led to decisive score. 9. EDWARD HOUCHIN

Buoyed by a raucous sell-out crowd at Sandy Park, Exeter got off the mark with a Ted Landray penalty in front of the posts on seven minutes after the backs broke from a lineout on halfway.

Wil Jones, Sport Editor, reports on EU Bath were already looking to contain the home side, playing the percentages and keeping it tight, but they couldn't capitalise on a mix-up at the resulting restart that handed them a 5m lineout. Instead, it was Exeter who got the next score.

Thorne produced a powerful hand-off and floated a a majestic offload to Haines After a charge-down by Dom Thorne on halfway, the 1s earned a penalty and opted for the corner. A try looked certain as the maul thundered towards the line, and when Bath hauled it down just short, the referee wasted no time in awarding the penalty try, sending Bath tight-head David da Costa to the bin. Exeter failed to capitalise on their numerical advantage. Clever territorial kicking by Bath fly-half Will Flinn put his team deep into Exeter territory, and a break by Luca Petrozzi provided the platform for his forwards. They weren't to be denied -- Landray and Luc-Pierre Riou stopped full-back Will Partington on the line, but as the ball was recycled loose-head Austin Hay barrelled over between the posts to bring the first quarter to a close at 10-7. Exeter responded well and were unfortunate to have a try chalked off -- Felix Maddison was adjudged to have obstructed the Bath defence as second-row Jack Rouse rumbled over -- though they didn't have to wait long to make amends.

WIFT service by the scrum-half all night. Unable to threaten the fringes, but gave his backs clean ball all night and allowed his forwards to dictate the ball when necessary.

A loose kick by Bath allowed Exeter to spread the ball to the left. Mike Haines got on the outside of the defending line, bursting into the 22 at pace before feeding it to Thorne. Hugging the touchline, the nippy winger produced a wonderful hand-off on Partington, floating a onehanded offload back over the defender's head and into the grateful hands of Haines for a majestic try. Landray added the extras, and the crowd was in raptures. As the rain continued to fall, the conditions only favoured Bath. The visitors were happy to slow the game down and rely on handling errors by Exeter. Their approach paid dividends just after the half-hour. A big Flinn up-andunder cannoned off Landray's shoulder as he tried to catch it and Partington pounced on the loose ball to race over in the corner. The full-back landed a glorious conversion from the touchline despite receiving plenty of abuse from the watching spectators and Bath were back within three points. With the half drawing to a close, the momentum was firmly with the visitors. Partington burst through three despairing tackles in a rare moment of expansive play. When Bath moved it to the right, creating a two-on-one, Exeter's last man Sal M'boge was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on. Bath hammered at the line -- and captain Simon Linsell received a talking to from the referee for repeated infringements by the 1s -- but as the clock ticked into the red, the blues knocked the ball on as they drove over the line. A reprieve

8. JAMES McRAE

Rugby Varsity

3710

NE huge carry in the first period stood out, smashing Bath hooker Doughty. Carried tirelessly throughout and made good yards around the fringes in particular.

Photos: Ana Hampu & Beatrice Wyles

55%

The number of people in at-

Clean linebreaks for

Possession to Exeter thanks to

tendance for the sell-out at

Exeter's speedsters

dominating 62% of the ball

to Bath's 3

in second period and 57%

Sandy Park

territory over the 80 mins

RUGBY VARS

SPORT

6-28

BATH

p Bath in South West derby

URFC's Valentine's Day varsity victory for Exeter -- having looked the more potent of the two sides, to have trailed at half-time would have been a bitter pill to swallow. Having missed 12 tackles, conceded seven penalties, and knocking the ball on six times in the first period -- despite the fantastic surface at Sandy Park -- the conditions dictated that this was a contest likely to be decided by accuracy and whichever side could minimise errors. The half-time teamtalk seemingly had the desired effect as Exeter held onto the ball far better in the second-half. After an agonising period of kick tennis -- with both sides determined to play the game in the opposition's territory -- the 1s grabbed a greater hold of the game up front.

Exeter's forwards edged towards the Bath line and Linsell crashed over beneath the bar The home side rung the changes early on -- replacing the front-row in the 46th minute -- and a powerful drive at a Bath put-in saw the ball spill loose. From there, Exeter's forwards edged towards the line, and after six phases Linsell crashed over beneath the bar. As in the first, Bath refused to give in and scored their third try on 55 minutes. Having edged up the field after poor Exeter kicking, Bath wheeled a lineout maul away from the 1s' counter-drive. Charlie Dunbar dotted down, Partington added the extras, and Exeter's lead was cut to three once

more. It was a moment of magic that gave Bath the lead as the game entered the final quarter. From more good work by their forwards, Flinn saw space behind the 1s' line and collected his own chip from the 22 to dot down unopposed. Exeter could feel a little aggrieved to find themselves behind. Rather than any glaring mistakes, it was marginal errors that were proving costly as Bath's ruthlessness in attack -- grinding out the hard yards through their forwards when in Exeter's half -- showed no sign of relenting. The crowd needed something to cheer, and the captain Linsell responded in emphatic style. A gruelling maul from Exeter's 22 took the play into the Bath half; a neat grubber by Landray nearly put Max Himbury away but Bath, now on the back foot, were forced to concede the penalty. Exeter went to the corner -- a wise decision. With close ties to the Exeter Chiefs, a side renowned for their prowess in forward pick-and-goes near the opposition's line, the 1s looked assured as first James McRae and then George Gosling made big gains to provide Linsell with the platform to smash over for his second at a crucial moment in the game. With the try bonus-point secured, Exeter's task became securing the win by whatever means they could.

They managed the feat with determination. A wonderful take and break by Sam Morley from deep in his 22, supported by Jesse LipetzRobic, took Exeter right up to the line. With Bath flagging, the first breakdown steal of the game was a welcome event for the visitors, but Exeter weren't to be denied for long. Bath refused to clear their lines and impressive counter-rucking on the 5m line by Jack Strong and Josh Pieterse secured Exeter's first turnover.

Credit to the bench, they came on and gave us the firepower we needed to win

SIMON LINSELL, 1s CAPTAIN

The 1s piled on the pressure. Rouse, Linsell and McRae were prominent as Exeter went through 16 phases before Pieterse got over the whitewash to cap a magnificent cameo in the loose. With that, the crowd was satisfied, and began to make their way into the wet Wednesday night. The 1s ran down the closing seconds with ease and the bragging rights went to Exeter. After the game, Linsell spoke about the tricky test Bath provide: "Credit to [Bath] they came at us hard. "We're not that happy with out performance today [but] we'll take the five points. Credit to the bench, they came on and gave us the firepower we needed to bring home the win in the end." The victory keeps the 1s hot on the heels of Northumbria and, crucially, extends Exeter's varsity streak for one more year.

Player Ratings 7. FELIX MADDISON

NJURED early on but recovered to aid the gruelling forward effort. Poaching effect limited against big Bath pack. Neat peel from lineout in the second-half when trailing got Exeter on front foot. 6. LUC-PIERRE RIOU

ADE a try-saving tackle in the first half. Worked hard throughout and put body on the line time and again, playing on despite lengthy treatment in the second-half.

5. JACK ROUSE

8.5

ADE the hard yards on a night where graft was imperative. Unfortunate to have a try ruled out. Crucial tackle to dislodge ball denied Bath a try with last play of first-half

4. SIMON LINSELL

9.5

UGE performance from the captain. Key in the lineout, his carrying in the second-half and tries at crucial moments swung the game in Exeter's favour.

3. FRASER BRUCE

UFFERED a knock early on but showed little signs of its impact. Hit the rucks ferociously all night. Huge drive at the scrum just before being replaced earned a penalty.

2. CALLUM YOUNG

8.5

HROWING was exceptional as part of a flawless Exeter lineout operation. Neat and tidy in open play, looked comfortable in the midfield as well as the tight, and defended solidly. 8

y in numbers

Number of consecutive kicks

8.5

1. WILL CUTBILL

7.5

85 Tackles made by the

2 Falcons (def: falcon: acciden-

at start of second-half

Green Army,

tal contact between ball and

-- a period of play for the

missing 16 in the

face on a sporting field)

purists...

process.

SITY REVIEW

LAYED his part in ensuring a solid scrum, and demolished Bath's tighthead with final scrum before leaving the field. Good work in the loose, offering himself as an effective carrier when needed.

REPLACEMENTS 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22.

GEORGE GOSLING JOSH PIETERSE JACK STRONG RORY LORIMER AARON BAGWELL JESSE LIPETZ-ROBIC MATT BLANDFORD

8 8.5 8 7 7.5 7 7

Sport

26 FEB 2017 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT EDITORS:

Dorothea Christmann Wil Jones

Photo: Dorothea Christmann

2s brought to ground by UWE Women’s Volleyball Exeter 2s....................................1 UWE 1s......................................3 Dorothea Christmann Sport Editor

FTER a close 3-2 loss to Bournemouth University Women’s 2s two weeks ago, Exeter Women’s 2s faced UWE Women’s 1s, a team currently sat in 2nd position after resounding 3-0 wins against Winchester and FXU 1s. It was a tough fixture, but Exeter 2s, led by captain Brianne Sewell, started brightly, hitting powerful long balls which UWE couldn’t deal with, their no.9 struggling to control the pace of the ball and hitting it backwards out of the court. Exeter no.14 Schmueser’s

serves were also unplayable, hitting low serves which passed just over the net, making it more difficult for the UWE players to return. However, UWE were buoyed by how strong they were at the net, with UWE’s no.8 continually blocking Exeter’s no.6 attempts to spike the ball. Exeter’s no.15 also struggled, hitting a lot of shots haphazardly down the line, which were frequrntly called out. After Exeter took an early time out, they tried to get back into the game but remained static and lost the first set 25-18. Despite being one set back Exeter’s morale never faltered, with lots of cheering and a good team spirit evident throughout the entire set. Exeter gained momentum and were

boosted by UWE becoming more timid at the net as well their continuous errors such as hitting the ball out repeatdedly. After a tense rally at the net, with the ball being blocked back and forth until Exeter finally won the point, it was too much for the visitors to stage a comeback and Exeter convincingly won 25-16. .

It’s great playing UWE because we push ourselves to play better BRIANNE SEWELL, CAPTAIN

It was all to play for in the third set, however Exeter found it difficult to continue the form they had in the previous game and began to lose concentration. There were several moments of confusion when Ex-

eter no.6 and no.14, who did not form an effective partnership at the net, were unsure about who needed to get to the ball, resulting in many balls being unreturned. UWE also started to exploit the weaknesses of Exeter’s defence, exposing Exeter’s weakness in the middle of their court where too much space was left without cover. Exeter got back into the game, following energetic cries of ‘2-3- Exe in between points, making more blocks and producing powerfu angled shots.. However, despite Exeter hvaing match point at 25-24, UWE’s quality surged again and they won 5 points in a row to win the 3rd set 29-27. Exeter looked crushed by being 2 sets down and it showed in their performance, having issues with the long balls powered over the net by UWE.

Also, despite having a poor game overall, UWE’s no.25 played her best when it mattered, producing fantastic low looping serves that won UWE 3 points in a row. This left Exeter with a moutain to climb and despite a late surge, lost 25-22. Captain B. Sewell thought that whilst it was a tough game, she couldn’t be more proud of her team, commenting that “it’s great to play a team like UWE because we pushed ourselves to play to better”. Next up for Exeter 2s in their final match of the season is a battle of the Exeter campuses, with an away game on the 14th March against FXU 1s, who are currently sitting 9 points below them in the table but have 4 games in hand.

For live scores and in-depth reports, follow us on Twitter @exeposesport CONTINUED ON PAGE 31