XEPOSÉ E 3 MAY 2016 | ISSUE 653 | EXEPOSE.COM |
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Residence Life Mentors: undervalued?
Could we leave the NUS? Hannah Butler Editor
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• Mentors aren’t paid Minimum Wage • Lack of DBS checks causes concern EXCLUSIVE
Susannah Keogh Editor
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N Exeposé investigation has uncovered that Residence Life Mentors could collectively be entitled to around £100,000 per year, with mentors disputing their classification as voluntary workers- which currently leaves them ineligible for the National Minimum Wage. Mentors have expressed outrage at the classification of their work as voluntary, with one 2014/15 mentor telling
Exeposé, “As far as we were all aware, this was a job and we were ‘paid’ with our rent reduction. At no point was the word voluntary used. The mentoring role is not voluntary in my eyes as you are held much more accountable to your role than a voluntary worker would be.” The residence life team consists of 62 mentors who work across all student halls of residence providing pastoral care and support. In return they receive a £45 per week rent discount for Campus Accommodation for the 32 weeks per year that they carry out their role. Mentors are classified as ‘voluntary workers’. making them ineligible for the National Minimum
Wage and the rent reduction they receive is subject to a satisfactory performance in the role. All the mentors who spoke to Exeposé asked to remain anonymous, with current mentors citing concern their rent reduction would be removed if the Residence team discovered their identity. The University recently advertised for Student Community Wardens, a role which current residence life mentors describe as “almost identical” to their rolewith one exception, that the Warden role pays the National Living Wage of £8.25 per hour, and are classified as University employees. If mentors were given the same status as the Student Community
Photo: Sachi Minami Photo: Edwin Yeung Wardens, then the University would be required to pay out nearly £100,00 to all the mentors. Exeposé put their findings to a number of current mentors, one of whom commented that they would be preferred to be paid the Living Wage instead of a rent discount, like the Wardens. “It would make the job feel like an actual job and make us feel more respected as employees. I have absolutely felt pressurised into carrying out my role by both my own, and others, Team Leaders. They are often rude and disrespectful to the mentors. The role is poorly managed and unfair...
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OTING has now opened in Exeter’s much-anticipated NUS referendum – meaning students have until 13 May to decide whether the Guild leaves the National Union of Students. But from Guild President Laura-Jane Tiley’s defence of NUS restrictions on Yik Yak to doubts about new NUS President Malia Bouattia, recent weeks have already seen heavy student debate on the National Union. Before voting had even begun, the ballot was earning national attention – with the Daily Mail labelling it a “Student revolt over militant new union boss.” Yet Exeter’s second NUS referendum in 18 months was actually planned well before the election of controversial new president Malia Bouattia on April 20. Back in November 2014, Exeter’s leave campaign failed to gather the support needed for disaffiliation, with 78 per cent of voters choosing to stick with the NUS. In February’s Sabb elections, candidate Paul Rota proposed a second referendum – and as part of the Guild’s new ‘Reward and Recognition’ scheme (which allowed unsuccessful candidates to launch a manifesto point for every 450 votes received) a re-vote was set for May. Since then, students have rallied on both sides of the vote (see Comment, page 7). Anti-NUS group “Exiter” began the campaign trail in early March, launching a Facebook page which has amassed over 170 likes. Meanwhile, the “Stay With NUS” campaign launched on Facebook and Wordpress on 29 April, led by Guild President Laura-Jane Tiley.
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NEW CULTURE SECTION
EXHIBIT PAGES 13 - 25
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Comment Editors Print: Bea Fones & Matt Newman Online: Olivia Horncastle & Rowan Keith comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Georgina Bolam & Katie Jenkins Online: Samuel Fawcett & Kate Jones features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Jade Beard & Laurel Bibby Online: Alma Crespo & Lucy Ronan lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Natasha Ebbutt & Emily Wheeler Online: Anna Blackburn & Izzy Hilliard artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Rory Marcham & Helen Payne Online: Sam Norris & Harry Williams music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Mark Allison & Zak Mahanifar Online: Cormac Dreelan & James Hands screen@exepose.com Games + Tech Editors Print: Jabez Sherrington & Sam Wolf Online: Ben Assirati & Jonathan Land games@exepose.com Science Editors Print: Victoria Bos & Beth Honey Online: Holly Belcher & Akash Beri sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Owain Evans & Lara Hopkins Online: James Angove & Ollie Lund sport@exepose.com Photography Satchi Minami & Wang Yong Yan photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Emma Bessent, Jack Morgan Jones & Ashton Wenborn
@Exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exepose Advertising Ross Trant R.Trant@exeter.ac.uk (01392) 722607 The opinions expressed in Exeposé are not necessarily those of the Exeposé Editors nor the University of Exeter Students’ Guild. While every care is taken to ensure that the information in this publication is correct and accurate, the Publisher can accept no liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result of using the information printed. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss or damage to artwork or material submitted. The contents of this, unless stated otherwise, are copyright of the Publisher. Reproduction in any form requires the prior consent of the Publisher.
EXEPOSÉ
NEWS
Student horror as shower in uni acccommodation catches fire
EDITORIAL
Editors Print: Jeremy Brown, Hannah Butler, Susannah Keogh & Ben Londesbrough Online: Theodore Stone & Jessica Stanier News Editors Print: Rachel Ashenden & Natasa Christofidou Online: Georgia Roberts & David Smeeton news@exepose.com
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COMMENT
Four’s a crowd? Nah!
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ET us introduce ourselves - we’re your new Editors, and you might think you’re seeing double. Don’t worry, it’s not time for a trip to Specsavers just yet. There are indeed four of us, thanks to a super sophisticated and high tech coin toss (don’t ask). In our front page investigation, Residence Life Mentors are hitting back. Chances are you encountered a Residence Life Mentor during your first year at university; whilst for most of us, they were a weekly polite knock on the door, for some students they prove a vital support network in settling into university life. It’s easy to forget, though, that these mentors are students just like you. Their role is described as ‘voluntary’, and shockingly, they’re not entitled to the National Minimum Wage, or any of the rights that come with being an employee. We’d urge the University to listen to past and current mentors concerns, and give them the respect that comes with being a formal employee. Oh, and the money of course turn to page three to find out more.
Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? The NUS debate captivates campus
It’s not only mentors who aren’t happy. The annual conference of the National Union of Students has left some students feeling we’d be better off leaving and others fighting to stay. Ahead of the times, Exeter has already scheduled their own referendum about leaving the NUS and you can vote NOW. Read all about it in News this week, and check out page nine of Comment to hear students’ views. We also have a new and very exciting culture section, Exhibit. With a fresh look and an artistic ethos, it’s probably the biggest thing to ever happen in the history of journalism. After a few months of designing (instead of exam revision, oops), we hope you’ll agree Exhibit is looking mighty fine, and we’re really excited to finally share it with you and to take the paper to new, unchartered territory. A huge thanks to all of you who gave us advice, and in particular we’d like to give a shoutout to York’s Nouse which has been a massive inspiration throughout. Cheers to our Northern friends. Now go and enjoy our first issue!
News in brief
PAGE 9
FEATURES
Interview with Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham PAGE 10
SCIENCE
Memory, mammals and mind palaces explored PAGE 28
University news from beyond Exeter
NEWS EDITORS
Rachel Ashenden Natasa Christofidou
Academic resigns over racism concerns
Outrage at ‘beauty University professor Pro-life society sues Alberta University tips’ for cheer team stabbed to death
An academic at the University of Sydney, a leading University of Australia, filed his resignation in advance of an investigation regarding his politically charged online remarks. The business school tutor Wei Wu had previously given up his Chinese Citizenship for an Australian one, which feeds into student complaints of racist behaviour on social media. Strong accusations were made towards Beijing, addressing rumours that the city is manipulating its global presence in campuses to exercise power. The academic was brought to the University’s attention when his hostility towards China was represented by online footage that was posted by Wei Wu, in which he burnt his Chinese passport.
The University of Washington has banned a poster created by the cheer team that gave budding cheerleaders beauty tips after strong media backlash. It featured an image of a white woman with blond hair posing in a sports bra and shorts. Alongside this “ideal” cheerleader, it advised cheer students to wear their hair “straight or curled” and “partially off face”, and discouraged them from wearing “tops that cover the midriff”. It has been criticised as objectifying women, and undermining cheerleading as a serious sport. One student at Washington criticised its “idealization of Western beauty…as a student of color who looks nothing like the student in the poster.”
A professor at Rajshahi University in Bangladesh was attacked and stabbed as he was waiting for the bus on Saturday 23 April. The incident had immediately resulted in his death. Bangladeshi police carried out an investigation that led to the detaining of a student a day after the incident. The local police authorities have kept the student’s name and all other personal details confidential. The identity of the attacker has remained protected ever since. Suggestions relating the attack to recent Al Qaeda affiliated attacks have been made. Terrorist-related attacks had previously been conducted towards a Bangladeshi blogger in April.
An anti-abortion society is taking the University of Alberta to court for charging it a risk-based fee of $17,500 to hold an event on campus. The society, called “UAlberta Pro-Life”, planned to set up a graphic antiabortion display in February, but had to cancel the event because they could not afford to pay the fee. The University has claimed that the event would “pose risks to safety” and so requires expensive security to mitigate those risks. “Alberta Pro-Life” complains that the fee is exorbitant and infringes on their freedom of speech. They are now seeking judicial review to overturn the University’s decision.
“The role is poorly managed
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and is unfair for mentors” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
...for the mentors - we should know in advance what is expected of us and be treated with respect as we do it.” In correspondence seen by Exeposé, Team Leaders refer to residence life mentoring as a paid job, as opposed to that of a voluntary worker, writing: “You will have to prioritize your mentoring role (for which you are, in effect, paid, due to the rent reduction you receive) over extracurricular activities.” Mentors are expected to work one night a week visiting mentees, with as many as a hundred students to see. They are also required to attend a weekly team meeting, and to submit statistical sheets and detailed work logs following each shift. On average, this adds up to between five and six hours per week.
The University appears to be placing demands that are inconsistent with a genuine voluntary agreement Mark Jones, Employment Solicitor Cases have been reported where mentors have been required to submit evidence after missing a meeting, whilst numerous others have cited Team Leaders expressing disapproval to them following non-attendance of meetings. Although the role is described as flexible, a current mentor told Exeposé that Team Leaders expect them to put Residence Life before their studies, adding “there is no sense of choice within my job as to whether or not I can carry out my role.”
Exeposé has obtained a legal opinion from Mark Jones, partner and head of the employment department of Ormerods solicitors, who when presented with the details of our investigation, said: “The arrangement with those being mentored is not one that appears to fall neatly within the legal definition of a volunteer. “Consequently, the University appears to be placing demands that are inconsistent with a genuine voluntary arrangement whilst not honoring their legal obligations if it is not a genuine voluntary agreement.” With mentors not being given an official contract, they are left unsure of their rights and the precise requirements of the role. Confidentiality within the scheme has been criticized, with data protection agreements and contracts detailing confidentiality obligations also going unsigned, despite promises of their appearance during an initial residential training week in September. Mentors have expressed their dissatisfaction with this lack of official advice regarding confidentiality. Multiple serious safeguarding concerns other than the missing contract have been raised to Exeposé by various mentors, past and present. Whilst the majority of first year students in University accommodation are over the age of 18, it is not the exclusive norm, and mentors can also be responsible for postgraduate residences, and given key access to residences they mentor. One such residence, Clydesdale Court, is home to postgraduate students and their families - including young children. A mentor who works this accommodation
said they have not been DBS checked, and at no point did Residence Life ask them to either supply or undergo such a check. During training week, no specific safeguarding training relating to children or young people was carried out. Mentors should be visiting their mentees every week, and completing detailed logs on their wellbeing. However, a current mentor told Exeposé that those who run the scheme “seem to care more about you missing a meeting than not seeing the actual students for a week. There’s one student I haven’t seen all term; I have no idea where he is.”
The Team Leaders are often rude and disrespectful to the mentors Anonymous Residence Life Mentor “We’re not told anything about them [the mentees],” they added. “We’re not even told their names. The only thing the University tells us is whether the room is occupied.” In 2014, it was revealed by University of Sheffield student newspaper Forge Press that their residential mentors were being underpaid by over £700 through exploitation of a similar loophole, with Revenues and Customs investigating the accommodation service for nonpayment of the Minimum Wage. In December 2015, Exeter and Sheffield joined together to create the inaugural Residence Life Forum, to share practices and to learn from one another. VP Welfare and Diversity Naomi Armstrong described Residence Life
Mentors as “a great support to students living in University accommodation.” “It is vital that all University workers are treated fairly and lawfully,” she added. “I have raised these issues with the Residence Life Team and encourage any mentors to speak to myself or a Residence Life Advisor about their concerns.” Jenny Houghton, Residence Manager at Exeter, told Exeposé: “the University greatly values the assistance the Mentors provide, and feedback from previous mentors has been positive, highlighting the contribution it has made to their skills and experience. “We are also pleased to receive a high level of interest in the roles, from students, when they become available. The Residence Life Mentors are appointed not as volunteers but as voluntary workers, and the terms and conditions are clearly defined and explained before any student is engaged in the position. As a voluntary worker,
the Mentors are not entitled to the National Minimum Wage, but are given a reduction on their rent of £45 per week, over 32 weeks. With duties expected to take around five hours a week, this equates to £9 per hour – more than the equivalent national minimum wage.
A former Mentor speaks out on her experience in Residence Life Comment Page 8 “The University also complies with the strict legislation that governs the use of DBS checks, and it continues to be our understanding that Residence Life Mentors do not carry out regulated activity within their role that would allow a Standard or Enhanced disclosure check to be requested. Our Residence Life Advisors and Team Leaders are available throughout the academic year to discuss any concerns they may have while undertaking the role.”
Photo: Gemma Short
Pret: a success in the Forum Rachel Ashenden News Editor
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HE global retailer Pret a Manger has opened its first universitybased shop on Streatham campus in time for deadline and exam season. Its opening coincided with the University’s open day on 22 April, and proved a hit with visitors and students remaining in Exeter.
We’re proud to provide the University with a fresh and healthy alternative Finn Ramirez, Pret employee
Photo: Yong Yan Wang
The Forum Pret was announced exclusively in Exeposé to be opened at the
Photo: University of Exeter
end of April, although business started before the beginning of Term 3, during the Easter holidays. Phil Attwell, Director of Campus Services, said: “We are constantly listening to our students and take on board their ideas for improving their experience. We are also always keen to evolve the choices open to students and staff, and the new outlet is an excellent example of delivering on this.” Finn Ramirez, Pret employee and 2nd Year International Relations student, told Exeposé: “We anticipated our opening to be exceptionally busy and the first week definitely proved that. We’re proud to provide the University with a fresh and healthy alternative, especially during the exam season.” The outlet has proven a popular relief for revising students and dissertation-
writers. Final year English student Sarah Scott said of her Pret-experience on its opening day: “I had been dreaming about the teryaki salmon salad all morning in the library so it was definitely worth the queue even if my wallet was quite a bit lighter afterwards.”
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Pret’s first week: the bestsellers 1. Chicken caesar & bacon baguette 2. Chocolate chunk cookie 3. Avocado and chocolate croissant 4. Chocolate croissant 5. Italian prosciutto baguette
Student horror at shower explosion EXEPOSÉ
Natasa Christofidou News Editor
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University of Exeter student was left shocked when the control box in his shower burst into flames on his first day back from the Easter holidays. First year Phil George’s room was filled with smoke and ashes, following electricity malfunctions. The Mathematics and Computer Science fresher claimed to have suspected an issue when smoke was detected in his room. When George realised the shower was alight, he immediately alerted his four flatmates. James Owen Court was promptly evacuated and the fire brigade arrived shortly after.
My room was �illed with ashes and the walls were burnt Phil George Flames coming out of the shower box didn’t spread past the bathroom, but the
NEWS
damage done meant George had to be moved accommodation, to another room in the block. Phil George told Exeposé: “Although the whole incident obviously cought me off guard, the university’s response in making sure I was fine afterwards made the whole thing a lot easier. They’ve offered to reimburse me for any damages and I was given a new room as my previous one was filled with ashes and the walls were burnt.” The fire brigade brought the situation under control an hour after they were contacted. Nonetheless, the shower cubicle sustained 100% heat and smoke damage, whilst the flat itself had 40% of smoke damage. Damage had therefore not just occurred to George’s room, but to the flat as a whole. When asked about other similar incidents, the fire station admitted to receiving other complaints from student security services at James Owen Court within the past academic year. The fire service was not required to be present at any previous occasions, however they were not required to attend at the time.
Kate Israel, an English student in George’s accommodation block contacted Exeposé with a similar experience that had effected her earlier on in the academic year, during Term Two. The English student had reportedly observed heavy smoke spreading throughout her room, which appears to be the same issues that George was faced with in Term Three.
on the posts (they haven’t failed me). I wasn’t sure what the positive reception would be like, or if there would even be any. When I first set up the page, people sent in loads of anonymous messages about experiencing racism and microaggressions. As time went on and more trolls commented on the page, I think they were scared off. You can have a scroll through the page if you want some concrete examples of white boys derailing threads. Now I just post articles and the occasional comment, which have generally had positive reactions, although there’s always some white guy trying to make a point about how “white privilege doesn’t exist.” The similar page mentioned above, which posts anonymous stroies related to sexism has over 2000 likes, and posts anonymous occurrences of sexism in Exeter. Both pages raise awareness of conscious discrimination, but also the unconscious bias that goes by unchecked both in Exeter and in popular culture.
Jessica Stainer Online Editor
I’m con�ident the University is working to ensure this type of incident doesn’t reoccur Naomi Armstrong, VP Welfare Phil Attwell, Director of Campus Services said: “There was a small fire on Friday 22 April in our James Owen Court halls of residence caused by a defective shower. The health, safety and welfare of our students living in University accommodation is an absolute priority and we take these matters very seriously. The student living in the bedroom affected was unharmed and has been
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Photo: University of Exeter supported by the Residential Services team and alternative accommodation has been provided whilst the damaged room is restored. A replacement programme for the showers at James Owen Court began last year, and will be completed this year. We had intended to carry out this work after completion of summer term examinations to minimise disruption, but to assuage any anxiety that there may be amongst residents we have brought this programme forward to ensure an earlier
completion date. The showers remain safe to use, however we always advise our students to call the fire brigade if they discover a fire in any of our residences or University buildings.” Naomi Armostrong, VP Welfare and Diversity responded to the incident by stating: “Student safety in residences is paramount and I’m confident the University is working to ensure that this type of incident doesn’t reoccur.”
experience, meetings with academics and legal organisations, as well as advice on how to apply to university, over the course of two years.
commented on the programme’s success. She said: “Exeter has done a fantastic job, since joining the programme in 2013, of creating an engaging and challenging programme of support. I have the privilege of meeting the students at the Pathways to Law conference, and have always been impressed by the dedication and enthusiasm the Exeter students have shown.” “I wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.”
Spotted: Racism Uni launches support for page hits 1k likes state school law students Max Price News Team
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Facebook page posting anonymous experiences of racism at the University has hit 1000 likes. Started after the success of similar pages such as Spotted: Sexism at Exeter University, the page aims to help people ‘notice occurrences of racism/ignorance’ and provide a platform for those who have experienced racism to speak up. For example, one person submits “a close friend and his housemate drunkenly tell me (a mixed black and white girl) that they just don’t really find girls who aren’t white attractive. But apparently I make the cut, because I’m ‘still kind of white’.” The page also posts many examples of unconscious racism both by Exeter students and in popular culture. The founder of Spotted: Racism commented by saying: “I knew from the beginning that the page would face a number of angry white boys commenting
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ORE students from state schools and colleges are applying to higher education as a result of a University of Exeter aspiration initiative. The Pathways to Law programme was set up by the Sutton Trust and the Legal Education Foundation. The Sutton Trust charity works to improve social mobility through education, working to improve access to higher education. It works with 12 partner universities to help academically able, disadvantaged students across the country pursue legal careers.
Students taking part will encourage many more to undertake the programme Tim Quine, Deputy Vice Chancellor The most recent cohort from the programme, at the Univeristy of Exeter graduated on the Streatham campus at the beginning of last week. The scheme is open to sixth form students who are the first in their family to apply to university. They are offered expert support, mentoring, work
Exeter has done a fantastic job since joining the programme in 2013 Kathryn Davies, Senior Programmes Manager On visits to campus, the students are taught modules on the constitution, negotiation, human rights and justice by Exeter law academics. They also have the opportunity to attend a national four-day residential conference and Russell Group university open days. Many graduates from the programme go on to attend the best universities in the country. At Exeter, Pathways to Law students are eligible to apply for various scholarships to help fund their studies. Professor Tim Quine, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education), said this year’s students from Exeter “will encourage many more students to undertake the programme and continue supporting aspirational young people into higher education.” Kathryn Davies, Senior Programmes Manager at The Sutton Trust, has also
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The University of Exeter’s state school proportion in 2012-13: 69.1 per cent The benchmark set by the Higher Education Statistic Agency (HESA) regarding the required amount of state school students at a university is: 76.3 per cent Adjusted benchmark by the HESA when taking into account Exeter’s geographic location: 74.3 per cent Overall the University failed to fulfill both benchmarks by over 5 per cent
drafts Exeter’s NUS drama intensifies Guild Bill of Rights
EXEPOSÉ
Ms. Bouattia is not �it to hold the of�ice of National President Anonymous Exeter student
“Ms. Bouattia is not fit to hold the office of National President,” they concluded, calling on the Guild to release a statement confirming this. The demand has polarised student opinion – with 41 per cent strongly agreeing and 40 per cent strongly disagreeing at time of print. On 25 April, Exeter Change and Represent announced that the Idea had been corrected in response to complaints it was factually inaccurate. The update confirmed that Bouattia had proposed a counter-extremism motion at December’s conference – and
Photo: Wikipedia
However, the NUS vote isn’t the only topic Tiley has taken to social media to address students about in recent weeks. In the wake of April’s annual NUS National Conference in Brighton – to which Tiley led the Exeter delegation - rumours of a so-called “YikYak ban” sparked student outrage. But Motion 303 is nothing of the sort, Tiley stresses on the Guild website, in a post shared on Twitter and Facebook. Instead, the motion calls for the NUS to “open a dialog with Facebook, Twitter, and YikYak to introduce restrictions on ‘anonymous’ or troll accounts during election periods.” Tiley voted in favour, along with VP Education Bethan Jones and VP Activities Katie O’Connor – and the motion was passed by NUS on 19 April. As campaigns intensify, Exeter students also remain divided on the newly-elected NUS President: current Black Students’ Officer Malia Bouattia. Bouattia was elected at the Union’s conference on 20 April – but the following day, an anonymous Exeter student launched a motion on the Guild’s Student Ideas forum.
“The Guild should release a Statement of No Confidence in Malia Bouattia as NUS President,” the student stated – claiming among other things that the new president “called a motion condemning ISIS Islamophobic” and didn’t properly respond to concerns she had identified Birmingham’s Jewish society as “a problem.”
that she responded to antisemitism claims in both the Guardian and The Times. “They’ve had to correct virtually all of it because of its factual inaccuracy,” Amani Saeed told Exeposé. “On those grounds alone, this motion is ridiculous.” Saeed was one of those who originally condemned the idea. “Being a Muslim myself, the biggest point I had a problem with was that Malia refused to condemn ISIS,” she explained. “This wouldn’t have been the FIRST point on their agenda if she weren’t a Muslim […] It’s as if she is an ISIS sympathizer until proven otherwise because she is a Muslim.” Hayden Cooper also slammed the motion. Labelling the claims “reactionary and crass,” he claimed the Idea “plays into the Islamophobic scaremongering pushed by the media.”
It’s as if she’s an ISIS sympathiser until proven otherwise because she is a Muslim Amani Saeed
“No one had a problem with Malia before she became President,” he added, “and to be quite honest no one was outspoken about antisemitism on the left until she got elected. People are making a mockery of real and legitimate issues just to attack someone they have disagreements with.” Guild President Tiley said she welcomed “the strong debate on campus sparked by the NUS referendum.” “Malia Bouattia has been democratically elected to NUS President, she explained, “but students’ reactions to this show just how important it is for students to get involved with representation at a local level to ensure
Young offenders need better care, says Exeter professor Theodore Stone Online Editor
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neuropsychologist at the University of Exeter has called for better treatment towards young adults in custody whilst giving evidence to the Parliamentary Justice Committee on Tuesday. Professor Huw Williams discussed his time meeting young adult offenders as part of an inquest following on from Lord Harris of Haringey’s independent review into the circumstances in which a number of young adults have died whilst in custody, as well as methods into reducing re-offending. Other researchers to give evidence include Stephen Greenhalgh, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime,
Fiona Abbott of the Youth Court Committee, and Dr. Kate Gooch of the Birmingham Law School. The Young Adult Offenders Inquiry aims to assess the implications of the findings of Harris’ Review, alongside other selected recommendations, and both examine and review the impact of guidance to sentencers and prosecutors which advises that they consider the maturity of the offender within their decisions. The review made recommendations to “encourage the diversion of young people from custody as well as to improve the custody system for those young people who remain in it.” Professor Williams provided research-based evidence on how such lives can be turned around, “by
having dedicated care coordinators, universal screening for mental health and for neurodisability issues, and active rehabilitation towards life goals.”
they can be effectively represented on the national stage.” Regardless of students’ views on Bouattia and Motion 303, the referendum calls for one decision: should the Guild disaffiliate from the NUS?
Should we leave the NUS? Students have their say Comment Page 9 At least 900 students will need to vote for a decision to be reached. The vote is open to students only, and based on a simple majority – so if the results swings either way by 50 per cent plus one, Exeter will definitively leave or stay in the NUS.
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What am I voting for? The NUS referendum will decide whether the Students’ Guild remains a member of the NUS. Where can I vote? To register your vote, go to exeterguild.org/change/ideas and log in with your Exeter details. Voting opened on Monday, and closes at midnight on Thursday 12 May. Didn’t we do this already? Yes, Exeter held a similar vote back in November 2014 - but this year’s VP Welfare & Diversity candidate Paul Rota called for a second vote in February. So it’s nothing to do with Malia, or the Yik Yak motion? No - although these issues have been dividing Exeter students in recent weeks... going to help keep staff safe or achieve a positive outcome post-release”. In his review, Lord Harris made recommendations for immediate action to divert young people from custody. He also called for improvements to be made to the custody system for young people. The Committee is now holding an enquiry to assess the implications of these recommendations in practice. The Committee’s recommendations will be considered by the Government.
Containing young adults 23 hours a day in their cells... is not going to help achieve a positive outcome post-release Max Rutherford, Barrow Cadbury Trust Max Rutherford of the Barrow Cadbury Trust, which has funded Professor Williams’ research, informed the committee that “containing young adults 23 hours a day in their cells, albeit with fewer ligature points from where to hang themselves, is not
Photo: Pixabay
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Ben Londesbrough Editor
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new ‘Student Bill of Rights’ is being drafted by the Guild to “help clarify the legal rights and responsibilities of the Guild, and elected students and student members.” Students are able to suggest whatever new rights they feel they should have to the Bill, as long as they are within the law. The process will include a drafting stage, where policy sections are added by students on the Guild website, a voting stage where policies will be accepted or rejected, and finally the publication of the document. Policy Section drafting and voting will close on Thursday 5 May, and can be seen, drafted and voted on through the Exeter Guild website.
Instant access CBT on offer Rachel Ashenden News Editor
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HE University’s Wellbeing services have released a free online self-help programme called SilverCloud. Accessible to all Exeter students, the programme gives access to Cognitive Behavioural Therapy courses. CBT has shown high improvement rates for depression, anxiety and stress; it teaches participants to identify and change the behavioural patterns which have a negative influence on mood. Wellbeing told Exeposé that they are “delighted” to release the programme; it could ease students’ approximate six-week long wait for such one-to-one services with trained practitioners. A spokesperson for the Wellbeing Centre said: “Online therapy packages are increasingly in use across the university sector and NHS to help people with mental health difficulties. The Wellbeing team believe SilverCloud will be particularly helpful for students [...] who are experiencing difficulties and wish to learn more about their health needs and how to cope.” However, the Wellbeing team have said that virtual CBT should not be used in total replacement of actual CBT: “We do not recommend the programmes as a ‘stand alone’ intervention for students with more enduring or complex mental health concerns – however, SilverCloud may still be really helpful in addition to face-to-face therapy or as a ‘top-up’ after a course of sessions.” On the first day of SilverCloud’s launch alone, 47 students logged in to use it. To access students are required to provide their Exeter email address. Wellbeing have stated that they are currently developing a similar, local version for Cornwall students.
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Study Abroad Opportunity Exeter is offering a fantastic opportunity for students to apply for a unique study abroad experience this June in Kuala Lumpur. Successful students will receive a scholarship which covers the majority of the costs. For further information and how to apply, please go to www.exeter.ac.uk/international/studyabroad/outbound/commonpurpose For further queries, please contact outbound@exeter.ac.uk or 01392 725739. Application deadline is Sunday 8 May 2016.
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COMMENT
NEWS 1-5
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE ARTS + LIT 16-17 10-11 8-9 14-15
MUSIC 18-19
COMMENT
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GAMES+TECH SCIENCE 24-25 28-29
1 FEBRUARY 2016 |
SPORT 30-32
Exeposé Comment
COMMENT EDITORS Bea Fones Matt Newman
EXEPOSÉ
@CommentExepose
comment@exepose.com
“Easy money and poorly managed” Anonymous Ex Residence Life Mentor
I
was a Residence Life Mentor in my final year of university. I heard about the job through a number of friends who did the job and it sounded like a fun, sociable job to do in exchange for a decent reduction in my accommodation rent price. At the time I was living in a freezing, damp student house, and the thought of living in accommodation where I didn’t have to worry about heating bills was well worth giving up a few hours a week to talk to students. Having successfully gotten the job, I had two days of training prior to the start of Freshers’ Week. Our first major task was to get involved with meeting our
mentees as they moved in, as well as participating in a number of talks across the move-in weekend to advocate the usual – respect your flat-mates, don’t get hammered and don’t go home with a stranger to have unprotected sex. This took up a lot of my time that weekend, alongside the three societies I was trying to run as well as the other paid job I had on campus. See, despite being billed as such, the Mentor role was never one of a paid job. We were all under the impression that we were being ‘paid’ for our time spent on the job in the form of remuneration towards our accommodation rent. If you were a team leader, your pay level ‘increased’ to completely free rather than subsidised accommoda-
tion. In fact, we were really voluntary workers (the definition of a voluntary worker being one not entitled to receive the National Minimum Wage), whose accommodation subsidiaries were used to effectively incentivise them into working their hours and more. Problems arose around extra events being held which we could get involved in, but it always ended up being the same mentors (including myself) who volunteered for these, meaning we did way more hours than we were being remunerated for through our rent reductions. Because of the hours people did and the fact that no one wanted to lose their rent reduction, many people ended up faking their reports each week (myself included) when we didn’t have time or couldn’t be bothered to do our rounds. I know a mentor who managed to go an entire term without seeing their mentees – so much so that when they finally went round, the mentees asked who they were. Absences this long weren’t that common but missing a few weeks at a time and fak-
you fall asleep, someone will notice. But it isn’t all bad: at The Local Germany, I ended most days satisfied that I’d achieved stuff. I’d completed tasks, seen results… and when I got home at 5.30pm, I knew I deserved my evening. Oh, another secret from the working world: the Friday Feeling is real. It all proved a stark contrast to the previous 12 months. My second year at Exeter left me ill. Diagnosed with anorexia and depression, I came scarily close to giving uni the middle finger. But I couldn’t - because I’d already invested over £25,000 into this degree. Being a privileged generation comes with pressure. And I don’t mean those 3,000 words due on Thursday: I mean the weight of having tens of thousands of pounds invested in you… because when something’s expensive, you want it to be worth it. How do we know if we’re doing enough to make us “worth” the investment? And what if we reach the end and find out we weren’t? Getting tangled in these questions ultimately started my downward spiral… and I bet I’m not the only one. Because higher education gives you no answers. You can get 70 per cent and
feel untouchable for a week… but when the next assessment rolls around, you’re back on the tightrope. The one you stepped out on to impress family who “knew you’d do it.” What’s at the end? You haven’t a clue. But it’s probably better than what you left behind... That’s a rubbish metaphor but it’s the closest I could get to how this degree thing can feel. Anchored to the choices we made as teenagers by the thousands we’ve invested in them, we’re now wobbling towards a goal that’s painfully vague. Sure, we want that 2:1… but what’s next? In the working world, we’ll (mostly) take home a sense of having contributed to society – of having added value, and done what’s expected of us. At uni? Nah, there’s nothing solid to reach for. And if we can’t define the goal… when can we put the books aside for the night and tell ourselves “that’s enough”? It takes guts – and extraordinary motivation - to put this much effort into reaching a goal you can’t even see. So if you want to moan about your exams, go ahead. Because yes, work’s bloody hard… but so is being at uni. (And you’re doing great, I promise.)
ing your records certainly were – and this was no secret among the Mentors.
I know a mentor who managed to go an entire term without seeing their mentees One thing that strikes me in hindsight is the absolute lack of any safeguarding or DBS-checking of Mentors. We were all told about the Data Protection Act and warned about confidentiality, but that was the end of it. There are a surprising number of under-18s living in halls (including children in the post-grad flats) for whom legally a DBS-check is required for anyone in a position of authority or trust, as we were. Not to mention that the work we were doing would class students as ‘vulnerable adults’ and also require a DBS-check. It was also fairly common knowledge among the teams that Mentors gossiped (a flat dealing drugs was far more exciting than dissertations) but we
were never called out on it. It wasn’t a bad ‘job’, but it was always very clear that 90% of the people were there purely to receive money off every week from their rent. It was easy money and poorly managed, and this was sensed and reflected in the effort put in by the Mentors.
É In response, the University said: “It is a shame that the Mentor here did not raise
É
any of the issues mentioned during their time in the role, as the Residence Life team would have been able to offer guidance and reassurance. The role description and details of expectations are clearly defined in the terms and conditions provided to applicants. In the most recent Student Living questionnaire, 82% of students said that they had met their mentor. We are not aware of Mentors routinely working over five hours per week and encourage any Mentor who felt they were to discuss this with their Team Leader.”
Give me ‘real’ life any day Save the safe space
Hannah Butler Editor
I
T’S getting a bit tired, right? That bitter stand-off between the wise adult (“University’s a walk in the park: wait until you get into the real world!”) and the indignant student (“You don’t know, man, you weren’t there…”). Exams bring it all to a head, too: so if you like a good students vs. non-students Facebook war, it’s probably time to grab the popcorn. But is university really the easiest we’ll ever have it? Or is the stereotypical “student life” (a cushy existence of parental support and endless partying) complete bullshit? I’m leaning towards the latter.
It takes guts to put this much effort into reaching a goal you can’t even see See, I’ve done both. After a year abroad in Berlin, I’ve got nine months of work under my belt. But did my stint in the “real” world leave me yearning for 9-hour weeks punctuated by blurred Cheesy’s nights and a few awkward deadlines? Pft, no way. Actually… I dreaded coming back. I won’t lie: full-time employment is rough. You’ve actually got to turn up every day, wear daytime people clothes… and if
Jessica Stanier Online Editor
U
NIVERSITIES are institutions with two important and competing responsibilities. They must simultaneously facilitate stimulating debate, and also provide a safe space for students to undergo their studies. This is a profoundly difficult balance to strike. Controversy hit Exeter when Moazzam Begg, CAGE Outreach Director and former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was invited to the University. The invitation from several societies to discuss anti-radicalisation strategy ‘Prevent’ came under national fire due to his “track record of religious fundamentalism.” But holding someone’s views to account in a debate is not always equal to condoning their views. If we are to strike the right balance though, then students’ concerns about safe spaces also ought to be listened to. Universities must be places where students from all walks of life can undergo their studies without feeling unsafe, unwelcome or uncomfortable. When a controversial debate is being held, such students deserve fair warning by us. A content notice, also known as a trigger warning, simply warns about potentially distressing content, particularly for those who suffer from mental health con-
ditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Being warned about certain content can make the difference between experiencing a panic attack and making a decision not to expose yourself to that content. We would not expect someone who
Students’ concerns about safe spaces also ought to be listened to had broken their leg to be able to walk again without the aid of crutches until they were strong enough to be able to walk alone. Similarly, content notices enable sufferers of various mental health conditions to decide for themselves what they are able to cope with on any given day. Far from ‘infantilising’, as Stephen Fry recently apologised for suggesting, these are mature decisions about coping with mental health conditions. Everyone else is free to ignore the content notices and read or watch the content. There are ‘spoiler alerts’ for television shows like Game of Thrones, to which no one seems to object. Not every event can be a safe space for everyone, but content warnings enable people to decide whether to be present or not. Universities can preserve both free speech and safe spaces, with a little more communication and understanding.
EXEPOSÉ
www.exepose.com
COMMENT
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COMMENT ON CAMPUS
As the vote on Exeter’s NUS membership goes live, Comment asks YOU whether we should stay or go... What would actually happen if the Students’ Guild disaffiliated? 1. Exeter students would not be able to buy an NUS Extra card. You would lose all your discounts from Co-op, Topshop, 16-25 railcards. The UniDays discount is simply not as good. 2. Guild prices would increase. Products like the meal deal are cheap because we sell them at NUS discounted prices; the Guild receives far more money from the NUS (around £20,000 profit, taking into account the membership fee of £50,000) than it costs us. 3. Exeter students will lose their national voice. Reform can’t happen in a year, but we’re already making change. The NUS might not be perfect but we shouldn’t give up: we’re stronger than that, and we’re braver than that. - Laura-Jane Tiley, Guild President 2015/16
I want to stay in the NUS because they are lobbying against the rise in tuition fees, and this is something that the government are continually threatening with its proposals in the Higher Education Green Paper. If we make the decision to leave the NUS, we lose critical support to fight back against this proposal, and therefore leave Exeter vulnerable to rises in the cost of our education. The substantial expense in tuition fees is already enough to impact on the quality of our diversity at Exeter. Let’s work together to not make it any higher. – Harry Reeve, VP Education 2016/17
I believe we should remain in the NUS to safeguard the funding for things such as intersectionality training and other funds which greatly benefit marginalized groups. The NUS is vital to ensure the support of the liberation of such students. - Lucy Curry, VP of Feminist Society 2015/16
This referendum isn’t just about cheaper pints and £5 off Spotify premium every month (but that can’t hurt right?), it is about Exeter having a voice at a national level and making a difference for students across the country. - Toby Gladwin, Guild President 2016/17
The NUS is one of the few institutions that has a commitment to defending minorities and challenging oppressions. Its campaigns and its organisational structure are vital and must be preserved. Although I have issues with parts of the NUS I feel it would be throwing the baby out with the bath water to leave because of them. The NUS brings students a voice that’s heard on a national level. United we are strong, and only by uniting can we fight for a better education system. A free, fair and just education system will not come from division, but unity. - Hayden Cooper,
President of Socialist Students 2016/17
I am voting to leave. I believe in a national student voice, to lobby the government on issues that matter to students. But that voice can no longer be the NUS. The NUS, instead of reforming for the better, has lurched further and further to the Radical Far-Left. I made three speeches and always voted on principles that Exeter students believe in - and they were rejected. If we are serious about reforming NUS politics, then we vote to Leave; because a vote to stay is framed in the Far-Left Echo Chamber as a vote for the status quo. - Charlie Evans,
Student Ideas and Votes Officer 2015/16
The NUS privatised our student benefits in 2006 and created the NUS Extra card to cover their massive past debts. This has been constantly ratcheting up NUS membership price (up over 35 per cent since 2012), yet is being sold to us as “good value for money”. Auditors Crowe Clarke Whitehill found in 2012 NUS membership costs a staggering £32,000 even after accounting for NUS consortium discounts. The only benefit we get is being able to say we’re part of an organization that attempts to censor YikYak, refuses to let all NUS students vote in leadership elections, and is in the middle of a massive anti-semitism row. Joy. - Steve Hawkins, President of
Atheist-Humanist Society 2015/16
I hope this continues to be about friendly and respectful debate. The out team aren’t running a conservative campaign, they’re running a disaffiliation campaign. It’s an important distinction because there’s a growing feeling from students on the left, right and centre that the NUS doesn’t represent them and isn’t reformable. For me, it’s wrong that students are automatically a part of an activist group that now takes their campaign as far as foreign policy. The NUS can’t claim to speak for seven million students when only a tiny fraction even know what gets said on their behalf. - Alasdair Gibbs, Presenter at Xpresssion FM
In December 2014 Exeter students voted to remain part of the NUS on the promise of reform. This has not occurred. NUS VP Richard Brooks, who advocates reform, has recently said that “some people have more equal rights than others” which shows that the NUS would rather keep power in the hands of a small clique rather than implementing One Member One Vote. The NUS does not represent the interests of the students of Exeter and we can do better off outside it, that’s why I urge you to vote leave. - Paul Rota, Founder of the ‘Exiter’ campaign
The NUS exists as a sect of student politicians who are alienated and often evidently disdainful of the people they are supposed to represent. Most students would be entirely unaware of the organisation’s movements if it were not for the negative media coverage the NUS is subject to. Disaffiliation would open up student politics at local levels, dissuade wasteful spending, and make student politics a more vibrant, intellectually diverse and engaging principle. Leaving the NUS would be a show of strength and optimism by Exeter, and punishment for a corpulent and impotent organisation, siphoning so much and returning very little. – Jake Massey, second-year English
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FEATURES
NEWS 1-5
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE ARTS + LIT 16-17 10-11 8-9 14-15
MUSIC 18-19
SCREEN 22-23
GAMES+TECH SCIENCE 24-25 28-29
3 MAY 2016 |
SPORT 30-32
EXEPOSÉ
FEATURES “ Not bad for a runner up ” Exeposé Features
FEATURES EDITORS Georgina Bolam Katie Jenkins
@ExeposeFeatures
features@exepose.com
Shadow Home Secretary, Andy Burnham, speaks to Mark Allison, Screen Editor, about freedom of the press, the Hillsborough tragedy, and political conflict with Theresa May
A
NDY Burnham’s 15 years as an MP have not been uneventful. Since serving as both Culture and Health Secretary under the premiership of Gordon Brown, Burnham has been consistently at the frontline of the Labour party. Since September, he’s been the only one of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership rivals to accept a position in his shadow cabinet, working opposite Theresa May as Shadow Home Secretary. In his own words: “not bad for a runner up.” When I met Mr Burnham in Exeter, he was in conversation with Keith Owen, the Exeter Labour Party spokesman for Anti-Social Behaviour. Dressed characteristically well in a navy suit, Burnham appeared animated as he discussed Exeter’s problems concerning homelessness and disorderly behaviour, even quizzing me on the late-night habits of Exeter’s student body. Following a tour of the town centre, Burnham and I perched on a wall by the Cathedral for an interview. It was a peculiarly peaceful setting in which to interrogate a Shadow Secretary of State, as gentle flute music emanated from a nearby street musician. With the EU referendum fast approaching, it was impossible to escape the question of immigration. Last year at the annual Labour conference, Mr Burnham swore that he was “on a mission” to win back voters from UKIP, claiming that free movement within the EU had “benefited private companies more than people and communities”. I asked Burnham to recall this speech, and if he thought that Labour had done enough to reassure voters’ concerns on immigration. “Getting there,” he started. “The point I continually make is that it’s not helpful for us to talk in very generic terms about immigration; it’s either purely a good thing or it’s purely a bad thing, as the debate tends to go in Westminster and in the media. My argument is that it has a differential impact in different areas. In former industrial areas like [Leigh], the one I represent, it’s had quite an adverse impact
at times, in that it has put pressure on public services and has led to undercutting of wages.”
It’s not helpful for us to talk in very generic terms about immigration Nevertheless, Burnham asserts that he remains “positive about free movement overall,” but that alongside this positivity we should be “very much addressing those practical issues.” These comments appear to reflect a wider effort by the Labour party to shift the debate around immigration, focussing more on the pressures of infrastructure, regulations and wages. “For too long London commentators have spoken about it without giving due regard to the poorest places, where the impact is often felt most strongly, and yet the issues of those places don’t get the same airtime or hearing and it kind of makes them feel neglected.” In the face of the anti-immigration rhetoric dominating the EU campaign, it remains to be seen whether this approach will strike a chord with the voting public. Since his appointment in the shadow cabinet, Burnham has repeatedly clashed
horns with Theresa May on the subject of policing. In light of this, I pressed Burnham on how Labour policy would dramatically differ from the current government’s plans. He started by condemning Conservative cuts to the police budget, stating that ultimately “there’s a point where the cuts are really damaging to community wellbeing, and I think we’ve hit that point and probably gone past it now.” His response to the issue is primarily one of funding; “Jeremy and John McDonnell have made it clear that they won’t accept the Cameron/Osborne austerity drive. It’s gone too far, so we would have different spending plans that protect public services, and particularly protect the police.” However, one area in which the shadow Home Secretary has found common ground with his opposite number, at least in principle, is on the so-called “Snooper’s Charter.” Formally known as the “Draft Investigatory Powers Bill,” the legislation has been criticised as both an infringement upon personal privacy and insufficient in meeting the targeted needs of the Police; Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, has said that “The powers were too broad, safeguards too few and crucial investigatory powers entirely missing.” Would these broad surveillance powers really help the police in efforts to prevent and deter serious crime? At first Burnham seemed somewhat evasive, “What we’ve seen in the last 10, 15, 20 years is crime migrating from more traditional forms of communication to the digital world, and obviously the law hasn’t kept pace with that.” However, while Burnham asserts that “a law is needed,” he explicitly distances himself from what the government is currently proposing: “Please don’t take from this that I just buy lock, stock, and barrel what Theresa May is saying. I don’t, I’m challenging her quite vigorously on a whole number of issues.” He specifically mentions internet connection records, and strengthening the “Judicial double lock” to ensure that judges have the full ability to scrutinise decisions made by the Home Secretary before warrants are approved. “There’s a whole range of issues that we’re challenging the government on pretty hard.” In recent years, many
communities in the UK have become increasingly alienated from the people who police their neighbourhoods. I queried what could be done to restore public trust in the Police as an institution. “I think that faith has been knocked a bit in recent times, hasn’t it, with some of the revelations that we’ve seen about Rotherham; in my case I’ve worked with the Hillsborough families, and then in London or other cities you get concerns amongst particularly the black and Asian communities about stop and search. The Muslim community right now I think is feeling very alienated with respect to the Prevent agenda. So yeah, that is a very big question, and I think the police have to continue to undergo a journey of reform with respect to accountability.”
I think we’ve got a completely toothless and pathetic press regulator Indeed, for Burnham it’s primarily an issue of accountability. “I’m proposing a whole series of amendments to the Policing and Crime Bill that’s before the Commons now to strengthen the role of the IPCC, giving them more independence, more teeth. I’m trying to change the position around police misconduct and the ability of police officers to evade misconduct by retiring on ill health. There are lots of ways that police accountability is not as strong as it should be, and so we need to see a continued package of reforms to make police services more accountable to local people.” Following this up, I enquired if Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) can play a role in improving police answerability, and diminishing its reputation as a closed shop. “I think it’s still a bit of an open question, whether they’re making a difference.” He singles out a number of Labour PCCs who he says have been notably successful: “I’m thinking of Vera Baird up in the North East, or Tony Lloyd in Manchester, or David Jameson in Birmingham.” Overall, however, he says that the picture is less clear. “I think elsewhere they’ve probably been less effective, so it’s patchy right now. I think overall they’re a step towards more accountability and in the end that’s got to be a good thing.”
With time running out, I ask Burnham a final question on the topic of press freedom and regulation. At first he smiles wryly when I mention the recent controversy surrounding Culture Secretary John Whittingdale, but he quickly adopts a more serious tone when I ask if the government has done enough to implement the recommendations of Leveson. “No, definitely not. Promises were made to the victims of press intrusion, around costs of pursuing libel actions, around the quality of the regulator. I think we’ve got a completely toothless and pathetic press regulator.” He became particularly emotive when he again raised Hillsborough, an issue on which he has campaigned forcefully throughout his career. Since this interview, fans were exonerated following the inquest ruling of unlawful killings by the police. “The issue I’ve dealt with most, Hillsborough: if a certain newspaper were to do that again tomorrow, i.e. tell lies on its front page about traumatised victims of a tragedy, which is what it was, they still couldn’t get a front page apology.” He continued, “So IPSO’s not good enough, and they’ve abandoned in my area this whole idea of Leveson 2, which was about a second stage inquiry looking into the relationship between the police and the media. So on every level, the government has failed the victims of press intrusion, they have gone back to their old ways of cosying up to the media establishment.” Whilst avoiding a suggestion of misconduct on the part of John Whittingdale, Burnham refused to hold back when criticising the government. “I don’t have any evidence that it’s linked to the Culture Secretary, in terms of his private life, I wouldn’t make that allegation. I think it’s more a case of, politically, they’re not minded to take a tough decision in the public interest, and I think it’s disgraceful.” So what does all this tell us about Andy Burnham MP? Throughout my time with him, he seemed in good spirits, but he was at his most enthused when discussing the issues that affect individual people. Press intrusion, the Hillsborough enquiry, cuts to public services: these are the topics that drive him to make a difference. It may be a long road to the next general election, but the Shadow Home Secretary appears optimistic.
EXEPOSÉ
FEATURES
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11
Power to the prostitute?
Following new French legislation that criminalises men who pay for sex, Flora Carr examines the taboo topic of prostitution
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HERE are few topics that university students won’t weigh in on. David Cameron is both a Bullingdon boy and a political juggernaut. Sports initiations, depending on your point of view, are either orgies of misogyny and dangerous drinking, or harmless fun. Political correctness has been taken too far or not far enough. And yet there seems to be one topic that students shy away from: prostitution. Just mentioning it to my conservative and liberal friends alike is enough to get both parties’ hackles; someone will often introduce a big, controversial issue, placing it on the table like a large, meaty pizza, for everyone seated to examine. Yet, with the topic of prostitution, conversation is reduced to a dour English tea party, everyone having to work their jaw to chew - or in this case, talk.
There seems to be one topic that students shy away from: prostitution On Oxforddictionaries.com, ‘prostitute’ is defined as: “a person, typically a woman, who engages in sexual activity for payment.” A 2004 Home Office report estimated that there were 80,000 women involved in ‘on-street’ prostitution in the UK – and this was before the financial crash. My guess is that 80,000 might be a rather conservative figure now. Prostitution is never far away from the nation’s attention, with candid photos of skimpily clad women perched in the laps of married footballers or politicians, splashed across tabloid front pages. “Disgraced Lord was caught snorting cocaine with £200-a-night prostitute during sordid romp,” screamed a Mail Online headline in July last year. Prostitution is seen in this context as dirty, sordid, a vice. To employ a prostitute is to dance with the devil: a marriage-ending, career-threatening dance. In the papers, prostitutes are invariably nameless and demonised. And yet there is another view on prostitution that is at the other end of the spec-
trum. One that sees female prostitutes as women reclaiming their sexuality and using it to their advantage; exploiting their sex appeal, and not the other way around. High-class prostitutes are smart and street-savvy, in a Pretty Woman way. They’re businesswomen in Agent Provocateur; it’s their clients who are the mugs, whilst the £500-a-night prostitutes are saving for their penthouses. Janice Turner, of The Times, refers to this view of prostitution as the “happy hooker, Belle de Jour soft-porn fantasy”. The image of the prostitute has inevitably been softened by films such as Pretty Woman and more recently, the TV show Secret Diary of a Call Girl. This archetype of the ‘hooker with a heart of gold,’ features prominently in soap operas. It’s this ‘happy hooker’ fantasy that, in my opinion, is just as damaging as the apocryphal idea of all prostitutes as dark temptresses, home-wreckers, modern Liliths. And what’s worrying is that this ‘happy hooker’ fantasy is seeping into university student culture. In February this year, Exeposé revealed that 400 Exeter students are ‘Sugar Babies’. This placed Exeter in the top ten of universities for having the most students registered as ‘Sugar Babies.’ Sugar Babies seek wealthy patrons – Sugar Daddies – on the online dating site Seeking Arrangements, and can earn up to £2,000 per month to help fund their education, accommodation and living costs. Sugar Baby ‘perks’ include “shopping sprees, expensive dinners, and exotic travel.” Meanwhile Sugar Daddies are assured of “upfront and honest arrangements with someone who will cater to your needs.” In conversations with friends, the concept of ‘Sugar Babies’ is regarded as a little sleazy, but not at all troubling. Sex is not explicitly stated in the contract, your debts are paid off and you’re spoilt. For the price of some stretched morals, the pay-off doesn’t seem too bad. And yet, whilst sex is not contracted explicitly, the idea that out of two girls, one offering sexual favours and the other not, the Sugar Daddy would pick the latter seems to me
a non sequitur. To obtain a Sugar Daddy, it seems logical that a Sugar Baby would feel obliged to offer sex. As students, we face £9,000 a year in tuitions fees, maintenance loans to pay-off, and the knowledge that an undergraduate degree is at once required and yet still not enough in today’s oversaturated market. To stand out, we must fund unpaid internships and further education to have any career prospects. For poorer students who become Sugar Babies, is their trade-in of “catering” to their Sugar Daddy’s “needs” in exchange for money and career advice such a jump from women who sell sex to make ends meet? The economic climate has made students – in particular, women – vulnerable to the sex trade. However, I don’t want to say that sex work cannot ever be empowering. Writer and artist Sebastian Horsley, a former escort, told The Independent in an interview that “contrary to what those foul feminists will tell you, the prostitute is not a victim... There is exploitation, but there is exploitation in all industries”. In Stacey Dooley’s recent investigative series for BBC 3, Sex in Strange Places, the viewer is introduced to a colourful array of prostitutes from around the world, some of whom are delighted to have made it in the industry, and are seen living the high life, or else enjoying their new found body confidence and sexuality.
Prostitutes are invariably nameless and demonised However, Dooley’s narrative is also cautionary. In the third episode, which takes place in recession-struck Russia, Dooley witnesses a first-time prostitute emerging victorious from the hotel of her first client. Although the prostitute is happy, bragging about her $200 dollar tip, Dooley tells the camera that it seems impossible for the sex industry not to leave its “impact on you.” The series details how most often prostitutes are forced into this industry.
In early April, a French law criminalising men who pay for prostitutes – rather than the prostitutes themselves – was put in place. If caught, punters pay a €1,500 fine, and attend classes about the conditions prostitutes face. It was inspired by the Swedish Violence Against Women Act, which places criminal responsibility for prostitution on the purchaser; since 1999, the number of Swedish prostitutes has halved. The information that surfaced during the debate surrounding the new French law was often shocking. Significantly, in France, 90 per cent of prostitutes are from poorer nations. They are not temptresses, or ‘happy hookers,’ but vulnerable, and far from home. They are not sipping champagne with Russian oligarchs, but servicing 15 punters a night to pay off their pimp. Sexual education is finally taking priority in universities, although not yet Exeter, with “consent classes” being introduced at Freshers’ Weeks up and down the country. But whilst middle-class boys are taught that it’s not OK to shag drunk, middle-class girls in disabled toilets, none of us are taught what to think about prostitution. It is the tabooed topic to be tentatively nibbled. I was recently reminded of a rumour that circulated my first-year halls, that a boy there had lost his virginity to a prostitute – paid for by the boy’s father. At the time we all laughed at the image of this boy entering the lair of, we imagined, a kind of “Stiffler’s Mom” avatar. But what if the prostitute in question had been vulnerable, poor, as inexperienced in good fortune as this boy was inexperienced between the sheets? In laughing, we had all, in some small way, condoned the ‘happy hooker’ fantasy, and the archaic idea that a father paying for his son’s cherry to be popped could ever be OK. It’s time that universities addressed prostitution head on. We need to dispel fantasies of happy, Pretty Woman-esque prostitutes just as much as the media’s fantasies of prostitutes as temptresses. Whilst the sex trade can be empowering for some, for most it’s a trap.
From Leeds to Lahore Police turn a blind eye to the red light district in Leeds
In New Zealand prostitutes are required to undergo periodic health examinations and pay taxes
Brothels in Belgium have state of the art technology with fingerprint scanners and keycards
In India, many teenage girls turn to prostitution to raise money for their families
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BeyoncÉ lemonade review
dark souls 3 review
22 Campus Pret Review
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LIFESTYLE EDITORS Jade Beard Laurel Bibby
ARTS + LIT EDITORS Natasha Ebbutt Emily Wheeler
MUSIC EDITORS Rory Marcham Helen Payne
SCREEN EDITORS Mark Allison Zak Mahinfar
GAMES + TECH EDITORS Jabez Sherrington Sam Woolf 3 MAY 2016 |
EXEPOSÉ
LIFESTYLE Ready, Pret, go!
Amy Hopkins reviews the latest coffee shop causing a stir on campus
Photo: Natasa Christofidou
W
E all know that the decision to allow Pret to descend onto campus was a controversial one among Exeter’s students; these big businesses have been taking over and offending the delicate sensibilities of our largely left-wing campus. But Pret is here, and it’s here to stay, so let’s have a look at how much of a difference this new addition to campus will make to your morning coffee run.
MADE IN STORE EVERY DAY, PRET PROMISES A WIDE VARIETY OF OPTIONS On first glance, the new Pret in the Forum (or Prexeter) looks sleek and glamorous and, despite the relatively small space it inhabits, it doesn’t feel closed off or cave-like. Instead, the layout maximises seating without compromising on the feeling of spaciousness. Wall sockets are also available for those of us wishing to
catch up on last term’s lectures over our lunch break. Service at 9.30am on opening day was fast and friendly, with the queue moving from the door to the till at an impressive pace; I had enough time to look longingly at all of the food I’ll be buying over the exam period before ordering my coffee. The prices are incredibly reasonable (£2.20 for a Vanilla Americano, for example), and whilst some people may find the standard size infuriating (where is my bucket of coffee?!), it simplifies the process for everyone involved. In this former barista’s opinion, the staff were most likely rushed through their training in order to open the store before term started, as the coffee was not to the standard usually associated with Pret. This was a shame, given the reputation this particular chain has amassed. The vanilla wasn’t mixed into my Americano and my second drink, a standard latte, seemed despairingly un-
der-frothed and more tepid than scorching. Let us hope that their coffee skills will improve to match the quality of their freshly-made food.
CHEAPER, FRESHER AND OVERALL BETTER The food, as per usual, was divine. Made in store every day, Pret promises to provide a wide variety of vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options to satisfy everyone. Unfortunately the ‘vegan fridge’ was bare on opening day, labelled up and ready for the variety that only Pret could bring, but leaving a poor first impression. Pret is definitely a trusty, healthy option, though. The range of food will be consistently high quality, and it should force the Marketplace to improve too. The one area in which Pret really excels is baked goods, which were cheaper,
fresher and overall better than anything offered at AMT or the Marketplace. It should be noted that the arrival of Pret on campus has increased the study spaces available, despite benches and desks which were outside the Marketplace being removed to increase accessibility to the coffee shop. However, the new seating offered within the store isn’t a communal area and therefore only customers can study there, a ploy which goes against the yearly pledges of the sabbs to provide more study space. Overall, the centrally-located Pret challenges the monopoly of Costa and will hopefully provide the increased food options that students have been crying out for. We can only hope that by increasing the amount of chains on campus, we will receive competitive pricing and student-friendly choices to create a more financially-healthy city on the hill. A very caffeinated one, it seems.
AAAB
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EDITORS: Jade Beard and Laurel Bibby
LIFESTYLE
Exe-am fashion
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TWEETS OF THE WEEK
Emma Bessent, Copy Editor, takes a look at the latest trends on campus
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ASHIONISTAS of Exeter rejoice; exam season is upon us, and this year’s trends promise to be big. Literally. Think dark bags under the eyes, expanding waistlines (eating your feelings? You know you want to...), oversized hoodies, 473ml cans of Red Bull and bags so full of unread books that they could burst at the seams as you strut your stuff up Forum Hill and into the library. Crop tops and Jack Wills tees are SO last-term’s Arena.
THE WALKING DEAD
Mostly likely to be spotted: Crawling out of the library and slinking back down Forum Hill at 6am whilst the gym bunnies parade in the opposite direction. Key features: Sports casual meets trainwreck: take inspiration from the popular TV show and channel your inner zombie by cutting sleep down to three hours a night and wearing the dirtiest, baggiest clothes you own. Trackies, hoodies, and trainers all strongly encouraged and the longer your clothes have spent crumpled up on your bedroom floor, the better. Remember, it’s tough to spot a hot outfit in the dark, so if you want to be noticed, you really have to go for it with this one. Top tip: Accessorise with last night’s leftovers delicately impressed on your shirt for that extra special something.
VA VA VOM
Most likely to be spotted: Perched on the kerb outside the Sidwell Street chippie staring vacantly into a polystyrene box of cheesy chips for answers. The basics: If there was ever a terrible time for a big night out, it’s early-tomid May, and here at Exeposé we’re all for avidly encouraging irresponsible life choices. Monday Moz, Cheesy Tuesdays and Wednesday TP have got this look covered. Turn up in your normal night out gear, and the drunken realisation that you haven’t revised half of the topics for the module you’re being examined on the day after next will do the rest.
TRACKIES, HOODIES AND TRAINERS ALL STRONGLY ENCOURAGED Go Pro: Accessorise with an orange and passion fruit VK. Later, replace with a tasteful dab of puke and a few tears.
BEDROOM EYES
Most likely to be spotted: Faceplanting on the kitchen table with a bucket of hot black coffee feebly clutched in trembling hands. The FROW-down: The most achievable yet effective look you’ll spot in Exe this term. It’s all about the pyjamas and mussed up hair; the more your outfit resembles what your mother dressed your four-year-old self in at night time, the better. Disney PJs come highly recommended, with animal onesies a close runner-up. And backcomb your barnet to achieve maximum fluff-tential. The cherry on top: If you’re a makeup lover, leave your mascara on overnight and sleep face down for dramatic smudges over your lower eyelids. If you prefer to go bare-faced, you can substitute a severe lack of sleep, creating a misty, dark-eyed look.
Procrastinachos
Helen Payne, Music Editor, plans to open a Michelin-starred restaurant Hand-Crafted Grilled Cheddar on a Crisp Corn Base (Secret family recipe)
Before you start
Preparation
Photo: Eddie Welker / Flickr
Ingredients
Waitrose Essential Salted Tortilla Chips If you absolutely have to use Doritos, choose Chilli Heatwave for that sublime kick of heat. Cathedral City Extra Mature Cheddar
Cooking time
Approximately three minutes
(2 seconds)
1 Turn on the grill (if you don’t have a grill, you can microwave it for 20 secs). (1 minute)
2 Retrieve your favourite (preferably) clean, ceramic bowl from the cupboard, and place it on the countertop ready to house your delicious snack. 3 Next, carefully open the delicate plastic packaging of your crispy corn snack, of a flavour of your choice. 4 Pour half of the crisps into the bowl, with needful attention not to spill any over the sides. 5 Open the fridge door. 6 Retrieve the cheese from the fridge. 7 Close the fridge door. 8 Take the cheese out of the packet. 9 Place the cheese against the grater and rub back and forth over said snacks until fully covered. (This is a highly complex technique called ‘grating’).
10 Place the remaining crisps on top, and drown in more grated cheese (if you want to save some washing up, cut with a knife into thin strips and place carefully in little patterns atop the nacho snacks).
Cooking
(1-2 minutes)
11 Place this wonderful bowl of cheesy, crispy goodness under the scorching hot grill and keep watch until all the cheese has melted, turned a golden brown, or else cook to taste. This is a key point in the procedure, which requires special care to avoid burning. 12 When melted appropriately, remove bowl with flowery Cath Kidston oven gloves.
To serve
In front of the telly, watching Netflix.
Calories per serving Too many to care...
Zak Mahinfar @zakalac New Beyonce album and Game of Thrones season premiere all in the space of 24 hours. The stars have aligned. Susannah Keogh @susannahkeogh A cat cafe needs to open in Exeter asap Rachel Ashenden @rachashenden Y do Netflix put on great stuff around exam time do they hate me Sarah Gough @sarahgoughy Can you OD on coffee
EXETER STRIKES YAK
Wear gym clothes around uni to make it appear you have your life under control. Pull jumper down over lap so as to hide the chocolate stain. Goodnight everyone I’ll see you all tomorrow for another day of zero productivity Guy next to me in the library has beautiful handwriting and I judge people a lot on their handwriting so I’m currently sat here deciding on the colour of our first born’s nursery walls. Third year, more like third beer Forgetting you’re not at DSP, and accidentally downing a shot of Listerine
ARTS + LIT
Should we all just pick up a paintbrush? T
Emily Wheeler, Arts and Lit Editor, discusses the value of art therapy
HE idea of releasing tension through art dates back to Aristotle’s ideas of catharsis, where he believed that difficult emotions could be purged through exposure to dramatic tragedies, allowing the mind to experience distressing emotions in a safe environment. Today, the practice of art therapy is closely linked with the principles of Freudian psychotherapy, as patients use a variety of artmediums to express thoughts that they may find hard to communicate through written or spoken language. The term ‘Art Therapy’ was originally coined by British artist Adrian Hill in 1942, who described how his artistic practice helped by “completely engrossing the mind (as well as the fingers)…releasing the creative energy of the frequently inhibited patient”. Hill documented his practice, and his findings were published in his 1945 book Art Versus Illness. So, how does art therapy help? Working in either group or individual sessions, patients achieve success in completing tasks that may prove a struggle in the outside world. When creating a piece of art, one must proactively make deci-
sions, take control over what they are doing, and express some aspect of their individuality. Art creation has been proven to boost self-esteem, as patients work through themes of development, taking something from creation to completion and having a safe space where they are allowed to make mistakes.
EXPRESS THOUGHTS THAT THEY MAY FIND HARD TO COMMUNICATE Much of art therapy is about communication between the therapist and the patient, building confidence in externalising difficult feelings or challenging topics of conversation. As well as improvised and spontaneous communication, there are recognised tests to be done in art therapy sessions, such as the ‘Diagnostic Drawing Series’, the ‘Road Drawing’, and ‘House-Tree-Person’ drawing tasks. These exercises create a platform for therapists to ask questions about what has been drawn in a way that is not intimidating
or directly connected to the patient’s own experiences. For example, the drawing of a road can be seen to reflect a person’s attitudes towards the past and the future, as well as indicate how they think about the themes of development and progression. Fascinatingly, there have also been tests constructed which help to identify dyslexia in the drawing patterns of very young children, who are thought to have a superior visuospatial skill (which in turn make difficult the reading of ordinary letter formations.) Studies have also shown that art therapy sessions have positively improved the social skills of many children aged 11-18 who are on the autistic
spectrum. The technique is often used for older people with memory problems, PTSD sufferers, terminally ill patients, and younger children who have experienced trauma. In the UK, art therapists can work privately, or in the public sector: via the NHS, schools, prisons or social services. Often people will have been referred to see an art therapist, and they do not need any background knowledge in art or skill in art practice. However, more organisations are beginning to see the benefits of creating art, whether or not the creator feels they have existing health problems. Artistic practice is recognised as being able to improve children’s creativity as well as academic performance, and improve general wellbeing in adults from various stages of life. Whether you need a reason to slow down your hectic day, or a way of channeling your energy into something constructive, perhaps creating art is something we should all try again sometime soon. Not to become the next Picasso or anything, but because you just might enjoy it!
The rise of Modern Art
A
Emma Prevignano examines the influence of French painter Eugene Delacroix
T some point in the history of art, something happens with contours. They lose importance and slowly start to fade away before disappearing or changing completely in the mental maze of abstract art. Figures, trees and buildings begin to merge with the air and the sky. It gets harder and harder to tell where something finishes and something else begins. Among the earliest culprits of this insurrection against clarity is a peculiar French painter. Eugène Delacroix is one of those mysterious characters whose name lingers in the pages of art history without ever fixing itself in a determined position. His most famous painting is Liberty Leading the People, an allegorical depiction of the 1830 Parisian revolution, a controversial artwork that has been taken as a celebration of the popular insurrection while it was probably expressing Delacroix’s suspicion towards democracy and modernity. A conservative man of aristocratic
3 MAY 2016 | EXEPOSÉ
tastes, Delacroix brought about a proper stylistic revolution. His expressive brushstrokes and evocative colours stood out against the meticulous realism and the precise contours of the contemporary academic artworks attracting criticism and glory. ‘Delacroix and the Rise of Modern Art’, an exhibition currently at the National Gallery until 22 May 2016, is a survey of Delacroix’s achievements and of his largely forgotten impact on some of the most famous European modern artists. The exhibition is organised thematically to show how, as Cézanne stated, ‘we all paint in Delacroix’s language’. The French painter is presented as art’s
liberator: he freed exotic subjects from stereotypes, travelling himself to North Africa; he freed flower painting from stillness; he used religious themes to liberate imagination, moving beyond mere representation, using landscapes to project his feelings onto nature. Delacroix’s paintings are juxtaposed with a range of works by Cézanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Renoir, Matisse, Kandinsky and other painters directly influenced by his style.
EXPRESSIVE BRUSH STROKES AND EVOCATIVE COLOURS One of the most beautiful among Delacroix’s exotic paintings is Women of Algiers in their Apartment (1847-49): in a room lightened by a fire hidden from the viewer, three women are chatting and relaxing. The game of lights and the combination of the exotic clothes and
furniture, with the familiarity of the attitude and the fireplace, makes the painting one of the most unforgettable of the whole exhibition. With Delacroix, the traditional genres of flowers, religion, and landscapes become vehicles to explore feelings, dreams and what he called ‘the music of painting’: the first impression that precedes rational understanding. In this respect he is a forerunner of the Impressionist use of light and of Van Gogh’s rapid, mobile brushstrokes. The major criticism of the exhibition is the lack of Delacroix’s monumental masterworks and the failure to show the scale he used to work on. Other critics suggest that Delacroix’s direct influence on late nineteenth- early twentieth century artists has been overplayed; while both points are fair, the exhibition is still an enjoyable journey through modern art, with an unusual angle. An influential figure to many, Delacroix is worth the trek to the National Gallery.
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EDITORS: Tash Ebbutt and Emily Wheeler
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Read yourself into relaxation Exeposé Arts + Lit are here to make your exam stress disappear
THE HOBBIT
KNOWLEDGE IS BEAUTIFUL
THE AGE OF COLLAGE
J.R.R. Tolkien Ben Assirati
David McCandless Katie Cregg
Silke Krohn Jess Stanier
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Y go-to novel whenever I need familiarity or comfort is The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien. I first read The Hobbit when I was around six years old, and I still have that tattered copy sitting on my shelf, now containing loose pages and poor crayon drawings from my childhood. This charming story was my introduction into an entire life of magical adventures that is still just a page-flip away. As an English student I often find myself tasked with sitting at my desk, reading a novel under time constraints and attempting to find post-modern interpretations of a particular character’s actions, so I am repeatedly drawn back to Tolkien’s free to reinsert myself into a now familiar landscape without having to question whether Gandalf’s mimicry of the three trolls might be considered problematic to the race relations of the story. To me, The Hobbit is about finding myself once again in the position of a young boy, tucked up in bed, staring wide-eyed in the world of Middle-Earth.
T’S important to remember to maintain perspective when stressing about exams. I look to one of my few favourite non-fiction books Knowledge is Beautiful, a book which presents information and statistics in pretty, coloured diagrams. While you dream of your summer travels you can learn the correct etiquette for different countries; apparently it’s rude to refuse a sauna in Finland. The page that keeps me sane reminds us that nothing lasts forever. According to this book, 1000 years from now, language will have evolved and changed so far that no one will be able to understand anything I write in my exam about the romantic poets anyway. In 100,000 years, the titanium in your MacBook or iPhone will start to corrode: goodbye lecture notes; and in 5 million years the Y chromosome will have weakened, making men impossible and my reading on feminism irrelevant. If I’m honest, just contemplating the concept of thousands of years puts all my worry back in perspective.
EVISION usually takes its toll on my ability to process words, so my relaxing read is The Age of Collage. It sits patiently on my bookshelf for those evenings when I need a break. It’s essentially an anthology of collage - a great big, beautiful coffee-table book filled with elaborate artworks; there’s nothing better than poring over the pages with a mug of hot tea. Each artist has their own kaleidoscopic style, taking images out of their original context to produce new and contradictory creations. You’ll find very familiar cultural references staring back at you from back copies of Better Homes, Time, Life and National Geographic. Fractured faces, a botanical behemoth, cut-and-paste chimeras. Some artists incorporate illustration and painting; others toy with photography and embroidery, playing with influences from constructivism, surrealism, and the dada movement. For me, it’s a great way to switch off from coursework and computer screens: a dose of escapism.
Is modern ballet en pointe? Hebe Perry-Belfrage says ballet is alive and kicking, but Anna Blackburn, Online Arts + Lit Editor wants a modern revival
S
OME may see ballet as outdated and uninspiring when compared to modern dance styles; an exclusive dance form that is limited to petite white women, but I argue that this is far from true. Firstly, despite its technical rigour, ballet has almost endless scope for reinvention. As a member of Exeter Dance Society, I recently attended the LSU Dance Competition in Loughborough where there were dozens of unconventional ballet routines, ranging from dancing to dubstep to telling the story of refugees; even our own piece in homage to the film Schindler’s List. Each dance presented how versatile ballet can be, proving it can be so much more than just arabesques, set to classical music. This is true in the professional world – choreographer Matthew Bourne has earned international acclaim for his reinvention of traditional ballets like The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, and Alvin Ailey famously reclaimed the term ‘ballet’ for African-Americans when he founded the AAADT in 1958. Ballet is the foundation for many forms of dance – for example, ballet technique is crucial in contemporary, jazz and modern dance, and basic aspects
of ballet technique such as good alignment, improve dancers’ ability in all dance styles. Ballet has even been used in professional sport – notably in rugby – to improve sporting technique by targeting specific muscle groups and improving balance and alignment. Finally, ballet is also becoming more inclusive. Last year, Misty Copeland made history by becoming the first African-American principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater. Copeland is one of several African-Americans rising to prominence in the industry. Through the reduction of exclusivitity, more and more people are becoming interested in ballet. Ballet is becoming open to people who do not have the traditional ballet physiques. The Channel 4 documentary Big Ballet demonstrated this in 2014. Although brief, I hope I have made a convincing case that highlights ballet for what it is: brilliant.
B
ALLET has been a love of mine since the cliché days of dance classes aged three which equipped me with a deep respect and sentimental love for pink tights and tutus. Ballet projects beauty, strength and power but the sustaining of its popularity and importance in the modern artistic sphere cannot involve sticking solely to the same strict conventions it was built upon. As much as I appreciate a good a r a besque en relevé, I doubt its ability to stabilise ballet’s future as a major art form; a goal that I deem essential. Ballet has always displayed a paradox by consisting of an aesthetically beautiful and delicate display whilst demanding strength, accuracy and dedication from the performer. The birth of a new and exciting regenerative ballet, with transgressive forms, does not have to constitute a
death of the old. To say that ballet can only be defined as such if it exists within its strict conventions is to do it a gross disservice.
THE FOUNDATION FOR MANY FORMS OF DANCE The sooner we give it as free a development as literature or music, the quicker we can embrace new heights of creativity, ensuring the strength of ballet’s future and its developed appeal to the masses. Luckily, ballet is successfully sprouting a naughty little love-child through the merging of traditional technique with modern culture to create spectacles that are fresh, sexy and largely appealing. We only have to look at the developing programme of established companies to see the mobilisation of this change. From Arthur Pita’s adaptation of Kafka’s Metamorphosis to New York’s Complexions Contemporary Ballet, innovative productions are exactly what the institution needs.
MUSIC
Soda Pop Rock: an interview with We Are Scientists Helen Payne, Music Editor, talks hangovers, soda pop inspiration and commanding their adoring fans with We Are Scientists ahead of the release of their latest album Helter Seltzer
I
T’S a (not so) warm fifty degrees Fahrenheit in New York City where Chris Cain, bassist and all-round funny man of power pop duo We are Scientists, chats to me on the phone. Helter Seltzer (released 22 April), is the fifth studio album of the band that’s been going strong for over ten years, all starting with critically acclaimed With Love and Squalor in 2005. “We’re pretty proud and grateful that we’ve been able to do it for this long, and that people have continued to retain interest in our music. We’re luckier than many bands.” However, Cain tells me that having such a big and loyal fan base can be a big responsibility. “They’ll do anything we say… we have absolute power and that can weigh heavily.” So what’s the weirdest thing they’ve commanded their fans to do? Naturally, to walk into the sea fully clothed. “Of course, they indulged us! We immediately felt that it had been an unfair request, but you can’t show them that, otherwise they’ll become sad at having complied. You just gotta congratulate them and tell them another stupid thing to do!”
WE HAVE ABSOLUTE POWER AND THAT CAN WEIGH HEAVILY The adoring, complying fans want more music, and now Helter Seltzer has a noticeably different sound from previous albums. “Over the years we’ve slowly been inching our way towards cleaner, poppier production, and this record is definitely another step in that direction. Lots of the songs definitely do not qualify
as guitar rock, but rather just pop songs with guitar in them. That’s probably the biggest change. The lyrical content is mostly our standard thoughtful and witty reflections on relationships that have passed and those that are brewing”. The name Helter Seltzer conjures up an image of hangovers at a fairground, so I ask him whether that’s a theme for this album, with track titles such as ‘Too Late,’ ‘Hold On’ and ‘Forgiveness’ (which sound basically like every student’s night out in Exeter). “Indeed, our album has been shown to cure hangovers!” They initially came up with the phrase as a “cute way” of describing their music. “It’s got two basic elements”, Cain explains. “‘Helter Skelter’ has its Beatles and Charles Manson reference, and of course the actual phrase has the meaning of lawlessness and mayhem and so forth. So that’s kind of the rocky side of things, and then ‘Seltzer’, which is not actually a common beverage in the UK”, (it’s simply water with bubbles in it) “It’s very common as a refreshing, alternative to soda pop or other less healthy beverages. Here in the States it’s become quite a craze, loads of flavours but none
of the calories or anything, just magical chemistry flavouring.” That contrast represents their tendency to appreciate a “good clean melody” and desire to appeal to a broad swathe of listeners, with their “interest in rockin’ out hard” which perhaps “can be slightly off-putting to a more buttoned up listener. It’s a gently oxymoronic phrase that has specific reference. It’s important to us.” The conversation turns to the topic of song-writing, a process I have always met with increasing difficulty, but it’s not the same for We Are Scientists. “We’ve never really had a dry spell, but it’s not like a constant thing. It seems to me that some songwriters have an open portal to their muse, there’s constantly material in their psyche and they’re always strumming little ideas into their iPhones, and must just have hundreds of unrecorded songs, but that’s definitely not how it works for us. We’ll schedule time to sit there and just mess around and see what comes out.” In terms of writing, the songs usually start with lead singer and guitarist
Keith Murray, a chord progression and vocal melody, and sometimes a single word or phrase. “Usually lyrics are very last minute, and completed in the studio. The initial months is just fleshing out arrangements and a basic melody over the top. A lot of elements get added in the studio, like synthesisers and specific drum samples: they’re not something we give any thought to until we’re actually in the studio.”
INDEED, OUR ALBUM HAS BEEN SHOWN TO CURE HANGOVERS! Often musicians are inspired by the music they listen to. For Cain, surprisingly, it’s the opposite. “I don’t think it explicitly influences us at all, we definitely don’t make a conscious effort to write in a mode of other artists, or to write a song like ‘Summer of ‘69’ or whatever, but it would be naïve to suppose that the stuff we listen to doesn’t creep into what we’re writing or the way we play it”. Cain reveals he’s been listening to some country western and folk recently, which doesn’t hold any obvious connection to the sound on the new album, “but maybe the next one!” he jokes.
HELTER SELTZER IS OUT NOW ON 100% RECORDS
EXAM STRESS MIXTAPE Laurel Bibby
‘Under Pressure’ - Queen
Katie Costello
‘Survivor’ - Stresstiny’s Child
Leah Fuller
‘Unwritten’ - Natasha Bedingfield
Emily Anderson ‘Heaven Knows I’m Miserable Now’ - The Smiths Theo Stone With exam season around the corner, Exeposé Music has put together a playlist to help you deal with the stress
3 MAY 2016 | EXEPOSÉ
‘Land of Confusion’ - Genesis
Tristan Gatward ‘All The Wine’ (is all for me) - The National Alex Brammer
‘New Person, Same Old Mistakes’ - Tame Impala
Phoebe Davis
‘Death by Numbers’ - Childish Gambino
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EXHIBIT
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3 MAY 2016
EDITORS: Rory Marcham and Helen Payne
MUSIC
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Album review: Beyoncé - Lemonade When life gives Beyoncé lemons, she makes Lemonade - Agnes Emeney reviews it track-by-track BEYONCÉ Lemonade 23 April
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HARRELL Williams described Beyoncé as “running through jail and letting all the women out”. Lemonade, the latest surprise visual album from Queen B, makes certain that there is not a single cell left locked. Lemonade kicks off with the pianodriven ‘Pray You Catch Me’. It’s clear from the get-go that this album aims to examine aspects of black heritage. Beyoncé sings of her husband’s infidelity and dishonesty, “praying” he’ll catch her listening to him whispering. But prayers are silent, just like those women who are too afraid to speak out about their sufferings. The transition between songs is accompanied by a voiceover in the visuals. Beyoncé recites lines from poetry by Somalian-British poet Warsan Shire, which tells us the story of a woman torturing herself with every type of abstinence in order to make herself tough, but the quotation ends with the unavoidable climax: “are you cheating on me?”
THIS ALBUM HAS A SIMPLE, EFFECTIVE MESSAGE - DO NOT FUCK WITH BEYONCÉ Beyoncé emerges, reborn, through crashing waves in brilliant colour. The calypso beat and faultless rapping in ‘Hold Up’ puts an ironically happy twist on smashing up cars with a baseball bat. ‘Don’t Hurt Yourself’ is a threat. Beyoncé casually reminds her husband “You play me, you play yourself”. Essentially, this
album has a simple, effective message do not fuck with Beyoncé. She gives the most oppressed, mistreated community a voice: do not fuck with any of us. ‘Sorry’ is probably the closest track on the album to Beyoncé’s typical R&B/ pop style. It is essentially ‘Freakum Dress’ updated, with added balls. The video pays tribute to African culture with body paint, tribal dance and a long list of women as the embodiment of #blackexcellence.
LAID BARE AND FLAWLESS AS EVER The introduction to ‘Sorry’ is the most artistically-challenging moment on the album. Shire’s words liberate female sexuality and marry it with religion. The lyrics depict Beyoncé as a self-made, workaholic female, but there is an undercurrent of this being a distraction from the pain of her husband’s crime. At the end she walks away from a burning bedroom begging him to “come back” in two words she validates every woman who has ever not been strong enough to walk away. ‘Daddy Lessons’ is all about going back to one’s beginnings. A conversation between Beyoncé and her mother brings to light the difficulties of relationships. She asks “Am I talking about your husband, or your father?” before going straight back to her Texan heritage with a grass-roots country song. ‘Love Drought’ is the turning point and undoubtedly the most personal moment on Lemonade. It remembers the love between a husband and wife, with the memory allowing for forgiveness. A breathtaking piano ballad, ‘Sandcastles’ shows off Beyoncé’s vocals in their strongest form: laid bare and flaw-
less as ever. The tragedy and hope make the listener empathise with her every step of the way, from hating the man who caused her so much pain, to understanding her need to forgive. Accompanied by the heart-wrenching falsetto of James Blake, ‘Forward’ is the most poignant moment of Lemonade.. The mothers of Mike Brown, Tryvon Martin and Eric Garner are pictured holding photographs of their dead sons; alleged victims of racist police brutality. ‘Forward’ draws a parallel between Beyoncé’s relationship with her husband, and the Black Lives Matter movement. ‘Freedom’ is personified in this amazingly punchy gospel song. Everything is unashamedly grounded in black heritage in this video: set in a southern plantation the roots in black slavery is breathtakingly liberating. Supported by the fearlessly political Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé sings of the “chains” that restrain her, reminding listeners that the shackles of slavery may be long broken, but black women are still fighting for their freedom today. ‘All Night’ is the final testament to the strength and resilience of black women in Lemonade.. As the song begins, suddenly the film bursts out of its muted tones into vibrant colour. The finale leaves no room for doubt: this relationship and its accompanying wounds have been healed. With footage of couples from all genders, sexualities and races, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, the message is clear: love will heal us all.
LEMONADE IS OUT NOW
HAIKU REVIEWS Pleasure House Show Your Colours
John Carpenter Lost Themes II
Peacock Affect Spaceship
Small band, big city,
Horror film maker
Night, lights, empty swings
Like finding summer under
Chilling synth sounds ring throughout
Twanging chords and haunting voice
a lone indie rock.
Eerie sound achieved.
Shivering beauty.
Jeremy Brown
Rory Marcham
Helen Payne
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Let the Games begin (again) B
Declan Barnes discusses what we can expect from the return of Game of Thrones - spoiler alert!
Y the time this goes to print, Game of Thrones will have returned on the 24th April, and with it, we embark on a perilous journey into the unknown. The television series has shot past George R.R. Martin’s established books, and now we will see whether David Benioff and D.B. Weiss (and the host of other writers involved) will fall or fly on their own. The signs are encouraging. Natalie Dormer, who plays Margaery Tyrell in the show, has gone on record to say that the writers “know where it’s got to go and what [George Martin]’s intentions for the characters are…they are just filling in the gaps.” Reassuringly then, Martin’s hand still has a place on the reins. The ways in which the show has already deviated from the books also leave room for optimism. Tyrion arriving in Meereen, with all his political cunning and savvy, is exciting. The marriage of Sansa Stark to Ramsay Bolton has worked well, especially leading to her attempted escape with Theon. The Hound’s death at the hands of Brienne is far more interesting than the equivalent in the books. And the setup for the Night’s King was spine-chilling - a textbook fantasy introduction of ‘the nemesis’.
In addition, it feels that the writers’ selectiveness with what they have not included has been spot-on; the removal (so far) of characters like Euron Greyjoy, Lady Stoneheart, Coldhands and Quentyn Martell have provided the show with an intense focus far more suited to the screen. My only complaint is that the books’ Aegon Targaryen storyline, now seemingly bypassed, had the potential to bring fresh vitality to the war for the Iron Throne, but perhaps the writers felt that a narrower focus would guarantee greater quality.
WE EMBARK ON A PERILOUS JOUNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN The end of Season Five left us with a number of huge, pressing (mainly deathrelated) questions. Is Stannis Baratheon dead? Apparently, despite his continued survival in the books, he is – the episode’s director David Nutter has confirmed it. Did Sansa and Theon successfully escape? Theon does in the books, albeit with a different woman, so it seems like-
ly. Is Myrcella Baratheon dead? Poisoned by a Dornishman and miles out to sea – I’d guess so. What’s going to happen to Daenerys, stranded and confronted by a Dothraki horde? And, most importantly, is Jon Snow really dead? This is the question everyone is waiting for the answer to. It seems like he is. Everyone involved in the show is adamant that he’s dead. However, in a world of dragons and the undead, would it surprise anyone in the least if he returned? A number of factors make the return seem likely. Firstly, the exclusion of Catelyn Stark’s resurrection as Lady Stoneheart, as well as the removal of Mance Rayder’s fauxdeath, leave the writers room to include Jon Snow’s return. If every major character who died could be brought back there would be no suspense, after all. In addition, Melisandre’s arrival at Castle Black towards the end of Season Five put a magic-user (with interests in Jon Snow) in close proximity. Finally, come on, Jon Snow is one
of the best characters in the show. Surely they wouldn’t get rid of him? So we return to week after week of shock and delight, readers and nonreaders now united in ignorance. Personally, as well as the show itself, I can’t wait for the inevitable, great conversations that follow every episode.
The Screen Editors’ top picks
The newly-elected editors reveal their all-time favourite films and television shows
Mark Allison
Zak Mahinfar
James Hands
Online
Cormac Dreelan
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HE Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is the greatest film ever made. Nowhere will you find a more perfect blend of direction, music, acting, and writing than in Sergio Leone’s 1966 Western. Starring a young Clint Eastwood and featuring an iconic soundtrack by the great Ennio Morricone, it’s a film that keep you entertained, excited, and gripped for the duration of its three-hour runtime, a mustsee for any self-respecting film fan. For TV heads out there, I’d have to recommend The Wire. Focussing on the lives of both police officers and drug dealers on the violent streets of Baltimore, The Wire launched the careers of British stars Dominic West and Idris Elba. Each series tackles a different aspect of life and death in the city, and it all makes for a complex and enthralling experience.
3 MAY 2016 | EXEPOSÉ
T’S a toss-up between Mean Girls and Chinatown. A battle between cult and classic. Low-brow versus high. They may seem like incompatible selections but the variety is indicative of my film taste: eclectic. No snobbery here. Naturally, as a budding screenwriter, I have a soft spot for the narrative genius of Polanski’s neo-noir. And Jack Nicholson, of course. Mean Girls may seem a feeble opponent for what is frequently dubbed ‘the best screenplay of all time’, but don’t forget, Tina Fey is also an Oscar-winning screenwriter, and Mean Girls’ cultural influence is pervasive: is there a more quotable film? There’s nothing guilty about the pleasure I take in it, but ultimately Chinatown must prevail. From the political critique of corporate America to its gloomy ending, it’s just so fetch.
‘M a big fan of comedy and feel that this has shaped my cinematic and television tastes substantially. Growing up on The Simpsons, I’ve always loved animated sitcoms, probably arriving too early to South Park at the age of 11. Films became an interest of mine after television, specifically the horror genre, since I found many of them undervalued and ignored. My go-to horror film is Tobe Hooper’s 1974 classic Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which never relies on the lazy, generic conventions of the horror genre in order to scare the audience. My favourite film would have to be Shaun Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes, which successfully combines cinematic tropes exclusive to the horror genre and the subtle witticism of situational comedy.
Online
S is typical of most film-lovers, my favourite film frequently changes. However, I always have a go-to response ready if I’m ever asked, and that response is Apocalypse Now. It is a truly phenomenal cinematic achievement, and its troubled production is a fascinating story in itself, chronicled in the Heart of Darkness documentary. My other favourites include Taxi Driver, Moonrise Kingdom, and anything with David Lynch’s name on it (particularly Mulholland Drive). In terms of television, Twin Peaks always has been and always will be my favourite; although I do have a huge soft-spot for both the Battlestar Galactica reboot and Bryan Fuller’s absurdly underrated (and under-watched) Hannibal, starring Mads Mikkelson as the elegant yet deranged Dr Hannibal Lecter.
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EDITORS: Mark Allison and Zak Mahinfar
3 MAY 2016
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More than the bear necessities?
Laurel Bibby, Lifestyle Editor, reviews the live-action remake of the Disney classic that has everyone talking THE JUNGLE BOOK Director: Jon Favreau Neel Sethi, Scarlet Johansson 2016, 105 minutes
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HEN I first heard that Disney was going to be releasing a live action remake of the 1967 animated film The Jungle Book, I’m not sure my brain was fully capable of understanding the complexities of such an undertaking. “But how will they get the animals to look like they’re talking?” I asked anybody who would listen. As it turns out, I was surpassing even my own levels of idiocy; the animals and environments would actually be created entirely using computer animation. But trust me – when you see this film, you’ll sure as hell think they’re real.
‘man cub’ Mowgli is warned to leave the jungle following threats from terrifying tiger Shere Khan, who insists that man has no place in the wild. Now, I know what you’re all thinking: Disney liveaction remakes aren’t always all they’re cracked up to be (I mean, did you see Cinderella?), but trust me, this one is different. For starters, it’s not entirely adapted from its animated predecessor, as director Jon Favreau picks and chooses elements from Rudyard Kipling’s classic text as well as drawing inspiration from the Disney classic. Favreau’s direction brings a set of fresh ideas to this well-loved tale, creating something new, exciting, and sometimes even dangerous. He carefully crafts a w o r l d of adventure in which the audience can lose them-
selves, enabling them not simply to watch Mowgli’s jungle journey, but to experience it alongside him. With a cast as brilliant as Mowgli is brave, it’s almost impossible to single out star performers, but I’d be mad not to declare Idris Elba as utterly faultless in his sinister performance as Shere Khan. Scarlett Johansson also certainly makes a chilling impression in her single scene as python Kaa, while Lupita Nyong’o’s vocal talent cannot be understated, bringing intense emotion in the role of Raksha: I’m pretty sure there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as she said goodbye to Mowgli before he returned to the “man village”. Ben Kingsley and Bill Murray are perfect choices for Mowgli’s companions Bagheera and Baloo respectively, and special mention must go
I’M PRETTY SURE THERE WASN’T A DRY EYE IN THE HOUSE The adaptation follows a similar plotline to the classic story that we all know and love. Raised by a pack of wolves,
to Favreau’s vocal cameo as a little pygmy hog: watch out for him in perhaps the most comical scene of the film. Meanwhile, newcomer Neel Sethi shines as “man cub” Mowgli, the only character who is actually real. I can hardly fathom the challenges of filming such immense scenes solely in a Los Angeles warehouse, but Sethi pulls it off with the ease and grace of a seasoned pro. You’d never know that he was actually acting with puppets and blue screens, and I love to imagine his reaction watching the film for the first time: seeing himself floating along rivers, swinging through treetops and even riding a baby elephant. Sethi brings a beautiful sense of innocence to the role as well as maturity well beyond his years, and was never outshone by the huge Hollywood names starring alongside him; this kid is one to watch. There’s no other way to conclude this review than by saying that you absolutely must see this film. From chase sequences and stampedes to wolf cubs and a singing bear, there’s something for everyone. Revolutionary technology previously used in Avatar and Gravity enables Favreau to put a contemporary twist on a beloved classic, creating a visual masterpiece that will no doubt stand the test of time.
Eye on the prize
”One of the best thrillers in recent years” Hebe Perry-Belfrage delivers her verdict on this British spy-flick trasts show just how complicated the moral dilemma of the film is and make the moral questions even harder to answer. I found myself changing my opinion several times throughout the film as different ideas were foregrounded, and left the cinema still unsure of where I stood.
EYE IN THE SKY Director: Gavin Hood Helen Mirren, Alan Rickman 2016, 102 minutes
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ASTERFULLY executed, with fantastic performances from the entire cast, Eye in the Sky captures current concerns about modern warfare, surveillance and morality. The film’s premise is a simple one when taken at face value - an exploration of the morality of remote surveillance and drone warfare - but Guy Hibbert’s sophisticated screenplay soon makes it clear that there is far more to consider than just the military and the moral. This is a film that feels on the one hand like an elaborate piece of virtual reality gaming, but is also startlingly real. While swept up in the heart-pounding suspense of it all, the emphasis on showing everyday lives in contrast to the military storyline reminds you that this is the kind of warfare going on in the real world, affecting
real lives. Politicians are on state visits, the Foreign Secretary has food poisoning, villagers in Kenya are working in markets, and Alan Rickman’s character humorously attempts to buy a doll for his daughter - all against a backdrop of imminent conflict. Tension is, predictably, the main theme of the film, and it is executed very effectively. The film is peppered with real-time, drawn out scenes of surveillance shot from the point of view of the drone, giving a realism that is both intriguing and sickening as we watch a terrorist plot unfolding in real time. Every scene is inti-
mate, whether watching a meeting from a camera in the ceiling of a Kenyan house, or a close-up of Steve Watts (Aaron Paul) contemplating the reality of his task from a desk in Vegas. There is a prevailing sense of juxtaposition: the military and the political; the moral and the practical; the childish and the adult. A particularly poignant moment comes when a child sees Jama Farah (Barkhad Abdi) operating a drone from his phone and asks if it is a game, highlighting the innocence of the child against the reality of warfare. These con-
YOU WILL LEAVE THE CINEMA WITH PLENTY TO THINK ABOUT Eye in the Sky is the gripping, hardhitting thriller that we need to counter the slew of superheroes and rom-coms. It is both simple and complex, fantastical and realistic, raising real and relevant questions about the direction of modern warfare, making for one of the best thrillers in recent years. If you have even a fleeting interest in the military, technology or politics, you should definitely see it. You will leave the cinema with plenty to think about.
GAMES + TECH Embracing the darkness Jabez Sherrington, Games + Tech Editor, delves into Lothric
DARK SOULS 3 FromSoftware PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4 2016
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HE Dark Souls franchise is a punishing one. Through burning chasms, ruined cities, and corroded forests, some are immediately gripped. Others, however, have not relished this brutal experience – and Dark Souls 3, FromSoftware’s latest addition to the series, is no different. In fact, this new instalment feels exactly like that - an addition to an established series. In terms of gameplay, not much has changed at all; players who were not previously gripped by titles such as Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, or Bloodborne will find little entertainment within. The combat is an amalgamation of other FromSoftware titles: the basic core system from Dark Souls, weapon combinations from Dark Souls 2, critical chargeup attacks from Bloodborne, and even a return of Demon’s Soul’s mana bar.
AESTHETICALLY, IT’S ONE OF THE BEST GAMES I HAVE EVER PLAYED The game still teaches via closure and discipline – you simply will not be able to progress if you do not patiently observe every boss, learn their patterns, and the environments they inhabit. There is no easy mode – only a way to replay the game at an even harder difficulty. Ways to bypass sections and explore shortcuts are fraught with danger, providing an additional layer of interaction where
every decision can provoke unforeseen consequences. These aspects transcend the actual gameplay, leading to feelings of joy, regret and frustration, which often mirror the atmosphere of the vividly diverse Dark Souls world. And it must be said – what a world. This is by far the most gorgeous title FromSoftware has developed, and I found myself consistently pausing for a minute or two to take in my grandiose surroundings – be they miasma ridden sewers, refreshingly cold mountains, or the impossible castles which dwarf them. Aesthetically, it is one of the best games I have ever played. Dark Souls has you constantly descend into darkness, being wary of anything that was not hostile, whereas Dark Souls 2 featured long flat expanses, and denizens of questionable neutrality. This is one way in which Dark Souls 3 differs outright from its predecessors – you are constantly ascending, making definable progress, and meeting a whole host of friendly characters who fill incredibly important roles in the story. However fantastically painted the Kingdom of Lothric is, its integrity does have shortcomings. Ever since Dark Souls, players have yearned for an RPG which takes place in a world even remotely as well-constructed as Lordran was – with Dark Souls 2’s main criticism being how it adopted a rather different approach, with a main hub area leading the way to fairly linear offshoots. Dark Souls 3 is similarly split up into certain areas – there can be some travel between these, but as a general rule you will be returning to the hub after every excursion, as it features all connecting paths/ craftsmen NPCs. This, combined with the ability to teleport between lit bonfires from the get-go, and a much clearer overall narrative goal being present visu-
ally in the hub, sever any seamless nature; instead, we play a much more objective-based game, feeling similar to Demon’s Souls than either of the main franchise. This is not necessarily a bad thing, and there is still plenty of room to discover new branches in questlines or item use, but the obvious comparison to 1 does hurt the world design to some extent – especially due to many recurring characters.
NO BOSS IS STANDARD - ALL OF THEM WILL SURPRISE YOU One thing that certainly does not recur are the boss mechanics. Beyond basics such as health bars, attack patterns and brutal power, the bosses in Dark Souls 3 are highly imaginative, bringing a myriad of brand new mechanics, aesthetics, dangers, and designs to the table. No boss is standard – every one of them will surprise and provoke you to react in different ways each time. Despite being one of the strongest aspects of the game, there are a few challenging opponents who straddle the line between a genuine obstacle, and artificial difficulty – this is largely due to the new stage mechanic. At certain thresholds of health, bosses will mutate or switch their styles, expanding upon past games’ related two-stage bosses. Almost all boss enemies in Dark Souls 3 feature this, and at times they seem to be detrimental to the overall enjoyment – for example, the first boss of the game swells to a size which
takes up so much screen space, you cannot work out if you are being attacked or walked towards, dodging or blocking, etc. Size is used very well for the most part, and as a whole the boss selection is wonderfully entertaining – but several encounters can leave even the most seasoned Souls player frustrated, for the wrong reasons. This is a small fault, however, and the vast variety of ways to play rivals the new-fangled boss pool; aforementioned aspects such as the return of the mana bar and weapon combos allow countless class variations to come into play. Dark Souls 3 is, overall, in a very good place. The smooth gameplay, fantastic boss fights and overall atmosphere make it one of the best examples of what happens when Western and Japanese RPGs clash. The sheer number of paths to take is daunting, but an assured way to get your 40 quid’s worth – three playthroughs in, and I do not feel like I have scratched the surface. This is also the game’s biggest criticism: getting lost in a world you feel powerless in, then slowly acquiring resources and goals in order to conquer it, felt amazing in Dark Souls. Dark Souls 3 does it really well, but will always be subject to 1’s shadow. But the brilliant storytelling, fluid combat and stunning visuals overpower the other titles, making Dark Souls 3 an overall progression on its predecessors – and a fantastic one at that.
THE ORANGE BOX
Evan Jones
Sam Brewer
Harry Shepherd
We asked writers to tell us which video game item they’d love to revise with
Double Cherry Double the revision power
The Animus Why study history when you can relive it?
The Groovitron See which invigilator dances best
3 MAY 2016 | EXEPOSÉ
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GAMES + TECH
EDITORS: Jabez Sherrington and Sam Woolf
3 MAY 2016
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Droning on and on
Retro rewind
Sam Woolf, Games + Tech Editor, gives us his thoughts on the rising popularity of drones
Ben Assirati, Online Games + Tech Editor, tells us which retro games need a revamp
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few months ago, my girlfriend’s younger brother got a brand new remote control drone for Christmas. To me, it was very thought provoking. This fancy new gadget made the remote control car that I got for Christmas when I was his age look like a toaster with wheels. But it also occurred to me that this unmanned aircraft was a sophisticated piece of equipment. It could get up pretty high, and if it were to lose power mid-flight then it would have the potential to cause some serious damage.
ANYONE CAN JUST BUY ONE AND THEN PROCEED TO FLY IT AROUND On 17 April, a remote control drone allegedly hit a British Airways flight as it came in to land at Heathrow Airport. After landing, the pilot of the Airbus A320 claimed an object, which he believed to be a drone, had struck the front of the aircraft. Currently, there has been no confirmation of whether the object in question was actually a drone, but when I heard this news I thought back to my girlfriend’s brother and how in recent years drones have seen a boom in popularity. Google searches for the term “drones” have risen tenfold since 2011, and with ever decreasing prices, the ownership of drones has skyrocketed. I find it shocking then that there doesn’t
seem to be much regulation surrounding the ownership of these miniature aircraft. Anyone can just buy one and then proceed to fly it around. Yes, piloting a drone near an airport is a punishable offence, and can earn an individual up to five years in prison, but the current situation remains unregulated for the most part. So should further restrictions be put in place? And if so, what should these restrictions be? One option would be for drone owners to register their ownership. In the USA, a compulsory registration scheme for drone owners such as this was recently introduced. Through the scheme, any drones recovered from an accident can be linked back to its owner, thus creating an incentive for drone owners to fly responsibly. There is also the possibility of drones coming equipped with geo-fencing software. This would keep drones out of prohibited areas. Following the Heathrow incident, there has even been speculation surrounding an anti-drone ‘death ray’ to be used at the airport to shut down flying drones. It certainly would seem that much more needs to be done. I find it such a shame that those who use drones responsibly, within regulations, may end up paying the price for the actions of those who do not. The Department for Transport will be publishing a strategy for unmanned aircraft before the end of the year, so it won’t be long before we find out just what the situation for drone owners is.
HERE is nothing more gloriously and indulgently naff than a trip down memory lane with your favourite retro games. So, with Nintendo’s recent success in porting the original Pokémon games to the 3DS here is a list of some of the games I would like to see on there! Please note these are my personal choices, and I have stuck almost exclusively to Nintendo’s own licensed games, as well as pre-Wii titles. First up, Mario Golf. This is a fantastic golf game originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1999 that I have heard relatively little about over the years, and I would love for it to be released on Nintendo’s virtual store. It absolutely nails the fun of playing golf, and brings it into the Mario Universe. I can see this title being a smash hit, with opportunities for single player, multiplayer, and possibly even custom maps in the form of mini-golf. If Nintendo wanted to encourage player retention, it could extend the RPG characteristics from the Gameboy Advance port. Everyone wins with this one! This title could expand massively, and I feel like a proper port with all mentioned features could even charge up to £20, since the opportunities extend beyond the base game.
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Secondly, I would love for Nintendo to rerelease Banjo Kazooie. This title was developed by Rare and was originally released in 1998 for the Nintendo 64. A title that has received a lot of love over the years, and has featured in the Rare Replay collection for the Xbox One, I feel like a port with updated graphics would be a charming little title that children of all ages (as well as their parents!) could enjoy. I would say this game should be around £8.99, the same price Nintendo are charging for the recently released first-generation Pokémon games. Finally, following up on one Rare game, I would like to see another feature somewhere, anywhere, and the 3DS would be perfect. Conker’s Bad Fur Day is something of a cult masterpiece, taking the notion of a cute little game mascot and cramming the dialogue and gameplay with swearing, sex jokes, and pop culture references. This game would cost the same as Banjo Kazooie - £8.99 – but would be behind an age barrier. Want to buy it? Proof of age is needed before purchase. And it would be worth it. If you aren’t aware of what this game entails, just check out the ‘Great Mighty Poo’ boss battle. Absolutely glorious.
CROSSWORD # 84
SUDOKU # 20 Down 1 Practice (a drama, e.g.) (8) 2 Lorry (3) 3 Grind (a pencil, e.g.) (7) 4 Align - in rote (anagram) (6) 6 On your toes (as all taking 26s are?) (4-5) 7 Grow weary (4) 8 See 20 12 Very difficult (26s won’t be for you!) (9) 14 Relaxed (you can be this after 26s!) (4-4) 17 Body suit - NUT raid (anagram) (7) 18 Type of penalty in Formula One (4-2) 20/8 Upset (a 26 paper, say?) (4,4) 22 First-class (4) 25 Australian bird? (3)
Wide-awake, 7 Tire, 12 Torturous, 14 Laid-back, 17
STUDY BREAK
ANSWERS Unitard, 18 Stop-go, 20/8 Turn over, 22 Best, 25 Emu.
Across 1 Memorising again (for a 26?) (8) 5 Study hard (4) 9 Reddish brown (hair) dye (5) 10 Aggressor (7) 11 Carry out (an order, e.g.) (3,4) 13 Scan (a 26 paper - carefully?) (4) 15 The season of growth (6) 16 Capital of Zambia - LA auks (anagram) (6) 19 Fair (4) 21 Very last part (4,3) 23 Action that boosts your confidence - to gripe (anagram) (3,4) 24 Stadium (5) 26 A trial (happening on campus right now?) (4) 27 Toast (to all taking 26s - from Alfred) (4,4)
Down: 1 Rehearse, 2 Van, 3 Sharpen, 4 Orient, 6 Tail end, 23 Ego trip, 24 Arena, 26 Test, 27 Good luck. Act upon, 13 Read, 15 Spring, 16 Lusaka, 19 Just, 21 Across: 1 Revision, 5 Swot, 9 Henna, 10 Invader, 11
PUZZLES BY ALFRED
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SCIENCE
NEWS 1-5
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE ARTS + LIT 16-17 10-11 8-9 14-15
MUSIC 18-19
SCREEN 22-23
GAMES+TECH SCIENCE 24-25 28-29
3 MAY 2016 |
SPORT 30-32
EXEPOSÉ
SCIENCE The corruption and the complexities of memory Exeposé Science
SCIENCE EDITORS Victoria Bos Beth Honey
@ExeposeScience
sciandtech@exepose.com
Biweekly Breakthroughs by Beth Honey
Nanogel regeneration
Alzheimers and Parkinsons patients are provided with new hope of an innovative treatment for their multitude of cognitive and behavioural symptoms. The nanogel is a biocompatible material, enabling external stimulation to generate neuron growth.
A bit of popcorn with your binturong?
Researchers from Duke University have discovered the compound that gives binturongs, better known as bearcats, their tantilizing popcorn whiff. After analysing 29 urine compounds, they found the compound 2-AP, that gives popcorn the well known mouthwatering smell, in the urine of bearcats.
Watching eyes = thoughtful actions
Printing a deterring image of watching eyes on leaflets can decrease the likelihood of littering, researchers have found. This operates on the theory of ‘nudge psychology’. Such a theory proposes that highlighting an option presents a situation whereby an individual is not forced into a particular behaviour, effectively ‘nudging’ them into the correct response.
Dinosaur Destruction Approximately 66 million years ago, dinosaurs were wiped out by a meteorite impact. New research has uncovered evidence, using sophisticated statistical analysis and fossil records, that the species was actually in evolutionary decline. Ecological factors such as fissures of land mass and volcanic activity influenced the survival of dinosaur populations.
Alina Ivan explores memory consolidation processes at the neuronal level, shedding light on the many effects of sleep, alcohol and anxiety
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O our memories define who we are? Does memory contain all our experiences - and if not why do some memories get encoded and others don’t? Once a memory is formed, can we erase it? These are all questions we must ask when examining our brains attempts to encode all the bits and pieces from our daily lives. Whilst most of it will stay with us in the long run, we may easily lose some of our precious experiences. Memories start taking shape in the region of the brain called the hippocampus. Like a clay sculpture, they take time to solidify. In most cases, four to six hours are sufficient to allow them to fully consolidate at the cellular level. During this time, neurons in this region are repeatedly stimulated together, creating stronger connections between each other.
The rationale is that alcohol induces a state of temporary amnesia. This state reduces the competition between the memories to be stored and those which are being consolidated. At this point, some may think this could be a handy revision tip. However, it is worth bearing in mind that the undesirable side effects of alcohol are rarely disputed. After memories consolidate at the cellular level, they are ready to be transferred to the long term storage in the neocortex. The neocortex is the part of the brain that covers t h e two
Not unsurprisingly, they are not entirely safe in the hippocampus. The hippocampus has limited resources. Each time we encode another memory, we take the risk of losing recent memories. Proteins in the hippocampus get used to store a new memory, at the expense of consolidating the previous one. Yet there is a bright side to it. Certain brain states facilitate memory consolidation, sleep being among them. First demonstrations of this date back to 1924
cerebral hemispheres. Each mem-
neuroscientists at New York University made an interesting discovery that changed the way memories were seen. Dr Nader and his colleagues showed that every time a memory is remembered, it needs proteins to reconstruct itself from its pieces. It becomes plastic, meaning that it offers opportunity to be updated, or even erased. Rats permanently lost the memory of a maze if – after navigation – they were given propranolol, a substance that inhibits protein synthesis. This intriguing memory process has also been demonstrated in humans. In one experiment, researchers conditioned participants to learn a mild fear reaction. S a t at a computer, t h e y learned that a green square was followed by an electric shock to the hand. Participants came back to the lab the second day to practise this
– Jenkins and Dallenbach found that memories encoded just before sleep were remembered better than those encoded prior to other activities. That is partly because it is impossible to form new memories during sleep, so the consolidation process can proceed uninterrupted. We see a similar effect with alcohol. In a study by Dr Bruce and Dr Pihl (1997), participants who formed memories before consuming an alcoholic beverage forgot the newly acquired knowledge to a lesser degree than those given a placebo.
ory decomposes into pieces, each piece going to its designated area. Visual memories are transferred to the visual cortex, auditory memories move to the auditory cortex and so on. This back-up process also occurs during states of reduced interference such as sleep. If at any point you thought that the brain was resting during sleep, you were wrong. Being stored in the hippocampus is not the end of a memory’s life, although this is what most researchers in the field believed until 15 years ago. A group of
association. At this time, the green square still triggered a fear response. Researchers then gave the participants propranolol. When tested the following day, they no longer feared the green square. Scientists believe that the role of this reconstructing process is to update memories to our current beliefs. This also means that our memory is prone to contamination by subsequent experiences. Knowing that memory can play tricks on us can be a bit worrying, especially in settings such as eyewitness identification.
Scientists believe that the role of this reconstructing process is to update memories to our currrent beliefs
Nonetheless, this dark side of memory can also be manipulated to our advantage. For instance, those suffering from phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder can particularly benefit from this knowledge, since these disorders depend largely on associations between strong emotional memories and anxiety reactions.
This dark side of memory can also be manipulated to our advantage Put simply, memory is a complex process. Whilst research has been able to reveal its basic mechanisms, there is much to be discovered. The ethics of manipulating memories are still being debated. Yet in the meantime, research reaches new avenues. Before long, we may be able to live our own personal versions of EterMind nal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind.
MEMORY BITES
Image: thisisnthappiness.com
Most adults have an attention span of 20 minutes - with estimations that we have lost approximately 12 minutes due to our reliance on technology
The majority of memories that can be reliably recalled will be consolidated between the ages of 15 to 25 years
Alcohol can cause memory loss due to the inhibition of neuronal activity during the encoding process in the hippocampus
According to research, left handed people have superior memory capacities due to enlarged brain matter
Stealing Sherlock’s memory tricks EXEPOSÉ
SCIENCE
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Theodore Stone, Online Editor, talks us through the ‘Mind Palace’ technique
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THERWISE known as the ‘Method of Loci’, the mind palace technique is arguably the most famous form of memory enhancement known to us. Featured in multiple films and television series, and revolutionised in Sherlock, the method traces it’s heritage back to the time of the Roman Empire. The technique can be used to recall faces, lists, and a number of other facts This mnemonic technique relies on two factors: visualisation and spatial comprehension. Whilst many examples of ‘Method of Loci’ involve simple imagery, an argued advantage of variations of the Mind Palace is that individual areas can be assigned certain topics or themes in order to achieve a more efficient system of filing and an easier method for long-term memory storage. Nonetheless, whether your visualisation is a castle, a town, or even the Amory Building (my sincere condolences), a coherent layout is a necessity for this technique to work. Once
you have designed the layout of your haven, you will need to map a route. Keep it simple and keep to it every time, in order to ensure that you get used to your new palace. Route mapped? Good. Now identify the rooms or buildings you want to use. Ideally, neighbouring rooms should be thematically similar to each other in order to prevent excessive complexity. Work out how many you’ll need and take size into account; the big-
ger the room, the more important the memory. It’s likely that the dress your friend wore on 23 March is less important than their favourite sitcom, so make sure that the room reflects this, which again is likely less important than their partner’s name. If you decide to simply assign a one person-one room rule, then ensure that the same law applies within the individual rooms. Got that? Good. Now memorise the entire construct. Memorise all of the neces-
sary details in order to retain consistency and avoid confusion, lest you end up going down the wrong corridor. However, you should never overcomplicate matters. Keep the information in each room/building etc. limited and don’t let similar topics converge. Keep them separate, lest you mix your memories up. Be creative with your approach, and don’t be afraid to use mnemonics. If you need to learn the order of notes in the treble clef,
then imagine a child playing football in a garden (Every Good Boy Deserves Football - EGBDF). Once you’ve done this, feel free to go wild, and continue to explore it. Use it on a constant basis in order to preserve the design; being lackadaisical with your Palace is the easiest way to cause it to crumble. World Memory Champion Competitor Ed Cooke has constantly recommended to new competitors to make their memories as outlandish and vulgar as possible, in order to ensure that the memory sticks. The more repulsed you are, the more effective it will be. 2006 World Memory Champion, Clemens Mayer from Germany, used a 300-point-long journey through his house for his world record in “number half marathon”, where he memorised 1040 digits in a half-hour. With practice, it is estimated that an ordinary person using the method of loci can remember an entire deck of cards through very little practice. Just don’t tell the street magicians.
Masterminds of the animal kingdom Natasa Christo�idou, News Editor, compares human memories to those of our tree dwelling cousins
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E have a tendency to view the human race as better than other animals on earth, due to our perceived moral and intellectual superiority. After all, humans have used technological advancements in exceptionally creative and beneficial ways. Laptops have been around for a mere 38 years, whilst the wonders of smartphones have only been dominating our lives for just under a decade. Such examples indicate that technological developments have come a long way. However, despite the astonishing outcomes of evolution, allowing us to bring convenient means of communication and even medical advancements to the forefront, we still feel the need to set alarms for doing simple daily tasks.
We cannot ignorantly categorise the issue as one of ‘us’ and ‘them’ Animals may not need to remember to turn the cooker off, but they certainly don’t set alarms for everyday activities. Therefore suggesting that humans possess inferior memories, especially when referring to everyday duties - an area where many animals trump us with ease. Undoubtedly, the minds of animals
differ substantially from those of humans, however we cannot ignorantly categorise the issue as one of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ Basic visual observations would lead to assumptions that most animals do not posses certain qualities that humans do, such as: humiliation, morality, wisdom, humour, malleability, or even the ability to worship. Nonetheless, the central nervous system of all animals allows them to feel pain and acknowledge danger, which ultimately leads to fear - an instinctual reflex that animals have in common with humans. Immediate conclusions that dismiss animal capabilities due to a perceived ‘inferior’ mind, uses human criteria to judge capabilities of animals, that deserve to be judged on an individual basis according to their species. In the same way that you cannot use puzzle pieces for LEGO games, or even LEGO bricks for cooking dinner, you similarly cannot judge an animal’s abilities based on human standards of intelligence. The effectiveness of an animal’s actions are manipulated through the discourse of our human understanding, and the cultural psychology that we’re subjected to. Certain expectations are hence based upon conceived definitions of ideas. What is perhaps overlooked in many of these studies is that when certain re-
searchers address the concept of intelligence, or self-awareness, their concluding findings are based upon a preconceived idea of what defines the concepts themselves. A study conducted at Kyoto University indicated that chimpanzees have a remarkable memory, one that possibly cannot even begin to compare with the capacity of our human mind. Initially, a group of chimps were taught to count to nine, which they excelled in. As impressive as that may seem, each of the chimpanzees were shown randomly scattered numbers on a board, that were later covered and the subjects were required to identify the position of each number in order.
A study conducted at Kyoto universtity indicated that chimpanzees have a remarkable memory The results were outstandingly impressive, with scientists attributing the results to the “eidetic imagery” of chimpanzees, also known as photographic memory. When the time spent looking at the image was shortened, their performance did not decrease as the chimps memorised all the
numbers instantaneously. In this case, humans have a significant disadvantage, and would most likely accomplish the task with great difficulty, as we’re conditioned to list numbers in an ascending order. In contrast, if the chimps were asked to listen to a simple presentation, they’d most likely fail to maintain an adequate level of concentration, let alone understand any of it. Thus, despite the incredible aspects of a chimp’s brain, remarks associated with intelligence are relative to interpretations. Hence, when comparing animal minds to human ones, it must be remembered that words such as ‘intelligence’ have longstanding societal definitions that have been accepted by humans. When comparing the emotional state of animals, their characteristics, and their observed actions, judge-
ments drawn upon this in comparison to human attributes are funnelled through what is “normal” and acceptable for the human mind. Einstein, one of the most highly proclaimed intellectual geniuses amongst us, had successfully strayed away from socalled “human standards” of intelligence, as he acknowledged that you cannot judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree. Yes, he was using that as a metaphor to reflect his optimism about the human race, however, can nonetheless be applied to the question at hand.
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‘Play ball!’
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>> Photo: Jennifer Stewart/Arizona Diamondbacks
With MLB looking to host games in London next year, Owain Evans, Sport Editor, talks to Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall about the internationalisation of baseball
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HE sun is shining brightly in a rich blue summer sky. There’s an expectant murmur from the crowd, suddenly punctuated by the sound of a ball hitting a mitt at high velocity, and a cry of “strike three!” This is baseball. What could possibly be more stereotypically American? Yet it seems Major League Baseball, the highest profile league in its sport, isn’t happy with restricting its sights to the US and Canada. Instead, they’re trying to promote their brand outside of North America. Several times, MLB teams have travelled across the Pacific to do battle in Tokyo, yet it isn’t too much of a challenge to draw a crowd in an Asian nation that is obsessed with the game. Then, MLB made a slightly more adventurous move - an Opening Series in Sydney in 2014. Australia isn’t alien to the sport of baseball - they do have a professional six-team league - but it isn’t quite a major blip on the sporting radar, and can’t seriously compete with cricket. Now, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has his sights set on an even larger challenge: he wants to see games in London in 2017. London: where topflight UK teams do battle in front of... well, nobody.
Hall recognised it was “difficult” to have to give up two home games With all of this to come, I arranged to meet with Derrick Hall, the President and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks, one of the sides that took part in the Sydney games back in 2014. We start by talking about how the D-backs came about heading Down Under. “We actually volunteered,” Hall begins. “I serve on the Major League Baseball owners’ Committee for Inter-
national Baseball, and I’ve always been a strong advocate of both exhibition games and season games abroad.” Still, this enthusiasm may not be well appreciated by all fans. A Premier League equivalent to this, dubbed ‘Game 39’, has been universally criticised for short-changing the fans at home, and Hall says that it was “difficult” to have to give up two home games. Still, he saw an opportunity for the home crowd: “a lot of our fans went over there to see the games,” he says, “so it was an opportunity for them to go down under and take in our games in Australia.” I ask about what the D-backs had done to promote the game before heading Down Under. “We actually did a lot,” Hall begins. “I thought it was very important that we try and become a part of that community before going there.” He talks a lot about the work done in getting the word out in local media, as well as meeting with all of the sport federations. He saw that, as the smaller-market team, it was harder for them to break into the hearts and minds of Australians. “People were familiar with the Dodgers,” he points out, “and they had players that had played for the Dodgers: Craig Shipley, who works for us, was the first Australian player signed to the Major Leagues, and he was a Dodger.” Still, he thinks they did a good job. “I think we were effective, because for our game I would say it was easily equal, half and half of Dodger fans and D-back fans,” he gladly pointed out. “In fact, we still have fans that come here to see some of our games from Australia because they got attached to us, which is great.” We begin to talk about the future of baseball in Australia. “There’s still conversations with the promoters,” Hall explains, “and they want to continue to have games there. They would prefer to
have us in each of those games, not necessarily with the Dodgers, but with another big team.” So, would the D-backs want to go back? “We’d be open to it because we had such a good experience there and we have, we believe, so many lifelong friends now in Australia.”
I know there’s been discussion of the Yankees and Red Sox, or whoever it might be Still, not everything can be positive. I ask him whether he thinks that the games had a negative impact on the start of their season. “I don’t think so,” he argues. “You look at the Dodgers, who had the same conditions: they won the Division that year, they went to the Playoffs so I would not use that as an excuse. We had some injuries, right before we went down there.” Yet, Hall doesn’t think everything was perfect. After playing in Australia, the team then returned home for some final exhibition games before the start of the rest of the season. “It was very emotionally challenging for both teams to get really excited and revved up for the Regular Season, and then the let down of getting back and playing games that didn’t really matter,” he pointed out, suggesting that next time “you would take Spring Training for those two teams up to a point where they would go down, play those games and come back, maybe have a day or two of rest and pick up where they left off.” We move onto the potential games in London next year. In an interview with Associated Press, Commissioner Manfred conceded that the games would likely have to be played in the middle of the season due to weather concerns, so I
ask Hall if he felt that this would have a negative impact on the teams involved. “I don’t think so, in that the travel’s a lot easier to get over there,” he replied, although he accepted that MLB is “probably going to want to go with East Coast teams at first, to try it, especially in the middle of the season and I know there’s been discussion of the Yankees and Red Sox, or whoever it might be.” We start to talk about the compatibility of baseball with the UK market, and Hall was very optimistic. “I think that fans that don’t have a great education when it comes to Major League Baseball will be curious, will want to attend because it is going to be the event to be at,” he tells me, “and I think once they’re there, hopefully you capture them as fans for life.” We touch on baseball’s ability to reach out in the UK, particularly given that the more familiar summer sport of cricket has been struggling to draw in crowds in recent years, forcing a focus on innovation. Hall dismisses that this is a sign of any major changes to society, saying that the “same thing is happening with Major League Baseball – you see a slight decrease in some numbers, you think it’s changing... [but] it’s just because of all the options. Just like here, whether people are watching MMA, or cage fighting, or motor sports, they didn’t have all those options before. 50 years ago, or 60 years ago, there was horse racing, boxing and baseball.” With this in mind, he doesn’t see there being much to worry about for the future of the summer sports. I ask what he thinks it will take to grow baseball in the UK. He’s quick to respond: “We’re going to have to get young people playing the sport.” Hall goes further: “What it really takes...as soon as you land that first big player, everybody’s in. If we have an athlete
that comes from England one day, and he’s playing for the Diamondbacks, we know that people are going to wake up to watch that player out of national pride on TV there in England and become fans of the game.” As we come towards the end, he reaches out to people in the UK. “You get to experience something incredibly American and nostalgic to us without having to make the travel over here”, he points out. “I hope whichever teams are selected to go to England, that they’re really excited about it,” before adding “who knows, maybe we’ll be lucky enough to go. We did a survey, every team did a survey and I put London at the top of my list. We’ll see.” That evening, the D-backs would welcome the Cubs to Chase Field and manage to secure a 3-2 win. Still, it remains to be seen whether the sport of baseball can win when it comes to taking a trip across the Atlantic.
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Baseball is a descendant of the sports of cricket and rounders. It has been played professionally in the US since 1869.
Despite a decline in attendances, MLB’s Opening Day is such a significant day in the American calendar that there have been calls to make it a national holiday.
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Early bath for bowled-out 5s MEN’S CRICKET
Owain Evans Sport Editor Bath 2s 296-6(50) Exeter 5s 141(36.1) Bath wins by 155 runs
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EUNC suffer tough playoff loss >>Despite their efforts, EUNC 1s fell short against Southampton. Photos: Yong Yan Wang
NETBALL
James Angove Online Sport Editor Exeter 1s Southampton 1s
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35 57
UNC rounded off a disappointing season with a 35-57 defeat to Southampton in their first playoff match, which seals their relegation fate from the Premier South Division. This was a must-win game for the girls, and the opening exchanges were indeed positive. The team put in quick passing, with Rhian Bethell and Lydia Regis in particular linking up well in the centre third. Exeter had a great deal of possession in the first half of the opening 15 minutes, making good use of the ball with strong feeds, mainly into the hands of goal attack Kate McGinley. Even without the ball, Exeter impressed with sterling defensive work, especially from goalkeeper Holly Wilson - who frequently blocked Southampton’s attempts to pass the ball to their towering goal shooter. The away side were guilty of sloppy play throughout the first quarter but this is not to take away from Exeter’s fine work in the opening ten minutes. However the last five minutes were to hint at what was to come as poor footwork led to a series of failed Exeter attacks. The score, meanwhile, was tight
at the close of the first quarter, with Southampton leading narrowly 12-13. After the break, a series of misses by the away side gave the Green Army an opportunity to prevent Southampton from running away, which they seized to level the match at 14-14. As in the first period, Exeter instigated some good, fast play with sharp passing that kept the scores roughly equal for the first five minutes or so. The next few minutes were filled with end-to-end action as both sides missed chances, but Exeter broke the pattern with considered build-up play. This, however, was to no avail, as Ellie Gibbons proved unable to make the decisive pass into the D to the waiting McGinley. Subsequently, Southampton took their chance to grab a hold of the game, scoring five unanswered goals and ending the first half with the scores at 18-26.
Exeter had a great deal of possession in the first half of the opening 15 minutes The third quarter began as the second had ended, and the visitors scored multiple times in a short period. By this point, stray passes had crept into the home side’s game, which handed back possession to Southampton and saw a period of dominance from the away team as they stretched their lead to 22-
37 with five minutes to go in the quarter. Substitutions and position changes, notably the tiresome shot-stopping and interceptions by McGinley as goal-keeper, prevented the hosts from conceding further unanswered goals.
Hopefully [we can] just smash the league below and come straight back up Lydia Regis, EUNC 1s Captain
Exeter trailed 26-41 as they entered the final 15 minutes, and their play was often rushed as they tried to get a grip on a game that was slipping away from them. Seemingly all attacking attempts were foiled and defensively Exeter proved unable to cope with the frequent high passes to the Southampton goalshooter, who loomed over Holly Wilson. As the quarter marched on, Exeter began to fight tenaciously, meaning a brief period with low scoring. However, buoyed by their unassailable 19 goal lead, Southampton played confidently, taking frequent and successful risks to intercept passes from Regis and Bethell. Their goal shooter continued to hit the target and finally the away side knew that their victory and promotion was secured. With five minutes to go Exeter did appear rejuvenated and Becky Cantin scored several unanswered points. At this point though it was mere consola-
tion as Southampton once again proved strong in the closing moments, scoring multiple times to leave the result 35-57 at the final whistle. Whilst the girls travel to Guildford next week to face Surrey, they will only be playing for pride and this result guarantees their relegation to the Western 1A Division and sees confirmation of the disappointing season that Exeter 1s have suffered. When asked how they would rebuild going forward, Captain Lydia Regis remained optimistic, stating that “Next year there’ll be a nice fresh squad, so hopefully [we can] just smash the league below and come straight back up again.”
BUCS Premier South P W D L Pts Brunel 1s
10 9 0 1 27
Hertfordshire 1s
10 8 0 2 24
Cardiff Met 1s
10 6 0 4 18
Cardiff 1s
10 3 2 5 11
Bath 1s
10 1 1 8
4
Exeter 1s
10 1 1 8
4
BUCS Pro/Rel Playoff P W D L Pts Southampton 1s
2 2 0 0
6
Exeter 1s
1 0 0 1
0
Surrey 1s
1 0 0 1
0
UMCC 5s fell to a poor 155-run loss against Bath in tough weather conditions at Topsham Sports Ground. Exeter began proceedings with the ball in hand and got off to a very good start, with Zain Ul-Abiddin taking two quick wickets in the first few overs as hail fell over the field. Unfortunately, as the weather dried up, so did Exeter’s bowling success. The visitors put up 121 runs by the drinks break, before stepping up a gear further to post an impreesive score of 296 for only six wickets lost in their allotted overs. As Exeter began their innings, the temperature began to drop further in Topsham, making conditions harder. The openers, Dan Gymer and Gwylem Davies, started off slowly, playing themselves in comfortably whilst making the most of the generous extras provided. Problems began to mount with them both losing their wickets in the ninth and tenth overs respectively. This led to issues for the side, as newcomers looking to start off slowly reduced the run rate down to critical levels. Finding themselves needing to take chances to have any hope of getting back into the game, they lost wickets quickly. Although some good shots were played by Tom Morley and Callum Gurbutt near the tail end, the side found themselves bowled out for 141 after 36.1 overs, well short of the target set.
3s fall to 2s in thriller
CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE Halfway through the innings Gwyther was joined by Sinha and both batsmen kept the scoreboard ticking over. Their total of 113 after 25 overs was six runs more than the 2s had managed at the same point in their innings. All eyes were on Gwyther as the Exeter batsman notched a century in the first home outing of the summer. If the 2s batsman Toby Ward was given shot of the day, then innings of the day was destined for Gwyther. He was a constant calming presence in the middle for the 3s, and on another day would have hoped to guide his team all the way to victory. Dom Barnes and Harry Fitzgerald added useful runs as the sun set on a captivating game of cricket, but it wasn’t enough as the 3s ended the innings just ten runs short of victory. With this being one of the first matches of the season, there will be plenty more opportunities for the 3s to grab a victory. This game would suggest that exciting times are ahead for both sides.
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Exeposé Sport
SPORT EDITORS Owain Evans Lara Hopkins
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3s miss deadline to catch 2s
>>Abdal Zafar bowls a first-innings ball in a losing effort against the 2s. Photo: Sachi Minami
MEN’S CRICKET
Ben Cartwright Sports Team Exeter 2s 270-7(50) Exeter 3s 261-7(50) Exeter 2s win by 9 runs
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XETER 2s came out victorious against fellow-clubmates EUMCC 3s in a tight season opener at Topsham Sports Ground. In a week where many Exeter students had dissertation deadlines to stick to, it would be EUMCC 3s that would run out of time, eventually losing to the 2s by just nine runs in a fascinating matchup between two of Exeter’s best cricketing outfits. When asked about when he would be batting, “Not any time soon hopefully!” were the words uttered by Exeter
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2s Toby Pullan. Moments later, opener Baker-White was trudging off the field and Pullan was striding on. A quick single in the opening over had proven costly as Kavan Sinha fielded well to run the batsman out after just one ball.
Strong hitting from both Sensecall and Massey left the “home” side 271 to win Pullan and Captain James Hawkes recovered well to take the score to 38-1. After being dropped in the seventh over, Hawkes may have looked to punish the 3s for their mistake in the field but it wasn’t to be as Robbie Goddard trapped him leg-before-wicket in the 13th over. Sam Goodwill was the man to join Pullan in the middle as both batsmen
looked to take the game to the bowlers with a number of well-hit boundaries. The third-wicket partnership moved comfortably past 50 runs and it was not too long before Pullan reached an individual milestone with a convincing half century. Shortly after the innings’ halfway stage, the wickets of Pullan and Goodwill both fell: Sinha the wicket taker once more. The score was 122-3, and the 2s certainly still had work to do. Mike Harris couldn’t stick around to make a difference so it was left to Toby Ward and wicket-keeper Henry Sensecall to ensure the 2s total was competitive. Ward found himself in impeccable form: a sumptuous drive straight past the bowler in the 37th over was a particular highlight. 3s bowler Goddard rejoined the bowling attack and imme-
Major League Baseball looks to the UK Page 30
diately found himself in amongst the action as he ended Ward’s 48-run cameo. Strong hitting from both Sensecall and new man at the crease, Tom Massey, meant the 2s left the “home” side 271 to win. Goddard and Tim Barker were the men tasked to begin the run chase. The two opening batsmen built a solid foundation for the 3s until a strong spell of bowling from the designated away side rumbled in. The 2s opening bowlers, Andrew Turner and Massey, were asking a lot of questions of the batsman and, in the seventh over, the deadlock was broken as Barker edged a zippy Turner delivery to slip. During the next over, Massey made it two wickets in two overs as his ball found the top of Goddard’s off stump - an especially key wicket as he had turned his good form with
Netball take on Southampton in playoff match Page 31
the ball into rapid runs with the bat.
The two opening batsmen built a solid foundation for the 3s With two new batsmen at the crease, Theo Gwyther and Will Hales could have been excused for feeling the pressure against a bowling attack that had found themselves in full flow. If they did feel under pressure, they didn’t seem to show it: the third and fourth batsmen marched onto the square with confidence and once at the crease played some of the shots of the day with consummate ease. The pair had brought the total up to 74 runs in the 17th over before Hales was caught out in the 21st.
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