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ISSUE 674 30 OCT 2017 exepose.com @Exepose
THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
Uni defends plan for Amory Hub
Owain Evans Editor
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Price, Place, People, Paperwork:
Students’ Guild launches housing campaign
Photo: Tash Ebbutt
Natalie Keffler News Editor
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HE accommodation rush has again descended upon Exeter, and this time to try and aid the students stress, the Students’ Guild are running a campaign to aid students in finding houses, with a focus on firstyear students who have not had to deal with this before.
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One second-year student has said that “it’s hard not to worry about it when everyone else starts looking for houses so early - you worry that if you’re not looking by the end of October, then you’re going to miss out on the best houses”. With this in mind, the Guild have broken this process down to what has been dubbed the ‘4 Ps’ – Price, Place, People and Paperwork. This model emphasises the importance
Back to winning ways: Multi-sport success for Exeter PAGes 38-40
of not signing any tenancy agreements until you feel fully comfortable with it, as there can be a tendency to feel rushed into picking the first house you view - it is important to remember that, despite how it may feel, there are lots of options. VP Welfare and Diversity Kat Karamani has said of the campaign “It can be very easy for students to rush into accommodation with people they’ve
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only known for a month or so in order to bag a house 2 minutes from campus. The campaign is being run to ensure that students think about all the aspects of living in the private sector as well as alternate types of accommodation; the 4ps are useful for this. It is aimed to remind students that there are enough places to live in Exeter and to try to curb the panic that so many feel.”
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HE University has hit back at criticism of its roll out of the Hubs system, as plans for the future of Amory begin to take shape. Several individuals had expressed concerns to XpressionFM, in a report set to be aired on Monday 30 October, about staff redundancies, increasing difficulty for students seeking specialised help and the temporary closing of the Amory building. However, despite changes to staffing, the University has denied fears that many administrators could be laid off. The aim of these changes is “to ensure [staff] can better give detailed support and advice and to ensure students in different subjects get the same, consistent service. There will be dedicated welfare and wellbeing advisors in each hub, able to support academic tutors and quickly refer students who need support.” Further consultation with staff is expected to take place.
The aim of these changes is “to ensure [staff] can give better detailed support and advice” Regarding disruption to Amory, the University were keen to point out that it would affect only the ground floor, and academics in the building will remain accessible to students. Whilst plans aren’t yet finalized, the aim is for “work [to] take place when Amory is quieter,” leading to an April to September timetable.
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MUSIC
Interview: The Horrors’ Joshua Hayward
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Editors Print: Owain Evans & Emma Bessent Deputy: Tash Ebbutt & Graham Moore Online: Phoebe Davis & Ollie Lund editors@exepose.com News Editors Print: Megan Davies & Natalie Keffler Online: Nicky Avasthi & Ruby Bosanquet news@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: Alicia Rees & Malcolm Wong Online: Harry Bunting & Hannah Weiss comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: James Angove & Isabel Taylor Online: Matthew Phillips & Daphne Bugler features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Lauren Geall & Barbara Balogun Online: Bethan Gilson & Melissa Barker lifestyle@exepose.com Arts + Lit Editors Print: Mubanga Mweemba & Maddie Davies Online: Ellie Cook & Emily Garbutt artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Alex Brammer & Maddy Parker Online: Chloë Edwards & George Stamp music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Ben Faulkner & Fenton Christmas Online: Johnny Chern & Molly Gilroy screen@exepose.com Science Editors Print: Leah Crabtree & Luke Smith Online: Ayesha Tandon & Rhys Davies sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Dorothea Christmann & Wil Jones Online: Michael Jones & Kieran Jackson sport@exepose.com Photographers Christy Chin & Léa Esteban photography@exepose.com Copy Editors George Pope, Jaysim Hanspal, Eloise Hardy and Hannah Kitt Proofers
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Editorial With everyone now in the thick of their deadlines, you might find that stress and fatigue levels are running high in your flat or house. Those of us lucky enough to have a reading week will be shipping back out in a mini Exe-odus, desperate to return to Mum’s home cooking and a house with functioning central heating. Those who remain at Uni take up permanent residence in the library, only to be lured away by the temptation of Pret coffee, Ram basket meals and – naturally – the shiny new edition of Exeposé. And it’s a good one, if we do say so ourselves; this is a spooky special issue for our Exhibit sections. Lifestyle, Arts + Lit, Music and Screen have all brought together some fantastically creative Halloween content, making the best of their time in limelight as they take centre stage in the streamlining of our social media and online presence – have a look at our jazzy new Exhibit Facebook page! Music make the excellent point that there is no sound more chilling than that which encapsulates 80s trends in their Stranger Things piece on page 24. Screen have produced a pie chart to show which of these films struck the most terror in the hearts of their writers’ group members and gotten all multimedia mysterious as they take a look back at the infamous Youtube series Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared. Over on page 17, Lifestyle present their ultimate last-minute solutions to the continual crisis of costuming caused by this pumpkinladen period of the year. They then get a little bit ahead of themselves with their inspection of this year’s hottest advent calendars but hey, a little bit of Christmas spirit never hurt nobody! Primark have been selling tinsel for
Friends fundraise for Exeter student after accident weeks, so we’re justified…right? Arts + Lit are working to reclaim Exhibit’s dignity as they present an array of (surprise) arts and literature inspired by the unheimlich with an Art from the Heart special on page 21 and a catalogue of freaky folklore on page 22. We’re also delighted to see the return of creative prose writing in the section in our “Spooky Short Stories” feature on page 20. Science are also chipping in on the Halloween theme as they look back at the “Strangest Things” discovered in the scientific sphere so far in 2017 on page 35. Features are finding enough to frighten them in the real world too, as they look at the potential financial crisis posed by Brexit on page 12. Those of you desperate to procrastinate on those ever-increasing assignments will be delighted to see that we have a double page Study Break in this issue (pages 3132). When you’re all puzzled out and ready to tackle that essay, Comment are chatting about how to crush your work from start to submission on page 8. Of course, the other major source of stress at this point in the year is – absurdly – figuring out what you’re going to be doing next year. If you’re staying in Exeter for another year (or three), then you might be panicking about where you’re going to live; our front page story is looking at the Guild’s new 4Ps initiative and what our students’ union is doing to offset the worries of living in a city which asks you to sign up for September 2018 accomodation in November 2017. Whatever is on your mind, we hope that this issue of Exeposé has something in it for you! -Owain and Emma
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COMMENT Guild Points: are they worth it? PAGE 10
FEATURES Binge drinking: how much harm does it cause? PAGE 13
SCIENCE Interview with Simon Bell of the BBC's Blue Planet PAGE 35
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There are even more great articl es on the Exeposé website. From commentary on high-profile artistic prizes to a review of Exeter's newest nightclub, you can find it all at www.exepose.com
Worldwide university news US ahead of China in latest rankings
Captive academic's letter received
NIVERSITIES in the United States have recently taken the top four places in the new 2018 Best Global Universities rankings. The US dominates these rankings, taking 221 spots from the 1,250 institutions that were evaluated. China appeared second in these rankings with 131 institutions, followed by Japan with 76, the United Kingdom at 73 and Germany at 58. France, Italy, Spain, South Korea, Australia and Canada were also in the top 10 performing institutions. Apart from Cambridge and Oxford the rest of the top 10 remain American institutions, with Harvard taking the top place. The results are drawn from 74 countries across the globe. The subject specific rankings also show the US institutions gaining the most number one places by far, followed by the UK, China, Germany and Canada.
HANDWRITTEN letter from a university lecturer captured by Boko Haram has been delivered to the University of Maiduguri, and has consequently spurred the Nigerian authorities to secure his and his two colleagues release. Last July eight academics from the University of Maiduguri were ambushed on their way to Lake Chad Basin to conduct oil and gas exploration by Boko Haram, with 5 academics being killed and the remaining 3 being captured. All efforts to secure the academics release have failed so far, however in the letter Yusuf appeals to the federal government and university authorities to urgently enter into negotiations for his and his colleagues release. He reminds the university they were caught on a national assignment, and urges the University to treat their freedom with a sense of urgency.
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Images: Wikimedia Commons (left), Pexels (right)
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Inappropriate professor Two men shot outside causes institute closure Louisiana dorm
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HE astronomy institute at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETHZ) was recently closed after the head of the institute’s wife, a leading professor in the department, was found to have acted inappropriately towards students. According to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, several students complained that Marcella Carollo expected “superhuman commitment” from her students, taking no weekends, evenings, or holidays off. She would also tell them to “spend less time on makeup and more on research” and make comments about their posture. In addition, students and staff worried that having a married couple in two senior positions at the institute was not ideal. Staff have also pointed out that women physics professors are rare at ETHZ, and that bias may have played a role in the way she was perceived.
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NE student and one other man were shot dead outside a Grambling State University dormitory in Louisiana, following an altercation indoors. Named as Earl Andrews and Monquiarious Caldwell, they were friends before starting university as well as being cousins by marriage. Denying that the shooting was a random act or a terrorist act, the Lincoln Parish Sheriff ’s Department also said that the victims knew the suspect, who fled the scene. A suspect has not yet been named. Teaching at the university is continuing as normal, and a vigil is planned for Wednesday night. Stories by Natalie Keffler and Megan Davies, News Editors
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NEWS EDITORS: Natalie Keffler Megan Davies
Students’ Guild attempts to aid accommodation search
CONTINUED FROM FRONT The first step, according to the Guild’s advice, is to find the right people you want to live with. This is arguably the most important part; although it can be a little hard to judge beforehand, it is crucial you get on with them, and are confident you will still get on with them next year
You feel pressured to accept the first housing offer you get With your ideal housemates selected, you can then move onto working within a certain price budget, agreeing how much everyone is happy to pay before you move onto considering which area you would like to look into living in. Student houses can hugely vary by area, with regards to pricing,
availability, and walking distance from the University. With all this decided, the final step is then to sign the tenancy agreement. This is a legally binding contract between you and the landlord, and it is therefore highly important to read through the contract carefully. Any students struggling with the legal aspects can bring these documents to the Guild’s Advice Unit to examine before signing. Students often find that this stage can feel rushed, stating from experiences in previous years that “you feel pressured to accept the first housing offer you get, and as time goes on you feel trapped, because you’ve signed a contract but the people you are living with aren’t who you thought they were.” Another issue extant in recent years has been increasing house prices for those properties let through agen-
cies, arguably making it harder for those students who are trying to stick to a certain budget. One second-year student said that “prices are so expensive compared to other University’s my friends are at, and it’s so difficult to find somewhere close and reasonably priced.” This begins the debate between choosing a house using an agency – arguably a ‘safer’ option - or through a private landlord, who will often provide just as good a service at a cheaper price.
It’s so difficult to find somewhere close and reasonably priced If all this sounds a little overwhelming, the Students Guild is holding an Accommodation Fair between 11:00 and 16:00 in the Great Hall on
Tuesday 21 November, where landlords will be present for further information on houses. However, some students may feel that this is too little too late, as many are already feeling the impetus to have housing sorted by that point in the term. In many ways, it’s important not to get too swept up in the housing excitement – once word gets around that properties are being snapped up, the temptation to hurry the process can override sensible decision-making. Although it may feel like there is a sudden rush for houses, it is important to remember that many houses have yet to be released onto the market, and many agencies release houses in regular batches to avoid them all going at once. So, although there may not be time to procrastinate, there is room for reason.
Provide a Pad launch Science journal relaunches donation drive Francesca Getty News Team
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ROVIDE a Pad is a studentrun campaign which seeks to raise awareness of menstruation of the homeless and the issues this creates, in addition to what we can do to combat them. Fundamentally, the issue is seeking menstrual products for the homeless, as whilst charities regularly receive food and washing donations, there remains to be a limited number of feminine products available. Lowri, one of the programme directors of the campaign, commented: “This is a really important project. Not only does it normalise talking about periods but it fights against
period inequality and is such a simple way to support the homeless community here in Exeter. “No one should be ashamed to have a period and sanitary products should be available to all who need them.” From 7th to 9th November, the Provide a Pad team can be located in the Forum, where they will be collecting sanitary products to be donated to charity.
É To keep up with all the great work Provide a Pad are doing, you can follow their Facebook page!
Image: Provide a Pad
Penny Dinh News Team
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STEM-themed photography competition. The winning picture will appear on the cover of their next issue, which will be published in January 2018. Detailed submission guidelines can be found on https://exestem.wordpress. com/general-submission-guidelines/. Anyone interested in submitting should get in touch by emailing STEMJournal@exeter.ac.uk.
aunched in May 2017, The Exeter Undergraduate Science Journal has become a platform for STEM students to showcase their academic research. Past submissions have included write-ups of individual research, explanations of an area the writer found particularly interesting and summaries of research in an area the writer is interested in. The first issue of the journal was highly popular, with physical copies The deadline for submissions, both being sold out across all campuses in Exwritten pieces and photography, is 10 eter, and Penryn. Over the summer, the November. publication has been made available online on their brand new website, exestem.wordpress. com. The Exeter Undergraduate Science Journal is now open for submissions for academic work carried out by current undergraduate students. Submissions must be between 1000 and 1500 words, and can either be an essay or a report. All submissions will be peer-reviewed. The journal Image: College of Life and Environmental Sciences is also holding a
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NSS results prompt teaching meetings Emma Bessent Editor
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he University of Exeter’s Vice Chancellor’s Executive Group have made the decision to start holding Teaching Excellence Monitoring meetings across all Colleges. This is partly in response to the challenges presented by the 2016/17 National Students’ Survey with the University seeing a dip in the 2017 NSS results. The choice was made as an outcome of the VCEG Residential, and the University has mentioned that it hopes the meetings will help to respond to the challenges presented by the 2017/18 National Students’ Survey. Last academic year, finalists at the University of Exeter saw a dip in their results; peaks and troughs in overall academic performance can often be reflected in the tone of NSS results.
Peaks and troughs in academic performance can often be reflected in NSS results The new Teaching Excellence Monitoring meetings will be held in a similar format to the Research Monitoring meetings, which are a wellestablished part of the University’s internal quality assurance procedure. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education, Tim Quine, will chair the meetings. Each discipline will have a meeting throughout October and November. All meetings will be attended by the relevant Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Associate Deans for Education and ESE Business Partners, whilst the Head of Discipline, Director of Education and SSLC chair for each Discipline will be invited to attend their respective slot. The University is working to better organise and regulate departmental administrative procedure through the new Hubs system, and the Research Monitoring meetings are already ensuring a consistent standard of research across Departments. The new layer of Quality Assurance procedure which Teaching Excellence Monitoring meetings is a welcome move to ensure the University continues to deliver a Gold standard of education across the board, especially considering Exeter’s freshly minted Gold status under the Teaching Excellence Framework.
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30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
NEWS
ISC changes passed
Megan Davies News Editor
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HE restructuting of representation of international students was approved on Wednesday after Shadow Council voted to move several officers out of International Students’ Council starting next year. The proposal originally came from Shades, who was prviously DVP International, and as such spent a year at the head of the ISC. The ISC is an elected body meant to represent international students’ voices. It is currently made up of six officers and has three more positions which are currently vacant. Guild President, Shades, told Exeposé: “The ISC was established in 2009 as a representative function but over the years, with events like Cultures Week and Diversity Week, has lost its awareness amongst the student body as their representative council. The re-appropriation of the various posts of ISC would facilitate effective representation of international students and specific issues and move the events to International societies exec mini-forum, where they are most appropriate to be placed.” After the restructure, several of the current roles, such as the DVP International and the INTO Officer, will move to sit on other councils starting from the next Guild Council cycle.
University defends Hub in Amory CONTINUED FROM FRONT The roll-out of Hubs has been controversial amongst students, with a Student Idea in the last academic year describing them as a “bid to cut costs and reduce staff support levels”. The then-VP Education, Harry Reeve, defended the Hubs proposal, pointing out that it was an attempt to improve student experience and that the Sabbs and Subject Reps had been “working with the University to provide the student perspective in helping shape the project.” Despite this, the Idea, which called on the Guild to oppose the rollout of Hubs until further consultation, passed easily with 187 students strongly agreeing. Since then, the University has held a series of workshops – “one for students, one for academic and one for professional services staff. The student workshop was attended by SSLC representa-
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N a bid to fend off the potential boredom and isolation of retirement, Exeter City has collaborated with the University to host a weekly meeting for men over 50 to discuss sport. Whilst it is by no means necessary, fans are encouraged to bring along sporting memorabilia such as programmes or photos to facilitate conversation. The two hour session is held in the Grecian Centre at St James Park Exeter City’s Stadium – and also offers participants the opportunity to walk around the ground and partake in indoor activities, such as indoor bowls. In another effort to complement Exeter City’s impressive attempt to connect with the wider community, Dr. Ali Haggett, from the University, hailed the initiative as an “informal and relaxed” environment. “We really try to organise the sessions around what the participants want to do” and “in the future we also want to plan some visiting talks”, Dr. Haggett said.
We have been consulting with students about the plans for Amory for over 18 months
Ian Blenkharn, Director of Eductation and Student Experience
Ian Blenkham, Director of Education and Student Experience, told Exeposé: “We know students want bigger and better social and study spaces on campus and are working to deliver that for them. We want to provide students with more spaces to socialise and study nearer to where they are taught, to buy and heat up food and also to get access to education support. Having this in the same location as they normally have lectures will make it easier and quicker to get support and create a
Megan Davies News Editor
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TUDENTS have alleged that they found notes on campus advertising a pick-up artist website offering advice on relationships with Asian women. Exeposé is aware of three separate students having spotted these notes, two in the Amory building and one in the Business School building.
It was so blatantly misogynist, with dodgy tones of exoticism and preying on insecurities The notes address men who are, among others, “still a virgin”, “socially awkward with women”, “in an unhappy monogamous relationship with an overbearing girlfriend”, or who want to “date foreign exotic women”, “travel the world and have adventures”, or “have sex”, advertising that the website will “show you how to be free of the societal programming so deeply ingrained in you. It will show you how to truly be free in both your
sense of community for students and staff. There is regular construction on campus and we are experienced in making sure staff and students experience as little disruption as possible during building work. “We have been consulting with students about the plans for Amory for over 18 months, and we want to continue to listen to their views. There will be further opportunities for students to have their say about the new Hub in the coming months.” Hubs have already been introduced in Harrison, Queens and Washington Singer. Building work is currently underway in Peter Chalk, although the discovery of asbestos has caused disruption.
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For more about Hubs, listen to XpressionFM’s report on the Hot Seat, airing on Monday 30 October at 6PM. You can listen to Xpression from Streatham Campus on 87.7FM, or via their website: xpression.fm
Notes found on campus “misogynist with tones of exoticism”
Over 50s at City Michael Jones Online Sport Editor
tives from each discipline in Amory.” With further changes expected to provide greater detail to the plans for the Amory hub, the University confirmed that they “will be shared with SSLC representatives in a workshop so they can input their ideas.
business life and your woman life”. Lucca, a student who found one of the notes, said: “When I first found the note I prayed that it could be a joke, and the web address would lead someone into a website full of info on consent or something. It was so blatantly misogynist, with dodgy tones of exoticism and preying on insecurities of young men”.
When I saw the website and realised it was serious I actually felt sick The advertised website features, among others, series such as “types of Chinese girls”, “screenings”, and sex advice. One student qualified the author as a “pick-up artist”, however the author of the website claims to prefer the term “life coaching”. Lucca said: “When I saw the website and realised it was serious I actually felt really sick, it shamelessly teaches guys that "no means yes" when it comes to sex with women which in my opinion is basically teaching them how to rape. “I was shocked this had been put up on campus, especially after the
#NeverOk campaigns of the last few years. I think consent needs to much more deeply integrated into education on all levels to combat this”. A University of Exeter spokesman said: “All student posters have to be approved by the Students’ Guild. This particular notice was not approved. University staff regularly check public areas in Amory and will remove any unapproved notices. We would encourage students to report any unapproved notices they see to the Students’ Guild or a member of staff.” The notes have now been removed.
É If you spot more of these notes, report them to a member of staff. If you need support, the following resources are available: Devon Rape Crisis: support@devonrapecrisis.org.uk Guild Advice Unit: 01392 723520 or advice@exeterguild.com Wellbeing Centre: http://www.exeter.ac.uk/wellbeing/
The importance of Seafood Farming Graham Moore Deputy Editor
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AUNCHED on 26 October, the Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Futures (SAF) is a new joint project between the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences and the University of Exeter. Aquacultures already provides a major source of protein for 3 billion people, with twelve per cent of the world’s population primarily dependent upon fisheries. Since global population is projected to reach almost 10 billion by 2050, aquaculture will become an increasingly important food source. The SAF’s emphasis on aquatic animal health and protection of the aquatic environment aligns with the goals of the recently opened Living Systems Institute, which aims to mitigate disease in plants and animals. The University of Exeter’s Professor Charles Tyler, co-director of the SAF, has said “Given that animal disease and food safety present two of the most significant hurdles to sustainable production, we will place major focus on scientific research and advice where the impact to industry and society will be highest”.
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Friends fundraise for student after accident Alex Wingrave News Team
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The donations give him motivation to work hard during rehab sessions Friends and family of Gerard from around the globe have collaborated to produce a video and fundraiser on JustGiving. The funds from this will go towards his recovery, and towards care and equipment for once he re-
Lecturers inspire local schools about the ancient world Deepa Lalwani News Team
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AST week, Dr Nicolo D’Alconzo, a lecturer in Ancient Greek literature at the university, visited a primary school in Exeter to inspire Year 4 pupils with stories from Greek myth. The lecturer told the children at Stoke Hill junior school how our popular superheroes have a lot of similarities to Ancient Greek heroes. Odys-
seus was compared to Batman, since neither of them had superpowers but still defeated their enemies using their innovative skills. Arachne, a weaverturned-spider, was not unlike SpiderMan, and the triumphs of Achilles were compared to that of Superman. The children were also fascinated by the connections between the Amazons (a group of female warriors) and Wonder Woman. Dr D’Alconzo remarked that “Deep down the ancient Greeks were very similar to us when Image: University of Exeter
RIENDS of University of Exeter student Gerard Murphy have come together to raise money after he was left paralysed in a diving accident in Sweden. Gerard, 22, is a Geography and Arabic student who was in Sweden for the summer, after completing a year abroad at the University of Waterloo in Canada. While diving in a shallow lake, Gerard hit his head and fractured his spine after misjudging the depth. His friends pulled him out and he was given emergency surgery in Sweden, and then airlifted to the UK after two weeks. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation for the C5 tetraplegia that he suffered because of the accident, which is paralysis of the legs, wrists, and hands.
sumes his studies and day-to-day life. The campaign’s target is £100,000 and various fundraising events have been planned for the upcoming year. Alex Jundi, Gerard’s best friend who runs the online campaign, said: “Gerard is an absolutely incredible guy, so happy and full of energy. He has an ability to impact anyone he meets, however brief their interactions may be”. “Of course we are all extremely saddened by what has happened, but Gerard is truly humbled by all the support that the JustGiving page is getting, the donations give him motivation to work hard during rehab sessions.” Gerard intends to return to Exeter to complete his studies ‘when the time is right’. The campaign has thus far raised over £40,000 from over 700 supporters, and is available online for those who might wish to donate.
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it comes to passion for superheroes. I was impressed how much the children knew about the Greeks.” The Stoke Hill pupils were also taught the Greek alphabet, and how to write the name of their school in Ancient Greek. Hannah McCarthy, the students’ teacher, said that “Hearing from an expert on Ancient Greece really brought the subject to life. Comparing our superheroes and their superheroes really brought it down to a level the children understood.” Dr D’Alconzo is just one of a number of members of the University of Exeter’s Classics Department to give talks in local schools. Dr Sharon Marshall, a Latin lecturer, has been working on a Latin teaching project across Devon. In February next year, the department will be hosting a day-long event for nearby secondary schools, in collaboration with the National Advocating Classics Education initiative. The event will be held at the university and focus on introducing students and teachers alike to ancient literature and history, and will include interactive demonstrations and workshops, as well as a talk from The Guardian’s chief culture writer and celebrity classicist Charlotte Higgins.
Uni donates library books to Mosul MP demands information on Brexit-related courses
Wil Jones Sport Editor
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HE University of Exeter is to donate around 600 academic books to the University of Mosul to replace texts destroyed by Islamic State in Syria (ISIS). Paul Auchterlonie, a librarian for The Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, began collecting culturally important books in the aftermath of the coalition forces’ invasion of Iraq in 2003. They cover a range of topics - including the literature, history, culture, and politics of Iraq - and will go towards replenishing a university that had around 30,000 students in attendance before its closure. Having been ransacked during the expansion of ISIS in 2014, the University of Mosul was used as a base for the insurgents until its recapture by Iraqi forces in January of this year. During their occupation, the group burnt an estimated 8,000 Image: Pexels
books and over 100,000 manuscripts in a cultural purge. Many of the destroyed manuscripts were on a UNESCO rarities list. In response, the University of Exeter has answered an international campaign to provide new books and printed materials for its students as the Iraqi university plans to reopen following military successes against ISIS in a city once deemed a ‘stronghold’ for the terrorist organisation. Zoe Humble, a research project administrator for the institute, is organising the donation. Ms Humble stated:
“Books are an integral part of any city and society. This will be more so for the University of Mosul, where computers, desks, and electricity are scare.” Although the infrastructure of the country remains a concern, Ms Humble was optimistic: “We are working hard to make sure these books get to Iraq [and] support those trying to reopen the University of Mosul. We want to do what we can to help.” Exeter’s Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies is hoping their collection of unused Arabic textbooks will arrive in Mosul later this autumn.
Megan Davies News Editor
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CONSERVATIVE MP, Chris Heaton-Harris, demanded the names of lecturers who teach about Brexit, as well as the content of their courses. The letter, dated 3 October, was sent out to a number of universities, Besides the names of the academics teaching on them, it asked for access to the courses, including syllabuses and online recordings of lectures on “European affairs, with particular reference to Brexit”. It raised questions about academic freedom. Staff from several universities told The Guardian of their concerns, with Kevin Featherstone, the head of the Institute of European Studies at LSE saying that “the letter reflects a past of a McCarthyite nature. It smacks of asking: are you or have you ever been in favour of remain? There is clearly an implied threat that universities will somehow be challenged for their bias”.
Universities Minister Jo Johnson has now said that Heaton-Harris’ letter was sent as part of research for a book, calling it “more of an academic inquiry rather than an attempt to constrain the freedom that academics rightly have”. He also said on BBC Radio 4 that Heaton-Harris “probably didn’t appreciate the degree to which this would be misinterpreted”. “I am sure Chris is regretting this very much. The critical thing is that the government is absolutely committed to academic freedom and to freedom of speech in our universities. “A letter which could have been misinterpreted should probably not have been sent”. A YouGov survey from january showed that more than 80 per cent of academis voted remain, and this rate tends to be higher for those academics teaching European affairs. The university has told Exeposé that they had not received a copy of this letter.
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30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
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Comment
COMMENT EDITORS: Alicia Rees Malcolm Wong
Winternships George Pitchford Contributor
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HE summer after second year is now characterised by enormous pressure to gain experience, be it industrial or office based. Some of us incorporate an entire academic year for it. But is it really the deal breaker for fast track interviews, or just another corporate strategy to exploit intelligent young minds for little or no pay? That’s what I’ll try to answer, and have being trying to answer since I left a summer position in London. Whilst returning to Exeter felt like a homecoming, there are aspects of city working that I miss now. Let’s start by validating and dispelling some corporate myths. Firstly, the coffee runs. Not once was I asked to bring a round of caffeinated beverages in branded mugs
to the rest of the team. I was not at all exploited as a butler. Working 9 till 5. Is full time work overly structured? Yes and no. I had to be in the office at 8.30 every morning and often found myself scrambling onto the tube like James Bond in Skyfall, and I couldn’t feel I could acceptably go home until at least half of the other employees had left. At intern level, there is a sense of being watched at every step.
Not once was I asked to bring a round of caffeinated beverages But it’s not all an Orwellian novel, and I found my colleagues cared much more for my overall output than for the time I spent completing a task. Ditching evening drinks for a moonlight shift doesn’t earn you
that many brownie points either – no one’s in the office to see it. It’s much more a case of quality over quantity. When I started in London, I expected every stereotype imaginable – hostile business meetings hosted by sexist men who haven’t undone their top button in 25 years, and to spend more time with my emails than my family. Unfortunately, this feature is available, and in all too abundant supply. But it is avoidable. Any company big enough to force-feed you flyers at careers fairs will allow for flexibility. You can choose which department and which people to work for, it’s just a matter of making the right choice. Thankfully, these summer and graduate placements do give you that affability. Many include “rotational” programmes that’ll see you almost handpicking the type of work you do. Sounds dreamy? In-
deed, these places will throw everything at giving you a good trail run of the company, hedging their bets so you’ll be tied down in the long run.
Is full time work overly structured? London especially is orientated around the “it’s who you know, not what you know” philosophy. Opportunities will be correlated with the number of people you network with in EC3, rather than your outstanding work on the aged debt spreadsheet. It’s a harsh injustice shift for those of us who’re used to getting our accolade from academic achievement. It’s by no means the cutthroat world presented by tycoon shows, but it’s one where your exam results alone are by no means enough. One thing
is a common denominator in insurance, accounting, banking, consultancy and even marketing, and it’s that horrible myriad of cells. It’s the dark truth that school and university never prepare you for. I can comfortably prove theorems involving numbers that only exist in four dimensional space for my degree, but when it comes to some rudimentary Excel functions, I’m sat there looking at my manager like he’s speaking French. I might have taken the hyperbolic route but it’s something that’s misconceived in the transition from student to “graduate trainee”. Some computer know-how coupled with a strain of charisma are the two tastiest ingredients in corporate soup. The route to a job title ending in “executive” isn’t what we’re used to, but there are leg-ups. Pick a company that you can fall in love with, it’s paramount.
Deadline fighter Peter Firth Contributor
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HE time is undoubtedly upon us when we have to face up to the fact that the ultimate focus of university is our degree. As a first year writing about fighting upcoming deadlines, I’m aware that it seems premature, or in fact inappropriate. However, I’m in a fortunate position where I can guarantee that everyone reading this has experienced the emotions of looking towards the lurking presence of their first university level assignment. What I am going to say may even evoke a rose-tinted, retrospective understanding amongst those 2nd and 3rd years who are currently facing very real and important deadlines. So
please, on my account, escape to the happier times and sit comfortably whilst reminiscing on those simpler “fresher days”. With every intention of being honest, I currently find myself in a conflicting position where (as everyone in the years above tells me) I am well aware that the work and subsequent outcome have no quantitative impact on my final degree class.
Everyone approaches deadlines differently I know more than anyone that first year is simply about adjusting and getting involved in university life. Just recently, I submitted my first assignment – a formative one,
I might add – and after navigating the BART submission system, it was gone; my first university assignment was sent and delivered. I hope that I am not alone in having the nervous tickle in my stomach at the prospect of hitting that submit button. Even just writing that statement makes me realise that without noticing it, I have passed the first university test: submit coursework. However, whilst basking in my newly found proverbial sun, I am soon brought crashing back to the reality that not only was that only one assignment from one module, but it didn’t even count towards the overall grade of that module. Once again I am also quickly reminded that the module itself doesn’t count towards my degree. Now if that realisation isn’t depressing, I don’t know
what is. In terms of facing deadlines, I don’t think I’m necessarily at all qualified to give advice on the best way to do this. All I am pretty certain of is that it depends on the individual: for me, I have to plan and complete my work well in advance of the deadline, but for others eking out every last minute possible is just as valid an approach as mine. Everyone approaches them
differently and rather than demonising them or employing advanced procrastination techniques just to put off the inevitable, face them head on and with conviction. To make my point clearer, I will leave you with the analogy of upcoming deadlines as two wrestlers: you in the red corner VS the assignment in the blue, sparring it out until you hopefully emerge as the rightful winner, tackling that assignment into (literal) submission.
COMMENT
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Society Variety Constantinos Costa Christou Contributor
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URING my sixth-form years, the opportunity to join student societies was the part of university I was most looking forward to. Finally, a chance for me to meet like-minded people through my various hobbies and interests. Suffice to say, I was overwhelmed by the amount of choice I was faced with at the Freshers’ Fair last year. Hundreds of stands spanning the whole of central campus, sports societies lining Forum Hill, colourful banners and signs as far as the eye could see, live demonstrations across campus, freebies galore... it was all so exciting. In the heat of the moment, I signed up for a total of eight societies. £50 later, I was happy with my choices and was ready to become the BNOC I was destined to be... or so I thought. So, what went wrong? Well, some
might say I over-committed. For the first month of term one, I attended pretty much every event these societies put on. Well, mostly. Despite my freshers’ flu ordeal spanning two weeks, I hoisted myself out of my hovel in Moberly House to attend workshops, guest talks, socials and screenings. My rationale was the more things I attended, the more people I would meet and the more enriched my social life would become. My rationale proved to be corr e c t … for others. Meanwhile, as time went on I began to cling to the people I already knew and became more reluc-
tant to mix. The great thing about Freshers’ is the ability to start a conversation with pretty much anyone you come across (“where are you from?”, “what course are you doing?”, “where are you living?”, etc.), by week five of term one, this is no longer the case. By week six, I stopped attending nearly all of my societies… and didn’t return for the rest of my first year. Why? There was a multitude of reasons why my love and enthusiasm for societies fizzled out. F i r s t l y, fatigue – as my course got more intense, I lost the desire to go
out three or four evenings a week. Secondly, I didn’t quite click with the societies like I thought I would, which wasn’t helped by the fact that many of the people I interacted with most felt the same. Perhaps the biggest reason of all was me moving from the concrete cells of Moberly House to a slightly better accommodation block across the road. Acquiring a set of flatmates and neighbours who I clicked with instantly meant that I wasn’t as eager to socialise in the evenings and would rather go out with people I knew. All these factors combined turned me from a budding social butterfly to a hermit. I wish I could say the same about my second-year society experiences; I streamlined my choices down to five in a bid to avoid over-commitment. I re-joined Debating…and have yet to attend a single event, much as with Campus Cinema. Funnily enough, out of the three societies I am active in, two allow me to contribute from the comfort of my sofa (Exeposé
and Razz) and the other one I am on the committee for (upReach). However, the year still young and I am determined to make the most of my societies this time around. A good way of doing this is attending the socials of societies my friends are part of, which is far less daunting that rocking up halfway through the term.
In the heat of the moment I signed up for a total of eight societies For many, society involvement is the best part of uni life; it’s where friends are made, food and drink are consumed, discussions are had and life-long bonds can be made. However, this is not the case for everyone and one shouldn’t get too bogged down if they aren’t as engaged in society activity as others; it is possible to have a perfectly fulfilling experience without society participation.
Making the exceptional happen Tim Quine Deputy Vice-Chancellor
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S Deputy Vice-Chancellor with the Education Portfolio, I have responsibility for leading the University’s Strategy for Education and I report in to Professor Sir Steve Smith, the VC, on all matters to do with education from fair access and student recruitment, through every aspect of your academic experience at Exeter and on to supporting you into graduate level employment. Our new strategy, ‘Making the Exceptional Happen’, commits us to “Delivering Internationally Excellent Education” alongside “Building Research Power to Tackle Global Challenges” and “Creating Impact Regionally, Nationally and Globally”, enabled by foundations in supporting our people and making the most of our resources. While these are defined as separate pillars, they are, of course, inextricably linked - I’ll talk about what I see as linkages in future comment pieces but I’ll give a couple of glimpses here on the way that you contribute to research power and impact and then focus on the excellent
education available at Exeter. Our research power reflects the new knowledge and understanding of the world that is created within the University, and the whole academic community has a role in this. Engaged debates in seminars can just as much challenge the academic leaders of the discussion as any other participants. Research projects by undergraduate and postgraduate students often act as pilot studies for major new investigations that create discoveries and shape our understanding of the world and can lead directly to publications that shape academic debates. Our impact regionally, nationally and globally reflects the way that the new knowledge created in Exeter influences culture, society, the economy and the way we contribute to all the dimensions of the world beyond campus. The whole University community is involved in this in so many ways including cultural events, volunteering, study and research with government, businesses, industry and NGOs. There is no doubt that the city of Exeter is greatly enriched by the cultural diversity that our community brings as is so evident in the great celebrations led by our student societies, like Diwali last weekend.
What of “delivering internationally excellent education”? Well, of course, you are at the very heart of this. While the strategy uses the word delivering, as I am sure you will appreciate, excellent education is co-created. It involves learning and teaching; it is based on constructive, supportive engagement and communication in all directions. It is wonderfully diverse. It can only be built on shared understanding of goals, outcomes and context. For all these reasons, one of the greatest highlights of the year is always the Teaching Awards in which you celebrate and tell us what outstanding internationally excellent - teaching (and learning) looks like. For all those reasons, it is also really essential that we hear your voice and that you know how we are responding. There are so many ways for you to ensure that your voice is heard - conversations with your
tutor and module leaders; responses to module surveys; departmental meetings; and, of course, the enormously important subject and college academic representation (SSLCs/SPBs) facilitated by the Students’ Guild. These are really vital roles in ensuring that your voice is systematically heard in your department, College and the University. The feedback that I and my colleagues receive through these hard-working volunteers is absolutely
invaluable and leads to changes such as the improved personal academic tutor framework and also to major investments like the integrated Hubs bringing together study space, catering and student support in locations close to your academic home on campus. Please do keep the feedback coming so that we can continue to create tangible enhancements to our co-created internationally excellent education.
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30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
COMMENT
Pointless - the lost cause of Guild points Alex Wingrave Contributor
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T the start of every year, the Guild wheels out signs promoting their clunky rewards system, Guild Points, which gives you four points for every £1 you spend in the Ram, the Grove Diner, Pieminister, Comida, and the Guild Shop. But does anyone pay attention and actually redeem their points when buying a basket of curly fries or a meal deal? As far as I can tell, the answer is a resounding no. As someone who serves customers at two different Guild outlets, Pieminister and Comida, I can tell you that the people who ask for their student card to be swiped are a rarer species than the giant panda. Despite the adverts around campus, most students haven’t ever heard of the system,
or really aren’t bothered about it when they’re in a hurry to get lunch. Even when staff or students do ask, some cards don’t work when they’re scanned, seemingly at random, or only work at certain outlets.
Does anyone pay attention and actually redeem their points? The other chief problem with Guild Points is how little they really give back to us students. Almost every student has some financial struggles here and there, and the idea of the reward of an occasional free meal seems enticing in theory. But the reality is that with only four points per £1, and each point only being worth a solitary penny, you’d need to spend nearly £50 until you could buy a basket of those deli-
cious crispy lifesavers: curly fries. Considering that’s one of the cheapest hot items on campus, and that you can only redeem your points on a full transaction rather than getting a discount on something, you’d be lucky to redeem your points once or twice a term. Obviously, the Guild needs to make money, but it seems to me the system needs a little updating – even increasing it to 5 points, like Costa, could make a difference. While it’s likely some more dynamic advertising, and more active promotion by Guild staff, would prick up the ears of a few additional students, I’m not sure it’s worth investing more time and effort into a rewards system that hasn’t, so far at least, captured the interest of a demographic who love saving a bit of money. So, unless they get a serious revamp, Guild Points at Exeter are destined to remain pointless.
VEGETABLE CORNER I
BROCCOLI
AUBERGINE
PEPPERS
Ryan Allen Contributor
Shireen Zulparquear Contributor
Emma Fear Contributor
DON’T remember much from when I was young, but I remember this, I suppose. As a socially anxious child with no friends, I clung to whatever I could for affection. My parents were loving, they treated me well, but they weren’t the paper bag of broccoli that I needed. That’s right, my childhood best friend was a stupid sack of vegetables. I don’t know why this happened. This little bag of good green friends I took everywhere with me for those few weeks. I’d eat it, yes, and the bag would tear, but there were many bags, and many pieces of broccoli, and they all worked. No other vegetable could provide a child with this sort of comfort. A goat ate my broccoli once. I cried, it was a traumatising experience, but that’s beside the point. I still love broccoli. I’ve only lived in my flat for a few weeks, and the threat of malnourishment has already dawned on me. Broccoli is the only vegetable I’ve eaten. Chop up those good boys and chuck them in some cheesy pasta and you’ll never want to eat anything else. Broccoli is the best veg. Case closed.
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UST as the Lemon Grove is known as both ‘The Lemmy’ and ‘Help, I’m Stuck to the Floor,’ so too does this thoroughly average vegetable hold one name too many for its level of mediocrity. Whether you call it aubergine or eggplant, the vegetable – like the attraction of a rugby player - is wildly overrated for something so bland. There are only two camps of people who actually like aubergines: the suburban mum searching for a new gluten-free casserole to feed little Alphabeticus and Salmonella, and the teenage boy who’s just discovered the eggplant emoji. For the rest of us, the aubergine is simply a strange addition to an otherwise perfect Prezzo pizza, as unwanted as another Shrek sequel or a room in Duryard. The public love of the aubergine is a mystery that, akin to our flatmate’s midnight guitar renditions (“It’s for my SoundCloud, mate”), will keep us awake long into the dead of night. All we can do is cherish our loved ones – our faithful tomatoes, our loyal carrots – and hope that one day the eggplant’s undeserved seat at the Veggie Table will be usurped.
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OR a long time, I watched with a kind of disturbed horror as my boyfriend’s mum bit into a vegetable that in my mind was not put on this planet to have bites taken out of it as if it were an apple. That’s right, she eats peppers as if they were apples. The way reality warps during this peppers-as-apples experience is strangely disconcerting, it changes everything you thought you knew about the world. Once you have seen this horror, it is impossible to go back. I am ashamed to admit, however, that I too have converted from apple eating to pepper eating. There is a certain satisfaction of seeing the faces of people whose worlds have been turned upside down by the simple act of biting into a pepper. The thing that truly elevates the humble pepper above its more traditional cousin the apple is that there is never the risk of a ‘soft pepper’, whereas a ‘soft apple’ can ruin a whole week. When this superior crunch is coupled with the sheer adrenaline rush of doing something outside the bounds of society’s norms… There cannot be a better vegetable eating experience.
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30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
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Features
FEATURES EDITORS: James Angove Isabel Taylor
Deal or no deal
Image: Rightmove
In the second installment of our Brexit series Alicia Rees, Comment Editor, assesses the likelihood of another UK recession
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HE stock market is an integral part of our infrastructure as a society which, thanks to The Wolf of Wall Street, most of us are aware of. However, what actually goes on inside it is usually of little interest except when it goes wrong. 30 years ago, on 19 October 1987, the financial markets went drastically wrong on a global scale. Commonly referred to as ‘Black Monday’, that morning saw the biggest drop in value of the FTSE100 marker index, and took almost two years to be put right. 30 years on, how at risk are we of another financial crash? With an uncertain deal on Brexit, is Britain teetering on the brink of an economic disaster? Black Monday was a result of a number of factors no longer relevant today: A storm; which closed the London Stock Exchange, coupled with the introduction of computers and, of course the liberal economic policy of Thatcherism, resulted in the worst day in finance since the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Some suggest that the crash was merely a return to normal after the sharp boom in the months before, others argue that tension between the United States and Iran were heavy factors. Either way, the effects were devastating and affected almost every country in the world.
In our living memory, is the 2008 financial crash which saw the terms ‘credit crunch’ and ‘recession’ handed out like sweets. A period of financial prosperity, funded by a boom in housing prices and cheap mortgages, swiftly fell apart and culminated in the first run on a British bank in 150 years with many being bankrupt. The effects stretched far beyond our shores, proving particularly catastrophic in Greece and Ireland. Billions of dollars were needed to simply ensure the whole financial system didn’t fall apart overnight. If anything, Britain was one of the lucky ones. Thanks to the 2012 Olympics and, so I am told, 50 Shades of Grey, the economy grew ever so slightly for the first time since the crisis.
Could we be at risk of yet another economic downfall? With political uncertainty at a new high as a somewhat unclear Brexit deal looms, could we be at risk of yet another economic downfall? In the 12 months following the decision to leave the European Union, the value of the pound fell by 12 per cent, 10 per cent of which occurred in the first 24 hours. The cost of living has risen by 2.9 per cent, whilst wages have only increased
by 2 per cent, and inflation is soaring. Is this a prerequisite for disaster? It’s true that the patterns of the value of the pound, when related to the euro, can be mapped according to speeches made by May on the theme of Brexit. Investors crave clarity on the future plans of the UK before piling money into it. From the start of that Brexit speech to the end, the pound had jumped to roughly 1.148 from 1.138 only to whither back to 1.143. I suppose you could call that balance. On the flip side of the coin, on 1st July 2016, the FTSE100 hit a ten month high amidst the chaos. The drop in the pound coupled with slashed interest rates led to a whirlwind of bargain hunters who helped the market rise by 7.2 per cent. Businesses dealing primarily in dollars or importing to the UK found themselves in prime position and the dreaded Brexit effect appeared to have been dodged. Fast forward to today’s news and the picture isn’t quite as rosy. A lack of visible progress in the Brexit negotiations has contributed to growing anxiety within the business sector which has led to a joint letter from 5 lobby groups representing millions of employees sent to politician David Davis. The letter calls for an urgent transition deal with the
European Union in order to safeguard jobs and investors. Again, the lack of clarity and certainty around Brexit is causing significant worry to investors but this doesn’t appear to be reflected in the stock markets. Of course there are peaks and troughs but on the whole, we’re definitely in the green. As a strong Remainer, I am finding it somewhat difficult to read that Brexit isn’t all bad. That’s not to say I want us to plunge back into the depths of recession, my prospects of owning a house are low enough as it is. However, what is clear is how unclear the future is. Not a single country has ever left the European Union before so, like guinea pigs in a lab, every step the UK takes is a precarious one which is, inevitably, bad for business.
Every step the UK takes is a precarious one Even worse would be a U-turn and an announcement of ‘no deal’. A rejection of a deal with the EU could potentially prompt a second referendum. The outcome of such is almost a complete unknown, given the constant ebb and flow in opinion. What’s more, without a deal, the UK would crash out of the EU
and find itself in new territory with few allies and even fewer tools to help itself back on its feet. Trade tariffs could be increased to as much as 40 per cent, making many exports impossible. Not only would trade be affected but also banking companies themselves. ‘Passporting’ rights afforded to EU members allows British banks to do business throughout the EU without special permissions or setting up a branch which, collectively, brings in nine billion pounds in revenue each year. Without these passporting rights, the banks will likely leave Britain and set up offices in Paris, Frankfurt, or Dublin in order to retain their business with millions of EU citizens. Even ahead of the referendum result, the Treasury forecasted what could be the worst outcome. The model expects the pound to drop by 15% per cent, inflation to rise by 2.7 per cent, and unemployment to rise by 820,000 in two years. Sounds familiar? Maybe Theresa May should take the reins and steer us out of this minefield of negotiations. Maybe. Going back to square one would undeniably be disastrous for the economy. If faith in the FTSE100 and the pound is low now, it doesn’t stand to imagine what will happen if no deal is reached.
$1.47
$1.46
$1.37 AFTER BREXIT
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Value of £ to $
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FEATURES
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You booze, you lose
Image: Pixabay
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Jaimie Hampton looks at Britain's drinking culture and what might be done to tackle it
HE long and fabled relationship that we in this country have with alcohol is echoed throughout history - see Othello: "I learned it in England, where indeed they are most potent in potting.” But even in his Elizabethan stupor, William Shakespeare couldn’t have anticipated the extent of Britain’s drinking culture today. This is something most freshers are all too familiar with, as the first few weeks of university are a haze of partying and drinking. Is this becoming a problem that needs to be dealt with? Alcohol education charity Drinkaware states that “six in ten people aged 18-24 say they drink with the intention of getting drunk at least occasionally.” Some students choose not to drink at all, however many believe that they have to be drunk to enjoy themselves. A 2010 survey funded by the Alcohol and Education Research Council found that of the students they surveyed, 83 per cent classed themselves as drinkers, and out of that number 80 per cent drank at levels categorised as binge drinking (having 6 or more drinks on one occasion). Drinking culture seems to be dominating university life, and thus encourages a dangerous relationship with alcohol. It’s often the case that students aren’t aware of how many units are in their drink, and how easy it is to go over the limit. Although the warning sticker on the back of a drink states how many units it contains, many tend to ignore this. Moreover, buying a drink in a club or pub setting comes with no such warning on its packaging. As a result, people can end up consuming higher levels of alcohol than they anticipated, sometimes with dangerous effects on their health. An NHS report released in 2017 suggested that more people are engaging in unsafe drinking behaviour, as the number of deaths related to alcohol consumption
has increased by 10% since 2005. What’s more, the number of hospital admissions related to alcohol consumption has risen by 22% in the same period. There seems to be significant pressure on students to drink. This is particularly true for sports teams, as drinking plays a key role in socials and initiations. ‘Lad culture’ dominates university social life, with many feeling the need to drink excessively in order to fit in during their first weeks at university. This eventually becomes a regular activity that students maintain during their course.
Students are slowly destroying their lives without even realising they are doing so Peer pressure largely influences dangerous drinking behaviour, as many sense that there is a genuine expectation to get involved with it. Some students are eager to boast about the ‘work hard, play hard’ lifestyle, and those who feel less able to say no can be pressured into consuming more drinks than they are actually comfortable with. The majority of students who occasionally indulge in addictive substances often come to no long-term harm, but this isn’t always the case. The stress of university life can lead students to use alcohol as a coping method, as their addictive patterns leave little room for other anxiety provoking issues. This addictive behaviour can sabotage a student’s opportunities, and even put them at risk of death. Students are slowly destroying their lives without even realising that they are doing so. In an article in the Guardian, Dr Chris Record, a leading liver specialist at Newcastle Freeman Hospital said that "the commonest cause of death in young
people, students for instance, is alcohol… They drink too much, they're sick, and they go and fall under a bus or they fall from a great height, and they kill themselves." Tragic case studies from recent years unfortunately show this statement to be true. In January, a student from Durham died after falling from a tower in Tokyo whilst drunk on New Year’s Eve. Charlie Bartlett, from Manchester University, also died in May after falling from a crane that he had climbed whilst drunk. The costs to student life are considerably high, and more needs to done to ensure that students aren’t at risk as a result of their behaviour. The low rates at student bars are an issue for those who don’t know when to stop. Cheap booze allows for students to drink to excess and thus cause considerable damage to their physical and psychological health. Selling alcohol at low priced rates undermines the university’s efforts to prevent extreme drinking and significant alcohol abuse. However, it is not just students who tend to consume too much alcohol. The Norwegian University of Science and Technology found that Britain is the second biggest binge-drinking nation in Europe. Drinking alcohol is an activity prominent in British culture, and although having a few drinks to celebrate seems harmless, the overall costs are alarming. Statistics show that binge drinking costs UK taxpayers £4.9 billion a year; equivalent to £77 a person. It also increases the number of daily injuryrelated A&E attendances by 8 per cent, and the daily average of road accidents by 17 per cent Additionally, the same research found that binge drinking causes an increase in the number of police officers on duty of 30 per cent in order to cope with alcohol-related incidents. These incidences vary, but the worst case scenario, a fatal incident as a result of
excessive alcohol consumption, can cost tax payers £2 million. Some possible solutions have been suggested to combat excessive drinking in order to reduce the costs to society. The SNP has been trying to implement a minimum price of 50p per unit in the aim to address the nation’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol. Supporters of minimum pricing believe the move is necessary since alcohol is 60 per cent more affordable in the UK than it was in 1980. However, those critical of such proposals argue that although it would reduce overall consumption of alcohol, it would not prevent binge drinking.
British culture does not have a healthy relationship with alcohol Another suggested solution would involve pubs and bars discouraging rounds. In this case it is argued that an individual’s awareness of their own purchases of alcohol are a key factor in increasing their awareness of how much they have consumed. Thus they are more likely to quit before they reach dangerous levels. Many universities could also do more to guarantee that there are more socials during the evenings that do not revolve around alcohol, ensuring that excessive drinking doesn’t become the primary activity for socialising. What's more, the students' union could publicise statistics concerning alcohol usage and its effects. An increased awareness of the consequences of alcohol consumption amongst students might help to contribute to a change in behaviour. In a recent study, a third of student respondents said that as a result of drinking they had been a passenger in a car with a drunk driver. The same study detailed that 7 per cent of students had been unable to pay their bills
due to drinking. This might well shock some into reconsidering their habits. Statistics might also be helpful in illuminating the rise in teetotal young people, with the past 10 years seeing an increase of 40 per cent in the number of 16-24 year olds who don't drink. This might well point to a cultural shift that is taking place and help to contribute to changing social norms around alcohol. In addition, repeated exposure to this information might lead students to question their current assumptions and thus help to tackle binge drinking. British culture does not have a healthy relationship with alcohol, but it is possible for our drinking culture to change. Cultural shifts are not uncommon, and solutions that aim to combat dangerous drinking have had some success. However, some argue that for anti-drinking campaigns to be truly effective, they need to adjust the messages that they transmit. Kate Fox, director of the Social Issues Research Centre (SIRC), argued that alcohol education campaigns have “perpetuated or exacerbated the problem” by reinforcing the idea that alcohol is associated with undesirable behaviours. This means that alcohol is not integrated into daily life, and therefore campaigns fail to discourage dangerous drinking behaviour. The cause of dangerous drinking behaviour lies within our culture’s attitude towards alcohol. If our culture believes that drinking leads to confidence, promiscuity and aggression then we are more likely to act this way, says Kate Fox, as the effects of alcohol are determined by our cultural norms. Our culture needs to develop a healthier relationship with alcohol. If alcohol awareness campaigns address drinking as an everyday activity, Britain may lose its ambivalent attitude towards alcohol. Binge drinking is on the rise, but we need to know where to draw the line.
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FEATURES
30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
Wink wink, nudge nudge
Image: Flickr
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OW would you like the government telling you what you can and cannot eat? Generally speaking, we tend to be uncomfortable with governments acting as our parents, telling us what to do or trying to use the coercive arm of the state to influence our behaviour. However, Richard Thaler, of recent Nobel Prize fame, argues that people should not be hostile to 'nudges' by the government that will change people's decision making processes without restricting choice. This is known as ‘Nudge theory,' whereby healthier choices are positively reinforced and promoted indirectly. Is such an enterprise, what Thaler terms 'libertarian paternalism', even possible? Thaler's specialism is in behavioural economics - the study of how emotional, psychological and social factors inform the process by which humans make economic decisions. The field of economics is saturated with works that assume 'rational choice theory' is correct, but behavioural economics posits that human beings will often make economically irrational decisions thanks to overriding emotional factors. These irrational decisions can often cause negative side-effects or externalities for others, as well as being bad for the decision makers themselves. Often these decisions may very well go against stated preferences. To use a student example, my stated preference that I want to eat a healthy diet is revealed to be false when people see me in Mega Kebab every night. In Thaler's magnum opus Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness (2008), he and Cass Sunstein set out how governments and private businesses can use behavioural economics to ‘nudge’ choice agents into making
Theo Cox Dodgson discusses nudge theory and its effect on our civil liberties more beneficial decisions, closing the gap between revealed and stated preferences. As already mentioned, one example of irrational choices that nearly everyone makes can be found in our diets. We even have a word for the emotional factor that determines our food choices; it's called 'comfort eating'. Mental disorders can also play a role in preventing healthy eating. Most peoples' stated preferences are probably genuine but for cognitive or emotional reasons their revealed preferences are different to their stated preferences. This gap is not only bad for us, but in some cases can be bad for the wider economy. In the case of unhealthy eating the negative externality would be in terms of the burden on public health. Most will be familiar with the 'hard paternalist' response to our vices, which include taxes, regulations, outright prohibition and advertising restrictions, the latter of course aimed at changing our cognitive processes by drowning out voices that will tempt us.
Nudges are policies that help us without restricting choice Thaler's 'libertarian paternalism' would argue it is the role of ‘choice architects’ (in this example, people who sell food) to 'nudge' customers to eat healthier. Thaler’s libertarian paternalism is restricted to helping people fulfil their own stated preferences, not, as is the case with some hard paternalists, telling them what their aims should be, and in a way that does not restrict choice. Nudges are policies which will help us actualise our
stated preferences without restricting choice. One such 'nudge' could be putting healthy food under brighter lights, in a more optimal shelf location, or in a nicely coloured case.
Choice architects are already nudging us in several ways Choice architects are already nudging us in several ways, for example by laying out supermarkets so that we spend more time in there, putting products commonly bought together in the same place, putting special offers in the front of the store and by playing pleasant music that makes us willing to stay in the shop. Why not use these tricks which are currently orientated towards maximising profits, to make people eat healthier? Here we see some of the limitations of libertarian paternalism. With regards to the healthy eating example, Thaler's proposal can only be accepted if supermarkets do this voluntarily, which is unlikely given the low profitability in healthy foods compared to unhealthy foods. Hard paternalists may argue that supermarkets should be forced to nudge people, but while this would not restrict choice for the consumers this would restrict choice for the choice architects themselves, whom, in Thaler’s formulation, should be just as ‘free to choose’ as consumers. And of course, nudging only goes so far. Despite the many advertising campaigns and promotions supermarkets may do on vegetables, we will instinctively head for the hidden sweets and crisps aisle for those
revision cravings. No matter how hidden in a shop alcohol and cigarettes may be, we will actively hunt such vices out. This is where hard paternalism will more likely come in with more authoritarian solutions, taxes, plain packaging (which is not a ‘nudge’ since it impinges on the choice architect’s freedom of speech), serving restrictions on sugary drinks, minimum unit pricing and much more. Taxes are also disqualified as a nudge for Thaler, since by definition they restrict the choice of those not able to afford as much of the product after taxes. Thus libertarian paternalism is seen as not going far enough for hard paternalists who think that negative externalities cannot be closed by nudges alone and thus require non-libertarian interventions to eliminate. The role the government has to play for the ‘libertarian paternalists’ may be more controversial for purist libertarians. After all, in 2010 Thaler was instrumental in establishing the Behavioral Insights Team, which provided advice to the British government on how they could successfully use 'nudges’ to help people make government more efficient. One example of Thaler’s ideas in practice was when those who owed fines to UK courts were sent a text message 10 days before bailiffs were due to be sent. This reportedly saved the UK Courts system £30 million a year in bailiff charges. Thaler’s misfortune is that Nudge has often been invoked to justify UK government policy proposals incompatible with libertarian paternalism, such as bans on junk food advertising and minimum unit pricing on alcohol. What can still be controversial for purist libertarians who have actually read Thaler is whether it is the role of the government to choose which stated
preferences are worth fulfilling and which are not. In this sense, to use a libertarian analogy, government is still a player and not a referee. Can we really trust the government to have the best intentions of their citizenry at heart when nudging individuals? Especially given that governments are made up of people who are no less fallible than us? Recent history is filled with examples of governments backing trends that turned out to be negligible or actively harmful to health and the environment, two recent examples being low-fat high carb diets and diesel cars.
Can we trust the government to have the best intentions of their citizenry at heart? However these concerns are trivial when we consider that a nanny state run only on the basis of nudges would probably be the most libertarian in Europe. Gone would be taxes, duties, plain packaging, advertising regulations, size restrictions and other regulations that burden us today. While it may be disturbing to some that Thaler gives governments a role at all in determining our preference and lifestyles for us in the name of ‘wealth’ ‘health’, ‘happiness’ or ‘rationality’, the kind of policies he is advocating do not seriously impact on our freedom, however you choose to define the word. In any case, the various ‘nudge solutions’ outlined in Thaler’s book could be a compromise towards the majority of people uncomfortable with ‘hard paternalism’ but who still think that government has a role to play in improving the lives of their citizens.
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LIFESTYLE EDITORS Barbara Balogun Lauren Geall
ARTS + LIT EDITORS Mubanga Mweemba Maddie Davies
MUSIC EDITORS Alex Brammer Maddy Parker
SCREEN EDITORS Ben Faulkner Fenton Christmas
STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Alfred and Tash 30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
lifestyle ON THE CALENDAR FESTIVE CHEER Still haven't planned your Halloween party? Not sure what to do on Bonfire night? We've got it sorted! 30 - 31 October 2017, 6:30pm: House of Horrors, Powderham Castle, EX6 8JQ. What would you do if you were locked inside a haunted castle? Bring your partners in crime and come what may! Price: £12 per person. 31 October 2017, 9:00pm: Boujee Halloween x Haunted Mansion, Timepiece, EX4 3PT. This one is for you, party animals! Tickets: £6. 4 November 2017, Ottery St Mary, EX11 1BZ. Every year flaming tar barrels are carried through the streets of the city. Join the celebration! Free admission. 3 - 5 November, 2017. It’s Fireworks time! Pick your location and book the tickets online: Golf and Country Club, Exeter Saracens RFC, Westpoint Arena Tickets: £5-10.
CRAFTS If you are like me - meaning you like learning new things and creating handmade wonders- then you'll definitely like the following: 4 November 2017, 11:00am-5:00pm, Coffee and Crafts by the Quay, XCentre, EX2 4AD. What a nice excuse to do some shopping. Free entry. Just sayin'... 4 November 2017, 10:30am-4:00pm, Festive Mug Making and Handmade Books Workshops, Exeter Phoenix, EX4 3LS. Tickets: £41-45. A great way to get into the festive spirit with friends. 16 November 2017, 6:00pm, Botanical Watercolour Workshop, No Guts No Glory(NGNG), EX4 3JQ. Tickets: £25, all materials included. By the way, if you have a skill you'd like to teach, you might want to contact NGNG. They are looking for talents.
Food and drinks If you don't feel like partying and want to spend a nice evening with your partner or friends, check out the ElBocado Restaurant’s Flamenco nights. The next Spanish Guitar Night is on November 3, and I will be definitely attending the next Flamenco Sunday on November 12. So… I’ll see you then? - Anastasiia Kovalenko
Glow get em'
Lauren Geall, Lifestyle Editor, introduces us to 'cult' brand Glossier as it makes it's UK debut
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ITH its focus on simplicity and feelgood products, the American makeup brand Glossier finally made its way to the UK on 9 October. Having stumbled across Glossier on a procrastinating scroll through YouTube, I was excited to see it's arrival on our shores. It’s not hard to predict what happened next (under the guise of ‘treat yo’ self’), but let’s just say I won’t be having much of a social life in the next couple of months.
GLOSSIER IS ALL ABOUT CELEBRATING HOW DIFFERENT, IMPERFECT AND WONDERFUL OUR FACES ARE Perfect in time for winter, their range of moisturising, skin-loving products aim to keep your skin glowing all year round, even in the colder months. With an emphasis on ‘happy makeup’, the company has risen to a cult-like status, selling a range of products which aim to enhance your natural features rather than change them dramatically. Put Glossier into YouTube or Instagram and you’ll see the widespread popularity of this brand, whose mantra “Skin first. Makeup second” encourages a natural, 'no-makeup make-up' kind of look. As someone who had been waiting patiently for Glossier to arrive in the UK, I worried that the products wouldn’t live up to my expectations, but my fears were short-lived. Considering the fact that they market themselves as a skin-care brand, I was particularly excited to try their famous milky jelly cleanser, cleanser a translucent gel which helps to remove makeup and give your skin a good clean. The biggest thing I noticed is the way this product feels afterwards. Whilst some
cleansers can tend to leave your skin feeling dry and tight, the conditioning feel of the milky jelly cleanser means your skin is both clean and moisturised. As well as this, the cleanser has really helped with my breakouts, and any I do get are calmed down by the soothing formula. With some of the priming moisturiser, your skin feels happy, clean and ready to face the day (unless it’s for an 8:30, it’s not working magic). Unfortunately however, the perfecting skin tint and stretch concealer weren’t particularly special. Although the skin tint is promoted as more of a tinted moisturiser, I was still disappointed to discover how little of an effect it had. The product may make a small difference to my overall skin tone, but I’m not sure if it’s worth £20. The stretch concealer definitely has a lot more coverage and is great for under the eyes, but its moisturising consistency means that it doesn’t really work on blemishes. Due to it's focus on skin care, I definitely get the feeling that Glossier is aimed towards people with clear skin. If you tend to have a lot of breakouts and have a more oily skin-type, Glossier's foundation and concealer may not be your best option. Two products which everyone seems to have fallen in love with (including me, goodbye bank account) are the eyebrow gel boy brow and the liquid blusher cloud paints.. One of my favourite things about both of
these products is how natural they feel and look: it truly is a face v2.0 kind of situation. The eyebrow gel really helps to highlight the natural shape of your brows, picking out some of the smaller hairs and giving them a more defined look. Alongside this, the cloud paint (packaged to look like acrylic paint!) is amazingly pigmented and simple to apply, meaning it’s quick and easy to give yourself that healthy, flushed look without the regular exercise and balanced diet. Having purchased a wide range of the products, I can honestly say that they work well together. Whereas some make-up brands tend to have a stand-out product, everything which Glossier touches seems to turn to glow *wink*. Following a day of wearing Glossier, my skin feels moisturised and smooth, avoiding the 'cakey' feeling. My ultimate favourite has to be the boy brow eyebrow gel. As a self proclaimed brow product addict I had high hopes for trying out the brow gel, and I am so happy with the result. The gel helps my brows to look defined whilst making the most of my natural arch: if you need to addto or change your shape, you might need to use a pencil on top just to fill in any gaps you might find. Out of all of the products, boy brow, the milky jelly cleanser and the cloud paints are the ones I'll be purchasing again and again. Despite my way-above-budget splurge on makeup, I do believe that most of my money was well spent. With most products sitting between the £10-£20 range, Glossier is definitely a brand to consider if you’re looking for a more luxurious feeling product without the price tag. As well as this, it’s a cruelty free brand, which is a massive tick in my book. Not only is the range wonderful to look at, but Glossier’s message is a great way to get more people to feel comfortable in their own skin. It’s refreshing to find a company whose makeup aims to enhance rather than cover; Glossier is all about celebrating how different, imperfect and wonderful our faces are.
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EDITORS: Barbara Balogun & Lauren Geall
30 OCT 2017 |
Scarily Last Minute
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Two Lifestyle Writers discuss their last minute Halloween costumes tips and tricks
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E’VE all done it. We’ve all told our- bie/ghoul – just try not to lick the blood off your selves that we will sort our Hallow- lips too early into the night! een costumes out earlier than we did Access to makeup is a real bonus if you can last time, but chances are you’ll still end up on get your hands on it. Eyeshadow is practically Halloween with not a clue as to what you’re a cheat’s facepaint. Dark tones around the doing. eyes and hollowing your cheeks I’ve got you. Been there, with grey gives an easy corpse/ done that, got the… cosghost. Apply as much glittume? Here are some tery eyeshadow as your tricks for pulling toheart desires around gether something out your cheekbones and of (next to) nothing. the high points of If you put blood on your face for a veranything, it’s scary, satile look that can right? Use a comform a costume with bination of red and the right clothes (and blue food colouring always remember, Exmixed with a bit of eter is all about the glitwater on a cloth to stain ter anyway). Wear florals your skin, or an appropriand you’re a fairy. Use sliver globalvoices.org ately-shredded shirt (we all eyeshadow and wear black to know that costume and we've all become a celestial scarily last minbeen there, so no one will judge you really). ute entity. Apply blue or green tones on top Combine that with the honey in your kitchen of a pair of fishnets for a scale effect and you’re to make a realistic fake blood that you can cov- a mermaid. (fishnets available in Poundland or er your mouth with and drip down your chin. Primark, no need to ruin yourself at Topshop). Warning: this is sticky, but it tastes really good Those with leftover glitter from Magic Hatstand, and at least you know it’s safe to eat (it's also you’ve finally got another use for it. If all else a way cheaper alternative than the high street fails: grab a stick and yer a wizard, Harry. shop fake blood). Now you’re a vampire/zomCharley Cross
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ALLOWEEN more often than not ap- paper generously around your body and limbs, proaches us like a cat, secretly skulking layering up so that there’s no chance of your in the dark of the night. One moment outfit breaking. When reaching the face, leave you’re perfectly content in the twilight zone, the facial features necessary to breath uncovthe next panic is flying through you because ered, please. of the most terrifying thought - HalIt’s also incredibly easy loween without a costume. After to channel characters pushing Halloween aside due from films. Wednesday to the endless amounts of Addams’ gothic look is work that we’re already classic and perfect for drowning in, or just Halloween. A black generally procrastinatblouse and white ing, it has officially becollar are ideal, come scarily close. For however any black this reason, an article clothing will reon last minute Hallowflect Wednesday’s een costumes is entirely darkness. Sported overdue. with plaited pigtails, The easiest of costumes you’ve truly captured common.wikimedia.org to make is the unoriginal yet the essence of the characinfinitely effective ghost. All one ter. Don’t forget the 'resting needs is a white bed sheet and scisbitch-face' - it makes it. Even withsors. Cut two small holes for eyes into the sheet, out a costume, layer on talcum powder for and a larger sized one for a ghastly mouth, thus a ghostly white appearance and red food colachieving arguably the most haunting (and ouring for blood. comical) outfit. Although scarily last minute, halloween can For the next outfit, a rather large pack of loo still be enjoyed in style with these effortless rolls is vital, and the help of a friend, because costumes. Worse come to worst, grab last years what’s Halloween without a mummy? Sticking costume and zombify the hell out of it. your legs and arms out, ask your friend to wrap Megan Groves
Let the countdown to Xmas begin Lydia Venn gives us the low-down on this year's advent calendar line up
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OU wake up on a cold wintry morning and trudge to your kitchen, only to discover your housemates opening little cardboard doors with Santa-shaped chocolates behind them. Then it dawns on you, it's December 1st and you have no advent calendar (this actually happened to me last year and it was devastating). Now in order to avoid this disastrous mistake, we're giving you the heads up that you've got one month to find an advent calendar. We've done all the hard work for you and scoured the internet in order to find you the tastiest, booziest, and prettiest advent calendars, so that when December 1st rolls around you can feel pretty smug discovering a new lipstick, bottle of gin or block of cheese! Yes, that’s right, you read that correctly: launching exclusively at ASDA this year is Annem’s cheese advent calendar! It features 24 individual cheeses of 5 varieties and is only £8,
just remember to keep this one in the fridge! For a more substantial start to your day, Kellogg’s are launching their '24 bowls til’ Christmas' with Tesco, an advent calendar featuring all your favourite cereals and for just £4 this is definitely needed to start your December mornings! At the opposite end of the price spectrum is C h a s e D i s t i l l e r y ’s £ 1 4 0
vodka! And if that wasn't enough to convince you, this was the advent calendar of choice last year for the king of Snapchat, Phillip Schofield. This year, every beauty house seems to be creating an advent calendar, however one from ASOS or Amazon Beauty (costing £55 and £50 respectively) features makeup, hair and skincare products from
advent calendar full of flavoured gins and vodka such as elderflower, blackcurrant and autumnal rhubarb. Whilst the price may be a bit of a stretch, at this point in term (with deadline season approaching), we all thoroughly deserve to open a little box and find marmalade flavoured
a variety of brands such as NIP+FAB, Eyeko, Smashbox and Rituals. The marble-design packagings of both are Insta-worthy, and the multitude of products means your entire Christmas party look is covered. You can turn your frosty room into a winter
wonderland with the Yankee Candle advent wreath calendar (£24.99) featuring 6 different scented tealights, from sparkling cinnamon to spiced white cocoa, to ensure your room smells super Christmassy! And to feel really cosy on a cold winter’s night, Bluebird Tea Co. have created a calendar (£36) full of Christmas teas with flavours such as Christmas cake, Mrs Claus’ raspberry prosecco, and Gingerbread chai; perfect to get you in the festive mood! However, if all you want for Christmas is a traditional chocolate advent calendar (and let’s face it who doesn’t love chocolate!) then you can find a delicious calendar of either milk, white, caramel or dark chocolate (suitable for vegans) at Hotel Chocolat (£12.50) and for the bibliophiles out there, behind each door is a witty literary quote! Whether you go for cereal, cheese, gin or candles we hope you enjoy counting down to Christmas!
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30 OCT 2017 |
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Treat yo' self ? D
Molly Gilroy, Online Screen Editor tells us about all the unnecessary stuff on her wishlist
EADLINES have been killing me, my coffee supply is diminishing, and my umbrella has been inverted and attacked through some horrendous weather. Needless to say, I have been aimlessly stalking the internet for things to brighten up my mood and embrace Autumn (basically making a pointless list of things I really don’t need). Etsy is a wonderful site for this type of procrastination and as a major Gilmore Girls fan (watching it in full for the third time round) I was highly enthused when I found that you can buy themed candles, one of which is called ‘Luke’s Diner’ . And before you judge- it smells of coffee, not of fast food. In fact, according to the de-
scription it has notes of "roasted coffee, musk and vanilla, a hint of chocolate” which epitomises the very cosy effect the show has on me during a lot of these wet Autumn days when I'm tucked up in bed amongst mountains of blankets. I love snuggling down on one of Exeter’s rare evenings of rain (so much sarcasm it hurts) with a cup of coffee and probably with some fox slippers on, and I truly believe lighting this candle would make my ritual complete. Yet, alas, I really shouldn’t indulge in this, as, candles are a ‘no go’ in rented student accommodation, and especially for a clumsy excuse for a human such as myself, who frequently trips up in their room and knocks items flying, I really can’t justify burning my house down for
@ MadameFiction the sake of a coffee candle. A little bit more upmarket, and intensifying the theme of things I really don’t need, is basically the whole NARS Winter Man Ray Collection. Their items are beautifully packaged, studded with Man Ray’s iconic gold kisses and the ‘Overexposed Glow Highlighter Blush is just absolutely dreamy. Yet, considering most of my autumnal days are probably going to be spent inside writing essays, I think a £28 highlighter is slightly wasted (insert crying face here). Whilst deliriously browsing this collection, I also found an extremely risky to wear Man Ray lip gloss, in a bright golden yellow, seeming the perfect colour for Autumn and Halloween. After nearly adding to the virtual basket, I ask myself, would I actually wear this? The answer
Freshers Flu Fix
is no. I also ask myself, how likely is it that you would in fact lose said item rather quickly? The answer is, extremely likely. Despite all my procrastination and infatuation with random autumnal objects, the sad reality has hit; that these items would probably be pointless, and potentially dangerous, in the case of the candle (which still breaks my heart). Having said that, there are a lot of Autumnal things that do not manifest themselves in material goods, such as cosy home-made house roast dinners on a Sunday, or watching Gilmore Girls in bed. Although not as glamorous as the Nars Man Ray collection, I think these home spun rituals are most likely more worthwhile, and also don’t hurt my bank account so hard...
Three Lifestyle Writers help you get through your never ending freshers flu
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HICH flu treatment is for you? Denial: The key to a less severe bout of the fresher’s flu is cold denial. Lying to oneself works and you’ll be shocked by what a little-white-lie can do to motivate you in your denial. Popular lies include: sleep is optional. and Lemsip counts as a mixer right? Communal Complaining: When the pandemic of flu strikes why not create a study-group to complain? There has been some talk about starting a society to hold socials on various staircases where we compare illnesses and lament how sickeningly busy we are? Life is hard when you make yourself ill with edginess. Binge in Bed: If the flu begins to cause such offensive symptoms as: yawning on a night out, it’s time to hibernate in bed and binge on everything within a metre of your pillow. Netflix is essential, and of course keep up your intake of the main two restorative food groups: sugar and white carbs. I can personally vouch for the benefits of Ben and Jerry’s- at least half a tub every half hour should have you ready for the next sesh…or even your degree! Olivia Denton
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LTHOUGH many people still debate about the origins of this terrible affliction, Freshers’ Flu is a yearly reminder that we are still young adults who are not capable of taking care of ourselves. And it doesn’t matter if you’re a third year, Freshers’ Flu (or ‘the flu’ as some people call it) is an inevitable part of university life. If you’re interested in drug-free remedies, I’d recommend turmeric. Typically used in your standard curry, the idea of turmeric being a superfood may seem unlikely, but studies have shown it can help battle depression, asthma, and eczema. My grandmother always used it for colds, and I was never sick for more than two days at her house. I’d recommend mixing two teaspoons of turmeric powder with warm milk, and two teaspoons of honey if you want it to actually taste decent. Despite the violent yellow colour, it tastes pretty good, and has antibacterial properties as well as helping your sleep. Another alternative is Lucozade. Unexpected I know, but Lucozade boosts your energy when you’re really exhausted, and I always found the orange flavouring made food more palatable when I refused to eat anything. If you’re fussy about drinking water, it’s always a good way to rehydrate and the original Lucozade was actually sold as a cure-all tonic, once upon a time. Obviously, if you’re desperately sick, you might be better sticking with actual medicine recommended by your doctor, but if you’re open to drug-free alternatives, I’d definitely recommend trying these out. Jaysim Hanspal, Copy Editor
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HICKEN Soup: Good for the Soul, Good for the Cold! Liquids are the best way to get rid of the common cold. Serves four. 100g chopped onion 50g chopped carrot 50g chopped celery One to two cloves minced garlic Two chicken breasts 1.5l chickenstock 150g pasta Olive Oil In a large pot, sauteé onion, carrots and celery in olive oil until soft. Add garlic, sauteé for one minute more. Add chicken breasts, then add the stock to the pot. Poach the chicken in the broth for 20 minutes, with the lid on. Remove the cooked chicken from the pot, and shred/chop into small pieces. In the meantime, add the pasta to the boiling broth and cook for eight to ten minutes, until al dente. Add the chicken back to the broth, and serve hot. Katie Pitman
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Spooky short stories... McDonald’s by Olivia Denton
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ERARD peeled the gherkin out from his burger. It hadn’t been the best start to his Tinder date with Alex. For a start, nowhere was open at 1am, the time Alex had requested to see him; nowhere except McDonald’s, and he’d been informed by his flat-mates that McDonald’s was a “lame” location. Gerard checked his breath surreptitiously, breathing into his nervous palm as Alex lashed six tubs of ketchup over her fries, considering each red-drenched chip like a jeweller examines a diamond. “Sorry I ordered already, I was starving,” she said, licking the ketchup from her black-painted lips. “Thank you so much for coming so late, my allergies flare up if I’m exposed to the sun.” The erratic flicking of the fluorescent overhead lights looked like a hundred beams of lightening glittering in Alex’s raven-black hair. Gerard had scoffed his apple pie down and now sat awkwardly, shifting his hands and watching Alex devour her second portion of chips. She ate with an abundance that was attractive - it didn’t seem to matter to her that she had to lick the corners of her burger and had food stuck in her teeth. It was strange that he hadn’t seen her before at lectures, since he’d seen her a few times through the sticky romance of smoky dance floors but had either been too drunk or not drunk enough to approach her.
HER PERFCT TEETH SMOTHERED IN RED KETCHUP “I don’t do lectures,” Alex snapped in explanation, drowning another fry in ketchup as if she were stubbing out a cigarette. “Yeah, the 8:30 can be a bitch,” Gerard said, deepening his voice to try and match her level of edginess. She laughed at him then shot him a beaming smile, her perfect teeth smothered in red ketchup. “Look, I may as well say it now-” she started. “It’s totally cool if you’re not into me,” Gerard interrupted clumsily, stumbling over his words he was surprised that she was even there based on his feeble Tinder caption “Manager at Banter Bus Express, come aboard if you dare.” “I’m not actually… human,” Alex said. Gerard slurped his strawberry milkshake, the lumps stuck in the straw.
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“I’m a vampire, Gerard.” “Cool.” Gerard shrugged, taking the top off his milkshake and letting the lumps of strawberry sugar fall into his mouth - did his breath still smell?
HER LIPS STUNG HIS LIKE A COLD BEER BOTTLE IN WINTER Alex beamed again, “That’s so, so cool that you are into that!” Gerard offered her a bite of his apple pie across the table, trying to keep the conversation from becoming too deep too soon. He didn’t want to hear about what forced her to identify so strongly with mythical creatures. Alex reached for the pie, curved her spine into him and kissed him across the greasy table. Her lips stung his like a cold beer bottle in winter. She pulled away violently. “What’s that smell?” she asked. Gerard was stunned to silence by this sweet success from swiping right. He suddenly mapped out his whole future with Alex. He pictured them going to the library together, reading 17th century Gothic love poetry to each other. “That’s garlic, isn’t it?” she ruined his dream sequence with her breathless question. He imagined McDonalds curating a shrine of their love to up the sales in the South West. “I’m allergic to garlic,” she said, and then he saw her milky hand melt in his own. He swore and jumped back, looking up at her in horror. Her eyelashes fell from her eyes; her lipstick fell like black blood down her declining chin. Her body buckled as it shrunk in her shirt and her fingers and hair were entangled within the black lace of her dress. She screamed out, her voice cold and chill, “I’m allergic to garlic!” Gerard screamed for help, his lungs burning inside him as Alex liquidized in front of his eyes. The McDonald’s janitor turned the corner and sighed, “I’ll clean up that milkshake in a minute mate”.
The Colour of Oak by James Turner
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HE way that the sun rises over the hills surrounding the lake is quite beautiful. Red streaks of light explode into the clouds, and a thin layer of mist forms just above the water. On windy days, you can watch the reeds rustling close to the pier where they push the boats out, and in the furthest corner of the lake you can sit beneath the overhanging trees as they swing their branches and shake their leaves. The water by the shore runs deepest there. That was where I sat watching the sunrise. I thought about my father, lying in his hospital bed. He was missing out on quite a view. When the diagnosis came through he was inconsolable. Hysterical. I never quite understood why he was so scared, but sitting by the lake that morning I realised that it was because he didn’t have a choice. That was what he was most afraid of. I still had a choice, and I chose the furthest corner of the lake, where the overhanging trees swing their branches and shake their leaves and the water by the shore that runs deepest. Before anything else could happen, I saw the mist above the lake begin to slowly rise, pluming up here and there until a thick wall began to stretch to the sky, higher and higher, spreading out further and further until eventually the entire lake was enshrouded. I could no longer see the sun, but it stained a sickly yellow pallor into the haze. The birdsong stopped. Now the gentle lapping of the water against the bank was all that remained. “Strange weather we’re having today, aren’t we?”
I TURNED AROUND... TO SEE A WOMAN STARING AT ME I turned around, surprised, to see a woman staring back at me, her mouth curled in an expectant smile. She looked familiar, almost. “Yeah, we are,” I replied. “It’s a bit unexpected.” “I know, and it came in so suddenly as well. Do you mind if I sit down?” I shifted along the bench and she sat down next to me. She had
dark brown hair, the colour of oak. We sat a while in silence. “I’ve seen many people sitting here before, and every single one of them has had the same thought travel across their mind,” she said. “What do you mean?” I asked. “The water looks enticing, doesn’t it?” she said, gesturing towards the lake. The water rippled as leaves dropped from the overhanging trees. “They say the lake runs deepest here, although you couldn’t tell by looking.” “I’ve heard that as well,” I replied. “Do you believe it?” “I don’t know, I guess so.” “Have you ever felt the bed with your feet?” She looked at me, waiting for a response I never gave. “It’s cold in there. I think the cold would be the worst thing about it.” Suddenly, she got up, leaving me to sit alone on the bench. She continued down the footpath and disappeared into the fog. The weather cleared up again by midday.
SHE CONTINUED DOWN THE FOOTPATH AND DISAPPEARD INTO THE FOG I decided to see my father that afternoon. He was no longer afraid to die. He told me that my mother had appeared before him many times since my last visit, and she had said that they would be reunited soon. This was the first time he had ever willingly mentioned my mother. She died in childbirth, and afterwards he had erased all evidence of her from our house. I don’t know if it was the illness itself, or maybe even the drugs that they gave him, that had made him start to hallucinate her appearance. But, it certainly made things a lot easier to bear, knowing that he was content and no longer suffering. He passed away that night. It was left to me to sort through his belongings. He didn’t have much, but among his meagre possessions was a small shoebox, and upon opening it I found inside a picture of my father, sitting with a woman. They were both smiling and he had his arms around her. I thought it was a picture of my mother. Perhaps the only photograph of her that he had ever kept. Her hair was the colour of oak.
Stomp announces its final dates
George Saunders wins Man
The British Library hosts
on the West End in 2018
Booker Prize 2017
a Harry Potter exhibition
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ARTS + LIT
30 OCT 2017 |
EDITORS: Mubanga Mweemba and Maddie Davies
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Art from the heart Exeposé Arts+Lit writers discuss their favourite pieces that prove the sense of the uncanny Lovers or enemies? TROUBLED PAST
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S a Belgian surrealist artist known for his wit and thoughtprovoking images, René Magritte created works of art that threw the viewer into a tsunami of doubt. ‘The Lovers’, painted in 1928, is the epitome of this unsettled emotional state. In a world where technology advances quicker than the growth of one’s nails, emotional connections have become detached and alienated, as seen in Richard Yates’ Revolutionary Road. With the introduction of Tinder and eHarmony, with the swipe of a finger, we become connected to people through a screen, no longer by our hearts. This sense of isolation in relationships was clearly a mutual feeling in the early twentieth century. The white barrier of fabric preventing the intimate embrace transforms the matrimonial act of love and adoration into isolation and exasperation. Their inability to see each other’s features and therefore look into their souls makes the viewer question whether we really know the true nature of our companions.
STOP AND THINK “WHAT WOULD MAGRITTE SAY?” Enveloped faces hidden from view were a common feature in Magritte’s paintings and are seen to have had a biological influence. Magritte was fourteen when his mother, in a Virginia Woolf manner, drowned herself. Magritte witnessed his mother being dragged from the water with a nightgown around her face. The knowledge of this trauma further reinstates an uncanny sense of being isolated from the people next to us. So the next time you pick up your cracked iPhone and proceed onto your dating app, stop and think, “What would Magritte say?” Photo: ReneMagritte.org
Bethany Saunders
leon spilliaert
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Photo: Widewalls
T seventeen I’d read Russian literature with a shameless desire to appear cultivated, thrust into the borderlands of changing self-awareness and searching for some sense of meaning to wrap life around. I hadn’t understood a word. Though I’d loved the a-morality of their discourse, the weighted prose, the peripheral character suction-cupped to the centre of the narrative web, trapped in analysis like a fauxwidows prey. Yet it wasn’t Dostoyevsky that shook me into the uncanny, it was the cover to his Notes from the Underground I’d found nestled in a bookshop, whilst rain trickled on the windows. A self-portrait by Belgian symbolist painter Spilleart, with eyes socketed in obscured softness, untrained and seemingly unfinished. Shadows of liminal faces dimly watch the foreground, metaphoric for thoughts, unseemly and lingering. It was affecting, to see his symphonic palimpsest of smudged texture and line, when your own life felt undefined as the light. Since then the Russian literature I’d read was fixed in phrase by the charcoaldust of that image. Self-taught and self-effacing, Spilleart’s paintings have an otherwordly viscosity, a dulled and death-eaten vitality that stutters into a consuming feeling of nightmarishness and the not-quite-whole. His sketches of bodies hanging from trees in a silken glow, faces trapped in the foreground of church-windows and desolate wastelands of beaches culled of curvilinear form become essentially unheimlich, familiarity in subject is shatteringly dissociated. Spilleart questions sight and certainty in subtle distortions of forms we think we understand, redrawing the human figure as distanced from its own humanity, off-centre and petrified on paper. This is uncanny. That meaning I’d first sought is not found in these paintings, rather a quivering sense of absurdity bleeds into the unknown. It’s this strangeness that renders the work beautiful.
Photo: Pinterest
Emily Pirie
Mueck sculpture
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Photo: The Artsology Blog
HERE is something deeply disconcerting about glaring into the eyes of a sculpture, be that whether they’re windows to the soul or perhaps they show an eerie echo of humanity. But I’ve found eyes shut on sculptures to be far more unsettling. As if the sensation that this entity may be alive continues to exist until the moment you see their irises. Which is precisely the reason I am both unnerved and immensely impressed by Ron Mueck’s Mask II. An incredible feat shows an action rather nominal, a head in undignified sleep but done with such magnificent hyper-realistic detail that you can’t help but feel rather entranced by it, the “Uncanny Valley” is at full effect here.
MUEK HAS MODELLED MASK II ON HIMSELF The piece feels as if Mueck has taken the majesty one would find within an effigy bust and made it something of a pastiche by showing a more undignified glance at humanity. This sculpture is only made more upsetting when it seems Mueck has modelled Mask II on himself. Facing the piece ensures such intense realism from the texture and skin detail yet a dawdle round the back is a peak behind the curtain, revealing the hollowed-out insides of the sculpture and reassembling its namesake. Its significant scale of roughly four feet long makes it feel bold yet the slumber infers intimacy. One feels voyeuristic almost, glaring at this face while he sleeps, his jaw gaped open against the base and an unshaven beard around his chin. Mueck’s work will give you two intense feelings simultaneously. One will entice you to creep forwards to admire the glistening of sweat on its forehead, the other will have the piece’s likeness so disturbing you’ll want to promptly briskly walk to the next exhibit. Photo: The Artsology Blog
James Garbett
EXHIBIT
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ARTS + LIT
30 OCT 2017 |
EDITORS: Mubanga Mweemba and Maddie Davies
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Myth and Magic Exeposé Arts+Lit writers delve into the storytelling tradition of folklore in the run-up to All Hallows’ Eve
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VER since I was a little girl, I have been obsessed with the idea of faeries: fae, the wee folk, any and all other names the world has for those magical beings. The first faerie stories I remember were in a huge book, filled with beautiful illustrations of faeries peeking out from behind flowers and blades of grass. From when I first read it, I was hooked. Besides the fact that they were enchanting and beguiling, I think what drew me towards their tales was the idea of something magical staying just out of sight. In faerie lore it states that they tend to avoid the mortal world, and only become visible to us should we cross onto their land accidentally, or if we wrong them in some way. So, it was very easy for a younger me to convince myself that faeries existed. I could find them eventually, if I just looked hard enough. I saw them in dust motes and dandelion clocks, and I think that they’re the reason I had such a wild imagination as a child, and why I’m still so interested by the unknown now. My days of searching at the bottom of my garden are long over but whenever I see a particularly circular group of mushrooms, I can’t help but wonder… Olivia Powell
HE Wendigo is a monster of Native American legend, most commonly of the Algonquin people. It stands tall and rail-thin, with long yellow fangs framing a lolling tongue, and suffers an insatiable hunger for human flesh. The name more or less means “the evil spirit that devours mankind” although one version of its origin story is quite tragic. It is said the first Wendigo was a Native American warrior who made a deal with evil spirits to protect his tribe; the spirits granted him grisly strength but trapped his human soul inside the Wendigo. The more popular version that has even made it into modern media is that a Wendigo is born any time someone resorts to cannibalism; the act is so atrocious that evil spirits overcome the person. Like many folk tales, the Wendigo was used to warn against societal taboos - in this case cannibalism and ravenous greed. A very specific culture-bound mental illness, Wendigo psychosis, has been named after the creature. The symptoms include intense craving for human flesh and paranoia of becoming a cannibal. Friendly Halloween PSA: consume plenty of candy and pumpkin spiced latte to ward off Wendigo spirits and that hunger for human flesh. Alexandra Luca
N Russia, one of most well known fairytales is that of Koschei the Deathless. An immortal tyrant set on terrorising women, it is only right that Koschei receives his end at the hands of the maiden, not the knight. Marya Morevna is this maiden: a fierce warrior queen who is capable of defeating entire armies. Even when she marries she still continues her conquests, leaving her husband Ivan in her castle with the explicit instructions to not open her dungeon. Her newly wed husband Ivan does so, however, and Koschei escapes from where he was bound and kidnaps Marya on her return from battle. Not to be made a damsel in distress, Marya is ultimately the one who makes the plan that allows her to be rescued, as all of her husband’s attempts fail. She risks her life in doing so, but triumphs, and her and Ivan kill Koschei between them before returning to their married life. When I first heard this story at a young age, it made me want to be like Marya. I wanted the sword and the battles, but maybe not the useless husband. Personally, I think she might have been able to save herself, given enough time. Charley Cross
N recent years, I’ve developed this impulse to fight the notion that fairy tales are simply for children. With a self-professed obsession with fairy tales choosing one as my favourite is practically impossible. Instead, I offer a collection: Angela Carter’s seminal work, The Bloody Chamber: And Other Stories. To me, this book effectively triggered the movement away from fairy tales from being solely for children, migrating them into an adult context. By their very nature, fairy tales are adaptable to the time in which they are written; their origin as oral tradition, constantly changing with each new telling to fit both teller and audience simultaneously, carves their foundation as a genre both susceptible and welcome to change. Carter not only acknowledges this but champions it in The Bloody Chamber, tackling the traditional folktale convention of oppressed and helpless women by explicitly subverting this norm and elevating it to the forefront of her retellings. The American academic Jack Zipes said that “fairy tales are informed by a human disposition to action—to transform the world and make it more adaptable to human needs”, The Bloody Chamber is the manifestation of this call for action. Peter Firth
ETER Pan was my first childhood crush. I was never bored of watching the Disney movie, over and over again, in my reallytoo-pink bedroom. I even used to steal Hook’s boat from my brother’s room just to replicate the film scenes (giving my name to Wendy, of course). Why did I love it so much? I think the main reason was Neverland. That world was the realisation of all my dreams; who wouldn’t have wanted to live in a place with no rules and no adults? As a child I had a very big imagination, and I confess that I had believed in magic for a long time and Neverland, for me, was the logical and scientific proof that people could fly and that fairies existed. Every night I used to ask my dad to leave my window open in the hope that I too would have been able to fly to that magic place in the company of Peter and Tinker Bell. As you can imagine, that only resulted in really horrible colds and interminable sneezing every morning - something more or less like Freshers’ flu just without the hangover - but that didn’t change my opinion. Peter Pan is still the best and I think, sometimes, I may still believe in fairies. Barbara Vanotti
INDING a house made entirely of sugary treats is an ideal scenario, and if you disagree with this fact then you’re lying to me, to yourself, and to everyone who’s reading this. I feel like the food house is a glorious aspect of Hansel and Gretel which is commonly overlooked, along with the fact that these kids immediately start having a nibble when they stumble across it themselves. I like to think that I would at least knock and ask permission before I started chowing down. However, they had just been abandoned by their father and step-mother in the middle of the woods, so maybe we can forgive this lapse in manners - just this once. The creepy old lady lurking inside then invites them in, and the quest to cook them then begins (my alarm bells were ringing from pretty much her first words but hey, maybe that’s just me). This story subverts logic in the most wonderful of ways, yet the ‘siblings vs. authority’ aspect was the part that my brother and I always tried to emulate. We didn’t quite live up to Hansel and Gretel, who push their would-be eater into the oven meant for them and escape with their lives via a trail of bread crumbs, but we could dream. Libby Stalbow
T is all too easy, from the warm comfort of home, to deride superstition. It belongs to the past, to people who we may like to think ‘knew no better’ – yet even the modern (and supposedly educated) mind can run away with us just as easily. It’s not hard to see how people could believe in such apparitions as the ‘Wild Hunt’, a folkloric tradition pervasive across northern Europe. The Hunt appeared during inclement weather, with details varying by locale: the Scandinavian Hunt is traditionally led by Odin, whilst here in Britain Hunters range from chthonic Welsh deity Gwyn ap Nudd to King Arthur himself, and the apparition is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (CE 1127).The legend of the Hunt is closely tied with ideas of winter, its associated hardships, and the fraying of boundaries between corporeal and spiritual realms. An encounter portended catastrophe: war, famine, death. Yet some mortals chose to join the Hunt, their spirits drawn away in their sleep, choosing eternal desperation over that which was to come. As coursework deadlines set in, perhaps many a student will sympathise. Graham Moore, Deputy Editor
HE Jiangshi is amusingly referred to as the “hopping” vampire, but this chillinducing creature is no laughing matter. Often erroneously labelled a vampire or zombie, Jiangshi are in fact stiff reanimated corpses in differing stages of decomposition, and are often recognizably dressed in Qing Dynasty official garments. The reason for this attire is that their legend began during the Qing Dynasty, when ‘corpse drivers’ were hired to transport the bodies of dead workers back to their hometowns. They did so at night, the coffins being placed on bamboo poles that caused them to bounce during the journey, hence the hopping. The tales say that corpses will turn into a Jiangshi if they have died a violent death, or have received an improper burial. Once turned, the corpse hides in dark places during the day, and comes out at night to kill people and steal their qi (life force). They traditionally feed on life force, not blood, but Western blood-sucking vampires have influenced their representation. In case you’re worried about these springy qi thieves, Chinese legend recommends sticky rice, using a mirror to scare them with their own reflection or, if all else fails, holding your breath. Alexandra Luca
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music
Ears for fears
James Murphy on the scores that will send shivers down your spine
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ELLO ‘weens, it’s Halloween, so what better soundtrack is there for our terrifyingly deadline-filled lives than the eerie synths and strings of some classic horror movies? And though Penderecki’s skincrawling Polymorphia was perfect for Jack Nicholson’s axe-wielding lunacy, only films with original soundtracks will be counted, so that is not only The Shining, but goodbye to The Exorcist too (and therefore Phantasm, which completely ripped it off.) Also excluded (sadly) are Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which had more of a soundscape (ominous though those scraping wails are) and Jaws, which - no matter how iconic - just isn’t the right kind of horror. Sorry.
Mitchum’s calculating stalker - a theme so good Scorsese’s 1991 remake kept it, which is better known today as Sideshow Bob’s theme in The Simpsons. Hermann uses dissonant strings to mirror the “workings of a killer’s mind,” and his bold descending brass really hammers it home. In Psycho, meanwhile, despite the lower budget, Hermann gives us his most iconic work - those stabbing shrieking strings from Hitchcock’s infamous shower scene. When the master of suspense himself says that “33 per cent of the effect of Psycho was due to the music,” you know you have a piece that you definitely shouldn’t set as your morning alarm.
Bernard Herrmann - Psycho (1960), and Cape Fear (1962) In the olden days, Bernard Herrmann was the undisputed king of delivering grand-scale symphonic evil. In Cape Fear, Hermann delivers a bold and intimidating theme for Robert
Krzysztof Komeda: Rosemary’s Baby (1968) Komeda’s echoing high notes back Mia Farrow’s disturbing lullaby to create a deeply uncomfortable synthesis of childish innocence turned sinister, as imitated in A Nightmare on Elm Street’s nursery rhyme. Probably
the gentlest, but by no means the least creepy, of the pieces on this list. Goblin: Suspiria (1977) The ominously beautiful prog-rock score to Dario Argento’s successful film was created before the film was shot. While the whole theme is note-perfect, it is the title piece where the score hits its zenith - the music-box style opening allows breathy Rosemary’s Babyesque lullaby chants to creep in, and combined with some of the earliest use of synthesizers in film scores, and the heavily distorted drum machine, Goblin’s stirring innovations showed horror doesn’t need a bold classical soundtrack. Their diabolical synths have deeply influenced all slashers since. John Carpenter (and Ennio Morricone: Halloween (1978) John Carpenter is a man of many talents. Writing, directing, producing, editing, and even
Acceptable in the 80s
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Agnes Emery praises Stranger Things’ atmospheric soundtrack
USIC is important in creating the perfect atmosphere, matching the mood of characters and setting the overall tone in a TV Show. Stranger Things is not only set in 1983, but it really feels like it was made in 1983. The show is painstakingly dedicated to its era, with more 80s pop culture references than you can shake a lightsaber at. Getting every detail right is paramount, including the music - and boy, did they nail it. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein’s original score is incredible; so incredible, I have it on both CD and vinyl. My friend and I have even played a game where we guess which part of the show each track plays in. The opening theme is iconic: a simple, repetitive, sci-fi infused, mystery-building electronic masterpiece. The score evokes powerful emotions, drawing the audience into this world of smalltown kids riding around on bikes, hunting monsters, and braving the unforgiving ‘Upside Down’.
AN ENORMOUS SLAB OF RETRO ENERGY The soundtrack always comes in at just the right moment, bringing heavy nostalgia for some, and introducing a new generation to the shiny world of 80s pop. The music supervisor for Stranger Things is Nora Felder, in charge of digging up forgotten classics and going to any length to not only get them in
the show, but to make sure they capture the true emotion of the scene. This woman is a genius. ‘Should I Stay or Should I Go’ by The Clash is an absolute 80s anthem, and one of the most important songs in the show. It acts as Will Byers’ personal theme tune, and way of communicating to his mother that he is hidden in a parallel universe. The song was written into the script by the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers - an obvious and perfect choice. “Should I stay or should I go now? If I stay there will be trouble, if I go there will be double” – a fitting sentiment with a demogorgon about, threatening the lives of small-town Americans and aliens alike. A pivotal musical moment happens in episode four. A body believed to be Will’s is found in a quarry lake, and heavy grief sweeps the show’s main characters. Peter Gabriel’s slowed down, aching cover of Bowie’s "Heroes" plays. A panicstricken Winona Ryder embraces her only remaining son, silhouetted in headlights. Released in 2010, the cover pays perfect homage to Bowie’s original genius, adapting the song for a scene of desperate tragedy – yet still managing to acheive a
prophetic sense of hope. Elsewhere in the show, Felder has had a whale of a time sifting through the 80s charts - all in the name of television continuity, of course! Corey Hart’s 1984 ‘Sunglasses at Night’, Foreigner’s 1981 ‘Waiting For A Girl Like You’, and the most unforgettable song of the 80s, Toto’s ‘Africa’, are all in there. Joy Division/New Order tracks accompany cinematic moments, whilst the likes of The Bangles crop up in closing credits. The show truly takes us on a journey back in time, to a world of highwaisted wranglers and Honda Civics. The 1980s might have been an era of gimmicky action movies and questionable haircuts, but it also saw the birth of synth pop, glam rock, and illegal warehouse raves. For those of us born a decade or two too late, Stranger Things offers us the next best thing for experiencing 80s music in its authenticity. I certain that bands will continue to sample and rework the iconic 80s era for decades to come, but at the end of the day, you just cannot beat the real thing.
composing, he wrote the now iconic theme for his commercial smash hit Halloween in only 3 days - despite being unable to read a note of music. His simple tinkling piano motif has deeply permeated popular culture, echoed in Saw’s equally iconic theme, returning in some form in every single film in the franchise. But while he popularised these game-changing synths, it was Goblin’s work on Suspiria that inspired it. When meeting Goblin’s Claudio Simonetti, Carpenter introduced himself saying “I know you very well – I stole all your music.” Harry Manfredini - Friday the 13th (1980) The echoed whispering chorus “ki ki ki, ma ma ma” needs no introductio, but what many may not know about the iconic Penderecki-inspired Friday score, is the tactical deployments of silence. In the original, music only ever plays when the killer is present, letting some huge scares play to silence. The sudden cut off mounts the tension before the scream hits.
REMEMBER THIS? PULP We Love Life 22 October 2001 It’s not difficult to imagine why We Love Life, Pulp’s 2001 forgotten farewell album, dropped off the charts after a piddling three weeks. Key lyrical themes include downtrodden refugees, child murder, and the shrouded woodlands surrounding industrial Sheffield. There are no epoch-blasting singles to rival 'Common People' or 'Disco 2000'. In fact, it often sounds about as cheery as a day trip to an abattoir. And yet, I can’t stop playing it. Frontman Jarvis Cocker's lyrics are as sharp as splinters. He was 38 at the time, and had seen enough and done enough to know how to write eloquently about regret and cruelty. Musically, it’s as accomplished as anything the Britpop titans ever recorded, sidestepping between sinewy folk-rock ('The Birds in Your Garden') and bubbling trip-hop ('Weeds II'). It’s a record unafraid to dig its fingers into the thorny undergrowth of human relationships, and no track burrows deeper than 'Roadkill', a memorial to lost love that floats its way into your soul like mist rolling over a forest lake. Like all of Pulp’s finest songs, it accumulates emotional power through minute observations, such as how sunlight reflected from water on a former girlfriend’s face. For Jarvis, life is endlessly disappointing, but there are comforts in the minor details. By the end of ecstatic closer 'Sunrise', you feel like you’ve reached the summit of one most fascinating careers in pop history. Songs as worldly and stunning as these could never be depressing. Call it Northern Pastoral; hardened, sparkling, and aglow with the wisdom of human experience.
EXHIBIT
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MUSIC
EDITORS: Alex Brammer and Maddy Parker
The fifth element
30 OCT 2017
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George Stamp, Online Music Editor, chats with The Horrors' Joshua Hayward about their fifth album, V
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SAT down with guitarist and pedal-builder extraordinaire Joshua Hayward of UK indie rock band The Horrors after the release of their new album V. Here is what Joshua had to say… Congratulations on the new album! Thank you very much! The first thing I noticed is the visual artwork. The album has this distinctively grotesque and futuristic, perhaps even 80s-nostalgia styling, like something out of Blade Runner. What was the inspiration behind this look? Well we wanted to do something quite grotesque, and we found this artist called Erik Ferguson and his stuff all looked amazing, so we asked him to do some stuff for us. I don’t think it looked very 80s though, we thought his work looked very futuristic, you couldn’t create something like that in the 80s! I’ve read about Faris having his own visual artwork, is that ever incorporated into the band’s cover art? Yeah we use it in the liner notes of our records, it often pops up on t-shirts and things like that. Have you ever delved into visual art yourself? No not really, I prefer the science and electronics design side of things, you could kind of call it art… a “black art”. That’s how people describe it, because you can’t exactly describe it as maths or science, there’s this extra factor there… Speaking of which, I’ve read a lot about you building your own pedals, is this something you still do? Yeah, it’s actually got to the point now where it’s easier for me just to build it if I’ve got a sound in my head rather than to try and find something that does the same thing…
Would you say that this has formed the album’s sound and production? Yeah, it’s a means to an end, they’re just tools, they help you get to the place you want to go to. If I want to hear something, that, for me, is the quickest way of getting there. Tom [keyboard/synth player for The Horrors] is very good at buying things to get the sound, we do a lot of modular work on this album, his way is that he’ll find something he can use to build up [sound]… A lot of the things I want you just can’t get. It comes from the fact that I’m a guitarist. Guitar equipment is constrained, guitarists usually don’t want too many knobs on things. They have a very preconceived idea of what a guitar should sound like, a lot of it is chasing these 60s and 70s ideals of tone. These are great, but when you want to do something a bit different it’s quite tricky. Are there any pedals or synthesisers that you’re working on at the minute? At the minute I’m doing a lot of coding, that’s a big thing for me that I started doing towards the end of the record, I’m just trying to get my head round that. Pictured: Joshua Hayward
So what would that entail? Is that for designing more digital equipment? Yeah, like non-linear pitch shifts and things like that, so you can hear sounds that don’t follow the laws of physics, you can create sounds that you literally wouldn’t be able to create otherwise. I’ve been listening to lots of John Chowning who was very into that, he was the guy that invented FM Synthesis. It got misused a lot in that horrible 90s RnB sound, it was the kind of thing y o u ’d hear on Celine D i o n records and Mariah Carey ballads. That was powered by things that he discovered in the late 70s. He used it to create crazy things. The track ‘Phoné’ is a good one to listen to. It sounds like
a demonic choir but it’s all done by computers. Moving on from technology, as this is your first album since 2014, what would you say has changed personally or in the wider world in that time that might inform the themes or sound of the record? Well it’s a lot more scary now isn’t it? It’s not something we’ve ever consciously focused on, but thinking about it there must be an undercurrent of it. But we’ve never sat and made a protest record… To what extent do garage punk bands still inform your song writing and production now that you’ve beyond that sound? Yeah, massively, Poison Ivy [The Cramps] is still one of my favourite guitar players of all time. The impact of those songs is always going to be there. You can try and get there with different sounds and methods but you still won’t have that result. I also think it’s a lot easier to talk about music in terms of moods, it’s not just like putting things together. You can’t get there just by putting a 70s slide guitar part or an 80s synth line or 90s drum beat on it. Music doesn’t really work that way, you can make it that way but I don’t think the results are particularly good. As long as it’s still music you love then that’s the feeling that you want other people to get when they listen to your music, so it informs you in that sense. Last of all, what are your favourite albums/ artists at the minute? I’ve got this record by JASSS called Weightless that I’ve been quite enjoying but I’ve only had time to listen to half of it because I’ve been away constantly. I also really liked Thundercat’s album at the start of the year, he’s really great. Joshua’s diverse range of influences and passion for sound design shines through in The Horrors’ superb new album, V, out now.
Halloween MIXTAPE Molly Gilroy ‘Wild is the Wind' - David Bowie
Olivia Denton ''Wizards of Waverley Place Theme'
Jabez Sherrington 'The Nightman Cometh' - Charlie
Graham Moore 'Don't Fear (the Reaper)' -Blue Öyster Cult
Kelly
Molly Gilroy 'Waking the Witch' - Kate Bush
Ross Rondel 'Ghosts' - Michael Jackson
Harry Bunting 'Dracula Teeth' - Last Shadow Puppets
Cormac Dreelan - Lil Pump's whole mixtape
Issy Marcantonio 'Red Right Hand' - Nick Cave and the
Tristan Gatward 'Demons' - The National
Bad Seeds
Theodore Stone 'Monster' - R.E.M.
Charley Cross 'Broken Bones' - Kaleo
Nicki Avasthi 'Heads Will Roll' - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Chris Connor 'Burn the Witch' - Radiohead
Wil Jones 'Ghosts' - Laura Marling
George Stamp 'Mysterons' - Portishead
Fenton Christmas 'Ghost Town' - The Specials Frank Livesey 'Black Sabbath' - Black Sabbath
Tash Ebbutt 'Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)' -
Lil Pumpkin
David Bowie
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EXHIBIT
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MUSIC
EDITORS: Alex Brammer and Maddy Parker
30 OCT 2017
Death Metal: the essentials
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ITH Black Sabbath’s stellar Paranoid in 1970, metal was catapulted onto the global scene. This ushered in the era of heavy metal, and armed with the driving power of the guitar, a fast pace of music and over the top solos (and over the top hair), Sabbath and Co. were ready to take the world by storm. Bands such as Judas Priest, Deep Purple, and Iron Maiden exemplified this traditional distortion-based sound, and are just a handful of the bands that characterize old-school metal in its entirety. Needless to say, they are a great place to start. From their greatness have sprung a number of interesting (to say the least) varieties of metal. From the speed of thrash metal (metal on drugs that will make you want to move, or burn your house down - your choice), the harsh vocals and melodies of melodic death metal, and epic guitar riffage of traditional heavy metal, I will try to open the gateway to what I view as the ultimate metal albums for a newcomer to the scene. THRASH METAL: Megadeth - Rust in Peace (1990) Following exile from Metallica in 1983 due to alcoholism and personality clashes with frontman James Hetfield, Dave Mustaine formed Megadeth. Rust in Peace is a diverse
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Billy Chivers examines the wonderful world of metal
album about religion, politics and even UFOs, and shows partly why I love metal. This is because addresses real life issues, with ‘Holy Wars… The Punishment Due’ showing this. Not only is it the best song on the album, but it is actually about the Northern Ireland conflict. In my opinion, the genre has often been stereotyped to death by those who don’t understand it. If I said ‘Metal’ to a more mainstream music listener, it would probably conjure up an image of a long-haired bloke screaming into a mic about satan, or whatever. But when compared to Nicki Minaj’s uninspired lyrics (‘Anaconda’ comes to mind), metal seems enlightened… Best songs: ‘Holy Wars… The Punishment Due’, ‘Hangar 18’ and ‘Tornado of Souls’. HEAVY METAL: Iron Maiden - The Number of the Beast (1982) Iron Maiden spearheaded the New Wave of British heavy metal movement (NWOBHM) in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Firstly, contrary to what the title suggests and what certain religious members of the US public believed at the time, Iron Maiden aren’t Satanists. To be honest, I could put every 80s era Maiden album on this list, because they are incredible and I’m very biased. However, this album in particular is good because it exemplifies everything that makes Maiden amazing. There are Bruce Dickinson’s soaring vocals, the abstract concepts (as seen by ‘Hallowed be thy name’, the story of a man ready to be hanged), and the epic twin guitar solos. Best songs: ‘Hallowed be thy name’, ’22 Acacia Avenue’ and ‘The Number of the Beast’. Dio - Holy Diver (1983) The late Ronnie James Dio, the man famous for popularising the heavy metal horns, released his most successful album with Dio in 1983. Later going on to become the Black Sabbath vocalist after Ozzy’s departure in 1979, his influence in the genre is huge and his operatic vocals are signature metal. Sporting classics like ‘Holy Diver’, ‘Don’t Talk to Strangers’ and
Pump it (quieter)
‘Rainbow in the Dark’, it is one of my quintessential metal albums, and a must-listen. MELODIC DEATH METAL: Dark Tranquillity - Fiction (2008) Melodic death metal is an odd one, but my favourite subgenre. On one hand it genuinely has some of the most beautiful melodies and guitar riffs I’ve ever heard, yet on the other hand there’s a lot of screaming (harsh vocals). It’s the vocals that normally turn people off. Dark Tranquility were one of the pioneers of the Melodeath movement originating in Gothenburg, and Fiction is one of their best. The musicianship is flawless, and I am a fan of the band’s dabbling in electronics. Whilst melodic death metal is certainly not for everyone, if you keep an open mind you might find yourself headbanging alone in your room…. Like me. Best songs are: ‘Terminus (Where Death is Most Alive)’, ‘Misery’s Crown’, ‘The Lesser Faith’ and ‘The Mundane and the Magic’. Overall, there are so many great metal albums and subgenres that the short list above doesn’t really do metal justice. However, whether you end up listening to standard heavy metal, pagan viking metal or some weird kind of jazz fusion metal, there really is a lot to explore.
Alex Brammer, Music Editor, reviews Lil Pump's eponymous album LIL PUMP Lil Pump
OB
I
LOVE bad reviews. They’re hilarious. It’s perverse but seeing somebody get absolutely demolished in a review really cracks me up. Take Pete Wells’ legendary 2012 New York Times review of Guy Fieri’s Times Square location. It’s fantastically funny, a brutal takedown of the total bastardisation of American barbecue that Fieri’s restaurant represents. It kind of reminds me of Lil Pump’s creatively named album Lil Pump, because Lil Pump is just as terrifically awful a representation of hip hop as Fieri’s spot is a representation of fried chicken. Lil Pump is borderline unlistenable. Its repetitive verses are lazily written and delivered, it’s covered in phoned-in and totally unnecessary features to pad out the album’s halfhour runtime and most of the production could go undercover on a YouTube playlist called “Migos Metro Boomin type beats”. It is a truly godawful excuse for a hip hop record. I can’t do it, though. I can’t bring myself
to trash this album as much as it should be, because as much as Lil Pump’s album deserves a trashing, he doesn’t really seem to understand what he’s doing and what’s going on around him. For context: Lil Pump only just turned 17, and has been hopelessly addicted to Xanax and other opiates for the entire duration of his year-long career, so it's pretty understandable how someone who’s messed themselves up this badly in their adolescence would make such a terrible album. A lot of it even sounds less like the fun trap it’s intended to be and a lot more like a cry for help. Take 'Youngest Flexer', featuring an embarrassed-sounding Gucci Mane. Based on the beat, the subject matter and the delivery, it could be any other terrible trap song from the last year or so, but reading the lyrics – about being the youngest trap star around and the kind of guy who puts Xanax in a smoothie - in the context of Lil Pump's actual life is an uncomfortable experience. If I was pushed to talk about the good elements
of Lil Pump, I could find some. The production is competent enough to carry the listener through the runtime of the album without much pain, though in general it’s still pretty dull. Each song is blessedly short, with about a third of the tracklist cracking the three-minute mark. I didn’t hate Lil Yachty’s feature on 'Back', which surprised me. Lil Pump also has a semi-competent set of flows on 'Back', making a nice break from the usual yelling. 'D Rose', 'Boss' and 'Iced Out' with 2 Chainz are shamefully pretty catchy, though that’s mostly down to their above average production rather than anything Lil Pump himself added to the song. These are the good things about Lil Pump’s album. Look upon Lil Pump’s works, ye mighty, and despair. The internet is such a powerful force for good in the world – not just in music, in general. We have the entire range of human knowledge in our fucking pockets. We can see anything we want to see, at any time, for free, wherever we are, anywhere
on the planet. That’s great for music – musicians like Kevin Abstract, Frank Ocean, even Kanye West, wouldn’t be where they are without the internet. We’re able to stand on the sidelines and watch the best artists of our generation step up and create their masterpieces closer than any generation before us.
LOOK UPON LIL PUMP'S WORKS, YE MIGHTY, AND DESPAIR It’s also a world where Lil Pump, an opiate-addicted teenager with a microphone, can freely self-destruct in front of 3.2 million Instagram followers and nobody will stop to consider that maybe this kid needs help. Trying to say “it’s not that deep” doesn’t really ring true in this case – it feels a lot more like admitting that some a 17-year-old’s wellbeing is less important than the ability of anonymous Instagram users to laugh at him while he does serious long-term damage to himself. Sure, the album’s shit. But the listeners are worse.
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AW A R D W I N N I N G
PIE & MASH S N A C KS , C A KES , C OF F EE
Beer, Cider
& GOOD
TIMES
O P E N M O N DAY T O F R I DAY 1 0 am – 6pm EX ET E R S T U D E N T S ’ G U I LD – I N D H 1 , U PS TA I RS F ROM C O M ID A 1ST FLOOR, DEVONSHIRE HOUSE, STOKER ROAD EX4 4PZ
screen
Don’t review me I’m scared D
Ben Faulkner, Screen Editor, takes at look at one of the finest series on YouTube
ISGUISED as a light-hearted, musicaldriven educational series, Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared is, under its sugary surface, nothing short of a horrifying experience. Created by university friends Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling, the series consisted of six episodes from 2011 to 2016. Each one focuses on a broad concept – Creativity, Time, Love, Technology, Healthy Eating, and Dreams – and explicitly parodies educational children shows, with extremely catchy songs and three anthropomorphic puppets as the lead characters. Yet, by the end of each episode we are hit with psychedelic, unsettling imagery that forces you to re-evaluate everything you’ve seen and uncover the sinister core of the show. The irresistible songs are voiced by puppets that often represent the episode’s theme – the ‘Time’ song sung by a clock, and the ‘Technology’ song by a computer – and these characters offer the portal to the biting, disturbing satire that underlies each episode. They can be very much seen as representations of educational voices in society, teaching these puppets – who have been agreed among some fans to represent impressionable children – that “green is not a creative colour” and that certain snacks “make your teeth go
O
grey”. In nearly every episode, these talking objects also get severely frustrated or enraged when the puppets attempt to add their own input. The further you get through the series, the clearer it gets that Sloan and Pelling are critiquing the oppressive, narrow-minded nature of education. Whether they’re aiming this satire at the schooling system, media education, or both is somewhat unclear, yet the broad message isn’t: it can be very dangerous to teach such broad, complex concepts as creativity and love in such a restrictive way. To digest the full scope of its social implications and darker narrative, I implore you to watch some of the impressively detailed theory videos on YouTube. Once you’ve delved into this supplementary, but honestly quite crucial content, these episodes evolve from a mildly sinister satire of how oppressive education can be, to a truly dark horror involving kidnapping and torture. Although the series in some ways
suggests it is made up by six independent episodes, if you pay a tiny bit more attention you’ll notice very deliberate repeated motifs – the date ‘June 19’ and appearances of the ominous ‘Roy’ – that confirm a coherent but distressing narrative. Most importantly, it is a work that relies heavily on surreal, sometimes psychedelic symbolism, and really allows its audience to draw their own conclusions – I seriously doubt we’d get such abstract, multi-layered content on linear TV. In many ways, the show looks visually absurd and nonsensical – one of the puppets is a huge, red human-like being with spaghetti for hair, while another is a talking duck in a suit. Yet, this is part of the genius that Sloan and Pelling have conceived; they feed the audience this vibrant and juvenile set with colourful puppets as a complete red-herring – it throws us off the scent of its far more mature, complex content. Clearly driven by their joint-experience in Fine Art from their time
Final destination
at university, Sloan and Pelling have created something as compelling visually as it is thematically; and it’s all made independently for YouTube. They gathered funding from a Kickstarter fundraising campaign, but this is still a perfect exemplar of the sophisticated, professional, thought-provoking content that the YouTube community is providing. Would we get this on BBC? Can you imagine tucking into something so vulgar and disturbing right after Pointless? Even the more controversial channels would unlikely give such creative-reign – Channel 4 might be more liberal, but they’d worry that the surreal symbolism intrinsic to the series would alienate the average viewer. YouTube is, in many ways, a gift and a curse, in that it gives the creative freedom for anyone to create essentially anything they please (within limits, of course). It can be a platform for hate, propaganda, and for terrible pop songs to rack-up a horrifying amount of views but, it can also be a pedestal for some of the finest creative minds across the world to put out their work to an unlimited audience. When we consider how elitist and insular the film industry is, a platform as open and universal as YouTube is something that we should never, ever take for granted.
James Hacker takes a look at BBC Three’s move to online one year on
N the TV guide, channel seven is marked with a big red cross, followed by the words: “NO DATA” over and over. “BBC THREE does not exist. Would you like to remove it?” That’s what my TV tells me when I turn to said channel. Admittedly, that’s not the first warning I get.
WHY IS BBC THREE KEPT SO FAR OUT OF REACH? If you find yourself on iPlayer trying to access the BBC Three schedule, you’ll see this: “Looking for BBC Three? Check out the new website to enjoy all the latest stuff ”. Follow that link and you’ll be taken to the new homepage, littered with personality quizzes, short two minute clips, and clickbait articles. Scroll down here and you’ll find another link to view “Box Sets”. Select your box set, and you’re tak-
en back to iPlayer, finally granted the opportunity to watch some TV. Why is BBC Three kept so out of reach? The channel’s move to exclusively online content, despite the controversy, makes sense. Online streaming services like Netflix and 4oD have become the definitive way to binge watch, especially with younger viewers. BBC Three’s jump to online, in theory, should have been the start of something brilliant for young adult television. Instead, BBC Three has received the Buzzfeed-treatment. But the underwhelming, misdirected new service isn’t simply an issue of unrealised potential. It indicates a lack of faith. The BBC doesn’t know what to do with BBC Three: they don’t want it anymore. Half of BBC Three’s commissioning budget
now funds the production of BBC One dramas. In turn, many of its own shows have been reduced to a ten minute run time. Don’t try searching for any of the classics, either. Bad Education, Little Britain, and Him & Her are just a number of shows the BBC is attempting to forget, rebranding them under my new favourite genre: “Not Available”. But is it really a surprise? The commissioning priorities for the channel have always been the same. According to Digital Controller Damien Kavanagh, “BBC Three should provide an environment for the development of new ideas,” effectively becoming, “a genuine laboratory for BBC One and BBC Two.” It’s hard to see that in action. The only thing BBC Three has to offer BBC One anymore is half its funding, and the decency
to keep out of sight. This shouldn’t undermine the positives, though. New shows like Queer Britain and Extraordinary Bodies certainly carry that classic BBC Three honesty, and Overshadowed has rightly received praise for its truthful depiction of anorexia. But, without its widespread audience, it’s hard for these shows to live up to the names of their predecessors.
THE BBC HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF HIDING BBC THREE Out of sight, out of mind. By shoving it onto an online space, the BBC has done a good job of hiding BBC Three. The channel’s online presence, spread across so many hyperlinks and redirections, is frustratingly weak. The provocative channel we knew, unafraid to take risks, has lost itself. So maybe my TV was right. Does BBC Three really exist anymore?
EXHIBIT
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30 OCT 2017
EDITORS: Fenton Christmas and Ben Faulkner
SCREEN
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Exeposé Screen Writers vote for the most horrifying films around Paranormal activity, friday the 13th, saw and halloween: 12% each These four go-to horror classics are instilled in the very core of horror, and they made their mark on the genre in different ways. From the defining slasher flicks of Halloween and Friday The 13th, to the “torture-porn” gore fest of Saw and finally the low-budget phenomenon that was Paranormal Activity, far too many sequels and reboots have killed whatever quality they had left. They may now have fallen into the recycling bins of the movie world, but there is certainly no denying their influence.
SCREAM: 7%
ALIEN: 34%
“What’s your favorite scary movie?” Despite being a franchise that slightly lost its way, the original Scream is still a beautifully balanced mix of black comedy and quality horror. It takes all the traditional horror cliches and turns them on their head.
Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror masterpiece may not quite hold the same chilling power as when it was first released, but it certainly still one of the best in the genre. From the outstanding design of the alien itself to the tight and enclosed feeling of the direction, Alien is still very much in the hearts of many fans of traditional horror and general cinema-buffs alike.
THE EMOJI MOVIE: 9% RUN! JUST RUN FAR AWAY FROM THIS HORRIFYING MONSTER OF A FILM!
HITCHCOCK FILMS: 21%
THE RING: 16% The 2002 American remake of a Japanese horror classic, The Ring made video tapes scary. I don’t think I’ve watched a VHS tape since. Full of horrifying visuals and a good quality script, it might be often forgetten when discussing horror films, but its certainly one that gives some of the best a run for their money.
What more needs to be said about the master of supsense? The man that gave us Psycho wasn’t always tied to the horror genre itself, but many of his characters found themselves in horrifying situations. Tension was at the heart of the ‘Hitchcockian’ way of thinking. Why have a bomb suddenly go off under a table, when you can show the audience the bomb first and make them wait in utter agony as they wish the characters to leave before it explodes. Pure genius.
Canning the laughter Olivia Bignold-Jordan questions the current state of sitcoms
E
LEVEN seasons in and The Big Bang Theory is, somehow, still churning out new episodes. It’s remarkable, if rather worrying, that a TV show based around the bullying of an autistic man to the sound of prerecorded laughter is still going so strong. It begs the question: where’s the competition? The recent commission of a spin-off based around young Sheldon (please, no), the relegation of BBC Three to an exclusively online format, and a notable decline in fresh sitcoms on live television doesn’t bode well for the sitcom genre. Despite strong premises, new sitcoms are struggling to make a lasting impact; for example, Caitlin Moran’s Raised By Wolves was cancelled after a measly two season run, regardless of its critical acclaim. Other contemporary British sitcoms such as Quacks and Back got an overwhelmingly positive reception from reviewers but struggled to distinguish themselves from the swamp of comedies available across various streaming platforms. Perhaps streaming services are part of the problem for the traditional sitcom. They feed a demand for easily digestible comedies that
can be binged in one indulgent, hungover day. In comparison, sitcoms that release episodes on a weekly basis demand patience, loyalty and organisation to keep up to date. This ‘season dump’ format has allowed sitcoms to develop increasingly complex narratives and gags, and undoubtedly aided the success of welldeserving sitcoms such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Master of None. It’s a shame, however, that the more traditional sitcom format is suffering for it. The struggle for relevance is another hurdle that contemporary sitcoms must overcome. Gone are the days when people would turn to sitcoms for pure escapist delight - even relatively modern TV shows like Miranda seem ridiculously juvenile in the gloomy light of the post-Trump era. Viewers
can get their fix of light-hearted, junk TV from reality shows like Love Island and Made in Chelsea; there seems to be an increasing demand for more than just slapstick and cheap gags in comedy. Hence the rise of a new genre of tv show: the dramedy, or ‘sadcom’. This variation of the traditional sitcom, as the name suggests, is a hybrid of comedy and drama which uses humour to sugar coat a bitter pill of truth. Messages on serious topics such as politics and mental health are subtly delivered through the medium of humour. It’s a clever way to convey ideas that would otherwise be dry or bleak, and the popularity of shows like Bojack Horseman, Orange is the New Black and Fleabag (to name just a few) suggests that it resonates powerfully with millen-
nial and “gen z” viewers. Sadcoms allow us to laugh, rather than cry, at the absurdity of the modern world. It’s unsurprising, therefore, that whilst new shows are flopping, programmes such as the Peep Show have undergone a sort of cult revival. Part of the Peep Show’s charm is the uncomfortable realism of its dark humour about dead-end jobs and awkward human interactions. Yet whilst the traditional sitcom format seems to be struggling, the number of old sitcoms returning to our screens (Curb Your Enthusiasm and Arrested Development, for example) suggests an almost contradictory resurge in popularity that can be put down to current cultural trends that illustrate a desire to return to the rose-tinted past. The ultimate test for these comebacks will be whether they can create a nostalgic effect and adapt to meet the demands for twenty first century sitcoms. I hope that we can do away with the tired tropes of the old sitcom - let’s be honest, if canned laughter is necessary to mark a punchline, it’s probably not that funny - to make way for a new era of self-conscious comedy.
EXHIBIT
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SCREEN
EDITORS: Fenton Christmas and Ben Faulkner
Houston, we have a problem
30 OCT 2017
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Fenton’s film of the week
James Garbett writes about the issues sci-fi is having at the box office
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F you’re looking for the box office equivalent of a roulette table, you would be hard pressed to find a paradigm as fitting as the sci-fi genre. Five of the seven highest grossing films of all time classify as part of the genre, whilst the last few summers have had some of the greatest box office flops in cinema history belonging to the genre. From this year alone, Valerian, Ghost in the Shell, and Life all tremendously underperformed, and unfortunately even glowing reviews, a stellar cast, and a reputable name hasn’t assisted in Blade Runner: 2049 managing to break even two weeks since its release. However, this isn’t a matter of star power, critical reviews, or scifi being inaccessible to general audiences. This is the continuing, growing power of franchise and various studios’ illfated endeavours to make their own. Returning to the gambling analogy, films are hundred million dollar risks, and sci-fi’s requirement of CGI spectacle or otherworldly sets make the films highly expensive ventures. Obviously, Star Wars and Star Trek have consistently high box office returns (although Beyond was a disappointment, but that was due to a combination of marketing blunders), which is all down to their instantly recognisable brand and the fact that general audiences have yet to become bloated from the annual Star Wars instalments. Nevertheless, it’s almost impossible to have a conversation about the box office without mentioning the infamous ‘M’ word, and Marvel’s Thor: Ragnarok will no
doubt finish with a worldwide haul of over $700 million at the least. Interestingly, Ragnarok was marketed as a zany space adventure, similarly styled to many box office flops, yet will undoubtedly still attract a huge audience. The power of Marvel at the helm is a bigger audience draw than the genre and stylistic choice of the film in question. For example, Valerian - despite being a subpar movie - still was just as visually interesting as Ragnarok’s trailer, yet it failed to amass any anticipation prior to its release and was a colossal financial failure. Even star power can’t guarantee a successful return for a sci-fi film; last year’s Passengers made an estimated loss of around ten million dollars, even with the combined power of Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence. But two years prior, the essentially unknown Pratt starred as leading man in another unfamiliar property, Guardians of the Galaxy. It was one of the highest grossing films of 2014, and again another example of the power of Marvel Studios and its magnetic draw on audiences, an advantage these new sci-fi films don’t possess. Of course there are exceptions, the three most notable being Interstellar, The Martian, and Gravity. It’s rather compelling to note that these were significantly more grounded and science based entries to the genre rather
than Valerian, Jupiter Ascending, Tomorrowland and John Carter, which gravitated towards the more fantastical end of the spectrum. Plus, the former three’s critical acclaim and standalone nature attributed to their success, whilst the other four were desperate to kickstart their own series. But, studios making repeated mistakes isn’t a matter exclusive to sci-fi. Original or unfamiliar premises with huge budgets very rarely result in a profit. 47 Ronin, Lone Ranger, and Jack the Giant Slayer to name a few. It appears that the studios seem to continue to keep risking their millions with sci-fi more than any other genre, a desperate attempt to tap into the magic goldmine of sci-fi powerhouses like Star Wars, not only a standalone hit but a lucrative franchise. New IP sci-fis saddled with gargantuan budgets seem to be a recipe for disaster. Instead, studios are ignoring the recent trend; financially smaller sci-fi films have proved more commercially successful than their larger ones. Source Code, Arrival, and Ex Machina are examples of excellent films with smaller budgets that yielded a greater return than their big budget companions.
CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS
CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS
CAMPUS CINEMA PRESENTS
IT
THE BIG SICK
WIND RIVER
DATE - 31/10 DATE - 17-10
TIME - 6:30 & TIME - 6:30 & 9PM
- 6:30 & DATE TIME - 6:30 & 9PM DATE- 05/11 - 17-10 TIME
STUDIOS MAKING REPEATED MISTAKES ISN’T A MATTER EXCLUSIVE TO SCI-FI
Alien (1979) Ben’s film of the week
Birdman (2014)
Foreign film of the week
But new sci-fi seems to be a high risk, high reward strategy with a small success rate. Nevertheless, studios continue to cross their fingers for the next big franchise. But on this roulette board of cinema, it’ll be curious to see if the studios continue to keep betting, or decide to stop playing the game all together.
- 6:30 & DATE- 07/11 - 17-10 TIME DATE TIME - 6:30 & 9PM
Raw (2016) Director of the week
Guy Ritchie
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STUDY BREAK
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EXHIBIT
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STUDY BREAK CROSSWORD # 104
SUDOKU # 42
Down
Across 1
Go in (5)
1
Nature (7)
4
Beginning (5)
2
Implement (4)
8
Finding (9)
3
Cold and damp: yer hum (anagram) (6)
9
Weapon (3)
4
Onyx moor (anagram) - figure of
10
IX (Roman Numerals) (5)
11
Powerless (8)
5
Room (5)
13
Agreement (6)
6
Enticer (7)
Examine (a story, say) (2,4)
7
Ancient Norse god (4)
Becoming invalid - nix gripe
12
14 17
speech (8)
50-year old entertainment franchise featuring the 1 18, 21 5 10, 15 and 8 (4,4)
(anagram) (7) Rubber wheel cushion (4)
13
Delightful- pet host (anagram) (3,4)
22
Charm - bio (anagram) (3)
15
Traveller (7)
23
Number of consecutive identical binary
16
Disentangle (a tie, say) (6)
18
Lever (5)
Cut of Meat (5)
20
Reverberation of sound (4)
Narrow - candle (5)
21
Profound (4)
19
digits (computing) (3,6) 24 25
riddle me this 1. THE MORE YOU HAVE OF IT, THE LESS YOU SEE: WHAT IS IT? 2. wHAT HAS A HEAD, A TAIL, IS BROWN AND HAS NO LEGS? 3. wHAT STARTS WITH A t, ends with a t and has t in it? 4. WALK ON THE LIVING, THEY DON’T EVEN MUMBLE. walk ON THE DEAD, THEY MUTTER AND GRUMBLE?
ANSWERS
5. WHAT ENGLISH WORD HAS THREE CONSECUTIVE DOUBLE LETTERS?
5. Bookkeeper, 6. Cards. Riddle Me This: 1. Darkness, 2. A penny, 3. Teapot, 4. Fallen Leaves,
6. wHAT IS PUT ON A TABLE, CUT BUT NEVER EATEN?
18 Prise, 20 Echo, 21 Deep. Tempter, 7 Odin, 12 Star Trek, 13 The tops, 15 Voyager, 16 Unknot, Down: 1 Essence, 2 Tool, 3 Rheumy, 4 Oxymoron, 5 Space, 6 24 Steak, 25 Taper. 13 Treaty, 14 Go over, 17 Expiring, 19 Tyre, 22 Obi, 23 Run length, Across: 1 Enter, 4 Onset, 8 Discovery, 9 Arm, 10 Nine, 11 Impotent,
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| 30 OCT 2017
|
EXHIBIT
STUDY BREAK
AUTUMNAL ANAGRAMS
HALLOWEEN WORDSEARCH
1. Mist net
8. pail peep
2. lava eel flings
9. hotel coco hat
3. lone whale
10. ass nose
4. see carols
11. sky scoff flu
5. pup mink
12. van thinks gig
6. or mess
13. fat valet shivers
7. hot bin finger
14. fork wiser
AUTUMN WORD WHEEL
Can you find all Twenty words? Orange
werewolf
CANDY
monster
spider
TRICK OR TREAT
halloween
boo
BATs
october
witch
SKELETON
spooky
zombie
BLACK
ghost
scary
haunted house
vampire
JACK O LANTERN
Find as many words as you can using the letters in the wheel! Each word must use the centre letter and at least two others. One nine letter word can be created... Good Luck!
C S R w
ANSWERS
TARGETS GOOD 10+ EXCELLENT 15+ OUTSTANDING 20+ YOUR ANSWERS
R C O
E A
Fireworks. Socks, 12 Thanksgiving, 13 Harvest Festival, 14 8 Apple Pie, 9 Hot Chocolate, 10 Seasons, 11 Fluffy 4 Casserole, 5 Pumpkin, 6 Smores, 7 Bonfire Night, Anagrams: 1 Mittens, 2 Falling leaves, 3 Halloween,
33
30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
Science
SCIENCE EDITORS: Luke Smith Leah Crabtree
Mind-reading the minimally conscious
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Elinor Jones discusses current research improving the lives of coma patients
OR twelve long years, a young man was considered to be unaware, somewhat shut-off from reality, permanently in his own separate, silent world. Only through a pioneering ‘mind-reading’ technique did the two worlds seemingly merge to reveal that they maybe weren’t so separate. In December 1999, 26-year-old Scott Routley, a Physics graduate from Ontario, Canada, suffered life-changing injuries following a high-impact sideon collision with a police car and was rushed to hospital. In a matter of hours, doctors classified Routley as a 4 on the Glasgow Coma Scale, which ranges from 3 to 15 indicating a patient’s consciousness. One level away from complete shutdown, Scott’s brain had been badly bruised when slammed against the side of his skull, rapidly increasing pressure, with devastating consequences. When Adrian Owen, a neuroscientist specialising in the study of acute brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases, first met Routley, he made it fundamental to engage Scott’s family and friends in discussions and treatment plans. What struck Owen was how firm-
T
ly the family believed Scott was aware, that he was able to think and feel, that he was conscious but trapped in a body incapable of functioning. And from the outside his body did appear vegetative; he appeared to be in a state of partial arousal rather than true awareness.
He was conscious but trapped in a body incapable of functioning Owen consulted Professor Brian Young, the senior neurologist overseeing Scott’s care over the previous 12 years, and both agreed on the benefits of viewing Routley’s brain activity in a functional magnetic resonance imaging scanner (fMRI). Knowing that active areas in the brain require more oxygenated blood – just as is the case with the leg muscles if exercising – fMRI scanners are able to detect which parts of the brain are more stimulated than others and be able to show whether the patient is conscious with a functioning brain despite being in what neuroscientists call the ‘grey zone’ between life and death.
For active areas to be identified, patients are commanded to imagine moving their arm as if they are swinging a tennis racquet to answer ‘No’ to a question; this ‘lights up’ the premotor cortex on the fMRI scanner, a region of the brain involved in coordinating skeletal muscle contraction. In order to answer ‘Yes’, patients imagine walking round every room in their house, showing activity of the parahippocampal gyrus, an area of grey matter surrounding the hippocampus, involved in memory encoding and retrieval. The scope for this technique was so broad that Owen and Young had the opportunity to ask Routley if he was in pain, fortunately for him he answered ‘No’. Vitally, this information can provide the key to improving the Coma Recovery Score for patients by indicating that there is some state of consciousness and awareness, suggesting that the chance of recovery is vastly improved, even if only minimally conscious. One technique with massive potential, currently in its early stages, is vagus nerve stimulation. This is used to
awaken patients from partial arousal or implantation of electrodes and again 6 unresponsive wakefulness. Pioneered months later. When this technique was by Angela Sirigu at the French Centre tried on a patient with a vegetative state for Scientific Research, stimulation of diagnosis for 15 years, Sirigu found the the vagus nerve requires wrapping the patient was able to open their eyes more nerve fibre in tiny electrodes that con- often; after a month they were able to duct electricity, pulsating current with track people round the room with their increasing strength for 30 seconds over eye, showing the regaining of some aspects of consciousness as the vagus a five-minute period in order to nerve both directly and instimulate the neuroendirectly interconnects docrinal system; many areas of the this brings about parasympathetic activation of nervous systhe nerves tem, controland horling the rest mones in and digest the body, response of reportedly the nervous bringing system. tears to As with the eyes of all new and the patients Photo: Pixabay developing techin the trial. nologies, more Sirigu and patients will need to her team monibe studied and results tored electroencephareplicated. But for now, at least, lograms (EEG) from the scalp, as well as behavioural changes, for patients who are diagnosed as ‘unataking PET scans immediately after ware’, there is greater awareness.
When the stars collide
Rachel Jones explains the excitement behind LIGOs latest discovery
HIS story really has it all. Really it does; astronomy, physics, chemistry, two dying stars spiralling into one another (resulting in a cataclysmic explosion) and a whole lot of gold, the earth’s mass in gold to be precise! It all started in a galaxy not too far away - about 130 million light years away in fact, in the earth’s ‘cosmic backyard’. Two neutron stars, due to mutual gravitational attraction, spiralled into one another releasing large bursts of energy reverberating across the universe. So, what is a neutron star? In good old KS3 physics you may have been taught a bit about stellar evolution, and you might recall that a neutron star is
formed when the core of a large star (20-30 time more massive than our Sun) collapses in on itself. Like black holes, they are classified as ‘extreme gravity objects’ and are in fact the smallest and densest stars known to exist within our universe. With a radius the size of 15km they are the equivalent to squashing the mass of the sun into a volume the size of London! The energy released by a star has information embedded in it concerning the properties of the source. It’s mass, location and composition can all be decoded once detected. For the last half a century scientists have developed increasingly advanced technology to help us probe the universe using a range of radiation, the latest being gravitational waves.
Many readers may be familiar with LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory); this year’s Physics Nobel Prize was awarded to three of its contributors. There are actually two LIGOs, both in the USA one at Hanford and the other at Livingston. They are both 4km in length and were constructed with the aim of detecting gravitational waves or ‘ripples in space time’ emanating from cosmic explosions. Since they came on line gravitational waves from five black-holes mergers have been detected but not from other cosmic characters, until recently. On 17 August high energy bursts of gamma radiation were detected by both LIGOs and VIRGO (the European gravitational wave detector). Using all three detectors allowed for the triangulation of the signal, pin pointing the direction for astronomers to place their telescopes in order to study the light emitted. With over 70 collaborating telescopes and the gravitational wave detec-
tors working together across the globe, it meant that for the first time ever the signals could be studied using both gravitational waves and the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from high energy gamma radiation to low frequency radio waves. The use of all types of signal is called multi messenger astronomy. So why was this event so groundbreaking?For a long time scientists have been wondering over the mystery of how heavier elements such as platinum and gold were forged, as fusion in red giants can only form elements up to iron, which is only the 26th element in the periodic table. Leading theories claimed that energetic merges, such as this, are responsible for the production of the heavier elements such as gold, silver and uranium, elements that play a crucial role in modern life. Now, by studying the infra-red spectrum of the radiation emitted, this theory appears to be correct. The spectra contain the distinctive fingerprint of these heavier elements that have been forged. It has actually been estimated
that the collision of these two neutron stars would have created the mass of earth in gold. The collision has also provided information concerning how quickly our universe is expanding. The typical method of this determination is carried by measuring the speed at which a ‘standard candle’, which is an astronomical body with known luminosity, is moving relative to the earth.
The collision ... would have created the mass of earth in gold! It’s already been hailed as the most significant astronomic event of the last decade and there is still plenty more data to be deciphered. The merging of these dying stars has brought a global community of astronomers and physicists together to explore the universe using completely different signals. This event marks the beginning of a new frontier in astronomy where we can make use of electromagnetic and gravitational waves to explore our vast and chaotic universe.
34
SCIENCE
T
HE new season of Stranger Things arrives on our screens this week, so to celebrate we’re unlocking the curiosity door and taking a trip through the most weird, wonderful, and vaguely disturbing scientific stories from the past year. Young blood: There’s no such thing as vampires, but could blood hold the secret to immortality? The notion of blood transfusions from young to old to slow ageing is known as “parabiosis”. And, inspired by studies in mice, has now started to interest humans, where it has become the latest tool in Silicon Valley’s attempts to stave off the inevitable. Transfusions of plasma, from donors aged 16-25 are available, as part of the
The strangest things...
Ruth Braham runs down the five freakiest science news of the year so far “ambrosia” trial, to all those with $8000 to spare. Whilst any findings are likely to fall short of the normal standards of scientific investigation, some interesting findings have emerged. Suggesting there may be more to this than meets the eye, if we can get past the complex legal and ethical ramifications of procedures such as these. Zombies: A fungus worthy of its own horror film is on taking over the bodies of goldenrod soldier beetles and turning them into mindless zombies. Infected beetles have no control over their actions, under orders from the fungus (Eryniopsis lampyridarum) they climb up a plant and clamp their mandibles around a
flower in a death grip. The next day the beetle opens its wings and the fungus begins to grow out of the dead beetles abdomen and release spores into the environment, where they can infect even more beetles. Whilst it’s still unknown exactly how the fungus controls its host it’s likely to involve some form of chemical control. Carved skulls: Researchers have discovered fragments of three carved skulls at a ritual site in Turkey. The site, called Göbekli Tepe was constructed 11,000 years ago and whilst no formal graves were found there, 691 bone fragments have been recovered. The skull fragments in question have carvings from the forehead to back of the head. Markings indicate the skulls were cleaned of flesh and carved shortly after death. The cravings are crude, which may suggest the display is a way of stigmatizing the dead individual for some reason. Why Neolithic people were so fixated on skulls remains a mystery. Skull cults
usually form for one of two reasons. Some groups display the skulls of their dead enemies, others as a form of ancestor worship. The upside down: Scientists have created a new superfluid that has a negative mass, meaning that if it's pushed to the right, it accelerates to the left and vice versa. This freakish material is possible due to newton’s famed second law of motion F=MA (if you push something it accelerates away from you). In certain conditions, acceleration can be negative and it’s under these conditions mass can be negative as well. Scientists used rubidium atoms cooled to absolute zero (so they
are almost stationary) to create this new superfluid. The new findings are interesting from a purely theoretical point of view, but could also help scientists understand what's going on inside stars. Mummies: During a routine inspection in the Swiss Alps a technician uncovered what he thought was a set of black rocks, further examination revealed these to be mummified bodies. DNA testing proved these corpses belonged to a couple who had been missing since 1942. The couple were preserved as the low water vapour content of the air cause dice crystals from frozen tissue to sublimate (go straight from solid to liquid), drying out the tissue and preserving the bodies.
Do you believe in magic (mushrooms)?
A
LDOUS Huxley famously wrote "take a holiday from reality whenever you like, and come back without so much as a headache or a mythology." Sounds like a dream come true? In Huxley’s classic Brave New World it’s possible. In fact, he wrote a lot about psychedelics and his experiences with them, and before he died, he requested an injection of LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide, a psychedelic drug) from his own wife. The people present at his death described it as ‘serene’, and ‘beautiful’. Think it’s trippy? Well it’s about to get a whole lot more magical.
Think it's trippy? Well it's about to get a whole lot more magical On planet Earth, there is such a thing called 'magic mushrooms'. Few mortals have dared to embark on their magical voyage, and even fewer return the way they went. In fact, the US court ruled all LSDs medically useless in 1970, shutting the door on any research on the drug, but scientists today are starting to catch on to their medicinal purposes. Researchers at Imperial College have led a study to investigate the benefits of using psilocybin, the active ingredient in the ‘shrooms’, to treat severe
Gabriel Yeap unpicks the science behind treatment with psychedelic drugs depression in patients with terminal illnesses or advanced cancer. They found that it actually resets key neural circuits that are involved with depression. Essentially, brain networks are disintegrated during the ‘high’, and reintegrated after that, hence the ‘reset’. The MRI scanning of the test subjects measured blood flow and crosstalk between brain regions, and showed that the blood flow to a region of the brain called the amygdala is reduced. Since the amygdala is responsible for complex emotions, such as stress and fear, it’s no wonder that the results showed marked and lasting reductions in symptoms of depression, with some patients reporting up to 5 weeks of benefits. The effects were similar to electroconvulsive therapy (cue Harley Quinn and the Joker, or American Horror Story), which was actually used to treat what they called ‘madness’ in lunatic asylums in the 1930s. However, the psilocybin study was only carried out on a very small sample of 20 people with no placebo controls, and this could mean that the results are not as reliable as they could be. However, there is still a light at
the end of the tunnel for medicinal ‘shrooms'. Other studies show benefits for up to 6 months: in two tests carried out by Johns Hopkins University and New York University, 80% of 80 people tested with advanced cancer experiencing anxiety and stress reported signifi-
cant improvements in their mood, for 6-8 months. This is promising research, as current conventional treatments for depression is statistically appalling.
Maybe that’s why this has opened a gateway for MD, or ecstasy, to undergo trials for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) treatment next year, awaiting the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, US based) to approve MD as a licensed medicinal drug. This is why loyal fans of the drug have raised around 20 million US dollars to fund the trials. The effects of MD are different to psilocybin, as MD is not a psychedelic drug. Prof David Nutt mentions that in fact, if psychedelics were used to treat PTSD, this could make the condition worse. This is because MD works by dampening brain circuits that are overactive in the traumatic memories. Do bear in mind that self-medication for depression patients, let alone mere mortals, may be extremely dangerous, as the dosage is key for treating the symptoms. Too high a dosage can stop the heart, and become fatal. The co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, Bill Wilson, credited mystical experiences on the drug for his own recovery. He believed that you had to find a higher power so that you could
look down on the affection some people have for alcohol. In his own depression study, he claimed some people did have mystical experiences. Others had powerful emotional experiences. Apparently mystical experiences were the key to lifting depression and dealing with addictions. A quote from Professor David Nutt of Imperial College in London explains the supposed phenomenon: “When you see that you are more than your current self and you have experiences as our patients do, feeling you are taken outside of your body and floating off into space and into other worlds, then you see the bigger picture. You realise you don’t ever die. No one ever dies. You stop breathing. You stop thinking. But the atoms are still there”.
Current conventional treatments for depression are statistically appalling In fact, there used to be this wonderful little quiz question they set for scientists doing the Cambridge entrance exam asking "how many O2 molecules of Socrates’ last breath do you inhale every time you breathe?" The answer is approximately 26 because the droplets are still around. Insane? Probably, but we would all rather have a magical journey than be depressed.
SCIENCE
It's time for plan bee
35
Matt Romang discusses what we need to do to save our precious bee populations
B
EES are great, they make honey, they make a cute buzzing noise and they pollinate 70 per cent of the worlds top food crops, meaning that 90 per cent of the human race's nutrition comes from bee pollinated crops. However it is no secret that global bee populations are in massive decline. This is a multi-faceted issue, almost all caused through human impacts: habitat destruction, increased prevalence of parasites from climate change and the widespread use of pesticides and herbicides in agriculture.
Neonicotides target bees' central nervous systems whilst having no effect on humans Recently one specific pesticide has been getting a lot of attention: neonicotinoids. Neonicotinoids target the central nervous system of pests whilst having no effect on humans, making them a popular pesticide. However, studies have shown that they can have a detrimental effect on pollinators as well as pests, bees in particular. Bees don’t have the ability to ‘taste’ and as such can’t avoid the nectar tainted with neonicotinoid
pesticides. Studies have shown that bees may even be starting to prefer neonicotinoid tainted nectar due to the nicotine, and becoming addicted, similar to a smoker. This has a detrimental effect on bee colonies and is a contributing factor to colony decline. This is worrying due to the spread of pesticides worldwide in both the developed and undeveloped parts of the world. Evidence of pesticides was found in 86 per cent of honey samples in North America and 57 per cent of honey samples in South America. Traces were even found in honey from remote islands with no modern agriculture. Most of the concern with pesticide impact on bee populations focuses around the European Honeybee (Apis mellifera) which are used worldwide as crop pollinators. This is not to say that native pollinators are not also affected. Research at Newcastle University has produced evidence that suggests that native pollinators experience an even
more detrimental effect than imported pollinators. Governments around the world have noticed the problem and have produced
action plans to protect their pollinators. The EU has put heavy restrictions on the use of neonicotinoids after the European Food Safety Authority confirmed
that neonicotinoids were a threat to bees. The UK has introduced a national pollinator scheme with five aims: supporting pollinators on farmland, supporting pollinators across towns, cities and the countryside, enhancing the response to pest and disease risks, raising the awareness of what pollinators need to survive and thrive and improving evidence on the status of pollinators and the service they provide. They have also persuaded organisations such as the National Trust and Network Rail to designate 800,000 hectares as ‘bee paradises’ by planting more bee friendly wild flowers and allowing their grass to grow longer. We can also all make small changes individually to try and help the problem. Planting high pollen, bee friendly plants can give bees a welcome food source and help to boost local bee colonies. Trying to eliminate habitat destruction, such as leaving abandoned animal burrows and dead trees can give many solitary bees or wild
colonies a secure place to live. Mounds of loose earth near to water sources are excellent habitats for burrowing bees. Trying to use more organic gardening techniques, such as reducing the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides and investing in organic means of pest control, is a long term help to bee colonies. Vibrant, chemical free gardens planted with bee friendly plants are great for wild bees. This will help pollinate your garden leaving it looking healthier.
Supporting your local beekeepers can be a great way to boost populations Finally, supporting your local beekeepers instead of the larger honey producing companies can be a great way to ensure that your local bee population continues to boom.. Many local beekeepers offer fully organic produce and their bees will ensure a healthy local environment. A single bee colony can pollinate 300 million flowers every day and supporting local bee loving businesses is an effective way to boost not only bee populations but also local ecosystems which benefit from the bees.
Life on stage
Richard Bray, President of the Natural History Society, relays his interview with Simon Bell from the BBC
W
ITH the latest BBC blockbuster documentary series, Blue Planet II II,, set to grace our screens this autumn, I found myself wondering how such series’ are made and produced. Such intrigue led to a very fortunate interview with the BBC producer, and Exeter alum, Simon Bell, regarding his work on the BBC series ‘Hidden Kingdoms’.
The faking was due to the obvious risks of filming a defensive, halftonne, apex predator Having a chance to speak to Simon led to an interesting discussion about one of the biggest controversies surrounding modern documentary production; the debate between factual vs. fake footage. Now, when I say fake, I don’t mean to conjure Trump-like-associations of deliberate misinformation for some darker purpose, but instead reference a necessity to stage footage due to the difficulty, or
danger, in obtaining the real thing. For example, one of the most notable instances of controversy surrounding staged footage was that of a particular scene in Frozen Planet, whereby a seemingly wild Polar bear family unit was filmed sleeping, when, in reality, it was shot in a Dutch zoo. Such faking, however, was deemed necessary due to the
chose to venture to the African Savanna to capture the secretive and speedy life of four diminutive, and particularly endearing, elephant shrews. This little long-nosed rodent lives its life scurrying along and maintaining manicured grassland tracks, delicately removing obstacles such as pebbles and overhanging blades of grass, so as to maintain unimpeded
rather obvious risks of filming, and potentially waking, a defensive, half-tonne, brooding, apex predator. As Simon went on to discuss, danger in filming is not the only consideration that goes into staging footage, with programs such as ‘Hidden Kingdoms,’ actively staging footage so as to capture behaviors that would otherwise be impossible to film in the wild. In charge of the production of episode one, Simon
access through its network of paths. The maintenance of these networks allows for easy access to food that is unfortunate enough to crawl or fall into the shrew’s paths, whilst also providing unobstructed routes to flee from potential predators at speeds in excess of 30km/h - a reflex that makes filming them in their natural habitat impossible. The impossibility of filming this enigmatic little subject led to Simon and his team constructing a grassland environment of their own, thereby allowing them to shoot the scene they needed
within the confines of a controlled environment. This process involved painstakingly planting the grassland habitat by hand, landscaping the tracks for the shrews to use, and placing cameras at specific angles to capture them, all within the confines of a raised board. Thankfully, the four subjects took to this staged environment like ducks to water, with the team even dropping small objects into the set just to observe their natural tendency to tidy and maintain their tracks (an experience that Simon described as being one of his most rewarding to date). Beyond allowing the capture of these
The benefits of a controlled environment allow forethought and planning unseen behaviors, the benefits of filming in controlled environments also allows for the dramatization of natural history; an aspect that Simon feels is particularly important, but has also been slightly
overlooked. Dramatisation within natural history documentaries, although previously a lesser consideration, seems to be on the up, with BBC worldwide even recruiting a Pixar employee to consult with the Hidden Kingdoms team during pre-production. With dramatisation becoming more important, the use of staged environments also seems to be on the rise, with the benefits of having a controlled environment allowing for a degree of forethought and planning with a narrative in mind, thus allowing for the improved communication of “tricky scientific ideas in a manner that is visually stimulating.” In short, although the use of staged environments has drawn scorn in recent years due to its alleged dishonesty, I would argue the benefits of using staged environments really outweighs the criticisms it has unjustly received. Through using staged environments natural history filmmaking has been able to diversify, itself thereby capturing previously unseen behaviours and presenting the natural world in an engaging medium.
37
30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
SPORT
Remember November?
Ben Hart assesses the Home Nations' chances in the upcoming Autumn International series
ENGLAND
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NGLISH rugby is arguably in its best position for a number of years. On the back of consecutive Six Nations’ trophy wins, an 18-game undefeated run, and 16 players selected for the British & Irish Lions tour, both the strength and the depth of the squad at Eddie Jones’s disposal is of great quality. Even if the starters fail to make an impact, it seems that England's 'finishers' are well aware of their role from the bench. Jones continues to look towards the 2019 World Cup - calling up two 'apprentices' to train with the main squad - and these games may see younger players come through, particularly those who impressed during the tour of Argentina in the summer, notably Ellis Genge, Tom Curry, and Henry Slade, the latter of whom may have a greater role in the absence of injured centre Ben Te’o.
Ireland
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HE men in green seem to go from strength to strength under Joe Schmidt and these internationals should be a very beneficial experience for the Irish; readying themselves for southern hemisphere opposition in the latter stages of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, after a disappointing exit two years ago. Schmidt must focus on making his backline more clinical, as half of the team's points in the 2017 Six Nations came in the 63-10 victory over Italy. Having selected a relatively inexperienced and youthful squad, Ireland will be hoping to rely on the finishing of Keith Earls, whose career has been boosted by something of a second wind, with 8 of his 26 international tries coming in the last 12 months.
Scotland
Wales
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ILL head coach Gregor Townsend be able to recreate the magic of the summer and record another win against Australia? The Murrayfield faithful will certainly hope so, but a couple of notable absentees have already put the Scots on the back foot. The loss of captain Greig Laidlaw and back-row stalwart John Barclay has potentially weakened the chance of Scottish success. Perhaps the greatest aim for the Scots over the next six months should be consistency, something that at times appears perenially elusive. Avoiding the kind of slip up they suffered in the summer - where they followed up that victory over the Wallabies by losing to Fiji - is key if Scotland are to fulfil the promise they have exhibited for the last few seasons and kick on from a largely positive beginning to Townsend's tenure.
ARREN Gatland will return to the Principality Stadium as Welsh head coach for the first time since June 2016 after his sabbatical to take charge of the British & Irish Lions. Gatland will be hoping he can turn the fortunes of this Welsh team around, after a very disappointing Six Nations campaign earlier this year, with Wales finishing 5th, their worst performance since 2007. Wales are typically slow starters in the autumn and could have done without the off-field distraction regarding Rhys Webb's eligibility to play for the national team once he joins Toulon. Even without that, four testing matches will certainly not allow Gatland a comfortable return to Wales management.
Fixtures: Argentina, Australia, Samoa
Fixtures: South Africa, Fiji, Argentina
Fixtures: Samoa, New Zealand, Australia
Fixtures: Australia, Georgia, New Zealand, South Africa
England should be expecting nothing less than three wins from three. The opener with Argentina may prove to be more challenging than some expect, but Jones will have his side firing on all cylinders for the clash with the Wallabies. The Samoan game provides the opportunity to use some of Jones’s fringe players, but considering the competition amongst the wider squad, even this should be comfortable for an English side that is still looking to improve.
Although questions can be asked regarding Ireland’s strength away from home after defeats to Scotland and Wales in the 2017 Six Nations - fortress Aviva remains crucial to the success of the Irish. With three home ties this autumn, I would back Ireland to win all three of their fixtures. If Schmidt’s side can get past South Africa, a side that has failed to win all four of their previous test matches, then this should provide confidence for Fiji and Argentina.
I would expect a 30+ point victory over Samoa, a side that ranks ten places below the Scots in the world rankings. But encounters with New Zealand and then Australia will really challenge Gregor Townsend’s men. A win in either of these games must be viewed as a successful autumn, although achieving this is surely reliant upon the Scots firing on all cylinders - as well as receiving the help of the vocal Murrayfield crowd.
Besides an encounter with Georgia that might see a changed Welsh outfit, three tough tests lie ahead. The opener with Australia could well set the tone for the following matches. A win here and this may provide a boost ahead of the New Zealand and South Africa matches. The aim should be three wins from four, at the very least, and if Leigh Halfpenny continues to deliver with the boot, then there is every chance of success for Wales.
Key Player: George Kruis
Key Player: Conor Murray
Key Player: Finn Russell
Key Player: Taulupe Faletau
Kruis has been instrumental to the success of Eddie Jones’s tenure thus far. Although he did not have the greatest impact on the Lions tour, Jones is well aware that Kruis’s ability to dominate the set piece is almost unrivalled. This is particularly apparent with regards to the team’s lineout success, which has been consistently over 90% in the last two years, a demonstration of the understanding between Kruis and Dylan Hartley. Even if Kruis does not claim a starting berth, his impact as a substitute is likely to be significant.
Most would go for Jonathan Sexton here, but in his occasional absence, Paddy Jackson has shown he can deliver on the international stage. For this reason, it is difficult to look past the brilliant Connor Murray as Ireland's key man. This time last year Rhys Webb appeared nailed on to start at scrum-half for the Lions series - twelve months on and Murray’s performance on that tour was instrumental in avoiding a series defeat. His kicking receives the focus it deserves but he is also a real try threat, as the second test against the All Blacks showed.
In the absence of scrum half and captain Greig Laidlaw to boss the backline, an even greater responsibility will fall on the shoulders of flyhalf Finn Russell to lead the Scots' attacking threat. After racking up 45 points in the 2017 Six Nations - the fourth highest tally in the competition - Russell will hope he can go even further next year and should take this chance to further showcase his talent. The test for Russell will be whether he can transform his Glasgow form on to the international stage.
At the age of 26, it feels as though Taulupe Faletau has been present on the international stage for far longer than his years suggest. Lions fans went into meltdown after the injury to Billy Vunipola but Faletau more than filled the boots of the England man, becoming an integral part of the Lions's success in the summer. Faletau is putting in world class performances almost every week for Bath, and his work rate and ball carrying ability will be required if the Welsh are to have a good autumn.
38
SPORT
Another win for EULHC
INTRAMURAL George Pitchford Intramural Sport Columnist
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RIDAY evening intramural football is characterised by two main features – bad weather and inconvenient match timings. Despite this, it’s also one of the best parts of university life – not least because playing on a Friday is a small price to pay for those of us who prefer not to make the trip to campus at the weekend – and after the first few weeks of the season the hundreds of competing teams are starting to find their feet on the road to becoming an effective team. Four games are usually enough to gain an understanding of each team’s capabilities. By now the team with an already astronomical goal difference has announced themselves, and there will be a team beginning to earn a reputation as the ones who only show up with five players. There’s also always one team with some serious creativity for a team name – think Rodallega Bombs, Hangover 96, or Expected Toulouse. My own team, Goalois Theory, has fortunately had some success in the league so far. Despite the dismal weather largely ruining any chance of flowing football, we’ve hit the ground running with three wins and a draw. Our first game saw a calamitous back pass from the opposition allow our industrious midfielder Matt to toe poke home the first goal of the season. The victory was subsequently wrapped up by two scrappy goals from notorious goal hanger Phil, who’s been unable to shake off the dynamic of primary school football.
Women’s Hockey
Exeter 1s....................................3 Cardiff Met 1s............................1 Michael Jones Online Sport Editor
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XETER Ladies’ Hockey 1s ran out 3-1 winners against Cardiff Met 1s to remain top of the Western 1A Conference. Exeter were convincing winners and looked comfortable from the off, applying continual pressure on the Cardiff defence and carving out a string of chances. The home side looked to utilise width and a number of beguiling runs flirted with unlocking the Met defence, but it was the element of surprise that finally handed Exeter the lead.
Exeter's goal appeared to stop their momentum
one. Yet she appeared to be caught in two minds – whether to shoot or dribble around the advancing keeper – and was stopped by the Met shot-stopper. The following loose ball was picked up by Exeter, but a shot was fired well-wide.
In truth, Exeter never looked particularly vulnerable This episode of brave goalkeeping from Met seemed to invigorate the away team and they gradually grew into a game they had barely imposed themselves on thus far. In truth, Exeter never looked particularly vulnerable and were fairly content to let Met have possession, confident that their press would soon materialise into a scoring chance. Such confidence was not misplaced as Megan Crowson
Repeated foot encroachments by the visitors led to several penalty corners and whilst Met held firm, they would soon be unravelled as Emily Davies exploited a lapse in concentration. Pouncing on a static defence, Davis sent a calmly curled effort past the helpless Met goalkeeper to give the 1s the lead.
rushed on a dawdling defender and surged through into open space. Making no mistake, she whipped the ball into the far corner and recovered the home side’s lead. Exeter’s third was a carbon copy of their second – even the goal scorer was the same – as Crowson once again exposed Met’s defensive frailties and lunged on the player in possession. Reclaiming the ball and bearing down on the visitors’ goal, the Exeter player’s class saw her come out on top, and she rounded the goalkeeper nonchalantly before tapping into an empty net.
An encouraging display that bodes well for the season Though Exeter entered the final ten minutes with nine players, a 3-1 lead was not going to be squandered and, in fact, it was Exeter who looked more dangerous right up until the final whistle. All in all this was a comfortable win for an Exeter side who didn’t even get out of third gear – an encouraging display that bodes well for the rest of the season. Next up, the 1s face Bath 1s away in a top of the table clash where they will likely need to use those extra gears to keep up their winning ways.
Three out of three for 1s
Intramural football is one of the best parts of Uni Unfortunately, as is often the way, it’s been goals galore at both ends, with my inadequacy in goal already being exposed to the rest of the team. Having allowed two pot shots to trickle past me into our net, there have been some suggestions that I’m to be put on the transfer market – if only there was enough interest. In the second bout we secured a nervy 1-1 draw with the league leaders. Captain Owen gave us a surprise lead with a precise strike, described as a ‘screamer’ and a ‘banger’ on multiple occasions – although, crucially, only by himself. Having taken the lead, we switched to a 5-0-0 formation with our players forming a shell around our own box. Inevitably, we were broken down and the last five minutes devolved into a mad scramble of two teams missing open goals with the chance to go top of the league up for grabs. And that’s the real beauty of it; whilst prevailing throughout the winter months, standing against the rain with a scrunched up face whilst moaning that you’re hungry is commonplace, the return to intramural life has been sweet. Much like my concentration span in a lecture, it might be short lived and our luck may turn sour, but the emotional attachment to a group of mates brought together, initially, by nothing more than a maths degree is not something that fades so easily.
Perversely, Exeter’s goal appeared to dilute their obvious momentum and a moment of sloppy defending gifted the visitors an equaliser. That Exeter found themselves back to square one after 30 minutes of clear dominance visibly sparked them back into action and they regained the momentum towards the end of the first half. Frustratingly, Exeter failed to capitalise on the numerous gilt-edge chances they created, with wayward shots and uncharacteristic complacency setting in as the first period ended. It was the same story as the sides emerged after the interval, though Cardiff did at least manage to have some spells of possession. The second half saw Exeter seek to employ a greater press and this would eventually lead to the downfall of the visitors. Davies broke ranks, nicking the ball past an unsuspecting defender, and found herself one-on-
Men’s Football Exeter 1s...................................3 Bristol 1s...................................0 Josh Brown Sport Contributor
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HREE goals in a devastating ten-minute spell, including a brace from midfielder Arthur Amble, saw the Exeter men’s football 1s defeat Bristol 1s to go three points clear at the top of the BUCS Western 1A league. The match started slowly, with both teams utilising a similar 3-5-2 system, which at times looked to totally cancel each other out. It took until the 17th minute for Exeter to seriously trouble the Bristol goal, as Owen Jones’s low free kick was held comfortably by the visiting goalkeeper.
At times, both teams looked to cancel each other out Eight minutes later, Ollie Penton crossed dangerously down the Exeter left-hand side, but it was cleared away in the nick of time by the Bris-
tol defence. The best chance of the first half came just after the half-hour mark Exeter had the ball in the back of the net as Matt James headed in spectacularly, but he was flagged for offside. It was goalless at the interval, and no changes were made by either team, but Exeter came out the more positive side in the second half, dominating much of the possession in the opening minutes. However, it was Bristol who had their best chance of the game during this period, and it took a brave header from Exeter goalkeeper James Barker to sweep up after a long ball in behind the backline. This intervention proved key as just five minutes later Exeter took the lead after Arthur Amble created half a yard of space on the inside-right flank, before drilling powerfully low into the bottom corner. Having gone 1-0 up, Exeter
never looked back, and were unlucky not to score immediately after the restart, with only a heavy touch from Darren Ofoe preventing a clear chance. It didn’t prove too costly, however, and a couple of minutes later Exeter did have their deserved second goal, after Ofoe’s inventive dummy run opened up space for Amble on the left-hand side, and a simple finish from the midfielder was enough to double the hosts’ lead. Mere seconds later and Exeter finished the game as a contest. Penton hit a low driven cross across the face of goal, and while Ofoe was unlucky to see his shot blocked, the ball fell kindly for Christoffer Lund, who made no mistake. Bristol, who had scarcely challenged Barker in the Exeter goal even with the scores level, never looked like threatening in the remaining period, leaving the 1s to see out a comfortable win that gives them a perfect record from their open-
ing three league games: played three, won three, and all without conceding a goal.
We showed what we're capable of in the second half
JAMAL BARTLEY, CAPTAIN
Speaking after the game, captain Jamal Bartley cited discipline and a fantastic collective attitude in both attack and defence as key to the performance, as well as Amble’s “outrageous” form. “We were maybe a bit complacent in the first half, after two fantastic results [7-0 away at Cardiff Met and 2-0 vs Bournemouth], but we stuck together, came out as a team in the second half and showed what we’re capable of. It’s not easy to remain compact at Topsham – it’s a big pitch – but credit to the boys as Bristol rarely threatened our goal, and we scored three good goals to beat them.” Up next for the 1s is a trip to bottom of the table Cardiff this Wednesday, a fixture the 1s will be hoping to collect another three points from.
Bristol smashed by volleyball 1s Women's Volleyball
Exeter 1s....................................3 Bristol 2s....................................0 Dorothea Christmann Sport Editor
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FTER a convincing 3-0 away win against Plymouth, Exeter faced Bristol Women’s 2s, who had lost at home in straight sets to Cardiff 1s in their previous match. The team, led by captain Hina Washizu, started the first set brightly, with lots of cheering and a good team spirit evident throughout the entire match. However, mid-way into the first game, Exeter began to lose concentration, and there were several moments of confusion where players were unsure about who needed to get to the ball. The 1s were buoyed by their high morale and cries of ‘2-3 Exe’ in-between points, with team captain Washizu hitting great looping shots into the acres of a space at the back which Bristol did not cover. There were several tight encounters at the net, with the ball being blocked back and forth until Bristol hit the net on most occasions, Exeter coming away triumphant. Aided by the ball occasionally slipping
Exeter’s no.6 Marma-Gutierrez was exceptional at throwing herself to the ground to scoop the ball and the side's strategy to pass the ball to no.18 Chung on the far right for her to spike it over the net worked, as the tight angle allowed for a cross court hit. When Bristol’s most reliable player at the back rotated to the front, this left a huge space at the back filled by a seemingly less experienced player who struggled to handle the low but powerful serves produced by Exeter’s no.16 Gschwandtner, who continued to exploit the weaknesses of Bristol’s defence. This resulted in an impressive first set 25-15 victory. The second set was more clear cut, with Exeter no.6 continuously impressing with her serving, varying the direction each time as well as switching from a low serve
to one arriving at an awkward angle. Exeter’s no.14 Leardini made her presence felt, using her height to her advantage by blocking several shots to reduce the firepower of Bristol’s efforts. The away team slowly got back into the game, exposing Exeter’s weakness on the right side, where too much space was left without cover and the ball often being judged to be out and hence not touched when it had just skimmed the line. But the continuous errors made by Bristol - including their no.5 hitting the ball out 3 times in row and their no.9 frequently hitting the ball into the net - meant it was too much for the visitors to stage a comeback and Exeter convincingly won 25-9. This meant that Exeter only needed to win one more game to finish the match and they were boosted by the quality of the play in the previous two games. Bristol did not learn from their mistakes and, as in the previous game, left too much space in the middle, making themselves more vulnerable when it came to no.6’s turn to serve. It was evident that Bristol had suffered a knock to their confidence and they began to stop communicating well with each other, leading to clashes over who was getting to the ball..
Exeter 1s dominated the last game, helped by no.6’s continuously powerful shots, as well as far better communication between players that their oppoenents. Bristol 2s' quality of play did surge after a team talk and they were boosted by their tall no.9 hitting balls to the end of the court that went uncovered by the 1s, with the home team often incorrectly interpreting balls to be ‘out’. However, it wasn't enough to turn the tide, and the 1s' afternoon ended in another triumph, the final gam a convincing 25-12 win.
on in midfield saw Hartpury move the ball into space before going the length of the field to score a gift of a try from nothing. On 49 minutes, the signs were ominous as the visitors extended their lead despite some positive play by the 1s. With the game opening up, Exeter were beginning to trouble the opposition with ball in hand, yet Hartpury mopped up some loose play to gain a rare foothold in Exeter's 22. Their forwards gave them the go forward before the ball came left and, once again, their winger produced a mazy run to evade the scramble defence, dotting down to make it 8-27 with half an hour to play. Hartpury were clearly content to trust in their systems to see them home. Calls of "let them exit" and "no penalties" rang out as they set up to field the restart - Exeter would have to dictate the play if they were to get something from the game. Ironically, Hartpury knocked on from the restart, and with Exeter's scrum demolishing the visiting pack, Landray kicked to the corner. Once again, the 1s' maul was dominant, and a series of penalties for collapsing led to Hartpury losing
a second player to the bin before the referee lost patience and rewarded Exeter's pack with a penalty try. That was the spark the 1s needed and Landray and Haines wasted no time in running the ball from the restart. A jinking run from replacement Matt Blandford was recycled to the left where Linsell thundered down the wing to cheers from the onlooking crowd. With Morley and Landray bossing the game, McRae took the 1s up to the 22 and, after going through the phases, Haines was on the receiving end of some great hands to finish acrobatically in the corner. Two minutes later and Exeter were over again in the same corner for the try bonus, replacement Max Himbury profiting from some more battering runs from the 1s' forwards in the loose. Landray's excellent conversion from tight on the right touchline levelled the scores at 27-27 with just over 15 minutes to play. Having looked almost out of it, now all the momentum was with the 1s as Hartpury struggled to cope with Exeter's desire to run the ball. From a lineout, great hands from Himbury and replacement scrum-half Aaron
Bagwell took Exeter to within five metres. Seizing the initiatve, replacement Callum Young hit a lovely angle on a short ball to crash between two tacklers and score, Landray's extras making it 34-27. Exeter were threatening to cut loosenow, and Hartpury responded by going back to basics, their outside-half playing for territory with an angled kick. The visitors stole the resulting lineout, and some good hands led to an unconverted try in the corner with ten minutes to go. With two points in the scoreline, Exeter could have been forgiven for trying to kill the game. Instead, they continued to play the positive rugby that had been the difference between the two teams. From a scrum just inside the halfway line, Landray found M'boge who carved open the Hartpury defence with pace and power. When the ball was recycled, Landray showed composure to dink a ball to the left wing where outside-centre Kieran Kelly rose highest to claim the ball and power his way over the line. Landray added another conversion from out wide, and with that the 1s were able to see out the final three minutes in relative comfort. Hartpury put in a well-drilled performance, but ultimately the victory was a fair reflection of the Green Army's greater desire to play through the hands, the platform provided by a dominant maul and some devastating carrying by the forwards in the loose. The 1s look to continue their winning run away to Leeds this Wednesday, 1st November.
out of Bristol player’s hands when attempting to hit the ball as well as one of Bristol’s best players being taken off with a hand injury, the 1s got back into the game and looked on course to win the first set.
It was too much for the visitors to stage a comeback
It was a great game. We maintained our team spirit.
HINA WASHIZU, CAPTAIN
Captain Washizu was happy with her team's performance, commenting that "it was a great game where we were able to maintain team spirit and grow as a team” Next up for the 1s is a top of the table clash against Bath 1s, who they are level on points with after Bath's 3-1 loss at home against Southampton.. This away game could be a turning point in how the rest of the season pans out for Exeter 1s.
EURFC 1s defeat Hartpury
CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE It proved to be an effective strategy, as a tricky kick to the back field was fumbled by scrum-half Greg Dubois just before half-time. From the resulting clearance, the Gloucestershire side ran it back, and the opposition's full back found a weak inside shoulder before a deft offload gave Hartpury's replacement second-row a clear run in to score underneath the posts.
A series of strong Exeter mauls nearly led to a try In response, Exeter looked to tighten up, and a series of strong mauls in the Gloucestershire side's 22 should have led to a try just before half-time. The lineout was excellently executed, hooker George Gosling finding Jack Rouse and captain Simon Linsell with relative ease, and the rolling pack was only prevented from scoring by Hartpury clearly pulling it down. The second maul broke into a flurry of pick and goes, and more spoiling work - just one metre from the try line - seemed to illegally prevent a certain try, yet the referee gave the penalty to Hartpury for Exeter holding on. With that, the half drew to a close, the score 8-15. Whatever plans the 1s had for the second-half seemingly went out the window almost immediately. An Exeter knock
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Cardiff Met no match for hockey 1s Men's Hockey Exeter 1s....................................6 Cardiff Met 1s...........................2 Charlie Morgan Sport Contributor
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UHC Men’s 1st team claimed a 6-2 win over Cardiff Met as they swept away the visitors to continue their unbeaten form and remain top of the BUCS South A league. The tone for the afternoon was set inside the first two minutes: Exeter’s James Thomas broke through the Cardiff defensive line before squaring the ball around the keeper to Sam Hooper who slid the ball into the open goal. Cardiff drew level in the 27th minute, bundling the ball over the line following two deflections off Exeter defenders. But from thereafter, the result never seemed in doubt. Forward James Ferguson scored the pick of the goals from the match, picking up the ball on the edge of the D and firing it into the top corner. The precision finish was an early indicator of how the 1s were to go about their business for the rest of the game.
Exeter showed an abundance of cutting edge and fluidity They went in at halftime 2-1 up, having almost entirely shut Cardiff out of their own D. Any hopes of a Cardiff fight back in the second half were quickly dashed when Watson slid the ball in from wide out for Conor Caplan to make it 3-1. Caplan was particularly impressive all afternoon, looking composed on the ball and initating repeated Exeter attacks with incisive passing. Exeter showed an abundance of cutting edge and fluidity, something Cardiff struggled to match all afternoon. A deserved goal for Watson made it 4-1 and Met’s day was summed up by Exeter’s fifth. A short corner flick from Hooper crashed off the rushing Cardiff defence with the ball trickling past the off-balance keeper and into the net. Cooke added a sixth from another short corner, before Exeter goalkeeper Mellows was tested for only the second time in the match. An unbelievable reaction save to his right was not enough to keep the Cardiff Met forward from scoring on the rebound, giving the visitors a consolation. Overall, Cardiff Met offered very little due to the 1s' pressure hounding the visitors into giving up possession. Exeter face second-place Bath in their next game, and whilst the 1s will likely be tested more than they were against Cardiff, the impressive performance did nothing to suggest they can’t get past the Somerset side and go on to top the league come the season’s close.
Sport
30 OCT 2017 | EXEPOSÉ
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SPORT EDITORS:
Dorothea Christmann Wil Jones Photo: Wil Jones
1s triumph in thriller Men’s Rugby Exeter 1s..................................41 Hartpury 1s.............................32 Wil Jones Sport Editor
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URFC 1s claimed a thrilling victory against Hartpury 1s last Wednesday, 25 October, in a 41-32 victory that maintains the side’s winning start to the season. The last time these two sides met was in the BUCS Championship final at Twickenham in March, with Hartpury narrowly claiming the title in a 27-24 win. Midway through the second half it seemed like the visitors were on course for another victory over Exeter, this time in Topsham, yet an inspired
final quarter by the men in green turned the game around as the 1s won their fourth game in row to give them 19 out of a possible 20 points in the BUCS Super Rugby league. The game began in combative fashion as both teams looked to test each others’ defence with their respective packs, and it was Hartpury’s set piece that led to the opening score.
Excellent interplay between Thorne and Hains set up the try A powerful maul on Exeter’s 22 metre line gave the platform for the visitors to give it width, and although
initially the 1s’ defence held firm, a flat pass from Hartpury’s scrum-half to their number 11 caught the Green Army’s rear-guard on the back foot. The winger hugged the touchline to beat three defenders and score an excellent unconverted try in the corner. If ever there was any doubt about the intensity of this fixture, the ferocity with which each side threw themselves into contact made it clear this was a contest both teams were desperate to win. When Exeter were penalised for holding on in the ruck in the 12th minute, tempers flared, and from the ensuing scuffle the referee sent Hartpury’s hooker to the sin bin. Shortly after, 1s’ inside-centre Ted Landray got the
home team off the mark with a well struck penalty. It didn’t take long for Exeter to press home their numerical advantage again. Despite Hartpury’s attempts to slow the game down, a big hit by blindside flanker Luc-Pierre Riou turned the ball over, and the 1s decided to run the ball from their own line. Some excellent interplay between Dom Thorne and Mike Hains out wide put Exeter deep into the opposition’s territory, and with outside-half Sam Morley pulling the strings, the forwards produced an overlap for winger Sal M’boge to dive over and claim Exeter’s first try. With Hartpury levelling the scores at 8-8 from a long distance penalty
on 25 minutes, the game was tensely poised. Exeter were punching holes in the visitors’ defence through some big carries from Riou and number 8 James McRae, but good spoiling work from Hartpury at the rucks prevented the 1s from building momentum. Forced to play off slow ball, mistakes began to creep in for the home side as they looked to move the ball wide. Hartpury were happy to soak up the pressure, offering little inventiveness in response despite looking solid at the breakdown and, in particular, during exits - their half backs were happy to play for territory and trust their defence to contain Exeter.
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