WWW.EXEPOSE.COM
XEPOSÉ E THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987
GREEN NEW BLACK ISSUE 641 | TWITTER: @EXEPOSE | WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/EXEPOSE | FREE
IS THE
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015
Photo: Natasa Christofidou
News How safe is Exeter? Exeter’s crime rates compared to other university cities Page 3
Features Deputy Editor of Buzzfeed UK on the changing face of digital journalism Page 8
Arts & Lit Up-and-coming comedian Daniel Sloss talks about his Fringe success Page 20
Join Exeposé here
EXEPOSÉ
Exeposé, Devonshire House, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4PZ
Email: editors@exepose.com Call: (01392) 723513 Editors Print: James Beeson & Sarah Gough Online: Kayley Gilbert & Harry Shepherd Deputy Editors Eamonn Crowe & Josh Mines depeds@exepose.com News Editors Print: Susannah Keogh & Fiona Potigny Online: Elizabeth Menshikova & Elise Metcalf news@exepose.com Comment Editors Print: John Chilvers & Zak Mahinfar Online: Natalie Bartrum & Emily Prescott comment@exepose.com Features Editors Print: Flora Carr & Sophie Harrison Online: Jessica Stanier & Theodore Stone features@exepose.com Lifestyle Editors Print: Joshua Rotchelle & Jack Wardlaw Online: Laurel Bibby & Harriette Casey lifestyle@exepose.com Music Editors Print: James Atherton & Katie Costello Online: Tristan Gatward & Joe Stewart music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Akash Beri & Ben Londesbrough Online: Emily Harris & Jack Smith screen@exepose.com Arts & Lit Editors Print: Jeremy Brown & Emily Kerr Online: Lisa Rellstab & Valentina Vacchelli artsandlit@exepose.com Science & Tech Editors Print: Catherine Heffner & Lewis Norman Online: Sally-Ann Dunn & Bry Nickson sciandtech@exepose.com Games Print: Jack England & Evan Jones Online: Sam Brewer & Alex Howard games@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Rob Cross & Emott Leigh Online: Oli Davis & Tommy John sports@exepose.com Photography Edwin Yeung & Natasa Christofidou photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Esther Docherty, Kate Jones, Giorgi Mamuzelos & William Sandbach
@Exepose facebook.com/exepose issuu.com/exepose Advertising Ross Trant R.Trant@exeter.ac.uk (01392) 722607
Press Preview
Watch our fortnightly summary of Exeposé’s main stories by scanning below:
The opinions expressed in Exeposé are not necessarily those of the Exeposé Editors nor the University of Exeter Students’ Guild. While every care is taken to ensure that the information in this publication is correct and accurate, the Publisher can accept no liability for any consequential loss or damage, however caused, arising as a result of using the information printed. The Publisher cannot accept liability for any loss or damage to artwork or material submitted. The contents of this, unless stated otherwise, are copyright of the Publisher. Reproduction in any form requires the prior consent of the Publisher.
2
NEWS
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 8-9 12-13 6-7
NEWS
In brief
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
Scottish student newspaper closes The Journal, an award-winning newspaper combining the work of students from seven Edinburgh higher education institutions, has gone into liquidation after eight years in print. Following the fortnightly publication’s non-payment of debts, The Journal ceased trading in the early months of this year when a winding up petition was launched. Over its history, the Berliner-size paper attracted contributions from UN special investigator, Richard A. Falk, and former First Minister of Scotland and current SNP MP, Alex Salmond. The closure of the publication, which received several awards from NUS Scotland and The Guardian amongst others during its lifespan, will “impact on several institutions and potentially thousands of students”, according to John May, development officer at the Student Publication Association.
GAMES 26-27
|
SPORT 30-32
Exeposé News
NEWS EDITORS Susannah Keogh Fiona Potigny
Women ahead in Students object to homosexuality university offers Students at Duke University have made global headlines after refusing to read an author’s memoir of her youth. Incoming freshers say Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home is insensitive to their beliefs. It is tradition for Duke freshers to read the same book before arriving. DepictingBechdel’s youth as a lesbian and her abusive father and his closeted homosexuality, Fun Home is a graphic novel featuring some nudity. Incoming freshman Brian Grasso commented in a Facebook post that he feels he “would have to compromise my personal Christian moral beliefs to read it.”
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
The amount of women gaining university places is rising twice as fast as that for men, the latest figures from UCAS show. The admissions service showed that this year more than 463,000 places have been awarded with a four per cent increase among female applicants and a two per cent increase among men from last year. So far this year, 57,000 more female students than men have been accepted onto a university course, yet this figure could still rise, as the remaining 144,000 applicants are still waiting for course confirmation. 34 per cent of female 18-year-olds in the UK will attend university, compared with just 25.1 per cent of men of the same age, who make up less than a quarter of this year’s accepted places. Compared with four years ago, these figures contribute to an overall increase in places awarded.
@ExeposeNews
news@exepose.com
University news from beyond Exeter Swedish students Professor vows to become Bowie face 2 year wait A housing shortage in Swedish university towns mean prospective students should expect to spend at least a year waiting for accommodation. The wait doesn’t only affect students in the larger towns; those attending university in Vaxjo, population approx. 65,000, and Lulea (75,000) can look forward to a years wait. It follows increasing concern about the housing shortage in the country; with 65 former steel containers being turned into student flats in a Stockholm suburb. Unlike in the UK and America, Swedish universities are not expected to provide any accommodation for their students; by law, they are not allowed to own any housing.
Student swaps flat Ban on saggy trousers is pants for train ticket A student from Germany has a radical solution to rising accommodation prices- making a train her home. 23-year-old Leonie Miller swapped her student rents for a monthly train ticket, where she now permanently lives, using the train WiFi to complete her university work and the toilets to wash herself. The Tubingen University student told the Washington Post the arrangement started following an argument with her landlady. Having paid £290 a month for her rent, she now pays £240 for a monthly train ticket. This amounts to a yearly saving of £800. Miller commented: “I really feel at home on trains, and can visit so many more friends and cities. It’s like being on vacation all the time.” She is using her experience as the basis for her dissertation and an increasingly popular blog.
EXEPOSÉ
An American university has decided to ban “sagging pants” in an attempt to curb inappropriate classroom behaviour. Henderson State University in Arkansas posted signs around campus banning profanity, excessive loudness and sagging pants, claiming such behaviours were “disturbing the classroom environment”. The decision has been criticised by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union, who believe the ban will disproportionately affect black males and stifle freedom of expression. The signs have since been removed, but Henderson State still defends the ban, commenting that it did not intend to “target” any specific groups but instead to promote an environment conducive to learning and respect for all.
A university professor at Kingston University has decided to become David Bowie for a year, in an effort to better understand the iconic singer-songwriter. Will Brooker, professor of film and cultural studies, is undertaking the yearlong project after being commissioned to write a monograph on the pop icon, which he will title ‘Forever Stardust’. Pledging to adopt the dress sense, diet and cultural interests of each of the star’s many personas, Brooker hopes that the project will allow him to “inhabit Bowie’s head space at points in his life and career to understand his work from an original angle.” The unusual endeavour will see him travel to Berlin next month. Those interested will be able to follow his progress on Twitter at @willbrooker.
Graduates claim fees overpriced £9,000 a year fees are not value for money, say more than half of the class of 2015, according to a recent NUS survey. The first group to graduate under the new tuition fees regime only have to repay their loans when earning £21,000 a year, yet 55 per cent believe that they will not manage to fully repay. One in 20 even went so far as to say that, were they to relive the experience, they would not choose to go to university. This news comes as ComRes recently revealed that 78 per cent of 16 to 18-yearolds are “very” or “fairly” concerned about the cost of living as a student, which may explain the 77 per cent of UK students currently in part or full-time employment – an 18 per cent rise since last year. Despite these widespread concerns, a major report released in July indicated that UK university fees may rise to £10,000 by the end of the decade.
Stories contributed by: Fiona Potigny and Susannah Keogh, News Editors
How safe is Exeter?
EXEPOSÉ
NEWS
www.exepose.com
EXCLUSIVE
James Beeson Editor
A
N Exeposé investigation has revealed the crime statistics for Exeter and other major university cities ahead of the new academic year. The information, released to Exeposé by regional police departments under the Freedom of Information Act, reveals that Exeter is one of the safest university cities to live in, based on the reported crime in the cities surveyed. Of the nine university cities that were investigated, Exeter was found to have the second lowest number of reported burglaries, muggings and drug related offences, and the joint lowest number of murders during the period 31 May 2014 – 1 June 2015. Exeter also had the third lowest number of reported incidents of sexual assault and rape during this period, with 115 and 86 incidents reported respectively. However, when the relative size of each city’s population is taken into account, Exeter was found to have higher rates of sexual
assault, rape and drug offences per capita than Sheffield and Leeds. Exeposé collected the information by sending Freedom of Information requests regarding reported crimes to police departments in Exeter, Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds, Oxford, Cambridge, Norwich, Bristol and Bath. The safest city investigated was Bath, which had the lowest recorded number of burglaries, muggings and drug offences, and the second lowest number of sexual assaults and rapes. However, when population weighting was introduced, Bath had higher drug offences per capita than Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds and Exeter.
rapes was Norwich, with just three sexual assaults and five rapes reported in the last year. There was also only one reported case of murder in Exeter, Bath and Norwich. According to the statistics, students were most at risk in the last year in Manchester, which had the highest number of crimes in every category, including 27,781 burglaries, 1,825 rapes and 36 murders. Bristol was the least safe city in the South West, with higher numbers of every category of crime than Exeter or Bath being committed in the last 12 months. Speaking about the statistics, Naomi Armstrong, Vice-President Welfare & Diversity said: “It’s great news that these statistics confirm Exeter to be a safe city for our students to live and study. “The Students’ Guild works closely with local police and the University to ensure that we can continue to enjoy a safe community.” A University spokesperson said: “Exeter has a reputation as being one of the safest cities in the UK. These figures confirm to students and parents alike that Exeter is among the very best locations to be in the country.”
The Students’ Guild works closely with local police and the University to ensure a safe community Naomi Armstrong, VP Welfare & Diversity The safest city for sexual assaults and
Burglaries
Muggings
Sexual assaults
Rapes
632
36
60
45
328
1
4389
579
371
346
1630
4
Cambridge
924
82
147
88
558
2
Exeter
645
44
115
86
344
1
Leeds
9709
704
578
511
2042
6
Manchester
27781
2977
3438
1825
7858
36
Norwich
819
76
3
5
811
1
Oxford
881
98
172
139
662
3
4426
584
284
277
1185
7
Bath Bristol
Sheffield
3
Photo: Edwin Yeung
Drug offences Murders
Photo: homesecuritymonth.com
Telethon outsourcing leaves students jobless Susannah Keogh News Editor
S
TUDENTS have been left out of pocket after the University decided to outsource Alumni telethon jobs to an external company. Around 50 students currently work each year as callers on the telethon campaign, which involves phoning former students and asking for donations to the University. Three of these callers were promoted to the position of supervisor last term. However, these supervisors were
consequently emailed over the summer informing them their services would no longer be required. In the emails, seen by Exeposé, Rose Cohen, Regular Giving Manager, told the students: “An external company will be coming in and running the calling shifts for us. They will also be involved in preparing all of the data, recruiting the student calling team and will run the training days.” Cohen went onto say that “the operational delivery will be run by a Campaign Manager... I’m afraid that this means we will no longer need student supervisors to run the shifts.”
One telethon caller, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed their disappointment at the decision:
I was really looking forward to leading a team; I’m disappointed I won’t be able to progress Anonymous student hired then axed by the telethon
“I was really looking forward to gaining experience leading a team and genuinely believed I would be good at that job
so I’m disappointed I won’t be able to progress,” they said. Another anonymous caller told Exeposé they believed the telethon had raised less money last year than in previous campaigns: “I worked on the telethon for the first time last year, but heard that it hadn’t made as much money as in previous years. “I’m now worried about the future of my job and I think the decision to outsource is a money making scheme - the University knows that a company will be more efficient than student supervisors.” Callers at the telethon were paid £7.65 per hour last year, whilst supervi-
sors received £9.45. Both have the opportunity to work in two six week periods over the academic year. It is unclear whether the outsourcing will impact on the number of students hired by the telethon this coming year. A University spokesperson said: “All money raised by the telethon directly supports the student experience. The students who had been offered supervisor roles prior to this decision being taken have been offered alternative employment within the telethon team.” The telethon, which has been running for over ten years, has raised over £2million from Exeter Alumni.
NEWS
Hubbox now Deliverood Josh Mines Deputy Editor
S
TUDENTS can now sample some of Exeter’s best eateries without leaving their front door. New take-away service ‘Deliveroo’ will provide delivery from restaurants such as Hubbox, Carluccio’s and Urban Burger. Deliveroo will deliver within a 2.4 km radius of the City Centre, catering to most of the Exeter student population. Exeter is now the 24th city in the UK to offer the service, joining the likes of Edinburgh and Bristol. Deliveroo will be available to students in Exeter from September.
Exeter in top 200 globally Giorgi Mamuzelos Copy Editor
R
ECENT influential rankings show Exeter has jumped into the top 200 institution globally. This year’s Academic Ranking of Universities (ARWU) from the University of Shanghai see Exeter moving up from their place in the top 300 in 2014. Maintaining a top ten position in the UK across league tables, the University was also ranked eighth in Europe and amongst the top 40 in the world in the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2015. Vice-Chancellor Sir Steve Smith said: “These international rankings offer an excellent illustration of the valuable contribution our world-leading academics are making to vital new research.”
Exeter emails on cheat site Eamonn Crowe Deputy Editor
T
HIRTY University of Exeter email addresses were included on the list of leaks of member details of website, Ashley Madison. The site, which describes itself as the ‘world’s leading married dating service for discreet encounters’ was hacked by group, The Impact Team, last month. Of the 37 million user details that were leaked, 150 belonged to academic institutions in the UK. No email verification was required to register on the site.
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ WEEK 2015 |
EXEPOSÉ
Fitness fanatics to hit the forests Fiona Potigny News Editor
S
TUDENTS at Exeter can now branch out from the gym, following the installation of Fitness Forests at University residences. Located at UPP residences Lafrowda and Birks Grange Village, the new fitness equipment, which was funded by the University Residence team in partnership with the Sports Park and UPP, will allow users to try over 100 different exercises outdoors – and all for free. Each tree will support a set of bars, which students can use for muscle-training exercises such as tricep dips, pull-ups and inclined press-ups. Set at different heights, the bars will be accessible to all users. Accessory packs including fitness tools such as skipping ropes and resistance bands, which can be used in conjunction with the Fitness Trees to further increase exercise options, will also be available at Lopes and Birks’ Central
Village receptions. Any student (or staff member) can use the trees, regardless of whether they live in Birks or Lafrowda, as an extenPhoto Credit: PopSugar sion of the Healthy Halls scheme, which last year saw ping-pong tables arrive on campus.
alternative to training indoors and help students and staff explore more of the Streatham campus”. He praised the University for “continuing to support new and innovative ways to improve the health and wellbeing of its students and
staff”. AU President Jack Bristow said: “The gyms are a great opportunity for students to be more active without having the pressure of going to the gym.”
We’re offering students and staff a new way to train and get active on campus Paul Mouland, Health and Wellness Coordinator Health and Wellness Coordinator, Paul Mouland, told Exeposé: “We’re really pleased to be offering students and staff a new way to train and get active on campus. We know that people’s lives are increasingly busy, and staff and students are not always able to find the time to fit in a lengthy session at the gym.” Mouland also commented that the installations will provide a “great, free
Photo: Natasa Christofidou
Exeter researcher Admissions miss backing the beard care leaver target Sarah Gough Editor
B
EARD fever is set to reach new levels thanks to University of Exeter research. Dr Alun Withey, an expert in medical history at the University, is launching ‘Do Beards Matter’, a study of the beard and its relationship to health and hygiene in Britain from 1700 to 1918.
Beards are as relevant now as they have been at any time throughout history Alun Withey, Associate Research Fellow Focussing on the evolution of grooming from 17th Century medical procedures to the modern man’s daily routine, the study will have input from an advisory board including the British company King of Shaves and the Worshipful Company of Barbers. It will investigate the relationship between facial hair and masculinity, the role of medicine and medical practitioners in beards and the impact of shaving technologies. Dr Withey said: “Beards are as relevant now as they have been at any time throughout history. By looking back, we can understand that the current beard
trend is actually just the latest in a long series of facial hair fashions. We can see facial hair not as some quirky irrelevance in history, but as a unique way of understanding the body, health, medicine and masculinity in the past.” ‘Do Beards Matter’ will survey a variety of materials from the last three centuries including portraits, satire, diaries, advertising and theoretical texts written about facial hair. Dr Nicholas Vogelpoel, from Humanities and Social Sciences at the Wellcome Trust, commented: “Here at the Wellcome Trust, we are interested in all the factors that enhance or impede the health of society. Personal grooming is a deeply relevant and crucial indicator of this.”
Photo: PopSugar
4
Susannah Keogh News Editor
T
HE University has increased the number of admission offers made to care-leaver students, but entrants have fallen, Exeposé can reveal. Figures obtained by a Freedom of Information request show in 2012/13, there were 34 offers made to students who had been in, or were leaving, care and 12 students admitted. In 2014/15, there were 48 offers, but only 10 admitted. This meant the entry target of 13 students as set out in the 2013/14 Access Agreement had been missed. Out of universities in the South West, Exeter ranks above the University of Bath, with nine students admitted last year, but below the University of Bristol, who despite admitting less careleavers than Exeter in the years preceding 2014/15, entered 11 freshers last year. Careleaver and second year Exeter Law student Michael Berry, who runs The Avolve Project, which helps to support local looked-after children through their GCSE’s and beyond, told Exeposé “A drop of two care leavers might be seen as only a minor failure. However, when put into perspective with 19,000 other students that go to the University, with the national care leaver number reaching 27,200, this number reflects a staggeringly low effort in the
encouragement for children in care from higher academic facilities. Avolve wants to enable care-leavers to see higher education as a viable and realistic option for their futures.” VP Welfare and Diversity Naomi Armstrong commented: “The Students’ Guild Advice Unit will be working this year to establish a peer support network for student groups including care leavers. This will begin with student consultation and develop over the coming months.” A University spokesman said: “The University attracts the very best students, regardless of background. We have a number of initiatives and bursaries in place which include support for those who need it, including care leavers.” Anyone interested in helping The Avolve Project can sign up to the Exeter Student Volunteers at Freshers Fair.
ÉÉ
Exeter’s support for care leavers: Awarded the Frank Buttle Quality Mark for commitment to care leavers in 2010 Care leavers under the age of 25 are given a full fee waiver for all 3 years of study Bursary giving help and support with accomodation.
THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT
6
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
COMMENT EXEPOSÉ EDITORIAL
EDITORS@EXEPOSE.COM
I
#GetFresh
T’S finally here. Exeter Freshers’ 2k15; the one you’ve all been waiting for. A warm welcome to all you newbies from us at Exeposé. We’re Exeter’s longest running and most widely read student-run newspaper, available free every other Monday on campus and online. This edition of the paper is our Freshers’ Week special, crammed full of lighthearted, informative content to help you through your first week of university life. Whether you’re stood in a queue or come down with the flu, whip out our paper and have a gander at all the weird and wonderful things Exeter has to offer. From music venues like The Cavern (lauded by Music over on page 15) to shopping paradises such as Princesshay (explored by Lifestyle on page 13) we’ve got you covered so you’ll never be left short of things to do this week. Green may well be the new black, but Exeter is no prison. Freedom is truly yours, for this week and for the next three years here in the not-so-sunny SouthWest. But what will you choose to do with it? Rave until the godforsaken hour of 2am in newly refurbed Unit 1? Climb Cardiac Hill to attempt your 9am introductory lecture? Or write for your student paper? The latter is the easiest of the three. Since 1987 Exeposé has given a voice to Exeter students. From news to reviews, we have a wide variety of sections and a whole host of ways you can get involved with the paper. Whether you’re looking to pursue a career in journalism, grab press
passes for a Phoenix gig, or just want free pizza on a Friday, student journalism is rewarding on so many levels. If this sounds like your thing, ping an email to the relevant section (*section*@exepose. com) or editors@exepose.com and we’ll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have about writing for us. Membership is a mere fiver - you can find our stall by the stairs in The Forum on Saturday to sign up. We’re also running a number of events this week (see below) which will give you an idea about what life as a member of a student paper is like, so feel free to come along for a chat, or get in touch on social media for more information. Our ‘Meet the Editors’ sessions will take place in our second home, The Media Suite, located upstairs in Devonshire House. We’re a friendly bunch, so come and say hello! If you’re too hungover, lost or are too busy trying out for Ultimate Frisbee don’t fret, you can sign up online to receive our bi-weekly content calls and make the most of all the benefits Exeposé membership brings. We hold elections for editorial positions at the end of second term. If you fancy joining one of the biggest and best committees on campus, don’t hesitate to get stuck in! For now, enjoy the rest of your Freshers’ Week. Put yourself out there and remember to have fun. After all, when else are you going to get the chance to poledance, paint pottery and pre-drink with strangers ever again?
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
comment@exepose.com
EDITORS James Beeson Sarah Gough
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 |
Exeposé Comment
EXEPOSÉ
@CommentExepose
DEPUTY EDITORS Eamonn Crowe Josh Mines
COMMENT EDITORS John Chilvers Zak Mahinfar
Freshers’ dos and don’ts Kate Jones Copy Editor
C
ONGRATULATIONS, you made it. But don’t lose your head... not unless you have a top knot. University can be exciting and daunting at the same time, so here’s a few words of advice from someone who was in your shoes not so long ago. Do: Be friendly and approachable. Knock on your neighbours’ doors, chat to the people nearby in lectures and seminars and if someone looks lonely, see if they’re ok. A friendly face can go a long way. Don’t: Blow all your money in Freshers’ Week. While you should try new things, don’t overspend. You need to budget your money, and family and friends won’t appreciate having to bail you out on day three because you’ve spent too much in one go. Do: Be yourself. Enjoy going out but don’t drink? There’s a society you want to join but none of your flatmates do? Going to university means you can essentially (within reason) do whatever
you want! Don’t conform to stereotypes or feel like you have to do something that’s not for you – there will be plenty of people who share your views. Don’t: Take unnecessary risks. Keep to your limits, stay with others on nights out where possible and keep your phone on you so you can check in with flatmates if you end up alone. Contact Voice on 01392 724000 if you want someone to chat to you while walking home. Do: Make the most of your time here. Join societies that interest you and take a chance on one if you’re deliberating – you never know what might happen. Explore the city and surrounding areas too.
The university has a number of outlets where you can receive advice Don’t: Be so hard on yourself, as the song says. Going to university is a big lifestyle change, and you might find yourself making both professional and personal errors. Try not to beat yourself
up about things too much - we learn from mistakes. Do: Take care of yourself. Establish a routine, especially if you’re in selfcatered accommodation. Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of water, exercise (even if it’s just a short walk), keep your room tidy and take time to rest. Keep in contact with family and friends at home too. Don’t: Be afraid to ask for help if you need it. You might unexpectedly find yourself feeling lonely or homesick, or have problems with your course or living arrangements. The University has a number of outlets where you can receive advice, and a wellbeing centre if you’re struggling with your mental health. Do: Be savvy about housing for second year. Live with people you trust, view houses and ensure they have the necessary features. Run your contract through with the Student’s Guild’s Advice Unit. Don’t: Let work fall by the wayside. While most courses first year marks don’t make up the final degree classification, most require you to average at least 40 per cent to go into second year, and 60 per cent for study abroad. Don’t go overboard – just try your best!
Forgotten something?
Get involved with Exeposé at our Freshers’ events:
É
Monday 2pm: ‘Meet the Media’ (M & D Room) 3pm: Get Arty over a Latte (The BikeShed Theatre) 7pm: Exeposé Music Night (The Cavern) Tuesday 12-1pm: ‘Meet the Editors’ (Media Suite, Devonshire House) Wednesday 2-3pm: Breaking News Workshop (Forum Exploration Lab 1) 2-3pm: Exeposé Features/Pol Soc Politics - Exeposed (outside Guild shop) 7pm: Exeposé Screen/Campus Cinema Film Quiz (Pieminister) 7pm: XMedia Quiz (Terrace Restaurant, Devonshire House) 9pm: Exeposé Arts & Lit and Razz social (Urban Underground) Thursday 1-2pm: ‘Meet the Editors’ (Media Suite, Devonshire House) Friday 5:30pm: Sports Team Pub Crawl (Ram Bar) Saturday 10am-4pm: Freshers’ Fair (The Forum)
Cartoon: Emily McIndoe
The Sabbs spill their secrets EXEPOSÉ
COMMENT
www.exepose.com
7
We help you get to know your Sabbatical officers and the role they play in your university experience
Bethan Jones, VP Education
Laura-Jane Tiley, President
I represent students in all matters relating to their studies and educational experience. As part of my role I ensure that students’ views about teaching, feedback, library facilities and much more are represented to the University. I also oversee the Student’s Guild’s team of more than 400 academic representatives to ensure that change happens where and when it needs to.
I lead the Student’s Guild in line with the Guild strategy and head up the team of sabbatical officers. I also chair the Student’s Guild’s Board of Trustees which oversees the Guild’s charity governance, as well as sitting on a number of senior University boards, ensuring that students’ views are heard at the highest level. What is your choice of karaoke song? My go-to song is Beyonce’s ‘Run the World (Girls)’. As an all-girl Sabb team this year, I look forward to many renditions of this at Rameoke in the Ram.
Katie O’Connor, VP Activities
What is your spirit animal? A pig. I’m a pig.
Naomi Armstrong, VP Welfare & Diversity
I represent the Students’ Guild’s societies and student groups, overseeing its democratic structures and scrutinising the University on employability matters. As the VP Activities I also support students’ involvement with societies, volunteering and fundraising so they can become active members of both the student and wider community. Essentially, I ensure that Exeter students graduate with more than a degree. What would be your Ram recommendation food wise? Working at the Ram I tried literally everything that’s on the menu, but the winner for me is the chilli con carne.
I’m responsible for ensuring that every student has the support they need throughout their time at University. The VP Welfare & Diversity represents students on issues including accommodation, health, mental wellbeing and personal safety and works to ensure that our campuses are inclusive and welcoming for every student. What was your most embarrassing Freshers’ moment? I once sat down on a chair in Devonshire House, and it broke underneath me. I just sat there in shock whilst everyone laughed.
Freshers’ week
Are you Exetah enough? Take our Bingo challenge to find out. No prizes to win, just dignity to lose
Heard?
Tasted?
“I’ve shagged over 400 ten out of tens”
Met someone from North of Birmingham?
Attacked by a seagull?
Finished a pizza in Firehouse?
Met someone who ‘found themselves’ in Thailand?
Bought a crate of these ?
Spotted?
Pre-lemmy chunder?
Downloaded?
Worn?
Heard? “I didn’t want to go to Oxford anyway”
Been woken up by this at 5am?
Heard? “I went to a private school but don’t worry, it was a cheap one”
Restricted bloodflow?
EXEPOSÉ
FEATURES
FEATURES
www.exepose.com
@ExeposeFeatures
Exeposé Features
FEATURES EDITORS Flora Carr Sophie Harrison
8
Buzzin’ off my hits features@exepose.com
Photo: theexeterdaily.co.uk
Flora Carr, Features Editor, talks Exeter zip wires, frying eggs on skyscrapers and the digital media industry with Jim Waterson, Deputy Editor of Buzzfeed UK
J
IM Waterson is a hard man to pin down, which presents a challenge when scheduling an interview. “Afraid I’ll be abroad then,” Jim messages me. “Hi am in Athens protest maybe next week.” The best text has to be when Jim apologises for being “up a mountain with no phone signal for two days.” Then again, it was always going to be a challenge trying to keep up with the man who’s paid to be one step ahead. Deputy Editor of BuzzFeed UK at 26 years old, Waterson embodies the Boltpaced world of digital news. It’s a world where stories go viral within minutes. A realm that – increasingly – dictates the agenda of long established print outlets. Yet of course, by the time newspapers have caught up with one story (take, for example, #Milifandom, which was first picked up by BuzzFeed), the world of digital news has already moved on. When we finally talk, Waterson apologises for the delay. “It’s fine,” I say. “When you’re up a mountain, you’re up a mountain.” I enquire about other
odd experiences in his pursuit of news stories.
I’m going one way and Nick Clegg is flying across the valley in another “There’s been a few actually,” he says. “During the election we were down in Exeter, following Nick Clegg on the campaign trail. We went to this ‘Go Ape’ outdoor adventure centre; suddenly we were flying on zip wires. I was going one way and in the other direction
It’s a challenge to keep up with the man who is paid to be one step ahead
Nick Clegg was flying across the valley.” Waterson has a talent for finding the bizarre in otherwise dull stories. When working at the newspaper CityAM, he made headlines for frying an egg on the Walkie Talkie building. “That was just brilliant fun, a case of taking a very boring story – a building that was designed badly – and turning it into something that has ten camera crews around the world there,” says Waterson. “I went along and cooked my lunch on [the building] using a frying pan.” The egg story happened just before BuzzFeed recruited Waterson. At the age of 24, he became Political Editor. Last year he was ranked sixth in The Guardian Top 30 Young People in Digital Media.When I say I’m impressed, he brushes it off, putting his success down to “being in the right place at the right time... I was lucky I joined BuzzFeed when I did… we’ve massively expanded since then.” It’s true that digital platforms have exploded in recent years. Sites like BuzzFeed and Huffington Post dominate our social media feeds. For those who never buy newspapers, these platforms have become their only source of current affairs. When I ask Waterson if he believes the future of journalism is going digital, he’s tells me “no”: it already has. “I don’t think there’s any debate over that. Newspapers… people just don’t read them in the same way anymore. So it’s happened, it’s over, the battle’s already lost,” states Waterson. “Look at the readers h i p figures. The Independent sells 50,000 copies a day: that’s nothing. But it’s website gets millions of readers.”
However, Waterson is keen to avoid the assumption that digital news is all gifs and ‘cats’, arguing that he “[doesn’t] think digital journalism is any different to traditional journalism.” He mentions BuzzFeed’s new investigative unit, headed by Heidi Blake, one of the journalists responsible for ‘The FIFA Files’ that exposed the corruption at the top of FIFA. ‘There’s a great story by one of Heidi’s team, about how the Bank of England is infiltrated by organised crime. It’s the sort of thing that wouldn’t be out of place in the Financial Times. We published it alongside the absolute daft stuff we’ve always enjoyed doing.”
People just don’t read newspapers in the same way anymore When I ask if BuzzFeed will ever ditch the ‘daft stuff’ in favour of more serious content, Waterson is tetchy. “We’ll always keep the fun stuff and we’ll always have the serious - people like both.” He compares BuzzFeed’s zany, listicle-style pieces to the “sport section and funny bits in the middle” of newspapers. There are, inevitably, differences. Digital journalism is driven by online traffic. Whether or not a piece is on Taylor Swift or the Bank of England, if it doesn’t go viral, that’s it. There’s no room for “worthy, boring pieces about buildings being built and charity events. The internet is brutal. It judges you pretty quickly, and [if a piece doesn’t do well] you’ve got to just come up with something else or it’ll bomb. There’s no middle ground on that,” says Waterson. “The piece has to excite.” Which is perhaps why Waterson found the general election so “rubbish... It was weird and boring. Everyone was waiting for Gillian Duffy to be racist again or something like that and it didn’t happen. Then the whole story was about the polls, and it turns out we were all basically reporting under false pretences.” As the former Politics Editor for BuzzFeed, Waterson’s declaration that “politics is a really really dull thing” winds me a little. He believes that the expectation to be constantly engaged in politics is unrealistic, comparing it to
“understand[ing] what insurance companies are up to every day of the week.”
The internet is brutal. It judges you I link this to the media’s portrayal of youth apathy toward politics. Does BuzzFeed’s apparent need to use gifs and emojis in political pieces fuel this? “I think that’s bollocks,’ Waterson fires back. “Young people follow politics when it’s interesting and don’t when it’s not, as with most of the population.” Still in his mid-twenties, one thing’s clear: Waterson’s predicted ascent to the very top of the media industry will be anything but boring.
Fact feed
1 6 16 17 20 24 25 610
Buzzfeed cat successfully registered for the Labour Leadership contest. th in The Guardian’s 2014 ranking of Top 30 People in Digital Media. March 2015, his live interview with PM David Cameron. thousand followers on Twitter. He follows 1500 people. years old when he competed on University Challenge. years old when he became Deputy Editor of Buzzfeed UK. thousand tweets from his account and 4000 favorites. posts for Buzzfeed UK in the past two years.
Image credit: Alastaircampbell.org
Logging into life offline 9
FEATURES
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 |
For Natasa Christofidou, Photographer, a digital detox over the summer exposed some of the social and psychological risks of the online world
W
E’VE entered an era where virtual notifications generate more excitement than physical interaction. The online world fills in emotional gaps, consuming our days and conditioning our behaviour. Social media is known for its ability to create and maintain entirely new forms of relationships, while also educating, entertaining and relaxing us. However, every blooming flower wilts; as with everything in life, the internet is not immune to heavy criticism. The rise of social media is observable at every turn, whether our faces are buried in newsfeeds, or the latest update of Candy Crush. However, statistics are the concrete proof behind this. In the past three years, the Apple store has grown by 230 per cent, from 650,000 apps, to 1,500,000 apps. This parallels an increase in smartphone purchases, but also an increased interest towards social media from a wider range of people in society. The popularity of social media, however, does not necessarily equal effectiveness, specifically when considering its ability to raise the bar of social standards.
Our memory tracks handwitten information better than typed Our days are becoming consumed with the online world more than ever. According to a survey conducted by Ofcom, UK citizens spend approximately eight hours and 41 minutes online per day (more than an average night’s sleep). The internet is a bittersweet network; it has the potential of educating us, but also risks dumbing us down. This can be demonstrated through its obsessive tendencies of focusing on meaningless life events - mostly related to celebrities. Kylie Jenner trended on Facebook for making a public appearance in shorts. Surely world hunger, Middle Eastern war conflicts and animal cruelty deserve more attention than an 18-year-old girl’s dress code? Elevated beauty standards are also a danger to impressionable young girls. Photoshopped and filtered images are no longer limited to magazines; they now exist on social media accounts such as Instagram, making the likelihood of body comparison and dissatisfaction higher. Furthermore, many individuals will end up feeling frustrated in the media and its focus on trivial subjects. Such distractions take our life purposes on a tangent,
away from a direction that could have benefited our evaluation of self purpose in a more holistic notion.
Removing myself from social media... I was often left without much to do during the day During the summer, I was in desperate need for a detox from all forms of social media; therefore my phone and laptop Wi-Fi got turned off along with deactivating my Facebook profile. I would only go online at night to check my emails and Skype with family and friends. Many were confused as to why I chose to isolate myself from such an informative, educational and sociable forum. H o w e v e r , the internet is so much more than a worldwide encyclopedia, or an immeasurably large friendship group that anyone can check into.
Removing myself from social media made me realise that I was often left without much to do during the day. During the break, I allowed myself to choose what I felt was important in life, as opposed to having the widespread media doing the job for me. In an attempt to detox myself from all the negative energy I was unwillingly absorbing online, I ended up enjoying my surroundings more, but was also able to interact and bond better with my family. Coming back home for the holidays was a demonstration of how de-
pendent today’s youth - and even adults - have become on the virtual world. One of my biggest concerns, however, is for children. It shocked me how easily bored my cousins would get once the TV was turned off, or the iPad taken away. We are raising the next generation - tomorrow’s society - without the tools to engage with the physical world. Adults who are distracted and disconnected.
It shocked me how easily bored my cousins became once TV was turned off On the other hand, there is no doubt that going online can enrich life beyond it. At University, the internet is not only the most progressive provider of information, but also a fantastic platform for career opportunities. Most workplaces and universities require internet usage for email communications. Furthermore, module outlines, university calendars, and essay submissions are all done through an online forum at most universities. This makes the whole process of going to university more accessible, but what happened to the regular way of making notes and reading articles? Even Kindles and emails are replacing traditional forms of reading and, notably books and letters. Technology risks their extinction, yet is this for better or worse? Initially, I dismissed my own love of handwritten notes as clinging onto the past. This was until I read that our immediate memory tracks handwritten information better than typed. Does technology therefore harm our education? The internet world does not provide you with a user manual or any guidelines that should be followed; therefore its crucial that we have the ability to control the way we allow ourselves to be influences by what we read off our screen. Online can do more good than harm, as long as the public uses it effectively and productively. We shouldn’t prohibit ourselves from engaging in online entertainment such as movies and games but there’s no need to give it the power to consume you. Similarly, internet conveniences should be used to benefit our time management, not turn us into couch potatoes. If we draw out the positive aspects of the Internet, whilst being mindful of the negative, we can ensure that the online world does not control our own.
EXEPOSÉ
Caption Column Meet Buzzfeed’s Ned, the feline registered to vote in the Labour Leadership Election. Our readers get satirical with captions for this political animal.
“I don’t care what anyone else’s felines are Marjory, voting for Corbyn will be a cat-astrophe.” THEODORE STONE “I hope he toes the party feline.” TIM WOLLEY “A clear Andy Purrnham voter.” PAVEL KONDOV “A cat registered to vote? You’ve got to be kitten me.” FIONA POTIGNY “He’s more left-wing than you think. He says he’s a Maoist.” HILLARY UNDERWOOD “He’s the purr-fect voter.” CHRISTY KUUKY “Is he Mew Labour?” GIORGI MAMUZELOS “Farage’s Fox can move over, the cat is in the Wesminster Hen House.” SOPHIE HARRISON “Cats voting for leaders, what could paw-sibly go wrong?” EVAN JONES “Once again, fat cats are choosing a new political leader behind the scenes.” JEREMY BROWN FEATURED CAPTION
FINAL_Unirider2014-15_SouthWest_A5.pdf 1 07/07/2014 16:49:46
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Protect your laptop and phone with the No.1 student insurance provider. Sophie, Nottingham University Insured a £500 laptop plus an iPhone 5s for just
£10.49** a month
24 HOUR* REPLACEMENT
Our student insurance cover includes: • • • •
theft, loss, accidental and liquid damage anywhere in the UK and up to 30 days worldwide monthly payment option at no extra cost** 24 hour* laptop and phone replacement
Build your cover at endsleigh.co.uk/university or search Endsleigh Student Insurance Insurance recommended by
*If your item is lost, stolen or unrepairable we’ll replace it within 24 hours – 1 working day of your claim being approved. **Price is based on a student living on campus, insuring a £500 laptop (excluding Apple and Sony laptops) and an iPhone 5s. We work exclusively with Premium Credit Limited (PCL) who arrange finance for monthly payments. Credit is subject to status and is not guaranteed. Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This can be checked on the Financial Services Register by visiting their website at www.fca.org.uk/register. Endsleigh Insurance Services Limited, Company No. 856706 registered in England at Shurdington Road, Cheltenham Spa, Gloucestershire GL51 4UE.
268mm x 340mm Freshers ad JW.indd 1
03/08/2015 14:04:23
12
LIFESTYLE
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
LIFESTYLE
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 | Exeposé Lifestyle
LIFESTYLE EDITORS Joshua Rotchelle Jack Wardlaw
EXEPOSÉ
@ExeposeLStyle
lifestyle@exepose.com
Every week we feature the best tweets from our faithful followers for your entertainment. Keep your eyes peeled for a name you recognise - it could even be yours! Jack Wardlaw @jackwardlaw94 Choosing between the Love Magazine covers of Kate Moss and C3PO was definitely not something I planned to do today Fiona Potigny @fionapotigny Opened my windows for a halfsecond and have now acquired a small zoo. Thanks, heatwave Eamonn Crowe @EamonnLC Just sampled a Vegan restaurant... next stop McDonalds #NoRegrets Sarah Gough @sarahgoughy Off interrailing for three weeks tomorrow. Is 4 bottles of factor 50 enough?
Exeter Strikes Yak If you’re not already, get ready to become addicted to YikYak - here’s a taste of what gems you can expect during the year... • I really hope my new flatmates are also single. I can’t bear the thought of lying in bed hearing them all have sex while I have a pizza • Girlfriend dumped me cos of my obsession with touching pasta, I’m feeling cannelloni right now • The best part of sex is the bit where it actually happens for once • My dad bought some new deoderant today. It’s Lynx Africa. He now smells like my first kiss, and I’m not okay with that. • I now own a MyWaitrose card. Preparation for returning to Exeter = complete.
What to expect in Exe
Photo: University of Exeter
Tweets of the week
Here at Lifestyle,, we’re spilling the beans on how to survive your first year at Exeter. Theo Stone, Online Features Editor lists the student stereotypes you’ll meet here
W
ELCOME to Uni - a time of personal growth, education and making some of the best friends of your life. Beware however, for in order to find the people who will become your greatest pals, you must first dodge around some of the many other types of people you will inevitably meet during your time here. Keep an eye out and see how many of the following types you can recognise.
The Political Activist These people come in a variety of forms, ranging from the mildly smug Conservative, the social media-savvy Green, the ardent Socialist who patiently waits for the end of Capitalism, the anxious/ optimistic Labour supporter (depending upon who they voted for), the impossibly nice Liberal Democrat to the ‘trend-bucking’ UKIP-er. These people will constantly attempt to recruit you to their cause, whilst continuously sharing stories on their news feed about the latest political goings-on. Nevertheless, despite their differences, they can all agree on one thing: that Ed Miliband looks damn good with a beard.
The Wordsmith Completely obsessed with words, you’ll find these people endlessly ranting on and on about how they want to work for The Guardian or The Times,, how Owen Jones’ eyes sparkle in a certain manner, and how Jane Austen is actually the genesis point of postmodern literature. Some will infuriate you with their dodgy poems or cynical blogposts, whilst
others can be found desperately trying to get hold of a shadowing position at Prospect. In the meantime, you can find some of them writing for student publications, such as this one. We are actually nice though... I promise.
If you want to succeed, befriend these people and ask them for help. If that fails, tie them up and steal their notes The Academic They’re committed to their course, unrealistically studious, and are bound to do well. They’ve actually read all of the suggested books, have finished their coursework, and are now writing papers for the next issue of The Undergraduate. Fun for them is not bound by time and space to Timepiece after 7pm, but instead they are found curled up in their room, preparing for the future. If you want to succeed, befriend these people and ask them for help. If that fails, tie them up and steal their notes.
The Party Animal A l - though they claim to study at the University, you’re never en-
tirely sure, because you never see them in class. Instead, they seem to live in Timepiece, consuming nothing but VKs and Domino’s pizza, all thanks to a seemingly endless supply of money. Whilst they may not be the most stimulating people you’ll meet at Exeter, no other type is as fun. I think.
The Musician These people come in three flavours: Classical, Contemporary, and Choral. One listens purely to Puccini, another to Pink Floyd, and the other to Pentatonix. One of them is in an orchestra, another is in a band or five, and the latter is probably a Bluebelle. Nevertheless, they’re devoted to their aural craft and whenever they’re not studying, they’re rehearsing. These people will show you a whole new side of Exeter, and you’ll love them for it.
The Rah Blonde, slightly tanned, muscular, excessively wealthy, and probably wearing a gilet, these chaps and chapettes can be found near almost any location relative to sports. They’ll be in the gym when you arrive, and
they’ll still be in there when you leave. Obsessed with generating some “excellent banter” and ready to work for their parents upon graduation, nothing will stop them from taking to the “lash”, whatever that is.
The “Gap Yah” Some of them have been to Peru, darling, and they’ve chundered everywhere. These people will not stop talking about how they were literally imprisoned in a prison in Burma, on a spiritual-culturalpolitical exchange ‘thing’, after being on the lash the night before (the best night of their life). Others have been on internships and are now in a financially stable position and ready to knuckle down. They’ll keep you grounded and will always be a source of enlightening insights from personal experience.
The International Student Adjusting to a new culture is tricky, and when you’re trying to adjust to one such as Britain, which consists almost entirely of stealing other people’s ideas and making them a bit weird, it’s even harder. Nevertheless, their studious attitudes and exceptional abilities to plan ahead means that they’ll dominate the scene. Befriend them and you’ll have the time of your life.
The Best Friend The Turk to your J.D, the Kim to your K. To you, they’re the best person in Exeter. They listen, they support, and you can have fun with them, and it never feels strained. You can spend whole nights watching Friends and simply not care, they’re more than happy to help you with the academic side of life. Don’t let these people go.
EXEPOSÉ
LIFESTYLE
www.exepose.com
13
When Freshers’ gets tough, the tough go shopping
Jack Wardlaw, Lifestyle Editor, lists Exeter’s best spots for a bit of retail therapy
C
OMING to university in Exeter means you are granted access to a top level academic tuition, a beautiful campus, great people, but most importantly, brilliant shopping. I came from a small city with barely a New Look and a Dorothy Perkins to rub together; so coming to Exeter was great for my shopping passion, but terrible for my bank account. It took me all year to find some of the best shops in Exeter, so I’ve compiled this handy list of the key areas you should hit to save you the work. It is genuinely true that there is a shop for every style. Debit cards at the ready, ladies and gentlemen!
Princesshay Your go-to for all your high street favourites. With a more premium end and a more budget-friendly end, there is an impressive range of shops in a fairly small but beautifully kept out-door centre. Naturally, there is a Topshop/Topman, a New Look, a River Island and H&M for fast fashion at cheap prices (and all of these also offer student discount in some way, shape or form – check their websites for exact details). As you stroll past Swarovski and Apple, (a very useful shop to have when you inevitably drop your iPhone outside Timepiece) you get to Karen Millen,
AllSaints, Reiss and the newly opened M.A.C. store. These stores are perfect for treating yourself to some really special pieces, so if you’re in the mood to splurge, head their way.
Coming to Exeter was great for my shopping passion, but terrible for my bank account Gandy Street Just off the high street down a tiny alley next to Urban Outfitters, Gandy Street is the stuff of Exeter legend – the story goes that J.K. Rowling based Diagon Alley on it and the imposing white corner building of The Vaults (Exeter’s most popular LGBTQ+ nightclub) is the inspiration for Gringotts in the Harry Potter novels. Down its small cobbled street there are some hidden treasures that not everyone knows about. The new vintage shop Sobey’s offers a great array of well-kept vintage and reworked clothing at really good prices. Their jewellery is particularly unique, so you can afford to add some of their pieces to any outfit to give it a bit of a twist. Up from there are some great bars (Hats and John Gandy’s) which are perfect for
nights out with friends or even going on dates, and some other really unique and different shops. Moko is one of these, specialising in quirky gifts and homewares that can help you out for Mother’s day, Christmas or just for brightening up your own student room.
Fore Street If you head down the high street and off the beaten track, Fore Street is where some of the most niche shops are located. There is a host of fancy dress shops down here (perfect for stocking up on outfits for the hundreds of themed club nights you’ll have to attend) as well as shops like Blue Banana that cater for alternative personal styles. Down there you’ll also find cute little haberdashery shops These can come in really handy if you need to repair your favourite top after a wild Cheesy Tuesday. But by far the jewel in the crown of Fore Street is the Arcade about half way down. Under cover,
and truly unique, McCoy’s Arcade is home to classic gaming and music shops, streetwear labels and at the end, the famous Real McCoy vintage store bursting with amazing clothes at brilliant prices. Downstairs is full of period pieces from the early 20th century – flapper dresses, faux fur coats, dinner suits and loads of beautifully preserved accessories. Upstairs is full of denim shirts, amazingly cheap but 100 per cent real leather and shearling jackets, 80s shell suits, and all manner of other high-quality vintage pieces, as well as some more cheap fancy dress items. It’s definitely worth visiting a few times; they change their stock regularly so you never know what you might find!
Exeter Christmas Market
Sadly it only comes once a year, but the Exeter Christmas Market, held on the Cathedral Green, is definitely a must when it arrives in November. Again, it is perfect for gifts, and features shops selling great locally made goods of all descriptions. Crafts, sweets, wine, clothing and ornaments, as well as much more, are all on offer. Be sure to try the authentic hog roast that is second to none if you get a chance – it has the power to turn even the most hardcore vegetarian.
Cooking up a storm - student style I’ve got a blank Space baby Natasa Christofidou, Photographer, shares her tastiest vegetarian recipes for life on a tight budget
M
OVING away from home, where most domestic chores are taken care of for you can be overwhelmingly daunting, especially if your university accommodation is self catered. As convenient as catered halls may seem, they lack the flexibility of choosing the time of your own meals, but also the food that you eat. The on-going myth that student cooking needs to be boring and somewhat unhealthy because healthy meals are too hard to make is about to be debunked If, like me, you love a bargain, shamelessly spending hours on end comparing supermarket prices online is a must. A walk to Morrisons or Tesco will benefit your budgeting but if you want to really go for it, Iceland, PoundLand and Savers could be the places for you. Low prices don’t always parallel low quality though, since Iceland shelves contain many mainstream branded products that are sold in bulk for cheaper. A great tip for saving the pennies is to shop at one of Exeter’s local food stores, where fruit and veg are not only 100 per cent organic but also far cheaper. ‘Eat
your greens’ on Sidwell’s street offers a 10 per cent discount to students. Similarly, ‘Love local foods,’ is a food van that comes up to campus on Tuesdays and Thursday around mid day, selling low priced, local produce. Once you’ve got your ingredients, it’s time to get cooking. Here are just a few recipes you could try that are healthy, cheap and also taste great!
Vegetarian Chilli 1. Chop up two bulb onions, cube a garlic clove and add to hot pot for two-three minutes. 2. Add one can of red kidney beans, one can of corn, one cup of green peas, one cup of broccoli and/ or cauliflower, along with one cup of vegetable stock to the pot for around six minutes. 3. Once the water has been absorbed, add in one jar of tomato sauce or chopped tomatoes. 4. Season with ground black pepper, turmeric, cumin, chilli flakes, parsley and any other herbs and spices of your choice.
Coconut Curry 1. Chop up two bulb onions, cube a garlic clove and add to hot pot for two-three minutes. 2. Add any vegetables of your choice into the pot, one can of chickpeas, along with two cups of vegetable stock. 3. Add in a can of coconut curry, along with three-four tbsp. of curry powder. 4. Further season with ground black pepper, cumin, garam masala, paprika and any other herbs and spices of your choice.
Stir-fry 1. Add a chopped up onion, along with as much veggies as you like in a wok pan with one cup of vegetable stock. Also add in a net of noodles and wait for the water to be absorbed. 2. For flavour, add one tsp. of wholegrain mustard, one tbsp. of maple syrup, a drizzle of soy sauce and spices of your choice (ground black pepper, cumin, paprika and ginger work well). All meals have a cooking time of around 15-25 minutes.
Carmen Paddock tests out Exeter’s secret beauty haven Space Hair & Beauty
I
T is easy to miss this multi-storey salon, tucked in a secluded corner of the Cathedral Green behind the Beer Cellar and next to Al-Farid Moroccan Restaurant. Despite this unassuming exterior, however, the warm service and top quality treatments inside are a cut above those salons typically frequented by students. Haircuts, colouring, manicures and pedicures, massages, and a whole plethora of beauty treatments are offered. While the prices are relatively high (£25 for a basic women’s cut, £18 for a basic men’s cut) with the quality and care of their service, it is completely worth it for a special occasion. I had a haircut and a gel manicure on my visit. Upon entering the friendly re-
ceptionist took my coat and offered coffee and tea. I was then led up two flights of stairs to the hair salon, where the stylist took a while before starting to discuss the style I wanted and suggest what would suit my face and needs best. As someone thoroughly clueless on all matters beautyrelated, I greatly appreciated the candid, tailored advice, and the cut surpassed my expectations. The gel manicure was a thorough, multi-step process which took about twenty-five minutes in total, but when I left my nails were completely dry and did not rub off on anything. Nearly two weeks later, they are still in remarkably good shape. Throughout both services the stylists were unfailingly polite and pleasant, making conversation and offering beverages at every turn. All products used in the salon are also on sale from reception if you are interested in bringing their beauty regime home. While Space Hair and Beauty is rather expensive, and perhaps more comprehensive than some may be looking for, its services are top quality and ideal for both everyday and special occasions.
14
NEWS 1-4
MUSIC
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 |
EXEPOSÉ
MUSIC Exeter’s music medley: on campus and beyond Exeposé Music
MUSIC EDITORS James Atherton Katie Costello
@ExeposeMusic
music@exepose.com
Gig Listings
Monday 14 September Exeposé Music Showcase Cavern, Exeter
Tuesday 15 September Morrissey Plymouth Pavillions, Plymouth
Exeposé Music talks to a few prominent people in Exeter’s local music scene
Wednesday 16 September UPANDCOMING Launch with Youan Cavern, Exeter Friday 18 September Magic Hatstand Cavern, Exeter Sunday 20 September Wheatus Thelka, Bristol Tuesday 22 September Leon Bridges Anson Rooms, Bristol Friday 25 September T Rextasy Tavistock Wharf, Tavistock
Exeposé Recommends...
Exeposé Music Showcase @ Cavern Monday 14 September Rumours have it that this will be the ‘gig of the century’ and ‘the best night of your entire life’. With a variety of genres represented, this will be a night to end all nights. Rearrange the words ‘awesome’ and ‘really’ and you may get close to describing this gig. Monday 14 September will go down in history as the night of the legendary EMS. Not that we’re biased or anything...
Alex Ward Big Band President
Ellie Oretti Musical Director of Sweet Nothings
Eleanor Train Beats and Bass President
Ben Lovett Rock and Metal Society President
B
WEET Nothings is a contemporary, all-female group that has competed in competitions all over the country and have taken a show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival for two years running. Other competitive groups include: The Bluebelles, a jazzy all-female group; the all-male Semi Toned; Illuminations and Harmonics. The latter are classical and both mixed, as is Hoi Rhapsody. You can do accappella, even if you’ve never done it before. We want as many people as possible to get involved! Before university I’d never done any accappella singing before, and most people haven’t read music before or even sung in a small group. As long as you are passionate and want to get involved, you’re sure to learn quickly! The Old Firehouse is a great venue for accappella, as it’s intimate, and who can refuse the combination of live music, pizza and cider?
S
EATS and Bass is Exeter University’s premier dance music society and club night. We put on monthly club nights at Exeter’s finest underground venue, the Cavern, as well as biweekly DJ and production workshops, open to anyone who wants to learn to DJ or just hone their skills on our equipment. Members can showcase their skills by playing to a small crowd at our socials if they want. We also put on various discounted trips to clubs and festivals outside of Exeter. We welcome all members to attend workshops, from complete beginners to more experienced DJs. We use professional grade equipment at our workshops, including CDJs and turntables, so there’s something for everyone. Look out for our friends at Our House, Exit and Up & Coming who also put on nights at the Cavern. Hold It Down are also bringing some big names to the Exeter Phoenix this term.
B
T
Alex Hall Founder of No Seatbelt DIY
fairly regularly nowadays; we’ve hosted everyone you can think of including Moose Blood, Bayside and H20 in the past few months.
check them out. Exeter has blown up in the alternative/punk scene in the past year or so. Everywhere I travel in the UK there seems to be an Exeter band playing. Definitely check out this entire list of sick bands based down
your road: Great Cynics, Muncie Girls, Shit Present, Skeleton Frames, Bangers, The Fairweather Band, Selfish Son, Splitsville, Honey Pot & Chiyoda Ku. If you want to start a band join Campus Bands. It’s also worth going to Exeposé Music meetings to find other music lovers.
IG Band has lots of regular gigs in Timepiece and we’re also available for hire for all kinds of societies and events. We’ve just got back from touring at the Montreux Jazz Festival and we’re also performing at the Westpoint Festival. We play down at the Old Firehouse on Sunday which is as good a place as any to spend an evening. On Sunday’s at The Old Firehouse there are a range of student bands that perform all kinds of music and there are always good artists playing at Timepiece and Cavern. I was lucky as I got the chance to watch the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra play a concert in the Great Hall, performing pieces on a theme of Hero’s And Superheros. This was an amazing way to see a professional group perform and was quite an experience. There are loads of music societies in Exeter - bring your instument along and play!
W
ITHOUT a doubt the Cavern is the place to go to see new indie and alternative bands. The venue puts on alternative bands almost every night of the week, in every genre imaginable. There are also alternative and indie club nights regularly. If pop-punk/emo/grunge is your thing then come to a No Seatbelt DIY night. You’ve also got a pretty safe bet going to any night promoted by Freakscene, your go-to for indie-punk and old school punk. If you’re looking for indie music, head to Indie Club, which is on every Saturday. Big touring bands come to Exeter
Big touring bands come to Exeter fairly regularly nowadays I’m particularly excited about Bangers headlining the Exeposé showcase on the Monday of Freshers’ Week, they never disappoint! Then October is the month to be in Exeter with Freakscene’s ‘Roctober’ happening. There’s four gigs, Rvivr & Muncie Girls, Sales, Dogs on Acid & The Cut Ups & Doe. Even if you’ve never heard of any of these bands, it’s worth coming just to
HE first place to mention is definitely the Cavern; it’s a great club with weekly metal and rock gigs ranging from small local bands up to some really big names. The Sorry Head can also be great for a more laid back vibe, with a mix of live rock, folk and ska music. The Phoenix is also worth checking out for a variety of events from steam punk to heavy metal! If you’re looking for a metal clubbing experience Walkabout hosts a metal and rock night named ALTERN8 - for a good laugh and a fun crowd it can’t be beaten. It’s looking like a brilliant year for rock and metal in Exeter, with a large variety of bands already announced. These include Psychroptic, Heart of a Coward, Mallory Knox, and Young Guns to name but a few. If you’re interested in attending gigs with a friendly crowd, the Rock and Metal Society is the place to be.
EXEPOSÉ
Thank f*ck for Cavern www.exepose.ex.ac.uk
Jim Atherton, Music Editor, talks records, upcoming releases and the importance of Cavern with Andrew Horne, of Exeter’s punk-rock heroes Bangers and Specialist Subject Records
A
LL great music scenes have an architect; for the Washington D.C. scene in the 1980s it was Ian MacKaye; for the Seattle scene in the 1990s it was Bruce Pavitt. Andrew Horne is arguably the architect behind the Exeter music scene, which has produced a plethora of bands who are now spreading worldwide and also plays host to some of the best underground gigs in the country. As the founder of Specialist Subject Records and the bassist in Bangers, Andrew helps bands to forge fan bases by releasing their music physically and getting them shows. He also runs one of the best vinyl distribution companies in the country, and is the reason why I never have any money. I caught up with Andrew before Bangers headed off on their August tour with Shit Present through the UK and Europe to find out more about Specialist Subject Records, finding new bands to release and his role within the Exeter music scene. How did Specialist Subject Records begin? Specialist Subject kind of began as part of a uni project when I was studying Music Technology in Leeds. Me and a friend recorded and released our own 7” for our band Magnus Magnusson, and set up a fictitious label to release it. It wasn’t really intended to be more than that one release but for some reason I resurrected the name a couple of years later and things have been getting busier and more serious from then on. Why is the South West and Exeter so good for DIY bands and music? Geographically the south west is always going to struggle a little compared to bigger cities and more accessible locations, but like anywhere, as long as people are active and enthusiastic, DIY music scenes
can thrive anywhere. Exeter in particular owes a lot to the existence of the Cavern. Next year will mark 25 years since the venue opened and the amount of influential bands that have come through Exeter because of it is staggering. Without it, Exeter would not have the exciting bands that it does and to be honest I probably wouldn’t live here if it didn’t exist.
I probably wouldn’t live here if the Cavern didn’t exist Which indie labels did you take inspiration from when you started Specialist Subject Records? There’s loads, when I was young I was really into the whole Epitaph / Fat Wreck thing, which I as an artist focussed label has some parallels to what we do. I really love Jade Tree records, they’ve always released such an eclectic mix of music but it’s all great. Also, a whole host of UK punk labels that have been and gone or aren’t so active anymore, Cat ‘n’ Cakey, Household Name, Bombed Out, Crackle, In At The Deep End,I hope that somehow we can fit into that legacy of labels documenting certain scenes and periods of UK punk rock.
You have some of the best upcoming bands in Britain right now on your label, how do you go about finding / choosing them? Most of the bands we work with I’m lucky enough to have been friends with before
releasing their records. Usually it’s bands Bangers have played or toured with, or old friends working on new projects. No matter how good the music is it’s also super important that we get along and share similar attitudes and ideas. Have you got any upcoming releases that you’re particularly excited about? What plans has the label got for the rest of the year? We’ve got loads coming up for the rest of the year (it’s probably our busiest time ever!) We’ve got a new split 7” coming out for Martha & Radiator Hospital, they both released some of my favourite albums from last year so it’s a real honour to be doing a record for them. Shit Present have a new EP coming out that people seem really excited about already. Above Them are active again and are releasing their third album i n
Photo: www.punktastic.com
September which we’re very excited about. Sam Russo has a new album coming out later in the year too. Bangers are headlining the Exeposé Freshers’ gig at The Cavern on Monday 14 September. What can people who have never witnessed Bangers live before expect from you guys? Three guys playing loud punk rock music, we’re not exactly re-inventing the wheel but people seem to like it. We have a good time and we’ve been around long enough to know how to do it right I hope! Bangers just finished up a big UK tour, how did it go? The tour was great; we used to tour a lot more than we do now and our drummer’s been in the US for a few months so it was nice to get out there and blow out the cobwebs. We had a really positive reaction to the songs from the new album too which is awesome, usually people just want to hear the old stuff! What’s your ultimate goal with Specialist Subject? I’m not sure there is one; keep releasing great music, helping the bands we work with, getting them out to as many people as possible. I’d love to be able to help some of our bands play music as a career but ultimately as long as we’re releasing music that people connect with and stay afloat then I’d say that’s a success.
The Freshers’ Tape
‘September Gurl’– Big Star – Chris Filsell (Those Freshers’ wristbands were) ‘Money For Nothing’ - Dire Straits – Fiona Potigny ‘Lost in the Supermarket’ - The Clash – Theodore Stone ‘Emergency Contraception Blues’ - Bombay Bicycle Club – Fiona Potigny To accompany your week of mayhem, ‘Shut Up and Dance’ - Walk the Moon – Chris Kuuky Exeposé have put together a mixtape of ‘So Fresh, So Clean’ – Outkast – Jim Atherton songs that best represent awkward meetings with new flatmates, spending too ‘Save Me’ – Muse – Chris Kuuky much, atrocious cooking, and getting lost. ‘The Good Times are Killing Me’ - Modest Mouse
MUSIC
15
Hot / Not / Long Shot / Forgot Exeposé Music gives you their opinion on what’s hot, what’s not, something that is a bit of a long shot and what has scandalously been forgotten. Hot: ‘Kick Me’ - Shit Present ‘Kick Me’ is the debut single released by Exeter-based band Shit Present which features Iona Cairns of Great Cynics on vocals as well as Ben Cottam of OK Pilot, Thom Weeks of Gnarwolves, and Fitzy Fitzgerald of Smith Street Band. Not: ‘Marvin Gaye’ Charlie Puth ft. Meghan Trainor Heathen! If you haven’t heard this already, you will, in every Cheesy Tuesdays until the end of term. Blasphemous lyrics would have our beloved Marvin turning in his grave. The heretic Meghan Trainor returns, this time accompanied by Charlie ‘Beelzebub’ Puth. Listen at your peril. Long shot: ‘Random Name Generator’ - Wilco Released back in June, without any promotion whatsoever, Wilco’s ‘Star Wars’ was a treat for anyone particularly attentive to the happenings in the music industry. ‘Random Name Generator’ is its standout song; a lazy blues slacker-track that makes you wonder whether they bothered to get out of bed to make this record. Perhaps it just shows how talented they are. Forgot: ‘Animal Nitrate’ Suede Oasis and Blur’s enduring popularity with the masses has led to this 90s classic being forgotten despite Suede influencing many modern bands such as Basement and Bloc Party.
16
NEWS 1-4
SCREEN
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
SCREEN Newsreel
Man of Steel 2 on hold After reports that acclaimed director George Miller (Mad Max: Fury Road) had signed onto a DC property, rumored to be the Man of Steel sequel, sources now say that Miller is still in negotiations with Warner Bros. over his involvement. Furthermore, the planned Man of Steel 2 is believed to be on permanent hold until a suitable director is found.
Chinese and Australian film sectors seek closer cooperation In an effort to capitalise upon China’s growing box office presence, the China-Australia Film Collaboration has been founded. Ian Booth, chief executive at ScreenWest, said: “China is a growing market, and Australia has much to offer by way of highly skilled creatives and crew.” The business forum between the countries will kick off at CinefestOz on 26-30 August 2015.
Toy Story 4 confirmed Numerous future films were announced at the official Disney D23 exposition in mid-August. Audiences were treated to a first look at The Good Dinosaur, Finding Dory and the hotly anticipated Toy Story 4. The fourth installment, set for release in 2017, will focus on the love story between Woody (Tom Hanks) and Bo Peep. John Lasseter, director of the original 1995 hit, will return to direct.
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ WEEK 2015 | Exeposé Screen
SCREEN EDITORS Akash Beri Ben Londesbrough
EXEPOSÉ
@ExeposeScreen
Phoenix: reborn? screen@exepose.com
Emily Harris, Online Screen Editor, interviews Nancy Sheterline, Marketing and Press Manager at Exeter Phoenix, on the ambitious new development ‘Studio 74’
T
HE Phoenix is a centre for movie buffs and arthouse cinemagoers alike in Exeter, but things are about to step up a notch. I managed to chat with Nancy Sheterline about the venue’s new project, which hopes to offer an alternative to the larger cinema chains in Exeter. What can we expect when ‘Studio 74’ launches? The original idea was to go vintage with the interior, but with the building itself being fairly modern we reconsidered and decided to fully embrace contemporary, while keeping it snug. And of course, as a cinema based in the South West’s foremost multi-arts venue, we’ll be adding some quirks along the way. As for capacity, it’s all in the name… the new cinema will seat a total of 74 indie film lovers - a real intimate environment which we’re sure Exeter students and locals will love. With our super comfy cinema seating, it’ll be the ultimate experience.
Think of Studio 74 as a place of discovery, something quite different How do you plan on differentiating yourself? Think of Studio 74 as a place of dis-
covery, something quite different to the traditional cinema experience. Our programmers are passionate film-buffs who will be separating the wheat from the chaff, and hand-picking some real quality films that you may never have heard of before. What’s more, as part of Exeter Phoenix’s wider mix of events, we’ll also be able to offer some great festivals spanning music, art, film and performance. What kind of opportunities can Studio 74 offer local film makers, in terms of both production and exhibition? Exeter Phoenix already provides a lot of support for local filmmakers at all levels. Our equipment hire facilities and opportunities such as the 48 hour film challenge are open to everyone, from beginners to more experienced filmmakers. Further up the scale, we offer commissions, support and advice to more established filmmakers in the south west. With the development of Studio 74, we can build on this and provide a platform to regularly exhibit feature-length and short f i l m s
from local filmmakers. What kind of involvement is there for students? We’re really looking forward to getting students involved in the new cinema. Once it opens we will be looking to put a team together to work with us closely and pitch ideas on everything from programming to development, helping out at screenings and associated events and writing film reviews. Watch this space. With this new exciting space in one of the regions most popular multi-art form venues, what sort of events are set to be in the mix? The great thing about basing a cinema within an arts venue like Exeter Phoenix, is that we have the whole venue’s expertise and facilities at our fingertips. A brand new launch festival called Crossing The Line kicks off in October, presenting an innovative season of films which cross either moral, ethical, sporting or geographical lines. Expect further adventures to under-
ground locations and more atmospheric cinema experiences. Then in January our brilliantly popular Scandinavian festival returns with films of Nordic origin set among live music, amazing foodie feasts and other immersive Scandi events. We might follow up a film about Paris’ underground electronic music scene with a gig from one of the featured musicians themselves, or offer a taster menu of Japanese speciality food in our cafe bar to go with a Tokyo horror flick. The possibilities for associated events and festivals are endless!
The possibilities for associated events and festivals are endless. And lastly, as we are a student newspaper, how much for a small popcorn? Caught out at the last hurdle! We’re still fine tuning some details like these, so we don’t quite have an answer for this one yet. However, it’ll all come together very soon, and there will be plenty of popcorn to go around! Studio 74 will be available to the public in Autumn 2015. You can visit exeterphoenix.org.uk for more information on upcoming events.
EXEPOSÉ
Celluloid confusion: A cinema-goers guide www.exepose.com
SCREEN
17
Ben Londesbrough, Screen Editor, gives you the lowdown on Exeter’s film hotspots Location Pricing Choice Comfort
T
HE Phoenix is described as a ‘multi-artform venue’, and therefore hosts a mix of film, art, music, theatre and comedy. The Phoenix’s film programme is less frequent, but shows carefully selected films on certain nights, and will be hosting a Short Film festival in November. If you want different, challenging, arthouse cinema, then this is the place to go. ‘Studio 74’ is also set to open, which you can read about in detail on page 16. Conveniently located in the city centre on Gandy Street, the Phoenix is worth a look. Tickets are a flat £6.00, so it won’t break the bank. All in all, a solid choice.
Location Pricing Choice Comfort
Location Pricing Choice Comfort
Location Pricing Choice Comfort
V
UE, a large cinema chain which refers to itself as a ‘modern stateof-the-art multiplex cinema circuit in the UK’ demands attention. With a ton more screens and choice than Odeon, it would seem a better choice, especially with the capacity for 4K resolution screenings. The seating is far superior to most venues in Exeter, so you can watch the latest Bond movie in style. Though Vue is located on Belgrave Road, slightly further away than Odeon, the extra few minutes are probably worth it. Vue’s Achilles Heel is undoubtadly its cost, in the regions of a pricey £8.99. Students on a budget beware.
F
ANCY a blockbuster? Odeon, one of the largest cinema chains in Europe, has remained a reliable place for the biggest and baddest new flicks on the scene. Though it boasts less screens than Vue, it is closer to town and campus, located towards the end of Sidwell Street. A peak student ticket will set you back £6.45, cheaper than Vue but dearer than other cinemas near campus. The seats are fairly comfortable, though tentpole movies should be enjoyed on Premier seating. However, be wary; annoying kids behind you and adults loudly stuffing their faces in front could ruin your cinema experience!
Location Pricing Choice Comfort
L
T
HE Picturehouse, liked by many students due to it’s good ‘Student Membership’ which gives you two free tickets and other discounts for £15.00. This lovely cinema, whilst being part of a chain, offers a personal and luxury touch. With two screens showing both the mainstream and the arthouse, the Picturehouse offers a great programme, as well as a bar. A peak student ticket without membership costs £9.00, or £7.00 with membership. Look out for their stall at the Freshers’ fair to grab a free student ticket and see for yourself! It’s located on Bartholomew Street West.
OCATED on campus in the M&D Room, run by students, for students for over 60 years. Campus Cinema is the cheapest cinema experience you can get whilst a student in Exeter, with tickets costing £3.00 for non-members and £2.00 for members. Do not fear about quality as the cinema is equipped with digital projection, 35mm projection and Dolby Surround Sound, bringing you a decent cinema going experience on your doorstep. Films run on Tuesdays and Sundays showcasing a variety of cinema, from new releases to much-loved classics. Definitely worth a group trip with the flatmates.
Fantastic Four fails to Marvel Akash Beri, Screen Editor, spares you the embarrassment of watching this monstrosity Fantastic Four Cast: Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell & Michael B. Jordan Director: Josh Trank 2015, 106 minutes
W
HEN the Fantastic Four reboot was annouced, the internet collectively groaned in ambivalence, as it should have. Nobody asked for this movie. We were quite happy leaving it dead, as Marvel continued to pump out hit after hit. After a less than stellar PR effort, and the director Josh Trank slamming his own movie on Twitter, I should have known better. The fatal flaw is the tone, contracting ‘The Dark Knight disease’ where everything has to be gritty and depressing. There is no fun in this comicbook movie, which is
a huge mistake considering the campy superpowers and characters. The main actors are shockingly wooden, which is especially disappointing for Miles Teller who gave a great performance in Whiplash (2014), but it’s not entirely his fault.
Maybe the team has the power to slow down time because it felt like I was sitting there for hours The script feels like a first draft, with a severe lack of chemistry between the unfantastic four and the boring government officials. After an interesting opening where a young Reed Richards and Ben Grimm (Jamie Bell) invent a prototype teleporter, the pair are eventually picked up by Prof. Franklin Storm
to help the government achieve interdimensional travel. Teamed up with Sue (Kate Mara) and Johnny Storm (Michael B. Jordan), along with Victor von Doom (Toby Kebbell), they travel to an alien planet. After receiving their powers from a convenient green goo, the movie stalls horribly as the team discover their powers. Maybe the team has the power to slow down time because it felt like I was sitting there for hours. Pointless drama and inconsequential dialogue follow until Dr. Doom makes his appearance,
#Quintessential-Quote-Qorner
‘‘
“In dreams, we enter a world that’s entirely our own.”
‘‘
“You get hurt, hurt ‘em back. You get killed... walk it off.”
2
‘‘
scenes, and action shots in the trailer are not in the film). The soundtrack is generic, the cinematography is bland, the characters are dull, the plot is boring and it slaps comicbook fans in the face.
For the sake of good movies, do not watch this With a Rotten Tomatoes score of only eight per cent (the worst rating for any comicbook movie in history), it’s clear that critics and audiences alike hated this movie. As a result, plans for several sequels are now under review, and they should hopefully be scrapped completely. Go and watch The Incredibles (2004) instead. Go and watch anything else. But for the sake of good movies, do not watch this. It’s better left buried beneath its terrible legacy, where it belongs. w
Test your film knowledge by guessing these qwazy quotes! 1
looking ridiculous in a hooded rubbish bag. The movie falls apart towards the end when Dr. Doom begins his plan to destroy the world (how original), and is immediately killed. Seriously, the character appears for about 15 minutes at the end, and after his death the movie ends. There is no Third-Act in this film at all, no real resolution it just sort of ends. The conflict between the studio and Trank becomes very apparent here. Almost a third of the movie was reshot with noticeable effects (e.g. Sue Storm’s hair changes between
3
“Keep your hands off my lobby boy!”
Upcoming showings at Campus Cinema Tuesday 15 September:
Sunday 20 September:
Pitch Perfect 2
Minions
Thursday 17 September:
Tuesday 22 September:
Avengers: Age of Ultron
London Road
1. ALBUS DUMBLEDORE (MICHAEL GAMBON) - HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN 2. STEVE ROGERS (CHRIS EVANS) - AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON 3. M. GUSTAVE (RALPH FIENNES) - THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
20
ARTS & LIT
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
ARTS &LIT
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 | Exeposé Arts & Lit
ARTS & LIT EDITORS Jeremy Brown Emily Kerr
EXEPOSÉ
@ExeposeArts
artsandlit@exepose.com
Daniel Sloss: from Fringe to fame Jeremy Brown, Arts & Lit Editor, interviews the up-and-coming Scottish stand-up comedian
Y
OU might not have heard about Daniel Sloss recently, but he’s certainly not disappeared from the circuit. Instead, he’s taken his fiery wit overseas to America, where he’s been met by great success on The Late Late Show and Conan. Finally, he’s gravitated back to Edinburgh where I chatted to him as he embarks on another sell-out tour.
The world of comedy seems a very daunting one to enter into, yet you started at a young age and have enjoyed incredible success. What’s your best advice for young stand-up comics? Just fucking do it. Stop thinking
You’re taking your tour, Dark, to the Exeter Phoenix in November. Are you excited to visit the West Country? We (myself and my tour support, best friend and flatmate Kai Humphries) are very much looking forward to coming back to Exeter. We had never been to Exeter before our tour two years ago and we were absolutely blown away by the audience. Sometimes when you’ve never been somewhere before you can get a little bit worried about the audience, and whether they’ll know you/be up for your comedy, but we had such a good gig we ran over by 30 minutes. Which was great for us, but awful for anyone who had babysitters at home. So, sorry about that. But not really.
about it. Do it. If you want to do it. Do it. (I sound like Shia LeBeouf). One of the biggest regrets I hear from a lot of comedians is that they wish they’d started sooner. It’s not about being good. It’s just about getting that stage time, getting used to being in front of an audience and working out whether it’s something you want to do. I love the fact that I started young. Because I was shit, but you know what? Nobody remembers it. I hardly even remember it. But, it sent me down the path that I’m on now and I love it. Bite the bullet. You’ve done a lot of stand-up in America recently - what do you make of the differences between British and American humour? British audiences can be a bit harder to impress, they want punchlines and they want you to prove to them that you’re funny. You have to earn the laughs. Which is great. It helped me become
a better comic and start trimming the fat off my comedy. But American audiences are brilliant for different reasons. They’re a bit more optimistic and patient. So you get to explore “bits”. Having a bit more time to deliver a punchline means you can perform more.
Just fucking do it. (I sound like Shia LaBeouf) You’re currently back in Edinburgh for the Fringe - are you particularly proud of being Scottish around this time? I love being Scottish this time of year. Scottish people are hugely supportive and proud of their own. So it means my shows always sell out. I get to play to a big, beautiful and loving crowd. It really gives me time and confidence to work on the show before I bring it on tour. Your jokes appear quite often on social media, especially the routine where you say your mum gave birth to you and then was “diagnosed” with your brother. What advice would you give to other people coping with the horrific torment of siblings? Wait until they grow up. I hated my brothers when I was younger. I was a teen, they were kids, we fought all the time. But now I realise I probably should’ve been a bit
more patient and just let things slide. But I was so up my own ass that I thought I knew everything. I still do, obviously, but I take it out on them less. Now we just hang out and muck around because they’re finally old enough that I consider them to be real people now. Kids suck. Do you have any funny stories about being heckled? Not particularly. Fortunately, my audience don’t tend to interrupt. I don’t really talk to my audience individually, more of a collective, as if they were just a much larger group of friends. And I know my jokes and I know what I want to say, and it’s a lot funnier than anything a drunken moron has to say. That being said, when I was 17, a group on a hen-do slapped a man who was heckling me in the back of the head and said, in a very thick Glasgow accent, “You let that little boy finish”. Which was nice, but also quite insulting.
It helped me become a better comic and start trimming the fat off my comedy Finally... WKD or VK? I’m more of a G&T type of gal. Back in the day I would go for VK, coz it was cheaper, but after many nights ended in me vomiting up a rainbow, I decided to move to better drinks.
Emily Kerr, Arts & Lit Editor, reviews Sloss’ tour ahead of his arrival in Exeter Daniel Sloss: Dark EICC, Edinburgh 20 August 2015
B
EFORE Sloss’ show gets underway, he makes a point of easing the audience in with a warning. He tells them that many people see him aired on U rated BBC programmes and bring Grandma along for the ride and that these people are in for a shock. He’s right. So was Alan (notably spelt with one ‘l’ instead of two for privacy reasons) who writes that
Sloss has no right to criticise Christians for thanking God for being cured rather than medical professionals. Alan’s six page email of complaint provides Sloss with the perfect opening to his gig. He completely dissects Alan’s points and in doing so wins the audience over to his side, the dark side. Ironically, even Sloss realises that this email from an angry audience member is a miracle for his show. Unusually, Sloss is not the only performer to take the stage, which he shares with a lady signing for deaf audience members. In my experience of stand up, this is both a wel-
come surprise and unheard of (if you’ll pardon the pun). Sloss now takes the opportunity to tell the audience that, unlike on TV, he does know that she’s there. In this moment, Sloss breaks the audience and the full-bellied laugh is finally released. Suddenly a woman who had been mentally sidelined appears centre stage. She is hilariously incorporated into his act as he second guesses why we’ll all be watching her and asks the crowd for rude words they’ve always wanted to know in sign language. French lessons flicking through the dictionary come to mind immaturity at its finest.
From here onwards, Sloss touches on a variety of different areas from girls covering up their obscene bathroom smells with wild summer berry fragrance, to bedroom chilli mishaps. He even makes room to slip in the token jab at veganism.
Although shocking, his jokes are told in such a way as not to offend But the real success of his show lies in the messages that he shadows his jokes with. Among other things, he
picks up on the absurdity of the tampon tax and the irony behind Alan’s point that “we are all entitled to believe in what we want”. Although shocking, his jokes are told in such a way as not to offend. The crowd are conditioned to share his opinion from the moment he takes the stage. In this sense, although his humour is of the blackest kind, when it comes to entertaining the crowd, Sloss certainly isn’t left in the dark. The Dark tour runs from 18 September to 5 December, and will visit Exeter on 18 November.
Society spectrum
EXEPOSÉ
www.exepose.com
ARTS & LIT
21
Follow us on Instagram
Exeposé Arts & Lit give you a whistlestop tour of the array of arty activities on offer Harry Potter Society
Gilbert & Sullivan
Footlights
Featuring an annual Yule Ball, Quidditch, creative writing and film screenings. £10
Everything musical theatre! This year’s big Northcott production is The Phantom of the Opera. FREE
Dead Poets’ Society HARRY POTTER SOCIETY
A newly-formed society aimed at promoting spoken word performance. £4
Theatre With Teeth
Shotgun Theatre
Perform plays with an emphasis on new and student writing
Offering performance opportunites, two musicals a year and a termly cabaret evening £7
£9
The Exeter Revue
FOOTLIGHTS
Theatre-goers Society Organise trips for thespians all year round at both local and London-based venues. £9
SHOTGUN THEATRE
Exeter University Theatre Company perform popular plays to a large audience.
Razz Magazine
THE EXETER REVUE
£15
EUTCO
A glossy arts and lifestyle magazine, published seasonally. £8
For beginners and pros. With acccess to an A3 colour printer and darkroom. Chance to exhibit. £10
Meet like-minded people and chat about books you love. Theatre trips too! £8
Creative Writing Society Weekly themed sessionsshare work and feedback, with the goal to publish. £5
Art Society Weekly workshops, life drawing, and an exhibition space in Queens Building. £18
@har rigilla n
PhotoSoc
Literature Society
EUTCo
Write and perform comedy sketch shows, stand-up and improv, ready for the Fringe. £12
Perform classic G&S comic operas. This year’s will be Princess Ida. £15
an201 m t i p @ig
@than kspho tograp hy
Tag your Instagram photos with @exepose_arts_lit for a chance to be featured
Artistic Licence As you unpack for another year we want to know which book character would be your worst possible housemate and why? ADAM SMITH
ART SOCIETY
Harry Potter because he’s always in the bloody cupboards.
FIONA POTIGNY
Hello and welcome from your Arts & Lit Editors! Get involved and write for us! Check out our email content calls and join our Facebook group. artsandlit@exepose.com Arts & Lit @exepose_arts_lit
EMILY
VALENTINA
THEO STONE
I’d like to see Dolores Umbridge and Christian Grey live together. Just imagine the interior design.
EVAN JONES
Gandalf, because every time I’d try to revise for my exams he’d walk in and shout “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!”
@Exeposearts
JEREMY
The Hungry Caterpillar. He would definitely be the classic food-stealing housemate!
LISA
22
NEWS 1-4
SCIENCE & TECH
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 8-9 12-13 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
SCIENCE& TECH Wake-app feeling Fresh
Fiona Potigny, News Editor gives you the best of the worst alarm clock apps. Do you usually wake up fresher than the Prince of Bel Air at the crack of dawn or complete fifty sun salutations before most of us have hit snooze? Reality check: it’s not going to last. After non-stop nights of cheap mixers and Tuesday cheese, making that 8.30am lecture will become a feat more difficult than baptising a cat. Moving from soothing to sadistic, here are the wake-up apps you’ll need: Sleep Cycle (£0.79) – Sleep smart: monitoring your movement with fancy graphs, this app wakes you in your lightest sleep phase for a fresh feel. Not for heavy dozers. Zen Awake (Free) – Gradually awaken to the sounds of the Tibetan singing bowl and enjoy some morning inspiration with a quote from a historical wise one with this spiritual snooze-stopper. Walk Me Up (Free) – Alarm-strokepedometer where you set the steps to shut it off. Only as brutal as you make it. SpinMe (£1.49) – Does what it says on the tin. Not hangover-friendly. Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) (£1.49) – Walk to target destination. Take photo. Stop alarm. Cry inside because it’s too early. Works, though! CARROT (£2.29) – This sassy-talking bi-app-tech insults you when you snooze, working you awake with a series of ‘chores’. Super effective, outrageously annoying.
TB or not TB?
GAMES 26-27
FRESHERS’ WEEK 2015 |
SPORT 30-32
Exeposé Science & Tech
SCI & TECH EDITORS Catherine Heffner Lewis Norman
EXEPOSÉ
@ExeposeSciTech
sciandtech@exepose.com
Catherine Heffner, Science & Tech Editor, sits down with this year’s dairy clever iGEM team who are moo-ving on up in the world of science
M
OST of Exeter’s undergraduates have fled for the summer. The city is but a ghost town and tumbleweeds may be seen blowing across campus. Yet over the past few months the Geoffrey Pope building has
idea is we can use the test in a field, in a tube and it’ll be a new way of detecting if an animal carries TB. The vet could take a blood sample, put it into our cell free test and then he would know if it changed colour that the cow was infected.” Bovine tuberculosis causes significant losses to farmers in Devon and
been alive with the sound of keen students busily working on their project for iGEM 2015. The International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Foundation runs an annual competition wherein teams from universities around the world spend the summer on a project in synthetic biology. I caught up with Jasmine Bird, Bradley Brown, Joseph Slack and David Markham from Exeter’s team in the middle of their research stage.
across the UK. As well as hoping to create a practical diagnostic tool, the team hopes to raise awareness of the issue. “TB affects a lot of people; there’s a lot of people whose livelihood it ruins,” Slack continues. “All the vets and
Teams from universities around the world spend the summer on a project in synthetic biology The team is designing a kind of riboswitch known as a ‘toehold switch’, which may be used as a diagnostic device for bovine tuberculosis. “We’ve chosen an immediate application of this for the detection of Mycobacterium bovis which is the causative agent of bovine TB,” Slack explains, “so we want to do that in a cost effective, safe and low-tech manner. The
É
• • • • •
the people we’ve talked with have been really engaged with it… It’s quite nice to think that we’re offering a bit of light to the problem (of TB) in the UK. It pulls on the heartstrings.” In conducting the interview, I had just pulled most of the team away from the lab bench. “At the mo-
ment we’re doing initial tests on our toehold to see whether the theory is correct or not.” Bradley tells me. “So hopefully in the next two or three weeks we should get data confirming that.” The final weeks of the summer are looking just as busy. “There’s loads of different aspects of the project… the modeling team are
Counting Cattle
modeling how it would interact in a cell free system… and we’ve got quite a lot of outreach stuff coming up in the next couple of weeks. And looking further again from that it’s not long till we fly out to Boston to go and present it. So we’ve got to make a poster and make a presentation.” As the competition’s finale, the team will head to Boston in September for the competition’s ‘Giant Jamboree’. In a jamboree unlike any other, iGEM teams from around the world will assemble to present and celebrate their projects. Their enthusiasm for the project was so infectious that I felt as though I’d made a grave mistake leaving Exeter for the summer. As Markham puts it, “I’ve learnt more this summer than in the entirety of last year. “It’s because everything’s been so directed by us that you can’t help but learn along the way and learn so much so quickly - that’s been one of the highlights for me” Bird added. “Not only has it been a really good pleasure to be involved in but I’ve also made some great friends as well.”
Nine million cattle were tested for bovine TB in 2014 in Britain and 260,817 cows were culled as a result. Bovine TB is on the increase. There were 4,692 new cases of the disease in 2014 It has cost the taxpayer £500 million each year to control the disease. Badgers can also contract TB. One in three badgers in TB hotspots have tested positively for the disease. Badgers infect cattle with TB. They are responsible for 50 per cent of breakouts in cattle.
Hanging out with a headache EXEPOSÉ
SCIENCE & TECH
www.exepose.com
23
Lewis Norman, Science & Tech Editor, lets you know what booze does to your body
T
HE hangover. Most of us have been there and those that haven’t are dodging one big grungy bullet. For every vodka-flowing, VK-chugging night you have this week, you’ll probably have to deal with the symptoms of the hideous hangover the following morning. With this in mind, surely it is only fair that you’re informed of what is actually going on inside your body whilst this happens and the best preventive methods for it?
Potassium and fructose are easily replaced by eating lots of fruit, particularly bananas So what exactly is a hangover? Scientifically named ‘veisalgia’, the common hangover is often a putrid mix of sweating, headaches, nausea, shaking, anxiety and depression brought on by the overconsumption of alcohol. Various biological factors, such as age and sex, influence the severity of a hangover but
the type of alcohol we consume also has a direct impact. The number of impurities, or congeners, in various types of alcoholic beverage have a varying impact on water loss and the resulting symptoms. Typically, red alcohols have a more damaging effect on your physical wellbeing than white alcohols. So if you fancy a fresh Sunday morning then stay away from the Shiraz, okay? I’m looking at you, Exeter
Winesoc. So let’s start at the top: the headache. We already know that one of the big-
gest issues with heavy drinking is dehydration. In fact, during a session of binge drinking you lose, on average, four times as much water as you put into your body. It’s unsurprising that ample replenishment of the H20 in your body is the most important preventative factor concerning veisalgia. Suddenly, your body becomes a battleground for water and when your brain doesn’t get enough it might start to shrink. A shrinking brain tugs on its outer membrane attaching it to the skull and the sensation is rather uncomfortable.
It’s your own body’s way of saying ‘you’re too drunk; get out of here’ Arguably the worst symptom of a hangover is vomiting and nausea. Alco-
Pills to Pluto Joshua Rotchelle, Lifestyle Editor presents his favourite stories of this summer in Science & Tech
L
ET’S open with a whopper: last August, for the first time ever in human history, geneticists created an almost fully-formed human brain. The manufactured mind is reported to be about the size of the rubber on the end of a pencil, and is equivalent to the developing brain of a five-weekold foetus in the womb. Engineered from adult human skin cells, the development brings great hope in the study of currently incurable mental illnesses, such as Alzheimer’s and autism – previously, only limited rodent brains were available for study.
The development brings great hope in the study of incurable diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and autism This however, was definitely not the most viral story of the summer. That would have to go to our beloved Pluto. Back in July, NASA spacecraft New Horizons hit another world premier: being
humanity’s first spacecraft to visit Pluto. While terrestrials have observed the dwarf planet from afar for many years, New Horizons will be catching an up-close look at the icy ball over an exploration of the area for five months, before entering the K u i p e r belt (the asteroidbelt perimeter of the s o l a r system – about 50 times as far from the sun as the Earth) and then eventually leaving the influence of Sol, questing further into the galaxy. Despite this, in my opinion, the most intriguing story this summer is this: last June, the internet was
abuzz as a new male contraceptive was revealed to be in development. Christened “Vasalgel”, the drug is reported to be the first approved male contraceptive since condoms (and the rather extreme measure of castration). Though dubbed the ‘male pill’, the contraceptive is actually injected directly into the scrotum under local anaesthetic, with one shot providing up to a decade of contraception. Vasalgel is entering its final stages of testing, and is expected to be released in 2018.
hol consumption promotes the synthesis of two dangerous chemicals: acetaldehyde and hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid is found naturally in the stomach but overproduction causes a backlash from stomach cells. It’s effectively your own body’s way of saying ‘you’re too drunk; get out of here’ before ejecting your innards into the toilet bowl, provided you make it there in time. Similarly, in moderate amounts, the liver deploys the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and an antioxidant called glutathione to catalyse the digestion of acetaldehyde. Unfortunately, in periods of alcohol overconsumption, the body runs out of glutathione and the only way is straight out of your oesophagus into the toilet bowl… again. The only way to effectively
deal with a hangover is to put everything back into your body that the alcohol forced out. Everybody has that friend that swears by the big, sweaty breakfast but how effective is it really? Biologically, the large amount of carbohydrates in a full English will help you glucose-depletion and cysteine, an amio acid present in eggs helps to absorb the toxins that the alcohol leaves behind. It might help to have a sports drink or two to replace the glucose as well. As mentioned, water is fundamental but you also urinate out a lot of key minerals when you drink heavily. Potassium and fructose are easily replaced by eating lots of fruit, particularly bananas. This is why those oral rehydration tablets work so well; they replenish your body with lost nutrients. That said, there is no comprehensive cure for the dreaded hangover and the only definitive method for preventing one is not drinking at all. But I’m not here to tell you what to do; I’m just here to let you know that ‘I told you so’.
Summer of Science We asked you what you thought were the best stories in Science & Tech this summer. A few incredible stories didn’t make the cut including double hand transplants and electric planes being flown across the English channel. Here is what you voted for as your favourites.
5
The development of the Lexus SLIDE - the world’s first functioning hoverboard
4
New Horizons finally passing Pluto and taking the first digital images of it
3
Sharks found in a subaqueous Soloman Island volcano that was previously believed to be uninhabitable
2
The first 3D-printed pill in the US: a drug known to reduce seizures among epileptics
1
The discovery of Kepler-452, otherwise known as Earth 2.0
Follow this QR code and read Online Games Editor Sam Brewer’s article on our winning piece
YOUR EVERYDAY EXETER ESSENTIAL
BUY NOW @NUS.CO.UK
OR FROM THE GUILD INFO POINT
THE FOOD YOU LOVE, DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR. Get amazing food from Exeter’s best-loved restaurants delivered in an average of 32 minutes. Here’s a taste of what you can order!
HUBBOX
YO! SUSHI
HARRY’S RESTAURANT
CARLUCCIO’S
THE PLANT CAFÉ
AL FARID
CURRY LEAF
ASK ITALIAN
ON THE WATERFRONT
TRUFFLES CAFE
URBAN BURGER
FORN
ORDER NOW AT DELIVEROO.CO.UK
26
GAMES
NEWS 1-4
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 12-13 8-9 6-7
GAMES
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 | Exeposé Games
GAMES EDITORS Jack England Evan Jones
EXEPOSÉ
@ExeposeGames
games@exepose.com
Photo
Jack England, Games Editor, gets an advanced look at Bungie’s latest game before it’s release
D
ESTINY is a very different game to the one released a year ago. Many people were upset by the lack of content offered, and its first two expansions, The Dark Below and House of Wolves, did little to improve this problem. The renowned developer, Bungie (most widely known for the Halo franchise), also released multiple patches in an attempt to amend this, but it was just never enough for the ravenous player base. Now with its newest expansion, The Taken King,, things seem set to change for the better. Mark Noseworthy, executive producer for The Taken King, has boldly stated “people want more content. Well guess what, The Taken King’s ’s got a ton more content.” Starting up The Taken King,, you may notice that a few things are missing. Your Ghost, a robotic ally that serves as the narrator, voiced by Peter Dinklage, is nowhere to be seen (or rather heard) and, after having to put up with it for almost a year, it’s a strangely pleasant surprise. Instead, your character is seen flying through hyperspace and in typical spaceopera fashion, heading towards whatever lies ahead. When you do land, the real story begins and, as promised by Bungie, it really has been pushed up a notch.
People want more content. Well guess what, The Taken King’s got a ton more content As someone who is a huge fan of MMOs (Massively Multiplayer Online games), the story is a huge part of my gaming experience. Sure, we all like to go around smashing up aliens and demons, but without a reason for being there, it just seems a bit lacklustre to me. The Taken King steps away from
its predecessors when it comes to the story, providing a logical and understandable situation without loads of confusing jargon: you’re simply a man (or woman) on a mission. After a short introductory cutscene, you enter the world of The Taken King, and, while I only played a handson demo, I felt Bungie were proud to show off what they had
to offer, rather than sweeping any bugs or issues under the carpet. I started in a new zone called The Dreadnaught which is tight, compact and a little claustrophobic, especially as you
cannot use your sparrow here, the futuristic motorbike players have become nearly all too reliant on for navigation. It’s well designed and really shows Bungie’s dedication to a growing community, with areas not solely dedicated to simply mowing down baddies. In The Dreadnaught, 50 pieces of an exotic weapon are spread around, requiring the player to platform and navigate through the zone in different ways in order to find them.
F o r me, the best thing about The Dreadnaught though, is how different it is to anything we’ve already seen in Destiny. It provided a truly
unique experience that required me to play in completely new ways, making sure I wasn’t simply bored the moment I started up the game. Bungie has also added new questing experiences to the old content too, and it’s not a matter of simply re-hashing the old stuff. Instead they introduce a new experience called “The Taken War”, which spans across the entire Destiny universe and breathes new life into areas that were once forgotten. A lot of these quests are really unique and challenging too, which is a pleasant change compared to some of the incredibly easy content that Destiny currently offers, especially for heavily geared players. For those who aren’t so heavily geared though (like myself) and are still stuck levelling up, there’s good news too, as the system has been completely revamped, making it a lot easier to understand without oversimplifying it. Both light score and gear score are measured separately now and allow the player to feel like they are improving their character when they get a new weapon or piece of armour. Most interesting though are the changes to the gear itself; each new weapon Bungie has introduced is unique and completely varied. Even the humble old shotgun breaths new life into a game that until now had seen its fair share of duplicated skins and models. All of this might sound great so far, but they don’t really amass to anything until the players actually have something to play. Bungie has constantly been criticised for a lack of content, but with The Taken King this seems des-
tined to change. For example, ‘Strikes’ (cooperative activities players are called to do, were a major element in Destiny, and The Taken King has put a fresh new twist on them. First off, each Strike is designed with replayability in mind by having a randomised encounter each time, changing the enemies you will face, the weapons that will spawn and the location of the objectives.
A lot of the quests are really unique and challenging, which was a very pleasant change In regards to other players, Player vs Player has always been a huge part of Destiny, and The Taken King improves on this further. Whilst I was put off by the state of PvP a year ago, the newest expansion introduces many new maps that I think people will be very excited to play. Personally, my favourite was Vertigo, a floating structure over the planet Mercury that is all to do with vertical combat (hence the name), and it really forced me to change my usual style of play. So will I be buying The Taken King when it lands on 15 September? Probably. For some people, including myself, Destiny was a waste of money when it first came out and continued to be a waste of money way into its first year. However, with The Taken King also bundling in the first two expansions (which I never invested in) as well as all the new content, I think it’ll give me something to do while I should be writing my dissertation. Destiny: The Taken King is out 15 September for PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 and Xbox One.
EXEPOSÉ
GAMES
www.exepose.com
27
It’s dangerous to go alone, read this
Evan Jones, Games Editor, gives you the rundown on the plethora of gaming at Exeter
S
O you want to get your gaming fix at the University of Exeter? Well then, do not fret, for the team at Exeposé Games have scoured the Internet forums for the best hints and tips, consulted the most expert of gamers who study here and spent many hours grinding through University Simulator 2016 (currently in pre-alpha). So sit back, grab some Doritos and blitz your way to Level 20 with the ultimate walkthrough to your first week at university. Your first quest, should you choose to accept it, takes us back to video games from our childhood and before our time. ‘Retro Games Society’ is about meeting
new people and sharing the fun of video games from years gone by. So, if you think a session of Mario Kart 64 or a Mario Party pub crawl sounds like your kind of social then here’s a society for you.
Not all games require a console and controller; the University of Exeter does offer some more traditional kinds of games Alternatively, if you’d prefer to hone your online gaming skills then why not
consider ‘eSports Society’? They compete within the National University eSports League and offer LAN parties where you can enjoy a variety of online multiplayer games. Better still, these two societies require just one joint membership. Maybe, however, you’re already on an adventure - to be the very best like no one ever was? Well fortunately for you we have ‘Pokémon Society’ for all you trainers out there. Whether Pokémon is a distant memory or something you’re currently obsessed with, the society accommodates to all levels of Pokéfans with gaming meetups, film screenings and even cosplay socials for those who
brought their Charmander onesies! But not all games require a console and controller; the University of Exeter does offer some more traditional kinds of games. A prime example of this is ‘Game Society’, which offers regular socials where you can play a wide variety of card games, board games and roleplaying games. There’s also ‘Chess Society’ for those who want to enjoy a friendly game of the classic board game, compete at the highest level for our University or simply want to know what on earth en passant means. For those who want to join a real-life Assassin’s Creed, look no further than the
A game a day keeps Dr. Mario away Adam Smith tells us his favourite games that you can complete in 24 hours
V
IDEO games are a ridiculously time consuming hobby - and I speak as someone that invested 300 hours into Pokémon Emerald, and over 400 hours into Team Fortress 2. Collectively, it would take me 38 days, 21 hours and 31 minutes to complete my Steam library. In that time, I could listen to all of R. Kelly’s “Trapped in the Closet” 615 times, read the Bible 14 times, or watch the entirety of Star Trek - all episodes and films. As such, it can be pretty daunting trying to work out how to to fit all your precious gaming into a busy university schedule without a) turning down social events or b) failing all your assignments. The answer is clear: Choose games you can play through in a day. A good source of daily gaming comes from roguelikes - games that encourage short but frequent playthroughs, with gameplay changing with
each repetition. The Binding of Isaac, FTL: Faster Than Light, Don’t Starve, Rogue Legacy or Spelunky you can ‘play through’ in an hour or two - before dying because of the difficulty curve - yet still feel ready to come back for more. Plus, these games are all relatively cheap, so you can still keep your money for textbooks or, more likely, Unit 1. If you want to get your fill of AAA, you might need to knock off a couple of genres. No more dragon slaying RPGs that take up 40+ hours of your time, so there goes The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Dragon Age: Inquisition and The Elder Scrolls
V: Skyrim. But don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom - Dishonored, all of the Batman: Arkham series of games, the BioShocks, and Destiny all can be completed in a generous 10 hours. What’s more, with only a small minority of people completing games that are over 10 hours, you’re more likely to be getting shorter AAA games from publishers who want to see their audience get to the end. Also, you could always pull out the little computer in your pocket and game more on your phone. Titles like Framed, Her Story, This War of Mine or Transistor all show how new, criti-
Jack
Free game of the week
cally acclaimed indie titles are finding a niche in the portable market.
These are all titles you can play in the breaks between lectures (or during) And, more importantly, these are all titles you can play in the breaks between lectures (or during), rather than having to head home and plug yourself into your console or computer. 500 new games are launched per day on the iOS App Store, most of which are free-toplay, meaning a slightly healthier-looking bank account. Or you can be like me and just play nothing but Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft during whatever free time you have. Either way, there’s plenty of fun to be had gaming around your university studies this year.
Want to join the Exeposé Games team?
Evan
‘Hide and Seek Society’. Their campuswide games of Assassins are legendary for the paranoia they cause. As well as their weekly socials where they play hide and seek, zombie tag, and other playground classics, they’re also known for the occasional spot of paintballing or laser tag. Finally, you can join Exeposé if you fancy writing about video games for us, and possibly see yourself in this very newspaper. The best gamers are always the most well informed, so make sure to pick up a copy every fortnight. So that’s it, we’ve armed you with all the gaming experience we can offer, now go forth and enjoy the adventure.
You can find the whole team at the “Meet the Editors” sessions being held on 15 and 17 September in Devonshire House. Don’t forget to join our Facebook group too: www.facebook.com/groups/exegames You can also find us on Twitter at: @exeposegames
Alex
Sam
Hot Date Don’t be lonely this Freshers’ Week and take a hot dog out for a romantic evening in this short, yet hilarious experience. Hot Date puts you opposite a (rather handsome) pug as you try your best to make good conversation. Who knew a dog and a human had so much chemistry? Scan the QR code or go to http://georgebatch.itch. io/hot-date to download your free copy
EXEPOSÉ
STUDY BREAK
www.exepose.com
STUDY CROSSWORD # 76
29
BREAK SUDOKU # 13
Across 1 Fresh (like a first-year 3 Across at 16?) (3)
The Career Zone is here to help you find part-time work, sort your CV, ace your interviews, land your dream job, or perfect your postgraduate applications. Top international employers love Exeter students; meet them at our Fairs, Presentations and Skills Sessions.
3 Person who is devoted to books (7) 8 Reception - greeting (7) 9 Wild Australian dog (5) 10 Desire strongly (5) 11 Japanese warrior (7) 12 Feeling sad (6) 14 University - department (6) 17 Complicated (as 16 campuses may be to a 1 Across 3 Across?) (7) 19 Ring-shaped roll (5) 21 Public square in a city (5) 22 Beat soundly (7) 23 Scare - alarm (7) 24 Metal food container (3)
ANSWERS:
Down 1 Absolutely not! (2,3)
13 Run lane (anagram) - try to forget (something) (7)
2 Prosperity (which every 3 Across can get help with at 16) (7)
15 Natural (7)
3 Faint - pass out (5)
16 City in SW England (where you are?) (6)
4 Nervous (6)
18 Sound made by a cat (5)
5 Prevalent (in an area) - mend ice (anagram) (7)
19 Alcohol (which a 1 Across 3 Across has sensibly?) (5)
6 Toner (anagram) - adult male singing voice (5)
20 Long rest (that every 3 Across loves?) (3-2)
Internship Vacancies: To read more about a role and download an application form, search for the internship’s reference code on My Career Zone.
7 Informal party (for every 1 Across 3 Across?) (6) 12 Formula (helps a 1 Across 3 Across make edible food) (6)
ANSWERS:
15 Organic, 16 Exeter, 18 Miaou, 19 Booze, 20 Lie-in.
Trounce, 23 Unnerve, 24 Can. Down: 1 No way, 2 Welfare, 3 Swoon, 4 Uneasy, 5 Endemic, 6 Tenor, 7 Social, 12 Recipe, 13 Unlearn, Across: 1 New, 3 Student, 8 Welcome, 9 Dingo, 10 Yearn, 11 Samurai, 12 Rueful, 14 School, 17 Complex, 19 Bagel, 21 Plaza, 22
HOW POTATOED WILL YOU BE THIS WEEK? Baked
Roasted
Mashed
Find out what’s going on this Term by visiting: www.exeter. ac.uk/mycareerzone
‘‘
PUZZLES BY ALFRED
SCP 3261 Career Zone Information Assistant (Streatham Campus)
WORDS OF WISDOM...
Closing Date: 21 September Hours: 5-15 per week
Time for me, I can make it go slow or fast, and that’s how I know it doesn’t exist Willow Smith
SCP 3256 Life Sciences Resources Centre Technical Assistants (Penryn Campus: medical students only) Closing Date: 24 September Hours: 3-5 per week Stay up to date with the latest vacancies by searching for ‘SCP’ under Jobs on My Career Zone. Employability Event:
Cartoon by Emily McIndoe
Looking for a part time job whilst studying? Don’t miss the Casual Jobs and Internships Fair on Tuesday 6 October! Drop in and meet employers in the Forum, Streatham Campus, between 11am and 2pm.
AU President speaks 30
NEWS 1-4
SPORT
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 8-9 12-13 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 |
EXEPOSÉ
Emmott Leigh, Sports Editor, gets the lowdown from the new Athletic Union boss, Jack Bristow Selected Freshers’ Week trials Monday 14 September Tennis Men’s: Covered Courts - Streatham 10:00-12:00 Hockey Ladies: Water-Astro - Streatham 12:00-14:00 Tennis Women’s: Covered Courts - Streatham 12:30-14:30 Hockey Men’s: Water-Astro - Streatham 14:30-16:30 Tuesday 15 September Football Men’s: Rubber Crumb - Streatham 16:00-18:00 Wednesday 16 September Football Men’s: Duckes Meadow (EX2 4SN) 11:00-15:00 Tennis Men’s: Covered Courts - Streatham 10:00-12:00 Hockey Men’s: Water Astro - Streatham 14:30-16:30 Thursday 17 September Football Men’s: Rubber Crumb - Streatham 13:00-15:00 Friday 18 September Netball: Sports Hall - Streatham 13:00-16:00
T
HE new President of the Athletic Union is Jack Bristow, who has also made a name for himself in Triathlon here at Exeter. Upon meeting him, it is clear that he is both enthusiastic and easy-going just by his introduction in the Sabbs’ office; a firm handshake and carefree smile give a good impression of the new man in. After we take a couple of seats nearby, I begin the discussion by asking how his sporting life has been shaped. “I used to be a swimmer until year 12 when I quit that and took up cycling instead, mainly because my Dad had also got into cycling.” he says. “It was only when I came to Exeter that I started doing triathlon as a way of trying something new while also getting back into swimming. I was a complete novice at first but absolutely loved the sport and put the hours in and grew more competitive.” “I have represented the University at BUCS in all three years, with my best result being 30th in the BUCS Standard Distance triathlon this year. Over the summer, I managed to qualify for the 2016 European age group Championships in Lisbon , so alongside my work as AU President I will be training to do even better in BUCS before I then go on to represent my country in July. “My story is proof that complete beginners can go on to achieve great things within Athletic Union clubs.” It makes for an astonishingly impressive resumé for Bristow, and the inspirational message is delivered with a conviction that is suitable for such a life of jumping hurdles. Next, I ask what circumstances fell into place to bring Jack all the way up into this role. “I’ve always had interests in sport here at Exeter, of course, going back from my Freshers’ Fair,” he responds with the same enthusiasm as the handshake, “and as a gay athlete, I am very keen to bolster gay representation based upon an LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) campaign. I am also motivated by just wanting to do my bit here at the University, and university level is a great place to make a grassroots change.” He is clearly very passionate about the issue of sexuality in sport, and it is a
point that he is eager to get across. “It was one of the main points on my manifesto,” he remarks. “We’ve got a Come Out and Play campaign planned, which is exciting news.”
Pound for pound, we are one of the best sporting universities I wonder what other goals he has for the AU going forward. “We’re not always showing what the AU has to shout about. We’re trying to get some publication project started, like a monthly magazine or yearly review. We want to introduce women’s intramural six-a-side leagues as well, and we’re having a really big drive to get more female members involved. We’re currently trying to make sure all of our 7,000 members are as engaged as possible.” Jack’s focus for the year is obviously going to be based on inclusion in sport.
As Jack mentioned, his interest in sport at Exeter began at his own Freshers’ Fair. I enquire as to how he might get new students participating. “Oh, Freshers should definitely get involved!” he says. “All of our clubs cater for all abilities, so complete beginners can get in easily. We get year-on-year rises in our membership, sport is as cheap as it will be in any point in your life and it’s a great way to maintain an active lifestyle. It really caters well for students of all abilities.” In some ways, it seems as if there’s no stone unturned in sport at this level.
As a gay athlete, I am keen to bolster gay representation There’s a lot of people for the new President to please already, and somebody comes over looking for his assistance on something. However, I’m not to be denied over the topic of my next question: money. You have to pay plenty upfront to use the gym facilities here, so how does he respond to worries over excessive expenditure? “We’re lucky to have the best gym anywhere in the country”, he states, with no need for exaggeration, “and although Gold membership might well be daunting, it works out the same as a regular membership would per month. With enough student interest, we might consider termly fees.” I can certainly attest to the quality of the gym, having used it myself; the extent of the array of machines, benches, treadmills and the like is mind-boggling and makes for an exciting
prospect to any current and potential gym-goers. In fact, the AU have recently opened another fitness area outdoors with even more apparatus available to all students (see page 4). Members of top clubs like Rugby and Football are omnipresent here, but my next query concerns minority sports. What does the AU put into place to get people interested in sports like Archery or Climbing? “Personally, I’ll be very active on Twitter and social media, and obviously I’m going to be milling about on the day. It’s well advertised up at the Sports Park in the Hall. We’ll be advertising intramural sport on posters in Halls of Residence, and encouraging all societies to make a team as well. It’s great to have some friendly competition.” Exeter finished sixth in the BUCS national league table last year, so the competitive side of things is in the University’s favour as well. This subject brings a wry smile to the President’s face. “We always want to do better,” he says, with an element of reservedness with regards to the thought of pushing up just a little further in the table. “Our goal is to finish fifth this year and improve going forward into the future. But we scored our highest-ever points total, and we really are punching above our weight.” There’s even space for a catchy soundbite: “Pound for pound, we are one of the best sporting universities.”
We’re lucky to have the best gym anywhere in the country It’s certainly great to celebrate what we have, but I press him on any space for improvement. “I would definitely say that if one thing needs to improve, it’s AU communication. Hopefully, we’ll get the magazine up and running this year.” he replies, visibly determined to get students noticing the Union’s success outside of reports in Exeposé itself. “We’d really love some help with volunteers doing that, it’s intended to be a student project,” he says pointedly. It will certainly require an extensive recruitment campaign to get his brainchild on the road. The AU is clearly in good hands with Bristow, a man with dedication and passion for a wide variety of causes that go beyond the simple sport itself. With everything set into place for another recordbreaking year, let’s hope that sport here at Exeter will continue to thrive under his new leadership.
Last season’s success stories SPORT
www.exepose.com
31
With a new crop of hungry, young talent on the horizon, Exeposé Sport look back at last year’s Varsity victories
>>Exeter go on the attack against Nottingham Ladies in the 2014/15 Hockey Varsity, where they put on one of the best club performances of the season to move forward into the BUCS semi-final. Photo: Edwin Yeung
A
NEW campaign is about to start, and new students are inheriting a legacy of University sporting successes that brought Exeter a record BUCS points total last year. The following Varsity highlights demonstrate the sort of brilliance that defined the Green Army last season. Exeter Ladies Hockey Club 4-1 Nottingham Ladies Exeter progressed to the semi-finals of the BUCS hockey competition with an easy victory over Nottingham in March. The home side took control early on, setting up a few half-chances. Soon enough, the opening goal was scored by Hannah Griffiths after rounding the keeper. The lead then looked likely to increase when Exeter continued to press high. However, the second goal came when a rebounded shot fell into
the path of Ness Sharman, who was afforded a simple tap-in. After the break, Exeter pushed early and Lane saw a close effort go wide. Other missed opportunities fell for Clare Poole and Meg Crowson, but the latter was soon rewarded with a fine finish. Griffiths calmly rounded the keeper to make it four, but Nottingham eventually bundled the ball in from a penalty corner for a consolation goal. The visitors did not manage to capitalise on their momentum. The whistle blew with Exeter on a high, with Griffiths named as Woman of the Match. EURFC 41-0 Bath University Exeter knew that a win was needed in this February match in order to win the BUCS Rugby Premier South title. Bath had only been defeated narrowly by the Green Army in the past, but it was
a completely different story here as Exeter charged through with no points conceded. The game started slowly, but Exeter took control to score via Aaron Struminski. Sam Waltier then won the ball superbly in the air before sprinting under the posts for another try. This was converted and Exeter led 12-0 at half time. The third try followed in the second half when hooker Paul Davis raced in under the posts.
Exeter finished off with some vintage rugby Exeter secured the bonus point fourth try when Oliver Rammage offloaded out of the tackle to Gavin Parker, who went over in the corner.
The home side kept punching holes in the defence and eventually drove over for a fifth try, scored by Sam Skinner. Exeter finished off with some vintage rugby. Alex Wilcockson showcased some scintillating pace to break from his 22 and split the Bath defence. James Doe was in support to canter over for the try of the evening. He converted to make it a resounding 41-0 win and a memorable evening for the home side. Exeter win Athletics Varsity The Green Army defeated the likes of Plymouth, Bristol, UWE and Gloucestershire in a strong performance at Exeter Arena in November. The events included the 60m sprint, the 800m, the Long Jump and the three kilometre distance race. The points tally was decided based upon the top-scoring runner from each university, with ten
awarded to the winner. If two runners from Exeter finished first and second in a track event, ten points were awarded to Exeter and six to the runner from another university who finished third. This added an incentive for athletes not expected to win, because they could reduce the other universities’ tally. In the 60m heats, Exeter’s Kelly McMahon accelerated well beyond the other participants, and did the same in the real thing. Plymouth’s quick male runner kept the Exeter men quiet. A standout in the 3km race was Steph McCall, who thrashed the other women in the competition. Chris Churcher also excelled in the 200m races and Exeter also tasted success in the field events, including the high jump and long jump. The day finished with Exeter proclaimed winners.
Want to join the Exeposé Sports Team? You can find the whole team at the “Meet the Editors” sessions being held on 15 and 17 September in Devonshire House. Join us at 17:30 on 18 September for a pub crawl starting in the RAM. Emmott
Exeposé Sports Team 2015/16
Rob
@ExeposeSport
Oli
Tommy
32
SPORT
NEWS 1-4
SPORT
COMMENT FEATURES LIFESTYLE 8-9 12-13 6-7
MUSIC 14-15
SCREEN 16-17
ARTS & LIT SCI & TECH 20-21 22-23
GAMES 26-27
SPORT 30-32
FRESHERS’ ISSUE 2015 | Exeposé Sport
SPORT EDITORS Rob Cross Emmott Leigh
EXEPOSÉ
@ExeposeSport
sport@exepose.com
Welcome to the Green Army
>>Clockwise from top left: Rugby Varsity 2015 at Sandy Park, Men’s Hockey Varsity 2015, the Exeter Demons American Football Team in action, Ladies Lacrosse at Topsham. Photos: Edwin Yeung and Thomas Hanks.
In this issue of Exeposé Sport...
Interview with new AU President Jack Bristow Page 30
We look back at the AU Varsities of 2014-15 For the latest BUCS Page 31 news head online