Issue 687 // 1 October 2018 by Exeposé

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ISSUE 687 1 OCT 2018 exepose.com @Exepose

THE UNIVERSITY OF EXETER’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1987

Does our University’s leadership have a diversity problem? Image: Chelsea Lee

Jaimie Hampton News Editor

EXCLUSIVE

HE Vice Chancellor’s Executive Group (VCEG) lacks diversity, with no BAME members of VCEG. According to a Freedom of Information request (FOI) submitted by Ex-

eposé, University figures show that out of fifteen, no members of VCEG are BAME, a figure which has remained since 2016. Furthermore, the figures highlight that seven sub-groups belonging to the Vice Chancellor’s Executive Group have had no BAME members since 2016. This includes Provost’s Advisory Group, Professional Services Leadership Team, Education Executive, Regional Strategy Group, Capital Investment Group, Global Partner-

ships Board, and the Internal Fundraising and Campaign Board. The data reveals that there were less than five BAME members in the Research and Impact Strategy Group in 2016 and 2017. However, no BAME members were recorded in 2018 for the Research and Impact Strategy Group state that in 2016 and 2017, there were less than five BAME members, however there were no BAME members recorded in 2018.

The FOI also revealed that VCEG is predominately male, with female members making up only a third of the entire group. In 2016, VCEG contained 10 men and 5 women, with the disparity having increased in the past two years, with 12 men and 5 women forming the group in 2018. A similar trend can be seen in the data for the subgroups of VCEG. Figures show that for the majority of groups, there are more male staff than female. For

example, in 2018, there were 12 men in the Regional Strategy Group, but less than 5 women. A University of Exeter spokesperson said: “All members of the Vice Chancellor’s Executive Group work tirelessly to ensure the University of Exeter is a diverse and inclusive environment. While it is important to note that...

CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Image: Megan Davies, Elia Clerici, Joshua McKnight

EURFC starts strong this season BACK PAGE + 39

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SPORT

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Musical theatre special pages 15-32

Editors Print: Megan Davies & Graham Moore Deputy: Katie Jenkins Online: Harry Bunting & Natalie Keffler editors@exepose.com

Features Editors Print: Niamh Elstone & Neha Shaji Online: Chloë Edwards & Bryan Knight Foreign Correspondents Co-ordinator: Ellie Cook features@exepose.com

Arts + Lit Editors Print: Lauren Newman & Tabi Scott Online: Emily Pirie & Kristina Werner artsandlit@exepose.com Music Editors Print: Aaron Loose & Alex Wingrave Online: Jaysim Hanspal & Jamie Moncrieff music@exepose.com Screen Editors Print: Chloe Kennedy & Ben Faulkner Online: Harry Caton & David Conway screen@exepose.com Science Editors Print: Scarlett Parr-Reid & Gabriel Yeap Online: Ayesha Tandon & Rhys Davies sciandtech@exepose.com Sport Editors Print: Josh Brown Online: Luke Clarkson & Ben Hart sport@exepose.com Chief Photographer Chelsea Lee photography@exepose.com Copy Editors Peter Firth, Charlotte Forrester & William Harrop Proofers Charlotte Forrester, Alex Wingrave, Amelia Chisholm, Deepa Lalwani, Aaron 'Loo$e Change' Loose, Harry 'Harry' Caton, Daina Anzins, Rowan Keith, William Harrop, Maddie Baker, Alexia Oenten, Chris Allen, Mubanga Mweemba, Bea Fones, Sophie Reynolds, Emily Black, Josh Devaraj, Peter Firth, Akuile Pedayte, René Baker, Sophie Chapman, Nicky Avasthi, Gwyn Wright.

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Exeter named best university in the South West PAGE 4

COMMENT State of the Union: should the Students' Guild rebrand? PAGE 8

FEATURES An isolated victory? LGBTQ+ legalisation in India PAGE 12 Image: 21150, Pixabay

Lifestyle Editors Print: Bethan Gilson & Rhiannon Moore Online: Katie Baker & Rowan Keith lifestyle@exepose.com

world, discussing environmental impacts of the student lifestyle and what we can do to minimise damage done to the natural world. Feeling Science-y? We take an about turn into spintronics over on page 36, and a deep dive into how your gut bacteria can produce electricity on page 35 - it's bound to shock you (sorry). If that pun was bad enough to make you want to run a mile, then may we suggest you run in the direction of our lovely Sport section - the only place you'll get the low-down on all of Exeter's sporting successes (page 38). We love a good sing-along here at Exeposé (just come along to one of our many socials, you'll soon see), and Screen and Music have really let loose their inner musical-theatre fans this issue. We run through our favourite musicaltheatre composers on page 24 (Tim Minchin, anybody?), whilst page 26 sees Exeposé weigh in on the controversial topic that is The Greatest Showman. Should we romanticise the life of P.T. Barnum? Is Hugh Jackman a good singer, or is he just very charming? Truly these are the questions of our times. If that's not deep enough, we wade even deeper into musicals on page 30, as we ask what makes a musical really a musical? Not all of life is such a song and dance, unfortunately. Arts + Lit move on to more serious topics, as we consider the nature of the publishing industry in our social media age (page 21). Meanwhile, Lifestyle consider the pros and cons of reusable period products (page 16). 'Til next time, Megan and Graham.

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Comment Editors Print: Isabelle Gray & Deepa Lalwani Online: Bea Fones & Josh Gammage comment@exepose.com

RESHERS' is over, and so the term begins for real. If your seminars and classes over these first few weeks have been anything like ours, it's been a scramble to get readings done the night before, or watching your classmates stagger in at 8.35am and promptly drift off to sleep midlecture. Or perhaps you're one of that rarer species of student who has been prepping for this term all summer with two hundred pages of colour-coded notes, and who never forgets to bring their own lunch on to campus (please, teach us your ways). Certainly these first few weeks can be a learning curve, whether you're a fresher finding your feet or a returning student staring down some (surprisingly imminent) deadlines - but, in the words of our lord and saviour Troy Bolton, "we're all in this together". Whether that means you're out socialising with the excessive amounts of societies you decided to join (because, why not try everything?), getting to know your new housemates, or venturing daringly into the library, your humble student newspaper is here by your side. And no, we don't mind if you only pick it up for the crossword. Those of you who were with us last year will no doubt recall the industrial action undertaken by many members of University staff. If you were curious as to how all things UCU have progressed since then, News have got you covered over on page 4. For those wondering what goes on in that little glass bubble in DH1, Comment have got in touch with your Sabbatical Officers (page 6). Features are taking a look a the wider

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News Editors Print: Jaimie Hampton & Gwyn Wright Online: Edd Church & Hannah Stevenson news@exepose.com

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SCIENCE Medical devices: an unregulated danger? PAGE 34

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Worldwide university news 'Western Civilisation'

Beijing Marxism course raises concerns Society's fate uncertain

ISAGREEMENT has emerged over the Ramsey Centre for Western Civilisation's proposed funding into the University of Sydney’s new Western Civilisation degree. The Ramsey Centre will be able to conduct an audit to determine whether to extend the course after four years and have a veto on whether to fund the programme, after the ciriculum was devolved. The draft states that students would be admitted to the programme “through the normal admission processes,” but the Ramsay Centre would have some control over scholarship selection. Whilst the university would continue recruiting staff through their normal process, the Ramsey Centre would be able to have one member of its staff on academic appointment committees. The power that the scheme would give the Ramsey Centre over the University of Sydney has raised questions about academic autonomy. Staff at the university have broadly opposed the negotiations.

EKING University in China has threatened to shut down its student Marxism Society despite Marxism being a compulsory part of China’s university curriculum and despite the fact that President Xi visited to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Marx's birthday. The threat was made after society members supported workers in trying to organise a trade union in a factory in Shenzen. The society announced that it had approached teachers in the Marxism department for support but had been refused registration and that despite a teacher from another department offering to register the society the Student Society Committee rejected this offer. In August, a number of students from the Marxist society and from other universities supported protests at the Jasic factory during which they gave speeches, peaceful demonstrations and posted letters of support on social media – this support led to arrests by the police. The university’s Marxism department has yet to comment.

Bristol Uni to share mental health info

HE University of Bristol are asking new students for consent to inform guardians of severe mental health concerns. With 11 suicides since 2016, the University of Bristol have come under increasing pressure from parents to share information that may help prevent future deaths amomg university students. . Professor Hugh Brady, the university’s vice-chancellor, argues that “mental health is everybody’s business at our university”. Independent researchers have found that the suicide rate among students has risen by 56% between 2007 and 2017, while Universities UK statistics show that there were 146 student suicides in 2016 alone. Other universities may launch opt-in consent schemes to help reduce the likelihood of future deaths.

Ireland aims for best unis in Europe

HE Irish Universities' Association has launched a charter which aims to make Irish universities the best in Europe by 2026, and have called on the government to 'match the ambition'of Irish universities. The charter, named 'Ireland's Future Talent', focuses on changes designed to make Irish universities more competitive and sustainable, such as autonomy and student accessibility. Other ideas implemented by the charter will include introducing more digital learning environments and increasing the output of PhD graduates by 30 per cent within the next ten years. Jim Miley, directer of the IUA, said that 'the political community now needs to step up to the challenge and match the ambition and commitment demonstrated by the universities'.

Image: Picography (Pixarbay)

Stories by Ella Shadwell, Jodie Coughlan and Hattie Roberts (News Team) and Alex Wingrave (Music Editor)

News

NEWS EDITORS: Jaimie Hampton Gwyn Wright

Deliveroo general manager as Student Startup guest speaker

Graham Moore Editor

N event run by Think:Try:Do, the University of Exeter’s Student Startup support team, featured Deliveroo general manager Jeremy Rawlinson as its guest speaker. Speaking at the Innovation Centre on 20 September, the University of Exeter alumnus discussed his own experiences with startup businesses and his current work with Deliveroo’s global expansion scheme. The event saw the official launch of the Deck, a new student space in the University’s Innovation Centre. Deliveroo has recently been in the public eye after settling a court case in June with 50 of its delivery couriers, who claimed that they had been unlawfully denied minimum wage pay and holiday rights. The controversy arose as Deliveroo couriers were labelled ‘selfemployed contractors’, which does not carry the same rights as ‘worker’ status. The litigant couriers were represented by legal firm Leigh Day. Speaking after the settlement, solicitor Annie Powell said that “Deliveroo has paid

out a material sum to settle these claims. In our view, this shows that Deliveroo knew that they were very likely to lose at the employment tribunal.” Powell also called on Deliveroo to alter its employment practices, whilst the Londonbased company issued a statement maintaining that the settlement would have “no impact on Deliveroo riders or our model”. New research by the Oxford Internet Institute (OII) suggests that those employed in the ‘gig economy’ are more susceptible to decreased wellbeing, including sleep deprivation and exhaustion due to long and irregular hours on low pay. Discontent with this mode of employment has led workers from various companies to seek changes. On 20 September, whilst Rawlinson spoke at the University of Exeter, couriers from UberEats – which operates on a similar business model to Deliveroo – blocked roads and disrupted traffic in London with organised industrial action. Many students undertake courier work with companies like Deliveroo during their time at university. Exeposé spoke to one such student, with regards to whether they saw the University’s inclusion of Deliveroo at an

event marketed at those looking for “inspiration and to meet some like-minded souls” as inappropriate, according to their personal experience of Deliveroo work. The student said that whilst they had found the flexibility and spontaneity of courier work ideal to fit around their degree, there was definitely reason for universities to use caution when promoting such companies to their student bodies, with more effort to “illustrate the pros and cons and general conditions surrounding [courier work]. While Deliveroo may be attractive as part-time work during studies, I would have reservations about taking this on as a full-time job.” A spokeswoman from the Student Startup team said: “The Student Startup team held a Fresher’s Week event to introduce students to the startup support available through their programme of workshops and events. It was also an opportunity to welcome students to The Deck - a venue in which the team will deliver entrepreneurial education and training and provide valuable space and resources to nurture budding student and graduate-led startups. “Jeremy Rawlinson was invited to the

event as a graduate of the University of Exeter who accessed advice and support from the startup team during his time at in Exeter. He shared his story of pursuing an entrepreneurial career path – the highs and lows, sacrifices made and lessons along the way, through a range of roles within different startups.

The Startup Team and our guests invite discussion and debate over their different business models and approaches

Student Startup team spokesperson

“The aim of the Student Startup Programme is to equip students with practical skills, encourage creativity, develop confidence and provide valuable insight into the realities of starting their own business. Hearing from those who have been through this experience is important and a range of guests with varied backgrounds are regularly invited to speak to share their advice and experiences. The Startup Team, and our guests, invite discussion and debate over their different business models and approaches.”

Image: Sam Saunders

DebSoc ‘asked Farrow Postgrads start teaching contract-less to change shirt’ Megan Davies Editor

Gwyn Wright News Editor

AROLINE Farrow, who was a speaker on the opposition at the University of Exeter’s Debating Society’s inaugural Freshers’ Week debate, wore a controversial T-shirt associated with the ‘human females’ campaign, and bearing a message targeting transgender women.

We did ask Caroline to change her t-shirt because it’s message had no relevance

Jake Myers, DebSoc President

Debating Society invited Farrow to speak at the debate even though she had caused controversy last year by distributing provocative flyers to audience members, and the fact that a speaker on the proposition side is a trans woman. One member of the audience was also wearing the same T-shirt as Caroline Farrow. Caroline Farrow told Exeposé: ‘’I wanted to symbolise my feminist leanings as often the audience at Exeter seemed very keen to pigeon-hole me into a religious fundamentalist category.’’ She added: ‘‘I wanted to give the

audience something to think about and stimmulate debate which is after all the enetire point of a debating society.’’ Farrow said that she would have walked out of the debate if she had been made to change her T-shirt. However Debating Society insisted that they asked her to remove the t-shirt but she had nothing else to wear. Jake Myers, President of Debating Society, told Exeposé: “ T h e debate ( o n Friday 21st) was engaging and provided a wide range of viewpoints for our members to consider, which was the aim of the society.’’ He added “We did ask Caroline to change her T-shirt because its message had no relevance to the debate and was clearly trying to insult a fellow speaker.” “We haven’t had any complaints as of yet.’’ Image: Christina Morillo

OSTGRADUATE teaching assistants have had to start the academic year teaching without contracts, in the University’s ongoing bid to end teachers’ casual contracts. Exeter UCU denies the University’s claim that the union was part of the process, tweeting: “EUCU have been working hard to resolve issues with PTA contracts over last few days. To be clear, we were not consulted until very late in the process when decisions had already been made, despite requests to be involved and for information. “We have not seen - let alone agreed/signed off on - the final contracts. We are unhappy about being misrepresented by the university and our executive will be taking this further with the Vice Chancellor and the Chair of Council.” While an email sent to staff on 18 September announced that postgraduate students will be offered annual contracts, Jess Bowyer, Exeter UCU’s PGR officer, said that Postgraduate Teaching Assistants (PTAs) “still do not know under which they are teaching and have not received a contract. “It is impossible to overstate the distress this has caused amongst PTAs, who

rely on teaching income to pay rent and buy food.” She said that “if the University had consulted with PTAs and the union in advance, this could have been avoided.” She said that HR did not let them see the contracts in advance. Up until now, PTAs have been employed on a casual basis - using the same system as other part-time student staff. She said that whilst they are pleased that the University’s HR is conceding on the main points, at the time of writing, PTAs did not have contracts and that many did not know when they would be paid: “whilst we are pleased to hear that it looks like HR are offering fixed term (3 or 9 month) contracts, we do not yet know the detail and this information has not been circulated to PTAs yet - this has only been agreed with the politics PTAs whilst those in other disciplines are left in the dark.” In a conversation with Exeposé, the University’s Press Office told Exeposé that the scheme was “not quite ready” – a week after teaching had begun. A University of Exeter spokesman said: “The University is committed to providing fair and flexible working conditions for its PTAs, and we have been working together to resolve some concerns that had been raised by students. These were resolved following a constructive meet-

ing on Friday. All postgraduates will be informed in writing of the new options at the start of the working week. “It’s important to emphasise that teaching arrangements for PTA’s are regularly agreed after the start of term, when student numbers and the availability of PTA’s can be confirmed. The vast majority of PTA’s also do not run seminars in the first week of term, and so hopefully have not been disadvantaged. Now that our discussions have been resolved constructively contracts will be issued accordingly. “Postgraduate Teaching Assistants are a vital and valued part of the University and we are pleased to be able to offer them greater flexibility in their working arrangements. We have moved to get these arrangements in place for the start of term and we hope that the development of these additional options, in response to student requests, has not caused too much uncertainty.” A Guild Spokesperson said: “We are pleased to see the University and UCU engaged in constructive dialogue to resolve an issue that is so important to many PGR students.” Discussions with the University’s HR department are ongoing and further updates will be available on our website exepose.com and on social media @exeposenews.

1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

NEWS

New Impact Labs launched

NEW Impact Lab has been established to provide support to Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in creating products and services using complex data. The £6.4 million project is being led by the university., and is being supported by Exeter City Futures, the Met Office, Plymouth College of Art, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the University of Plymouth and Rohamstead Research. The Lab creates opportunities for organisations to combine scientific expertise, academic knolwedge and business innovation to encourage the development of new products and services to support economic growth and boost productivity. Robert Kathro, director of the Impact Lab programme, said: ‘‘The Impact Lab is a service for SME’s in Devon who need deep technical support to help them solve a key business challenge in the fields of big data, data science and environmental futures. Each of our clients recieves a bespoke package of support, tailored to their requirements, adressing their specific challenge. Experts from our seven partner organisations ensure the highest quality advice and support is offered.’’

Singling out ‘rising stars’ could damage company morale Katie Jenkins Deputy Editor

ESEARCH from the University of Exeter has found that singling out “rising stars” in companies could demotivate other staff. The study, executed in conjunction with the Universities of Queensland, Groningen and Rotterdam, suggested that firms who fast-track individuals to leadership positions could risk demoralising other staff. Professor Miguel Fonseca, from the University of Exeter, who co-authored the research said: “It must be tempting for companies to think that telling people they are a future leader will inspire them and encourage them to do well at work. But in fact it may demotivate those not chosen, and may undermine

the commitment of the many who are rejected.” In the initial study, 256 participants were divided into three groups. One group was given no information about their leadership potential while the other two were told they had high or low leadership potential. Individuals told they had low leadership potential not only felt less ambitious as a result, but subsequently performed worse in a practical task. Supporting results were found in a second study, Professor Michelle Ryan, co-author, suggested: “It would be better for companies to show employees there are multiple career trajectories, jobs which involve leadership but also other roles which are central to the organisation. Not everyone wants to be a boss.”

UCU welcome Joint Expert Panel report Neha Shaji Features Editor

HE 2017 valuation of the USS pension scheme should be adjusted, according to the Joint Expert Panel (JEP) in their first report on the 2017 USS valuation. They also emphasized that work is likely to be undertaken on exploring new methodology. The industrial dispute strike action across UK universities earlier in 2018 was a result of the valuation. The Exeter Branch of the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) said that they “welcome the Report of the Joint Expert Panel and its conclusions. The Report vindicates the position UCU and Exeter UCU have maintained since the September 2017 valuation, which led to the industrial dispute.” They also stated

that it was “unfortunate that our members have had to go on strike for us to get to where we are today. We now wait for the results of the UUK consultation of employers and hope that an agreement can be reached that will guarantee the pension benefits provision as it currently stands without our members having to incur increases in contributions. We continue to campaign for no detriment to our current Defined Benefit pension scheme.” The General Secretary of the UCU, Sally Hunt, thanked all UCU members for contributing to the report.. The panel had devised a set of five principles including achieving greater fairness and equality within generations of the pension scheme, as well as further considering the uniqueness of the Scheme and higher education sector.

Izzy Cole, News Team

Exeter named best in the South West

HE University of Exeter has been voted as the best university in the South West and has risen to 12th place nationally in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2019. As well as this, Medicine has shot up four places to ninth in the country according to the guide. The university’s Medicine course has been running for five years and the first Exeter Medical students graduated in July 2018. The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide are guides aimed at prospective students and parents considering higher education and influence the university choice made by some school-leavers. They contain information that focuses on nine factors which include; student satisfaction with the quality of teaching and their broader university experience, the quality of research, graduate employment prospects, the entrance requirements required for students to obtain places, degree results achived, student to staff ratios, service and facilities spending and degree completion rates. Sir Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor, said; ‘‘I am absolutely delighted that Exeter has re-established its position as the best university in the South West, as well as rising in the overall national rankings.’’ Rhiannon Moore, Lifestyle Editor

Image: Pixnio

Lack of diversity in VCEG revealed

CONTINUED FROM FRONT

...members of the VCEG are appointed because of their many years of experience and outstanding, worldleading research expertise, we do know more can be done - inclusivity is a journey, not a destination.” The University also stated: “Improving the representation of BAME staff at a senior level is a priority for both the VCEG and the University’s other decision-making body, Council, which has an almost equal gender

balance. Within the last six months, all members of VCEG have received unconscious bias training and a number have attended the Stonewall Senior Allies Programme to become members of the University’s newly established LGBTQ+ Senior Allies Network.”

Inclusivity is a journey, not a destination

University Spokesperson

These figures correlate with those published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency in 2017. HESA discovered that no BAME academics had been working in senior roles in any British university for the past three years. Additionally, a 2015 report by the Runnymede Trust showed that just 0.5% of professors are BAME despite there now being higher numbers of BAME students at universities than ever before. A similar trend continues at the highest level of academia, with it being found that there were only three BAME vice-chancellors at the top 50 universities.

The University is aware of the underrepresentation of BAME staff University of Exeter

Image: Wonderwoman0731

As part of their response to the FOI Request, the University stated: “The University is aware of the under representation of BAME staff at a senior level who would be on these decision-making groups. We are making this an area of priority at every level from council downwards. We have provided diversity training for recruitment to our senior management group

Image: Owain Evans

and have introduced monitoring of our shortlists as proactive steps to help improve representation.”

The University needs to be more proactive in improving BAME representation Rose Ahier, VP Welfare and Diversity

VCEG advises the Vice-Chancellor on the management and strategic direction of the University. VCEG has a number of management groups reporting to it. In the university’s ‘Equality and Diversity Guidelines for Panel Members’ it states that “the University has a duty to ensure that job applicants are not subject to discrimination on the grounds of sex, marital status, civil partnership status, transgender status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief, disability and age.” Rose Ahier, VP Welfare and Diversity, said: ‘‘‘It is importnat that VCEG is able to understand the issues of the university’s diverse student and staff groups when makig decisions that impact them. A diverse membership is a key part of being able to do this and and I stated that the university needs to be more proactive in improving BAME representation on senior management committees.’’

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COMMENT EDITORS:

Deepa Lalwani Isabelle Gray

Introducing your Sabbs

GRACE FRAIN GUILD PRESIDENT

ROSIE MCDONAGH VP ACTIVITIES

ROSE AHIER VP WELFARE & DIVERSITY

WARREN BINGHAM-ROBERTS VP EDUCATION

Hello, I’m Grace, your Guild President for this year. I lead the Sabbatical Team and was elected to represent you, your needs on campus and focus on making your student experience the best it can be. My priorities for this year are to diversify the employability framework, ensure that the Guild is a sustainable charity, ensure that there are food options accessible to all students across campus and evaluate that students are getting value for money through their degree and student experience.

Hi! My name is Rosie and I’m your VP Activities this year. Here are my four main plans to make your lives easier. Firstly, I will improve training for committees, so students can run societies without the stress. I will also create a scheme where societies are rewarded for all the amazing things they do. Thirdly, I will increase the opportunities for engagement in societies and elections. And lastly, I will heighten the charitable atmosphere already present on campus. I would love to hear any questions you have about this!

Hiya! My name is Rose, and I’m your VP Welfare and Diversity 2018/19! I am here to represent and help you with all things wellbeing, equality, and sustainability and personal safety. My priorities are: making mental health a priority for the University through embedding a holistic and institutional approach to student mental health using the UUK Step Change framework; improving widening participation and access for underrepresented students to ensure all students get the most out of their student experience; and delivering student-led campaigns that enable students voices to be heard.

Hello! I’m Warren, your Vice-President Education for 2018/19! I’m here to represent the academic interests of all students and ensure you get the most out of your educational experience at Exeter. My priorities for this year are to: drive change from a grass-roots level via Academic Representation; ensure students are well supported academically and feel part of a learning community; improve students’ university experience on a digital level; increase visibility and awareness of how the student voice is acted upon.

Please feel free to get in touch or come to talk to us in our office or at #SabbChat every other Tuesday in the Forum, 1-2pm

Image: Wigulf, Wikimedia Commons

Misogyny and racism in Exeter

Rupali Naik Contributor

ROWING up as a woman of colour, you’re taught to tone down your identity. We experience so many forms of casual to extreme racism that you do end up silencing yourself. In my first year, I had a drunk girl come up to me at a party questioning where I’m from because I ‘don’t look from here’ (bearing in mind I was born and lived in the south of England for eighteen years of my life, I found this incredibly ignorant). But I have never experienced a worse form of racism and sexism than right here last week.

I have never experienced worse racism and sexism I was walking back home from a night out at 3AM. I was by myself

when I encountered three boys on Iron Bridge. I don’t tend to get scared of people at night; I come from Portsmouth, which is quite a rough place. Plus, these three boys looked my age and seemed harmless. As I got closer, they stopped in front of my tracks, so I walked onto the road to avoid them. One boy shouted, ‘give us your time’, which I declined by quietly continuing my journey home. Somehow, in his mind, this gave him reason to repeatedly shout ‘you f*****g n*****’ as I walked away. I froze up. I wanted to punch him (I wish I did). But it’s hard to gauge these situations. Would I have been raped or hurt by them? Three boys against one girl. The odds were against me. I quickly walked home and refused to cry because this is typical of Exeter. But that’s not right to think. I shouldn’t excuse a city’s racism just because it’s ‘normal’. I tried to file a formal complaint to the University that same day, but the lack of evidence came back

to bite me, so I gave up. I wish I took a photo of them or asked for their names. I was haunted that entire day by things I could’ve and should’ve done. I was meant to go to my friend’s house the next day, but I cancelled because I was too scared to walk on the streets of Exeter. That’s never happened to me before. Even before this incident, I was more scared here than in my hometown where murders and assaults happen frequently.

Telling a PoC to silence themselves is a form of racism I find the whole situation ridiculous. I, the victim, must be the one to sort out another person’s ignorance. There were so many things wrong with the incident: a man asking a woman to give him attention but when she declines his offer, he gets aggressive? Tells her she’s a frigid or a slut or a n*****

‘anyway’. This is a narrative I’ve heard and experienced time and time before. It sickens me that other PoC are experiencing these kinds of situations. I had one friend tell me to ‘not let it get to me’. Why shouldn’t I let it get to me? Telling a PoC to silence themselves and forget about it is a form of racism. Women and men of colour should be talking about their experiences. And most of all, they should be encouraged to. I felt like an outsider when I came to Exeter. Ironically, it wasn’t until those boys in the Bracton Law Society came out with their disgusting comments that I felt a sense of unity. The rally back in March 2018 showed me I wasn’t alone. There was an atmosphere and feeling that day which I will never forget. However, when I got back to my home in Birks Grange Village, my (white) friends didn’t seem to be as passionate or encouraging with my new fuel. I halfhope they read this, and I half-hope they don’t. I love my friends here. But

there have been times where I’ve felt silenced or not listened to. I was used to this before I came here. I think every PoC is, to an extent. It’s so much easier trying to forget our experiences and who we are. But don’t. Don’t silence yourself. If someone says something ignorant, clap back. I’ve been learning to give myself that justice.

If you’re not a person of colour, support those who are. If you’re not a person of colour, support those who are. We’re human beings too, we occupy the same space and rights as you. Just listen to us and grow. Teach those who are ignorant, even if they’re your friends. I don’t blame that boy for what he said that night. I blame his upbringing, his peers and our society. This has been my take away from last week. This has been my justice to myself.

EXEPOSÉ | 1 OCT 2018

Taking up residence Sarah O’Brien Welfare Operations Manager

ITH the new academic year underway, we wanted to introduce Residence Life and tell you a bit about what we do. If your accommodation was allocated to you by the Accommodation Office, your Residence Life Mentor – a current student here to provide peer support and a listening ear – will visit regularly throughout the year. Your Mentor will probably be the part of the team you interact with most, but there’s a lot more we offer too...

We’re here so you don’t have to be on your own One thing you may not know about us is that we don’t just deal with residence-related issues. Sure, if your flat are deadlocked over how to write the perfect washing-up rota, or you’re wondering how to tell your neighbour that you also love Cher’s cover version of Fernando but you don’t especially want to listen to it on repeat at 3am, we’re here

Image: University of Exeter

to help you figure that out. But actually, we do lots more. We’re here because every year, over 5,000 new students move away from home and into halls and realistically, that’s a complicated experience. We hope and believe that overall you’ll have a great time, but it’s very normal to find it difficult sometimes, especially in the early stages. And, sometimes, more serious problems will affect students living in residence – health issues, bereavement, course difficulties… the unex-

pected, challenging things that can crop up in life. We’re here so you don’t have to be on your own if you have any problems, big or small. One feature of Freshers’ Week you’ll almost certainly have noticed is the way everyone lines up to fling information at you. Your department. Services. Societies. Sports teams. A great parade of information, some of it exciting, some of it mundane, some of it not really relevant right now… and it’s pretty common to

find that it mushes together a bit, and then you promptly forget it all. A big part of what we do in Residence Life is to remember some of it for you. Our team members receive training from a wide range of University and Guild services about what support is on offer and how to access it, so if a problem crops up during the year and you realise you have no idea what to do, ask your Mentor. They’ll signpost you towards people who can help (and if they aren’t sure,

they’ll do their best to find out). You might find that at some point during your time in residence, you have a problem that seems a bit too big and complicated for your Mentor to help with. And you may be right – an important part of what we do is to know our own limitations, and sometimes a problem may go beyond what a Mentor can handle. That’s why we also have Residence Life Team Leaders on duty every evening during term time – if you’d like to get in touch, you can email them or drop in to see them. We’re also part of the Wellbeing Service, so we can draw upon our colleagues’ help and expertise when needed. We’re here to act as a bridge to get you from where you are now to where you need to be, one step at a time. Even if you aren’t currently having any problems or worries, our service still has lots to offer. Your Mentor will come with weekly messages to help keep you up to date. We run a range of events throughout the year for you to enjoy, from day trips to quiz nights to stressbusting tips during exam time. Find out more on our website: www.exeter.ac.uk/ residencelifeteam.

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The student perfectionist

Bea Fones Online Comment Editor

HAVE a tendency, when anyone asks, “Don’t you think you’ve taken on a bit much this year?”, to wave a hand and laugh, trying to hide the fact that the laugh is forced and slightly tinged with hysteria. “I’m fine!” I say and rush off to change my stash for the third time that day. Trying to juggle being in your final year, three committees and other department responsibilities, and the siren call of Cheesy Tuesdays can make for something of a sticky situation. Sometimes I think I’ve really screwed myself over this year by taking on as much as I have but at other times, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, I’m very busy and it often feels like I’m snowed under the weight of my responsibilities, not even mentioning the personal drama which follows me like a loyal dog. And it’s only Week Two. I’m sure a lot of you can relate. But as I said, “I’m fine!” If you have a natural tendency towards perfectionism, like me, keeping up with this balancing act can seem like a doomed endeavour before you even

start. The desire to do the best you possibly can, whilst making everybody happy and seeming like you’re on top of things all the time, can put so much pressure on us that we put off even starting the things we need to do in the first place – because we’re terrified we won’t be doing them well enough.

This balancing act can seem like a doomed endeavour Now, a flash forward to me heading into the library to pull yet another allnighter for an essay I’ve known about for months, because the idea of just cracking on with it fills me with existential dread. Imagine your to-do list as a tangible pile of ‘stuff’ – you can get to a certain point where you have so much to do that just doing one task doesn’t even seem to make a dent. And that’s as intimidating as all hell. Where to even start? We’re always told that university will be the best time of our lives – and we hear it so often, that we’re under enormous pressure to force ourselves into that

frame of mind even if we’re not always feeling like we’re living our best lives at all? We’ll quash our own mental health concerns whilst telling our friends to get help, and keep running on empty for the whole year, without even acknowledging that something is wrong. It’s all too easy to forget that we’re here, primarily, to get our degrees. Sometimes we have other priorities, sure. And I’m the last person who would tell you that getting a first in

your final exams is the be-all and endall of your university experience. I, for one, am never going to be grafting into the night in the library to get the highest grades – sometimes I wonder how much more I could achieve if I put the time in but I’m far more likely to put that time into organising my society commitments, spending time with friends or scrolling through Instagram. Sorry, but at least I’m self-aware?

The uni bubble skews our priorities a little

Image: College Degrees (Flickr)

Being caught up in the uni bubble skews our priorities a little. Having just come back from my year abroad, I’m often struck by the fact that I hardly seem to know anybody in Exeter anymore. But friends who spent the past year working instead of studying, having now returned to Exeter, appear to have gained a great deal of perspective on just how little the intricacies of university drama and politics, seemingly life-threatening whilst you’re in the midst of it, matter once you’re out in the real world.

I, for one, go between “being so ready for leaving university and getting on with real life” and “fully prepared to fester in academia forever.” We all take on too much at times. And it’s painfully easy to forget that we’re never really switched off from other people and what they think of us. My advice would be to take a moment to think. How much of what you do and what you let stress you out is for your own benefit? If it isn’t making you happy, drop it and find something new because life is SHORT. Or you know what – just don’t find something new at all. Use that free time to have a cup of tea and just breathe. If you’re feeling stressed, worried, or just want to chat, the following contacts can help: The Wellbeing Centre 01392 724381 wellbeing@exeter.ac.uk Exeter Nightline Student-run listening service Open 8pm-8am 01392 724000 The Advice Unit 01392 723520

COMMENT

1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Guild or Union? Edd Church Online News Editor

O matter your opinions on the Students’ Guild, it’s an organisation you have to really go out of your way to avoid on campus. That is unless you forego societies, DH1, or (God forbid) the Lemmy and the Ram. It acts as the hub for many essential campus services, and as we have seen in the last academic year, it is also a means through which student activism can happen. It also has a democratic system of representation which any affiliated student can engage with; in short, it’s our student union. So why on earth is it called the Exeter Students’ Guild? Why can’t we be like everyone else? There are many rumoured reasons why it’s called the Guild, not the Exeter Students’ Union. Some state that it’s because of the political leanings of the University when the organisation

was founded, where others (such as one user on popular student website The Student Room) assume it’s just Exeter being ‘extra’. A popular rumour for the name

Image: Owain Evans

‘Guild’ usually goes along the lines of “something something Queen visit, something something royal charter.”

The University of Exeter was officially chartered in 1955, or in the words of the royal charter itself: on the “21st day of December in the fourth year of Our Reign”. There is no mention of a Guild of students within this document, or even a reference veiled behind its old-timey language. The much more boring reason for the name is in the founding statutes claiming there will be a “Students’ Guild of the University and there shall be a Guild Executive which shall have a President and other such officers.” Now we know why it is called the Guild, and that it is not tied to Queen Lizzie’s personal wishes upon her visit to Streatham. We can go through why Exeter Guild should join with most of the rest of the country’s Unis, rebranding as Exeter Students’ Union. While this is hardly the most crucial debate of our time, changing the name may finally put an end to the confusion. The label of ‘union’ conjures up

images of solidarity, causes such as fair pay for workers, and people banding together for a common goal. Unionism, as an ideology, is inextricably tied to the role of student organisations like the Exeter Students’ Guild. Earlier this year, the Guild acted as a student union when it backed the University College Union strikers in their fight against changes to pension schemes. A union is an overtly and inherently activist organisation. Regardless of a student’s left/right-wing political alignment the ideas of unionism, protest, and campaigns are a significant portion of student life when it comes to the organisations of a student union.

The label ‘union’ conjures up images of solidarity

Contrastingly, the label of ‘guild’ has its roots in craft groups who would join together for the purposes of protection from government regulation. This label also connotes profit and industry, which is a far cry from the purpose of the organisation as a support structure for students and their campaigns — be

it standing in solidarity with the UCU, standing against anti-Semitism and racism on campus, or any other cause.

Exeter already has a reputation for being posh Arguably, the name of ‘guild’ is not quite accurate for the purpose of the modern student union, given that these organisations are more about campaigning than escape from legislation. Exeter already has a reputation for being posh; changing the name to ‘union’ may be a step towards alleviating this. Aside from being a pointlessly pretentious distinguishing factor against other university student organisations, here is the way the Students’ Guild introduces itself on Facebook and even its own website: “The Students’ Guild is the students’ union for students at the University of Exeter’s Streatham and St. Luke’s campuses.” The mere fact the Guild feels the need to begin by clarifying that it is, in fact, a students’ union suggests they are no different to any other organisation, but just have a special name… because it’s Exeter.

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The Freshers’ Fair nightmare Rhiannon Moore Lifestyle Editor

RESHERS’ Fair is horrible. I love it, but it’s horrible. As a third year, I’m kind of a veteran to the day and for some insane reason, I’ve not missed a year yet. The whole day is spent walking around avoiding eye contact with people just in case they mistake you for a keen fresher, or wearing stash you’ve worn seven days in a row in order to be pretty obvious about the fact you are absolutely not going to join a sports society now or ever, and you’re sticking with the typical humanities student societies instead.

I’m just trying to get to Pieminister, I’m not joining your cult

I understand that every society needs people to keep themselves up and running. However, what I truly hate is having flyers giving my face

paper cuts because of how violently they’re thrown at me, or being purposely walked into by people trying to recruit me. I’m just trying to get to Pieminister, I’m not planning on joining your cult. The worst thing is that this is done mostly by societies who are big enough to keep running regardless and will definitely get enough people joining without the intensity and obnoxiousness of their advertising.. I guess this is one of the reasons they get so many people signing up during Freshers’ Week – but I really wish it wasn’t this way, I can only carry so many flyers.

All you want is a KFC and all you have is a headache

Another one of Freshers’ Fair’s fatal flaws is that it is held on Saturday. We all know that Friday is more of a student night out than Saturday in Exeter, so after a few hours (or ten minutes, depending on how stubborn you are) of being pushed, grabbed and

bashed around in Timepiece whilst likely very intoxicated, having to wake up early the next morning just to walk around and be bombarded with overly intense sports societies trying to convince you that you could, potentially, love sports (you won’t, I do not recommend buying that sports membership that you’re being tricked into). Add in a hangover and the whole situation is hell – all you want is a KFC and all you have is a headache. I feel like all of my senses are heightened at Freshers’ Fair and after a traumatising night at Timepiece, all my senses want is to be wrapped up in a blanket. You know what is pretty good about the day? The free samples on offer left, right, and centre. Domino’s, in particular, are doing this right, offering plenty of free pizza and lots of coupons everywhere you look. But after this, you get a bit too confident and begin to col-

lect bags of samples with your greasy pizza fingers from anyone handing them out, thinking you’re tricking

Image: Deepa Lalwani

the system, taking down capitalism, and getting plenty of free stuff in

the meantime. Until you get home and realise that your Freshers’ Fair haul consists of a couple of not-working pens, a flimsy plastic cup and a million business cards you will never need. Despite all of my post-Freshers’ Fair anger and exhaustion, I do think it’s a great day for freshers who want to get involved and spend hundreds of pounds at the sports park, and it’s a great day for the biggest and smallest societies alike to advertise themselves and get more students involved in university life. But for me, a really tired third year who prefers to stay away from any and all exercise and instead stick to the societies I know and love, it’s not a fun day at all. I’d rather just join the societies online, eat KFC in bed and recover from my TP hangover in peace.

EXEPOSÉ | 1 OCT 2018

COMMENT

Making the invisible visible Elinor Jones Contributor

HEN someone says M.E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (C.F.S), what do you think? Do you think ‘it’s psychological’? Do you think ‘people are making this up’? Maybe you don’t think anything at all. You can decide amongst yourselves which might be the most harmful.

When I think of M.E., I think of a struggle to be recognised

When I think of M.E., I think of a struggle to be recognised, heard, and understood, a battle perpetuated by a – be it conscious or subconscious – numbness to the pain of those suffering visibly and invisibly with the 21st century medical science’s mystery. Having been diagnosed with

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Chronic Pain in 2013, but making almost a full recovery, I began university last year with delight, excitement, and a little apprehension. Me, being me, wanted to live the ‘socially acceptable’ Freshers’ life, joining a sports club that had training pretty much every day, partying up to five times a week, and then remembering I actually needed to pass the first year. Stubborn old me also decided it would be a great idea to ignore any symptoms. Today, whilst I am still as keen for a night at Cheesy Tuesdays as the next person, have just returned from a sports taster session, and am undertaking the BNOC challenge of being my course’s Social Sec, I sit here wondering how many of my fellow students are suffering. At least 250,000 people in the UK have been diagnosed with the condition. Although it can affect children, men and the elderly, Ait is particularly common in women aged 20 to 50. M.E./CFS’s symptoms

have a variable phenotype from person to person – a bit like their own unique fingerprint – but often share similarities, with post-exertional fatigue usually unrefreshed by rest widely quoted as the most debilitating of the symptoms. This, I stress, is not just feeling hungover after a bit of a heavy one. Often, persistent postexertional fatigue can confine those suffering from M.E. to several days in bed after simply attending a day of lectures. Other symptoms such as general malaise, or flu-like symptoms, intense muscle and joint pain, reduced concentration ability, headaches can present alongside the fatigue.

It’s not just feeling hungover after a heavy one Frustratingly there is no single cause that’s been conclusive in medical research, however, many patients recall a trauma or an infection, like glandular fever, leading

to their symptoms. Illnesses often spread through university halls (and not just freshers’ flu). University can be a chaotic time, and a time of considerable change in a student’s life. Physical illnesses can be caused by stimuli that put the brain and body under stress (M.E. is definitely NOT psychological). As a result of this, and the multitude of symptoms, M.E./ CFS diagnosis requires a variety of tests, such as scans and blood tests to rule out other conditions, with no definitive test. Similarly, treatment is often erratic and sparse because of insignificant funding from the NHS and out-of-date NICE guidelines (thankfully being re-written), and highly controversial amongst the M.E. community due to scientifically flawed research. But there is hope. More research than ever is being done into the cause of M.E. to help the thousands that are suffering at UK universities, and the millions beyond. From the immune system to genetics, biomedical

research is being conducted worldwide into the cause, and an eventual cure for a condition that can leave many previously-healthy individuals bedbound for years at a time. Closer to home, Exeter is surprisingly well set up for those suffering from fatigue, whether M.E./CFS or as a result of other conditions, with a brand-new Fatigue Social Group meeting in Devonshire House weekly and individual learning plans.

Exeter is surprisingly well set up for those suffering from fatigue So if you or someone you know is struggling with extreme fatigue, remember it’s not just freshers’ flu. If you think you might be struggling with M.E., get in touch with your GP or the Student Health Centre (01392 676606)

FRUIT CORNER LEMONS

CHERRIES

KUMQUATS

HE saying goes, “When life gives you lemons, HERRIES are like your shy friend on a night out make lemonade”. Yet with Tesco selling Value lem– they only turn up once a year and disappear We why need to getagain rid ofas soon as it’s over. Although they’re only in onade for only 17p per two litre bottle, bother? Here are some alternatives to better utilise a lemon: season for about a month, cherries have become one all the metaphors Spending your student loan on beauty products? During of my firm favourite fruits: they’re juicy, sweet, and around harassment the Renaissance, women applied lemon juice to their lips perfect on a cheesecake (the only real measure for to achieve the cheap DIY kissed by a boy/stung by a bee ef- how great a fruit is.) You’ve also got to admit they’re fect. For natural highlights in your hair, rinse with lemon kind of cute – they come attached to their friends! juice daily - don’t risk going ginger with Poundland bleach! Versatile too, cherries can be used in fruit salads, desserts, Lemons have powerful antibacterial properties, eliminat- cereals – you name it. They even look nice in the fruit bowl, ing the bacteria that causes a sore throat post-Cheesies. like shiny little jewels, but as we all know, looks aren’t Containing 139% of the daily recommended vitamin C in- everything – cherries are also super good for you. They’re take, in addition to their antioxidant and cancer-fighting packed with antioxidants, as well as vitamin A, potasproperties, lemons help prevent constipation - an easy fix if sium, and calcium, to give you strong and healthy bones your housemates spend too long in the loo in the mornings. (I only know that because of the Petits Filous advert). With an average lifespan of 50 years, a lemon tree is certain And then of course there’s the age-old debate of how you to outlast any brief university romance. Unlike the already eat them. Do you risk cracking your teeth and chuck it in middle-aged men in TP, the lemon tree is considered an ev- all in one, before spitting out the stone? Or do you cut ergreen beauty, blooming throughout the year as opposed and twist, getting the juice all over your hands and lookto only on Wednesdays under specific lighting. Each tree ing like Lady Macbeth? In other words, are you a dentist’s can produce 270 kilograms of fruit, enough to make lem- worst nightmare, or a coward? Either way, in my humble onade in abundance for pres, so why not start a business? (yet ultimately correct) opinion these forgotten heroes But best thing to do when life gives you lemons? Find some- of the fruit bowl deserve a little more love (but not too one whose life has presented them with vodka, and have a much, otherwise they’ll all be sold out in Tesco). party. Sophie Norton Isha Gurung

Image: David~O (Flickr)

Image: moshehar (Pixabay)

SATSUMA, shrunk down to the size of a grape, to answer the inevitable mild confusion on your face. Accept this bit of physiological gymnastics, and you’ll find the humble kumquat. It’s got that same more-ish quality as a grape; you go to the fridge at one o’clock in the morning, and just start plucking. Each tiny fruit is like some pathetic burst of ecstasy, just enough to begin to quench your thirst but never quite satisfy it. So you keep at it, flexing for that petty joy of juice. You’ll note my relative ambivalence here. Granted, each one may have one or two seeds in it, you’re inevitably required to get over any distaste for orange zest, and the syrup and flavour hardly passes the muster of even an orange segment. But, despite this, they’re simply so cumulative. Eat one, and you’re eating another, then another. There’s no need for peeling, chopping, scraping; the whole action is contained in the briefest of fumbles, and then that sweet reprieve. The elephant in the kumquat-sized room is their relative unavailability. For me, that’s part of the appeal: in the like manner that beret-doffing artistes might wax lyrical on mid-European post-abstractionalism, I take perverse joy in professing a fruit few have heard of, and fewer have tried. Pretentious? Undoubtedly. But beneath the obscurity is something earnest in its passivity - as a fruit, the novelty lasts only so long, but your clout lasts a lifetime. Harry Caton, Online Screen Editor

Image: Ruth Hartnap (Flickr)

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1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Features

FEATURES EDITORS: Niamh Elstone Neha Shaji

Precedent or isolated victory? O

Alexandra Teodora Luca discusses the landmark ruling of the legalisation of gay sex in India

N 6 September, the Supreme Court in India decriminalised consensual gay sex by striking down portions of Section 377 of the Penal Code. It was introduced in 1861 during British colonial rule, and took inspiration from the Buggery Act of 1533, which criminalised sexual acts “against the order of nature”. Until earlier this month homosexual sex was included in such acts but the judges of the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that homosexuality is “natural” and that Section 377 has been used to unjustly discriminate against gay individuals. In fact, Justice Indu Makhotra said that “history owes an apology to members of the community” and Chief Justice Dipak Misra stated that Section 377 was “irrational, arbitrary and manifestly unconstitutional”.

The Supreme Court rules unanimously that homosexuality is “natural” The ruling of the Justices ensures that gay Indians are now legally entitled to equal protection under the Constitution. Parts of Section 377 dealing with minors, bestiality and non-consensual sex have remained intact. Large crowds in all major cities from Chennai to Mumbai, Bangalore, and Delhi gathered in the streets and in front of courthouses to celebrate the decision. The jubilant air of the celebrations was mirrored in reactions like that of activist Shashi Bhushan, who said “We feel as equal citizens now”. Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala deemed this “an important step forward towards a liberal, tolerant society”, while the leader of the Communist Party of India also voiced his support. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, member of the ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has declined to comment the ruling administration has remained generally quiet also. Many public figures like Bollywood filmmaker Karan Johar Flag images at top: Jak, Stannered, Zscout370, PlaneMad

tweeted their support. Celebrities in India have increased visibility for the gay community, as there are openly gay celebrities and several Bollywood movies like Bombay Talkies which explore LGBTQ+ issues.

Gay Indians are now legally entitled to equal protection On the other hand, in a conservative country, decriminalising gay sex is bound to draw some resistance; in India the brunt of this comes from religious communities, whether Hindu, Muslim, or Christian, under the guise of morality. Subramanian Swamy, member of the BJP called the decision “a danger to national security”. Arun Kumar, member of RSS (a right-wing, Hindu-nationalist organisation) said gay sex is not a crime but is unnatural and that “the Indian tradition has never approved” of such relations. The leader of another Hindu conservative group controversially claims the ruling emboldens “mentally sick people.” Islamic organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami Hind released statements claiming that gay rights break down the family and lead to immoral behaviour. Considering the influence religion still holds in India, such statements from authority figures can only hinder the continuing struggle of the LGBTQ+ community towards equal rights. This is not the first time Section 377 has been attacked; the Delhi High Court previously struck it down in 2009 but this decision only applied to Delhi and the Supreme Court overturned even this in 2013 following blowback from religious groups. In 2013, the Supreme Court argued the population of LGBTQ+ people in the country was too small to justify repealing the act. However, brave petitioners from many backgrounds united to challenge this and won. Navtej Singh Johar and Sunil Mehra, two of the petitioners, detailed to the justices the lengths they have had to go to in their

lives to keep their relationship a secret for fear of consequences. Repercussions are indeed not uncommon as homosexual individuals are frequently harassed, assaulted, and blackmailed. Families often disown children if they come out or are outed by others. In the last decade gay visibility has increased due to celebrities and the media; this has mostly affected the biggest cities but tends not to change the reality on the ground for most of the population. Some hold the opinion that most Indians deal with gay issues in the form of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell - they turn a blind eye to homosexuality and don’t acknowledge its existence. This stems from India’s overall attitude towards any form of sexuality, which precipitates a kind of ‘shame culture’ where sexuality is rarely spoken off. This, combined with India’s conservative marriage culture doesn’t leave a lot of wiggle room for people choosing not to follow the rules. One gay citizen suggested that, on top of a difference in sexual orientation, refusing to get married is seen as a failure both for the child and the parents.

India’s decision is important in Asia, where the gay rights situation is dire After homosexuality was recriminalised in 2013, many gay individuals were tortured, arrested or harassed - even sexual health activists were targeted for handing out condoms to gay people. Many reports of rape and blackmail of LGBTQ+ individuals exist all across India, some of which are perpetrated by the police themselves. When the police force is corrupt and unchecked, laws like Section 377 gave officers an easy opportunity to blackmail gay people who are then afraid to report incidents for fear they will be outed. Transgender people in India have been granted the right to change their gender legally or register under a third gender. Some states offer housing and

welfare programs for such individuals yet issues of vilification persist in individual communities. Public opinion regarding gay rights in India is often complicated. In a 2017 poll by ILGA, 59% agreed that gay people should be protected from workplace discrimination but just under 40% of respondents believed gay people in same-sex relationships should be charged as criminals. 2014 statistics by the World Value Survey show 30% of people are “broadly supportive of homosexuality.”

LGBT activists have a long road ahead until they win further victories Such statistics as well as the reaction of religious figures show LGBTQ+ activists have a long road ahead until they win further victories like legalising same-sex marriage. The Humsafar Trust member Yashwinder Singh cautions that despite the ruling on Section 377, “changing society is a big challenge”. Equality in the workplace, as well as targeting healthcare policies to increase awareness and sensitivity regarding gay issues seems the next logical step, whilst gay marriage is further on the horizon. Many gay citizens avoid going to the doctor or getting checked for fear of discrimination or generally embarrassing encounters with ignorant medical staff. Prejudiced medical staff can create negative experiences, as they did for Shivam Sharma, who attended a clinic to get checked for HIV only for the nurse to warn another colleague in front of everyone to “be careful” of Sharma. On another visit he requested a PEP (preventative antiretroviral drug), but staff were clueless about the necessary prescription. The impact of the landmark win will not be restricted to India as many countries throughout Asia, like Pakistan, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, but also African countries such as Uganda have parts of their penal code that serve

the same purpose as Section 377. In fact, according to a 2017 report by the International LGBTI Association, 30 out of 48 former British colonies where homosexual relations were criminalised, have laws modelled on original colonial legislation. Before they were repealed, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Fiji also had similar laws. India was one of the first colonial nations to adopt Section 377 so its decision to legalise gay sexual relations could reverberate across the world and, if not set a new global precedent, at least spark a debate. One such debate has in fact already caught fire in Singapore where Section 377A was introduced in the late 30s, as part of a penal code adapted from the Indian Penal Code when they were both governed under British Rule. The Law and Home Affairs Minister in Singapore spoke of a “growing minority” that challenge Section 377A whilst still being opposed by a majority that, similar to India, is led by religious morality. The National Council of Churches of Singapore said in a statement that homosexuality is harmful for “families and society as a whole”. Part of their argument is that it will lead to a slippery slope “as seen in some countries taking this step”, although it is unclear what the slippery slope is allegedly leading to. The internet has also been used to share propaganda videos warning about the supposed dangers legalising gay sex would bring. On the other hand, LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have also been vocal, although it is yet too soon to see if Singapore, or other countries, will follow in India’s footsteps. India’s decision is important in Asia where the gay rights situation is dire; Taiwan, with its active civil society, is the only country to have legalised gay marriage. Therefore, whilst it is natural to celebrate the step taken on the 6 September, activists and civil societies must mobilise and strike whilst the iron is hot to encourage progress in the region. Background Image: Riya Kumari

EXEPOSÉ | 1 OCT 2018

FEATURES

Environmentally friendly education Jaimie Hampton, News Editor, talks about the impact of plastic and what students can do to help

OST in the excitement of Freshers’ Week, many tend to forget about the impact their actions can have on the environment. The mass of polystyrene takeaway boxes dumped on the streets after a night out suggests that we need to be more vigilant, to avoid putting our ecosystem in serious danger.

By 2050, the amount of plastic in our oceans will outnumber the amount of fish Our throwaway culture has caused plastic to have a massive impact on the environment. 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced since the 1950s, with 8 million tonnes being dumped in the world’s oceans. The rate of plastic production is such that recycling systems are failing to cope and experts believe that by 2050 the amount of plastic in our oceans will be greater than the amount of fish. As

well as this, scientists found that 90% of seabirds carry 10% of their bodyweight in plastics, and that this could increase to 99% in 2050. According to academics in the United States, 79% of plastic waste produced since the 1950s has been dumped in landfill sites or directly into the environment. These statistics suggest that plastics will continue to do huge damage to our ecosystems, and this may result in their permanent contamination. Scientists and engineers are putting strategies in place that will aim to solve the problems caused by the increased amount of plastic waste. The ‘Wilson’ project aims to collect plastic debris from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by launching a 600m-long floating barrier to collect five tonnes of plastic debris each OA A month. The project ge: N Ima intends to remove all

accumulated debris from the ocean every six weeks and will aim to transfer the plastic waste to the Netherlands to be recycled. This year, the Government have taken a greater stance towards fighting plastic pollution. In April, it was announced that £61.4 million, from public funds, was being put towards tackling the tide of plastic. The money is intended to go towards research, curbing plastic pollution

and

generated by manufacturing, attempting to improve

waste management at a national level. WWF Tanya Steele said in The Guardian: “Devoting UK international development money to help poor communities clean up and better manage their waste isn’t just good for nature, it’s good for people too.” Plastic can be found in unexpected places. Chewing gum contains polyethene, a plastic commonly used to make plastic bags, and tea bags contain polypropylene. Although biodegradable versions of these products can be purchased, our use of plastic is excessive. The issue of single use plastic recently featured in David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II, which included an episode that focused on the harm that plastic brings to sea creatures. Following the programme’s airing, the BBC announced that it would aim to ban all single-use plastics by 2020. Furthermore, the government announced a plan to consider banning all

single-use products. As students, we can join the plasticfree movement by making positive changes that help to reduce plastic use. Using a reusable coffee cup instead of a disposable plastic lined cup often provided by coffee chains is a simple change. Plus, it can also save you money, as some companies offer discounts to this who bring a reusable cup. Similarly, avoiding plastic straws is also beneficial to the environment as they are difficult to recycle and easily end up in our oceans. Abandoning plastic shopping bags and refusing single-use plastic cutlery are other ways students can cut down on their use of disposable plastics

We must take the time to educate ourselves for the sake of our planet Going plastic-free overnight is almost impossible but we must take the time to educate ourselves on better choices for the sake of our planet.

The dangers of disposability

Sylvia Hayes discusses disposable clothing and minimalism in the 21st century

TARTING a new year of university (or when your student loan finally comes in) may seem like a great time to reinvent yourself with a new wardrobe, but picking up a bargain rather than going mad on ASOS may benefit more than just your wallet. You know the evils of plastic straws, you’ve seen the pictures of turtles strangled by plastic bags, but the problem goes well beyond singleuse plastics. The same “planned obsolescence” rife, where products are created with the intention of breaking within a short amount of time, forcing you to buy them again. Although this is primarily prevalent in electronic products it) is also present in the fashion industry but more subtly, through marketing and advertising, by telling you to change your wardrobe every season to fit the latest trend.

pared-down food shops to make up for the enormous ASOS delivery you just received. However, your bank account isn’t the only thing suffering when you buy into such a blindingly materialistic mentality.

Products are created with the intention of breaking shortly This ‘disposable’ brand of consumerist culture is also a major contributor to the global environmental crisis. You’ve probably heard the soundbite: if everyone lived like we do in the UK, we would need ‘three planets’ worth of resources to sustain it. It

An increasing number of people are embracing minimalism Clearly, this is a dangerous mentality for a student on a budget to have. Maybe you’re willing to endure a couple of

makes for a good infographic, but the terrifying reality stands true. The mentality that we can buy, use, and dispose of items in staggering numbers is not only dangerous but simply absolutely not feasible in the mediumto-long term if we are to make any halfway serious attempt to tackle the current crisis. On top of all this, materialism just isn’t making us as happy as we are led t o

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Image: TH VOEKLER

believe by the vendor. Research refers to the “cultural fraud” of claiming a specific product or certain lifestyle will make you happy/successful, when in fact the evidence shows completely the opposite. An increasing number of studies are beginning to recognise the overwhelmingly negative impact of a materialist and individualist culture on our mental health. In other words, it’s no wonder millennials are so unhappy; we’re taught to look for happiness where we won’t find it. There are, however, an increasingly growing number of people (mostly young) turning away from the disposable society and finding simpler ways of living. One example is ‘Minimalism’: a movement headed by Joshua Fields Millburn and Ryan N i c o d e mu s. Levels of minimalism vary wildly, these are not all people who decide to sell their house and go live in a treebut rather people who

hope to find a healthy balance between them and the stuff they own. Obviously, you don’t have to go this far and forego the occasional ‘treat yourself ’ moment, particularly while trying to juggle morals with the mounting weight of Uni work. However, there are little things you can do. Consider checking charity shops for a bargain when you’re in town. The Fore Street flea market is a great place to pick up cheap clothes if you’re into vintage. If you are buying new, consider spending a little bit more to get something more durable so you won’t be chucking it out in a few months. You’ll soon find it’s actually very easy to be more reasonable with your clothes. Yes, by all means get, the cute skirt you’ve been eying up, just don’t get it in three colours and replace it with a newer model next season.

Consider checking charity shops for a bargain The more aware you are of the prevalence and dangers of a disposable society, the more equipped you are to fight back. I guarantee your wallet, your well-being, and the world will thank you.

1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

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#MeToo, Pope Francis, Me Too

Carys Wilkinson on the sexual abuse rampant in the Catholic Church and the #MeToo campaign

T'S been called the church’s “own 9/11”. A bold statement certainly, but perhaps not a false one. It’s been 16 years since The Boston Globe first blew open the doors to reveal the clerical abuse suffered by hundreds and since then, the Catholic Church hasn’t been able to catch a break. Allegation after allegation has flooded in, and with false accusations making up only a miniscule 5.9% of all sexual assaults, the sheer magnitude of the abuse is hard to contemplate. Only days ago, a Brooklyn Diocese was involved in a $27.5 million settlement to four men who were repeatedly assaulted as children; this is one of the largest settlements ever awarded to individual victims of clerical abuse. Just over a week ago, the Pope summoned some of the most senior members of the clergy from across the world in what is the first global gathering of Roman Catholic leaders in a desperate attempt to tackle clerical paedolphilic abuse.

The scandal is endemic in Catholic communities across the globe The scandal is not limited to just one country or even a continent but is endemic in Catholic communities across the globe. A recent investigation has revealed that 20 out of the 39 senior Dutch clerics between 1945 and 2010 were involved to some extent in covering up the sexual assault of minors. In France, a priest has been charged with the sexual assault of four siblings, now aged only 13 to 17. A heart wrenching report by the grand jury in Pennsylvania revealed at least 1000 children had been abused over a period of seven decades. An Australian Archbishop was forced to resign after he was convicted of concealing child sex abuse by other clergy members. The list goes on and on, country after country, state after state. The grand jury in the Pennsylvania report condemned the sickening abuse - “Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing; they hid it all. For decades.” While the Catholic Church abuse scandal has been in the news since 2002, it has arguably never gained as much notability as the #MeToo campaign which only dates back to October of 2017 when the hashtag gained momentum and went viral as a way for women to show solidarity in the wake of

the Harvey Weinstein scandal. Despite the prevalence of sexual assault at the hands of the clergy, very few #MeToo tweets or stories feature victims of the church and those that do are predominantly from women. This is all despite a large number of clerical abuse victims being men. While historically speaking sexual assault victims are more frequently doubted and condemned than believed, it is far less likely for men to report assault. In fact, one source claims that 90-95% of male victims don’t report rape. The real concern is why men don’t come forward as much. There are damaging views prevalent in society vis-à-vis male sexual assault; i.e. men are not as affected by rape, men cannot actually be raped, men are men – they always enjoy sex etc. Given this lack of proper information, it becomes a toxic environment for men as they face the fear that should they speak out they will be laughed at, mocked or shamed. In reality, one in six boys will be sexually abused before the age of 18. One in sixteen men will be sexually abused on a college campus. And 38% of household incidents of rape or sexual assault are committed against men. Men are as at risk and vulnerable to assault as women and they are no less worthy of protection, support and belief because of their sex.

One in sixteen men will be sexually abused on a college campus The purpose of the #MeToo campaign is to provide a safe and comfortable environment for victims, particularly (as it turned out) women, to speak up about assault and the response was truly harrowing. Story after story rolled in from every corner of the world and every walk of life as women finally felt they could speak out without worrying about being disbelieved or shouted down. For years they have been victim blamed, shouted at and harassed by men (and I hasten to add that yes, I know, it’s not all men). You cannot blame women then for their desire to keep #MeToo as a safe space just for women. It is understandable that women may want a man-free zone to express vulnerability, anger and emotion. These are feelings that in everyday life can bring them nothing more than mere condescension from the other sex. But

is there space for men in the #MeToo campaign? The answer is yes. The man who joins in with the campaign, who simply adds his own history and story without calling attention to his gender. The man who adds his own experience of solidarity without co-opting the space or interrupting the shares made by women. That man will always have a space and be accepted into the #MeToo community.

Solutions will not spring up overnight, nor will there be some quick fix Particularly with the scandal surrounding the Catholic Church, a big issue is how people in a position of trust and power are exploiting and taking advantage of that. How is it possible for so many paedophiles to have been allowed into the clergy? How can so many

high ranking clerical members have so consistently looked the other way? Worse, how as men of God can they have paid off victims or sent known predatory priests to other parishes? The explanations, or excuses, come in droves. It’s an all-male priesthood. The harsh celibacy imposed on clergy members. The elitism, careerism and clericalism in the church hierarchy. The lack of transparency and accountability demanded among bishops and on it goes. This article is in no way meant to be an attack on the Catholic Church or religion as a whole. Yet as an institution, particularly one imbued with the supposed morals and culpability of Christianity, there needs to be action taken not only on a large scale but also in the microcosm of individual diocese and parishes. The biggest challenge will be instilling a new church culture that takes the accounts of victims seriously

and believes them from the word go. There also need to be protocols to deal with any wider institutional failings. The President of the U.S. Bishops' Conference issued a statement in August of this year detailing how changes would be implicated across America. Measures included new and confidential channels for reporting complaints against bishops and also by encouraging substantial input from laity. Importantly, there was an acknowledgement that trust had been broken and that there would be serious steps to rebuild that faith. Accepting the fault that lay with the church as an institution he said that “We already know that one root cause is the failure of episcopal leadership. The result was that scores of beloved children of God were abandoned to face an abuse of power alone. This is a moral catastrophe.” Solutions will not spring up overnight, nor will there be some quick fix. The damage caused by deliberately concealed sexual abuse on such a scale is not to be understated. Many victims will never speak up either because they are too scared, too old or something else. Many abusers will never be brought to justice because they have already passed away or are now exempt from prosecution for whatever reasons. Yet more can and still must be done to protect those who are vulnerable in such a large institution. No excuse will ever justify sexual assault and there must be accountability for all church members whether that be a small-town priest or a Cardinal or even the Pope. Those with power cannot be immune and exempt from the same laws that govern the laity. Men and women, girls and boys cannot be allowed to suffer and that suffering cannot be hidden. Least of all at the hands of those who are supposedly men of God.

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ARTS + LIT

EXHIBIT MUSIC

STUDY BREAK

screen

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a guide to modern dating

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the power of the music video

art vs artist: where to draw the line

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An ode to crazy ex-girlfriend

study break

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16 -18

20 -22

24 -26

28 -30

LIFESTYLE EDITORS Bethan Gilson Rhiannon Moore

ARTS + LIT EDITORS Lauren Newman Tabi Scott

MUSIC EDITORS Aaron Loose Alex Wingrave

SCREEN EDITORS Chloe Kennedy Ben Faulkner

STUDY BREAK Puzzles by Alfred and Katie 1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÃ&#x2030;

lifestyle

This issue...

E would like to welcome all of you to (or back to) university this year. We hope it will be as fun and stress-free as possible. We are your exhausted Lifestyle editors for Print, Rhiannon and Bethan. If you're looking to write for us, make sure you get involved with Exeposé and keep up to date with our Facebook pages. This issue we have lots of exciting articles for you to read, including two mouth watering recipes - french onion flan followed by vegan chocolate biscuits for dessert, anyone? We discuss period poverty and reusable period products in light of the push to live environmentally friendly lives - are washable cloth pads gross or genius? If you're a fresher, or just living with new people for the first time, perhaps you'll be pleased to hear that we have a very helpful article full of advice for those of you who are either really clean, or really messy. Two of our writers have given us an insight to what they got up to over summer so if you're nosey, this is great. Finally, how have relationships changed to fit into the 21st century? With the rise of Love Island, we see an entirely new way of forming and maintaining relationships, particularly with the increase in technology over the past 20 years. Rhiannon Moore and Bethan Gilson, Lifestyle Editors

The menstruation conversation

Frankie Nolan discusses the benefits and drawbacks of reusable period products

ERIODS suck, and we all know it. Your hormones are everywhere, you’re spending Friday night in bed with a hot water bottle, and the money you’d like to be spending on curly fries is going towards pads and tampons. In fact, the average woman will spend £18,000 on sanitary products in her lifetime. The BBC has released a Period Tax Calculator, allowing women to figure out how much having a period has already cost them, and giving them yet another reason to resent their uterus. It’s not just the pocket that feels the sting though – people with periods reportedly go through 11,000 pads, tampons and liners in their lives, with these ending up in landfill sites. Sure, when I got the little box of tampons from UCAS in school, I was ecstatic (who doesn’t love a good freebie?). Yet these conventional period products that we have grown to know and love not only cost us heavily in the long run, but are also environmentally harmful.

THE AVERAGE WOMAN WILL SPEND £18,000 ON SANITARY PRODUCTS But there are some alternatives. Reusable nappies for babies are getting more and more popular, and whilst it pains me slightly to compare our periods to baby poo, reusable cloth period pads work in the same way. You just rinse them out and wash them after each use. Not only do they come in funky patterns, they are said to be more comfortable and less irritating as they

are made of cotton rather than plastic. One reusable cloth pad can cost about £5, but if you’re living the poor student lifestyle there are even YouTube videos on how you can save money by making your own. If you fancy taking the reusable cloth approach further, you could also try Thinx, which are basically washable period knickers (they’re actually called ‘period panties’ but I refuse to use that term). If tampons are more your thing, there are reusable ones of those, too. Another alternative (and my product of choice) is the menstrual cup. There are now plenty of different versions on the market, such as the DivaCup and the Mooncup. Rather than absorbing the blood, menstrual cups collect it. Whether you find this gross or really satisfying, there are definitely benefits to switching to a menstrual cup. Most are suitable for those with latex allergies, you can k e e p Image: As Novo them in

for up to 12 hours (much longer than a tampon), and they are not linked to Toxic Shock Syndrome. Lasting for up to ten years, most cups will set you back about £20, or the price of 180 Tampax tampons.

THE UPFRONT COST OF THESE REUSABLE PERIOD PRODUCTS IS HIGHER The upfront cost of these reusable period products is obviously much higher, and therefore can prove problematic for some. One in ten teenage girls has, at some point, been unable to buy sanitary products, and it is period poverty like this which can lead to women and girls missing school or work. Charities such as Bloody Good Period, who provide refugees with sanitary products, and Hey Girls, who donate one pad to a woman in need for every pack bought are working to reduce the impacts of period poverty. There are plenty of schemes out there offering support to those in need, and you can easily donate money or products if you want to help out. If conventional pads and tampons suit you and your lifestyle, then that’s great. But if you’re looking to make the change to reusable products, your period can become more manageable, cheaper in the long term, and sustainable. If we can all band together to shun environmentally damaging period products like we can shun plastic straws, the planet might be a little better off.

Flatmate struggles

Abbie Kellet gives her advice for living with new people

you leave a stack of plates piled up by the HE adjustment to university life can sink, you won’t wake up to find them mibe testing enough as it is raculously clean like you might at without getting yourhome, and it’s not fair to exself a reputation as the pect someone else to do all inconsiderate and your cleaning and washmessy flatmate. For ing up. A good way of many students, tackling this could be coming to uni is having a few shared their first time livcommunal items, like ing with people pans, and all taking that aren't family, turns washing them. and this can be an This way, you save incredibly difficult space by not having lots change to make. of the same thing, and Before you left home, you’ve all pitched in to help you probably ignored Image: Tiago Rosado scrubbing. your mum’s suggestion to Living with people, especially peomake a cleaning rota, but this ple you've never met before, can present actually might not be such a bad idea. If

If you do have a problem with something trials and challenges you weren’t used to someone does though, like being exbefore. This could be what foods cessively messy or taking up unyour flatmates eat, or when fair amounts of space in the they choose to have kitchen, the worst thing their meals; make sure you can do is leave this you’re patient and to become a bigger isrespectful to the sue. Things can easways other peoily cause tension in ple do things. student flats when Chances are, people don’t know they probably each other very well think something yet. Addressing issues you’re doing is and confronting them odd too, but you’ll head-on as soon as they be able to learn a lot arise prevents frequent about different culsmall arguments building into tures and upbringings Image: @rawpixel resentment, and can help your by not dismissing everything time in halls go as smoothly as possible. you don’t immediately recognise.

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EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

Shopping struggles

1 OCT 2018 |

Polly Standring shares her top tips for grabbing the best bargains

NE of the most challenging parts of being a student is creating and sticking to a budget. So what do you do when you've got the shopping bug? When your heart says yes but your bank account says no?

YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO JOIN THE ANGRY BRIGADE ON DEPOP Depop is my go-to for clothes when my budget is tight. It’s an app for buying and selling second-hand and vintage clothes, so you can bolster your budget by selling on cast-offs at the same time as buying! My tip: find an angry person: someone who’s been ripped off, sold a jumper with a stain, or some edgy garms with a few too many rips, or the wrong size so the desired level of bagginess

is slighty overboard. They’re usually keen to sell on and at a low price, so you can get your Ralph Lauren sweater for £15 albeit with a moth hole on the cuff. M a k e sure they send you a photo of the garment being worn so you can gauge the right size – you wouldn’t want to join the angry brigade on Depop.

Image: Becca McHaffie

Another staple: dad tops. Everyone knows the dad jumper style but I’ve recently discovered an alternative. Slice a few inches off the bottom of one of your dad’s 80s t-shirts destined for the charity shop (now they no longer care about a small embroidered logo in the left-hand corner ) and you’ve got yourself a new Adidas crop top

Recipe corner

without the Sobey’s price tag.

SIFT THROUGH THE RAILS AND YOU'RE BOUND TO FIND A DREAM DEAL For make-up, the Boots card is my life saver. It won’t take long to rack up points if you start buying essential toiletries at Boots, and in a few months you’ll find you can smugly pay for your Bobbi Brown foundation with points made from earbuds and toothpaste. In terms of charity shops, the British Heart Foundation on Sidwell Street is an Aladdin’s cave of fleeces and Topshop hand-me-downs. If you’ve got the time to sift through the rails, you’re bound to find a dream deal – a new winter coat, denim dungarees and a yellow fleece have been my latest discoveries.

Lifestyle writers teach you how to make their favourite tasty treats

VEGAN CHOCOLATE

N my first week of university, I made the decision to stand in the academic rep election. I had a good manifesto but I didn’t actually know anyone on my course at the time! To fix this problem, I decided to do what I do best: baking. This recipe helped me win my very first election and I made lots of friends through shamelessly standing outside lecture theatres, giving people cookies and chatting enthusiastically. Ingredients: For about 15 medium-sized cookies, you will need: • 55 g (2 oz) of granulated or caster sugar (unless you bake for Mary Berry, the kind of sugar you use doesn’t matter at all!) • 85 g (3 oz) of dairy-free margarine (e.g. Vitalite Dairy Free Spread) • 110 g (4 oz) of plain flour (plus excess for dusting work surface) • A splash of dairy-free milk (I’ve tested this recipe using soy milk, rice milk, oat milk, and coconut milk – all turned out great!) • 1tsp (5 ml) of salted caramel flavouring • Icing sugar to dust (optional, recommended for people with a sweet tooth) Instructions 1. In a mixing bowl, cream the sugar and the margarine together, then mix the

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flavour in. 2. In a different bowl, mix flour with cocoa powder. Sieve this mixture into the sugar and margarine mixture. 3. Combine everything together using a wooden spoon, slowly adding dairy alternative as you mix it. The ideal consistency should be similar to play-doh. 4. Preheat the oven to 170*C / Gas mark 5 and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. 5. Optional: Wrap your dough in cling film and chill for 30 minutes to an hour. 6. Put your dough on a floured surface, roll the dough to about 5mm thick. Pro tip: If you can’t be bothered to invest in a rolling pin, a glass bottle or a jar would do the job. 7. Cut the dough into shapes. Pro tip: If you haven’t got a cookie cutter, you can use a drinking cup, or if you’re confident about your art skills, get a knife and cut into your own shape. 8. Place your cookies onto the lined baking tray and bake in the oven for about 20 to 25 minutes. 9. Take your cookies out and transfer them onto a cooling rack. The cookies will definitely harden once they are cooled. 10. Optional: Sprinkle icing sugar to decorate the cookies. Penny Dinh

FRENCH ONION FLAN

IRED of blowing your student budget on sandwiches from Pret in the forum? Been living off tinned beans and pasta since freshers? Struggling to find quick lunch recipes that can be prepared with minimal effort, cost and ease in advance? This French onion flan recipe was taught to me before I left for university and is an old favourite of my dad’s. Prepared in advance and served cold, it is ideal as a quick and cost-effective lunch. Ingredients: • 500g shortcrust pastry (Prepared pastry is available from most good supermarkets and saves hassle, mess, time, and more importantly, washing up). • 50g butter • 2 tbsp olive oil • 800g onion, roughly sliced (approx. 7-8 medium sized onions) • 240ml double cream • 4 medium eggs • ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg • seasoning Instructions 1. Melt butter and oil in a pan, add the onions and cook over a low heat for 30 minutes. The idea is to sweat the onions until soft, so don’t allow them to brown or frizzle. 2. With the pastry at room temperature,

7. 8.

lightly dust a work surface with flour and roll out pastry to 0.5cm thick (about as thick as a £1 coin). Line the pastry in a 30cm wide pushpan flan tin. Two smaller tins work equally as well too. Gently firm the pastry into the fluted edges, removing the overhang. Conventional advice recommends blind baking pastry (using baking beans) for 10-15 minutes (before adding the filling), however I have found that with this particular recipe it isn’t necessary and is in fact better to go without. Beat the eggs, and mix in the cream, nutmeg and seasoning. Nutmeg isn’t essential, but does add some flavour if at your disposal. Preheat the oven to 180 °C. After 30 minutes, spoon the sweated onions to just fill the pastry case and pour over the egg mixture, ensuring an even spread. Cook in the oven for 25 minutes, reducing the heat from 180 to cook at 160 °C. Allow to cool before placing in the fridge. Best served on a bed of rocket and tomatoes, with French dressing.

Sophie Belcher

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EDITORS: Bethan Gilson and Rhiannon Moore

lifestyle

1 OCT 2018 |

My type on paper? Bea Fones, Online Comment Editor, discusses whether Love Island is reflective of modern dating

S there any such thing as an “organic” relationship these days? With seemingly everyone on Tinder (or at least periodically re-downloading and deleting it again in disgust, don’t look at me), at least one friend per week seeking advice about what someone’s cryptic Facebook message means and a weird reticence from all directions to just sit down and talk candidly, how are any of us supposed to get on and develop any kind of meaningful connections? It seems like you can’t get involved with someone without also getting involved with their friends’ opinions, and with social media available to us at every turn, you can’t avoid reading into the tiniest things.

the Love Island villa every day. But honestly? I can’t really say I was rooting for any of the entirely-too-chiselled looking types on the show, largely because the whole thing just seems so constructed. Sure, there are theoretically no influences from the outside world on the Villa’s inhabitants, but it makes for a very odd dynamic. More drama and relationship developments take place in just 24 hours than you would usually find over the space of a month in the average group of friends in the “real world”. And none of them last, do they? So really, how much of the whole “no outside influence” thing is realistic? We might not like to admit it, but

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS BECOME SUCH A BIG PART OF OUR LIVES I can’t say I was quite as glued to Love Island as some of my friends whilst it was showing, but that may have only been down to not being able to access ITV2 from Germany where I was studying abroad. I did, however, watch the highlights on Youtube every night and felt I was pretty up to date from those. I wasn’t necessarily invested, but there was something therapeutic about getting my laptop out in the evening for the messy but Image: William Stitt entertaining updates coming from

because social media has become Image:ImGiovany Pineda Gallego ag e: M ig such a big part of ue lRP er our lives, we naturally ez judge people we meet by how they behave through their public profiles and how they interact with others. In terms of the poor sods in the Love Island villa (well, not so poor after all those Instagram sponsorship deals they get as soon as they leave – not to mention the club appearances. See you in Unit 1, guys!), they don’t get to see this side of their potential partner. Hence the often messy and unpleasant surprises they get when they’re finally released back into the outside world. Of course, you usually don’t have a whole nation on tenterhooks to see the result of a couple’s disagreement, even though it might sometimes feel like it. Distancing ourselves from other people’s opinions is more difficult than ever. It can feel like your every word and move is being observed, scrutinised and passed on – you’re no longer able to present yourself exactly the way you want just by how you interact with someone in person. We are, for better or for worse, judged for more than just how we look or behave in person. Image: Suhyeon Choi There’s something to be said for just meeting someone

t h e o l d fashioned way, dating, getting to know someone slowly and developing a relationship. My younger self would extol the virtues of "meeting someone organically”, and doing things in "the right order" but it’s time we admit that it’s a bit naïve to consider this the only way to build a successful relationship. Quite honestly, we should just embrace what’s offered to us. Life, after all, is short. There’s no way we’re getting rid of social media – but if we’re self-aware about the influence it has on us, I don’t think it matters too much. Your perfect partner could be just the other side of that slightly questionable dating app. Or not?

MAYBE MODERN-DAY FAIRY-TALES CAN COME TRUE Still, maybe modern-day fairy-tales can come true. Jack and Dani - we’re still rooting for you.

I know what you did last summer Lifestyle writers share what they got up to during the summer break

Productivity and romance

HILST I didn’t jet off to any exotic locations (our family holiday was to Anglesey), I still had an amazing summer.

TO TOP IT OFF, I HAD A SUMMER ROMANCE THAT HAS FLOURISHED

I was lucky enough to snag an internship with an online lifestyle magazine, so I wrote for them part-time throughout the summer whilst also being able to do other, more fun things. I started a few writing projects, I got better at playing the ukulele, I created my very first bullet journal in an attempt to force myself to be more organised and I even managed to win a giant panda at a theme park when my friend came to visit

(this was quite honestly the highlight (both Living like a local winning the panda and my friend PAIN – the country of glocoming to visit, of course). To rious food, friendly peotop it all off, I had a sumple, fiestas, sea and sun. mer romance that has I decided to take a now flourished into working holiday au a beyond-summer paring in Valenromance! cia. This was cerWhilst I may tainly a ‘living as not have had a a local’ experivery Instagramence – quite worthy summer, literally living it was still very and working productive, one with a Spanof the best I've ish family. I was had in years, and I based in Cullera, loved it all the same. a seaside town, surI didn't need to jet off to rounded by Spanish the Mediterranean to have speakers (a change from Image: Rujhan Basir the time of my life. the English infested summer Olivia Powell resorts of Benidorm or Ibiza). Teach-

ing and childcare was daunting at first due to my rusty A Level Spanish and the fact that Valencian people often speak Valencian, rather than the Castilian Spanish we traditionally learn. Being vegetarian appeared to be a somewhat uncommon concept for locals to comprehend - after saying I don’t eat meat, I was swiftly presented with a chicken salad.

THE CHALLENGES WERE WORTH IT FOR THE HIGHS Nevertheless, the challenges were worth it for the highs of living on the beach, having a pool, experiencing fiestas and meeting a myriad of interesting people I would've never met had I not gone. Lizzie Frisby

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Katie Jenkins, Deputy Editor, jazzes up your student experience

H, how we’ve all been there… One too many Pot Noodles perhaps; a sweaty nightclub beau; the threat of a glacier forming in a freezing cold student kitchen… Whatever the final straw, the glamour of student life very rarely endures. If, dejected, you crave the popularity of Glinda the Good, or the rags to riches of Eliza Doolittle, don’t let student debt rain on your parade. Follow our top tips on how to jazz up your university experience in the most Broadway method imaginable.

THE GLAMOUR OF UNI LIFE RARELY ENDURES First things first, no musical lead is complete without their significant other. Singletons, however, don’t fret: the more unrealistic the relationship the better. Think Grease’s Sandy and Danny whose relationship seems to hinge on a leather jacket and a smoking addiction. Think again the eponymous Phantom of the Opera whose chat up tactic is the somewhat unconventional method of chasing his lover through a subterranean labyrinth while

pretending to be her dead father. In regard to your seduction technique, the more avantgarde the better. Bear it in mind the next time you’re eyeing up those Chino-ed calves in The Forum. ‘You’re the One that I Want’ could be only one compliment away… If, like Donna Sheridan, such flirtation results in a Greek island, three lovers and (most importantly) perhaps, an unexpected child, see it only as a means of furthering your musical reach. As Maria Von Trapp can testify, The Sound of Music would have possessed far less Sound had it not been for the irritating burble of the seven children. In musical theatre, every

unexpected pregnancy has a silver lining, most especially when the child in question makes sounds worthy of a Rodgers and Hammerstein chorus. Yet of course, through the hard times the characters in musicals continue to seize the moment and make the best of bad situations. Just ask composers Boublil and Schönberg who can always be relied on to jazz up a conflict zone. Do bear this in mind when next complaining to your friends about your workload. All good musicals are only ever improved by the breakout of a rebellion. It may not be quite the French Revolution, but the odd barricade and ‘Do You Hear the People Sing?’ should be enough to whisk you through the demands of the academic year. Do spare a thought for the ultimate friend in the friend zone however:

Les Miserables’ Eponine. Even in her dying moments, she doesn’t cease to think of her fans with her dazzling vocal range. No one wants to be accused of egotism, least of all a musical lead, so – like Eponine – make sure you’re never suffering in silence. ‘Literally dying’ from a hangover? Delirious from an all-nighter? Sing, sing away my friend. No need to just stop there however. Why not get your flatmates involved? Like West Side Story’s Maria warbling over her dying lover, there’s plenty of potential for a grieving Sondheim chorus as you retire to your bed with freshers’ flu.

SING, SING AWAY, MY FRIEND Following such expert guidelines, who needs the bright lights and stage paint of the West End? Whether singing about graduate prospects or your Tinder lovers, in Timepiece or on Forum Hill… In mere minutes, your measly student existence may be transformed into an all-singing, all-dancing parade. Turn that awkward “hello” into Hello Dolly and be your own theatrical star.

The low-down

Lauren Newman, Arts + Lit Editor, give you the run down on exciting arts news THEATRE

Image: Marissadubs

F anyone you know is even remotely interested in musical theatre, you will have heard all about Waitress, the smash-hit Sara Bareilles penned musical which premiered on Broadway in 2016. Due to open in February next year at the Adelphi Theatre, it tells the story of Jenna, a talented pie maker and waitress, pregnant with her abusive husband’s child who embarks on an affair with her gynecologist. When a baking contest comes to town, Jenna seizes her chance to escape and the rest is musical theatre history. Although, as with all good musicals, the story is rather bittersweet, it is as immensely enjoyable as the rousing, boppable songs. Tickets are on sale now so book to have your pie and eat it!

OPERA

Image: Professorcornbread

F you’ve got some time to spare between sleeping off yesterday’s night out and starting classes, treat yourself to a bit of culture and head off to Picturehouse for their screenings of the Met Opera’s 2018/19 season. From the 6th October until the 15th December, Picturehouse will screen operas ranging from Aida to Marnie broadcast from New York. Especially excitingly, La Traviata, a personal favourite of many will also be screened. It’s a brilliant alternative for those who aren’t sure about investing in going to an opera (tickets can sell for up to £200 at the Royal Opera House for live performances) but are interested in dipping their toes into its wonderful lavish world. Faithful fans will also enjoy immensely.

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arts + lit

EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

Art or artifice?

1 OCT 2018 | Image: Kurzon, Wikipedia

Arts + Lit writers, inspired by Damien Hirst’s pickled shark, debate modern art

HERE it was, the tiger shark. One of the ocean’s most ferocious predators. Suspended in a mysterious liquid as blue as cartoon tears. I felt my heart jump at the sight of The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living. This beast, captured like a photograph of the real living creature, was magnificent. Being able to take my time to study this shark, to stare into its beady eyes with no risk of injury or death…it was exhilarating. I was able to experience this unique feeling because of a genius. It will always be an experience I’ll vividly remember. Some critics believe that this iconic piece’s lack of apparent meaning does not correspond with its economic or intrinsic value. I disagree for one reason: Aestheticism. Sometimes, it’s okay to value art for nothing more than its image, for it to exist solely as a work of art. There is a reason that Hirst is famous. His work is fascinating in that it makes you contemplate death through a medium you’d never expect. It’s unexpected, random and absurd. It has no purpose, it’s useless, and in this way it’s necessary. In the preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray Oscar Wilde summarises this perfectly: “Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex and vital.” Jasmin Priya

ODERN art is always controversial; you get naysayers claiming they could make something similar in a matter of minutes, and devoted fans who love the abstract and ambiguous nature of many current pieces. The works of UK heavyweight Damien Hirst are a prime example of this - his most famous pieces include various animals frozen in formaldehyde, and a series of canvasses covered in coloured dots. An artist like Hirst really seems to prove the skeptics of modern art right-his pieces offer shock value and intrigue, as opposed to any real artistic merit. Hirst’s Venice exhibition, containing a series of half-baked experimental sculptures, was panned for a lack of innovation . You could argue that other modern titans like Tracey Emin or Grayson Perry might suffer from the same problem, but to me, pieces like ‘My Bed’ or ‘The Walthamstow Tapestry’ have visual and cultural meaning and weight, beyond their creator’s obvious name recognition. But equally, I believe these artists are so famous that they could quite easily exhibit a piece of plain paper and be acclaimed for it. In all forms of art, from painting and sculpture to music and beyond, critics and fans will always apply some automatic value to a work because of the artist’s profile - you just have to hope it’s justified. Alex Wingrave, Music Editor

The politics of publishing Lucy Wilson discusses the relationship between publishing industry and social media

HE publishing industry has always been somewhat of a temperamental beast throughout the ages. Many of the greatest writers in canonical western literature have struggled to get their work published. James Joyce’s struggled for nine years, amassing 22 rejections, for his collection of short stories Dubliners before finally getting the green light in June 1914. As we all know, he went on to become one of Ireland’s and then the 20th century’s most influential writers, with Dubliners finally achieving cult status after only selling 379 copies in its first year (120 of which were purchased by the author). But since the invention of the internet, writers’ careers in the 21st century hang not only on whether a publishing house wants their book, but also on how many Instagram or Twitter followers they have.

A publishing house is guaranteed to make profit on a book written by an online influencer, such as Zoe Sugg, whose 2014 debut Girl Online broke records for first week sales. When it was revealed that Sugg used a ghost-writer, despite public outcry sales were not hindered in any sense and the trend of “Youtuber” books continued to gain traction. An author’s image and online presence is an enormous selling point, sometimes more so than the writing itself. Sugg’s 10.5 million followers on Instagram and Deyes

4.4 million were instant assurances that their literary creations were bankable to the publishing industry. The over saturated publishing market leaves more traditional writers in the lurch as it puts them in competition with online influencers and their fans, some of whom have been known to launch online hate campaigns against others who dare to cross their favourite bloggers. In 2018, writers must become not only writers of books but tweeters and insta-stars The idea that an aesthetically pleasing Instagram page might equate, in some

people’s minds, to a well-written book, highlights the superficiality of the 2018 publishing climate. The idea that a writer’s personality and personal r e p u t a t i o n should so influence the books they sell would have Barthes turning in his grave.

Image: Selphelonor,Pixabay

WRITERS’ CORNER Growing Pains Grace Rider When I was five I held a ladybird in my little fist, thinking I could keep it as a pet, feed it biscuit crumbs and take it to school with me. The mush in my open palm seemed like a cruel trick; I didn’t understand how it could have escaped from such a tight grip. That wasn’t my last victim and I soon learned that caterpillars often died in boxes, even those with holes in, and that a simple touch to the butterfly perched on my arm was deadly. I grew out of my murderous tendencies and settled for ferrying woodlice from one end of the park to another. It was a vicarious thrill to imagine my selfappointed duty as the catalyst for all kinds of adventures. Maybe the woodlice would get into complicated relationships, have babies, assign each other jobs. Maybe they would just live alone or engage in turf wars. Either way it would be something new. Even after what must have been a terrifying voyage over tarmac, the woodlice would always unfurl. Their segments stretched to accommodate the new soil and I knew they wouldn’t be afraid to shed old shells as they grew.

IT IS EASY TO CRITICISE WRITER-BLOGGER HYBRIDS Image:Augustfinster.Pexels

Whilst this may make it more difficult for some writers to sell their books, it is fantastic that it does also bring visibility to authors part of marginalised groups in society. Additionally, although it is easy to criticise such writer-blogger hybrids who use their personalities as a clever marketing tactic, by doing so many commentators avoid actually dissecting their work through the lens of personal prejudice. They are simply easy to dismiss because as icons of today’s youth, their views and ideas are instantly dimissed as low-brow in the same way that people dismissed fans of bands like The Beatles and One Direction in their day. The interests of teenage girls specifically are often viewed as unsophisticated. This prejudice is therefore likely to effect the publishing industry. The internet creates a community of book readers and writers alike, who support and help one another. Whereas book recommendations were once mainly by word of mouth, now sites such as Goodreads, and dedicated facebook groups help spread word of books to read to a wider audience, and foster a sense of community. Although this is at times strange, and social media-influenced publishing has its downsides, we cannot dismiss it as entirely negative consequentially.

New Year Evanna Kappos The new year. It sounds like the snap of magic tricks, and sparks, and paper cuts, And layers upon layers of locks and keys and bolts and bank vaults, Unlocked in layers of papers and scratches of thoughts, Figuring out like the cogs of a giant clock and typewriter keys until, It clicks. And then with a release, the aeroplane doors unstick to open up, The wishes and hopes and dreams, which were really just In your bones after all. In your bones and the rhythms of your heartbeats, The rhythm with which you live your life. The beat of your footprints, And eye closes, And words between your tongue clicks. The sound as God speaks, The quieter than quiet sound, more heart softening And knitting back together, And melting into place than sound.

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arts + lit

EDITORS: Lauren Newman and Tabi Scott

1 OCT 2018 |

Artistic differences Image: Garageband, Pixabay

Tabi Scott, Arts +Lit Editor, attempts to separate the art from the artist

RTISTS and their work are so closely associated that they can become interchangeable. If this is the case, the circumstances within which art is created transforms its meaning - should we be plastering gallery walls with pieces associated with problematic artists? This only strengthens the legacy of people whose actions outside of their creative endeavours may have done more harm than good, and it could be argued that they no longer deserve recognition in any form. So, should we still celebrate the work of disgraced artists?

SHOULD WE CELEBRATE THESE PIECES OR CONDEMN THEM? Pablo Picasso’s string of affairs are immortalised in his work, each one defining an era of his art. It is challenging to separate his personal and professional life for this reason, as his lovers were his source of inspiration. But his domestic instability, with women routinely dropped from his life once they had had their share of the pedestal, has built up his reputation as a misogynist. This view is heightened by the subsequent fates of these women, two of whom committed suicide. There is much conjecture over how abusive he really was - a question we will never have a precise answer to - but the portrayal of women in his artwork only reinforces this argument against him. His creative vision can be perceived as a celebra-

tion of the female form, yet his work is filled with masses of disintegrated women, pulled apart and exposed in terrible vibrancy.

TO LOOK THROUGH PICASSO’S OWN MISOGYNISTIC LENS The ugly side of conventional female beauty is dramatised in these pieces, and it begs the question: to what extent are we being forced to look through Picasso’s own misogynistic lens? Yet if they inspired and defined his work, is his art ultimately a celebration of these women if they have brought him so much success? This leads into the work of Andy Warhol. Referred to as “the father of Pop Art”, Warhol’s caricatures of popular culture infuse everyday objects with vigour by bringing them to the forefront of a scene in an explosion of colour, from Campbell’s Soup cans to Coca-Cola bottles. Women also share the spotlight with these everyday goods, for example in his images of Marilyn Monroe. Capitalism is clearly a heavy theme in his art, so can we say that Warhol is exploring femininity as another symbol of capitalist greed by portraying the manipulation of women in the media? Or is this merely a satire that objectifies women, with a more mocking tone about their position as sexual symbols? This could be an attempt to play on how women were portrayed in the public eye in the 20th century, or an insight into his own sexist perception. In light of Warhol’s fascination with drag queens, this may just be another way of exploring gender, hyperbolising the portrayal of women in the media. The concerns over his stance on women are not helped by his association with radical feminist Valerie Solanas, who shot Warhol in 1968, declaring to the police that Warhol had “too much control in my life”. This erratic murder attempt has made her into a cult figure and extremist feminist icon in countless film and television series, yet she is often portrayed as somewhat crazed, obImage: Rodger Higgins sessive and delusional. This only aids the claims about Warhol’s complicated relationship

with women, but if these suspicions were proven to be true, should this alter how we perceive his work? The eccentric personalities of artists often complement their work and draw even more attention, and so their biographies are not always something that can be easily ignored. Artwork is not born from raw talent alone: media coverage appears to be just as essential to the success and determination of how the artist is perceived by the world. Surrealist artist Salvador Dali strung his personal and professional life together with countless controversies and scandals. His life became an exhibit, hung out for everyone to see and pass judgement. Dali strove for a shocking reputation, attending art exhibitions adorned with garments to evoke sensational comments. This eccentric personality only draws an audience in to his work, ever the more controversial.

HIS LIFE BECAME AN EXHIBIT Yet the content of much of his work is so controversial that it begs the question of whether it is still appropriate, from ‘The Enigma of Hitler’ to ‘Figura De Perfil’ - an image of his sister from a sexually provocative viewpoint, taking inspiration from a pornographic 1930s magazine. Artists such as Dali have used their personal life in order to achieve fame, with the knowledge that art is more fascinating with the story behind it, so he revels in being controversial. With insensitive content such as ‘The Enigma of Hitler’, should we still celebrate these pieces or condemn them? This conversation is increasingly relevant in response to the rise of the #MeToo movement. Disgraced Hollywood star Woody Allen’s work spans decades, and there are questions over whether we can detach ourselves from the context of the allegations against him and still enjoy his work at face value. This could be interpreted as disrespectful to the victims. Can we still comfortably watch shows like House of Cards even though Kevin Spacey has been accused of sexual assault? These are all pioneering artists. To banish the work of problematic artists’ borders on censorship, and to close our eyes to the presence of these people in popular culture would be to close the door on

Image: Rodger Higgins

important conversations about their attitudes and behaviour. While these artists should perhaps not be given the opportunity to create more, their work needs to be discussed and appreciated in light of their lives, and to be used as a springboard to launch more difficult discussions about the power that some of these people in this industry had, and how they abused it, whether something beautiful was made from it or not.

Image: Jack Mitchell

Image: Wikipedia

music

Celluloid tunes

Will Byford looks back on a classic cinematic soundtrack

MUSICAL is defined as “a play or film in which singing and dancing play an essential part”. That may seem redundant, since everyone knows what a musical is; a Mamma Mia or West Side Story, full of flashy ensemble numbers. However, I’m going to praise a film that doesn’t feature these exact tropes, but still has music at its heart - Edgar Wright's 2010 Scott Pilgrim vs the World Scott is the bass guitarist for Image: S. Bollmann

an unsuccessful rock band, whose tragic love life brightens up when he meets the mysterious Ramona. However, before Scott can even think about asking her to dinImner, he must first wage battle with her Seven Evil Exes. Music is central throughout, from his band

struggling to impress music producers to video game-style head-to-head ‘bass battles’, where our hero must best a competitor in a test of musical ability. The soundtrack features several live performances, incredibly catchy punk-rock with jagged guitar and rasping vocals. Uniquely, the actors in the band all played their respective instruments, keeping the sound authentic; they are believable as a floundering garage-rock trio. The remainder of the soundtrack is in similar style, featuring T-Rex, The Bluetones and Beck, as well as lesser-known artists like Blood Red Shoes that I wouldn’t have encountered otherwise. Like Wright’s later film Baby Driver,

every track fills a narrative purpose, painting a story of failed teenage romance and impossible aspirations. It's a soundtrack not to be missed.

Image: Universal

Behind the curtain

Exeposé Music Writers sing the praises of the greatest musical composers

IM Minchin always wrote showtunes. He just struggled finding the perfect stage. A cult comedian whose most acerbic punchlines were delivered over the tickles of a grand piano, Minchin launched his musical career in 2010 as the songwriter behind Matlilda, a blockbuster adaptation of the Roald Dahl classic that hoovered up seven Olivier awards. Nothing about the score will scandalise the neighbors as his sex doll love ballad ‘ Inflatable You’ might. Who cares? It’s still among the most inspired matchings of writer to material in decades. In Minchin’s hands, Dahl’s subversive myth about a child genius becomes a biting reflection on childhood and the things we lose when we try to grow up too quickly. Soon, Minchin was singing ballads about the plight of gingers to 20,000 seater concert halls. He is a major composer with a sense of humour, and in the theatre, that's a gift worth celebrating.

AVE Malloy is the eclectic visionary that you’ve never hear of. Perhaps you’ve heard of his work. Natasha, Pierre and The Great Comet of 1812 had just a ten month run on Broadway, receiving 12 Tony award nominations, with two wins. Despite its incredible intricacy, a musical adaptation of 70 pages of War and Peace was never likely to be popular with the masses. Other productions of Malloy include a Russian ‘indie rock’ musical, based on the life of Rasputin, a ‘rock anthem’ adaptation of Beowulf, and a self described “musical song-cycle about love, death, and whiskey”, The Ghost Quartet. After attempting to read the plot summary several times, I really can’t explain it any better than that. His range of work provides a full understanding of his bizarre artistry - so, if you want to add a little bit of weird to your musical theatre, Malloy is your man.

Richard & Robert Sherman

Image: Anonymous

HE Tony Award-winning Kiss Me Kate is Cole Porter's most famous musical, and it's a fantastic showcase of his sexy lyricism and instantly classic musical composition. However, Porter had been writing hits since 1928, with a string of successful tunes like 'I've Got You Under My Skin' and 'Let's Misbehave' that are instantly recognisable today. There's a reason why icons like Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald recorded versions of his songs; Porter's ability to sneak provocative lines into stirring anthems of love is perhaps unmatched in the era. It's a testament to his determination that his songwriting flourished after a debilitating horse-riding accident in 1937. 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare' contains the fantastic line 'when your baby is pleading for pleasure, let her sample your "Measure for Measure", and it's that kind of witty phallic imagery which has stood the test of time and makes any Porter-penned musical a joy to watch.

Emily Reader explores the city's eclectic music scene

Y Ex-

OU may never have heard the names of Richard and Robert Sherman, but you have heard their songs. Writing as a duo for Disney throughout the 1960’s and 1970’s they penned childhood classics such as 'Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious', 'I Wanna Be Like You' and 'Feed the Birds'. Their lovely songs aren’t infected with cynicism or gloom; they never fail to solicit a smile or a tear from adults and children alike. Their song 'It’s a Small World', which plays on loop at Disney theme parks, is thought to be the most performed song of all time, and 23 gold and platinum records line the walls of their homes as a testament to their skill and popularity. With Freshers' Week at an end, take a spoonful of sugar to help the alcohol go down, and spare a thought for the brothers who composed the soundtrack to your childhood.

Making a summer jam

Aaron Loose, Music Editor

Amelia Chisholm

THE LEMON GROVE IS GUARANTEED TO BECOME A GUILTY PLEASURE

Image: Yarl

Image: Michael de Angelis

Image: S Pakhrin

Cole Porter

Bambulia Image: Julia Nala Loren Javier Image:

Dave Malloy

Tim Minchin

Alex Wingrave, Music Editor

Richard Ainslie

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EDITORS: Aaron Loose and Alex Wingrave

music

1 OCT 2018

Video saved the musical star

| 25

Pop videos owe a lot to classical musical theatre, according to Tom Routledge

Image Credit: Rocbeyonce

LTHOUGH they appear to be very different, the pop music video and the musical number are far more alike than you may think. Like musicals, pop music videos tend to provide instantly classic imagery or clearly explain a message beyond the lyrics; the best do both. Through modern music history the pop video has often borrowed from the classic musical form, whether it be as Rihanna’s ‘Umbrella’ alluding to Singin’ in the Rain or expressive choreography. Music videos such as Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and Lady Gaga’s ‘Bad Romance’ operate just like musical numbers on stage. ‘Thriller’ is considered to be the first music video that was presented as a short film. It's easy to see why. The video is unusually long at 14 minutes, has multiple memorable images, and an iconic dance break. Michael Jackson uses visuals to tell an engaging narrative greater than the six minute song. The progression through different times and locations is similar to a musical number montage. Similarly, ‘Bad Romance’ evokes an important message which is not necessarily

obvious from the lyrics of the song alone. The idea of women being regarded as commodities becomes clear through visuals alone. These videos have stood the test of time as two of the most creative and artistic moments in pop history due to their enlisting of the musical tradition to enhance their work It’s impossible to discuss the impact of the musical on the visual without mentioning Beyoncé. Throughout her career, she has consistently changed our perception of what a music video can be. In 2008, the ‘Single Ladies’ video’s release was seen as an unexpected turn in pop music. Unlike most videos of the time, Beyoncé privileged silky choreography, just like the dance breaks in musicals from the mid-late 20th century. Dance breaks are not intended to progress narrative, but instead provide pure entertainment and spectacle. Five years later, the surprise drop of her self-titled fifth album saw Beyoncé shift from making radio hits to crafting complex visual albums. These videos weren’t full of product placement like her contemporaries. Each visual is flawlessly executed and cleverly represents

the messages within the lyrics. Three years later, her masterpiece Lemonade raised the bar again. You could consider this to be a film first and an album second, such is the sheer power and complexity of the visuals. It is theatre and music combined at their absolute best, and has proved to hold its own in live performances at the Superbowl half- time show and the Formation World Tour.

THE MUSIC VIDEO BROUGHT THE CLASSIC MUSICAL TO THE MASSES The music video could be seen as bringing the classic musical to the masses. The artistry displayed by artists then and now is more accessible and, I think, relevant to a modern audience. Instead of buying a ticket and sitting through a two and a half hour musical, a fan can now open YouTube and watch a 4 minute music video and have a vivid emotional experience.

Satisfied?

AMILTON has been taking the world by storm since it premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda, the show’s writer and star, worked tirelessly for years composing the hit musical and it has undoubtedly paid off. After a superb year of ticket sales in New York and the success of the soundtrack across the world, it was announced that Hamilton would be coming to the UK in December 2017. As someone who had listened to the soundtrack multiple times a day for months, this was perhaps the best piece of news I had heard that year, and as soon as tickets were released, I snagged mine. After the relentless listening of the soundtrack for a year prior to seeing it, I knew exactly what I wanted out of the show. I didn’t get that, which was disappointing – at first. During Act One, the characters voices, shock horror, didn’t sound the exact same as the ones I’d listened to, and for some reason this didn’t quite compute in my brain. I didn’t feel

Image: Yarl

Can a live show ever be as good as its cast recording? Rhiannon Moore, Lifestyle Editor, investigates the same energy from the songs as I felt when incredible way that performers can take listening to the soundtrack, and this something iconic and make it Image Credit: Steve Jurvetson was anticlimactic, especially their own. considering my excitement It is truly amazing the building up to the day. extent to which Hamilton Come Act Two, has reached so many I’d rewired my brain people through to think far more its soundtrack. positively and so I However, we have enjoyed it a hell of to remember a lot more. I went that this album from considering is produced in a my £100 ticket studio and edited a waste to being until it is perfect. I had honoured that I felt I to remind myself that had experienced Hamilton going to a live show is so portrayed in different ways. different – it isn’t performed The characters were different, with fancy microphones and in but this wasn’t a bad thing. The songs had a silent room. It’s performed by humans different tones to them, but this was good! I showing their rendition of the characters they loved that there was such a difference in it from read for, and influenced by the energy level what I’d heard before, because it showed the of the actors, the audience’s reactions, even

the time of day. That is what makes theatre productions so beautiful. You aren’t fully submerged into it like you would be if you were watching a movie. The audience and the performers are physically and mentally closer in the theatre. Theatre is no longer just for people who can afford ridiculously expensive tickets. Thanks to the availability of its soundtrack through music streaming services, Hamilton achieved phenomenal worldwide success. Anyone can enjoy it. But watching Hamilton live after listening to the soundtrack constantly, I noticed how truly different the experiences were. Neither experience was worse than the other. The soundtrack has been edited to perfection, but seeing the show firsthand was so much more intimate and unpredictable than I ever experienced listening on Spotify. My advice for those going to see Hamilton in London, or any other show for that matter, is that live music will always be beautifully imperfect.

Editor's Picks Crazy for You (1992) by Ira and George Gerswhin

Room 25 (2018) by Noname

Welcome to the Neighbourhood (2018) by Boston Manor

Best in Show: KRS-One, Lemon Grove, 19 October

music

A Fright at the Opera

1 OCT 2018 |

David Finlay explains how to do rock musicals the right way

S a fan of both rock music and musical theatre, it may surprise you to know there is always a certain trepidation for me when hearing the announcement of a new rock musical. At face value, there does appear to be something about the two genres that aren’t an obvious match. Rock can be a genre that sometimes takes itself too seriously, but the same cannot be said for the world of musicals. Maybe it was the disappointment of We Will Rock You that tainted them for me. Don’t get me wrong – I still love the music; the rearrangements of Queen’s songs was done to perfection. But the story that Ben Elton concocted to sew the songs together was tenuous to say the least, especially considering the band's future foray into the world of Simon Cowell’s Syco Entertainment – not a million miles from the Globalsoft Corporation that the show protests against. It is here that a theme develops. The most recent rock musical to take the West End by storm – Bat Out of Hell – has faced similar mixed reviews and critiquing of its plot. The music and the spectacle are, well, spectacular. Yet the storyline that

Image: Carl Lender

holds it together is considered by some to be a weak link. Likewise, Rock of Ages has

faced debate – although I would argue that the success of Rock of Ages where other shows of similar genre have fallen down is twofold. Firstly, it is loosely based upon real events the memory of Tippah Gore and the P.M.R.C. is apparent in the desire to clean up the Sunset Strip. Secondly, it never takes itself too seriously. The common thread in all of these shows is that they are jukebox musicals. Yes, every time a new jukebox musical is announced it is invariably followed by the claim that "unlike your ordinary jukebox musical, this one has a good story" but how often do these publicity slogans hold up? Fair enough, there are exceptions to the rule – Our House, for example, has a strong and well written plot that integrates the music numbers to enhance the action that is taking place, rather than telling a convoluted story to build up to a classic number. Green Day’s American Idiot also rarely faces this particular criticism. Yet in this instance, being based on a concept album gives the story a

P.T. Boredom

much stronger starting place than simply coming up with a narrative whose task is to weave together a series of famous songs.

WE WILL ROCK YOU'S STORY IS TENUOUS TO SAY THE LEAST There are some truly wonderful rock musicals out there, but for every Jesus Christ Superstar, Rocky Horror Picture Show or Spring Awakening, there are always shows that seem to forgo the power of storytelling in favour of showcasing somebody’s greatest hits. So, rock musical writers, I urge you, when you’re next sitting down to write, consider writing your own music to develop the story that you want to tell, or perhaps consider your favourite concept album and how a story already told within the album could be developed for the stage. And if not, then take the time to write a story worthy of the wonderful music which you have chosen to celebrate.

You can do a whole lot better than The Greatest Showman, argues Lauren Newman, Arts + Lit Editor vision of the director, but thinly disguises its confusingly varied influences under the title of musical theatre whilst ambitiously trying to be a universal crowd-pleaser.

[THE FILM] THINLY DISGUISES ITS CONFUSINGLY VARIED INFLUENCES In a way, it has succeeded: the album achieved 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and won a Golden Globe for “Best Original Song” for ‘This Is Me’. The record set by the cast album for The Greatest Showman shockingly knocked music industry golden children off their perches, smashed records set by Paul McCartney, and stopped promising talent from reaching chart glory. One such artist prevented from achieving this milestone was R&B singer and protégé of Drake, Jorja Smith, whose album Lost and Found billed at No. 3, just under popular indie singer George Ezra who settled for second place with Staying at Tamara’s. Material created by both these artists is arguably more artistically complex. Whilst Smith maturely attempts to tackle hot political issues including crime, race and police brutality in her single ‘Blue Lights’, The Greatest Showman actively avoids any

such political responsibility - one which sparked controversy due to P.T. Barnum’s life. For those unaware of what sort of a man we are dealing with here, Barnum purchased a blind and virtually paralyzed slave woman to exhibit as George Washington’s Nurse, and continued to take advantage of her after her death through charging punters to see her autopsied. He continued to exploit those in more vulnerable social positions than himself throughout his career.

But as a self-promoted “feel-good film”, the soundtrack does not recognise this, scrambling to establish Barnum as a positive character. Songs like ‘A Million Dreams’ paint Barnum as a distinct visionary, an individual with defiant insight of "what the world could be" through the lens of young love. Of course, I recognise the soundtrack’s appeal. Its message of self-acceptance embodied by defiant track ‘This is Me’, combined with the talent of its bankable stars, was always going to equal success. However, many of the tracks featured on the cast album are generic, easily dissected and feature messages of self love and individuality that seem disingenuous when their reasons for being seem primarily to obscure P.T. Barnum’s murky past. The Greatest Showman simply does not measure up artistically.

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HETHER The Greatest Showman’s soundtrack deserved the level of commercial success it has garnered is debatable. The cast of performers, namely Hugh Jackman and Keala Settle, are extremely vocally talented and have plenty of musical theatre experience. However, the songs themselves seem to frequently underwhelm in an attempt to appeal to the mass market, with a contemporary pop sound which ignores the 19th century backdrop of the film. Jackman and songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have acknowledged the film’s attempt to appeal to people of all ages through the score, citing the successes of Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton, In the Heights) and Robert Lopez (Book of Mormon, Avenue Q) as inspirations in their successful attempts to “transcend popular culture” with their modern approach to composition. In their attempt to "open up" the musical theatre genre, the composers seem to lift material from popular songs, making them virtually impossible to fail with a wider audience. The opening number, ‘The Greatest Show’, shamelessly borrows the rhythm of Queen’s ‘We Will Rock You’, whilst attempting to tip its hat to Muse with half-hearted attempt at rock. Ballad ‘Rewrite the Stars’ seems to capture some of Zac Efron’s glory days in the High School Musical crossed with John Legend's playbook sound. Unlike early noughties movie-musical Moulin Rouge it does not just creatively cover established hits to fill the

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Bethan Gilson, Lifestyle Editor, ranks her favourite musical dance numbers

Y parents have taken me to the theatre since I was a tot and therefore a love of musicals has been instilled in me. I recognise that I’ve been extremely fortunate in being able to attend lots of live theatre performances and that many of these can be extortionately priced. Musical film adaptations are a great way of democratising theatre and allowing everyone to experience the pure joy and escapism of an almost unbelievably upbeat musical. It’s all well and good having a cracking musical score, but the perfect dance routine makes a good musical a great musical. Whilst there are many strong contenders, I’ve whittled it down to my top four musical dance numbers that’ll get you over those post-fresher blues and strapping on your dancing shoes.

scene launches into this spectacular synchronised dance routine. Donna, Rosie, Tanya and an ensemble cast gather on a wooden pier that juts into the glistening Greek water. They perform some cool hand movements, a few jumps, some floss type move and I even spied some air guitar. The image is a pretty iconic one. It’s not particularly technical but this dance just makes me feel so good. It makes me want to jump up and dance along with them. It makes me feel like I too am young, sweet, seventeen and the dancing queen. And I think that’s what a good dance scene should do, it should make you want to jump up off your sofa and join in. So, for that reason ‘Dancing Queen’ kicks off this list and comes in at number four.

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Dancing Queen – Mamma Mia! (2008) ‘Dancing Queen’ from the original Mamma Mia! is the ultimate feel good scene. The scene comes when Donna is having a bit of a ‘mare after bumping into not one but THREE of her exes (rough). But, with the power of dance and a great ABBA tune, best pals Rosie and Tanya are here to save the day and remind her that she truly is the dancing queen. Honestly, if I could have a Rosie and Tanya hyping me up when I’m feeling a bit low then that would be great. What I love about this particular dance routine, is that there’s nothing too technical or complex about it. In fact, it feels like the sort of dance routine that you and your mates could come up with. After just a couple of views, I’m sure even the most average of dancers could pick it up. Initially there’s a lot of dressing up and running wildly across a beautiful Greek island, but then the

the use of silhouettes in the background. The routine feels symbolic of the changing nature of the position of women in the Jazz Age with the inter-war sexual revolution allowing women to break free from the traditional stereotypes of femininity. Because I’m a sucker for a bit of gender history, ‘Cell Block Tango’ just trumps the Annie girls and comes in at second place.

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4 Image: Universal Pictures

sense of chaos and rebellion. Through the dance routine, the girls are performing their chores but they’re doing so in an aggressive way. It shows an army of young girls screaming about their dissatisfaction with their lives, which feels subversive and interesting. The choreography is a lot more technical and seems more deeply considered than ‘Dancing Queen’ and the young actors are clearly very talented dancers. So, ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’ comes in at third place.

It’s a hard knock life annie (1982) Annie’s ‘It’s a Hard Knock Life’ was the dance routine that made my childhood self wish she had the talent and/or money to go to stage school. Alas, I still have absolutely no rhythm and no matter how hard I try, I can’t do a cartwheel so there’d be no place for me in this dance routine. The irony is that Annie tells the story of an orphaned girl living under the cruel supervision of Miss Hannigan, but all I could think of as a child is how fun those girls made cleaning the floor look. I definitely don’t think this interpretation of the scene is the preferred one so that’s testament to how talented the children are as dancers and the high energy and fast paced nature of the scene. The scene has a tone of defiance to it, which is probably what attracted me to it when I was younger. The imagery of their loud stomps and jumps contribute to the

you can’t stop the beat hairspray (1988)

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cell block tango chicago (2002) In my twenty years I’ve come across some very annoying men. None have yet to push me to the point of murder, but if I ever felt so compelled, I’d turn to “the six merry murderesses of the Cook County Jail in their rendition of the Cell Block Tango” for inspiration. The story of Chicago is based on an obsession with murder cases involving female perpetrators killing their lovers, which arose in the Chicago press of the 1920s. It’s also a nod to the changing gender relations of the period. ‘Cell Block Tango’ perfectly demonstrates this. In the narrative of the song and the dance routine itself, the women are firmly in control. It’s a scene that I find fascinating to just watch and admire. The routine showcases the women as physically strong, in command of their sexuality and their needs and desires. The energy of the scene gradually builds. Each character’s individual dance is beautifully executed and really assists with the flow of the narrative; it manages to tell the women’s stories simply through action. Gradually, more dancers are added to the scene until it culminates in a full stage of women performing a synchronised, high energy routine, with

In my humble opinion, ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ from Hairspray is one of the greatest moments in cinematic history. All eight minutes and thirty-six seconds of it. Hairspray is set in 1960s Baltimore and explores themes of racism, the impact of segregation and body image and positivity. There are so many amazing dance routines in this film, but ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ just tops it for me. Loads of different popular 1960s dance moves are used which makes it feel really authentic, the song has a beautiful message, and it showcases all the main characters with solo dance routines. The moves are complex and impressive whilst still being easy enough that if you tried hard enough you could pick up some bits of it. It’s basically the textbook perfect musical dance routine. Why else would Cheesies include it on its playlist? It makes you want to get up and start shimmying and shaking. It’s high energy, fast-paced and incorporates all the aspects that I loved about the other dance scenes: feel-good factor, good technique and exploring an interesting and important message and history. That’s why for me, ‘You Can’t Stop the Beat’ claims the top spot as the best musical dance number.

Editors’ Picks Images: Warner Bros.; Allied Artists Pictures Corporation; Criterion Collection.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Cabaret (1972)

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

1 OCT 2018

Make a song and dance of it

David Finlay discusses films and TV that would perfectly transfer to being a musical

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stunning visuals would be the perfect accompaniment to those cold winter nights. 3. Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008). Asides from the opportunity to see more of Peter Bretter’s epic Dracula puppet musical (that is teased towards the end of the film), this slightly bittersweet love story is a great blend of hilarity, empathy and genuine tenderness as Peter attempts to find his feet alone in a world after his breakup from Sarah Marshal. The scope for songs from Dear Evan Hansenesque love numbers, to farcical comedy and even rock super hits from Aldous Snow, make it an intriguing mix that could benefit from the musical treatment. 4. Love Actually (2003). Continuing on the Romcom theme e:

dic musical masterpiece that would take the West-end by storm it is Lilley. Occasionally, great comedy can not only remain hilarious and strange but also border the profound, and in a character like Jonah Takalua, Lilley’s character development has this in abundance. Further, Mr. G has a ready-made central character and superstar that portrays the worst characteristics of the world of drama. Throw Ja’mie into the mix and it’s a sure fire winner – though the costume changes might get a bit hectic! 2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993). Ok, so it’s already a musical film, so maybe this is cheating a bit, but who wouldn’t want to see this taken to the stage. The budget required would be huge, but as a winter time spectacle spanning Halloween and Christmas, this cult classic could be the next big thing. Stage adaptations of film musicals usually require extra music, and who wouldn’t want to hear more of Danny Elfman’s gorgeous score? Plus the dark fairy-tale world being brought to life in an array of spectacular costumes and

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VERY fan of musicals has spent many an evening watching TV and musing over what would make the perfect stage show; usually followed by the inevitable dream casting conversation that goes with all good musicals. But what are the characteristics of a story that make it suitable for musical adaptation? And where would they fit amongst the plethora of shows already in existence? Here are 5 films or TV shows that would make the perfect musical. 1. Summer Heights High (2007). This is the pinnacle of Chris Lilley’s creative output. If anyone Image: Imdb could make a come-

Here we go again

is a Christmas classic. The scope for telling different characters’ stories and weaving them in and out of each other make this an unusual prospect that might fit somewhere in style and structure alongside a show such as Rent. Again heart-warming and hilarious in places, and equally devastating in others such as Mia’s discovery of Harry’s betrayal, the range of emotions through song would make it a surefire hit. 5. Peaky Blinders (2013-). After something more gritty? How about Steven Knight’s crime drama about Birmingham’s Shelby family? This might be something of a leftfield suggestion, but the opportunity to tell a heightened tale of loveable rogues, set to the bluesy music of the show theme, could be a highly-entertaining evening’s entertainment. From Tommy’s loneliness at the top, to Arthur’s constant battles with his demons, or even Alfie Solomon’s unreliable flip-flopping between factions, the thrilling storylines and easily memorable characters could make this a show to remember in the style of Frank Wildhorn’s Bonnie and Clyde.

Amelia Chisholm discusses whether contemporary musicals lack originality to the creator’s favourite podcast, My Brother, My Brother and Me). This includes musical references. The song ‘Say No’ repeats the line, word-and-tune perfect ‘Nobody needs to know’ from The Last Five Years (2001) as well as the line ‘modern major general’ from Right-Hand Manattributed to The Pirates of Penzance (1879), and ‘You’ve got to be carefully taught’ (My Shot) listed as referencing a line from South Pacific (1958) - and these are just the references listed in the playbill.

THE CRITICAL WORLD IS SIGNIFICANTLY SNOBBISH

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If one of the most successful musicals can pay homage to previous musicals and still receive impeccable praise then we must recognise criticism of these other tributes to musicals as ‘lazy’ and ‘tacky’ as what it is; snobbery. The modern pop culture domain is rife with criticism from ‘academics’ – a significant portion of theatre critics have a strong distaste for the recent uptake in adaptation musicals that have arrived upon Broadway, whilst failing to recognise that both Les Mis-

NY humanities student will be familiar with the term that there’s ‘no such thing’ as originality in any form, whether it be novels, theoretical criticism, or in this case, musical theatre. Particularly in screen-based portrayals of musicals; 2017’s La La Land features a shot-for-shot recreation of a photo shoot from 1957’s Funny Face. Parodies of the renowned Singin’ in the Rain (1952) by modern popular culture appear at least ten times a year, and even television shows such as Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-) pay tribute with recreations of musical numbers from such shows as The Music Man (1952). ‘Tribute’ and ‘recreation’ are the interesting terms, here. Modern musicals, such as La La Land are dismissed critically as part of popular culture, rather than being considered ‘artistic’ enough for critical acclaim. Part of this is absolutely their referencing and intrinsic context of musicals past. The critical world is significantly snobbish about popular culture, so dousing your modern musical in the waters of the genre’s history isn’t exactly following the road to success. Interestingly, this snobbery does not seem to apply to all referencing. The grossly popular Hamilton (2015) is rife with direct quotations from all areas of popular culture (with even a nod

EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

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erables (1985) and Wicked, (1995) two of the most popular musicals of all time, are themselves, adaptations. Musical theatre is a wonderful tradition. Once recording sound onto film was possible, we made The Jazz Singer (1927). Our homage to past glories and recreations of what we love is not a crime, and, in fact, is present in many other genres (I’m looking at you, M Night Shaymalan self-referential cinematic universe). Perhaps it’s the refusal of many to take musicals seriously, or to refuse to perceive fiction as ‘meaningful’ unless it has an unhappy ending. But for those of you

julie andrews

who aren’t afraid to still enjoy fun, Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again, is still in cinemas. Image: Paramount Pictures

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HE one-two punch of Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965) seems to define not just the musical break-out, but a break-out in general screen presence. Certainly, Julie Andrews was launched into the popular consciousness with a defining image in each, be it the faint image of a woman on a cloud above the London skyline, or the sweeping panoramas of the Austrian landscape. Small or large, intimate or explosive, her career was founded on a status as the centrepiece leading lady. But, in turn, she provided something different from the svelte mutability of Audrey Hepburn; her voice was a powerful soprano, while her characters were women of conviction and principle. While her later career may have been marred by flops – and the tragic loss of her voice – she remains an icon, owning regal grace in The Princess Diaries, discovering spoken-word poetry, and providing gravitas in voicework. Her start in musicals remains a clear landmark for women on screen. Harry Caton, Online Screen Editor

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EDITORS: Ben Faulkner and Chloe Kennedy

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1 OCT 2018

Call me crazy

Chloe Kennedy, Screen Editor, evaluates Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s brilliance

OMEDY has often been the perfect device to talk about important topics like mental health; this is no different with Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which masterly uses satire and, of course, music to face such issues in an entertaining and beautifully compelling way. Crazy Ex is a musical TV show, which, understandably, can be a hard sell - but it is this genre that lets it deal with such difficult current topics in a (mostly) light-hearted yet deeply meaningful and enormously important way. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend follows Rebecca Bunch, a big-shot lawyer in NYC who decides to move to West Covina (Califoorrniahhh) to re-unite with Josh Chan, a guy she fell in love with in summer camp ten years ago. The character of Rebecca Bunch is brazenly relatable and “adorably obsessed”, crafting the show as her very own musical; stemming from the brilliance of Rachel Bloom (and her team) who stars, writes and produces Crazy Ex. We follow Rebecca as she chases her fairy-tale dream of getting back (and falling madly in love) with Josh. In fact, the fairy-tale likeness is key to the show: with characters often breaking out into songs with

fairy-tale themes – most obviously displayed in “I’m the Villain in My Own Story” – whilst at the same time satirising the whole idea of fate and destiny. Self-reflexivity and satire own this show. At the same time as being Joshobsessed in the first two seasons – which is clearly highlighted with Josh’s name being in every episode title – it challenges the Disney idea that destiny and true love are what matters (or exists) and dominates your whole life, instead reminding us that everyone struggles even when they appear to have it all. Music is therefore the perfect tool to display characters’ feelings as well as displaying Rebecca’s perception of people, and her outward consciousness – providing the audience full access to character’s consciousness effortlessly. The musical genre provides the capacity Image: eonline to express emotions

that characters otherwise cannot express. Much like mental health being a taboo topic, the musical genre provides a space that allows such subjects to be tackled head-on and reveal the most vulnerable aspects of everyday struggles, and yet, still be playful with it. Of course, satire plays a big role in this. Not only is Crazy Ex great at tackling the major issues and taboos around mental health, it is also inherently a feminist show whose reflexivity immerses itself in contemporary issues. Music numbers make references old and new, making it thoroughly compatible to present day: from a dance number mimicking Astaire and Rog-

ers, to the Backstreet Boys and Spice Girls; and even a triangle of references to Marilyn and Madonna in “The Math of Love Triangles”. Certainly, Crazy Ex is a feminist show that should’ve existed years ago (plus it’d be great to have more episodes of it). It questions what it is like to be a woman today with mental health issues; juggling friendships, challenging families and struggles with body image. Crazy Ex confronts topical issues without hesitation – a favourite has to be the lyrics (in “Put Yourself First”) “put yourself first in a sexy way, put yourself first for him”, a classic teaching from many women’s magazines. Crazy Ex can go from revenge-peeing to talking about the gender pay gap: this is what makes the show a work of genius. What Crazy Ex really does is epitomised by its title: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, interrogating and reclaiming the notion of “Crazy” and why it is a “sexist term”. Importantly, Crazy Ex unashamedly uses seriousness, humour and music to present mental health issues as normal and not defining, whilst remaining upbeat.

A non-binary musical Mubanga Mweemba wonders what it means to be a ‘musical’

NOTION constantly contested is the idea that the purity of an art form directly correlates to its merit. Pushing the limits or reaching beyond the boundaries of genre and form is sometimes rewarded however experimental works are subject to disdain. Sure, the rules were made to be broken, but when the rules are followed, in all their difficulty, we congratulate the individual who works within their confines utilising its structure with virtuosity. Of course those confines can be used to insult as much as they celebrate. The debate between whether theatre

Image: Imdb

is superior to film, if television is a better medium than cinema and the ceaseless discourse that pits tradition against modernity, relies upon their distinct differences.For the project or story that does not fit neatly into one particular category, its credibility is under threat. It becomes difficult to place a body of work into the nebulous hierarchy of artistic excellence when it blurs the static definitions that allow such rankings to exist. In the case of musicals, their celebration frequently originates and remains in that particular industry, with limited overlap into other cultural domains. One of the chief attributes of a musical, the singing, is used to disparage the form. This distinction is weaponised, the opinion being that the acting involved in musical theatre falls short, and is superseded by the singing. Or that the musical composition overtakes the playwriting. Indeed, these criticisms are not completely undeniable but they are sweeping generalisations. Musical films from West Side Story to Chicago have re-

ceived various wins and nominations at the Academy Awards, including wins in Best Picture for both, alongside accolades for acting and directing. Or take the movie Once, what the director John Carney describes as a “naturalistic musical”. This film eschews the fantasy of showtunes, opting rather for a score that is candid and sincere. I can understand the fatigue that is felt for musicals, perhaps it may be because our main source of consumption tends to be by way of Disney. But let’s not allow prejudice to narrow our minds to the point where a piece of art fails at something it was never trying to achieve success for. Let’s not allow the fault of bad storytelling to fall solely onto the shoulder of musicals, or let it be a defining feature of the craft. Musical scenes in what are generally perceived as existing outside the musical genre have greatly benefited movies of critical and popular acclaim. Who could forget Audrey Hepburn’s charming performance of “Moon River” in Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Hepburn’s lim-

ited vocal range paired with the understated melody, carries an ineffable vulnerability in the wistful notes of her voice. Alternatively, the dance number in (500) Days of Summer whilst surprising is coincidentally fitting; the fantasy rooted in Tom’s feelings for Summer couples nicely with the surrealism of the scene.The select inclusion of just one musical number in those movies is the precise amount; any more and it would be saccharine, any less and we would be denied important character revelations. The music should serve the scene, as it is with any creative decision in film-making.The structure of a musical or any genre, when left distinct or otherwise seized in an novel amalgam, has the potential for critical acclaim. And some do not. But we do not need permission from anyone to watch and listen to the stories that brings us joy. Musicals should be allowed to followed their own canon and indulge in their rules--from the highest of brows to the jazziest of hands.

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1 Sagacious - educated (4) 1 Greeting - reception (7) 2 Cold sweet snack (informal) (5) 5 Rear - support (4) 3/12 Athletic contests next due to be held in 9/18 Time of press inactivity (in late summer) Japan in 2020 (7,5) (5,6) 4 Make loved (6) 10 Diminish - lewd din (anagram) (7) 6 Stomach - MBA done? (anagram) (7) 11 Short-sightedness (6) 7 Memento - souvenir (8) 12 See 3 Down 8 Utter melodiously - vocalise (4) 14 Mind - thing (6) 13 Global competition (football’s was this 16 Polish city - and kgs (anagram) (6) summer and cricket will have one in 19 Midday meal (5) 2019) (5,3) 21 Self-centred person - it goes (anagram) (6) 15 Caretaker (7) 24 Former naval sword (7) 17 Shortage of rain (7) 25 Mild Dutch cheese (5) 18 See 9 Across 26 Fringe benefit of employment? (4) 20/23 A prolonged period of hot weather (4,4) 27 Well-known (7) 22 Damp ___, a disappointing thing (5) 23 See 20

GUESS THE MUSICAL to WHICH MUSICAL DOES EACH LYRIC BELONG? 1. “i cook like betty crocker/and i look like donna read” 2. “if you lack the balls/you can go play dolls” 3. “Down, down thy soul is cast/from the earth whenceforth ye fell” 4. “bought myself a fancy pair/tightened up the derriere”

ANSWERS

5. “dON’T BE OFFENDED BY MY FRANK ANALYSIS/ tHINK OF IT AS PERSONALITY DIALYSIS” 6. “Anything you can buy i can buy cheaper/i can buy anything cheaper than you”

4. A Chorus Line; 5. Wicked; 6. Annie Get Your Gun. Trivia: 1. Little Shop of Horros, 2. Heathers; 3. The Book of Mormon; Heatwave, 22 Squib. 7 Keepsake, 8 Sing, 13 World Cup, 15 Janitor, 17 Drought, 20/23 Down: 1 Wise, 2 Lolly, 3/12 Olympic games, 4 Endear, 6 Abdomen, Gouda, 26 Perk, 27 Notable. Myopia, 14 Object, 16 Gdansk, 19 Lunch, 21 Egoist, 24 Cutlass, 25 Across: 1 Welcome, 5 Back, 9/18 Silly season, 10 Dwindle, 11

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XTV éé éééé ééééééé Té é ééééé ééé ééé éééééééé éééé ééééééé ééé ééé éé ééé é étfééé; éééé ééééé ﬁ éé éé éé é ééé éééééééééééééé XTV éééé éé é ! é ééé’éé éééééééééé éé ééé é é éé ééééé é é ééé é é éé é é éééééé é é éé éééééééé é ﬁéé éé éé ééé Géé é Wéééééé éé jééé ééé!

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Science

SCIENCE EDITORS:

Scarlett Parr-Reid Gabriel Yeap

Devious devices

Gabriel Yeap, Science Editor, reveals the disturbing world of the medical device industry

EDICAL devices are hailed as the new age of medical treatment. Under FDA regulations, a medical device is an apparatus, appliance, software, material, or other article to be used specifically for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. Unfortunately, unlike drugs and pharmacutical products which are often rigorously controlled and tested before their release onto the market and labelled fit for human use and consumption, medical devices take on the appearance that they are well regulated and tested to ensure that they are safe, as you would expect a governmentbased, non-biased organisation to do. Yet, there are often multiple loop-holes in their regulation process from creation to massmanufacture. This article is about the story of how dangerous, and indeed life-changing some of these medical devices can be, all in the worst and most horrifying way possible.

It’s impossible to remove it once inserted, without incuring serious irreversible damage On 27 July, a documentary was released on Netflix called The Bleeding Edge. It was quite simply one of the most incredible and upsetting documentaries I’ve watched in a long time. It is a social justice and medical documentary with the capacity to leave you shell-shocked, or desperately swearing at the screen to no avail in my case. Kirby Dick’s powerful and moving documentary about Image: Pixabay

Image: Netflix

cervix grow over the implants, making it impossible to remove once inserted, as the tissue over it becomes tough and fibrous, so removing it means removing your entire abdomen along with it!

Affected women are unable to work, have a love life or lead a normal live

the medical device industry opens our eyes to the stories of many women in America who have had medical devices implanted into them, and the horrifying consequences. The industry that causes these complications makes about 300 billion in revenue each year, and examples of some of the very worst devices include robotic surgery, mesh implants and hip replacements just to name a few. The biggest scandal about this whole industry as a whole is that physicians whom we entrust our lives in the confidence that they have our best interests in mind are of-

ten paid huge amounts of money by medical device companies to use their products in patients, often with extremely poor statistical data and awful scientific research and development put into their products, leading to some terrifying outcomes. Another factor that does not help is that the FDA medical device regulations have a loophole. Originally meant as an exception to the rule, they ruled that if a new medical device has a similar function to a previous product already on the market, then there would be no need to go through the whole process of testing their products, it would be simply approved. Initially meant as a way of allowing newer updates on old products to be produced, this is now the main way medical devices are put out. This results in the some of the medical devices being totally untested, unproven and mostly unsafe.

sounds great theoretically, it has horrific consequences when used in real patients. It causes severe chronic pain which has had many women unable to work, and thus unable to support their families, and it can also destroy the love life of a woman since sex becomes unbearably painful. Thus, it totally devestates a person’s life.. You may ask, why not simply remove the implant? Well, it’s not that simple, the tissues inside the vagina or

In the documentary, large companies such as Johnson and Johnson and Bayer refused to be interviewed, and furthermore, their CEOs continue to deny any allegations and maintain that their products are safe when they clearly aren’t. The unwillingness to be open from both the sides of the companies as well as the FDA would seem to confirm any suspicions of corruption, bad science and an outright violation of human rights and the Hippocratic oath which all doctors swear. This is a story of how the corporate world have put their priorities all in the wrong places, putting money over their people and their patients. It’s also a reminder that science has the power to change lives for the better and for worse, and that sometimes even doctors can be duped into doing the wrong thing out of ignorance or money.

Physicians who we entrust our lives to are often paid huge amounts of money to use their products An example of this is that of vaginal and cervical mesh implants. After childbirth, symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence may appear, causing a difficulty in having sex or urine leaking when coughing or sneezing. The idea of the mesh implants is that they will hold it in place and stop the symptoms. Sadly, although the idea

Image: rawpixel

EXEPOSÉ | 1 OCT 2018

SCIENCE

Stunning bacteria

Scarlett Parr-Reid, Science Editor, shares the electricity-producing capabilities of gut bacteria

HE human gut has, for as long as we can remember, been mysterious territory in the world of science research. However, in recent days, advancing exploration of it has revealed that its microbiome hosts a party of interesting microorganisms. Its realms are really rather shocking.

Researchers have identified the exact genes needed to produce electricity According to recent work carried out by researchers at the University of California, Berkeley (UOCB), a species of bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes, are able to generate their own electricity. So, move over probiotics, electrogenic bacteria is watts on our mind. Though, they’re not the only electrogenic bacteria, with Clostridium perfringens and Enterococcus faecalis boasting the same quality. And, whilst these electrifying little critters aren’t entirely new, already found in the depths of lakes and

other such far-away places, it’s their unique method of producing electricity that’s caught the attention of scientists like Daniel Portnoy, Microbiologist at UOCB. Like schools of fish swimming through the Great Barrier Reef, Listeria employ little Flavin proteins as vehicles to transport their electrons across the cell wall. This property was recorded in an experiment carried out by scientists at the UOCB, as they housed the bacteria in an electrochemical chamber, harnessing their fired electrons using a wire or an electrode. Lo and behold, a rippling electrical current was generated. How might a minuscule bacterium benefit from sending out great waves of electricity? The main reason is to dispose of excess electrons given out during metabolic reactions; though, ultimately, it’s a vital precursor to energy production. The process is made simpler by the fact that electrogenic bacteria are gram positive, meaning that they only have a single layer of proteins called peptidoglycan making up their cell wall. Conversely, gram negatives have both a peptidoglycan layer and an outer lipopolysaccharide membrane,

double the trouble for electron transportation. So, the little guys at the bottom of lakes have a structural advantage over the surface bacteria when it comes to their metabolism. Upon examination of mutant bacteria with missing or altered genes, researchers have identified the exact genes needed to produce electricity, and the consequent proteins encoded. In fact, the cascade of proteins used in electrons transportation was seen to be much simpler in Listeria than in other electrogenic bacteria. Of the copious organs, nooks and crannies of the human body, Listeria choose to reside in the gut. This is principally due to the fact that the environment in which they thrive- rich in Flavin proteins derived from vitamin B12- is present in the gut. In fact, even just the presence of a high concentration of flavin proteins in the area surrounding the gut can enhance electrical activity. But, what next… The fate of the electrons once they have escaped the bacterium is an interesting one. A throwback to those secondary school science lessons, we all know that humans require oxygen for aerobic respiration, or rather air-obic

respiration as I like to nickname it. However, there’s always a plan B. For Listeria, that’s the replacement of oxygen as the final electron pair acceptor, with other molecules. Whereas in the lab electrons dispersed to bind to an electrode, in the human gut, the electrons flow on currents like water from the bacterium into the extracellular environment (outside the cell), with surrounding metals, such as Iron and Manganese, as nets to catch them.

There’s potential for designing bacteriabased technologies for generating energy In the past, we’ve been warned of the food-poisoning property of Listeria, acquired from cold stored food, resulting in Listeriosis. Particularly dangerous for the immunosuppressed, such as pregnant women (where it may cause miscarriages), newborns (whose immune systems are less well developed) and the elderly (with aged immune systems), why should we be a little less fearful and a little more endeared? It’s

more than just a gut instinct. The spotlight is on electrogenic gut bacteria, as they are especially important in informing us about how bacteria can both infect, and potentially maintain the gut health of, humans- a glimpse into the future. Lead researcher at the UOCB, remarks: ‘so many bugs that interact with humans…as pathogens or probiotics (benefitting our health)…or in fermentation of human products are electrogenic [and] had been missed before’. Microbiologists Laty Cahoon and Nancy Freitag, outsiders to the study, were shocked to understand that bacteria can be highly charged within the gut. They appreciate the lucrativeness of electricity-generating bacteria and the potential for designing bacteria-based technologies to generate energy, such as the already acclaimed microbial fuel cells and batteries powered by electricity bacteria have acquired from organic matter. To further immerse yourself in the exciting world of electrogenic bacteria, read ‘A flavin-based extracellular electron transfer mechanism in diverse Gram-positive bacteria’, in the scientific journal, Nature.

Hazy days ahead for vaping

T is often said that smoking and coughing live together, that cigarettes toss your life into an ashtray, yet, what if achieving a nicotine rush through an alternative method was effortlessly doable and not equally harmful? As we’ve paddled through the unpredictable waters of twenty-first century technology, over one billion individuals have experimented with a variety of tobacco and nicotine related products, including cigarettes, hookas, cigars and even chewing tobacco. Throughout all this sampling, nicotine has succeeded in becoming a universal psychoactive drug; consequently, the compelling outcomes of this naturally occurring stimulant had driven approximately 20% of the 2014 global population to smoke cigarettes and risk individual health. The first half of the twentieth century showed little to no indication of smokers exhibiting poor wellbeing. Fortunately, today there is strong evidence for the dangerous association between smoking and multiple types of cancer, so one may ask why the habit is persistent. Nicotine consumption has side effects such as increased blood pressure

Image: OpenClipart-Vectors, Pixabay

Laura Butula evaluates the pros and cons of vaping

and sleep disturbances, yet it is addictive, and thus people who abuse the chemical often find it particularly difficult to quit. Nonetheless, whether you smoke cigarettes or not, it is fundamental to acknowledge that habitual actions cannot suddenly be entirely ignored- inching steps are customary.

Image: Ludovico Vermier

Is it typical to hear of a chain smoker who abruptly stops smoking, moving on to a zeronicotine policy? Is it common to hear of someone slowly weaning off cigarettes, relying on another tobacco product during this transition? Is it usual for this person to, ultimately, end their dependence on cigarettes? The imaginable answers to these questions are as follows:

no, yes, maybe. In a world where personal health and safety are prioritized, these responses could become yes, no, yes; however, addiction repeatedly proves to be to a battle with oneself. Enter the e-cigarettes- flavorful, practical, and less harmful. It is this comparison to ordinary cigarettes that has propelled this Next Generation Product (NGP) to the forefront of nicotine markets. Hence, what are e-cigarettes and why have they enormously popularized in the past decade? An electronic cigarette, or a vape, is a handheld device that heats up a nicotine-based liquid enough for a user to inhale flavored vapours. Although this e-liquid does contain nicotine, the concentration can be manipulated, and therefore, individuals who wish to quit smoking are often attracted to the “healthier” alternative. Actually, research has found that electronic cigarettes are 95% less harmful than traditional cigarettes due to the much-reduced quantity of toxic constituents such as arsenic and carbon monoxide. Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean vaping is completely risk-free; in fact, buying e-cigarettes is still illegal in places

like Australia and is yet to be legalized in other countries like the United States due to their (you guessed it) addictive potential. This is where the problems begin.

Nicotine has succeeded in becoming a universal psychoactive drug To many adults, vaping appears to be a viable method of quitting smoking, because it provides them with lower doses of nicotine that can eventually cut cravings; conversely, this seemingly innocent resolution has also attracted a new audience: youths. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 66% of teens that vape believe e-cigarettes contain only flavoring. Advertisements found in magazines and on the internet do not supply the information necessary to warn of the vaping risks related to non-smokers, thus curious adolescences are confident to investigate, especially as vape culture continues flourishing. The youth appeal of e-cigarettes is obvious: they’re easy to hide, they’re roughly 40% cheaper than regular cigarettes, they don’t stain teeth or leave a lingering smell, and one may even consider them

harmless- no comment. Just recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been criticized by several organizations for poorly regulating popular devices such as JUUL, opening an expected door to consumption of other drugs. In fact, JUUL e-liquid pods contain as much nicotine as a packet of cigarettes; accordingly, if non-smokers abuse these devices, it’s only a matter of time until the reward system of the brain is degraded, triggering memory loss and shortened attention span. These last few sentences have indeed darkened the status of e-cigarettes, except the focus should not merely be on the device itself, but the individual operating it. As the long-term effects of vaping remain vague at present, it’s best to steer clear of this flavored experience, mainly because some animal related studies indicate that prolonged use of e-cigarettes could increase cancer risk. With all the pros and cons of vaping, one thing is for sure: e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco cigarettes. Nevertheless, more research needs to be conducted to see how e-liquids can affect the human body, along with quality regulation of the added chemicals. Just remember, there are always healthier ways to get your heart pumping.

1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

Staying ahead A

Penny Dinh discusses the ins and outs of mental health at university

CCORDING to an NHS 2007 survey, 1 in 4 adults will experience ill mental health symptoms across their life span. And there are certain risk factors that make students especially vulnerable to ill mental health. Age is undoubtedly an important risk factor for university students, as the peak onset for mental health problems is before the age of 24 years. Transitioning to university is another risk factor because for a lot of students, especially freshers, it would be the first time they live away from home, away from their family and their support network. On top of having to keep up with more challenging academic work, university students need to learn how to live independently for the first time. This includes handling finances, housekeeping work, balancing study with extracurricular activities, while establishing a new identity. An interesting finding was that second

Image: Wokandapix

year students report the most increase in psychiatric symptoms of ill mental health. This is concordant with the risk factors for mental health problems at university, as second year is when academic assessments start to count towards degree qualification, hence an increase in academic stress.

Treatments for mental health problems An alarming finding is that only 5.1% of those experiencing mental health disturbances in the NHS study were receiving treatments. Students with mental health problems are often faced with extensive waiting time; the report found that some have to wait up to 2 years to receive NHS treatment while their mental health deteriorates. Given the prevalence of mental health problems among students, and given the disturbances this can cause to students’ study, this calls for more action from universities to improve support for mental health.

Dealing with mental health issues can be daunting, but you are not alone

tion; the directory can be accessed at At Exeter At the University of Exeter, there https://www.exeterguild.org/change/ is a variety of support you can receive wid/. Dealing with mental health issues if you feel that you have poor mental health. Firstly, you can speak to your can be daunting, but you are not alone GP at the Student Health Centre, on at Exeter, and support-whether it be campus. There’s also the Wellbeing related to academia or personal well-beCentre, in the same area on campus, ing is available, tailored to your needs. which offers walk-in services on a first-come-first-serve basis Image: The People Speak as well as in-person or by phone appointments, though there may be a long waiting list. The Students’ Guild a l s o runs and maintains a Wellbeing Info Directory where you can search for available help, specific to your situa-

You spin me right round

Rachel Jones walks us through the wonders of spintronics and ferromagnetism

HE ‘information era’, it’s the age that has seen major breakthroughs in electronics, leading to rapid progress in technology. Such advancements now allow for us to easily and readily store and share data over large distances. Swiftly, we have grown accustomed to expecting the regular release of updates in our devices, making them more compact whilst still delivering faster operational speeds. Researchers facing these ever-increasing demands of the public are hoping that a new generation of electrical device incorporating spin electronics or spintronics, will help them meet these challenges.

Research is now frequently focused on using antiferromagnetic materials Spintronics brings several advantages to the computing field. Computers using conventional electronics use large amounts of energy, a lot of which is wasted as heat. Further energy is then required to power cooling systems. The

dissipation of energy limits the speed at which information can be transferred, slowing the speed at which devices are able to operate. However, spin waves can carry information without emitting large amounts of excess heat, so allowing for greater information storage and transfer capacity at a lower energy consumption and with the much-wanted miniaturisation of devices. Conventional electronics work by storing and transferring information using electrical current, which is simply a flow of electrons. Two states of low and high current can equate to the binary logic states of ‘off ’ and ‘on’. Spintronics exploits another characteristic of the electron: its spin. To understand spin, we must consider an electron as a tiny bar magnet, which can align itself with an external magnetic field (the ‘up’ state) or can anti-align itself against the external magnetic field (the ‘down’ state). These two additional states, ‘up’ and ‘down’, when taken together with the current ‘low’ and ‘high’ states doubles the number of possible states, namely low with down, low with up, high with down and high with up. Hence, giving rise to higher data

transfer speed and increased memory. Magnetic spin properties are already utilized in many devices such as magnetic memory devices and hard disks, which store data within a magnetisable material. These memory devices use a ferromagnetic material; a material in which the spins of neighbouring electrons become coupled resulting in regions where electrons all have spin ‘up’ and regions where electrons all with spin ‘down’. These regions are called domains. Research is now frequently focused on using antiferromagnetic materials, in which the spins of adjacent electrons are opposite, i.e. an electron with spin ‘up’ would be sandwiched between two spin ‘down’. An advantage of using these antiferromagnetic materials is that the intrinsic dy-

Image: OpenClipart-Vectors

namics (how quickly we can change the alignment of spins) of this type of material operates at a faster frequency. It is hoped that by integrating anti-ferromagnetic materials within our devices could deliver up 1000 times the processing speeds of device that use ferromagnetic materials. Overall, it can be seen that although spintronics is a complicated area of research it is providing plenty of promise for the advancement of pure science and technology alike. Electron spin is an untapped resource which has the potential to provide the answer to our everincreasing desire for speed and functionality in modern life.

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1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT

MoRun to take place in Exeter

ORUNNING have announced they will host MoRuns at 22 different locations across the UK and Ireland throughout the month of ‘Movember’, including Exeter, to help raise awareness of men’s health issues and to raise vital funds for the Movember Foundation. The Exeter MoRun will take place on 17th November and will see runners go through River Valley Park. MoRunning events are suited to runners of all abilities and of all ages, with a 5k option for the fun runners and a 10k option for those looking for a challenge. There is also a 1.5k Mini Mo run for children aged between 3 and 12 years. In addition, for the first time this year, runners can also take part in a “virtual MoRun” with runners encouraged to upload a screenshot of their result onto the website, which means that MoRuns can take place anywhere in the world! There, they will be placed onto the virtual MoRunning leader board and they will receive a medal and headband. Now in its ninth year, 20,000 male and female runners are expected to take part in the MoRuns taking place up and down the country. Runners are encouraged to don moustaches and run in fancy dress to raise vital funds for men’s health through the Movember Foundation, with special “Mo medals” issued for the best dressed MoRunners at each location. Dave Krangel, Founder of MoRunning, said: “To be a MoRunner means you are part of something bigger than yourself, you’re part of a community, a family and a team.We encourage all of our participants to have fun during their run because that’s what it’s about; dressing up, enjoying yourself and crossing the finishing line with a smile on your face.” He added: “There’s also a serious message though, the runs will be great fun for all the family, but we will be raising plenty of money and awareness of men’ health issues at the same time.” Runners can either run solo or enter as part of a team. Early bird prices start from £10 for the Mini Mo Run for children; £12 for the virtual MoRun; £16 for the 5k option and £19 for the 10k option. Early bird tickets are now available via www. mo-runImage: Flickr/Gerardo Obieta ning.com.

Bore draws, or something to celebrate?

Will Byford looks at the value of draws in English football

Y beloved West Ham played Chelsea at the weekend, and supporters on both sides watched with bated breath. The final whistle went, after five agonising minutes of added time. Pablo Zabaleta punched the air, Mark Noble hugged Felipe Anderson and, on the sidelines, Manuel Pellegrini allowed himself a wry smile. West Ham had won.

Draws almost feel like nothing has changed from kick-off Except they hadn’t. The final score? 0-0. So, why were West Ham celebrating like it was a win? More generally, should Premier League teams celebrate draws? To take an objective view, a draw (particularly a scoreless one) almost seems the ‘default’ - as if nothing had changed from kick-off, as if the teams could have just not turned up and the result was the same. This is, of course, not true. To go back to Chelsea vs West Ham this past Sunday, the match still crackled and excited even though a goal was not scored. Andriy Yarmolenko thudded an

able for them to celebrate the draw as if it was a win - simply because it was against the flow of the season so far? Certainly, a relegation-threatened side like Cardiff might celebrate a draw away at a titan like Liverpool or Manchester City, but should we expect more from the sides with bigger investment or better squads? Jurgen Should we expect Klopp was castigated for the lap of more from sides with honour he urged his Liverpool side to more resources? perform away at the Hawthorns two years ago as they came back to draw Of course, West Ham are tradition- from 2-0 down, but there would have ally bottom-dwellers while Chelsea are been no Liverpool fan who would have one of the dominant ‘Big Five’ of Eng- turned down the point if it was offered lish football. Does that make it accept- to them at half time. Some managers, most famously Sam Allardyce, deliberately set up to frustrate and earn a point (in one case conceding 40 shots but no goals to Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea). Again, this is defensible in the context of the finances and form of the two clubs, but was critiImage: CFCunoOfficial cised for being ‘antiwide-open header past the post, Lukasz Fabianski heroically stopped a flick from Alvaro Morata with his face, and Eden Hazard flickered between defenders to bend a shot wide. In the context of the match, West Ham had lost 4 out of 5 Premier League games and Chelsea had a perfect record.

football’ and ‘against the spirit of the game’. Compare league games, in which teams are happy to ride out the storm for a draw and a point, to cup competitions.

It seems even teams inferior in squad and standings could have a chance to get a shock result Just this week in the League Cup, matches have gone straight to penalties after the regulation 90; a more entertaining end compared to grinding out for the ‘default’ draw. Many fans of a seemingly bygone age talk about the ‘magic of the cup’, and maybe the fact that there is a winner at the end of the fixtures provides tension and excitement. It seems that even teams inferior in squad and standings could have a chance to get a shock result in extra time or penalties. There is no hard or fast answer to this question - doing away with draws seems nonsensical - but it's worth considering how we react to them and whether we should demand more from what is frequently called the greatest league in the world.

EURFC 43-19 Leeds Beckett CONTINUED FROM BACK They soon had something else to cheer, too – another try, after another huge maul from the forward line, and Jack Rouse went over the line for his first try of the year. Morely was unfortunate to mishit his conversion attempt, and it dropped well short of the posts. It was a similar story five minutes later, as brute force from the forward line proved too much for the Beckett defence, and when Lasha Jaiani scored a try that had clearly been coming, the game was all but over as Exeter took a 38-7 lead into the final fifteen minutes.

Brute force from the forward line proved too much for the Beckett defence Beckett threw caution to the wind in the closing period of the game, and to their credit managed to score two tries in two minutes to reduce the hosts’ lead. But Exeter managed the closing minutes well and even added another try at the death, after a prolonged period of pressure on Beckett’s

The victory puts the 1s top of the back-line eventually paid dividends in the form of a Matt Johnson try. The league early on, ahead of Hartpury, conversion miss that followed was Northumbria and Nottingham Trent never going to be costly, and the final on points differential. Next week, they whistle blew almost immediately after travel to Loughborough, who lost to to mark the close of a very successful Trent on Wednesday 29-27. first outing for the 1s in BUCS competitions this season. TEAMS

EURFC

LEEDS BECKETT

Joe ELDERCIN ............................15 Charlie DAVIES ..............................14 George CHATTERTON ..............13 William HOLLIS ............................................. 12 Matthew BLEE ........................................... 11 Sam MORLEY ............................................10 Pierre THOMPSON ................................. 9

.................. Charles VENABLES ............................. Chester DUFF ......................... Tom WILLIAMS ..................................................... Ben DIXON ................................. Harry ROBINSON .......................................... Steffan JAMES ............................... Connor LLOYD (C)

Harrison FOKWE ..................................... 1 George GOSLING (C) ......................... 2 Joe SALKELL .............................................. 3 Richard CAPSTICK .................................. 4 Lasha JAIANI .............................................. 5 Jack ROUSE ............................................... 6 Loc Pierre RIOU ...................................... 7 Rory McMEIKAN ..................................... 8

.......................................... Conrad CADE ............................. Will ROUTLEDGE ......................................... Sam THERON ........................................ John OKAFOR .................................. Adrian WADDEN ...... Hayden THOMPSON-GREEN ......................................... Johan VISSER ........................................ Toby FRANCIS

1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

The forecast was for heavy rain, and sure enough, the heavens opened Qualifying was dry and Kris as usual went out for the first half of the 30-minute qualifying session. Reporting over the radio that the car felt good, his times came down consistently until he posted a best of 2:00.584. At the 15-minute mark Kris returned to the pits to hand the car over to Jon. With the sky looking ominous, it was time for Jon to press on and post a fast time.

Did Jon hit a track limits sensor and lose his only quick lap? Unfortunately this was repeatedly frustrated by getting caught behind other

However he again faced a slower car in front, desperate not to stay behind and throw away a good lap Jon dived past at the last corner, causing him to run wide. The circuit is fitted with sensors, so that if one runs too wide one's time is taken of. Did Jon hit a track limits sensor and lose his only quick lap? Returning to the pits the team discovered a confirmed time of 1:59.211 around the three-mile Snetterton circuit had been posted, an average speed of 89.65mph. This put us P6 and first in class on the grid for race one. The forecast was for heavy rain at 13:00 and with the first Britcar race due at 13:40, sure enough the heavens opened. Initially the choice was obvious, the team would have to run on wet tyres. As cars began to head to the assembly area most were on wet tyres. However, the Moss motorsport BMW delayed leaving the pits as long as possible while the ground began to dry, at this moment Jon and Kris made the last-minute call to run on dry tyres.

While those on dry tyres struggled, those on wet struggled even more As soon as the race started the choice

J o n Wa

s u c fo

Jon Watts reports on his team's recent success in the Britcar Sprint Championship meet at Snetterton

HE most pressing decision of the race weekend came on Friday night and was about tyres. The Watt/Prosser BMW team only have the budget to purchase one set per meeting and with a 90% likelihood of rain forecast, decided to use this budget to buy one set of new wet tyres. However, if it didn’t rain, the only dry weather ‘slick’ tyres Jon and Kris would have available would be those that had done the whole Donington race meeting and an entire test day, so two full dry races would mean the paring were severely compromised on tyres.

Image:

Va-va-voom!

SPORT

driver change over ensued, with Kris informing Jon that the car felt good, if suffering a little too much understeer due to its comprised softer set up, just in case it rained. Jon then left the pits in rapid fashion, just edging out in front of the Seat TCR of Cullough/Coates and the Ferrari of David Mason. This would prove critical as being able to run in clear air meant the car put in a series of fast laps, allowing the team to gain the undercut when the Seat pitted. Jon then chased down and passed the McCollum/Cooper KTM and the Willmott Porsche to end up in third place. This caused the FF Corse team some alarm, doing the sums they had worked out that the BMW of Watt/Prosser was catching the Ferrari of Mason/ Wylie at a rate of 13 seconds a lap. With five laps to go the Ferrari had almost a minute’s advantage for second place.

A first podium and a class win, with the only cars ahead two factory-run Ferraris

tts

slower cars. On Jon’s second to last lap he was running in clear air and corner after corner watched the lap time fall, and approaching the last bend he was on for the fastest lap of the day.

Aston Martin and McEwen KTM diving into the pits, without even completing a lap, to change back to dry tyres. Kris brought the car into the pits at the halfway point to hand over to Jon, sitting in around fifth position overall. A rapid

became obvious. While those on dry tyres struggled a little, those on wets struggled even more, with the Sanford/Seyfried

As the checkered flag was raised the Ferrari of De Meeus/ Stanley was first the Ferrari of Mason/

Wylie second with the BMW of Watt/Prosser third and catching rapidly, it worked out that given one more lap Jon would have passed the Ferrari for secnd place. This was a great result for the Moss motorsport team though. The first overall podium of the year and a class win, with the only cars ahead being the two factory run Ferraris, not a bad result for a humble BMW and the oldest car in the ch a m p i o n ship! Race T w o tts J o n Wa proved Image: less exciting on track, with the weather now definitely dry the drama and excitement of which tyres to choose was removed from the equation. Kris was now starting the BMW in the pairs finishing position from race one, so third on the grid. The sight of their BMW at the front of the grid between the far more expensive machinery from the Ferrari and Porsche racing stables certainly providing an amusing sight! However this position was not to last as the more powerful machinery jumped the BMW at the start with Kris dropping back to sixth overall. After only nine laps Kris made an unscheduled return to the pits complaining of overheating. The team was not expecting the car back in the pits so soon, so it was full squadron scramble to get ready, Jon rushing to put his headphones, fireproof balaclava and helmet on before jumping into the car. This race would be a battle between driver and machine, rather than against the other cars on track. For the first three laps, Jon reported via the car to pit radio that all was well, however this quickly changed with the water temperature repeatedly rising from 80 °C to 107°C before returning to 80

°C, the symptoms of a blown head gasket. Every time the water temperature soared Jon was forced to lift of the accelerator and coast, the temperature would then return to normal.

This race would be a battle between driver and machine Jon could then do one or two hot laps at full speed, before being forced to coast once again, as if the car overheated completely, Jon would be forced to retire the car. This method cost a few places but meant Jon was able to limp the car home to finish fifth overall and second in class. These two strong finishes put the BMW of Watt/Prosser in the overall lead of the Britcar Sprint Championship and in excellent position for the final two race meetings of the season.

Jon and Kris on the podium Image: Jon Watts

Sport

1 OCT 2018 | EXEPOSÉ

SPORT EDITOR: Josh Brown

Pierre-ce de Résistance Pierre Thompson held the key for Exeter as EURFC brushed aside Leeds Beckett

Image: Chelsea Lee

Men’s Rugby Union Exeter 1s....................................43 Leeds Beckett 1s........................19 Josh Brown Sport Editor

URFC made a strong start to their BUCS Super Rugby title defence as they breezed past Leeds Beckett by a scoreline of 43-19 at Topsham on Wednesday afternoon. The side, that play in the National League on Saturdays, have historically been strong in the BUCS competition, and high-performing players have frequently attracted the attention of Ex-

eter Chiefs, one of the best rugby union sides in the country in recent years. And today was no exception. It took just 10 minutes for the men in green to breach the Beckett back line and score their first try of the BUCS season, and while it was Pierre Thompson who ran under the posts, it was a move that owed no small part to the work of Matt Blee, who was a constant threat in the firsthalf. His incisive forward run into space left him and Thompson with an overload, and it only needed a routine pass for Exeter’s #9 to score. Sam Morley added the arrears. Leeds responded well, but it came as

a surprise nonetheless when they equalised on 19 minutes. The visitors found a level of penetration that had hitherto been lacking, and a quick switch of play from the inside left flank to the far righthand side created an opportunity that the Beckett winger Chester Duff took advantage of, sliding in by the touchline. However, it would prove to be the visitors’ only attack of note in the first-half, and Exeter were able to impose their possession-based game on the match to good effect. They regained the lead through Thompson again, after a long maul on the inside right channel, and Morley again added the extras despite a

difficult kick.

It took just 10 minutes for the men in green to breach the Beckett back line and score their first try

The situation improved further for the home side before half-time, and in a very similar fashion – but this time, it was Rory McMeikan who bundled the ball over the line to give Exeter a comfortable lead going into half-time, in a first period that had gone very much to

plan for the 1s. After the restart, it didn’t take long before it got even better. It came as no surprise that Thompson was again at the heart of the move, breaking the defensive line and releasing winger Charlie Davies down the Exeter left-hand side to run in the fourth try of the game just five minutes into the second period. After another impressive conversion by Morely, Exeter found themselves 28-7 up and in cruise control, to the delight of the supporters’ club, who were in fine voice throughout the game.

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